In 2001, Michael Chabon’s novelThe Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, which chronicled its protagonists’ careers during theGolden Age of comic books,won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and according to a topMarveleditor, he “tried like hell” to recruit the author to writeThe Fantastic Fourat the height of his success. It didn’t work out, leading an all-time greatbehind-the-scenes Marvel “What If?”
Marvel Senior Editor Tom Brevoort responded to a reader’s question, asking if he’d read Chabon’s novel. Brevoort acknowledged that he read the book at the time of its release, twenty-five years ago, but the longtime Marvel employee dropped an even more fascinating bit of info in the process.
Brevoort even sent Chabon a “No-Pulitzer” prize, playfully modeled afterStan Lee’s iconic “No Prizes.”In retrospect, it is somewhat surprising that Chabon never did more work in the comic book medium, though it certainly wasn’t from a lack of being busy.
Editor Tom Brevoort Says Marvel Tried To Get Michael Chabon To Write “Fantastic Four” In The Early 2000s
Fresh Off HisKavalier And ClaySuccess
Michael Chabon’s novelThe Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clayis lauded for its expansive take on the pioneering era of the comic book industry, and the superhero genre, and the formative impact these had on American popular culture. The story follows a pair of comic book creators, a writer and an artist, who are amalgams oflegendary figures in the industry, such as Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, and more, chronicling their careers and personal lives from the 1930s through the 1950s. Without question, the novel is the product of a deep devotee of comic book history and superhero storytelling.
Which is why it is fascinating thatChabon was approached by Marvel’s Tom Brevoort, following his 2001 Pulitzer win, about writing Kirby and Lee’s classic characters the Fantastic Four, also known as “Marvel’s First Family,” for inaugurating the modern Marvel Universe as it is recognized today. As Brevoort explained:
I also had some contact with Michael both before and after he wrote this book—he participated on a few Jack Kirby-related mailing lists that I was on at that time. A few years later, I tried like hell to convince him to write FANTASTIC FOUR, but it didn’t work out. I do still have the “No-Pulitzer” image that I sent him at one point, indicating that there was no limit to the sorts of awards he might pick up were he to take on the assignment.
For now, Brevoort didn’t elaborate on why a Chabon-pennedFantastic Fourseries never materialized. Yet, in the spirit of Marvel’s tradition of “What Ifs,” it is worth considering the possible ripple effects that might have arisen from the series if it did appear on comic book stand shelves.
Considering The “What If?” Question Of Michael Chabon’s “Fantastic Four” That Never Was
Tom Brevoort’s Tongue-In-Cheek “No-Pulitzer Prizer” Wasn’t Enticing Enough
First and foremost, had Michael Chabon made the decision to writeThe Fantastic Fouras one of the projects after being awarded the Pulitzer, it would likely have garnered mainstream media attention, which in turn may have translated into a sales boost for the series. At least, for some,it would have been another big victory on the “comics are serious literature” front, as defenders of the medium could point to Chabon’s literary bona fidesand rightly argue that if he took comics seriously, so should everyone.
Now that fans know [Michael Chabon] could have writtenThe Fantastic Fourfor Marvel Comics in the early aughts, there will always be that “What If?” attached to his name.
How it might have changed Chabon’s career is harder to envision. Chabon’s latest contribution to genre fiction was serving asshowrunner on Season 1 ofStar Trek: Picard; previously, he notably received a story credit onSam Raimi’sSpider-Man2, but he remains primarily known as a novelist. His 2007 bookThe Yiddish Policeman’s Unionwon multiple awards, though none comparable to a “No-Pulitzer, " and he is highly regarded as an author, but now that fans know he could have writtenThe Fantastic FourforMarvel Comicsin the early aughts, there will always be that “What If?”
