Fans of Disney may want to ‘be prepared’ as a new comic series aims to explore an untold chapter of The Lion’s King’s antagonist, Scar. Disney Villains: Scar will examine the iconic baddie with a story that may put Scar in a whole new light.
The classic Disney Renaissance film The Lion King dazzled audiences everywhere in the ’90s. A new series from Dynamite aims to return readers to that period with a new comic book that puts all the attention on the film’s villain, Scar. Writer Chuck Brown (Aquaman, Bitter Root) and artist Trevor Fraley are teaming up for Disney Villains: Scar, a new series that is set during the original film in between scenes.
Chuck Brown: I’ve watched the whole movie over and over again to prepare. We had to find a way to make our story fit in seamlessly with the film. This story also needs to add something of value to the original story.
Trevor Fraley: I want to be able to make the characters you know keep their iconic looks, while also keeping them fresh and interesting for the story we’re trying to tell.
The reality that Scar will never lead his pride is sinking in with the birth of his nephew, Simba. Unable to accept that reality, the villain begins to scheme on how to take Pride Rock, a mission that will see him come face-to-face with the enigmatic Rafiki. The first issue will come with covers from artists Jahnoy Lindsay, Karen Darboe, Erica Henderson, Juggeun Yoon, Gene Ha, and David Nakayama.
SCAR Will Bring a New Perspective to a Classic Film
There’s hardly a ‘90s kid alive who doesn’t have fond memories of watching Disney’s The Lion King in its heyday. The film was released in 1994 and was directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff. It featured a star-studded cast that included Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Nathan Lane, Whoopi Goldberg, and Jeremy Irons as the film’s villain, Scar. Loosely inspired by Hamlet, the story revolves around Simba, the son of Mufasa, leader of the Pride Lands. Simba is a young cub who wants nothing more than to be ruler. However, Simba’s uncle Scar tricks Simba into believing he killed his father in order for Scar to seize the throne for himself.
Stories exploring the sides of Disney villains are becoming quite the trend. Aside from movies that have reimagined iconic villains such as Maleficent and Cruella de Vil from new perspectives, Disney’s attempted to use comics to do the same things. Unfortunately, the previously announced Disney Villains: Ursula series from Dark Horse never saw the light of day. But this new Scar series presents the opportunity to do a deep-dive into the psychology of a fan-favorite Disney villain through comics.
SCAR Can Add to The Lion King’s Legacy
In the original film, Scar is presented as an archetypal with little time truly devoted to his motivations or inner psychology. By setting this new comic book series in between scenes of the original film, Brown and Fraley can explore what was running through Scar’s head and what made him make the decisions he did. A story is only as good as its villain, and a comic that helps flesh out one as iconic as Scar can only make a beloved animated movie appreciated even more. Fans can see The Lion King’s untold story when Disney Villains: Scar #1 releases April 5th, 2023.
