With HBO Max being the de facto landing spot for quite a few DC Comics-based franchises, it makes some sense that there's a bit of campaigning going on for the network to expand its portfolio. In particular, one of the co-writers of the current run of the Jonah Hex comics would like to see HBO Max create a television series based on the character.
For those not familiar with the character, Jonah Hex is a cowboy in the Old West who became disfigured after he won a fight against a Native American rival. It was determined that he won by "cheating" and as punishment, he was scarred with a heated tomahawk. Eventually being able to overcome his injuries, he became a bounty hunter in the mid-1800s but was often transported into "modern-day" in order to fight alongside some of DC Comics' biggest heroes.
Comic book writer and artist Jimmy Palmiotti believes that the story of Jonah Hex is one that would do well on HBO Max and expressed that belief on Twitter recently. Palmiotti, who is the co-writer of the New 52 revival of Jonah Hex's character, wrote that he didn't understand why HBO Max didn't make a weekly series out of the books that he, Justin Gray, Russ Heath, and Jordi Bernet worked on. Palmiotti even had an idea for how HBO Max could transfer the DC anti-hero over to television. He suggested that the weekly series could just pick up with Jonah Hex after the civil war and when he was just a bounty hunter with a bad scar. The writer also touched on that scar, saying the network could make it smaller, likely in order to make it more palatable.
The DC Comics writer seems to know that at least some of Jonah Hex's backstory could be problematic, considering he fought on the side of the Confederacy during the Civil War. Of course, he did eventually realize he was on the wrong side and defected. Still, it would seem as though HBO Max would want to stay away from promoting that part of the character's backstory.
One reason that Palmiotti might think now is the right time for a show based on Jonah Hex is because the network has been embracing shows starring anti-heroes of late. The Harley Quinn animated series is going to be getting a third season at some point in the near future, and that show makes no bones about her still being a villain with a heart of gold.
In addition to that show, the Peacemaker series debuted this month, and it stars a character who makes no bones about being a cold-blooded killer. So, Jonah Hex may be a relatively lesser-known DC character, but perhaps that's perfect for HBO Max.
Jonah Hex (2010) is now available on HBO Max.
Source: Jimmy Palmiotti/Twitter