World War II bomber pilots described their missions as “hours of boredom punctuated by moments of extreme terror.” If you ever write a comic book, and if that comic book ever happens to be adapted into a big-time feature film, you’ll know exactly what that feels like.

My name is Arvid Nelson, and in 1999 I created a comic called “Rex Mundi.” Almost ten years later, it’s nearly finished. For most of those years, I’ve been hacking my way through the jungles of Hollywood. The “Rex Mundi” film adaptation has gone through a lot of ups and downs over the years.

A lot.

“Rex Mundi” means “King of the World” in Latin. It’s a quest for the Holy Grail told as a murder mystery. For the record, yes, it shares some things in common with “The Da Vinci Code.” And for the record, I first published “Rex Mundi” a good three years before “The Da Vinci Code” hit stores. And good for Dan Brown, for writing such a successful novel! But it sure didn’t help “Rex Mundi’s” prospects in Tinsel Town.

I think one of the reasons Johnny Depp is interested in “Rex Mundi” — I’ve never communicated with him, but I say a little prayer for him before going to bed every night — is that it’s actually a very different story from “The Da Vinci Code.” The “Rex Mundi” film isn’t going to be a rip off of “The Da Vinci Code,” because the comic isn’t a rip-off of “The Da Vinci Code.” All the same, we’re going to make major changes for the film. I don’t know exactly what those changes will be, but whatever happens, I’m all for it.

St. Paul, in one of his letters, wrote “the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” Who am I to disagree? The most important thing in an adaptation is to stay true to the spirit of a story, even if the specifics details — the letter — might change.

So I give the producers my advice when they ask for it, and I try to stay the hell out of the way when they don’t. I’ve been on the other end of the process too, adapting video games or prose into a comics. The result is always better when the people with the rights to the original material give the people responsible for the adaptation as much freedom as possible.

Besides, an unbelievable constellation is working on the film. Johnny Depp, for one. It’s beyond flattering, it’s surreal to have someone I respect so much at the helm. Jim Uhls, who wrote the “Fight Club” screenplay, is writing the script. They and everyone else have always supported me through the “moments of terror” that crop up from time to time. Hollywood has a reputation for sleaziness and exploitation. I’m still waiting for it. Everyone I’ve dealt with has been intelligent, honest, and above all, devoted to Rex Mundi. The movie won’t be just another half-assed adaptation of a comic book. I genuinely think it’s going to be something special.

Visit Arvid Nelson online at RexMundi.net.

Looking forward to the big screen adaptation of “Rex Mundi?” Have anything to say to Mr. Nelson? Talk to us in the comments.