THE STORY: "Concrete" by Paul Chadwick (W/A) - Dark Horse Comics
WHAT IT'S ABOUT: "Concrete" is a high-concept alien abduction story that leaves its hero, Ronald Lithgow, stranded on Earth after aliens transplant his brain into a hulking new body. Incapable of normal human interaction and unable to seek revenge against the aliens who kidnapped and brutalized him, he takes on the name Concrete and becomes a celebrity adventurer under the cover story that he is a cyborg government experiment.
One of the best lasting indie comics series to come out of the '80s, it takes the heart of Ben Grimm's Thing situation in "The Fantastic Four" and isolates Concrete in a role that forces him to find meaning and pleasure in life without ever being able to be accepted as human by those around him.
WHY IT WORKS: Much like the plight of mutants in X-Men tales, Concrete is touchstone for anyone who's ever felt like a social misfit. The difference is that he's not nearly as sexy as most of the X-Men and he doesn't have a peer group to relate to. The story is also unique because it focuses as much on reacquainting readers with the world around them through Concrete's experiences as it does exploring what's going on inside his shell.
WHY IT DOESN'T: The title character's form doesn't lend itself to compelling dramatic moments, since his face doesn't express a wide spectrum of emotions. "Concrete" is about the big picture and not just one central figure, which is why he's produced an abundance of great short stories in comics. Assimilating his world into one long tale may be more challenging.
HOW TO DO IT: A "Concrete" film would have the choice of taking one or two short stories from the comics or making a "Forrest Gump"-style epic with an extensive cast of characters, from his friends Dr. Maureen Vonnegut and Larry Munro who study him, to his former boss Senator Mark Douglas, to the stand-up comedian Anonymoose he shares a brief moment of connection with on a late-night talk show.
There are ample opportunities for strong actors to step up into roles where the characters transform through their experiences with Concrete, accomplishing that through a powerful cast and script would be key to making the movie work.
FINAL WORD: "Concrete" isn't an easy choice to adapt to film, but the story that could be told through a movie about him would have potential Oscar performances littered throughout.
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