Imagine a world where the mastermind behind Game of Thrones secretly shaped a DC comic that’s now at the heart of James Gunn’s DC Universe. Yes, you read that right. George R.R. Martin, the man who’s kept fans on the edge of their seats waiting for The Winds of Winter, has another feather in his cap—one that’s finally getting the spotlight it deserves. Back in 2007, long before the DCU was a twinkle in Gunn’s eye, Martin teamed up with John Joss Miller to co-create Salvation Run, a comic series that’s as gritty and unpredictable as Westeros itself. But here’s where it gets controversial: Martin and Miller’s vision was originally an Elseworlds tale, completely separate from the main DC Universe. Was this creative decision a missed opportunity, or a stroke of genius?
The story? Picture this: DC’s most notorious villains, stranded on an inescapable planet, forced to build a society from scratch. Sounds like a recipe for chaos, right? And it was. Written by Bill Willingham and later Lila Sturges, the limited series explored what happens when villains—who are, well, villainous—try to coexist. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t end well. But this is the part most people miss: Martin’s original concept was far more ambitious. In a 2007 blog post, he likened it to Britain’s convict transportation to Australia, a story of exile with no escape. The planet? Millions of light-years away, accessible only by Boom Tube. Could this have been the Lost of supervillain stories?
Creative differences eventually led Martin and Miller to step away, leaving Willingham to take the reins. Fast forward to today, and James Gunn is breathing new life into Salvation Run as part of his DCU plans. The irony? Even Gunn didn’t know Martin was the brain behind it until later. On the Go Read Some Comics podcast, Gunn admitted, ‘I think the story can be more like this… and my story was always more like what George R.R. Martin’s original intention was.’ Coincidence, or fate?
Originally titled Exiles in Paradise, Martin’s vision was meant to span decades—characters would age, die, and even build a society from the ashes of their brutality. Gunn’s hinted that his adaptation might echo this grand scale, but how much of Martin’s original story will make it to the screen? With no plans for a third season of Peacemaker, could we see Christopher Smith leading a new wave of Earth Prime’s most wanted to the Salvation planet? And the million-dollar question: Will we see this before The Winds of Winter finally drops?
Here’s the real kicker: Martin’s influence on Salvation Run raises a thought-provoking question. Is the DCU better off with his original, sprawling vision, or does Gunn’s interpretation strike the right balance? Let’s spark some debate—what do you think? Is Martin’s touch the missing piece the DCU needs, or is Gunn’s direction the way to go? Sound off in the comments!
