Fiction vs. Fiction: The Deep (1977)

 This seemed like a fun chance to flip how this Series works.

Normally, I'm comparing the Film (or Films) to its original source material.

This time, I'm comparing the Film to its Comic Adaptation (made the same year by Marvel).
Remember the VHS or any kind of rental was not a thing then, so stuff like this was the only way to relive a Film for about the next Decade.

**VS**

                                       

What's the Same?

The overall Plot is not changed.  They are still, of course, adapting the Film.
The Comic does still do an Opening Splash Page which acts as a Flash Forward though, showing the underwater battle from the finale.

That's just a thing from Comics at this time.

What's Different?

The Comic includes some of the content that was cut from the Film proper (and the DVD, sadly).  In total, FIFTY-THREE MINUTES were added to the TV Version (not available on video AFAIK).

This means that it opens with showing the shipwreck in 1943 and introducing Eli Wallach's Coffin to a young Romer (who is later Robert Shaw).  Mind you, the Actors were only 12 years apart in age IRL, but Movies.
We also don't get to see Cameron Mitchell in here as the Captain, so I included an unrelated shot of him as a Captain in the Article.

Another concession is that the Artist (the late-great Carmine Infantino) draws everyone with superhero physiques.  More funny than bad, of course. 
When you see what is supposed to be Nick Nolte looking like a mustachioed Steve Rogers, it just makes me giggle.

The Comic cuts around and/or changes the more salacious stuff as well.

* Bisset is wearing a black scuba diving outfit, so no wet t-shirt.
* Nolte and Bisset are threatened on the road, not in a Building.  She also doesn't have to take her top off for the villains (which was more implied in the Film anyhow).
* The bit where's scared/tortured by the Voodoo Shaman is cut.

Sadly, the epic battle between Slake and Kevin (aka Robert Tessier) is cut down to the former popping out of a truck bed and then we see Kevin dead on the ground later.  Boo.

Final Thoughts

The Comic is fine, telling the same Story in panel-to-panel format.  It also features lots of retro ads- neat.
For instance, the Cover inset features a drawing of Stan Lee...with black hair!

Then again, the Film features Robert Shaw, so...how do you pick the other one?

Enjoy 2 of these Ads from my Copy, since nobody seems to post pictures of these online.

* Who wants to buy guns from a Comic? *

A fun Comic that I just happened to find a couple years back, long before I'd even seen the Film.  I'm glad that I have both to enjoy.