I am – Hercules!!

Warren Ellis’ kick-ass graphic novel “Ocean” moved one step closer to a big screen Warner Bros. production this week with the hiring of newcomer Ryan Condal as its screenwriter.

Like Ellis’ “Global Frequency,” “Ocean” has a sci-fi Jack Bauer vibe -- but this one's set in outer space.

The Hollywood Reporter describes:

The story revolves around the discovery of thousands of coffins containing angel-like bodies and a giant weapon of mass destruction beneath the ice on Europa, one of Jupiter's moons. A U.N. weapons inspector is sent to investigate the find, teaming with a space station crew, when a powerful conglomerate moves in to exploit the discovery.

Ellis, whose resume includes "The Authority," "Planetary," "newuniversal," "Ultimate Galactus," "Ultimate Fantastic Four," "Ultimate Human," "Iron Man: Extremis," "Jack Cross," "Fell," "Orbiter," "Ministry of Space," "Gravel," "Wolfskin," "Transmetropolitan," "Blackgas" and lots more, is the best working comic-book writer not named Alan Moore. He's taking over "Astonishing X-Men" now that Joss Whedon is done with it.

Read all of the Hollywood Reporter’s story on the matter here.