Chuck Austen

Chuck Austen
Nationality	American
Area(s)	Writer, Artist
http://www.chuckaustenonline.com

Chuck Austen (born Chuck Beckum) is an American writer and artist of comic books, most famous for his controversial work on the popular X-Men franchise, as well as on other Marvel and DC titles.

Early career

Austen’s early commercial work stretches back to the 1980s, when he briefly illustrated Alan Moore's superhero series Miracleman, under his birth name "Chuck Beckum", which he later abandoned out of a desire to disassociate from his father's family name. About the same time Austen wrote and drew the semi-autobiographical black-and-white comic book series Strips. He also created a number of pornographic comics, including WorldWatch and Hardball. In the late 1980s, Austen drew the first five issues for the short-lived series Hero Sandwich published by Slave Labor Graphics and written by Dan Vado. He also was involved in the lesser-known Dr. Radium and Lee Flea series, and slowly crossed over into DC Comics when he was assigned to Phantom Lady and Green Flame and drew Disney's The Little Mermaid limited series.

Marvel and DC work

In the 2000s, Austen started working regularly for Marvel Comics, writing and illustrating U.S. War Machine, illustrating Elektra, and writing a number of series, including Uncanny X-Men, Captain America, and The Avengers. His two-year run on Uncanny X-Men was his most prominent and lengthy writing assignment to date.

Avengers

Austen wrote Avengers from #77-85; his run would be a short one, consisting of two arcs. His first arc introduced a new Captain Britian (since renamed Lionheart). The second Captain Britain was an arctype Chuck Austen female character, a single mother thrust into the realm of super-heroes. The second and final arc, which saw Austen writing former Avengers USAgent and Namor, the Sub-Mariner attempting to liberate a middle eastern country from it's corrupt leadership, served as launching pad for the short-lived 2004 "Invaders" series. Austen's run was widely panned by critics, especially with regards to his controversial decision to resurrect the spousal abuse involving Hank Pym and Wasp.

Austen ultimately was removed from the title with issue #85 and replaced with Brian Michael Bendis. As such, his subplots regarding Captain Britain were largely dropped by Bendis while Austen's plans for a Hawkeye/Wasp relationship was dropped in favor of the reconciliation of Hank Pym and Wasp, with regards to them moving to England to resurrect their relationship.

Invaders

Austen's final Avengers issues (#82–84) set up an new incarnation of the Invaders superhero team. Sharing creative input with Allan Jacobsen, Austen wrote a story arc called Once an Invader, which ended in the new Invaders #0 comic (August 2004).

X-Men

For Uncanny X-Men, Austen's first arc was called Hope (Uncanny X-Men #410-415). He re-introduced homosexual X-Man Northstar, introduced the character of Annie Ghazikhanian who falls in love with comatose X-Man Havok and pitted the X-Men against an old foe, Black Tom Cassidy. Comics Bulletin gave Austen 3.5 out of 5 stars: while criticising a certain tendency for melodramatics, he was lauded for his "spot-on" characterisations of Northstar and Professor X.

Austen's follow-up arc was called Dominant Species (Uncanny X-Men #416-420), in which he introduced a group of mutant werewolves who eat humans who do not accept mutant rights. Comics Bulletin gave it only 1.5 out of 5 stars, criticising the "stupid dialogues, sex-crazed characters and passive, hysterical women" and pejoratively calling his plots "creative".

Austen continued with three short two-part arcs named Rules of Engagement, Holy War and Sacred Vows (Uncanny X-Men #421–427). Comics Bulletin was appreciative of Rules of Engagement while acknowledging that the Canadian superheroes Alpha Flight (a sister team of the X-Men) behaved strangely nationalistic. Holy War featured religious zealots Church of Humanity who crucify several junior X-Men and abduct Catholic and want to install demonic-looking X-Man Nightcrawler as the pope of the Catholic Church to discredit the Holy See. Comics Bulletin criticised the arc for featuring "crazy women", "insensitive men" and "anti-Catholic bias" Thefourthrail.com called the story "awkward and illogical at times" and pointed out the "implausible" character development. In Sacred Vows, Austen wrote an arc featuring X-Men character Polaris as a borderline psychotic, establishing her as the daughter of archvillain Magneto. Austen makes Polaris betray her fiancé Havok with a male stripper, while Havok betrays her with nurse Annie Ghazikhanian. Comics Bulletin called it "terrible melodrama" and blasted Austen for featuring out-of-character X-Men being "ignorant, intolerant and offensive to each other". Austen admitted misplotting Polaris. As a further point of controversy, a stand-alone story featured the teenage X-Girls Jubilee and Husk visiting a grave: instead of mourning, they exchange sex fantasies. Comics Bulletin said it "sums up everything that’s wrong with Chuck Austen’s sex obsession".

Austen followed up with an arc called Draco (Uncanny X-Men #428–434), where Nightcrawler is revealed to be the son of Azazel, a powerful demon who is later revealed as Satan himself. Thefourthrail.com called the story pacing "unbelievably tedious" and pointed out that Austen's revelation lacked power, because Azazel was painted as Satan from literally the prologue of the story on. Austen himself admitted that he misplotted the story.

The next Austen arc was She Lies With Angels (Uncanny X-Men #437–441), a retelling of the classic Romeo and Juliet story using Josh Guthrie as the male and a girl called Julia Cabot –daughter of a family full of anti-mutant racists– as the female counterpart. Thefourthrail.com was mildly appreciative of the first issues, but finally called the arc "predictable and ham-fisted". Comicsbulletin.com gave it one of four stars, blasting it as "Shakespeare for Morons" with gaping plot holes. It also features a controversial scene in Uncanny X-Men #440 in which winged X-Man Archangel flies off with his female colleague Husk in his arms. Off-panel, Husk gets naked, and it is implied that they have sex in front of several X-Men and Husk's mother. Because Husk is only 19, it makes it a case of statutory rape.

By then, Austen's X-Men work was widely criticised. Thefourthrail.com strongly rebuked him for "horror-filled destruction of characters and inane plotting" that "defined" his work on Uncanny X-Men. Comicsbulletin.com added "when... it can't possibly get any worse, he manages to find that new lower level", criticised his "unjustified character changes" and compared him unfavorably to Morrison. Fan relations further soured when Austen — by editorial decree — had to write popular X-Men antihero Stacy X out of the X-Men stories. Austen was branded as the author who "killed Stacy X" and thus "dissed" his fans.

The writing stints during Avengers and X-Men affected Austen's reputation among comic book fans. Detractors saw him as a "misogynist", who "hate[s] women" and "obsessed with sex". In response, Austen pointed out he was married with children, was raised by a single mother he looked up to and strongly denied misogynist sentiment. Chuck Austen has subsequently been named "Worst X-Men Writer Ever" on numerous online polls and ranking lists.

War Machine

From 2001 on, Austen wrote several issues of War Machine, a series set outside the normal Marvel Comics continuity in a separate universe. Protagonist was the wielder of the War Machine armor, Jim Rhodes, like him a military brat and a "chronic outsider". The mini-series was received well, but sales of the action-driven story were plagued by the fact that the series was published in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

In 2003, Austen followed up with War Machine 2.0. Using the creative liberties in his alternate universe, he wrote Rhodes' boss Tony Stark as more pacifist and business-minded than his mainstream counterpart, and Rhodes himself as the proactive protector.

Call of Duty

In 2002 Austen also took part in writing a Marvel book with Bruce Jones entitled, "The Call of Duty 911". This book was based on a story of firemen after the September 11th incident. It wanted to convey the heroism of New York City Firemen as real life superheroes. The Call of Duty was a series of short-lived Marvel Comics series featuring firefighters and emergency service workers dealing with paranormal phenomena in the Marvel Universe.

It was conceived in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and is comprised of three limited series (Call of Duty: The Brotherhood #1–6, by Chuck Austen and David Finch; Call of Duty: The Precinct #1–5, by Bruce Jones and Tom Mandrake; Call of Duty: The Wagon #1–4 by Chuck Austen and Danijel Zezelj) and a short unsuccessful run as an ongoing series in 2002–2003, that lasted four issues (by Chuck Austen and Pat Olliffe).

The Eternal

From August 2003 to January 2004, Austen wrote six issues of The Eternal for the Marvel MAX line. It was a reimagination of the classic Eternals comic book by Jack Kirby and was lauded as "haunting yet humorous".

Superman

He also wrote at least ten issues on DC Comics' flagship title Action Comics, starring Superman. Austen was criticized by fans for resurrecting the "Silver Age" feud between Superman supporting characters Lois Lane and Lana Lang over Superman, with Lana in particular divorcing longtime husband Pete Ross in the process. Austen left the title after 10 issues; the next two were written by "J.D. Finn". Austen himself has speculated that the J.D. Finn was in actuality then–Action Comics editor Eddie Berganza and has denied using the pseudonym.

Public image

During his Marvel/DC stint, Austen invented the expression "Seven Deadly Trolls". In Austen's point of view, they are a small and not representative group (hence the "Seven Deadly Trolls"), who use internet message boards, blogs and newsgroups to attack Austen on a professional and personal level (see Internet troll). Multiple comic book critiques though have panned Austens Marvel and DC work. Austen admitted that he took online criticism of his work very personal and had difficulties cooling down after reading it. On a professional level, the criticism also led to hostility between certain comic book store owners and him.

In a 2006 interview, Austen commented sarcastially on his bad image among comic book fans. On his Marvel Comics stint (Elektra, Captain America, Avengers and X-Men). He later acknowledged having had a "bad day" during that interview and being overtly cynical.

WorldWatch

After his DC and Marvel work, Austen went on to create the independent title WorldWatch, which he described as being like Warren Ellis's The Authority, but with more adult themes (i.e. unflinching depiction of sex, violence and realpolitik).

The last page of Worldwatch #2 featured an announcement from the publisher stating that Austen had been fired, and that he would be replaced by notable writer Sam Clemens (the real name of legendary American writer Mark Twain). However, as creator and owner, Austen cannot be fired from Worldwatch. In a subsequent interview, Austen stated that it was intended as a joke, and that he was disappointed that most readers had not understood it.

Current projects

According to Austen's blog site he has moved on to doing television writing most notably on the program "Tripping the Rift" which he co-created. He is currently living in Southern California with his family. On his personal blog, he has stated that he has not written comics "in five years".

Personal life

Austen is married with two daughters. He is a military brat and described his childhood as a tough struggle: after his parents divorced, he was raised by his single mother in a housing project. He currently lives in California with his family.

Austen identifies himself as humanitarian and anti-racist. In Austen's view the Republican Party discriminates against women, and he especially dislikes the Bush administration. On a professional level, Austen admires fellow artists Brian Michael Bendis, Paul Jenkins, Bill Sienkiewicz and J. Michael Straczynski.

External links

• Official website
• Chuck Austen at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
• Comic Book Awards Almanac
• Chuck Austen on lambiek.net