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Mark Millar

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Mark Millar
NationalityScottish
Area(s)Writer
Notable works
The Authority
Ultimate X-Men
Marvel Knights Spider-Man
The Ultimates
Civil War

Mark Millar (born December 24 1969) is an award-winning Scottish comic book writer born in Coatbridge. Now a resident of Glasgow, Scotland, he has been this decade's highest selling British creator working in America. His most known works include The Authority, Ultimates 1 and 2, Wanted, Marvel Knights Spider-Man, Ultimate Fantastic Four, and Civil War. In August 2007 he won the coveted Stan Lee award at Wizardworld in Chicago, an award only given out once before and production was recently completed on the movie adaption of his Wanted movie, starring Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman and James McAvoy.


1990s

Millar was inspired to become a comic writer after meeting Alan Moore at a signing session at AKA Books and Comics when he was a teenager in the mid 1980s. However it wasn't until experiencing financial problems after his parents died that he decided to drop out of university and take up writing professionally.

His first job as a professional comic book writer was with Trident Comics in 1990, writing Saviour with Daniel Vallely providing art. Saviour proved to be one of Trident Comics' most popular titles. It provided a mix of postmodernist storytelling, religion, satire and superhero action Millar later became known for.

During the early 1990s, Millar worked on titles such as 2000 AD, Sonic the Comic and Crisis. In 1993, Millar, Grant Morrison and John Smith created a controversial eight-week run on 2000 AD called The Summer Offensive. It was during this run that Millar and Morrison wrote their first major story together, the highly controversial strip Big Dave.

Millar's British work brought him to the attention of DC Comics, and in 1994 he started working on his first American comic, Swamp Thing. The first four issues of Millar's run were co-written by Grant Morrison allowing Millar to settle into the title. Although his work brought some critical acclaim to the ailing title, the book's sales were still low enough to warrant cancellation by the publisher. From there, Millar spent time working on various DC titles, often co-writing with or under the patronage of Morrison (as in the cases of his work on JLA, The Flash and Aztek: The Ultimate Man), and working on unsuccessful pitches for the publisher. During this time, he was publicly talking about potentially abandoning comics and had taken to mentioning a horror series he was writing for Channel 4 called Sikeside [1]. Sikeside was cancelled in pre-production and has recently been optioned by Crab-Apple Films for a planned theatrical release.

2000 onwards

File:Ultimates1.jpg
The Cover to The Ultimates #1

In 2000 Millar received his big break by replacing Warren Ellis on The Authority for DC's Wildstorm imprint. Keeping the so-called "widescreen" aspects of Ellis's title, Millar and artist Frank Quitely added a more polemic style to the story, increasing sales and gathering many awards at home and abroad.

The title was a success for Millar and Wildstorm but suffered from self-censorship from DC, which caused friction between Millar and Warner Bros, especially DC publisher Paul Levitz. After the events of 9/11, DC became more sensitive to violence and scenes of destruction in titles such as The Authority. With shipping delays and artwork alterations, Millar became increasingly frustrated by DC's objections to his over-the-top style and story content on the title. As a result of this and receiving lucrative work from DC's main competitor Marvel Comics, he announced his resignation from DC in 2001. His acclaimed Superman: Red Son story was printed after his departure, and Millar has repeatedly stated his desire to recreate the Superman character both in comic-books and on the big screen. During his sabbatical in late 2005, he mended his fences with Levitz & DC Comics and many readers now hope Millar will one day return to the character.[2]

During 2001 Millar launched Ultimate X-Men for Marvel Comics Ultimate imprint. This imprint was created to make popular Marvel characters more accessible to new readers by rebooting them, erasing their often decades-long histories and starting from scratch. The line was an enormous succes, further consolidating Millar's position and quickly making him a major player at Marvel Entertainment. The writer further expanded the Ultimate line in 2002 with The Ultimates, the Ultimate version of Marvel's The Avengers title. This book proved even more successful than Ultimate X-Men outselling it from the very first issue and providing the basis of two best-selling animated adventures. X2 screenwriter Zak Penn has said in interviews that he plans to adapt the story into the blockbuster Avengers movie tenatively scheduled for a 2010 release.

After 33 issues, Millar left Ultimate X-Men and wrote the number one hit title Marvel Knights Spider-Man in 2004, He also co-wrote the first six issues of Ultimate Fantastic Four with Brian Michael Bendis. After the arcs by Warren Ellis and Mike Carey, Millar returned to Ultimate Fantastic Four for a 12-issue run throughout 2005-2006 and returned the title to the top of the charts, creating the lucrative "Marvel Zombies" spin-off title in his first and final storylines.

In a 2005 interview with BBC Radio Scotland, Millar discussed his "dream project," teaming up with top science fiction and comic book writers to create a 21st century version of Karl Marx's book Das Kapital, with each writer tackling a different aspect of modern life. Millar said that his personal pick would be the educational system.

In 2006, Millar, joined by artist Steve McNiven, began writing Marvel's summer crossover Civil War. This maxi-series has become the biggest success of Millar's career with sales exceeding any Marvel comic since the speculator boom of the early 1990s. With Marvel continuing to offer high-profile work as well as an outlet for creator-owned work, Millar has extended his exclusive contract with Marvel to mid-2008.

It has been recently announced that Millar will reteam up Bryan Hitch for an upcoming run on Marvel's premiere Fantastic Four franchise. Their run begins in February 2008 and Millar promised that they will remain on the title for at least sixteen issues.

Millarworld

In 2004 Millar launched a creator-owned line called Millarworld that was published simultaneously by four different, competing comic book companies. One book, The Unfunnies, published by Avatar Comics was finally completed as of November 2007. Wanted, published by Top Cow, with artist J.G. Jones has just finished shooting as a 100 million dollar motion picture. Chosen, published by Dark Horse, was described by Millar as a sequel to the Bible and has been optioned by Sony Pictures. A fourth planned Millarworld title, Run, to be released through Image Central with slated artist Ashley Wood, was never released. The writer has announced that Kick-Ass published by Marvel's Icon imprint will replace the title. Industry legend John Romita Jr will re-team with his former Wolverine collaborator and the title launches in February 2008

As of 2005, joker Millar had gained mainstream attention for a variety of over-the-top antics including a lost bet for US$5,000 with Harry Knowles regarding the casting of the lead actor in the next Superman movie (which Millar laughs was a huge publicity stunt). He also once wrote an article detailing the fictional pre-production struggles of The Orson Welles Batman Hoax, which many believed, for a time, to be real and resulted in a massive online response. Millar also claimed that rapper Eminem begged to take the lead role in the movie version of Wanted. That resulted in a strong rebuke from Eminem's management, who immediately denied the story [3]. The claim was also denied by Universal Pictures, the production company for the project, and appears to have been another publicity stunt to stir up controversy (no doubt helping in the huge sales for his book). The movie, which will feature Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman, has just finished production and was promoted from an Easter to a big Summer after much excitement from Universal's top brass. Millar has stated that he will never leave comics and just sees Hollywood as a "fun hobby."

Millar announced 1st November 2005 he would be taking a six-month sabbatical from comics work to rest up after taking ill while in America, although he continued to work in a reduced capacity during this period, working on Ultimate Fantastic Four and Civil War. Future plans include a second set of titles under the Millarworld banner, and "1985", which he has claimed will be "...enormous. This is Marvel's [Chronicles of] Narnia".

Writer profile

Mark Millar is one of the most popular writers in modern comics, though he remains a controversial figure. His fans praise him for clever, provocative and edgy plots, which often have a social undercurrent, while his detractors point to an overuse of shock tactics and a tendency towards polemicism. He has been praised for his ability to inject new life into pre-existing characters, such as The Avengers, although he has also been criticized for his habit of always cherry-picking high-profile, big money projects [citation needed].

Media profile

Mark's online and media presence can be as divisive as some of his writing projects, particularly amongst the more hardcore, traditional online community. Both critics and fans alike have leveled accusations of professional arrogance, relentless self-promotion and the manufacturing of a "rock-star" persona[4]. The creation of the web site "Millarworld" and the creator owned comic book runs entitled "Millarworld 1" and the upcoming "Millarworld 2" are arguably demonstrative of an ego run wild, but he has a reputation for enormous courtesy and friendliness towards his readers. In Australia 2002, he started arranging "drink-ups" for his international fan-base and can often be seen buying drinks in local pubs after his book signings across the world.

Bibliography

UK Publishers

  • Red Razors:
    • "Red Razors" (with Steve Yeowell, in Judge Dredd Megazine #1.8-1.15, 1991)
    • "The Secret Origin of Comrade Ed" (with Steve Yeowell, in Judge Dredd Mega-Special #5, 1992)
    • "Doctor's Orders" (with Steve Yeowell, in Judge Dredd 1993 Yearbook, 1992)
    • "Hunt For Red Razors" (with Nigel Dobbyn, in 2000 AD #908-917, 1994)
    • "Rites of Passage" (with Nigel Dobbyn, in 2000 AD #971, 1995)
  • Robo-Hunter:
    • "Robo-Hunter" (with Jose Casanovas, in 2000 AD #723-734, 1991)
    • "Return of the Puppet Master" (with Simon Jacob, in 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special 1991)
    • "Killer Grannies" (with Graham Higgins, in 2000 AD Yearbook 1992, 1991)
    • "Escape from Bisleyland" (with Anthony Williams, in 2000 AD #750-759, 1991)
    • "Return to Verdus Prologue" (with Jose Casanovas, in 2000 AD #792, 1992)
    • "Return to Verdus" (with Jose Casanovas, in 2000 AD #793-802, 1992)
    • "The Succubus" (with Simon Jacob, in 2000 AD Yearbook 1993, 1992)
    • "Aces of Slades" (with Anthony Williams, in 2000 AD #813-816, 1992-1993)
    • "Serial Stunners" (with Jose Casanovas, in 2000 AD #819-822, 1993)
    • "Keith the Killer Robot" (with Ron Smith, in 2000 AD #825-827, 1993)
    • "Revenge of Dr Robotski" (with Simon Jacob, in 2000 AD #881-884, 1994)
  • Tales from Beyond Science (with Rian Hughes):
    • "The Men in Red" (in 2000 AD #774, 1992)
    • "Long Distance Calls" (in 2000 AD #776, 1992)
    • "The Secret Month Under the Stairs" (in 2000 AD Winter Special #4, 1992)
    • "The Man Who Created Space" (in 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special, 1994)
  • Babe Race 2000 (with Anthony Williams)
    • "Babe Race 2000" (in 2000 AD #883-888, 1994)
    • "Bounty Hunter Mom" (in 2000AD Yearbook 1995)

US publishers

(sorted by year of publication, when available)

  • Ultimate X-Men #1-12, 15-33 & Ultimate War #1-4 (Marvel, 2000-2003). Issues #13-14 were a fill-in 2-issue story written by Chuck Austen introducing Ultimate Gambit.
    • Volume 1: The Tomorrow People (#1 - 6)
    • Volume 2: Return To Weapon X (#7 - 12)
    • Volume 3: World Tour (#13 - 20)
    • Volume 4: Hellfire & Brimstone (#21 - 25)
    • Volume 5: Ultimate War (Ultimate War #1 - 4)
    • Volume 6: Return Of The King (#26 - 33)
  • The Ultimates #1-13 (2002-2004) (Marvel). With artist Bryan Hitch.
    • The Ultimates, Volume 1 - Super Human
    • The Ultimates, Volume 2 - Homeland Security
  • Trouble # 1 - 5 (5 issue Mini Series).
  • Wanted (Image/Top Cow, 2003-2004). 6-issue creator-owned miniseries with artist J.G. Jones.
  • Chosen (Dark Horse, 2004). 3-issue creator-owned miniseries with artist Peter Gross.
  • The Unfunnies (Avatar Press, 2004). 4-issue miniseries, last 2 issues published in 2007.
  • Ultimate Fantastic Four #1-6 (2003-2004). 6-issue story arc initially co-written with Brian Michael Bendis, who wrote most of the later issues of the story. Collected in trade paperback, UFF: Volume 1: The Fantastic
  • Wolverine vol. 3 #20-32 (2004-2005). 13-issue run with artists John Romita Jr. (#20-31) & Kaare Andrews (#32). Collected as:
    • Wolverine: Enemy of the State (hardcover)
    • Wolverine: Enemy of the State Volumes 1 & 2 (paperback)
  • The Ultimates 2 #1-13 (Marvel, 2004-2007). With artist Bryan Hitch.
    • The Ultimates 2, Volume 1 - Gods and Monsters
    • The Ultimates 2, Volume 2 - Grand Theft America

Notes

  1. ^ Sequart Research & Literacy Organization INTERVIEWS: _The Authority
  2. ^ NEWSARAMA.COM: CIVIL WAR & PEACE OF MIND with MARK MILLAR (Part 1)
  3. ^ U nabs 'Wanted' man - Entertainment News, Comic Book Biz, Media - Variety
  4. ^ Comixfan Forums - Wolverine, X-Cutioner: An Interview With Mark Millar
Preceded by Wolverine writer
2004–2005 		Succeeded by
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