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Pat Mills

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Pat Mills
NationalityBritish
Area(s)writer
Notable works
Sláine
ABC Warriors
Nemesis the Warlock

Pat Mills, nicknamed 'the godfather of British comics'[1], is a comics writer and editor who, along with John Wagner, revitalised British boys comics in the 1970s, and has remained a leading light in British comics ever since.

His comics are notable for their violence and anti-authoritarianism. He is best known for creating 2000 AD and playing a major part in the development of Judge Dredd.

Biography

He started his career as a sub-editor for D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd, where he met Wagner. In 1971 both left to go freelance, and were soon writing scripts for IPC's girls' and humour comics. After D.C. Thomson launched Warlord, a successful war-themed weekly, Mills was asked in 1975 to develop a rival title for IPC. Based in the girls' comics department to avoid the attention of the staff of the boys' department, Mills, along with Wagner and Gerry Finley-Day, worked in secret to create Battle Picture Weekly. Battle's stories were more violent and its characters more working class than IPC's traditional fare, and it was an immediate hit. Having made the comic ready for launch, Mills resigned as editor. He would later write the celebrated First World War series Charley's War, drawn by Joe Colquhoun, for the title.

After launching Battle, Mills began developing a new boys' title, Action, launched in 1976. Action's mix of violence and anti-authoritarianism proved controversial and the title lasted less than two years before being withdrawn in the face of media protests. It was briefly revived in neutered form before being merged into Battle.

His next creation was the science fiction-themed weekly 2000 AD, launched in 1977. As with Battle and Action he developed most of the early series before handing them over to other writers. He took over the development of Judge Dredd when creator John Wagner temporarily walked out, and wrote many of the early stories, establishing the character and his world, before Wagner returned.

In 1978 IPC launched Starlord, a short-lived companion title for 2000 AD. Mills contributed Ro-Busters, a series about a robot disaster squad, which moved to 2000 AD when Starlord was cancelled. Ro-Busters was the beginning of a mini-universe of interrelated stories Mills was to create for 2000 AD, including ABC Warriors and Nemesis the Warlock. Artist Kevin O'Neill was involved in the creation of all three. Nemesis in particular, featuring a morally ambiguous alien hero fighting a despotic human empire, allowed Mills to work out his feelings towards religion and imperialism. Another strand of his 2000 AD work was Sláine, a barbarian fantasy based on Celtic mythology and neo-paganism, which he co-created with his then wife Angela Kincaid.

He also had a hand in IPC's line of Horror comics aimed at girls such as Chiller.

He has had little success in American comics, with the exception of Marshal Law, a savage superhero satire published by Marvel Comics' Epic imprint in the late 1980s, drawn by O'Neill.

In 1988 he was involved in the launch of Crisis, a politically aware 2000 AD spin-off aimed at older readers. For it he wrote Third World War, drawn initially by Carlos Ezquerra, a polemical critique of global capitalism and the ways it exploits the developing world. The title lasted until 1991 and launched the careers of talents such as Garth Ennis, John Smith and Sean Phillips.

In 1991 Mills launched Toxic!, an independent colour newsstand weekly comic with a violent, anarchic tone, perhaps as a reaction against the politically worthy Crisis, and a creator-owned ideal. Many of the stories were created by Mills and co-writer Tony Skinner, including Accident Man, an assassin who makes his hits look like accidents. Toxic! lasted less than a year, but gave a start to talents such as Duke Mighten and Martin Emond.

In 1995, he broke in the French market, one of his life's goals, with Sha, created with French artist Olivier Ledroit

He continues to write Sláine, Bill Savage, Black Siddha and ABC Warriors for 2000 AD, and also the Franco-Belgian comic Requiem Chevalier Vampire, with art by Olivier Ledroit and its spin-off Claudia Chevalier Vampire, with art by Franck Tacito.

Two new series, Greysuit, a super-powered government agent drawn by John Higgins, and Defoe: 1666, a 17th century zombie hunter drawn by Leigh Gallagher, began in 2000 AD prog 1540.[2]

He wrote a Doctor Who audio play titled "Dead London" for Big Finish Productions, featuring the Eighth Doctor and Lucie Miller, which was released in January 2008 as the first part of the follow-up season to the one originally broadcast on BBC 7. This season is going straight to CD. [3]

Bibliography

Comics

Comics work includes:

  • M.A.C.H.1:
    • "Vulcan" (with Enio, in 2000 AD #1, 1977)
    • "The Final Encounter " (with Montero , in 2000 AD #61-64, 1978)
  • Judge Dredd (in 2000 AD #2-3 & 19-20, 1977)
  • Shako! (in 2000 AD #20-35, 1977)
  • The Visible Man (in 2000 AD #47-52, 1978)
  • Judge Dredd: The Cursed Earth (co-writer, in 2000 AD #61-85, 1978)
  • Ro-Busters (in Starlord #1-4 & 7-12, 1978)
  • Planet of the Damned (in Starlord #1-10, 1978)
  • Ro-Busters (in 2000 AD #86-101, 1978-79)
  • Charley's War (in Battle, 1/6/79 to 1/26/85)
  • Ro-Busters (in 2000 AD # 103-115, 1979)
  • Wagner's Walk (in Tornado # 1-7 & 10-19, 1979)
  • Disaster 1990 (in 2000 AD #119-139, 1979)
  • ABC Warriors:
    • "ABC Warriors" (with Kevin O'Neill, in 2000 AD #119, 1979)
    • "The Retreat from Volgow" (with Kevin O'Neill, in 2000 AD #120, 1979)
    • "Mongrol" (with Mike McMahon, in 2000 AD #121-122, 1979)
    • "The Order of Knights Martial" (with Brendan McCarthy, in 2000 AD #123-124, 1979)
    • "The Bougainville Massacre" (with Mike McMahon, in 2000 AD #125-126, 1979)
    • "Steelhorn" (with Brendan McCarthy, in 2000 AD #127-128, 1979)
    • "Mars, the Devil Planet" (with Brendan McCarthy, in 2000 AD #129, 1979)
    • “Cyboons” (with Dave Gibbons, in 2000 AD #130-131, 1979)
    • "The Red Death" (with Mike McMahon, in 2000 AD #132-133, 1979) [4]
    • "Golgatha" (with Carlos Ezquerra, in 2000 AD #134-136, 1979)
    • "Mad George" (with Mike McMahon, in 2000 AD #137-139, 1979)
    • "The Black Hole" (with Simon Bisley (1-4, 9-12, 17-21) and SMS (5-8, 13-16), in 2000 AD #555-566 & 573-581, 1988)
    • "Khronicles of Khaos Book I" (with Kev Walker, in 2000 AD #750-757, 1991)
    • "Khronicles of Khaos Book II" (with Kev Walker, in 2000 AD #780-84 & 787-790, 1992)
    • "Dishonourable Discharge" (with Kev Walker, in 2000 AD Winter Special #4, 1992)
    • "Hellbringer Book I" (with Kev Walker, in 2000 AD #904-911, 1994)
    • "Hellbringer Book II" (with Kev Walker, in 2000 AD #964-971, 1995)
    • "Joe Pineapples - His Greatest Hits" (with Tom Carney, in 2000 AD 1996 Sci-Fi Special)
    • "Roadkill" (with Kev Walker, in 2000 AD prog 2000, 1999)
    • "The Third Element " (with Henry Flint, in 2000 AD #1234-1236, 2001)
    • "The Clone Cowboys" (with Liam Sharp, in 2000 AD #1237-1239, 2001)
    • "The Tripods" (with Mike McMahon, in 2000 AD #1240-1242, 2001)
    • "The Zero Option" (with Boo Cook, in 2000 AD #1243-1245, 2001)
    • "Assault on the Red House" (with Henry Flint, in 2000 AD #1236-1248, 2001)
    • "The Shadow Warriors Book I" (with Carlos Ezquerra, in 2000 AD #1336-1341, 2003)
    • "The Shadow Warriors Book II" (with Henry Flint, in 2000 AD #1400-1405, 2004)
    • "The Shadow Warriors Book III" (with Henry Flint, in 2000 AD #1476-1485, 2006)
    • "The Volgan War V1" (with Clint Langley, in 2000 AD #1518-1525, 2007)
    • "The Volgan War V2" (with Clint Langley, in 2000 AD #1550-1559, 2007)
  • Ro-Jaws' Robo-Tales (in 2000 AD # 144, 1979)
  • Judge Dredd (in 2000 AD # 152-54, 1980)
  • Nemesis the Warlock:
    • "Terror Tube" (with Kevin O'Neill, in 2000 AD #167, 1980) [5]
    • "Killer Watt" (with Kevin O'Neill, in 2000 AD #178-179, 1980)
    • "The Sword Sinister" (with Kevin O'Neill, in 1981 Sci-Fi Special)
    • "The World of Termight (Book I)" (with Kevin O'Neill, in 2000 AD #222-244, 1981)
    • "The Alien Alliance" (Book II) (with Jesus Redondo, in 2000 AD #246-257, 1982)
    • "The Secret Life of the Blitzspear" (with Kevin O'Neill, in 2000 AD Annual 1983, 1982)
    • "The World of Nemesis (Book III)" (with Kevin O'Neill, in 2000 AD #335-349, 1983)
    • "A Day in the Death of Torquemada" (with Kevin O'Neill, in 2000 AD Annual 1984, 1983)
    • "The Secret Life of the Blitzspear" (with Kevin O'Neill, in 2000 AD Annual 1984, 1983)
    • "The Gothic Empire (Book IV)" (with Kevin O'Neill (1-2) and Bryan Talbot (3-20), in 2000 AD #387-388, 1984)
    • "Ego Trip" (with Kevin O'Neill, in 2000 AD #430, 1985)
    • "Vengeance of Thoth (Book V)" (with Bryan Talbot, in 2000 AD #435-445, 1985)
    • "The Torture Tube" (with Kevin O'Neill, in Dice Man #1, 1986)
    • "Torquemurder (Book VI) Part 1" (with Bryan Talbot, in 2000 AD #482-487, 1986)
    • "Torquemurder (Book VI) Part 2" (with Bryan Talbot, in 2000 AD #500-504, 1986-1987)
    • "Torquemada the God" (with Kevin O'Neill, in 2000 AD #520-524, 1987)
    • "A Bedtime Story" (with Tony Luke, in 2000 AD #534, 1987)
    • "The Two Torquemadas (Book VII)" (with John Hicklenton, in 2000 AD #546-557, 1987-1988)
    • "Deathbringer (Book IX)" (with John Hicklenton, in 2000 AD #586-593 and #605-608, 1988-1989)
    • "The Tomb of Torquemada" (with Kevin O'Neill, in Poster Prog Nemesis #1, 1994)
    • "Book X: The Final Conflict" (with Kevin O'Neill, in 2000 AD prog 2000, 1999)
  • Dan Dare (in Eagle # 1-33, 1982)
  • Dan Dare (in Eagle # 34-38, 1982)
  • Dan Dare (in Eagle # 39-83, 1982-83)
  • Sláine:
    • Warrior's Dawn (2005, ISBN 1904265332):
    • Time Killer (2007, ISBN 1905437218):
    • Uncollected:
    • The Books of Invasions: Moloch and Golamh (with Clint Langley, 2006, ISBN 1904265820):
      • "The Books of Invasions I: Moloch" (in 2000 AD #1322-1326 and prog 2003)
      • "The Books of Invasions II: Golamh" (in 2000 AD #1350-1355)
    • The Books of Invasions: Scota and Tara (with Clint Langley, 2006, ISBN 1904265928):
      • "The Books of Invasions III: Scota" (in 2000 AD #1371-1376)
      • "The Books of Invasions IV: Tara" (in 2000 AD #1420-1425 and prog 2005)
    • The Books of Invasions: Odacon (with Clint Langley, July 2007, ISBN 1904265928):
      • "The Books of Invasions V: Odacon" (in 2000 AD #1436-1442)
      • "Carnival" (in 2000 AD #1469-1475 and prog 2006)
  • Marshal Law (with Kevin O'Neill):
    • Fear and Loathing (collects Marshal Law #1-6, Epic Comics, 1990, ISBN 0-87135-676-7)
    • Blood Sweat and Tears (collects Kingdom of the Blind, Hateful Dead, and Super Babylon, Dark Horse, 1993, ISBN 1-878574-95-7).
    • Fear and Loathing (collects Marshal Law #1-6 (Titan, 2002, ISBN 1-84023-452-0)
    • Blood, Sweat and Fears (collects Kingdom of the Blind, Hateful Dead, and Super Babylon, Titan Books, 2003, ISBN 1-84023-526-8)
    • Fear Asylum (collects Takes Manhattan, Secret Tribunal, and vs The Mask, Titan Books, 2003, ISBN 1-84023-699-X)
    • The Day of the Dead (an illustrated novella, Titan Books, 2004, ISBN 1-84023-636-1)
    • Cloak of Evil (an illustrated novella, Titan Books, 2006, ISBN 1-84023-683-3)
  • Nemesis & Deadlock (with Carl Critchlow):
    • "Warlocks and Wizards" (in 2000 AD #700, 1990)
    • "Enigmass Variations" (in 2000 AD #723-729, 1991)
  • Finn:
    • "Finn Book 1" (with co-writer Tony Skinner, with art by Jim Elston (1-10) and Kevin Wicks (5-10), in 2000 AD #770-779, 1992)
    • "Finn Book 2" (with co-writer Tony Skinner and Jim Elston/Kevin Wicks, in 2000 AD #807-557, 1992-1993)
    • "Origins of Finn" (with Liam McCormack-Sharp, in 2000 AD #924-927, 1995)
    • "Interventions" (with Paul Staples, in 2000 AD #928-949, 1995)
    • "Season of the Witch" (with Paul Staples, in 2000 AD #991-999, 1996)
  • Sha (with Olivier Ledroit):
    • "The Shadow One" (1995, ISBN 2877645657)
    • "Soul Wound" (1996, ISBN 2877646483)
    • "Soul Vengeance" (1997, ISBN 2877648192)
  • Black Siddha (with Simon Davis):
    • "Bad Karma" (in Judge Dredd Megazine #202-208, 2003)
    • "Kali Yuga" (in Judge Dredd Megazine #218-223, 2004)
    • "Return of the Jester" (in Judge Dredd Megazine #245-252, 2006)
  • Savage (with Charlie Adlard):
    • "Savage Book I" (in 2000 AD #1387-1396, 2004)
    • "Savage Book II" (in 2000 AD #1450-1459, 2005)
    • "Savage Book III" (in 2000 AD #1526-1535, 2007)
  • Broz (with Adrian Smith):
    • "L'arme soeur" (2005, ISBN 2914420102)
    • "Recherché... Mort ou vif!" (December 2005, ISBN 2914420137)

Novels

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ Molcher, M: "Pat Mills - the Guv'nor", Judge Dredd Megazine, #261
  2. ^ 2000AD Online - news zone
  3. ^ Outpost Gallifrey: Doctor Who RSS News Feed
  4. ^ ABC Warriors in "The Red Death"
  5. ^ Terror Tube online (may require registration)

Interviews

Preceded by
–
 2000 AD editor
1977 		Succeeded by
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