Craig Crumpton
03-04-2002, 06:16 PM
The March issue of <a href="http://sequentialtart.com/">Sequential Tart</a> includes a feature interview with Mark Millar, writer on DC Comics' <A href="http://www.toonzone.net/comics/sa00.html">Superman Adventures</a> (as well as other popular comics series <i>Swamp Thing</i>, <i>The Authority</i> and <i>Ultimate X-Men</i>).
In the interview, Millar waxes nostalgic about his work on <i>Superman Advs</i> and describes what it's like to shift his writing for different genres/audiences:
<i>I think the ideal thing is to flutter around between genres and projects. I remember when I was doing Swamp Thing, I ached to do a superhero book and then when I was writing Superman Adventures, eighteen months of being Mister Nice-Guy just erupted into The Authority. In an ideal world, I'd write one All Ages book which I could show my family and one adult book which I could show my friends.
A lot of people used to talk about how comics had to reclaim the kids and rediscover their sense of wonder. Everyone loved the animated books. I was nominated for a couple of Eisners for Superman Adventures and I genuinely loved the comic, but you know what? Nobody buys those books.* I'd love to see them sell a million copies, but they don't. People want drama. People want sex. People want laughs. People want violence. Look at the top twenty or thirty comics and you aren't going to find the Powerpuff Girls in there. But it's the same with movies and music too. Our audience, I think, are the same 18-25 year olds who like summer blockbusters. I love that stuff. It works so well in comics and I really enjoy writing it.</i>
When asked to describe the difference between working for Marvel and DC Comics, Millar adds, "That's a question with a shifting answer. Eighteen months ago, people would have said DC were the risk takers and more creator-friendly. Now it's reversed and this just proves the importance of a liberal management. Joe [Quesada] and Bill [Jemas] literally turned Marvel around in the space of a few months. Two guys. That's all it takes. Things could happen at DC just as easily if the people at the top were replaced."
To read the complete interview, click on the link below:
http://sequentialtart.com/millar2.shtml
* Nothing personal intended against Mark Millar, but there are a number of <i>Superman Advs</i> fans/collectors here at Toon Zone who'd disagree with him. We bought them. Mark, if you're reading this - thanks for the quality writing. It was always a treat - Supes Advs was the only Superman comic title where you could consistently find a solid story featuring the Man O' Steel without having to buy 35 other titles in order to keep up with the continuity.
In the interview, Millar waxes nostalgic about his work on <i>Superman Advs</i> and describes what it's like to shift his writing for different genres/audiences:
<i>I think the ideal thing is to flutter around between genres and projects. I remember when I was doing Swamp Thing, I ached to do a superhero book and then when I was writing Superman Adventures, eighteen months of being Mister Nice-Guy just erupted into The Authority. In an ideal world, I'd write one All Ages book which I could show my family and one adult book which I could show my friends.
A lot of people used to talk about how comics had to reclaim the kids and rediscover their sense of wonder. Everyone loved the animated books. I was nominated for a couple of Eisners for Superman Adventures and I genuinely loved the comic, but you know what? Nobody buys those books.* I'd love to see them sell a million copies, but they don't. People want drama. People want sex. People want laughs. People want violence. Look at the top twenty or thirty comics and you aren't going to find the Powerpuff Girls in there. But it's the same with movies and music too. Our audience, I think, are the same 18-25 year olds who like summer blockbusters. I love that stuff. It works so well in comics and I really enjoy writing it.</i>
When asked to describe the difference between working for Marvel and DC Comics, Millar adds, "That's a question with a shifting answer. Eighteen months ago, people would have said DC were the risk takers and more creator-friendly. Now it's reversed and this just proves the importance of a liberal management. Joe [Quesada] and Bill [Jemas] literally turned Marvel around in the space of a few months. Two guys. That's all it takes. Things could happen at DC just as easily if the people at the top were replaced."
To read the complete interview, click on the link below:
http://sequentialtart.com/millar2.shtml
* Nothing personal intended against Mark Millar, but there are a number of <i>Superman Advs</i> fans/collectors here at Toon Zone who'd disagree with him. We bought them. Mark, if you're reading this - thanks for the quality writing. It was always a treat - Supes Advs was the only Superman comic title where you could consistently find a solid story featuring the Man O' Steel without having to buy 35 other titles in order to keep up with the continuity.