Millar, Mark 1969(?)-

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Millar, Mark 1969(?)-

PERSONAL:

Born December 24, 1969 (some sources say 1970), in Coatbridge, Scotland; married, 1993; wife's name Gillian; children: Emily. Religion: Catholic.

ADDRESSES:

Home and office—Glasgow, Scotland.

CAREER:

Writer. Marvel Comics, senior writer and story consultant, 2001—. Writer for 2000 AD, DC Comics, and for British television. Creator of Millar-world, a creator-owned line of comics.

WRITINGS:

"ULTIMATE X-MEN" SERIES; GRAPHIC NOVELS

The Tomorrow People, illustrated by Andy Kubert and Adam Kubert, Marvel Comics (New York, NY), 2001.

Return to Weapon X, illustrated by Adam Kubert, Tom Raney, and Tom Derenick, Marvel Comics (New York, NY), 2002.

World Tour, illustrated by Adam Kubert and Chris Bachalo, Marvel Comics (New York, NY), 2002.

Hellfire and Brimstone, illustrated by Adam Kubert, Miki Danny, and Andrew Kaare, Marvel Comics (New York, NY), 2003.

Ultimate War, illustrated by Chris Bachalo, Marvel Comics (New York, NY), 2003.

Return of the King, illustrated by Adam Kubert and David Finch, Marvel Comics (New York, NY), 2003.

"THE AUTHORITY" SERIES; GRAPHIC NOVELS

Jenny Sparks: The Secret History of "The Authority," WildStorm Productions (La Jolla, CA), 2001.

(With Tom Peyer) The Authority: Transfer of Power, illustrated by Frank Quitetly and D. Nguyen, DC Comics (New York, NY), 2002.

The Authority: Earth Inferno and Other Stories, DC Comics (New York, NY), 2002.

Absolute Authority, Volume 2, DC Comics (New York, NY), 2003.

OTHER

(With Grant Morrison) Vampirella: Ascending Evil, 1998.

The Ultimates, Volume 1, "Super-Human," illustrated by Brian Hitch, Marvel Comics (New York, NY), 2002.

(With Antony Williams) The Unfunnies, four volumes, Avatar Press (Rantoul, IL), 2003.

(With Peter Gross) Wanted, Top Cow Productions (Los Angeles, CA), 2003.

(With Ashley Wood) Run, Dark Horse Comics (Milwaukie, OR), 2003.

Marvel Knights Spider-Man, Volume 1, "Down among the Dead Men," Marvel Comics (New York, NY), 2004.

Trouble, Marvel Comics (New York, NY), 2004.

Superman: Red Son, illustrated by Dave Johnson and Kilian Plunkett, DC Comics (New York, NY), 2004.

The Chosen, illustrated by Allan Gross, Dark Horse (Milwaukie, OR), 2004.

Superman Adventures, DC Comics (New York, NY), 2004-.

Kick-Ass, illustrated by John Romita, Jr., 2007.

Also author of Wolverine: Agent of Shield, The Authority: Under New Management, The Ultimates, Volume 2, "Homeland Security," The Ultimates: Gods and Monsters, Marvel Knights Spider Man: Venomous, Ultimate Fantastic Four, Volume 1, "The Fantastic," Superman Adventures: Last Son of Krypton, and Marvel Knights SpiderMan: The Last Stand. Writer of unreleased television series, Sikeside.

ADAPTATIONS:

Sikeside, an unreleased television program by Millar, has been optioned for theatrical release.

SIDELIGHTS:

Mark Millar is a highly successful writer of English-language comics, known for bringing a somewhat satirical, postmodern sensibility to the genre. Millar's first success was on the already established comic book series "The Authority," published by Wildstorm Productions. He followed this with work on several popular series that updated classic Marvel characters for new audiences. These included "Ultimate X-Men," "Marvel Knights Spider-Man," "Ultimate Fantastic Four," and "Wolverine." He created the best-selling graphic novel Superman: Red Son, in which the Superman story is rewritten so that young Superman is raised under Communist rule in the Soviet Union. In 2007, Millar collaborated with John Romita, Jr., with whom he had previously worked on "Wolverine," to create Kick-Ass, advertised as the most violent comic ever written.

Millar's early success, "The Authority," features a group of superheroes who cut through the red tape. In a cynical twist, the stories acknowledge that in traditional superhero tales, the real villains usually get away, only to confront the hero again. The Authority makes its own laws and takes on missions that vary from foiling corrupt governments to saving the lives of refugees. But despite their good deeds, the Authority members are more narcissistic than noble, reveling in their power and fame.

In "The Authority," Millar takes classic superhero characters and gives them new quirks. The Hulk is characterized as a mass murderer instead of a misunderstood mutant; Giant-Man is guilty of domestic violence; and Thor is dangerous radical. The superheroes battle extraterrestrials and their own inner demons. Millar was also instrumental in creating the groundbreaking Marvel Comics series "Civil War." This unusual saga pits various major Marvel superheroes against each other in an epic struggle. Millar commented in an interview with a Newsarama.com contributor: "Above all else, this was a beat-em-up featuring every hero in the Marvel Universe. One of the huge differences between Marvel and DC for me as a wee boy was that Marvel guys would always meet, fight and then realize the error of their ways. It was peculiar, but also very unpredictable and exciting. That was honestly my big intention with the book. Superheroes fighting. Does it get more lowbrow than that? I'm sorry, but that's what excites my inner ten-year-old and I'm heartened to hear retailers and friends tell me how much kids are into it." Asked if "Civil War" was meant to be read as allegory on the political situation in the Middle East, Millar replied: "Who cares what I think of current U.S. foreign policy? People just want to see Hercules braining Thor."

Reviewing a compilation of "The Authority" issues, a Publishers Weekly writer stated that it "turns the concept of superheroics on its head in loving, cynical fashion and tells a mean, fast story along the way." Reviewing the same compilation for Entertainment Weekly, Jeff Jensen wrote: "Exhilarating yet ruthless, this may be the final word on superheroes."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Advocate, July 18, 2000, Michael Glitz, "Authority Always Wins," p. 49.

Booklist, March 15, 2002, review of "Ultimate X-Men," p. 1238; November 1, 2005, Ray Olsen, review of The Chosen, p. 34; May 15, 2006, review of Superman Adventures: Last Son of Krypton, p. 45.

Daily Mail (London, England), January 29, 2001, Iain Fleming, "Marvellous Move for a Superman in the World of Comics," p. 26.

Entertainment Weekly, August 18, 2000, Jeff Jensen, review of "The Authority," p. 122; June 27, 2003, Nisha Gopalan, review of Trouble, p. 144.

Evening Times (Glasgow, Scotland), January 27, 2001, "America's Superheroes Get a Trendy Makeover from Lanarkshire Comic Writer," p. 7; April 24, 2004, Maureen Ellis, "Glasgow's Hollywood Heroes," p. 12.

Library Journal, September 1, 2004, Steve Raiteri, review of The Ultimates, Volume 2, "Homeland Security," p. 128; March 15, 2005, review of Ultimate Fantastic Four, Volume 1, "The Fantastic," p. 64.

Library Media Connection, April, 2003, review of Ultimate X-Men: The Tomorrow People, p. 17.

Mirror (London, England), May 13, 2002, Shaun Milne, "Hoops Super Heroes Sign Up X-Men," p. 4.

Observer (London, England), May 9, 2004, David Thompson, review of Superman: Red Son, p. 18.

Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH), August 4, 2001, Michael Sangiacomo, "Marvel Adds a New Twist to Characters," p. E7.

Publishers Weekly, December 8, 2003, review of The Absolute Authority, Volume 2, p. 49; July 5, 2004, review of The Ultimates, Volume 2, "Homeland Security," p. 41.

School Library Journal, December, 2003, Douglas P. Davey, review of Ultimate X-Men: The Tomorrow People, p. 89.

Scotsman (Edinburgh, Scotland), January 29, 2001, Matt Warren, "Millar's Tales of Marvel," p. 4; April 2, 2001, "Mediaphile Mark Millar," p. 4; February 28, 2004, Stephen McGinty, review of Superman: Red Son, p. 8.

Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), October 3, 2004, Drew Sheneman, "This Week's Comic," p. 6.

Sun (London, England), May 13, 2002, Toby McDonald, "X Men to Be Hooped Crusaders," p. 3.

Sunday Herald (Glasgow, Scotland), July 11, 2004, Peter Ross, "Caped Crusader," p. 17.

Sunday Times (London, England), September 13, 1998, Mark Millar, "Mark Millar's Diary," p. 3; May 30, 1999, Emma Cowing, "Superman Loses to Supermac," p. 12; January 28, 2001, Phil Miller, "Super Scot Wins Top Job in Comics," p. 9; February 3, 2002, Phil Miller, "Marvel Superheroes Get Trainspotting Makeover," p. 13; April 27, 2003, Mark Millar, "Is It a Bird?" p. 1, Senay Boztas, "Superman Declares War on America," p. 5.

U.S. News and World Report, December 18, 2000, James M. Pethokoukis, "Breaking the Comic-Book Mold," p. 69.