Huzzah for the internet, as Mark Millar’s “Comics are DOOMED (If by ‘Doomed,’ you mean ‘Not doomed, and will in fact have another boom period after this lull that I am talking about, and anyway, I’m only talking about the American Direct Market mainstream industry, oh, and it’s something that everyone is aware of already’)” theory does the round of other, more reflective, message boards.
Over on The Engine, the view is somewhat bemused. Jamie McKelvie, artist of Image’s Phonogram:
I think it’s bollocks, personally. But then I take everything he says with a pinch of salt. According to him, after all, I’m either rich or I don’t exist.
NYC Mech/Cross Bronx’s Ivan Brandon:
while i don’t for a second believe that mark is serious with that essay, it shows a profound (intentional) misunderstanding of how hollywood works.
Warren Ellis:
I guess his happyhappyjoyjoy “huge boom coming we will all sleep in beds made of golden vaginas” schtick ran out of steam. “Likewise, every writer I know has a movie deal at the moment.” Yeah, right… I like Mark a lot, but he just can’t stop himself from fucking with people.
On the Comics Journal message board, things are less restrained:
what world does this guy live in? one where apparently the idea of “the next frank miller” is a good idea… who are these young budding talents getting plucked away from their comic books in order to work in Hollywood? is he talking about young fresh faced 45 year old comics newcomers who just recently got their starts at vertigo in the year 1990?
seriously everything he says seems to come from a place entirely divorced from reality. is this article perhaps written about the current state of the comics medium in the ultimate marvel universe?
Or how about…
Quite the tempest in a teapot. Comics have always been a springboard for writers wishing to trade up. As Alfred Bester– a prime example of upwardly mobile scripters– observed, comics (like Vaudeville) was a place to be bad in. …[C]omics are seeing an influx of writers from outside, successful ones like Brad Meltzer, Sam Hamm, Michael Chabon, Jonathan Lethem, Ken Smith, Ian Frazier…even Doris Lessing has written her graphic novel. Millar’s fears are premature. In fact, comics are far more attractive a venue for topflight writing and artistic talent today than they were twenty, thirty, or forty years ago.
On the artistic side, I’m encouraged by the return of successful “Hollywoodised” artists such as Berni Wrightson, Howard Chaykin, and Mike Ploog to comics.
No– the outlook is good, from the talent side!
Or, you know, you could be cynical:
Since when have mainstream comics fretted over a lack of quality writers?
September 5th, 2006 at 2:05 pm
I love Jamie McKelvie’s comment! That’s exactly how I felt when I heard about Millar’s amazingly myopic “every pro I know is rich” remark. It wasn’t so long ago that he was writing Superman Adventures and relying on the kindness of friends…
September 5th, 2006 at 3:20 pm
Mark Millar needs to stop acting like 50 Cent. Stop sounding silly and go do the work with the most professional talent available. I’d be more excited with Millar and Mark Bagley than any other talent.
September 5th, 2006 at 5:02 pm
Before Hollywood, Howard Chaykin gave us American Flagg!, Twilight, Time 2, The Shadow.
After Hollywood, Chaykin gave us Pulp Fantastic, American Century, Angel and the Ape, Mighty Love.
Before Hollywood, Frank Miller gave us Daredevil, Ronin, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.
After Hollywood, Miller gave us That Yellow Bastard, All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder, Tales to Offend, Give Me Liberty.
Any questions?
September 5th, 2006 at 7:30 pm
After Hollywood, Dan Clowes gave us Ice Haven and The Death-Ray.
September 5th, 2006 at 7:33 pm
Not that anyone asked, but here’s Rob Liefeld’s take on Millar’s column:
http://robliefeld.proboards84.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1157049900
“Mark’s observations are certainly possible but not likely and here’s why….
“Hollywood in notoriously fickle as all heck and they would burn through and toss aside at least 3 quarters of the talent that would be lured into what is a very tempting and lucrative web.
“Those creator’s tossed aside would return to comics in a heartbeat.
“There are plenty of well-established movie talents ALREADY IN the movie business that have it hard enough and they have hit movies and series under their belts and on the resume.
“Comic creators are a cheaper, even at six figures, alternative to many established directors and screenwriters but they would have alot to prove. Hollywood is a mean town and I say that having had great experiences with the movie business.
“Mark Millar may in fact be a stand out talent that does indeed become comics first J.K. Rowlings,I wouldn’t bet against him, but it won’t be as easy for everyone else.”