Mark Millar held another of his irregular “Millar Hours” yesterday, taking questions from posters on his message board and letting us know that he happens to love the Fifth Dimension and thinks that John McCain has “Captain America level integrity”. What, you want to know about his comic work? That’s under the jump.
- On his much-talked-about-by-him Superman pitch: “My approach to Supes would take a long time to explain. In fact, it would take about sixty issues. But absolutely nothing like it would have been done before. It would take some cues from Reeve and early Action Comics, but mostly just take the character of Superman and leave all the trappings in our childhoods. I love, love, love all those trappings, but they’re fairy tales and I wouldn’t redo Toyman or Bizarro or any of those things I love. I’d do Superman in a whole new way. I can say no more for now.”
- Given his choice of DC book - outside of Superman, of course - he’d go for JLA: “I think I’d so a really good JLA and know the characters very well. Someone like me and McNiv on JLA would be suit.”
- He won’t be returning to Spider-Man, but still plans to do an X-Men book: “No plans to do more Spidey. The world has Kick-Ass now! As for the X, without question. Even if I go away Bry and I will come back and do these awesome plans. This has been on the cards since 04 and I’m no[w] an X expert after reading literally every X comic ever. That’s not going to waste!!!”
- On the possibility of writing any future crossover books: “Hell yeah. Civil War was the biggest hit I’ve had. Hard work, but worth it. A DC one would be interesting. I have a beauty in mind…”
I know, I know. You’re still wondering about the John McCain thing, aren’t you? Don’t worry, he’s not playing favorites:
I like all three main candidates. Hell, I even liked Huckabee. So it’s a tough call. Hillary is experienced, but sneaky. McCain has Captain America level integrity, but will keep us in a war until Buck Rogers and The 25th Century and Obama is charismatic, but untested. For once I will not be pissed off by any of them.
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:06 pm
How is Obama any more “untested” than Hillary? I don’t want to start a political pissing match here, but both have served some time in the Senate. And really, that’s about all Hillary’s done too. She lived at the White House, but that’s got nothing to do with actually being involved in governing the country. She’s never even dodged sniper fire!
I just think this whole “lack of experience” question about Obama is crap. He’s no less presidential than Hillary. If anything, I like the fact that he’s not part of the “old school” of Washington politics. He’s been a less of a politician and more of a public servant in his life. At least in my view.
Anyhow, Millar’s views on McCain don’t bother me. There are things to admire about the guy, even though I think he’d make a bad president. It’s his saying he liked Huckabee that frightens me. Look past the friendly, everyman persona and that guy is one scary, Bible-thumping dude.
Back to comics though… I would like to see Millar get his shot at writing Superman. The character is, IMO, in such a rut (aside from All Star Supes) and has been for a long time. I don’t know what Millar would have in mind, but something closer to the more bad-ass Supes of the early days (and it sounds like that might be what he’s thinking) would be great.
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:41 pm
The Huckabee thing shocked me too. Millar must have been swayed by the Chuck Norris endorsement. Damn you Chuck Norris. You are to only use your powers FOR GOOD.
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:48 pm
What are we? Chopped liver?
April 2nd, 2008 at 3:33 pm
The disappointing thing about Millar’s political analysis is that it’s so received and predigested, merely repeating the most fatuous cliches you’d get from watching American television for five minutes. It’s exactly as if he’d announced “I’ve had this major insight about the Beatles: John is serious, George is quiet, Ringo is funny, and Paul is cute.” Sorry guys, that turned out to be wrong — or at best misleading — on all four counts. What makes this utter shallowness so disappointing is his status as a popular culture creator, someone who has a soapbox, someone whose words and ideas reach a big audience and could theoretically introduce his readers to slightly newer or more interesting ideas.
Mind you, considering the range of Millar’s previous sociopolitical statements in his work I suppose we can all be glad he isn’t giving this election the benefit of greater attention…
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Remember that time Captain America was living with the wife who waited for him while he was frozen at the same time he was dating a much younger, richer woman?
April 2nd, 2008 at 6:30 pm
HOW DARE SOMEONE HAVE AN OPINION!
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:39 pm
edc - Mark Millar has every right to have opinions, and we have every right to have opinions ABOUT his opinions, even when OUR opinions are that HIS opinions are stupid.
That’s the way free speech should work, and anyone who can’t tolerate the idea of other people using their free speech to make fun his own free speech should simply refrain from exercising his own free speech in the first place.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Perhaps people from other countries shouldn’t say too much about American politics.