Comic Book Resources

Are Mark Millar and Steve McNiven reviving Marvelman?

Miracleman #15

While currently this is nothing more than pure conjecture, a quick Google search has led this part-time blogger to believe that the much-hyped, super-secret, forthcoming Mark Millar/Steve McNiven project for Marvel is in fact a Marvelman series.

Millar announced Friday that he and McNiven – his collaborator on Civil War and "Old Man Logan" – are joining forces on Nemesis for the House of Ideas with an expected launch date of March 2010.

"Nemesis" just so happens to be the subtitle of Miracleman #15 , written by Alan Moore and penciled by John T. Totleben.

Considered by many to be the most “shocking,” “disturbing” and “sought-after” appearance of the Mick Anglo creation, the issue features an epic battle between Miracleman and his "nemesis" Kid Miracleman.

Did Millar land the ultimate gig to be the man responsible for folding the classic British hero into the Marvel Universe?

Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada has apparently been listening to pitches since the publisher announced at Comic-Con International that it had purchased the rights to the property. Who better than the Glaswegian scribe to reintroduce Marvelman?

Again, nothing but a late-night musing here, but what do you think?

The Fifth Color - Marvel Zombies Field Guide

Marvel, with its finger oh so close to the pulse of popular culture, let an idea fester in the minds of their bullpen, slowly creating a deadly infection through the titles of the Marvel Universe.  We can trace it from an original source, the strain of the disease that would later spread, to one man:  Mark Millar.

As much as I would love to chase him down with a bunch of dudes in HazMat suits, Mark Millar is our Patient Zero in the visual juggernaut that is 'Marvel Zombies'.  Who know where he got it from, the end of a bottle of alcohol, the late night viewing of one too many George Romero movies, some internet clicks and a savvy mind for a play on the not-so affectionate terms for the True Believers, but it is here and it's here to stay.  What Millar wrought, Kirkman forged and Arthur Suydam perfected, three men taking us on a wild ride since 2005 and it shows no sign of stopping.  As long as zombies entertain the pop culture brain, someone's going to want to eat those brains.

So, in no particular order, here are some simple signs and helpful tips to the wide multi-universal world of The House of Undead Ideas.
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Millar teases next project with McNiven: Nemesis

Nemesis teaser poster

Comics writer Mark Millar shared a teaser poster on his message board this morning about his next project with artist Steve McNiven, a project called Nemesis. The duo previously worked on Marvel's "Old Man Logan" story in Wolverine, as well as the Civil War mini-series.

"Obviously, things are going to change forever after you see what we have in store," he wrote in the post. Nemesis is due in March.

Millar and Gibbons plan to work together ... eventually

Mark Millar

Robot 6 confirmed this morning that writer Mark Millar and Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons are looking to join forces on a possible creator-owned series, as reported by Rich Johnston on his new blog.

However, Millar says the details of the project are off the mark.

"Rich [is] totally wrong,"  Millar told Robot 6. "This series I’m announcing in summer is someone else, though Dave and I [are] talking about doing SOMETHING in about a year. No idea what or where it is yet."

Asked if the project he's announcing at Comic-Con International is his long-rumored project with Civil War and "Old Man Logan" collaborator Steve McNiven, Millar said: "No, that’s already semi-official. Have another one we’ll announce, too, which might be even bigger. Should be a big summer."

For more from Millar himself, visit his forum.

Everyone's A Critic: A round-up of comic-related reviews and thinkpieces

The Color of Water

* Let's start things off with Kristy Valenti, who examines the Seven Stages of the Comics Critic:

Everyone is familiar with this phase in its various forms: passionate defense of one's favorite superheroes, even (and especially) from those currently cartooning them, leading to message-board brawling; the realization that it's easy to snark crappy comics, of which there are legion in all genres and from all countries; long, slightly combative conversations with relatives about how even the New York Times literary establishment has embraced the medium; railing against the current comics (and comics criticism) establishment. This is also the phase in which the danger of style over substance looms, if a critic becomes more concerned with flashy, rather than solid, writing.

* The AV Club's Noel Murray has some interesting thoughts on Tom Spurgeon's list of top 10 important comic book series. Spurgeon offers some follow-up thoughts in response here.

* Lissa Pattillo posts what I think is the first review of The Color of Water, the second volume in Kim Dong Hwa's manwha trilogy.

* Both Nina Stone and the Oregonian's Steve Duin think Kick-Ass is awesome.

* Sean T. Collins includes Phoebe Glockner's Diary of a Teenage Girl in his ongoing Favorites series: "Heartbreak and rage: that's what I feel when I read this book."

* Curt Purcell peruses Doug Wolk's Reading Comics and declares it good: "Basically, I'm enough of an outsider to find a lot of the current comics scene puzzling, but enough of an insider to have a fairly precise sense of what I don't understand. And that's what makes Wolk's book so worthwhile for me."

* Andrew Wheeler reviews a whole mess o' manga.

Millar ok after reaction to Crohn's medication

This is pretty scary -- the Sunday Mail reports that comics writer Mark Millar, of Wanted, Fantastic Four and Civil War fame, almost died last month after having a severe reaction to his medication for Crohn's disease:

"I went off sick the first week of December and thought I had a heavy cold or flu. My temperature was a consistent 103F and I was awake all night shivering.

"After a week, it wasn't passing andmy wife made me an appointment with the doc.

"He did tests and found my blood was wonky, my spleen was huge and my liver was acting weird - all the symptoms of several very nasty things.

"I was sleeping 20 hours a day and have almost no memory of the whole episode."

Millar goes on to say that although he's feeling "a little stronger" now, he'll be taking January off in order to fully recover. On behalf of the rest of the Robot 6 crew, I'd like to wish Mark Millar a speedy recovery.

Hat tip: Journalista.