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‘HOW COME HE HATES SUPERHEROES WHEN HE'S ONE HIMSELF?’
Legendary British writer Pat Mills tells Henry Northmore about his new project, working with Kevin O'Neill and the world of French comics
comics. chances are you'll have read some work by
Pat Mills. Despite his legendary stattts inventing characters like Slaine the Barbarian. Nemesis the Warlock and ABC Warriors. he actually started ottt writing for [PCs girls comics in the early 70s. It was a move to Battle and Action where he really made his mark. As one of the creators of Battle he went on to conceive the epic Charley's War. an often poignant depiction of life on the front line in World War One.
The next phase of his career included helping to launch 2000A!) and Judge Dredd (also writing the classic Cursed Earth saga). shaping the British comic industry as we know it today. However. it was the introduction of l989's Marshal Law that resonated on both sides of the Atlantic. Printed by Marvel‘s Epic imprint it was a cutting satire set in a nightmarish world of degenerate superheroes and the ultimate anti- hero. Marshal Law. a man charged with policing the decadent superhero community. ‘He hunts superheroes and. as he says. he hasn‘t found any yet.‘ explains the verbose and excitable Mills. ‘People ask “how come he hates superheroes so much when he‘s a superhero himself?" And of course the answer is “because he’s fucked up!”
The character was brought to life by the intricate art of Kevin ()‘Neill. Mills‘ most frequent collaborator and sparring partner. ‘I think it’s fair to say that we share a similar dark sense of humour.‘ Mills notes while reflecting on their new collaboration for Marshal Law: Origins, a double bill of blackly comic
If you have even a passing interest in British
prose adventures. O’Neill adds some splash pages of
black and white art and even gets a co-writing credit. ‘()ne of the things that I think has held Kevin back in the past is that he doesn‘t possess a typewriter. a word processor or anything of that sort.‘ says Mills. ‘But he contributes tirelessly. I think fora long time he‘s been an unsung writer and on this one I thought “we really should do something about that."'
While Mills has written for the big American companies. with stints on l’anislter 2099. Batman. Death Race 2020 and even Star Wars. his dark humour has struck more of a chord with a UK audience and over the last few years has made a mark on the French bande dessinée market with his Requiem Chevalier Vampire series. ‘In Paris you go along to their equivalent of Sainsbury‘s and you‘ll find there’s a whole graphic novel section.’ says Mills. ‘And they can cover subjects which we couldn‘t cover. You have a wonderful book about the Paris communes of the 1870s and you couldn‘t do the equivalent about some historical event in Britain in 1870. The standard is really high..
It‘s fair to say there’s a heavy streak of anti- authoritarianism running through Mills‘ work. Perhaps the fact that he didn‘t grow tip as a comics fanboy. preferring political cartoons to superheroes. gave him a unique perspective on the medium. ‘We‘re not trying to be trendy or have a dark point of view just because we've got an older audience. Anyone who‘s read Marshal Law knows I really/taking mean it.‘
Marshal Law: Origins is out now published by Titan Books.
www.list.co.uk/books
UST
THE BEST BOOKS, COMlCS & EVENTS
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* Gordon Ramsay The current star of a Channel 4 Cooke/ong gets all matey with his new mouthwatering tome. Cooking for Friends. All your pals with a taste for the cUlinary will soon be swearing by it. Borders Books, Glasgow, Thu 30 Oct.
* erton’ Mind The estimable Willy Maley chits and chats with someauthors who have tackled mental health in their fiction, among them Denise Mina and Alan Bissett. Mitchell Library, Glasgow, Fri 17 Oct.
* Glen Michael For those ‘
of a certain era, this man’s Cavalcade was the bee‘s knees on STV. Here, he recalls six decades of showbusiness with anecdotes and jokes aplenty. Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Thu 23 Oct; Cameo, Edinburgh, Wed 29 Oct.
It Alan Gal-r Here’s a guy who looks like he could still be telling us about the good old days around 2060. For now. he’s already published a memoir, Look Who it Is, the saucy tale of a tricky childhood. Borders Books, Glasgow, Thu 23 Oct.
* Noll Quinlan The bloke who gave us the iconic Sandman series is in town to sign copies of The Graveyard Book, his latest novel for young addlts. Church Hill Theatre, Edinburgh, Tue 28 Oct.
1! Various For comics fans who like their horror, the unravelling of the Creepy
Archives will be a spine-
tingling treat. Joe Orlando, Frank Frazetta and Al Williamson are among those easing us off to many sleepbss nights. See review. page 35. Dark Horse.
16-30 Oct 2008 THE LIST 33
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