Frank Miller - comic book writer, film director, screenwriter

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

American Illustrator, Filmmaker, Comic Book Writer Frank Miller was born in Olney, Maryland on January 27, 1957. Later, the family moved to Vermont, to the city of Montplier. The father of the family was a carpenter, his mother worked as a nurse in the hospital. The childhood of the future director and artist passed in an atmosphere of parental love and complete understanding.

Career start

When Frank Miller graduated from high school, he moved to New York and settled in an area called "Hell's Kitchen". There he created one of his famous comics "Batman. The Dark Knight". From New York, Miller moved to Los Angeles, where he began working on the next project called "Sin City". Later, this comic was filmed by Roberto Rodriguez with the participation of master Quentin Tarantino. Miller also played a small role as a priest in the film.

In the summer of 1978, Frank Miller met with Jim Shooter, editor-in-chief of Marvel comics magazine, who did not publish the work of a talented, but then still little-known artist, butadvised him to apply to the publishing house "DK Comics". There, Miller was criticized, but the experienced art director of the magazine, Vince Colette, saw in his drawings that special style, thanks to which the artist later became famous.

Pen trial

Colette personally, under his own responsibility, commissioned Frank to create a one-page comic. The work done was highly appreciated, but was not published for a number of reasons. Nevertheless, the artist was not upset, any experience was useful.

Miller's first printed comic book was "Delivered from D Format", which was created in collaboration with writer Wyatt Gwion. Other early works published in DC Comics were the six-page "The Great Story Never Told" and the five-page comic "Edge of History" written by Roger Mackenzie.

Permanent position

From the results of printed works, Frank Miller, whose comics made a good impression, got a job at Marvel Publishing. Initially, he worked as a cover artist. When Frank was designing the title page for the Peter Parker edition, which was already beginning to feature Daredevil, he drew attention to the potential of the character. At the time, sales of the comic were low, and Miller decided to talk to editor Jim Shooter about his involvement with the Daredevil project. He not only agreed, but also appointed Frankchief sketch artist.

Return to Manhattan

In the fall of 2001, Frank Miller, whose films had already gained fame by that time, again moved to New York and continued to work on the Batman project. Terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, with the collapse of the towers -twins, located in the southern district of Manhattan, found the artist in the studio, which was located near the site of the tragedy. The nervous shock could not but affect the work of Miller, and he fell into depression for a long time.

Genre

The artist is famous for his work in the noir style, is the creator of exclusive comics such as "300", "Daredevil", "Sin City", "Elektra".

Miller's first works were placed on the imprint "Western Publication - The Golden Key of Comic Books". In 1978, he created the comics "Endless Clouds" and "Royal Feast", both works were included in the television series "The Twilight Zone".

Sin City

One of Frank Miller's most notable comics is a work created in 2005 on the topic of the day. In the center of the plot is the corrupt society of the small town of Basin City, the flourishing of prostitution, and criminal organizations.

The film, consisting of five graphic novels, tells about a kind of staging post on the way of small gold miners who stopped in Beixing to have fun in the company of girls of easy virtue.

One of the city districts completelybelongs to a community of prostitutes who have seized power and are ready to defend their rights with weapons at the ready. Not everyone likes such arbitrariness, prostitutes begin to die under mysterious circumstances. "Sin City" is a vivid and memorable work by Frank Miller.

"Royal Feast" and others

For several years, the artist created his "Dream Book", a kind of collection of graphic works presented in the form of dreams. One of the dreams was the short story "The Royal Feast".

The reader is, as it were, at a royal feast, surrounded by all sorts of temptations. His task is to resist temptations and try to ignore them. There is either an abundance of hot dishes and snacks on the table, or nothing but dry crusts of bread. The scenery is built depending on the character of the person who came to the feast. He may even be denied participation, and the entrance to the hall will be closed. The comic leaves a heavy residue of dissatisfaction.

Batman Year One

A story-driven comic book compilation created by Miller in 1987. The work "Batman: Year One" is based on the confrontation between honest police officers and thoroughly corrupt law enforcement officers serving in the same department. Newly arrived at the police station, James Gordon comes into conflict with corrupt colleagues.

At the same time, millionaire Bruce Wayne appears in the city, also obsessed with the idea of \u200b\u200bfighting corruption. He disguises his appearance and, under the guise of a tramp, goes to a public den at night, where he enters intofight with one of the pimps. In addition, he suffers from several prostitutes who piled on him during the skirmish.

Barely escaping, Wayne leaves for his estate and, sitting in a comfortable chair, begins to reflect on the lack of effectiveness of his methods in confronting criminals.

Avenger 2008

Comic book hero Danny Colt intends to defeat the underworld, methodically destroying one by one all the bandits that get in his way. His main goal is to hunt for a particularly inveterate lawbreaker named Octopus. Wearing a mask, the Avenger pursues and destroys the enemy.

In his noble cause, empty-headed beauties curling around become a significant hindrance. Thief Sand Saref, stealing jewelry from gullible townspeople; soulless Silken Floss; not stupid but spoiled Ellen Dolan; a knife-handling dancer nicknamed Parisienne.

Comic book "The Avenger" - 2008 release - is an exciting action-packed detective story about the victory of good over evil. However, the film also received a lot of negative reviews, as it differed significantly from the book version and in many respects echoed comics by artist Will Eisner.

Batman Holy Terror

Frank Miller's next creation was as successful as all his works. However, the comic was heavily criticized for being overly cartoonish about Muslim characters.

All Arab countries and countries without exceptionMiddle East categorically refused to broadcast "Batman". Miller did not make changes, and thus, the publishing house lost a significant part of its audience. However, commercial success was generally not affected.

Comic titled "300"

This graphic novel by Frank Miller was created in collaboration with colorist Lynn Varley. The comic is dedicated to the legendary historical event, the Battle of Thermopylae.

The film tells about the military campaign of the Spartan king Leonidas with the aim of conquering Persia and enslaving the ruler Xerxes. Leonid's plans included blocking the enemy army in the Thermopylae Gorge and completely destroying it.

However, the calculations did not materialize, the Persians were warned by a certain Ephi altes, an ambitious freak who wanted to serve King Leonidas, but was rejected. Offended, he defected to the camp of Xerxes and showed him a secret detour in the gorge of Thermopylae. The Persian army went along the indicated road and went to the rear of Leonid's troops. A battle ensued, in which the soldiers of Xerxes utterly defeated the Spartans. On the offer to surrender, Tsar Leonid refused and was killed. All the Spartans died with him.

Before the last battle, Leonidas sent his faithful assistant Dilius to Sparta with the news of the defeat. At the end of the comic, the Spartans, already led by Dilius, are preparing for a new campaign, this time for a war with the Persians at Plataea.

Comic "300" was created based on the movie "Three Hundred Spartans". Workwas divided into five monthly issues called: "Victory", "Battle", "Glory", "Duty" and "Honor". Then a compilation album was released, in which all five parts were combined under one cover.

Writer Alan Moore criticized Miller's creation for historical inconsistencies and unreliability. In this he was supported by the writers Samuel Marshall and George Kovacs, who pointed out that the Spartans never fought stripped to the waist, while Frank Miller had them half-naked. The author of the comic retorted, arguing that even on antique vases, warriors are depicted without clothes.

Electra

One of the artist's favorite characters is Elektra, a ninja mercenary, an invincible muscular girl who, even when handcuffed, works wonders using martial arts, karate and taekwondo, jiu-jitsu and judo. Elektra will be killed in episode 181 by the decision of the director and against the will of the author. Later, she will be resurrected in the most fantastic way. The film ran for 191 episodes before Elektra's endless adventures were drawn to a close.