Post by goldenfist on Jul 27, 2008 18:56:33 GMT -5
Read this interview from ign.com on Mark Millar making his return
to the Ultimates.
IGN Comics: Marvel just announced you're returning to the Ultimate Universe. Can you give us an idea - or clues - as to what title or titles you might be slated to work on? Will you be returning to titles you've already been involved with?
Mark Millar: All I can say is that it's mega. It's not an existing title, but it's going to be the Daddy Book of the Ultimate Universe. You'll know what I mean when you hear the details, but I only wanted to come and do more Ultimate work if it was something bigger and better than what we'd done before. I co-created The Ultimates, Ultimate X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four, but this will crush those books like fleas.
IGN Comics: Can you give us an idea when you'll be returning? Are these plans post-Ultimatum? If so, how long after the event will it be before your work debuts?
Millar: I've started writing the book already and it's a big, big commitment. I'm flying to New York this week to discuss details with Marvel, but we'd like to launch this off Ultimatum and I'm pushing for eighteen issues a year. The artist that's been lined up is probably the biggest, most commercial artist in the business at the moment. I had no idea he was even available so that, naturally, was a big factor in me doing this too.
IGN Comics: It's really no secret that the Ultimate Universe has lost some of its hype, particularly compared to the first few years of the brand's existence. In your opinion, what will it take to get that buzz back? Is it simply creating bigger storylines or more events? Is it more collaboration between the writers and artists?
Millar: I think we were very lucky when the Ultimate line launched in the sense that sales on the regular Marvel U books were quite low. There was a feeling that the books weren't attracting new readers and so by simply updating the idea and starting continuity afresh we were able to bring a whole new audience in. As Brian and I moved from the Ultimate Universe (where we worked almost full time), we pretty much ultimatized the entire Marvel U. If you look at those books now, you see a militarized Avengers and subsidiary groups, Spidey as a young single guy again, the X-Men being public and so on. Marvel didn't plan this. It just kind of happened and attention shifted from the books we had done in the Ultimate U to the work, like Avengers and Civil War, we were doing in the regular Marvel Universe.
But I have a pretty keen instinct when it comes to this stuff and I just kind of sense things shifting back towards the Ultimate Universe itself. To me, that's where the really radical stuff is generated and I have books filled with stuff I want to do there. There's a lot of unfinished business and the plan we're putting together is very radical, very modern and very exciting. To me the Ultimate line is where the 21st century Marvel stories should be happening and that's what I want to do next year.
IGN Comics: What lured you back to writing for the Ultimate Universe? Is Ultimatum changing the landscape that much or were there other factors? Did you realize you had more stories to tell for specific characters?
Millar: A combination of factors. One, the artist is amazing. He's a superstar. Maybe the best in the biz right now. Two, I feel things shifting from the MU to the Ultimate line again. Just when I see the talent being lined up here for the post-Ultimatum relaunch of the line I got very excited. And three, I've got some great ideas how to modernize and expand. My favourite thing (and something that's been very successful for me) is modernizing characters.
Everyone has the thing that makes their books sell and doing mainstream revamps just seems to have been the thing that's worked best for me. Whether it's Cap or Tony or The Defenders or whomever, there's a nice track record of reinvention there and it sold lots of books and won lots of awards so people seem to have liked it. I'd like to expand the remit by going deeper into the characters from Ultimates and others, but also seeing guys like Ultimate Ghost Rider, Ultimate Blade, Ultimate Punisher and so on. It all makes sense in the big thing I have planned. But that's all I can say for now.
IGN Comics: We know Brian Bendis will be involved with the Ultimate Universe. Can you tell us the other creators that will be working with you? Will Jeph Loeb continue his run? Are there any artists you're looking to bring to the Ultimate Universe with you?
Millar: I can't give away any specifics at this time. But Marvel is bringing their A-game to this relaunch.
IGN Comics: We were wondering if you could comment on the status of your exclusivity with Marvel. Correct us if we're wrong, but we believe your contract was up a bit before your latest projects debuted. Have you re-signed or are you simply working on a freelance basis?
Millar: My contract expired one month ago, but I've re-upped to do one book for them between now and 2010. This is that book. Everything else I do will be creator-owned.
IGN Comics: Just a couple Wanted-related questions before we go. A sequel film has been confirmed. Will you be involved in any creative capacity?
Millar: Oh yes. Of course. I'm working on the story with the producer at the moment and JG and I will both be execs on the project (i.e. - we get paid the same money over again). It's a nice arrangement. The movie looks set to make 300 million plus quite comfortably and they estimate the same again on DVD. So everyone is that lovely combo of both stunned and happy. They're even talking about a third one.
IGN Comics: Given that the first film really encompassed the entire storyline of the original mini-series, are you interested or looking into doing a sequel - either to shape the film or just to work on a related project? Do you have any general ideas where you'd take the storyline?
Millar: No, the book was six issues and, like I always said, will remain six issues.
IGN Comics: We saw a brief "easter egg" for fans at the end of the first film as Wesley Gibson took a piece of J.G. Jones name and yours for his new identity. Given the second Wanted film as well as development of the Kick-Ass film, can fans expect a cameo? The world deserves to see Mark Millar's acting skills.
Millar: They will have to just settle for my years as a porn star if they want to see me on film. Kick-Ass, by the way, starts shooting in six weeks time. It's very exciting. The sets are all being built right now and I've just supervised a lot of the merchandising on this. I'm going to be very hands on with this movie. I'm at every meeting. Johnny and I are going to be very, very involved and couldn't be happier with how it's all coming together.
IGN Comics: Anything else you'd like to add about returning to the Ultimate Universe, Wanted or upcoming projects?
Millar: All I can say is that everything coming up is about 3.8 times more awesome than it even sounds. 2009 looks set to be a very good year indeed. Some very exciting announcements to be made in the next couple of months!
to the Ultimates.
IGN Comics: Marvel just announced you're returning to the Ultimate Universe. Can you give us an idea - or clues - as to what title or titles you might be slated to work on? Will you be returning to titles you've already been involved with?
Mark Millar: All I can say is that it's mega. It's not an existing title, but it's going to be the Daddy Book of the Ultimate Universe. You'll know what I mean when you hear the details, but I only wanted to come and do more Ultimate work if it was something bigger and better than what we'd done before. I co-created The Ultimates, Ultimate X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four, but this will crush those books like fleas.
IGN Comics: Can you give us an idea when you'll be returning? Are these plans post-Ultimatum? If so, how long after the event will it be before your work debuts?
Millar: I've started writing the book already and it's a big, big commitment. I'm flying to New York this week to discuss details with Marvel, but we'd like to launch this off Ultimatum and I'm pushing for eighteen issues a year. The artist that's been lined up is probably the biggest, most commercial artist in the business at the moment. I had no idea he was even available so that, naturally, was a big factor in me doing this too.
IGN Comics: It's really no secret that the Ultimate Universe has lost some of its hype, particularly compared to the first few years of the brand's existence. In your opinion, what will it take to get that buzz back? Is it simply creating bigger storylines or more events? Is it more collaboration between the writers and artists?
Millar: I think we were very lucky when the Ultimate line launched in the sense that sales on the regular Marvel U books were quite low. There was a feeling that the books weren't attracting new readers and so by simply updating the idea and starting continuity afresh we were able to bring a whole new audience in. As Brian and I moved from the Ultimate Universe (where we worked almost full time), we pretty much ultimatized the entire Marvel U. If you look at those books now, you see a militarized Avengers and subsidiary groups, Spidey as a young single guy again, the X-Men being public and so on. Marvel didn't plan this. It just kind of happened and attention shifted from the books we had done in the Ultimate U to the work, like Avengers and Civil War, we were doing in the regular Marvel Universe.
But I have a pretty keen instinct when it comes to this stuff and I just kind of sense things shifting back towards the Ultimate Universe itself. To me, that's where the really radical stuff is generated and I have books filled with stuff I want to do there. There's a lot of unfinished business and the plan we're putting together is very radical, very modern and very exciting. To me the Ultimate line is where the 21st century Marvel stories should be happening and that's what I want to do next year.
IGN Comics: What lured you back to writing for the Ultimate Universe? Is Ultimatum changing the landscape that much or were there other factors? Did you realize you had more stories to tell for specific characters?
Millar: A combination of factors. One, the artist is amazing. He's a superstar. Maybe the best in the biz right now. Two, I feel things shifting from the MU to the Ultimate line again. Just when I see the talent being lined up here for the post-Ultimatum relaunch of the line I got very excited. And three, I've got some great ideas how to modernize and expand. My favourite thing (and something that's been very successful for me) is modernizing characters.
Everyone has the thing that makes their books sell and doing mainstream revamps just seems to have been the thing that's worked best for me. Whether it's Cap or Tony or The Defenders or whomever, there's a nice track record of reinvention there and it sold lots of books and won lots of awards so people seem to have liked it. I'd like to expand the remit by going deeper into the characters from Ultimates and others, but also seeing guys like Ultimate Ghost Rider, Ultimate Blade, Ultimate Punisher and so on. It all makes sense in the big thing I have planned. But that's all I can say for now.
IGN Comics: We know Brian Bendis will be involved with the Ultimate Universe. Can you tell us the other creators that will be working with you? Will Jeph Loeb continue his run? Are there any artists you're looking to bring to the Ultimate Universe with you?
Millar: I can't give away any specifics at this time. But Marvel is bringing their A-game to this relaunch.
IGN Comics: We were wondering if you could comment on the status of your exclusivity with Marvel. Correct us if we're wrong, but we believe your contract was up a bit before your latest projects debuted. Have you re-signed or are you simply working on a freelance basis?
Millar: My contract expired one month ago, but I've re-upped to do one book for them between now and 2010. This is that book. Everything else I do will be creator-owned.
IGN Comics: Just a couple Wanted-related questions before we go. A sequel film has been confirmed. Will you be involved in any creative capacity?
Millar: Oh yes. Of course. I'm working on the story with the producer at the moment and JG and I will both be execs on the project (i.e. - we get paid the same money over again). It's a nice arrangement. The movie looks set to make 300 million plus quite comfortably and they estimate the same again on DVD. So everyone is that lovely combo of both stunned and happy. They're even talking about a third one.
IGN Comics: Given that the first film really encompassed the entire storyline of the original mini-series, are you interested or looking into doing a sequel - either to shape the film or just to work on a related project? Do you have any general ideas where you'd take the storyline?
Millar: No, the book was six issues and, like I always said, will remain six issues.
IGN Comics: We saw a brief "easter egg" for fans at the end of the first film as Wesley Gibson took a piece of J.G. Jones name and yours for his new identity. Given the second Wanted film as well as development of the Kick-Ass film, can fans expect a cameo? The world deserves to see Mark Millar's acting skills.
Millar: They will have to just settle for my years as a porn star if they want to see me on film. Kick-Ass, by the way, starts shooting in six weeks time. It's very exciting. The sets are all being built right now and I've just supervised a lot of the merchandising on this. I'm going to be very hands on with this movie. I'm at every meeting. Johnny and I are going to be very, very involved and couldn't be happier with how it's all coming together.
IGN Comics: Anything else you'd like to add about returning to the Ultimate Universe, Wanted or upcoming projects?
Millar: All I can say is that everything coming up is about 3.8 times more awesome than it even sounds. 2009 looks set to be a very good year indeed. Some very exciting announcements to be made in the next couple of months!