I am going to cover the dreamweavers, the masterminds behind this all, and highlight some select works of theirs. The writers and artists behind comics, behind cartoons etc. I truely want GW to be a better place for discussing comics (includes all countries of origin) and cartoons(likewise... anime are still cartoons and don't you forget it buster!) and such. Hopefully by reading this you might download the recommended reads .

If you have any suggestions, feel free to PM me with a breif who they are, reasons why, what they've done and maybe some useful weblinks. (Don't post suggestions in this topic, let's keep this one about the man)

Now we look at a man who is not afraid to shy from controversy, and indeed seems to welcome it...

FRANK MILLER

Why Him?
Frank Miller was one of those SUPERSTAR comic writers of the 80's, credited with revolutionising a market seen as stagnant. He "reinvented" Batman, making him Dark and gritty and "mature". The Dark Knight Returns was a smash hit, Which Miller would follow through with several more critically acclaimed stories (usually involving whores). His name is one in the public concious now and is one of the few writers than non comic fans would recognise, due to the success of movies based on his comics. These movies have been seen as a doorway for people to get into comics. He is again heading head-first into controversy with a Batman VS Bin Laden(and possibly whores) comic! He has also delved into Hollywood more than once, gone back on his word and is also lined up to direct the movie of Will Eisner's clasic "The Spirit".

Recommended reading
Batman - The dark knight returns
Batman - Year one
Sin City
Ronin

Career

Frank Miller's first major breakthrough was with Daredevil: The man without fear in the early 1980's, which revitalised a failing character, and brought him to a more modern audience. This series was well recieved for it's more serious approach to the character, it's art style and the creation of scantaly clad assassin Elektra (who would effectively become the template for all of Miller's female characters. Ever.) His run had brought Daredevil into being one of Marvel's most popular characters, a position, he still has to this day. His next work would include many small story sets, or one offs including Wolverine, Elektra or Batman. He also during this period created Ronin, a story about a samurai reincarnated in future new york. This story would prove a critical success for it's heavy manga influence (I have not read Ronin, but I have read about it so I dunno how manga-esque it really is!).
His perhaps most important work would come in 1986. The Dark Knight returns. A tale of an older, gruffer, meaner Batman in a future turned on it's head. This series is credited for reinventing Batman for the new generation as a more mature, darker and grim character (NOTE: this is kinda NOT TRUE, As Batman became a lot more mature/darker/grim in the 70's under O'Neil's run, but regardless it did bring batman to the public eye again). It's a hugely popular story for reasons I just cannot understand (I think it's terrible). He would then go on to write Batman year one. Highlighting the beginings of batman's vigilante career, but in the typical Miller style. Everything was corrupt, everybody was angry and every woman was a whore. This is still conscidered canon, though some parts have been Retconned. This is also still in my opinion, Miller's best work. Miller would also have another stab at Daredevil before expanding on themes mentioned in Batman Year one (whore, corruption and angry)

Yes. Sin City. For Dark Horse, this "Noire"(it ain't really noire) comic about a corrupt city where everything is corrupt, everybody is angry and every woman is a whore. es. Seriously. This hugely successful comic series spanned several volumes (which all tended to read exactly the same) following different characters as they survive in this hellhole of corruption, anger and whores. The first like three volumes aren't as bad as later ones. Sin City is written and drawn by Frank Miller, it is totally his vision. Sin City kinda firmly planted Miller's role as the Tarantino of comics, using a blanket of violence and swearing to make the comic "adult" but totally not understanding what makes something... good. After Sin City would come 300. I admit ignorance here because like with Ronin, I have not read 300, and because of my dislike of Miller's writing (and that the movie is perhaps the worst film I have ever seen. Ever.) I don't even want to read it.

Frank Miller would return to batman with the dark knight strikes again. This proved highly controversial because it was terrible. Miller unsuccessfully experimented with art styles and effects, and the characters came underfire for being well... totally different to who they're meant to be (most under fire would be the Batman/Grayson relationship). Sticking with Batman, Miller has gone on to write for Allstar Batman and Robin. Despite initial success, it quickly became apparent (as in... Issue one) that this series is essentially a redressed Sin City. Everything is corrupt, everybody is angry and every woman seems to look like a whore. The batman Robin relationship is blown apart here into one based on abuse that'd make "Seduction of the innocent" seem like an intelligent study!!!
And I must add that the recent issue involving the Green Lantern and lots of yellow paint is perhaps the single worst issue of any comic I have ever read in my life. Ever. Seriously.
Unfortunately Miller is still writting for Batman, this time inform of a propaganda piece "Holy terror! batman!" Where batman must protect gotham (and no doubt it's many whores in particular) from terrorism, where he wil face off against the (most likely corrupt and angry) Al Qaeda. Which I really do hope is so offencive that Iran declaires a fatwa against him.

Yeah I wanted Miller to be out of the way now because no doubt if I wrote about him after reading Holy terror! Batman! this would just contain pre insults as opposed to valid criticisms(whores). I guess here we can also talk about Miller's laughable atempts of script writting for movies (Robocop 2 and 3)


Join me again in two weeks time as we delve into the genesis of the modern underground comic, with Robert Crumb!

Unfortunately Miller is still writting for Batman, this time inform of a propaganda piece "Holy terror! batman!" Where batman must protect gotham (and no doubt it's many whores in particular) from terrorism, where he wil face off against the (most likely corrupt and angry) Al Qaeda.

About time, too. Like many people, I was always confused about where to stand on the whole thorny 'international terrorism' thing, and often wished that Batman would step in and decide the issue for me, preferably while saying 'goddamn' every second sentence. AND NOW HE HAS!
And the best thing is, it's handled by Frank Miller, who's renowned throughout the industry for his subtlety, objectivity, and his willingness to closely examine both sides of an argument before jumping to hasty conclusions:
"...the West is confronted with a fascist, misogynist, homophobic, genocidal blood enemy that is dedicated to the annihilation of everything civilization has achieved in three millennia."- Frank Miller, levelheaded political commentator, in an interview with Comicdom.com (http://www.comicdom.gr/interviews_archive.php?id=17&lang=en).
"These people saw people’s heads off. They enslave women, they genitally mutilate their daughters, they do not behave by any cultural norms that are sensible to us. I’m speaking into a microphone that never could have been a product of their culture, and I’m living in a city where three thousand of my neighbors were killed by thieves of airplanes they never could have built." -Frank Miller, Ghandi-like man of peace, in an interview with NPR (http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=24146_Batman_Artist_No_Moonbat&only)
So, yes, Frank will be bringing all his tact and sensitivity to the table in what I'm sure will be one of the most compassionate, subtle, not-at-all-batshit-insane graphic novels of the century.

To be honest, I kinda feel sorry for the guy, as it's obvious he's the victim of some sort of advanced brain-melting medical condition, I mean, take a look at his record:
- Daredevil, The Dark Knight Returns: comments on mindlessy violent trash.
-Sin City, Ronin: homages mindlessly violent trash.
-300, All Star Batman, everything else he's done: produces mindlessly violent trash.
Poor bastard... Pretty soon he'll be reduced to sticking a bunch of red crayons in his fists and smashing them repeatedly against paper in a vain attempt to make it look like Batman shooting Robot Hitler with a gun that fires whores while shouting 'Goddamn Hitler!' and punching random civilians at the same time because he's SO BADASS. Personally, I blame the drinking water.

Actually your last discription seems to some up Dark Knight strikes again pretty accurately!!!

I counted 9 ocurrences of "whore" in your article. I approve.

has frank miller ever done anything not milleresque? you mentioned green lantern and lots of yellow paint...

i will be interested in what you have to say about crumb!