For five decades, Frank Miller has been pushing against the walls of a medium he believes should be a joyous explosion of creativity. In this conversation with Rick Rubin, he traces the untold history of comics, from newspaper strips and Jack Kirby to the Senate hearings that nearly destroyed the industry, and explains why the best stories come from what’s bugging your gut.
Frank Miller is a comic book writer, artist, and filmmaker. He rose to prominence drawing Marvel’s Daredevil in 1979 and became its writer in 1981, introducing Elektra and turning the series into a major success. He went on to create Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, write Batman: Year One, and create Sin City and 300, both adapted into films. His latest book, Push the Wall, recounts his life and career in comics and filmmaking.
In this episode, Frank and Rick discuss:
– Why his very first note for Sin City was "Conan in a trench coat"
– Why comics have more in common with hieroglyphics than illustrated books
– How Jack Kirby and the Marvel method gave comics their energy
– The government hearings that nearly killed comics, and the censorship code that followed
– The Japanese comic that changed his medium before his eyes
– How a 1962 movie seen as a boy redefined his idea of a hero and became 300
– Why envy is at the heart of Robin turning on Batman
– His advice to his younger self: "See what’s bugging your gut. Tell that story."
00:00:00 – Frank Miller
00:05:34 – Comics as a Visual Language
00:07:52 – Heroes, Villains & Characters as Poetry
00:11:55 – Jack Kirby & the Marvel Method
00:24:37 – Characters, Channeling & AI
00:29:21 – A Brief History of Comics
00:31:51 – Daredevil, Elektra & Discovering Manga
00:42:07 – The Dark Knight & Comics on Film
00:51:51 – Graphic Novels, Comic Shops & the Comics Code
01:09:54 – The Story of 300
01:19:48 – What Makes a Story Great
Works mentioned:
Sin City: https://digital.darkhorse.com/series/57/frank-millers-sin-city
Superman: Year One: https://www.dc.com/graphic-novels/superman-year-one
Daredevil: https://www.marvel.com/comics/collection/97201/marvel_masterworks_daredevil
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns: https://www.dc.com/graphic-novels/the-dark-knight-returns-1986/batman-the-dark-knight-returns
300: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/242337/300-by-frank-miller-various-artists
Elektra Lives Again: https://www.marvel.com/comics/collection/22402/elektra_by_frank_miller_omnibus_hardcover
Push the Wall: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Push-the-Wall/Frank-Miller/9781668065297
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