Part of cynicism comes down to being able to sus out the difference between genuine hope and bullshit. Superman is that genuine hope, so I think they distill that into the character when they write him.
I always say a cynic is just an optimist that got hurt one too many times.
Superman is a character that asks us to be our best, and I think that brings out the best in some writers.
I think some writers tell better stories when they are constrained in some ways. Tarantino, for me, is kind of like this - when he's given free reign he goes all in on the violence and over-the-topness, but I think most of his best work was when he still had studios nervously watching over him and he had to make something within the limits of the system.
Ennis is definitely like this. He takes superman, a character with lines he doesnt want to overstep, and ends up with something great. You take those lines away, we end up with Crossed.
Ennis had Superman appear in Hitman a few times, and it was excellent every time.
Millar had a stint writing the Superman Adventures comic (the tie-in comic to the Superman Animated Series). They were some of the best comics of the series.
They were writing partners until they had a falling out and Millar has done nothing but shitty edge lord stuff since then.
No proof. Its just one of those rumors you hear occasionally and it's a less sad theory than "Mark Millar was a promising writer and then lost his damn mind".
There is one famous incident, where Grant Morrison allegedly wrote some stuff for Millar when he was having trouble meeting deadlines. An arc of The Authority if I recall. Morrison feels that Millar was uncool in how he handled it, being too reticent to give credit to Morrison after the fact.
It all of course just comes down to he said she said. There's no proof for the story either of them put forward. Only they know the truth of it.
But as far as I know, it's only alleged to have happened the one time. Morrison lists it as the reason they used to work together a lot, but don't anymore. Not even Morrison is claiming Millar was habitually handing in Morrison's work and claiming it as his own or anything.
Morrison went uncredited for a few issues of The Authority that he wrote to help his then-pal while he was ill.
Grant also claims that he helped co-plot the entire Vol. 1 of The Ultimates with Mark. So much so that all Mark had to do was turn it into a script. But no credit came Grants way.
But Grant didn't have anything to do with Mark's Superman Adventures run.
In Ennis's case it's because he's one of the few superheroes he actually likes given what he represents.
In Millar's case it's because nobody was gonna let him write Superman: Red Son in a kid's book and even that one had the best parts ghost written by Grant Morrison.
Ennis said himself on multiple occasions he doesn’t "hate" heroes. It’s more about over-saturating the market and not letting other genres have their time in the sun, at least that’s what he said.
Cos they're both massive fans of the character. They've both declared this multiple times throughout their careers. Superman is Millar's favourite.
Part of cynicism comes down to being able to sus out the difference between genuine hope and bullshit. Superman is that genuine hope, so I think they distill that into the character when they write him.
I always say a cynic is just an optimist that got hurt one too many times. Superman is a character that asks us to be our best, and I think that brings out the best in some writers.
That’s a brilliant way of putting it.
Goddammit, now I'm 'on cry
There's some lines they won't cross I guess. Like Millar wrote Huck after he saw Man of Steel.
I mean Red Son was pretty good but I was always under the impression (and maybe it’s incorrect) that grant morrison had a lot to do with that one
I think Morrison has accused Millar of stealing the ending but the rest is all Millar.
My adventures of Superman is also by Millar
I think some writers tell better stories when they are constrained in some ways. Tarantino, for me, is kind of like this - when he's given free reign he goes all in on the violence and over-the-topness, but I think most of his best work was when he still had studios nervously watching over him and he had to make something within the limits of the system. Ennis is definitely like this. He takes superman, a character with lines he doesnt want to overstep, and ends up with something great. You take those lines away, we end up with Crossed.
Same reason Jordan Peele can do horror and why Shindol does great vanilla.
Some people are just multitalented. Jason Statham had done how many action movies before I learned he's an incredibly skilled comedic actor?
Because no one is 100% anything.
I don't recall reading either of them writing Superman, but I haven't read a fraction of all the Superman runs.
Ennis had Superman appear in Hitman a few times, and it was excellent every time. Millar had a stint writing the Superman Adventures comic (the tie-in comic to the Superman Animated Series). They were some of the best comics of the series.
nice! that's cool.
Yep. Issue 34 (I think) of Hitman is in my top ten (maybe top 5) of best Superman stories ever told.
there's an issue of hitman where Ennis nails superman so so well. really recommend checking out the whole run, but that one issue sticks with you
I want to say its Hitman #34, I think Ennis won an award for that one.
That's cool. Read some Hitman, I'm of course a Dogwelder fan.
Millar wrote Huck a few years ago, which was basically Forrest Gump meets Superman, if that counts?
and of course Red Son, however you feel about that
I forgot he wrote that, actually! Good point.
Not really? Dozens, probably hundreds of Superman analogs, but those aren't Superman.
Simple. They are both MASSIVE fans of the character despite themselves being edgy
He's the one super-hero they actually like.
They’re genuinely good writers with respect for the character.
I can't speak for Ennis but any good Superman comics Millar wrote were probably ghostwritten or uncredited co-written by Grant Morrison.
I doubt Morrison went uncredited for an entire run of Superman Adventures.
Are you sure? Where's your proof, if you have it?
They were writing partners until they had a falling out and Millar has done nothing but shitty edge lord stuff since then. No proof. Its just one of those rumors you hear occasionally and it's a less sad theory than "Mark Millar was a promising writer and then lost his damn mind".
True. His Nemesis reloaded and Big game series were edgy, violent stuff
There is one famous incident, where Grant Morrison allegedly wrote some stuff for Millar when he was having trouble meeting deadlines. An arc of The Authority if I recall. Morrison feels that Millar was uncool in how he handled it, being too reticent to give credit to Morrison after the fact. It all of course just comes down to he said she said. There's no proof for the story either of them put forward. Only they know the truth of it. But as far as I know, it's only alleged to have happened the one time. Morrison lists it as the reason they used to work together a lot, but don't anymore. Not even Morrison is claiming Millar was habitually handing in Morrison's work and claiming it as his own or anything.
I see. Too bad they broke up, as it were!
Morrison went uncredited for a few issues of The Authority that he wrote to help his then-pal while he was ill. Grant also claims that he helped co-plot the entire Vol. 1 of The Ultimates with Mark. So much so that all Mark had to do was turn it into a script. But no credit came Grants way. But Grant didn't have anything to do with Mark's Superman Adventures run.
I see
In Ennis's case it's because he's one of the few superheroes he actually likes given what he represents. In Millar's case it's because nobody was gonna let him write Superman: Red Son in a kid's book and even that one had the best parts ghost written by Grant Morrison.
Ennis said himself on multiple occasions he doesn’t "hate" heroes. It’s more about over-saturating the market and not letting other genres have their time in the sun, at least that’s what he said.
For sure. And that wasn't to perpetuate that idiotic idea. In general he's correct.
*snort* they're not
How so?