Milligan names...?

[Archyduke]

I just read a review of Pete Milligan's first issue of Toxin, and was amused to find out that titular character is named... Pat Mulligan. This reminded me of Milligan's prior Marvel series, X-Force/X-Statics, drawn by Mike Allred, in which the character Vivisector, aka Miles Alfred, featured. I think its a somewhat unusual that such a creative writer has resorted to basically naming major characters after himself or collaborators at least twice. Do you think this is a flaw on his part, or some kind of in-joke? Or, is there no signifigance to the names at all besides coincidence?

[Gorakmev]

I just read a review of Pete Milligan's first issue of Toxin, and was amused to find out that titular character is named... Pat Mulligan. This reminded me of Milligan's prior Marvel series, X-Force/X-Statics, drawn by Mike Allred, in which the character Vivisector, aka Miles Alfred, featured. I think its a somewhat unusual that such a creative writer has resorted to basically naming major characters after himself or collaborators at least twice. Do you think this is a flaw on his part, or some kind of in-joke? Or, is there no signifigance to the names at all besides coincidence?

Mabey he's written a story that he wishes he was in. I often put myself in my Matrix fanfition.

[The Mirrorball Man]

In Shade, the Changing Man, during the "Hotel Shade" era, there was a recurring character named Miles Laimling who obviously was Milligan's alter ego in the story.

[FanboyStranger]

In Shade, the Changing Man, during the "Hotel Shade" era, there was a recurring character named Miles Laimling who obviously was Milligan's alter ego in the story.

Yeah, but that was integral to the storyline as whatever Laimling wrote would happen to the denizens of Hotel Shade. Laimling was, in fact, Milligan in the story, a nice little meta-fictional trick.

It's too early to tell in this story, but I doubt he's going to try something similar in a Spidey book. I mean, you had to expect that sort of thing from a book as intentionally postmodern as Shade, but from the new Carnage? It's probably just a coincidence, laziness, a red herring, or something in between the three.

[hbkabdul]

Well i think even if he is twisting names around their are about a dozen other characters he has names for that dont sound like his or anyone he collaborates with. and whats wrong with doing it he writers helluva good stories.

[venuscameback]

I just read a review of Pete Milligan's first issue of Toxin, and was amused to find out that titular character is named... Pat Mulligan. This reminded me of Milligan's prior Marvel series, X-Force/X-Statics, drawn by Mike Allred, in which the character Vivisector, aka Miles Alfred, featured. I think its a somewhat unusual that such a creative writer has resorted to basically naming major characters after himself or collaborators at least twice. Do you think this is a flaw on his part, or some kind of in-joke? Or, is there no signifigance to the names at all besides coincidence?

If Vivisector's alter ego was named after collaborator Mike Allred, was it also a dig at his Christianity and his Church's hardline approach against homosexuality, naming a character after Allred who becomes openly gay?

I imagine Milligan had that plot in mind from the start, with how Vivisector & Phat first come out as a publicity stunt before Myles confirms it's true for him and Phat decides he prefers the closet.

Heh, there may be no truth in my suggestion it was a dig but I think it unlikely that using a name so close to that of his own or his artist is co-incidence.

venus

[Jake V]

I just read a review of Pete Milligan's first issue of Toxin, and was amused to find out that titular character is named... Pat Mulligan. This reminded me of Milligan's prior Marvel series, X-Force/X-Statics, drawn by Mike Allred, in which the character Vivisector, aka Miles Alfred, featured. I think its a somewhat unusual that such a creative writer has resorted to basically naming major characters after himself or collaborators at least twice. Do you think this is a flaw on his part, or some kind of in-joke? Or, is there no signifigance to the names at all besides coincidence?
On what planet is Toxin a "major character"?

[Brian R]

On what planet is Toxin a "major character"?

Watch your tongue there, next thing you know he will be bigger than Spidey. ;)