Mark Millar Question

[pennywisdom]

Alan Moore invented the concept of superhero deconstructionism as a genre, but I think Authority was the series that really brought it into the 21st century. Everything that people like about Ultimates orginated in Authority, and I say this as a fan of both titles.

My question is this: Does Mark Millar ever acknowledge the fact that Ultimates is greatly informed by his previous work on Authority? You'd think he would, but it doesn't come up very often.

[king mob]

He has mentioned it a few times in interviews but it's not something i've ever seen him make a big deal of.

[cactusmaac]

It owes a lot more to the Authority in terms of the widesceen, artistic approach rather then the content.

Since the series share the same penciller, the influence seems pretty obvious.

[pennywisdom]

The artistic influence is definitely there, but there's no way in hell you can't see recurring themes crop up when comparing Authority to Ultimates.

[cactusmaac]

To a degree.

Ellis described the Authority as essentially being super-villains very much outside the Establishment while the Ultimates, even though revamped for a noughties audience, are very much more straight-up heroes who are part and parcel of the Establishment.

That does lend a substantially different tone to both series.

[pennywisdom]

To a degree.

Ellis described the Authority as essentially being super-villains very much outside the Establishment while the Ultimates, even though revamped for a noughties audience, are very much more straight-up heroes who are part and parcel of the Establishment.

That does lend a substantially different tone to both series.
That's a very good point, and I see what you're getting at. But I think the underscoring theme is that, in both cases, you see the myth of superhero benevolence being unravelled through beings who have used their powers toward totalitarian absolutism.

In the case of Ultimates, people want to believe that because the group is sponsored by the US government, they're straight-up heroes fighting for all that's right. But Millar is very clever at surreptitously weaving iconoclasm into his books. The whole point is to look questioningly at traditional power structures, which is the exact same point being made in Authority.

[Nate C.]

noughties

ugggh.

"noughties"?

[Winslow]

Heh

I need to go back to bed.

Ignore the man behind this post.

[cactusmaac]

ugggh.

"noughties"?

Read it in the paper yesterday.

[Michael P]

Alan Moore invented the concept of superhero deconstructionism as a genre, but I think Authority was the series that really brought it into the 21st century. Everything that people like about Ultimates orginated in Authority, and I say this as a fan of both titles.

My question is this: Does Mark Millar ever acknowledge the fact that Ultimates is greatly informed by his previous work on Authority? You'd think he would, but it doesn't come up very often.
No, but from his perspective, it would be like pointing out the sky is blue.

[Nate C.]

Read it in the paper yesterday.

Now Cats, you of all people know not to quote nillywilly from the paper.

I'm going to start a thread, garumph.

[StoneGold]

Yeah. You're asking if do you think Mark Millar knows that something he wrote has some similarities to something else he wrote. Well, yeah. I'd say it's an evolved version though. Especially by the second series.

[pennywisdom]

You're asking if do you think Mark Millar knows that something he wrote has some similarities to something else he wrote..
No, I'm not. I'm not asking if he's aware, because of course he is. I'm asking if he's ever brings it up or specifically acknowledges the relevance of Authority.


No, but from his perspective, it would be like pointing out the sky is blue.
I guess that's a good point.