Frank Miller, Comic Book Legend — Creative Process, The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City, 300, and Much More (#831)

Frank Miller is regarded as one of the most influential and awarded creators. He began his career in comics in the late 1970s, first gaining notoriety as the artist, and later writer, of Daredevil for Marvel Comics. Next, came the science-fiction samurai drama Ronin, followed by the groundbreaking Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One with artist David Mazzuchelli.

Following these seminal works, Miller fulfilled a lifelong dream by doing an all-out crime series, Sin City, which spawned two blockbuster films that he co-directed with Robert Rodriguez. Miller’s multi-award-winning graphic novel 300 was also adapted into a highly successful film by Zack Snyder.

His upcoming memoir, Push the Wall: My Life, Writing, Drawing, and the Art of Storytelling, is now available for pre-order.

Please enjoy!

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Frank Miller, Comic Book Legend — Creative Process, The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City, 300, and Much More

Additional podcast platforms

Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Audible, or on your favorite podcast platform. Watch the interview on YouTube here.

SHOW NOTES & LINKS

Transcripts

SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

Connect with Frank Miller:

Website | Instagram

Featured Projects

Push the Wall: My Life, Writing, Drawing, and the Art of Storytelling by Frank Miller
Frank Miller’s Sin City: The Hard Goodbye — Curator’s Collection by Frank Miller
Frank Miller: American Genius (Documentary)

Frank’s Comic Works & Collaborations

300 by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
Daredevil by Frank Miller
Elektra: Assassin by Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz
Hard Boiled by Frank Miller and Geof Darrow
The Life and Times of Martha Washington in the Twenty-First Century by Frank Miller and Dave Gibbons
Ronin by Frank Miller

Frank’s Drawing & Inking Toolkit Essentials

Story & Comics Books

Bridgman’s Complete Guide to Drawing from Life by George Bridgman
Drawing the Head and Hands / Figure Drawing for All It’s Worth by Andrew Loomis
Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting by Syd Field
Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud

Manga, Bande Dessinée, Comics, & Graphic Novels

Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo
The Best of the Spirit by Will Eisner
Kozure Okami by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima (aka Lone Wolf and Cub)
Rokudenashi Blues by Masanori Morita
Saga of the Swamp Thing by Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette, and John Totleben
Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

Comic Publishers and Shops

People

Movies and Television Shows

Concepts

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:00] Start.
[00:02:14] Aristotle’s definition of happiness: Devotion to excellence.
[00:03:02] Tools of the trade: Blackwing pencils, India ink, liquid frisket.
[00:04:45] Sin City‘s physical creation at “twice up” size.
[00:08:06] The toothbrush spatter technique.
[00:09:24] Channeling impatience, anger, and violence into dramatic creative work.
[00:10:33] What Jack Kirby knew about making comics competitive with cinema’s spectacle.
[00:11:56] Will Eisner and The Spirit‘s influence on the US market where writer-artist duality is rare.
[00:13:33] How Jack Kirby blasted apart the panel grid (and a young Frank’s mind).
[00:15:49] Push the wall and defy the code.
[00:19:54] The ruthless mentorship of Neal Adams.
[00:24:57] The genesis of the Elektra and Daredevil “soap opera.”
[00:27:56] Story structure: Start late, end early.
[00:29:10] Trusting the muse over rigid methodology.
[00:31:15] European invasion: Moebius and Forbidden Planet.
[00:32:52] Japanese influence: Lone Wolf and Cub‘s impact.
[00:34:30] Cultural differences in depicting violence and motion.
[00:36:38] Ronin: Shameless imitation and rebirth.
[00:37:28] How does Frank know if something is working (or not working)?
[00:39:27] The critical reception of Ronin as a “broken nose.”
[00:42:37] The ruthless structure of The Dark Knight Returns.
[00:43:40] Mutual elevation with “smartest fan” Alan Moore.
[00:48:26] Robert Rodriguez: Angel of goodwill and generosity.
[00:49:28] Sin City film: Co-directing and the Director’s Guild sacrifice.
[00:50:31] Working as a “two-headed beast” with Rodriguez.
[00:55:27] Favorite films.
[00:58:19] Books and ancient history inspiring 300.
[00:59:00] Hollywood lessons: The importance of working with the right people.
[01:01:13] The partnership and guidance of Silenn Thomas.
[01:02:01] The clarity and creative rejuvenation of getting sober from alcohol.
[01:04:48] Advice for aspiring comic artists: Story, story, story.
[01:06:20] Learning to draw: Bridgman and Loomis books.
[01:08:07] Perspective as a mathematical trick and lie.
[01:11:00] Dick Giordano’s advice: Lay in blacks first.
[01:13:52] Sin City workflow innovation: Batch processing stages.
[01:15:48] Dark Horse Comics and creative freedom.
[01:17:29] Economy of line work and elegant minimalism.
[01:20:46] On collaborating with Bill Sienkiewicz on Elektra.
[01:25:20] Billboard wisdom: “Ask every question,” and “Why?”
[01:27:08] Challenging pathological conformity.
[01:27:39] Parting thoughts and where to find Frank’s work.

FRANK MILLER QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW

“Aristotle’s definition of happiness was a devotion of all of one’s energies along the lines of excellence. … In an ideal life, that would apply to every moment you have, but it is a guiding principle to a creative life.”

— Frank Miller

“I like to use [liquid frisket] with ink because it creates an element of chaos.”

— Frank Miller

“Get the hell out of my way.”

— Frank Miller

“Drama is, essentially, conflict. And if you go all the way back to the Norse myths—but you could take it all the way from the Norse myths through to Terms of Endearment or whatever else—those are all full of Sturm und Drang.”

— Frank Miller

“A Marvel comic isn’t a story every month. A Marvel comic is an ongoing soap opera that you’re following.”

— Frank Miller

“My methodology has changed over time. … I used to really believe there was a way and I was seeking the way to do it. Now I do believe in letting a story nudge me in another direction. I believe in trusting the muse more than I used to.”

— Frank Miller

“Ask every question.”

— Frank Miller

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Want to hear from Frank Miller’s creative partner who quit the Director’s Guild just to ensure Frank got co-director credit? Listen to my conversation with filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, in which we discussed the “fear-forward” way of life, burning bridges then running across them, how limitations fuel creativity, journaling as a superpower, the legendary $7,000 financing of El Mariachi, and much more.