Appropriately enough, THE FLASH’s new writers are both fast talkers. Maybe it’s their Scottish accents, or maybe it’s the level of excitement Mark Millar and Grant Morrison generate when they talk about the Scarlet Speedster.
In June, we talked with Grant Morrison about JLA, FLASH, and his other projects. This month, we ask Mark Millar how he went from being "a Vertigo guy"—he was the last writer on the long-running SWAMP THING series—to co-writing the adventures of the Fastest Man Alive. (And in the meantime, we found out a lot about some upcoming projects, particularly for you Elseworlds fans.)
Interviewed by SCOTT SIMMONS on September 4, 1997
Yes, I did. The RED SON pages looked terrific.
Oh, yeah, Dave [Johnson]’s a god, you know. [Laughs.] We love him.
I was really impressed—all the classic Superman poses—
Yeah.
—taken completely out of context.
[Laughs.]
It looks like such a fun book.
Oh, yeah. I’m really having a great time doing it, and it’s even better seeing the pages come in. It’s so good.
Sometimes, you know, an artist doesn’t live up to what you imagine yourself. You kind of—you picture it one way, and an artist doesn’t do it well.
But Dave actually makes it ten times as good as what was in your head. The guy’s great. I just wish there were ten of him so that we could actually ... get the book out on time.
Yeah. What time period is the book set during?
Well, the first one, the one that you’ve got there, is set in—1957? Or 1958. 1958. And it’s like Superman landed on Earth in 1938 in the story. In Russia, you know. And 1958 is when he makes his first appearance, which is what you’ve got there.
1978 is Book Two, and 1998 is Book Three, with a 60-year-old Superman.
Oh, wow. That should be fun.Oh, yeah, it’s like a real hoot. I’ve really had a great time.
The thing is, I’ve spent about two or three times as much time on each one of these as I normally would on something, you know? I think I’ll be pleased with the result when it’s all out, and it’ll be nice to have it in a little book and everything, you know? I’m glad DC seemed to be really getting behind it, promotional-wise, like for next year. So hopefully the money that I lost spending so long on this I can make back in royalties. Here’s hoping.
It’s going to come out in November, didn’t you say?
Well, it was going to be November, but now DC has— Because Dave’s taken a while, it’s actually worked out nicely for Superman’s 60th anniversary. They’re launching this as one of the two big books of the year [1998]. At Easter they’re going to bring this out, and in the fall they’re going to bring out Alex Ross’s Superman book.
Easter? That’s ominous.
I know; I know. [Laughs.]
Well, I guess I should warn you: I just turned my tape recorder on; I’m going to start taping the conversation so I don’t miss anything.
O.K. No problem. If you have any trouble with the accent or anything, just tell me, ‘cause I’m so used to it dealing with overseas. The Scottish people tend to talk not very clearly and very quickly.
[Laughs.]So if you want me to repeat anything, just say it, you know. [Laughs.] It’s O.K.
I don’t think it should be a problem, but keep in mind that I’m calling you from the Deep South, so—[Laughs.]
Between my questions taking 14 minutes and your answers taking about 12 seconds, we should kind of even out.[Laughs.]
I was one of these people that went to Florida on honeymoon, you know. It’s like—I think all Americans laugh at Florida as a vacation, but British people tend to think it’s luxurious. So I had a really good time. I really enjoyed it.
Yeah, we’re probably 3 to 4 hours from Atlanta, if you really drive fast.
Right. Do you know Dave Johnson, then? Do you ever have him up to your shop or anything?
I’ve never met him.‘Cause he’s from that part of the woods, you know.
Oh, really?Yeah.
Where is he from?Well, he lives in Georgia.
Oh, I didn’t know that.Yeah.
I did not know that. There are a lot of people [in comics] who have moved to the South. Roy Thomas is here. Steve Epting, who used to work on AVENGERS.Right, uh-huh.
Greg Adams, who’s a fabulous inker, operates out of this area too. So we’ve got a few people coming through [from] time to time, but I’ve never met Dave. That I know of.
[Laughs.] Well, Grant [Morrison] and I are the only people out here. In Scotland, there’s me or Grant. [Laughs.] If you don’t like us, that’s it, you know?
[Laughs.] You could do worse.
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