Creator Spotlight – Frank Miller

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One of the most prolific comic creators of our time is Frank Miller. He single-handedly made two comic characters into iconic status. Several of his creator owned projects have either seen film/television time or will in the future. Frank Miller’s art is extremely distinctive as well. Everything from the overbearing board shoulders of Batman to the loneliness feel of Daredevil’s pain, to the violence of 300. His writing replicates his artistry. Usually very bold and forthcoming. A distinctive comic creator in every facet. A true legend and Icon in the industry.

Here are just a few of his key books in his vast career. It took a very long time to compile this list and we hope you enjoy every bit of it as we did putting it together.

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Twilight Zone #84 (1978) The first professional work from Frank Miller.

Weird War Tales #64 (1978) First DC Comics work.

John Carter Warlord of Mars #18 (1978) First Marvel Comics work with writer Chris Claremont. John Byrne cover.

Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Man #27 (1979) First Daredevil pencils. Miller will go on to basically own the Daredevil character. Most of anything you will ever see on film or on television on Daredevil is based from Miller’s interpretation of the character.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daredevil #158 (1979) Miller’s first time on the Daredevil title will prove to be a major turning point in this characters life. The character is forever marked with the Miller touch. As said before, everything you see on paper or on a screen is a direct result of Miller. That is all. This comic is also the first professional cover he does in collaboration with Joe Rubinstein.

Marvel Premiere #49 (1979) Miller/Janson cover. Falcon graces the cover and this is also Falcon’s first solo comic ever.

Rom #1 (1979) One of the many reasons to own this comic; a collaborative cover with Joe Rubinstein. He goes on to do other Rom covers.

X-Men Annual #3 (1979) First X-Men, cover art only with Terry Austin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Daredevil #164 (1980) Origin retold. The first Miller Daredevil origin story (art only).

Daredevil #165 (1980) Miller collaborates on writing duties that will forever change the flow and dynamics for this character.

Daredevil #168 (1981) Origin and first appearance of Elektra. Miller also takes over the writing chores here.

Captain America #241 (1980) The classic Cap/Punisher cover with Bob McLeod.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Avengers #193 (1980) First Avengers pencils and cover. Both in a collaborate model.

DC Special Series #21 (1980) First Miller Batman. We all know what influence he had on Batman right? Here’s the first time he pencils a Batman story. Written by Denny O’ Neil.

Marvel Premiere #53 (1980) A Miller/Rubinstein Black Panther cover.

Marvel Team-Up #95 (1980) A Miller/McLeod collaboration cover. Also the first appearance on Mockingbird.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Marvel Spotlight #8 (1980) First Captain Marvel. Pencils and cover art.

Marvel Team-Up #100 (1980) Cover art with Klaus Janson. Also pencils interior story with first appearance of Karma. Chris Claremont writes.

Amazing Spider-Man Annual #14 (1980) One of Miller’s (first?) solo cover’s with Spidey and Doctor Strange.

Star Wars #43 (1981) A Star Wars pinup page from Miller. This comic also happens to be Boba Fett’s second comic book appearance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Machine Man #19 (1981) Cover art with Terry Austin. Steve Ditko interior pencils. First appearance of Jack O’ Lantern (which appears on the cover).

Marvel Premiere #58 (1981) Second American appearance of Doctor Who. Miller/Austin cover art.

Rom #17 (1981) The infamous X-Men Rom issue(s). This comic and the next (issue #18) both had Miller art on the covers.

Incredible Hulk #258 (1981) Soviet Super Soldiers cover – Miller/Milgrom. Also the first appearance of this group.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Daredevil #170 (1981) Writer/artist Frank Miller brings Kingpin into the life of Matt Murdock, making Kingpin one of Daredevil’s greatest adversaries of all time. Besides Bullseye of course.

Daredevil #176 (181) First appearance of Stick.

Daredevil #177 (1981) Miller writes Daredevil’s origin. Retold.

Daredevil #178 (1982) First team-up with Power Man and Iron Fist. Will this equate to box office money because of the possibility of a Netflix team-up? Maybe. Still a great book to have regardless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marvel Team-Up Annual #4 (1981) Miller writes a story that includes Moon Knight. He also does the cover art with Rubinstein that includes Moon Knight.

Daredevil #181 (1982) The death of Elektra. Also the first Punisher appearance in the series. Miller creates another adversary for the ages here for the Daredevil character, but it’s a vigilante (hero) this time. As with the Power Man/Iron Fist team up, will Netflix heat things up here with the Punisher coming on board? Again maybe, but be forewarned, this comic is way over-printed and very easy to find.

Daredevil #182 (1982) A classic cover.

Daredevil #183 (1982) First Daredevil/Punisher cover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Daredevil #184 (1982) …….And another classic cover.

Moon Knight #15 (1982) A Joe Jusko/Frank Miller Moon Knight cover.

Wolverine (1982) This limited series went on to change the Wolverine character forever. Written by Chris Claremont, pencils and covers by Miller. And issue #1; another ridiculous classic cover.

Daredevil #187 (1982) Like the cover says “Stop it please..” But we simply cannot. Here is yet another classic cover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What If? #35 (1982) This story asks the question “What If Bullseye had not killed Elektra?” An awesome story written and drawn by Miller.

Daredevil #189 (1982) The death of Stick. That cover though……Miiler’s Daredevil run would end with issue #191.

Wonder Woman #298 (1982) Here’s a random cover collaboration with Dick Giordano.

Ronin (1983) This critically acclaimed DC series was a Frank Miller creation. Writes, pencils, inks and cover art. This series was optioned by the Syfy channel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Spider-Man and Daredevil Special Edition #1 (1984) Although a reprint special, a new Spidey/Daredevil cover makes this a must have.

Superboy #51 (1984) Cover art.

Destroyer Duck #7 (1984) Miller Eclipse Comics cover art of another ‘DD’.

Batman and the Outsiders Annual #1 (1984) Getting closer to that Batman book…..Miller teams with Aparo on this no Batman cover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marvel Fanfare #18 (1985) Captain America solo cover.

Superman The Secret Years (1985) Superman covers by Miller.

Daredevil #219 (1985) Miller is back on one issue of the Daredevil, as writer and cover artist. He comes back in issue #226 as regular series writer.

Batman The Dark Knight Returns (1986) Here is another turning point for a character because of Frank Miller. This comic changed the course of history for Batman as we know it. The crazy thing about this game changer of a story was that he was writing Daredevil at the same time and killing that too! Two issues into his return to the Daredevil title came this mastery opus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Daredevil #232 (1986) Miller is done writing the Batman opus. And continues to kick major butt on the Daredevil title. The Born Again story line, #231 not approved drug issue, Amazing really. Here he introduces us to Nuke.

Mazing Man #12 (1986) A Dark Knight Miller cover.

Batman #404 (1987) Miller begins the classic Batman: Year One story line. Once again altering the course of Batman comic history. Wow.

Give Me Liberty (1990) Critically acclaimed story written by Miller and pencils by Dave Gibbons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hard Boiled (1990) A two issue Magazine sized Dark Horse book written by Miller. Well received. Issue number three comes out two years later.

Dark Horse Presents – Fifth Anniversary Special (1991) The first time readers see Miller’s Sin City creation. We all know where this wound up too.

Valiant Comics (1992) Miller does a bunch of cover art for Valiant comics; Archer and Armstrong #1, Eternal Warrior #1, Harbinger #8, Magnvs Robot Fighter #15, Rai #6, Shadowman #4, Solar, Man of the Atom #12, and X-O Manowar #7.

Robocop Vs. Terminator (1992) Here Miller teams with legend Walt Simonson in this four issue mini. Walt pencils and Miller writes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Spawn #8 (1993) Miller does a Spawn pinup. He writes issue #11.

Marvel Age #127 (1993) Here’s a nice nugget. A Frank Miller/Greg Capullo Cable cover collaboration. Looks like the cover (and Cable!) is literally cut in half as each creator took a side.

Daredevil The Man Without Fear (1993) The mini series retelling of Daredevil’s origin. Written by Miller, art by John Romita Jr.

Spawn Batman (1994) One shot written by Miller, art by Todd McFarlane.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

G.I. Joe #1 (1995) From Dark Horse. An ultra cool Miller cover.

Batman Black and White #2 (1996) Miller Batman cover.

Overstreet Fan #19 (1997) A Dark Knight cover from Miller.

300 (1998) Well here’s another comic of Frank’s that made it to film. Written, Pencils, inks, and cover art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Green Lantern/Superman Legend of the Green Flame #1 (2000) An incredible Miller/Hollingsworth cover.

Dark Knight Strikes Again (2001) This followup three-part story did not fair all that well.

All Star Batman and Robin, The Boy Wonder (2005) This series was without its controversy. Issue number ten caused a stir (recalled) and Miller’s writing for this series was very edgy to say the least. Jim Lee art, Scott Williams inks, and Miller script. Series went up to ten issues. Miller also did a variant cover for most of the series.

Mighty Avengers #16 (2008) Daredevil/Elektra Secret Invasion Miller cover.

Detective Comics #27 (2014) A full spread variant cover Miller/Stewart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Invest wisely. Read comics.

Carpe Diem.

Jay Katz