OWS Perspectives: Frank Miller

Frank Miller is a legend in the world of comic books.  His 1986 The Dark Knight Returns is arguably the most important comic story published in the past 30 years, beating out even Alan Moore's The Watchmen and Neil Gaiman's Sandman series.

To be sure, The Dark Knight Returns had the most significant impact on the industry.  These dense four issues basically ushered in the "grim 'n gritty" storytelling style that helped boost the industry and lead it to more mature themes.  (On a less happy note, the industry quickly went overboard in its depictions of ultraviolence and depressing tales - the 1990s are regarded as a low point for mainstream comic books).

Over the years, Miller has continued to push his bleak, neo-noirish style to new heights and has achieved some magnificent results, most notably with his Sin City series.  The brutal black-and-white style, coupled with bleak tales that only very rarely have anything that can be considered a truly happy ending (and, even then, one has to really stretch to find the happy), make those stories classics.