Mark Millar’s 10 Best Comic Book Stories

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Mark Millar is a popular and often debated comic book writer who’s created some of the most acclaimed comics of the 21st century for major publishers like Marvel, DC, and Image, as well as through his own independent projects. He first gained recognition for his work on the Wildstorm series, The Authority, created by Warren Ellis. While he’d written for well-known titles like Swamp Thing, The Flash, and Superman Adventures, Millar truly became a standout writer when Marvel brought him into the Ultimates Universe. This led to him writing key titles within that universe and, eventually, one of Marvel’s most famous crossover events.

This article showcases the best comic book stories by Mark Millar, spanning his work with Marvel and DC, as well as his independent creations.

10) Nemesis

In 2010, Mark Miller and Steve McNiven created Nemesis, a comic book published under Marvel’s Icon imprint. The story explores a fascinating ‘what if’ scenario: what if Batman were actually the Joker? The series centers around Nemesis, a supervillain possessing Batman-like wealth and technology, but completely lacking any sense of morality. He’s opposed by Blake Morrow, an ordinary police officer. This concept of a regular cop taking on such a dangerous criminal proved popular, leading to sequels that expanded the Nemesis universe to include connections with the world of Wanted.

9) American Jesus

Created by Mark Millar and Peter Gross, American Jesus was unlike anything Millar had done before. It launched a planned trilogy called The Chosen One. This three-issue comic series centers on Jodie, a teenager who believes he’s the resurrected Jesus Christ, destined to lead humanity in a final battle against the Antichrist—who unexpectedly becomes the President of the United States. The story blends religious themes of faith, destiny, and power with the scope of a superhero narrative. The most compelling aspect of American Jesus is a surprising twist regarding the prophecy and Jodie’s true identity.

8) Jupiter’s Legacy

Jupiter’s Legacy, a comic book created by Mark Millar and Frank Quitely, was adapted into a Netflix series, but the show didn’t cover the entire story. The comic centers around a group of older superheroes—inspired by the Justice League—and their children, who also have superpowers. This creates conflict as the older heroes cling to their established methods, while the younger generation believes it’s time for a new approach. Jupiter’s Legacy is a thought-provoking series where Millar examines the role of superheroes and questions whether they should eventually let humanity forge its own path.

7) Civil War

Mark Millar’s most well-known work is also quite controversial. He wrote the Civil War storyline for Marvel, which began when a tragic accident involving young superheroes caused significant casualties. This led the U.S. government to propose the Registration Act, forcing heroes to reveal their identities. Iron Man supported the government, while Captain America championed personal freedom. The story explored the core question of what it truly means to be a hero – a theme Millar often revisits. However, the series became bogged down with a seemingly never-ending stream of superhero fights, which ultimately felt repetitive. While important and thought-provoking, Civil War may have overstayed its welcome.

6) Old Man Logan

Mark Millar created one of his most popular Marvel stories with Old Man Logan. It imagined a future where Wolverine mistakenly killed the X-Men, and the world’s biggest villains successfully took over the United States. The story follows Logan years later, after he’s retired and trying to live a quiet life with his family. But when a terrible event happens, he’s forced to come out of retirement. Old Man Logan is considered one of Marvel’s greatest alternate reality tales, and it became so popular that elements of the story were eventually incorporated into the main Marvel universe (Earth-616).

5) Huck

Mark Millar’s comic book series, Huck, is a surprisingly heartfelt story that doesn’t get enough attention. The series follows Huck, an orphaned child who grows up performing countless acts of kindness in his town, earning him local hero status. When he learns about the kidnapping of 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria, he travels to rescue them, returning home to national fame. Huck is Millar’s take on the classic Superman archetype, and it’s a genuinely sincere story showcasing the pure goodness of a hero – arguably one of his most heartfelt works yet.

4) Kick-Ass

Mark Millar’s most well-known creation is the comic series Kick-Ass. Originally published by Marvel Comics in 2008 with art by John Romita Jr., it later moved to Image Comics and Millarworld. The story follows Dave Lizewski, a teenager who decides to become a superhero despite having no powers – and things don’t go as planned. He finds some success after teaming up with the skilled Hit-Girl and her father, Big Daddy, but soon faces a new enemy in the form of another teenager, Red Mist. The series, which was also adapted into two films, is a funny and engaging look at what would really happen if an ordinary person tried to become a superhero.

3) Wanted

As a huge comic book and film fan, I always get excited about Mark Millar adaptations, and Wanted is a great example. What’s really interesting about the comic is that Millar and artist J.G. Jones actually based the look of the main character, Wesley F. Gibson, on Eminem! The story centers around Wesley, who’s just a regular guy stuck in a dead-end job, feeling lost. Then, his world turns upside down when he discovers his dad wasn’t who he thought – he was a supervillain who tried to erase heroes from history, and now Wesley’s supposed to take his place. It follows his training with a shadowy organization and his struggle to decide whether to follow in his father’s footsteps or destroy everything. Honestly, it’s a brilliantly fun take on an origin story, and I consider it one of Millar’s best works.

2) The Ultimates

Mark Millar initially joined Marvel to work on Ultimate X-Men, but he quickly became the writer for The Ultimates. This allowed him and artist Bryan Hitch to reimagine the Avengers for a new universe. Millar excelled at portraying the team’s unique dynamic, showcasing a Captain America who was rigid and serious alongside teammates like a Thor whose divine status was questioned, and a practical, military-focused Hawkeye. This approach modernized the Avengers and gave Millar a chance to fully explore his creativity.

1) Superman: Red Son

Mark Millar’s 2003 comic book series, Superman: Red Son, which was nominated for an Eisner Award, presented a fascinating idea: what if Superman’s rocket had landed in the Soviet Union instead of the United States? Instead of becoming a champion of American ideals, he would be raised as a symbol of Communist power. The story cleverly incorporated real historical figures like Joseph Stalin and John F. Kennedy, and reimagined Batman as a rebel fighting against Superman’s regime. What made Red Son so compelling was its demonstration that, regardless of his upbringing, Superman would ultimately remain a force for good, even within a Communist society.

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2025-12-27 04:14