First Comics News: What does it take to be a great writer?
Pat Mills: A writer should have something important and unique to say. They also need some experience and practice in the craft of writing. And an understanding of their audience
So I know a great writer, who is saying something special about gnosticism but his actual writing is hard work. He tends to use three big words where one small simple word would do. And he doesn’t have a strong narrative drive. In my opinion, he ‘wanders off’ in several directions. In our world, a story – fiction or non-fiction – is best to be linear.
1st: What type of characters do you most enjoy working on?
Pat: A character who is saying – or revealing – the truth. So it could be any type, but usually, it’s a working-class hero like Charley’s War or the forthcoming Ragtime Soldier.
1st: Why should people pick up “Requiem Vampire Knight 12: The Fall of Dracula”?
Pat: They will see the most amazing fantasy art – Olivier Ledroit is France’s Number One Fantasy Artist. And in the store,y you are going to read about Fifty Shades of Evil as Vampires fight each other in Hell for power.
1st: Who is the artist on “Requiem Vampire Knight 12: The Fall of Dracula” and how would you describe it?
Pat: Olivier Ledroit is renowned for his fantasy art. He began with Chronicles of the Black Moon, Xoco, and Sha (written by me and now available in English!). Then we went on to do Requiem Vampire Knight together. His art is beautiful, baroque, detailed, and will transport the reader to another world.
1st: How is Dracula shown differently in “Requiem Vampire Knight 12: The Fall of Dracula”?
Pat: Dracula is Lord of Draconia, the most powerful Kingdom in Hell. Physically, he is monstrous with a pair of giant wings. He still draws on his past as Vlad the Impaler and the fictional version by Bram Stoker.
1st: Are there other creatures of the night besides vampires in “Requiem Vampire Knight 12: The Fall of Dracula”?
Pat: Lots! Werewolves – who were religious oppressors when they were alive. They appeared holy but were ravenous wolves. Example: Torquemada
Ghouls – They are hypocrites who do not admit they are evil on Earth. Example: Tony Blair
Zombies – Ordinary people who obeyed their masters and did evil on Earth.
1st: What is “Sha” about and can you tell us who she and Detective Duffy are?
Pat: SHA features asixteen-year-oldd who is burned as a Witch. She calls on the Goddess – SHA – to aid her in avenging her death. Her soul travels through time and space and she and her murderers reincarnate in NEW EDEN, a nightmare city of the future. After the first murderer is mysteriously killed by SHA, Inspector Duffy of the New Eden Police Department is assigned to hunt down the killer responsible
1st: When you co-created “Punisher 2000” what differences did you want from the Modern Day one?
Pat: The big difference was the high-tech modern weapons. Many of them were dreamed up by my writing partner Tony Skinner and I think they were inventive! The world of the future the Punisher lived in was more nightmarish than our world today!
1st: What do you plan to add to the story in “Charley’s War” in the next chapter?
Pat: Charley’s War finished at the end of the Great War. But there are important NEW stories I want to tell about the Great War. So I have created a new Scottish character called RAGTIME SOLDIER illustrated by GARY WELSH (2000ad artist) and PHIL VAUGHAN. The first story has appeared and we are now working on the second story which will appear late in 2025.
1st: What is next for you in your career?
Pat: I have two spin-offs from Requiem Vampire Knight: OTTO, Vampire Knight, and BATHORY, Queen of the Vampires. Two top French artists are working on them. I’ve also written TWO Requiem stories for the HELLFEST special edition of METAL HURLANT celebrating the HELLFEST MUSIC FESTIVAL – the biggest Heavy Metal festival in Europe. And I’m working on a text thriller novel set in World Warr one about the use of propaganda.
1st: Would you like to write more “Marshal Law”?
Pat: I’d love to, but, alas it’s not possible, now Kevin has passed away.
1st: What have been the high and low points in your career?
Pat: High point: My story STAR BEAS, illustrated by Dave Gibbons, was chosen to relaunch the recent DOCTOR WHO series. Low point: In an earlier story SPACE WHALE accepted and then rejected for DOCTOR WHO. I relate the story in my new book PAGETURNERS.
1st: Any words for all your many fans?
Pat: Thanks for all your amazing support over the years. And especially for supporting my characters in 2000AD. British comics have poor economics. This is because British comic publishers try to own all the rights to creators’ creations and do not pay the proper rates, They have not evolved financially like American, French, and European comics. This explains why interest in them has dipped. But British and American fans have always supported British creators as we have gone elsewhere to make a living. You’ve made all the difference to us. Thank you again.
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