Comics Interview — Special Edition - Elektra

Miller explains why his next wave of work is going to Dark Horse rather than Marvel or DC, citing growing corporate bureaucracy, the risk of outside pressure on mature content, and the desire to retain merchandising control over creator-owned work. He gives detailed accounts of each forthcoming project: the dark graphic novel Elektra Lives Again (coloring by Lynn Varley); the visually excessive Hard Boiled with Geof Darrow; the political Give Me Liberty with Dave Gibbons; and a Daredevil origin graphic novel drawn by John Romita Jr. He also reflects at length on Dark Knight Returns — its unexpected cultural impact, his decision not to kill Batman, and his reluctance to do a sequel.

A second, shorter piece transcribed from Miller's 1986 Mid-Ohio-Con appearance covers his views on comics ratings and censorship. He argues strongly against any industry rating system, warning it would empower religious fundamentalists, chill creative work, and repeat the capitulation that left Bill Gaines isolated during the 1950s Senate hearings.

Sienkiewicz describes the chaotic, emotionally exhausting process of developing his fully painted, mixed-media approach for the Elektra: Assassin series — working in cut paper, acrylics, charcoal, and other non-traditional materials — and contrasts it with the more controlled painted work on his Daredevil graphic novel with Miller. He compares his creative relationships with Frank Miller and Chris Claremont, reflects on breaking from his early Neal Adams-derived style during New Mutants, and discusses his ambitions to write as well as draw.

DAK's editorial describes *Comics Interview*'s unique position as an all-interview magazine that lets the industry speak for itself, distinguishing it from news magazines and positioning each issue as an insider course on every aspect of the comics business.