“Nostalgia is a snare; it is the worst thing that can befall you. What truly matters is the challenge of progressing, of what lies ahead.” This was how the American cartoonist and screenwriter Frank Miller commenced his address at the CAJACANARIAS CULTURAL SPACE, marking his participation in the tenth edition of the Black Gender Atlantic Festival Tenerife Noir. The renowned author will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the film Sin City, an undertaking that momentarily took him out of the comic world and involved co-directing alongside Robert Rodriguez, a venture he described yesterday in Tenerife as “drawing a movie.”
This statement comes from an individual who has profoundly influenced the Batman character since the 1980s, as well as the iconic noir series Sin City. Despite his background overflowing with successful creative works that have captivated audiences, he emphasised the importance of maintaining a forward-looking perspective. “In terms of comics, it is essential to observe how new challenges are embraced,” he noted, reflecting on the distinction between traditional and modern comics.
Regarding the inspirations that fuel his creativity, he expressed that his focus is not solely on specific authors but rather on the period after the Second World War, when the noir genre thrived with protagonists grappling with post-traumatic stress and aspiring to forge a better world in the aftermath of conflict. “This represents the essence of numerous noir narratives,” he elaborated, explaining that subsequent to that war, “numerous state-imposed restrictions emerged aimed at controlling the populace, leading to rebellious attitudes that fostered a criminal undercurrent, defying the law, and it is from this backdrop that the noir theme finds its origin to flourish.” He even remarked, “The superhero comic, during that time, also embraced elements of the noir genre,” he asserted.
“As long as this heart continues to beat and blood courses through its veins, Sin City remains vibrant,” he declared when asked about a potential return to the City of Sin that he originally conceived. “Sin City is a grim universe that challenges those who inhabit it,” he elaborated, presenting his character Mark as an illustration, whom he characterised as “a barbarian in the modern age. In terms of social conduct, he resembles an entity from another planet. At a certain juncture, he discovers a mission.”
