He will attend this Sunday on the island for the screening that celebrates the twentieth anniversary of ‘Sin City’
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Mar 22. (Europa Press) –
The American cartoonist and scriptwriter Frank Miller is in Tenerife for the tenth edition of the Black Genre Festival ‘Tenerife Noir’, where his impressive career will be acknowledged with the ‘Negra and Criminal’ award. The author will reflect on the two decades since the release of the film ‘Sin City’, a project that briefly drew him away from comics and felt like “drawing a film.”
“Nostalgia is a trap; it’s the worst thing that can happen. The key is the challenge of moving forward and what might still unfold,” Miller shared during a press conference on Friday at the CajaCanarias Cultural Space in Tenerife, recalling his co-direction of ‘Sin City’ alongside Robert Rodríguez.
Additionally, Miller is known for redefining Batman in the 1980s. When asked how the narratives of older comics differ from contemporary ones, he mentioned that, particularly in comics, “what endures is observing how new challenges are embraced,” as noted by the festival’s organisers.
As for the influences that fuel his creativity, Miller highlighted the post-World War II era as significant, during which the black genre thrived with protagonists grappling with post-traumatic stress and striving to reshape the world in the aftermath of war.
“That serves as the foundation for numerous black genre tales,” he explained, pointing out how, subsequent to that conflict, “many state prohibitions arose to maintain control over people,” leading to “rebellious attitudes in a breeding ground for criminal tendencies, contrary to the law, which is where the Noir theme finds its roots to flourish.”
“The superhero comic, at that time, was also part of the black genre,” he remarked.
Cartoonist’s Work
“As long as this heart continues to beat and there is blood on the body, Sin City remains alive,” he affirmed when asked about a potential return to the city of sin that he created. “Without Sin City, it becomes a dark world that tests those who inhabit it,” he elaborated.
He also holds optimism for the continuation of other series and characters, expressing “many stories, infinite ones, that I hope to uphold.”
For Miller, there is no distinction between his roles as a scriptwriter and a cartoonist. In fact, in the United States, both creative pursuits are collectively referred to as cartoonists.
In any case, when it comes to creation, he emphasises, “the essential thing is simplicity.” He argues that “the primary rule and the second is your story, without indulging in excessive detail.”
When questioned whether the current situation in the United States inspires him to create new comic narratives, Frank Miller remarked that “in the history of nations, there are tumultuous moments,” and presently, “it is a splendid time to be a ‘cartoonist’.”
Miller’s Involvement in Tenerife Noir
Miller’s schedule for Tenerife Noir includes attending the screening that marks the twentieth anniversary of the film ‘Sin City’, alongside his participation in the discussion following the exhibition.
This event will occur this Sunday, from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the auditorium of the Cajacanarias Cultural Space. On Saturday, in the same venue, the presentation of the Spanish premiere of Frank Miller: American Genius will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Silenn Thomas, the documentary’s director, and Miller will engage in a discussion with the audience following the screening. After the film sessions conclude, there will be a half-hour signing session with the artist.
