Frank Miller Says He's Relieved Fewer Comic Book Movies Are Getting Made

Legendary comic creator Frank Miller says he's glad to see a slowdown in Hollywood's comic book adaptation frenzy. Speaking to Variety at the Lucca Comics and Games festival, Miller argued the rush to the big screen was harming the art form.

He claimed the pipeline had gotten "so out of control" that comics were losing their identity. Miller said he has been "arguing vehemently for comics to start asserting their own purpose again" as a distinct literary form.

The writer behind "Sin City" and "300" blamed the allure of Hollywood. He told Variety the appeal of "money, fame, respect and glory" from working in "the most powerful medium in history" led too many creators to aim for film and TV deals.

Miller said this push put comics "really in danger of losing their souls." He pointed to advancements in visual effects, noting that once only comics could depict "ridiculous pyrotechnics." Now, he said, movies can do "virtually anything that can be imagined."

The interview also touched on Miller's political views and his new documentary, "Frank Miller - American Genius." He compared modern America to ancient Rome, calling it a "bloated thing" that has lost its center.