Pat Mills Awarded Honorary Professorship by Liverpool University
Pat Mills, who is often referred to as the ‘godfather’ of British comics, has been presented an honorary professorship by Liverpool University, for his contributions to popular culture and national literacy.
Mills, who launched 2000 AD in 1977 and is responsible for co-creating as well as scripting many of its iconic characters including Judge Dredd and ABC Warriors, will be teaching at the University this coming autumn as well editorially advising on a new media incubator at the University - appropriately named SUBVERSION.
Not only is this a great news for Pat, but it’s fantastic to see comics being taken seriously. Huge congratulation are in order to Mr Mills, who also celebrated his birthday on Monday. Happy Birthday!
Here’s what he had to say about the accolade:
I’m currently working part of my time as consultant on some multi-media projects at the University of Liverpool, as well as intending to give talks on graphic novels to students at the uni.
Last week, to my great surprise, the University made me a “Visiting Professor in the School of Arts” in recognition of my past work in British comics.
Once I’d got over all the blushing and the obvious Prof jokes from my partner and friends (Please! No more!!) there’s one thing in particular about this that delights me:
The appointment is intended to help raise the profile of British comics, British creators and what we can achieve in the comic media in Britain.
For too long we’ve been in the shadow of American comics as well as being rather looked down upon as an art form in the UK - certainly by comparison with France. As a result, we have run the risk of losing our very British comic identity.
So if this enhances the public image of important series like Charley’s War, comics like 2000AD, and also my forthcoming graphic novels with Clint Langley for British-based Repeat Offenders Ltd., that’s got to be a good thing for our industry. The Repeat Offenders titles commence with American Reaper - a science fiction cop drama beautifully imagined by Clint. I think it will show just what we can do with the graphic novel art form when British creators are in the driving seat.
It’s fantastic that the University of Liverpool supports British comics in this way and my thanks to everyone there who made it happen.
Related posts:
- Pat Mills’ Requiem Vampire Knight Receives an English Translation by Panini UK, and Mills Signs at Forbidden Planet on September 19th
- 2000 AD Confirms Pat Mills’ appearance at San Diego Comic Con 2010
- James Sturm to Speak at The John Hopkins University on March 7th
- Breaking: Pat Mills and Kevin O’Neill Sign-Up Marshal Law to DC Comics
- 2009 Joe Shuster Award Winners Announced This Weekend at the University of Toronto’s Innis Town Hall
