What happens if your mother never throws your comics books away?
Then you, too, can spend your career strip-mining your childhood!
Faraway Press is home to yours truly, John Jackson Miller, writer of comics and games and books about comic books and games.
My comics work ranges from umpteen small-press ventures to such titles as Marvel Comics' Iron Man and Crimson Dynamo, Bongo Comics' Bart Simpson, and Star Wars: Empire for Dark Horse Comics. I've been the regular writer of Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic since the beginning, and I wrote the comics adaptation of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
In
games, my work includes writing for the Star Wars Role-Playing Game,
the massively multiplayer role-playing game, Sword of the New World,
and reference guides including the Scrye
Collectible Card Game Checklist & Price Guide.
In non-fiction, my research specialties include studies into comic-book circulation history, which in 2002 spawned the first of four Standard Catalog of Comic Books volumes. I've also edited magazines including Comics Buyer's Guide, Comics & Games Retailer, and Scrye: The Guide to Collectible Card Games, serving also as Collectibles Editorial Director and later, Interactive Media Editorial Director for F W Publications. Since that time, I have continued my research interests on my other website, The Comics Chronicles. I continue to write a column for Comics Buyer's Guide called "Longbox Manifesto."
With a master's in comparative politics from Louisiana State University, I've sought to play on international and political elements in my fiction and games. I hold a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Tennessee, where I served as editor for The Daily Beacon eons ago. Before that, I was active in the fanzine and minicomics community, the 20th century equivalent of webzines and webcomics. I also have a webstrip with Chuck Fiala, Sword & Sarcasm.
This site provides behind-the-scenes information about my works, as well as answers to frequently asked questions. Here are some now...
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find out more about your upcoming comics?I try to get pages online here soon after their solicitations are made public, but I can't reveal more information than the publishers have. I do try to link to interviews when they appear. I also have a blog — the feed is here on the front page, but you can access the whole thing at FarawayLooks.com.
How do I get copies of your work?
Many pages here include links to comics retail sites, Things From Another World, and and Amazon.com, where my books are sold. Also, a limited number of autographed copies are available directly from me in the Shop.
Do you make convention and store appearances?
Occasionally, as time and travel allow; use the address on the Shop page to contact me. That is also the temporary address for interviewers; questions from the general public can simply be posted in the blog . No promises that I'll be able to answer, but I do read them!
Where do you answer questions about comic book circulation history?
Over at Comichron. I may not have the answers, but often someone on the boards does.
Are you the same John J. Miller who wrote the Wild Cards novels?
Nope — nor am I the John J. Miller who writes for National Review. Sure are a lot of us out there!
Do you ever get tired of reading comics?
I get tired of carrying comics — which is why collectors loathe moving so much!
