Kieron Gillen

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Kieron Gillen
Gillen at the 2011 New York Comic Con
BornKieron Michael Gillen[1]
(1975-09-30) 30 September 1975 (age 48)
NationalityBritish
Area(s)Writer
Notable works
Phonogram
Uncanny X-Men
Young Avengers
The Wicked + The Divine
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra
AwardsInkpot Award (2016)[2]
kierongillen.com

Kieron Michael Gillen (/ˈɡɪlən/; born 30 September 1975)[3] is a British comic book writer and former video game and music journalist. In comics, Gillen is known for Once & Future, Die, Phonogram, and The Wicked + The Divine, the latter two co-created with artist Jamie McKelvie and published by Image, as well as numerous projects for Marvel, such as Journey into Mystery, Uncanny X-Men, Young Avengers, Eternals, and the company-wide crossover storyline A.X.E.: Judgment Day. He has also written projects for Star Wars including Darth Vader, Star Wars, and co-created the character Doctor Aphra who starred in her own ongoing spin-off comic series Star Wars: Doctor Aphra of which Gillen wrote the first 19 issues.

In video game journalism, he created the New Games Journalism manifesto.[4] He also co-founded the website Rock Paper Shotgun.

He has been nominated for a Hugo Award six times, once for The Wicked + The Divine, twice for Once & Future, and three times for Die. He also has been nominated four times for a GLAAD Media Award, winning once for Young Avengers.

Career

Journalism

As a reviewer, Gillen has written for publications such as Amiga Power (under the pseudonym "C-Monster"), PC Gamer UK, The Escapist, Wired, The Guardian, Edge, Game Developer, Develop, MCV/Develop, GamesMaster, Eurogamer and PC Format,[citation needed] as well as the PC gaming-oriented website Rock Paper Shotgun,[5] In 2000, Gillen became the first-ever video game journalist to receive an award from the Periodical Publishers Association, for New Specialist Consumer Journalist.[6] Gillen is a fan of the work of the video game developer Warren Spector, having written positive pieces on several Spector's games, most notably Deus Ex and Thief: Deadly Shadows, both produced by Ion Storm.

In addition to his work as a reviewer, Gillen has acted as a guest speaker at numerous video game industry conferences.[7][8]

In a September 2010 post at Rock Paper Shotgun, Gillen announced he was leaving full-time video game journalism to devote his time to comic book writing.[9]

Comics

2003–2013

Gillen's earliest work in comics was published in various British small-press anthologies and Warhammer Monthly. Between 2003 and 2007, Gillen collaborated with artist Jamie McKelvie on a comic strip for PlayStation Official Magazine – UK, entitled "Save Point", following up with the pop music-themed urban fantasy series Phonogram, which was described by Gillen as his "first real comic".[10] Veteran comics writer Warren Ellis dubbed the series "one of the few truly essential comics of 2006."[11] The first issue, published by Image Comics, went on sale in August 2006, with the first series running for six issues. The sequel, a series of one-shots subtitled The Singles Club, launched in December 2008.[12]

On 14 April 2008, it was announced Gillen would collaborate with artist Greg Scott to expand on Warren Ellis' newuniversal series with "a story about killing the future" set in 1959.[13] That year, he authored Crown of Destruction, a Warhammer Fantasy comic.[14][15] Further Marvel assignments included a Dazzler short story and a Beta Ray Bill one-shot, which was followed by a three-issue mini-series.[16]

Gillen's workload at Marvel increased in late 2009. At HeroesCon, it was announced he would be writing a tie-in to the "Dark Reign" storyline, the mini-series Dark Avengers: Ares,[17] and, during the 2009 Chicago Comic Con, it was announced he would collaborate with Steven Sanders on S.W.O.R.D, an X-Men spin-off series.[18][19] Gillen took over Thor following a run by J. Michael Straczynski, writing issues #604[20] to 614.[21]

In late 2010, Gillen launched another X-Men spin-off Generation Hope that picked up plot threads from the end of the "Second Coming" storyline.[22][23][24][25][26] Gillen wrote the title for twelve issues before passing it to James Asmus.[27] After co-scripting a few issues of Uncanny X-Men with outgoing writer Matt Fraction, Gillen took over the series with issue #534.1.[28] His time on the title saw the book through the 2011 "Fear Itself" storyline, a renumbering to #1 in the wake of the "Schism" storyline, and a tie-in with the "Avengers vs. X-Men" storyline. After finishing his run with issue #20, Gillen penned a five-issue epilogue miniseries AvX: Consequences that dealt with the aftermath of that event.[29]

In 2011, Gillen returned to Marvel's Asgard with a run on Journey into Mystery (the original name of the Thor series, continuing its original numbering), starting with issue #622 and finishing with #645 in October 2012. As part of the Marvel NOW! relaunch, Gillen wrote two books: Iron Man (again taking over from Fraction) with art by his frequent Uncanny X-Men collaborator Greg Land, and Young Avengers with Jamie McKelvie.[29][30]

2014–present

Between 2014 and 2019, Gillen and McKelvie collaborated on The Wicked + The Divine,[31] an Image series that has won Gillen multiple awards, including nominations for the Eisner Award for best new series,[32] and for the Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story.[33] Gillen's other creator-owned work includes Three (2013), a mini-series about the helots of Sparta,[34][35] and The Ludocrats, initially announced in 2015 as a collaboration between writers Gillen and Jim Rossignol and artist David Lafuente.[36] The series was eventually published in 2020 with art by Jeff Stokely.[37]

Gillen and Stephanie Hans began discussing a collaboration on a creator-owned ongoing comic following their collaboration on Journey Into Mystery. While they started with a different idea, they eventually settled on an idea which would become Die.[38] It premiered in December 2018 and was published by Image Comics.[39][40][41] In September 2021, the series ended its run with twenty issues total.[42] Die won the 2021 British Fantasy Award for "Best Comic / Graphic Novel"[43] and it was a finalist for the Hugo Award in "Best Graphic Story or Comic" three times.[44][45][46] In 2018, Gillen announced that he was preparing a role-playing game based on Die.[40][47] Gillen developed the game and the comic concurrently; ideas he developed for one would then crossover into the other.[48][49] The hardcover edition of the DIE: The Roleplaying Game was released by British publisher Rowan, Rook and Decard in June 2023[50] following a successful Kickstarter campaign in May 2022 where the game was fully funded within 24 hours.[48][51][52]

In June 2020, Marvel announced that Gillen would write Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar, the first series in a line of Warhammer comics published by the company.[53]

In 2021, Gillen began writing the Eternals ongoing series, illustrated by Esad Ribić.[54] This culminated in the 2022 crossover event A.X.E.: Judgment Day which focused on conflict between the Avengers, the X-Men and the Eternals.[55] In March 2022, as part of the Destiny of X relaunch following A.X.E.: Judgment Day, Gilleon began writing the Immortal X-Men series with artist Lucas Werneck which focused on the Quiet Council of Krakoa;[56][57] this series built plot points for the 2023 event Sins of Sinister.[58][59] The final part of Krakoan Age of the X-Men, the Fall of X, began in 2023 following Sins of Sinister. Gillen is writer on multiple series in this era such as the ongoing Immortal X-Men conclusion, the limited series Rise of the Powers of X (January 2024) with artist R.B. Silva and the limited series X-Men: Forever (March 2024) with artist Luca Maresca.[60][61]

Awards and accolades

Gillen was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Arts by Staffordshire University in 2019 for his work both as a journalist and a comic book writer.[62]

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2010 Eagle Award Favourite Newcomer Writer — Nominated [63]
2014 GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding Comic Book Young Avengers Won [64]
2016 GLAAD Media Awards The Wicked + The Divine Nominated [65]
2019 GLAAD Media Awards Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Nominated [66]
2020 GLAAD Media Awards The Wicked + The Divine Nominated [67]
British Fantasy Award Best Comic / Graphic Novel Die Won [68]
Hugo Award Best Graphic Story or Comic The Wicked + The Divine, Volume 9: "Okay" Nominated [44]
Hugo Award Best Graphic Story or Comic Die, Volume 1: Fantasy Heartbreaker Nominated [44]
2021 British Fantasy Award Best Comic / Graphic Novel Die, Volume 2: Split the Party Won [69]
Hugo Award Best Graphic Story or Comic Die, Volume 2: Split the Party Nominated [45]
Hugo Award Best Graphic Story or Comic Once & Future, Volume 1: The King is Undead Nominated [45]
2022 British Fantasy Award Best Comic / Graphic Novel Die, Volume 4: Bleed Nominated [70]
Hugo Award Best Graphic Story or Comic Die, Volume 4: Bleed Nominated [46]
Hugo Award Best Graphic Story or Comic Once & Future, Volume 3: The Parliament of Magpies Nominated [46]
2023 GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding Comic Book Immortal X-Men Nominated [71]
ENNIE Awards Best Production Values DIE: The Roleplaying Game Special Edition Nominated [72]

Bibliography

Early work

  • Hit (with Brian Laframboise (#1–2), Natalie Sandells (#3), Jeff Coleman (#4) and Andy Dale (#5), webcomic, 2002–2003)
  • Spectators (with Tim Twelves, short 3-page story published online via OPi8, 2002)
  • Panel Bleed (e-zine co-created by Gillen and Charlie Chu, 2002–2004)
  • Everybody Be Cool (column published at Ninth Art, 2002–2003)
  • Webcomics created solely by Gillen and published via Big Robot:
  • Warhammer Monthly (anthology, Black Library):
  • Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine #42–89: "Save Point" (with Jamie McKelvie, half-page strip, Future Publishing, 2003–2007)
  • Variance Anthology: "Something's Wrong" (with Charity Larrison, anthology graphic novel, 105 pages, Variance Press, 2004)
  • Commercial Suicide (self-published anthology — co-edited by Gillen and Alex de Campi):
    • Commercial Suicide: "Minister Drill-cock!" (with Asif Khan, 2004)
    • Commercial Suicide Volume 2: "Chimplants" (with Daniel Heard, 2004)
    • Commercial Suicide Volume 3: "Ultimate Pol Pot" (with William Cogan, 2005)
  • Chaos League (with Thomas Veauclin, free one-shot distributed with various gaming magazines, Digital Jesters, 2004)
  • Homo Depressus (with Mark Nicoll, short 5-page story published online via Always Black, 2005)
  • Busted Wonder (with Charity Larrison, webcomic, 2005–2008)
  • Exterminus (with Charity Larrison, infinite canvas webcomic, 2005)
  • Short stories (drawn by Andy Bloor) in anthology graphic novels published by Accent UK:
    • Zombies: "Zombies" (168 pages, 2007, ISBN 0-9555-7640-7)
    • Robots: "Robot" (204 pages, 2008, ISBN 0-955-57641-5)
    • Western: "The Men Who Built the West" (192 pages, 2009, ISBN 0-95557-642-3)

Image Comics

Marvel Comics

Avatar Press

Other publishers

Game design

References

  1. ^ "Kieron Michael GILLEN - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk.
  2. ^ Inkpot Award
  3. ^ "Nine World Schedule For Kieron Gillen (Age 38 3/4)". Another Way To Breathe.
  4. ^ "www.alwaysblack.com home". 19 October 2004. Archived from the original on 19 October 2004.
  5. ^ "The Secret History Of Rock Paper Shotgun - Part One: Matters Of Import". Rock Paper Shotgun. 8 April 2019. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  6. ^ "PPA | PTC New Journalist of the Year Awards". 16 February 2008. Archived from the original on 16 February 2008.
  7. ^ "FREE PLAY 2005". 22 August 2006. Archived from the original on 22 August 2006.
  8. ^ "Animex International Festival of Animation & Computer Games". Archived from the original on 24 August 2006.
  9. ^ Gillen, Kieron. "Half-Life: On Turning 35 And Leaving RPS". Rock, Paper Shotgun, 30 September 2010
  10. ^ "Phonogram". 12 March 2007. Archived from the original on 12 March 2007.
  11. ^ "PREVIEWING TEN PAGES OF IMAGE COMICS' PHONOGRAM #1", Newsarama. Accessed 8 April 2023.
  12. ^ "SINGLES CLUB: Gillen & McKelvie on Phonogram 2". Comic Book Resources. 22 September 2008.
  13. ^ "Newuniversal 1959". Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  14. ^ "Kieron Gillen on Warhammer: Crown of Destruction". Newsarama.com. 13 October 2008.
  15. ^ "Kieron Gillen: 'Like A Particularly Geeky Grant Morrison Character'". Comics Bulletin. 29 April 2009.
  16. ^ 3 conversations with Kieron Gillen: Phonogram, music and comics, Mindlessones.com. 3 August 2009.
  17. ^ HeroesCon: Kieron Gillen Talks "Dark Avengers: Ares", Comic Book Resources (21 June 2009).
  18. ^ George, Richard; Schedeen, Jesse (10 August 2009). "Taking Control of S.W.O.R.D." IGN. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  19. ^ Strom, Marc (10 August 2009). "Chicago Con '09: S.W.O.R.D. Ongoing". Marvel.com. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  20. ^ Richards, Dave (24 August 2009). "Kieron Gillen Talks Thor". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  21. ^ Richards, Dave (21 May 2010). "Gillen Sends "Thor" to Hell". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  22. ^ Sims, Chris. "Kieron Gillen On 'Young Avengers': 'It's My Teenage Symphony To God' [NYCC 2012]". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014.
  23. ^ Richards, Dave (23 July 2010). "CCI EXCLUSIVE: Gillen Ushers in "Generation Hope"". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  24. ^ Schedeen, Jesse (25 July 2010). "SDCC 10: The Next Gen of X-Men". IGN. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  25. ^ Ching, Albert (29 July 2010). "SDCC 2010: GENERATION HOPE Gets An Ongoing in November". Newsarama. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  26. ^ Ching, Albert (3 November 2010). "Kieron Gillen Introduces the Five Lights of GENERATION HOPE". Newsarama. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  27. ^ Richards, Dave (23 November 2011). "ONE TO: James Asmus Part 1 – "Generation Hope"". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  28. ^ Richards, Dave. "Gillen Prepares His 'Uncanny' Solo". Comic Book Resources. 18 January 2011
  29. ^ a b Ching, Albert (4 September 2012). "Leaving UNCANNY X-MEN has CONSEQUENCES for Kieron Gillen". Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  30. ^ Richards, Dave (9 October 2012). "Gillen & McKelvie Assemble New Volume of 'Young Avengers'".
  31. ^ "The Gods Are ReIncarnated in THE WICKED AND THE DIVINE". Image Comics. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  32. ^ "2015 Eisner Award Nominations". Comic-Con International: San Diego. 13 June 2015. Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  33. ^ "2020 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  34. ^ Leader, Michael (3 November 2009). "Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie interview". Den of Geek. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  35. ^ Cavicchio, Nick (28 October 2012). "Kieron Gillen Talks Creator-Owned". Comicbooked.com. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  36. ^ Kamen, Matt (8 January 2015). "Exclusive: Image Comics attacks normalcy with 'The Ludocrats'". Wired UK. Archived from the original on 11 January 2015.
  37. ^ Horne, Karama (29 May 2020). "Indie Comics Spotlight: Why the insanity of Ludocrats is exactly what we need right now". Syfy Wire. Archived from the original on 1 June 2020.
  38. ^ Kanayama, Kelly (7 October 2018). "NYCC '18 Interview: Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans on "DIE!" – Jumanji For Sensitive Metalheads". The Beat. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  39. ^ McMillan, Graeme (10 September 2018). "Image Comics' New Series 'Die' Takes Fantasy and Gaming Into New Realms (Exclusive Images)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  40. ^ a b Spencer, Alex (10 December 2018). "We played Die, the 'Goth Jumanji' game fueling Kieron Gillen's new RPG comic book". Polygon. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  41. ^ Spry, Jeff (29 April 2019). "Exclusive preview: Kieron Gillen & Stephanie Hans roll out new RPG-inspired horror series, DIE". SyFy. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  42. ^ Dar, Taimur (18 February 2021). "Gillen & Hans's DIE begins its final story arc in May". Comics Beat. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  43. ^ Johnston, Rich (23 February 2021). "Stephanie Hans and Kieron Gillen Win British Fantasy Award For Die". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  44. ^ a b c "2020 Hugo Awards". Hugo Awards. 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  45. ^ a b c "2021 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. January 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  46. ^ a b c "2022 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. September 2022. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  47. ^ "From D&D Cartoon Musings, to Your Next Favourite RPG Story: Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans on DIE - WWAC". WWAC. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  48. ^ a b "DIE: The RPG Launches New Kickstarter". ComicBook.com. 12 May 2022. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  49. ^ Whitson, Hank (3 June 2022). "DIE Interview: Kieron Gillen and Grant Howitt Discuss Influences, Aspirations, and More About Kickstarter TTRPG". Game Rant. Archived from the original on 6 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  50. ^ Dohm-Sanchez, Jeffrey (17 May 2023). "Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans' 'DIE: The Roleplaying Game' Heads to Retail". ICv2. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  51. ^ Brooke, David (16 May 2022). "Making 'Die' come to life: Kieron Gillen and Grant Howitt talk 'Die: The RPG'". AIPT. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  52. ^ Whitson, Hank (3 June 2022). "Author and Designer Kieron Gillen Talks Trauma, Metafiction, and Thematic Depth In DIE TTRPG". Game Rant. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  53. ^ Hoffer, Christian (25 June 2020). "Marvel Announces Warhammer 40,000 Comic by Kieron Gillen, Jacen Burrows". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  54. ^ Lovett, Jamie (24 August 2020). "The Eternals: Kieron Gillen Reveals Plans to Redefine Marvel's Cosmic Mythology". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  55. ^ "'Judgment Day' writer Kieron Gillen explains how to build a Marvel crossover worth reading". EW.com. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  56. ^ Blum, Jeremy (8 December 2021). "New Immortal X-Men Series Brings Kieron Gillen Back to Marvel's Mutants". CBR. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  57. ^ Adams, Timothy (8 December 2021). "Marvel Announces Immortal X-Men Creative Team, Focus on Krakoa's Quiet Council". Comicbook. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  58. ^ "Secrets From Mutant History Are Unleashed and Vicious Betrayals Threaten Krakoa's Future in Immortal X-Men". Marvel. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  59. ^ Lovett, Jamie (7 December 2022). "X-Men: Kieron Gillen Sets the Stage for Sins of Sinister (Exclusive)". Comicbook. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  60. ^ Richards, Dave (5 January 2024). "Rise of the Powers of X Writer Says Goodbye to X-Men's Krakoan Age". CBR. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  61. ^ Jones, Jonathan (3 February 2023). "X-Men's Epic New FALL OF X Era Begins This Spring With BEFORE THE FALL One-Shots". ScreenRant. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  62. ^ "Community champions to join Staffordshire University's Class of 2019". Staffordshire University. 6 June 2019. Archived from the original on 15 June 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  63. ^ Johnston, Rich (23 May 2010). "Eagle Awards Nominations Announced". Bleeding Cool. Avatar Press.
  64. ^ "25th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Winners Announced". Deadline Hollywood. 12 April 2014. Archived from the original on 24 November 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  65. ^ Khatchatourian, Maane (27 January 2016). "2016 GLAAD Awards Nominations: Full List of Nominees". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. ISSN 0042-2738. Archived from the original on 25 February 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  66. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (25 January 2019). "GLAAD Media Awards Nominations: 'Love, Simon', 'Crazy Rich Asians', And 'Pose' Recognized For LGBTQ Inclusion". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on 25 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  67. ^ Gardner, Chris; Howard, Annie (8 January 2020). "GLAAD Media Awards: 'Booksmart,' 'Bombshell,' 'Rocketman' Among Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries. ISSN 0018-3660. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  68. ^ "2020 British Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus Online. 22 February 2021. Awarded in 2021 for 2020 works.
  69. ^ "2020 British Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus Online. 22 February 2021. Awarded in 2021 for 2020 works.
  70. ^ "2022 British Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus Online. 19 September 2022.
  71. ^ "34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Nominees". GLAAD. June 2023. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  72. ^ "2023 Nominations – ENNIE Awards". ENNIE Awards. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  73. ^ Rees, Robert. "Hit". ZUM! Comics. Archived from the original on 15 September 2003.
  74. ^ Gillen, Kieron (31 October 2018). "086: we have cats". TinyLetter. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021.
  75. ^ Gillen, Kieron (23 September 2019). "When it comes to uber, is there any possibility of publishing under a publisher other than avatar?". Tumblr. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kieron Gillen.
Preceded by Thor writer
2010 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Journey into Mystery writer
2011–2012 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Uncanny X-Men writer
2011–2012 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Iron Man writer
2013–2014 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Star Wars writer
2018–2019 		Succeeded by
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