Monty Nero (born 20th century) – also known as Montynero – is a Scottish writer of comic books, graphic novels, and stories published by Marvel Comics,[1] DC Comics,[2] Delcourt,[3] 2000ad[4] and Titan Comics.[5]
He created the ongoing series Death Sentence with the artist Mike Dowling, first published by Titan Comics in 2013, as well as writing the superheroes X-Men[6] and Hulk[7] for Marvel Comics, the semi-autobiographical Hollow Monsters series, and Frenemies with the artist Yishan Li.[8]
Notable works
editThe Death Sentence series
editDeath Sentence concerns a sexually transmitted virus which infects people with super powers and kills them in six months. The first series of comics, first published by Titan Comics in 2013, focuses on three main characters: Verity Fette, a bisexual graphic designer; Weasel, a drug-addicted rock star; and Monty, a celebrated comedian and film star. Art for the series was by co-creator Dowling, with covers by Nero and Dowling. It was collected and published as a hardback graphic novel by Titan in 2014,[5] and was translated into French and published by Delcourt in 2015.[9]
The second series, Death Sentence London, stars Verity Fette (now known as Artgirl), Weasel, Roots (an inner city drug-dealer) and Jeb (an American F.B.I. agent investigating the virus). Art for the series was by Martin Simmonds, with covers by Nero, Dowling, and Simmonds. It was collected and published as a softcover graphic novel by Titan in 2016.[5]
The third series, Death Sentence Liberty, is ongoing and stars Verity/Artgirl, Roots, and Jeb. Art is by Simmonds and Nero, with covers by Ben Oliver, Luke Ross, and Nero.
Critical reaction
editIn his book The British Superhero (2017), Chris Murray describes Death Sentence as a "a sharp satire on politics and the relationship between the individual and the state...which easily takes its place among the best works of twentieth-first-century superhero stories".[10] Nero's writing is often compared favorably in reviews and articles to the work of Grant Morrison, Alan Moore, Mark Millar, and Warren Ellis.[10][11][12][13][14]
BuzzFeed described Death Sentence as "the best British comic in years."[15] PopMatters referred to it as "a social analysis that exceeds the medium of comics, easily the equal of Dostoyevsky or Dickens."[16]
On 24 December 2019, the Death Sentence series was named Dreamcage "Best Comic/Graphic Novel of the decade".[17]
Comics scholarship
editNero holds a Master of Design degree with Distinction from the University of Dundee, where he won the Duncan of Jordanstone prize for academic work.
He has written and presented papers on comics for academic conferences and journals, and collaborated with academics from around the world on comic projects.[18]
References
edit- ^ "Storm Leads X-Men To Africa in Amazing X-Men Annual #1". Newsarama. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ "Vertigo Quarterly: Cyan #1". CBR. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ Death Sentence chez Delcourt (in French).
- ^ "BARNEY -- droid zone". www.2000ad.org. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- ^ a b c "Home @ Titan Comics". titan-comics.com. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- ^ "Monty Nero". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- ^ "Nero's Marvelous Times Continue in "Hulk Annual"". CBR. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- ^ Austin, Hailey J. (1 June 2018). "Interview with MontyNero". Studies in Comics. 9 (1): 145–150. doi:10.1386/stic.9.1.145_1. ISSN 2040-3232.
- ^ "Death Sentence". Death Sentence (in French). Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- ^ a b Murray, Chris (15 March 2017). The British Superhero. University Press of Mississippi. p. 267. doi:10.14325/mississippi/9781496807373.001.0001. ISBN 978-1-4968-0737-3.
- ^ "Monty Nero & Mike Dowling 'Death Sentence' Review". Horror Novel Reviews. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- ^ "Review: Death Sentence TPB by Montynero and Mike Dowling". How to Love Comics. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- ^ Q, Shathley (28 May 2013). "It's Good News, I'm Afraid: "Death Sentence #1". PopMatters. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- ^ "Review: Death Sentence Volume 1 (Titan Comics)". Pipedream Comics. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- ^ Dalton, Dan. ""Death Sentence" Is the Best British Comic in Years". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- ^ Q, Shathley (28 May 2013). "It's Good News, I'm Afraid "Death Sentence #1"". Popmatters. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- ^ Omand, Susan (24 December 2019). "Bests of the Decade - The Winners". The Dreamcage. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- ^ Austin, Hailey J. (June 2018). "Interview with MontyNero". Studies in Comics. 9 (1): 145–150. doi:10.1386/stic.9.1.145_1. ISSN 2040-3232.