| Steve Niles | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Steve Niles at the 2007Scream Awards | |
| Born | (1965-06-21)June 21, 1965 (age 59) Jackson Township,New Jersey, U.S. |
| Area(s) | Writer |
Notable works | |
| http://www.steveniles.com | |
Steve Niles (born June 21, 1965) is an Americancomic book author and novelist, known for works such as30 Days of Night,Criminal Macabre: A Cal McDonald Mystery,Simon Dark,Mystery Society,Batman: Gotham County Line,Kick-Ass – The New Girl, andKick-Ass vs. Hit-Girl.
He is credited among other contemporary writers as bringing horror comics back to prominence.[1]
Niles was born inJackson, New Jersey on June 21, 1965. He was raised in theWashington, D.C. suburbs, developing various creative interests in music, writing, and making amateur films. He worked in several comic book stores and played in thepunk bandsGray Matter andThree, both of which released records onDischord Records label in the 1980s and 1990s. He often credited late night television horror host,Count Gore De Vol, who was the local horror host on Channel 20, as an early influence.[2] In 2004 Count Gore wrote the introduction to thegraphic novelAleister Arcane, which is about the horror host of the same name.[3] Other influences includedRichard Matheson's bookI Am Legend, and the works ofGeorge A. Romero,John Carpenter andBernie Wrightson, the latter two of whom he would later work with. He had no formal education in writing following high school, explaining that he learned to write through copious reading.[2]
Niles' start in the comics industry began with the formation of hisself publishing company, Arcane Comix. Niles published, edited, and adapted several comics and anthologies forEclipse Comics, working onI Am Legend in 1991. He then wrote several titles forFantaco in the early 1990s, includingBad Moon,Fly in My Eye, and a set of lithographs forClive Barker's Book of Blood. He worked for a year onDisney'sToy Story Web Adventures, and later worked forTodd McFarlane Productions where he wrote several issues ofSpawn,Spawn: The Dark Ages. He also collaborated onHellspawn with illustratorAshley Wood afterBrian Michael Bendis's departure, and did journalism work forKiss Magazine, interviewing members of the bandKiss.[2]
Niles attempted to shop around his screenplay for30 Days of Night, but was met with rejection in Hollywood. WhenIDW Publishing formed, Niles sent his "reject list" to Ted Adams, who selected30 Days of Night as a concept he was interested in. Niles and illustratorBen Templesmith produced the first issue for free. The book did not sell well, according to Niles, but it was then that film producers took notice of it, and optioned it to be adapted into a film in 2000 or 2001.[2]
In 2004 or 2005, Niles formed a joint venture production company, Creep International, with 1990s rocker and film directorRob Zombie. This project has produced two works to date:The Nail (withNat Jones) throughDark Horse Comics, andBigfoot (withRichard Corben) through IDW Publishing. Upon placing that venture on hiatus, he then assisted actorThomas Jane's production company, with the intention of bringing hisCriminal Macabre character Cal MacDonald to the big screen.MGM optioned the property, but it lapsed, and is currently held byUniversal Pictures. Niles and Jane also co-wrote the six-issue comic book seriesBad Planet forImage Comics with artists Lewis Larosa andTim Bradstreet.[2]
In 2006, Niles collaborated with artistScott Hampton on aBatman miniseries,Gotham County Line, published byDC Comics. That same year, he wrote another miniseries that reinventsSteve Ditko's vintage characterThe Creeper with DC artist Justiniano. He is also created a new DC character with artistScott Hampton, namedSimon Dark. Dark is avigilante hero with elements of theFrankenstein mythos[4] who starred in eighteen issues of his own ongoing series.
In October 2007, Steve recorded an introduction to the Washington, D.C.'s International Horror Film Festival,The Spooky Movie Film Festival, in honor of opening night host,Count Gore De Vol, who was being honored for his 35 years in Washington, D.C. Posters for30 Days of Night were given out, including one signed by Niles.[5]
In 2007 Niles wrote a story for theDC Infinite Halloween Special called "Strange Cargo". Narrated byPoison Ivy, the story tells ofSuperman,Lois Lane, andJimmy Olsen uncovering zombies in a cargo tank owned byLex Luthor. Superman kills most of them, but takes the rest and puts them on the moon. Niles also wrote City Of Others for Dark Horse Comics with artwork done by acclaimed artist Bernie Wrightson. City Of others was a four issue story.
In 2008 Niles wrote a twelve part Batman miniseries entitledBatman: Gotham After Midnight with art byKelley Jones. He has also written a graphic novel forZune calledThe Lost Ones with various artists[6] andCity of Dust forRadical Comics.[7][8][9] Niles is part of the Convention Monsterplaza, which is from April 9 to 11, 2010 in Marriott Burbank Convention Center.[10] AnX-Files/30 Days of Night crossover in 2010 was co-written by Niles andAdam Jones, the guitarist for the bandTool, with art byTom Mandrake.[11] Niles wrote the script for theWarner Bros. Interactive Entertainment produced horrorfirst-person shooterF.E.A.R. 3.[12]
He also appeared onSpike TV series "Deadliest Warrior", in which he represented the vampire team in the "Vampires vs Zombies" episode, as one of the Vampire experts along with Scott Bowen the author of The Vampire Survival Guide.[13]
In December 2011, Niles spoke out against theStop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), commenting, "SOPA does more than go after so-called 'piracy' websites...SOPA takes away all due process, shuts down any site it deems to be against the law without trial, without notification, without due process...Nobody seems to give a shit, or either they’re scared. Either way, very disappointing. I guess when it affects them they’ll get mad… I know folks are scared to speak out because a lot of us work for these companies, but we have to fight. Too much is at stake."[14][15]
In 2012, Niles will be collaborating withBernie Wrightson onFrankenstein Alive! Alive! published byIDW Publishing.[16]
In March 2012, Niles joinedHalo-8 president/Godkiller writer-creatorMatt Pizzolo andEpitaph Records owner/Bad Religion guitarist-songwriterBrett Gurewitz to form Black Mask Studios with the mandate of developing new ways to support creators and reach broader audiences beyond fandom. Black Mask will launch with the release of theOccupy Comics anthology to which Niles contributed.[17]
In December 2013, IDW announced that Niles would be collaborating withDamien Worm on a 3-issue titleMonster and Madman, a tale ofFrankenstein's Monster withJack the Ripper.[18] The first issue was published on 12 March 2014, with the remaining issues due in April and May 2014.
In March 2014, IDW announced that Niles and Worm would again be collaborating onThe October Faction, Niles' first monthly ongoing title, published in late 2014.[19] In March 2015 it was confirmed, that he will executive produce along withWes Craven theseries adaption ofChristopher Mitten's comicDisciples.[20]
30 Days of Night was developed into a major motion picture, withSam Raimi as producer. Niles and Ben Ketai scripted a sequel,30 Days of Night: Dark Days, to be directed by Ketai.[21]
Niles'Remains, a zombie story was purchased by Synthetic Cinema International in 2010. It was released as part ofChiller Network's "Chiller Presents" series as "Steve Niles' Remains.[22]
On September 28, 2018 it was announced that Niles' comic,The October Faction would be adapted into a TV show onNetflix with a first season consisting of 10 episodes.[23]The show premiered onNetflix on January 23, 2020.[24] On March 30, 2020, Netflix cancelled the series after one season.[25]
Other comics he has written that have been optioned for film include,Criminal Macabre,In the Blood,Aleister Arcane andWake the Dead.Variety reported thatWake the Dead will be the next to enter production withJay Russell in the director's chair.[26]Freaks of the Heartland is being adapted by Peter Sattler and Geoff Davey, withDavid Gordon Green penciled in to direct it.[27] The project is currently on hold,[28] after differences with Overture film.[29]
In May 2009,MTV reported thatRadical Studios is developing aCity of Dust movie.[30] In November 2013, Outlier acquired the film rights of theSavage comic.[31] In September 2014,Andrew Adamson is attached to direct the film adaptation ofBreath of Bones.[32] In June 2016, Variety reported thatJim Carrey will star inEli Roth's film adaptation ofAleister Arcane forAmblin Entertainment.[33]
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