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There comes a time when there is no place else to go but up. At least, that's how Frank Miller saw it when he began his run on Daredevil for Marvel Comics early on in his career. When Miller jumped on the title as an artist, Daredevil was a bi-monthly book that wasn't selling well for Marvel. As a result, because not that many people cared about Daredevil at the time, Miller had the freedom to take the character in a bold new direction. Luckily for Miller, his risk paid off. 

Speaking at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, Miller looked back at how being on a D-list title for Marvel helped his career in the long run. “My advice to young comic book artists who want to get [a] break into the superhero market is: pick a loser. Because if you fail, if you go there, advance the book anyway. But if you succeed, you’re a goddamn hero,” Miller said. 

There are some notable examples that support Miller's hypothesis, extending beyond just the scope of comic book artists. Did anyone care about Animal Man before a young Grant Morrison came on to write a wacky but haunting run for DC in 1988? This strategy would benefit Morrison again when they jumped on as the writer for Doom Patrol the next year. More recently, in 2013, writer Tom Taylor was brought on to write DC's Injustice comics to tie in with the video game, and he (and future Nightwing collaborator Bruno Redondo) knocked it out of the park.

The moral of the story here is, even if you're handed crumbs, don't be boring with them. 

Get ready for what's next with our guide to upcoming comics, how to buy comics at a comic shop, and our guide to Free Comic Book Day 2025.