# 95 Mark Ellis

Mark Ellis, AKA James Axler. is the author of 50 suspense and science-fiction novels (with more in the offing) as well as being a comics creator. Under his pen name of James Axler, he created the best-selling OUTLANDERS series, published by Harlequin Enterprises’s Gold Eagle imprint. The series is now in its sixteenth year of consecutive publication, making it the most successful ongoing mass-market paperback series published in the last 25 years.

Mark makes his living as a creator. He was formerly a comics scripter for various independent publishers and the main writer, conceptulizer and editor of the late (and somewhat unlamented) Millennium Publications. The company was formed in 1990 by Mark, his wife Melissa Martin and a third partner who earned the right to remain nameless.

His credentials in the comic book field include critically acclaimed stints on Doc Savage, Death Hawk, The Wild, Wild West, Star Rangers, The Justice Machine and many others.  He’s worked with comic legends such as the late and legendary Jim Mooney, Don Heck, Darryl Banks, Adam Hughes and Doug Wildey. He also gave the great (and tragically late) Mike Wieringo his first comics assignment (Doc Savage: Doom Dynasty) in his capacity of editor of Millennium. 

Melissa and Mark co-wrote The Everything Guide To Writing Graphic Novels, on sale in March of 2008.

“If I say so myself (and I do, I do!), it's a comprehensive volume all about the production of graphic novels/comics, not just the writing. It also features rare and never-before published artwork by Adam Hughes, Jim Mooney, Darryl Banks, Don Heck and many others.” – Mark Ellis

Melissa and Mark teach writing workshops and moderate writer's groups in the Newport, Rhode Island area, the longest-lived of which is Newport Roundtable, which has been going strong since 2004.