Netflix buys Scots comic book firm Millarworld

A Scottish comic book company has been bought by streaming giant Netflix.

Millarworld, founded by Mark Millar from Coatbridge, includes his portfolio of characters and stories such as Kick-Ass, Kingsman, and Old Man Logan.

Mr Millar said he was still “blinking” over the news.

He said it was only the third time a comic book purchase on this scale had ever happened, with Warner Bros buying DC Comics in 1968, and Disney buying Marvel in 2009.

Mr Millar, who lives in Glasgow, started Millarworld as a creatorowned comic-book company nearly 15 years ago.

He runs the company with his wife Lucy Millar.

It is the first ever company acquisition in Netflix’s history. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Mr Millar said: “I’m so in love with what Netflix is doing and excited by their plans.

“Netflix is the future and Millarworld couldn’t have a better home.”

Netflix said the acquisition was a natural progression in the company’s effort to work directly with prolific and skilled creators and to acquire intellectual property and ownership of stories.

Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said Mr Millar was “as close as you can get to a modern day Stan Lee” - the co-creator of SpiderMan and other Marvel characters.

He said: “Mark has created a nextgeneration comics universe, full of indelible characters living in situations people around the world can identify easily with.

“We look forward to creating new Netflix Originals from several existing franchises as well as new superhero, anti-hero, fantasy, sci-fi and horror stories Mark and his team will continue to create and publish.”

Netflix and Mr Millar will bring Millarworld’s portfolio to life through films, series and kids’ shows available exclusively to Netflix members globally.