COMICS: Mark Millar, Dave Gibbons And Matthew Vaughn Announce The Secret Service!

'THE SECRET SERVICE' CHARITY AUCTION FOR ST BARTHOLOMEW’S SCHOOL

Mark Millar (Kick-Ass) and Dave Gibbons (Watchmen), two of the biggest names in the global comic-book industry, have announced they are collaborating for the first time on a major new series, The Secret Service. Their book is released in February and was co-created with director Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class). As with Kick-Ass, Nemesis and Superior, Mark is creating a unique opportunity for fans to bid for the right to name a major character in the series and all proceeds from the auction will go to a good cause in Scotland. Proceeds from the Kick-Ass auction, where lead character Dave Lizewski was named, paid for a play area in Rutherglen High for pupils with special needs. The proceeds from the more recent Nemesis and Superior auctions paid for half of a specially equipped mini-bus for the children. Rutherglen High's Head Teacher, Jan Allan, said she was "delighted with the money raised and wanted to thank all Millarworld readers for their generosity."

This latest auction is an opportunity to name the super-villain in The Secret Service. Matthew Vaughn's MARV films now hold the movie rights to this project and naming the villain here will be at least as big a coup for fans as any of the auctions so far. The proceeds from the auction will go to the St Bartholomew's Primary School Pantomime Fund, which Mark Millar has recently established with Head-Teacher Christine Boyle.

Mark explained, "I'm a former pupil at St Bartholomew's and have so many great memories of the place. I know there's not a lot of money in local government at the moment and I was sad to hear that the annual school trip for the children had been cancelled. By establishing this fund, I hope to have a pot the head-teacher can dip into every Christmas and take the entire school to a pantomime every year. This fund will cover tickets, transport and treats for the children and it's something I'd like to help with every year from now on. The school trips were a big deal to us as little kids and I'd love to get them up and running again."

Christine Boyle, Head Teacher at St Bartholomew’s, is delighted adding "Everyone in St Bartholomew's is so grateful to Mark for his very generous gift. It is especially welcome as every single child will benefit and have a real treat to look forward to every year. This is really wonderful given the current financial constraints that the school and many families are experiencing at this time. Mark is remembered very fondly at St Bartholomew's and he is a real inspiration to all our pupils to keep working hard to achieve their ambitions."

The Secret Service is a six issue series from Millarworld (Wanted, Kick-Ass, Nemesis and Superior) and will be hitting shelves in February 2012. Details of the series will be released in January.