Source: unknown

Here's looking at...
Mark Hamill

As the middle child of seven kids, Mark Hamill had to deal witha lot of hand-me-downs. However, the star of "Star Wars" recalls that when it came to comic books, the leftovers were first-class pickings. "I got everything from Uncle Scrooge to Classic Illustrated to my older brother's horror comics," recalls the 45-year-old Hamill of his comics upbringing. "I remember being surprised at one point when I discovered Superman comics. Up until that point, I thought Superman was just a television show." Hamill, who describes himself as "more a comic book historian than a regular reader," grew up on comics and Sunday funnies, but had little interest in either of these as a career. "I never thought of comics as a job, but I would doodle. Girls gave me a lot of attention because I could draw cartoon versions of the Beatles.."

Hamill turned comic pro earlier this year when the idea of a superhero stumbling through a media-crazed world found a home at Dark Horse Comics under the guise of The Black Pearl. The five-part series debuted in September anf features a Hamill storyline, co-written by Eric Johnson with art courtesy of H.M. Baker. It centers on regular guy Luther, who, after saving an abducted woman, is quickly turned into a vigilant hero thanks to the media. What they don't know, however, is that Luther was originally stalking this woman, and now he's stuck in a role he shouldn't be in.

"The Black Pearl was originally written as a screenplay," relates Hamill. "When it became a comic, I thought we'd just [use] the screenplay. But we ended up tearing the screenplay apart and building up the story back from scratch. It was a lot of work. I'll never look at comics the same way again." Hamill, contrary to media reports, has no problem looking back on Star Wars for the umpteenth time, though. He describes the first film "as a pure fairy tale" and the second as "deeper, more cerebral and more challenging." It's the final film in the trilogy that Hamill has a problem with.

"I was set up the wrong way in the third film," he says. "I thought that Luke was being swt up to go over to the Dark Side and that there would be this enticing set-up of whether he could kill Han or the Princess. But when I read the script, it all seemed awfully pat. I was disappointed in the third film and told George [Lucas] about it. He told me that 'Star Wars' was a fairy tale and that fairy tales are always tied up in neat little packages." Hamill has ultimately had the opportunity to stretch as an actor, thanks to his voice work as The Joker on "Batman: The Animated Series," the Hobgoblin on the "Spiderman" animated series and Gargoyle on the new 'Hulk" animated series, as well as playing The Trickster on the live-action "Flash" TV show. And he relishes those post- "Star Wars" triumphs.

"Luke ultimately went through the most changes in the three films. But I'd always hoped for the chance to turn him into some kind of exotic monster or scene-chewing villan. I'm jazzed to be getting those opportunities now."

First comic read...
The first ones that really made an impression on me were the Mad paper-back collections.

Favorite comic of all time...
I loved the early Dennis the Menace. For me, Dannis was the Bart Simpson of the day.

Favorite work of your own...
I have a real fondness for "The Texas Wheelers" TV show and I loved playing the Trickster on the "Flash."

Comics you read...
I don't. The last time I regularly bought comics was 10 years ago, during the Dark Knight Returns/Watchmen period.

The one person you'd like to meet...
There's two. Stan Laurel and Alfred Hitchcock.

Superpower you most want...
Flight. Peter Pan had a big impact on me.

Favorite Munckie at 2 a.m....
Frosted Cheerios

Things you collect...
Comic books, model kits and cereal boxes. I'm a cereal fanatic, but I'm not going to pay $700 for a Snagglepuss Cocoa Krispies box.

Person who would play you in a movie...
Pauly Shore or Michael J. fox

Favorite cartoons...
"Rocky and Bullwinkle" and "George of the Jungle"

Person you would most like to work with...
Ray Harryhausen(a pioneer in stop-motion special effects)

Favorite musical performers...
R.E.M. and Pearl Jam. I'm at the point where I'm listening to my kid's music.

Favorite TV show...
"The Simpsons"

Last good movie you saw...
"The Usual Suspects"

Last good book you read...
Outrage, by Vincent Bugliosi

If you had the power of The Beyonder...
I'd want the power to mellow people out.