Carey was born in Liverpool, England, in 1959. He describes his young self as "one of those ominously quiet kids... [who] lived so much inside my own head I only had vestigial limbs". As a child, he maintained an interest in comics, writing and drawing primitive stories to entertain his younger brother.[2] He studied English at St Peter's College, Oxford[3] and, upon graduation, became a teacher. He taught for 15 years before moving on to writing comics.
Other work for DC Comics includes the long-delayed reboot of Wildstorm's Wetworks[13][14] and two graphic novels for the Minx imprint aimed at the teenage female audience, one of which was co-written by Carey with his daughter Louise.[15] In 2003, Carey was announced as the new writer of the Firestorm ongoing series,[16] however, he left the project few months after the announcement as the editors wanted to take it in a different direction.[17] The series was launched in 2004 with Dan Jolley as the writer.
Carey's first novel, The Devil You Know, was released in the UK by Orbit books in April 2006, and as a hardcover in the US in July 2007. Its sequel, Vicious Circle, was published in October 2006, and the following three novels in the series, Dead Men's Boots, Thicker Than Water, and The Naming of the Beasts, followed in September 2007, March 2009 and September 2009, respectively. What would have been Carey's first feature film, the erotic ghost story Frost Flowers, was reported to be in pre-production in June 2006, with filming to begin that September under the direction of Andrea Vecchiato.[14] Carey was also reported to work on the TV adaptation of his comic book series The Stranded, a co-production between Virgin Comics and the Syfy network.[28] Also for Virgin, Carey took part in the short-lived Coalition Comix project created in association with MySpace, where users could suggest ideas for a comic which then would be used during its production.[29][30]
In 2014, Carey published another novel, The Girl with All the Gifts. That same year, the screenplay of the same name, written by Carey concurrently with the novel, appeared on the Brit List.[31] Filming began in May 2015, with Colm McCarthy directing and Gemma Arterton, Paddy Considine, Glenn Close and Sennia Nanua starring.[32] The story, depicting a dystopian future where most of humanity is wiped out by a fungal infection, focuses on the struggle of a scientist, a teacher and two soldiers who embark on a journey of survival with a special young girl named Melanie.[33]
Carver Hale (with Mike Perkins, in #1236–1240 and 1247–1249, 2001) collected as Carver Hale: Twisting the Knife (hc, 44 pages, 2005, ISBN 1-904265-62-6)
Book One (collects #1–13 and The Sandman Presents: Lucifer #1–3, tpb, 392 pages, 2013, ISBN 1-4012-4026-7)
Book Two (collects #14–28, tpb, 416 pages, 2013, ISBN 1-40124-260-X)
Book Three (collects #29–45, tpb, 400 pages, 2014, ISBN 1-4012-4604-4)
Includes the Lucifer: Nirvana one-shot (written by Carey, art by Jon J Muth, 2002)
Book Four (collects #46–61, tpb, 392 pages, 2014, ISBN 1-4012-4605-2)
Book Five (collects #62–75, tpb, 352 pages, 2014, ISBN 1-401-24945-0)
Omnibus Volume 1 (collects #1–35, The Sandman Presents: Lucifer #1–3 and Lucifer: Nirvana, hc, 1,000 pages, 2019, ISBN 1-4012-9476-6)
Omnibus Volume 2 (collects #36–75, hc, 1,040 pages, 2020, ISBN 1-7795-0564-7)
Flinch #16: "The Wedding Breakfast" (with Craig Hamilton, anthology, Vertigo, 2001) collected in Flinch Book Two (tpb, 192 pages, 2016, ISBN 1-4012-6139-6)
John Constantine, Hellblazer Volume 16 (collects #175–188, tpb, 328 pages, 2017, ISBN 1-4012-6909-5)
John Constantine, Hellblazer Volume 17 (collects #189–201, tpb, 328 pages, 2017, ISBN 1-4012-7366-1)
John Constantine, Hellblazer Volume 18 (collects #202–215, tpb, 328 pages, 2018, ISBN 1-4012-7538-9)
John Constantine, Hellblazer Volume 19 (includes #229, tpb, 328 pages, 2018, ISBN 1-401-28080-3)
Hellblazer: All His Engines (with Leonardo Manco, graphic novel, hc, 128 pages, Vertigo, 2005, ISBN 1-4012-0316-7; sc, 2006, ISBN 1-4012-0317-5) collected in John Constantine, Hellblazer Volume 20 (tpb, 328 pages, 2019, ISBN 1-4012-8569-4)
Batman: Gotham Knights #37: "Fear is the Key" (with Steve Mannion, co-feature, 2003) collected in Batman: Black and White Volume 3 (hc, 288 pages, 2007, ISBN 1-4012-1531-9; tpb, 2008, ISBN 1-4012-1354-5)
Volume 1 (collects #1–5, tpb, 136 pages, 2007, ISBN 1-4012-1375-8)
Includes the 6-page untitled preview story (art by Whilce Portacio) from the Coup d'Etat: Afterword one-shot (2004)
Volume 2 (includes #6–9, tpb, 160 pages, 2008, ISBN 1-4012-1639-0)
Crossing Midnight (with Jim Fern, Inaki Miranda (#7), Eric Nguyen (#10–12) and Gabriel Hernández Walta + Mateo Guerrero (#16), Vertigo, 2007–2008) collected as:
Cut Here (collects #1–5, tpb, 128 pages, 2007, ISBN 1-4012-1341-3)
A Map of Midnight (collects #6–12, tpb, 168 pages, 2008, ISBN 1-4012-1645-5)
The Sword in the Soul (collects #13–19, tpb, 168 pages, 2008, ISBN 1-4012-1966-7)
God Save the Queen (with John Bolton, graphic novel, hc, 96 pages, Vertigo, 2007, ISBN 1-4012-0303-5; sc, 2008, ISBN 1-4012-0304-3)
Confessions of a Blabbermouth (co-written by Carey and his daughter Louise, art by Aaron Alexovich, graphic novel, 176 pages, Minx, 2007, ISBN 1-4012-1148-8)
Faker #1–6 (with Jock, Vertigo, 2007–2008) collected as Faker (tpb, 160 pages, 2008, ISBN 1-4012-1663-3)
Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity (collects #1–5, tpb, 144 pages, 2010, ISBN 1-4012-2565-9)
Inside Man (collects #6–12, tpb, 168 pages, 2010, ISBN 1-4012-2873-9)
Dead Man's Knock (collects #13–18, tpb, 160 pages, 2011, ISBN 1-4012-3046-6)
Leviathan (collects #19–24, tpb, 144 pages, 2011, ISBN 1-4012-3292-2)
On to Genesis (collects #25–30, tpb, 144 pages, 2012, ISBN 1-4012-3359-7)
Tommy Taylor and the War of Words (collects #31–35 and 31.5–35.5, tpb, 240 pages, 2012, ISBN 1-4012-3560-3)
The Wound (collects #36–41, tpb, 144 pages, 2013, ISBN 1-4012-3806-8)
Orpheus in the Underworlds (collects #42–49, tpb, 176 pages, 2014, ISBN 1-4012-4301-0)
The Unwritten Fables (collects #50–54, tpb, 144 pages, 2014, ISBN 1-4012-4694-X)
The Unwritten: Tommy Taylor and the Ship That Sank Twice (with Peter Gross, graphic novel, hc, 160 pages, 2013, ISBN 1-401-22976-X; sc, 2014, ISBN 1-4012-2977-8)
The Unwritten: Apocalypse (with Peter Gross, Al Davison (#5) and Vince Locke (#9), 2014–2015) collected as:
The Unwritten: War Stories (collects #1–5, tpb, 128 pages, 2014, ISBN 1-4012-5055-6)
The Unwritten: Apocalypse (collects #6–12, tpb, 176 pages, 2015, ISBN 1-4012-5348-2)
Vertigo Quarterly: SFX #2: "Schrödinger's Catflap" (with Tana Ford, anthology, 2015) collected in SFX (tpb, 296 pages, 2016, ISBN 1-4012-6147-7)
Dollhouse Family #1–6 (with Peter Gross and Vince Locke, Hill House, 2020) collected as Dollhouse Family (hc, 160 pages, 2020, ISBN 1-7795-0464-0; tpb, 2021, ISBN 1-7795-1319-4)
Marvel Holiday Special 2005: "Christmas Day in Manhattan" (with Mike Perkins, 2006) collected in Marvel Holiday Digest (tpb, 144 pages, 2006, ISBN 0-7851-2300-8)
Marvel Holiday Special 2006: "A is for Annihilus" (with Mike Perkins, 2007)
Marvel Holiday Special 2007: "The Meaning of Christmas" (with Nelson DeCastro, 2008)
Fantastic Four: Negative Zone: "Ethical Dilemmas in Modern Science" (with Stefano Caselli, co-feature in one-shot, 2019) collected in Fantastic Four: Thing vs. Immortal Hulk (tpb, 120 pages, 2020, ISBN 1-3029-1725-0)
X-Men: Supernovas (collects #188–199 and X-Men vol. 2 Annual #1, hc, 336 pages, 2007, ISBN 0-7851-2514-0; tpb, 2008, ISBN 0-7851-2319-9)
X-Men: Blinded by the Light (collects #200–204, tpb, 144 pages, 2008, ISBN 0-7851-2544-2)
X-Men: Endangered Species (includes the co-features from #200 and 203–204, hc, 192 pages, 2008, ISBN 0-7851-3012-8; tpb, 2008, ISBN 0-7851-2820-4)
Also collects the X-Men: Endangered Species one-shot (written by Carey, art by Scot Eaton, 2007)
Also collects the "Endangered Species" chapters originally published as co-features in Uncanny X-Men #488–489 (written by Carey, art by Mark Bagley (#488) and Mike Perkins (#489), 2007)
Also collects the "Endangered Species" chapters originally published as co-features in X-Factor vol. 3 #21–22 (written by Carey, art by Mark Bagley (#21) and Mike Perkins (#22), 2007)
Also collects the "Endangered Species" chapter originally published as the co-feature in New X-Men vol. 2 #42 (written by Carey, art Mike Perkins, 2007)
X-Men: Legacy — Emplate (collects #228–230 and X-Men: Legacy Annual #1, hc, 112 pages, 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4020-4; tpb, 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4115-4)
X-Necrosha (includes #231–234, hc, 448 pages, 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4674-1; tpb, 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4675-X)
Also collects "The Foretelling" short story (art by Laurence Campbell) from X-Necrosha (anthology one-shot, 2009)
X-Men: Second Coming (includes #235–237, hc, 392 pages, 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4678-4; tpb, 2011, ISBN 0-7851-5705-0)
Also collects the X-Men: Second Coming — Prepare free promotional one-shot (written by Carey, art by Stuart Immonen, 2010)
Also collects Carey's chapter of the epilogue from X-Men: Second Coming #2 (art by Esad Ribić, 2010)
X-Men: Legacy — Collision (collects #238–241, hc, 168 pages, 2011, ISBN 0-7851-4668-7; tpb, 2011, ISBN 0-7851-4669-5)
X-Men: Age of X (includes #245–247, hc, 256 pages, 2011, ISBN 0-7851-5289-X; tpb, 2012, ISBN 0-7851-5290-3)
Also collects the Age of X Alpha one-shot (written by Carey, art by Mirco Pierfederici, Gabriel Hernández Walta, Carlo Barberi, Paco Diaz and Paul Davidson, 2011)
Also collects New Mutants vol. 3 #22–24 (written by Carey, art by Steve Kurth, 2011)
X-Men: Legacy — Aftermath (collects #242–244 and 248–249, hc, 120 pages, 2011, ISBN 0-7851-5635-6; tpb, 2012, ISBN 0-7851-5636-4)
X-Men: Legacy — Lost Legions (collects #250–253, hc, 112 pages, 2011, ISBN 0-7851-5291-1; tpb, 2012, ISBN 0-7851-5292-X)
X-Men: Legacy — Five Miles South of the Universe (collects #254–260, hc, 160 pages, 2012, ISBN 0-7851-6067-1; tpb, 2012, ISBN 0-7851-6068-X)
Wolverine: Firebreak (with Scott Kolins, co-feature in one-shot, 2008) collected in Wolverine: Dangerous Games (hc, 144 pages, 2008, ISBN 0-7851-3471-9; tpb, 2009, ISBN 0-78513-472-7)
Secret Invasion: X-Men #1–4 (with Cary Nord and Miguel Sepulveda (#3–4), 2008–2009) collected as Secret Invasion: X-Men (tpb, 136 pages, 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3343-7)
Uncanny X-Men: Manifest Destiny (hc, 208 pages, 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3817-X; tpb, 2009, ISBN 0-7851-2451-9) includes:
Legion of Monsters: Werewolf by Night: "Smalltown Girl" (with Greg Land, co-feature in one-shot, 2007) collected in Legion of Monsters (hc, 280 pages, 2007, ISBN 0-7851-2754-2)
Ender's Shadow: Battle School #1–5 (with Sebastian Fiumara, 2009) also collected as Ender's Shadow: Battle School (hc, 128 pages, 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3596-0)
Ender's Shadow: Command School #1–5 (with Sebastian Fiumara, 2009–2010) also collected as Ender's Shadow: Command School (hc, 128 pages, 2010, ISBN 0-7851-3598-7)
The Torch #1–8 (script by Carey from a story by Carey, Alex Ross and Jim Krueger, art by Patrick Berkenkotter and Anthony Tan (#7–8), 2009–2010) collected as The Torch (tpb, 200 pages, 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4068-9)
The Mystic Hands of Doctor Strange: "Duel in the Dark Dimension" (prose story with illustrations by Marcos Martín, anthology one-shot, 2010) collected in Doctor Strange: The Flight of Bones (tpb, 192 pages, 2016, ISBN 1-302-90167-2)
Thor: Wolves of the North (with Mike Perkins, one-shot, 2011) collected in Thor: The Trial of Thor (tpb, 288 pages, 2017, ISBN 1-3029-0795-6)
Sigil vol. 2 #1–4 (with Leonard Kirk, CrossGen, 2011) collected as Sigil: Out of Time (tpb, 96 pages, 2011, ISBN 0-7851-5622-4)
Miracleman #0: "Whisper in the Dark" (with Paul Davidson, co-feature, 2022)
Other publishersedit
Compa(ñ)ero Leonardo: "El Genio Eterno de Leonardo" (with Victor Santos, anthology graphic novel, 120 pages, Semana Negra de Gijón, 2004)
The story was first published in English as "The Timeless Genius of Leonardo" (with new art by M. D. Penman) in Thought Bubble Anthology #1 (Image, 2011)
The English language version was subsequently collected by Image in Thought Bubble Anthology Collection (tpb, 136 pages, 2016, ISBN 1-5343-0067-8)
24-Minute Comic #1–2 (drawn by various artists over Carey-written couplets, self-published by Adrian Brown at UK Web & Mini Comix Thing, 2005–2006)
Voodoo Child #1–6 (script by Carey based on the concept by Nicolas Cage and his son Weston, art by Dean Hyrapiet, 2007) collected as Voodoo Child (hc, 144 pages, 2008, ISBN 0-9814-8080-2; tpb, 2008, ISBN 1-934413-13-5)
The Stranded #1–5 (with Sid Kotian, 2007–2008) collected as The Stranded (tpb, 144 pages, 2008, ISBN 1-934413-25-9)
Queen's Rook (with Edison George, 22-page webcomic published at MySpace, 2008)
Suicide Risk (with Elena Casagrande, Joëlle Jones (#5), Jorge Coelho (#10), Filipe Andrade (#14), Haemi Jang (#18) and Giorgia Sposito (#19–21, 25), 2013–2015) collected as:
Grudge War (collects #1–4, tpb, 128 pages, 2013, ISBN 1-6088-6332-8)
Nightmare Scenario (collects #5–9, tpb, 160 pages, 2014, ISBN 1-6088-6360-3)
Seven Walls and a Trap (collects #10–13, tpb, 128 pages, 2014, ISBN 1-6088-6399-9)
Jericho (collects #14–17, tpb, 128 pages, 2015, ISBN 1-6088-6461-8)
Scorched Earth (collects #18–21, tpb, 128 pages, 2015, ISBN 1-6088-6721-8)
The Breaking of So Great a Thing (collects #22–25, tpb, 128 pages, 2016, ISBN 1-6088-6814-1)
Rowans Ruin #1–4 (with Mike Perkins, 2015–2016) collected as Rowans Ruin (tpb, 112 pages, 2016, ISBN 1-6088-6902-4)
Love is Love: "Triolet for Orlando" (poem illustrated by Craig Hamilton, anthology graphic novel, 144 pages, 2016, ISBN 1-6314-0939-5)
Darkness Visible #1–6 (co-written by Carey and Arvind Ethan David, art by Brendan Cahill and Livio Ramondelli (#3 and 6), 2017) collected as Darkness Visible (tpb, 152 pages, 2017, ISBN 1-6314-0979-4)
The Highest House #1–6: "Obsidian's Bargain" (with Peter Gross, 2018) collected as The Highest House (tpb, 188 pages, 2018, ISBN 1-6840-5354-4)
^Carey, Mike (July 2000), On The Ledge, DC Comics / Vertigo
^Carey, Mike (Autumn 2005). "Comic Stripped" (PDF). Oxford Forum: 54–55. Archived from the original (pdf) on 8 October 2007. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
^Irvine, Alex (2008), "Lucifer", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The Vertigo Encyclopedia, New York: Dorling Kindersley, pp. 118–124, ISBN 0-7566-4122-5, OCLC 213309015
^Irvine, Alex (2008), "John Constantine Hellblazer", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The Vertigo Encyclopedia, New York: Dorling Kindersley, pp. 102–111, ISBN 0-7566-4122-5, OCLC 213309015
^CCI, Day 2: Keanu Sold Separately: Carey talks "Hellblazer: All His Engines" OGN, Comic Book Resources, 23 July 2004
^Mike Carey'a A Faker For Vertigo Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Comicon
^Carey's Faker: A Thriller Rooted in Paranoia, With Some Existentialism Thrown In Archived 15 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Comics Bulletin, 28 October 2007
^Irvine, Alex (2008), "Crossing Midnight", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The Vertigo Encyclopedia, New York: Dorling Kindersley, pp. 49–51, ISBN 0-7566-4122-5, OCLC 213309015
^Goldstein, Hilary (21 July 2006). "Comic-Book 2006: Mike Carey's Vertigo Trio". IGN.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
^Vertigo's 'The Unwritten': Mike Carey & Peter Gross, Newsarama, Mon, 30 March 2009
^Ekstrom, Steve. "Life as Fiction? Mike Carey on Vertigo's 'The Unwritten'", Newsarama, 26 March 2009
^Wildstorm Takes The Plunge: Mike Carey talks 'Wetworks', Comic Book Resources, 2 November 2003
^ abTake A Dive With Mike Carey Into "Wetworks: Worldstorm", Comic Book Resources, 23 June 2006
^Confessions Of a Carey: Louise Carey talks "Blabbermouth" & Minx, Comic Book Resources, 23 May 2007
^Singh, Arune (27 February 2003). "GOODNESS, GRACIOUS, GREAT BALLS OF FIRE: CAREY TALKS 'FIRESTORM'". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 25 March 2003.
^Singh, Arune (16 May 2003). "IN THE END, WE ALL GO TO HELL! MIKE CAREY TALKS THE END OF 'LUCIFER' & NO MORE 'FIRESTORM'". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 4 June 2003.
^Richards, Dave. "Mike Carey & Daniel Way's "Dark Deception", Comic Book Resources, 6 June 2008
^ abEkstrom, Steve. "Sins, Destines & Legacies: Mike Carey Talks X-Men", Newsarama, 8 September 2008
^"Mike Carey reveals the "Age of X"". comicbookresources.com. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
^"Marvel Announces Mike Carey's Final "X-Men Legacy" Arc". comicbookresources.com. 16 August 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
^Mike Carey on Secret Invasion: X-Men, FCBD X-Men, Legacy and More[permanent dead link], Newsarama, 2 April 2008
^Richards, Dave. "Mike Carey's 'Secret Invasion' Plans", Comic Book Resources, 7 May 2008
^Dallas, Keith. "Mike Carey: Re-Telling the Origin of The X-Men's Beast" Archived 21 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Comics Bulletin, 2 September 2008
^Richards, Dave. Carey on "Manifest Destiny" and "X-Men Origins: Beast", Comic Book Resources, 28 August 2008
^Ekstrom, Steve. "Enrolling in School: Carey on Ender's Shadow: Battle School", Newsarama, 2 December 2008
^Brady, Matt. "The Virgin Days Of Mike Carey – Talking The Stranded And Voodoo Child" Archived 11 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Newsarama, 9 October 2007
^Manning, Shaun. "Mike Carey talks Virgin & MySpace's Coalition Comix", Comic Book Resources, 8 May 2008
^"Virgin Comics Brings Director's Cut Comics to Life With Animated Trailers" PR Newswire; Accessed 13 October 2010
^Jaafar, Ali (20 November 2014). "'Matinee Idol' & 'Gateway 6' Top Annual Brit List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
^Barraclough, Leo (23 March 2015). "Gemma Arterton, Paddy Considine, Glenn Close to Star in 'She Who Brings Gifts'". Variety. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
^Tartaglione, Nancy (23 March 2015). "Glenn Close Among Cast of UK Zombie Thriller 'She Who Brings Gifts'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 23 September 2016.