Critical Reaction
Millikin's artwork has won many awards from organizations including the Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists, Investigative Reporters and Editors and the Society for News Design. In 2009, his illustrations were part of the Detroit Free Press's Pulitzer Prize-winning "A Mayor in Crisis" series, which used the secret text messages of Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to reveal the mayor's perjury and obstruction of justice in a police whistle-blower trial. The series resulted in Mayor Kilpatrick being sent to jail.
His front-page artwork in the Detroit Free Press advocating for U.S. government loans as a solution to the automotive industry crisis of 2008–2009 was described as a "gutsy move" that "stretch the limits of the medium" and CNN's Kyra Phillips described it as "full front page and in your face". Congressman John D. Dingell displayed it on the House floor urging passage of government loans to automakers and reiterated the central theme of the piece, saying "now is the time for us to 'Invest in America'."
Millikin's October 2011 Wizard of Oz-themed Detroit Free Press front-page "Lions, Tigers and Bears: Oh my!" illustration (about the Detroit Lions, Detroit Tigers and Chicago Bears) was praised by ESPN's Mike Tirico during the Monday Night Football half time show.
However, not all criticism of Millikin's artwork has been positive. Since 2000, Millikin has been the target of protest campaigns organized by the Catholic League for what they call his "blasphemous treatment of Jesus". “This particular comic is offensive to Catholics and Christians,” Catholic League spokesman Patrick Scully said in August 2002. “It completely ridicules the Catholic faith and is not funny.” The Hartford Advocate has called Millikin a "borderline sociopath."
Read more about this topic: Eric Monster Millikin
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