Frank Morrison “Mickey” Spillane was an American crime novelist famed for his hard-boiled fiction and vigilante private eye Mike Hammer. Debuting with I, the Jury (1947), he sold over 200 million books despite critical disdain for his violent, sexually charged stories. A former comic book writer, actor, and occasional Mike Hammer portrayer, Spillane’s unapologetic, gritty style made him one of the best-selling authors of the 20th century and an enduring influence in pulp and detective fiction.