Alan Moore Comics (In this case, Miracleman!)

wolf_2099 · Post by **wolf_2099** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 2:04 pm

So, I just finished reading Miracleman, I read watchmen a while back, and I'll re-read V for Vendetta soon. I tried reading these all years ago and couldn't follow them, I guess I wasn't mature enough yet.

I can't decide whether I like them.

Miracleman's story on a whole was phenomenal, one of my favorites Great political story about beings with supreme power, and what would actually happen when they fought, how they'd shape the world, and so on. Kid Miracleman was a great character. Getting raped then destroying the other boys was a very good scene. Same with Miracleman just shoving his finger through someones chest.

But Moore just gets so damn weird it just shocks me out of the story. The Warpsmiths were interesting, the body-swapping Qys were even an understandable weird, as they were aliens, but still, it was just off. The birth scene? Bizarre.

Some of the dream sequences and dialogue heavy chapters are very hard to follow, as it isn't quite clear what's going on. Great story, but holy crap, Moore kicks Morrison's ass for the weird shit in comics. At least when Moore gets really weird the comics are still readable.

Great story though.
No way in hell can I see Marvel ever publishing it, or continuing where the story left off.

It's a shame these are in re-print hell, as I found them to be far better than Watchmen.

Your thoughts on Moore's writing or Miracleman?

I also started Gaimans Miracleman, pretty underwhelmed so far.

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:20 pm

Well, hopefully Marvel will prove you wrong. I've read so much stuff about this Moore/Gaiman run without ever having the occasion of reading it that I think I'd order it, no matter the format.

wolf_2099 · Post by **wolf_2099** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:50 pm

XIII wrote:Well, hopefully Marvel will prove you wrong. I've read so much stuff about this Moore/Gaiman run without ever having the occasion of reading it that I think I'd order it, no matter the format.

It's worth it.

But (kind of spoilers on graphic scenes, but the series is 20 years old)...

A boy being murdered in cold blood. (Several others here and there too)
Various nudity and sex.
There is a graphic depiction of a birth. And I do mean graphic. It was disturbing.
A boy being anally raped by other boys.

Anyone see Marvel publishing that?

Mr Wallstreet · Post by **Mr Wallstreet** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 4:01 pm

I've never read Miracleman but I have read Watchmen & V for Vendetta and a few other Moore stories.

Though Moore is considered a God among Gods in the comic book community, I have never read anything of his that has blown me away nor have I come across anything that I would categorize as super-weird...yet (I have yet to start reading Swamp Thing which has been sitting on my shelf for almost a year). I enjoyed the shit out of V for Vendetta & The Killing Joke but they never knocked my socks off. Of all of Moore's stories, I enjoyed V the most because its about an issue I care a lot about: personal freedom, and even after I re-read V in an attempt to find some of the magic that everyone associates with Moore, I couldn't find any. I felt, in the end it was a great story. Not merely average, but not super-duper great/fantastic/amazing either. Certainley it had some great themes and ideas and memorable quotes but then I've read a lot of books like that.

Watchmen I read a few times; the first time I did not get it at all due to the book being so politic heavy and not understanding some of Moore's literary references, and analogies. When I re-read it, I was able to glean a better understanding of ideas beneath the surface but again...didn't blow me away.

To be honest, I just do not see what is so great about Moore's stories. I can understand, and respect how Moore influenced other (great) writers but as far as Moore's own stories go: do not see it.

wolf_2099 · Post by **wolf_2099** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 4:10 pm

Mr Wallstreet wrote:.

To be honest, I just do not see what is so great about Moore's stories. I can understand, and respect how Moore influenced other (great) writers but as far as Moore's own stories go: do not see it.

I think the biggest thing about Moore is when he wrote the stories, and the influence of them, shaking up the status quo, etc.

Especially since no one really talks about his current stuff.

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:50 am

wolf_2099 wrote:It's worth it.

But (kind of spoilers on graphic scenes, but the series is 20 years old)...

A boy being murdered in cold blood. (Several others here and there too)
Various nudity and sex.
There is a graphic depiction of a birth. And I do mean graphic. It was disturbing.
A boy being anally raped by other boys.

Anyone see Marvel publishing that?

Hmm, could work under the Icon or Max imprint.

Tragic Angelus · Post by **Tragic Angelus** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 7:19 am

As far as reading his work, I'm limited to Watchmen and the first the installments of LoEG. But I think a few good points have been raised so far.

The first time I read through Watchmen was in High School, and to be honest, I just felt like I wasn't getting it and sort of gave up on it, regardless of the weight and hype it carried. But, when I re-read it 4 or 5 years later, having done some growing up, studied a few things more in depth, and taken those steps into the real world, it made a lot more sense to me. So with him, I do agree there has to be a certain maturity level and even political understand at the time. Which is good at times, but sometimes when ALL of your important works seem to constantly get thrown towards taht category.. it makes me less eager to read them in case I just don't "get" them.

As for LoEG, I've always had fun with them in terms of literary and historical contexts and how he blends them together, and I think they're fantastic books, but again, I don't always read way too into them.

I think he writes good stories, but I'm not the person who tends to automatically read heavy heavy into his work to cite numerous political and social commentaries. I won't argure against them being in the work, I just don't go purposefully looking for them. But because a lot of people do, it makes me apprehensive to read a lot more of his work in case it's just over my head.

Mr Wallstreet · Post by **Mr Wallstreet** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 2:32 pm

I want a lock of Alan Moore's beard.

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 10:49 am

Even Cameron can't achieve that.

wolf_2099 · Post by **wolf_2099** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 1:36 pm

XIII wrote:Even Cameron can't achieve that.

I could try and straight up steal the thing, cut and run.

Something tells me he could be a very angry, angry man though.

Tragic Angelus · Post by **Tragic Angelus** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 2:24 pm

I always get the impression that he's the guy who, if you saw him somewhere in public, he'd be pissed if you came up to thank him for his work, so you have to leave him alone.

Mr Wallstreet · Post by **Mr Wallstreet** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 8:55 am

wolf_2099 wrote:I could try and straight up steal the thing, cut and run.

Something tells me he could be a very angry, angry man though.

Moore's the type of crazy who would chase you down and wrestle it back from you all while demanding to know "who sent you?"

Tragic Angelus · Post by **Tragic Angelus** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 1:50 pm

So we tell him it was the Frenchmen, and we all survive right?

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 3:42 am

Yes. Cause if you say so, Moore will calm down and offer to sign the lock. He fears me that much.