Comments on: Handbags! Not so extraordinary gentlemen… http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/02/handbags-not-so-extraordinary-gentlemen/ crass, boorish and more a bruiser than blogger Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:09:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: SiP http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/02/handbags-not-so-extraordinary-gentlemen/#comment-158228 SiP Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:04:11 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/02/handbags-not-so-extraordinary-gentlemen/#comment-158228 Hmmm, spent a bit more time thinking about the term "character developer" (at least a minute!) - and it dawned on me that Alan is actually a "character subverter". He has an intense interest in the shared mythology of the comic book (he's compared them to Jungian archetypes in the past) - and you can do a lot more powerful stuff when you're subverting the established mythology rather than creating fresh characters that will have little historical resonance... Just a random thought...! Hmmm, spent a bit more time thinking about the term “character developer” (at least a minute!) - and it dawned on me that Alan is actually a “character subverter”. He has an intense interest in the shared mythology of the comic book (he’s compared them to Jungian archetypes in the past) - and you can do a lot more powerful stuff when you’re subverting the established mythology rather than creating fresh characters that will have little historical resonance…

Just a random thought…!

]]> By: SiP http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/02/handbags-not-so-extraordinary-gentlemen/#comment-158222 SiP Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:59:09 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/02/handbags-not-so-extraordinary-gentlemen/#comment-158222 Agreed... Maybe he gets so precious about his specific IP because there are so few... ;) But he still takes the money and lets them use (and abuse) - I think it's the "artistic integrity" thing - "Okay, destroy them with your soulless Hollywood mitts - but don't pretend it;s got anything to do with me!" Which is fair enough - I'd hate my creations (unpublished and unrecognised though they are!) to become Hollywood dross and then have the public think I was the creative mind behind them! Anyway, Alan is a genius and so is allowed to be an irate bastard in my books! Agreed… Maybe he gets so precious about his specific IP because there are so few… ;)

But he still takes the money and lets them use (and abuse) - I think it’s the “artistic integrity” thing - “Okay, destroy them with your soulless Hollywood mitts - but don’t pretend it;s got anything to do with me!” Which is fair enough - I’d hate my creations (unpublished and unrecognised though they are!) to become Hollywood dross and then have the public think I was the creative mind behind them!

Anyway, Alan is a genius and so is allowed to be an irate bastard in my books!

]]> By: James Graham http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/02/handbags-not-so-extraordinary-gentlemen/#comment-157544 James Graham Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:36:57 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/02/handbags-not-so-extraordinary-gentlemen/#comment-157544 Batman had a number of influences, IIRC. To be honest, it's stretching it a bit to claim that Promethea and Top Ten were not original creations and I accept that Grant was oversimplifying (it wouldn't be the first time). Alan Moore is an original and creative thinker. He's capable of taking an established character and giving it an interesting and exciting twist. Ultimately all I'm saying is that he has built his career and reputation on doing that on a number of very specific occasions - Captain Britain, Marvelman, Swamp Thing, Watchmen, LoEG. I love 'em all, but I can't square that with a man who at the same time gets so precious about his own intellectual property. Batman had a number of influences, IIRC. To be honest, it’s stretching it a bit to claim that Promethea and Top Ten were not original creations and I accept that Grant was oversimplifying (it wouldn’t be the first time).

Alan Moore is an original and creative thinker. He’s capable of taking an established character and giving it an interesting and exciting twist. Ultimately all I’m saying is that he has built his career and reputation on doing that on a number of very specific occasions - Captain Britain, Marvelman, Swamp Thing, Watchmen, LoEG. I love ‘em all, but I can’t square that with a man who at the same time gets so precious about his own intellectual property.

]]> By: SiP http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/02/handbags-not-so-extraordinary-gentlemen/#comment-157535 SiP Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:28:19 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/02/handbags-not-so-extraordinary-gentlemen/#comment-157535 I see what you're saying - but if you're creating in the 80s then every character could be traced back to Golden Age heroes... Come to think of it, wasn't Batman based on another character...? Hmmm... internet research beckons... I see what you’re saying - but if you’re creating in the 80s then every character could be traced back to Golden Age heroes… Come to think of it, wasn’t Batman based on another character…? Hmmm… internet research beckons…

]]> By: James Graham http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/02/handbags-not-so-extraordinary-gentlemen/#comment-157408 James Graham Mon, 04 Feb 2008 12:17:07 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/02/handbags-not-so-extraordinary-gentlemen/#comment-157408 Watchmen? Carbon copies of the Charlton characters including Blue Beetle (Niteowl) and the Question (Rorschach). This of course was the original intention. ABC? Very explicitly derived from pulp/early superhero sources. The best were Promethea (Wonder Woman meets Captain Marvel), Top Ten (a game of spot the reference) and LoEG (need I say more?). Watchmen? Carbon copies of the Charlton characters including Blue Beetle (Niteowl) and the Question (Rorschach). This of course was the original intention.

ABC? Very explicitly derived from pulp/early superhero sources. The best were Promethea (Wonder Woman meets Captain Marvel), Top Ten (a game of spot the reference) and LoEG (need I say more?).

]]> By: SiP http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/02/handbags-not-so-extraordinary-gentlemen/#comment-157403 SiP Mon, 04 Feb 2008 12:08:26 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2008/02/02/handbags-not-so-extraordinary-gentlemen/#comment-157403 "most of his best work has been based on other people’s creations." Shurely, his greatest work was Watchmen? And all his ABC work? Don't think Grant's comment really stands up, tbh... “most of his best work has been based on other people’s creations.”

Shurely, his greatest work was Watchmen? And all his ABC work? Don’t think Grant’s comment really stands up, tbh…

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