Sequart Organization » British comics

An Interview with Steve Holland

Matt Emery — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 17:00:15 +0000

I’ve been following Steve Holland’s blog, Bear Alley, for several years for his daily postings on contemporary British comics and the wide range of British comics history he has researched. While there are a few places… [more]

Phony Beatlemania: Zombies, Nostalgia, and Satire in Al Ewing and Henry Flint’s Zombo: You Smell of Crime and I’m the Deodorant

Paul Jaissle — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 12:00:12 +0000

Zombo: You Smell of Crime and I’m the Deodorant" title="Phony Beatlemania: Zombies, Nostalgia, and Satire in Al Ewing and Henry Flint’s Zombo: You Smell of Crime and I’m the Deodorant" style="float:left;" />One of my favorite moments in Al Ewing and Henry Flint’s 2000 AD serial Zombo takes place when the titular character – a half human / half zombie hybrid created by the British government to… [more]

What Marvel’s Miracleman #1 Preview Pages Indicate

Julian Darius — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 00:30:55 +0000

Miracleman #1 Preview Pages Indicate" title="What Marvel’s Miracleman #1 Preview Pages Indicate" style="float:left;" />A few days ago, Marvel released a five-page preview of its Miracleman #1, scheduled for 15 January publication. Having opined on what Marvel should do editorially with the series (and as the author of the… [more]

“Our ‘War-is-Fun’ Attitude”: Shameless? Part 37

Colin Smith — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 12:00:54 +0000

Continued from last week. Hindsight suggests that Canon Fodder marked the beginning of the end of Millar’s relationship with 2000AD. It was by no means the last of his scripts to appear in the comic,… [more]

“Where’s Canon Fodder?”: Shameless? Part 36

Colin Smith — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 12:00:31 +0000

Continued from last week. Though pinpointing exactly when Millar stopped working for 2000AD is an difficult business, he’d most definitely moved onto the American market by the time Canon Fodder returned without him in 1996. With the… [more]

“I Only Wanted To Be Loved”: Shameless? Part 35

Colin Smith — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:00:26 +0000

Continued from two weeks ago. Canon Fodder reads as if two distinct stories had been awkwardly spliced together. In its first half, it’s the tale of how the Canon, Doctor Watson and Mycroft Holmes desperately combine… [more]

Fitting Young Miracleman’s “Quiet Desperation” into Miracleman, Book Two

Julian Darius — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 12:00:42 +0000

Miracleman, Book Two" title="Fitting Young Miracleman’s “Quiet Desperation” into Miracleman, Book Two" style="float:left;" />We’ve discussed the silent Young Miracleman story (parts one and two) originally printed in Warrior #12. Today, we discuss how to understand that story as part of Book Two. (If you’re new, hop to the introduction,… [more]

“Keep Calm. I’ll Wrap This Up Quickly.”: Shameless? Part 34

Colin Smith — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 11:00:56 +0000

Continued from last week. The world-building that Millar had begun to invest in Canon Fodder was unusually rich, distinctly quirky, and full of promise. Yet that surprising combination of Catholicism, Holmesian characters, alt-world SF and superheroes… [more]

Sex and Nuclear Armageddon in Young Miracleman’s “Quiet Desperation”

Julian Darius — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 11:00:20 +0000

We’ve begun discussing the silent Young Miracleman story originally printed in Warrior #12. Today, we continue that discussion. (If you’re new, hop to the introduction, to the beginning of Book One, or to the interlude… [more]

“Bones Gnawed to the Marrow”: Shameless? Part 33

Colin Smith — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 11:00:19 +0000

Continued from last week. “I had no idea what I was doing for the most part and just learning how to do very basic stuff then. Only good stuff I’d recommend would be Big Dave (which… [more]

Miracleman, Book Two: “Quiet Desperation”

Julian Darius — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 11:00:19 +0000

Miracleman, Book Two: “Quiet Desperation”" title="Miracleman, Book Two: “Quiet Desperation”" style="float:left;" />We’ve previously introduced Miracleman and discussed all ten chapters of Book One (starting here), along with the interlude “The Yesterday Gambit,” which were originally published in Warrior #1-11. We now begin Book Two… with the… [more]

Editing Miracleman: How Marvel Can Do It Right

Julian Darius — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 15:00:21 +0000

Miracleman: How Marvel Can Do It Right" title="Editing Miracleman: How Marvel Can Do It Right" style="float:left;" />The long-awaited news has broken, over the weekend, that Marvel plans to finally move forward on its reprinting of Miracleman, beginning with Alan Moore’s issues, moving through Neil Gaiman’s, and culminating by allowing Gaiman and… [more]

“Two Tickets for My Next Performance”: Shameless? Part 32

Colin Smith — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 11:00:47 +0000

Continued from last week. So how did Morrison and Millar use the pages of Big Dave to express their contempt for homophobia? Starting from the premise that their readers were similarly liberal-minded, they studded the strip’s… [more]

Miracleman, Book One Concludes

Julian Darius — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 11:00:30 +0000

Miracleman, Book One Concludes" title="Miracleman, Book One Concludes" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing the conclusion of Book One (parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10) of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of this historic… [more]

“We Were Just Trying to Bring Peace to the Planet”: Shameless? Part 31

Colin Smith — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 11:00:44 +0000

Continued from last week. The urge to stereotype Millar’s beliefs in the light of his least liberal scripts is an understandable one. Yet his work is anything but consistent on matters of social justice. As I’ve… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Epilogue

Julian Darius — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 11:00:57 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Epilogue" title="Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Epilogue" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing the conclusion of Book One (parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9) of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of this historic chapter.… [more]

“Bog Off Back to Mars”: Shameless? Part 30

Colin Smith — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 11:00:44 +0000

Continued from last week. It’s not that Big Dave is without its pleasures, although the vast majority of them are to be found in Steve Parkhouse’s boisterously dynamic artwork. Though even he couldn’t compensate for the… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Rage of Miracleman

Julian Darius — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 11:00:09 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Rage of Miracleman" title="Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Rage of Miracleman" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing the conclusion of Book One (parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8) of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of this historic chapter. (If… [more]

“A Few Sandwiches Short of a Picnic”: Shameless? Part 29

Colin Smith — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 11:00:22 +0000

Continued from last week. Given the evidence, it would be hard to argue that much of Millar’s work for 2000AD wasn’t worryingly homophobic. The best that might be said of a number of his scripts is… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Secret Origin of Miracleman Concludes

Julian Darius — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 11:00:45 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Secret Origin of Miracleman Concludes" title="Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Secret Origin of Miracleman Concludes" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing the conclusion of Book One (parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7) of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of this historic chapter. (If you’re… [more]

“He’s Camp as Christmas, but He’s Good as Gold”: Shameless? Part 28

Colin Smith — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 11:00:06 +0000

Continued from last week. The debate about the attitudes expressed in Millar’s work towards LGBT issues is hardly a new one. Even as early as 1993, Monaghan’s pseudo-interview with Millar and Morrison in Comic World #18… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Secret Origin of Big Ben, Part 2

Julian Darius — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 11:00:38 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Secret Origin of Big Ben, Part 2" title="Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Secret Origin of Big Ben, Part 2" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing the conclusion of Book One (parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of this chapter. (If you’re new, start… [more]

A Safe Pair of Hands?: Shameless? Part 27

Colin Smith — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 11:00:03 +0000

Continued from last week. Millar’s longest running assignment at 2000AD had been Robo-Hunter, for which he wrote several hundred pages between 1991 and 1993. (*1) Created by writer John Wagner and artists Jose Ferrer and Ian… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Secret Origin of Big Ben

Julian Darius — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 11:00:36 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Secret Origin of Big Ben" title="Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Secret Origin of Big Ben" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing the conclusion of Book One (parts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of this chapter. (If you’re new, start with… [more]

“What’s the Point Chief?”: Shameless? Part 26

Colin Smith — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 11:00:09 +0000

Continued from last week. Laughter can be used to reveal prejudice before the mind has the chance to stifle it. But the Millar of the period gave no sign that he disapproved of his own heartless… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Secret Origin of Miracleman, Part 3

Julian Darius — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 11:00:21 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Secret Origin of Miracleman, Part 3" title="Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Secret Origin of Miracleman, Part 3" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing chapter ten, the conclusion of Book One (parts one, two, three, and four), of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve also previously introduced Miracleman… [more]

“Never Trust A Woman… Women Will Eat You Alive”: Shameless? Part 25

Colin Smith — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 11:00:27 +0000

Continued from last week. But Millar’s work for Fleetway often went far beyond casual, unthinking sexism. As the months passed and the examples of this piled up, he gave every impression of being a died-in-the-wool misogynist.… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Secret Origin of Miracleman, Part 2

Julian Darius — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 11:00:47 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Secret Origin of Miracleman, Part 2" title="Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Secret Origin of Miracleman, Part 2" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing chapter ten, the conclusion of Book One (parts one, two, and three), of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve also previously introduced Miracleman and… [more]

“Comic Books Most Dripping-Wet Liberal”: Shameless? Part 24

Colin Smith — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 11:00:05 +0000

Continued from last week. The image of Millar as a tykish, daring and promising newcomer was wearing through by the end of 1992. What had at first seemed like boyish ambition, conspicuous potential and a novice’s… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Secret Origin of Miracleman

Julian Darius — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 11:00:34 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Secret Origin of Miracleman" title="Miracleman, Chapter 10: The Secret Origin of Miracleman" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing chapter ten, the conclusion of Book One (parts one and two), of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve also previously introduced Miracleman and discussed… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 10 as a Mystery Story

Julian Darius — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 11:00:03 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 10 as a Mystery Story" title="Miracleman, Chapter 10 as a Mystery Story" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing chapter ten, the conclusion of Book One, of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve also previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 10: “Zarathustra”

Julian Darius — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 11:00:02 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 10: “Zarathustra”" title="Miracleman, Chapter 10: “Zarathustra”" style="float:left;" />We’ve previously introduced Miracleman and discussed all but the final chapter of Book One. We now continue this critical examination with chapter ten (written by Alan Moore, illustrated by Alan Davis) of this celebrated but long-unavailable series that… [more]

“Lots of People Dressed Like That in the Sixties”: Shameless? Part 21

Colin Smith — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 11:00:32 +0000

Continued from last week. Fifteen months would pass until March 1992′s 2000 AD Action Special and the next of Millar’s superhero stories to see print. A stillborn revamping of the Sixties British superhero The Spider, it… [more]

“That Slightly Dodgy, Anarchic Material”: Shameless? Part 20

Colin Smith — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 11:00:48 +0000

Continued from last week. The obviousness of Millar’s influences would become more and more of a problem as his work for Fleetway continued. Of course, 2000AD had been founded upon a deliberate policy of appropriating and… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 9 Concludes

Julian Darius — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 11:00:08 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 9 Concludes" title="Miracleman, Chapter 9 Concludes" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing chapter nine of Alan Moore’s Miracleman (parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6), illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve also previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, six,… [more]

“A Worm Shouts a Magic Word”: “Shameless? Part 19

Colin Smith — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 11:00:17 +0000

Continued from last week. Millar hardly made it easy for the reader to sympathise with his protagonist. Arthur Montgomery is as unconvincing as a type as he’s unsympathetic as a character, and it’s only in… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 9: The Masculinity of Miracleman

Julian Darius — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 11:00:06 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 9: The Masculinity of Miracleman" title="Miracleman, Chapter 9: The Masculinity of Miracleman" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing chapter nine of Alan Moore’s Miracleman (parts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5), illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve also previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, six, seven,… [more]

“It’s A Rare Thing to be Ordinary These Days”: Shameless? Part 18

Colin Smith — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Continued from last week. In fact, it’s more than possible that Morrison actually had a considerable influence upon the format of Zenith: Tales of the Alternative Earths. Four years previously, he’d written his own series of… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 9: The Avoidance of Liz Moran

Julian Darius — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 11:00:01 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 9: The Avoidance of Liz Moran" title="Miracleman, Chapter 9: The Avoidance of Liz Moran" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing chapter nine of Alan Moore’s Miracleman (parts 1, 2, 3, and 4), illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve also previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and… [more]

From The Saviour to Judge Dredd and Zenith: Shameless? Part 17

Colin Smith — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 11:00:56 +0000

The Saviour to Judge Dredd and Zenith: Shameless? Part 17" title="From The Saviour to Judge Dredd and Zenith: Shameless? Part 17" style="float:left;" />Continued from last week. For a brief moment in early 1990, Millar’s career appeared to be unambiguously prospering. As of May, Trident had, in addition to The Saviour, added Millar’s The Shadowmen to their schedule. Though… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 9: The Mentality of Big Ben

Julian Darius — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:05:27 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 9: The Mentality of Big Ben" title="Miracleman, Chapter 9: The Mentality of Big Ben" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing chapter nine of Alan Moore’s Miracleman (parts 1, 2, and 3), illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve also previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and… [more]

The Optimism of Colonel Daniel Dare (Part 2 of 2)

Colin Smith — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:00:32 +0000

Continued from earlier today. Hampson released more than just a little of that accumulated despair and tension as Eagle moved into its second calender-month of publication.With a modest smile and the characteristic arcing of a… [more]

Anxiety & Optimism in Frank Hampson’s Dan Dare

Colin Smith — Sat, 25 May 2013 11:00:20 +0000

There are very dark things going on here. From the perspective of 2012, it can be hard to grasp just how challengingly bleak the set-up of the first month of Frank Hampson’s Dan Dare was.… [more]

The British Star Trek

Julian Darius — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:00:40 +0000

While U.S. publisher Gold Key was busy printing Star Trek comic books, Britain had its own Star Trek comics. Comic strips, to be more accurate. American comics traditionally are monthlies, starring a single character or… [more]

From Shazam to the Devil, from Brother Power the Geek to Jesus?: Shameless? Part 8

Colin Smith — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:00:38 +0000

Continued from last week. It’s impossible to say how much the young Millar wrote or how often he sent off his work to publishers in the years before he landed the Trident Comics contract. His… [more]

What if Superman was Really the Antichrist!?!: Shameless? Part 7

Colin Smith — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:00:54 +0000

Continued from last week. The Saviour #1-6 (December 1989 to January 1991) Trident #5 (April 1990) The Saviour TPB Volume 1, Trident, 1990 (reprints all of the above except issue 6, with a Neil Gaiman… [more]

Ancestral Jungles and Voodoo Fears: Evelyn Cream and Race in Miracleman, Chapter 9 (Part 2)

Julian Darius — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:00:21 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 9 (Part 2)" title="Ancestral Jungles and Voodoo Fears: Evelyn Cream and Race in Miracleman, Chapter 9 (Part 2)" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing chapter nine of Alan Moore’s Miracleman (parts one and two), illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve also previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and eight,… [more]

Evelyn Cream and Race in Miracleman, Chapter 9

Julian Darius — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:50:53 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 9" title="Evelyn Cream and Race in Miracleman, Chapter 9" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing chapter nine of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve also previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and eight, as well as the… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 9: “Inside Story”

Julian Darius — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:00:26 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 9: “Inside Story”" title="Miracleman, Chapter 9: “Inside Story”" style="float:left;" />We’ve previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and eight, as well as the interlude “The Yesterday Gambit.” We now continue this critical examination with chapter nine (written by Alan Moore, illustrated by Alan Davis) of this celebrated but… [more]

2000AD, a British Institution: An Interview with Writer Al Ewing and Henry Flint

Colin Smith — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 12:00:10 +0000

2000AD, a British Institution: An Interview with Writer Al Ewing and Henry Flint" title="2000AD, a British Institution: An Interview with Writer Al Ewing and Henry Flint" style="float:left;" />2000AD artist Henry Flint still recalls the excitement of encountering the first issue of the weekly SF-adventure comic. It was, he says, “nasty, brutal. Parents hated it. The morality of the heroes was questionable. After… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 8 Concludes

Julian Darius — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 12:00:53 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 8 Concludes" title="Miracleman, Chapter 8 Concludes" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing chapter eight (parts one, two, three, four, and five) of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we conclude our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve also previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven,… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 8: The Flashback Pages

Julian Darius — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 12:00:52 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 8: The Flashback Pages" title="Miracleman, Chapter 8: The Flashback Pages" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing chapter eight (parts one, two, three, and four) of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve also previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven, as… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 8: Introducing Big Ben

Julian Darius — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 12:00:02 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 8: Introducing Big Ben" title="Miracleman, Chapter 8: Introducing Big Ben" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing chapter eight (parts one, two, and three) of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve also previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven, as well… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 8: Rocket Launchers, Flamethrowers, and Racism

Julian Darius — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:00:56 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 8: Rocket Launchers, Flamethrowers, and Racism" title="Miracleman, Chapter 8: Rocket Launchers, Flamethrowers, and Racism" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing chapter eight (parts one and two) of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven, as well as… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 8: Two Ninja Vs. Superman

Julian Darius — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 09:40:41 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 8: Two Ninja Vs. Superman" title="Miracleman, Chapter 8: Two Ninja Vs. Superman" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing chapter eight of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven, as well as the interlude “The… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 8: “Out of the Dark”

Julian Darius — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 09:00:23 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 8: “Out of the Dark”" title="Miracleman, Chapter 8: “Out of the Dark”" style="float:left;" />We’ve previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven, as well as the interlude “The Yesterday Gambit.” We now continue our examination with chapter eight of this celebrated but long-unavailable series, written by Alan Moore and… [more]

An Interview with Rob Williams, on 2000AD‘s Ichabod Azrael and Comics Storytelling in General (Part 2)

Colin Smith — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 11:00:59 +0000

2000AD‘s Ichabod Azrael and Comics Storytelling in General (Part 2)" title="An Interview with Rob Williams, on 2000AD‘s Ichabod Azrael and Comics Storytelling in General (Part 2)" style="float:left;" />Continued from last week. COLIN SMITH: I may well be very wrong here, but it seems from the outside as if you’re determined not just to tell a good story, but to push your own boundaries… [more]

An Interview with Rob Williams, on 2000AD‘s Ichabod Azrael and Comics Storytelling in General

Colin Smith — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 11:00:58 +0000

2000AD‘s Ichabod Azrael and Comics Storytelling in General" title="An Interview with Rob Williams, on 2000AD‘s Ichabod Azrael and Comics Storytelling in General" style="float:left;" />I gave up on 2000AD in the early 1990s. Not only did it seem to have lost much of its sharpness and satirical edge, but it often appeared complacent, sloppy and even, on occasion, smug… [more]

An Interview with 2000AD‘s Al Ewing, Part 2

Colin Smith — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 11:00:10 +0000

2000AD‘s Al Ewing, Part 2" title="An Interview with 2000AD‘s Al Ewing, Part 2" style="float:left;" />In which the interview with Al Ewing — begun last week — is concluded. COLIN SMITH: To what degree does the writer of fantastical fiction have a political responsibility, and who’s that responsibility to? To… [more]

An Interview with 2000AD‘s Al Ewing

Colin Smith — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 11:00:24 +0000

2000AD‘s Al Ewing" title="An Interview with 2000AD‘s Al Ewing" style="float:left;" />I’d struggle to overstate how much I enjoy and admire Al Ewing’s work. It’s been that way since the March of 2010, when I first read his Sex, Vi And Vid-Slugs, a collaboration with artist… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 7 Concludes

Julian Darius — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 11:00:40 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 7 Concludes" title="Miracleman, Chapter 7 Concludes" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing chapter seven (parts one, two, and three) of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we conclude our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, and… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 7, and British Politics

Julian Darius — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:00:54 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 7, and British Politics" title="Miracleman, Chapter 7, and British Politics" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing chapter seven (in two parts) of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, and six,… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 7: The Mike / Liz / Miracleman Love Triangle

Julian Darius — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:00:15 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 7: The Mike / Liz / Miracleman Love Triangle" title="Miracleman, Chapter 7: The Mike / Liz / Miracleman Love Triangle" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun discussing chapter seven of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, and six, plus the… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 7: “Blue Murder”

Julian Darius — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 09:00:55 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 7: “Blue Murder”" title="Miracleman, Chapter 7: “Blue Murder”" style="float:left;" />We’ve previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, and six, as well as the interlude “The Yesterday Gambit.” We now continue our examination with chapter seven of this celebrated but long-unavailable series,… [more]

On Jeff Hawke: Overlord, by Sydney Jordan and Willie Patterson (1960)

Colin Smith — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 11:00:58 +0000

Jeff Hawke: Overlord, by Sydney Jordan and Willie Patterson (1960)" title="On Jeff Hawke: Overlord, by Sydney Jordan and Willie Patterson (1960)" style="float:left;" />“Adult” all too often has a different meaning now. But in the very best sense of the term, Jordan and Patterson’s Jeff Hawke was a newspaper science-fiction comic strip for adults. In an age in… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 6 Concludes

Julian Darius — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:00:14 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 6 Concludes" title="Miracleman, Chapter 6 Concludes" style="float:left;" />We’ve previously begun discussion of chapter six of Alan Moore’s Miracleman and continued through page five. We now conclude discussion of this pivotal chapter. (Earlier, we introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, and five, as well… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 6: “Investigation” and “Deduction”

Julian Darius — Mon, 28 May 2012 11:00:22 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 6: “Investigation” and “Deduction”" title="Miracleman, Chapter 6: “Investigation” and “Deduction”" style="float:left;" />We’ve previously begun discussion of chapter six of Alan Moore’s Miracleman and gotten through page three. We now continue discussion of this pivotal chapter. (Earlier, we introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, and five, as well… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 6, Page 3: “Reflections” of Kid Miracleman

Julian Darius — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:00:24 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 6, Page 3: “Reflections” of Kid Miracleman" title="Miracleman, Chapter 6, Page 3: “Reflections” of Kid Miracleman" style="float:left;" />We’ve previously begun discussion of chapter six of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, which originally appeared in the classic British magazine Warrior. We continue that discussion today. (Earlier, we introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, and five,… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 6: “Secret Identity”

Julian Darius — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:09:15 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 6: “Secret Identity”" title="Miracleman, Chapter 6: “Secret Identity”" style="float:left;" />Having introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, and five, as well as the interlude “The Yesterday Gambit,” we now turn to chapter six of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, which originally appeared in the classic… [more]

On The Zaucer of Zilk, by Al Ewing and Brendan McCarthy

Colin Smith — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:00:21 +0000

The Zaucer of Zilk, by Al Ewing and Brendan McCarthy" title="On The Zaucer of Zilk, by Al Ewing and Brendan McCarthy" style="float:left;" />NB: The Zaucer of Zilk is currently being serialised in 2000AD, so please be aware of oncoming spoilers as well as the likelihood that most if not all of my presumptions are entirely misplaced. Like… [more]

Alan Moore’s Miracleman and the Influence of Chris Claremont’s Dark Phoenix Saga

Julian Darius — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:00:53 +0000

Miracleman and the Influence of Chris Claremont’s Dark Phoenix Saga" title="Alan Moore’s Miracleman and the Influence of Chris Claremont’s Dark Phoenix Saga" style="float:left;" />Having reached the halfway point of Book One, let’s pause and consider the influence of Chris Claremont and John Byrne’s Dark Phoenix saga on the way Moore presents his own hero-turned-villain, Kid Miracleman. (We’ve previously… [more]

The Conclusion of Miracleman, Chapter 5

Julian Darius — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:00:14 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 5" title="The Conclusion of Miracleman, Chapter 5" style="float:left;" />We’ve looked at chapter five of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, examined it in the context of the 1981 Brixton riots, and carried through to Kid Miracleman’s defeat. We now conclude our look at this chapter, originally printed… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 5 (Cont.)

Julian Darius — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:00:22 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 5 (Cont.)" title="Miracleman, Chapter 5 (Cont.)" style="float:left;" />We’ve begun looking at chapter five of Alan Moore’s Miracleman and examined its reference to the 1981 Brixton riots. We now continue our look at this story, originally printed in Warrior #6 (Oct 1982), which concludes Miracleman’s… [more]

Becoming Alan Moore

Colin Smith — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 17:06:32 +0000

1. When did Alan Moore become ALAN MOORE? When did the promising prospect become the master Bardly craftsman? If his work for Marvel UK in the early 1980s is to be trusted, the graduation occurred… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 5, and the Brixton Riots

Julian Darius — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:00:08 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 5, and the Brixton Riots" title="Miracleman, Chapter 5, and the Brixton Riots" style="float:left;" />Last time, we began our examination of chapter five of Alan Moore’s Miracleman. Originally printed in Warrior #6 (Oct 1982), it concludes Miracleman’s fight with Kid Miracleman and marks the midpoint of Book One. As… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 5: “Fallen Angels, Forgotten Thunder”

Julian Darius — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:00:07 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 5: “Fallen Angels, Forgotten Thunder”" title="Miracleman, Chapter 5: “Fallen Angels, Forgotten Thunder”" style="float:left;" />Having introduced Miracleman and discussed its first, second, third, and fourth chapters, as well as the interlude “The Yesterday Gambit,” we now turn to chapter five of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, which concludes the hero’s first… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 4: “Dragons” (Cont.)

Julian Darius — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:00:12 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 4: “Dragons” (Cont.)" title="Miracleman, Chapter 4: “Dragons” (Cont.)" style="float:left;" />Last time, we began discussing the fourth chapter of Alan Moore’s Miracleman. This time, we conclude our look at that chapter. (We’ve previously introduced Miracleman and discussed its first, second, and third chapters, as well… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 4: “Dragons”

Julian Darius — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:45:13 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 4: “Dragons”" title="Miracleman, Chapter 4: “Dragons”" style="float:left;" />Having introduced Miracleman and discussed its first, second, and third chapters, as well as the interlude “The Yesterday Gambit,” we now turn to chapter four of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, in which the hero has his… [more]

“The Yesterday Gambit,” Part 4

Julian Darius — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:00:18 +0000

We’ve introduced Alan Moore’s Miracleman interlude from Warrior #4, “The Yesterday Gambit,” and examined its first, second, and third segments. We now turn to its final segment, illustrated by Steve Dillon, in which Miracleman and Warpsmith return… [more]

“The Yesterday Gambit,” Part 3

Julian Darius — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:00:11 +0000

We’ve introduced Alan Moore’s Miracleman interlude from Warrior #4, “The Yesterday Gambit,” and examined its first and second segments. We now turn to its third segment, illustrated by Alan Davis, in which Miracleman and Warpsmith revisit… [more]

“The Yesterday Gambit,” Part 2

Julian Darius — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

We’ve introduced Alan Moore’s Miracleman interlude from Warrior #4, “The Yesterday Gambit”, and examined its first segment. We now turn to its second segment, illustrated by Paul Neary, in which Miracleman and Warpsmith revisit the 1963… [more]

“The Yesterday Gambit,” Part 1

Julian Darius — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:00:16 +0000

We began discussion of “The Yesterday Gambit” last time, having previously introduced Miracleman and discussed its first, second, and third chapters. We now turn to the story of Alan Moore’s “The Yesterday Gambit,” from Warrior #4.… [more]

“The Yesterday Gambit” (A Miracleman Interlude)

Julian Darius — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:00:04 +0000

Miracleman Interlude)" title="“The Yesterday Gambit” (A Miracleman Interlude)" style="float:left;" />We’ve introduced Miracleman and discussed its first, second, and third chapters. We now turn to the famous “The Yesterday Gambit,” from Warrior #4. Interlude: “The Yesterday Gambit” Writer: Alan Moore. Artists: Steve Dillon, Paul Neary,… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 3 Concludes

Julian Darius — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:10 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 3 Concludes" title="Miracleman, Chapter 3 Concludes" style="float:left;" />We’ve introduced Miracleman and discussed its first and second chapters, plus most of the third (part one, part two). We now conclude our look at this third chapter of Alan Moore and Garry Leach’s Miracleman… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 3: “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”

Julian Darius — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:00:55 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 3: “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”" title="Miracleman, Chapter 3: “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”" style="float:left;" />We’ve introduced Miracleman and discussed its first and second episodes, plus the first page of chapter three. We now continue our look at that third chapter of Alan Moore and Garry Leach’s Miracleman stories, which… [more]

Sex and the Super-Hero in Miracleman, Chapter 3

Julian Darius — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:30:40 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 3" title="Sex and the Super-Hero in Miracleman, Chapter 3" style="float:left;" />Having briefly introduced Miracleman and discussed its first and second episodes, let’s turn to the third of Alan Moore and Garry Leach’s Miracleman stories, which appeared in the legendary British magazine Warrior. Chapter 3: “When… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 2: “Legend”

Julian Darius — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:00:08 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 2: “Legend”" title="Miracleman, Chapter 2: “Legend”" style="float:left;" />Having briefly introduced Miracleman and discussed its first episode, let’s turn to the second of Alan Moore and Garry Leach’s earliest stories, which appeared in the legendary British magazine Warrior. Chapter 2: “Legend” (6 pages)… [more]

Miracleman, Chapter 1: “A Dream of Flying”

Julian Darius — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:07 +0000

Miracleman, Chapter 1: “A Dream of Flying”" title="Miracleman, Chapter 1: “A Dream of Flying”" style="float:left;" />Having briefly introduced Miracleman, let’s begin looking at Alan Moore and Garry Leach’s earliest stories, which appeared in the legendary British magazine Warrior. Chapter 1: “A Dream of Flying” (8 pages) Writer: Alan Moore. Artist: … [more]

Parody in Alan Moore’s The Stars My Degradation

Andrew Edwards — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:00:09 +0000

The Stars My Degradation" title="Parody in Alan Moore’s The Stars My Degradation" style="float:left;" />Alan Moore’s early professional work (such as Maxwell the Magic Cat, Roscoe Moscow, and The Stars My Degradation) was firmly rooted in comedy, which may seem at odds with the more later dramatic work he became… [more]

Alan Moore’s The Stars My Degradation

Andrew Edwards — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 12:00:15 +0000

The Stars My Degradation" title="Alan Moore’s The Stars My Degradation" style="float:left;" />The title of Moore’s second strip for Sounds Magazine, The Stars My Degradation, owes its inspiration to a famous science-fiction novel by Alfred Bester, The Stars My Destination (1956). In the novel, Gully Foyle is… [more]

Dan Dare and the Seductive Myths of Englishness

Colin Smith — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 11:00:31 +0000

In the very first Dan Dare adventure, which began to be serialised weekly in the Christian boy’s comic Eagle in 1950, we’re introduced to the ”Inter Planet Space Fleet some years in the future.” It’s an odd… [more]

Captain Britain and the Comforting Myths of Englishness

Colin Smith — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 11:00:39 +0000

In Paul Cornell’s Captain Britain and MI:13 #1, the eponymous Captain is killed by a Skrull missile during an alien invasion of Britain. As is the way of super-hero comics — and as was something of a habit… [more]

Alan Moore’s Roscoe Moscow

Andrew Edwards — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:00:06 +0000

Roscoe Moscow" title="Alan Moore’s Roscoe Moscow" style="float:left;" />The edition of Sounds magazine dated 31 March 1979 saw the publication of Alan Moore’s first instalment of Roscoe Moscow in “Who Killed Rock n’ Roll?” Unlike Maxwell the Magic Cat, which is largely composed of self-contained joke strips, Roscoe… [more]

Alan Moore’s Maxwell the Magic Cat

Andrew Edwards — Thu, 29 May 2008 17:00:22 +0000

Maxwell the Magic Cat" title="Alan Moore’s Maxwell the Magic Cat" style="float:left;" />Maxwell the Magic Cat was both written and drawn by Moore, and this strip, along with those he drew and co-wrote with Steve Moore for Sounds magazine, would support Alan and his family financially, allowing… [more]

Why are British Writers so Popular?

Henry Northmore — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 17:24:14 +0000

It is something that has always interested me as a British reader, and something I briefly touched on in my previous column; comics are a quintessentially American art form, so how come so many of… [more]

Belfast and New York, Ireland and America, and “Irish Studies” as Reflected by Garth Ennis

Julian Darius — Thu, 20 Jul 2000 16:00:43 +0000

Garth Ennis, an Irish writer working in the graphic novel (or extended comic book) format, represents a literary outsider. Although he shows considerably greater disdain for many other groups, Ennis has openly shown disdain for… [more]