http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/j ... s-watchmen


Is it really OK for adults to superhero-worship Alan Moore's comics?

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign ... res-comics


Moore was never going to like the current trend for superhero shows, he's been a vocal critic of the films alone for decades. And to be perfectly honest, the reason he's asked the same questions all the time is the same sorta reason concert goers want to hear the old songs; the new stuff's crap in the main, and anything he does now will never have the impact of his biggest hits. He has every right to retire, whatever that means.

On the cultural aspect I don't think it's having quite the impact he thinks it is. It's a licence to print money and it'll soon expire when a couple of bombs hit together, though that would require an enormous amount of hubris from Disney/Marvel as it currently operates. It's no different to adults going to watch any special effects-heavy film like they've always done. Oh, and Hollywood's desperate and generally works these things out to the last dime, if only for tax purposes

On the TV side of it, you've basically got comic book soap operas with an already curious fanbase that's likely to draw in others. All of this sells boxsets and merch. TV's fast becoming 'the new cinema', or at least a clear rival. And it'll always be better than 'reality' TV.

Actually, I can sum it up better by saying the net changed everything when it came to superheroes, just like it did with almost everything else. The studios (movie and TV) got instant feedback from an already vaguely obsessive fanbase, promotion's practically free, and you can sell your IP all day long one way or another.

On adults reading comics, it was ever thus. Same with video games. And animation of every description, and...

Well that's my rant over , I'd love to know if you're sick of comic book-related media, have never picked up a comic in your life, whatever

And here's a shot from Alan's new movie:

Doesn't every genre of fiction have a vast conformist centre and a wild-eyed loon on the fringes who wants to invert the whole thing? Watchmen is surely to Superman as The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is to Bond. That doesn't mean that Bond can't ever be good. The best fiction always has a herd to stand out from.

Moore has always been so far up his own arse he could count his fillings. Comics were, are and will be a populist medium. The fact he has massive pretentions doesn't mean they should.

I only know Watchmen through the film and it was disgusting, I felt physically ill watching it.

Why? I remember Watchmen and thinking it was uber cool.

The fat, cigar smoking rapist superhero, for a Start.

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Some of the scenes in the prison with Rorschach weren't exactly stuff you'd show a toddler either!

Personally I don't get bothered by gore at all, so no issue there; it's the jumpy [LIFTED] that gives me the willies.

To be fair 'Watchmen' is fairly gorey - or at least realistically gorey - in print and isn't a comic you would give to a toddler. There's no issue with comics telling adult stories or complex stories or whatever else. It's just pretentious to look down on the comics that don't do that, which is what Moore seems to be doing. Having Homeland doesn't somehow mean we shouldn't have Dick & Dom.

Something I forgot to mention, he really should pick up one of the UK market collected editions on sale in the likes of WH Smith - he'd soon see how they've changed in terms of content, and just how little the shops and parents know about them... Is it any wonder adults read them?

With great timing:

Comic book writer Mark Millar receives MBE



When it's an award for services to literature, you've got to wonder if Moore has a point.

Grant Morrison's great quote concerning Millar:

I suppose they needed to label his work somehow, but it's still literature! Just in a different format.

Morrison's always good for a quote, but why does he always feel the need to belittle fellow writers and artists? Millar on the other hand is like an excitable puppy when it comes to his work and the industry, and even that's preferable to me than Mr I-Believe-My-Own-Press.

Morrison's great at initial concepts, he just has no idea how to flesh them out without throwing the entire kitchen sink at it. And having your cast do something completely out of character cos Morrison had a half-assed thought can fcuk right off.

I think I've said this before but he's like those film directors who still get work cos they were hot stuff in their younger days, before they disappeared up their own arse.

That's about it. Having heard the podcasts with him talking about his work on Batman, Wonder Woman, etc, I'd expected more, though not necessarily Moore.