Comics

[caddyman]

So last night I wandered up town with fencingsculptor and nipped into Forbidden Planet for a look-see.

I came out with a copy of volume 5 of Saga of the Swamp Thing, which is reprinting Alan Moore’s inaugural run on the title from the mid 1980s. I think there is enough material for an extra long volume 6 or, more likely as DC Comics will wish to squeeze every last penny out of the punters, two rather thin editions. We’ll see.

This was all groundbreaking stuff and together with the work he and Dave Gibbons did on Watchmen at the same time, in many ways it redefined the American comic industry (though it would be rude not to acknowledge Frank Miller’s contribution at the same time). To my mind, although Moore has a had a long, successful and influential career in comics since, he started with his best work; as far as I’m concerned, he’s never bettered that run on Swampy between 1984 and 1987.

The more I think about Alan Moore’s body of work, the more I tend to the view that his best efforts pretty much predate 1995 at the very latest¹. He’s done some excellent stuff since then, but by and large it is, in my eyes at least, rather more self indulgent, and the cleverness that was always there is more strained, whereas back in the early days it seemed more organic and spontaneous.



I also picked up a copy of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century 1969, which seems to be something of a return to form on that title at least. Century 1910 was poor and I really didn’t get on with The Black Dossier; too much turgid prose. Moore’s written style just isn’t as good as his ability to capture ideas in comic panel form (I didn’t much like the text pieces in Watchmen).

Given his continued popularity and his unassailable position as one of the “greats” of the genre, it probably says more about my taste in comics than his ability, but I really do prefer his older work.

¹In no particular order: The Ballad of Halo Jones, V for Vendetta, Captain Britain, Swamp Thing, Watchmen, Batman: The Killing Joke, DR and Quinch, the BoJeffries Saga, Marvelman/Miracleman and numerous Futureshocks for 200AD all predate 1990, I think.

Comments

[trav28.livejournal.com]

How strange, I spent my afternoon reading that new splendid Moore biog. I do agree, his earlier works are so much more interesting and less heavy and although League of Extraordinary Gentlemen 1969 is now in my top 5!

[jfs.livejournal.com]

But 200AD definitely predates 1990AD, so Brian's maths is still okay ...

My Igpay Atinlay suggests Judex Metue might be the main character in 200AD.

[bluesman.livejournal.com]

"I didn’t much like the text pieces in Watchmen"

That's what put me off when you lent it to me. I'd still like to read some of his stuff, though.

[littleonionz.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on the late 80's Swampy. That's when the title perked my interest. I think you are mostly right, and sometimes, when it comes to the 'greats' of any genre it has to be said, perhaps whispered, that the king forgot his clothes from time to time.