Grant Morrison's Superman
April 28, 2016 8:43 AM Subscribe
When people are like 'the problem is you can't write good Superman stories because Superman is boring and too powerful' I am like 'please read All Star Superman and see if it makes you stop saying things that are dumb.'
posted by Sing Or Swim at 8:51 AM on April 28, 2016 [27 favorites]
posted by Sing Or Swim at 8:51 AM on April 28, 2016 [27 favorites]
"“Hatchet order” is a term that only recently snuck into common usage (if one defines common usage as “blogs that ceaselessly complain about how to show one’s children the Star Wars movies without having to watch Episode 1 again”"
I've never heard of "hatchet order" - I'm assuming he meant machete order.
posted by komara at 8:53 AM on April 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
I've never heard of "hatchet order" - I'm assuming he meant machete order.
posted by komara at 8:53 AM on April 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
I'd like to add that this also a trade that my husband and I happily buy for friends' kids when they get to be around 7-8 years old. For me, it's a great introduction to the character if you're young.
posted by Kitteh at 8:55 AM on April 28, 2016
posted by Kitteh at 8:55 AM on April 28, 2016
Morrison loves his recurring themes and his callbacks.
posted by Artw at 8:55 AM on April 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Artw at 8:55 AM on April 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
Oh man Morrison's JLA is so, so worth getting through the really epitome-of-the-90s art and/or Electric Superman for.
posted by griphus at 9:00 AM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by griphus at 9:00 AM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
Much as I complain that I can't take Superman seriously when he has weird armour instead of pants, Morrison managed to take electric superman and run with it to the point where you forgot it was the stupidest idea ever.
posted by Artw at 9:06 AM on April 28, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Artw at 9:06 AM on April 28, 2016 [6 favorites]
I have read all the books in this reading list, and I can't imagine how confusing it would be to read them in the proposed order. Honestly, just read All-Star Superman, which is amazing and beautiful and perfect and should be enjoyed as a solitary story. If you like that, maybe read Morrison's JLA, because it has enough really fun moments to be worthwhile.
The rest? I dunno. Those are some serious deep-dives into meta and story theory and such. I found them pretty impenetrable even as a life-long comic reader who counts Morrison as one of his favorite comic writers.
posted by joelhunt at 9:17 AM on April 28, 2016 [6 favorites]
The rest? I dunno. Those are some serious deep-dives into meta and story theory and such. I found them pretty impenetrable even as a life-long comic reader who counts Morrison as one of his favorite comic writers.
posted by joelhunt at 9:17 AM on April 28, 2016 [6 favorites]
Personally I like tracing all the connections and all the meta-stuff, but I suspect there's as much serendipity as masterplan and that the proposed reading order wouldn't quite work.
posted by Artw at 9:25 AM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 9:25 AM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
The All-Star Superman individual issues are the only single-issue floppies I have purchased as they released since the end of James Robinson's Starman series, I think. Everything else is trade paperbacks or tablet.
That's a pretty high recommendation from me, I think.
posted by joelhunt at 9:43 AM on April 28, 2016
That's a pretty high recommendation from me, I think.
posted by joelhunt at 9:43 AM on April 28, 2016
As over the top 90s as the JLA run was (electric blue superman and all), the bit with him wrestling an archangel into submission in front of an astonished (and audience stand in) Flash and Green Lantern, all while admonishing the archangel for endangering his people, or the people of earth, who superman easentially is claiming responsibility for as well as membership of, well, it's pretty much a perfect Superman moment.
There are tons of worthwhile Superman stories to tell. It's a shame we won't see any of them, because WB has tied Snyder to Superman, and he's going to ruin the character so badly, it'll be years after the DC Murderverse folds before we get a proper superman film.
posted by Ghidorah at 9:44 AM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
There are tons of worthwhile Superman stories to tell. It's a shame we won't see any of them, because WB has tied Snyder to Superman, and he's going to ruin the character so badly, it'll be years after the DC Murderverse folds before we get a proper superman film.
posted by Ghidorah at 9:44 AM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
Honestly, just read All-Star Superman, which is amazing and beautiful and perfect and should be enjoyed as a solitary story.
Ditto.
While this meta-analysis is kind of interesting, it's really only one part of the conversation, which is one reason it's so hard to follow. I'd also put many of the other meditations on Superguy in there: Moore's Supreme run, of course, Busiek's Samaritan, too. Both of those are echoed in All-Star to some degree or other.
The whole appropriate use of force thing has to tie back to Ellis' run on Authority (and their analog, Apollo). Morrison was partially involved with that project too, immediately following Ellis' run (IIRC), and I think many of the later influences on his writing may have originated thinking about how to use a superman figure in that context.
IOW, I think there's an interesting article to be written including this material, but I don't think this really captures what needs to be said.
posted by bonehead at 9:46 AM on April 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ditto.
While this meta-analysis is kind of interesting, it's really only one part of the conversation, which is one reason it's so hard to follow. I'd also put many of the other meditations on Superguy in there: Moore's Supreme run, of course, Busiek's Samaritan, too. Both of those are echoed in All-Star to some degree or other.
The whole appropriate use of force thing has to tie back to Ellis' run on Authority (and their analog, Apollo). Morrison was partially involved with that project too, immediately following Ellis' run (IIRC), and I think many of the later influences on his writing may have originated thinking about how to use a superman figure in that context.
IOW, I think there's an interesting article to be written including this material, but I don't think this really captures what needs to be said.
posted by bonehead at 9:46 AM on April 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
I can't remember any details, but there was a mid-2000s issue where Superman beats the crap out of some Authority stand-ins.
posted by griphus at 9:48 AM on April 28, 2016
posted by griphus at 9:48 AM on April 28, 2016
i sadly won't be buying anything that has come out of the superman office until dc deals with eddie berganza.
posted by nadawi at 9:51 AM on April 28, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by nadawi at 9:51 AM on April 28, 2016 [13 favorites]
"The Elite". It was even made into a DC Animated movie.
posted by bonehead at 9:51 AM on April 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by bonehead at 9:51 AM on April 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
Oh, now i get it, "Man of Steel" the movie, not "The Man of Steel."
When pull quotes have not a lot of context...
posted by BYiro at 9:55 AM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
When pull quotes have not a lot of context...
posted by BYiro at 9:55 AM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
This idea is idiotic because if Morrison wanted them chronologically, he would have written them that way. Morrison's complexity is borderline impossible to handle sometimes, and this isn't helping the situation.
Also, the author provides way too much background on each issue. Why bother reading the comics at all after reading this?
posted by lownote at 10:12 AM on April 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
Also, the author provides way too much background on each issue. Why bother reading the comics at all after reading this?
posted by lownote at 10:12 AM on April 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
Morrison managed to take electric superman and run with it to the point where you forgot it was the stupidest idea ever.
My favorite thing about him as a writer is exactly this, his ability to take a completely ridiculous idea and just run with it until you're on board. His optimism seems bulletproof.
posted by middleclasstool at 10:13 AM on April 28, 2016 [7 favorites]
My favorite thing about him as a writer is exactly this, his ability to take a completely ridiculous idea and just run with it until you're on board. His optimism seems bulletproof.
posted by middleclasstool at 10:13 AM on April 28, 2016 [7 favorites]
That said, I totally need to re-read All-Star Superman. Its so good and just feels, i dunno, wonderful.
I don't know how I'd feel re-reading the New 52 Action Comics. I enjoyed it just fine at the time, but I'm pretty sure most of the issues with Supes post New 52 are Morrison's fault. He didn't exactly create a stable foundation for other's to build on, and while I can't find it now, I know the other superman books had a hell of a time trying to stay on the same page with what he was doing because he was deliberately not telling anyone what he was planning to do.
posted by lownote at 10:15 AM on April 28, 2016
I don't know how I'd feel re-reading the New 52 Action Comics. I enjoyed it just fine at the time, but I'm pretty sure most of the issues with Supes post New 52 are Morrison's fault. He didn't exactly create a stable foundation for other's to build on, and while I can't find it now, I know the other superman books had a hell of a time trying to stay on the same page with what he was doing because he was deliberately not telling anyone what he was planning to do.
posted by lownote at 10:15 AM on April 28, 2016
If you love All-Star Superman, it's definitely worth it to read the DC One Million miniseries that Morrison released nearly a decade BEFORE All-Star Superman, as it wraps up a couple of loose ends that exist in All-Star.
posted by sleeping bear at 10:20 AM on April 28, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by sleeping bear at 10:20 AM on April 28, 2016 [4 favorites]
Loan ore - not really sure. They were supposed to be doing that. Really if anything is Blake editorial as a whole and maybe the fucking awful Geoff Johns version of the Justice League, which kicked things off and set the tone.
posted by Artw at 10:32 AM on April 28, 2016
posted by Artw at 10:32 AM on April 28, 2016
All-Star is good, but it's no Red Son.
posted by lumpenprole at 10:42 AM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by lumpenprole at 10:42 AM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
"In a world, I’m reliably told, that’s going to the dogs, the real mischief, the real punk rock rebellion, is a snarling, ‘fuck you’ positivity and optimism. Violent optimism in the face of all evidence to the contrary is the Alpha form of outrage these days. It really freaks people out."
--Grant Morrison, via Newsarama
posted by kimota at 10:44 AM on April 28, 2016 [23 favorites]
--Grant Morrison, via Newsarama
posted by kimota at 10:44 AM on April 28, 2016 [23 favorites]
Until recently I was never really interested in superhero comics and even less so in Superman, but on the advice of some people over at Birth.Movies.Death. I read All-Star Superman and holy crap it is good.
posted by brundlefly at 11:14 AM on April 28, 2016
posted by brundlefly at 11:14 AM on April 28, 2016
All-Star is good, but it's no Red Son.
That's true, it's infinitely better. Red Son was a neat idea with mediocre execution. Though Morrison was also involved with Red Son, too, but the execution was Millar's fault.
When people are like 'the problem is you can't write good Superman stories because Superman is boring and too powerful' I am like 'please read All Star Superman and see if it makes you stop saying things that are dumb.'
The best thing about that is that All Star directly addresses this criticism: it opens with Superman being powered up to extreme levels, I think just to kick the "overpowered and boring" meme in the teeth.
posted by Sangermaine at 11:16 AM on April 28, 2016 [5 favorites]
That's true, it's infinitely better. Red Son was a neat idea with mediocre execution. Though Morrison was also involved with Red Son, too, but the execution was Millar's fault.
When people are like 'the problem is you can't write good Superman stories because Superman is boring and too powerful' I am like 'please read All Star Superman and see if it makes you stop saying things that are dumb.'
The best thing about that is that All Star directly addresses this criticism: it opens with Superman being powered up to extreme levels, I think just to kick the "overpowered and boring" meme in the teeth.
posted by Sangermaine at 11:16 AM on April 28, 2016 [5 favorites]
Also, this article seems like some Hypercrisis material. Are there any Hypercrisis enthusiasts in the house?
posted by Sangermaine at 11:18 AM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Sangermaine at 11:18 AM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
Meanwhile, in Frank Miller-land...
Frank looks like he can barely lift a pencil these days and given the no-insurance (like a No-Prize, only insurance!) common to most (all?) comic creators, I'm inclined to avert my eyes and give him a pass, much like I did with Willie Nelson shilling for Taco Bell.
posted by entropicamericana at 11:44 AM on April 28, 2016
Frank looks like he can barely lift a pencil these days and given the no-insurance (like a No-Prize, only insurance!) common to most (all?) comic creators, I'm inclined to avert my eyes and give him a pass, much like I did with Willie Nelson shilling for Taco Bell.
posted by entropicamericana at 11:44 AM on April 28, 2016
I refuse to re-read Red Son because it is Mark Millar and nothing good has ever come of re-reading a Mark Millar book you loved when you were 19.
That said I wish there was more Red Son-verse media that wasn't that particular book.
posted by griphus at 11:45 AM on April 28, 2016 [4 favorites]
That said I wish there was more Red Son-verse media that wasn't that particular book.
posted by griphus at 11:45 AM on April 28, 2016 [4 favorites]
Whatever his other plans Frank's financially set thanks to shacking up with one of the Haliburton clan, so I wouldn't worry about him dying in cartoonists poverty. I wouldn't exactly say he's well though.
posted by Artw at 11:54 AM on April 28, 2016
posted by Artw at 11:54 AM on April 28, 2016
As my wife says, anything we get from Frank Miller now is a gift.
Albeit I am often inclined to think it is the same caliber of gift as the thing the cat drags in from outside and plops on your pillow; best intentions and all that.
posted by griphus at 12:04 PM on April 28, 2016 [10 favorites]
Albeit I am often inclined to think it is the same caliber of gift as the thing the cat drags in from outside and plops on your pillow; best intentions and all that.
posted by griphus at 12:04 PM on April 28, 2016 [10 favorites]
Half a mouse is better than none. Especially at 4:50 am, deposited helpfully on your pillow.
posted by bonehead at 12:54 PM on April 28, 2016
posted by bonehead at 12:54 PM on April 28, 2016
This idea is idiotic because if Morrison wanted them chronologically, he would have written them that way. Morrison's complexity is borderline impossible to handle sometimes, and this isn't helping the situation.
It's always ridiculous to suppose an author would write a book thinking, "This will work best if people read it before the book I published years ago that they've already read."
posted by straight at 1:44 PM on April 28, 2016
It's always ridiculous to suppose an author would write a book thinking, "This will work best if people read it before the book I published years ago that they've already read."
posted by straight at 1:44 PM on April 28, 2016
Eh, with Morrison that kind of thing is actually believable. He's writing from the 9th dimension, after all.
posted by Sangermaine at 1:50 PM on April 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Sangermaine at 1:50 PM on April 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
I refuse to re-read Red Son because it is Mark Millar and nothing good has ever come of re-reading a Mark Millar book you loved when you were 19.
Yeah, but Mark Millar's run on Superman Adventures (the cartoon tie-in) is some legitimately great Superman stories (with an excellent take on Lex Luthor) and absolutely holds up.
posted by straight at 1:51 PM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yeah, but Mark Millar's run on Superman Adventures (the cartoon tie-in) is some legitimately great Superman stories (with an excellent take on Lex Luthor) and absolutely holds up.
posted by straight at 1:51 PM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
Huh, I'd actually be interested in reading Millar when he's not trying so goddamn hard to be Edgy.
posted by griphus at 1:55 PM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by griphus at 1:55 PM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
Eh, with Morrison that kind of thing is actually believable. He's writing from the 9th dimension, after all.
#wizardwar
posted by Elementary Penguin at 2:13 PM on April 28, 2016
#wizardwar
posted by Elementary Penguin at 2:13 PM on April 28, 2016
I've a theory that Millars basically a reasonable but lazy writer ruined by finding out early on that his cheapest, shittiest stuff actually sells the best and gets him the most movie deals.
posted by Artw at 2:34 PM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 2:34 PM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
Millar is a homunculs created by Alan Moore designed to befriend Morrison and then betray and anger him.
posted by Sangermaine at 2:57 PM on April 28, 2016 [28 favorites]
posted by Sangermaine at 2:57 PM on April 28, 2016 [28 favorites]
Millar is a homunculs created by Alan Moore designed to befriend Morrison and then betray and anger him.
Oh my god everything makes sense now.
posted by nonasuch at 3:03 PM on April 28, 2016 [7 favorites]
Oh my god everything makes sense now.
posted by nonasuch at 3:03 PM on April 28, 2016 [7 favorites]
awww, i've been liking millar's jupiter books...i mean, you know what you're getting (well, except for knowing when issue 6 of legacy will happen), but they're a fine way to spend that money/time.
posted by nadawi at 3:46 PM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by nadawi at 3:46 PM on April 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
Millar and Morrison are the same creature - one always has its hackles up to respond to threat, the other is content in its place in the world. They can both do good stuff, but they can also each put out some shit because they have progressed to the realm of being immune to editorial constraints.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:34 PM on April 28, 2016
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:34 PM on April 28, 2016
Millar and Morrison are the same creature
Maybe in, like, a Mirror Universe sense? It would be easier to know for sure if Millar had a beard. But given that one of them defines his work by its defiant optimism and the other is known for a gleefully nihilistic view of human nature, I feel like I know which one is which.
posted by nonasuch at 7:36 PM on April 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
Maybe in, like, a Mirror Universe sense? It would be easier to know for sure if Millar had a beard. But given that one of them defines his work by its defiant optimism and the other is known for a gleefully nihilistic view of human nature, I feel like I know which one is which.
posted by nonasuch at 7:36 PM on April 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
awww, i've been liking millar's jupiter books...i mean, you know what you're getting (well, except for knowing when issue 6 of legacy will happen), but they're a fine way to spend that money/time.
I am by no means a connoisseur of the man's work, but lately I've been seeing a lot of "no really, read it, it's good" reviews of his stuff and I wonder if he's softening some. I can't imagine he'd abandon an extremely profitable formula altogether, but maybe even he's wanting a change from bro-pandering.
posted by middleclasstool at 7:58 PM on April 28, 2016
I am by no means a connoisseur of the man's work, but lately I've been seeing a lot of "no really, read it, it's good" reviews of his stuff and I wonder if he's softening some. I can't imagine he'd abandon an extremely profitable formula altogether, but maybe even he's wanting a change from bro-pandering.
posted by middleclasstool at 7:58 PM on April 28, 2016
Mark Millar's American Jesus and Supercrooks Just Got Closer To Becoming Movies
You can see why he might want to step back from self parody a little.
posted by Artw at 8:12 PM on April 28, 2016
You can see why he might want to step back from self parody a little.
posted by Artw at 8:12 PM on April 28, 2016
Oh crap I just realized Mark Millar is going to get some of the credit when Captain America: Civil War is a huge enormous hit, and that might be the most ridiculously undeserved credit in comic books history.
(Not to be confused with *stolen* credit, of which there are plenty of monstrous examples. I'm just thinking of authors getting credit for adaptations of their work that are fantastic but owe none of their greatness to the original thing they are adapting.)
posted by straight at 8:41 PM on April 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
(Not to be confused with *stolen* credit, of which there are plenty of monstrous examples. I'm just thinking of authors getting credit for adaptations of their work that are fantastic but owe none of their greatness to the original thing they are adapting.)
posted by straight at 8:41 PM on April 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
Red Son was a neat idea with mediocre execution.
it's shockingly true of all the Mark Millar stuff that I've read. He lures you with cool ideas but it always ends like this.
posted by SageLeVoid at 4:20 AM on April 29, 2016
it's shockingly true of all the Mark Millar stuff that I've read. He lures you with cool ideas but it always ends like this.
posted by SageLeVoid at 4:20 AM on April 29, 2016
I just want to mention Zenith.
Which is the most convoluted middle finger to superheroes ever, but a loving middle finger.
posted by Mezentian at 4:32 AM on April 29, 2016
Which is the most convoluted middle finger to superheroes ever, but a loving middle finger.
posted by Mezentian at 4:32 AM on April 29, 2016
Does anyone know where one could find a succinct recounting of the Moore-Morrison-Millar personal and professional interrelationships? I enjoy Moore and Morrison's work, but had dropped out of comics when all the fussin' and feudin' was goin' down and now wonder what happened. Thx.
posted by MrJM at 7:03 AM on April 29, 2016
posted by MrJM at 7:03 AM on April 29, 2016
For something so rooted in 80s culture Zenith is a very modern read, especially compared with the superficially similar but very caption-dense Marvelman.
All the Morrison themes are there, of course, including a crisis on infinite earths, musings on human super-evolution and bad guys that are like lovecraftian manifestations of the concept of cruelty.
Also book 4 is basically fan-fic of early David Bowie albums, something I was not expecting when I sat down to reread it.
posted by Artw at 7:37 AM on April 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
All the Morrison themes are there, of course, including a crisis on infinite earths, musings on human super-evolution and bad guys that are like lovecraftian manifestations of the concept of cruelty.
Also book 4 is basically fan-fic of early David Bowie albums, something I was not expecting when I sat down to reread it.
posted by Artw at 7:37 AM on April 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
And yeah, Morrison loves superheroes more than anything, there's nothing grudging about him writing them like with some British writers.
posted by Artw at 7:38 AM on April 29, 2016
posted by Artw at 7:38 AM on April 29, 2016
MrJM, the Morrison-Moore feud appears to be something that has a much larger presence in the minds of the participants than in any observable events in the external world. Here is the metafilter discussion of the interview where Moore was most explicit about his complaints. The discussion includes a link to Morrison's response.
I like both of them an awful lot, but Morrison's account seems more credible to me. Athough, again...these are "accounts" of very nebulous wrongdoings.
Millar, as near as I can tell, is just kind of a jerk.
posted by Ipsifendus at 7:39 AM on April 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
I like both of them an awful lot, but Morrison's account seems more credible to me. Athough, again...these are "accounts" of very nebulous wrongdoings.
Millar, as near as I can tell, is just kind of a jerk.
posted by Ipsifendus at 7:39 AM on April 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
This post makes me very angry there's not a DC Unlimited type thing.
(And also, seriously, Comixology and Marvel Unlimited, please, implement sharable "Playlists".)
posted by DigDoug at 7:56 AM on April 29, 2016
(And also, seriously, Comixology and Marvel Unlimited, please, implement sharable "Playlists".)
posted by DigDoug at 7:56 AM on April 29, 2016
Millar, as near as I can tell, is just kind of a jerk.
I'm by no means in the know here, but my understanding is that he's a pretty good dude.
posted by middleclasstool at 6:22 AM on April 30, 2016
I'm by no means in the know here, but my understanding is that he's a pretty good dude.
posted by middleclasstool at 6:22 AM on April 30, 2016
Snyder "could" have had Batman raped in prison if he had directed "Batman Begins".
posted by middleclasstool at 5:06 PM on May 1, 2016
posted by middleclasstool at 5:06 PM on May 1, 2016
So anyway, Milar's not all that bad really.
posted by Artw at 6:20 PM on May 1, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 6:20 PM on May 1, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ah, how's the schadenfreude?
"The Marvel universe has gone nuts; we’re going to have a fricking Captain America movie if we’re not careful. Thor, too! We’re on our second Hulk movie. And Iron Man — $300 million domestic box office on a second tier superhero!"
As the article states: Adjusted for inflation, Iron Man made $380.4 million domestically, while Batman v Superman has made $325.1 million (so far) as per yesterday.
I wonder if Aquaman will make $380 million. I mean, he's on par with Iron Man, yes?
posted by Mezentian at 6:24 AM on May 2, 2016
"The Marvel universe has gone nuts; we’re going to have a fricking Captain America movie if we’re not careful. Thor, too! We’re on our second Hulk movie. And Iron Man — $300 million domestic box office on a second tier superhero!"
As the article states: Adjusted for inflation, Iron Man made $380.4 million domestically, while Batman v Superman has made $325.1 million (so far) as per yesterday.
I wonder if Aquaman will make $380 million. I mean, he's on par with Iron Man, yes?
posted by Mezentian at 6:24 AM on May 2, 2016
Well, the Flash movie lost its director, and then it was looking like James Wan was going to jump ship on Aquaman, but now he's denying it, maybe, so who knows anything anymore. Looks like more flailing.
posted by middleclasstool at 7:20 AM on May 2, 2016
posted by middleclasstool at 7:20 AM on May 2, 2016
Someday a Geant Morrison film project is going to get off the ground. Though, TBH, I think I prefer having Morrison produce amazing comics work and Millar putting out a bunch of mediocre movies to the other way round.
posted by Artw at 7:24 AM on May 2, 2016
posted by Artw at 7:24 AM on May 2, 2016
We just finished watching the Batman Brave and the Bold animated series on Netflix. It's got some seriously obscure characters in there: OMAC, Kamadi, Black Orchid, as well as a hilariously bombastic Aquaman. If you're not a deep fan to the DCU, you're going to be on Wikipedia a fair bit.
It's not Timverse, instead it's a very loving homage back to the Adam West Batman, square-jawed and utterly unafraid to be ridiculous when it needs to be. There is even a rainbow coloured uniform episode in there. Even has some Moore Supreme echos in the Season 2 and 3 wrapups.
For those looking for some brain bleach after the grimdark excesses of Snyder, I can't think of anything better.
posted by bonehead at 9:26 AM on May 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's not Timverse, instead it's a very loving homage back to the Adam West Batman, square-jawed and utterly unafraid to be ridiculous when it needs to be. There is even a rainbow coloured uniform episode in there. Even has some Moore Supreme echos in the Season 2 and 3 wrapups.
For those looking for some brain bleach after the grimdark excesses of Snyder, I can't think of anything better.
posted by bonehead at 9:26 AM on May 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
Morrison's actually pretty well served by the DCAU - in particular I would check out All Star Superman.
posted by Artw at 9:47 AM on May 2, 2016
posted by Artw at 9:47 AM on May 2, 2016
as well as a hilariously bombastic Aquaman
OH, COME ON.
HE'S A ROUSING AQUAMAN, chum.
posted by Mezentian at 3:53 AM on May 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
OH, COME ON.
HE'S A ROUSING AQUAMAN, chum.
posted by Mezentian at 3:53 AM on May 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
There is even a rainbow coloured uniform episode in there.
You know who else loved Rainbow Batman?
Yes.
Him.
Now you want to see that, right?
posted by Mezentian at 3:55 AM on May 3, 2016
You know who else loved Rainbow Batman?
Yes.
Him.
Now you want to see that, right?
posted by Mezentian at 3:55 AM on May 3, 2016
That Aquaman bit is some of the best work John DiMaggio has ever done. It so perfectly evoked Rocket Robin Hood, it brought a (manly) tear to my eye. I call that the Episode Aquaman Made Me Cry Manly Tears!
posted by bonehead at 1:04 PM on May 3, 2016
posted by bonehead at 1:04 PM on May 3, 2016
Making Aquaman DC's version of Marvel's Hercules instead of trying to make him a second-rate Namor is one of the Brave and the Bold's most inspired bits of characterization in a series packed full of great ideas.
(Teth-Adam is DC's Namor, of course.)
posted by straight at 2:08 PM on May 3, 2016
(Teth-Adam is DC's Namor, of course.)
posted by straight at 2:08 PM on May 3, 2016
Who owns Namor? Is he part of the Fantastic 4 rights bundle, or what? For movies, I mean.
posted by Grangousier at 2:12 PM on May 3, 2016
posted by Grangousier at 2:12 PM on May 3, 2016
Namor is a separate thing, and the rights are at Universal. And apparently, in a not very bright move, Marvel sold at least part of the rights in perpetuity, whether or not Universal makes a movie.
posted by tavella at 2:23 PM on May 3, 2016
posted by tavella at 2:23 PM on May 3, 2016
Namor appears to be pretty complicated: "Let’s put it this way – there are entanglements that make it less easy. There are older contracts that still involve other parties that mean we need to work things out before we move forward on it. As opposed to an Iron Man or any of the Avengers or any of the other Marvel characters where we could just put them in."
posted by bonehead at 2:25 PM on May 3, 2016
posted by bonehead at 2:25 PM on May 3, 2016
So they could put Namor in a movie with Frankenstein's monster, but not the Fantastic Four?
I suppose you could look at the whole Infinity Gauntlet saga as a metaphor for the complex, tangled mess that is Marvel's rights situation - when they get them all together they'll have an all-conquering cosmic thing. Although you'd have to be pretty stoned to do that.
posted by Grangousier at 3:33 PM on May 3, 2016
I suppose you could look at the whole Infinity Gauntlet saga as a metaphor for the complex, tangled mess that is Marvel's rights situation - when they get them all together they'll have an all-conquering cosmic thing. Although you'd have to be pretty stoned to do that.
posted by Grangousier at 3:33 PM on May 3, 2016
Sort of like when JLA Unlimited had totally-not-The-Defenders fight totally-not-Cthulhu?
posted by Artw at 9:57 PM on May 3, 2016
posted by Artw at 9:57 PM on May 3, 2016
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