DC Universe : The Stories of Alan Moore

[shariqq]

Got my hands on this book a few days ago. A collection of 13 short-stories that Alan Moore wrote for DC's Superheroes. Here's a quick run-down:

For the Man Who Has Everything
Christmas - What should Batman & Wonderwoman gift Superman, The Man Who Has Everything?
Decent short that just sets the opening for the wonderful writing that Moore is capable of. nothing exceptional here, but a good read nevertheless.

Night Olympics (2 Parts)
Green Arrow - Has he finally met his match?
Lovely writing style. You have to love Moore for the novel ideas he comes up with to tell his stories. Such a simple story, so wonderfully told.

Mogo Doesn't Socialize - Green Lantern
Mogo is a Green Lantern Corp. But where is he? Who, or what, is he?
I had never read any of the Green Lantern stories before. But this, and the other three included in this book make for such quick and fascinating read, I wish this standard was a norm rather than a pinnacle with their kind.

Father's Day (2 Parts)
Vigilante story.
Again, Moore's writing at its flowing best that puts him on a pedestal. "Father"'s thougts/words reminded me so much of V for Vendetta.

Brief Lives
Stand-alone Omega Men Story.
In so few pages, Moore shows us the essence of time & relativity.

A Man's World
Stand-alone Omega Men Story.
That one cell is what makes the whole difference in this "cute" story. Chilling.

The Jungle Line
Superman & Swamp Thing
Decent. Nothing great in this one.

Tygers - Tales of the Green Lantern Corps
A short of another Green Lantern Corp.
The drawing in this is so densely done, it was distracting - annoying even. Decent writing.

Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? (2 Parts)
Superman - apparently oneo f his best stories.
I have heard good things about this, so have kept it for last. Will post thoughts on it later.

Footsteps
Origin story of The Phantom Stranger
Wow! Moore gives his own origin for this hero, told in his trademark parallel style. Phantom Stranger is an outcast - but from what/where?

In Blackest Night
Green Lantern story.
Word-play in this story is awesome. Moore's vocabulary and hold on the language is simple and yet brilliant.

Mortal Clay
Batman & Clay-face
This also reminded me of V for Vendetta, specifically V's love-relationship with Lady Justice.

The Killing Joke
Wow!! F*cking phenomenal!! Brian Nolland's art matches Dave Gibbon's work with Moore in Watchmen. The Joker, Batman, the detail - the F*CKING detail, is obsessively good. Easily the best story in the book, and Moore's writing at its best. If nothing else, the whole book is worth it just for this crazy-ass work.

[shariqq]

Some discussions about Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow from Elsewhere. Copy/Posted here coz I really liked reading this discussion.

I haven't read that many Superman issues. So when I say "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow" is the BEST Superman story I've read (narrative and stylistically) take that and smoke it. (Before you say it, yes, I have read Ross' "Kingdom Come.")

The premise is great. Alan Moore and artist Curt Swan (vintage Superman illustration, vintage) take advantage of the clever DC way of things - alternate universe. "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow" are supposed to be *last issues*, literally, the end of the Superman saga. They tie up all loose ends: The sordid history between Lana and Lois Lane, what happens to Jimmy Olsen, Perry White and Alice; the fate of major Superman villians such as Lex Luthor. It's a fantastic read, full of surprises, action, deaths of major characters, and great evocation. There's a lot of ground (storywise) that Moore covers, but he is still able to complete all the character arcs within the exposition. Admirable.

The biggest problem I've always had with Superman is that he is the golden boy of virtue: at the mercy of his idealism. This makes him one-dimensional (for me) because complex characters like Batman/Bruce Wayne are more closer to our reality, unpredictable, and therefore more interesting. But in "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow" Alan Moore makes Superman do things - things that are completely rationalised of course - beyond the spectrum of standard expectations of this symbol of moral purity. He makes Superman *human*. That's why I loved this particular Superman story so much, and that's why I think you will too.

"Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow" is OOP, but is available as part of the DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore. I'm sure Fizz will elaborate.

P.S. I wasn't aware of this going into this issue, but Bryan Singer seems to have borrowed some character outlines (that affect the story) for "Superman Returns." Things like while Superman was away all hell broke loose on Earth, Lois Lane is/was married and has a baby. Oh, you'll see...

'What happened to the man of tomorrow' is an Alan Moore story about Superman written in much the same manner as Frank Miller's 'Dark Knight Returns' - the very last tale of the superhero, except in this case Miller's work came out first and is considered definitive. The problem with trying the same thing on Superman is:

a) Alan Moore isn't at his best writing about conventional superheroes; he works wonders when fusing together a completely original tale but writing contemporary stories isn't his forte because he hasn't written monthly stories about any of these characters (except perhaps Swamp Thing). Frank Miller had that as an advantage over him going into Batman.

b) Moore crams together every major character, supporting character and supervillian from the Superman mythology and it feels like the last season of a dying TV show that wasn't able to sustain itself and wants to at least go out with a bang in its last episode.

Asking for more from a 2 issue story arc as opposed to a complete graphic novel feels unjust, but what Moore does manage to succeed in doing is create a feeling of foreboding doom, like something really dreadful is about to take place. Also, the way everything ties together is very well done and the ending leaves open a lot of interpretation (I also think it gives away a very big secret that probably will be revealed in the new Superman movie - Adnan, you know what I'm probably referring to here...).

Personally, I have yet to read a Superman saga that really succeeds at all levels, and while Kingdom Come is an achievement unparalleled in mainstream comics to date, it is less about Superman alone and more of an ensemble peice with emphasis also on such great giants of the DC Universe such as Wonder Woman, Green Arrow and of course Batman (seperate review soon...).

Personally, there is very little appeal for me in reading the last tale of any character (one of the best I've read features the Hulk), and they are usually anticlimatic, except in the case of DKR which was set after such a long gap in normal continuity that it left wide open the possibility of whether the tale could actually happen or not. In the case of Superman, everything happens too close to normal continuity for there to be any honest belief in all of it being anything more than a stunt (and that is how DC, in its grand tradition, popularised this saga).

I actually thought the short story from a Superman Annual, entitled 'For the man who has everything' earlier in the DC Universe book was a much better story - imagine the possibilities of defeating a superhero by taking away their core motivation; in the case of Superman, the survival of planet Krypton and a Kal-El who is just a normal guy back in his world (because everyone is as powerful as he is), in the case of Batman, the surival of the Wayne's the night they are shot. That is great storytelling.

Fizz, I am in agreement with you on the suggestion of perhaps expanding the story from two issues into a graphic novel. But Moore was a hired hand, the creative direction - as I'm sure you've read in the opening letter - was set by DC and the editors before Moore came on the scene. What distinguishes an auteur (Moore is the equivalent of a pantheon director in the world of comic books) from a regular Joe is their ability to transform a mediocre script/concept into something new, somehow make it their own. For example, Nic Ray's work in cinema is uneven but his greatest failure ("Party Girl") can still be considered as one of the best films ever.

Based on this logic, I am more embracing of Moore's work here - its minor, no doubt, but considering the constraints of just two issues, I think he's brought more subversion to the Superman myth and lore than all Superman stories that I've read put together.

b) Moore crams together every major character, supporting character and supervillian from the Superman mythology and it feels like the last season of a dying TV show that wasn't able to sustain itself and wants to at least go out with a bang in its last episode.

I'm going to challenge you here, and say this was precisely the point. Like we said earlier, yes a full graphic novel treatment may have fleshed out the character and provided more texture to the narrative, but I'm happy with Moore's achievement. He had the balls to say goodbye to major characters in an original way.

Adnan, might I suggest you pick up what many consider to be THE Superman book: Superman: For all seasons by the very competent Jeph Loeb.

I've read only a couple of issues and its very good, Superman the way we envision him: the very embodiment of all that is good, pure etc. Its a more complete, restrained look at the ultimate boy scout.

Unfortunately for the man of steel, except for core fans of the long running comic book, it seems everyone (myself included) are content with exploring the character from a distance (cartoons, movies etc). There are no groundbreaking Superman stories because they can't be made any more appealing than they already are - the character is just too incredible and non-human for us to approach him any more closer. That to me is the biggest reason why there will never be a Dark Knight returns for Superman or a Superman: Year One like story, so I've stopped looking for or expecting one and just take the man for granted.

I know of Jeph Loeb through Smallville. My mentor had recommended "For All Seasons" the very first time I spoke to him about Superman. He considers it definitive.

It's sad (but only reasonable) when you say just take the man for granted.

Frank Miller reloaded Batman with “DKR.” You're right; there have been no groundbreaking stories about Superman. In a way his meta-God status is the only allure left - someone should go after his Jesus Christ "I'm the saviour of humankind" complex. This theme has been explored before (Singer laced the first Superman teaser with this important subtext - what a brilliant teaser that was) but it needs to become the central driving force of a full graphic novel treatment. And if someone here wants to be the next Frank Miller (and why not, I think we have good talent on this board) I recommend you end the story by crucifying the bastard!

Honestly, I see in Superman a tragic Greek hero. I say let's really fuck with his head, his past and future. Make him a quivering mass of disillusionment.