Alan Moore Interview on Salon

[UnSub]

For those who are interested, watch an ad to get a free day pass to read the interview. Doesn't contain anything earthshattering, but it was a bit interesting to read Moore's take on world events.

http://www.salon.com/books/int/2004/07/22/moore/index_np.html

(Didn't see this posted anywhere yet. Apologies if it was.)

[Alkiera]

So, who's Alan Moore?

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Alkiera

[angry.bob]

So, who's Alan Moore?

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Alkiera

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I can't even write enough profanity. I'd have to invent new male sex organs for you to suck in order to adequately insult you.

[schild]

Ya know, I used to read a lot of comic books, and I happen to know who Alan Moore is, but what's important is the typical salon style jackassery.

Alan Moore, who reinvented the comic book as the cutting-edge literary medium of our day...

Bullshit.

[angry.bob]

Bullshit.

I call bullshit on your bullshit.

No one except Frank Miller measures up to Alan Moore, and with the exception of the first Dark Knight series he pales in comparison. Alan Moore, did in fact, make the first comics that could be considered "literary" and his work is absolutley responsible for graphic novels being as marginally accepted as they are by the general public. The Killing Joke, The Watchmen, From Hell and V for Vendetta are peerless.

[schild]

What are you talking about? Just because YOUR friends read graphic novels doesn't mean they are even marginally accepted by the general public. They aren't and you know that.

Comic Books are not the cutting edge medium. Or a cutting edge medium for that matter. They've been around for the better part of a century and are about as cutting edge as a butter churn.

Or to put it more simply, my comment wasn't about Alan Moore. It was about Salon.com which I stopped reading for making asinine definitive statements such as the one mentioned above.

[angry.bob]

What are you talking about? Just because YOUR friends read graphic novels doesn't mean they are even marginally accepted by the general public. They aren't and you know that

You're wrong. They are at least marginally accepted, and more accepted the younger the demographics get. Before you try to argue about it, go to your local library branch and see how many they have. My wife is a librarian here and graphic novels are about the most popular printed items for people in their mid 20's and below (behind magazines). I think Sky's a librarian too, maybe he can say if it's the same where he's at or if it's an anomoly. Besides, once a subculture gets a section devoted to it in Borders And Barnes and Noble, it's at the very least marginally accpted - Period. And none of my friends read comics or graphic novels. They read OS390 manuals. Weep for me.

As for the rest of it, eh. You're wrong about that too, but We're about to IPL the production system and I've got more pressing shit to do than argue about it.

[schild]

Bob, it's niche. It's not marginally accepted, particularly not by the general public. When I walk by a graphic novel, or better put, Manga section at Barnes and Noble I am more likely to see people reading Naruto, Love Hina, or some other imported manga than I am seeing Alan Moore's stuff. And if this is going to be a discussion about semantics, I'll weigh in with what I learned from working at an import video game/anime store for my 2nd year of college. Most people who read these things are either A. Fanatics or B. interested in a specific novel, singularly. They may wish to continue reading others, but it doesn't start out that way, and it's certainly not 'accepted.'

Ask 99% of the people on the street out there, even males between ages 18-25, or whatever other demographic you want to pigeonhole (which in this case, let's say 'white males') and they won't have a clue who Alan Moore is - most of them will relate Graphic novels to manga (if they've heard of the genre at all) and comic books to shit like Batman/Superman.

You have to understand, I don't have a problem with either, in fact I own a large graphic novel collection. Besides the point; Alan Moore didn't pioneer jack. shit. for the general public. Hell, he didn't influence the sections in Barnes and Nobles and Borders either. Japan did, but moreso, the american companies Manga, New Type, and a few others made it necessary to make a seperate section (normally behind 'games/humor' in book stores). Before that, graphic novels were just dumped on the shelf next to the AD&D manuals because the two fan types could stereotypically be clumped together. Geeks = Geeks. Geeks does not = the general public.

Also, if you are going to argue something - please, try and make a point. Quote some statistics or something, because as it stands, graphic novels are ridiculously niche, though I feel they shouldn't be given some of the tripe on the New York Best Selling list.

By the way, that business about graphic novels being the most popular printed item behind magazines for people in their mid 20's doesn't take into account that the reason people check them out is because they don't want to buy them. I'd bet my car against them being one of the least popular items as a whole for printed items. With magazines coming first, then books, then newspapers, then [everything else], and finally, trailing far behind, graphic novels.

Edit: By the way, the only reason I jumped into this thread was because you somehow were insulted by Alkiera not knowing who Alan Moore was. That's just stupid. That's like a gamer getting mad at a non-gamer for not knowing who Sid Meier is. Stop shouting from that mountain, dude.

[Nebu]

I've never even heard of a "graphic novel" and I read avidly.... to the point that I buy books at Barnes & Noble weekly.  

I think you may have overestimated the popularity.  I have no clue who this person even is, but then again I typically read literature.  If you're talking about comic books, isn't the term "novel" a stretch?

[daveNYC]

One of them won the Pulitzer, so I'd say the term 'novel' fits, but mainstream they aren't.

[Alkiera]

I've read comic books, even some of the, I think you call them trade paper backs, for some series.  I have them lent to me by friends..  Read alot of Impulse, Starman, some Hitman.  They're amusing, but not really a huge thing for me.  The books that come from CoH are kinda neat, personally.  No, they won't win a Pulitzer Prize, but they are amusing.

Impulse, by far, is my favorite.  If anyone ever had ADHD, it's him...  "Why do they call this fast food?"  Starman is a great reluctant hero story, and Hitman is great for some freaky heroes.  I don't think Dog Welder or The Defenestrator are ever getting their own books, or even much time in Hitman, but they are certainly amusing when they are around.

I know what graphic novels are...  Depending on your definition, I've read some.  But as for knowing who Alan Moore is, no dice.  I'd expect the same response if I posted an interview link for Kernnigan and Ritchie, or Alfred Aho and Jeffrey Ullman.  These people are huge, in a very niche area(that being the creators of C, and authors of the definitive compiler book, for non-programmers.)  They both did huge things, but even with the prevelence of computers now, very few really know who they are.

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Alkiera

[Paelos]

Schild is right in the sense I have no idea who Alan Moore is, and I don't read graphical novels or comic books, nor do any of my friends or coworkers. I do read novels frequently and enjoy everything from Dan Brown to George Martin to Stephen King. I'm 23 and my friends are all white, male, and range from 21-30.

Mainstream? Hardly.

[Soukyan]

Never heard of the guy, but I'll pop over and read the article anyhow. Sounds interesting...

[Nebu]

One of them won the Pulitzer, so I'd say the term 'novel' fits, but mainstream they aren't.

If you're referring to Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Art Spiegelman, I think the subject material (the relationship between four generations of careless fathers and dysfunctional sons) may have had more to do with the prize than the fact that it was a "graphic novel".  

Though I do agree, it was deserving.  Hell, I still didn't know this is what a "graphic novel" is... and I read the thing.

[daveNYC]

Actually talking about Maus.  Jimmy Corrigan was written by Chris Ware.

[Anonymous]

... I know who Alan Moore is.  I don't know whether I should feel special, or if I should go hide under a rock now.

V for Vendetta is quite excellent.  I didn't care for The Watchmen, YMMV.

Neil Gaiman's Sandman series is also quite a literate work, although it's probably not a stretch to say more people have heard of Gaiman than Moore.

[Nebu]

Actually talking about Maus.  Jimmy Corrigan was written by Chris Ware.

Gah... remind me not to post anything on 2h sleep.  You're correct.  I was just reading a review on Jimmy Corrigan and must have gotten the two messed up.  I read the one about the Holocaust... by Spiegelman.

[HaemishM]

If you want to talk about people pioneering the "graphic novel" format, you need to mention Art Spiegelman, Dave Sim, Will FUCKING Eisner (represent, motherfuckers), and yes, Frank Miller before you talk about Alan Moore. They did that type of thing first... hell, Eisner's "Contract With God" predates all of those other works.

[AOFanboi]

But Alan Moore's Swamp Thing - plus Watchmen - killed the Comics Code Authority. That's significant.

[HaemishM]

Oh sure, Alan Moore is distinctly significant. He hasn't done a BAD story that I can remember ever, and with Miller, he made 1986 what I consider a watershed year for comics. That was the year both Dark Knight and Watchmen came out.

But I was just disagreeing with the assertion that he put the graphic novel format on the map. Format was really irrelevant to his work, IMO, whereas Miller's Ronin and Dark Knight, Eisner's Contract with God and Spiegelman's Maus really pushed the envelope on the format.

[kaid]

I myself had never heard of that author. I tend not to get comics or graphic novels because they are quite expensive for a very short read. I am a very prolific reader and if I had the choice between a graphic novel and a real novel I go for the novel every time.

Kaid

[HaemishM]

Since we are talking about Alan Moore, Watchmen has just nabbed Darren Arnofsky to direct a movie adaptation. This is good news.

Arnofsky is a good director, and I would trust him to make a good screen translation of one of the best comic series ever. David Hayter is also a decent script writer, so this has a shot.

I know that the previous attempts to make a movie of this convinced Alan Moore of the evil of Hollywood.

[schild]

You know who else interviewed Alan Moore? SuicideGirls.com.

BOOYAKA.

May not be save to view from work. Sometimes titties will randomly appear on the site. You've been warned.

[stray]

You know who else interviewed Alan Moore? SuicideGirls.com.

BOOYAKA.

Heh, that's the one porn site I've actually considered subscribing to.

[HaemishM]

You know who else interviewed Alan Moore? SuicideGirls.com.

BOOYAKA.

May not be save to view from work. Sometimes titties will randomly appear on the site. You've been warned.

My company's web filter pwns that site. I'll have to look at it tonight.

[schild]

You know who else interviewed Alan Moore? SuicideGirls.com.

BOOYAKA.

Heh, that's the one porn site I've actually considered subscribing to.

It's porn like playboy is porn. Which is to say, the writing is good, the photos are.....not very pornish. I mean, all things considered, if it's porn - it's definately softcore. But yea, anyway, the guy who does their interviews, gets to interview like everybody.

[stray]

It's porn like playboy is porn. Which is to say, the writing is good, the photos are.....not very pornish. I mean, all things considered, if it's porn - it's definately softcore. But yea, anyway, the guy who does their interviews, gets to interview like everybody.

Heh, yeah, I know. I just dig trashy chicks is all (err..In the "fashion" sense, I mean).

Anyways, back to Alan Moore (no, I've never read him): What's the best place to start? Watchmen?

[HaemishM]

Watchmen if you want him at his best, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen or From Hell for some really interesting takes on British history and literature. Nothing you read from him will be bad, but those are his best. I've heard good things about Tom Strong, his Miracleman stuff is good, as is the run of Swamp Thing he did called "American Gothic" which may or may not be collected in a trade paperback.

[Rodent]

YES! After reading this thread I do belive I know what Alan Moore does, and why he is important to some.

Now the only comic book writers I know of by name are Lee Falk, Tod Mcfarlane ( after the UO:blah blah blah fiasco), and Stan Lee. In one way or another theese men have entertained me.... I must not be "nerd" enough I guess.

[Righ]

Much as I like Alan Moore's work, I feel that Bryan Talbot's Adventures of Luther Arkwright has rather more interesting spins on British history. If you like Moore's works, there's a pretty good chance you'll love Talbot's. Although there are some things that remind readers of Moorcock's Jerry Cornelius, it's a very fine story, and very influential on the UK comic scene.

[SirBruce]

Camelot 3000 should not be overlooked as one of the trailblazers in making comics "serious".  It was the first maxi-series (12 parts), was marketed directly without the CCA, etc.  In retrospect, it was hardly racy at all, except for the overt discussion of a lesbian relationship which culminated in a series of suggestive panels showing the two embracing and writhing on a bed.  I think the only really explicit panel was one showing one girl gripping the other girl's bare breast; oh my!

Bruce