Last Alan Moore Interview Vs GRANT Morrison PDF

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LastAlanMooreInterview?|PdraigMalidAKASlovobooks
PdraigMalidAKA
Slovobooks
JANUARY9,201410:03PM
LastAlanMooreInterview?
Afewwordsofexplanationaboutthisinterview:Onthe26thofNovember2013therewasaneventcalledAnEvening
withAlanMoore,whereMoorewasinconversationwithbiographerLanceParkin,whosebiographyofMoore,
MagicWords,hadjustbeenpublishedbyAurumPress.Theeveningalsoincludedtwoshortfilms,ActofFaith
andJimmysEnd,bothpartofalargercycleofworks,aswellassomeofMoorescollaboratorstakingthestage,anda
Q&Asessionwiththeaudience.Theeveningseemedtobeagreatsuccessatleast,Iwasthere,anditseemedsotome,
andtoanyoneelseItalkedtobutoneoftheattendeeswasnothappy,andtooktoTwittertosayso.HeTweetedReally
wishAnEveningwithAlanMoorehadntinvolvedfourwhitepeopleonstagedefendingthegolliwogasastrong
blackcharacterFollowedbyashortfilmaboutayoungwomanstripping,dressinginsluttyclothesandkilling
herselfonscreenFollowedbyMooreinsultingGordonBrownbasedonmentalandphysicaldisabilityIthenleft
thevenue.MuchInternetconversationensued,andmuchcondemnationwaspouredontheheadsofMooreandhis
associates,bothforthefactthattheydidwhattheysupposedlydid,andthatnobodyhadtakenthemtotaskforit.The
Twittereralsodidnttakethemtotaskforanyofit,mindyou,althoughhehadoriginallyintendedtoaskaquestion:I
wasgoingtotellMooreIfoundKillingJokeveryproblematicinitsrepresentationofBarbaraGordon(shooting,sex
assault)andaskifhecouldgobackintime,ifhewouldhavewrittenTKJdifferentlyinthatrespect.Butafterthe
applausethatgreetedhis(tome)gratuitous,exploitative,slutshaming,disturbinglygraphicshortfilmabouta
womanssuicide,Ididntthinkitwastherighttime,presumablyfearinghedbelynchedbythebayinghordesof
Moorefanatics.Peoplestatedopinions.Sidesweretaken.Iwasinvolvedinsomediscussionsaboutitmyself,whichled
metovolunteertoactuallyaskAlanMooresomeofthequestionsitwasbeingsaidnobodydaredaskhimIve
interviewedhimbefore,numeroustimes,butIwasstillquitenervousaskinghimaboutthese,butitseemedsomebody
hadto,soitmightaswellbeme.Igotmyanswers,butIgotquiteabitextraaswell.thoseminorpointsofmyownthat
Idliketoraisehementions.So,judgeforyourself.
AlanMoore:Pdraig,thanksforyourlistofquestions.Itmaytakemeawhiletocompletethis,withthecruellest
seasonuponus,buthopefullyIllbeabletoansweralloftheissuesyoumentiontoatleastmyownsatisfaction,following
which,ifyoullpermitme,thereareacoupleofminorpointsofmyownthatIdliketoraise.
TheGolliwogg/GalleyWag
PdraigMalid:ThereisacharacterintheLeagueofExtraordinaryGentlemenstoriescalledtheGalley
Wag,whichisbasedonFlorenceUptons1895Golliwoggcharacter.Firstofall,addingtogetherafewthingsKevin
ONeillhassaidinvariousinterviews,Imsurmisingthathewantedtoincludethecharacterafterhereadabout
FlorenceUpton,andthatyouwereinitiallyresistanttothis,buteventuallyagreedtousehim.Isthisbroadlycorrect?
https://slovobooks.wordpress.com/2014/01/09/lastalanmooreinterview/
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AM:OntheissueoftheoriginsoftheGolliwogorGalleyWagcharacterinTheLeagueofExtraordinary
Gentlemen,yourownsummaryislargelyaccurate,althoughyoumaybeoverstatingoroverestimatingmyinitial
resistancetothecharactersusage.IcertainlywouldntwantittolookasifIweresufferingfromliberalqualmsoverthe
charactersinclusion,northatIonlygaveintothepressuresofmySouthLondonIrishracistcollaborator.Fortherecord,
asIremembertheincidentorincidents,KevinhadinitiallyalertedmetothepotentialthathesawinFlorenceUptons
Golliwog(g)whilewewerestillworkingonvolumetwooftheworkunderdiscussion.Thiswouldpresumablyhavebeen
becauseitwasastrikingcharacterthatKevinhadstumbledacrossinhisoftenstrenuousresearch,andonethathad
originsinthelate19thcenturyperiodwewerethenworkingwith.ItmayhaveevenbeenKevinsoriginalnotionthatthe
charactercouldbeusedinthatsecondvolumesmainnarrativeinsomeway,althoughintheeventallwecouldmanage
wasanobliquereferenceintheNewTravellersAlmanacwhichaccompaniedthatsecondbook.Uponseeingthe
characterandhearingKevinsexplanationofhisorigins,Iimmediatelyfeltthatthiscouldbeaveryusefulandengaging
figuretointroducetotheoverallLeaguecontinuity,andmyonlymisgivingswerebaseduponstorylogicandaesthetic
considerations.(Thisisnottosaythatissuesofethicsorpoliticswerenotconsidered,ofcourse,merelythatIhad
absolutelynomisgivingsinthoseareas.)Thelogicalandaestheticdifficultieswhichthecharacterpresentedrevolved
mainlyabouthowacharacterwiththeappearanceofUptonscreationcouldberationalisedasasemicredibleentity
withoutsacrificingthefiercelyindependentqualitiesoftheoriginal,saybymakinghimarobottoyofsomekind.Once
IdarrivedattheconceitofanescapeefromahypotheticalBaryonicorDarkMattercosmosinterwovenwithourown,
arrivingatourpreviouslyestablishedNorthPolelocatedToylandandbeinggivenhisDutchDollautomatabythe
roboticQueenOlympia(fromHoffmannsTheSandman),anyfurtherproblemsregardingthecharacterhad
evaporated,andwewereabletousehim(Ithinkinterestingly)attheconclusionofTheBlackDossier.Itwouldhave
beenaroundthetimeoftheDossierspublicationthatIaddressedtheseissuesforthefirsttime,althoughIsupposeby
modernstandardsthatisquiteawhilebackandmemoriesmayneedrefreshing.
PM:Thegolliwoggisgenerallyseenthesedaysasbeingaracistcharacter.Whydidyoudecidethatyouwantedtousea
characterwithaproblematichistorylikethatinyourwork?
AM:Withoutwishingtoappearpedantic,IthinkthattheGolliwogthesedaysisseenasaninsultingracialstereotype
ratherthanaracistcharacter.Aracistcharacter,i.e.acharacterperceivedtoberacist,wouldbeTheBlackDossiers
BulldogDrummondorevenRiderHaggardsAllanQuatermain.ButifyoureaskingwhyIwantedtouseacharacter
largelyperceivedasagrotesqueracialcaricature,IwouldsaythattheanswerisbecauseKevinandmyselffeltthatwe
hadidentifiedaconsiderablegulfbetweenhowthecharacterwasoriginallypresentedandintended,andhowthe
characterhadcometobeviewed.Yes,IamofcourseawarethatamongnostalgicrightwingerssuchasCarolThatcher
thereistheoftenexpressedsentimentthatthelaterMinstrelattiredracistslurtoyshouldbereturnedtoourtoyshops
andmarmaladelabels,andthatitsexclusionisasignofpoliticalcorrectnessgonemad.Iwouldhavehopedthatitmight
befairlyobvious,withalittlethought,thatneitherInorKevinarelikelytobeofthatpersuasion,butitappearsnot.
WhatweperceivedinUptonsoriginalwasastrong,likeableandpositivefigure,presumablysomemannerofanimated
toy(althoughthiswouldpresumablyhavebeenonereasonablyuniqueandpersonaltoUptonherself,sincethemass
productionofsubtlybutcruciallyalteredGolliwogtoysonlyfollowedthepublicationofherstories),blackidentifiedif
onlybyvirtueofhisskincolour,duringaperiodwhentheonlyothersupposedlysympatheticblackfiguresinfiction
wouldbeNiggerJimorUncleTom.
Ipresume,forwantofanyearliersources,thatUptonhadgivenhercharacterthenameGolliwogpurelybecauseshe
likedtheslightlynonsensicalwaythatthewordsounded,itsmostprobablederivationbeingawordsuchaspollywog
(which,lesttherebeanymisunderstanding,isawordwhichhasonlyevermeanttadpolesinceitsMedievalEnglish
originsaspolwygle,andwhichhasapparentlyneverbeenused,eitherintheU.K.ortheU.S.,asaslangexpressionof
anysort,letaloneonewithracialconnotations).ThelaterEnglish20thcenturyusageofthewordwogasaderogatory
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termforalmostanynonwhiteperson,whileoftenglossedbyapologistsasanacronymforWesternOrientalGentleman
orthelike,isclearlyanappropriationofthenameofUptonscharacterbutnowgivennegativeracialconnotationsthat
theauthorneverintended,andnowcladinminstrelattiretomakeracialmockerytheonlypointofafigurethat,upuntil
then,hadseeminglybeenintendedtoexpresstheexactopposite.Uptondressedhercreationintheblacksuitthatwas
thestandardformalattireofherday.Onemightsupposethistobeashorthandsuggestingthathewasadignifiedand
respectablefigure.Hiscourageandstrengthofcharacterwereablydemonstratedinhispicaresqueadventures,aswas
hisintellectualacumen.Myownthinking,andIwouldimagineKevinsthinkingonthecharacter,wasthatherewehada
characterwhichinitsdaywaspositive,bold,innovative,andthecreationofatypicallyoverlookedwomancreatorwho
hadquitepossiblywishedtosituateanadmirableandloveableblackfigureintheimaginationsofthewhiteVictorian
childrenwhocomprisedherreadership.Itwasourbeliefthatthecharactercouldbehandledinsuchawayastoreturn
tohimthesterlingqualitiesofUptonscreation,whilestrippinghimoftheracialconnotationsthanhadbeengrafted
ontotheGolliwogfigurebythosewhohadmisappropriatedandwilfullymisinterpretedherwork.Whilewefeltthatwe
hadsucceededinwhatwerewellintentionedaims,suchaninterpretationcanonlyeverbesubjective.Itmayhavebeen
theseveralyearsthathaveelapsedbetweenourinitialintroductionofthecharacterandthispresentroundofdebate,
duringwhichtheGalleyWagappearedtohaveelicitedlittleornocontroversy,whichhaveledustobelievethatour
intentionshadbeenlargelyunderstoodbyourgenerallyinsightfulreadership.
AsfortheuseofproblematicfiguresinthepagesofTheLeague,agreatnumberoftheliteraryfigureswhichweve
appropriatedorreimaginedinthecourseofthebook,havebeentomymindeverybitasproblematicastheGalley
Wag.Theyjusthaventbeenblack.AsanexampleIremainsomewhatunsure,inlightofthesecurrentissues,astowhy
ouruseofSaxRohmersFuManchuinvolumeoneseemedtohavepassedbywithoutamurmur,giventhatherewe
haveacharacterwhowasactuallyintendedbyhisoriginalauthorasacruderacialcaricatureofthemostnegativeand
xenophobicstrain,andforwhomouronlyactofrehabilitationwastosuggestthatRohmersDevilDoctormayhave
beenmotivatedbyahatredoftheBritishjustifiablyinculcatedduringhischildhoodintheyearsofthebestialand
shamefulOpiumWars.Andyet,hardlyawordsaid,asIrecall.Iwouldhavethoughtthatanattemptto,say,revivethe
FuManchumoviefranchise,unreconstructed,wouldhavebeenatleastasunwelcomeasarevivalofthepostUpton
Golliwog,buttheremaybesomethingthatIammissingorwhichIhavefailedtoexaminehere.ThenatureofThe
Leagueisthatalmostalloftheinterestingcharactersfromfictionoratleast,allofthosecharactersinterestingtous
canbeseenasproblematicfromacontemporaryviewpoint.Inourattemptstoreinterpretthesecharactersandtomake
themviableforamodernnarrative,wehavearrivedatsomesolutionswhich,inevitably,someindividualsarealmost
certaintofindoffensive.Andwhilesuchindividualsareofcourseentitledtotheiropinion,Idontseethatthisshould
necessarilyinfluencedecisionsmadebyaworksauthorswhoarelikelytohavethoughtaboutthematteratlengthandto
havecometodifferentconclusions.Iwouldcitetheminorinternetcontroversythatwasapparentlygeneratedbyouruse
oftheJimmycharacterinTheBlackDossier.Apparently,whileitwasourexplicitintentiontoreinvestthecharacter
withalloftheunexaminedmisogynyandsadismofIanFlemingsstillpopularoriginal,therewasacertaindegreeof
outcryfrompersonspresumablyonlyacquaintedwiththecharacterfromhisscreenappearances,whofeltthatwehad
desecratedabelovediconoftheiradolescencebyimplyingunpleasantcharacteristicsofwhichtheirherowasentirely
innocent.AsIsay,thesepeoplewereallentitledtotheiropinion,butfromtheperspectiveofwhatwewereattemptingto
achievethepromptingofareexaminationofthismurderous,womanisingandverypopularmasculinerolemodel
thatopinionwascompletelyuselessandIfeelthatwewererighttoignoreit.
PM:Howdoyourespondtothecontentionthatitisnottheplaceoftwowhitementotrytoreclaimacharacterlike
thegolliwogg?
AM:Theideathatitisnottheplaceoftwowhitementoreclaim(althoughImnotcertainthatsexactlywhatwewere
doing)orotherwiseutiliseacontentiousblackcharacter,unlessIamtounderstandthatthisprincipleonlyappliesto
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whitemenusingblackcharacters,wouldappeartobepredicateduponanassumptionthatnoauthororartistshould
presumetousecharacterswhoareofadifferentracetothemselves.SinceIcanthinkofnoobviousreasonwhythis
principleshouldonlyrelatetotheissueofraceandspecificallytoblackpeopleandwhitepeoplethenIassumeit
mustbeextendedtocharactersofdifferentethnicities,genders,sexualities,religions,politicalpersuasionsand,possibly
mostuncomfortablyofallformanypeopleconsideringtheseissues,socialclasses.Icannotassume,ofcourse,thatmy
perceptionofsuchaprohibitionasselfevidentlyridiculousandunworkableisonethatwillbesharedunanimously,and
indeedthiswouldappearnottobethecase.
Itmaybesomevariantuponthiswayofthinkingthathasforsolongprecludedpositiverepresentationsofwomen,non
whitepeopleandpeopleofalternativesexualorientationsfrommostentertainmentmedia(nothistoricallywellstaffed
bywomenorpeopleofdifferentethnicitiesorpublicallystatedsexualities),althoughuponconsiderationitsprobably
morelikelytheresultofsimpleignoranceandordinaryunexaminedprejudice.Surely,ratherthansomeratherpoorly
conceivedproscriptionbeingappliedtothedepictionofalldifferinggroupsofpeopleacrossallofthearts,itwouldbe
moresensibletojudgeeachseparateoccasionindividuallyandonitsownterms?Actually,whetheritsthemostsensible
approachornot,inanypracticalsenseitistheonlywaythattheseissueshavebeenjudgedinthepast,andlackingany
nontotalitarianalternativeIimaginethatitisthemethodbywhichsuchthingswillbejudgedforaconsiderable
distanceintothefuture.ItisperfectlyproperandcorrectthatourinterpretationoftheGolliwogshouldbeinterrogated
andquestioned,asitwaswiththecharactersfirstappearancesomefewyearsago,whenIbelievedtheseissuestohave
beenaddressedandthatourmotiveshadbeenbothgenerallyunderstoodandgenerallyaccepted.
IhopeitsnotimproperoruntowardofmetoconfessthatIhavefoundthereadyassumptionofmyallegedracial
insensitivityorthoughtlessnesstobealittledisappointing.Imnotexpectinganyonetobethatinterestedinmy
disappointment,butitisasubjectthatIllbereturningtolateroninthisdiscourse,soIthoughtthatIshouldflagitup
inadvanceforanyoneuncertainastowhereallofthisisinexorablyleading.Returningtothequestion,astowhetheritis
permissibleforpeopleofonekindtodepictpeopleofanother(and,again,askingwhynoneofthisseemstohave
appliedtoourreclaimingofDr.FuManchu),Isubmitthatifthisrestrictionwereuniversallyadopted,wewouldhave
hadnoauthorsfrommiddleclassbackgroundswhowereabletowriteaboutthesituationofthelowerclasses,which
wouldhaveeffectivelyruledoutalmostallauthorssinceWilliamShakespeare(whoserarityasanexampleofawriter
fromanapparentlyworkingclassbackgroundisattestedbythenumberoftheoreticiansfrommoreelevatedsocial
groupswhowouldhaveitthathisworkcouldonlypossiblyhavebeencomposedbyamemberofthearistocracy).WhileI
mighthavewincedonmanyoccasionsasamiddleclassauthorsuchasMartinAmispresentshis(atleasttomymind)
lazyandoffensivestudiesofavulnerableunderclass,Iwouldcertainlyhesitatebeforeproposinganyimpositionofan
ideologythatwouldalsoexcludetheworksofCharlesDickens,GeraldKershoranyofseveralhundredotherfinewriters.
Iunderstandthatitmaynotbeconsideredgoodformtosuggestthatclassissuesareasimportantasissuesofrace,
genderorsexuality,despitethefactthatfrommyownperspectivetheyseemperhapsevenmorefundamentaland
cruciallyrelevant.Afterall,whileintheWestaftermanyyearsofarduousstrugglewearenowallowedtoelectwomen,
nonwhitepeopleandeven,surelyatleastintheory,peopleofopenlyalternativesexualities,Iamrelativelycertainthat
wewillneverbeallowedtoelectamanorwomanofanyraceorpersuasionwhoispoor.So,no,Ipersonallydontsee
anythingwrongperseinincludingFlorenceUptonscreationinthepagesofTheLeague,nor,inlightoftheabove
argument,doIseehowanybodycouldreasonablyadoptsuchaposition.Whetherwehavesucceededinourintentions
withregardtothecharacteris,patently,adifferentquestionentirely,andonetowhich,asIvealreadysaid,everyoneis
ofcourseentitledtotheiropinion.
PM:asfarasIcanmakeout,thegolliwoggistheonlycharacterintheLeaguestoriescertainlyamongsttheonesthat
areinthepublicdomainwhoseoriginyouhaveradicallychanged.Whydidyoufeeltheneedtodothis,whenyou
didntdoitwithanyoftheothercharacters?
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AM:Thisisadifficultquestiontoanswer,onlyinthatitseemstobebaseduponaninaccurateperception.Whilewithall
ofthemultitudeoffictionalcharacterswhichweveincludedinTheLeaguewehavetriedtoretainasmuchofthe
spirit,flavourandincidentaldetailoftheoriginalfiguresasispossible,intheactoftryingtogetalloftheseimaginary
entitiesandcontinuitiestoadduptoacoherentintegratedworldwehavehadtomakeminorormajoralterationsto
almostallofthemnotleastinthatfourofthefiveoriginalmembersofthegroupwereofficiallydeadbeforethe
openingofthefirstvolume.Asforchangingacharactersorigin,tothebestofmyknowledgethecharacterneverreally
hadanoriginstory,thisbeinglargelyapreoccupationofamorecomicbookorientedpublicthanexistedin1895.In
commonwithsimilaranthropomorphicchildrenscharactersofthatapproximateperiod,like,say,thecastofMilnes
WinniethePoohstories,IassumethattheGolliwoghad,forthepurposesofUptonsstory,alwaysexistedwithhis
supportingcastintactandthushadnoneedforaexpositorynarrativeabouthowhecametobe.
TheprocessesbywhichwearrivedatourconceptionoftheGalleyWagsoriginswerealmostidenticaltotheprocesses
bywhichwereconfiguredVirginiaWoolfsOrlandotosuitourperhapsoverintricatecontinuity:inthecaseofOrlando,
oncewedextendedthecharactersimmortalhistoryevenfurtherintothepastinordertoincludetheeventsof
OrlandoFuriosoandOrlandoInamorata(alongwiththeRolandlegenduponwhichthatcharacterwasinitially
based),wehadtheproblemofcomingupwithalogicalsoundingexplanationforthecharactersexistenceinour
continuityanexplanationthatdidnotviolatetoomanyofthedetailsaroundwhichthecharacterhadinitiallybeen
created.WithOrlando,Ifeltwehadtoexplainthecharactersimmortalityandalsothecharacterspropensityforshifting
his/hergender.TheblueflameorblueplasmapoolofimmortalityalreadyestablishedinRiderHaggardsSheprovided
ananswertothefirstdifficulty,whilerelatingOrlandotothegendershiftingTiresiasofancientThebesfromOedipus
Rextookcareoftheother.WithregardtoUptonsGolliwog,thedifficultieswereofcoursedifferent,buttheapproach
wetooktosolvingthemwasessentiallythesame.Wefeltitnecessarytoexplainthecharactersphysicalappearance,
modeofdress,behaviour,andexistenceinourcontinuity.HavingalreadyusedgeneticexperimentofDr.Moreaufor
RupertBear,TigerTim,Mr.Toadandtherestinvolumetwo(characterswhereIdsaywealteredtheirorigins
quitesignificantly),itseemedthatsomethingelsewascalledfor.Wewishedtopreservetheindependenceandstrength
ofcharacterexhibitedbyUptonsoriginal,which,asmentionedearlier,ruledoutsimplymakinghimanotherofQueen
Olympiasrobotictoysubjects.
Ibelievequestionshavebeenraisedconcerningwhywedidntsimplymakehimapositivelypresentedblackmale
human,butthatwasntthecharacterthatweweredealingwith:Uptonscharacterdidntlooklikeablackmalehuman
becausehewasnot,asfarasIcandiscern,meanttobeablackmalehuman.Ibelievehewasoriginallyintendedasa
heroic,romanticandfantasticalbeingwhoseskincolourwasnomoreanindicatorofracethanthatoftheyellowcreature
inMervynPeakesCaptainSlaughterboardDropsAnchor.Why,ifourintentionwastoexamineandrecreate
Uptonsoriginal,wouldwehavesoughttomakethesameracialequationasthoseentrepreneurswhosdressedhimin
thatminstreloutfitinthefirstplace?Whatweactuallydidwiththecharacterwastodecidethatacharacterofthosenon
humansquatproportionswhichseemedtosuggestagreatdensityandthatnonreflectiveblackcolouration,might
conceivablybeastrandedalienentityfromthatsizeablemajorityoftheuniversesmissingmassandsubstancethatis
hypotheticallydescribedasdarkmatterfromadarkmattercosmoswithlittlelightandthuswithsoundbeingthemost
probablecarrierofinformation,andwhereheatisgeneratedbythegreaterandmorecompactedmassofthedark
matterbodiesthemselves.Inordertoreferenceandacknowledgetheracialconnotationsthathadaccumulatedsince
Uptonsfirstimaginingofthecharacter,IdecidedthatourreimaginedGolliwogwasmostprobablyanescapeefroma
darkmattercosmosslavegalley(forwhichweborrowedapreviouslyestablishedfictionalslavetradingalienracewho
wereunproblematicallypinkandthusfittheintendedparallelratherwell).Havingaselfinventedandselfconstructed
dimensionspanningescapecrafttookcareoftheballoonistaspectofUptonscharacter,andhavinghimarriveonEarth
bywayofourArcticToylandgaveusachancetoexplainhisearthlyattireandhisDutchDollcompanions.Italso
occurredtomethathavingthecharacterrefertohimselfasagalleywagmighttienicelyintothisescapedslave
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construction,whilefurtherdistancingourreinventionfromtheracialandracistassociationsthathadbeenlayeredupon
thenameoftheoriginal.Hisdialogue,whichasfarasIcantellbetraysnoracialassociationswhatsoever,wasintended
toenhancethepiratical,ferociousandmorethanslightlysurrealwayinwhichwewishedtopresentthecharacter.(The
toneofthecharactersdialogueusessomeofthesamekindofcoinagesthatUptonherselfemployed,suchasinthe
KingdomofPankywank.)AsIsay,thisprocessisnotessentiallydifferentinanywayfromourmanyotherdoctorings
andrevisions,andIimaginethattherealquestionthatisbeingaskedinallthisisactuallyshouldnttherebesome
fictionalfigureswho,forwhateverreason,authorsandartistsareforbiddentoexamineorreferto?.Towhichmy
answerisafairlyunambiguousno,withtheproviso,asstatedabove,thatanysuchexaminationorreferenceshould
thenbejudgedonitsownmeritsorotherwise.
PM:AretherefurtherplansforthegolliwoggandtheDutchdollsintheLeaguestories?
AM:Asregardsfurtherplansforthecharacter,Ihavenothingspecificinmindbeyondthefactthathewillprobably
continuetoappearinLeaguepublicationsinfuture,toagreaterorlesserdegree.Theremaywellbeanappearancein
theforthcomingvolumefourofTheLeague,althoughIdbeenthinkingofitasmoreofacameoappearancetotieupa
necessaryplotthreadthananythingelse.Wellsee.Certainly,thiscurrentdebateisunlikelytoaffectmythinkingone
wayortheother.
SexualViolenceAgainstWomen
PM:onecharacteristicofyourworkthatgetssingledoutinonlinedebatequitealotistheprevalenceofsexualviolence
towardswomen,withanumberofinstancesofrapeorattemptedrapeinyourstories.Whyisthissomethingyoufeel
youneedtoputintoyourstories?Doesitworryyoumaybealienatingsomeofyouraudiencebydoingthis?
AM:Well,now,thisaveryseriousandsubstantialcharge,and,Ithink,demandsanequallyseriousandsubstantial
reply.Wellbegettingtothesubjectofjusthowsubjectslikethistendtoariseinonlinedebateinjustamoment,after
Iveansweredthiscurrentquestion,butIdfirstliketoestablishexactlywhatismeantbytheprevalenceofsexual
violencetowardswomen,includingrapeandsexualassault,thatisinmywork.Iwouldhavethoughtthatatermlike
prevalencewouldhaveneededsomekindofqualifierregardingwhatitisprevalentinrelationto.Isitprevalentin
relationtootherexpressionsofsexinmywork,orperhapstothenonsexualviolencecontainedtherein?IlladmitI
haventcounted,butIwouldnthavethoughtso.Onthesubjectofotherexpressionsofsex,itseemstomethatthereisa
fargreaterprevalenceofconsensualandrelativelyjoyoussexualrelationshipsinmyworkthanthereareinstancesof
sexualviolence.Asregardsnonsexualviolence,thereisclearlyalotmorenonsexualviolenceinmyworkthatthereis
violenceofthesexualvariety,althoughinourcurrentculturethatstrueofnearlyeveryoneswork,isntit?Icertainly
cantclaimspecialcredit.Soperhapstheprevalenceinquestionistheprevalenceofrapeorsexualviolenceinmywork
inrelationtothesexualviolencein,say,literature,cinemaorthemodernrecordingindustry?Again,Iwouldnthave
thoughtso.
Iswhatwereactuallytalkingaboutheretheprevalenceofrapeandsexualviolenceinmyworkincomparisontothatin
theworkofotherwritersworkingwithinthecomicindustry?Now,here,Idprobablyhavetoagree,especiallyifwere
talkingaboutthecomicwritersofthirtyyearsago,whenIfirstcommencedmyapparentlyrapefixatedcareer.Ifyou
lookattheattemptedrapeinthefirstepisodeofVforVendetta,forexample,IthinkyoullfindthatIwasonlyableto
identifythecrimebyitsinitialletteronthelipsofatraumatisedandstammeringEveyHammond.Still,thiswasone
lettermorethanhadbeenavailabletoECComicsacoupleofdecadesbefore,whentheywereforcedtotelltheirstill
shockingtaleofarapisthidingbehindasheriffsbadgewithoutreferringtotheactualcrimeexceptbyimplication.My
pointisthatrapedidnotexistinthecomicbooksofthatperiod,savefortheoccasionalpermissibleoffpanelrape,such
aswhenataverndancinggirlmightbepushedbackintothehaybyamuscularbarbarian,herlipssayingnobuther
eyessayingyes.Otherthanthis,noovertsexualityofanykindexistedinthemainstreamcomicbooksofthatera,with
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thelastoftheundergroundcomixhavingbittenthedustduringthepreviousdecade.
Imcuriousastowhatanyonewhoconsideredthemselvestobeacommittedandconscientiousmodernwriterwould
havedoneinthosecircumstances.Whatconclusionsmightthecommentatorsoftodayhavecometoinrelationtothose
issues?Whatoptionswereopentocreatorsofthatperiod?Well,quiteobviously,thesafestandmostcomfortableoption
wouldhavebeentogoalongwithacensoriousstatusquoandsimplynotrefertosexualmatters,evenobliquely.Indeed,
asIremember,thisisexactlytheoptionthatmostofmycontemporariesinthefieldbackthentendedtomaketheir
defaultposition,sincetheywereunderstandablyreluctanttodispleasetheireditorsandthustojeopardisetheirchances
offutureemployment.Itseemedtome,however,thatifcomicscouldnotaddressadultmattersbywhichImeanta
greatdealmorethansimplysexualissuesthentheycouldneverprogresstobecomeaseriousandacceptedartistic
medium,andwouldneveramounttoanythingmuchmorethananostalgichobbyforageingteenagers.Tomymind,the
onlymindIhaddirectaccessto,itseemedthatsuchapotentiallyastonishingmediumdeservedmorethanthis.Along
withpoliticalandsocialissues,Ielectedtomakesexualissuesapartofmywork.
AsIsay,mostofmywritingsinthisareahaveconcernedjoyousexpressionsofsexuality,withasmuchdiversityasIwas
capableofapplyingatthetime.Unlessanyoneisarguingthatcomicbooksarenotaplaceforsexualmatters,thenIdont
seethattheycanhaveanymajordisagreementswiththeabove.SoperhapsitisthenextdecisionthatImadewhereinI
amatfault:mythinkingwasthatsexualviolence,includingrapeanddomesticabuse,shouldalsofeatureinmywork
wherenecessaryorappropriatetoagivennarrative,thealternativebeingtoimplythatthesethingsdidnotexist,or
werenthappening.This,giventhescaleuponwhichsucheventsoccur,wouldhaveseemedtantamounttothedenialofa
sexualholocaust,happeningannually.Icouldnot,inallconscience,produceworkunderthoselimitationswithoutatleast
attemptingtochangeorremovethem.Presumably,mycurrentcriticswouldhavedonedifferently,andindeed,asI
remember,mostpeopleinthefieldfounditmoreconvenientsimplynottoaddressissuesofsexorsexualityorthose
ofrace,politics,genderandanyothermattersofsocialsubstance,forthatmatter.
AstowhetheritworriedorconcernedmethatImayhavebeenalienatingpartofmyaudiencebyaddressinganyorall
oftheaboveissues,whywouldIbeconcernedaboutalienatingpartofmypotentialaudienceonamoralissuewhichI
hadalreadythoughtthroughandcometowhatIfeltwasaconsideredopinionupon?Surely,theonlyreasonsan
individualwouldhaveforconcerninsuchcircumstances,andthemostlikelyreasonswhythemajorityofothercomic
professionalsofthatperiodchosenottoriskanyformofcontroversyintheirworkuntilgroundhadbeenbrokenandit
wassafeandindeedprofitableforthemtodoso,wouldbereasonsoffinancialgainandcareeradvantage?Butperhapsit
mightbethoughtthatbydiscussingallofthiscontextatsuchlengthImtoldthatcontextisnotnecessarilyawelcome
commodityinthistypeofdiscussionIamattemptingtoevadethecentralissue,whichispresumablythequestion
whyI,asamale,shouldfeelprivilegedtodiscusssuchmattersinmywork.Howcansomeonewhohasnot,tothe
readersknowledge,sufferedrapeoranyotherformofsexualinvasion,conceivablybequalifiedtohandlesuchtopicsin
theirfiction?
IhopereaderswillunderstandthatIambeinganythingbutflippantwhenIpointoutthat,asyet,Ihavenotbeen
murderedeither.CertainlyIhaveknownmurdervictimsandtheirfamilies,andIhavelikewisemetmurderersand
theirfamiliestoo.WhileIcannotsaywhetherthisqualifiesmetotalkaboutmurderornot,Iamfairlyconfidentthatit
hasaffordedmeamoreinformedandcompassionateviewuponthesubjectthanImightotherwisehavehad,whichasa
writerIpresumetobeagoodthing.Thisisalsotrueregardingthesubjectofsexualviolence.WhileImyselfonly
sufferedanattemptedabductionattheageofsixorsoandtheminormolestationsofapaedophileheadoffirstyearsat
theageofelevenalongwithalmosteveryoneelseinmyyear,Ihaveknownadistressingnumberofwomen,including
womenwhoareorhavebeenclosetome,whohavebeenraped,sexuallyassaultedorotherwisethreatenedwithsexual
violence.Infact,whenIthinkaboutit,Ivehadalotmorecontactwithpeoplewhovesufferedfromtheeffectsofsexual
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violencethanIvehadcontactwithpeopleeitherkilledordevastatedbytheirproximitytoamurder.Lestthisbethought
apurelypersonalperceptionorperhapsablipinhighlylocalisedstatistics,Iwouldcitethefiguresmentionedinmy
mostrecentcopyofprisonnewspaperInsideTimes(themostconvenientsourceofinformationtohandatthemoment
forsomeonewithoutaninternetconnection).FromwhatIunderstand,lastyeartherewere60,000rapesintheUK.Im
assumingthatthisisreportedrapes,andthatactualincidentsofrapearepossiblytwoorthreetimesashigh.Therewere
afurther400,000casesofsexualassault,andafranklyhorrific1.2millioncasesofdomesticabuse.
Leavingasidethesexualassaultanddomesticabusefiguresandjustfocussingontherapeswhichisofcourserather
mythingIwouldhavetosaythatIdonotrecallthesixtythousandhomicidesthatoccurredintheU.K.lastyear,
possiblybecausewell,theydidnt,didthey?Except,ofcourse,inthepagesoffiction,whereIwouldimaginethatthere
wereconsiderablymoreviolentdeathsthantheabovementionedfigure.Itwouldappearthatintherealworld,which
thegreatmajorityofpeoplearecompelledtolivein,therearerelativelyfewmurdersinrelationtothestaggering
numberofrapesandothercrimesofsexualorgenderrelatedviolence,thisbeingalmostacompletereversaloftheway
thattheworldisrepresentedinitsmovies,televisionshows,literatureorcomicbookmaterial.Forgivemeifthereis
somethingglaringlyobviousthatIammissingheresomeevidentflawinmyreasoningthatImyselfamblindto,but
whyshouldthismarkeddisparitybeso?Whyshouldmurderbesooverrepresentedinourpopularfiction,andcrimes
ofasexualnaturesounderrepresented?Surelyitcannotbebecauserapeisworsethanmurder,andisthusdeservingof
aspecialunmentionablestatus.Surely,thelastpeopletosuggestthatrapewasworsethanmurderwerethesensitively
rearedclassesoftheVictorianera.Certainly,theactualvictimsofrapethatIveknownandspokentodontseem
impressedwiththeideaofafateworsethandeath.Mostseemofamindthatwhilewhattheywentthroughwas
unbelievablyhorrible,atleasttheyhadntbeenkilled,eveniftheyhadbeenthreatenedtothateffectbytheirrapist.And
yet,whileitisperfectlyacceptable(nottosayalmostmandatory)todepictviolentandlethalincidentsinluridand
gloatinghighdefinitiondetail,thisissomehowregardedashealthyandperfectlynormal,anditistheconsidered
depictionofsexualcrimesthatwillinevitablyattractuproarsofthecurrentvariety.
Again,ifnobodyisseriouslyarguingthatrapeismuchmoreseriousahumaneventthantheactualviolenttermination
ofalifeinitsentirety,whyshouldthisbeso?Whyshouldsexualviolenceberingfencedwhenformsofviolenceevery
bitasdevastatingaretreatedasentertainment?IfImayventureananswertomyownquestion,mightitbebecausethe
termsexualviolencecontainsthewordsexual,awordrelatingtomatterstraditionallynotdiscussedinpolitesociety?
AsIaffirmedearlier,thirtyyearsagorapeandsexualviolencewereunmentionableincomics.Now,Godblesseveryone
whoimaginesthatthiswasbecausethecomicseditorsofthirtyyearsagoweremoresensitivetothepossibleupset
feelingsofwomenreadersthantheirequivalenttoday,butImafraidthisisnotthecase.Mentionsofanyformofsexual
activity,positiveornegative,wereoutofboundsandthereasonforthisisthatsincetheVictorianperiod,sexhadbeen
consideredrudeanddirtybythemiddleclasses.Indeed,theavowedsexualcontrolexercisedbythatclasswasoneofthe
mainfeaturesbywhichtheydifferentiatedthemselvesfromthemoreanimalisticurgespresentamongthelowerorders
andimmigrantcommunities.Iamnotattemptingtobedisingenuoushere,butIgenuinelycannotseeanyreasonwhy
lethalnonsexualviolenceshouldbeprivilegedoversexualviolence,otherthanaresidualmiddleclassdiscomfortor
squeamishnessoverallmatterspertainingtosex,whichinthisinstancehastakenontheprotectivecolourationofafairly
spuriousappealtocontemporarysexualpolitics.NorcanIseeanycompellingorworthyreasonwhyI,oranyother
writer,shouldrestrainthemselvesfromaddressingwhatsoeverissuestheyfeelareworthyofaddress,iftheyhavethe
couragetoengagewiththosesubjectsinthefaceofthepossibleapprobationandlossoflivelihoodwhichmaybe
entailed.Fortunatelyforthosewhothinkdifferentlytomyself,thisisoneofseveraltraitswhichveryfewmodern
commercialcareerwriterswouldseemtopossess.Ihopethat,beforeIallowmyselfamorepersonalresponsetothese
matters,Ihaveansweredallofthequestionsraisedwithsufficientclarityandhonestytoavoidhavingtorepeatorre
repeatmyselfatsomepointinthefuture.Iapologiseforthelengthofmyreply,butclearlytheseareimportantissues,to
whichIhavebeenvisiblyturningmyattentionsforthepastthreeorfourdecades.Surprisingasitmayseemtosome,I
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havegiventhesemattersacertainamountofthoughtduringthattime.Possibly,althoughIcannotofcourseassumethis,
morethantheythemselveshaveexertedintheirflurryofperhapsillconsideredresponsestothissomewhat
manufacturedcontroversy.Anyway,mylongwindedscreedmayatleastconveysomethingtothecasualreaderofhow
dull,tiringandirrelevantImyselfhavefoundthisepisode.Icertainlyhopeso.
Now:
AlthoughIunderstandthattheseexchangesareintendedtobebyandlargeonewaycommunications,ImafraidI
haventhadthereasonsforthissatisfactorilyexplainedtome,andsointendtoignorethisconvention.Similarly,Iintend
topresumethatmoralcriticismandspeculationastomotivearenotthesoleprerogativeofanyonesideinthis
discussion.Ifthispresumptioniserroneous,orisinanywayseenasabreachofmannersorprotocol,thenIhopethis
willcharitablybeattributedtothemanydeficienciesofmyage,mybackground,or,conceivably,myeducation.
SinceIunderstandthevariousconcernsaddressedabovetohavelargelyarisenresultingfrommyattendanceatthe
launchofLanceParkinsrecentbiography,afewwordsrelatingtothebackgroundofthisevent,atleastfrommy
personalperspective,maybeinorder.WhenLancecontactedmeacoupleofyearsagoandtoldmehedbeen
commissionedtowritethebook,heaskedifIdlikeittobeanofficialbiography,agenerousofferwhichIdeclined.This
waspartlybecauseIfeltthattherehadbeenratheralotofbooksaboutme,andIdidntwanttoappearselfregardingby
activelycollaboratinginanotherone,whateveritsmeritsmightbe.IalsotoldLancethatinmyopinionunofficial
biographiesweregenerallyfarmorehonestandrevealingandsuggestedthathegoaheadwithhisbookonthatbasis,
withtheprovisothatmyfriendsandfamilynotbeinterviewedonthegroundsthattheyhaveprobablysufferedenough.
Ofcourse,thisreallyonlyleftLancewithastringofpeoplewhoareinneitherofthosecategories.Despitethisobstacle,
whenIfinallygottoreadaproofcopyofMagicWordsIfeltthathehaddoneanexcellentandfairmindedjob,
presentingtheinformationwithasmuchcontextaswasavailabletohimandthenallowingthereadertodrawtheirown
conclusionsaboutsomeoftheratherremarkableclaimsmadeaboutmeandmywork.Havingpaidlittleornoattention
totheutterancesofthecomicfieldforsomedecades,therewereobviouslymorethanafewstatementsbyformer
associatesthatweresomethingofasurpriseandwhichseemedtomeinmanyinstancestobefoundeduponthe
distortionoreventhewholesaleinventionofevents.Therewerealso,asyouknow,anumberofstatementsbyGrant
MorrisonsomeonewhomIhaveonlyevermetandspokenwithonceandhavetriedmybesttoavoidallcontactwith
eversinceincludinghisnodoubtwellintentionedobservationthatthereisapparentlyarapeineverysinglecomic
seriesthatIhaveeverwritten.Iimaginethatthismighthavesomethingtodowithsomeoftheactuallyrather
importantissueswhichhavebeendemotedtouseasammunitioninthispresumablynotuncommononline
controversy.
Whileclaimssuchastheaboveareobviouslytheequivalentofreceivingagiftwrappedturdthroughthemail,since
GrantMorrisonseemstohavespentasmuchorpossiblymoretimediscussingmeandmyworkovertheyearsthanhe
hashisown,theyarenot,bythispoint,entirelyunexpected.Despitethesefewslightlydepressingpassages,Ifeltthat
LanceandthepeopleatAurumBookshadclearlyworkedtremendouslyhardandhadproducedaremarkablygood
biography,especiallygivensomeofthestickytothetouchsourcestheydbeenforcedtoresorttobymynofriends
stipulation.WhenIwasinvitedalongtothelaunchofthebook,despitethefactthatImgenerallytryingtoavoidpublic
appearancesatthemomentinordertoconcentrateonwork,IfeltthatitwouldbeagoodwayofshowingLanceandthe
AurumcrewhowmuchIappreciatedwhattheyddone.
WhenMelindaandIarrivedatthevenueandIhadthepleasureofmeetingLanceforthefirsttime,hesurprisedmeby
remarkingonthecurrentduststormofangrycommentarythatwasapparentlythenbeinggeneratedonline,
surroundingremarksIdmadeinanewspaperinterview.Nothavingagreatdealofinterestinonlinecomment,thiswas
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newstomeandIwasatfirstunabletoidentifytheinterviewinwhichIdmadethisseeminglyinflammatorystatement.
WhentoldthatithadruninthepreviousSaturdaysGuardian,Iwasstillunabletorecallconductingit.Ittranspired
thatthiswasbecauseIdactuallytakenpartintheinterviewacoupleofverybusymonthsearlier,ontheafternoonwhen
IdgivenahalfdozenbriefpressinterviewsrelatingtothelaunchofFashionBeast.Thesubjectofcomicrelatedfilms
(orfilmrelatedcomics)hadunderstandablyarisenand,whenasked,IhadventuredmyhonestopinionthatIfound
somethingworryingaboutthefactthatthesuperherofilmaudiencewasnowalmostentirelycomposedofadults,men
andwomenintheirthirties,fortiesandfiftieswhowereeagerlylininguptowatchcharactersandsituationsthathad
beenexpresslycreatedtoentertainthetwelveyearoldboysoffiftyyearsago.Inotonlyfeelthisisavalidpoint,Ialso
believeittobefairlyselfevidenttoanydisinterestedobserver.Tomymind,thisembracingofwhatwere
unambiguouslychildrenscharactersattheirmid20thcenturyinceptionseemstoindicatearetreatfromtheadmittedly
overwhelmingcomplexitiesofmodernexistence.Itlookstomeverymuchlikeasignificantsectionofthepublic,having
givenuponattemptingtounderstandtherealitytheyareactuallylivingin,haveinsteadreasonedthattheymightat
leastbeabletocomprehendthesprawling,meaningless,butatleaststillfiniteuniversespresentedbyDCorMarvel
Comics.Iwouldalsoobservethatitis,potentially,culturallycatastrophictohavetheephemeraofapreviouscentury
squattingpossessivelyontheculturalstageandrefusingtoallowthissurelyunprecedentederatodevelopacultureofits
own,relevantandsufficienttoitstimes.These,anyway,weremythoughtsonthesubject,andIrememberthatLance
saidhewantedtoaskmeaquestionontheissueduringourinterviewlater,inordertogivemeanopportunitytoclarify
myremarks,towhichIagreed.(IhadntyetrealisedthatthesomewhatbelateddateonwhichtheGuardianhad
finallypublishedtheinterviewwas,perhapscoincidentally,thedateofthemuchpublicisedDr.Whoanniversary
anotherphenomenonthathadpassedmebycompletelyduringwhichanumberofpeopleintheirthirties,fortiesand
fiftieswouldbeenjoyingcharactersandsituationsthathadbeencreatedtoentertain,well,thetwelveyearoldboysof
fiftyyearsago.IhadntbeenthinkingaboutDr.WhowhenImademyoriginalcomment,butIsupposethetimingof
theinterviewmayverywellhavemadethatappeartobethecase,andanywaymyopinionsareprobablyasapplicableto
Dr.WhoastheyaretotheAvengersmoviethatIwasactuallydiscussing.Theywouldalsoprobablybeasunpopular
andunwelcomeineitherinstance.)
TheeveningunfoldedfromthatpointandImustadmitthatIdbeenundertheimpressionthattheaudience,abroad
rangeofethnicitiesandsexualitieswithawelcomeandnowadayspleasinglycommonalmostequalgenderdistribution,
hadenjoyedthemselvesasmuchastheparticipants.EvenwhenLanceaskedmetoreiteratemypossiblycontentious
commentsregardingtheapparentemotionalandintellectualarrestofmoderncinemaaudiences,Ididntgetthe
impressionofanyvociferousreactionupontheaudiencespart,eitherfororagainst.Thesameaudienceseemedtohave
generallyenjoyedoratleastbeeninterestedinActofFaithandJimmysEnd,andwiththesetwoshortfilmshaving
beenfreelyavailableonYouTubeforsomeconsiderabletime,ImustadmitthatneitherInorMitch(norSiobhanor
BoborMelinda)wereexpectinganykindofextremereaction.Frankly,wewerejustgratefultothosemembersofthe
audiencewhosatpatientlythroughtwonotentirelycomfortablefilmswhichtheymayhaveseenbefore.
AsIunderstandthecourseofeventsunfoldingafterthelaunch,therehadbeensomeoneintheaudience,whosename
escapesmebutwhoisevidentlypleasedtoidentifyhimselfasaBatmanscholar,whohadbeenoffendedbyActof
Faithand,aspeopleinthisbranchofscholarshippresumablydo,hehadadvertisedthisfactonsocialmedia.Ina
messagethatIwasshown,hisobjectionstothefilmbecamemoreobviouswhenhedescribedandsummariseditasfilm
aboutawomanwhodressesinsluttyclothesandthencommitssuicide.Withoutwishingtolabourtheobvious,Ifear
thatthisgentlemanmayhaveunderstoodthefilmtooquickly.QuitewhyheshouldhavedonethisisaquestionthatI
havemoretroubleover,butofthatmorepresently.Forthosewhoalsohaddifficultyininterpretingthefifteenminute
film,andwithoutwishingtospoilitforthosewhomaynothaveseenit,thebasicoutlineofActofFaithisasfollows:
wewitnessayoungwoman,theFaithofthetitle,returninghomeafteradaysworkasajournalisttoreplytovarious
answerphonemessageswhichlightlysketchinsomedetailsofthecharacterslifeandsituation.Wenextseehercalling
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acostumehireshoptoaskifanyonehasbeenintopickuptheparamediccostumethatshehaspresumablyreserved
earlier,tobetoldinreplythatayoungmanhasindeedcalledbytopickuptherequisitedisguise.Shenextchangesinto
anoutfitthatweincludingtheactressSiobhanHewlettwhoplayedthecharacterfeltsuggestedafaintlysadand
misjudgedattemptatseamyeroticism.Thecharacternextplacesacalltoamanwhoanswersthephonewithamatterof
factHello,ChadBailey?beforebeingaskedbyhisyoungwomancallerifshesspeakingtotheparamedics,after
whichhelowershisvoice,adoptsahuskierandmorearousedtoneandagreesthatyes,thisistheparamedics
speaking.AtthispointFaithgoesintoafairlyobviouslystagedaccountofhowshesayoungwomanlivingaloneand
planningtokillherself.Shealsogoesintoaratherheavyhandedand,onemightthink,unnecessarydescriptionofthe
sluttyclothesthatsheiswearinginpreparationforthissupposedlyterminalactherstockingsandeverything.
Followingthisshehangsupandcommencesaclearlyrehearsedsetofritualactionstheremovalofasetofhandcuffs
fromaplasticbag,theballingupoftheplasticbagandplacingitinhermouth,andfinallyloopingaclearlypreprepared
noosearoundherneckwiththeotherendattachedtotherailofherwardrobe.Securingthehandcuffsbehindherback
shegraduallylowersherselftotheextentoftherope,andweseefromherexpressionthatsheseemstobeinastateof
arousal.Thisexpressionchangesabruptlywhenheranswerphonereceivesanothermessage.Thisisfromthesame
youngmanweheardherspeakingtoearlier,onlyhesoundsbreathlessandfrightened,andcommenceshismessage
withwordstotheeffectthatIfyouvenotstartedalready,thendont.Hegoesontotellherthattheresbeenan
accidentandthathiscarisnotoperational.Heassuresherthathesrunningaroundtoherplaceasfastashecanand
tellshersheshouldjusthangon,amendingthisafteramomentsthoughttoImean,justdontworry.Bythistime
theyoungwoman,understandably,appearstobeveryworriedindeed.Wecloseuponthenowsilentphone,whichblurs
toblackasthetrackonherCDplayerplaysitselfout.Thisistheendofthefilm(orunusuallyhighqualitytrailer,aswed
originallythoughtofit),althoughahelpfulscreencaptionatthefilmsendannouncesthatthefilmJimmysEndwill
befollowingshortly.Wethoughtthismighttipoffviewerswhohadmissedthemanyothertrailingorunresolved
referencesinthefilmthatActofFaithwasaselfcontainedpartorepisodeinaconsiderablylarger,broader,andmore
complexnarrative.
Andyetthisischaracterised,apparentlyingoodfaith,asafilmaboutayoungwomanwhodressesinsluttyclothesand
thenkillsherself.Imustassumethattheoffendedpersongenuinelyhasnoknowledgeofordidnotrecognisewhatmost
ofthosewatchingthefilmhavecorrectlyunderstoodtobeadangeroussexgamethatgoesverybadlywrong.Presumably
hedidntrecognisetheclumsyandclichdsextalktotheparamedicsastheinexpertroleplayingthatitwasintended
tobe,orperhapstheconceptsofautoeroticasphyxiationandsexualroleplayingareutterlyunfamiliartohim.Ifthisis
thecase,thenImustinformhimthatasfarasIamaware,thesearebothfairlywellknownphenomena,atleastinthe
worldthatexistsbeyondtheconfinesofhismainareaofstudyalthoughsurelytheideaofsomeonedressingupina
costumeforreasonsthatarelessthantransparentandpossiblyunhealthyshouldntbebeyondthereachofaBatman
scholar?Iwouldntwishtosuggestthatthestandardsofscholarshipinthispersonschosenfieldaresolaxthathesimply
didntbotherpayinganyattentiontothefilmbeforehestartedbroadcastinghissomewhathastilyconstructedopinion,
anditwouldseemimpertinenttoevenimplythatperhapssomeonemoreusedtosuperherocomicsmighthave
difficultyinextractingmeaningfromamorallycomplicatedscenelackingthepresenceofacaptionboxtoexplainto
thempreciselywhatishappening,withoutanyconfusingambiguities.Idontthinktheresanyfieldofexpertisewhere
thatwouldberecognisedasaproperscholarlyattitude,oratleastIwouldsincerelyhopenot.IfIdontwishtosaythat
thispersonisobtusetothepointofactualstupidity,orthathewaspreventedfromunderstandingthefilmbyreasonofa
suspiciouslyshelteredupbringing,thenImatsomethingofalosswhenitcomestoexplaininghisactionsandbehaviour.
Thisis,ofcourse,ifhisoutragewasactuallyrelatedtoActofFaith,andifhismisunderstandingofthefilmwas
genuineratherthanactivelyconstructed.AsInotedearlier,itwasnotuntilmyarrivalatthevenuethatIdbeen
informedoftheangryresponsefromtheonlinesuperherofancommunitytomycommentsintheGuardianinterview
fourdaysearlier,whichIdformerlyhadnoideahadbeenpublished.AsIalsonotedearlier,Lanceraisedthepoint
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againduringourinterviewatthebooklaunch,andformostoftheaudiencetheissuedidnotseemtobeaterribly
contentiousone.Icanthelpbutwonder,ofcourse,ifsomeonewhohasmadetheircontinuinginterestinBatmansucha
centralpartoftheiradultlifemightnothavebeenoffendedorfeltpersonallyslightedbymysuggestionthatthemass
devotionofmiddleagedpeopletosuperherofiguresmightbeaculturalindicatorofintellectualand/oremotionalarrest.
Justspeakinghypothetically,ifsuchoffencehadbeentaken,whatmightsuchapersonsoutletsofresponseamountto?
ItsurelywouldntbesufficienttoTweetsomethingtotheeffectthatAlanMoorethinksadultsuperherofansare
possiblyemotionallystunted,andasaBatmanscholarIstronglydisagreewithhim,eventhoughthatmayinfactbe
thesumtotaloftheactualtruth.Isitunthinkablethatsuchapersonmightattempttoassuagehishurtfeelingsby
pretendingthatheisinfactangryaboutotherissues,issuessuchassexualviolenceormisogyny,whicharegenuinely
importantmattersandmightbeexpectedtoarousemorecondemnationthananaffronttoonesfavouriteimaginary
costumedvigilante?
Igenuinelyhopethatthisisnotthecase,andthatIhaveasseriouslymisconstruedthispersonsmotivesashehas
misconstruedmine.Igenuinelyhopethatheissimplyapoorscholarwhoselimitedfieldofenquiryhasresultedinhim
beingunabletounderstandadultsituations,oratleastthosewhichdonotinvolvearathersimplisticrevengemotivated
andbatthemedcrimefighter.Inshort,Ihopeheisasintellectuallylazyandsociallylimitedasheappearstometobe,
becausethealternativereading,thathedeliberatelychosetodisguiseasenseofwoundedcomicfanentitlementby
resortingtomanufacturedallegationsonanissuethathasdevastatingimpactuponmillionsofrealwomen,whoarenot
fortunateenoughtobemadeoutofpaperandresideinGothamCity,wouldseemtoborderupontheactuallyvile.
Especiallysoiftherewasanyconceivableintenttoraiseonespersonalstockinthenodoubtvitallyimportantarenaof
Batmanfandombypublicallylaunchinganattackonsomeonewhohasworkedprominentlyonthatdullandwearyingly
angrycharacter,albeitinoneoftheleastpersonallyinterestingandmostregrettedworksofhiscareer.
Imightaddthattheseveryseriousallegations,ifindeedtheyresultfromspiteratherthanconviction,areadeployment
ofsomeverybiggunsoverwhatwere,relativelyspeaking,someofmylessgenuinelyhostileopinionswithregardto
superheroes.IfIhadgoneontosay,asIhaveonotheroccasions,thatmodernsuperheroesseemtomainlyfunctionas
cowardicecompensatorsforanumberoftheirconflictaversecreatorsandreaders,orthattheoriginofcapesandmasks
asubiquitoussuperheroaccessoriescanbededucedfromacloseviewingofD.W.GriffithsBirthofaNation,thenI
hatetothinkwhatImighthavebeenaccusedof.
GiventhatIveonlyheardaboutthisselfassemblycontretempsatsecondhand,youllforgivemeifIremainuncertain
astothepreciseorderofeventsafterourBatmanscholarhadprovokedhisexcitableaudience,whetheractuallyschool
ageorjustyoungatheart,intowhatImustsupposepassesforafrenzyinthisslightlyairlessworldofinterconnected
backbedrooms.ImnotsureatwhichpointthepersonwhoisapparentlyanAmericanphotographerjoinedthedebate,
andagainmustapologiseforbeingunfamiliarwithhername.TheonlythingthatIdpreviouslyheardconcerningthis
personwasKevinsbriefaccountofsomeonehedapparentlyencounteredatanAmericansigningforTheBlack
Dossier,anAfricanAmericanwoman(ifthatisstillanacceptableU.S.term)whohadseemedupsetbyourinclusionof
theGolliwog/GalleyWag.InKevinsaccountasIrememberitheddonehisbesttoexplainbutwasleftfeelingthathe
mayhavedoneaninadequatejob,andthatthewomanhadntseemedtobeinterestedinhisaccountofFlorenceUptons
originalcreation,orinthecontextwithinwhichwedcometoourdecision.Forwhatitsworth,Kevinwasgenuinely
concernedtothepointwherewetalkedforsomewhileabouttheonepersononhissigningtourofmanyindividuals
whodexpressedanegativeopinionconcerningthecharacter.However,giventhatKevinhadtriedhisbesttoprovidean
honestexplanationinafacetofacesituation(somewhatmorethatmostordinaryreadersofthebookhadbeenallowed)
andseeminglyfailedsuggestedthattherewaslittlemoretobedone.Otherthanresolvingweshouldperhapsbemore
explicitandrevealmoreofthecharactersbackstoryonfutureoutings,tohopefullymakeourmotivesplainerwithout
ourregularreadersthinkingwewereuncharacteristicallyunderliningeverything,wecouldntreallydootherwisethan
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continuewithourwork.Unlessanyoneisrealisticallysuggestingthatweremovethecharacterfromourcontinuityaftera
negativereactionfromasolitaryreader,Idontseewhatelsewecouldhavedone.
Now,thispersonhasanabsolutelyinalienablerighttoherreaction,andIamnotsuggestingorimplyingthather
responsewaswronginanyway.Ifthatwasherreadingofthestory,thensheisfullyentitledtoretainheropinion.I
wouldhopethatinmylengthyresponsetothefirstseveralquestionsonyourlistthatImayhaveperhapsallayedsome
ofhermisgivings,althoughmyfeelingisthatthisisfranklyunlikely.Iatleasthopethatinhavingraisedherconcerns
andbeenlistenedtoinapersonalencounterwiththebooksartist,andnowhavingtheseissuesaddressedtothebestof
hisabilitybythebookswriter,thatshewillacceptthatherconcernshavebeenengagedwithtoadegreethatisgreater
thanmostreaderscouldorwouldreasonablyexpect.Iwouldpointoutthatwhileeveryoneisentitledtotheirinformed
opinion,thisisactuallythefullextentoftheirentitlement.
PossiblybecauseImtypingthisonChristmasEveIfeelinclined,despitethelonghiatusbetweenthispersonfirstairing
hergrievanceandushearinganythingfurtherfromher,totakeherstanceatfacevalue.Icanreadilyimaginehow
justifiablyangrythedepictionofnonwhitecharactersincontemporarycomics,ortherelativelytinynumberofartistsor
writersofcolourcomparedtothenumberofnonwhitecomicreaders,couldmakeanyone,irrespectiveoftheircolouror
ethnicity.Isimplyfeelandthisisonlymypersonalopinionandinnowayprivilegedoverherownthatinthis
instancethatangerismisdirected.AsIunderstanditfromthequestionsIvebeenasked,themajorboneofcontention
seemstobethequestionofwhetherwhitecreatorscanpresumetopresentpossiblycontroversialmaterialrelatingto
blackcharacters.Iveaddressedthismorecomprehensivelyabove,butwouldonlyaddthatifIhadadoptedthisattitude
backin1999/2000,thereiseverylikelihoodthattheUnitedStates,surelyembarrassingly,wouldbenearlyadecade
andahalfintothe21stcenturyandstillwithoutanypositiveexamplesofmixedracemarriagesproducingmixedrace
offspringanywhereinitsmedia.Certainlynotinitscomicbooks.(ImreferringtoTomStronghere,incidentally,
whichisapparentlyalsodistinguishedbythefactthatitistheonetitleinmyoeuvreinwhichIsomehowmanagedto
restrainmyselffromdepictingactsofsexualviolenceagainstwomen.)
MovingontosomeonewhosenameIrecogniseandwhomIhaveatleastspokentooverthephoneononesolitaryand
nevertoberepeatedoccasion,Inotethatoneofthemorevociferouscomplainantsinthisborderlineremedialdebateis
theallegedjournalistLauraSneddon.ThisissomeoneIencounteredwhenmypublisherTonyBennettwasarranging
averylimited(atmyrequest)seriesofinterviewswithmainstreamratherthancomicorientedmedia(againatmy
request)relatingtothethenimminentpublicationofLeagueofExtraordinaryGentlemen:2009,thethirdand
concludingsectionofCentury.Tonytoldmethatsheseemedtobelegitimateandwouldbeinterviewingmeforthe
Independent,whichatthatpointwasanewspaperthatIstillharbouredacertainamountofrespectfor,andexplained
tomethatshewasoneoftheveryfewpeoplewhohadreceivedanadvancecopyof2009,underconditionsofstrict
confidentiality,inorderforhertobeabletoventureinformedquestionsduringthescheduledinterview,whichseemed
fairenough.
Theinterviewitselfturnedouttobeafairlyroutineexerciseandpassedwithouteithermemorableincidentor
memorablequestion.Ihadunderstandablyforgottenaboutituntil,Ithink,onorabouttheoccasionofthesigningthat
wedscheduledtoaccompanythebookslaunch.ThiswaswhenIlearnedthatinaneditionoftheIndependent
releasedroughlyaweekbeforethebookitselfLauraSneddonhadgleefullyrelatedallofthemajorplotdevelopmentsand
denouements,includingthedeathofAllanQuatermainandtheidentityoftheMoonchildorAntichristfigurethatwed
beencarefullybuildingupreferencestooverthefourormoreyearsthatwedbeenlabouringonthatthird(andlongest)
volumeofTheLeague.InadditiontoMs.Sneddonsapparentassumptionthatsheandthenewspaperthatshe
representedwereforsomereasonexemptfromtheconfidentialityagreementwhichpresumablylessermortalshad
evidencednosuchdifficultyinrespecting,sheorotherpartiesattheIndependenthadalsoseenfittorunanarticlein
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themainbodyofthepaper,asensationalisttabloidstylenonstoryspeculatingheatedlyaboutthelikelihoodofJ.K.
Rowlingslawyerstakingactionoverabookinwhichnoneofthenamesorlikenessesofhercharactersorinstitutionshad
beensomuchasmentioned.ThisactuallyseemedlikeanattemptontheIndependentsparttobringaboutthehighly
unlikelysituationwhichtheirarticlehadenvisioned,perhapsinthehopeoffillinganotherhalfpageorsowithover
excitablecopyinwhichtheycouldliberallyusethewordsHarryPotter.Youcanofcourseunderstandtheirposition.I
mean,itwasntasiftherewasanygenuinelyimportantstuffgoingoninthenationortheworldbackthen,wasthere?
Asanyoneofevenrudimentaryintelligencemighthavepredicted,absolutelynothingcameoftheseattentionseeking
predictionssaveforTonyBennett(whodarrangedtheinterviewingoodfaith)contactingLauraSneddonandinforming
herthatneitherhenorthebookscreatorswishedtohaveanythingtodowithherinfuture.Whensomebodyhas
seeminglydonetheirlevelbesttosabotageamajorproject,whetherbymaliceorbyafranklyincredibledegreeof
stupidity,Ifailtoseehowanyonecouldhaveexpectedaprofessionalpublisherorprofessionalcreatorstodoanything
else.Icertainlydontseethatsimplywithdrawingcontact,comparedwithherownactivelydeceitfulactions,canbeseen
inanywayasharsh.Ms.Sneddon,itseems,didnotagree.Therewasaflurryofratherpanickedcommunicationsin
whichsheinsistedthatshehadactuallybeenattemptingtohelpusbyrevealingtheendingofafourorfiveyearserial
continuity,andbyapparentlytryingtoinvolveourworkinacompletelyspuriouslegalcontroversy.Thishelp,ithardly
needbesaid,wasbothunsolicitedandunappreciated.Youwillperhapsthinkmecynical,butthislookedtomelikean
insultinglyclumsybidtohaverenegedonanimportantmatteroftrustandresponsibilityandyettosomehowstill
maintainimportantmediacontactsthatmightproveusefulinthesubsequentadvancementofhercareer.Infairnessto
Ms.Sneddon,weoffendedpartiesquicklyacknowledgedbetweenourselvesthatshecouldnothavebeensolely
responsibleforthesituation,andthatattheveryleasttheIndependentsstandardsofjournalisticintegrityclearlyalso
leftmuchtobedesired.Inanattemptatevenhandednesswedecidedtoforegoanyfurthercontactwiththenewspaper
initsentiretyandthat,notunreasonablyIfeel,waswherethematterwouldhaverestedwereitnotforLauraSneddons
current(thusfarsuccessful)effortstobringherselftomyattention.
Actually,thatisntwhollyaccurate.Whilediscussingthislatesthighlightofmycontinuingpresenceinthecomicfield
andmypresentperceivedpersonaasarapefixatedracistwithmywife(andletmejustrepeatthattounderlinethe
seriousnessofwhatImtryingtogetacrosshere:WITHMYWIFE),shefoggilyanduncertainlyrecalledan
incidentwhichhadapparentlytakenplacesomemonthsagobutwhichhadpreviouslyseemedtootrivialtocommitto
memory,ortomention.HavingtravelledtoEdinburghasaguestattheLiteraryFestivalonlytobelatedlyrealisethat
shedbeappearinginpartofacomicsrelatedsubsectionofthemainevent,asshedistantlyrecalledshedretiredtoher
hotelroominordertoavoidasmuchofthe(tohermind)surprisecomicconventionasshefeltshecouldpolitelymanage
withoutgivingoffence.Althoughinastateofsomedistractionoverherunexpectedandnotentirelywelcomeimmersion
inthecomicworld(despiteimpeccableandcourteoustreatmentbytheFestivalorganisers),shethoughtthatwhathad
mostprobablyhappenednextwasthatshesbeendisturbedbytheringingoftheroomsphone.Answering,Melinda
discoveredshewastalkingtoayoungwomanwhoannouncedherselfasLauraSneddonandseemedtothinkthat
Melindamayhaveheardofher,perhapsassumingthattherehasever(untilnow)beenapointinmyrelationshipwith
Melindawherewevehadnothingmoreinterestingtodiscussthanthemachinationsofjournalists.WhenMelinda
expressedherunfamiliaritywiththename,thisreportedlypromptedanotherburstofimplausibleselfjustificationand
theirrelevantnewsthatMs.SneddonwasnolongeremployedbytheIndependent.Therefollowedarequestforan
interviewoncomicrelatedissues,whichMelindadeclined,andthenahastilyreformulatedrequestforaninterviewon
supposedfeministtopics,fromwhichMelindaalsoexcusedherself,perhapsfearingthatthisappealtosisterhoodmay
beinsincere.
InlightofMs.Sneddonsrecrudescenceintheadmittedlyveryseasonalpantomimeimmediatelytohand,itmightbe
thoughtthattheseapprehensionswerenotwithoutfoundation.Itmaybethatinherownalmostendearinglyclumsy
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MirandaHartlikeway,Ms.SneddonisoncemoreonlytryingtohelpandthatIamoncemoreleapingtounfairand
unreasonableassumptionswithregardtohermotives,butitseemstomethatwhathasquitepossiblyhappenedhere
hasnothingwhatsoevertodowithwhateveropinionssheprofessestoholdwithregardtofeminismortoviolence
againstwomen.Coulditbethathavingdemonstratedherreliabilityasajournalistandhaditfoundwanting,her
mystifyingsenseofentitlementtoaprofessionwithinwhichsheis,inmyownopinion,transparentlyincapableof
conductingherselfproperlyhasbeenoutraged?Inherapparentlyaffrontedastonishmentthatifyouplaywhatlooklike
unpleasantandselfservinggameswithpeoplewhohavetrustedyouthentheremaybeunforeseenconsequences,I
thinkitnotunlikelythatshehasattachedherselftoourBatmanscholarsverypublicostensibledisgustatActofFaith
asaparticularlyslimywayofsettlingwhateversheimaginestobethescoreoncemore,itwouldappear,withnoevident
forethoughtonthesubjectofpotentialrepercussions.(NotbeingpersonallyfamiliarwithonlinediscussionsImclearly
takingashotinthedarkhere,butistheresomethingaboutthenatureofinternetdiscoursethatencouragesthisactually
recklesssenseofimpunityinpersonswhomightotherwisebereluctantregardingmoreimmediateanddirect
confrontations?AsIsay,thisisonlyaguess.)
Frommyperspective,thisappearstobeacaseofsomeonewhohasfromsomewhereacquiredanattitudethatwhatever
furtherstheirownpersonalinterestsisentirelyjustified,andthatitisonlynastyandbelligerentpeoplewhowillfailto
understandthis.Havingdecidedtoignoreanagreementofconfidentiality(somethingwhichIdontrememberthe
IndependenteverdoinginthecaseofJ.K.Rowlingherself)inthehopeofsomekindofmanufacturedscoop,and
havingbeenpredictablycutoffbythepersonswhosetrustshehadbetrayed,itseemsthatshehasnextattemptedto
positionherselfastheinjuredpartyinallthis.Alternatively,itmaybethatsinceherfirstploytoincreaseherstatusand
attractattentionhasworkedaboutaswellasmighthavebeenanticipated,makingalotofhurtandoffendednoises
mightconceivablybesomekindofPlanB.Again,Ihavetosaythatthethinkinghereislessthanimpressive.Afterthe
initialincident,ifshehadquietlyacceptedourwishestohavenofurthercontactwithherandhadsimplycontinuedwith
herowncareer,thenthereisabsolutelynoreasonwhyTony,KevinorIwouldeverhavehadreasontomentionheror
eventhinkofheragain.Instead,shehasapparentlyelectedtoseekbothredressforherwoundedfeelingsandperhaps
furtherplaygroundnotorietybyjoininginwiththeillinformedandsuspiciouslymotivatedoutcryoverActofFaith,
expressingsurprisinglystrongfeelingsconcerningafilmwhichshereportedlyhadntseenorpreviouslydemonstrated
anyinterestin.Perhapsseekingtobroadenthedebateinordertoincludeacomicfieldthatsheclearlyfeelssheknows
somethingabout,shehasintroducedthewiderissueofthecontinualpageantofraperunningthroughmywork,atleast
asitisdescribedbyGrantMorrison.Again,givenherunderstandablypowerfulfeelingsasawomanandasapurported
feministoverthisgenuinelyseriousissue,Imsurprisedthatshedidntthinktobringitupwheninterviewingmeover
League:2009.Infactitssomethingofapuzzleastowhynoneofthemanyreputablejournalistsofeithergender
whoveinterviewedmeduringmythirtysomethingyearcareerhavepossessedMs.SneddonandGrantMorrisons
penetratinginsightorearnestconcernforwomankind.Unless,ofcourse,thereisabsolutelynosubstancetothatinsight
orthoseconcerns,inwhichcasewewouldbetalkingaboutpersonsofalmostunbelievablepettinessandvindictiveness
personswhoarepreparedtotrivialiserapeandsexualabusebyusingthem,casually,asbludgeonsintheirpurely
personalandcareerfurtheringvendettas.
WonderingatthesourceofwhatseemedtometobeMs.Sneddonsembarrassinglylowstandardsofpersonaland
journalisticethics,Iwasunsurprisedtothepointofactualtediumupondiscoveringthatherentrytothefieldof
journalismwasachievedbymeansofaninterviewwithhercompatriotand,Imassuming,herfellowconvinced
feministGrantMorrison.Ineitherknownorcareabouttheextentoftheconnectionbetweenthem,butIhopethat
everyonewillunderstandthatIreallydontseeanyconvincingreasonwhyIshouldinviteanycontinuingcontactwith
whatappeartometobepollutedandtoxicsources.Tothisend,aswithMs.Sneddonspreviousventurewhichresulted
intheseveringofconnectionswiththeIndependent,itappearsthatImustextendthesesanctionstoanyother
publicationorinstitutionwithwhichsheclaimstobeassociated.Surely,givenmyresponsetotheearlierincident,this
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cannotbeanentirelyunexpectedoutcome.Ireallyhavenointerestinthiswoman,inhertomymindpretended
outrage,orinhercareer.Idontimaginethatmylifewillbegreatlyimpoverishedbyneverhearingofherorhaving
anythingtodowithheragain.
This,Ithink,leavesusonlywiththeherpeslikepersistenceofGrantMorrisonhimself.
Thefirsttimethisnamepassedbrieflythroughtheforefrontofmyconsciousnessbeforeswiftlymakingitswaytothe
latrineareawouldhavebeenatsomepointintheearlytomideighties.AsIremember,IwasinGlasgowforasigning
atlocalcomicsoutletAKABooks,althoughforasigningofwhatIcouldntpossiblytellyou.BobandJohn,theproprietors,
bothverylikeableandhonourableindividuals,weretakingmeforadinnerat(Ithink)oneofGlasgowsmanyfinecurry
establishments,andaskedifaregularvisitortotheirshopwhohadaspirationsasawritermightbeallowedtojoinus.
SinceIlikedandrespectedbothofthemandhadnoreasontosupposethatanyoftheirassociateswouldprovetobeina
differentcategory,Ireadilyagreed.Theywere,afterall,payingforthemeal,andanextraguestpresentedno
inconveniencetome.Ofcourse,withhindsight
AttherestaurantIwasintroducedtoGrantMorrison.IcantsayIrememberhimmakinganyparticularlyvividor
lastingimpressionontheoccasion,intermsofhisappearance.AllIcanreconstructatthisdistanceisablurredimageof
asoberlydressedandsmallishmanwithtidycollarlengthhairandnoremarkableormemorablefeaturesbeyonda
generalpastinessofcomplexion,perhapsfourorfiveyearsyoungerthanImyselfwasatthetime,althoughthisagegap
seemstohavesomehowincreasedsincethen.Astohisconversation,hewasquiteforthcominginhispraiseformywork,
tellingmehowmuchinspirationithadprovidedandaddingthatitwashisambitiontobeacomicwriter,likeyou.
Lookingbackfrommypresentposition,itstrikesmethatImayhaveonlyimaginedthattherewasacommainthatlast
statement,butatthetimeItookitatfacevalue.Ithankedhimforhiscompliments(asIrecallhedbeenmosteffusive
withregardtoVforVendetta,despitethatmightaswellcallitarapeinthefirstepisode),encouragedhiminhis
effortsasmuchasIcouldwithouthavingseenanyexamplesofhisoutput,andtoldhimthatIdlookoutforhisworkin
future.Shortofperhapsadoptinghimonthespotasmywardandratherelderlyboysidekick,IdontseewhatmoreI
canbeexpectedtohavedoneforacompletestrangeronsuchabriefacquaintance,althoughitmaybethathecamefrom
abackgroundwithadifferentsetofexpectationsandthusfeltslightedinsomewaybytheencounter.Certainlyhegave
noindicationofthisatthetime,andImonlyspeculatingbaseduponwhatIperceiveashissubsequentpeculiarand
creepybehaviour.
Thenexttimehisnamearosewouldhavebeen,Ithink,aroundthetimethatmyrelationshipwithDezSkinnand
Warriormagazinewasbeginningtoenteritsdownslopes.AsIremembertheoccasion,IwasapproachedbySkinn
withanonspecsubmissionfromGrantMorrison,aKidMarvelmanstoryasIrecall,whichwhileIhadnothingagainst
thestoryoritsauthordidnotfitintothestorylinewhichIwasattemptingtoestablish.Additionally,Iwastheauthor
solelyresponsibleforMarvelmansreinventionandwasaspuzzledbySkinnsactionsasImsureSteveMoorewould
havebeenifpresentedwithascriptforaspinoffZirkstorybyanuntestednewwriter.IheldnoneofthisagainstGrant
Morrison,andsimplytoldSkinntoexplaintohimthatthestorydidntfitwithmyplansforthecharacter.Asintimated
above,IwasalreadystartingtoformulateanimpressionofSkinnasaduplicitousanduntrustworthyhustlerbythis
point,andforallIknowhisinitialstatement(viaLanceParkinsbook)totheeffectthathedcalledMorrisonand
informedhimthatIdrejectedthestoryoutofmygrowingpossessivenessandparanoiamaybe,uncharacteristically,a
trueone,atleastinasmuchasitmaybeatruthfulaccountofthedistortionsthatSkinnwastradinginatthetime.Ican
saywithsomedegreeofcertainty,however,thatGrantMorrisonscolourfulaccountofthethreateningletterwhichhe
purportedtohavereceivedfrommeonthesubjectisentirelytheinventionofsomeonewhosedesperateneedfor
attentionisevidentlybottomless.FromSkinnslessthansmoothrevisionofhisaccountinordertosynchronisehisnotes
withMorrisonslaterpublicityploy,Icanonlyassumethatthesetwoindividualsareinapproximatelythesamebracket
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intermsoftheirmoraloutlook(ImtoldthatSkinnapparentlysellsmyoldMarvelmanscriptstocollectors,
presumablywhenheneedsadditionalpinmoney),andthattherewasthusagreatmutualsympathybetweenthem.
Anyway,sinceagainnothingwasraisedatthetimeofthesenonexistentevents,Icontinuedonmycoursewithno
knowledgeofthemandthusnoreasontobearanyillwilltowardssomeonewho,inallhonesty,wasnotreallyimpinging
onmyawarenesstoanynoticeabledegreeonewayortheother.
Itwasanunspecifiedamountoftimelater,perhapsfurthertowardsthemiddleeighties,whenIhadceasedtobe
connectedwithWarriorandwasalreadysomewayintomyrunonD.CComicsSwampThing,thatInoticeda
superherostripwrittenbyGrantMorrisonin2000AD,aperiodicalwhichIwasonlyintermittentlylookingatduring
thisperiod.Ifolloweditfortwoorthreeepisodes,notingthatitseemedtohavebeeninfluencedinseveralofitsideas
andapproachesbymyownworkonMarvelmanandCaptainBritain.Sinceeverybeginningwriterprobablyshows
unduesignsofinfluenceduringtheirearlycareer,Ididntreallyseethisasafaultatall,andcertainlynotan
insurmountableone.Ireasonedthatoncehedfoundhisownvoice(asitturnsout,anoveroptimisticassessment)he
mightprovetobeaninterestingwriter.SinceatthistimeIwasstillongoodtermswithatleastKarenBerger,andhad
onlycomparativelyrecentlypassedontohertheworkofNeilGaimanafterhedinterviewedmeforamensmagazine,
shedaskedmetorecommendtoheranyothernewBritishwritersofinterestwhoseworkIhappenedtochanceupon.I
mentionedGrantMorrison,describinghimassomeonestillveryinfluencedbymyworkwhocouldwithtimeemergeas
aninterestingindividualtalentinhisownright,justasNeilGaimanhadmanagedtodo.WhileIhavenoideawhether
myrecommendationplayedanypartatallinthedecisiontosubsequentlyemployMorrison,Icantseethatthatitwould
havehurt.
Shortlyafterthis,asIwasnolongerreallyengagedwiththeBritishfanzinescene(asIrecalltheredbeenacoupleof
lettersattackingmeasanindividualbyoverentitledsuperherofans,whichatthetimeIfoundtobeacompellingreason
tosevermyconnectionswiththatmilieu),Ihadcalledtomyattentionanumberofunpleasantcommentsand
insinuationsregardingmeandmyworkwhichGrantMorrisonwasmakinginthepromotionalplatform/fanzinecolumn
thathewasselflesslyprovidingforoneofthesepublications.ThiswassomewhatannoyingandIconcluded,not
unreasonablyinmyopinion,thatthiswasevidentlysomepallidspeciesofcareertapewormthatonemightperhaps
expecttopickupintheparasiteinfestedwatersofthecomicbusinessafamehungryindividualwithoutthetalent
necessarytosatisfyhisinflatedambitionswhohaddecidedtoconnecthimselfwithmynamebysimultaneously
borrowingheavilyfrommyworkandmakingstudiedlycontroversialstatementsaboutmeincomicbookfanzines
gratefulforanyfreecontentfromsupposedprofessionals.IdecidedthatthebestthingIcoulddoaboutthisneedy
limpetwastoignorehimandeverythingconnectedwithhim,reasoningthatacknowledginghisexistencebyreplyingto
hisallegationswouldonlybeassistinghisstrenuousscrabblefornotoriety,andwouldbeinvolvingmeinadebatewith
somefeverishlyfixatednonentity(wedidnthavethewordstalkerbackthen)inwhomIhadabsolutelynointerest.I
avoidedhiswork,whichseemednogreathardshipastherewasnorealreasontorevisitideasthatitappearedeither
MichaelMoorcockorIhadformulatedseveralyearsearlier.Ontherareoccasionswhenhisnamecameupin
interviews,IwouldgivetheformulareplythatsinceIdidntreadorhaveanyopinionsabouthiswork,itwouldbe
unfairformetocommentuponit.Itwasmyhopethatthistacticmighteventuallypersuademyownpersonal18th
centurymedicinalleechtoclamphimselfontosomemorepromisingandresponsivesubject,butitsbeenaroundthirty
yearsbynowandIamseriouslystartingtodoubttheeffectivenessofmyownstrategy.Imfranklybeginningtofeelasif
somemoreconclusiveapproachmightbecalledfor.
ApossiblereasonforMorrisonsexcruciatingperseverancewastobefoundsomeyearslaterinanotherfanzine
contributionthatIhadpointedouttome,thistimeaninterviewintheAmericanComicsJournalwherehediscussed
hisearlyreactiontomywork.Bythisjuncturehisappreciationhadevidentlymovedonfromthemereinspiration
whichheclaimedtohavefoundinmyworkduringouronlyconversationinaGlaswegiancurryhouse,totheremarkable
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statementthathehadexperiencedsuchastrongresponsetomyearlystoriesthathedfelt,inasense,thattheywere
actuallyhisstories.Whilethiswouldexplainwhyhedfeltatlibertytoplunderthemforideas,IfeelImustpointout
thatinthelimitedtechnicalsenseofthingsthatreallyhappenedintherealworld,thosewereactuallymystories,werent
they?Laterinthesameinterview,hereflecteduponthoseearlyyearsofstruggleanduponthefrustrationshedknown
uponrealisingthathestillwasntfamousenough(fameseeminglybeingthewholepointofhiscareer,ratherthansay
thedevelopmentofadistinctivevoiceortalent).Allegedlyitwasatthispointthattheyoungauthor,presumablylacking
theoptionofattractingattentionbymeansoforiginalandwellwrittenstories,decidedthatitwouldbeeasiertogain
statusbysmearingmynamefromthesafetyofhisfanzinecolumns.Heexpressedsomemildregretthatthishadfor
somereasonledtomenotwantinganythingtodowithhim,butinvalidationofhisunusualmethodforattainingfame
withoutnoticeableability,hepointedoutthatithadworked.Theend,atleastintheMorrisonhousehold,wouldalways
seemtojustifythemeans.Andalthoughhecertainlyimpliedthathedonlyemployedthisuglytechniqueduringhis
disadvantagedentryintothefield,asfarasIcantellheneveractuallystatedinsomanywordsthathedstopped,orthat
hedeverhadenoughimaginationtoengineeranothermeansofdrawingattentiontohimselfandhisotherwise
unrewardingproduct.IpresumethatintheworldwhichGrantMorrisonandhisfellowmediocritiesinhabit,wherethe
worthofonesworkisaremoteconsiderationafteronesbankbalanceanddegreeofcelebrity,thesemethodsareseenas
completelylegitimateoreveninsomewayentertaining.
Itappearsthatheneverdevelopedtoadegreewherehefelthecouldsafelyabandoneitherhissnipingcriticismsofmy
workorhisHappyShopperemulationofthesame.Iremembersomeseveralmonthsaftermyannouncementofthe
fractalmathematicsbasedBigNumbers,orTheMandelbrotSetasitwasoriginallyknown,Ihadsomeonecallmy
attentiontoaMandelbrotsetthathadbeenspuriouslyshoehornedintotheplotofanissueofGrantMorrisons
superherocomicAnimalMan.Thismay,admittedly,havebeennomorethantrivialandunimportantcoincidence,and
yetoverthenextyearorsoitwouldcomemoreandmoretolooklikeMorrisonssolecreativestrategyandanobvious
extensionofhisstrangeIfelttheywerereallymyideasethos.IrememberEddieCampbelladvancingthetheorythat
GrantMorrisonhadarrivedatmostofhispublishedworksaroundthistimebyreadingmyearlypressreleases
concerningprojectswhichitwouldtakemeyearstocompleteandthenrushingintoprintwithhislimitedconceptionof
whathethoughtmyworkmightendupbeinglike.IannounceFromHellandinshortorderhehastheideafora
comicstripaccountofahistoricalserialmurderer.IannounceLostGirls,alengthyeroticworkinvolvingcharacters
fromfiction,andwithinafewmonthshehassomehowmanagedtoconceptualiseaVertigominiseriesalongexactly
thoselines.WhatIatfirstbelievedtobetheactionsofanordinarycomicbusinesscareerplagiaristcametotakeon
worryingaspectsofcargocultism,asifthisfunnylittlemanbelievedthatbysimplyduplicatingallofmyactions,
whetherheunderstoodthemornot,hecouldsomehowbecomemeandduplicatemysuccess.Itwouldappearthatatone
stage,asanexample,hehadconcludedthatthesecrettobeingabigtimeacclaimedcomicwriterwastobefoundin
havingamemorablehairstyle.Perhapsunsurprisingly,thepossessionoftalent,hardearnedcraftorevenhisownideas
wouldseemnevertohaveoccurredtohim.
Havingremovedmyselfasmuchaspossiblefromacomicscenethatseemedmoretheprovinceofposturingwouldbe
popstarsthanpeoplewithagenuinerespectforthemselves,theircraftorthemediuminwhichtheywereworking,I
couldonlymarvelwhenthecustomaryseveralmonthsafterIdannouncedmyownentryintooccultismandthe
visionaryepisodewhichIbelievedSteveMooreandmyselftohaveexperiencedinJanuary,1994,GrantMorrison
apparentlyhadhisownmysticalvisionanddecidedthathetoowouldbecomeamagician.(ItwasntuntilIreadLance
ParkinsbiographythatIlearnedthatasaresultofMorrisonsapparentlyunwitnessedmagicalepiphanyhehadboldly
decidedtopursueavisionarypathofmaterialismandhedonism.CouldIpointoutforthebenefitofanyonewhomay
havebeentakingthisidioticshitseriouslythatthisdoesntsoundsomuchlikeamysticalvisionasitdoesanepisodeof
TheOnlyWayIsEssex?Howdoesthismagicaldisciplineandphilosophydifferinanywayfromtherapacious
ThatcheriteideologiesofthedecadeinwhichGrantMorrisonwriggledhiswaytoprominence?)Imreliablyinformed
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thathehasrecentlymadetheunprecedentedmoveofexpressinghisdissatisfactionwiththesuperheroindustry,ifonly
becausethereisntasmuchmoneyinitasthereusedtobe,andIimaginethatthereisaverystronglikelihoodthathe
willcontrivetodiewithinfourtosixmonthsofmyowndemise,afterleavingpredateddocumentstestifyingtothefact
thatheactuallypredeceasedme.
Throughtheearlyyearsofthispresentcentury,ashesomehowmanagedtoperpetuatehiscareerseeminglywithoutthe
accomplishmentofanymajorormemorableworks,heapparentlystillfounditnecessarytokeepuphisrunning
commentaryonmeandmywritingsthroughthevery21stcenturymediumofaselfaggrandisingwebsite.Iwould
occasionallyhaveeasilyamusedindustryassociatesinsistuponpassingonhislatesthilarioussliverofWildeanwit,
havingconceivedofnoearthlyreasonwhyIshouldntfinditasribticklingastheyhadevidentlydone.AsIrecallthere
wasaparticularlyamusingpiecewherehedsuggestedIshouldputanakedpictureofmyselfonthefrontcoverof
Prometheabecausehe(probablycorrectly)assumedthatheandhisdiscerningreadershipwouldverymuchliketosee
aimageofmytodger.(ForAmericanreaders,Ishouldperhapsexplainthatthisisacuddly,stuffedtoysounding
euphemismusedbyBritishpeoplewhoaretoowellbroughtuptoresorttowordslikecockorevenpenis.)WhileI
understandthatthereisalargesectionofthesuperherocomicbookcommunitywhocanseenothingatallunusualin
onemanbeingunabletostoptalkingaboutanother,noreveninmakingajocularrequesttobeallowedtolookathis
genitals,theyshouldprobablybemadeawarethatfromtherecipientsperspectivethiswillobviouslystarttolooklikea
genuineandlongsustainedclammyinfatuationwhichis(barely)sublimatingitssexualcomponentinsaucyCarryOn
stylebanter.Itbecamedifficultnottoseethisdecadeslongcampaignoftryingtoattractmyattentionassomekindof
grotesquelyprotractedschoolboycrush,orasaformofthwartedandentirelyunwantedlove.
ThisgrowingimpressionwasonlyaccentuatedasInearedtheendofmyrunontheAmericasBestComicstitles
whenIwascalledbyacolleaguewhohappenedtoberelatedbymarriagetooneofGrantMorrisonsartisticcollaborators
andassociates.ItseemedthatGrantMorrisonhadinsistedonemployingthesethirdandfourthpartiesinorderto
reachouttomeandaskifwecouldntperhapsbefriends.Now,Iunderstandthattoacertainstrataofthepeople
readingthis,myreactionofappalledincredulitywillonlyprovidemoreevidenceofmyapparentlyunfathomableand
wildlyeccentricnature,butthisreallyisnthowmenintheirfiftiesbehaveintheworldthatIcomefrom.WhywouldI
conceivablywanttobethefriendofsomeonewhohadneverevenpreviouslybeenanacquaintance,whomIdonly
previouslyevermetwhenheinveigledhiswayintoamealwithassociatesinordertoseeifIcouldhelphimwithhis
career,andwhohadsubsequentlyorchestratedacampaignofabusefortheselfconfessedpurposeofmakinghimself
famouswithoutrecoursetoanythingdifficultlikeeffortorability?WhenIraisedthesequestions,itwassuggestedthat
GrantMorrisonhimselfmightarguethathewasjustbeingabitJohnnyRottenabitPunkRock,towhichIpointed
outthatasfarasIwasawareJohnLydonhailsfromaworkingclassbackground,andthatbyhisownadmissionGrant
MorrisonhadspentmostofthePunkerainhisroomforfearofbeingspokentoroughlybysomeuncouthpersonwitha
pinkMohawkandaU.K.Substshirt.ImafraidIdidntseehowappealingtocompletelyunearnedteenrebel
credentialsmadeanydifferencetothespoiledchildbehaviourofadeeplyunpleasantmiddleagedman,andtherefore
oncemoredeclinedtheinvitationtowhiskhimofftomyBatcavesothatwecouldsolvemysteriestogether,perhapsin
todgerrevealingtights.Iremainedbewilderedastowhatkindofpersoncouldhavemadesuchovertures,decidingthat
ifitwasntanextremecaseofparentallyencouragedentitlementthenitmightpossiblybesomethinglikeclinical
narcissism,shadingintoactualdelusion.Ineitherinstance,thiswasevidentlysomeonewhoIdidntwantanywhere
nearme,andwhoIcouldneverhaveanyreasontonoticeortakeaninterestinifhewasnt,metaphoricallyspeaking,
continuallymasturbatingonmydoorstep.
Somefewmonthsaftertheseappealstoapotentialbromance,InoticedareviewofabookbyGrantMorrisoninwhich,
seeminglyunabletostopmentioningmeevenwhenhesmovedontoasuperficiallymoregrownupmedium,he
mischievouslycitestheapparentlypoorsalesofBigNumbersasthereasonformyreturntosuperherocomics.This
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book,fromwhatIunderstandapaeantothesignificanceofbothGrantMorrisonhimselfandthefranchisedsuperheroes
ownedbyhismajoremployers,wouldprobablyhavebeenintheproofstagesaroundthetimethathewasmakinghis
conciliatoryapproaches,anothertestamenttothesincerityofboththemanandhiswork.ItwasatthispointthatI
decidedamorestringentantibacterialattitudetobothhimandthemoderncomicsceneenvironmentinwhichhe
appearstoflourishhadbecomenecessary.Withoutpublicfuss,IbegantoinformpublishersofGrantMorrisonswork,
startingwithJonathanCape,thattheyshouldneithercontactmenorsendmeanyoftheirmerchandiseinfuture.
GiventhedistancethatIhadalreadywithdrawnfromcomicscenematters,itseemedprobablethatIdalsohavelittle
difficultyinquietlydisengagingmyselffromanypeoplewhoconsideredthemselvesafriend,collaboratororclose
associateofhis,andinthiswayfurtherquarantinemyselffromaworldinwhichIhaventbeeninterestedforalong
time,justincaseanyonehadntnoticed.Theannouncementsometimelaterthatourneopunkfirebrandhadaccepted
anM.B.Efromthecurrentpaupercullingcoalitiongovernment,naturally,onlyconfirmedmeinthewisdomofmy
decision:IdontwanttoassociatewithpeopleIconsidertobemassivelyprivilegedTories,norwithanyonewhodoesnt
seeanythingwrongindoingso.Iparticularlywishtoavoidallofthosewhohavestruckrebelliousorradicalposeswhile
alwaysremainingcarefulnottooffendtheiremployersortomakeanykindofmoralorpoliticalstatementthatmaylater
jeopardisetheircareerprospectsalloftherebelswithoutascratch.
Ithinkthisbringsusprettymuchuptowherewecamein,withmearrivingatthelaunchofMagicWordshavingread
mywouldbefriendGrantMorrisonscharacterisationofmeasawriterwitharapeineverysingleserieshesever
written.Andthen,afterwhathadseemedagenuinelypleasantevent,beingmadeawareoftheuproarorchestratedby
thepersonsdealtwithabove(oncemoreexemptingtheAmericanphotographerwhoIfeelmayhaveagenuine
grievancewhichisinmyopinionmisdirectedinthisinstance,althoughsheisofcourseentitledtothinkotherwise).I
hopethefactthatImansweringatsuchwearyinglengthovertheChristmasperioditsnowthe27thdemonstrates
theseriousnesswithwhichIamtakingyourquestionspossiblyafargreaterdegreeofseriousnessthanmanyofthose
whooriginallyposedthem.ItmightalsoindicatetoaperceptivereaderthatIwouldntbedoingthis,atmyadvanced
age,ifIhadanyintentionofdoingthisoranythingremotelylikeiteveragain.Whilemanyofyouhavebeenjustifiably
relaxingwithyourfamiliesorlovedones,Ihavebeenansweringallegationsaboutmyobsessionwithrape,andre
answeringseveralyearoldquestionswithregardtomyperceivedracism.Idontimaginethatanyonewhohasbeen
followingmycareertoevenacursoryextentwillbeinanydoubtregardinghowImlikelytorespondtothat,givenmy
considerablepreviousforminsuchunwelcomesituations.
Asalreadystated,anypublishers,friends,artisticcollaboratorsorothercloseassociatesofGrantMorrisonorLaura
Sneddonshouldnotapproachmeinfuture.Furthertothis,anyperiodicalsorinstitutionswhichpublishorhave
publishedinterviewswithGrantMorrisonshouldsimilarlynotattempttocontactme.Tobebrutallyhonest,Idpreferit
if,aswiththeBeforeWatchmenrecreators,theirassociatesandtheirreaders,admirersofGrantMorrisonswork
wouldpleasestopreadingmine,asIdontthinkitfairthatmyrespectandaffectionformyownreadershipshouldbe
compromisedinanywaybypeoplethatIlargelybelievetobeshallowandundiscriminating.Sofarsopredictable,
perhaps,butanoutcryovermyappearanceataneventwhichImyselfhadnotseenasbeingspecificallycomicrelated
suggeststhatthesemeasuresaregoingbynomeansfarenough.Ifmycommentsoropinionsaregoingtoprovokesuch
stormsofupset,thenconsideringthatImyselfamlookingtoseverelyconstraintheamountoftimeIspendwith
interviewsandmyalreadyveryoccasionalappearances,itwouldlogicallybebetterforeveryoneconcerned,notleast
myself,ifIweretostopissuingthosecommentsandopinions.BetterthatIletmyworkspeakforme,whichisallIve
truthfullyeverwantedorexpected,bothasawriterandasareaderofotherauthorswork.IveneverpresumedthatI
shouldhaveaccesstomyfavouriteauthorslivesor,indeed,toanythingmorethanthatpartofthemselveswhichtheyve
expressedthroughthemediumofthewordsonthepage.Tothisend,onceIvesatisfiedmycurrentcommitments,I
shallmoreorlesscurtailspeakingengagementsandnonperformanceappearances,certainlyincludingallofferstotalk
oncomicrelatedmattersorinacomicrelatedcontext.Likewise,whileIshallprobablystilldoacoupleofrigorously
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selectedinterviewsandperhapsalimitedsigningatthelaunchofanynewbooks(sincemyworthyandexcellent
collaboratorsandpublishersshouldntbedisadvantagedintermsofpublicity,althoughformyownpartImnotthat
bothered),itwouldbemuchmoreconvenientifIjustrejectedrequestsforinterviewsunlessImyselfsawsome
especiallygoodreasontodootherwise.IsupposewhatImsayinghereisthatasIentertheseventhdecadeofmylife,I
nolongerwishthatlifetobeapubliconetothesameextentthatithasbeen.Asfarasthesigningsandpublic
appearancesgo,whileIhaveovertheyearsfoundthevastmajorityofmyaudiencetobethenicestandmostintelligent
peoplethatanywritercouldhopefor,sinceBeforeWatchmenIvealreadyceasedsigningcopiesofanyworksthatI
donotown,whichisofcoursemostofthemuptoandincludingtheA.B.C.titleswiththeexceptionofTheLeagueof
ExtraordinaryGentlemen.Idontkeepcopiesofthesebooksaroundorreallyhaveanygoodreasontothinkabout
them,andansweringquestionsaboutthemorsigningcopiesofthem,whileIllsometimesmakeanexceptionfora
particularlydeservingcase,issomethingthatIcannolongerdowithanygenuineenthusiasm.
Thismayseemlikeadisproportionateresponse,butforthirtyyearsIhavehadtopatientlyendurethecravenandbitchy
hostilityofsomeonewho,whenIbothertothinkofhimatall,IthinkofasaScottishtributeband.Whileheisclearlynot
theonlyreasonwhyIhavecometofeelactualrevulsionforthegreaterpartoftodayscomicworld,hehasprobablydone
morethananyothersingleindividualtofoulitsatmosphereandmakeitunbreathablewithhisongoingreeking
incontinenceandthat,believeme,isinafieldwherehehasenjoyedagreatdealofvigorouscompetition.Thereare
perhapsadozenorsopeopleintheindustrythatIrespectimmenselyandwithwhomIamdelightedtobothworkand
remainincontact,buttherestofitisacomicworldthatIdontwishtotakeanypartinaworldoffleetingminor
celebritieswhohavemanagedtomakethismagnificentmediumintoasourceoflucrativecommercialproductthatis
sociallyacceptabletothepointofbeingneutered,orelseintostyleaccessoriesbywhichotherwisesociallycautiousand
conventionalpeopleandpublishersperhapshopetofosteranairofedgymodernity.DuringtheBeforeWatchmen
debacle,althoughIwastouchedandsurprisedbytheresponsefromanumberofthereadersandretailers,Ireceived
onlytwolettersexpressingsupportfromanywherewithinanindustrythatevidentlyhasaslittleconcernformeasIhave
forit.Itshardtoseehowmywithdrawalisgoingtogreatlyinconvenienceanyone,andGrantMorrisonwillhavefinally
vindicatedallthoselongyearsofeffortbyatlastgettingmyfullattentionforafewhours.Imyselfwillbeabletogeton
withmyworkwithoutinterruption,whichIthinkissomethingthatImentitledtodoafteralltheseyears,andindeed
partofthelengthofthisresponsemightbelikenedtosomeonetakingtheirtimeaboutunwrappingalongpostponed
andveryspecialbirthdaypresenttothemselves.Thetruthmayormaynotsetusfree,butImhopingthatblanket
excommunicationandutterindifferencewillgosomeconsiderablewaytodoingthetrick.
OnthefinalpointofmyreferencetoGordonBrownasabipolarcyclops,Iconcedethatthismayhavebeen
thoughtlessandIapologiseforanyoffenceunnecessarilycausedbymyremark.Ihavegoodfriendswhosufferfrom
bipolardisorders.IneveryinstancetheyareamongthemostmotivatedandcapablepeoplethatIhaveevermet,andmy
commentwasntintendedtodenigrateeitherthemoranyonewhoshareswhatIknowisadebilitatingandsometimes
unbearablecondition.Myfailedattemptathumourwasaleastpartlybornofamisunderstandingconcerningcurrent
attitudes:IdperhapsfiguredthatmyownmonocularandPolyphemuslikequalitiesmightgetmeapassontheeye
business,whileIdperhapsexpectedamorerobustfieldofdiscussiononmentalhealthissuesafterthemanypublished
commentsaboutmyownageandconcomitantderangement,suchasthelasttimeIwentbeyondparanoidinacrazy
oldmanrant.Idontrememberhearingaboutwavesofprotestonthoseoccasions,butthatisnttosaythattheymaynot
havehappened.InthecaseofGordonBrown,Iwastryingtosuggestthatwhilethisconditioninitselfisonetobe
treatedwithunderstandingandcompassion,itwasperhapsnotthebestpossiblesituationtohaveanundisclosed
sufferergoverningthenation.Still,ifthatswhatIwastryingtosayitwasclumsilyexpressedforthesakeofafunny
conversationalsoundbite,whichisirresponsible.Again,Isincerelyapologise,andthereductionoffutureinterviewsand
appearancesshouldpreventitfromhappeningagain.
21/27
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LanceParkin'sMagicWords:
AnEveningwithAlanMoore
ATranscription
In"2013"
SteveMoore19492014:A
PersonalAppreciation
In"2014"
Badges?WeDon'tNeedNo
SteenkingBadges!
In"2014"
341responsestoLastAlanMooreInterview?
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Anon.
February1,2014at9:46pm
TLDR.Mooreisloquacioustoafault.
Reply
brainsgambino
22/27
1/24/2015
hesomehowmanagedtoperpetuatehiscareerseeminglywithouttheaccomplishmentofanymajorormemorable
works
Umm
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ANDREWWHETTER
Alancannotseeanyreasonwhylethalnonsexualviolenceshouldbeprivilegedoversexualviolence.
Allowmetotrythisthoughtout:thepowersthatbedonthavecalltoincitepeopletocommitrapeforthembut
theydosometimeshavecalltoincitepeopletocommitmurderforthem,i.e.thedeplorableconceitofmakingwar.
AsIsay,justathoughtImtryingout,Ihaveafeelingitsactuallyamuchdeeperreason.
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Sam
Well,thatseverybodyintheworldtold.
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MichaelPetalengro
March17,2014at10:31pm
Look,youknowAlanMoorehasjustdeletedGrantMorrisson
Reply
GregoryLannom
March19,2014at1:20pm
Well,IhaveenjoyedsomeofGrantMorrisonswork,IappreciateTheInvisiblesforexamplebutnotbecauseitsa
goodreadthatmakessensebutbecauseofhowtrippyitis.AndwhilesomeofMooresaccusationstowards
Morrisonarewarranted,IthinkMoorepresentedtoMorrisonarolemodelandifMooretriedoutmagic,Iguessit
madesenseforMorrisontotryitout,althoughinadifferentdirection,butitalsohasthesmelloftheapetoit.The
problemwithMorrisonsPopMagicisititselfisinspiredbyAustinOsmanSparessigilmagicktechniques,
whichbringsusaroundtowhetherMorrisonisahackwhosetsdowntowritethinkingWhatWouldAlanMoore
Do?NeilGaiman,inBlackOrchidandthefirstfewissuesofSandmanwasclearlytryingtoemulateMoore,with
goodreasons,buthewasmostsuccessfulwhenhefoundhisownvoice.IdothinkMorrisonhasavoiceofhisown,
butMorrisonalsobelongstoalegionofcreators,JKRowlingincluded,whotakethingsthathaveworkedbeforeand
createsuccessfulworksthatdontoffermuchnew.TheHarryPotterreferencesinCentury:2009aretoshowthat
theideaofaboywizardarentnewtofiction.
RegardingthestuntedconditionofBatmanScholars,whichIconsidermyselfasyes,therearepeopleoutthere,
manyofthemmiddleagedmenwhohaveneverbeenkissed,withpaunchesandhygieneissuesandacomicbook
teeshirtcollectionwhoprobablyarentabletodigestorunderstandcomplexstimuli,likeActofFaith,whichI
haventseenbutwhichMooredescribesindetailsoIgetit.Soyeah,itslikelythedudeinquestionhadamirror
helduptohissituation,wasnotabletoprocessitandlashedoutbyactinglikerapeshouldntbeincludedinfunny
books.JustlikescholarlyresourceslikeEntertainmentWeeklyhasrecentlybemoanedwhytheressomuchviolence
againstwimmininteeveeshows.Well,therealityisthatsexualandnonsexualviolenceagainstwomenisoutof
controlaroundtheworldandpretendingitdoesntexistonlyallowstheholocaustasMooreputsitcontinue.
WhereMoorehasitwrongaboutsuperheroesistheroletheyhaveplayedandcontinuetoplayintheWesternWorld,
especiallysuchaspiritualincompetentcultureasUhmurkah.WhichIunderstandcompletely,becauseasareal
occultist/magicianwitharichspirituallife,whohasconsortedwithdemonshedoesntneedanysubstitutemyths
toreplacetherealMcCoy.Buttoacountrythatwasformedasasecularentitytoavoidreligiousfanaticismand
hysteriaasfoundintheOldWorldandwithahistoryofracismandgenocideandgreedandreligioushypocrisy,
Uhmurkahwasacountrythatdesperatelyneedednewmythstotrytoteachhowtobecivilized.Weneedheroesand
rolemodelsanditsbecausetheUSAissounbalancedthatoneofitsmostpopularheroesisamanthatdressesasa
bat.ItwasfoundedbyimmigrantsfromEuropemostlyoriginallywhomEuropedidntwantinthefirstplace,who,
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inabandoningtothemostpartthecustomsandtraditionsoftheirforefathers,whotheythemselvesabandonedtheir
ancestralwaysinfavorofamiddleeasternsungodsotheycouldjointheClubofRome,wouldntknowwhata
properreligionwasifitmasturbatedonitsdoorstop.ChristianityitselfinUhmurahhastoshapeshifteveryfew
decadestoberelevantandtheideathatgreed,homophobia,racismandwantonwarmongeringhasanythingtodo
withwhatJesuscommandedthemtodomakesthecommentsoftheaverageBatmanscholarseemlikerevelations
(punintended).SofortheUSA,clingingtosuperheroesstillprovidesforsomeofusourownGreekHeroesfrom
mythsbecausegodknowsourreligionshavedonedishwatertoprovidethatforus.Theyveonlycreatedmoresuper
villains.Now,thisisntanexcuse,butthereasonwhysuperheroesarestillrelevant.UntiltheUSAcanlookatits
stuntedmindsetinthemirror,itsthebestwecando.
Selah
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bergjunge
April8,2014at2:29pm
IdonotwanttocommentanyofMooresegodrivenandquiteunconsciousrants.
Ialsodonotwanttogetintoanunnecessarythisartistisbetterthancomparisonthingslikethatmighthave
theirvaluewhenitcomestohiphop/rapbattles,otherwiseitistimetoacknowledge
therelativityofallpointsofview.
ButIfinditverycuriousthathere(aswellasinothermedia)isscarcelyanyreferencetotheimportanceofthe
essenceofMorrisonswork/ideas/experiences.
Hisstyle,theabilitytointerweavepersonalconflicts/desires/fears/etc.withhiscreativeexpressions,takingthe
gametometastagesandmanyothergiftsasideTherearentmanyhumanmindswhoareabletoexpresstheir
experienceswithevolutionaryalteredstagesoftheconsciousnesswithsuchbeauty(althoughtherearesomeothers,
whomanagedtodoitmoreclearly.Butconsideringthedifficultiestouseourabsoluteinsufficientwaytoshare
informationviasymbolslimitedtotheusuallyquiterestrictedthirdcircuit,todescribetheindescribable,heis
doingawonderfuljob.).
Theliberationoftheoldegocentricstateofmind,thedeepunderstandingofthewholenessandconnectionof
everything,therelativityofeveryseeminglyfixedposition,thefluentandchangingcharacterofrealityandtherefore
ofpersona,gendersandphysicalstatesareinthegreathistoryofbrighthumanflowerssuchasBuddha,Robert
AntonWilson,FritjoffKapraorEckartTolle(Ihaveobviouslychosenquiteadifferentrowtoillustratethediversity
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ofexistingsignposts)
Nottoforgethissenseofhumor,theabilitytofocusontheuniversalsmallbutegohugedramasofourbeing
Itskindnessandordinarygoodnessthatstandoutintheend.
Edith
IdidnthavesuchexperiencesorenlighteningimpulsesbyMooreswork,althoughtherearesometimescasual
glimpsesofsuchawarenessdespitehisselfnominationasamagician.Thishappensinmanyexpressionsby
differentartistswithoutdeeperunderstanding,ifonejustlookthoroughlyenough.
Mooreisagood,butratherstraightforwardstorytellerwithhisbasealwayscenteredinalogicalsystemwithoutthe
transformations,timeandconscioushoppingaspectsofourrealityasexperiencedbymystics/mageickansand
physicistsbothalike.
(sorryforanymistakes,grammarandintricateexpressionfrommysideIreallylovetheEnglishlanguage,but
thereisstillalottolearn)
Reply
peterburnett.info
April24,2014at8:40pm
Rebloggedthison_()_/andcommented:
InsanelyLongButOneoftheMostSatisfyingBlogPostsofAllTime
Reply
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MattGreen(@MattJAGreen)
June1,2014at4:23pm
Readingthisinterview,Iwanttoweep.Thatamansokindandgenerous,whohasspentalifetimegenuinely
workingtomaketheworldabetterplace,bothlocallyandglobally,feelscompelledtospendsomuchtimedefending
himselfoveraccusationsandimplicationsthatareasungroundedastheyareillconsideredisdeeplysaddening.This
isnttheplacetogointodetailedreadingsofhisprolificoutput,whichIhavespentyearsresearching,buttosuggest
thateitherMooreorhisworkisracistorsexistrequiresserioushermeneuticacrobaticsandsustainedactsofwillful
blindness.Nohumanbeingandnoworkofartisflawless,butAlanMooreisaninspirationandhisworksareworks
ofgenius.
Reply
DavidJones
June19,2014at8:19am
LovedMorrisonsInvisibles,butnotbecauseitwasparticularlywellwritten.Hatedmostofhisrecentstuffbecauseit
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1/24/2015
wassobadlyoverwritten.HiswholePopMagickshtickisajoke.AOSreallydidntspendallhistimewanking!Ifyou
wanttounderstandresultsmagick,theresRamseyDukesorRaySherwin,oreven(godshelpusall)PeterCarroll.
ImalsoslightlysaddenedthatMrMoorehashadtowastesomuchtimeexplaininghimselftopeoplewhoare
unwillingorunabletograsphismeaningsfromthebooksthemselves.IdmuchratherreadMorrisonsprobably
evenmorelengthyapologiaforbothhisunhealthyfascinationwithMooreandhisstrangelyunsatisfyingfranchised
comics.PsdidanyoneactuallyenjoyreadingSupergods?
Reply
PaulShackley
June24,2014at1:13pm
Idid.
Reply
MrTuck
June30,2014at8:06am
Wonderfullythoughtful.Spotonaboutsuperheroesandafailureofagenerationtogrowup.
PooroldGrantdoesnotcomeoffsogood.
AlanMooreknowsthescore.
Reply
ElaineMeatgrinder
July2,2014at2:30pm
AlanMoorewillalsobevoicingthesupercomputerFUCKUPintheupcomingIlluminatusplay
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