In which I discuss The Black Dossier in a format many people may find convenient.
1.
At some point in the last decade or so, Alan Moore became more enamored with displaying the width and breadth of his arcane knowledge than storytelling in any conventional sense of the word. This (most) obviously comes to the fore with Promethea once the pretense of Wonder Woman-as-mythological figure was dropped.
2.
Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen work has let comics' grand wizard indulge in his intricately-wrought Wold Newton fantasies while generally providing a high level of entertainment. The latest installment, The Black Dossier crosses the not-very-fine line between providing said entertainment and smarmily showing off just how deep into the esoteric Moore's mental archives reach. It's much more backmatter than matter.
3.
I admire Moore's ability to ape other writers and even think his Wodehouse comes quite close to the dizzying heights of The Master himself, but you could not pay me to read the excerpt from the beat novel again. "Back in the wild ride crankin winder down to flip a butt a tiny red hot acrobat somersaults away towards the smearin streakin road below and gone and sinkin back in an ass-plasterin' bake o Summer leatherette I'm prop'ly innerduced t'Minnie n her boyfriend English Al who's drivin face all dashlit green," indeed.
4.
I admire Moore's ability to write Alan Moore comics more than the previously mentioned talent.
5.
That said, this may be my favorite James Bond ever, and that particular reveal concerning Doctor No had me in stitches.
6.
Moore's becoming a dirty old man and a half, isn't he? I'd estimate that a good 30% of this book was devoted to nookie in its various fictional incarnations. You'd think he'd have worked it out of his system with Lost Girls, but maybe, like me, he found his wife's art to be the exact opposite of arousing.
7.
Kevin O'Neill is a wonder and should probably be enshrined in some fashion. I'd recommend gold plating. It's amazing how, unlike Moore, he doesn't disappear while providing art in a appropriated style. Someone much brainier than me can probably work up quite a dissection comparing the authorial voices at play here.
8.
I've hit the point where 3D glasses make my brain explode with paroxysms of agony. I actually stopped reading that chapter in its preferred format, which surely means I've violated some sort of reader-author contract and will pay for this trangression at some point. I could tell there were clever things going on, however, particularly the "hold one eye closed" routine.
9.
In the end, I'm glad to have read The Black Dossier, but despite the obvious attention paid to both presentation and content, I find myself wanting Century to come out that much more quickly.
10.
I've unashamedly swiped this format from Paul Morley. You really do need to read Words And Music: A history of pop in the shape of a city. It's one of my favorite books.
At some point in the last decade or so, Alan Moore became more enamored with displaying the width and breadth of his arcane knowledge than storytelling in any conventional sense of the word. This (most) obviously comes to the fore with Promethea once the pretense of Wonder Woman-as-mythological figure was dropped.
2.
Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen work has let comics' grand wizard indulge in his intricately-wrought Wold Newton fantasies while generally providing a high level of entertainment. The latest installment, The Black Dossier crosses the not-very-fine line between providing said entertainment and smarmily showing off just how deep into the esoteric Moore's mental archives reach. It's much more backmatter than matter.
3.
I admire Moore's ability to ape other writers and even think his Wodehouse comes quite close to the dizzying heights of The Master himself, but you could not pay me to read the excerpt from the beat novel again. "Back in the wild ride crankin winder down to flip a butt a tiny red hot acrobat somersaults away towards the smearin streakin road below and gone and sinkin back in an ass-plasterin' bake o Summer leatherette I'm prop'ly innerduced t'Minnie n her boyfriend English Al who's drivin face all dashlit green," indeed.
4.
I admire Moore's ability to write Alan Moore comics more than the previously mentioned talent.
5.
That said, this may be my favorite James Bond ever, and that particular reveal concerning Doctor No had me in stitches.
6.
Moore's becoming a dirty old man and a half, isn't he? I'd estimate that a good 30% of this book was devoted to nookie in its various fictional incarnations. You'd think he'd have worked it out of his system with Lost Girls, but maybe, like me, he found his wife's art to be the exact opposite of arousing.
7.
Kevin O'Neill is a wonder and should probably be enshrined in some fashion. I'd recommend gold plating. It's amazing how, unlike Moore, he doesn't disappear while providing art in a appropriated style. Someone much brainier than me can probably work up quite a dissection comparing the authorial voices at play here.
8.
I've hit the point where 3D glasses make my brain explode with paroxysms of agony. I actually stopped reading that chapter in its preferred format, which surely means I've violated some sort of reader-author contract and will pay for this trangression at some point. I could tell there were clever things going on, however, particularly the "hold one eye closed" routine.
9.
In the end, I'm glad to have read The Black Dossier, but despite the obvious attention paid to both presentation and content, I find myself wanting Century to come out that much more quickly.
10.
I've unashamedly swiped this format from Paul Morley. You really do need to read Words And Music: A history of pop in the shape of a city. It's one of my favorite books.
