Oh, the Development Hell... Well, sometimes I think it's more merciful to never see an adaptation of something I love than seeing it completely destroyed (as it will probably be the case with The Dark Tower). That's why I'm not that bothered about Sandman or The Books of Magic anymore. Though Gaiman is finally being given justice in the form of the brilliant American Gods.
Concerning comics nowadays... I was always more of a Vertigo guy, so I did my Sandman, Watchmen and The Invisibles, and I intend to really dive into the waters of Preacher, Hellblazer, Fables and Transmetropolitan. The most recent stuff I've read is Unwritten (excellent stuff) and Morrison's Nameless. As a matter of fact, I tend to prefer shorter series or graphic novels, because long stories can end up in this cycle of constant rebooting and reworking that you mentioned.
Additionally, as my name suggests, I'm from Brazil (but haven't met Mr. C. in Rio, be cool about that 😛 ), and longer series here are always at risk of being cancelled before the publishing is finished.
And what about you? What have you been reading?
Sorry for the late reply. If you haven't checked out Transmetropolitan or Fables they're definitely worth a look. You have extremely similar taste in comics to me so I figured it was worth throwing that out there.
Oh, the Development Hell... Well, sometimes I think it's more merciful to never see an adaptation of something I love than seeing it completely destroyed (as it will probably be the case with The Dark Tower). That's why I'm not that bothered about Sandman or The Books of Magic anymore. Though Gaiman is finally being given justice in the form of the brilliant American Gods.
Concerning comics nowadays... I was always more of a Vertigo guy, so I did my Sandman, Watchmen and The Invisibles, and I intend to really dive into the waters of Preacher, Hellblazer, Fables and Transmetropolitan. The most recent stuff I've read is Unwritten (excellent stuff) and Morrison's Nameless. As a matter of fact, I tend to prefer shorter series or graphic novels, because long stories can end up in this cycle of constant rebooting and reworking that you mentioned.
Additionally, as my name suggests, I'm from Brazil (but haven't met Mr. C. in Rio, be cool about that 😛 ), and longer series here are always at risk of being cancelled before the publishing is finished.
And what about you? What have you been reading?
Sorry for the late reply. If you haven't checked out Transmetropolitan or Fables they're definitely worth a look. You have extremely similar taste in comics to me so I figured it was worth throwing that out there.
Did you read Invisibles too, Elesea-honu? ?
Oh yes. And Grant Morrison's Animal Man and Doom Patrol. Not as fond of his newer stuff. I prefer the early days.
I own everything Alan Moore has ever written and even managed to meet him twice. Neil Gaiman kissed me on the cheek once. I've got all his stuff too. It all started with Sandman. And I was so mesmerised I started hunting out Neil's stuff and then writers he likes, which lead to Alan and then writers Alan likes and now my bookshelves spend most of their time complaining about the weight I subject them too...
🙂
I do love the idea of Quimper meeting TMFAP...
? Kiss from Neil!!!! What did you do to get that?? ?
I went to his signings and readings 3 times. At Times Square Tower Records, WTC Borders/Barnes & Noble, and at an old church where Amano exhibited for Dream Hunters.
Yeah, I agree, Grant's later works aren't as inspired. I think Neil's too.
? Okay, since you seem hardcore (Neil-kissed!), I got a Sandman question : who do you think is the crazy old hobo in Kindly Ones, whom Barnabas stayed with, who gave flowers to passersby, whom Lyta threatened for interacting with Daniel?
I do love the idea of Quimper meeting TMFAP...
What's TMFAP...?
I loved that huey-dewey-louie scene where Robin took over the soldier Quimper was controlling, and then went on to shut down Quimper. Maaaan, they were such the super team!
I wish Grant had been more revealing about Quimper's origins and connection to John-A-Dreams.
Oh oh. the Man From Another Place....
The Arm wouldn't last a second. Within 10 feet radius he'll get sick and start throwing up corn.
I made him an Ankh out of Stained Glass 🙂
As for the Hobo...he is reciting "Hey Diddle Diddle" and spends considerable time on "The Cow Jumped Over The Moon" line so I'm thinking he's one of BadCoop's minions - slap some charcoal on his face and he could one of the Woodsmen. Gaiman and Lynch's worlds collide! 🙂
Oh oh. the Man From Another Place....
The Arm wouldn't last a second. Within 10 feet radius he'll get sick and start throwing up corn.
I nearly fell off my chair when I read that. So funny...
I made him an Ankh out of Stained Glass 🙂
As for the Hobo...he is reciting "Hey Diddle Diddle" and spends considerable time on "The Cow Jumped Over The Moon" line so I'm thinking he's one of BadCoop's minions - slap some charcoal on his face and he could one of the Woodsmen. Gaiman and Lynch's worlds collide! 🙂
Oooh, came with offering.... ? Damn, I shoulda thoughta thatt....
Wow, he did say Cow Jumped Over The Moon.... TP intersects with Invisibles and Sandman now.
Okay, I've had this theory a loooong time, but there's no way to confirm it (and I don't remember why I didn't ask Neil at the signings).
I think the hobo was Andros. He gave passersby little red flowers which came from Orpheus' blood. At the end of Brief Lives, Andros said he wouldn't live to see the tree at Orpheus' grave blossom again. That made us think he was dying. But he was just leaving the Greek isle for good. Because he'd been stuck there his whole life with the sacred task, and was free when the head died.
Now that is a lovely theory. So lovely.
Neil won't confirm one way or the other. I tried asking him something and the very most he'd stretch to is confirming that my idea was a possibility. If I wanted it to be.
You know when Loki and Puck are burning away Daniel's humanity and the question comes up regarding who hired them? One of them says "I could go on endlessly..." (pretty sure it's Puck but I have a migraine so my brain is fried right now)
I knew Neil wouldn't give a direct answer so I asked if that was a clue. As in "endlessly" = "One of the Endless". And he basically replied that it wasn't necessarily wrong to interpret it that way. If I wanted to. As a clue, he meant. So I pretty much got nothin'. 🙂
Which I love, because when there is ambiguity my brain starts to think things over and engages with the art more deeply. The interaction between the work of art and the viewer is often heightened if some mystery remains because then brain then has to work for understanding. That interaction is the creation of art on a personal level for each viewer and what makes art so potent.
Or something. The migraine is addling my thoughts right now...
Also, your theory is exactly the kind of buried treasure that Neil included all throughout the Sandman for us to find. All these bright shining jewels and every time you read you find another one...
Now that is a lovely theory. So lovely.
Neil won't confirm one way or the other. I tried asking him something and the very most he'd stretch to is confirming that my idea was a possibility. If I wanted it to be.
You know when Loki and Puck are burning away Daniel's humanity and the question comes up regarding who hired them? One of them says "I could go on endlessly..." (pretty sure it's Puck but I have a migraine so my brain is fried right now)
I knew Neil wouldn't give a direct answer so I asked if that was a clue. As in "endlessly" = "One of the Endless". And he basically replied that it wasn't necessarily wrong to interpret it that way. If I wanted to. As a clue, he meant. So I pretty much got nothin'. 🙂
Which I love, because when there is ambiguity my brain starts to think things over and engages with the art more deeply. The interaction between the work of art and the viewer is often heightened if some mystery remains because then brain then has to work for understanding. That interaction is the creation of art on a personal level for each viewer and what makes art so potent.
Or something. The migraine is addling my thoughts right now...
I think it was Morpheus who hired Loki to burn away Daniel's mortality. Because he caught Loki masquerading as Susano, and for not telling Odin, he extracted a favor from Loki. Morpheus had an idea Daniel would be his successor, and that's why he told Lyta the child was his, and visited the kid from time to time. Maybe the method of burning away mortality is known to Aesir gods.
Since Loki hated being blackmailed like that, he arranged to pay his debt to Morpheus in such a way that it started Lyta's quest at finding the Kindly Ones to avenge her son, which out of shit-luck snowballed into them avenging Morpheus's own son.
When Carla was burned in her car, Loki monologued "I am Loki blah blah blah, and I will be indebted to no one."
Dang, this book is etched in my mind. Whatta geek....
I totally agree that Morpheus hired them. But I knew that if I said to Neil "Did Morpheus hire them" he would just look at me and say NOTHING!!!! So I tried to be clever and ask if that "...endlessly" was a "clue" to at least definitively narrow it down to the Endless, but no deal. He was too clever for me...
I am super proud to be a geek.
Are you reading today's comics, Elesea? ?
Fire walk with