![]() ![]() 1, invoking everything from Edvard Munch’s The Scream to a Haitian voodoo spirit. ![]() In the first chapter, he spends four pages scrutinizing the cover to Action Comics no. “The stuff I discovered in old comics that I had kind of written off, not realizing how interesting they were, really made it for me”. Although most readers associate Morrison with the future rather than the past, he credits these old stories with making the Supergods experience particularly rewarding. Morrison told me he wanted to “reconnect with the modernity of as they might have appeared when they first came out”. Morrison’s creative stamp even enlivens the first part of Supergods where he analyzes the earliest adventures of the biggest icons of the ‘30s and ‘40s, including Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel, Captain America, and Wonder Woman. “I approached it as creatively as I would one of the comics, relating to it the things that make a very beautiful, symmetrical story, so it was pretty much a piece of cake”. The real answer, though, is that Morrison didn’t see writing the book as much of a stretch from his day job. That kind of caffeinated superpower might help explain how the highly prolific Morrison found the time to squeeze out a 400-plus page book like Supergods while putting Batman through his paces at the same time. When I spoke with him, it was late in the afternoon and Morrison said he was “pretty buzzed” on 12 cups of coffee. His series, All Star Superman, is regarded by many as the definitive Superman story, and this fall he will take over the Man of Steel’s monthly adventures in Action Comics. Since that time, Morrison has created highly innovative original series like The Invisibles and Flex Mentallo, but he has also specialized in more established, brand-name superheroes including Superman, Batman, and the X-Men. Together, they revolutionized mainstream comics and defined the role of the modern day comic book writer. He, along with Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman, led the so-called British Invasion of American comic books in the ’80s. Image: importantly, for readers who immerse themselves in Morrison’s thought processes, Supergods boasts the ability to inspire a level of mental acuity and insight that feels, at times, like a superpower.įor those who don’t know, Morrison is one of the most influential comic book writers in history. Grant Morrison’s new book, Supergods, is unlike anything you will read this year.Īt first glance, it looks like a cultural history of superhero comic books written by a bestselling comics writer, but peer a little deeper and you will find much more-a personal memoir, a demonstration of superhero tropes in the real world, and an essay on the meaning of life and the inner workings of the universe.īook: Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us about Being Human On the other hand, what if all you had to do was read a book? Clearly, the price of admission to the Super Friends is a lot higher than the cost of a spandex jumpsuit. Peter Parker’s spider bite alone would’ve been a deal breaker for a lot of arachnophobes. ![]() Batman had to watch his mother and father die. Or vice versa.”Īsk any 12-year-old and he or she will tell you. By 2020, when the UCP series is set and is likely to debut, it may well feel like current events.“If this book has made any point clear, I hope it’s that things don’t have to be real to be true. He also found time to write plays, author a book on the iconography of superheroes, edit the long-running science fiction magazine Heavy Metal, and pocket an MBE honor from the Queen for his contributions to British art and letters.įor long-time fans of Morrison, the possibility of seeing The Invisibles adapted into episodic TV is a cause of excitement, particularly in the current cultural environment. The idea of a revolutionary cell devoted to the liberation of consciousness and a never-ending battle against the dark psychic powers of fascism and oppression seemed trippy and cool in the 90s. But as he was spinning these stories of subversion and reality hacking, he also moved decisively toward the superhero mainstream in his other work, with best-sellers like JLA, X-Men, All-Star Superman, Final Crisis, and a 10-year stint at the helm of Batman. Dick, Robert Anton Wilson and Terence McKenna into the pages of DC comics. The series was a modest success and cemented Morrison's status as comics' philosopher-king: a writer capable of smuggling the truly radical visions of people like William S. ![]()
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