This isn't so much of a review as trying to exhale all these ideas in the corset of my chest and rib cage out. It's definitely not safe for work. (NSFW.) As in, turn back sharpish if you're on a work/shared computer. Like now.
For those of you sticking around: Hi. Yes, reading the writing of Kieron Gillen is beginning to influence my own. Finally. Anyway. This isn't one of those feel good posts. Away we go.
Neonomicon #2. We're only halfway through the story and there's an extended scene (read, the entire second half) where one of the characters gets murdered, and then while watching her friend's body is being dragged out, the other character is raped. By the way, there's gonna be no links to it, or pictures.
To paraphrase the greater internet, DO NOT WANT.
But in this case, it comes from a really, really surprising author, Alan Moore. Yes. Watchmen Alan Moore. Yes, Swamp Thing Alan Moore. Yes, that one, but more to the point, Promethea and fucking Lost Girls Alan Moore. Same one. From a technical perspective, it's foreshadowed kind of well, that in the beginning, one can kind of see that something bad is going to happen to the protagonists.
The requirement of the story, so far as I can tell, is that the place where the event happens, the water is some kind of crazy water that needs terrible things to happen to/around it to get it hot. Really. I'm sure it's used to summon Cthulhu somehow. In fact, were I to guess, that's the next plot point.
I'm surprised, genuinely, by the turn of events. I mean, yes Mr. Moore got me. I'm certainly shocked. I did not expect the thing that was happening here. I'm disappointed in Alan Moore, but then again, he's written a lot of things I admire, cherish and respect, so he as an astronomical bank of faith with me.
So what does that mean in real life terms?
First: It means that I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Second: It means that I'm willing to say that we're only now halfway through the story, so there might be something that, uhhhhhh, look, man, squick. Third: It's a Cthulhu story. Bad shit is supposed to happen. But is this beyond the pale? I've never read a Cthulhu story. This one is certainly out of my comfort zone.
Horror stories do not always mean disgust. They mean fear and terror. Two different things. For example: I don't remember murder rape being a thing Hitchcock leaned on when making his films. But back to Moore. It just seems out of character for him. I recognize his voice (or a particularly good sound alike) in the dialogue throughout, so I'd be willing to bet it's him.
Oh. Covering my ass, this could be a gigantic prank on the part of Avatar, slap Alan Moore's name on a story and seeing how people will contort to defend it. But I doubt it. They work with enough big names that I could see a stunt like this ruining their relationship with people like Garth Ennis or Warren Ellis.
This comes from a man who wrote, in all seriousness, one of the most careful, respectful books of pornography in the entire world, citing the idea that it is hardly ever seen from a female perspective, a guy who wrote an epic tale of love (Swamp Thing) and a guy who tried to create a female centered universe around the idea that ideas can be magic (Promethea).
And he wrote a murder rape. I'm not sure why. It's certainly not for the money. God knows if that was the case, he could get multiple million dollar offers from Marvel or DC just by saying "Hi, I'd be willing to do X number of issues on IP Y," or let his name be used on any of the movies based on his comics (V For Vendetta, Watchmen or League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), I say, knowing I forgot at least one.
I'm shocked and disappointed in one of the most fertile minds of the medium. Remember what I said on Friday about being embarrassed by what I wrote five years ago? Maybe this will be the same way. Maybe I'll get over it. Maybe I'll get it. But right now, it's still ringing maddeningly in my ears and I want it out.
As a bit of a palate cleanser, listen to All I Do Is Win. It's a radio song (which means I never would have heard it on my own) and the chorus is so goddamn good, but the first time I heard it, I was on a boat, speeding over the water. Thus, every time I hear the song, I think of wind through my hair and getting lost in speed. Which, I would be willing to bet, is something that the composers had in mind when they wrote the song.
For those of you sticking around: Hi. Yes, reading the writing of Kieron Gillen is beginning to influence my own. Finally. Anyway. This isn't one of those feel good posts. Away we go.
Neonomicon #2. We're only halfway through the story and there's an extended scene (read, the entire second half) where one of the characters gets murdered, and then while watching her friend's body is being dragged out, the other character is raped. By the way, there's gonna be no links to it, or pictures.
To paraphrase the greater internet, DO NOT WANT.
But in this case, it comes from a really, really surprising author, Alan Moore. Yes. Watchmen Alan Moore. Yes, Swamp Thing Alan Moore. Yes, that one, but more to the point, Promethea and fucking Lost Girls Alan Moore. Same one. From a technical perspective, it's foreshadowed kind of well, that in the beginning, one can kind of see that something bad is going to happen to the protagonists.
The requirement of the story, so far as I can tell, is that the place where the event happens, the water is some kind of crazy water that needs terrible things to happen to/around it to get it hot. Really. I'm sure it's used to summon Cthulhu somehow. In fact, were I to guess, that's the next plot point.
I'm surprised, genuinely, by the turn of events. I mean, yes Mr. Moore got me. I'm certainly shocked. I did not expect the thing that was happening here. I'm disappointed in Alan Moore, but then again, he's written a lot of things I admire, cherish and respect, so he as an astronomical bank of faith with me.
So what does that mean in real life terms?
First: It means that I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Second: It means that I'm willing to say that we're only now halfway through the story, so there might be something that, uhhhhhh, look, man, squick. Third: It's a Cthulhu story. Bad shit is supposed to happen. But is this beyond the pale? I've never read a Cthulhu story. This one is certainly out of my comfort zone.
Horror stories do not always mean disgust. They mean fear and terror. Two different things. For example: I don't remember murder rape being a thing Hitchcock leaned on when making his films. But back to Moore. It just seems out of character for him. I recognize his voice (or a particularly good sound alike) in the dialogue throughout, so I'd be willing to bet it's him.
Oh. Covering my ass, this could be a gigantic prank on the part of Avatar, slap Alan Moore's name on a story and seeing how people will contort to defend it. But I doubt it. They work with enough big names that I could see a stunt like this ruining their relationship with people like Garth Ennis or Warren Ellis.
This comes from a man who wrote, in all seriousness, one of the most careful, respectful books of pornography in the entire world, citing the idea that it is hardly ever seen from a female perspective, a guy who wrote an epic tale of love (Swamp Thing) and a guy who tried to create a female centered universe around the idea that ideas can be magic (Promethea).
And he wrote a murder rape. I'm not sure why. It's certainly not for the money. God knows if that was the case, he could get multiple million dollar offers from Marvel or DC just by saying "Hi, I'd be willing to do X number of issues on IP Y," or let his name be used on any of the movies based on his comics (V For Vendetta, Watchmen or League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), I say, knowing I forgot at least one.
I'm shocked and disappointed in one of the most fertile minds of the medium. Remember what I said on Friday about being embarrassed by what I wrote five years ago? Maybe this will be the same way. Maybe I'll get over it. Maybe I'll get it. But right now, it's still ringing maddeningly in my ears and I want it out.
As a bit of a palate cleanser, listen to All I Do Is Win. It's a radio song (which means I never would have heard it on my own) and the chorus is so goddamn good, but the first time I heard it, I was on a boat, speeding over the water. Thus, every time I hear the song, I think of wind through my hair and getting lost in speed. Which, I would be willing to bet, is something that the composers had in mind when they wrote the song.
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