DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore
The Worlds Greatest Super-Heroes as interpreted by one of the most acclaimed authors in comics today.The work of Alan Moore (WATCHMEN, V FOR VENDETTA, LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN) in the DC Universe during the 1980s is now considered a benchmark for great stories with fresh approaches to iconic characters.This volume collects such well-known classics as The Killing Joke and Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?Product Details
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
While Moore was evolving the superhero story with his work on Swamp Thing and Watchmen in the '80s he was also taking smaller freelance assignments for DC Comics. The works in DC's newly assembled collection of these stories (all previously available in various collections and put together for the first time here) don't possess the same momentousness as those titles but still provide an interesting side of Moore's oeuvre. Many of the stories are superheroes tales told with such wit and imagination that they reach all the promise the genre offers. The best is "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?," a heartfelt sendoff to the Silver Age–era of Superman comics rendered by the greatest Superman artist, Curt Swan. Many of the shorter pieces feature Moore's knack for coming up with science fiction twist endings that always amuse. The Green Lantern back-up "Mogo Doesn't Socialize" is as inventive as it is brief. Other stories feel like a dated part of the grim 1980s."The Killing Joke," featuring Batman and stunning art by Brian Bolland, and a Vigilante story are both dark and serious tales but they lack both Moore's virtuoso storytelling tricks and the complexity and humanity of his best work. (Jan.)
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From Booklist
After setting the superhero genre on its ear by overhauling Swamp Thing and before (temporarily) departing mainstream comics for such projects as From Hell (2000), Moore frolicked in DC's playground by penning occasional stories about the company's biggest stars and a few, neglected second-stringers. His artistic collaborators on those pieces were no slouches, either, particularly fellow Brits Dave Gibbons (Moore's collaborator on the acclaimed Watchmen) and Brian Bolland. Most of these tales have been collected before (see Across the Universe, 2003), but this book includes two stories that had previously been published in discrete volumes: "The Killing Joke," a genuinely chilling portrayal of Batman's greatest foe, the Joker, as a dangerous madman rather than a nettlesome clown, and "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow," a heartfelt last look at some three decades' worth of Superman villains, supporting characters, and outmoded detritus (e.g., Krypto the Superdog) before the character received a sweeping, mideighties revamping. Combining these landmark tales with Moore's 13 other DC Universe stories makes this book a no-brainer addition to graphic-novel collections. Gordon Flagg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Customer Reviews
A good collection
While some of the stories included are not among Moore's best, this collection still represents a really good place to start when collecting his work. Obvious highlights include "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" and "For the Man Who Has Everything", "Tygers" (for Green Lantern fans), the story of Rot Lop Fan, and "The Killing Joke". I must admit that I'm not that fond of the Vigilante or other stories, but I'm a fairly casual comics reader and am not as well versed on those characters.
Overall, highly recommended, although many fans will probably have many of these stories in one form or another already.
Pure Alan Moore fun!
Although not Watchmen or From Hell by any means, the stories collected here are some of Alan Moore's most enjoyable. From the excellent Superman stories "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" and "For the Man Who Has Everything" to "The Killing Joke," a dark look at the cyclical Batman/Joker relationship, this collection never fails to entertain. Also within this volume are brief, inspired looks at the Green Arrow, the Vigilante, the Phantom Stranger, and the Green Lantern Corps. Alan Moore, comics god, never fails to leave a mark and that is strikingly apparent in the stories contained within this volume.
More Like Scrapbook of Alan Moore
So we read in the intro that after Moore left DC, he started on Swamp Thing and the rest is history. No words are truer since Swamp Thing is really where his glowing career really started and became such a big name in comics. None of these stories are really any good because during this time, he was still honing his skills.
For the Man Who Has Everything
Ok, if you read enough comics, you will not think this is any good. This is no different from all those "What-If" issues - What If Uncle Ben had Survived? What if Superman was Russian? etc etc. So here, we see what if planet Krypton did not explode and Superman remained there. We also see a little of what if Batman's parents have survived. Great if you never read such stories, boring if you have.
Night Olympics
Green Arrow goes against some wannabe vigilante. Snoozer.
Mogo Doesn't Socialize
This is a somewhat clever Green Lantern story (if you don't know Mogo), but way too short.
Father's Day
Who the heck is Vigilante? Wow, horrible, just horrible.
Brief Lives
From Omega Men comics. This is actually not bad and original. But quite short.
A Man's World
Omega Men, again. Doesn't make any sense.
The Jungle Line
Superman meets Swamp Thing. I think I can stop there.
Tygers
This is actually the best story of the whole book. Really smart Green Lantern story. Moore writes a pretty good Green Lantern.
Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?
Ok, this is supposed to be epic according to comic nerds. But here, Superman does not even sound like Superman. I have not read the other death of Superman involving Lex Luthor, but I read the death of Superman with Doomsday and that is a way better story than this one - at least the characters talk the way they should. Though I admit, the former is not an action story like the latter, everything about the former is really inconsistent and not Superman! If you put Watchmen characters in this story, it would still make sense.
Footsteps
From Secret Origins. Bad.
In Blackest Night
Green Lantern story. This one is bad.
Mortal Clay
Clayface is in love with a mannequin. Writer's block, perhaps?
The Killing Joke
I never thought this was any good. It is just a mediocre story with the Joker misbehaving like he never had. The last joke wasn't even funny. What makes this bad is actually telling the origin story of the Joker. The Joker is not supposed to have any origin, that's what makes him weird and dangerous. Noone can figure him out. The artwork is the only saving grace in this story as Bolland demonstrates some highly detailed and masterful cross-hatching skills. Some of the faces are just downright spooky, but nonetheless, clean and sharp illustrations. If you compare the pictures in this book which have the original colors to the new hard cover Killing Joke where Bolland recolors the drawings himself, you will really appreciate his talent - the two books are Night and Day.
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