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Sebastian O
Grant Morrison, legendary writer of such cult smashes as The Invisibles and The Filth, and renowned artist Steve Yeowell grab the high morals of Victorian London by the throat, infect it with computer technology and expose its true perverted nature! With the escapist skills of Houdini and the laser-sharp wit of Wilde, dandy Sebastian O is out for revenge on the members of a shadowy, sordid Gentlemen's Club that had him committed to a mental institution. Hunted by assassins, rogues and scallywags, Sebastian believes he will ultimately triumph using merely his exquisite fashion sense! A superb addition to the 'steam punk' canon, Sebastian O brilliantly blends farce, wit and searing social commentary to expose the hypocrisy of Victorian class culture.
80 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2004
196 people want to read
About the author
Grant Morrison
1,791 books4,563 followersGrant Morrison has been working with DC Comics for twenty five years, after beginning their American comics career with acclaimed runs on ANIMAL MAN and DOOM PATROL. Since then they have written such best-selling series as JLA, BATMAN and New X-Men, as well as such creator-owned works as THE INVISIBLES, SEAGUY, THE FILTH, WE3 and JOE THE BARBARIAN. In addition to expanding the DC Universe through titles ranging from the Eisner Award-winning SEVEN SOLDIERS and ALL-STAR SUPERMAN to the reality-shattering epic of FINAL CRISIS, they have also reinvented the worlds of the Dark Knight Detective in BATMAN AND ROBIN and BATMAN, INCORPORATED and the Man of Steel in The New 52 ACTION COMICS.
In their secret identity, Morrison is a "counterculture" spokesperson, a musician, an award-winning playwright and a chaos magician. They are also the author of the New York Times bestseller Supergods, a groundbreaking psycho-historic mapping of the superhero as a cultural organism. They divide their time between their homes in Los Angeles and Scotland.
In their secret identity, Morrison is a "counterculture" spokesperson, a musician, an award-winning playwright and a chaos magician. They are also the author of the New York Times bestseller Supergods, a groundbreaking psycho-historic mapping of the superhero as a cultural organism. They divide their time between their homes in Los Angeles and Scotland.
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August 31, 2014
Set in steampunk Victorian England, Sebastian O is a roguish dandy locked up for writing a saucy and subversive book. However, soon after his dashing escape from Bedlam, he learns that there are more than just coppers after him and that there was more to his imprisonment than he first realised…
Sebastian O is a three-issue miniseries from the early ‘90s and, despite being written by Grant Morrison, it’s relatively obscure. But if you’re familiar with the name, you might expect this book to be a little tricky to read but it’s actually very straightforward. Too straightforward even. This is actually the first Grant Morrison comic I found myself wishing things to be a little more complicated!
Sebastian O’s plot is your average revenge story that’s been doing the rounds long before Alexandre Dumas wrote the definitive one in The Count of Monte Cristo. And because Sebastian’s a dandy who fancies himself an aesthete (with an Aubrey Beardsley hairdo) Morrison tries - and fails - to come up with some Wildean witticisms for him:
“We may be in the sewer, but there’s absolutely no need for that kind of gutter profanity” and
“It seems almost criminal to remove my whiskers. I look indefinably christlike. Having said that, I refuse to martyr myself for one second longer”
Hmm. I know Morrison’s attempting caricature here but it doesn’t quite work, being such weak and empty humour. Alan Moore attempted something similar in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier, which further underscored exactly why Wilde was so celebrated, then and now: nobody else could write or think like him.
I quite liked Steve Yeowell’s art in this book. The mechanical gardens looked great as did Sebastian’s tricksy, trap-laden home, and steampunk Blighty looked convincing with just the right amount of oddity to make it look similar, but wholly different, to Victorian England. His design for the Abbe also looked a lot like Beardsley’s Ali Baba, a style and reference that I’m sure wasn’t a coincidence.
Sebastian O is minor Morrison but given his many successes and popularity, it seems strange that DC would decide to discontinue this book’s print run forever. I think Morrison has enough of an audience that this comic, however ordinary, could generate a decent amount of sales for them if they re-released it.
If you’re a Morrison fan and enjoy his more story-driven work over his trippy-hippy stuff, you’ll enjoy this - it’s not amazing but it’s certainly not bad. But if you can’t get your hands on a copy - which will become more likely as the years go on - then don’t worry as you didn’t miss a masterpiece.
Sebastian O is a three-issue miniseries from the early ‘90s and, despite being written by Grant Morrison, it’s relatively obscure. But if you’re familiar with the name, you might expect this book to be a little tricky to read but it’s actually very straightforward. Too straightforward even. This is actually the first Grant Morrison comic I found myself wishing things to be a little more complicated!
Sebastian O’s plot is your average revenge story that’s been doing the rounds long before Alexandre Dumas wrote the definitive one in The Count of Monte Cristo. And because Sebastian’s a dandy who fancies himself an aesthete (with an Aubrey Beardsley hairdo) Morrison tries - and fails - to come up with some Wildean witticisms for him:
“We may be in the sewer, but there’s absolutely no need for that kind of gutter profanity” and
“It seems almost criminal to remove my whiskers. I look indefinably christlike. Having said that, I refuse to martyr myself for one second longer”
Hmm. I know Morrison’s attempting caricature here but it doesn’t quite work, being such weak and empty humour. Alan Moore attempted something similar in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: The Black Dossier, which further underscored exactly why Wilde was so celebrated, then and now: nobody else could write or think like him.
I quite liked Steve Yeowell’s art in this book. The mechanical gardens looked great as did Sebastian’s tricksy, trap-laden home, and steampunk Blighty looked convincing with just the right amount of oddity to make it look similar, but wholly different, to Victorian England. His design for the Abbe also looked a lot like Beardsley’s Ali Baba, a style and reference that I’m sure wasn’t a coincidence.
Sebastian O is minor Morrison but given his many successes and popularity, it seems strange that DC would decide to discontinue this book’s print run forever. I think Morrison has enough of an audience that this comic, however ordinary, could generate a decent amount of sales for them if they re-released it.
If you’re a Morrison fan and enjoy his more story-driven work over his trippy-hippy stuff, you’ll enjoy this - it’s not amazing but it’s certainly not bad. But if you can’t get your hands on a copy - which will become more likely as the years go on - then don’t worry as you didn’t miss a masterpiece.
May 10, 2019
The three issues of Sebastian O were an impulse buy on Free Comic Book Day. I knew nothing about the series or Grant Morrison, but the promise of steampunk Oscar Wilde drew me in like nothing else. Unfortunately, the story didn't hold up to expectations.
In a Victorian London infused with clockwork technology, Lord Lavender, the Queen's advisor (fixer? prime minister?), has won. He's jailed or flipped all the members of the notorious Club de Paradis Artificiel. Part Hellfire Club, part scientific community, these scandalous club members were queer inventors and artists who rejected the "dirty natural" reality in favor of the "clean unnatural" lines of artificiality. And they're not taking their defeat lying down. The bulk of the comic is Sebastian O, the club's ringleader, breaking out of Bedlam and wrecking his revenge on Lord Lavender, despite Lavender's assassins and machinations. All while looking quite fashionable, of course.
From the first page, I felt a little off-kilter with this book. The bloody revenge story was a surprise, since the cover art suggested well-mannered triumph with perhaps a dash of boxing. Stuff reminiscent of Dorian Gray and Holmes vs Moriarty. I don't mind a story where queer people take visceral revenge on those who wronged them, but Morrison's was poorly done. The world-building is sloppy and uneven. A gay character is a pedophile. Sebastian is supposed to be our amoral gay hero, but he has his maids disrobe while he bathes, spouts toxic clasist trite, and shows little to no compassion towards the club members he says he cares about. Lavender is evil and insane. Other club members are brutally murdered and silenced. The only well-done characters are a lesbian couple, who provide the sole redeeming bits of humor.
Honestly, the comic feels like it was written, inked, colored, and created for and by straight people. Those creators may be fans of Oscar Wilde, steampunk, and the Victorian era, but fannish predilection isn't enough for a good story homage. I finished the comic with a bad taste in my mouth and feeling not a little insulted. I can't say I recommend Sebastian O to anybody.
In a Victorian London infused with clockwork technology, Lord Lavender, the Queen's advisor (fixer? prime minister?), has won. He's jailed or flipped all the members of the notorious Club de Paradis Artificiel. Part Hellfire Club, part scientific community, these scandalous club members were queer inventors and artists who rejected the "dirty natural" reality in favor of the "clean unnatural" lines of artificiality. And they're not taking their defeat lying down. The bulk of the comic is Sebastian O, the club's ringleader, breaking out of Bedlam and wrecking his revenge on Lord Lavender, despite Lavender's assassins and machinations. All while looking quite fashionable, of course.
From the first page, I felt a little off-kilter with this book. The bloody revenge story was a surprise, since the cover art suggested well-mannered triumph with perhaps a dash of boxing. Stuff reminiscent of Dorian Gray and Holmes vs Moriarty. I don't mind a story where queer people take visceral revenge on those who wronged them, but Morrison's was poorly done. The world-building is sloppy and uneven. A gay character is a pedophile. Sebastian is supposed to be our amoral gay hero, but he has his maids disrobe while he bathes, spouts toxic clasist trite, and shows little to no compassion towards the club members he says he cares about. Lavender is evil and insane. Other club members are brutally murdered and silenced. The only well-done characters are a lesbian couple, who provide the sole redeeming bits of humor.
Honestly, the comic feels like it was written, inked, colored, and created for and by straight people. Those creators may be fans of Oscar Wilde, steampunk, and the Victorian era, but fannish predilection isn't enough for a good story homage. I finished the comic with a bad taste in my mouth and feeling not a little insulted. I can't say I recommend Sebastian O to anybody.
May 17, 2018
I mean...it's a steampunk, science-fiction, period-period-peice, Victorian adventure story entirely populated by effeminate, well-groomed, well-garbed, foppish gay men and one well dressed lesbian and it's all written by Grant Morrison.
I got exactly what I wanted, and expected.
I got exactly what I wanted, and expected.
May 4, 2019
I was expecting to like this. I did not. If you're looking for good queer representation, drop this comic immediately, because the with the exception of the lesbian side characters, all of the queer characters are pretty much horrible people and also murderers.
January 17, 2017
My introduction to
non-traditional comics
I picked this up because I was a
fan of Grant Morrison
and at the time the fledgeling steampunk
movement
this book is astounding.
Equal parts Oscar Wilde , Steampunk
and a dash of X-Files.
Sebastian O is the brilliant fever dream
of Morrison who leaves no
hallowed stone unturned and un defiled
non-traditional comics
I picked this up because I was a
fan of Grant Morrison
and at the time the fledgeling steampunk
movement
this book is astounding.
Equal parts Oscar Wilde , Steampunk
and a dash of X-Files.
Sebastian O is the brilliant fever dream
of Morrison who leaves no
hallowed stone unturned and un defiled
September 24, 2022
La verdad es que según vas explorando la bibliografía de Grant Morrison, da cada vez más la sensación de que el autor escocés no va a dejar nunca de sorprenderte. Así que en la nueva entrega de la biblioteca Grant Morrison de ECC, pues ha tocado nueva sorpresa. Y es que Sebastian O es de las cosas de Morri que me quedaban por leer, así que no tenía opinión previa sobre ella. Y me ha gustado bastante, y de hecho, la única pega que tengo es que se me ha hecho demasiado corta.
Sebastian O es la versión de Morrison de lo que sería mezclar el Conde de Montecristo con la vida de Óscar Wilde y un manual de steampunk, algo que es normal que solo tenga lugar en la mente de Morrison. Nada más empezar vamos a encontrarnos con una completa cronología que se extiende desde la destrucción de la Biblioteca de Alejandría hasta bien entrados los años de gobierno de la Reina Victoria, lo que nos detalla cómo se ha creado este mundo de tipo steampunk, y nos va a poner en antecedentes sobre quien es Sebastian O, un dandi homosexual, filósofo y depravado, además de entrenado por la secta de los Asesinos. Pero Sebastian fue traicionado por uno de sus compañeros, Lord Lavender, lo que hizo que fuera encerrado en un manicomio donde ha sido torturado durante años...
Pero ha llegado el momento de la venganza, y el cómic va a comenzar con la liberación de Sebastian, y como decía, siguiendo los pasos del Conde de Montecristo, vamos a seguirle en su venganza, mientras trata de averiguar los planes secretos de Lord Lavender. En su búsqueda, Sebastian nos va a llevar a conocer a personajes tan depravados como el Abad, o el misterioso George Henshaw, en una historia de giros y alusiones poéticas, que, como decía antes, se me queda increiblemente corta para lo que podía haber dado de sí.
Sebastian O es la versión de Morrison de lo que sería mezclar el Conde de Montecristo con la vida de Óscar Wilde y un manual de steampunk, algo que es normal que solo tenga lugar en la mente de Morrison. Nada más empezar vamos a encontrarnos con una completa cronología que se extiende desde la destrucción de la Biblioteca de Alejandría hasta bien entrados los años de gobierno de la Reina Victoria, lo que nos detalla cómo se ha creado este mundo de tipo steampunk, y nos va a poner en antecedentes sobre quien es Sebastian O, un dandi homosexual, filósofo y depravado, además de entrenado por la secta de los Asesinos. Pero Sebastian fue traicionado por uno de sus compañeros, Lord Lavender, lo que hizo que fuera encerrado en un manicomio donde ha sido torturado durante años...
Pero ha llegado el momento de la venganza, y el cómic va a comenzar con la liberación de Sebastian, y como decía, siguiendo los pasos del Conde de Montecristo, vamos a seguirle en su venganza, mientras trata de averiguar los planes secretos de Lord Lavender. En su búsqueda, Sebastian nos va a llevar a conocer a personajes tan depravados como el Abad, o el misterioso George Henshaw, en una historia de giros y alusiones poéticas, que, como decía antes, se me queda increiblemente corta para lo que podía haber dado de sí.
June 11, 2021
I recently finished reading Grant Morrison's Sabastian O and The Mystery Play. They were both great as I have come to expect nothing less from Grant Morrison. Sabastian O was very obviously ahead of its time as it was written in late 1980s and concerns the turn-of-the century exploits of antihero Sabastian O, a homosexual dandy and narcissistic criminal mastermind whose adventures take place in an alternative, steampunk London.
It's equal parts Fantomas and James Bond (but James Bond as portrayed by Oscar Wilde with "Q" as a pederast and Moneypenny a lesbian). As the story begins, Sabastian O has been locked away for various crimes, but eventually escapes in order to exact revenge on the man who turned on him and had him locked away. He seeks the help of former acquaintances along the way including an obese pederast who now spends his time maintaining a kind of steampunk garden and a former strong-willed lesbian friend. It's a very progressive graphic novel for its time and a quick, fun read. Highly recommended.
It's equal parts Fantomas and James Bond (but James Bond as portrayed by Oscar Wilde with "Q" as a pederast and Moneypenny a lesbian). As the story begins, Sabastian O has been locked away for various crimes, but eventually escapes in order to exact revenge on the man who turned on him and had him locked away. He seeks the help of former acquaintances along the way including an obese pederast who now spends his time maintaining a kind of steampunk garden and a former strong-willed lesbian friend. It's a very progressive graphic novel for its time and a quick, fun read. Highly recommended.
May 16, 2024
I've been curious about this ever since seeing an excerpt 32 years ago in the "Vertigo Preview" comic. Not sure what 15-year-old me would have made of this, but the 47-year-old me was (to quote the Queen Victoria featured here) not amused.
It's a weird little curio and far from Morrison's best work. To be sure: the steampunk London he gives us is very interesting, and he always excels at nightmarish villains (in this case, the trio of assassins known as the "Roaring Boys."
But the whole thing seems a bit slight, and the Sebastian that Morrison describes in the chronology included at the top of the collection is far more interesting than the one depicted on the page. An amoral protagonist can work in the right circumstances (A Clockwork Orange, The Talented Mr. Ripley) but it's hard to be charmed by this sociopathic dandy, even if he's always dressed for the occasion.
It's a weird little curio and far from Morrison's best work. To be sure: the steampunk London he gives us is very interesting, and he always excels at nightmarish villains (in this case, the trio of assassins known as the "Roaring Boys."
But the whole thing seems a bit slight, and the Sebastian that Morrison describes in the chronology included at the top of the collection is far more interesting than the one depicted on the page. An amoral protagonist can work in the right circumstances (A Clockwork Orange, The Talented Mr. Ripley) but it's hard to be charmed by this sociopathic dandy, even if he's always dressed for the occasion.
Read
April 14, 2023There's a lot to love about this alternate history adventure, from the art to the breezy pace. It's fun to watch a quick-witted dandy repeatedly frustrate the designs of his authoritarian enemies. With that being said, issue #2's sympathetic depiction of a pedophile almost made me drop the book in the middle of the story. Sure, most of the characters are bad—Sebastian himself is a pretty terrible person—but they're bad in a funny way. The baffling depiction of pederasty as a character quirk seriously mars an otherwise enjoyable read. It's a beautiful comic with a mostly well-told story, but I hesitate to recommend it. Besides, Grant Morrison has written so many other great comics—read one of those instead.
March 19, 2018
Grant's love of the subculture was especially obvious in his earlier days, and this book shows it. The characters themselves are interesting pre-cursors to the supporting cast that would become prevalent in the Invisibles (one of comics greatest masterpieces imo ), although Sebastian lacks the sort of depth that made the Invisibles so brilliant.
Sebastian isn't terribly likable, but he's not a total bastard. Plus, I like when a guy wins with nothing more than quick wits and a pistol. Nice alternate technological development, and Steve Yeowell's art is perfect for the foppish Sebastian!
Not highly recommended, but solid early Morrison work.
Sebastian isn't terribly likable, but he's not a total bastard. Plus, I like when a guy wins with nothing more than quick wits and a pistol. Nice alternate technological development, and Steve Yeowell's art is perfect for the foppish Sebastian!
Not highly recommended, but solid early Morrison work.
April 6, 2018
It's fun debating what is the worse works of one of your favorite writers--for my money it's probably Sebatian O or Happy! (I'm not including his work with Mark Millar; such as Skull Kill Krew).
The one thing going for it --was Sebastian O felt part of a movement of "anything goes" and genuine inspiration in comics, when the superhero was stagnant. It's definitely got a lineage with other creative works (Milligan's Enigma and JM DeMatteis' Mercy) while being a bit of a precursor to characters in the Invisibles.
The one thing going for it --was Sebastian O felt part of a movement of "anything goes" and genuine inspiration in comics, when the superhero was stagnant. It's definitely got a lineage with other creative works (Milligan's Enigma and JM DeMatteis' Mercy) while being a bit of a precursor to characters in the Invisibles.
March 28, 2019
The idea is interesting but I suspect - sarcasm - that the author has stolen it from someone else as usual but the development of the story is, as much of GM's work, poorly depicted and focusing on the idea that evil, naught and nasty are the way to go. Sebastian is a sort of GM's projection, a nasty gay, dandy and sociopath that hates the establishment and fights the white straight man power. Very confusing plot but and seems very much written as a flow of thoughts and organized later as a story not an ingenious work of labor.
August 3, 2018
A Morrisonesque mash-up of Oscar Wilde & steampunk, one of Vertigo's first releases. I wished Morrison went a further with the ideas in this book instead of giving us a fairly simple revenge story. A year later he released 'The Invisibles' ...
November 11, 2018
Too short! More please!
August 11, 2019
This light hearted steampunk romp isn’t really anything special or dazzling, but it’s a good quick entertaining read.
June 9, 2024
Bangers & Mash: A Vertigo/Non-DC book
July 5, 2024
I’m going to talk about the sebastian o. This book is definitely amazing.
October 14, 2011
Каждый прочитавший “Машину различий” Гибсона и Стерлинга просто обязан сразу же ознакомиться и с этим произведением. Не знаю есть ли между ними какая-то прямая связь, но связь смысловая ощущается уже невооруженным глазом. Словно Грант Моррисон пролистал книгу двух акушеров киберпанка, кинул ей в стену и сказал: вы называете это паропанком? с хуя? да, тут много пара и над городом висит смог, но панков я не вижу – только марксисты, бляди и луддиты”. В результате,“Себастьян О” стал своеобразным ответом Моррисона на поставленную тему.
Сюжет этого графического романа разворачивается в реальности “Машины различий”. То бишь в викторианской Англии, давно уже вступившей в эпоху мегапрогресса. “Что есть прогресс?” – задает автор вопрос своим читателям? - “революция одних только машин? или заодно и тех людей, которые их окружают? как воспримет основная масса сограждан изменение норм повседневного поведения? как она будет реагировать на тех, кто пытается внедрить эти нормы в жизнь? Как их назовет – панками, извращенцами или людьми будущего?”
Дурная слава сопровождала “Клуб искусственного рая” с самого начала его создания. Люди, входившие в этот закрытый клуб, изо дня в день шокировали окружающих своими нетрадиционными взглядами на такие вещи как секс. Взгляды, которые они с легкостью распространяли через печатные издания откровенно порнографического содержания. Никто из простых людей не знал, что в стенах этого сборища извращенцев собрались самые нетривиальные умы Англии, работающие над созданием первой виртуальной реальности.
Однажды правительство все же закрыло этот клуб, а наиболее рьяных его членов безжалостно заперло в стенах Бедлама. Спустя пять лет после этого происшествия одному из них по имени Себастьян О удается сбежать на волю. Он узнает, что из бывших его товарищей в живых осталось всего трое, и кто-то из них несет за это ответственность. Встреча с педофилом Эббом и лесбиянкой Джорджем показала, что за всем случившемся стоит лорд Тео Лавендер. Именно этот коварный субъект уже несколько месяцев правит Англией, создав вместо скончавшейся королевы Виктории ее удачный виртуальный дубль.
Сюжет этого графического романа разворачивается в реальности “Машины различий”. То бишь в викторианской Англии, давно уже вступившей в эпоху мегапрогресса. “Что есть прогресс?” – задает автор вопрос своим читателям? - “революция одних только машин? или заодно и тех людей, которые их окружают? как воспримет основная масса сограждан изменение норм повседневного поведения? как она будет реагировать на тех, кто пытается внедрить эти нормы в жизнь? Как их назовет – панками, извращенцами или людьми будущего?”
Дурная слава сопровождала “Клуб искусственного рая” с самого начала его создания. Люди, входившие в этот закрытый клуб, изо дня в день шокировали окружающих своими нетрадиционными взглядами на такие вещи как секс. Взгляды, которые они с легкостью распространяли через печатные издания откровенно порнографического содержания. Никто из простых людей не знал, что в стенах этого сборища извращенцев собрались самые нетривиальные умы Англии, работающие над созданием первой виртуальной реальности.
Однажды правительство все же закрыло этот клуб, а наиболее рьяных его членов безжалостно заперло в стенах Бедлама. Спустя пять лет после этого происшествия одному из них по имени Себастьян О удается сбежать на волю. Он узнает, что из бывших его товарищей в живых осталось всего трое, и кто-то из них несет за это ответственность. Встреча с педофилом Эббом и лесбиянкой Джорджем показала, что за всем случившемся стоит лорд Тео Лавендер. Именно этот коварный субъект уже несколько месяцев правит Англией, создав вместо скончавшейся королевы Виктории ее удачный виртуальный дубль.
January 3, 2016
Reprints Sebastian O #1-3 (May 1993-July 1993). Sebastian O is an aristocrat. He lives a privileged life of excess…until he’s put in Bedlam under constant watch. Sebastian has a plan however. He’s going to get out Bedlam and seek out those who imprisoned him. In his attempts to uncover the truth, Sebastian is going to discover an even bigger secret that could change England’s future.
Written by Grant Morrison, Sebastian O is a three issue mini-series. The series was one of DC Comics’ earliest Vertigo series and is credited for being an early example of steampunk. The series features art by Steve Yeowell.
Sebastian O was one of those early Vertigo titles that almost feels like a blip. You saw ads for it in comics but unless you were looking and waiting for it, you might have missed it. Unlike many of the continuing and bigger Vertigo titles, the series isn’t as sought, out and despite being a Grant Morrison fan, I didn’t read it until recently.
You can see a lot of Grant Morrison’s style in this book. There are aspects of The Invisibles and other series in it, but it isn’t as good as many of his other series. The biggest problem with Sebastian O is that it is only three issues. I don’t feel I have a good read on the character and feel like the whole rich universe created in the comic needs expanding. I don’t think it should have been more than six issues, but I do think it probably needed to be at least six issues to explore the concepts, ideas, and world created.
I do like the steampunk aspect of the story. If it had solely been about Victorian London, it probably wouldn’t have worked. The steampunk style adds a bit of mystery and wonder to the world that the series needs to give it a hook.
Sebastian O definitely isn’t perfect and it isn’t one of Morrison’s greats, but if you are a fan of Grant Morrison’s writing, it is a good series to check out. It shows not only how Morrison developed as a writer, but it also demonstrates how he stalled a bit at points. I could see a revisit to Sebastian O’s world sometime to see how things have changed since the end of the series. It would be a trip I’d be interested in making.
Written by Grant Morrison, Sebastian O is a three issue mini-series. The series was one of DC Comics’ earliest Vertigo series and is credited for being an early example of steampunk. The series features art by Steve Yeowell.
Sebastian O was one of those early Vertigo titles that almost feels like a blip. You saw ads for it in comics but unless you were looking and waiting for it, you might have missed it. Unlike many of the continuing and bigger Vertigo titles, the series isn’t as sought, out and despite being a Grant Morrison fan, I didn’t read it until recently.
You can see a lot of Grant Morrison’s style in this book. There are aspects of The Invisibles and other series in it, but it isn’t as good as many of his other series. The biggest problem with Sebastian O is that it is only three issues. I don’t feel I have a good read on the character and feel like the whole rich universe created in the comic needs expanding. I don’t think it should have been more than six issues, but I do think it probably needed to be at least six issues to explore the concepts, ideas, and world created.
I do like the steampunk aspect of the story. If it had solely been about Victorian London, it probably wouldn’t have worked. The steampunk style adds a bit of mystery and wonder to the world that the series needs to give it a hook.
Sebastian O definitely isn’t perfect and it isn’t one of Morrison’s greats, but if you are a fan of Grant Morrison’s writing, it is a good series to check out. It shows not only how Morrison developed as a writer, but it also demonstrates how he stalled a bit at points. I could see a revisit to Sebastian O’s world sometime to see how things have changed since the end of the series. It would be a trip I’d be interested in making.
August 16, 2008
A coworker and I have had an ongoing discussion about the relevance and meteoric rise of steampunk as a pop culture movement. We've been listing off older media items that form the long lead-up to what it is today (City of Lost Children, The Diamond Age, The Smashing Pumpkins singing Tonight Tonight, and so on). He lent me this to read as part of this discussion.
The world of Sebastian O is fairly well developed, but mostly hinted at. The story seems gappy and rushed, and I keep wondering if there are more volumes to this that I've missed. The dialogue perfectly captures the wordiness of Victorian speech, and the portrayal of aesthetes is, while a caricature, at least somewhat accurate. There simply aren't enough pages to adequately contain the amount of thought that obviously went into this story, and the ending leaves me completely cold. There's *got* to be more of this out there somewhere... Right?
The world of Sebastian O is fairly well developed, but mostly hinted at. The story seems gappy and rushed, and I keep wondering if there are more volumes to this that I've missed. The dialogue perfectly captures the wordiness of Victorian speech, and the portrayal of aesthetes is, while a caricature, at least somewhat accurate. There simply aren't enough pages to adequately contain the amount of thought that obviously went into this story, and the ending leaves me completely cold. There's *got* to be more of this out there somewhere... Right?
January 8, 2013
Grant Morrison writes a steampunk story! And a good one it was! The reason I gave it four instead of five stars is because it's too short (only three collected issues total of a three-part series), and I wish that he and penciller had expanded upon the idea more. Without giving away spoilers, it takes place in a technologically advanced Victorian Britain because of scientific breakthroughs centuries earlier by Da Vinci and Isaac Newton (inventing the steam engine way in advance before our reality). And imagine our hero, a dandy aesthete exactly like Oscar Wilde who kicks butt, trying to get his revenge on a flamboyant someone who did him wrong and trying to take over the global British Empire. I wish Grant had written more of this! The book is filled with pastiche Oscar Wilde witticisms said by our hero, Sebastian O. Recommended for steampunk aficionados and Oscar Wilde fans. This book is very flamboyant, so be open minded!
June 18, 2007
Graphic Novel. Oscar Wilde meets steampunk by way of Grant Morrison. The title character, Sebastian O, is nothing but a poor man's Wilde. His crimes are bigger, his quips are strained, and he is infinitely less sympathetic. The artwork is old school. And by "old school" I mean ugly. If it weren't for the content, this could have been published back in the 60s, on pulpy newsprint. Little to no detail, flat color, no imagination. The topless maids were cursed with a terrible affliction wherein their nipples were the same color as the rest of their skin. I was fascinated and horrified. Obviously that was a style decision, but part of the reason I don't read the gold and silver age stuff is because the ugly hurts my eyes. I liked the idea of this title -- a hyper-modern Victorian age, a dandy trained as an assassin and escape artist -- but Morrison doesn't really take it anywhere.
December 23, 2015
Delicious, if too short. IIRC, this was released as a 3- or 4-issue miniseries by DC imprint Vertigo in the early nineties. With an art style that tips a hat to Beardsley and decent writing, I was left wanting more. Morrison does a fantastic job of capturing the dandy aesthete in Sebastian and Lord Lavender, and the tale of the hardened assassin who still has time to fix his hair properly and enjoy a milky brew doesn't come off as hokey in the least. That said, I feel like the story ends rather abruptly, and I think this really could have shined as a 6-month endeavor as opposed to a quarter-long project. To be fair, though, at that time, Vertigo wasn't quite as replete with projects that were taken as seriously by the community as a whole I think as it is now, and then there's always the interplay of a monster corporation and budget constraints to consider. Sebastian O. is jolly good!
January 17, 2016
Issue 1 - The story and characters are already intriguing. I can understand why my brother gave this to me to read. I love reading about moral ambiguity, societal perspective, and crazy people haha. This should be excellent.
Issue 2 - As per usual, it seems like this issue is more transitory than anything. I love Sebastian's subtle insanity.
Issue 3 - It seems that this comic series borders on the sci-fi genre. Of course, the characters are far more important. I like the ideas that this series touches upon, but I don't think I can give this series a higher rating since it happened so fast.
Overall - Haven't yet been disappointed with Vertigo. I like the themes this series touches upon - it definitely makes you think some. But it was too short and fast for it to stay with me long enough.
Issue 2 - As per usual, it seems like this issue is more transitory than anything. I love Sebastian's subtle insanity.
Issue 3 - It seems that this comic series borders on the sci-fi genre. Of course, the characters are far more important. I like the ideas that this series touches upon, but I don't think I can give this series a higher rating since it happened so fast.
Overall - Haven't yet been disappointed with Vertigo. I like the themes this series touches upon - it definitely makes you think some. But it was too short and fast for it to stay with me long enough.
June 22, 2014
This is the second of two older Grant Morrison mini-series that I read today. This one is from 1993. The setting is an alternate-history London, in the late 1800's (I think). There are elements here that would be described today as "steampunk", but of course that term didn't exist in 1993.
As usual with Morrison, that are a lot of crazy ideas here, many of which speed by before they even really leave much of an impression. The main character of this book is almost entirely unsympathetic, but is somehow still engaging.
The art by Steve Yeowell is quite nice, and works well for this kind of story.
The plot of the series is pretty straightforward, but the resolution is questionable. I'm honestly not sure what the point of it was. I can't say much more without giving it away. But, of course, with Morrison, it's not unusual for a series to end in an odd way.
As usual with Morrison, that are a lot of crazy ideas here, many of which speed by before they even really leave much of an impression. The main character of this book is almost entirely unsympathetic, but is somehow still engaging.
The art by Steve Yeowell is quite nice, and works well for this kind of story.
The plot of the series is pretty straightforward, but the resolution is questionable. I'm honestly not sure what the point of it was. I can't say much more without giving it away. But, of course, with Morrison, it's not unusual for a series to end in an odd way.
April 2, 2012
Uma estranha mistura. Parte ficção vitoriana inspirada nas aventuras anti-moralistas de Oscar Wilde parte puro steampunk parte lição literária sobre simbolismo, Grant Morrison mostra-nos um final do século XIX alternativo, onde computadores vastamente mais poderosos do que os engenhos diferenciais de Babbage prometem a emergência de uma realidade virtual que se irá sobrepor ao real concreto. Para colocar um ponto final aos planos nefários do impulsionador desta hiperrealidade vitoriana, resta Sebastian O, dandy em busca de vingança mas que insiste em estar sempre bem vestido para a ocasião. A ilustração, com vislumbres surreais e steampunk de uma Londres utópica, faz jus às ideias em colisão de Morrison.
March 13, 2013
This is a brief graphic novel featuring a Wildean decadent dandy, determined to revenge himself against the man who imprisoned him. It has steampunk elements, but is more about the decadence, in an almost Huysmanian manner. Sebastian is based on Oscar Wilde, but has something of Lord Alfred Douglas about him as well, if only the rather peculiar blond bowl haircut. It was enjoyable, but could easily have been twice as long, if only to develop the characters and situations enough for there to be something real at stake.
February 26, 2013
Clever und unterhaltsam
Eine echte Steampunk-Attraktion ist dieser Titel. Ein echt arrogantes, dekadentes Schwein als Held, der Töten ebenso als zu verkostende Sinneswahrnehmung versteht wie gut Essen und sich gehoben zu kleiden, noch bösere und dekadentere Gegner.
Es kommt echtes Oscar-Wilde-Feeling auf, die Geschichte ist sehr clever und unterhaltsam, die Zeichnungen erfrischend klar und zur Story passend. Schade, dass es keine Fortsetzung gab, von dieser Bond/Wilde-Mischung hätte ich gern mehr gesehen.
Eine echte Steampunk-Attraktion ist dieser Titel. Ein echt arrogantes, dekadentes Schwein als Held, der Töten ebenso als zu verkostende Sinneswahrnehmung versteht wie gut Essen und sich gehoben zu kleiden, noch bösere und dekadentere Gegner.
Es kommt echtes Oscar-Wilde-Feeling auf, die Geschichte ist sehr clever und unterhaltsam, die Zeichnungen erfrischend klar und zur Story passend. Schade, dass es keine Fortsetzung gab, von dieser Bond/Wilde-Mischung hätte ich gern mehr gesehen.
February 12, 2014
Uno strana rilettura o trasposizione romanzata della vita di Oscar Wilde.
Una storia abbastanza sconclusionata ambientata in una inghilterra vittoriana in cui già esistono le intelligenze artificiali e svariate altre tecnologie ma ci si sposta ancora con le carrozze a cavalli.
Una storia abbastanza confusa e poco articolata realizzata in toni splatter. Questa trasposisione del dandy vittoriano come criminale di mezza tacca non ha molto fascino. Alcuni cattivi che sembrano Joker. No, non ci siamo, non per il mio gusto.
Una storia abbastanza sconclusionata ambientata in una inghilterra vittoriana in cui già esistono le intelligenze artificiali e svariate altre tecnologie ma ci si sposta ancora con le carrozze a cavalli.
Una storia abbastanza confusa e poco articolata realizzata in toni splatter. Questa trasposisione del dandy vittoriano come criminale di mezza tacca non ha molto fascino. Alcuni cattivi che sembrano Joker. No, non ci siamo, non per il mio gusto.
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