Jinji
asked
Alan Moore:
If you were given the chance to write a new story about a pre-existing comic character, from any publisher, without any restrictions, (and you are given full rights), which character would it be? And what would your take on that character be like?
Alan Moore
I confess I don’t read many comics these days, chiefly those by my current Avatar stable-mates. So that would be Garth Ennis’s always-powerful War Stories along with anything else that the man happens to put out; Si Spurrier’s excellent and reinvigorated Crossed + 100 and his forthcoming Cry Havoc from Image; Kieron Gillen’s spectacular Mercury Heat, Phonogram, The Wicked + The Divine and, whenever he gets his lazy arse into gear, the next run of the exemplary Über; and, as mentioned earlier, the incredible Brian Vaughn’s concept-crammed Saga. As far as being given the chance to write any comic-book character, no matter what the inducements, can I say that I really wouldn’t want that in any circumstances? I genuinely have no further interest in any of the characters that the comic industry keeps in its massive police-auction horde of stolen property: for one thing, I’m sixty-two in a couple of weeks, and for another thing, how could I ever accept ‘full rights’ to a character that was created by some cheated creator of the past, and where those rights are not in the company’s gift from any ethical point of view? I have never had a real interest in Superman since I was around twelve years old, saving for when I was called upon to resurrect that interest for the Superman stories which I was offered. Even when offered the opportunity to write one of the only American comic characters that I retain affection for and interest in – this being Ogden Whitney and Richard Hughes’ sublime Herbie, the only comic character that is mentioned or discussed in Jerusalem, incidentally – I turned it down because I’m only interested in reading Hughes and Whitney’s Herbie, and have no interest at all in reading my own ‘take’, or ‘tribute’, or ‘homage’ to the character, which would add nothing new or interesting to already unique and fascinating work, and would at best amount to a fannish tribute which I’m sure that both of the original creators could have done without.
More Answered Questions
Sonny
asked
Alan Moore:
Hi Alan! I've been looking forward to reading Jerusalem for years now and it always seems to be on the cusp of being completed. What stage is the book at now? Are you excited about it finally being finished? What can we expect when it's finally published? Many thanks and much love, Sonny
Thomas Bilous
asked
Alan Moore:
How do you feel about the 'Anonymous' and 'Occupy' movements use of the Guy Fawkes mask which you had a role in making so symbolic in 'V for Vendetta'? Do you draw any parallels with their movement and the text itself? And how about the 'V' and modern day politics, which seem to be ominously (and terrifyingly) similar?
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