Wiseman-Trowse, N. J. B. (2009) Marvel or miracle: (Re)placing the original in Alan Moore's Marvelman. Critical Engagements. 3(1), pp. 51-72. 1754-0984.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | In 1982 Alan Moore resurrected the long-forgotten superhero Marvelman for the British comic anthology Warrior. Marvelman’s previous incarnation from 1954 to 1963 (published through Fawcett Comics) as a revamped Captain Marvel provided source material for Moore’s work in Warrior. However, given Moore’s revisionist project (arguably starting with Marvelman, continuing through Swamp Thing, Watchmen and his work for ABC comics amongst many others), the original Fawcett incarnation becomes re-read in the 80s as part of a subconscious fantasy forced upon the Marvel family (Marvelman, Young Marvelman and Kid Marvelman) as part of their induction within a British military arms project after the Second World War. As such the 50s incarnation of the Marvel family is contextualised by Moore as fantasy, in relation to the revisionist 80s narrative that foregrounds ‘reality’ and contemporary commentary. This article seeks to understand the mechanisms by which Moore is able to relegate one narrative arc within another that holds a greater status of reality. In other words, how is Moore’s Marvelman more ‘real’ than Mick Anglo’s 50s version? These mechanisms are centred around contemporary concepts of reality, concepts that are further expounded in the late 1980s through titles such as Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns (Miller) and others, and through the process of ‘adaptation’ within formats, rather than adaptation between formats. The legitimisation of one narrative arc over another is considered to be not only a response to changing attitudes brought to bear on superhero narratives, particularly in Moore’s work, but also through alternate modes of reification brought to bear upon comic formats themselves that arguably commence in the UK with Moore’s work in Warrior magazine. |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Alan Moore, Marvelman, Miracleman, comics, graphic novels, adaptation |
| Subjects: |
P Language and Literature > PR English literature > PR6050 1961-2000 P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN6700 Comic books, strips, etc. |
| Creators: | Wiseman-Trowse, Nathan J B |
| Publisher: | UK Network for Modern Fiction Studies |
| Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: |
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Education & Humanities > English and Creative Writing University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Centre > Centre for Critical and Creative Writing Faculties > Faculty of Education & Humanities > English and Creative Writing Research Centres > Centre for Critical and Creative Writing |
| Date: | 2009 |
| Date Type: | Publication |
| Page Range: | pp. 51-72 |
| Journal or Publication Title: | Critical Engagements |
| Volume: | 3 |
| Number: | 1 |
| Language: | English |
| ISSN: | 1754-0984 |
| Status: | Published / Disseminated |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| References: | Bloom, Harold. The Anxiety of Influence: A Theory of Poetry. New York: Oxford University Press, 1973. Brooker, Will. ‘Batman: One Life, Many Faces’. Adaptations: From Text to Screen, Screen to Text. Eds Deborah Cartmell and Imelda Whelehan. London: Routledge, 1999. 185-98. Giddings, Robert and Erica Sheen, eds. The Classic Novel: From Page to Screen. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2000. Kaveney, Roz. Superheroes! Capes and Crusaders in Comics ad Films. London: I B Taurus, 2008. Khoury, George. Kimota! The Miracleman Companion. Raleigh: Twomorrows Publishing, 2001. Klock, Geoff. How to Read Superhero Comics and Why. London: Continuum, 2002. Pustz, Matthew J. Comic Book Culture: Fanboys and True Believers. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1999. smoky man and Gary Spencer Millidge, eds. Alan Moore: Portrait of an Extraordinary Gentleman. Leigh-on-sea: Abiogenesis Press, 2003. Stam, Robert and Alessandra Raengo, eds. Literature and Film: A Guide to the Theory and Practice of Film Adaptation. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2005. Versaci, Rocco. This Book Contains Graphic Language: Comics as Literature. London: Continuum, 2007. Wolk, Douglas. Reading Comics: How Graphic Novels Work and What they Mean. Cambridge, MA. Da Capo Press, 2007. |
| URI: | http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/3257 |
Actions (login required)
 |
Edit Item |
Altmetric
Altmetric
Altmetric