lenticular power action punch gateway(?)

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While I haven't quite decided the exact moment my current action figure acquisition mania took hold, I've narrowed it down to two likely culprits, both thanks to McFarlane Toys (though Mego's new Universal Monsters line was, probably, just as complicit): first, the Superman / Batman hybrid figure from one of my favorite Elseworlds, SUPERMAN: SPEEDING BULLETS (which opened mine eyes to the beauty of McFarlane's line of DC Multiverse figures) and then their relaunch of the SUPER POWERS line; it was the latter, especially, that kicked me into what I can only describe as a synthesis of gotta-have-it frenzy and "pick it up if it intrigues me" self-curatorial methodology of mass-produced modern plastic sculpture (Daredevil and Spidey Marvel Legends; random Batman and Superman McFarlane variants – though I do have the entirety of the THREE JOKERS line; the Neca Universal Monsters line; and the occasional Mego purchase - '62 Herbert Lom Phantom being the latest) and vintage acquisitions of both the "I've missed you come back to me (in carded, beautiful form)" – original Super Powers Superman (and Supermobile!); an (incoming) trio of Mattel's '84 SECRET WARS figures (those lenticular shields still fascinate); Playmates's Dick Tracy line; etc – and "I've never had you and now I must" – vintage Dick Tracy toys, comics, books, and especially Big Little Books (including one which is on its way but that I'm not going to get too excited about until I hold it in my hands); Universal Monsters lobby cards; Shadow pulps and related ephemera; and movie serial memorabilia) varities: I need more shelves (and curtain rods).

MIRACLEMAN OMNIBUS (“The Original Writer” / Leach, Davis, et al, 2022)

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After years, now, of hearing snippets of the legal saga around the character, I'm relieved to find that the actual MIRACLEMAN stories are far more engaging than the behind-the-scenes ones: Anglo's creation proves the old axiom, "necessity is the mother of invention," as he created a world which is, to me at least, more rich and interesting than the Marvel family he was replacing. Moore's 1982 transformation of it into the mythological sci-fi epic he crafted (while haven't read any of Gaiman's run, I will seek them out – though I’m still confused as to how these are collected and released) is nothing short of astonishing, a prime example of the staying power via elasticity inherent in those considered the greatest among our pantheon of four-color gods (and monsters).

Four panels from MIRACLEMAN Prologue, by Garry Leach: closer and closer closeups of Miracleman's eye...

Mentioned it in my PostScript on TITUS GROAN, but I’ll reiterate: was fascinating to read Moore and Peake, one of the former's biggest influences, simultaneously: the influence is apparent – in the Guardian interview quoted there, Moore says that "(Peake's) were probably the first books where I began to understand just what you could do with writing: how he could conjure this entire complex environment and these almost fluorescent characters that stayed in your mind for ever": complexity of environment and fluorescent characters who stay with you: in MIRACLEMAN, check and double check (not sure I've experienced such utter comics heartache as I did in the resolution pages of the Kid Miracleman saga).

Will eventually re-read because, as with all of Moore's work, I can't help feeling like I've missed something, a feeling that it rewards more either in subsequent read-throughs or in monthly, serialized readings (the only series of his I've read in serialized was my beloved and personally influential 1963 as that was when my collecting days overlapped with the majority of his serialized output).

One complaint: more than half of this $100 tome is dedicated to supplmental material and, while the original art and Anglo originals are undeniably great and the history of the character's trials and travails is fascinating, the latter, especially, is nothing I couldn't find online. Unnecessary padding.

My complete reading list, from 2013 to the present, lives here.

coda/20230218

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Finished MIRACLEMAN OMNIBUS: Postscript might land tomorrow.

State of perpetual weariness today, quite possibly (though I'm fairly certain of the real reason - end of an era, et al) from laughing at the joke I like o tell myself that I can, after being awake since 0430, keep enough of my wits about me to do another block of useful work 14 hours later: excepting this dashed-off screed, not happening. That being said, moving to Spring /Summer working hours (read: mornings only): standard difficulty at +/-1300 from not working and the asshole in my brain using that as an in to tell me everything I'm doing is pointless. Heard this record countless times before; thankfully, its pull is much reduced. Yay pills.

My fingers hurt from Technic assembly.

Macro105 tomorrow morning.

'Night.

links/2023w07.2

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