DC Universe by Alan Moore
Written by: Kevin Hunter, Special to CC2K
There are very few people that are so cool, so out there, so creative and so mind-numbingly genius that they earned the right to have “Freaking” attached to their name. DC Comics legendary writer Alan Moore is one of them. For years Alan “Freaking” Moore” has been the master of comic book storytelling with some of the most creative and innovative work for years. DC Comics has compiled some of his best work in the hardcover compilation – “DC Universe by Alan Moore.”
DC Universe by Alan Moore
Writer: Alan Moore
Artists: Various
Alan “Freaking” Moore is considered by many (including moi) as one of the greatest comic book writers of all time since bursting on to the scene in 1979 and deservedly so. Most of us know Alan “Freaking” Moore for turning the comic book industry on its ears with numerous titles. Most notably the groundbreaking 12-issue series “Watchman,” which was later turned into a hit movie as well as “V for Vendetta.” He is also responsible for Batman “The Killing Joke,” and “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” just to name a few. Alan “Freaking” Moore has also created stories on many of DC’s biggest characters such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Swamp Thing.
With such a large body of work, “DC Universe by Alan Moore” is a behemoth. It’s well over 400 pages featuring 24 comics from 1985-1998, and it comes with a hefty price tag of $40. “DC Universe by Alan Moore” has a little bit of everything and something for everyone from Alan “Freaking” Moore’s spectacular career. From his work on some of DC Comics more mainstream characters and stories to some of the more obscure. There are stories that are pretty tame to ones that don’t shy away from catering to mature audiences with plenty of T&A, violence and weirdness. What makes “DC Universe by Alan Moore” even more compelling is that he always seemed to surround his stories with great artists. There is an array of artists here such as Dave Gibbons, Klaus Janson, Jim Baikie, Kevin O’Neill, Rich Veitch, Joe Orlando, Bill Willingham, Travis Charest, Curt Swan and (the great) George Lopez just to name a few.
But instead of boring you with all 24 stories I’ll bore you with some of my personal favorites. Most of which come the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” and “Legends eras in the 1980’s. In “Superman” #423 released in the summer of 1986, Alan “Freaking” Moore tells the tale of Superman’s final days in Metropolis in the historic last issue titled, “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow,” which he calls it “an imaginary story.” Featured are some the Man of Steel’s great battles both physically and mentally, the people who have come and gone in his life and ending it with Superman flying off into a seemingly uncertain future.
What I found interesting about “DC Universe by Alan Moore” is that all four issues of his “Voodoo” series from 1997 are included here. “Voodoo” is about a dancer in New Orleans who has somewhat of a shady past and once had supernatural powers, dealt in black magic, voodoo, ect. Once again, great story, great art and something for mature audiences. It is a little weird, but that is the kind of stuff that makes Moore Alan “Freaking” Moore the genius we’ve come to know.
Without going into too much detail, there are other pretty good odds and ends to be considered too such as The Secret Origins of The Phantom Stranger titled “Footsteps” from 1987, Green Lantern Annual # 3 titled “In Blackest Night” from 1987, Batman Annual #11 “Mortal Clay” from 1987, and WildC.A.T.S. #50 called “Reincarnation” from 1998.
Many of you will complain that some of his work was left it and it’s true. But if you included all of Alan “Freaking” Moore’s great work, then you’ve got a compilation as big as “War and Peace” and costing a whole lot more. But give DC Comics credit. It does a pretty good job highlighting some of Moore’s best work. I enjoyed “DC Universe by Alan Moore” so much that I don’t feel so guilty about spending the $40 on it and feeling the wrath of my wife for doing so. But those of you who are a little whipped and don’t want to spend the money on the hardcover, you can always get it for less when it’s released in paperback hopefully later this year. Either way, “DC Universe by Alan Moore” is a must have for any collection.