tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2672912018624878918.post6191839021308578322..comments2024-01-31T19:44:34.430-05:00Comments on The Phantom Stranger: Swamp Thing Annual #2 - 1985rob!http://www.blogger.com/profile/17556471244882205031noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2672912018624878918.post-35533430449151653892015-02-01T20:45:47.035-05:002015-02-01T20:45:47.035-05:00As I recall, Moore later contributed a story to a ...As I recall, Moore later contributed a story to a "Phantom Stranger' special that contained a number of stories about the Stranger's possible origin. Moore's was the best and presented the Stranger as an angel who could not decide whether or not to rebel against Heaven. He was thrown out of heaven and, when he went to Hell, the newly fallen angels pulled off his wings in punishment for his inability to commit. I always preferred a Stranger whose origin was mysterious and I really don't like the current version where we know he is Judas and has only been around for 2000 years. Much less mysterious and tantalizing a figure, in my view. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2672912018624878918.post-2677027537997962012009-02-20T03:27:00.000-05:002009-02-20T03:27:00.000-05:00That's right, RC. Etrigan makes fun of a certain a...That's right, RC. Etrigan makes fun of a certain ambivalent someone, "One who, mentioning no names, will not choose 'twixt sulfur and the sky, but walks a path 'tween Moloch and the manger. To whom am I refering? Could it be someone we know, or could it be a ..."Garnethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444108192571431505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2672912018624878918.post-77545207589188478762009-02-17T18:31:00.000-05:002009-02-17T18:31:00.000-05:00As I recall, Moore left a clue in this issue about...As I recall, Moore left a clue in this issue about his take on the Stranger's identity. Didn't Etrigan mock the Stranger at one point, referring obliquely to his (PS's) failure to make a choice during Lucifer's rebellion? I think the Stranger even interrupted him before he could finish his rhyme. We need an interview with Alan Moore on this blog!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2672912018624878918.post-73164059076888228132009-02-17T17:30:00.000-05:002009-02-17T17:30:00.000-05:00I have to admit that even though I've read all the...I have to admit that even though I've read all the Neal Adams Deadman stuff at one time or another, I'd never really taken note of what RAB pointed out above. Makes me want to go back and give it another looksee all over again.<BR/><BR/>Boy, do I have fond memories of this Swamp Thing Annual. I remember quoting the Stranger's observation of Anton Arcane's descent to Hell in my high school geometry class. I don't recall exactly in what context, though.<BR/><BR/>Alan Moore's run on Swamp Thing completely changed my expectations of what good comic book writing is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2672912018624878918.post-52811480123143388062009-02-17T01:35:00.000-05:002009-02-17T01:35:00.000-05:00There's so much I love in this issue...but you've ...There's so much I love in this issue...but you've also included here the one thing about it that always bugged me! Prepare for the most picayune and trivial fan complaint imaginable...<BR/><BR/>One really clever bit Neal Adams snuck into his work on Deadman was the way Rama Kushna was always drawn with female imagery while Boston Brand addressed said entity with exclusively <I>male</I> terms. He was always saying "Hey, buddy..." and "Look, pal..." or the like. Even as a young one I felt certain this had been done on purpose, as a way of showing that while Brand was capable of perceiving this higher being, he wasn't able to fully perceive its nature. There was still something about Rama Kushna he couldn't grasp correctlky but that we as readers were being permitted to see. He saw his deity as a man, so his vision was blinkered.<BR/><BR/>So I always felt Moore kinda blew that joke. Yes, one could argue that in the time since we last saw him, Boston has finally worked out the real score (just like Moore decided to make Etrigan a "rhyming demon" all of a sudden) but something was lost there. And it seemed like other writers didn't get what Adams was doing in the first place.<BR/><BR/>Ah well, still a spectacular and auspicious tale for the jolly green giant and company...Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01714171897239398438noreply@blogger.com