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Title: Across the Universe: The DC Universe Stories of Alan Moore by Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons ISBN: 1-4012-0087-7 Publisher: DC Comics Pub. Date: 01 July, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4 (3 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: A wide variety of quality, but good overall
Comment: This trade paperback should go over well with fans of Alan Moore's more prominent and masterful works (Watchmen, Killing Joke, Swamp Thing, LOEG, etc). I will admit that it is nice to have his more obscure DC work from the '80s under one cover, as there are several stories here that I was not familiar with. Even still, the presence of Alan Moore's name on the cover does not mean that this collection is perfect. In fact, if someone who had not read any Alan Moore began with this this collection, I feel that they wouldn't understand what the fuss was about. Some stories are quite good, and some are quite average. As he was just getting the feel of some of these characters at the time, I can allow for some slack. Plus, Alan Moore's "average" is another writer's "exceptional", so just keep that in mind!
Of course, opinions on the quality of the stories will differ between reviewers, but here are my thoughts:
The Good - A Superman/Mongul story that creeps along in the beginning but finishes with a nice dark touch. Three very tight and creative "Tales of the Green Lantern Corps", especially one involving a GL who comes from a world with no concept of light or color. A Superman/Swamp Thing team-up that would have been right at home in Moore's regular Swamp Thing gig. The secret origin of the Phantom Stranger, unnecessarily paralleled with a modern-day reenactment, but still interesting. A Batman story focusing on Clayface III and his obsession with a department store mannequin.
The So-So: A Green Arrow/Black Canary story that succeeds at being "officially grim and gritty" but didn't make an impression one way or the other. Two Omega Men back-ups that could have ended with rim-shots. A Vigilante 2-parter that is far too long - this one was my least favorite, and leaving it out would have been fine by me. I guess it was meant to be unsettling, and the basic story is okay, but the bright cheery art ruins the effect, and the involvement of two prostitutes gets old very quickly and contributes nothing but eye-rolling melodrama.
In closing, I will definitely hang on to this book, as the good stories more than make up for any faults of the others.
Rating: 4
Summary: Alan Moore does the DC Universe very well!
Comment: This is a collection of stories Alan Moore wrote for DC in the 1980's before becoming one of the most famous writers in comics history.
There is a Superman birthday story called "For the Man Who Has Everything" that was very well done.
--A Superman/Swamp Thing crossover in which Superman is struck ill by an alien plant from a meteor and he ends up in the Louisiana bayou Swamp Thing inhabits.
--A Green Arrow story that deals with some heavy life/death issues.
-- Some interesting Omega Men tales.
-- A Green Lantern story starring Abin Sur (the alien that gave Hal Jordan the power of Green Lantern!) and other tales of the Green Lantern Corps.
-- A VERY disturbing Vigilante story.
There is only one reason that this set does not get five stars, and that is because it is not the strongest of Alan Moore's work. If Watchmen, V for Vendetta, Swamp Thing, Miracleman and From Hell get 5 stars (and they most definitely do!), then this must be below them. That being said, each story in this set is still better than most other stories however, and any Alan Moore fans who are also DC fans will enjoy this set as much as I did if not more so...
Rating: 5
Summary: An Excellent Collection
Comment: Before his abrupt departure from DC Comics following Watchmen and V for Vendetta, Alan Moore was one of their most prolific writers. These mostly-short stories appearaed in annuals and as back up features, for the most part, the major exceptions being the Superman and Vigilante tales. And what stories these are. Probably the best Superman story of the last thirty years. Three excellent and unique Green Lantern stories (although 'Mogo Doesn't socialize' is weaker than most), and the very hard to find Vigilante two parter that introduced a character Moore planned to use in his never-finished (or published, or even, for that matter, written) 'Twilight of the Super-Heroes' project.
I can't recommend this enough. Although it may be cheaper to get many of the stories in the back issue bins than it would be to buy this compilation, it also can be really tough to track them all down. But however you read these stories, read them. Best DC stuff around.
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Title: Swamp Thing: Reunion by Alan Moore ISBN: 1563899752 Publisher: DC Comics Pub. Date: 01 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Supreme: The Return by Alan Moore, Joe Bennett ISBN: 0971024960 Publisher: Checker Book Publishing Group Pub. Date: 03 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 2 (Comic) by Alan Moore ISBN: 1401201172 Publisher: DC Comics Pub. Date: 01 December, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Endless Nights (The Sandman, Book 11) by Neil Gaiman ISBN: 1401200893 Publisher: DC Comics Pub. Date: 17 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Promethea (Book 1) by Alan Moore, Mick Gray, J. H. Williams III ISBN: 1563896672 Publisher: DC Comics Pub. Date: 01 July, 2001 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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