Miracleman: Lightning, Madness And A Dream Of Flying

An in-depth examination of the themes, allusions and elements of the first chapter of the MIracleman epic. Written by Alan Moore. Illustrated by Garry Leach and Alan Davis. Originally published in Warrior in issues 1-11, between 1982-83. Reprinted by Eclipse in 1985 and 1988. Reprinted and recoloured by Marvel Comics in 2014.
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SOURCES:
Kimota! The Miracleman Companion by George Khoury. TwoMorrows Publishing. 2001.
Poisoned Chalice - Part 07 by Pádraig Ó Méalóid
www.comicsbeat...
#Comics #ModernAge #AlanMoore #AlanDavis #Miracleman #Marvelman #MarvelComics

[@Slovobooks]

I just wanted to say that the throwback sequence at the beginning of Eclipse Comics' Miracleman #1 was added by Dez Skinn of Warrior, who provided Eclipse with the art, and that Alan Moore had nothing whatsoever to do with it. It was also Skinn who 'tweaked' the dialogue.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Really? That is quite surprising considering its relevance. And I saw nothing to suggest that it wasn't Mr. Moore who had done the revisions. Mind you, I didn't expect it would be otherwise. If anyone other than yourself provided that information I would question its validity.

[@KitchenSinkSoup]

Rest in Peace Gary Leach; your early art made this book as much as Moore's scripts.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Amen to that. Rest in peace, Mr. Leach.

[@fad23]

I still think a lot about this series.

[@brainglow_lightbright]

Seriously. That pic in the thumbnail just brought me back

[@alexcruz3043]

Miracle Man holds up as one of my favorite to this day.

[@Brownie-ms6sv]

Alan Moore's finest piece of work imo

[@mikegeorge794]

Alan Moore is a genius in the comic industry.

[@regsays]

Hands down my favourite work of Alan Moore. Very few books have left such a mark on my love of comics.

[@Gennaropacchiano]

Definitely one of my favourite comic books. Moore it's just incredible.

[@AdahnFlorence]

Man I am amazed to discover that the original prologue short story was illustrated by Mick Anglo, I think it's very sweet in a sense like he's handing the reigns to him.

[@GreenGoblet22]

Fantastic breakdown of an often under-discussed Moore tale - I'd love to see coverage of volumes 2 and 3!

[@StrangeBrainParts]

I may do the remaining two also. I also want Gaiman to first his run so I can do a deep dive of that, too. :)

[@youraveragecrownofthorns8919]

@@StrangeBrainParts do you honestly think thats ever going to happen at this point... no sarcasm, but with Gaiman's heavy television work recently, i personally don't see it. But i hope i'm wrong.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

I do think it's possible, especially since the pandemic. That's shut down all TV and movie productions. So he may have the time. But, honestly, I have a feeling it might happen for a while.

[@gdkey8025]

@@StrangeBrainParts i read this a couple years ago but had a missing issue around book 3 so i got very confused/lost haha!

[@toganium4175]

Alan Moore has definitely made a great impact on the comic industry.

[@finnsterling6514]

Literature as a whole.

[@suditeh]

My god, this may be the best Miracleman video I have seen until now.

[@noneofyourbusiness4616]

"What have you done to surpass man" is on a post-it note I put on my bathroom mirror. (Not really, just kidding.)

[@gregorybaisden503]

Bravo. Wonderful analysis, SBP. SO many threads, so many spirals, so many not-quite-subliminal reveals in this work germinating the textural dimensionality brought Moore to Watchmen, and further...

[@sh0k0nes]

Ur videos are amazing. Really get under the hood. True story. I had a saturday job at Quality Comics around that time. Working for Dez and Alan was also staff. Good times.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

That is pretty much the definition of awesome. And thanks for watching!

[@cassidyuk]

What a truly fantastic deep dive into Miracleman. Keep up the excellent work. Can't wait for the rest. Nearly prompted a readthrough again then realised vol 1 has been loaned to a friend.

[@RYzE_B3Y0ND]

Man you can really see the influence Paul Jenkins had for the Sentry from this series.

[@ayno6891]

your channel is a gold mine the video essays are incredible and fun to watch keep up my friend

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Thnak you very much! I will try to continue doing my best.

[@Knarki]

Wonderful examination of what in my opinion is Moore's best work (together with his run on Supreme which is so freakin' darn fun). Subscribed and would love to see you tackle book 2 & 3 too :)

[@odietamo1476]

Thank you. This series remains my favorite

[@LucasDarkGiygas]

Thanks for the video.

[@DjEDGain]

MM is my Achilles heel. Thanks for covering this in this times of 2020

[@JohnnyG911]

Trying to do a presentation, just wondering what editing software you use? It would really help me accomplish this project,love the vids

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Hi there! The editing software I use is Final Cut. Good luck with your project!

[@JohnnyG911]

@@StrangeBrainParts thanks so much!! Keep making great reviews!! One of the best comic channels out there 🤙🏻

[@DavidTSmith-jn5bs]

Am I the only one who noticed this - ( 3:36 ) ? The word "Superman" appearing next to an obvious imitation of Curt Swan's "Superman Spit-Curl?" I'm surprised DC didn't make an issue of it. I also remember seeing a "Squadron Supreme" issue where Hyperion ALSO sported a spit-curl. Maybe DC is getting more lenient with "parodies" of their iconic images.

[@DavidTSmith-jn5bs]

@@FemboyCatGaming I wasn't referring to a "Superman quote" but the image of Marvelman sporting a spit curl like Curt Swan was famous for depicting on Superman's head which is like the one seen at 3:36 . I apologize if I confused you with my observations. I'll try to be more transparent with future comments.

[@apieceofbitsandpieces342]

One thing I’d like to point out that you gleamed over in the prologue was the locations the villains from the future attacked. One of them was Paris(which was taken over by Nazi Germany in World War 2) and Saigon (a Vietnam city during the Vietnam war.) both of cities fell due to powers greater than them (Nazi’s and Communism) and I always see this as possible foreshadowing too miracleman’s future.

[@RothurThePaladin]

Enjoyable as always.

[@femmedracula6857]

I love Miracleman and have read it so many times. One thing I'll never get tired of is the look on Miracleman's face when Liz suggests "super breath." I disagree that Miracleman is two separate entities. I think it's more like they're both the same entity, refracted through two different bodies and esp. neurologies. They share memories and personalities to a significant degree. They have a continuity of self, even though it's expressed differently depending upon which body is in use. More akin to Billy Batson and Shazam/Captain Marvel than to Rick Jones and Shazamless Captain Marvel.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

They do share a consciousness. But it is established a few times that Miracleman is quite different than Micheal Moran. He's smarter, better in bed and, biological, he's capable of getting Liz pregnant when Michael could not. Actually, that finally point is a presumption. I'm not sure if it's mentioned in the series that Michael was unable to get Liz pregnant. That's the implication anyway. So do these differences mean two entities? I think so but I do admit it's debatable. :)

[@femmedracula6857]

@@StrangeBrainParts Right, this is what I meant by expressed differently. The two bodies have different brains, one of which functions much better than the other, and Michael/Miracleman (I forget which form) even says that MM's experience of everything is purer and clearer, and he is indeed smarter. The analogy I wanted to use is like Michael's mind is refracted through two different prisms but that implied things I wasn't trying to argue.

[@femmedracula6857]

Thanks for the reply, btw! I love the channel, and I first subscribed because of previous Miracleman videos.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

I could see two refracted personalities through a single consciousness. Yeah, I could buy into that. For the purposes of the analogy, Micheal would be the visible spectrum and Miracleman would be in the ultraviolet range, beyond ordinary, human perception. And you're welcome! Equal thanks for watching.

[@Slovobooks]

@@StrangeBrainParts I think, if we bear in mind that AM had taken mind-altering substances, it would be easy for him to see one individual with entirely different perceptions, and by extension different abilities and, by further extension, a different body.

[@lamptown3748]

One of the first comics i ever read and one that iv never forgotten, even tho i only ever made it thru once. Tho i will say that i picked up Miracleman AFTER i read Watchmen, what a whiplash.

[@Mogget01]

My all time favorite comic series.

[@williamjackson6705]

Hope you will be examining the other 2 books in this series. Possibly My favorite series.

[@mattklein7918]

Please do vol.2 and 3. Swampthing and miracleman are your best works yet.

[@tranceam]

Holy abrupt ending Batman! And look at that Like ratio!

[@fad23]

Are you a Nero? That's such a brilliant question at the start of this narrative.

[@luther1546]

Alan Moore seems like a really fun guy to have to deal with.

[@mercuryman1250]

God your videos are good.

[@DeathAlchemist]

I was waiting for you to cover this story again. I wrote one of my final senior essays on this run and there was so much to dig into. I didn't even notice the other greek references or even know about Captain Marvel/Rick Jones connection. I assumed it was a more scientific take on the Fawcett Captain Marvel, given the real-life creation of MarvelMan and Moore mentioning how Miracleman's outfit looked militaristic. Also, I love Liz Morran as a character, she is a great foil to Morran/Miracleman and some of the panel layouts are really great. It gets so wild in the later parts of the story. I want to talk about way more stuff, but you will cover more of it in due time. BTW Do you have a preference for the original warrior text, the eclipse reprints, or the marvel reprints?

[@StrangeBrainParts]

First all...awesome! I am slightly obsessed with this story arc, so it's good hear others are equally interested in it. As for a preference, that's a good question! I've not done a hardcore examination of the differences between the three, but I'd presume they were slight. I do prefer the Marvel versions because Garry Leach's artwork just pops! I mean, there are subtleties that the Warrior or Eclipse versions don't show. And Eclipse's colouring was a bit...heavy.

[@DeathAlchemist]

@@StrangeBrainParts I think I do prefer Marvel overall as well, but I do understand those that would oppose based on principle alone. Leach's art does pop-out more, although some of the eclipse stuff pops out in its own way. Another thing I like about Marvel is that made Morran's jacket blue and yellow, instead of red and yellow. This slightly foreshadows Moran as Miracleman and when he regains his memory it becomes a consistent reminder that Miracleman is looming over him.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

@Death Alchemist : I totally missed the jacket colours. Good catch! I can certainly understand someone objecting to the Marvel reprints just on principle. But, not only do they simply look superior, all the artists got paid their due (which Alan Davis missed out on with Eclipse). They also got to provide new covers for their specific run(s). Getting them another pay day. So, despite Moore's objection to the history of the company and their legal threats over Marveleman, the current people did right by the artists. And Mick Anglo, too. So, that's something.

[@youraveragecrownofthorns8919]

@@StrangeBrainParts i think i may have mentioned this before elsewhere, but do i not recall that 1 or 2 pages of issue 15 were missing all of the dialog in the word ballons with the Marvel run?

[@StrangeBrainParts]

If and when I look at the final book I will keep this in mind and see if I notice any dialogue differences. Offhand, I can't recall any but I'll do a comparison when I can.

[@PaulNtabuyeButera]

no "until next time" ? What a plot twist !

[@fad23]

Right? Not going to talk at us later?

[@Gigas0101]

Thank you for this, I'd love to hear you dive into more of the series. Also, could you please look at the Marvel UK character of Death's Head? He's not a very deep character but his journey feels worthy of your attention.

[@mileshamauei9905]

did miracleman originally kill kid miracleman? did they change it or am i wrong?

[@madmanelsd123]

It's like Captain marvel and Rick Jones

[@mprovens]

What music do you use for your openings?

[@deanmccaskill5495]

I’ll say it again and again. You should have a tonne more subs. It’s a bloody shame

[@AdahnFlorence]

Well I finished Miracleman, I have to be honest, I don't think it ever quite lived up to the strength of the first four issues in book one, but in the end I think it has more to do with a matter of personal sensibilities not quite aligning the direction the plot itself takes.

[@youraveragecrownofthorns8919]

My second most favorite comic of all time. I remember when i first read this... it hit me like a ton of bricks. No other comic (except Swamp Thing) has ever had that effect on me. Also, if they thought the "chocolate" and "snotty little virgin" references were bad, how did they ever cope with what came later? And i'm pretty sure you know what i mean.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Hah! By then it was being published by Eclipse and those concerns were not longer relevant.

[@youraveragecrownofthorns8919]

@@StrangeBrainParts Well, it may not have been a concern for Skinn, but i have always found it surprising that Eclipse basically got to skate through without much controversy over the use of the... word... in question. Twice no less!

[@StrangeBrainParts]

If I remember correctly, that word was used self-referentially. So that may be the justification and why it wasn't controversial?

[@youraveragecrownofthorns8919]

@@StrangeBrainParts you are, of course, correct...on the first usage. But it was used again in issue 15 by Johnny Bates in ref to Huey Moon. Not trying to drag this out, just found it to to be surprising. Thanks for the reply.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Oh! Yes, that's right. Not that I believe it's a usage that's justifiable, but it probably passed due to Bates' evil nature. It would be in character for him to use such a despicable term.

[@rigopeligro]

This is straight gangsta. You dove deep on this one. Where did you get all your info from? Only thing I know about is the kimota! Companion. Will you also be covering the golden age arc?

[@StrangeBrainParts]

I would love to cover the Golden Age and beyond. I wish Mr. Gaiman would actually write the beyond part. :) The information source I do believe was Kimota and there is a series called Poisoned Chalice on the The Beat that also filled in some details. Hm. I need to add those as source material...I overlooked that. Thanks for bringing that up. As for the rest, all the interpretations and such, that was all me sitting and staring at the work. I didn't have any source other than my own strange brain parts. :)

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Sources added! Thanks again for pointing out the oversight.

[@rigopeligro]

Strange Brain Parts thanks for listing the source material. Excited to read the comics beat article on mm. Your interpretations are out of this world. I keep thinking, “this dude has to be a stoner”. Keep those vids coming! We all appreciate how much work you out in. Stay up playa.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Thank you! I will keep on keeping on for as long as I can. For the record, nope...not a stoner. And I rarely drink. So, I don't know. Make of that what you will. :)

[@youraveragecrownofthorns8919]

@@StrangeBrainParts just to expand on a very good point, Kimota: the Miracleman Companion is an excellent book if you can find and afford it. It's crammed with a wealth of info and goodies. The issue of Alter-Ego on MM is good also.

[@blackphoenix77]

I wonder why Marvel stopped reprinting Miracleman? The last issue came out over three years ago.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Legal issues at first. Marvel made 100% sure they could produce new material with the character. The second Gaiman story arc, Silver Age, was only half written so reprinting it would have been pointless if they couldn't legally print the ending...which has yet to be written. After that, well, Mr. Gaiman is a busy man. So the series is waiting on him.

[@Hank_Castle]

Amazing timing I just finished this!

[@biker3982]

Are you doing this for the whole series?

[@SterlingOladapominiiglo]

Even tho I dislike it, I'm somewhat intrigued by it

[@furiouslenny]

Dude are you psychic? I was just thinking about Miracleman

[@shadowofbosstown]

Re upload?

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Nope. Just changed the thumbnail.

[@Jimvanhise]

Marvel still won't discuss what is happening to Miracleman even though they have in their possession a completed and unpublished issue. Neil Gaiman won't talk about it either. As long as two years ago Marvel said that an announcement was forthcoming, but then nothing. I think the rights issues are cloudy. Dez Skinn knew the character was public domain when he started publishing new stories in the 1980s and thus owned the new material. But then things got sidetracked when it was decided that Nick Anglo, who created Marvelman in the 1950s, owned the character and I think that after he died then Marvel's lawyers figured out that under UK copyright law, Nick Anglo never owned anything and the present ownership is either up in the air or else Marvel is afraid that it is once again in the public domain, which would mean that anyone could publish new Miracleman stories. Marvel hasn't said different. In fact they won't say anything, but clearly they know where things stand. They just aren't telling.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

I do believe they announced the rights issue was cleared up in 2018. And Marvel holds the rights now. But, yeah...it was a convoluted issue. So convoluted I did an entire video on it a few years ago.

[@benrobinson9366]

You changed the thumbnail sooooo quickly. Lol.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

Hah! I my conscience could only take it for so long. :)

[@joshuahext9236]

What was it originally? I'm so curious.

[@StrangeBrainParts]

It was a slightly clickbait version that said, "Unreal Truths Of Miracleman Revealed!" I was just playing around.

[@paulbrown6464]

There is a nasty Kid Miracleman story in Miracleman Apochrypha three issue series where he rapes and kills a woman which I always found a bit disturbing but it does have great Kelley Jones artwork

[@Janzer_]

holy crap. watching this, at 12:50 or so, you see how the new shazam movie pretty much ripped off this sequence.

[@mysticjim6164]

And then Bates got out. . .

[@alecaquino4306]

PRETENTIOUS!

[@KitchenSinkSoup]

Who, or what, is pretentious in this video?

[@jeffreyfreeman4843]

The “science gestapo” is today, real. And they demand masks on all healthy people.

[@tranceam]

Go back to the Trump rally you insipid turd