What Happened to Alan Moore's Big Numbers? As Told by Bill Sienkiewicz

Go into the story of Bill's background as he worked with Alan Moore in the 1980s.
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[@tommarvel9442]

This book series will probably always be the one that many many comic fans wish could've seen completion in some way. Even as a teenager, I had the sense that it would've unfolded into a very grand and captivating story.

[@rudak6718]

would love to see a completed (and even just the issues that were completed!) collection of Big Numbers. Crowdfunded? 🔥✒️🖤🖋🔥

[@spiderjerusalem4009]

Another Moore's underrated gem

[@warlockofwordschannel7901]

The book they did complete together, about the CIA, Shadowplay - The Secret Team, is incredible.

[@jneilson7568]

I bought all of the available issues second hand, completely unaware of anything about it except that I adored the artwork and the writing. Always wondered what happened to the rest of it. So, this work means a lot, it showed me what else comics could be.

[@johnscott6481]

Was and still my all time favorite illustrator...

[@christhomas5846]

I was so amped at the time for Big Numbers. I still go back and take in those three issues that actually made it out (I know Bill only did two of them). So do wish that it had gotten finished.

[@mamodokod]

God I just heard you had a youtube channel and got so excited, I own every single Moon Knight you've ever worked on, I love everything you do!

[@Pilgrim_uk]

Big numbers was one of my favourite comics not just because of the art but its over size publication. I remember asking Forbidden planet about next issues BN and they would just shrug. "Who knows what lies in the hearts of men."

[@Thenameless1]

I never realized Bill Sienkiewicz had such a lovely voice.

[@overlordRX]

Found out about your channel form your boy zak. Love the content!

[@FarawayPictures]

Never heard of this before.

[@brianlandreth9926]

Loved this reimagining of the Shadow. New Mutants blew me away. Mad at myself for not picking up Moon Knight back then.

[@nerfytheclown]

Maaan... Toasters was so weird i still have trauma. Love the Shadow bits, bub.

[@comicssecrethistory3538]

An unfinished masterpiece. Surely with the advances in Digital production Bill could finish this himself? Moore wrote a detailed plot for all 12 issues, which he gave to a scriptwriter when he sold the TV rights? Maybe someone with experience like Damon Lindelof could script over these plots. Deserves to be yours again Bill after all it cost you.

[@ARVETDEG]

I think that would be disrespectful to Alan and Bill because it was a project that both were doing. Plus, at that time Bill left the project too, Alan's first wife divorced him, and that was a cause too of why Big Numbers fell through. In fact, at that time Alan was trying to create a comic imprint, so you can see that there were a lot of elements from both sides that didn't allow the project to ever be finished. That's why you must remember, that this comic was a collaborative effort not just a one-man effort. While it would be cool that Bill finished drawing it, the only way to do so would be if Alan Moore provided the full script. Especially when this story was a personal story for Alan as he wanted to explore stuff about England and small cities like Northampton. Besides, just because Damon wrote the Watchman tv sequel, that doesn't mean he fully get Alan or his writing or is equipped to write comics or at the level of Alan Moore. As remember, Alan does a lot of research and adds lots of information to his stories. Just look at Watchman and all his end notes after each issue, or From Hell and all it's immensity of history and information, or his comic Providence that has lots of references and information about not just Lovecraft but American cities and on. So, either Damon, if he wrote the last part of Big Numbers, would be able to just write the surface stuff and the comic would end up flat, and not what Alan intended to do. That's why the only way this comic should ever be completed, would be of Alan and Bill returned to the book. Otherwise... It's better if it's left alone uncompleted.

[@comicssecrethistory3538]

@@ARVETDEG Moore already tried to continue the series without Bill, with Al Columbia. While the reasons that prevented Moore from finishing this unfinished masterpiece will never be resolved, the purely artistic and production challenges that plagued Bill are no longer an issue. While you say this was a collaboration, the facts are Moore tried to continue without Bill and Moore went on to sell and work on the adaptation of series for TV. Moore gave the TV producer the detailed plots for all 12 issues and worked with the proposed script writer regarding additional details. Regarding "disrespectful"; Moore also very publicly blamed Bill for the book's failure and insulted and attacked him. I'm saying Bill has as much right (if not more given Moore's actions) to finish the book especially in the medium it was intended for. Bill completed 3 issues, there is apparently a full script for the 4th issue and Moore had incredibly detailed plots worked out for all 12 issues and the characters. Moore also gave copious script notes to the proposed script writer for all 12 issues. With the advantages presented by digital media and production Bill's workload would be slashed. Any capable writer could come on board with Moore's finished plots and notes for the final 8 issues. The likes of Lindelof whose 'Watchmen# work was acclaimed by audiences, critics and the Watchmen creator who hasn't disowned the work would be an ideal collaborator for Bill, he may like with the ''Watchmen' TV series add nuance missing from Moore's work to even improve the work. If Moore was happy to continue 'Big Numbers' with another artist, to sell it to TV and work with a nobody script writer to finish it; shouldn't Bill be afforded the same respect, particularly in light of how Moore defamed him and laid the blame for not finishing it on him solely?

[@sosimple3585]

@@comicssecrethistory3538 I remember reading interviews at the time where Alan gave the impression that from his perspective he was sending scripts off into a void and hearing nothing back. They didn't have a contract because it was a gentleman's agreement, with all profits between writer and artist to be split 50-50, so it was set up to be this equitable artistic endeavour that was based on trust, which must've been very important to Alan at the time given his mistreatment by the big companies. So he puts his faith in a fellow artist, so much so that there's no legal recourse if one of them doesn't deliver, sends off his scripts and ends up waiting years. If that is true, then I don't think I can feel too aggrieved about Alan's stance. It certainly sounds true because if there was anything in writing then there wouldn't be anything stopping him from taking the world he created and hiring someone else or taking it to television. It's a shame Al Columbia went all weird and ran off with some of Bill's pages. He produced a book in the same style called Doghead. I still have a copy and thumbing through it now makes me believe that he could've completed the series.

[@edhillyer4713]

Howard Bacon, tee hee

[@TheAlmightyAss]

Bill Sienkiewicz working on an Alan Moore work? Jesus Christ that's amazing.