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Q: Who Was the Inspiration for RORSCHACH in DC Comics' WATCHMEN? A: This FACELESS Urban Vigilante!
Manage episode 416115330 series 3489218
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Steven and Chris take a roadtrip back in time, eventually arriving on the pothole-riddled streets of Hub City, and man do they have a lot to say -- almost 4 hours' worth of comic book chatter! Steve Ditko's urban vigilante, The Question, is boldly re-imagined by Denny O'Neil and Denys Cowan as a Zen crimefighter for the ages. Check it out; here we cover issues #1-#8 of THE QUESTION (DC Comics, 1987).
COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comic books (plus a few notable exceptions) in a weekly podcast format. Screenwriters Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) and Chris Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) & discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age.
SHOW NOTES:
00:30 - Intro to Vic Sage a.k.a. The Question (covering SteveDitko and Ayn Rand, Denny O’Neil and Denys Cowan)
02:57 - THE QUESTION & SWAMP THING as “Proof of Concept” for Vertigo Comics
24:14 - Vic Sage’s relationship with “Tot” a.k.a. Aristotle Rodor
35:53 - Denys Cowan’s smart, efficient page compositions
1:27:30 - An urban vigilante story written by... a metaphysically minded, left-leaning zenned-out hippie?!
1:34:17 - Drawing Black characters in comic books
1:47:24 - Cowan’s skill at conjuring real-looking people who don’t all fit into cookie cutter, visual molds
2:08:18 - Giving Denny O’Neil his flowers as a writer and noticing his evolution on THE QUESTION vs. GREEN LANTERN/GREEN ARROW; an exsmination of his intricate, multi-character storylines
2:40:05 - Cowan’s lively, kinetic, uniquely gestural linework
2:55:55 - The “generosity of content” of ‘80s comic books -- more story pages, denser stories, letter columns, editorials, etc.
…
+ Check out our YouTube channel to get a look at some of the fantastic art featured in our episodes. Visit ComicsRotYourBrain.com to sign up for our newsletter, Letter Column. You can also find us wherever you stream your favorite podcasts.
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Chapters
1. Q: Who Was the Inspiration for RORSCHACH in DC Comics' WATCHMEN? A: This FACELESS Urban Vigilante! (00:00:00)
2. Quick history of THE QUESTION (00:00:47)
3. Main Discussion of the first eight issues (00:02:41)
4. Cowan and Sienkiewicz’s cover collaboration and the extent of their friendship (00:03:35)
5. The Vertigo/cerebral nature of THE QUESTION, pre-Vertigo (00:06:25)
6. Cowan & O’Neil’s take differs so radically from Steve Ditto’s original vision for the character (00:08:00)
7. Ditko’s Ayn Rand influence/objectivism versus O’Neil & Cowan’s reimagining (00:08:48)
8. Denny O’Neil’s “Recommended Readings” in the Lettercol; notably “The Uses of Enchantment” by Bruno Bethelheim. (00:19:13)
9. Steve’s theory that THE QUESTION and Alan Moore’s SWAMP THING were proof of concepts for more literary comics and the need Vertigo eventually fulfilled (00:23:38)
10. Steve and Chris FINALLY talk about the plot of THE QUESTION run (00:38:19)
11. In Issue One, Vic Sage’s ass beating is savage (00:41:15)
12. Moving on to Issue Two (00:45:17)
13. Moving on the Issue Three (01:04:28)
14. Moving on to Issue Four (01:36:00)
15. Issue Four’s Recommended Reading: “Way of the Peaceful Warrior” (01:48:00)
16. Moving on to Issue Five (01:53:00)
17. Moving on to Issue Six (02:23:07)
18. Moving on to Issue Seven; the character Volk some sort of Wolverine rip-off (02:47:00)
19. Moving on to Issue Eight (03:05:00)
20. Steve’s recap of the entire series (03:21:00)
21. An odd negative letter in the lettercol! (03:25:00)
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