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Twilight of the Superheroes

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zam Since: Jun, 2009
#1: Apr 30th 2011 at 5:21:11 PM

Let's discuss Alan Moore 's proposal and how the industry might have changed if it came out.

http://fourcolorheroes.home.insightbb.com/twilightfree.html

Seamus Another Perfect Day from the Quantum Savanna Since: Jul, 2009
Another Perfect Day
#2: Apr 30th 2011 at 7:19:29 PM

The cynic in me says that DC would brush it off as an Elseworld or something if they had published it, or shown another future with a message about the future not being set.

I'd have loved to read it, though.

I've got two guns pointed west and a broken compass.
Canondorf Since: Sep, 2009
#3: Apr 30th 2011 at 7:21:05 PM

It would have made the Dark Age darker.

NapoleonDeCheese Since: Oct, 2010
#4: May 1st 2011 at 6:04:52 AM

Alan Moore's head swells up to gigantic size, eventually exploding and killing him.

edited 1st May '11 6:05:04 AM by NapoleonDeCheese

C0mraid from Here and there Since: Aug, 2010
#5: May 1st 2011 at 6:25:55 AM

Re-reading the outline makes me think it's even better than I remember it being.

I doubt this would have affected the industry too much though. Other writers tried to emulate the dark and edgy aspects of Watchmen et al but I'm not sure what they would have copied from this, most of the key concepts have been widespread at some point anyway

Am I a good man or a bad man?
RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#6: May 1st 2011 at 8:11:33 AM

John Constantine as God-Mode Sue would have gone memetic?

SpaceJawa UTINNI! from Right Here Since: Jan, 2001
UTINNI!
#7: May 1st 2011 at 4:59:12 PM

Anyone want to sum it up for me?

C0mraid from Here and there Since: Aug, 2010
#8: May 1st 2011 at 5:06:40 PM

Any summary of this would inevitably leave things out, this is after all Moore's unorganised summary of his undevolped plan. The plot isn't so important as what Moore wanted the story to do, basically give a definitive conclusion to the DC universe whilst still leaving it open ended. But that's a horrible summary.

Could anyone refresh my memory, was this outright rejected or did it fall through because of the rift between Moore and DC?

Am I a good man or a bad man?
SpaceJawa UTINNI! from Right Here Since: Jan, 2001
UTINNI!
#9: May 1st 2011 at 5:26:42 PM

basically give a definitive conclusion to the DC universe whilst still leaving it open ended. But that's a horrible summary.

It also doesn't make much sense. O__o

C0mraid from Here and there Since: Aug, 2010
#10: May 1st 2011 at 5:42:56 PM

Which is why it was a horrible summary.

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#12: May 3rd 2011 at 9:55:56 AM

Looks like it would have been a good read, though as Seamus mentioned, it would have been dismissed as a mere elseworld.

What's more interesting to me is the introduction, where Moore basically predicts what happened to the comic market in the years that followed.

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AndyDyslexia Andy Dyslexia from the inside of your head Since: Feb, 2010
Andy Dyslexia
#13: May 26th 2011 at 6:42:09 PM

But it was written up as an Elseworld, wasn't it? I mean, in the same way that Age of Apocalypse was. The last page would have ensured that, surely...

Anaheyla Since: Jan, 2001
#14: May 27th 2011 at 10:44:25 AM

I skimmed. I don't like the idea.

edited 27th May '11 10:44:32 AM by Anaheyla

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Anaheyla Since: Jan, 2001
#15: May 27th 2011 at 10:52:39 AM

Anyone want to sum it up for me?

It's kinda hard to keep in my head even though I just now read it, but an extremely barebones summary follows thusly:

Rip Hunter(who I am only familiar with by vague mentions of his name in connection to Booster Gold) and John Constantine come from the future to prevent a Bad Future.

Bad Future follows thusly:

BOO ALIENS, THEY ARE EVIL OR SOMETHING!!!! Superman doesn't count. The Green Lanterns are exiled from Earth. The governments of the world go kaput so now the superheroes are in charge. Superman and Captain Marvel and people to that general effect form their own dynasties. Hilarity Ensues. The Green Lanterns are conspiring with the Rannians and the Thanagarians and the Martians from their secret base on Mars to take back Earth. And a bunch of other stuff happens and everyone dies.

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C0mraid from Here and there Since: Aug, 2010
Anaheyla Since: Jan, 2001
#17: May 27th 2011 at 12:03:45 PM

Not unlikely. I didn't read it in depth. Like I said, I just skimmed.

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eX 94. Grandmaster of Shark Since: Jan, 2001
94. Grandmaster of Shark
#18: May 27th 2011 at 1:34:07 PM

Moore is a good writer and with the fitting art, this sounds as if could have been an actual comic epic. As the end point of the DC Universe however, I see too much OOC behavior and all drama between the characters.

Ronnie Respect the Red Right Hand from Surrounded by Idiots Since: Jan, 2001
Respect the Red Right Hand
#19: May 28th 2011 at 7:11:37 AM

Ugh. More of the 'tripe' variety Moore displayed in the ending of Watchmen and elsewhere.

Gray64 Since: Dec, 1969
#20: May 29th 2011 at 9:23:32 PM

One thing you have to remember is that Moore came up with Twilight of the Superheroes before the "darker and edgier" boom of the 90's that Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns spawned. The story has an incestuous Captain Marvel, a leather/domination fetishized Green Arrow and Black Canary (shocking for an Alan Moore comic, no?) and Dick Grayson as a crueller, more ruthless version of Batman. Loads of character derailment and Moore's signature hobby-horses. I doubt it would have been accepted into canon as a possible future. It probably would have been quite good. I'm sure though, given the turn comics took, Moore is quite happy he didn't write it.

HyperAlbion Taking Back our 40 acres Since: Sep, 2012
Taking Back our 40 acres
#21: Mar 15th 2013 at 11:57:29 PM

Its funny that Kingdom Come was basically a Cover of this story.

I personally disliked the moral behind it, but the idea is pretty sound.

Although I disagree with the nature. If you look to the original Twilight from Norse myth, the gods are ended by a natural extension of their epicness, rather than a degeneration. They ascend they dont die. So when I think of the "Last Superhero Story" I prefer the Morrisonian Method of All Star Superman and Batman Rip where the achieve a mythic status.

Basically Morrison writes stories about the SUPE Rman and Moore writers stroies about the superMAN. As in Grant's narratives revolve around the extensions and aspects of a fundmentally "enhanced" world while Alan prefers to showcase such a world from the lenses of baseline human expression. To play it up, one has the premise "What if men were Gods" and the other "What if Gods were men?"

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RedM Since: Oct, 2012 Relationship Status: You can be my wingman any time
#22: Mar 17th 2013 at 9:28:53 PM

Wow, that was a cool idea. Reminds me a lot of Kingdom Come. That bit with Constantine and that chick in the bar at the end was depressing.

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HyperAlbion Taking Back our 40 acres Since: Sep, 2012
Taking Back our 40 acres
#23: Mar 18th 2013 at 2:28:27 AM

It would, given it was one of KC's influences.

Casual talk is a debate you have to win.
Robbery Since: Jul, 2012
#24: Mar 18th 2013 at 12:15:04 PM

[up] From what I've heard, it wasn't really an "influence," at least not at first. Alex Ross had the idea for Kingdom Come and, in discussing it with others, was pointed towards Twilight of the Superheroes. It have had an impact on the end result, though, so yeah...I guess you could say it was an influence. Forget I said anything.

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