(On the left; old style Marvelman – which Marvel owns. On the right; modern Marvelman/Miracleman, which Marvel are getting closer and closer to owning or at least reprinting.)
The story so far: Marvel announced last month that it had secured the rights to reprint Mick Anglo’s Marvelman. Much speculation and gossiping ensued over what exactly this meant for the possibility of reprinting the Alan Moore Marvelman/Miracleman stories from Warrior/Eclipse and reprinting and finishing Gaiman and Buckingham’s Miracleman saga.
Well, according to the first part of this interview from Mania.com with Alan Moore, it seems we’re definitely one step closer to getting the complete Marvelman back into print as he’s reported as saying that he’s more than happy to see all of his MM stories come back into print, but possibly without his name on them:
“After being initially informed by Neil’s lawyer, I had to think about it for a couple of days. I decided that while I’m very happy for this book to get published—because that means money will finally go to Marvelman’s creator, Mick Anglo, and to his wife. Mick is very, very old, and his wife, I believe, is suffering from Alzheimer’s.
The actual Marvelman story is such a grim and ugly one that I would probably rather that the work was published without my name on it, and that all of the money went to Mick. The decision about my name was largely based upon my history with Marvel—my desire to really have nothing to do with them, and my increasing desire to have nothing to do with the American comics industry. I mean, they’re probably are enough books out there with my name on them to keep the comics industry afloat for a little bit longer. I left a message to that effect with Neil. I’ve since heard back from the lawyer upon another issue, and he said that he was certain that would be the case—that Marvel would accede to my request. That looks like the way it will be emerging.
And, Neil will be able to finish his Marvelman story because he has a completely different relationship with Marvel than I have with them—or rather, don’t have. The main thing is that I will feel happy to know that Mick Anglo is finally getting the recompense he so richly deserves. And, I will have distanced myself from a lot of the deceit and ugliness that surrounded the relaunching of Marvelman as a character.”
So we’re definitely getting closer to seeing the books back in print. What do you think? 2010? 2011?
(via John at Down The Tubes)
September 5th, 2009 at 12:16 am
If I was editing this project, I’d be moving heaven and Earth to try and persuade Alan Davis to redraw the last few parts of Book 2. Pigs might fly and all that, but I’d still give it my best shot.
September 7th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Neil Gaiman was filming in Watford High Street last Sunday (6th Sept,) and I quickly quizzed him on Marvelman. To paraphrase, he said that everyone’s head needs to clear first – to see how everything settles. I prompted that he has a very good working relationship with Marvel Comics he quipped, “Very good.”
So I asked if he would wish to complete The Silver Age and The Dark Age and he said that if the opportunity presented itself… then yes he would.
Start your spam campaign to Joe Queseda and Dan Buckley now!
October 28th, 2009 at 6:21 am
I’m tempted by an hysterical reaction. Having just discovered here the possibility that Neil Gaiman might actually finish miracle/marvelman, I really am left speechless. One of my two favourite graphic novel writers expanding and completing (?) a series ‘begun’ by my other favourite writer got me very excited back in the day. I had given up hope about half a decade ago of receiving any real closure from this project, but perhaps this is now possible.
Regardless, the chance to hold a physical, legal, affordable copy of the published comics in my hands, and have the money go to (at least one of) those who deserve it is an opportunity in itself. But perhaps new revelations have left the optimism of this month-old post languishing in a pool of realism; I note the absence of recent posts. Don’t give me false hopes, sir, or I may be forced to phaze my fist through your force shield etc etc.