You and I are very much on the same page here.
I now wonder if I was affected by trying to read some of Mr. Moore's more recent work, which I found quite nasty and gave the books away.
Agreed. Nasty. Petty and Childish. Sad.
Watchmen was a paradigm shift in comics, adult themes, brilliantly designed and constructed, memorable characters. But the basic plot is one that just doesn't work. You stop War by just subjecting the world to a huge atrocity. Has never worked up to now and never will. The World will come together to fight Aliens? Like everything Moore writes, it's swiped from somewhere else. I remember reading a Theodore Sturgeon story will the same plot written back in the 50's. I don't hold that against him. I am a huge admirer of Moore as a writer and influencer. But he is the epitome of a 'Postmodern' writer. He deconstructs everything. There is other work that I prefer.
Top 10 I love, His work on
Swamp Thing, the last Superman Story. And some of his work I just can't get into. I've never been able to stay with '
V for Vendetta' long enough to finish it. Same goes for '
From Hell'
I have tried to read some other BIG comic events in recent weeks to see how they stacked up after some time
Unfortunately 'the big comic event disease' has now hit Dr Who. When they do this with characters and concepts they do irrevocable damage to the property.
'
Time Lord Victorious' which I will read some of - Already read the Graphic Novel - has finally ruined Dr Who for me.
https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-lord-victorious-timeless-child-comic/ Doctor Who season 12 literally rewriting the show's history. Showrunner Chris Chibnall revealed the Doctor is not a Time Lord at all, but rather is the Timeless Child, a being who potentially originated from another universe - and who became the base genetic code for the entire Time Lord race.
This has been followed by "Time Lord Victorious," the biggest transmedia event in the history of Doctor Who. In this story, various incarnations of the Doctor have traveled back to the Dark Times, when the universe was young. This should be impossible, but somehow the time locks preventing TARDISes traveling back so far have failed, and now all history is in flux. The story of "Time Lord Victorious" runs across several different mediums, including comics, novels, and even a Dalek animated TV series to be released on YouTube.
Thanks but no thanks. Pure cynical marketing.
and I found myself still in touch with, and enjoying, Planetary.
Agreed - excellent work.
Another title which still resonates highly with me, unfortunately less well known, is Jack Staff by Paul Grist. A very recent re-read was most enjoyable.
But my biggest re-reading pleasure was New Frontier, which I have read a number of times, and it never fails to entertain
Also agreed. I like Paul Grist's work very much. And the New Frontier Animated Movie is one of DC's best if you haven't seen it.
So along the lines mentioned above.
If you like
Darwin Cook's work [New Frontier] you should like
Chris Samnee's work. His Run with Mark Waid on
Black Widow is recommended. Now collected in hardback. And also influential.
https://meaww.com/black-widow-the-mark-waid-chris-samnee-comic-run-offer-clues-movie-plot-release The
Thor Miniseries he did with Roger Langridge is also wonderful.
But now two new recommendations.
First
FirePower by Samne and Robert Kirkman.
https://www.facebook.com/theComicShopLiverpool/posts/3318579868198047 If I write about this I will do nothing but rave. So no spoilers. Find out for yourself!
Second O
nce and Future by Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora.
http://www.boom-studios.com/series/oncefuture/This is just lots of fun with British Mythology. Started with Arthur and currently the goodies are battling Beowulf and Grendel. And [Spoiler[ Grendel's mum just turned up!
explore the mysteries of the past, the complicated truths of our history and the power of family to save the day