Oh how I miss Promethea.

[stubarnes]

I found some incredible synchronicity yesterday (http://fullbodytransplant.wordpress.com/2009/07/10/promethea-lives/), and it made me ache.

Promethea obviously did everything it needed to in 32 issues, and I would never want to ruin its legacy with a return, but I still want to talk about it.

What do you remember best, and what do you miss most?

[MikeCr]

I read it in trades - honestly, I don't think I would have been ready for it if I'd started the issues in '99 - but what I remember best was reading the twelth issue for the first time and knowing that this was like no other comic I'd ever experienced and the long, agonizing wait for the fifth trade to come out.

[stubarnes]

Indeed.

Imagine waiting like that times 32. It was the most anticipation I have ever felt, each issue. And they were incredibly irregular. Some one month, some two, some three or four months between.


Considering the fact that Austin Osman Spare makes a few cameo appearances, I guess that is rather fitting!

[stealthwise]

The METAPHORE issue.

Weeping Gorilla.

The character relationships, Sophia and her mother, Bill and the FBI agent, Stacia and the other Promethea, hell, all of them.

The trip up the 32 whatchamacallits, especially with all the wonderful art shifts from JH Williams. He was the true superstar of this series, and when you blow away Alan Moore's contribution, that's something special.

[stubarnes]

Weeping Gorilla actually gets a big feature on the cover of Absolute Promethea:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3649/3373703685_3661cf1190.jpg

That also features my favorite moment of the series. Jack Faust dealing the Thoth Tarot cards. It happened at the turning point, last page of #9. Just before the Tantric Sex issue that won the Eisner.

Good times.

[MikeCr]

Indeed.

Imagine waiting like that times 32.
Well, I have been reading Planetary since the first issue so I have a decent basis for comparison!

[Shellhead]

Promethea read like three different runs by three different writers, one after the other. The first 11 issues, plus 24-25 were mostly Moore just writing a great post-modern superhero tale, loosely based on both Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel, only much better. Issues 12-23 were like a fascinating lecture series on magick from Professor Moore. Issues 26-32 were downbeat, mundane and ultimately pointless, culminating in a psychedelic poster. The artwork was consistently amazing, and the cover to #27 was an amusing homage to the old Spider-man/Superman team-up from the '70s.

[Indigo Al]

Issues 26-32 were downbeat, mundane and ultimately pointless, culminating in a psychedelic poster. The artwork was consistently amazing, and the cover to #27 was an amusing homage to the old Spider-man/Superman team-up from the '70s.

Downbeat, yes, because Moore had to set an apocalyptic mood for various reasons, not least of which was to mimic the expectations of what a comic book apocalypse is supposed to be. But mundane and pointless? Don't see it.

BTW, posted this on another thread in YABS about Wonder Woman, but thought it might be good to post here: Alan Moore's proposal for Glory, where you can see the start of his ideas for Promethea.

http://asylums.insanejournal.com/scans_daily/198268.html

[stubarnes]

Promethea read like three different runs by three different writers, one after the other.

Agreed. I especially loved the middle section, but the three phases were very distinct.

:tongue: :tongue: :tongue:

[comicspaul]

My favourite parts of Promethea:

The Text Pages in the first issue dealing with the history of Promethea and the involvement of different creators

The Tarot issue which is especially fascinating

Although they weren't in the main series, there are two specials which have charming Margie in Misty Magic Land stories

[stubarnes]

The Text Pages in the first issue dealing with the history of Promethea and the involvement of different creators.

Of all the impressive achievements, that is the one that slayed me most.

I believed every word of it, it was written so well. One of the greatest fakes of all time.

:biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

[Dard]

While I loved the "spiritual" issues in the first half, I have to admit that her trip to afterlife dragged on too long. After five or so issues I began to lose interest, even though each individual issue was still very fascinating.
After her return, the series skyrocketed again. But I have to say that I feel like the end was really rushed. And why that crossover?

I guess this is why I really miss Promethea: I would like to see a more satisfying conclusion.
But well, besides those somewhat lower points, it really was an amazing series that I am glad I have read. You don't get an artist like that working for such a long time with such a versatile writer. It wasn't the best ABC series IMO, but almost.

[Indigo Al]

After her return, the series skyrocketed again. But I have to say that I feel like the end was really rushed. And why that crossover?


Which crossover do you mean?

Also - to everyone - which Promethea would you want more focus on? We got a lot of features/backstories for Bill Promethea and Margaret Woolcott via the little Margie strips. I'd like to see a feature on Woolcott's actual activities as Promethea during World War I. Maybe Grace Brannagh too.

[Chief Jon]

My God this was a wonderful series. I also read it in TPB reprints and as I read it one volume at a time I truly felt like my conciousness was expanding. I think my favorite aspect of the series were those moments where time was presented in a non-linear manner; the two page spread during Promethea's [Sophie's] and Barbara's journey where they are conversing about time while walking on a mobius strip shaped path. Fantastic.