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An Alan Moore question

Dances with Gophers

18:43 / 08.05.03

In Snakes and Ladders, Alan Moore talks about meeting, "A south London Wide-boy occultist I created a few years back for an American Comic book."

Can anybody put me out of my misery and tell me the name of the character and the series?

Jack Fear

18:45 / 08.05.03

That would be John Constantine, who now stars in a book called HELLBLAZER, written by diverse hands—but who was created way-back-when by none other than Alan Moore, during his run on SWAMP THING.

Dances with Gophers

18:50 / 08.05.03

I'll look out for that cheers

8===>Q: alyn

19:24 / 08.05.03

Funny this should come up here just as I'm looking for it elsewhere. There's an interview somewhere where he talks about this, too. I thought it was the idler.uk interview at the Eddie Campbell site, but it doesn't seem to be in there. I've been looking for it as research... anybody know where that might be?

FinderWolf

14:00 / 09.05.03

Not sure, Qal, but I've heard him talk about meeting the spitting image of J.C. several times in various interviews. He said he just exchanged a word or two or just a glance with him, apparently, if I recall correctly.

What does the term "Wide-boy" mean? Never heard of this before, in relation to Constantine or anyone else, for that matter.

Jack Fear

14:12 / 09.05.03

According to this slang dictionary, a wide boy is "A male characterized by his cocky charm, petty illicit dealings, and perceived stylish dress sense. Usually having a working class upbringing the 'wide boy' has replaced the now obsolete spiv."

Which I reckon we could've inferred from usage, no?

I would imagine that "wide" refers to the lapels or necktie—the style aspect—and not anything sexual.

It's worth noting (or not) that the Greek philosopher we know as Plato was actually named Aristocles, and that his nickname came from platon, meaning "broad," which is believed to have referred to (according to whom you ask) either his physical build, his forehead, or the breadth of his ideas. Would that make Plato a wide-boy?

Dances with Gophers

18:40 / 09.05.03

The eighties pop group Wham are the best of example of the wideboy image I can think of at the moment.

■

19:00 / 09.05.03

I'm sorry, but shouldn't such a schlock-happy list remember Nik Kershaw's classic hit "Wide Boy". Explains everything in three verses. Hoorah!

The Falcon

00:01 / 10.05.03

To be 'wide' is to be arrogant here in Scotland.

I'm fairly sure that, like spiv, the word has character connotations.

8===>Q: alyn

03:05 / 10.05.03

Plato is sooooo not helpful in this case.

Axel Lambert

07:51 / 10.05.03

He made a record
it made him famous
yes
it made him a star.
The life and soul of the party
he rocks
he shocks

You never know where you are with him.

He got no sense but he got money

He got no sense but he got overnight success

Exceed excess
exceed excess.
He no big deal
he's just a wide boy

He no big deal
he's just an ordinary guy

Oh me
oh my
oh me
oh my.

He made a movie
he played the driver of a big yellow car.
He is super fab and groovy
he struts and he crows

You never know where you are with him.
He got no sense but he got money
. . .

And with your symmetry teeth and your california tan
I'm here to tell you that you ain't no superman

you're just a wide boy.

Bill Posters

11:09 / 19.07.03

Qal, one such incident appears in Snakes and Ladders; JC tells him that the secret of magick is that "any cunt can do it" (heh!)

ONLY NICE THINGS

12:00 / 19.07.03

It's worth noting (or not) that the Greek philosopher we know as Plato was actually named Aristocles

{Offtopic}Not *actually*, just *possibly* - that's a late tradition, which we find in Diogenes Laertius, as is the explanation of his nickname. He is referred to only, I think, as the son of Ariston in the actual dialogues.{/offtopic}

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