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A British Superman? John Byrne and Dick Van Dyke

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ONLY NICE THINGS

12:45 / 21.07.04

That is my opinion and I am entitled to it

You are missing the point, I think. Quite a lot. It's not your entitlement to hold your opinions that is contested, rather the quality and coherence of those opinions. And your ability to follow criticisms of those opinions - the *point* was that if you are going to claim that people cannot possibly write about anything other than their own situation.

Anyway - I don't think anyone is holding up very high hopes for this one. It looks like it is an attempt to take advantage of the overlap between comic book fans and Monty Python fans and shift some product, with Cleese providing some ideas and his imprimatur and the actual work being done by some available talent, using the term in a highly specific sense.

13:08 / 21.07.04

i am entitled to them...yes, you're also allowed to let them go if they're rubbish...it won't hurt much

respectfully suggest you track down a copy of 'how to irritate people' a post-python collaboration between cleese and palin, really quite a sharp comedic critique of bourgeoise brit values. just like fawlty towers in fact...

whay are we talking about this? time to start dscussing leonard henry and steven parkhouse's masterpiece 'the big woof'

WOOOOF!

ONLY NICE THINGS

13:15 / 21.07.04

You see, Lenny Henry was actually from Birmingham, and as such would have been a much better choice to write "Skizz" than Alan Moore.

Although all comics set in the UK should involve Steve and/or Annie Parkhouse. Because that's what the UK *looks* like. Or, you know, Paul Grist. Paul Grist's Superman would be a bit rock. But Steve Parkhouse's woudl be better.

13:22 / 21.07.04

This latest from comixnewz.com:

----

WHAT DID YOU EXPECT TO SEE FROM A TORQUAY HOTEL WINDOW? KRYPTON?

By Arnie Kessler, comixnewz.com

LONDON: The familiar red and blue uniform of the last son of Krypton is to be seen flying over such London, England landmarks as Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament and Hyde Park.

Written by famous English comedian John Cleese, DC's latest "elseworlds"-style treatment of Superman posits the question: "What if baby Kal-El crash-landed in England?"

Raised as Colin Kent, the Kryptonian goes on to become a national hero who gets his moniker when his appreciative audience applaud and comment, "What a super man!" as he rescues a team of Yorkshire miners trapped underground in the Lake District, near Yorkshire.

"Super" is a common English term of praise.

Unlike his American incarnation, Superman spends his time in his secret identity as a chimney sweep, redolent of Dick Van Dyke's successful character in Mary Poppins.

After succesfully rescuing a group of typical dirty-faced "urchins" from a malevolent child-catcher, Superman is invited to Buckingham House for tea with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

He then has to deal with an East End crime-lord, Les Luthor, who kidnaps Colin's girlfriend Louise Lane, a child-minding nanny, who he forces to work on the streets selling matches.

This is the latest in a series of "re-imaginings" of Superman's origin. There have been previous alternate-reality stories featuring Superman in Russia, and it is understood that in late 2005 a one-shot will ask the question: "What if Kal-El crash-landed in Ireland during the potato famine, and became a member of the IRA?".

ONLY NICE THINGS

13:40 / 21.07.04

"Super" is a common English term of praise.

BWA-HA-HA!

I am so happy.

Haus of Mystery

13:50 / 21.07.04

Les Luthor? I quite like the sound of that. But - really - this is going to be an unremittant pile of donkey toss. Also enjoying the trumpeting of Byrne's 'brit' credentials. "John grew up in the midlands, which is somewhere north of London-Engerland. We believe this, alongside his well documented respect for Engerlish creators makes him the perfect man for the job. Ain't it."

Pass the sick-bag Alice.

14:22 / 21.07.04

sorry for being dim, but is the potato famine/ira thing a joke? oh he'd make a great michael collins so he would. watch closely for the dodgy cuchulainn parallels too dc lovers.

been thinking about the fact that superman got his name from people watching h9im and going 'Super....super'. i'm nearing the conclusion that this is the single most humorous thing that has ever occured on spaceship earth.

won't buy it tho. byrne's art's fucking unwatchable these days.

Haus of Mystery

15:51 / 21.07.04

In fact the more I think about it the more I realise how great this COULD be. Something in the style of George Morrison's Dare revamp - quintessentially Old School English with a modern edge. I know the whole Elseworlds/What If idea is old hat, but if a story's good enough who cares? I'm seeing a Boy's Own illustration of a group of 'Just William' school boys looking up from the cricket field excitedly, at a soaring superman pulling Red Arrow-style stunts in the clear blue sky. Mmmm...

Have just seen Byrne's 'radical' costume design for this. Ugh.

Our Lady Has Left the Building

16:10 / 21.07.04

Joe, the impor- oh wait, the phone's ringing.

Hello? Hello? Who?

Jiminy Jillickers! It's Jesus on the phone. And he's crying because of you Joe. You made Jesus cry you bastard. Oh, and God's in the background and is calling you a 'classist fuckwit'.

This thread is one of the most stupid I've seen in ages. "I haven't actually read anything about this project so I'm just going to gallop to a mistaken idea about it's premise." How lucky you are that you hate both John Byrne AND John Cleese, save's you having to make much of a change of opinion. The comic does sound as if it's going to be rather crap but then Cleese, the Monty Python team and the rest of them, Frost, the At Last... team, the Do Not Adjust Your Set crowd and the whole Oxbridge crowd did trade on a rather stylised view of what Britain was. What's odd is that Cleese especially was always a bit chagrined by Python's success in the States and rationalised it that while the British knew these were stereotypes and not real, that the American fans thought this was what the British really were like. It's odd that he's decided to write a book in a style that seems to pander to the US Python fan's view of the UK. Arguably there would be little point otherwise, Joe's rather bizarre views of class aside, with the exception of Supes growing up to become a Thatcherite politician what other story would there be worth doing about a British superman, and one might point out that we've got a Thatcherite politician in power now. Mark Millar could only make Red Son work by shuffling it back in time so that Superman was friends with cuddly Joe Stalin...

They've got to market this as a comedy. If this is supposed to be semi-serious and yet this is how England is portrayed I'm going to hunt Cleese down to his LA Mansion and kick him inna nuts.

Haus of Mystery

17:29 / 21.07.04

I don't think I understand. You attack the thread for condemening the project without having read it, and then do the same yourself. And I believe it IS being marketed as a comedy.

Our Lady Has Left the Building

17:34 / 21.07.04

No, I was talking about Joe not checking his facts before starting the thread. And he seems to be basing his dislike on the grounds that he didn't realise that sketch with Cleese and the Two Ronnies was a joke. "I am upper class..."

Haus of Mystery

19:32 / 21.07.04

Fair do's. Can we all hold hands and agree it's going to be shit now?

20:20 / 21.07.04

Yes we can.

21:54 / 21.07.04

ello sparrow.

Very Funny.

09:19 / 22.07.04

Micheal Caine as Les Luthor!
"Do. You want. To go. To. The toilet? Superman?
Do? You want? To go? To? The toilet?"

09:27 / 22.07.04

Our Lady.....I did actually state in my very first post, that I had not read the comic and was basing my assumptions on past US portrayals of 'Brit culture'....I thought I had made that clear

Then when it was pointed out to me that Cleese was involved I explained that I did not care for much of his work and thought he was overrated and would only pander to the stereotype.

Admittedly, I did not know this was supposed to be semi humourous....in fact as I have just stated, I did not even have ANY review to hand (as pointed out in the very first posting and the above paragraph)

I have since, in my postings to this thread admitted that part of my dislike of Cleese is based on my own views about class and 'the establishment' (I refer you to just about any post you care to read by myself in this thread with the xception of the Farmer Palmer effort)

If you require any clarification, I believe my posts are sufficiently loaded with the same points , numerous times
and hopefully there should be no further misunderstanding as to where I stand

09:37 / 22.07.04

bloody give it a rest then. blimey

Brigade du jour

10:09 / 22.07.04

Well I think True Brit is going to be quite funny.

I mean, if Clark Kent's going to be a hack reporter for The Sun or some close fictional relative, then maybe there'll be loads of situations where Superman has to rescue John Leslie's latest girlfriend from being beaten up, or fly to Highbury just in time to prevent Arsenal's youth team from getting involved in a drugs scandal.

"Now come on lads, just get on with your football."

13:25 / 22.07.04

Do? You want? To Go? To the toilet? Joe?

13:35 / 22.07.04

hang on hang on hang on

lenny henry's from DUDLEY!!!!

get it right, right?

Haus of Mystery

17:05 / 22.07.04

Roight.

17:13 / 22.07.04

and he's an unfunny bastard as well.....and working class so I am not just anti elitist

the funniest thing Lenny Henry ever did was shag Dawn French

17:38 / 22.07.04

Yeah, 'cause she's fat. Etc.

18:13 / 22.07.04

actually it was meant as a joke

I better come clean as I realise how this could descend even further

This was meant to wind somebody up on here who shall remain nameless........

The person in question and I have locked horns on another thread about weight issues and I knew if I took the 'anti fattie' stance, they were likely to bite again and go off. all hysterical and accuse me of being no better than Hitler

I have privately messaged a couple of people who can vouch that I sent them my message BEFORE any responses came to my Dawn French line. I did this in the chance that somebody other than my intended target took offence and I had to apologise for my comments

I am fifteen stone .....have an increasingly large beer belly and am in no way qualified to skit anybody about their weight. That said, I would have no wish to have a sexual liason with Dawn French and yes, her weight would be an issue .........hypocritical yes but at least I am honest

18:15 / 22.07.04

that is just my opinion by the way

Haus of Mystery

18:34 / 22.07.04

Me am Bizarro. Me think this is best thread ever.
John Byrne is Bizarro's favourite.

18:38 / 22.07.04

Me sad you so like this

Hello

Regrettable Juvenilia

19:15 / 22.07.04

Pity, 'cos I hear Dawn French really fancies lard-arses like you...

19:21 / 22.07.04

Shit

thanks that was better than Atkins, weight watchers, slimming world and a host of others to get my fat ass into gear

tomorrow I think I will have a red day, with a bit of Atkins...I will avoid my carbs, then on Saturday 'green' day but I may cheat with a bit of Tofu

I will have a 'sin' and drink a single vodka before going home and Dibley'ing with myself , ie masturbating with a Terry's Chocolate Orange (How many Sins are in one of those by the way?)

19:29 / 22.07.04

y'know, thinking about it, I cannot think of a feasible sexual position that Dawn and I could actually get into

I would need a spine like Olga Korbet or Spiderman

scarey thought. I will definately have to do something about my weight.....this has troubled me more than I care to admit

sheesh!

ONLY NICE THINGS

22:12 / 22.07.04

Christ almighty...

Look, everyone, Joetheneophyte has a whole range of problems. Those problems are going to leak into this thread and possibly any other thread of comparable mien. I suggest simply leaving it alone.

23:06 / 22.07.04

The person in question and I have locked horns on another thread about weight issues and I knew if I took the 'anti fattie' stance, they were likely to bite again and go off. all hysterical and accuse me of being no better than Hitler

This is an argument in favour of taking such a stance, is it?

Brigade du jour

23:14 / 22.07.04

Sorry, I must have missed something.

What's all this fat shit got to do with Superman and John Cleese and stuff?

Is it cos Cleese has grown a nice big belly now he's sixty-odd? Is it cos Dawn French wants to play Lois Lane in the new film?

Help me, somebody, I'm confused!

ONLY NICE THINGS

07:52 / 23.07.04

Just drive on, Maggie.

Joe: posting deliberately inflammatory comments without any interest in the topic being discussed in the hope of attracting the attention of another poster is known as "trolling". I don't know what exactly would have been proven if your target had risen to the bait, except that somebody who didn't enjoy you dissing the larger figure *still* doesn't enjoy you dissing the larger figure. As it is, all you have managed to do is rot your own thread. If you aren't interested in talking about the comic book, then take it on trust that *we* aren't interesting in talking about your belly, your sexual preferences or your feelings of sexual attraction or otherwise to Dawn French, and *certainly* are not interested in doing so in this thread.

08:59 / 23.07.04

I'd shag Dawn French.
I'd shag her rotten, baby!

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