tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post486037225157302241..comments2024-03-27T19:04:14.544-05:00Comments on The Absorbascon: Dial HScipiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16217376618860561999noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-51646574753802285742012-05-05T15:14:41.998-05:002012-05-05T15:14:41.998-05:00Zook and Bat-Mite mixed up a batch of midichlorian...Zook and Bat-Mite mixed up a batch of midichlorians, gingold and turmeric, then ran it through the Cosmic Treadmill and came up with the H Dial. Mr. Mxyzplk set it on fire and left it on the doorstep of Dr. Fate's windowless and doorless (and probably doorstepless) tower in Salem and ran off, giggling.<br /><br />We had such fun in those days. They don't write 'em like that anymore.Hoosier Xhttp://mushtown.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-75088192688430734662012-05-04T10:25:16.617-05:002012-05-04T10:25:16.617-05:00Things like that should remain without an origin, ...Things like that should remain without an origin, in my opinion. It just spoils the magic, limits future authors, and sets the property up for a revolving door of retcons. <br /><br />See also: midichlorians.Tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13984799425896501960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-19715830426039193022012-05-04T09:14:35.850-05:002012-05-04T09:14:35.850-05:00I enjoyed it, too. I particularly liked the way th...I enjoyed it, too. I particularly liked the way the dial was in an abandoned phone booth, and I wonder how that will factor in to future stories. Is the phone booth a Tardis-like semi-sentient being, that changes shape, moves around to where it's "needed," or develops an affection for certain individuals? That would fit into your theory rather nicely, Scipio. And I quite like your theory -- now I'm worried that Nieville's take on it won't be nearly as elegant.Bryan Lnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-63696621046352637672012-05-04T07:43:06.868-05:002012-05-04T07:43:06.868-05:00Well, Mieville's said he's going to try to...Well, Mieville's said he's going to try to explain it in several interviews. I thought that was why you were publicizing your theory, actually.<br /><br />See here: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=38455 . Near the end, he says "And secondly, let's talk about the backstory, because "Dial H," in some form or another, has been going in the DCU since the 1960s and the origin of the Dial has never been done. And that's absolutely incredible. That's a rare thing in a universe as thoroughly mapped as the DC Universe. One of things I want to do is start approaching questions like that. You don't explore the backstory just in passing in one issue. That's a big deal. For that reason, one of the overarching projects of the comic will be to start examining the mythos of the Dial and start getting into its backstory. I don't want to do it in a way that ruins all the mystery, because the mystery is part of the pleasure, but I certainly want to try and negotiate that."Imitorarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03789589943902054909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-54226758760862108702012-05-04T07:15:37.647-05:002012-05-04T07:15:37.647-05:00I would be shocked if Mieville tries to "expl...I would be shocked if Mieville tries to "explain" the H Dial. It's fun for readers like us to do, but I can't imagine it would do anything but <b>limit</b> the writer to have H Dial explained. It's never been necessary before... .<br /><br />If he does though, he's welcome to use my explanation :-)Scipiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16217376618860561999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-43494766352421633032012-05-04T04:33:47.333-05:002012-05-04T04:33:47.333-05:00I read Dial H #1, and thought that the story was a...I read Dial H #1, and thought that the story was a bit too oblique, in that it didn't seem to clearly spell out who the characters were and what their situation was. It just showed you their lives and you had to derive the background on your own. Which could just be my fault for preferring more straightforward, clear-cut storytelling.<br /><br />And that aside, Nelson's hero transformations were AWESOME!! And isn't that what really matters when it comes to Dial H for Hero? I'm willing to give the story some time to settle into itself, especially if Mieville's hero's keep being brilliant, and Mieville being Mieville, I expect they will.<br /><br />I also like your proposed origin for the H Dial A LOT, Scipio. It's very Morrisonian (in a good way), and a tone similar to that of Morrison's Doom Patrol is EXACTLY the one this series needs to strike. It also fits in thematically very well with the core of the H Dial concept: let a regular kid be a wacky hero. In fact, now I'm somewhat worried that Mieville's own explanation will pale in comparison. But only somewhat. I trust Mieville very much as an author, and I'm very excited to see how his run on Dial H pans out. I really hope it ends up being held as a classic akin to the early Vertigo books.Imitorarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03789589943902054909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-25056762769356473692012-05-03T19:44:50.753-05:002012-05-03T19:44:50.753-05:00Somewhere, Grant Morrison is shouting "dammit...Somewhere, Grant Morrison is shouting "dammit - the 5D thing was going to be MY idea".Brushwood Thicket Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13196610624695746080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-18147606358522734772012-05-03T17:36:56.180-05:002012-05-03T17:36:56.180-05:00I've read Meiville's novels. He has a grea...I've read Meiville's novels. He has a great mind for the absurd and terrific descriptions, but his stories get too grand and are often poorly paced. For example, Perdido Street Station gave a very minor character a three-page exit - and she never even came back into the story.<br /><br /><br />If Meiville has a tight editor and deadlines that keep him from meandering, he could do some interesting things. I'll have to check this out.Nathan Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05477802465452451455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-18042970775615371172012-05-03T15:00:09.823-05:002012-05-03T15:00:09.823-05:00I'd never thought much about the origins of th...I'd never thought much about the origins of the Hero dial, and now it looks like I won't ever have to. Thanks!<br /><br />Wanna really tie it into DC continuity? Just imagine Johnny Thunder traveling through Littleton back before he was particularly aware he had a wish-granting genie. At one point, perhaps he had cause to say: "Say, you should call dial-a-hero and maybe someone will show up to help".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-44211026658047661382012-05-03T14:27:23.562-05:002012-05-03T14:27:23.562-05:00I betcha Bat-Mite invented it!
(With Zook providi...I betcha Bat-Mite invented it!<br /><br />(With Zook providing a few barely coherent ideas!)Hoosier Xhttp://mushtown.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11737441.post-4379513951044779092012-05-03T12:55:51.671-05:002012-05-03T12:55:51.671-05:00Loved your gumball theory. :)Loved your gumball theory. :)Nachohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09936798925730475277noreply@blogger.com