Totleben, John - Miracleman, issue 14, pages 10 & 11 DPS (Apr 1988)
Artist: John Totleben (All)
27 Comments - 786 Views - 16 Likes
Artwork Details
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Description‘Sometimes I want to be him all the time and sometimes I wish he’d just vanish and leave us alone.’ - Mike Moran in Miracleman, chapter 7, book one: Blue Murder.Which is a long way from 'Dancing on my own' - the beginning of Chapter 3, book 4: Pantheon after his wife Liz Moran has left him upon his return from the trip with Avril Lear and the Warpsmiths to learn more of his origins. And even further from these two pages where he effectively ends his human life. When Mike Moran first changed back into Miracleman, he expresses a jubilation of being something not human - not the tired, afraid, sick & anxious man Mike Moran was just moments before. As MM says, ‘I’m back!!’ He's no longer 'trapped in that old, tired body'. But that lightness to him in the beginning becomes much more weighty as he rediscovers who he is and the extent of his powers as he toggles back and forth between superhero and human. And early on it’s his wife Liz who correctly theorizes that Mike Moran and Miracleman are two separate bodies that share occupying real time (even though they do share the same mind and memories somehow...even though MM is ‘cleverer’ and ‘his thoughts are like poetry’ as Mike notes to his wife, Liz). Eventually, he comes to be the embodiment of his own statement - ‘I’m Michael Moran. I’m a forty-two year old man. I’m standing on a rooftop and I feel stupid. All my life I’ve felt stupid. There are lots of people like me.’ And as the world around him grows more complicated, he takes the same earlier position of Evelyn Cream, 'I don't trust Moran in a crisis.' Better to trust the 7-foot superhero that is his alter ego. Which is exactly what he does in these two pages of story. I always found this DPS powerful - a God/man choosing to leave his humanity forever behind after the only things connecting him to his humanity leave him (his wife & infant daughter). This might not have been the first time Moore used the concept in his writing, but we certainly know it would not be the last (see Dr. Manhattan leaving Earth in Watchmen!). Anyway, as with most Totleben art from Miracleman, there's no way to capture the delicacy and beauty of his pencils in a scan - especially a scan as poor as this one. I'll try to get a better one posted soon so the art can be more fulsomely enjoyed. Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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M L 
Member Since 2015
1 - Posted on 6/29/2021
Gorgeous, poignant, historic. Congrats on this stunner.
Comic Art Channel
Member Since 2018
1 - Posted on 6/29/2021
Man what a moment! Beautiful page. Big congrats!
Bill J
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 6/29/2021
Wow! Now that's both a historic and iconic DPS! Gorgeous art + Memorable moment!
Migs DC
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 6/29/2021
Totleben really shines in the nuances. Congrats Chris. Stunner sequence.
Malcolm Bourne
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 6/29/2021
Iconic piece of art by John. One of the very best artists in the history of comics. (The writer is not too shabby either)
Dino Mauricio
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 6/29/2021
Gorgeous DPS from this ground-breaking storyline, congrats Chris!
Ben H
Member Since 2007
1 - Posted on 6/29/2021
Wow! What an beautiful and powerful example of sequential storytelling from one of my favorite all-time series. Absolutely the bee's knees!
Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005
2 - Posted on 6/29/2021
Very sad moment for us reading and following Moran's journey from the beginning. Leaving his humanity behind is bascially the same decision Kid Miracleman made that turned him in to a monster.
Tom Coker
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 6/30/2021
Very very nice Chris! Just love Moore and Tottleben's storytelling together
Mark Levy
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 6/30/2021
Ok - I need to re-read this series - what a great DPS...Totleben is awesome!
Yo Kuri
Member Since 2019
1 - Posted on 6/30/2021
It's a perfect sequence, at the top level of what the medium can do. Thanks for sharing this gem!
Felix Lu
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 6/30/2021
I look forward to hearing this story! And oh yes...I hate you!!
Chris C
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 7/2/2021
Such a great piece, such an important story and issue in comics history. The "weight" you mention was tangible upon reading this. It really was one of the books that changed everything going forward.
Ruben DaCollector
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 7/3/2021
A wonderful moment from a beautifull illustrated run. Totleben really showed who was most responsible for the "look" of Swamp Thing when he took over Miracleman. Congratulations, Chris!
Chris Puckelwartz
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 7/3/2021
Fantastic piece by a master of the pen at the height of his considerable powers. This DPS perfectly showcases John's mastery of pen and ink. Huge concrats and thanks for sharing.
Jamie Cufr
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 10/2/2021
Amazing piece! The figures on the far left embody the look of Totleben's art for this part of the seroies. And you're completely right about these pages' place in the story. Some of the best of the best, for sure!
Joseph Melchior
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 2/13/2022
Such a pivotal moment in the MM saga, and Totleben's art is simply amazing. (Can't believe I've not commented on this before)
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