Wikipedia

Steve Moore (comics)

Steve Moore(11 June 1949 – 16 March 2014) was a Britishcomicswriter.[1]

Steve Moore
Born(1949-06-11)11 June 1949
Shooter's Hill,London, England, United Kingdom
Died16 March 2014(2014-03-16)(aged 64)
Shooter's Hill, London, England, United Kingdom
NationalityBritish
Area(s)Writer
Pseudonym(s)Pedro Henry
Notable works
Axel Pressbutton
Future Shocks
Tom Strong's Terrific Tales

Moore was credited with showing writerAlan Moore(no relation), then a strugglingcartoonist,how to write comic scripts. His career has subsequently been quite closely linked with the more famous Moore – the pair collaborated under pseudonyms (Steve's pseudonym was "Pedro Henry", Alan's was "Curt Vile") on strips forSounds,including one which introduced the characterAxel Pressbutton,who was later to feature in theWarrioranthology comic,as well as a standalone series published byEclipse Comics.

Biography

edit

Moore has long been linked to Alan Moore, who has known him "since he [Alan] was fourteen" referring to him as "a friend... fellow comic writer [and] a fellow occultist".[2]The two have so often been linked together that Alan joked that Steve would have 'no relation' engraved on his tombstone.[3]

Moore was an editor ofBob Rickard's long-running UK-based "Journal of the Unexplained"Fortean Times.In later years, he also edited that publication's more academic sister-publicationFortean Studies.He is listed as a 'specialist contributor' to theChambers Dictionary of the Unexplained,which also notes that he compiled theFortean Times'General Index, and several derivative books. He was a freelance writer on diverse topics, and said he "lives in London [where he] interests himself mainly in ancient and oriental subjects".[4]

UK comics work

edit

Steve Moore began working forOdhams Press' comics division while still in his teens, and in 1971 he created the UK's first comics fanzine,Orpheus.Moore's comics work has featured in most of the major British comics, particularly in anthologies. He was involved with2000 ADfrom its earliest days, writing the second story-arc of theirDan Dare-revival "Hollow World" (Progs 12–23), and devising theFuture Shocksformat for Prog #25 with his "King of the World".

Later work for2000 ADincludes "Red Fang" (with artistSteve Yeowell), "Valkyries" (with American artistJohn Lucas) and a series of one-off short fantasy stories collected under the nameTales of Telguuth(with multiple artists).

He wrote the earliest back-up stories, focusing on supporting characters or aliens, forDoctor Who Weekly(laterDoctor Who Magazine), before also taking over the main strip featuringthe Doctorfrom issue #35, co-creating the characterAbslom Daak(with artistSteve Dillon) for the publication. Many stories were reprinted byMarvelandMarvel UK,including as back-up features toJamie Delano'sCaptain BritaininThe Daredevils.Also for Marvel UK he wroteHulkandNick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.stories inHulk Comic.

He also wrote several stories inWarrior,including, as Pedro Henry, a revival of his Axel Pressbutton character fromSounds.

He was featured in the anthologyA1(including a strip with fellow-ForteanHunt EmersononFortean Timesin #2).

edit

He wrote "Young Tom Strong" and created the characterJonni FutureforTom Strong's Terrific Tales,a 12 issue anthology series from Alan Moore'sAmerica's Best Comicsline.

He wrote thenovelisationof the filmV for Vendetta,based on thecomics of the same name,by Alan Moore andDavid Lloyd.

In 2006 Alan Moore released a biographical essay on Moore calledUnearthing,which in 2010 became anaudiobook.

At the time of his death, he was co-writingThe Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magicwith Alan Moore, which was published on October 15th, 2024 byTop Shelf.[5]

Asian themes

edit

Steve Moore had an abiding, and scholarly, interest in the history and mythology of China. Somehow, in the early 1980s this came to the attention ofBob Guccionewho commissioned a three-part series onBrothels of the Orientfor his soft-porn magazinePenthouse.Steve objected that he had never even been to the Far East, let alone resorted to its brothels. Guccione's advice was to 'just make it up.' While Moore found the subject matter distasteful, he was promised a very substantial fee. Consequently, Moore accepted the commission on condition that it be published under the pseudonym "Pedro Henry". This name was an amalgam of Pedro McGregor (author ofBrazilian Magic,a book which he was reading at the time) andO. Henry,the short-story writer. The articles appeared under Moore's own name, causing him no little embarrassment. He claimed that his subsequent use of the 'Pedro Henry' pseudonym was an attempt to distance himself from Steve Moore the lascivious denizen of oriental houses of ill-repute.[6]

Moore was also a dedicated student and practitioner of theI Chingand consulted it every morning, without fail, from 1969 onwards, recording the results in his 'I Ching diary'.[6]In 1988, he published "The Trigrams of Han: Inner Structures of the I Ching". This scholarly work led Moore to be inducted into theRoyal Asiatic Societyas a Fellow.

From 1995 until its final issue in 2002, Moore editedThe Oracle, The Journal of Yijing Studies.[7]

He was a co-author ofI Ching: An Annotated Bibliography,published in 2002.

Other

edit

He scriptedMarvel Comics' adaptation of theJames BondfilmOctopussy,published inMarvel Comics Super Special#26 (1983).

His work has also been published byEclipse Comicsin the US, much of it reprinted fromWarrior.He wrote most of the stories forJohn Bolton'sHalls of Horror,as well asAxel PressbuttonandLaser Eraser and Pressbutton.

Alan Moore wrote a long biographical essay about Steve Moore, entitled "Unearthing" and included in theIain Sinclair-edited anthologyLondon: City of Disappearances.[8]In early 2008, it was reported that this essay was being adapted into a "photo-illustrated hardcover novel, with some fumetti elements and visuals by Mitch Jenkins," to be published byTop Shelf Comics.[9]

Later work includesHercules:The Thracian WarsatRadical Comicswhich was adapted for cinema byBrett Ratnerin 2014.[10]He followed that withHercules: The Knives ofKush,a 5-issue limited series set in Egypt.[11]At the time, Moore said this was his final comics work for now, although he was still writing in other areas:

for the last couple of years I had to care for a disabled relative [his older brother, Chris, who suffered from ALS], which meant that I had little time for any other work than Hercules. As he’s recently passed away, I now find myself in a position where I can retire from writing mainstream comics, so once I’ve seenKnives of Kushthrough the press, I’ll be gone. [...] As far as comics are concerned, I’m hanging up my hat and turning to non-fiction. A couple of short pieces forFortean Times,hopefully dusting off my research for a book onSelene,maybe some more stuff on theYijing.[12]

In October 2011, Moore released a novel,Somnium: A Fantastic Romance,published bynthposition press.The story follows a young man who is trying to write a book based on the legendary romance of Endymion and the moon goddess Selene. It is thus, in part, self-referential as Steve was writer who worshiped Selene and who saw himself in the role of Endymion, her mortal lover. The parallels are limited though, as he did not, for instance, have a sister.[6]The book is set in a real inn, called The Bull, at the summit of Shooters Hill. It was Steve's "local", being within five-minute's walk of his home. The story is remarkably static as it happens entirely within the confines of this inn but includes excursions into the 16th, 18th, and 19th century episodes (also occurring in The Bull) which reflect the obsessions of the central character.

edit

Moore was portrayed, as himself, inAlbion#1 (WildStorm, Aug. 2005); the six-issuelimited seriesaimed to revive classic IPC-ownedBritish comicscharacters, all of whom appeared in comics published byOdhams Pressand laterIPC Mediaduring the 1960s and early 1970s, such asSmash!,Valiant,andLion.[13]In the comic, the fictional Moore admits to having signed the so-called "Official Secrets Act,"which ensured that the fact that IPC characters were actually real would be kept secret from the public.Albionwas plotted byAlan Moore,written by his daughterLeah Mooreand her husbandJohn Reppion,with art byShane OakleyandGeorge Freeman.

Bibliography

edit

Comics

edit

2000 AD

edit

Work for2000 ADinclude:

  • Dan Dare:"Hollow World" (withMassimo Belardinelli,in2000 AD#12–23, 1977)
  • Tharg's Future Shocks:
    • "King of the World" (with Blasquez, in2000 AD#25, 1977)
    • "Food for Thought" (withHoracio Lalia,in2000 AD#26, 1977)
    • "The Runts" (withPat Wright,in2000 AD#41, 1977)
    • "Fly Guy" (withJose Luis Ferrer,in2000 AD#49, 1978)
    • "Brain Drain" (withRon Tiner,in2000 AD#95, 1979)
    • "Fish in a Barrel" (withEric Bradbury,in2000 AD#208, 1981)
    • "Slashman, Kowalski and Rat" (withMike White,in2000 AD#213, 1981)
    • "New Cruise Blues" (withSteve Kyte,in2000 AD#218, 1981)
    • "Hen-pecked Henry" (withJose Casanovas,in2000 AD#220, 1981)
    • "The Red House" (withJesus Redondo,in2000 AD#231, 1981)
    • "Once Upon an Atom" (withAlan Langford,in2000 AD#235, 1981)
    • "A Little Problem" (withJohnny Johnstone,in2000 AD#237, 1981)
    • "The Masks of Arazzor" (with Jose Casanovas, in2000 AD#241, 1981)
    • "The Last Supper" (withFrazer Irving,in2000 AD#1205, 2000)
    • "Dwellers in the Depths" (withWayne Reynolds,in2000 AD#1206, 2000)
    • "Home from the War" (withBoo Cook,in2000 AD#1208, 2000)
    • "Skeleton Crew" (with Frazer Irving, in2000 AD#1209, 2000)
    • "The World Next Door" (withAndrew Chiu,in2000 AD#1210, 2000)
    • "Escape Ship" (withDylan Teague,in2000 AD#1211, 2000)
    • "War Games" (withGraham Higgins,in2000 AD#1265, 2001)
    • "Skin Game" (with Boo Cook, in2000 AD#1268, 2001)
    • "Decontamination Procedure" (withAnthony Williams,in2000 AD#1269, 2001)
    • "Property Rights" (withJohn Charles,in2000 AD#1272, 2001)
    • "Marooned" (withShaun Bryan,in2000 AD#1278, 2002)
    • "Warped" (with pencils byBen McCloudand inks byCliff Robinson,in2000 AD#1295, 2002)
    • "Black Jack's Revenge" (with pencils by Ben McCloud and inks by Cliff Robinson, in2000 AD#1457, 2005)
  • Judge Dredd:"Whitey's Brother" (withMike McMahon,in2000 AD Annual 1978,1977)
  • Rick Random:"Riddle of the Astral Assassin" (withRon Turner(1–5) andCarlos Ezquerra(6), in2000 AD#113–118, 1979)
  • Agent Rat(with Alan Langford, in2000 AD#273–274, 1982)
  • Tales of Telguuth:
    • "A Little Knowledge" (withGreg Staples,in2000 AD#1191, 2000)
    • "Talking Heads" (withPaul Johnson,in2000 AD#1192, 2000)
    • "Music of the Spheres" (withSiku,in2000 AD#1193, 2000)
    • "The Eternal Bliss of Zebba Horath" (withSimon Davis,in2000 AD#1194, 2000)
    • "To Become a God" (with Paul Johnson, in2000 AD#1195, 2000)
    • "The Bride of Ballakruz-Krim" (withDean Ormston,in2000 AD#1196, 2000)
    • "Men of Snakewood" (with Siku, in2000 AD#1197, 2000)
    • "Uhuros the Horrendous" (withCarl Critchlow,in2000 AD#1198, 2000)
    • "The Conqueror Wummb" (with Paul Johnson, in2000 AD#1199, 2000)
    • "The Transfiguration of Tesro Karnik" (with Siku, in2000 AD#1227–1229, 2001)
    • "The Oscillations of Taramasellion" (with Siku, in2000 AD#1235–1236, 2001)
    • "The Caverns of Garnek-Spay" (with Carl Critchlow, in2000 AD#1240–1242, 2001)
    • "The Hunting of the Veks" (with Siku, in2000 AD#1249, 2001)
    • "The Vileness of Scromyx" (with Siku, in2000 AD#1258–1260, 2001)
    • "The Infinite Return of Varkor Gan" (with Siku, in2000 AD# 1263, 2001)
    • "The Atrocities of Pagafruuz Jeel" (with Siku, in2000 AD#1283, 2002)
    • "The Colossal Wealth of Karn Foul-Eye" (with Stefano Cardoselli, in2000 AD#1284, 2002)
    • "The Wheels of Fortune" (withJon Haward/John Stokes,in2000 AD#1285–1286, 2002)
    • "The Rousing of Rezik" (with Jon Haward, in2000 AD#1287–1288, 2002)
    • "The Black Arts of Skrixlan Nort" (with Jon Haward, in2000 AD#1329, 2003)
    • "Pagrok the Infallible" (with Jon Haward, in2000 AD#1330–31, 2003)
    • "One Cold Winter Night…" (with Jon Haward, in2000 AD#1332, 20030)
    • "The Iniquities of Snedron" (with Jon Haward, in2000 AD#1333–1334, 2003)
    • "Holding the Fort" (with Jon Haward/John Stokes, in2000 AD#1369, 2003)
    • "The Eternal Life of Emperor Ygg" (withDave Kendall,in2000 AD#1370, 2003)
  • Red Fang(in2000 AD#1200–1211, 2000)
  • Killer(with pencils byStaz Johnsonand inks byDavid Roach,in2000 AD#1264–1272, 2001)
  • Tharg's Terror Tales:
  • Past Imperfect:"Otherworld" (withCam Smith,in2000 AD#1346–1349, 2003)
  • Valkyries(withJohn Lucas,in2000 AD#1377–1382, 2004)

Marvel UK

edit
  • Hulk(withDave GibbonsandPaul Neary,inHulk Comic#1–6, 9–20, 26–27, 1979)
  • Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.(withSteve Dillon,inHulk Comic#1–19, 1979)
  • Doctor Who:
    • "The Return of the Daleks" (with pencils byPaul Nearyand inks byDavid Lloyd,inDoctor Who Weekly#1–4, 1979)
    • "Throwback: The Soul of a Cyberman" (with Steve Dillon, in "Doctor Who Weekly" #5–7, 1979)
    • "The Final Quest" (with Paul Neary, inDoctor Who Weekly#8, 1979)
    • "The Stolen TARDIS – a tale of Time Lords" (with Steve Dillon, inDoctor Who Weekly#9–11, 1979)
    • "K-9's Finest Hour" (with Paul Neary, inDoctor Who Weekly#12, 1980)
    • "Warlord of the Ogrons" (with Steve Dillon, inDoctor Who Weekly#13–14, 1980)
    • "Deathworld" (with David Lloyd, inDoctor Who Weekly#15–16, 1980)
    • Abslom Daak(96 pages, Marvel Comics,ISBN1-85400-113-2)
      • "Abslom Daak—Dalek Killer" (withSteve Dillon,inDoctor Who Weekly#17–20, 1980)
      • "Star Tigers" (with Steve Dillon, inDoctor Who Weekly#27–30, 1980)
      • "Star Tigers, Part Two" (withDavid Lloyd,inDoctor Who Weekly#44–46, 1980)
    • "Twilight of the Silurians" (with David Lloyd, inDoctor Who Weekly#21–22, 1980)
    • "The Ship of Fools" (with Steve Dillon, inDoctor Who Weekly#23–24, 1980)
    • "The Outsider" (with Steve Dillon, inDoctor Who Weekly#25–26, 1980)
    • "Yonder... the Yeti" (with David Lloyd, inDoctor Who Weekly#31–34, 1980)
    • "The Time Witch" (with Dave Gibbons, inDoctor Who Weekly#35–38, 1980, collected inThe Iron Legion,164 pages, 2004,ISBN1-904159-37-0)
    • Dragon's Claw (with Dave Gibbons, 164 pages, 2005,ISBN1-904159-81-8) includes:
      • "Dragon’s Claw" (inDoctor Who Weekly/Doctor Who Monthly#39–45, 1980)
      • "The Collector" (inDoctor Who Monthly#46, 9180)
      • "Dreamers of Death" (inDoctor Who Monthly#47–48, 1980–1981)
      • "The Life Bringer" (inDoctor Who Monthly#49–50, 1981)
      • "The War of Words" (inDoctor Who Monthly#51, 1981)
      • "Crisis on Kaldor" (inDoctor Who Monthly#51, 1981)
      • "Spider-God" (inDoctor Who Monthly#52, 1981)
  • Star Wars:

Warrior

edit
  • Laser Eraser & Pressbutton(as Pedro Henry, withSteve Dillon,inWarrior#1–10, 12 & 15–16, 1982–1983)
  • Father Shandor, Demon Stalker(withJohn Bolton,David JacksonandJohn Stokes,inWarrior#1–10 & 13–16, 25 1982–1983, 1984)
  • Zirk(inWarrior#3, 1982)
  • The Legend of Prester John(inWarrior#1,#11 and #12, 1983)
  • Zirk(withBrian BollandandGarry Leach,inWarrior#13, 1983)
  • Ektryn(withCam Kennedy,inWarrior#14, 25, 1983, 1984)
  • Twilight World(withJim Baikie,inWarrior#14–17, 1983–84)
  • Jaramsheela(inWarrior#17, 1984)

Other

edit

Books

edit

Fortean Times

edit
Fortean Tomes
edit
Fortean Studies
edit
  • Fortean Studies: Volume 1(as editor, John Brown Publishing Ltd, 1994, paperback,ISBN1-870870-55-7)
  • Fortean Studies: Volume 2(as editor, John Brown Publishing Ltd, 1995, paperback,ISBN1-870870-70-0)
  • Fortean Studies: Volume 3(as editor, John Brown Publishing Ltd, 1996, paperback,ISBN1-870870-82-4)
  • Fortean Studies: Volume 4(as editor, John Brown Publishing Ltd, 1998, paperback,ISBN1-870870-96-4)
  • Fortean Studies: Volume 5(as editor, John Brown Publishing Ltd, 1998, paperback,ISBN1-902212-14-2)
  • Fortean Studies: Volume 6(as editor, John Brown Publishing Ltd, 1998, paperback,ISBN1-902212-20-7)
Other
edit

Notes

edit
  1. ^"Steve Moore - obituary".The Daily Telegraph.13 April 2014.ISSN0307-1235.Retrieved22 May2019.
  2. ^Alan Moore interviewed by Barry Kavanagh for Blather magazine, 17 October 2000.Retrieved 5 March 2008
  3. ^VideoonYouTube
  4. ^The Chambers Dictionary of the Unexplainedteam.Retrieved 5 March 2008Archived2 January 2008 at theWayback Machine
  5. ^Catalog > Top Shelf Productions
  6. ^abcSteve Moore, personal communication with Mike Crawley.
  7. ^Yijing Dao website.Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  8. ^Santala, Ismo.Interview with Alan Moore,Ready Steady Book for Literature...(23 May 2006).
  9. ^Johnston, Rich(4 February 2008)."Unearthing Unearthing".Lying in the Gutters.Comic Book Resources.Retrieved5 March2008.
  10. ^Moore Talks "Hercules: The Thracian Wars",Comic Book Resources,4 December 2008
  11. ^Steve Moore on Hercules: The Knives of Kush,Comic Book Resources,14 May 2009
  12. ^Lamar, Andre (16 July 2009)."Steve Moore: Crafting a Demigod".Comics Bulletin.Archived fromthe originalon 20 July 2009.Retrieved25 July2009.
  13. ^Contino, Jennifer M."Andrew Sumner &Albion,"Comicon (22 Feb. 2005).

References

edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steve_Moore_(comics)&oldid=1251970366"