NAMELESS- Morrison's most HORRIFIC comic
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ก.พ. 2021
- Troy & Dave ask "What is human," along with a bunch of other incoherent ramblings as they explore the esoteric horror of Grant Morrison & Chris Burnham's cosmic grotesquerie: NAMELESS.
How much does Troy hate it? Watch and find out. If you dare...
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IMPERIUS REX- Episode: 128
"RetroFuture Clean" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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The Crossed comparison makes a lot of sense, I think Grant Morrison and Garth Ennis are very similar on a surface level, but where Morrison relies on surrealism and horror elements for the service of a fantastical story, Ennis does the same for the sake of cynicism and a more nihilist perspective.
100% agree. Ennis seems to have a "hey, know what would be fucked up?" mentality, while Morrison is more interested in what that fucked up thing would do to the characters who are experiencing it.
@@ImperiusRex definitely. It works great for his Punisher runs I think, but otherwise it feels like a cynical guy who doesn’t like comics forced into writing a comic book. Maybe that’s just me though
@@MaxibonHR I don't think it's just you. I think it's everyone. Including Ennis.
@@ImperiusRex lol trueee
This book messed me up in the best way possible. The kind of story that dwells in your subconscious. The art is absolutely grotesque. Great video !
I'd recommend having your doctor check you out for malignant thoughtforms.
So I wasn't the only one getting Neonomicon vibes from the start of this video.
Nameless (which I've never read, but just bought. Cheers, boys.) seems like the perfect marriage of colourist, artist and material. Big fan of Nathan Fairbairn and what he can do with a colour wheel of possibilities.
Cheers on another awesome episode, boys and congratulations on 200 episodes.
Here's to the next 200
Thanks Brent. You said it- this is just a complete package in beautiful grotesqueness and esoteric weirdness.
Jesus Christ I finished reading Nameless the same day you posted this! FREAKY
The Universe Knows.
I got this delivered yesterday, having no idea you guys were going to review it. One of those strange coincidences that makes you go hmmmm?
Morrison at work behind the scenes of the universe.
I watched this before reading Nameless... and nothing was spoiled. Still a mind trip 😖
I was actually gonna recommend this on the next video, but here it is! Love you guys and hope Troy stays on the up swing
Anything that gets three castrations out of infinity is worth a try in my book!
I do like the Morrison level 3 stuff and I appreciate how he tries to convey complex ideas about metaphysics and mysticism in his work but you know when you're reading before bed and sometimes you just want to see Wolverine slice a ninja's arms off? He can sometimes get bogged down in esoteric philosophy at the expense of a compelling story.
Either way, great video guys. Thanks for sharing.
Completely agree. There's a time and a place for everything. The worst thing you can do is drift off to sleep in the middle of a book like this. You'll either (a.) have god-awful dreams, and/or (b.) need to reread the entire issue the next morning to figure out what was going on.
When I saw you uploaded, I had never heard of nameless despite having read most of Morrison's stuff. I immediately bought it and read it. Finished it. Immediately watched your video and it was definitely right up my wheelhouse as Troy said. Great vid as usual!
Love it! Glad you dug it!
The Filth would be another example of Level 3 Morrison material.
Good conversation. Nice explanation - I'll check it out if I don't have other stuff going on. Thanks for the presentation.
As you guys probably know by now, I'm not a big "level 3" Morrison guy. However...ya bastards have kinda sold me on this. I do love a short run.
Oh and also hit me up for Space Wolf, I'm down to write a snippet of outer space werewolf shenanigans.
You'd like it I think. Especially the female empowerment stance towards the end (which I didn't even pick up on until I read Grant's afterward)
@@ImperiusRex Female empowerment you say?! You know me too well. 😆
Great video as always! Love seeing you guys cover Grant's work 👍
Also, just wanted to say it's cool that you guys respected Grant's pronouns throughout the video. Not that I expected the opposite, but cool nonetheless
We tried our best. Troy was sober and did quite well. I was on my 4-5th drink and might've slipped up a time or two. Trying to be as respectful as we can.
These 6 issues need a companion piece book.
Loving the show, guys. So glad to see you back. Though, I can't stop staring at those The GOON Omnibuses behind Dave.
Maybe an Eric Powell video in the near future?!
Keep up the great work!
Wouldn't be a bad idea... I mean, we've invested the money.
@@ImperiusRex so much money.
Level 3 Morrison is my favourite Morrison. Nameless was actually one of the earlier books I read by Morrison, after The Invisibles. You've encouraged me to give it a reread!
Nice. I've read it twice and enjoyed it quite a bit more the second time, as I usually do with rereads. I'm ready for a third time through Invisibles too
you forgot the fourth level of Grant Morrison....THE FILTH,that creates its own level of messed up,maybe a review for a later date,Nameless though i loved it and if you want Morrison does Lovecraft with superheroes check out Zenith
Was just looking for an excuse to read Zenith the other day and that might be the reason. And I've been wanting to re-read The Filth too- so stay tuned, we're going all in on Morrison soon.
I'm a very devout Morrison disciple, and Nameless has never been my favorite. I liked it when I first read it, but I don't think I was ready for it. Hearing you guys talk about it now, and being a few years older, a few years deeper into Morrison and having branched off into the realm of the stuff that goes into Nameless, I really need to re-read it. I'm all about Morrison's trippy stuff, but I'm much more of a Multiversity/All Star Superman fan.
Out of curiosity have y'all read Supergods?
I'd give it another go- especially now that you know where it's headed. As for Supergods, I (Dave) read it a couple years back and loved it. Such a great encapsulation of comics history, along with Grant's own life stories.
@@ImperiusRex definitely! I've read it twice, and like all of Morrison's stuff, the more I read it the more I get out of it. They have such a fascinating life, just such a character themselves. I wish more creators were like that. I feel like the closest we've come since are big names, some with definite perspectives like Hickman and King but not that level of personality
I honestly think the whole story happens in the human subconscious. Hence the constant refrains of "Nothing is real.". The space mission knows about the Razor House being a failure despite the people knowing that being the ones killed during the incident. Nameless is both the dead son Darius never had (in the therapy scenes starring Sofia) and his estranged son in the Razor House (clearly Nameless and Sofia are referencing the Hero twins of Mayan mythology, except representing even more dualities of male/female, born/unborn, named/nameless). After Sofia/the Veiled Lady leaves the airforce base after shooting Nameless, we see the moon overhead shattered, as it was by Jin Zhao in the space mission (the feminine exorcising the demons by Shooting Nameless and then the combination of femininity and youth [Jin] exorcising Xibalba in space). And Nameless being shot has the fish people and veiled lady, yet has the airforce base. And then whatever's going on with the Doctor (clearly a mindscape thing) and human civilization crumbling (asteroid showers, the rapings, etc) scenes. It all being interwoven layers of metaphor is the only way to make any kind of sense out of it.
Also, a Musk-esque CEO drinking bleach in the throes of madness? Grant was seeing 2020 before it happened!
Yep. I’d say that sounds spot on. And pretty close to what Grant said in the back matter of the collected edition.
The symbol on the asteroid's side looks like a rune from Bloodborne.
I’m pretty sure it’s just Norse rune But it’s also in the movie bright burn
I think best foot forward is the left foot as you support the body with ur right i dont know I remember it was in the opening of the inferno and it explained it in the * at the bottom of the page.
Really enjoyed this comic, I find myself thinking about it all the time after I read it
This story is a warning.
My friend recommended me this book. I've been meaning to check it out. Oh and we're lost Neil... Welp. I'm sure he'll be back from his mystery cave in a jiffy!
Also I wasn't expecting to hear the name Xibalba twice in one week. Its a fucking metal name, and both times its a giant space thing of Lovecraftian proportions!
Also also, not sure if you guys know this or if you've incorporated this into your discussions of Morrison, but they came out as Non-Binary, which is rad as fuck! I have noticed you've used their surname in reference to them (with a few exceptions), which is probably the more polite and dare I say... Intelligent sounding way to talk about an author...
ALSO (time 3), IDW TMNT, pretty fucking good if I dare say. An amazing series that got me into loving the Turtles, while the shows I grew up with instilled a liking. I love Leonardo, and in the IDW books he gives me mad Cyclops vibes and the emotionally sensitive Mikey is always a joy.
Neil sat this one out- but he'll be back soon, don't you worry. We just recently rewatched my favorite Aronofsky film: The Fountain, and that has big Xibalba energy in it too.
As for Morrison switching to Non-Binary- we tried our damndest to attribute them appropriately, but after 4-5 drinks and a habit of calling them "him," I slipped up a few times. I made a point to re-record when I caught it, but a few snuck through. Troy was stone sober so he did better...
As for TMNT- I got back into them from watching the 2012 series with my kids. It was an absolute blast, and rekindled fond memories of growing up with them. It prompted me to start buying all the IDW hardcovers as they were released.
I read the first 5 volumes of the IDW TMNT I think, just after City Fall and Brockhampton. I couldn't fork out for the big boi hardcovers, so I got them digitally.
As for sneaky Xibalba, they were another space adjacent thing in the Persona 2 duology which I recommend you at least read a plot synopsis of because its gloriously insane and rampant with Jungian psychology and tarot and Japaneseness. You know, everything that makes Troy's head spin aside from the mountain of pain prescriptions I hope he's on.
doesn't that create a binary system tho?
I get being fluid or having some kind of fluidity since thats the essence of duality and being, as you weigh between good and evil, positive and negative, masculine and feminine but keeping a balance of each and both.
Technically speaking we're all "non binary" individuals from a logos perspective. Basically neither one or the other but both at the same time its kinda like a vesicas pisces and what makes you you is the middle circle.
The problem differentiating between binary and non binary is comically ironic, since it then creates a binary subjugation by description.
but hey too each their own.
doesn't that create a binary system tho?
I get being fluid or having some kind of fluidity since thats the essence of duality and being, as you weigh between good and evil, positive and negative, masculine and feminine but keeping a balance of each and both.
Technically speaking we're all "non binary" individuals from a logos perspective. Basically neither one or the other but both at the same time its kinda like a vesicas pisces and what makes you you is the middle circle.
The problem differentiating between binary and non binary is comically ironic, since it then creates a binary subjugation by description.
but hey too each their own.
I love this comic so much. I reread it at least once a year even just for the art. What is human?
You guys have great chemistry.
Friends for years. Gotta nurture those bonds!
I know I’m a year off, but I gotta say this graphic novel is my new obsession, read through it twice and am about half through my third read, hand down one of the best eldritch/cosmic horror graphic novels out there, I’d put it just under Locke and Key it’s that good, thanks for making this video guys, my taste in horror is a tad obscure so it’s hard to get friends interested in these sorts of tales and have discussions about them! Oh and I also felt the Event Horizon vibes hardcore!
Oh yeah- big Event Horizon vibes! There's something about this book that just keeps pulling me back in. So many layers. So many familiar creepy elements mashed together in a new and interesting way. Just a grotesque delight.
@@ImperiusRex for me it was the scenes with Darius, flashing back and forth between the normal and hellish versions, the first time I seen that I thought it was genuinely disturbing, I didn’t see that coming, I thought it was very reminiscent of the blood orgy from EH, my new thing about this book personally, is trying to figure out what five houses of Xibalba are any of the characters are in during the space missions sequences? I’ve come to the conclusion that any scene involving the drones, or I the murders on the moon base are the Razor House, also if you don’t mind I have a question or two about your interpretation, 1) what exactly gave you the idea that the Outsider is shapeless? The only indication I got is when Darius first meets the nameless n tells him he needs him to protect the crew against “freeform thoughts” but I always thought that meant like the influence of the outsider, like how when Sheppard wiped off the protection written on his helmet n the outsider just completely breaks his reality, so I’m wondering if there’s something I’ve missed?
You guys have dope chemistry
cheers fellas
I've always been intrigues by this book. I like Morrison's meta stuff, but I don't care for eldritch god stories, so I guess the only way to find out if it's for me is to finally read it.
What have you got to lose apart from your sanity?
i would love to see a anthology book set during the beginning, middle, and end of the war on marduk following various titans as we see the slow but inevitable fall of their world just to see how horrid it actually got.
Huge Morrison fan since Invisibles and chaso magic.
Then stick with us- cause we got something cookin up
You guys are pretty cool
Subscribed.
Thanks Zirak- you're not so bad yourself.
I wouldn’t say the astronauts were unnecessary. Just that the space mission wasn’t real
Dude looks like K-mart David Bowie
Compliment of a lifetime.
Did someone from 'Crossed' work on this comic? definitely getting the same gore vibes here n there...
Looking forward to turtles now 🐢. And damn I have to pick up nameless now!!!
Tried to read through this when I was off for a couple of days. Turned into a week long process... at the end I was just left depressed and not so much entertained. Love Mr. Morrison but had to give my copy away. That story itself seemed an evil idea possessing my mind... read it from cover to cover three times in a week and then needed it to go away. Haunting is a good term, yeah haunting.
The definition of a book that is "not for everyone."
Dinosaur Neil sacked already? Oh well easy comes easy goes . . . . . . . .
DinoNeil sat this one out... too much space madness.
I typically only fill in when Troy is inevitably in the hospital.
I was curious if Neil and Troy are related?
@@danieladams5132 only by blood.
What comics would anyone recommend to someone who enjoyed Nameless? They don't necessarily have to be by Grant Morrison.
Man... what is like Nameless... that's a great question... I mean, a lot of Morrison's work is similar, but rarely is it this nihilistic. I'd say Annihilator is comparable... The Filth... Invisibles. All Morrison greats. I got a lot of Hellblazer/Constantine vibes from Nameless as well.
Alan Moore's Neonomican has some equally sinister vibes. There's some cosmic horror in Rogue Planet, Southern Cross and Gideon Falls too.
I'm sure there's more out there, but I'm blanking.
@@ImperiusRex Thanks
I really enjoyed Annihilator. I read it immediately after Nameless, I was looking for something similar as well. It scratches the itch a bit.
@@joelfernandez536 thanks
The only comic that did a moon werewolf story is SCUD: the disposable assassin. Pretty good.
Man, I need to read me some Scud. I've heard good things.
Is it good should I read it?
Yes and Yes.
First, also if you guys can listen to grant Morrisons interview on a British radio show called chain reaction really gets into how he sees the world. Great show
Thanks for the tip! Love hearing Grant speak. This will be listened to immediately!
@@ImperiusRex I think it could be on TH-cam in its entirety
Listened to it last night. Really great stuff. Loved Grant's take on the government having to sift through all the boring BS in the everyday joe's personal emails.
@@ImperiusRex aye his views on conspiracy theories was just so spot on glad you got through the Scottish accents
@@richardgreathead5735 Love me a good Scottish accent.
I'm definitely sold! And 'Event Horizon' is an amazing film! 😍😊😉👍🔥❤
Paul Anderson's best film. (with Mortal Kombat in it's own special place in my heart)
Just finished 'Nameless'! Absolutely loved it! Thanks for that guys! Wouldn't have known about it if it wasn't for your channel! Keep up the good work! 😘😍😊😉❤👍🔥🔥
@@bigjobs67 Awesome- great to hear dude!
If and when you guys take on TMNT make sure it's accompanied by some righteous pizza. Take care and good luck.
Pizza Time.
Hate to break it to you but Lemire did werewolves on the moon in his Moon Knight run...stokoe illustrated those sections too
Damn it Jeff... always one step ahead of us... I guess I should read his Moon Knight run.
@@ImperiusRex it's pretty damn good, art team of Greg smallwood francavilla and stokoe you can't go wrong
Morrison totally stole the Berserk logo/brand of sacrifice for this book
Say what now?
@@ImperiusRex the bloody double diamond symbol in the nameless looks very similar to the Berserk logo/brand of sacrifice, only a subtle difference b/w the 2
Hmmm.... Cosmic Coincidence? Or sneaky Grant strikes again?
Was legit looking for this comment...
The unconscious collective explains why you're seeing this image. It is not the same exact image if you pay attention, and from an occultist perspective, changed enough to change the meaning in its entirety.
Reference doesn't mean comprehension. I've tried Morrison, and he just strikes me as someone that's trying to be clever but failing.
I feel like GRANT understands what they're writing about, but occasionally has trouble relaying it to the reader...
@@ImperiusRex
I think he legit reads his sources, but it typically feels like there's some think lacking in either a cohesive synthesis of his thoughts and ideas or depth of what is being said, so you may be right.
He's not Alan Moore though, and sometimes, I honestly do feel like some of the references are window decoration.
Some of it also has to be contextualized within both his own life and his times.
The 70's and 80's and even early 90's were a time of delving back into the occult and recontextualizing it in a much more postmodern way. The artists and writers for vertigo, notabley Moore,Morrison, and gaiman, were using that contemporaneous influence within their art. As someone born toward the tail end of it in '81, I get it, but I'm also after it.
Hellblazer's mysticism is interesting but seems infantile and more egotistical than it need be. Sandman drips of grandiose mystical nonsense.
Moore..... Moore is similar, but you get the sense he is dead serious about his shit.
Morrison just strikes me as a series of bad acid trips and trying to contextualize and rationalize what happened.
Morrison's work never fails to infuriate me, and Nameless more so than pretty much any other...apart from The Filth. The art is amazing, which is THE only reason it hasn't gone into the bin (trash). For God's sake Grant, give us a story that isn't all about proving how f*ckin Clever you are!
You're really making me want to re-read The Filth... ;)
@@ImperiusRex It's the comic equivalent of a cat o'nine tails or a cheese grater on the ol' John Thomas!!!
I'm sorry, but Morrison has Said to use they/their pronouns with them
We do in this video.
@@ImperiusRex I'm sorry, I didn't heard love your work
No worries- we tried to attribute correctly, but it was hard not to fall into old habits. I might've let one "he" slip, but we were about 4-5 drinks deep at this point so I missed it in the moment.
@@ImperiusRex I said that because someone of "comics youtube" keep making those same mistakes
Yeah- it can be challenging to re-write your own reflexive responses. Just trying to comply with their wishes and do better, as hopefully everyone out there is too.
I think best foot forward is the left foot as you support the body with ur right i dont know I remember it was in the opening of the inferno and it explained it in the * at the bottom of the page.