Flex Mentallo is my favorite comic, partially because I appreciate the intent of it's creation as much as the comic itself. It also is infinitely re-readable and near perfect in craft.
8:42 "Logically speaking, you can't prove a negative". Why does that sound like an amazing trial one grandmaster magician could put a hero or villian under? AS in "You must prove a negative" Like those classic "You must pass my test to move foward into the chamber"
Another recurring Morrison idea that Flex Mentallo subtly highlights is that all comics are an interconnected universe and any character that appears in comics can appear with any other character that appears in comics. Flex himself is the schlub-turned-body-builder character from the Charles Atlas body-building program comic ads that would appear in old comic books. The character would grow tired of losing his girl to a bully who would kick sand in his face, so he orders Atlas's program and becomes, well... Flex, and kicks the bully's ass, which pleases everyone. In the final panel, he gets the girl and as he flexes for her the words "Hero of the Beach!" appear above his head, which is where that comes from. If I recall correctly, because of the similarity, DC couldn't reprint the series for a long awhile due to a dispute with Atlas's estate.
3:57 that's not an "orgy of sex and violence", there's no violence (at least until Faculty X arrives), and it's not criticism, it's an acknowledgement of the inherent erotic (often homoerotic) component of superheroes, and Morrison actually embraces it rather than criticizing it. "FREDRIC WERTHAM WAS FUCKING RIGHT" and so on.
The lawsuit is trivial to the discussion. Although, it did add an allure to the series for a while since it wasn't easy to obtain. However, that's no longer the case.
I never read any Flex Mentallo. But this was a wonderfully done video. From explanation to editing, very well done! Have you ever read DC's The Weird? I think you would have fun with it
@@StrangeBrainParts in other words WHATEVER YOU SAID ON VIDEO SHOULD BE TAKING WITH A PINCH OF SALT AND STUFFS YOU SAID ARE YOU BIASED BECAUSE YOU LOVE GRANT MORRISON ANYWAY!
I would love to see you tackle The Bounce by Joe Casey. It’s extremely esoteric and hard to follow but I think there is a lot there to unpack and explore. The artwork is also gorgeous.
10:14 - 10:41 I love that idea of "Higher dimensions that have to be expressed under specific circumsntances through specific mediums to understand it" as it could be a clever way of saying how some stories work in some mediums but not all mediums. OR that they could work but it requires a lot of work to do so. 10:42 - 11:42 Also thanks to explain the "Quantum Superposition" and the "Shcrodinger's Cat Paradox" ALTHOUGH one has to admit the irony of how we interpret and analyze this Flex Mentallo comic but by all accounts it could be just like what Grant Morrison said about his Doom Patrol Run: "It is what it is"
Been watching your videos lately, time to start picking up some trades. Also, how to you compare Morrison's FM to that of the one presented on the Doom Patrol series on MAX?
I would have to say that this analysis is your finest work. Truly excellent. Even your explaination of Superposition was clear and concise. Hard to do because it is not easy to conceptualize. Kudos to you. That being said, would it be possible for you to do an an analysis Alan Moores run on on Supreme? It was also a criticism of the direction comics took in the '90s as well as a deconstruction of Superman.
I noticed that in the crossword mentioned at 13:53, SHAZAM does work, if you are willing to rotate N by 90 degrees. Is SHAZAM a Quasi-anagram of SHAMAN?
As an avid follower of Letter-Man, I have always assumed such to be the case. Also in Flex, the line about "the word that turns me from boy to superhero..."
Fine analysis. Despite DC's best efforts, the Multiverse Lives - and Prevails! (Marvel's having a field day with it.) In the end, Morrison offers Socrates' familiar trope (via Plato) of an ideal plane from which artists + engineers &c transcribe emanations or transmissions of instructive + codifying (+ entertaining) narratives. A variation on the popular "New Age" power of manifestation via creative visualization. Such is the mechanism behind all human conception, from mythology to (heh) PostModernism, now ceding, I would contend, to a metaModernism exemplified by much of Morrison's multidimensional (heh) oeuvre. Thanks for the helpful contextualizing, SBP.
You know, I’ve always avoided flex mentallo because of how obscure it seems to me, even being a big frank quitely fan but thanks to your analysis I’m going to buy it simply because im older and need a more cerebral story to keep my attention
basically it's about a dude learning to be a kid again, but a mature kid who's creative and silly yet knows the wrongs of the world and ways to try and make it right? das kool, might read it.
Curses! I've been pronouncing it "MenTALlo". Now he joins the Sub-MARINE=er in the Legion of Misnamed Heroes. Seriously, do you think he was partly inspired by ME's Strong Man?
While I adore Flex Mentallo the character, I didn't get much of a kick out of this miniseries because it felt too focused on the meta. It tries to tie that into a characters emotions with Wally, but I didn't get enough of him to really care. (See Adaptation for a better execution of this) It felt so much like a story about stories that I had no reason to give a shit. And it wasn't fun enough with its concepts to make up for that. (the Rick & Morty episode Full Meta JackRick is similarly focused on meta over strong emotional connections with characters, but that has so many fun, interesting ideas packed into just 20-22 minutes that I still had a blast with it)
The contradiction of a man who longs for simpler times simultaneously being influenced by chaos magic, when considered as a character in a comic book, might work in another writer's hands, however when it's being done by the characters own real world counter part it's empty. Do you know the story in FF 175. To defeat Galactus the Impossible Man offers his world as a substitute for Counter Earth. BUT the natives of that world have "evolved" into a collective mind and Galactus dies from a meal of "hot air". That's my experience reading Morrison.
DRK was put on film. Well, digital animation: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman:_The_Dark_Knight_Returns_(film) PS: UC BvS is really good. A master I would say but it´s not DKR.
It seems to me that Grant Morrison blames the world for steering away from the idealised and Logos-driven heroes he knew as a lad - - not realising though, that he holds the power within himself to bring it back around. Rather than doing so however, he chose to grow into a kind of occultist, drug-taking madman who "communes" with "entities" during his sex/drug-based trips. It's a very strange M.O. that's all too common these days: "The world is lacking in soft-heartedness and decency, so I'll remedy that by going as dark as I possibly can myself."
There's a great line from Captain Carrot in Morrison's Multiversity, that comics are just windows into other universes.
"Grant Morrison simply likes Kamandi."
Really, who doesn't? Kirby was practicing his own style of magic in that series more so than any other.
Flex Mentallo is my favorite comic, partially because I appreciate the intent of it's creation as much as the comic itself. It also is infinitely re-readable and near perfect in craft.
“The idea of a chair” reminds me of Alan Moore’s Promethea
Not to mention, Wally kind of looks like Grant Morrison.. but with hair.
I find it funny that the one Ennis parody that is actually super deconstructive it’s of this
8:42 "Logically speaking, you can't prove a negative".
Why does that sound like an amazing trial one grandmaster magician could put a hero or villian under? AS in "You must prove a negative"
Like those classic "You must pass my test to move foward into the chamber"
Another recurring Morrison idea that Flex Mentallo subtly highlights is that all comics are an interconnected universe and any character that appears in comics can appear with any other character that appears in comics. Flex himself is the schlub-turned-body-builder character from the Charles Atlas body-building program comic ads that would appear in old comic books. The character would grow tired of losing his girl to a bully who would kick sand in his face, so he orders Atlas's program and becomes, well... Flex, and kicks the bully's ass, which pleases everyone. In the final panel, he gets the girl and as he flexes for her the words "Hero of the Beach!" appear above his head, which is where that comes from.
If I recall correctly, because of the similarity, DC couldn't reprint the series for a long awhile due to a dispute with Atlas's estate.
HERO
OF
THE
BEACH
10:23 I'm worried I might have gotten into Morrison's stash, based on how much this discussion of metaphysical chairs resonated with me.
3:57 that's not an "orgy of sex and violence", there's no violence (at least until Faculty X arrives), and it's not criticism, it's an acknowledgement of the inherent erotic (often homoerotic) component of superheroes, and Morrison actually embraces it rather than criticizing it. "FREDRIC WERTHAM WAS FUCKING RIGHT" and so on.
Flex would make an awesome animated series... I'd watch the blap out of that
14:01 if you combine the left and right, the word is Shaman "those guys always dealt with the fantastical imaginary things"
I wonder how your reaction to Transmetropolitan will play out...might need to get 3 tons of Popcorn 🍿 for it!!!
Ive been waiting forever for a mindful look at the series that didn't make itself about the litigious history of the book vs the Atlas estate.
The lawsuit is trivial to the discussion. Although, it did add an allure to the series for a while since it wasn't easy to obtain. However, that's no longer the case.
I loved that Doom Patrol series managed to adapt him
I got the Flex Mentallo hardcover collection a few years ago: I can't wait to read it again.
I thought it was a nifty bit of meta-fiction...but i may need to go back and let some of these deeper points sink in. An excellent presentation!
I never read any Flex Mentallo. But this was a wonderfully done video. From explanation to editing, very well done! Have you ever read DC's The Weird? I think you would have fun with it
Oh, I will have to take a look at that miniseries. It's been a long time since I read it. I barely remember it!
Its only four issues but really gets at so many of being alive and human. Plus its Bernie Wrightson.
@@StrangeBrainParts If we're doing "should/coulds", John Byrne's B&W O.M.A.C. 4 issue mini.
@@StrangeBrainParts in other words WHATEVER YOU SAID ON VIDEO SHOULD BE TAKING WITH A PINCH OF SALT AND STUFFS YOU SAID ARE YOU BIASED BECAUSE YOU LOVE GRANT MORRISON ANYWAY!
I am a Wally, and I say It's pronounced Ment-tal-O
I'm going to go back and read this series again
I thought this was about doom patrol or something... Glad I was wrong (even tho I love the show and Flex with his silly "mistakes")
I would love to see you tackle The Bounce by Joe Casey. It’s extremely esoteric and hard to follow but I think there is a lot there to unpack and explore. The artwork is also gorgeous.
what's that comic about?
10:14 - 10:41 I love that idea of "Higher dimensions that have to be expressed under specific circumsntances through specific mediums to understand it" as it could be a clever way of saying how some stories work in some mediums but not all mediums. OR that they could work but it requires a lot of work to do so.
10:42 - 11:42 Also thanks to explain the "Quantum Superposition" and the "Shcrodinger's Cat Paradox"
ALTHOUGH one has to admit the irony of how we interpret and analyze this Flex Mentallo comic but by all accounts it could be just like what Grant Morrison said about his Doom Patrol Run: "It is what it is"
Been watching your videos lately, time to start picking up some trades. Also, how to you compare Morrison's FM to that of the one presented on the Doom Patrol series on MAX?
Been wondering what Flex was about. Sounds interesting!
good video. men-TA-llo. the middle syllable is emphasized.
I would have to say that this analysis is your finest work. Truly excellent. Even your explaination of Superposition was clear and concise. Hard to do because it is not easy to conceptualize. Kudos to you.
That being said, would it be possible for you to do an an analysis Alan Moores run on on Supreme? It was also a criticism of the direction comics took in the '90s as well as a deconstruction of Superman.
Yes! I have recently re-read that Supreme series and have been mulling it over.
@@StrangeBrainParts Fantastic! I will be looking forward to it.
guess i'll have to sub. i can't escape to any other Earth.
"Both had a transformative experience with an alien prescence"
Huh, what?
I noticed that in the crossword mentioned at 13:53, SHAZAM does work, if you are willing to rotate N by 90 degrees. Is SHAZAM a Quasi-anagram of SHAMAN?
As an avid follower of Letter-Man, I have always assumed such to be the case. Also in Flex, the line about "the word that turns me from boy to superhero..."
Shaman= shazam+superman
Great video. Introduced me to new ideas and ways comics are wrote. Gained a sub!
Hell yeah! Been waiting for this!
Fine analysis. Despite DC's best efforts, the Multiverse Lives - and Prevails! (Marvel's having a field day with it.)
In the end, Morrison offers Socrates' familiar trope (via Plato) of an ideal plane from which artists + engineers &c transcribe emanations or transmissions of instructive + codifying (+ entertaining) narratives. A variation on the popular "New Age" power of manifestation via creative visualization.
Such is the mechanism behind all human conception, from mythology to (heh) PostModernism, now ceding, I would contend, to a metaModernism exemplified by much of Morrison's multidimensional (heh) oeuvre.
Thanks for the helpful contextualizing, SBP.
one of my favorite books, even though I have no idea whats going on in it.
love your videos!
Thank you!
12:20 did you say "High procedual" or "Hyper Sigil" trilogy?
I’m hoping Flex shows up in Doom Patrol
YES!
Make him noble and good among the more morally ambiguous characters.
14:38. I Eat Cannibals...
I always liked the idea of comics being just fun ideas over a deep analysis of humanity.
You know, I’ve always avoided flex mentallo because of how obscure it seems to me, even being a big frank quitely fan but thanks to your analysis I’m going to buy it simply because im older and need a more cerebral story to keep my attention
Darn it, I've been saying, "Men-TAL-lo"!
I say Mentallo like one would say the word, "mentalism." That just seems correct to me. I don't know if it is or not. :)
I definitely always have said Men Tallow.
In Glasgow, where Morrison and Quitely are from, it would be pronounced Men - fuckin - tallo!
14:38...Total Coelo I eat cannibals...
basically it's about a dude learning to be a kid again, but a mature kid who's creative and silly yet knows the wrongs of the world and ways to try and make it right? das kool, might read it.
Praise the algorithm
Curses! I've been pronouncing it "MenTALlo". Now he joins the Sub-MARINE=er in the Legion of Misnamed Heroes. Seriously, do you think he was partly inspired by ME's Strong Man?
While I adore Flex Mentallo the character, I didn't get much of a kick out of this miniseries because it felt too focused on the meta. It tries to tie that into a characters emotions with Wally, but I didn't get enough of him to really care. (See Adaptation for a better execution of this) It felt so much like a story about stories that I had no reason to give a shit. And it wasn't fun enough with its concepts to make up for that. (the Rick & Morty episode Full Meta JackRick is similarly focused on meta over strong emotional connections with characters, but that has so many fun, interesting ideas packed into just 20-22 minutes that I still had a blast with it)
Is Mentallo pronounced Men-ta-low or Men-tal-low?
"Zack Snyder stole as much as he could from it"
Hey, calm down SBP! I come here to relax and enjoy your stories.
Calm down for what? SBP only stated a well founded criticism of Snyder’s BvS.
10:05
Also, Fredrick Wertham was never right!
Who’s here from doom Patrol?
Dan Yxng I came here from watching doom patrol
The contradiction of a man who longs for simpler times simultaneously being influenced by chaos magic, when considered as a character in a comic book, might work in another writer's hands, however when it's being done by the characters own real world counter part it's empty. Do you know the story in FF 175. To defeat Galactus the Impossible Man offers his world as a substitute for Counter Earth. BUT the natives of that world have "evolved" into a collective mind and Galactus dies from a meal of "hot air". That's my experience reading Morrison.
Also: trying to arrange Flex and Wally's stories in a linear narrative is a big failure on your part.
DRK was put on film. Well, digital animation:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman:_The_Dark_Knight_Returns_(film)
PS: UC BvS is really good. A master I would say but it´s not DKR.
It seems to me that Grant Morrison blames the world for steering away from the idealised and Logos-driven heroes he knew as a lad - - not realising though, that he holds the power within himself to bring it back around.
Rather than doing so however, he chose to grow into a kind of occultist, drug-taking madman who "communes" with "entities" during his sex/drug-based trips. It's a very strange M.O. that's all too common these days: "The world is lacking in soft-heartedness and decency, so I'll remedy that by going as dark as I possibly can myself."