The superhero was born in the late 1930’s, and had become
somewhat antiquated by the mid 1980’s, Likewise, America’s notions of heroism
had drastically changed. Other mediums,
to varying degrees, reflected the country’s shift in mood and political attitudes. Two comic book writers, Alan Moore and Frank
Miller, thought it was time to bring the superhero out of the dark ages and
into the present, kicking and screaming if need be. Seeing as how they were two of the hottest
writers around, they were more than up to the challenge. They both decided that a deconstructionist
take on the material would be the best way to go. However, their vastly different storytelling
sensibilities took them down wildly divergent paths. Moore was going to question the very notion
of superheroes, while Miller was planning to turn an iconic superhero into a seemingly
fascist enemy of the state.
