The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic

Supercbbox| title = The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic


caption = Cover design by John Coulthart
schedule = 2010
format = Hardcover
issues =
publisher = Top Shelf Productions
writers = Alan Moore and Steve Moore
artists = Kevin O'Neill, Melinda Gebbie, John Coulthart, José Villarrubia et al.
pencillers =
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TPB = Top Shelf, 2010
ISBN = 978-1-60309-001-8

The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic is an upcoming hardcover work by acclaimed comics scribe and practicing magician Alan Moore and comics writer and Fortean Steve Moore (no relation) on the history of magic and magicians. It is due for release from Top Shelf Productions in 2010.

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The book is intended to be "a clear and practical grimoire of the occult sciences," containing "profusely illustrated instructional essays upon the Moon & Serpent Grand Egyptian Theatre of Marvels sect's theories of magic" from c. 150AD to the present, of whom Alan Moore is a somewhat dedicated follower. [http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=2&title=578 Top Shelf Catalog listing for "The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic" by Alan Moore and Steve Moore] . Accessed June 13, 2008] Indeed, both Moores are described by publisher Top Shelf Productions as the "current proprietors" of the group of occult performers, of whom Alan Moore is a particularly prominent member, alongside former Bauhaus frontman David J. The "Moon and Serpent" group have released a number of spoken word CD releases of their occult "workings"/performances.

Contents

Confirmed illustrators include a number of (Alan) Moore's frequent collaborators, namely Kevin O'Neill, Melinda Gebbie, José Villarrubia and John Coulthart, with more to be confirmed.

Among the essays the book will include is "Adventures in Thinking," a dissertation detailing "how entry into the world of magic may be readily achieved." The tongue-in-cheek tone of the tome will also include "a number of "Rainy Day" activity pages" suggesting "lively and entertaining things-to-do once the magical state has been attained, including such popular pastimes as divination, etheric travel and the conjuring of a colourful multitude of sprits, deities, dead people and infernal entities from the pit." This will likely incorporate a "bestiary of demons and gods and other things that you might be lucky or unfortunate enough to bump into."

The two Moores - unrelated, but long-term friends - will also pen "lengthy theses revealing the ultimate meaning of both the Moon and the Serpent."

The Great Enchanters

The book will present a "history of magic from the last ice-age to the present day, told in a series of easy-to-absorb pictorial biographies of fifty great enchanters," an area in which both Moores are readily familiar, Alan having been a practicing magician for a number of years, and Steve having contributed to the "Fortean Times" journal since it's earliest days, the paranormal, occult and magic itself being extremely familiar areas covered by that publication. This section, tentatively entitled "Old Moore's Lives of the Great Enchanters" is desribed by A. Moore as around "fifty-two full pages.. laid out a bit like the old Ripley's Believe it or Not, where you've got five panels with captions" described the illustrations.The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log: "We’re off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Northampton: Part 1" Interview with Alan Moore by Pádraig Ó Méalóid, June 13th, 2008] These "great enchanters" will cover key individuals in the history of magic beginning with the alleged "first representation of a magician" - "the Dancing Sorcerer from the Trois Freres cave in France."

Other notable individuals will include "the Persian Magi and Zarathustra" ("after the Stone Age shamanic period... the first record of actual magic") and various other real, fictional and debatable individuals including "King Solomon, Circe, Medea... Apollonius of Tyana [and] Merlin... the first white magician." Coverage will also be given to those individuals who "almost certainly existed, like Roger Bacon and people like that." Kevin O'Neill (co-creator with A. Moore of "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen") is set to illustrate a "seven or eight-page life of Alexander... done in a Radio Fun style... detail [ling] the life of Alexander of Abonuteichos who was the creator of Glycon," Alan's "patron deity."

Extraneous materials

In addition to the hefty - a projected 320 pages - book itself, a "full range of entertainments will be provided" in addition, including (in typical Moorean fashion - see his 2007 "" for a similar cornucopia of bonus materials) "a lavishly decorated decadent pulp tale of occult adventure recounted in the serial form", "a full set of this sinister and deathless cult's never-before-seen Tarot cards" (illustrated by José Villarrubia), "a fold-out Kabalistic board game" and "a pop-up Theatre of Marvels that serves as both a Renaissance memory theatre and a handy portable shrine." This latter (theatre) is being designed by Moore's wife, the artist Melinda Gebbie.

imilar Moorean works

In additional to Steve Moore's lengthy association with Bob Rickard's UK publication "Fortean Times", Alan Moore is no stranger to the world of magic. A self-proclaimed practicising magician (and self-professed worshipper of Roman glove puppet god Glycon [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0600872/bio "Alan Moore (III) - Biography on IMDB"] Accessed July 19, 2008] ), Moore's ouvre includes several diversions into the realms of the magickal, including his America's Best Comics masterpiece "Promethea", both a general meditation on magic in comics form and a specific guide to the the 22 Major Arcana Tarot cards (issue #12), the Sephiroth (issue #14) and the entire Hermetic Qabalah (issues #13-25). "Promethea" featured appearances from such individuals as Dr. John Dee, Aleister Crowley, Austin Osman Spare and Jack Parsons, all of whom are likely to be covered in the "Bumper Book of Magic".

Indeed, it has been suggested that much of A. Moore's recent output has to a greater or lesser extent been designed as magical rituals:

References

External links

* [http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=2&title=578 Top Shelf Catalog listing]