Grant Morrison: The Early Years [Paperback]

Timothy Callahan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2007

GRANT MORRISON: THE EARLY YEARS by Timothy Callahan studies the celebrated creator's early career. Grant Morrison has redefined comics from his trailblazing creation of ZENITH, through his metatextual innovations on ANIMAL MAN, to his Dadaist super-heroics in DOOM PATROL. Along the way, he also addressed Batman with his multi-layered masterpiece ARKHAM ASYLUM and the literary GOTHIC storyline. This book examines all five works in detail, drawing out their running and evolving themes. Using plain language, Callahan opens up Morrison's sometimes difficult texts and expands the reader's appreciation of their significance, creating a study accessible to both Grant Morrison aficionados and those new to his work. An extended interview with Morrison on his early career rounds out the volume.

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Sequart.com Books (May 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615140874
• ISBN-13: 978-0615140872
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,288,636 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, June 5, 2007

By 

J. Bukalski "comic book scholar" (Honolulu, HI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grant Morrison: The Early Years (Paperback)

What Timothy Callahan has done here is to open up Grant Morrison's early texts, which are often confusing for many readers. Even as an avid fan of Morrison -- I've read virtually EVERYTHING he's written -- I learned a lot from this book. Callahan's interpretations and insights are both clear and fair, and they actually expanded my knowledge. I can only imagine how much this book would have helped me if I hadn't read ZENITH (Grant's early masterpiece, published in England in 2000AD and not currently availalbe) or if I hadn't already spent countless hours going over ARKHAM ASYLUM. Even so, Tim managed to expand my understanding of ARKHAM, which is really saying something!

And the interview in the back, after the main text, is also very eye-opening, allowing Grant to reflect back upon his early work through the eyes of an older, perhaps(?) wiser man.

Truly wonderful stuff, and one of the very, very few serious books about comics out there -- one that's not too stuffy or too slight. I'm eagerly awaiting a second volume!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delves deep into Grant's head..., January 27, 2008

By 

Michael Phillips "halflingsinger" (Shamong, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grant Morrison: The Early Years (Paperback)

I edited this book, so obviously I'm biased. But as I was reading it for the first time, I truly realized how little I new about some comics that I've read countless times.

I always thought I GOT Grant. I understood this guy. He's a cool, trippy writer, and I figured out his most dense works. Well, during the reading / editing of this book, I was shown SO MUCH MORE by Tim, a true Morrison freak. After reading this book, I HAD to go back and read all of the comics Callahan covers in EARLY YEARS. It was like going back through a movie a 2nd time (that kind of confused you the 1st time) in order to understand the stuff you missed and really being blown away by that 2nd viewing.

The themes that Morrison used, the analysis that Tim conjures, it was a real joy to have things I thought I had figured out explained in different, better ways.

I just feel lucky to have read this book. It enriched my comic book experience immensely.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, January 3, 2012

By 

K. Thurman - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grant Morrison: The Early Years (Paperback)

Much like Pat Meaney's Our Sentence is Up, this little book really helps fill in all the background information on Mr. Morrison in his career. In many ways an understanding of Morrison and his life is necessary for reading many of his works. For those just a little curious to the Morrison fanatic, this book is for you.