Wired in wizard Alan Moore set for virtual launch of new book, “The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic”

By John Freeman on October 3, 2024 • ( 1 )

Alan Moore is going full-on 21st Century for the launch of The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic, written with the late Steve Moore (no relation), when it launches later this month.

Alan Moore. Image: BBC — *Alan Moore is a participant in the BBC Maestro project, so no stranger to remote appearances | Image: BBC*

The Century Club in Soho, London, host of many great comic events, has announced a virtual special event on Friday 18th October, with Alan dropping in via Zoom to talk to writer and occult scholar Gary Lachman about The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic, which is published by Knockabout on Thursday 17th October.

Developed over nearly two decades, The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic is the result of the creative partnership between Alan Moore (From Hell, and his latest novel, The Great When, reviewed here) and his mentor, the late Steve Moore (2000AD, Doctor Who, Warrior). It explores the realms of magic and the occult through a blend of prose, illustration, and sequential art from five talented artists.

The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic by Alan Moore and Steve Moore

Offering both practical insights and visual artistry, The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic, which includes contributions from the late Kevin O’Neill, John Coulthart, Steve Parkhouse, Rick Veitch, and Ben Wickey, promises to reveal the secrets of the Moon and Serpent Grand Egyptian Theatre of Marvels, a storied institution of magic since circa 150 AD.

Northampton-based Alan Moore is widely regarded as one of the best and most influential writer in the history of comics. His seminal works include Miracleman and Watchmen, for which he won the coveted Hugo Award.

Never one to limit himself in form or content, Moore has also published several novels, Voice of the Fire, Jerusalem and Illuminations, an epic poem, The Mirror of Love, and ground-breaking graphic novels such as From Hell, V for Vendetta, and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. He is also a participant in the BBC Maestro remote learning project.

Steve Moore, often described as the man who led Alan Moore astray (usually by Alan himself), who died in March 2014, created many science-fiction and fantasy strips (sometimes under the name Pedro Henry) for a variety of British and American publishers, over a 40 year career. He created Abslom Daak – Dalek Killer with Steve Dillon wrote strips several “Tharg’s Future Shocks” for 2000AD, and “Laser-Eraser & Pressbutton”, for Warrior.

Occasionally taking a break to work on non-fiction in the oriental, historical and Fortean fields, he wrote on the I Ching (The Trigrams of Han) and edited the scholarly journal Fortean Studies.

A Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society, other works include a collection of short fantasy stories, Tales of Telguuth, the novelisation of the film, V for Vendetta, and the original novel, Somnium.

• The Moon & Serpent: Alan Moore in Conversation, 7.00pm, Friday 18th October 2024, Century Club, Soho, London
Book tickets here: centuryclub.co.uk/moonandserpent

Please note: Alan Moore will not be physically present, he will join Gary and audience virtually via Zoom for this in conversation. No crystal balls or summoning circles required

• The UK edition of The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic (UK Edition ISBN 978-0861662890) will be available from Knockabout’s eBay shop | 300 x 230 mm hardcover | 352 pages | £39.99 (UK)

• Knockabout Comics – knockaboutcomics.com | Follow Knockabout on Twitter or Facebook for up-to-the-minute (or at least up-to-the-month) news

• The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic is on sale from Thursday 17th October | AmazonUK Affiliate Link

• Check out the works of Alan Moore on AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

• Check out the BBC Maestro – Alan Moore project here

• John Higgs tribute to Steve Moore (1949 – 2014)

• The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic (US edition ISBN 978-1603095501) will be available in US bookstores and comic shops in October 2024

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.