From: Montague_Kevin@Tandem.com (Kevvy Kev)
Subject: Re: Miracleman #23
Organization: In Effect Enterprises
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1992 23:35:59 GMT

Tried to post this Friday, but I think it bounced.  Apologies if this is a 
double:

In article <Bu1nF3.3E2@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, wogg0743@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (William Shakespeare) writes:
> 
> Contrary to what has been said, later in the Moore run, MM makes it pretty 
> clear that he thinks of himself as different from Moran.  He calls Moran
> unreliable (talking to the guy with gem teeth) and says, you aren't dealing
> with Moran now.  Lot's of other clues.

I think you're forgetting some equally important clues that point to the
opposite.  One quick one: when Mike finally remembers his word, and remembers
some of the past, he comes home to his wife and says "Honey?  Honey, don't
be afraid, it's me.  It's Mike."  Clear pointer to the fact than he feels
that it's still *him* in there.  
This is why I brought it up; a lot of the tension and movement in this 
story is generated by Moran's procession towards schizophrenia.  The comparison
with Bates is what adds to it: as Moran says, looking at Bates, "That could've
been me."

> I think the point is that a lot of what defines us as human comes from our
> secret fears.  MM can survive an atomic blast, and has.  He can fear for those
> he loves and fear enemies on his power level, but his attitude toward normal
> humans will always be tempered by the fact that he neither needs them nor
> fears them.  He does not need money.  He does not lack for sex--with his
> body, who would?  His existence is completely non-human, although not
> necessarily "inhuman", as in Bates' case.

Again, I'm trying to make this quick, in case the earlier post went through. . .
but condider the fact also that he decides to remain on earth, while Winter
makes a relatively early decision to cut out.  Again, the comparison is 
useful; I don't think Moran feels he doesn't "need" people.  Maybe need is 
the wrong word.

> Consider this.  Someone--like that kid in the viniete--call hims a fag.  To
> him its a joke.  He KNOWS that he is the most virile, most strong, most
> masculine creature on the face of the earth.  He is incapable of feeling any
> kind of insecurity at such a taunt.  It's just funny.  But Moran would be
> pissed off.

A gross simplification.  You give mortal man too little credit. . .or, I should
say, Moore's conception of mortal man.  Would You be pissed off?  I know that
I wouldn't (It's happened).

> Or take this example.  Someone mugs MM in an alley.  What would MM do?
> Quite possibly, give the mugger all his money.  Why?  Because it is meaningless
> to him.  He can have anything.

Do you really think he can have anything?

> Or this.  Someone shoots him.  Moran, if shot (and if he survived) would feel
> all sorts of emotions:  fear, relief, anger.  MM might just ignore it, except
> that he would probably act to protect other people from this moron who just
> wasted a bullet on his forcefield.  But would he be angry?  Why?  Do you get
> angry at a kid who points a finger and says bang?  What if the kid says,
> I wish you were dead?  You might be hurt by the kids lack of affection,
> but rage, not likely.

Same as above.  

> Moran and MM are not the same person at all.  Something that both realize
> at the end of Moran's run.  Hence Moran's "suicide".

Broken record dep't: Bates and his reactions to being a superhuman in a 
world of "normals" must be considered, and I think they show conclusions 
very different from those you've drawn.  In addition, you (And Moore) ignore
the fact that the technology ultimately allows the use of an entire 
"wardrobe" of bodies; this speaks to the issue as well.

Kevvy Kev
 "Kimota."
  -Mike Moran