A question I have after reading "Freakangels"

[roseembolism]

Is Warren Ellis capable of writing any character that's NOT an asshole?

I mean seriously, as far as I can tell, the standard Warrren Ellis character is a massive jerk (add breasts for female, penis for male), who's attitude is supposedly tolerable solely because they are always right. I mean, constantly, totally, utterly right. Even when they admit that they have no idea what they are doing, they are completely right.

Tell me people- has he ever done a character that doesn't sound like a gamer pundit on usenet, circa 1995? Inquiring minds want to know.

Comments

[dancingshaman.livejournal.com]

The Drummer and Jakita Wagner from "Planetary."

Pete Wisdom from "Excalibur."

The Filthy Assistants from "Transmetropolitan."

I think you should amend your question to ask: "...has he ever done a LEADING character that doesn't sound like a gamer pundit on usenet, circa 1995?" All his secondary characters are very flawed, sometimes humble, human beings.

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

I can't speak to Pete Wisdom, but Jakita? A jerk. Filthy Assistants? Jerks. Drummer? Insane jerk.

Admittedly, they are amusing jerks, but still.

Did you read the online stuff?

[racerxmachina.livejournal.com]

Caz isn't a jerk.
Alice isn't a jerk.

A few others you've not met if you haven't read past what's in the paperback aren't jerks. I think this story is about a group of kids who decided they were right when they weren't in a position to be so, and are trying to atone.
In particular, I want to know what Kady's going through.

Re: Did you read the online stuff?

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

Well at least tell me we meet some characters I don't want to slap.

Re: Did you read the online stuff?

[racerxmachina.livejournal.com]

Whoa. You're at about an 8 for trollishness, we need you at a 6. I really don't get why you have a hate on for the characters. If so, skip it. I see a lot more emotional potential here than some of his other works, honestly.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

I gotta agree... FreakAngels is a lot better than Doktor Sleepless or Anna Mercury, for example.

Re: Did you read the online stuff?

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

Bah. If you had my kind of day, you'd be pointing at bunnies and screaming that their ears are far too long and furry.

It was more of a final straw sort of thing than anything else. After a long dose of Ellisms, I read Freakangels and then the next day logged on to see that Ellis had posted something annoying. And so I am annoyed.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

I stopped reading his site. I got sick of his schtick.

Re: Did you read the online stuff?

[racerxmachina.livejournal.com]

Step 1: Don't read his site. Ever.
Step 2: Repeat.

I looked at it a couple of times and decided against doing it again if I wanted to continue liking people. He's why I know about stuffed toy animals modified for use as sex toys for furries. That was His. Fault. I read his books. That's it.

Re: Did you read the online stuff?

[mithriltabby]

I enjoy the “Conan! What is best in life?” posts. As long as people are being that extreme, I can point at them as a calibration point any time I want to claim to be well-adjusted.

Re: Did you read the online stuff?

[racerxmachina.livejournal.com]

*peek*

Sun.
Tea.
JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRR!!!!
AAEEYAAAGH

Re: Did you read the online stuff?

[mithriltabby]

That’s a pretty mild one, too; that particular subject line is one he regularly uses when linking to BMEzine. I suppose if I actually experienced cognitive dissonance when learning about things like macroherpetophilia (don’t google that term unless you want to learn about new extremes of human behavior), I would avoid Ellis’ blog, but I’m sufficiently jaded that I’m mostly just amused.

Re: Did you read the online stuff?

[anam-moon.livejournal.com]

*blink* I... Uhhhh...*sniff* Now I want to cry. And bleach my brain.

[mithriltabby]

The lead in Crooked Little Vein is more of a noir detective type who’s trapped in a world of bizarre phenomena that just won’t leave him alone.

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

That does seem interesting. I'll check that one out.

[mithriltabby]

It’s his first novel; I can lend you my copy if you wish.

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

I'd like that, thanks!

[heron61.livejournal.com]

It's been a while, but back in his run of Stormwatch, Jack Hawksmoor and Swift weren't jerks very often. In The Authority, The Engineer often isn't a jerk. As for the rest of his work - you're pretty much dead on.

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

Ikind of liked the old Jack. One of the minor annoyances I had with The Authority was the change in Jack's character, from being highly reluctant to kill, to making wisecracks as he punched through people's heads.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Fell isn't a jerk.

[pirateseneschal.livejournal.com]

I was thinking about the same thing about Frank Miller's All-Star Batman and Robin. The only sane persons in the book are Robin and Alfred, everyone else is some sort of transparent angry fucktard.

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

And don't forget all the women being ninjas or whores. Or both. Yes well, Miller. He gets a pass because AFAICT, he has some sort of brain tumor or something so he really can't write anything else. He's like the dirty guy on the street corner, scratching his unkempt beard while constantly yelling "Whores! Hoooores!"

Just take pity on the guy, and keep buying his books.

(see? You think I was being mean to Ellis? I actually like his stuff, in spite of my criticism.)