Date: Sun, 09 Feb 2003 18:32:10 -0600
From: Jeff Wilson 
Subject: Re: (urth) Even Homer nods twice

> From:
> "Nigel Price" 

> Way back on Tuesday 17 June 1997, Kevin McGuire asked on the Whorl list:
>>>On a more frivolous note - is there any
>>>connection between Typhon/Piaton and that
>>>episode of the Simpsons where Mr. Burns
>>>head is grafted onto Homer's body?
>>
> 
>>>"But Homer, tomorrow we are meeting with
>>>Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands"
>>
> 
> As far as I can see, no one ever answered that question, but I finally got
> to see that episode of "The Simpsons" on BBC2 this evening and I would say
> definitely, yes! That really does look like a Gene Wolfe homage. A bizarre
> one, it's true, but an homage none the less.


In the US, there's a much more prominent antecedent, the schlocky _THING 
WITH TWO HEADS_, starring Rosie Greer (as the body) and Ray Miland (as 
the new head).

As far as non-homages go, back in 1986, Marvel Comics produced a 
year-long limited series, MARVEL SUPER-HEROES SECRET WARS, with such 
URTH-ly, Wolfe-ly plot elements as:

* the champions of earth being summoned by an ineffable being to do 
battle with their archenemies,

* at least one foe was resurected for the purpose

* a plot by an evil would-be ruler of all mankind involving a severed head

* a mis-appropriated mechanical suit missing its right arm.

* an artifical world with made of bits representing numerous real 
worlds, with creatures taken from them

* a refugee from the previous creation

* a formerly human being grown to immense size who sates his colossal 
hunger by drawing energy form planets via titanic machinery of 
mysterious function


Years later, the wearer of the suit went on to have adventures in a kind 
of new earth, advised by a mysterious woman named Skye, found to be some 
sort of "warrior of Eidolon", and combatted against a shaggy, grey 
shapeshifting animal....


-- 
Jeff Wilson
How Am I Posting? 1-800-555-6789
"If your SecOp can see you, so can the enemy." -Cpt Law



--