In my youth, I had a great liking for super-hero comics. My favourites
were those Marvel Comic staples of Stan Lee, "The Fantastic Four" and
"The Silver Surfer". I still have one or two early editions of these,
now classics. On Saturday evening, I couldn't resist watching a film on
TV, "The Rise of the Silver Surfer", if only for the spine-chilling
moment when The Surfer reappeared on earth. Naturally, my wife made some
disparaging remarks about failing to grow up and I guiltily knew she
was quite right. Can you feel a "however" coming? Here it is: however, I
am currently reading a book by James Naughtie called, "The Making of
Music" (thanks for the loan, John). Now, I thought this would not really
add to the numerous books I've absorbed on the history of western
music, but James Naughtie adds a flavour of his own brilliant
journalistic and political awareness to create a bit of a musical page
turner. Oh, and of course you can hear inwardly his mesmerising Radio-4
voice while reading it. The point is that in his discussion about
Richard Wagner he makes clear the mythological power in which Wagner's
music is rooted, music which brings those hidden powers to light in the
form of operatic gods and goddesses. Wagner's operas are not that far
distant from the super-hero adventures of my Silver Surfer, The Human
Torch, The Hulk, Stretcho and the Invisible Woman.
