Knowhere's Cosmic Cousin: How DC Beat Marvel to the Giant Head!
Marvel's Knowhere: A Cosmic HQ With a Surprisingly Familiar Predecessor
Knowhere, that crazy cosmic headquarters from Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy—the severed head of a dead Celestial—is iconic, right? But get this: DC Comics totally beat Marvel to the punch! By eight years, no less! The brilliant mind behind this? The legendary Alan Moore, showcasing how profoundly influential and creative some authors truly are.
This cosmic head-as-location idea first appeared in Alan Moore's Top 10 (published in 2000) years before the debut of Knowhere in Nova (volume 4) #8 (2008). This little-known series (created by Alan Moore, Gene Ha, and Zander Cannon), one of the initial releases from Wildstorm/DC Comics’ America’s Best Comics— an imprint specifically made for Moore— introduces the Neopolis police precinct. This wasn’t just any location. It's housed in a gigantic, totally recognizable severed head—looking awfully similar to the Celestial Hargen from The Eternals! This unexpected comparison highlights the deep impact and influences from various kinds of source materials, demonstrating how many creative people could end up drawing upon others' influences.
Top 10: A Hilariously Gritty Superhero Cop Show!
Top 10 is awesome. It brilliantly blends those gritty crime procedurals (think Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue) with classic superhero tropes; the blend creating a highly recognizable yet unusually enjoyable genre blend. And that insane “Club Eternal,” a nightclub located inside that giant head, is only ONE of tons of awesome in-jokes and those many references that make that series so amazing. There is plenty of Easter eggs which pay off those things appreciated by long-time comic book fans. A brilliantly unexpected series that remains highly recommended even now, decades after the final episode.
There's plenty of weird moments: The detectives from Precinct 10 investigating the murder of Baldur. Turns out Baldur keeps getting killed eternally because his myth is being retold! The hilarious end for this part involves the detectives just giving up writing up the neverending reports! That’s peak Moore-level storytelling, showcasing just how strange and original these premises could truly become.
Knowhere and Club Eternal: A Cosmic Case of Creative Inspiration?
Top 10 #10's publishing date significantly predates Knowhere's debut. And that has left fans with a theory about that mysterious cosmic head: Was DC's Club Eternal an inspiration for Marvel's Knowhere? We don’t have definite proof but considering how unique that location and creative plot point already is; that similarity to that crazy severed head used as a party spot definitely implies that some creative team somewhere really did appreciate and recognize its sheer appeal. Even that crazy symbiote deity Knull (finally confirmed after a very long wait!) who severed that Celestial's head, is deeply, deeply notable, hinting towards this similarity that connects to Marvel's own cosmic narrative elements!
Conclusion: A Cosmic Connection Across Comic Universes!
That's the craziness that happens! Alan Moore beat Marvel to those giant, dead-god-head locales. While it is interesting, we don’t know for certain if it impacted Knowhere's creation. But we should still acknowledge its incredible significance because the originality within the location itself clearly had an impact! Even if Guardians of the Galaxy gets its fame— let’s remember DC and Moore’s brilliance. And honestly? It’s pretty awesome that the same out-there idea appeared in two vastly different and competing universes! That truly makes that creative decision more memorable.
