Annie Nocenti
By:
January 17, 2012
One of the most impressive things about ANNIE NOCENTI (born 1957) is her remarkable work teaching film in Haiti (especially in the aftermath of the earthquake) and Lapland, among other places. Another is her documentary and journalism on the Baluch and the clashing rocks of imperialism, nationalism, and anti-terrorism that have kept this vast, resource-rich, not-a-nation powerless and poor since the creation of Pakistan in 1947. Yet although Nocenti’s adventurous activism demands my attention, I am just sophomoric enough to be more awed by her nearly five-year run writing Daredevil, and the influential stew of politics, current events, and super-heroism that she created at Marvel. Worse, I am obsessed with Longshot, a funny character she created in 1985 for a six-issue run of that title. A rebellious simulacrum whose memory is erased, Longshot is a pulp Don Quixote in Bellona, a picaresque adrift in a sea of uncertainty. Armed only with a vague and muddied sense of purpose and heroism and an outlandish but wavering good fortune, he tries to sort out who the hell he is, while fighting off demons from his home dimension, narcissistic Hollywood directors, and the She-Hulk. Like with Samuel R. Delany’s Dhalgren, the moody sense of displacement and confusion of the main character is mirrored brilliantly in the reader — no small feat in this medium. In a tidal sea of interchangeable ’80s superhero comics, Nocenti’s stand out like Longshot’s weirdly glowing eye. If you’d told me that a few years later Nocenti would end up editing High Times, my head would have exploded.
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READ Annie Nocenti’s “Goudou Goudou” series of posts, about teaching film in Haiti after the earthquake, for HiLobrow.
READ all of Annie Nocenti’s HiLobrow posts (including HiLo Hero items on, e.g., Roman Polanski, Maya Deren, and Walt Kelly).
On his or her birthday, HiLobrow irregularly pays tribute to one of our high-, low-, no-, or hilobrow heroes. Also born this date: Ari Up.
READ MORE about members of the Original Generation X (1954-63).
Plus, she’s gorgeous and cool.
Happy Birthday, Annie!
Have a very happy birthday!
Absolutely one of my heroes. Happy birthday, Annie!
Happy happy birthday, Annie!!
Happy birthday Annie. In awe.
I would join a religion if you were its savior. Happy Birthday, you hot godess.
Happy birthday, Annie!
Happy birthday, Annie!!
Happy birthday, Annie! love you.
Annie!!!!!! you are the bestest
Among her numerous talents, not only does Annie have excellent taste in headgear, she’s a terrific magazine editor– I met her via “Stop Smiling”– as well. Elate!
She makes some great things. Happy birthday Annie.
Happiest of birthday greetings to a woman I hugely admire!
Happy birthday, Annie, you inspire me!
One of the few who actively make the world better across multiple fronts. Happy Birthday Annie!
Annie is fabulous and an inspiration. Happy birthday!
Three cheers for Annie. Hang on a second. Three is nowhere near enough. Make it thirty!
What an amazing set of accomplishments, and you’re only getting started. Happy happy HAPPY birthday.
Happy birthday Annie!
Happy birthday! :D
Happy happy birthday, Annie! You are truly an inspiration!
Annie! Yay!!!
Annie Nocenti is probably the single coolest person I’ve ever met.
Happy birthday, Annie! Wish I could buy you a drink, but since I can’t, I’ll raise one to you tonight at the Gold Dust Lounge.
Happy Birthday to one of the coolest and most fascinating and formidable art badasses IN THE WORLD!!!
Happy Birthday Annie! Here’s hoping we’ll meet upstate soon :-)
Huzzahs for Annie! You kick a tremendous assortment of ass.
Happy birthday, Annie. You are pretty amazing.
Happy birthday, Annie! Eat lots of cake. Especially this one
http://www.sotirov.com/uploaded_images/birthday-cake-773619.jpg
Happy birthday!!
Have a wonderful birthday, Annie!
annie is the greatest!!!!! happiest of birthdays to today’s hero!
The closest I’ll ever have to a big sister! Happy birthday, Annie!!!
annie is THE BALLS.
Happy Birthday Annie!
Happy birthday, Annie.
Happy birthday, Annie. You’re an inspiration!
Happy birthday to my favorite real-life superhero.
Happy Birthday to the amazing Annie!
Happy Birthday, Annie!
Happy birthday Annie. Go for it.
Nocenti rules. Happy happy birthday!
Happy birthday, amazing, heroic Annie! Hip hip!
I, for one, am very glad Annie was born. Thanks for being here, lady! You’re inspiring.
Happy Birthday Annie! Make it a good one!
High times indeed! Happy birthday, Annie.
Very honored to know such a hero. Happy Birthday, Annie!
H-est of Bs, Ms. Annie — you’re an inspiration!
ms annie,
you get bday best from me also!
keep on keepin’ on!
on bass, watt
I hereby bless and sanctify thee St Anne, Patron Saint of Things that are Good.
FELIZ CUMPLE!! Late but many besos de tu cumpleaños from México DF. – D.
http://comicsalliance.com/tribute-ann-nocenti/