(S19E06) "We're gonna be rich! We can finally afford to start a family!" -- Homer

"We have a family!" -- Marge

"A better one!" -- Homer

I think I have whiplash. One minute this week's The Simpsons was about the new comic book store in Springfield and the next Homer was getting his stomach stapled.

I didn't even think this was going to be a Homer-centric episode from the preview comments on the show.Heck, it didn't even seem like he was going to be on the episode at all since his first appearance was about 30 seconds before the second commercial break. When he suddenly became the focus I felt a stabbing pain in my neck.

I may have to sue.

I mentioned last year that Alan Moore, creator of the seminal graphic novel The Watchmen, would be appearing in an episode of The Simpsons. Now comes word that the episode, "Husbands and Knives," will air on October 7 and will feature not only Moore, but two other big comic book names: Art Spiegelman (Maus, Maus II, In the Shadow of No Towers) and Daniel Clowes (Eightball, Ghost World, David Boring).

Alan Moore, known to comic book fans as the writer for The Watchmen, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Constantine, V for Vendetta, From Hell, and the recent Lost Girls, a tale about Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, Wendy from Peter Pan and Alice from Alice in Wonderland stepping out of their fantastical worlds and engaging in real-life sex, will appear in a future episode of The Simpsons titled "Husbands and Knives." Moore figures into a subplot involving a new comic book store that opens in town and threatens to put Comic Book Guy out of business. The new store gets even more notice when Moore decides to pay it a visit.

Moore is a fan of The Simpsons, and the feeling is mutual: many of The Simpsons' staff are also fans of Moore's work. His graphic novel The Watchmen is considered by many to be the first foray into comic books aimed at an adult audience. Apparently this philosophical series of "Garfield" strips from 1989 came too late.

[via Toon Zone]