Another dream that I had that I remember quite well was reading a story by Alan Moore; a story written on a huge piece of paper that discreetly folded out, bit by bit until this small booklet, like a map, folds out to become one giant image of twisted history.
The conceit of the story, not particularly new, is that Walt Disney rules the world, and freezes and refreezes himself to extend his rule so that it lasts hundreds of years. The story is told through his journals and his response letters written to his fans. The story also includes news items about him and letters written to him. These letters, in current Alan Moore style, are packed with loaded comments, however oblique. One I remember is a letter to Disney from a young Edward Norton, complimenting Disney on his choice to a biopic of Moszutha, the African-American boxer (I think the reference here is to Norton’s later role, after he grows up, in Fight Club). The letters and journal show Disney warping America, and it, in turn, warping him.
Andy Kaufman is one of the guests.
Another dream that I remember is being in this large house with Julian and Jackie and wanting to have some peace and quiet and being really angry at both of them; Julian is having a party for his uncle and all sorts of relatives and friends we don’t know keep showing up. At one point, I end up collecting all the presents and coats when I have to leave to be somewhere else and I’m really upset.
Later on I leave to go get gas, and pick up the cake. I end up on the flatbed of a train with a woman who dismisses my beliefs about being an artist. Just as I wonder where we are, the train goes through an old Western ghost town, abandoned except for a signalman and a large sign that says “London.” “Oh, great!” I say, “This train is going in circles.”
Still later, I’m in a comic book store having the books I ordered pulled. I look at a rack and see “Allred Draws Kirby,” a thick trade paperback (like Steranko’s History of Comics) which has Allred drawing Madman in lots of Kirby poses, real large with a thick black line, or with 60's style “pop” colors; almost Allred doing a Lichtenstein take on Kirby. There are two copies, each of which are bagged and marked up to $55. “Shit,” I think, “I can’t afford this.”
Later, I’m driving through the suburbs and I pull over to look at what I’ve bought. A collection of the best of Andy Kaufman. I pull it out and see that it’s a whopping $70. I thought I bought it on sale, though, and am wondering if that’s why my purchases cost so much. I see the sale price sticker on the side, but am not sure if I was charged for it or not. But that’s not nearly as much hassle as the boxed set. I can’t tell if it’s a video set or a CD collection. Every time I decide it’s one; it has instructions for using it as the other!