Even Homer nods twice

Way back on Tuesday 17 June 1997, Kevin McGuire asked on the Whorl list:

As far as I can see, no one ever answered that question, but I finally got to see that episode of "The Simpsons" on BBC2 this evening and I would say definitely, yes! That really does look like a Gene Wolfe homage. A bizarre one, it's true, but an homage none the less. Nigel

In the US, there's a much more prominent antecedent, the schlocky THING WITH TWO HEADS, starring Rosie Greer (as the body) and Ray Miland (as the new head). As far as non-homages go, back in 1986, Marvel Comics produced a year-long limited series, MARVEL SUPER-HEROES SECRET WARS, with such URTH-ly, Wolfe-ly plot elements as: * the champions of earth being summoned by an ineffable being to do battle with their archenemies, * at least one foe was resurected for the purpose * a plot by an evil would-be ruler of all mankind involving a severed head * a mis-appropriated mechanical suit missing its right arm. * an artifical world with made of bits representing numerous real worlds, with creatures taken from them * a refugee from the previous creation * a formerly human being grown to immense size who sates his colossal hunger by drawing energy form planets via titanic machinery of mysterious function Years later, the wearer of the suit went on to have adventures in a kind of new earth, advised by a mysterious woman named Skye, found to be some sort of "warrior of Eidolon", and combatted against a shaggy, grey shapeshifting animal....

But is the episode half as clever and funny as your subject header? -- Rostrum

Nigel opines: As far as I can see, no one ever answered that question, but I finally got to see that episode of "The Simpsons" on BBC2 this evening and I would say definitely, yes! That really does look like a Gene Wolfe homage. A bizarre one, it's true, but an homage none the less. Crush plays the party-pooper: I'd much prefer that this were so and I plan to use it to recommend Gene Wolfe to my Simpson-crazed friends, however... the Simpson's Archive (http://www.snpp.com/episodes/8F02.html) notes three other possible movie horror sources for this homage, two of which seem quite credible: o The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant (1971) http://us.imdb.com/Title?0069372 o The Thing with Two Heads (1972) http://us.imdb.com/Plot?0067245 -- Crush