BANG!

THE BIG BANG THEORY is the funniest show on television in years. I like being the key demographic because shows are made for me and I love it. Screw getting old. These four guys are my friends – well, not the genius part but the geeky, comic, sci-fi, technology part for sure. Geek is chic, baby. 

Who knew that the senior citizen channel (CBS) could put out something so hip? Click here for the official page.

A DISNEY-MARVEL TOP TEN

Who better to lampoon the Disney-Marvel deal than the seedy but funny Jason Rohrblogger?

My favs include:

• Peter Pan and Captain Hook join Batman and Robin for NAMBLA's "movie of the year"
• The Muppets take Dr. Manhattan

COMIC CONVENTION TOMORROW

Springfield is having its Second Annual Comic Book Convention tomorrow (Sunday) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is at the Lamplighter Inn North. (Last year I mistakenly went to the Lamplighter Inn South at Glenstone and Sunshine. Don't make the same mistake.)

It's pretty small, but I found a ton of great comics at very reasonable prices. In my experience, the small comic cons have been outstanding places to get great comics (toys, movies, etc.) at great prices. I often make bigger hauls there than the big cons. So don't let the size fool you.

COMIC BOOK SAVES AUTISTIC BOY'S LIFE

I've often said that comic books are powerful, but never considered this possibility. In a far away time I also worked with persons who had disabilities, including Autism. For many folks who have that disability, running away from home/school/church/anywhere is a serious and dangerous threat. Compound that with the fearless nature that many children with disabilities have and we have a cocktail for danger.

Here's the lowdown which comes to you from the BBC:

• Boy with Austism climbs onto a third floor balcony
• Teachers are unable to get him back in
• Fire fighters cannot convince him either

Then, a teacher recalls the boy's mother commenting about his love of … comic book superheroes. Firefighter and super geek, Somchai Yoosabai, went back to the fire station where he kept a (can you believe this?) Spider-Man costume in his locker. Apparently, he uses the costume to spice up the local schools' fire drills.

That's all it took. The child threw himself into Spidey's arms and all was well.

Tip of the pen to EN/SANE.


In related news:
Project Lifesaver, which I helped bring to a rural county sheriff's department, offers a tracking device for those who wander or run. Good for children and adults, those with disabilities and those with dementia or Alzheimers, Project Lifesaver allows your loved one to stay in his or her home safely.

AMERICAN JESUS

Renowned comic writer, Mark Millar (War Heroes, Wanted) and illustrator Peter Gross have produced a comic titled American Jesus Vol. 1: Chosen. Per the online synopsis at Image:

[American Jesus] follows a 12-year-old boy who suddenly discovers he's the returned Jesus Christ. He can turn water into wine, make the crippled walk and perhaps even raise the dead. How will he deal with the destiny to lead the world in a conflict thousands of years in the making?

Crippled? Really? I wish they would choose their words better. Anyway, I thought this was an intriguing idea. Right off the bat, I had several questions/predictions:

1. Is the boy really Jesus or is he the Antichrist?
2. Is the boy schizophrenic and experiencing delusions of grandeur?
3. Is he more like a Dr. Manhattan character, but not really the Jesus?
4. Will the Jewish people see the boy as their true Messiah?
5. Is it all some kind of elaborate hoax to extract money from the flock?

Word on the street is that this comic (originally titled Chosen) is repackaged and that there will be a forthcoming movie. Click here for a preview.

WONDER WOMAN RESCUES THE DUDE IN DISTRESS

It is all about girl power, baby, and I love it. Strong women do not appeal to everyone, but they do to me. The subjugated woman is just one component of religious dogma that I rejected a long time ago. Unlike Rush Limbaugh who makes fun of the “feminazis” (as he is so famous for labeling those women who believe in equality), I support those trailblazers who have fought for women to vote, have jobs outside the home if they choose, own land, preach the gospel, and become influential politicians – do anything that boys can do.

This is a huge reason I am such a Wonder Woman fan and her Silver Age mythos is nailed to the church doors, so to speak, in the recent Amazonian animated feature. She got the good treatment on this one, folks. Just like my title mentions, it is she who rescues the big, strong military fighter pilot numerous times. It is she who stops the muggers in the alley.

She questions why women in our culture bow to men and play the damsel in distress, when they are perfectly capable of solving their own problems. Why not, indeed? It can be hard to balance the warrior and the woman, but DC and Warner Bros. did a fabulous job.

There is a reason Wonder Woman is rated PG-13: beheadings, a ritualistic sacrifice (both done with class and without showing all the gore) and a few sexual innuendos. It really is not meant for young children, but as soon as your daughters are old enough, they should see the true measure of a great W.O.M.A.N!

5 COMIC BOOK MOVIES WAY WORSE THAN BATMAN & ROBIN

Who'd a thunk it? That there could be a comic book movie worse that BATMAN & ROBIN is disturbing enough. The knowledge that there exists five of these crappy comic flicks demonstrates Hollywood's desire to cash in on trash. Personally, I think Cracked left out that gobstopper of a cow patty fest known as THE AVENGERS (1998) not to mention the pittiful attempt at GHOST RIDER. For the love of all that is holy and good, Nick Cage is fantastic in quirky roles, but an action star he is not.

Keep all of these "movies" (if you can call them that) in mind when you are watching WATCHMEN this weekend. And you are going to see it in theaters arent' you?

[engage Jedi mind trick]

You will see WATCHMEN.
"I will see WATCHMEN," you reply.

[disengage Jedi mind trick]

APPLE ON THE CUSP OF eCOMIC INNOVATION?

Newsarama offers a neat piece on the proposition that Apple may launch a new large-screen iPod Touch designed for color comic reading (and traditional books, too) and the publishing world is on edge. The rumor is that the compatible books will be available on iTunes.

Leave it to Apple to be at the forefront of innovation and the rest of the lackeys to trail along behind with buggy little knock-offs.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I WILL BE WATCHING THE WATCHMEN

It is listed as one of Time's Top 100 Novels ever and it is coming to a theater near you this Friday, March 6. I know of two people who have seen it. Both reviewers have said it is great, freaking great. As with all adaptations to film there is a big old but a comin'. You can use your Google fingers and figure all of that out on your own.

When Larry @ Simple Thoughts of a Complex Mind introduced me to WATCHMEN years ago I took it home, glanced over it, and handed it back. The art was problematic for me and I rebuffed it altogether. Since then, I've opened my mind to all kinds of comic literature, writing styles and art interpretations.

Whether we like it or not, WATCHMEN is a key member in the small cadre known as the comic canon. There's plenty of discussions about whether or not we should accept such an academic exercise as to have a comic canon. I took up the mantle, bought myself my own private copy and agreed to have a more open mind. It was not at all hard to do so this time around. I was mentally ready for an expansion of my comic appreciation and I looked forward to the experience.

I have to tell you that a one-time read is not nearly enough to understand the nuances and depth that WATCHMEN presents. It is at times complex and other times perplexing. It is dark and hard and very slow paced. Slow as molasses. WATCHMEN gets in no hurry to tell its story, but once you get to Rorschach – dear crazy-but-cool Rorschach – the story grabs you by the shorts and keeps a clenched fist. At least that is when it really got good for me. I was invested, interested and ready to finish this modern masterpiece.

I think WATCHMEN (the comic, the movie, the buzz and glory) is worth it. I say that because there is something special about stories that make people want to read. We should celebrate those works and find ways to tap into what makes them great.

Did you know that you can rent the WATCHMEN animated motion comic? It's due out this Tuesday. Also coming is the animated WATCHMEN: Tales of the Black Freighter. For those of you not in the know, WATCHMEN has an allegorical comic interwoven into the storyline called Tale of the Black Freighter, which will not show up in the movie.

Click here for all kinds of analysis, criticism and reviews of all things WATCHMEN.

OBAMA IN COMICS AGAIN

Larry has a fun comic post over on Simple Thoughts of a Complex Mind. If you like Obama or Spider-Man you might want to check it out. Our favorite arachnid is a smart feller indeed.

Here is the Newsarama story.

USING SHAZAM! TO TEACH CHRISTIANITY

I finished reading the first three issues of Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam! yesterday and was impressed with the depth of which the title can be used. While a passing glance at DC’s Captain Marvel may give the appearance of the characters as a mere reflection of the Superman archetype, even a quick read puts this stereotype to the gallows.

A Quick Synopsis
Billy Batson is an orphan boy living on the streets. He is a good kid and it is his strength of character and resilience that catches the eye of the wizard, Shazam, who promptly leads Billy to the wizards lair atop his glorious mountain. There the wizards introduces the magic of his name to the boy, enabling Billy to merely utter the name and transform into the physically powerful and emotionally childlike Captain Marvel.

Once given the powerful secret of Shazam, Billy finds his long lost orphaned sister, who is also given the secret. Together they fight against the evils of the world.


And How is This Christian, Exactly?
BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM is an allegory to Christianity. The hands-off, and very intelligent wizard represents God, and the incarnation of Captain Marvel stands as the Christ figure. In their childhood forms, Billy and Mary are representative of the chosen apostles or perhaps the ordinary person who does extraordinary things while still struggling against a harsh world.

Captain Marvel is specifically drawn to fight against Black Adam, the wizard’s first prodigy who fell from grace and now commands the powers of the seven deadly evils (pride, greed, selfishness, laziness, hatred, envy and injustice). He represents, in a very real way, our Satan character.

Just like THE LORD OF THE RINGS and THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA use Christian themes to tell their stories, BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM does the same. Unlike many religious titles and comic books, SHAZAM is not trite or heavy-handed. Author/illustrator, Mike Kunkel, allows the characters to drive the story. It’s a great read, one of Johnny DC’s (DC Comics’ kid imprint) top titles.

For those kids wanting a solid superhero story, an engaging good-versus-evil tale, a way to experience a great adventure through the eyes of a child hero, this is it. For those who want to enhance their own Christian beliefs using quality literature then there is story aplenty to explore, although it is not necessary to apply those religious connections to enjoy the story. It stands on it’s own merits.

Click here to view the preview at Newsarama.

CULT FAVORITES TURNED COMIC

Geeks take notice. Two nods to old TV shows are coming to comics. The first is a comic book tie-in to the new Star Trek movie. Writer Roberto Orci, had this to say about the new Trek comic title: “Star Trek: Countdown lays the groundwork for what happens in the movie. It’s our way of passing the baton from the Next Generation characters and their movies to the new film.” Star Trek Countdown hits shelves January 2009.

The other is a comic version of the cult favorite, The Greatest American Hero. Don't know when this title comes out.

THE ORIGIN OF WOLVERINE

He is probably the most famous and loved character in the X-Men mythos. Deadly, powerful and troubled, the ladies want to save him and the men want him dead. Although the modern lady is a bit turned off by all the body hair. 

Enjoy the movie trailer. Let's hope it is better written than X3, which was such a disappointment. Gotta love the fact that he rides a bike, and not some cafe racer either, but a man's bike. 

OBAMA MAKES FIRST COMIC APPEARANCE AS PRESIDENT-ELECT

Comics have long been able to respond to real-world events. They have been used to garner support for wars against Germans and Japanese, even being sent to troops during wartime back in the day. Captain America has often gone overseas to fight America’s enemies. The X-Men took on the issue of Black civil rights, using two mutant leaders as a metaphor for the philosophies of MLK versus Malcolm X.

Today is no different. No sooner is Barack Obama elected our next president as his likeness is thrust into the comic world, beginning with Savage Dragon #145, according to Newsarma. Why? Savage Dragon endorsed Obama in the #137 issue in September. Click here to read all about it.

I'M NOT SURE I CAN HANDLE A SUPERMAN REBOOT

Batman goes back to the screen and then we hear word that Superman is getting the reboot, (says Newsarama) meaning they are completely ignoring the swirling mess of poo that was Superman Returns. [shudder]

I've never been too keen on the Man of Steel. I mean, he's okay and all, but there's something about him I think is kinda sissy. Funny isn't it, as he is the strongest being on the face of the planet. In a fair fight, he could take Batman or any other caped hero except maybe Wonder Woman, but there's no such thing as a fair fight is there? Superman is just too sissy and goody for my taste. If I'm going to go the good guy route, I much prefer Captain Marvel (the one you probably know as Shazam!) I like him because he is a boy who utters those magic words (Shazam!) when the world needs him, and turns into Captain Marvel. He's a goody-good if ever there was one, but that makes sense because he is really just a kid in an adult superhero's body. We expect him to say holey moley and golly gosh and things like that.

So help me, if they make this Superman a family-deserting bastard, who can amazingly lift a freaking island infused with Krypton, (his only death sentence) I am going to explode. Explode, I tell you. Judas Priest! These writers get paid how much to completely ignore the basics of the mythos?

I'd much rather see a Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel or new Batman movie over Superman, but they didn't ask me, did they? I doubt they plan on it either.

FINALLY! A FEMALE SUPERHERO FOR KIDS

We don't see too many female superhero comic book titles, and when we do often times the female is hyper-sexualized with pouty lips and big breasts. This is not always the case, but it occurs often. Finding a super female protagonist suitable for children is not too easy.

Johnny DC (DC's children's line) released Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade #1 yesterday and it is exactly what this father has been looking for. Supergirl is a 13-year-old girl who acts like a girl and not like a teenager masquerading as a 22-year-old college student with club clothes.

My daughter and I read it last night and it was fantastic reading. I highly recommend it for anyone with a young girl in the home. She's just what the daddy ordered. Good for DC and good for us.

84 COMICS TO BECOME MOVIES

Thanks to a Jack operative, we read Den of Geek's article on the 84 comics that are becoming movies. I am particulary interested in Thor and Wonder Woman, Caliber, Iron Man 2, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Akira, Iron Fist, Pet Robots, and Billy Batson and the Legend of Shazam.

What strikes your fancy? What tickles your crazy bone? What glazes your eyes with geeky goodness?

A TRIBUTE TO MY CONSERVATIVE FRIENDS

Most of my conservative buddies – and yes I have plenty of cons in the friends and family tree – think the moon glows for Ronald Reagan. He is a favorite president for many people, that is for sure. I write this blog post with friend, Larry, especially in mind as he loves comics and Ronald Reagan. See where this is going?

I was search the tube this morning and found a comic book biography of Ronald Reagan. It is from Hill and Wang, a subsidiary of Macmillan. I just had to blog. From the website:

“He confronted evil empires, planned Star Wars missile defense systems, and advocated supply-side economics. Let’s face it: Ronald Reagan’s presidency is tailor-made for comic-book art. Whether explaining how the onetime Franklin Roosevelt New Dealer became the conservative right’s standard-bearer, how a B-list actor became General Motors’s pitchman then governor of California, or how a union president became an anti-union President, this graphic biography does what no other biography can: visually narrate the life of a man who relied on stage directions and political theater to become America’s “Great Communicator.” The blended genius of Andrew Helfer (onetime group editor at DC Comics), Steve Buccellato (whose artwork has been published by Epic, Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse), and Joe Staton (artist for E-Man, Green Lantern, and most recently Scooby-Doo) makes Ronald Reagan: A Graphic Biography an absolutely original, absolutely factual, and absolutely unforgettable history of America’s fortieth president.”

EVEN THE WIFE AND DAUGHTER LOVED IRON MAN

I saw Iron Man back in May and I loved it then. I rented it this weekend so the wife and daughter could see it. Skinny Kitty is not usually a comic book movie fan. She doesn’t care for sci-fi or fantasy either, as a rule, but even she agreed that Iron Man was great. It was a classic story about the transformation of a character, Tony Stark, and it was a good life lesson. There is such a thing as ethical business, and profit at all costs is not a trait to be valued or admired, at least by ethical people. It’s also a story of redemption and the power that loss can have on our worldview.

Comics are known to have social, economic, political or religious overtones – making them relevant in the contemporary community. It’s one of the characteristics that make comics great for children and adults alike. Iron Man is a dandy one.

UPCOMING COMIC BOOK CONVENTIONS

There are some upcoming cons, small little events, where some good deals can be had. When dealers pay less to get in, your ability to get good deals goes up. These one-day events can be fun and less stressful. This site had the info.

Saturday, November 22
Columbia Comic Book Convention (new)
Quality Inn
1612 N. Providence
(I-70 Exit 126)
Columbia, MO
10 am – 4 pm
Free Admission


Sunday, November 23
Springfield Comic Book Convention (new)
Lamplighter Inn
2820 N. Glenstone
Springfield
10 am – 4 pm
Free Admission


Dec. 6 & Feb 7
Hampton Inn & Suites
5 McBride and Son Center Drive
St. Louis (Chesterfield)
10 am – 4 pm
Free Admission


Dec 7 & Jan 31
Doubletree
10100 College Blvd
Overland Park, KS (Kansas City)
10 am – 4 pm
Free Admission