Category: News

Superhero comics have been re-booted and re-vamped and up-dated and back-dated for so long that we hardly notice anymore.  However, there are some story elements that are fixed in the past, and maybe not in a good way.

For example …

• When Superman was first created, it was entirely believable that the rocket ship that brought him to Earth from Krypton could land in Kansas without anyone seeing it.  Even through the 1970s or so, when the rocket should have landed in the 1950s, one could accept that premise.  Now, however, the rocket would have crashed in the 1990s, when all sorts of satellites would have been tracking it.  Even if it wasn’t identifiably a rocket, but assumed to be a meteor, scientists would have warned about the effects of impact.  Cable news networks would have been all over it for the disaster porn.

• Did Peter Parker need a permission slip from Aunt May and Uncle Ben before going on a school trip to a facility with radioactive specimens?  Did anyone consider a lawsuit?

• Barbara Gordon has been a librarian and a United States Congressional representative.  Additionally, she was disabled by an attack from a criminal who was negligently allowed to escape from prison.  She must have a great government pension plan.  When she regains her ability to walk (apparently) in the upcoming series, are there Tea Party zealots demonstrating against her?

• Is Tony Stark the Koch Brothers of the Marvel Universe?  And if not, why not?

• Both the DC Universe and the Marvel Universe contain countries ruled by people with super-powers.  Are diplomatic postings to these countries considered to be good jobs or bad jobs?  What are the Senate approval hearings like for those?

• Similarly, when the United Nations has that week when all the world leaders attend sessions, do these super-hero leaders provide their own security?

• Are there web sites like gofugyourself for superhero costumes?  And, if so, do they similarly suggest that super-heroines consider pants somewhat more frequently?  Or are they more like this?

• Are there reality competition shows for super-heroes, like, say,  “X-Factor?”

• Does J. Jonah Jameson know Bill O’Reilly?  Because I would totally like to see that.

Dominoed Daredoll Martha Thomases doesn’t really want to think about the current political climate transposed to places where people punch out walls.

This is just heartbreaking:

Mike Meyer, 48, of Granite City, has been on Social Security for a mental disability since age 23. To supplement that, he has worked part time at a McDonald’s in Collinsville since 1996. He lives alone in a humble, two-bedroom home with his dogs: Krypto and Dyno. Just about every room is a shrine to his hero.

It’s Meyer’s starry-eyed worship of Superman, protector of the world as it should be, that makes the theft from his home two weeks ago seem particularly cruel.

Meyer was tricked out of about 1,800 of his favorite Superman comic books, some dating to the 1950s. He also lost many of his favorite collector’s items: lunch boxes, an old-time radio, a Monopoly game and television set — all Superman-themed. The loot is worth about $4,000 to $5,000 in total, according to a friend who also collects.

The back bedroom of Meyer’s house used to have nearly 100 Superman figurines tacked to the walls. Now, those walls are bare.

Also stolen was Meyer’s Captain Action Superman figurine with costume, a sore point for Meyer because it reminded him of one he had as a child.

via Super fan could use a hand from Superman.

You’ve probably already heard that all six [[[Star Wars]]] films will be released on Blu-Ray on September 16, and that the Blu-ray set will feature over 40 hours of bonus material. Three of the discs in the nine-disc saga are full of deleted scenes, props, interviews, paintings, and so on.

But you’ve probably also heard that there are a few changes to the films. Again. And some of the changes are bound to be a tad controversial. Here’s what we expect:

• Han shoots Greedo, but only after a judo match, scrabble tournament, and seven rounds of rock, paper, scissors.
• A small percentage of Ewoks have taken to waxing.
• Darth Vader’s cape is tapered to show off his manly shoulders and narrow waist.
• New footage added to feature Seth Rogan as object of Luke Skywalker’s bromance.
• Yoda replaced with all-knowing Labradoodle.
• Members of the band entertaining Jabba the Hut include the kids from Glee and a few members of Twisted Sister.
• (more…)