Twitter Updates for 2011-05-01
- @deppey Congratulations, sir. #
- See the first-ever appearance of Prince William in comics! http://ow.ly/4K9rZ #RoyalWedding #
The Mix : What are people talking about today?
ALL PULP NEWSSTAND NIGHTHAWK EDITION 4/30/11
ALL PULP NEWSSTAND
NIGHTHAWK EDITION
4/30/11ïûÿ
Want To Win An Advance Copy Of HOW THE WEST WAS WEIRD Vol. 2?How the West Was Weird, Vol. 2, the most recent installment of the best-selling anthology series from Pulpwork Press, is scheduled for release on July 1, 2011. At more than twice the size of the previous volume, this book is bursting at the seams with cannibals, aliens, robots, sasquatches (sasquatchi?) and their adventures in the Old West.
2) Email Editor Russ Anderson at RussLee74 at gmail dot com to let him know you did it.
So how would you like to win a free copy, a month before anybody else gets it? If you already own volume 1, you’ve got a chance.
Here’s what you have to do:
1) Post an honest review for How the West Was Weird, Vol. 1 on
Amazon.com (either for the print or Kindle version).2) Email Editor Russ Anderson at RussLee74 at gmail dot com to let him know you did it.
That’s it. Post a review and let him know about it. How easy is that?
(And no, the reviews don’t have to be positive. Write what you feel. If you blast the book, he’ll cry softly, so you won’t hear.)
Contest ends on May 31. One in ten entrants win, so the number of prizes depends on how many reviews we get. The drawing will happen on May 31, and the books will be sent out June 1. This contest is not open to the writers who wrote stories for either volume 1 or 2.
Stay weird, pardners!
RADIO ARCHIVES GETS PULPY
from Radio Archives-
New in Pulp Fiction: The Shadow Volume 48 and Doc Savage Volume 47
At RadioArchives.com, we love the thrills, chills, and excitement that only a great pulp fiction story can provide. That’s why we’re excited to announce that two brand new reprints featuring the top heroes from the 1930s and the 1940s have just arrived and are now available from RadioArchives.com:
In “The Shadow Volume 48”, the Dark Avenger continues the celebration of his 80th anniversary in an extra-length issue that pairs his explosive second adventure with a gripping novel of international intrigue. In “The Eyes of The Shadow”, the Knight of Darkness assumes the identity of Lamont Cranston to investigate a series of baffling serial murders in a groundbreaking novel that introduced the Shadow’s famous alter ego and his enigmatic agent, Burbank. Then, can The Shadow stop “The Money Master” before his financial machinations destroy the global economy? This instant collectors’ item, priced at just $14.95, showcases the classic cover paintings by George Rozen and John A. Coughlin, the original interior illustrations by George H. Wert and Paul Orban, two never-before-published articles by the Shadow’s creator Walter B. Gibson, and historical commentary by Will Murray.
Then, in “Doc Savage Volume 47”, pulp fiction’s legendary Man of Bronze returns in three action-packed thrillers by Lester Dent, writing as Kenneth Robeson. First, when a man claiming to have found the secret of eternal life is murdered, Doc Savage journeys to Mexico searching for an answer in the remote “Weird Valley”. Then, only the Man of Bronze can provide a beautiful con artist with an antidote for murder in “Let’s Kill Ames”. Finally, a lost city of Incas battles over the strange power of “The Green Master”. This classic pulp reprint, priced at just $14.95, features the original color pulp covers by George Rozen, Modest Stein, and Walter Swenson, plus Paul Orban’s classic interior illustrations and historical commentary by Will Murray.
If you’ve been collecting these beautifully reformatted issues as they are released, you’ll want to place your order for these new books right away. And if you’ve never read a pulp novel, you’re in for a real treat! Be sure to stop by RadioArchives.com today and check out our pulp fiction section, where you’ll find more of the exciting and engrossing tales of Doc Savage, The Shadow, The Spider, the Whisperer, and The Avenger, all available from RadioArchives.com.
New from Moonstone Books: Sherlock Holmes Mysteries, Volume 1
Ever since his thrilling adventures were featured in The Stand Magazine in 1887, Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson have fascinated readers with baffling detective cases set in the dark and foggy streets of Victorian London. Now, Moonstone Books reintroduces the “World’s Greatest Consulting Detective” to a whole new generation of enthusiastic fans in “Sherlock Holmes Mysteries, Volume 1”. This 200 page volume features two graphic novels that pit Holmes and Watson against their most dangerous opponents: Dracula and the Invisible Man!
In “Scarlet in Gaslight”, Holmes teams up with Van Helsing to stop Professor Moriarty’s diabolic invasion led by the master vampire himself, Dracula. Then, in “A Case of Blind Fear”, London is suddenly overcome by a plague of hallucinations. Is it mass hysteria…or is the city haunted by a monstrous and truly unseeable evil?
Written by Martin Powell, with art by Seppo Makinen and cover art by Gary Carbon, this new interpretation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s timeless characters is priced at just $22.95 and is sure to occupy a special place in the library of any Baker Street Irregular or mystery buff. Be sure to add a copy to your next order with RadioArchives.com – and, while you’re there, be sure to check out the many other provocative volumes published by Moonstone Books. Whether it’s graphic novels, short story collections, or the long-lost radio adventures of Doc Savage, you’re sure to find something you’ll enjoy!
ÃÂÃÂ Also New in Old Time Radio: Philo Vance, Volume 4
When we think of radio’s detective shows, we tend to think of the film noir adventures of such great names as Phillip Marlowe and Johnny Dollar. But not all of radio’s criminal investigators came dressed in gumshoes and rumpled trench coats. In fact, one of the most popular and long-running series featured a detective who was something of a well-pressed dandy – and his name was Philo Vance.
Vance first appeared in a series of novels written by S. S. Van Dine. In the books, Vance was portrayed as a stylish fop, a New York bon vivant with a highly intellectual bent – and a nose-in-the-air attitude to match. But by the time he hit the airwaves in a syndicated series for the Frederick Ziv Company, he was far less a know-it-all and far more down to earth. As portrayed by radio veteran Jackson Beck, Vance was knowledgeable but accessible, working closely with the police to solve their most baffling crimes. He was an expert investigator, with a sharp eye for detail and a second sense that could quickly see through shaky alibis and questionable testimony.
For listeners who enjoyed being armchair detectives, the series offered an extra bonus: in traditional whodunit fashion, at the end of each show, Vance would usually gather the suspects, restate all of the clues, and then pause a moment before announcing the name of the person responsible for the crime. This subtle little feature, along with excellent performances by the cream of the New York radio world, resulted in a series that would be popular on radio stations throughout the country for many, many years.
If you’re looking for truly enjoyable audio entertainment – and particularly if you love being an armchair detective yourself – you can’t go wrong with “Philo Vance, Volume 4”, another great sounding compact disc collection from RadioArchives.com. The set offers sixteen of Vance’s most fascinating cases – that’s eight full hours of murder, mischief, and mayhem – for just $23.98. If you’ve purchased our earlier collections featuring this stylish and erudite sleuth, you’ll want to add this new set to your library right away – and it makes a great gift for the mystery buff, too!
Coming Soon: Pulp Audiobooks from Radio Archives
When you think of the exciting adventures of Doc Savage, you think of the best selling double-novel reprints offered by RadioArchives.com. But soon, you’ll be able to enjoy the action-packed tales of The Man of Bronze and many of his Golden Age counterparts in a whole new way.
This June, RadioArchives.com will introduce a brand new series of audiobooks featuring Doc Savage, The Spider, and the other classic heroes of pulp fiction. By special arrangement with the authors, owners, and publishers of these thrill-packed adventures, these full length and unabridged audiobook adaptations will soon be available in compact disc collections, produced in digital stereo and featuring narration by many of the top names in the audiobook field.
The first series of audiobooks will be the Doc Savage novels written by renowned writer Will Murray – starting with his classic adventure story, “Python Isle”. These new audio productions are being produced and directed by Roger Rittner, who created the “Adventures of Doc Savage” full-cast radio series, now available from RadioArchives.com. All of these exciting and collectable audio editions will feature cover art by Joe DeVito, as well as a wide variety of special features.
For more information on these exciting new releases, click here: Audiobooks from RadioArchives.com
Be watching for updates on our website and also special features in our weekly newsletters as we begin the “Countdown to Adventure” with pulp audiobooks, coming to you soon from RadioArchives.com!
A CENTIPEDE, A CYPRIAN, A CITY, AND A WHOLE FANTASYVERSE! PRO SE ANNOUNCES NEWLY ACQUIRED LICENSES!
Tommy Hancock, Partner in and Editor in Chief of Pro Se Productions announced today the licensure of several new characters, some already previously a part of Pro Se’s magazine line up.ÃÂ In the last two months, Pro Se announced that its three magazine titles would be making the transition to yearly anthologies and that Pro Se, still living by its slogan ‘Putting the Monthly Back into Pulp’, will produce a full length novel, anthology, or collection every month.ÃÂ ÃÂ In line with this shift, Pro Se has begun acquiring licensure on characters being used in its stable as as well as acquiring new characters, the most notable and first example of this being the acquisition of Barry Reese’s THE ROOK and all related concepts three months ago.
Today Hancock unveiled even more acquisitions by Pro Se, having this to say about each of them-
“Pro Se Press is honored and welcomed to announce that author Chuck Miller, already well established as an online producer of New Pulp, is bringing his single greatest creation and all that goes with it to Pro Se!ÃÂ Chuck’s BLACK CENTIPEDE is definitely a character rooted deeply in the golden age of Pulps, but also a concept riddled with layers, conspiracies, and enough angst to satisfy any modern reader.ÃÂ ÃÂ THE BLACK CENTIPEDE and all related concepts will be a part of the Pro Se lineup beginning with the debut of Chuck’s first full length CENTIPEDE novel, CREEPING DAWN: THE RISE OF THE BLACK CENTIPEDE, in August 2011 from Pro Se Press!ÃÂ And be on the lookout for extras, peeks, and goodies from the mind of Chuck Miller and the universe of THE BLACK CENTIPEDE!”
“Pro Se Press is known for being an avenue for both new writers and those who have established themselves in the New Pulp field.ÃÂ It is with great pride and honor that we welcome another star from the galaxy of New Pulp to Pro Se.ÃÂ Joshua M. Reynolds, author of DRACULA LIVES!, JIM ANTHONY: THE HUNTERS, and author/creator of MR. BRASS, is bringing another stellar original creation to Pro Se Press.ÃÂ CHARLES ST. CYPRIAN is an Edwardian monster-hunter who, along withÃÂ his spunky side-kick in post WWI England has adventures completeÃÂ with plenty of thrills, chills and the occasional spill.ÃÂ This action packed, humor laden series is one that adds a facet to Pro Se Press that everyone will thoroughly enjoy!ÃÂ Look for the first St. Cyprian work, billed as ‘A Unique Novel with a Novelette’ entitled ‘OUT OF BLACK AEONS’ will debut from Pro Se Press in March, 2012!”
“Readers and followers of Pro Se Press are familiar with THE SOVEREIGN CITY PROJECT.ÃÂ If you’re not, this is the brainchild of myself (Tommy Hancock), and noted pulp authors Barry Reese and Derrick Ferguson.ÃÂ Originally conceived for the Pro Se magazine line, each author created an individual character that had its adventures in Sovereign City, a setting all three characters cohabitated within.ÃÂ I am completely excited to announce that THE SOVEREIGN CITY PROJECT, one of the most ambitious current New Pulp projects,ÃÂ will continue.ÃÂ Barry Reese’s LAZARUS GRAY, Derrick Ferguson’s FORTUNE MCCALL, and my own ‘DOC DAYE, THE 24 HOUR HERO will continue as licensed characters for Pro Se Press.ÃÂ Look for a back to back three month slate, starting in September with the first LAZARUS GRAY collection, followed in October with the Doc Day novel, DEATH MEANS LITTLE, and wrapping up with the first FORTUNE MCCALL collection.ÃÂ And that’s not all!ÃÂ Sovereign City fans need not worry for there will be plenty more from this trio of writers, including Barry Reese’s first full length Lazarus Gray novel, DIE GLOCKE!ÃÂ Welcome to Sovereign City and to Pro Se Press!”
“Many writers have great ideas!ÃÂ Many writers write a few of those ideas.ÃÂ Not many writers write their own creations so prolifically that they very quickly become sort of their own universe.ÃÂ Fortunately, Pro Se Press does have one of those writers.ÃÂ Fantasy pulp author Nancy Hansen has been a mainstay of Pro Se’s magazines since our inception and will continue to be the same into the future.ÃÂ Nancy not only has one or two characters that Pro Se is tickled to death to license and to publish, but literally she brings a multitude of heroines, villains, creatures, adventurers, and even pet dragons to Pro Se’s pages for you to read!ÃÂ From ‘Masquerra and the Storm Lord’ to tales about to Roshanna the Huntress, the Windriders of Everice, the Vagabond Bards, The Silver Pentacle, the Companion Dragon Tales, The Song Heroes, and many more, Nancy is definitely a New Pulp powerhouse and will be bringing hours and hours of enjoyment and adventure to readers from Pro Se!ÃÂ This great legacy begins in June 2011 with FORTUNE’S PAWN, the first book in the Roshanna The Huntress/Greenwood cycle and Nancy’s debut novel!!”
Hancock promises that these are only the first of fantastic announcements regarding licensing new characters and bringing both established Pro Se authors and new faces into the fold to help Pro Se continue to be one of the leading forces in New Pulp!
Swipe File: Queen Elizabeth and The Mask
Yes, we run these just to tick off Rich Johnston. We already got an earlier example of Prince William in comics than his (although, to be fair, he still holds the record for Kate Middleton) but now we have this from the front page of a Norwegian newspaper website:
The first-ever appearance of Prince William in comics!
From the pages of American Flagg! #3, published in December 1983 by First Comics, written and drawn by Howard Chaykin and edited by ComicMix‘s own Mike Gold, and set in the year 2031. When the comic was written, Prince William wasn’t even two years old.
American Flagg! © 1983 Howard Chaykin Inc. and First Comics Inc. All rights reserved.
Weekend Window Closing Wrap-Up: April 29, 2011
Once again, caught up in too many stories. Here’s some of what’s open in my browser:
- Since Rob Granito never replied to our interview request, you could do a lot worse by taking your money and getting some of Ryan Dunlavey’s $10 Commissions.
- VFX Legend Douglas Trumbull to Direct Movie Using High Speed 3D. And I understand James Cameron is thinking of doing the same thing.
- Somebody needs to take the stories from Clients From Hell and turn them into comics. That is all. (Note to aspiring cartoonists: use these as warm-up storytelling exercises.)
- With [[[Game Of Thrones]]] already picked up for Season 2 and [[[A Dance With Dragons]]] really really coming out, The New Yorker does a piece on George R. R. Martin’s Fantasy Books and Fans.
- Oh, yeah, nearly forgot: Manga Pioneer Tokyopop Shuts Down U.S. Publishing.
- The return of Tracer Bullet, now with his new partner.
- More Marvel Movies: Video & Photos Of After Credits Scene From Captain America and Joss Whedon talks about starting The Avengers.
- Voting is open for the 2011 Eisner Awards and the 2011 Hugo Awards. Vote early, etc.
- And finally, Mark Verheiden scares me… because he linked to Chicks With Steve Buscemeyes and so now I must inflict it on you.
Anything else? Consider this an open thread.
GUEST REVIEW THIS WEEK GETS ‘ROOK’ED!!
from http://percivalconstantine.wordpress.com/2011/04/26/the-rook-volume-1-by-barry-reese/
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The Rook, Volume 1 by Barry Reese
26 04 2011
Barry Reese is a great writer, and Iâve had the privilege of being well-versed in a lot of his work before he became one of the leaders of the new pulp revolution. And itâs interesting to see how heâs grown as a writer since then.
The Rook features five stories, each of them starring the eponymous vigilante who operates out of Atlanta. Max Davies is a rich man haunted by visions of his deceased father. Possessed of some psychic abilities and armed with a mystic dagger and guns that rarely run out of bullets, Max spends his nights donning a bird-like mask and calling himself the Rook.
This first volume opens with âLuciferâs Cage,â a great story that sets up the Rook in his new location. We find out that the Rook once operated in the north but fled when people began to suspect he and Max Davies were one and the same. This of course poses a problem in which why wouldnât that same suspicion arise once the Rook curiously shows up in the exact same city Max has moved to? You may think this is a critique and it partly is and isnâtâBarry addresses this in âThe Gasping Death,â at least in a fashion. But that one mention doesnât satisfy my curiosity and I hope this is dealt with in future Rook tales.
As far as heroes go, the Rook is an interesting blend of both the pulp characters like the Shadow and modern-day comic book heroes like Batman. Although the Rook does adopt a more merciful stance on criminals, he has a history of killing them and his âmercyâ isnât as merciful as you may think. Setting the tales in the 30s also allows Barry a chance to explore history in hindsight, which he does very well. Itâs interesting when there are references to historical events, such as mentions of the Nazis and the conflict in Europe or a statement that down in the south, the Civil War was still very much alive in the hearts of the people. And it also gives Barry a chance to utilize some other creations of that era, particularly public domain ones. This leads to one of the best stories in the collection, the previously mentioned âThe Gasping Death,â in which the Rook teams up with another pulp hero, the Moon Man. There are also references to numerous other pulp characters, but Iâll allow you the pleasure of discovering those little Easter eggs on your own.
Barry also does something interesting in these stories. In âLuciferâs Cage,â Max meets Evelyn Gould, a beautiful actress and the two are immediately taken with each other. In the bookâs second tale, âKingdom of Blood,â theyâre married and Evelyn is even working as Maxâs partner. There are both positive and negative aspects to this and it really depends on your mood. On the one hand, itâs nice to be spared the cliché of the damsel in distress pining for the hero and never noticing the man behind the mask, and Iâm glad we donât have to be subjected to forced gags of Max trying to make up pathetic excuses for why he and the Rook are never in the same place at the same time. And seeing a love interest who not only challenges the hero emotionally but also proves to be if not his equal than at least very capable on her own physically is a nice treat. Evelyn isnât the type to be tied down to any railroad tracks or thrown off any bridgesâsheâll use her own fighting skills before Max even has a chance to save her. And thatâs a very good change, especially for the period these stories are set in.
Now for the flipside to that argument. While it is refreshing to see a hero in a married relationship handled in a realistic way, we do skip over a LOT to get them from the point they meet to the point theyâre married and working together. These are story collections, however, and itâs just as likely that Barry will write tales set in those eras as well. Same goes for the Rookâs pre-Atlanta adventures, which I find myself really intrigued by. And this is only the first bookâBarry recently released volume five of The Rook series at the time Iâm writing this review, so maybe heâs already addressed these things.
There is one thing that did bother me, though, although it is minor in the larger scheme. âAbominationsâ is a tale which features a villain named Warlike Manchu (another cool reference to a famous pulp villain). My issue here is that Warlike Manchu is described as being from a family on the losing side of the Boxer Rebellion, which would make him Chinese. But then later, Warlike Manchu is seen employing ninjas (Japanese warriors) and refers to himself as a âsenseiâ (an honorific word in Japanese for teacher or doctor). As someone who knows about Asian cultures, particularly Japanese culture, this is something that took me right out of an otherwise very enjoyable story and itâs a mistake that could have been avoided with just a tiny bit of research.
My other complaint has nothing to do with the stories, but has more to do with the format. I understand this is something Barry probably had no control over, but the large size (9.8Ã7 inches according to Amazon) and the double-column printing is not something Iâm a fan of. I felt like the text was a bit tight in those columns and there were some spacing issues with it. I understand Wild Cat Books is trying to emulate the pulp style of old with this printing method, but for someone more accustomed to reading novels, itâs something that annoyed my eye.
Overall, The Rook is a great introduction to this new pulp hero in a classic setting. Barry has created a character who can stand shoulder to shoulder with not only new creations from the modern-day pulp renaissance, but also with the old favorites heâs clearly inspired by.
What Scares Superman?
There’s more on Dylan Dog as we talk with director Kevin Munroe and stars Brandon Routh and Sam Huntington about all things scary including their own fears, plus [[[Smallville]]] fans get ready to sell a kidney!
Do you think [[[Dylan Dog]]] can take this weekend’s Box Office? Drop us a comment below!
NEW PULP HISTORY BLOG DEBUTS ON ALL PULP!
Pulp IS History!!!
History of the Pulps Part 3
By Mark S. Halegua
Yes, that’s right, I said part 3. So, you’re wondering where are parts 1 and 2? You haven’t seen them on All Pulp. So, where are they?
They’re on comicrelated.com. See, I started writing a pulp blog there and the first two were on the history of pulps, the first pulp magazine (Argosy) and the ones that followed.
But, then Tommy Hancock said, “Hey Mark, will you write a blog for All Pulp on the history of pulps?”
So, I’m thinking, “but, I’ve already started that on comicrelated.com. If I were to do that I’d be essentially writing what I’ve already started and it would be on two blogs. Not cool. How can I differentiate the two?”
A thought came to me. What if I did the history for All Pulp and something different for comicrelated? Something maybe more pertinent to comics? Something interesting about pulps but of more interest to comic book people?
So, here’s the deal, which the kind people at comicrelated.com have agreed to. I will write there about pulps, but not pulp history. I will write on All Pulp about pulp history. And, when I think people need to know about something I’ve written on one or the other site, I will publish a link to it.
The last blog I sent to comicrelated.com was about the recent Windy City Pulp and Paperback convention in Chicago, which I attended as both a dealer and a collector. If you want to read about that, go to: http://comicrelated.com/news/11678/pulp-1st-returns!
It also has links to some interviews and other things I digitally recorded about the con on YouTube.
You can read the first two parts of my history of pulps here: http://comicrelated.com/news/10971/pulp-1st-debuts
So, that brings you up to date so far.
So last we looked Railroad Man’s Magazine had just come out and was the first pulp to have stories, in this case fiction and non-fiction, about the railroads, and only the railroads. The first pulp to focus on one genre. All previous pulps were general fiction, mixing genres.
The Ocean published stories occuring on the ocean. The Live Wire, I don’t know what was published. If anyone knows, please inform me. It was a short lived pulp, starting in February 1908 and ending, or chainging its title, in September 1908. The Ocean was also a short lived pulp lasting about a year.
The Cavalier was another genaral fiction pulp which lasted several years, till 1914 and 163 issues, before folding into All-Story. This was a common thing to do to keep the subscribers with the company.
Munsey’s started out as a slick magazine and was converted in 1909 to a pulp. It was also a general fiction pulp.
In 1909 another title converted from a magazine to a pulp. Short Stories, one of the longest running of all pulps which for most of its history as a pulp published twice a month, on the 10th and 25th of every month. It was also notable, starting around 1921, for including a red sun on each issue cover.
In 1910 two more pulps were introduced, one by Street and Smith the other by the Ridgeway Co. These were Top-Notch and Adventure. Both were general fiction pulps with Top Notch slanting the stories to a younger audience.
With this the Big Four were now publishing. Argosy, Blue Book, Adventure, and Short Stories were considered the top pulps, consistently producing best stories and would do so for decades.
Over the next years to 1916 several new pulps would come to the newsstands: New Story, Snappy Stories, Women’s Stories, Romance, Live Stories, Clever Stories, Tip Top Semi-Monthly, Parisienne Monthly, Breezy Stories, Detective Story, Wide-Awake, All Around, Thriller, and Saucy Stories. So, in this second decade of the pulps 20 new titles were published. Not all lasted, some lasted a very long time. But the notables, were Adventure, Short Stories, and Detective Story.
Women’s Stories published stories directed toward women’s interests and Romance was fiction about, well romance. It lasted from 1914 thru 1916 and 28 issues. No fewer than two other pulps with the same name would be published later.
Must There Be An “American Way”?
By now, you’ve probably heard about the controversy– ZOMG SUPERMAN RENOUNCES AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP!!! A lot of people are taking this panel at right from Action Comics #900 out of context.
For me, I always thought that “Truth, Justice, and the American Way” was a bit redundant. At least, I hoped that it was, because that implied that the American Way didn’t actually include truth and justice. As it turns out, the phrase wasn’t even original to the character. Remember the introduction to the Fleischer Superman cartoons of the 40s?
Heard it? Never-ending Battle for Truth and Justice… but no American Way. Same with The Adventures Of Superman radio show, which started with:
Look! Up in the sky!
It’s a bird!
It’s a plane!
It’s Superman!“Yes, it’s Superman–strange visitor from the planet Krypton who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Superman, who can leap tall buildings in a single bound, race a speeding bullet to its target, bend steel in his bare hands, and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great Metropolitan newspaper, fights a never-ending battle for truth and justice.”
And this was during World War II, not exactly a time short on American patriotism.
It wasn’t until 1952 that the TV series gave us:
Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound! (“Look! Up in the sky!” “It’s a bird!” “It’s a plane!” “It’s Superman!”)… Yes, it’s Superman … strange visitor from another planet, who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men! Superman … who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands, and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way! And now, another exciting episode, in The Adventures of Superman!
Why was “the American Way” phrase added? Probably for the same reason that the words “under God” started showing up in the Pledge of Allegiance around the same time– it was supposed to help fight communism.
Considering this issue shipped the same day Barack Obama had to take extraordinary steps to prove that he was born in this country to the same sort of people who are now braying that Superman has betrayed them, I cannot help but be a bit confused. The fictional character is a real American citizen, and the President of the United States isn’t?
Of course, Superman really wasn’t born in the United States. (He really wasn’t born at all, but play along with me here.) If you asked Superman to produce a birth certificate, he couldn’t– hell, the Kents lied to get Clark one.
Now, whether DC made a good storytelling choice here– that’s for the next article.
