Monday, July 17, 2006

AC/DC

Here's another in the never-ending series of articles about the sexuality of some super-hero, in this case Batwoman. This essay is rather funny but for the most part, I have little interest in any of these pieces that don't address the matter as what it usually is: A marketing gimmick. And I think the author is fundamentally correct or darn close when she says that in comics these days, if not in life, "You are either a midriff-bearing, gum-snapping, engagement ring-chasing girly girl or you are a probable lesbian."

Of course, it's not much better for men in comics: You can either be a tortured hero or a tortured villain...or sometimes, both. Or I guess you can be gay, too. So maybe they do have a few more options.

• Posted at 11:54 PM · LINK

Mickey Spillane, R.I.P.

I'm not sure I ever made it all the way through a Mickey Spillane novel. I liked his no-nonsense talk whenever I saw him interviewed and I admired the success of this one-time comic book writer. But I think I got to I, The Jury a couple of decades too late. By that point, he'd been imitated and parodied to the point where it all seemed hokey to me...and of course, what was titillating and shocking when the book was first published in 1947 was almost Disney fare by the late sixties. Still, it was easy to see why he'd sold umpteen zillion copies of it and subsequent novels and why he'd spawned a legion of mimics, striving to achieve the two-fisted reality that came so naturally to Spillane.

I don't have any personal anecdotes. Only met the man once — at a San Diego Comic-Con International — and the conversation was brief and unremarkable. I think I advised him on good places to eat around the convention center and told him it was an honor to meet him. Which it was. He was a giant in his genre and one of the most-imitated writers of his century. Here's a link to an obit.

• Posted at 4:17 PM · LINK

It's Comic-Con Week!

The National Weather Service is still calling for highs near 80° and lows near 70° in San Diego this coming week and Tom Spurgeon's list of convention tips is still better than mine. You can get all sorts of great facts about the con including parking and shuttle info over at the convention website. You can also read the Programming Guide but really, all you need to know is when my panels are. Here's one more plug for that list...

• Posted at 3:13 PM · LINK

Recommended Reading

Greg Ip and Deborah Solomon in The Wall Street Journal explain what's going on with the American economy. Short summary: Tax revenues are up largely because the wealthiest Americans are making more than ever and therefore paying more in taxes. The non-wealthiest Americans aren't doing so well.

• Posted at 2:59 PM · LINK

Recommended Reading

Fred Kaplan on what needs to be done to stop the bloodbath in the Middle East.

• Posted at 1:35 PM · LINK

Today's Video Link

The video isn't perfect on it but you might enjoy this clip. It's from the 1976 Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon at the Sahara Hotel in Vegas. Frank Sinatra is appearing and he decides to reunite Mr. Lewis with his former partner. It's a historic moment in show business even though Jerry is somewhat lost as to what to say, Dean doesn't seem sure where he is and Frank doesn't know enough to clear out because the moment is not about him.

• Posted at 9:10 AM · LINK

Forgotten But Not Gone

Dan Quayle makes a political statement.

• Posted at 9:09 AM · LINK

Go Read It

Another article about the Comic-Con International in San Diego. This one's about Shel Dorf, who got the whole thing started.

• Posted at 8:29 AM · LINK

Out Back

Less than five minutes ago, I shot the above photo. It's the smallest possum I've ever seen out on my back porch partaking of the cat food I leave out for the local menagerie. Earlier this evening, I fed a stray cat and based on the water spots on the ground and all the food that's been dumped out of the dish, I suspect that a raccoon has been there, too. Fortunately, the others left something for this little guy.

You can see more of the creatures that visit my back porch over in this section which I keep meaning to update. Soon, very soon.

• Posted at 1:40 AM · LINK

Go Read It

An article on the impact that the Comic-Con International has on the city of San Diego.

• Posted at 12:56 AM · LINK