Comics

Just finished watching Justice League: The New Frontier DVD borrowed from the local library, which is the animated movie of Darwyn Cooke’s “The New Frontier” detailing the formation of the Silver Age Justice League. I enjoyed it, and especially so because it dealt primarily with the characters of Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Flash (Barry Allen) and Martian Manhunter (J’onn J’onzz) rather than the normal Trinity of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

The artwork style is very much 1960s, and for the comics enthusiast there are all sorts of cameo appearances and background details to note. And while it’s animated superheroes the plot and content (for example, the shades of grey in politics) are definitely geared for an audience above children’s level (The rating on the the DVD here is “M”). As the Line of Fire review noted below states: “This is a fine film, definitely geared towards adults, a little too violent for the kids, but for anyone who ever loved superheroes, you will find an appreciation of this film.” However, for audiences outside of the US there will be a few moments where the elements of the story may not resonate as strongly as they might for those brought up in the US context.

Related links:

Justice League: The New Frontier - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Justice League: The New Frontier DVD Review - Line of Fire Reviews - Comics Bulletin

Absolute DC: The New Frontier HC Review - Line of Fire Reviews - Comics Bulletin

A while back I saw the graphic novel “The Homeless Channel” being mentioned around the net. Part satire, part social commentary, part something else, the story is based around a cable reality TV show that provides 24 hour coverage of the homeless people in the city and the lives of people that intersect with that TV show. It sounds intriguing, and quite different from any other graphic novel I’ve seen recently. I’m going to try and see if I can get hold of a copy.

Comics Bulletin has a couple of pieces related to it: The first is an interview with the creator, Matt Silady, while the second is a review of the novel.

1. Matt Silady’s Homeless Channel: Not Just Basic Cable: Interviews & Features Archive - Comics Bulletin
2. Homeless Channel Review - Line of Fire Reviews - Comics Bulletin

The creator, Matt Silady, also has a preview of the novel and a movie trailer of the story.

• The Homeless Channel Preview
• The Homeless Channel Trailer

“Rapture” theology, and indeed the broader category of ‘apocalyptic’ that it sits within, lends itself to dramatic, visual imagery that can be picked up by comics books. The latest of these, Armageddon Now: Word War 3, is about to hit the shelves (if it hasn’t already). And as with many of these things it juxtaposes contemporary world-events with a particular (often loose) interpretation of apocalyptic biblical material. The way things are portrayed you get the impression that many would like to be ‘left behind’ so they can go to town with extreme armament and fight their way into the pearly gates.

You can see the main web site for comic over at: Welcome to - Armageddon Now: Word War 3

There’s an interview with one of the creators of the comic here at NEWSARAMA.COM: ROB LIEFELD GETS BIBLICAL.

Related links - Greenflame · Once Upon a Tribulation

For those of you who are suffering from needing a Serenity or Firefly fix, then Dark Horse’s Firefly/Serenity mini-series “Better Days” is now out. I picked up issue 1 the other day, and it’s a good read if you’re a fan-boy or girl. Actually, it’s a good read for a comic in general - I’ve read some not so good comics recently from the library’s trade paperback/graphic novel selection. If you can do the character’s voices in your head while reading then it really rocks.

More details over at Dark Horse Comics > Profile > Serenity: Better Days #1 (of 3).

Oh, and I see the “Star Gate: The Ark of Truth” is already out on DVD in NZ. Seeing as I’m still finishing off Season 9 of Stargate SG-1 it’ll be a while before I get there, but it’s nice to know it’s waiting for me. Just like I’ll get to “Battlestar Galactica: Razor” when I’ve knocked the last few episodes of Season 3 off. I must admit I’m struggling to be enthralled with the end of BSG season 3 maybe it’s better watched one episode per week rather than three episodes at a time. Currently, I’m trying to avoid Season 4 spoilers - which seems to be harder than it should be - people keep putting them in their blog posts without spoiler warnings!

Picked up the first issue of Transhuman from Image Comics yesterday. It’s a four-part mini-series in a documentary format set in the not to distant future and deals with the initial commercial forays into commercialising technologies to produce ‘off-the-shelf’ human self-modification of a transhumanist nature. I thought the first issue was quite good, and offered some insight into the commercial agendas of biotechnology often glossed over in the transhumanist literature. I’ll be interested in where the series goes.

The comic made it onto the transhumanist-related Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies blog. See IEET - Transhuman, the comic, which includes a link to some sample pages from the issue here.

Various reviews of the issue can be found at:

• Transhuman #1 Review - Line of Fire Reviews - Comics Bulletin
• Comicbook Bin - Transhuman #1
• Occasional Superheroine: Comics Are Expensive: TRANSHUMAN #1 and PROOF #6

A brief but useful article on care of comics. See Store Your Comics Properly - Wired How-To Wiki

Frantic here at the moment. Old job stuff to finish, new job stuff to think about, last week of the school holidays, conference abstract due tomorrow, and going to Dunedin early tomorrow for the bioethics conference (so packing now).

However, still time to note that Dark Horse are finally going to release their next Firefly/Serenity comic book mini-series. Excellent, I can’t wait. See Dark Horse Comics > Profile > Serenity: Better Days #1 (of 3).

I enjoy seeing the different ways that libraries use to promote reading - the recent NZ libraries ‘Inspire me!’ campaign using some well-known faces is a good example.

Here’s one from the American Library Association that uses Alex Ross comic book watercolor artwork (and a couple of others) to promote reading. See Comics Should Be Good! » Some Neat Posters

The Comics Show, which was a really enjoyable and informative documentary on the history of New Zealand comics is now available on DVD. More details at: Dylan’s Blog - The Comics Show - DVD now out!.

Related link: Greenflame · The Comics Show - documentary on NZ comics.

On the way to work yesterday say a handmade/handwritten sign on the side of the road for the next ‘Underpants on the Outside’ event. Apparently it’s a “comic book and sci-fi swap meet of anything that you would find in a comic store, this includes recent and back issue comics, sci-fi memorabilia, figurines & collectibles and more.”

I have no idea what it’s like but might head along on Saturday and have a look.

UNDERPANTS ON THE OUTSIDE!!!!!
DECEMBER 1ST, Grey Lynn Library Hall!!
474 Great North Road.
9.30am - 2.30pm.

Link to organiser’s MySpace page here.

I have a real soft spot for Dan Dare (along with the old black and white Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon TV programmes). When I was a boy I remember my Dad finding some old Eagle annuals from somewhere and introducing us to the Dan Dare he grew up with in the UK. And then later I followed, for a while, the rebooted Dan Dare in the early 2000AD.

Now the quintessential British hero is getting year another reboot in a seven issue series. Looks good, though I’ll wait for the trade paperback before buying it. It’ll be interesting to see how the values of the 21st century get worked into the 1950s landscape Dare exists within.

More details on the release here at DAN DARE #1 - NEWSARAMA (with some sample pages).

Official release information at Virgin Comics brings back DAN DARE: PILOT OF THE FUTURE with GARTH ENNIS « Virgin Comics Blog

Reviews of the first issue here at Sunday Slugfest - Dan Dare #1 (of 7) Review - Silver Bullet Comics.

One of the reviewers asks some good questions about these sorts of reboots:

1. Why don’t the revivals meet with greater commercial success? After all, they were huge successes when they first appeared.
2. Since they keep failing to become contemporary commercial successes, why do people keep bringing these characters out of mothballs?

Most of the revivals (thinking of Flash Gordon, Tarzan and Buck Rogers here) fall flat, even with reshaping to new cultural conditions, though some, like the rebooted Doctor Who and Battlestar Galactica series seem to get it right. Something to think about.

A new comic book on the religion in comic books radar, Some New Kind Of Slaughter, or Lost In The Flood (And How We Found Home Again): Diluvian Myths From Around The World from Archaia Studios Press, which juxtaposes several ancient flood stories (e.g Noah, Atrahasis) with contemporary narratives of global warming and rising sea levels. Will be keeping an eye out for it.

There are some sample pages over at SOME NEW KIND OF SLAUGHTER #1 - NEWSARAMA

Looks like Warner Bros. might actually be getting a Green Lantern movie off the ground at some point in the near future. See E! News - Warners Rings Up Green Lantern.

You always want to see your favourite superhero on the big screen, but you know that to appeal to more than just the fanboys and fangirls they’ll have to be some liberties taken with the characterisation and mythos. (Tries to forget paying money to see Judge Dredd). Still, Batman Begins and the first Spider-Man movie captured the spirit of the characters, which leads to some hope that given a good script they might pull it off. The question will remain though as to whether they can capture the big space opera landscape that is GL, where team work is critical amongst GLs, or whether they make it a more Earth-based story. Personally, I’d like to see a galactic western-style take on the GL characters.

Related links:

• Greenflame · Comic book movies - DC/Marvel
• Greenflame · Random Lantern-related thoughts

And if you have no idea about Green Lantern:

• Green Lantern - Wikipedia
• DC Comics - The Origin of Green Lantern

Tyndale have produced a new graphical Bible version entitled Manga Messiah, joining the growing throng of different graphical representations of all or part of the Bible. This time the art is Japanese, though it is colourised and includes more text than would be usual in more authentic manga. And it’s focused on the Gospels, with other parts of the Bible to be produced at later dates (I think).

There’s a review of it over at Manga Life - Manga Messiah Review, which concludes that its target audience is not clearly enough defined. At some point I’ll try and track down a copy, but from the sample art in the review I think “The Manga Bible” appeals more.

Related links:

Greenflame · In the post - The Manga Bible
Greenflame · The Bible - Graphic interpretations

Auckland City Libraries: A comics evening at the library on Friday October 19. Looks like a good selection of people and presentations.

Hat tip to Comics Fest at the Auckland City Library - Dylan’s blog.

If you’re interested in the history of New Zealand comics then tune into TV One Sunday night (2 Sep) at 10:40pm for the broadcast of The Comics Show - documentary by Point of View Productions.

Hat tip to New Zealand comics on TV - Dylan’s blog

Related link: Artsville | TV ONE PROGRAMMES | TV ONE | tvnz.co.nz

A couple of blogs that explore science fiction and popular culture from a religious perspective that I’ve come across recently.

• The Sci Fi Catholic
• SF Gospel

Another comic to add to the religion and spirituality in comics collection. The Rabbi’s Cat is a comic from French creator Joann Sfar that engages in discussions about theology, philosophy and love from the perspective of, strangely enough, a rabbi’s cat whose acquired the power to speak.

See Pantheon Graphic Novels: The Rabbi’s Cat.

Related links:

• NPR : ‘The Rabbi’s Cat’ Wishes to Be Jewish Too
• BEST SHOTS: BATMAN #666, BLACK SUMMER, BUFFY, CRECY AND MORE - NEWSARAMA (Scroll half way down the page)

A couple for recent Green Lantern links for all you fanboys and girls out there:

• Instructables: How to make a Green Lantern ring (including a glowing version!)
• Jim Kingman: Comic Effect @ SBC: Blackest Nights, Brightest Days: On Being a Green Lantern Fan

Firstly, a (mini) colloquium on Media and Religious Authority on Tuesday, which included some of the Virtual Theology colloquium participants from a while back, along with Heidi Campbell. A good time to catch up with people, to meet Heidi in person for the first time, and to start to thrash out some ideas I’m interested in relating to various dimensions of religious authority in comic book and graphic novel genres.

More about it at:

• SansBlogue: Media and Religious Authority
• fishers, surfers and casters » Virtual Theology Colloquium
• When Religion Meets New Media: Media and Religious Authority Colloquium

Then Friday and Saturday I participated in the Metanexus/Tyndale-Carey sponsored conference New Perspectives in Science and Theology. Heidi (The Technologized Other: Considering the Posthuman and Prophetic Technorealism) and I (Image-bearing cyborgs?) were the opening speakers on Friday, and I got some good questions and comments after my talk (and over the weekend) that will help to shape a few areas that need tighter definition and reflection. And gave me some ideas for at least one other paper to write.

And that’s what I like about presenting at things like the two events this week. It gives you a chance to start a conversation about your work, and to make connections to other work that you haven’t made before. Doesn’t always make answering the questions being asked any easier though

A related link as I toss around some ideas about comic books, graphic novels and religious authority. See Bird, Plane or SuperMensch? Jews and Superheroes Share a Rich History on Wired’s site which interviews Danny Fingeroth, author of “Superman on the Couch: What Superheroes Really Tell Us About Ourselves and Our Society” and “Disguised As Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, And the Creation of the Superhero”.

A list of 74 Comic Book Adaptation Movies since 1978 rated by box office takings.

How many of you knew that movies like “Road to Perdition” started off as comic books?

Books on the go at the moment.

Writing at the Edge of the Universe

Published by Canterbury University Press (2003), it’s a collection of essays, interviews, reflections and talks from the ‘Creative Writing in New Zealand’ Conference. Covers everything from politics, young adults fiction, comics, hypertext, and definitions of ‘cultural’ within the NZ writing scene. Something to dip into every now and then.

Spin Control by Chris Moriarty

A mix of technology, religion and politics set in a posthuman future. Has a short bibliography of material relating to emergence, transhumanism, and social evolutionism. Oh, and lots of stuff about ants. If only my thesis read as well.

The Worthing Saga by Orson Scott Card

Finally got around to reading this collection of Card’s older science fiction material. Some interesting material relating to theodicy, suffering, pain, human perseverance, and free will, together with other observations about the technological quest for immortality.

For Everyone Concerned by Damien Wilkins (2007)

The most recent collection of short works by Wilkins, much of which is set in Wellington. I grabbed the library’s copy and found it a mixed bag (as with most collections like this). I loved the short story “Reunion” set in Wellington Library though.

Received a copy of The Manga Bible - Raw in the post this week via Conrad.

The artwork falls within animé genre, though with Western influences - think Ghost in the Shell imagery, rather than the large-eyed young girl and boy Pokémon style - and is particularly effective, I think, in conveying both the humanity and divinity of Christ. Elements of it reminded me of the various different Star Wars comics from Dark Horse (e.g. Star Wars Clone Wars anime stuff ). You can download some sample spreads from The Manga Bible web site download area to get an idea of the style.

The (relatively) brief volume covers a considered sampling of the New Testament - some Gospel accounts, bits from the Book of Acts, Revelation and parts of the Epistles. I found the latter particularly engaging. Taking the biographical, narrative and apocalyptic accounts of the NT and turning them into sequential art would seem to me to be easier than translating the various letters. But the bits from the Roman, Corinithian and Galatian correspondence are good, bringing the historical context of their writing and human figures into play with the issues being dealt with.

In an interview at the end of the book that artist, Siku, comments, “I don’t just see God as a shining light thing. I also see him as a dark, brooding force. I’ve tried to inject that into how I see Jesus.” Very much there is a sense (apophatic even) that God here is far more powerful and unknowable that the brief glimpse we get in the Jesus of the gospels - that for finite human beings, the infinite God is also totally other from us, as well as human flesh and blood in Jesus.

You can listen to the interview here and download the PDF of it here.

As I’ve mentioned before, it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but my 9 and 11-year old sons expressed an interest in it, which may indicate a demographic that it would connect with. (There’s a set of youth group studies that uses TMB here.) I’ll pass my copy around to different people to see what reactions it gets. On the whole though, I’m impressed with it (in spite of not really being a real manga enthusiast). I’m looking forward to the Old Testament edition coming out soon.

Related links:

Greenflame · The Bible - Graphic interpretations

Superman beware, kryptonite is real - Natural History Museum.

Listening yesterday to the Thursday arts slot with Lynne Freeman on Radio New Zealand National : Afternoons : Thu, 28 June and they had an interview with Johnny Angel, a graphic artist and writer creating a superhero comic series based around Polynesian characters. (Audio here for the next 6 days or so).

Sounded like an interesting contextualization project, and I’ll be looking in the library to see if they’ve got any copies of the graphic novels. If that fail,s then the university bookshop claims to be carrying it.

More about the project at The Aucklander News: Superhero bursts into life and TV3 have a video clip about it here.

Related links to other NZ comics:

• Greenflame · Dylan Horrocks on comics, games and world-building and Greenflame · Mapping the land and ourselves
• Greenflame · Miracleman and Captain Sunshine
• New Zealand Comics (www.internationalhero.co.uk)

Artistic interpretation of the Bible and its contents is as old as the stories themselves. From decorations in places of worship, to imaginative storytelling, through to icons, paintings, flannelgraphs(!) and sculpture, artists have sought to bring their interpretation of the stories to life. And recently, there’s been an increased production of related-material in the comic book/graphic novel format - from both religious and secular content creators.

This week I managed to get my hands on the public library’s copy of Marked!, Steve Ross’ contemporary graphic interpretation of the Gospel of Mark. (BTW - Public libraries want you to recommend books for them to get. If they don’t have a book and you can give them the details they’ll normally buy a copy for the library.) I enjoyed it, and thought the reframing of the story within the context of a contemporary occupation by a Western superpower - both physically, ideologically and economically - would allow the book to open doors to discussion with an audience not served by other ways in which the gospels may be communicated.

That said, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. The graphic novel genre doesn’t work for many people, and the artistic rendering of the story (and the spin it’s given) might clash, or at least hinder, those who prefer the text to provide a world that they fill in the details of in their own minds. You can read an interview with Steve Ross about Marked! at Emergent UK Media Arts: Interview with Steve Ross.

The other day I saw a copy of The Manga Bible in the front window of one of NZ’s major book chains in town. It’d be interesting to compare the intent of the different authors and their styles. I’ll see if the library can get a copy in. (All graphic novels end up in the young adults section though - in spite of content - which says something about how the library here sees them).

Related links:

Greenflame · The Lone and Level Sands and Greenflame · Middle Eastern video games and comic books on various recent religion-related stories told using comics.

Greenflame · Society of Biblical Literature and comics on (theological) academic engagement, Greenflame · God, superheroes and the graphic novel genre.

The range of Christian/religious use of comics is huge too. Some other examples include:

• The infamous Chick Tracts and the related comic books relating to salvation, the occult and evolution.
• Comics like those produced by Calvary Comics including Glory to God.
• Greenflame · Serenity (The other one).
• Royden Lepp: Shepherding Comics
• Comic Books Spread The Word, Christian Titles Grow Rapidly As Artists Draw Inspirational Stories - CBS News
• The Lion Graphic Bible (Mike Maddox. Illustrated by Jeff Anderson). Interview here.

The links in the list above are presented ‘as is’ and are given as examples of the genre, not as recommendations per se.

Tom Russell over at Monitor Duty (the comic book and geek culture web site) details what he calls the The Arthur Effect. This is where an intellectual property, such as a fictional character, has its distinctive characteristics smoothed out under the (invisible) pressure to make it more accessible (and marketable).

All the discussion of about Spider-Man and the shift from the Lee-Ditko Spider-Man to the Romita Spider-Man could equally be applied to the Jesus of the gospels, and the progression to a more palatable (and less disturbing) “Buddy Christ”.

SHOOTER & WOHL ON SEVEN - NEWSARAMA have an article on a new comic book ‘Seven’ which connects the superhero genre with the spiritual themes from Kabbalistic literature.

Another comic to add to the religion and spirituality in comics file.

A movie promotion falls foul of the US Mint. See US MINT NOT HAPPY WITH SILVER SURFER QUARTERS - NEWSARAMA. I guess, they get the media presence they were after one way or the other.

NEWSARAMA.COM: JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #6 PREVIEW has some sample pages from an upcoming issue of the Justice Society crossover with the Justice League and the Legion of Super Heroes. The first three sample pages refer to an old issue of the Legion of Super Heroes I owned when I was about 6 or 7. Funny how little things like this bring a rush of childhood memories flooding back.

Finally picked up a copy of Will Eisner’s A Contract With God today from the public library where I’ve been swotting for the thesis defence. Looking forward to reading it sometime next week, as it’s held as a classic in the history of comic books. (More at A Contract with God - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

This semi-autobiographical work captures with pen and ink the drama of the city and its all-too-human inhabitants. Set in the same Bronx neighborhood as later works Dropsie Avenue and A Life Force, the four stories that comprise the book — “A Contract With God”, “The Street Singer”, “The Super” and “Cookalein” — examine the world of immigrant life in New York City in the 1930s with a unique look at the emotion and character of its denizens

And, though I’m on a comic buying ban at the moment, I’m sorely tempted to go into town and track down issues of ACTION COMICS #848 (Redemption - Pt.1) and #849 (Redemption - Pt.2). What if the baby Superman had been raised by fundamentalist Christians or a cult? The premise looks intriguing as both the depowered Clark Kent and the re-powered Superman investigate such a situation.

Reviews here that make me want to add them to my collection of comics that contain religious themes.

• Action Comics #848 Review - Silver Bullet Comics
• Action Comics #849 Review - Silver Bullet Comics

Lore Sjöberg over at Wired investigates the plethora of toys designed to turn you into your ‘friendly neighborhood Spider-Man’ as the movie tie-ins ramp up their presence.

1. Caught Up in an Ugly Web of Cheesy Spider-Man Marketing
2. Still Caught in an Ugly Web of Spidey Marketing

All the new Spidey stuff has taken up the shelf space of other actions figures in the toy aisles. I saw a big bin of DC Justice League Unlimited toys heavily discounted the other day but managed to avoid the wrath of Kim by restraining myself. Still I’d like to get the GL set sometime soon to add to the figures on top of the monitor. (Would also like to get the other 6“ B5 figures (and Firefly ones) to go with the Sheridan figure in the office too.)

Oh well, let’s get a job first that pays me to ‘research’ pop-culture.

This re-release of the comic book that tells the story of Giuseppe Desa, a 17th century monk from Copertino in Italy, who could levitate and perform other miraculous acts, via the grace of God, looks like it would make an interesting addition to my small but growing collection of comic books with religious themes.

See THE FLYING FRIAR RETURNS - IN COLOR - NEWSARAMA

Darren’s put together a study guide for youth groups based around the new Spider-Man movie over at planet telex » Spiderman 3 Discussion Guide. (We still await the forthcoming Serenity one)

Links to a two-part post on the creation of immersive story worlds that span soaps, wrestling, and superhero comics. Interestingly, another post on the blog connects the worlds of soaps with comic books more explicitly using the example of DC’s recent 52 and Marvel’s Civil War. Not too surprising really, given that Star Trek and Firefly are probably better classified as ‘space opera‘ rather than hard science fiction. People watch as much for the interplay of the characters as for the speculative devices.

See:

• Confessions of an Aca/Fan: The Official Weblog of Henry Jenkins: Immersive Story Worlds (Part One)
• Confessions of an Aca/Fan: The Official Weblog of Henry Jenkins: Immersive Story Worlds (Part Two)

Related link: Greenflame » Dylan Horrocks on comics, games and world-building.

If you’re a comics fanboy or fangirl then this is quite amusing. (Even if you’re a DC fan like me)

Marvel, DC “I’m a Mac” Parody

Fairly true, though I think (if we ignore the recent ‘The Batman’ animated series) that the DC/Warner animated Justice League, Batman and Superman series worked pretty well on the small screen. And the Teen Titans theme song is a favourite to sing along to in the car with the kids.

I watched Spider-Man 2 the other day in preparation for going to see the new Spider-Man movie at some point. Both Spider-Man 1 & 2 capture, I think, the tragedy inherent in the character of Peter Parker/Spider-Man that is in the comic books. None of the boosterism of Superman, nor the darkness of a Batman seeking to make sure no child loses his parents like he did. Just trying to live with the guilt of not doing good when one could have, and having no choice about being who he is, and entangled with who he is. An everyman in other words. All the other Marvel movies didn’t get it quite right, but S-M 1 & 2 did, I think. Which doesn’t bode well for S-M 3. Could this be Schumacher’s “Batman and Robin” to Burton’s “Batman”?

There’s more on comic book movies as morality plays lurking in the Greenflame Comics archives, I think.

I think the Flash, Green Lantern and Justice League movies could be done well, but I’m not convinced they would be (See here for a JL movie that didn’t work). I’d really like to see a GL movie set in space (not here on Earth), maybe in the manner of a Western where the marshall/ranger is sent in to do a job (with associates like Texas Rangers?). More humanity, perhaps, and less of the Earth (except to bracket the start and end). The weaknesses inherent in the GL ring would allow that in the character development.

Comic buying is temporarily on hold at the moment, but that isn’t stopping me from paying attention to the developing story of the Sinestro Corps within the DC Universe. Finally, the villain Sinestro seems to have moved from an almost comic (pardon the pun) character to one who is deadly serious. It was hinted at in the Green Lantern: Rebirth series and now it seems like more depth will be added to the character. Way back in Emerald Dawn II (early 90s) Sinestro was portrayed as a control-freak who imposed (his) order upon the world in clear cut, black and white categories - a fundamentalist almost in some ways. Now, we get to see where being thwarted in that goal takes him.

Newsarama has an interview here about the upcoming mini-series: TAPPING IN TO EVIL: ETHAN VAN SCIVER ON SINESTRO CORPS - NEWSARAMA.

My only quibble with the interview is that it does seem to ignore the fact that something similar was done way back in March 1982 with the creation of the Anti-Green Lantern Corps (see picture). On the other hand, the new attempt at a dark mirror to the GL Corps looks far less cheesy than that.

Link off Monitor Duty: Lileks on Batman to an old (2005!) podcast about the evolution of Batman theme music. I still find it amusing that the 1960s Batman theme music is still chanted in the school playground by my children, even though none of them have seen the original TV show. (All that might change though now Prime is showing it after their Sunday morning Star Trek sessions.)

Anyway, I’m partial to Danny Elfman’s themes from Tim Burton’s Batman and Batman Returns (the Schumacher sequels have been surgically erased from my memory because they were so bad - see here) , the animated Batman series, and the The Flash - Must be all that brass in it. Though I also loved the theme from Batman Begins. (And did you know that Wikipedia has a Batman Music category? Cool.)

Just saw the Call for Papers (closed) for “World Building: Seriality and History” conference on comics held by the University of Florida. Nice to see Kiwi, Dylan Horrocks (Hicksville) as a keynote speaker. Now I know the conference exists then I’ll be on the lookout for other CFPs from them. Hopefully by then I’ll also be financial enough to get there.

Related links: Greenflame: Dylan Horrocks on comics, games and world-building.

Time Magazine’s Top 10 graphic novels of 2006 - TIME 25 Top Ten 2006

Locus’ lists for 2006 - Locus Online: Locus Magazine’s Recommended Reading: 2006:

AKMA (AKMA’s Random Thoughts - Convergence) points to a couple of articles in SBL Forum that begin to take the genre of comics as serious fodder for theological engagement. As he points out though, the engagement is fairly cursory and doesn’t really begin to scratch questions about why religious motifs and symbols appear in comic books (and in the case of these articles, superhero comics only). See:

• Society of Biblical Literature: Comics and the Bible: Reinterpretation and Mythic Understanding - Greg Garrett

• Society of Biblical Literature: Do Superheroes Read Scripture? Finding the Bible in Comic Books - G. Andrew Tooze.

For example, Tooze’s article refers to Kevin Smith’s Daredevil story, Guardian Devil, as an example of the use of Catholic symbology and apocalyptic texts. But that’s as far as it tends to go. What would make a really good article, I think, would be to examine how Christian (and other) eschatologies form part of the common universes that comic book stories inhabit. Matt Murdock’s (Daredevil) Catholic background forms a continuing theme through his stories and that in itself might be worthy of investigation of how different writers and artists have portrayed it. Moreover, DC Comics’ universe (which filters over into Vertigo as well) tends to function with a much more explicit religious background, while Marvel tends not to (at least in my reading of both publishers). Why is this, and how does it shape how religion is portrayed by these two major publishers?

This is all in my mind at the moment as I’ve just reread Waid and Ross’ excellent Kingdom Come, where themes of judgement, redemption, justice, power, tragedy, human and superhuman nature are told through eyes of the Spectre and a pastor, set in an explicitly apocalyptic framework.

Articles like the above ones tend to focus upon the spandex-clad superhero sub-genre of comics. What would also be interesting would be to look at the breadth of the genre and how it engages with religion. For example, how do we think theologically about the creative act of sub-creation present in building these graphical worlds? (See Greenflame: Dylan Horrocks on comics, games and world-building).

And what about the spirituality in things like Will Eisner’s A Contract with God, Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, J. Michael Stracinzki’s Midnight Nation, and Douglas Rushkoff’s Testament. Now, I’m not necessarily agreeing with the portrayal of the spiritual in these comics, but theological engagement with such rich sources should go beyond just pointing out that religion and its symbols appear in comic books and graphic novels.

More thoughts on some of these things in the comics category - Greenflame (Comics).

A new type of fish with a Batman-like marking on its tail is named after the Caped Crusader. Cool. See New fish is named after Batman | Practical Fishkeeping magazine.

Dropped by my comic shop today to collect a couple of Christmas presents I’d ordered through them (games, in this case). Reminded me about the way they organize their customer files. If you have subscriptions for comics etc. with them you have your own folder in the filing cabinet behind the counter. The folders are organized by first name, and then surname. So, within a short time they remember your first name when you come into the shop, adding an extra dimension of hospitality to their service.

It’s only a small thing, but it makes you feel that you personally, and your custom, are welcome.

It’s like the church we joined when we moved towns once. I visited one church (among several), filled out the ‘visitors card’, and had a very brief chat with someone who approached me. Then, later on that week the church found someone in the congregation who worked in a related field to phone up to see how we were settl