In this latest micro episode, the Substandard reflects on the passing of Marvel legend Steve Ditko, the reclusive illustrator behind Spider-Man, Doc Oc, and Dr. Strange, among others. The discussion of Ditko vs. Stan Lee turns into a full-on geekfest when JVL, Sonny, and Vic recall their favorite…
It is oddly fitting that Steve Ditko had been dead for a week before the rest of the world discovered word of his death.
An excerpt from Superhero Ethics.
Plus, why Kelly Cohen is a treasure.
Plus, why Kelly Cohen is a treasure.
In this latest micro episode, the Substandard discusses the Justice League box office debacle. JVL and Sonny talk damage control—can a reboot save the day? We also chat about (yes, dudes chattin'!) the inappropriateness of hugs. Vic and JVL explain the magic of Silver Spoons to Sonny.
One of the rituals of Thanksgiving weekend is heading out to see a movie. And so, with that in mind, let me do you a mitzvah: Do not see Justice League. Under any circumstances do not go to see Justice League.
Marvel-ous Creator
Marvel-ous Creator
On this latest episode, the Substandard discusses Kingsman: The Golden Circle and the Matthew Vaughn oeuvre, i.e., JVL on Layer Cake and lots of it. Sonny celebrates a big-league win, JVL stumbles across a LEGO home wrecker, and Vic loves free supermarket samples. All on this week’s Substandard!
Last week the government of Lebanon announced that it was banning Wonder Woman, the latest cinematic treatment of a comic-book superhero, a film that's likely to be one of the summer's big blockbusters. Is it because the Amazonian princess's costume is a little too revealing for a Muslim-majority…
Something very peculiar has gone on in the comic book world over the last two weeks.
America's favorite Glamazonian wonder goddess didn't fit in at the United Nations. She's a powerful agent unafraid to defend the free world against encroaching evils. She gets the job done and she looks good doing it.
When you collect comics, there are all sorts of factors that determine the value of the book. Certain important comics (they're referred to as "key" issues) are high-value. So, for instance, Detective Comics #358 isn't worth all that much, but issue #359 is, because it's the first appearance…
I met Chris in first grade. Both new to the school, we were wary of each other that year, but by the following September we had become best friends.
Last week the world of comic books reeled from two bits of sensational news. First, it was -revealed that Archie Andrews, hero of the classic Archie comics, was dead. Or rather, “dead,” as they put it in industry parlance, because only the Archie of one of the Archie books, Life with Archie, had…
Last weekend was a big one for nerds.
So Batman is gay. Well, maybe.
Last week I wrote a piece about the great comic book bubble of 1993. Today I got a note from Ron Forman, who owned one of the regional distribution companies that Diamond drove out of business, setting the bubble in motion. Ron helpfully adds that it was The Return of Superman and Turok #1—think of…
What Tolstoy wrote about families is true of economics: Boom times are all alike, but every crash is disastrous in its own way. That’s why stories about bursting bubbles are always instructive. There are lessons in the smallest of them, even the bubble that led to the comic book crash of 1993.
A couple weeks ago I went into high nerd dudgeon over the decision by the big brains at DC Comics to have Superman renounce his U.S. citizenship. Turns out, that was only the second dumbest thing DC did last month.
Superman is about to renounce his U.S. citizenship. The nerd press is reporting that in a story written by David Goyer in Action Comics #900, Superman becomes disgusted with the U.S. government, renounces his citizenship, and becomes a “citizen of the universe.” Awesome.
On June 5, 2009, The Washington Post posed the following question in a readers’ poll: “Do you think expressions of faith -- and not just satiric references to religion -- belong on the comics page?” Of the 257 participants, 70 percent answered “YES - the funnies are all about personal expression,”…