NPR's Weldon on Alan Moore's Superman story

In "Sleep Well, Superman: A Classic Reissued," by Glen Weldon, National Public Radio's Books We Like (July 28, 2009), he reviews Alan Moore and Curt Swan's Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? which was one of the best Superman stories ever written, largely because Moore and Swan obviously loved and respected the previous 50 years of stories and Superman's iconic status. As Weldon notes, "Moore penned a sweeping, surprisingly tender elegy to Superman's rich, primary-colored history, superdog and all. The character had died previously (and since, famously, in 1992), but the superhero comic is a land of dream sequences, clones and regeneration where death is not so much an ending as a plot point. Moore's story, in contrast, is a culmination; even 23 years later, it stands as a moving farewell to the Superman most of us grew up with."

Moore's throw-away story of Superman meeting Swamp Thing from DC Comics Presents is included, and along with the Mongul story, present three excellent interpretations of the Superman mythos.

It took another 22 years, and another writer from Great Britain, Grant (All-Star Superman) Morrison, to even come close to the tenor of Moore's work.

Straight Dope on Superman's diamonds

The Straight Dope column in the July 24th City Paper is on whether or not Superman could make diamonds by squeezing coal. It's also online.

Lois Lane dies

Not in the comic books, although I'm sure it's only a matter of time until that "brilliant" idea occurs to someone. No, this is Joan Alexander of the radio Superman, whose daughter lives in DC.

See "Joan A. Stanton, Radio Voice of Lois Lane, Dies at 94," , By BRUCE WEBER, New York Times May 23, 2009 and "1940s Radio Actress Portrayed Lois Lane," By Adam Bernstein, Washington Post Staff Writer, Saturday, May 23, 2009

NPR's Weldon asks, "Who's the Longest-Running Fictional Character Ever?"

See "Question: Who's the Longest-Running Fictional Character Ever?" by Glen Weldon, National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (May 20 2009) for his answer - it's a comic book hero. I don't think I quite agree, but I'm not sure why. There's 51 comments so other people may feel the same.

Comic characters at last week's Patent and Trademark Expo

Dennis the Menace was on hand to greet us.


And so was Betty Boop - hubba, hubba. Art Rhode, Betty Boop, Mike Rhode. Boop looks good for a 79-year old.

The International Trademark Association had a table to inform you how to be sure of your superhero paraphernalia's status.


Batman counterfeit on right, and true merchandise on left at the Patent and Trademark Expo.


Dastardly Tweety Bird counterfeit on left, and true merchandise on right at the Patent and Trademark Expo.


Superman and Harry Potter counterfeits on left, and true merchandise on right at the Patent and Trademark Expo.


And don't be making your own Mickey Mouse ears - they're trademarked!


Dennis the Menace plays football. He actually caught the ball.

Nov 20-21 BSO plays Superman-based Metropolis Symphony

Daugherty's Metropolis Symphony is probably almost a couple of decades old by now. Hard to believe. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is playing part of it next fall.

Demons, Drama, Dance
Friday, November 20, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 21, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.

Marin Alsop, conductor
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Daugherty - "Red Cape Tango" from Metropolis Symphony
Liszt - Totentanz
Berlioz - Symphonie fantastique

Marin Alsop leads a program of musical flair and fantasy. Michael Daugherty's whimsical "Red Cape Tango" portrays Superman's fight to the death with Doomsday. French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet flashes his breathtaking technique in Franz Liszt's "Dance of Death" for piano and orchestra. And Berlioz's symphony takes us on a rollicking dream of passion gone mad.

Craig Yoe and Joe Shuster at Big Planet

Craig will be signing his new book on Superman artist Joe Shuster's... alternative comics drawings ... at Big Planet Comics on Saturday, April 25th.

Craig Yoe Appearance at Politics & Prose

Craig Yoe, author of Secret Identity: The Fetish Art of Superman's Co-Creator Joe Shuster, will be doing a discussion and book signing at Politics and Prose on April 24, 2009 at 7pm.

Super-balloons

Hulk, Spider-Man and Superman balloons at the Arlington County Fair, August 2006. I think there's a Jimmy Neutron poking up too. I ran across this photo so I thought I'd put it up. Look for Smithsonian shots of lunch boxes and Disneyland stuff soon.

A not-quite-ready for Bollywood Superman

This is a fun little story about a quirky small budget Superman movie being made in India, although I'm sure that the Time-Warner lawyers have already descended on them as a result of this article - "Spinning Quirky Yarns: Film Industry in Small Indian Textile Town Makes Low-Budget Parodies Of Bollywood Smash Hits With a Lot of Heart, Local Flavor and Ingenuity," By Rama Lakshmi, Washington Post Foreign Service, Thursday, December 18, 2008; A19.

Boys of Steel author pics

Marc Tyler Nobleman was in town yesterday to sign his children's biography of Siegel and Shuster, Boys of Steel. This was just a signing with no remarks, but I did ask how he got Ross MacDonald as the artist. It was the publisher's idea. Worked out well, I think. He's hoping to do a book on Batman writer/artist Bill Finger too.

Meltzer at Politics and Prose

Here's a couple of pictures from the booksigning for The Book of Lies at Politics and Prose. Chris and Randy were there and perhaps can chime in with details.

Brad talked about his love for Superman, read parts of the 2nd and 3rd chapter, talked about his project to save Jerry Siegel's house, mentioned his marketing campaign for the book, and gave a shot out to California Tortilla (a founder can be seen in the back of one of the pictures). A recording of the talk can be bought from P&P.

Melter's Superman-tinged book released today

His wife sends out the PR! I love that! Here's the email, which since it was labelled "Brad’s new book -- pass it on..." I am posting here. Again, I'm going to the Thursday night signing at Politics and Prose.

Here it is -- Brad's new thriller, The Book of Lies, is published today, and as you'll see below, he's been waiting his whole life to write this one (which is why it's my true favorite). It's filled with his usual obsessive research, but this is the one that will make your Mom (and Dad) cry. So what's it about?

In Chapter 4 of the Bible, Cain kills Abel. But the Bible is silent about the weapon Cain used to kill his brother. That weapon is still lost to history.

In 1932, Mitchell Siegel was killed by three gunshots to his chest.While mourning, his son created the world's greatest hero: Superman. And like Cain's murder weapon, the gun used in this unsolved murder has never been found. Until now.

What do these two murders, committed thousands of years apart, have in common? The
answer is in The Book of Lies.

To buy the book, you can click here:
http://www.bradmeltzer.com/novels/book-of-lies/buy.php

To read the first chapter, click here:
http://www.bradmeltzer.com/novels/book-of-lies/first-chapter.php

To hear the soundtrack (oh, yes -- a real soundtrack from Victor Records, plus REM and the new Book of Lies song) is here:
http://www.bradmeltzer.com/soundtracks.php

To see the video Brad made with Joss Whedon, Christopher Hitchens and Damon Lindelof, click here: http://www.bradmeltzer.com/novels/book-of-lies/movie-trailer.php

And finally, to see the most important thing we've done with any of the books -- and what we're doing to save the house where Superman was created, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25R2kcJxQuc

And of course he's on facebook, myspace, and all that other stuff I refuse to acknowledge exists.

Let me just say one last thing: I hope you know how much your love and support of Brad and the rest of us has meant over the past few months. In many ways, I was afraid that him seeing everyone on tour would turn into something sad, but it's clear it's truly a celebration. So please do go find Brad on one of the tour stops and give him a hug for me.

(that last is definitely from Brad's wife, not me.)

Meltzer and Superman's house

"Repairing a House With Superman Ties," By GEORGE GENE GUSTINES, New York Times September 2, 2008

Give me that ol' time Bat-religion, and other news

R. Kikuo Johnson's illustrated today's New York Times magazine story on President Bush. Rutu Modan's comic story is continuing too, although it hasn't really captured my imagination.

"Must-See Sermons: Va. Pastor Culls Lessons From Silver Screen to Pull In Larger Audience," By Ben Hubbard, Washington Post Staff Writer, Sunday, August 31, 2008; C01 is about a minister who's preached dressed as both the Batman and the Joker during sermons.

Also, the last completely new For Better or For Worse strip appeared in the Sunday Post comics section. Ms. Johnston extrapolates what happens to the characters in the future, much as the last Harry Potter book did.

In the "Lord, what fools these mortals be" column we find "Studio War Involving ‘Watchmen’ Heats Up," By MICHAEL CIEPLY, New York Times August 30, 2008.














This piece explained a James Gillray cartoon, which can be incomprehensible at a remove of 200 years - "Be an Old Master, for 10 Guineas," By J. D. BIERSDORFER, New York Times August 31, 2008

In the Sunday Examiner's inserts - "Why I love Superman: A best-selling novelist on why he adores the Man of Steel," By Brad Meltzer, USA Weekend August 29 2008.

Meltzer's Book of Lies begins getting press

USA Today raved about Meltzer's book and theory in "The crime that created Superman: Did fatal robbery spawn Man of Steel?" By David Colton, USA TODAY April 26 2008.

Today, The Cleveland Plain Dealer smacks it around a bit in response - "Novel's Superman lore a bit weak on the facts," by Patrick O'Donnell and Michael Sangiacomo, Wednesday August 27, 2008.

Suprise appearance by Pekar on NPR

Harvey speaks briefly in this "Remembering The Birth Of Superman," by Daniel Barnett,
National Public Radio's Weekend Edition Saturday, August 9, 2008.

Current Onion is comic book issue

The Onion that appeared on the stands last Thursday is the annual comic book issue.

The cover features "Al Gore Places Infant Son In Rocket To Escape Dying Planet" a story you won't want to miss!

"Drawing-board confessional: 22 unflattering moments from autobiographical comics," by Jason Heller, Noel Murray, Leonard Pierce, Tasha Robinson, Onion July 28th, 2008. This is the extended version - in the July 31 paper it's 6 moments.

"Random Roles: Adam West," By Noel Murray, Onion July 31 (online July 29th,) 2008 reviews his Batman and animation work. This is the longer online version, of course.

"Comics Panel: August 1, 2008," Reviewed by Noel Murray, Keith Phipps, Tasha Robinson, August 1st, 2008, is online only, but reviews one of my favorite comics, Tom Beland's True Story Swear to God.

Also the Mignola and Feiffer articles previously linked to here are published in the physical paper.

Danziger updates Mauldin

My buddy Masteribid sends in this link where Jeff Danziger updates a classic Bill Mauldin cartoon. I've seen Danziger speak a couple of times in DC - he's usually fairly quiet, but he does make some strong points when he speaks up. I really like his style as well.

Doug reads comics too, and here's his review of the direct-to-video cartoon Superman: Doomsday.

Superspam

Sometimes you get spam that makes it seem like spammers even target their audience...