Comments on: At this rate, Tim Callahan will conquer all of the internets.

By: Teebore

Teebore — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:15:00 +0000

Well said. I particularly appreciate the notion of all super-hero comics telling one large, interconnected story. One of the things I love about comics that is (mostly) unique to the medium is that every issue is another chapter in a decades long narrative.

By: TimCallahan

TimCallahan — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:38:19 +0000

Originally I had it written as "anything's possible," but that seemed too snarky.

Snorts are also snarky.

By: Ranald

Ranald — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:45:05 +0000

"Shakespeare is a unique genius who transcends his own time and the genres in which he worked. Johns may prove to be that -- it's possible..."

*snort*

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:46:40 +0000

"We should all be so lucky as to have Tim Callahan write about comics for decades."

Amen to that. Best reviewer on CBR.

By: TimCallahan

TimCallahan — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 01:37:15 +0000

Only when my back is turned.

By: Bill Reed

Bill Reed — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 01:17:46 +0000

Do we have to start calling you "The Goddamn Callahan"?

By: TimCallahan

TimCallahan — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:56:50 +0000

When Words Collide will have a forum at CBR soon, Mordy (I hope). But I don't think it's exactly a straw man argument, even though this month is probably not the right time to make the case for it, you're right about that. Note: I wrote that column in June, actually, when I would have been a bit more ahead of the curve, but I still think all of my arguments are valid. And Dark Knight and superhero fashion shows are a long way from "literary." Thanks for the love, everyone. (And I don't plan on conquering just the internets!)

By: Sijo

Sijo — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:52:01 +0000

As someone who has both enjoyed and endured classic literature AND comic books throughout my life, I have to say: I have long waited for a well-written, fact-filled essay like this to prove that superheroes are no less worthy than any other form of entertainment. And at times, have been written better than many so-called "classics." Thank you, Mr. Callahan. :- )

By: Mordy

Mordy — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:48:46 +0000

Also, I'd post this on the original column, but it doesn't seem to have a comments section. But Callahan is making a bit of a strawman argument. Are there people out there that dismiss comics as totally trash? Yes. But there are also many who are championing comics in the popular medium. Isn't it totally disingenuous to write this column the month that The Dark Knight is being touted by non-comic-fan film critics as a masterpiece? Or right after the Metropolitan Museum of Art's exhibit about how Fashion has been influenced by Comic Books? And these aren't being agreeing on the value of graphic novels (tho Fun Home hit so many Great Literature lists), but on the value of spandex super heroes.

By: Apodaca

Apodaca — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:42:01 +0000

We should all be so lucky as to have Tim Callahan write about comics for decades.

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:43:22 +0000

Good column, Tim!

By: Mordy

Mordy — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:36:01 +0000

I'd think you'd be surprised how many English majors and people in the Lit. field (myself included) understand that realism is just an artifice. In fact, postmodernity, the dominant tradition in contemporary literary theory is post-realism. (Just think about Jonathan Lethem's Fortress of Solitude - it's certainly not realist.)