Thor
Meta-Messages – Chris Claremont Sticks Up for Ms. Marvel
In this feature I explore the context behind (using reader danjack’s term) “meta-messages.” A meta-message is where a comic book creator comments on/references the work of another comic book/comic book creator (or sometimes even themselves) in their comic. Each time around, I’ll give you the context behind one such “meta-message.” Here is an archive of the past installments!
Today we take a look at Chris Claremont’s resolution of the still-bizarre Ms. Marvel storyline from Avengers #200, where we see Claremont tear that story apart.
Committed: Why Ancient Mythology Breaks in Contemporary Comics
Adapting ancient parables and mythology is a large part of current comic book lore, as writers seek to imbue their creations with weight by borrowing from more established folklore. But in doing so without context, we’re ignoring the reasons why these stories worked so well, and what they would have meant in their original eras.
Committed: Regarding Male Superheroes as Sex Objects
As someone who spent her entire youth having inappropriate thoughts about superheroes, I’ve always understood that women aren’t the only ones being physically objectified in comic books, and men are being depicted as basically naked and entirely perfect as well. Finally it seems that the rest of the female population is catching on.
Random Thoughts!… with Bill Reed!? (June 7, 2011)
Random Hijack! Yes, I am stealing Chad Nevett’s bit for a week whilst he takes a hiatus from this column. Yes, this is all Travis Pelkie’s fault. It’s Random Thoughts time! Get excited! (Or don’t. It’s really up to you. This is a free country.)
Committed: Inadvertently Brainwashing Babies
Media input in early childhood can have a lasting effect on adult tastes. If I hadn’t grown up with so many art, design and comic books around me, would I love them as I do now? Would I be so involved in the arts and communication profession? All of the imagery and information that we absorb as infants can influence us for the rest of our lives. For this reason I’m increasingly grateful for all of the things I was exposed to in my childhood.
Sunday Brunch: 7/25/10
QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What announcements from San Diego, if any, excited you?
Sunday Brunch: 6/13/10
I bought a sexy new computer yesterday. I’m writing this on its decade-older cousin, however, because it’s hard to blog when your only available monitor (er, besides this one) is the TV. Doin’ it old school!
QUESTION OF THE WEEK: I forgot all the good questions I was going to ask. So what’s a question you’d like to answer? I’m open to suggestions.
Sunday Brunch: 5/9/10
This week’s episode of Sunday Brunch is like buying a gallon of skim milk instead of a quart of whole. So you get all the fatty comments from me cut off, but a whole lot of comics nutrients. Something like that, anyway.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK: If Batman was a flower, what flower would Batman be?
Sunday Brunch: 5/2/2010
One day, I’ll just put up a Brunch composed entirely of links to Comics Should Be Good articles from the previous week. But until we hit that nadir of lackadaisy (which I have now decided is a word, regardless of what the dictionary says), I guess I’ll have to settle for sharing various bits and bobs (and carols and teds and alices) of the comic book internet with you, faithful reader.
And I’ve had absolutely no time to pull stuff together this week, so… lightning round!
QUESTION(S) OF THE WEEK: How was your Free Comic Book Day? Good? Bad? Neutral? Chaotic Neutral? Lawful evil? Via my two online retailers (DCBS and Heavy Ink, holla, etc.), I managed nine free comics! And a lot of not free ones. So I’ll tell you all about those. In June, probably.
Some Thoughts On The Rest Of Walt Simonson’s Thor And Beyond
Continuing my in depth, critical survey of Norse mythological superheroics of the 1980s. Short form: It’s great and everyone should own it. The rest of this post is pretty much overkill, but you can read it if you want to, I guess. Continue Reading »
Box of Comics: June 2009
And lo, the first round of cuts to my pull list hits, as I try to wean myself off single issues and into trade paperbacks. What did I decide to keep buying in singles? Join me under the jump for the stuff I bought that’s worth typing about: robots, space horses, vampires, more vampires, and Batman. What’s most surprising, dear reader? My favorite comic this month wasn’t written by Grant Morrison. (Gasp!) Continue Reading »
Some Thoughts On Walt Simonson’s Thor Run
I was going to try and do in depth reviews of every issue of Simoson’s legendary run on Marvel’s Thunder God. Then I realized that really, who was I kidding? I do have some thoughts related to the first year’s worth of the run, though (337-350, to be exact. It’s a baker’s year!). That as close as I care to get to depth, thank you.
Spoiler Disclaimer: I’m gonna go ahead and talk about certain plot details from this comic run that is almost exactly as old as I am. So, if you haven’t read it yet (I can’t act all that snobby, since I just started reading it last week), you may want to sit this one out. Continue Reading »
