Thursday, June 8, 2006

Superman: birthright



NOT WORTH CONSUMING

This is perhaps the worst Superman story I have ever read, worse than an Adventure with the Legion of Superheroes. Mark Waid is supposed to be this great writer and I just was not pleased with this story. The art was great. Coloring was quite spotty though. Not a fan of this book and I do not recommend.

"Y: The Last Man, Vol. 2: Cycles"



WORTH CONSUMING!

Excellent story. It’s really a male soap opera. Must find out more about Yorick…..

 

Monday, June 5, 2006

The Onion’s Our Dumb Century

WORTH CONSUMING!
Written as a parody toward other keepsake treasuries that magazines and newspapers across the country issued to celebrate the new millennium. But unlike the other publishing’s, The Onion had only been in existence since 1988….so they made up 72 years of fake headlines.

 Despite this approach to journalism in which nothing is sacred, The Onion is not trying to be mean spirited, but merely mocking the ideals and beliefs that no matter how prejudiced to women, blacks, Asians, and elders, Americans did at one time or another hold dear during the 20th century.

For example, The Onion runs as “story” about a man being the first White Man to enter the Negro leagues. In no way is this story making light of race or the civil rights struggle. In reality, I believe the Onion was saying that exclusion even if performed by the excluded is wrong. And the Onion is not the only comedy machine to point out this anomaly. In a 2004 episode of  The Simpsons , Grandpa Simpson laments not doing enough with his life, including not breaking into the Negro leagues “…as the first white ballplayer.”

One should remember that history is record of NOT only the high points on humanity, but we must remember the mistakes we have made. The Onion in presenting this publication reminds us of the mistakes we made through parody and satire. (You can’t take a story about the Bedford Falls Savings and Loan with a serious attitude. in relation to the light the Onion makes of the Depression. It’s clearly a mock-up of the plot to It’s a Wonderful Life)
 
And it’s not revisionist history.

A revisionist skips over tragedies like lynchings or the holocaust. The Onion covers these topics in order to remind us who were never there to never forget. And that’s the point to history; learn from our mistakes in order to not repeat them

Sunday, June 4, 2006

"9-11 Volume 1: Artists Respond"

NOT WORTH CONSUMING

A real bummer. Volume 2 done by DC, Dark Horse and Vertigo cartoonists is much better and more enlightening.

This volume is recommending only for those who love to wallow in self-pity and depression. Readers should be careful reading this one or it will make you feel preached at and worthless.