Comic Book Goodness

"This is a shot by Vincent James Cracchiolo of a little girl cosplaying as Stan Lee and sitting on the real Stan Lee's lap at the recent Motor City Comic-Con. No word if Stan was insulted by the girl's lack of teeth but I'm assuming not because Stan seems like a pretty nice guy. Did you know he's already 90? Did you know he's going to live past 400 thanks to anti-aging superpowers? That's true -- a man dressed as Spider Man on Hollywood Boulevard told me. "And you believed him?" He was shooting silly string out of his hands! "And?" And was charging people $5 to have their picture taken with him before he wandered into the street and got hit by a car. "So...?" SO CAN WE AT LEAST HONOR A STREET PERFORMER'S DYING DREAM? Thanks to carey, who told me she's had her picture taken with Stan Lee before too which sounded like bragging to me because why would you need to bring that up if you're just sending a tip? Well of course I'm jealous." - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"Little girl dressed as Stan Lee at Motor City Comic con!!!" - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

LOVE this costume! - Spidra Webster

"ThinkGeek has released this set of Marvel Superhero Family Car Decals, a delightfully geeky way to show your love of Marvel’s Iron Man, Spider-Man, Captain America and Wolverine characters. They come in packs of 50 (including pet versions of each superhero) and are available to purchase online." - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"As I struggled with my grief over the reality this comic portrays, I was further outraged by the fact that the source was one of those thieving photo-dump sites which plastered their watermark on it not once, not twice, but THREE TIMES, with no credit or link to the artist. Adding further insult to injury, the site named the file "cool-comic-geek-woman-fat-costume.jpg" Allow me a moment to scream in inarticulate rage. AAAAAAARRRRGHHH!!! However, there is hope in the world. The artist is Paige Hall, and when I finally tracked down her Tumblr blog this was her most recent update, posted less than an hour ago: Teachers are awesome, you guys. Mega kudos to that one. (Paige also has an art Tumblr where she did a painting of the PonPonPon girl. Ha! Love it.) Paige, if you read this, know that we love you, we feel you, and we bet you looked freaking FIERCE in your Wonder Woman costume. The jerks out there will always try to spoil our community, but they are in the minority. True geeks are... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

Wow... - WoH: Professor MOTHRA

"[Update: Just heard from Paige in the comments! Yay! So keep the comments coming, guys; she IS reading them!] " - SteVe C

stupid aol. maybe someone else will be able to take on the blog? - Sir Shuping is just sir

:-( - Steven Perez from FFHound(roid)!

"Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines" Available to be viewed online until June 14. - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

Independent Lens always good - SteVe C

"DC Comics has been criticized before for their public relations responses (or non-responses, as the case may be) and a recent move has raised eyebrows yet again. Editor-In-Chief Bob Harras and Editorial Director Bobbie Chase were contributing to a monthly column to Comic Book Resources in which they answered questions from both the journalists working for CBR and fans. But in its latest installment the website announced DC would no longer be participating. And guess what? The Orson Scott Card controversy and other “tough questions” played a part. We’ve seen these types of questions being lobbed at creators or executives at DC and Marvel before but I can’t say the B&B column was particularly different. Questions were asked (nothing was said to be specifically off the table) and answers ranged from straight replies for the easy ones, to tap-dance routines for the more difficult ones with product placement in between. But what brought the column to a halt prematurely? Seemingly, this... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"I thought it would be fun if in this blog, I tried to figure out, hypothetically, how different superhero superpowers could work, biologically. Obviously, I can’t do a lot of superpowers because they are just so fantastical that there really would be no basis for a biological explanation (such as Storm’s ability to control weather, though if you think there is a way, please tell me!). But a few superpowers may be kind of fun to think about how that could actually happen, and though the topic of today’s post is a huge stretch, considering how it could work might teach us a little about biology. Cyclops, whose real name is Scott Summers, is a leader and one of the founding members of Marvel’s X-Men. Though I have read a lot of comic books, I certainly don’t have a complete and extensive knowledge, so some of the descriptions of his powers are based on what I have read, seen on many movies and animated cartoons, and read on wikipedia." - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"Yesterday I showed you a sneak peek of the Wonder Woman inspired Kia car. Here’s a look full look at the car which appearing at the New York International Car Show. And here’s the official PR verbiage on the car. The red and blue exterior color scheme, accented with stars, was derived directly from Wonder Woman’s outfit, while the gold trim wrapped around the vehicle represents the heroine’s weapon of choice, “The Lasso of Truth.” Up front, Wonder Woman’s eagle chest-plate emblem was creatively integrated into the production grille and is flanked by blue headlight beams, which reflect her piercing blue eyes. The Sportage’s windshield features a banner portraying Wonder Woman’s tiara, and the chrome side panels on the vehicle are graphical interpretations of her invisible jet. Beneath, the 5-spoke wheel design was chosen to match the stars on the exterior of the vehicle. Within, red upholstery and dash pieces combined with blue LED lighting were added to continue the Sportage’s... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"Twenty eight years after developing facial hair, a 49-year-old mother decided to toss the tweezers and let her whiskers grow. The German-born woman who goes by Mariam appeared on the UK’s This Morning show today to show off her goatee and mustache and let the world know that a bearded woman can feel beautiful and confident. Mariam started sprouting hair on her face after the birth of her son and she spent years plucking and tweezing her chin until the skin was red and raw. Before leaving the house every morning, she was faced with removing all the little hairs that would pop up over night. She tried electrolysis three times but the hairs just kept coming back. Mariam also met with doctors who conducted tests determine if the hair growth was related to a medical problem, but nothing was found. She never waxed or shaved because she feared the hair would grow back thicker. In 2008, while living at home alone and being unemployed, Mariam decided to give her laborious plucking routine a... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

Her smile is infectious. - Just Kidée: Road Warrior

Oh, I love that so much. - Jennifer Dittrich

"Last weekend at Wondercon 2013, I began work on a project I have wanted to do for some time now. As many of our readers may know, there has been escalating tension within the convention going community regarding the physical and emotional safety of cosplayers. Last week, cosplayer Meagan Marie spoke out against the people within the gaming industry who treat female cosplayers as pieces of meat, only there for the enjoyment of men. This, and the continued discussion within my circle of cosplay friends has pushed my plans forward, and I now present to you the beginnings of my photo essay, inspired by #IneedFeminismBecause; “CONsent: The Importance of Treating Cosplayers with Respect. I presented cosplayers with a wipe off board, simply reading “Cosplay =/= Consent” and asked them about their experiences of harassment. I was not surprised to hear many horrible stories from women and men alike. These can be as seemingly harmless and annoying as not asking for permission before taking a... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

I think this is such a great idea. Over the years, seeing some of the abuse my friends who cosplay have put up with, a wake-up call is well overdue. It doesn't seem to matter how "sexy" the costume is, just that they've dressed up in a semi-public venue. (Oddly enough, I've seen the hentai and porn stars at those conventions get a lot more respect on that front, at least partially because they almost always have an industry rep to remind people what they can and can't do during photo opportunities.) - Jennifer Dittrich

Yeah. i'm lucky I generally wasn't bothered too much when I wore costumes to cons back in the stone age. But there weren't many of us then and cons were smaller. - Spidra Webster

Just sold $5 worth of comics. Huzzah! - Jed Harris-Keith

Oh man. I can see now why my ex hated the TV series so much. I loved it as a kid, hated it as a young teen and loved it again as an adult. But being 13 years younger than he was, I wasn't old enough to have been cognizant of it at the time it came out. If this is the sort of thing that came out along with it, I'm sure it would have upset serious comic fans worried that the comics would *only* be associated with camp from there on out. - Spidra Webster

"Carmine Infantino, the legendary comic book creator who played an integral role in the American comic book business both as an artist and editor, passed away today. Regarded by many as one of the greatest pencillers the industry has ever known, he is perhaps most associated with his work in revitalizing the DC Comics character The Flash, a move that signaled a return of popularity for superheroes and ushered in what is fondly referred to even today as the Silver Age of American comics. Infantino was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1925. As a freshman in high school, he was hired by Harry Chesler, whose studio included members Jack Cole, Jack and Otto Binder, Mort Meskin and others. Infantino would go on to work for many publishers before arriving at DC Comics in 1947. His first published work for DC was a short story in which he and writer Robert Kanigher created the original Black Canary. During the early 1950s, Infantino mostly worked on Western, mystery and science fiction comics... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"The Avengers are going to England. Screen Daily is reporting that writer-director Joss Whedon will film his highly anticipated sequel to “The Avengers” at the country’s venerable Pinewood-Shepperton facility, the same soundstages that played host to Marvel’s upcoming “Thor: The Dark World,” set for release later this year. Released in May of last year, “The Avengers” was a success of massive proportions, earning more than $1.5 billion worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing movie at the box office, while managing to please critics at the same time. “Even if you’re frustrated by the relentless calculation of Marvel Studios’ plan for world cinema domination, fed up by the shameless way the studio used several of its earlier, at times pro forma superhero movies to promote this one, even if you don’t particularly like comic-book adaptations, this film just might make a believer of you,” Kenneth Turan wrote in his review for The Times. While “Avengers” looms large in Whedon’s future,... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"Wonder Woman’s Invisible Plane was designed by the enlightened Amazons of Paradise Island using highly advanced Amazon engineering. See Inside! Exclusive 360° cockpit tour: Originally referred to as the Silent Invisible Plane, this propeller driven aircraft can fly faster than 2000 mph (3218.69 km/h) and can make trans-Atlantic flights without re-fueling. The plane features navigational devices such as a robot control pilot, a locascope and an electronic mist beam. Wonder Woman also commanded course and flight paths with telepathic signals and electronic devices in her tiara. Barnstorming Wonder Woman retired her invisible plane in the 1950’s—upgrading to a jet-powered version. the original plane has been stored in a barn outside of Washington D.C. ever since. The Museum of Flight acquired Wonder Woman’s Invisible Plane from Lt. Diana Prince on April 1st, 2013. The Wonder of Flight The invisible plane’s replacement, the invisible jet, is believed to be either an incarnation of... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"Gender Through Comics: A Super MOOC is a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) coming Spring 2013 that examines how comic books can be used to explore questions of gender identity, stereotypes, and roles. This highly engaging learning experience is designed for college-age and lifelong learners. The course, led by Christina Blanch of Ball State University, uses a study of comic books incorporating highly interactive video lectures, online discussions between students, and real-time socially driven interviews. Interviews with the comic industry's biggest names such as Terry Moore, Brian K Vaughan, Mark Waid, as well as others address questions of gender representations and constructions involving both men and women. To purchase the required materials for this course, please visit the Comixology page for Gender and Comic Books." - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

I would like to take it as well. - Jed Harris-Keith from iPhone

"While he will undoubtedly be remembered for his Emmy nominated role as the Riddler in the 1960s camp classic Batman, Frank Gorshin was an incredible impressionist. In this clip, you get to see the best of both of his worlds. First he shows us what Batman would be like if they had a different 'guest' Batman and Robin each week instead of a guest villain." - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

He was nominated for an Emmy for the Riddler? I did not know that. - Jed Harris-Keith

Walter Isaacson's official Steve Jobs biography is a heck of a read, but if the idea of trawling through lots of dead-tree text galls your inner geek, then you'll love the fact it's now available as a manga-style comic. The series is being published in Kiss magazine, and seems to follow the Isaacson book closely, right down to the long walk and chat between Jobs and his soon-to-be-biographer. The Jobs manga is penned by award-winning artists Mari Yamakazi, who is quoted by PocketLint as saying she has "sympathy for Jobs". The magazine itself is targeted more at serious adult manga fans, and more women readers than men, which explains the straightforward style of the comic versus what you may picture when you imagine a "manga" cartoon. Jobs, thanks to his tech-hero status as cofounder of Apple, has been immortalized as art before: Including as a cartoon drawn on an iPad. Jobs was also modelled recently as an amazingly accurate action figure, complete with the sofa he used when... more... - CarlC, spelling expert from Bookmarklet

FCBD 2013 is the first Saturday, May 4th - CarlC, spelling expert from Bookmarklet

"On Monday, April 15 at 10pm ET, PBS’s Independent Lens will air the documentary Wonder Women!: The Untold Story of American Superheroines. Directed by filmmaker Kristy Guevara-Flanagan, the documentary “traces the fascinating evolution and legacy of Wonder Woman. From the birth of the comic book superheroine in the 1940s to the blockbusters of today, Wonder Women! looks at how popular representations of powerful women often reflect society’s anxieties about women’s liberation. “Wonder Women! goes behind the scenes with Lynda Carter, Lindsay Wagner, comic writers and artists, and real-life superheroines such as Gloria Steinem, Kathleen Hanna and others, who offer an enlightening and entertaining counterpoint to the male-dominated superhero genre.” Here’s a look at the trailer, followed by a statement by Guevara-Flanagan, found at the film’s official website. Watch Coming Soon to Independent Lens: Wonder Women! on PBS. See more from Independent Lens. “Like most women and men of my... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

Comic book writer/artist and comics historian Trina Robbins also appears in this film. - Spidra Webster

"The 1990 edition of "The Atlas Of The DC Universe" puts Gotham City on the north side of the Delaware River. Wikipedia confirms it, as does the DC Comics wiki. Source: en.wikipedia.org Which means that Bruce Wayne is a Jersey Boy. And you are going to have to deal with that. Source: sodahead.com So while growing up, aside from tragic parental loss, Bruce Wayne learned right and wrong from these guys: Source: en.wikipedia.org  /  via: jerseyhero.blogspot.com And he had Alfred drive him to pick up hoagies from here: Source: Matt Navit / Creative Commons  /  via: navit And he very likely vacationed at Seaside Heights. Source: Kim Carpenter / NJ  /  via: kim_carpenter_nj And everyone is just going to have to deal with that. JERSEY STRONG" - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"The brief announcement that Disney plans to add a Marvel-themed land to Hong Kong Disneyland in 2017 raises a host of questions: Will Iron Man, Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men be getting their own rides? When will the Marvel characters be coming to Anaheim, Paris, Tokyo or Shanghai? And why, of all places, Hong Kong? Many of the most basic questions remain unanswered, in part because the announcement was made by a Hong Kong government official rather than Disney. But that hasn't stopped theme park observers from surmising and speculating. So let's take a look at what's known and unknown about Marvel characters coming to Hong Kong Disneyland and other Disney theme parks. Acquired by Disney in 2009 for $4 billion, Marvel has found increasing success in China with "The Avengers" and "Spider-Man" among the country's highest-grossing international films of 2012. The forthcoming "Iron Man 3" was partly shot in Beijing featuring Chinese actors. Marvel's upcoming slate includes... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet

"Before there was Argo, the Ben Affleck–directed, Academy Award–nominated film, there was "Argo," the fake film project that became the cover story under which CIA operative Tony Mendez removed six Americans from their hiding place at the Canadian embassy in Iran. But before there could be that fake film project, there was a real film project. In a conversation with BuzzFeed, journalist Joshua Bearman, who wrote the Wired article that became the basis of the Affleck film, explained the real film project that started the ball rolling: "Argo was the name Tony [Mendes] gave to a script that was in turnaround and sitting in a pile at [makeup artist John] Chambers' house. That script was called Lord of Light and had been adapted from a successful Roger Zelazny science-fantasy novel of the same name. A small-time self-starting dreamer who called himself a 'producer' — isn't that how it always starts? — named Barry Geller had optioned Zelazny's book himself and raised money to get the... more... - Spidra Webster from Bookmarklet