Category Archives: Columns

Bat Casebook — November 3rd Edition

The Bat Casebook

The Bat Casebook by Jared Kardos

Guess who’s back
Back again
This crap’s back
Tell some men!

Or something like that.

Okay, so, without getting too personal up in here, the main reason why I haven’t done this in months is because of school. But, while that’s still an important thing, and it takes precedent, I know that I need to keep an active writing habit, and gushing and sometimes ranting about Batman comics is a perfect way to do so. Basically–I’ll try for weekly, and let’s see what happens, savvy?

So for the new people–this is the Bat Casebook, where I take the latest Batman comics that came out during the week, give small recaps, and then review them. Why should you listen to my opinions? Because I’m a snarky young adult on the Internet. And therefore Very Important. So enough of the explaining and the personal times, let’s get to the comics.

Continue reading Bat Casebook — November 3rd Edition →

LITG: “Why Superman?” By Mandy Stegall

Life in the Gutter

Sometimes, there’s a moment in life that makes you take pause and really question why you believe the things you do.  These moments make you look past the superficial reasons and really look into yourself and, if you’re lucky, you come out feeling like a better person.

I had a moment like that recently.  And believe it or not, I owe it all to comics.

Regular readers of this column know that I teach high school English and journalism.  Since my first days as a teacher, I have never hid the fact that I read comic books.  Instead, I have embraced it as part of who I am.  The wallpaper on my computer is always decorated with some kind of DC Comics character.  Right now, I have that awesome Shane Davis Superman from Earth One where the pavement is cracking underneath him.  It’s epic and majestic and it’s been on my desktop since the beginning of school.  I’ve been told I should change it.  I don’t want to.

Anyway, students will ask me about comics every so often.  I had a student in my most recent journalism class who loved to get me started on comic talk while they were working in the lab on stories and layout.  Another student said one day that he should put a microphone between us and just record us talking.  He would ask me all kinds of questions, like why I don’t read Marvel (it took me a few days, but I finally was able to explain it in a way that he could buy into) and if I knew anything about the Green Lantern or Batman movie.  They were fun conversations, and I often times found myself wondering why I was never able to put these thoughts in writing.

And then, my student asked me one day, “Why Superman?”  Honestly, I didn’t have a good explanation at first.  As the reasons formed in my head, I knew that by voicing them I ran the risk of making him—and potentially every other student in the class—laugh at me uncontrollably.  I thought long and hard about my response and finally came up with what I felt was a good, sturdy, and (hopefully) an inspiring answer.  Because that’s why I got into the business of teaching in the first place—to inspire.

I consider myself an idealist.  I want to see the best in everyone, so I find that I trust fairly easily.  I believe that everyone deserves a second chance, and I’m a firm believer in equality—for everyone.  Can I claim credit for coming to these beliefs on my own.  No, of course not.  My family, friends, and colleagues certainly deserve some of that credit.  But another person who deserves that credit is a fictional character.  So as odd and crazy as it may sound, I think I’m a better person because of Superman.

At his core, Superman has a huge heart.  Maybe Kryptonian hearts are just naturally bigger than human hearts, I don’t know.  But the guy has the ability to find redeeming qualities in everyone.  He listens, he shows compassion, he gives second chances.  He isn’t quick to judge.  For all the strength and power he has, he still finds time to go back to Smallville for a piece of his mom’s apple pie.

Continue reading LITG: “Why Superman?” By Mandy Stegall →

LITG: Let the love-fest begin by Mandy Stegall

Life in the Gutter

I hereby promise that this is the last time in September that everyone has to hear me rant about Smallville. For anyone who’s new, you should probably know that I’m more than just a little over the moon about the show.  I’m sure it’s easy to imagine how I’m going to feel when it’s over at the end of this upcoming season.

But why get all pouty now?  I have 22 brand new episodes to look forward to before the end of the road and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it.

And come on, who wouldn’t get excited over the characters the showrunners are bringing in this season?  John Schneider is back for at least two episodes (including the premiere), John Glover for at least one, and Michael Shanks for at least one.  They’re also introducing the Suicide Squad and Rick Flag, as well as Booster Gold and Blue Beetle.  Now, tell me that isn’t enough to get everyone excited.

See, but here’s the newest of the casting excitement: In what has to be some of the best stunt casting EVER, Smallville has landed the one and only Teri Hatcher to play…Lois Lane’s mom!  Don’t even tell me that doesn’t go beyond excitement.

Public perception in the past has been that Hatcher has shunned the show in the past because she didn’t appreciate the role and its history.  The reality of the situation is that Smallville is filmed in Vancouver, and the majority of the time her show, Desperate Housewives, was being filmed in Los Angeles at the same time.  It should also be kept in mind that if you’re going to bring in a name like Teri Hatcher, someone who has a place in the Superman mythology, you better have a damn good role for her to play.  It just had to be the right story.

Honestly, what gets better than playing Lois Lane’s mom?  Yes, I know she’s dead in Smallville lore, but just go with it here.  I don’t want to spoil too much, but trust me that it will make perfect sense once you know the premise. (And if you want to know, go to Michael Ausiello’s column on EW.com, where it was posted today.)  This is, without a doubt, the perfect role for Teri to come back and play.  And, it puts to rest once and for all the rumors that she did not look back at her time on Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman very fondly.

Before I go, let me warn you that my columns over the coming months might feature Smallville heavily.  I’m a Superman geek and I’ve been watching this show since it started ten seasons ago, so I’m very enthusiastic about what looks like could be one of their best seasons.

LITG: Sometimes, it’s hard to admit I’m from Illinois by Mandy Stegall

Life in the Gutter,

My latest reason is hearing that our latest in the long line of governors-turned-criminals, Rod Blagojevich, was signing autographs and posing for pictures with “fans” at Chicago Comic-Con on Saturday.  Really?

It’s bad enough that when I meet new people and tell them that I’m from Illinois (though I’m NOT from Chicago–far from it, actually), they automatically mention Helmet Head.  But what is this guy doing at a comic book convention?  Is he replacing Alfred E. Newman?

More bad press for comics

I saw this article earlier this week and it made me angry.  Long story short, this lady did a study and found that movie superheroes, like Iron Man, are bad role models for young boys.

I have many problems with Sharon Lamb’s study.  First of all, why is Iron Man the only “movie superhero” she mentions?  By doing so, she makes it sound like she has a personal problem with the character.  I also want to know how much this woman actually knows about comic books, because this article (and the original report, which really only talks about the superhero issue for a couple paragraphs) make it sound like movies based on comic books are the only exposure she has to the superheroes of today that she says are bad role models.

But because this is a DC Comics blog, let’s put this in perspective a bit.  I don’t expect Dr. Sharon Lamb to ever read this, but if it ever happens, I’d like to give her examples of superheroes that would be good role models for all teenagers, not just the boys.

Let’s look at Barbara Gordon, for example.  The first Batgirl was shot by the Joker and left paralyzed.  She very easily could have sat in her wheelchair and become a shadow of her former self, but I’ve heard comic writers contend that she’s more interesting as Oracle than she ever was as Batgirl.  Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she reinvented herself, becoming the “operator” for the DCU and being the poster child for the power of knowledge.

And what about those characters who use their brains to help people?  Ray Palmer’s scientific discoveries allow him to help people as The Atom, Ralph Dibney used his detective skills and concentrated Gingold and became The Elongated Man, and Michael Holt, who overcame personal tragedy to use his intelligence as Mr. Terrific.
I purposely stayed away from the Trinity, simply because I think those are the characters many people would immediately go to when trying to convince others that comic book characters can be good role models.  (Yes, I think Batman can be argued.  As calculating as he can be, he never gives up and has learned to push through pain.)  And, the ones I listed aren’t necessarily the ones who get the most publicity.

What other DC characters are good role models for young readers?   Share your thoughts in the comments.

Where do I start? By Mandy Stegall

Life in the Gutter

For some reason, I just visited the Raging Bullets website for only the second time since I returned from the University of Missouri two weeks ago.  It’s been that kind of month, people.  But, I had an awesome time working as a reporter for a couple weeks in Columbia, Missouri and the surrounding areas.

Having just checked out the site, I see that Sean and Jim are having a discussion on the show about pull lists and it got me thinking about how I decide what’s on mine.  Ultimately, it comes down to three criteria.

1) Character

Of course, I want to read my favorite characters, so all the Super-books are a must.  These will always be on my pull list, no matter what’s happening in them right now. Take Action Comics, for example.  I’m still not completely sold on the whole Lex Luthor storyline, but I know that somehow it’s all going to tie back to Superman.  And now that there’s going to be a Jimmy Olsen co-feature, I have more of a reason to stick with it.

I went crazy a while back and started getting all of the Bat-books, but recently I’ve pulled back on them.  I dropped Streets of Gotham and Gotham City Sirens, even though they were enjoyable enough.  But ultimately, I find that books like Batgirl and Red Robin along with the main Batman title are giving me enough of the family to get me by.

And sometimes, I pick up a book because I want to know more about the character, which is exactly what happened with Green Lantern.  Yeah, I know it had to do with Blackest Night, but I definitely understood what was going on in that book better because I was reading the main title and had an understanding of the world he lives in.

Anything with the Question/Renee Montoya character is an automatic for me.  Her co-feature in Detective Comics was an added bonus to Batwoman.  And, I’m beginning to like the Atom/Ray Palmer character more and more as well.  I know I’m forgetting some.

2)Writer

Geoff Johns, Gail Simone, James Robinson, and Greg Rucka are just four writers who could attach their names to the most obscure character in the DCU and have me eating out of their hands.  They all have a track record of writing stories that keep me interested and even make me question everything that came before it.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard any of these writers apologize for creating a story arc that angered fans, and that makes me respect them even more.  Admittedly, I’m probably one of a handful of fans that enjoyed Robinson’s Cry for Justice, but I’ve never heard him apologize for writing it (though he may have apologized for angering fans) and that’s what I love.  Robinson will also be the guy who wrote Superman for a year without actually writing the title character, but he made me care for the characters in the book anyway.

I try to make it a habit not to complain about the writing, but do everything I can to praise it.  And the best way I know to praise an author’s work is to continue buying it and supporting it.

3)Curiosity

That’s right, curiosity.  I’m curious.  What’s the real story on Booster Gold?  Let me pick up a few issues and find out.  What’s the deal with this new book called Secret Six that everyone’s raving about? (Okay, I admit that I didn’t read it right away, even though Gail Simone writes it.  I’m a horrible person, I know.)  I’ll pick up a few back issues and see why everyone’s so giddy.  Vigilante? R.E.B.E.L.S.?

I didn’t stick with all those books.  Vigilante didn’t keep my attention, and Brainiac 2 in R.E.B.E.L.S. really got on my nerves.  Other people had plenty of good things to say about those books; they just didn’t work for me.

Picking a pull list is tough. I’ve been constant the last few months, but I know that I’m going to have to consider some changes in the coming months.  Batman, Inc., Superboy, and Batwoman are all coming down the pipeline in the near future, and my budget is about maxed out, so I know  I’ll have to think about dropping some books.  It won’t be fun, especially since I’m enjoying so much of what I’m reading right now.