Comicscape

Batman Confidential #1
© DC

Politics in Comics: Your Letters

By: Kurt Amacker
Date: Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Greetings, Comicscape faithful, and welcome to another week of four-color spills, thrills, chills, and kills. Last week, I went back to the well and ran a pretty well-received column about politics in comics. After two failed attempts at a letters column, the spark finally ignited and you all sent me an enjoyable batch of mail. As promised, your letters appear below.

Before we dive in, I wanted to repeat a bit of news reported on Wednesday of last week. Vertigo’s landmark Preacher will finally come to HBO as a weekly series with a pilot written by Mark Steve Johnson, director of Daredevil and the upcoming Ghost Rider. I know that summons mixed emotions for some fans, but I look forward to the series. I thought Johnson did a fine job with the director’s cut of Daredevil, and I actually liked the Ghost Rider trailer pretty well, though I thought the flaming CGI skull looked a bit artificial. Johnson has stated that HBO will adapt each issue of the series into a one-hour episode, so I can’t doubt his commitment to fanatical, Sin City-level faithfulness. Obviously, we must reserve judgment until the show premieres. But, I’m pretty damn excited. Here are your letters.

Christ Tsambis writes, “I'm going to try to be brief and to the point because I don't have much time. But I'll probably just end up rambling about nothing in particular. I read the column every Wednesday, I was the first to protest the move that never happened, it's the best column on the site (although I once won a free DVD from the DVD column – boxed set no less).”

I’m glad you enjoy reading the column as much as I enjoy writing it. Though I must admit, I’m really jealous of the free schwag the guys at the DVD section get.

“Politics that beat us over the head: Well, I agree with you to a point…I'm going to take the opposite side of the debate for a second. You mentioned that no reader voted for Bush in 04 is likely to regret it because of something they read in a comic book. But many of the people I know that voted for Bush felt that they were voting with the majority. I'm not saying this is true in all cases – I don't actually know a lot of Bush supporters, but the ones I did know were voting the same way their parents were voting, the same way their church seemed to be voting. These people may not have even been exposed to the fact that ‘some people’ don't like Bush. Sad but true, there are a lot of stupid people voting out there.”

I suppose that depends on the insularity of someone’s circumstances. If you only know your church and school in your small town, then you might not realize the wide range of belief systems in this country. However, given the penetration of mainstream media via cable television and the Internet, it seems a bit odd that someone would live that unaware. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, but I have trouble believing that it’s that common. Maybe I’m wrong.

“They are voting not on issues they've given thought to, but on the trust they have in the people around them. They trust their pastors, parents, neighbors to be good people who make good choices. And they make the same choices. My point: having clearly defined opposing viewpoints in popular media can at least serve to let some people know that their viewpoint is not as popular as they may have thought it was. Damn. I wonder if I can find a more concise way to say that...

Damn. I'm out of time.”

I don’t object to alerting people of opposing viewpoints – quite the opposite, actually. I just think any creator that climbs on a soapbox and spits on his reader won’t retain the interest of anyone he’d hoped to convert.

“And really I just wanted to write you a letter to let you know I dig the column. I took the small amount of time to write this not because I felt compelled to debate the merits of politics in comics, but because I felt compelled to thank you for your column.”

Chris, thank you. It means a lot to me to get letters from people that say they look forward to Comicscape every Wednesday. I’m really glad that people like my writing so much. Cheers, mate.

Dave T. writes, “Interesting article. I think it’s important for people to write what they believe in comics, whether it be religion, politics, or whatever. However, I agree that there’s a subtlety necessary when writing superhero comics that deal with politics and the tendency to preach is less effective than asking open-ended questions.”

It makes me sound like a pretentious a—hole, but I really think that most comic writers that choose to tackle politics simply lack the writerly skill to treat the subject with the care and taste it deserves. It’s like asking someone to perform brain surgery with a sledge hammer.

“The last issue of Civil War seemed to muddy the lines on who was right when Captain America contemplates allowing the Punisher, who stands against everything Cap used to stand for, to join his group.”

I know it probably won’t make me any friends, but I think Civil War stands as one of the better examples of political allegory in comics. It doesn’t put words in George Bush’s mouth, it doesn’t use some clichéd army of neo-cons and religious zealots as its antagonists, and it presents both sides of a conflict that will, ultimately, transcend the cultural circumstances that have borne it.

“I’ve always enjoyed the X-Men because it’s a great metaphor about minorities and less specifically, outsiders. When writers forget this, we get some pretty lame story-telling (I randomly picked up one of the Golgotha issues and couldn’t have been more bored with what I got). But when writers like Grant Morrison and Chris Claremont (his earlier stuff, I haven’t read any of his second-coming X-treme stories) do it right, they create some of the coolest (and accessible) superhero comics around.”

This harkens back to my earlier statement about the value of allegory over browbeating. Say someone reading the X-Men happens to hold racist beliefs. If that person sympathizes with the plight of a bunch of fictional character that experience discrimination for entirely fictional reasons, he might reflect on his own ideas. However, if he even bothers to read something that obviously decries the same real-world racism he harbors, I suspect he’ll be more likely to think it’s yet another example of some East Coast liberal that “just doesn’t get it.” Now granted, that doesn’t mean one needs to avoid real-world issues altogether. Richard Wright’s Black Boy and Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man both stand as pretty damning (and classic) indictments of Southern racism. But, the advantage of speculative or fantastic fiction lies in its ability to convey those issues with other circumstances and force the reader to reconsider them. Science fiction and fantasy can reach people that Spike Lee can’t.

“One writer who writes thought-provoking politics into his comics is Brian K. Vaughan. Pride of Baghdad is easily the best graphic novel I’ve read this year and it hits pretty hard at the end, using the point of view of the lions as opposed to American GI’s, Iraqi civilians, or terrorists was a brilliant tactic that allows everyone, right or left-wing to relate to the protagonists.”

I think you understand me.

“Y: The Last Man tosses a lot of insults at right-wingers, but there’s also some more interesting, subtle stuff going on, too (female assassins walking around in Muslim chadors while nearly all males in the world have died makes my skin crawl). And Ex Machina works so well because it’s an overtly political tale, and it’s protagonist politician refuses to join one of the two major political parties.”

Y: The Last Man also makes radical feminists look like the nut-jobs they truly are. I enjoy Ex Machina. Occasionally, it feels a bit preachy. But, it succeeds by exploring the positions Mitchell Hundred supports, depicting both the positive and the negative thereof. Thanks for writing.

Ben Johnson writes, “First, I must start with my obligatory yet sincere thanks for the time you and Al put into the weekly column. Thanks. I've been reading since before you took over and it was today's column that made me realize what I appreciate about so much about your work. You report, you question but you don't soapbox. Despite often agreeing with him, the previous columnist bored me to no end with his use of this space as a political rant zone. Double thanks.”

I’ll tell Al you said thanks the next time I stop by central lockup. I’m glad you enjoy the column so much, though. That means a lot to me.

Now, to answer your question - What do I think? I think politics belong in comics. Like chocolate and peanut butter, the two more than compliment each other, and they make their respective whole greater than a sum of its parts. Good stuff. The advancement of politics and beliefs of any given civilization requires formats where ideas can be expanded upon, discussed, and stretched to the end of their logical paths of completion, for good or ill. Fiction of any type (including comics) is perfect as such a format. It is possible to truly delve into problems and solutions and explore their complexities layer by layer, taking the time needed to discuss how best to shape our world and using said discussion to expand minds and introduce thoughts to individuals that may never have been privy to these new ideas in a non-confrontational setting.

I absolutely think that writers should explore political issues in comics. The problem remains the confrontational nature of most political stories. Rather than explore, discuss, and educate, they rant, high-five those in agreement, and shame those in disagreement. Calling your reader an idiot for believing otherwise rarely wins any friends. If you want to rant, start a blog (or an editorial column). Fiction requires a more delicate touch.

“I love politics in comics. I hate ‘soapboxing.’ ‘Soapboxing’ at best slows improvement and at its worst polarizes and destroys. I am a seminary student and associate pastor at my local church (an evangelical church at that). I am daily surrounded by those who wish to force their beliefs on others through the use of media, politics and the schools. I constantly find myself attempting to make up some kind of difference to the people who would use these means to advance their own agenda. And to be clear, I'm talking about my parishioners, not those commonly held to be enemies of the Church. Seeing these people in action upsets me, infuriates me and puts me in a position where I feel more stubborn in my own positions than before confrontations.”

I bet you’re really popular around campus. But for what it’s worth, I appreciate your efforts to promote respectful discourse over browbeating and inundation.

“And it goes both ways. I think you really nailed it when you brought up Doc Frankenstein. While reading that book I felt sick to my stomach. Not because I or my beliefs were under attack, but because instead of bringing reasonable ideas to the table for discussion and debate it chucked a massive dose of napalm on the fire. I could almost hear the screams of anguish and agreement rising from comic book dens around the country.”

I like Doc Frankenstein more for the art and presentation than the story. Not being Christian, the script didn’t trouble me on a deeply personal level. But, I don’t think it’s going to convert any evangelicals with its rather aggressive tone.

“This is not the media we, as those that share our earth, need. This is not the media we should support. Forget Hannity and Colmes, Rush Limbaugh, and the like. We should look to those who explore ideas with grace and understanding. If it is apparent that the author has not looked for any right from his opposition, has not thought through a stance from the other side, has not attempted to find how someone could believe other than him or herself then don't give that author's point the time of day. They are the ones who would tear down instead of build up. Shun your party's pharisees and choose to eat with tax collectors (my prerogative biblical reference) and soak in media that does the same.”

People like Rush Limbaugh and Hannity and Colmes make money by reassuring people that already agree with them. They promote news as entertainment, and they do so largely by attacking their opposition rather than even promoting their own ideas – Limbaugh worse so than the other two. The media needs people that intelligently promote ideas and debate the opposition with respect, not promote indignation among target demographics for the sake of ratings. Thanks for writing.

Merin writes, “For one I think you should probably clarify what you mean by didactic. The word itself is not a negative - it can simply mean instructive or to teach a moral lesson. It is often used in the negative, true, as if it is tied inescapably to its synonym - pedantic, but it doesn't need to be.”

“I find your argument shallow and pedantic.” All right – I hate television, but I love Family Guy. Sorry, but I had to squeeze that in. Go on.

“And it is in that sense that I respond. While I would agree partially with the spirit of what you are getting at, that being clobbered over the head with a creator's personal politics is a turn off, I disagree with the extent to which you go to in how much is wrong and what is the right way to convey one's message. People of one bent or another in politics or other such issues tend to gravitate to like-minded individuals, it is true, and we often find many simply ‘preaching to the choir’ as the saying goes. People do have their critical thinking abilities stifled by only associating with others who agree with their views. I doubt this will ever change, and truth be told there is a comfort to be found in being among peers who are like-minded.”

People will certainly associate with people that support their beliefs, but it takes an act of will to seek out other points of view. Most people simply refuse to do so.

“When it comes to comics, however, and other forms of entertainment media…I think there needs to be more leeway than what you are outlining. I personally disagree with the idea that a writer of fiction needs to create a fictional setting, fictional conflicts, and/or fictional people with which to discuss real world events. Sometimes real world events are too large to be alluded to. Other times it is simply easier to set a story in an established frame of reference instead of taking the story-telling time to acquaint a reader/viewer/listener to a new world, new people and new events that are supposed to represent real world counterparts. World War II and the Vietnam War, to name a couple such events, often find themselves referenced in comics and movies - should the writers of Superman or X-Men have to create fictional wars in fictional countries just to be able to use these real world events for stories, whether or not the stories are meant to bestow a moral or political message? I would argue that such a suggestion is sheer folly. I doubt many would question someone referencing the political maneuvers of Julius Caesar during the early days of the Roman Empire as being inappropriate. However some would claim that since George W. Bush is currently President somehow he should not be directly used. I think that is completely wrong - creators should be able to use the true events or people if they decide it is the best way to tell the story they are trying to tell. Moreover, creators will put themselves and their views into their work. To stop them from doing so is to stop them from creating the best work they can.

Allegorical stories, parables and the like are useful methods of getting across complex ideas in easier to understand formats. But substituting Joe Smith for George W. Bush, Mythical Country for Iraq, and War of Liberation for the War on Terror would be making things more complicated, not less, if the intent of the creators is to directly discuss George W. Bush, Iraq and the War on Terror.”

I don’t oppose the use of real-world situations and characters in art. I oppose the vicious, condescending tone taken by so many creators. Usually, it’s liberals attacking conservatives. But, on the other end, the Left Behind series attacks Catholics and a wide range of non-believers the Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins think will surely burn in Hell. It works both ways. I think that authors have every right to include their ideas, but they should consider exploring and demonstrating their ideas over pandering and condescension. I also think that good allegory should rise above merely changing the names of a given situation to disguise it. A short story about O.J. the Bear explaining to all the other animals of the forest how he might’ve killed Nicole and Ron the Bears if he’d really done it hardly constitutes intelligent allegory.

“The desire and end goals of the creators should dictate how the story is told, not the political beliefs of potential members of the intended audience nor the delicate sensibilities of those who wish to keep their fiction and fantasy completely divorced from reality. The ultimate choice is in the hands of the reader/viewer/listener, after all, and if they don't want to listen to Rush Limbaugh they should just change the radio station.”

Of course, no one makes anyone read anything. I only wish to make comic books better. And, I don’t want fiction completely divorced from reality. I merely think that most writers create political comics with all the grace of a Jack Chic tract.

“There is another side your article, and that is you pointing out that most comics (and here I stick specifically to comics and not branch to other media) seem to have a liberal / left bent, if any bent at all, in most instances. I would tend to agree, for the most part, and it is my opinion that this exists as such for a couple of very good reasons. For one, I think that those involved in the process of writing tend to be people who are more creative in nature. They like to learn, and they carefully study the world around them. Also it is pretty clear that they care more about at least something (writing) than they do about making money, for if they were all about money and finances they certainly wouldn't be writers, let alone comic book authors. They are interested in character interactions, and in superhero stories they are most likely interested in good triumphing over evil. Such people tend to be liberal in beliefs even if they consider themselves independent or even conservative. I will address this again in a bit, but many specific ‘moral’ beliefs that people use to define themselves as ‘liberal’ or ‘conservative’ actually have little or nothing to do with such political thinking.”

This gets into the very definition of what constitutes liberal and conservative, which constitutes a much broader debate than we can fit here. Regardless, I’ve elected to run your entire letter.

“The second reason is that super-heroes tend, in almost all causes (with the few rare exceptions like the Punisher), to be philanthropic, selfless humanitarians who are just as happy to rescue a kitten from a tree or help rebuild someone's home as to fight some villains. Superheroes, as envisioned by almost all comics pre-Civil War, are by far more liberal (helping the less fortunate, fighting for equality, defending the weak) than conservative (pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, free market, help others by helping yourself) especially if you look outside of such divisive, non-political issues (abortion, homosexuality, science, religion) that politicians constantly use to try to win votes. This isn't to say I don't believe conservative writers couldn't create conservative comic books - I just don't believe they'd really be superhero comic books. Stories about captains of industry continuing to build their business empires, strong and just policemen tracking down criminals and throwing them in jail, paramilitary groups or soldiers hunting down and killing terrorists or enemy soldiers, or even beings with extraordinary abilities using their abilities to better themselves and make their own lives better all could be very interesting and compelling reads, but I just don't think we could define them as being superhero comics. Now you may disagree, and think the left/right thing is also about abortion, homosexuality, etc.

Not really – I think you’ve given a fairly balanced approach to both sides.

And, as such, you could have a super-hero who is completely pro-life or some such. You certainly could, and I doubt that it would make them any less of a superhero (more so in the eyes of many.). But when you really get down to what is the core of liberalism and conservatism, it's really all about the difference between a community collectively working together to better all while promoting equality versus each individual taking responsibility for only himself or herself and not being restrained by anything in their pursuit of personal growth. In that light, a super-hero cannot truly be a conservative if only by their actions in being a superhero. While it is true I am oversimplifying liberal and conservative systems of belief, those are more or less the cores of those systems and I feel they are enough to illustrate my point.

I think you show a more thorough understanding than most people ever will.

In the end, I think super-hero comics will always be the domain mainly of liberal ideals. And I believe that expecting writers of superhero comics to always have to use fictional settings, and fictional events, and fictional belief systems, just to discuss real world settings, real world events, and real world belief systems is not only unrealistic but also unfair.

I’ve already responded to most of your points earlier in the column, so I won’t reiterate. But, I thank you for writing. That’s it for this week guys. Thanks to everyone that wrote. I’m glad to see things have picked up speed again.

The Spinner Rack
By Al Brown and Kurt Amacker

Al: It's an eventful week, as Batman and Superman whisper their secrets to you! JLA returns! Gail Simone hangs out with old guys! And Warren Ellis and Salvadore Larroca mess with my childhood.

Kurt: I likes to read the funny books.

DARK HORSE COMICS

Berserk Vol 14 TP (MR) $13.95

Conan Book Of Thoth Tpb $17.95

King Kong TP $12.95

Kurt: Adaptation of the underrated Peter Jackson film.

Old Boy Vol 3 TP (note Price) $12.95

Playboy Interviews Larger Than Life (MR) $22.95
Al: This better be about boobs.

Kurt: It’s probably about how to make the perfect martini or how to detail your Porsche like the pros do.

Star Wars Rebellion #5 $2.99

DC COMICS

52 Week #31 $2.50

Action Comics 2nd Ptg #844 $2.99

Kurt: I know this Richard Donner run has caused a spot of controversy so far, but I’m really enjoying it. It manages to convey the iconic status of the character and it’s easy for new readers to jump on board. I say just enjoy the damn thing.

All New Atom #6 $2.99

American Splendor #4 (of 4) (MR) $2.99

Batman Confidential #1 $2.99
Batman: Confidentially: I know it's my shtick and all, and I really can't change it at this point. I've had it for decades. People expect it, and I wouldn't know how to get that enormous penny out of there anyway, especially since I can't really hire movers and my only real friends are a kid and an old guy. But I do wish I'd thought more seriously about the whole "secret lair" thing before I built it in a cave. It's just really drafty, and kind of depressing. I feel certain that I'd be a more cheerful person if I didn't have to hang out in a cave.

Superman: Then you wouldn’t be Batman. And then, the rest of the JLA couldn’t have a good, hard laugh at you as soon as you leave the room, there mopey-pants.

Desolation Jones #8 (MR) $2.99

Detective Comics #826 $2.99
Al: Paul Dini returns, and not a moment too soon.

Exterminators #12 (MR) $2.99

Friday The 13th #1 (MR) $2.99

Kurt: Why doesn’t anyone want to make comics out of good horror movies?

Friday The 13th Var ED #1 (MR) $2.99

Jonah Hex #14 $2.99

Justice League Unlimited #28 $2.25

Justice Society Of America #1 $3.99
Al: Geoff Johns writes the return of the Justice Society featuring Green Lantern, the Flash, Wildcat, Starman, Damage, Liberty Belle and Power Girl. It's gotta be better than the JLA relaunch, right? It's...it's just got to.

Kurt: Dude, that bowl of off-brand Honey Nut Cheerios I ate for breakfast this morning was more exciting than the JLA relaunch.

Justice Society Of America Var ED #1 $3.99

Looney Tunes #145 $2.25

Manhunter #26 $2.99
Al: Guest-starring Wonder Woman.

Kurt: Does she hunt men? The little minx.

Manhunter Var ED #26 $2.99

Midnighter #2 $2.99
Al: Meh. I love the Midnighter but I wasn't really blown away by the first issue of this book.

Kurt: I love your mom, but she didn’t – wait, we said we weren’t going to do that anymore.

Midnighter Var Edition #2 $2.99

Mystery In Space #4 (of 8) $3.99
Al: Can anyone hear you scream or not? I mean, what if you were like right next to the dude? Could you hear him then?

Kurt: No oxygen means no scream. And if a tree falls in the forest and on one is there to hear it, it sure as hell still makes a sound.

Next #6 (of 6) $2.99

Nightmare On Elm Street #3 (MR) $2.99
Al: Anyone want to sing Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince's 1998 hit "Nightmare on my street" with me? Here we go! "He comes to me at night when I crawl into bed! He's burnt up like a weenie and his name is Fred!"

Kurt: Oh man, that’s just…I hate you, Al.

Nightwing #127 $2.99

Ninja Scroll #3 $2.99
Al: Sometimes when I'm reading, like, a really long article on the interweb, instead of scrolling through it, I Ninja Scroll. It's just like normal scrolling except you throw down some smoke pellets first. It takes a lot longer and it makes your eyes water, but it's worth it.

Kurt: I like to keep a hunchbacked guy that can launch swarms of angry bugs at people under my desk for just such an occasion.

Ninja Scroll Var Edition #3 $2.99

Other Side #3 (of 5) (MR) $2.99
Al: Break on through!

Jim Morrison: Guys, really – I’m DEAD. Okay, D-E-A-D.

Outsiders #43 $2.99

Pieces Of A Spiral Vol 6 $9.99

Sachs And Violens TP (MR) $14.99
Al: Collecting the 1993 Peter David / George Perez that still stands as the most hilariously-named book of all time.

Showcase Presents Shazam Vol 1 TP $16.99

Supergirl #12 $2.99

Superman Confidential #2 $2.99

Superman: Confidentially, I miss phone booths. Really, it's much harder to find a place to change nowadays.

Tranquility #1 $2.99
Al: Gail Simone (Birds of Prey) and Neil Googe (Majestic) on a story about a town where superheroes and villains go to retire. Cool enough idea, and my blind devotion to Gail Simone is plenty documented; I'll definitely check this out.

Tranquility Var ED A #1 $2.99

Tranquility Var ED B #1 $2.99

Will Eisners Spirit Archives Vol 20 HC $49.99

Wraithborne TP $19.99

IMAGE COMICS

Cowboys & Aliens TP $4.99
Al: Gotta tell you, my money's on the aliens.

Kurt: In Texas, everyone can hear you scream.

Cross Bronx #4 (of 4) (MR) $2.99

Cyberforce #3 (o/a) $2.99

Haberlins Dig Art Tutorials 4 Disc Set $89.99

Haberlins Dig Art Tutorials Background Scenes & Sky Vol 1 $29.99

Haberlins Dig Art Tutorials Begin Coloring Vol 1 $29.99

Haberlins Dig Art Tutorials Paint Monsters & Creatures Vol 1 $29.99

Haberlins Dig Art Tutorials Paint Super Babes Vol 1 $29.99
Al: I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that the "Super Babes" tutorial will outsell the "Background Scenes & Sky" one.

Kurt: Dude, the forthcoming T&A volume will outsell them all.

Invincible #37 $2.99

Meltdown #1 (of 2) $5.99

Night Club #4 (of 4) $2.99
Al: From the solit: "This is how the world ends: Not with a bang, but with a viscous shrug." Ha! Viscous shrug! Yeah! "Viscous," by the way, means "Of a glutinous nature; thick." Running out of adjectives, are we? Might I suggest "cockamamie?"

Nightly News #2 (of 6) $2.99

Official Handbook O/t Invincible Universe #1 (of 2) $4.99

Walking Dead #33 (MR) $2.99

Kurt: I love this series, but it really needs to pick up the pace. Robert Kirkman has taken decompression to new, unheard of lengths. Brian Michael Bendis is probably calling him at 3:00 a.m., blubbering into the phone, “How do you do it, Robert? How do you take four issues worth of story and blow it up to ten? I’ll never be like you.”

Witchblade #102 $2.99

Witchblade Bearers O/t Blade 2006 Con Top Cow Var CVR $5.00

Witchblade Compendium ED TP $59.99

MARVEL COMICS

Agents Of Atlas #5 (of 6) $2.99
Al: Somebody's a traitor! Hopefully, not the naked chick. She's my favorite.

Kurt: Gee, who would have thought?

Avengers Earths Mightiest Heroes II #3 (of 8) $3.99

Beyond #6 (of 6) $2.99

Doctor Strange Oath #3 (of 5) $2.99
Al: Awesome!

Kurt: This series does bring the rock.

Essential Defenders Vol 2 TP $16.99

Incredible Hulk #101 $2.99
Al: Y'know, just...wake me when we get back to Earth.

Kurt: I tried to register for Incredible Hulk 101 last semester, but my stupid advisor never showed up. Now I’m stuck with Introduction to Youngblood.

Irredeemable Ant-Man #3 $2.99

Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #22 $2.99

Marvel Comics Presents Wolverine Vol 4 TP $12.99

Marvel Holiday Special $3.99
Al: Featuring the Fin Fang Four. Get it now so you'll be in on the joke when Chris Sims inevitably snarks on it!

New Excalibur #14 $2.99
Al: The continuation of the surprisingly not-crappy "Unredeemed" arc, starring Juggy.

New X-Men Childhoods End Vol 3 TP $10.99

Newuniversal #1 $2.99
Al: Does anyone know what to make of this? I mean, it's Warren Ellis (Everything you know that is awesome) and Salvadore Larroca (X-Men), so it can't possibly be bad, right? But part of me kinda feels like it's weird to exhume the corpses of the New Universe. They just better not mess with my boys in Kickers, Inc. I'll certainly check this out - but I hope Ellis isn't gonna get all irreverent about it.

Kurt: Up next, Warren Ellis presents NFL Superpro: Endzone!

Red Prophet Tales Of Alvin Maker #4 (of 12) $2.99

Runaways Vol 2 HC $24.99
Al: Oh hell yeah! I buy this monthly, of course, but I'm totally getting the hardcover too. This collects issues 1 - 18 of Volume 2. P.S. If you ever find yourself trying to get a chick into comic books, this is your title. I gave Vol 1 to my homegirl Brooke, and now she's addicted to Walking Dead too.

Kurt: I am dropping this series when Joss Whedon takes over. Actually, I won’t have to, because it means the series will only come out twice a year. Maybe I can read it that often just to confirm my suspicions.

Spider-Man And Power Pack #2 (of 4) $2.99

Spider-Man Reign #1 (of 4) $3.99
Al: Oh goodie, a "What If" story set in the future. Gosh, I was hoping for something like this.

Stan Lee Meets Silver Surfer $3.99

Star Brand Classic Vol 1 TP $19.99

Kurt: This is the first collection of one of the original New Universe series. I know that’s not a hilarious quip or anything, but I thought some of you might be interested. It’s what I’m here for.

Ultimate Vision #1 (of 5) $2.99

Uncanny X-Men #481 $2.99

What If Classic Vol 3 TP $24.99

White Tiger #2 (of 6) $2.99
Al: Why is this called White Tiger when it's about a Latina chick, anyway?

Kurt: Um, do you think it would’ve gone over well if they’d called it Latina Tiger?

Questions? Comments? Let us know what you think at comicscape@mania.com.

Politics in Comics: Your Letters

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