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September 13, 2004

COMICS 101 is Now in Session

Buck Thighmaster writes: Thanks for the Wonder Woman bio. Those details from the early decades of comics continue to amaze and astound. The info on WW's headshrink creator ranks right up there with Batmutt. Have to admire the guy though for boldly pursuing some rather intellectual ideas in comics, especially in that age.

I've never managed to squeeze her into my comics budget yet, but I've been admiring the covers on the series for the last couple years. Nice work.

Anyhow...I had this notion in the back of my head that WW was originally fashioned out of clay, by the Olympian gods or some such, and that she supposedly didn't have a soul as a result. I was very hazy on the details as this idea was based solely on half-read mentions over the years.

Is this totally off the wall? Or part of some backstory that was retconned out and not worth mentioning in the column?

Thanks again for the great writing.

Storm writes: Thank you for your wonderful first installment on the Amazon Princess! I hadn't seen most of the artwork you featured in over 25 years, when I was a wee fangirl and bought the Giant Size re-pro with the first five issues; it was a blast from the past, and I thank you.

As both a fan of WW and something of a bondage freak, I was surprised that it had never really occured to me before how frequently women were bound up, Bettie Page/Irving Klaw style! Which makes me wonder... could all that bondage at a young age have warped me in some way?

Merciful Minerva, I'm glad if it did!

WW was a strong early influence on me in other ways, too; interest in the Goddesses in the book made me learn more about them, leading me to be a Goddess worshipper as a child (1975, *years* before anyone knew that Wicca wasn't yard furniture). The reason they came to my attention at all was their role in not only the creation of the Amazons and Paradise Island,which you covered really well, but in the creation of Diana herself, which you failed to mention. It's the only fault I can find in an otherwise *very* thorough, well thought out article. I found it weird that you left it out, and that's the only reason I mention it. It's kinda like saying that Superman came to Earth from another planet, but not which one or why, and leaving it at that. Diana is blessed by the Gods, and is even more Amazonian than the rest because of it; it helps explain her super-ness, (strength, speed, etc.) so I'm kinda hoping it's something you'll be covering in the second installment. Which I have no doubt will ROCK. HARD. As always!

But will you cover the weird late 60's/early 70's period where she shed the eagle n' stars for Emma Peel-ish outfits and became a secret agent?? hahaha furt! They were goofy!

Keep it up, dude. You rule!

Tipton: Here's the thing about the whole "made from clay" angle. It's not included in Marston's original concept, which is what I always use when I do one of these larger origin pieces. More research done after the column went up (I couldn’t find it for the life of me while I was writing) revealed that Marston added it in a later retelling.

But here's my larger issue, which is probably why I subconsciously glossed over it. I really don't like it; I think it dehumanizes Diana as a character, reinforcing the fact that she's not human, but actually some sort of artificially animated golem, which certain writers have even touched on in recent years, reducing her to dust and the like. Diana should be a real woman, not a magically enchanted statue, and I don't think that was ever Marston's intention when he created the character.

Will G. writes: I've often thought about this.[Wonder Woman being the JSA secretary] I jokingly thought that maybe her shorthand was better than all the others, that’s why she was secretary.

Maybe it is demeaning but, at the time, it probably made sense. But I don't think it meant that her contribution in the group was considered less.

That’s my theory. But you’re right, she would seriously kick derriere!

Tipton: If I really wanted to guess, I'd surmise that Marston couldn't be convinced to provide another 8-page Wonder Woman story for inclusion in ALL-STAR COMICS every month, but the editors still wanted Wonder Woman's star power on the cover to help sell magazines.

Joe S. writes: finally got around to your archives and have been working my way through all your past articles. Extremely entertaining. Anyway, I was reading your 7 part Batman series and must commend you on what must have been an extremely time-consuming, but quite rewarding (for this reader anyway) series.

I, too, was given that Batman hardcover as a child (I expect at about the same age as when you received them, although they didn't lead to anything for me other than an expensive habit), as well as a similar Superman one and another one that reprinted the origin stories of most of the DC heroes. Like yourself, those books also led me to comic book collecting. Your Batman articles, along with reprinted pages from that hardcover, reminded me of two things specifically. First, I remember being totally creeped out by the Neal Adams "horror" Batman period of the seventies, but unable to stop myself from going back and re-reading those stories. Second, I distinctly recall having strange, unexplained feelings as I was introduced to Batwoman and then the original Bat-Girl. Reading the stories with Bat-Girl and Robin were the only times as a kid I truly wished I was Dick Grayson. And, as with the Neal Adams stories, I found myself similarly unable to prevent myself from re-reading the Bat-Girl issues.

Anyway, thanks for putting so much effort and research into your weekly articles. The Batman ones, especially, were a fond trip down memory lane.

Tipton: Yeah, the '70s Adams stories included in that book were quite creepy.

Jerry K. writes: First off, let me say I'm a fan of your Comics 101 column. It's one of the reasons I keep going to the site.

Secondly, while I was looking around some of the archives, I read somewhere you were going to do a column about "The Dark Knight Returns" by Frank Miller, that almost made me wet myself in anticipation (slightly exaggerated, yes, but I was looking forward to it nonetheless), when I thought about it, I think all of his works need some sort of attention.

What about a Frank Miller blowout? All the works he's done, I know it's probably quite a bit, but, it'll be a damn good column.

I hope you take this into consideration.

Tipton: There's definitely a DARK KNIGHT column coming soon, as well as SIN CITY. Just haven't found the time yet.

Ken writes: I was just wondering what you thought of KINGDOM COME. Personally I think it is the best comic series ever composed, but I could be wrong.

I just noticed that you have said a lot on the Batman, Superman, and now Wonder Woman. So I was wondering what you thought on this future perspective.

Tipton: KINGDOM COME is fantastic, one of my all-time favorites. Just haven't had the time to write the column yet. It's coming, though.

Myers writes: Hi there. Like your column. Very informative. I've been not reading Marvel comics for about seven years now, and I was wondering if you could answer some questions for me.

Tipton: All part of the service. Shoot.

1. Whatever happened to Lyga in Fantastic Four? In the first issue after Heroes Reborn, she doesn't appear. I've had this fear for years that they just dumped her even though she and Johnny got back together in the final issue before Onslaught.

Tipton: Lyja fell by the wayside when the FF returned after HEROES REBORN. None of the FF creative teams since seemed to have any interest, as I recall.

1.5. Speaking of Onslaught, wouldn't it have been cooler to just kill Thor and have Wasp and Iron Man transform from exposure to Onslaught? I nominate Invisible Woman for the killing blow. She was building up to it in FF anyways.

Tipton: No.

2. How did Aunt May and MJ come back in Spider-man? Is it even possible to tell which universes are which anymore?

Tipton: Aunt May, it turned out, hadn't died at all. The woman who died was actually a DNA-modified actress, while Aunt May was held in suspended animation, all under the orders of Norman Osborn, who it turned out, also hadn't died. This all took place in the Spider-Clone era, not a high point for Spider-Man comics. As for Mary Jane, she never died or anything, she and Peter just separated, so bringing her back was relatively easy.

3. Speaking of such, how did New X-Men cross over with X-treme X-men? Aren't they two different timelines? Doesn't that just make people more confused?

Tipton: No, X-Men and X-Treme X-Men both take place in the present, in the mainstream Marvel Universe. It's just two different teams of mutants with an affiliation to Xavier's School.

4. Tough one: Who had a bigger hand in creating Cable, Simonson or Liefeld? And did Louise Simonson always plan for him to be Cyclops' son?

Tipton: Since Cable as created was pretty much as a cypher, and what made people like him was almost entirely his visual aspect, I'd give Liefeld more credit there -- Liefeld also came up with the name, whereas Simonson had suggested "Commander X,” as I recall. I don’t think there was any plan at the time for a relationship to Scott Summers.

5. Bonus: What's up with Madelyne Pryor's appearance in Avengers Annual #10? Didn't that kind of give away her secret before she even made her first appearance?

Tipton: Well, it didn't for me.

Thanks for all the help.

Odyssey Man writes: You could have kept on with the Batman series forever and I would have kept on reading, they were awesome.

Tonight though I have some questions about the younger sidekick teams. You covered the Titans and glazed over Young Justice a few months back and really got my interest piqued, so I been reading them since then, and some of the trades I picked up were great, but left me with a few unanswered questions.

1. Who is the Secret, and what happened to her? She seemed like an important part of YJ, but now she’s gone and I missed her exit.

2. What happened to Arrowette, as well? Seems the girl side of YJ had a hard time staying on for the long haul.

3. In The Technis Imperative Cyborg gets his soul shifted into the Omegadrome and becomes gold, but then in Graduation Day he is back to his old cyborg body. How did he get his Body back?

4. Also in Technis, there is a new Terra who looks just like the old one, who is she and how did she become a Titan after the fiasco with the first Terra?

Well, that should do it for now. Thanks for the answers!

Tipton: Let's see what I can do here:

1. The Secret was a young girl transformed into a wraithlike being after her murder as a result of a deal between a demon and her evil brother, a fledgling supervillain named Harm. She was held against her will by the DEO, a government agency dealing with super-types, before escaping and joining up with Young Justice. She was last seen saving her friends in YJ while battling her brother Harm.

2. After nearly killing a criminal in a fit of righteous anger, Arrowette gave up the superhero life, for fear of her actions bringing down the rest of the team. She now attends a private girls' school alongside Cassie Sandsmark, a.k.a. Wonder Girl.

3. Cyborg regained a human body thanks to the efforts of Nightwing and Jesse Quick, with the help of a new cloned body from the Russian scientists who once disassembled him. When Cyborg later helped the Flash fight the mechanized Thinker in Keystone City, linking with the villain caused him to be mechanically paralyzed, reverting him to his original silver cyborg form.

4. The second Terra was originally thought to be an unrelated character from the future with identical powers. It was later revealed that she actually was the original, plucked from the past before her death by the Time Trapper, and with all memories of her original life erased. In fact she still has no knowledge of being the real Tara Markov, although her brother Geo-Force knows the truth and has elected not to tell her.

Van-Zee writes: Question. During the DEATH OF SUPERMAN saga there was a character in the Justice League Leftover Squad by the name of Bloodwynd (sp). They alluded a lot to some sort of big mystery surrounding his true identity. Did they ever come out and say who Bloodwynd was. To be more sophomoric what the hell was this guy's diz-zeal? Thanks...

Tipton: From The Museum of Black Superheroes, at www.blacksuperhero.com :

“Bloodwynd's ancestors were slaves belonging to Jacob Whitney. Even for a racist cotton plantation owner, this guy was evil. One of Bloodwynd's relatives, a woman named Clemma, had her fill of his violence. For 28 nights, the slaves gathered to perform the ritual of the Blood Gem. Mixing their blood in a cauldron and speaking incantations as old as mankind, they created this object of power. "It was fashioned with the blood, the sorrow...the misery of all slaves." The gem was used to murder Whitney, who's heart stopped under it's light while his soul was drawn into it. Passed down through the generations, the gem gained power as each of it's bearer's souls became linked with it. The Blood Gem craved evil, drawing out the dark side of it's user.

In time it fell into the hands of the latest descendant who used it to become the mysterious sorcerer named Bloodwynd. The Gem is actually another dimension that acts as the energy source for the Gem's owner. Within that dimension exists the being Rott who is the combined evil and darkness of all the Gem holders joined with the soul of Whitney and given a diabolical form.

At one point, Rott tried to free himself from the dark dimension causing pain to Bloodwynd. When the passing J'onn J'onzz tried to help him, the sorcerer pulled into the Gem. Rott then telepathically forced J'onzz to take the form of Bloodwynd and impersonate him as a member of the newly reformed Justice League America where he remained as a mysterious member. The identity of J'onzz was revealed when the plans of Doctor Destiny caused J'onzz to go up against a doppleganger of himself. The Blood Gem had bonded to J'onzz and it took the efforts of the Atom and Ray II, who entered the other dimension, to rescue the real Bloodwynd. Once Rott was defeated, Bloodwynd remained a member of the JLA.

Bloodwynd was very much a loner, raising the criticism of his teammates. He also withheld information from them about the nature of an encounter that he had with the extra-dimensional being called Dreamslayer, who bid Bloodwynd to join him. Bloodwynd would not join him yet would not stand against him. The reaction from the League caused Bloodwynd to question his membership to the League. Bloodwynd eventually distanced himself from the League. Bloodwynd is currently a JLA Reserve Member, and helps out in dire situations. He has also appears from time to time at the gatherings of Earth's mystical community. “

Gabriel N. writes: In the Batman/Planetary crossover, Team Planetary visits Gotham City.

Elijah Snow mentions that it was founded in the 1700s by English Masons addicted to opium and then exacerbated by absinthe fiends in the 1920s.

So if Gotham is slightly different from the rest of Jersey... well, that provides a bit of a rationale.

And out of curiosity, what are some of your favorite OBSCURE characters? I'm talking about guys like Captain Compass or Millie the Model (mind you I'm aching for the Millar authored ULTIMATE MILLIE THE MODEL...).

Love the column.

Tipton: What's this "rest of Jersey" business? I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Gotham City is not in New Jersey. Period.

The original Mr. Terrific is a personal favorite.

Kevin M. writes: Just wanted to correct the info you gave concerning The Maxx. The Maxx had one ongoing series that ran 35 issues and a couple of one shots called friends of maxx. That's it besides a few one shot things like gen 13/the maxx. There were no mini series as you stated in the mail shoot. Just thought I'd let you know in case you get the question again. Keep up the good work trooper!

Tipton: True enough. I was thinking of THE PITT, which wasn't a miniseries, but was very short-lived.

Thanks for the correction!

PREACHING FROM THE LONGBOX

Paulus writes “It seems this weeks article was a dream.... a hope.... a plea

Schramm: Nope, just a column. Really, it is. OK, maybe it was something more.”

Dream realisations are part inspiration and a 'boat load' of perspiration.

Schramm: Ladies and gentlemen welcome to Clichés 101.”

Seeing as you are contributing at the poop.... you could email to Mr. Smith (or uber-politely through Mr. Ryall) about your wishes and maybe they will remember when they open a Secret Stash in your 'hood. Who knows.... perhaps Mr Smith will consider you a worthy partner?

Schramm: While that logic seems possible, I would be totally fooling myself if I thought that I had that much pull around the View Askew Universe. Mr. Smith is way too busy dealing with both stores (not to mention doing pre-production for Clerks 2 - The Passion of the Clerks) and Chris has his own empire to rule, oops, I meant manage. And really, if I was going to get into the comic book store business, I’m going to own outright.

You just have to address the realities of life. If it's a business... you need to make money. Work for no money is a charity.... few invest in charities. If you don't have the cash, you need the drive, commitment and charisma to make up for it.

Schramm: Hey, wait a minute, is this Tony Robbins trying to get back at me for mocking him in this column? C’mon you can tell me…”

I enjoyed your article.... it seems you know what you want. Now you need to go get it. I would add that having travelled (sic) through the USA and suffering from lack of technology access.... including a good internet cafe into the establishment would help your bottom line.”

Schramm: Thanks for reading. But I would rather have a Rob Liefeld signing than have an Internet café at the store. Call me old-fashioned.”

Steve R. writes About your comic store owning fantasies, I'm there with you.

Schramm: Dude, unless you’re a 5 foot 7 movie star named Jessica, you’re not in any of my fantasies.

For some reason I too have been mulling the idea of openning (sic) my own store someday. Maybe like a working retirement or something. Here's a couple things that I've seen or learned while thinking about it that go in opposition to your "rules." First, I think it's extremely expensive to have a mall store as opposed to a strip-mall-type operation, and that's why you don't see them too often. I've seen a couple come and go (and usually within a year or two) here in Arizona. It's just not cost effective, especially given how much the industry fluctuates. Another Universe (you're right they were a jack-of-all-trades, so to speak, and master of none) tried to aggressively target the mall, but didn't have much luck.

Schramm: I’m not asking for an Abercrombie and Fitch-size store. I just want a small store space. Hell, I would be happy with a 12 foot by 12 foot glorified closet but damn it, my store is gonna be in a mall.

And as for your banning of cards and action figures – I believe (at least right now) that a very substantial part of the money coming into comic shops is from cards and toys. I respect (and agree with) your opinion of them, but facts are facts - kids want cards, and if your store doesn't have them, they'll go elsewhere (if your store does, maybe you can convince them to buy an Invincible trade instead of that second box of Yu-Gi-Oh packs when they come in.) You're not going to convince a ten-year-old to stop buying cards, but you could convince them to try something else in addition to the cards.

Schramm: These playing cards are just a fad just like those damn pogs that came before the cards. Is it so wrong to think that there’s still a market for the comics themselves?

For my store, I was thinking of targetting (sic) more of late teens/college-aged audience (of course, having lots of all-ages stuff too, but giving at least equal time to getting older readers in, since that's where most comics companies target their stories). Maybe having a coffee shop/lounge area. Movie screening. Blanket advertising campuses. That sort of thing. Maybe broadband netcafe terminals, or free wi-fi. I think you need to get people into the store by offering things non-comic related, and then when you get them in there, sell them comics. Make the place a hip place to hang out at, and the people will buy stuff. If it looks popular, people will come in to see what it's about. Comics readers are going to go to the store anyway – the trick in succeeding is getting past the preconcieved (sic) notions of the uninitiated and getting people in the store and buying new things. No adult non-comics reader is going to wander into the store just for the heck of it.

Schramm: I’m all for expanding the readers of comic books and using more non-traditional methods of advertising like local or national TV spots or magazine ads in non-trade rags might help bring in the non-readers. But using gimmicks like wi-fi access or having a coffee shop in the store will only bring in the same people but with their laptops and ordering lattes. If I want that stuff, I would go to the local Barnes & Noble, not a comic book store. Unless it was in a mall.

DUELing Spielbergs

Richard S. writes: What, are you kidding? OF COURSE War of the Worlds is going to be about Tom Cruise finding his inner daddy. You don't need to go back to Duel for your clues, just Jurassic Park. Just as Wells' War of the Worlds does not contain a cute moppet that needs saving, Crichton's Jurassic Park is wholly devoid of a subplot where Alan Grant learns the beauty of husbandhood while protecting rugrats from raptors (in the book, Laura Dern's character was married to someone else).

Ryall: I'm okay with the kids in JURASSIC PARK -- that movie was a bit more than just a movie. Since kids love dinosaurs and would line up to see this, I can see the need to throw a couple in the movie to appeal to all ages and to humanize Crichton's kinda-cold story. I've just been hoping Spielberg had gotten all of that out of his system by now.

About 85% of Spielberg's work has reflected his apparent difficulty in connecting with his own father. You can draw a line straight from CE3K through ET to AI in this regard, with quick detours through Hook, Catch Me If You Can, Indy 3, etc.

Ryall: Hmm...you're not giving me as much confidence in this movie as I had after watching DUEL...

And just read virtually ANY of Tom Cruise's latest interviews, regardless of which movie he's promoting. He mentions his children at least once. It's like he's trying to say, "See? I'm not so weird. I'm a Scientologist, and I may not be able to maintain a relationship with a woman, but, damn, I sure get along well with my kids!"

Ryall: Okay, now you're really making me think this movie could be...less than stellar.

This movie had trouble written all over it the moment they decided to go modern rather than Victorian. That movie has already been done at least twice if you include ID4 and three times if you include Mars Attacks! The only thing "new" to say with the story is the subplot we all dread. Dakota Fanning is actually an excellent young actress, and, handled right, can avoid Benji territory. But that's not what Spielberg and Cruise are shooting for, and we all know it.

Richard responds: You are right, though, Duel is terrific. It scared me so bad as a kid that I can distinctly remember a shot(which I don't think is in the movie) of the truck's rearview mirror which shows that the cab is empty. In other words, the truck itself was trying to kill Weaver.

Ryall: Yeah, that shot's been removed--they show the driver's arm, and his boots while walking at one point, but for the most part, you do just get the sense that it's the truck that's trying to kill him.

As to War of the Worlds, the plot will probably suck, but Spielberg is still capable of scaring the crap out of you when he really wants to. My guess is that he throw in a couple knockout scenes. Even JP2 had that great scene with the RV hanging off the cliff. And, the way Wells wrote it, it's tough to screw up the opening of the first cylinder.

On a personal note, though, I'm getting tired of Janusz Kaminski. I hope he gets a new cinematographer.

Ryall: See, I thought he did a great job with THE TERMINAL. I know some people have said they're tired of his work, but I'm not among them.

Jean-François P. writes from Montreal: I enjoy your work as always, but I'd like to add something to your piece on the Duel DVD.

Did you know that this film had a sucessful theatrical run in Europe before being shown on TV?

Ryall: I didn't know that, no. Of course, I was more worried about not pooping my pants and learning to walk properly at the time the movie came out.

JF writes back: Me again!

A detail was missing in my first Email...Duel was, as you wrote, a brilliant made for tv movie in the U.S. but, when it came time to release it in Europe, it was shown in theaters before hiting the small screen. It was the case in France and other european countries. A rarity in the recent history of cinema...

Da Bills

Michael L. writes: I read your latest TV Recommendations column and my eyes bugged out when you mentioned being a Bills fan. I am also a member of the long-suffering fraternity of Bills supporters. Are you from Western New York?

Ryall: I'm not--born and raised in Southern California, actually, so I have no real excuse. I was a Jim Kelly fan when he was at Miami and just followed him to the USFL and NFL from there. Why couldn't I have been a Troy Aikmen fan and at least see my team win a Super Bowl game or two?

I grew up on Grand Island (which won't mean anything if you're not from WNY). Now I work and go to school in the DC Metro area. You can't go five feet around here without tripping over a Bills fan. We're everywhere, like the Black Death. Anyway, it's nice to always learn there are kindred spirits out there. Go Bills!

Ryall: We'll see...if Drew Bledsoe can shake off last season, anyway.

DVDs Overseas

Aussie Peter L. writes: Sorry to take up your time with a not-very-Poopshot related question, but you seem to know about these things. Futurama is one of my favourite shows of all time (while it and The Simpsons were on at the same time, I think Futurama was definitely the better of the 2), and earlier this year (between Januray and May) I was stoked to buy all 4 DVD box sets of the show for around $40 Australian each (we usually pay around $80 Australian for a TV show DVD box set). Now I notice on sites like yours and AICN, that Futurama Series 4 has only just been released in the States.

Now, for my question (finally), why do we sometimes have to wait months (we still haven't had Bad Santa released here) for some movies and TV shows, but others we receive musch earlier with no release hype or fanfare ?

Ryall: I think some TV shows are seen overseas more often than some smaller movies like BAD SANTA (whose humor might not translate to other countries as well as something like FUTURAMA). And especially in this case, since FUTURAMA's been around for a number of years and has a built-in audience, even overseas.

Also, I emailed you a few months ago thanking you for exposing me to Curb Your Enthusiasm and Arrested Development. Neither have been shown here yet, but I've managed ot download all 40 episodes of CYE, and have 6 or 7 of Arrested Development. They're both awesome and to a small degree make up for the American crap we're subjected to like Will and Grace.

Ryall: Sorry again for that show.

The OC was re-launched here after dying in the ass around Januaray. It seems to be doing better this time. I can't bring myself to watch it despite your praise.

Ryall: Totally understand. I can't get Scott Tipton to give the show a look and he lives pretty close to where it's shot. I understand it's completely a guilty pleasure for me.

GOLD-Diggin'

Alfred R. writes: I just want to say its good to hear will friedle's movie is actually going to be released nationally.

I think this is a giant step down for him( i really think he has great comedic abilites) but at least hes getting some face work. I think hes being totally wasted doing the voice of Ron stoppable on the disney channel animated series, Kim Possible.

I hope doing this job can on some level, get him some good work later on.

Ryall: I don't know how many, if any, doors will open for him after being in a movie with Nikki Ziering, but if the worst that comes of it was the fact that he got to be in a movie with Nikki Ziering, well, there're worse things to have happen.

Harry Potter and the Letter of Discontent

Adam Fellbur Speaks

Ryall: Er, who is Adam Fellbur...?

Adam writes: After much soul-searching and serious contemplation about the upcoming election for President of the United States, I, Adam Fellbur have decided to endorse John Kerry for the nation's highest office. I believe that this is the most important election in the last 10 years. It is the responsibility of each and every celebrity to give back to the country that has given us so much. Playing a central role in this important election is the least we can do. After all, we are Americans first and celebrities second.

Recently several other famous celebrities including Bruce Springsteen have gone on record with an endorsement for Mr. Kerry. While Bruce and I have not seen eye to eye on a number of issues in the past, as two Americans "Born in the U.S.A.," I am pleased to say that Bruce and I stand together on this one.

Over the past few months I have been wrapped up in production on my new reality show "Life After Skippy," which I think (fingers crossed) is going to be a big big hit. This project, which is discussed in detail on www.adamfellbur.com, sort of picks up where my 1969 sit-com "Life With Skippy" (I was one of the stars) left off. I can assure the American public, that the timing of this endorsement and my coinciding up-coming reality TV show are purely unrelated and that this announcement was in no way solicited by the Kerry campaign. However, if some of my celebrity exposure should shine a light on John Kerry and put him in the White House, making the world a safer place, all the better.

I will also be appearing at the Cherry Hill Nostalgia Expo on November 11th and 12th from 11 to 5. This is always a fun show to do. The Jersey fans are always so nice. Some places give you a hard time about charging $5 for an autographed B&W photo and $8 for a color 8x10 but not Jersey. Depending on the mood of the crowd, I might be convinced to do a Life With Skippy scene reencatment. The last time we did this, In Buffalo I think, went over huge. Again, I will have to play it by ear.

And yes, Life With Lincoln, the musical I am working on is going swimmingly. I am really excited about this. I am currently putting the finishing touches on the assignation scene. I thought the original assignation was far too negative and feel that audiences will appreciate a more positive approach to the murder of Lincoln. Well have to wait and see but I am very, very hopeful.

And yes, I am very comfortable with my decision given John Kerry's life of selfless public service. Having spent seven years in a Vietnamese POW camp would have done in a lesser man. Not John Kerry. Given my own experiences in Hollywood I know what he must have gone through. Returning to this country with an armful of awards, Mr. Kerry dedicated himself to the business world, where he, from scratch, built up the Heinz ketchup company into the giant corporation it is today. I can say that from my experience in television, it is not easy to be the driving force behind something so successful.

Over the past few days, I have left a number of messages for John Kerry at his campaign headquarters to discuss campaign strategy. I have full confidence that with myself and other influential personalities as his advisors, we can be a major boost for the Kerry Presidential campaign. See you in the White House.

www.adamfellbur.com

Ryall: I have to say, I've never heard of you or LIFE WITH SKIPPY, but your Web site says you get $7 for mime workshops and $12 for suicide counseling. I'd assuming that the two would be closely linked.

THE BATMAN Begins

Alfred R. writes:
THE BATMAN -- 10:30 AM, WB
Debut! The next-generation animated Bat-toon starts right here, and while this one is set in the character's early days, it'll probably just make you want to go rent the Bruce Timm/Paul Dini version on DVD instead.

this is absolutely horrible. i like the costuming of batman, but his and the jokers voice work are horrible. also, his physical features suck as well. everything is so corporate in this series its unbelievable.

the ending line is "bats in the belfry" with the joker looking all scary.

youre right. it does make me want to go watch batman: tas.

Link of the Week

Robert Sanchez sent along a link to all kinds of photos from last week's SECRET STASH grand opening and DVD signing with Kevin and all the CLERKS cast, right here.

More on Moore

Steven G. writes: Perhaps Moore didn't submit the film for best documentary because of the instances before and after the film came out where, faced with allegations of fabricated facts, he denied it was a documentary.

Scott Tipton replies: Nah, I don't think so. There was never anything in the film that was proven to be fabricated, and I don't think it would make any difference under Academy rules anyway.

I think Moore knows he can get more press by going for Best Picture, and maybe use it to wrangle an early TV broadcast before the election.

The Final DREW CAREY SHOW

Paulus writes: WOOOHOOOO.... great, excellent... etc

Let's hope it's the last ever episode for the obnoxious wanker! Now all we need is for him and Jack Black to splice DNA and produce the "anti-comic"

Ryall: Mimi...?

Comicon Nigeria

Kareem A. writes sends this to us from Nigeria:
Africa's First Comicbook Convention To Hold In Nigeria!
While being the continent's most populous country, Nigeria is one African nation filled with comicbook fans. The very first Comicbook Convention, tagged 'Lagos Comics Festival 2004', will feature local comics publishers like Ikebe Super, as well as a few international ones. Also included is popular webcomic publisher, Komikwerks, whose anthologies are getting more attention by the day. The convention starts on the 10th of september to the 12th, opening 10am-6pm daily at the National Museum, Lagos, Nigeria. Admission is free.

Photos of the Week

Ryall: From the JERSEY GIRL DVD extras, Kevin, once again pimping the One-(well, two-...I have one)of-a-kind Movie Poop Shoot jersey:

Ryall: And some photos from Trey and Matt's upcoming TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE (where were these when I was doing the script review a few weeks ago?):

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