ComicsPundit

The never-ending conversation on life, liberty, and sequential art…

…with Shawn Levasseur.

Archive for March, 2007

300 Rorschach Tests keep on coming like an endless Persian assault.

Posted on March 28th, 2007 by Shawn L.

You’d think that this would have been played out by now.Apparently not.Instapundit links to a Victor Davis Hanson post on 300 critics at NRO Online.

300 – A moment of levity.

Posted on March 28th, 2007 by Shawn L.

There were some arguments out there that 300 was homophobic. Key to that argument was the idea that Xerxes’ dress and incredible jewelry was somehow suggesting a certain bent to his sexual tastes.I don’t think so, his dress and manners show that he’s vain and narcissistic (required traits to believe himself a god).This video clip […]

Community, the anti-tribalism & the CompuServe Comics Forum

Posted on March 26th, 2007 by Shawn L.

In the early 90’s I was on the CompuServe Comics & Animation Forum. It was an online bulletin board system community that encompassed all kinds of different people. DC Fans, Marvel Fans, Indie Fans, Writers, Artists, Editors, and Publishers all assembled and talked about comics. It was a community no less strong than the Comic […]

More on Tribalism: Orson Scott Card

Posted on March 26th, 2007 by Shawn L.

A few months back, Orson Scott Card appeared on the Glenn and Helen Show podcast, in which he talked about his new book Empire, which paints a worst-case scenario where current tribalism in politics leads to a new American civil war.Listen to this interview via mp3 (or subscribe to the podcast via iTunes)I haven’t read […]

Tribalism: The enemy within.

Posted on March 26th, 2007 by Shawn L.

I don’t know how well my attempts to talk about politics within the comic book blogosphere and podcast communities will fly.But I am doing so, in part, because I believe that too many people are treating politics as a taboo subject. That good people are scared off by being hostilely judged by people who don’t […]

300: Closer to the historical record than you might think

Posted on March 25th, 2007 by Shawn L.

That’s the point of an article by Victor Davis Hanson, “History and the Movie 300”:If critics think that 300 reduces and simplifies the meaning of Thermopylae into freedom versus tyranny, they should reread carefully ancient accounts and then blame Herodotus, Plutarch, and Diodorus — who long ago boasted that Greek freedom was on trial against […]

from 1992: My letter in “Justice Society of America #7” lettercolumn

Posted on March 24th, 2007 by Shawn L.

In 1992 there were rumors about the upcoming cancellation of a comic book series that I was enjoying. This happens all the time in comics. Sales don’t meet a certain level, and any book can be cancelled. But this one had only had two issues come out at the time of the rumors, not enough […]

Now open for Business… ComicsPundit.com !!!

Posted on March 23rd, 2007 by Shawn L.

I’m no longer posting actively (if you could call my irregular postings “Active”) at this site. I’m focusing my blogging efforts towards a narrower set of topics that are distinctive to my interests over at my new blog, ComicsPundit. I want to build a larger audience for my writing, so I’ve decided to specialize on […]

My dream article.

Posted on March 21st, 2007 by Shawn L.

This blog’s goal was to be a bit about comics, a bit about politics, and ideally a bit about where the two intersect.I’ve just come across something that encompasses that intersection.This article over at The Politico starts out about the events of Captain America #25, but becomes a survey of the use of political themes […]

Tilting @ Windmills: Return of the Death Issue

Posted on March 21st, 2007 by Shawn L.

In the latest Tilting at Windmills by comic retailer Brian Hibbs, there’s a comparison of the events of Captain America #25 this month, and Superman #75 fourteen years ago.Both big milestones, that suddenly got lots of attention in the mainstream media. Each led to sellouts and speculation. But things are different today, and Brian explains […]

Look! Down in the lobby! Is it an escalator? Is it a lift? No, its…

Posted on March 21st, 2007 by Shawn L.

The cleverest placement of movie advertising in quite a while.(found via Shawn King’s blog at Your Mac Life)

JLA: Fired !!!

Posted on March 20th, 2007 by Shawn L.

The Bangor (Maine) Daily News’ editorial cartoonist, George Danby features the Justice League in one of last week’s cartoons. (Thumbnail shown, click to see the full cartoon at BangorDailyNews.com)In it Superman is saying: What a Week! Captain America is assassinated! Then Gonzales fires us!Nice to see that they added a bit of color to the […]

Law and Order: Thermopylae

Posted on March 19th, 2007 by Shawn L.

More of the 300 Rorschach Test:Fred Dalton Thompson, the actor who plays Manhattan D.A. Arthur Branch in Law & Order responds to an Iranian complaint about 300Mr. Thompson is also a former U.S. Senator, and a possible candidate for the 2008 run for President of the U.S.(The Iranian statement in question is referenced in an […]

Green Arrow’s gonna get smacked down on this one…

Posted on March 19th, 2007 by Shawn L.

Over at Comics Fairplay, Heidi Meeley takes a look at the cover to the upcoming Green Arrow #75, and starts a discussion about it.This could be a major turning point in Oliver Queen’s life. But I think he’s not going to get what he wants, but will instead get what he deserves.

The Artist / Entrepreneur: Jeff Smith

Posted on March 15th, 2007 by Shawn L.

The Daily Cross Hatch has an interview with Jeff Smith, creator of the self-published Bone and the writer/artist of the current Shazam!: Monster Society of Evil mini-series at DC.In this Jeff tells about how he financed his entry into self-publishing, and putting together a business plan.(discovered via Heidi MacDonald)