On Instagram, a book-loving mom and dad posted a clever activity they created for their toddler based on The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra.
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Sunday, January 10, 2021
Goodbye to my “Batman & Bill” desk
I pay attention to desks. Sometimes too much.
So it will not be out of character for me to announce the death of a former desk of mine: the one seen in Batman & Bill.
It is not listed in the credits but it plays a critical role in the film: it is where I kept my computer, which is where I wrote the book that inspired the film. Very meta.
Full disclosure: it is not the desk on which I wrote the book (nor is it the computer), but even as a stand-in, it is special (at least to me).
But in between filming the documentary in the spring and summer of 2016 and the release of the doc in May 2017, I got a new desk—a standing desk. So my stalwart black wooden IKEA desk was relocated to my then-9-year-old son’s room until this week when he, too, got a standing desk. (They can make a positive difference in your daily health routine, especially when going to school from home.)
I am sentimental, but that comes with a size limit.
Outside for pickup.
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
A conversation with Jenni Holm about her book “The Lion of Mars”
In 2008, I spoke at a conference in Reno where I met the Holm siblings of Babymouse fame, writer Jenni and illustrator Matt. I liked them instantly because it’s biologically impossible not to. They did a joint presentation that was like a SNL sketch you never saw. Funny, polished, chemistrical. (What’s the adjective corresponding to “chemisty”?)
Matt and I haven’t been in the same place at the same time much since then, but I’ve seen Jenni a lot over the years—San Diego Comic-Con, the National Book Festival, random conferences nationwide, and even my house. She’s one of my dearest friends in the business.
It was, therefore, both a privilege and a pleasure when she asked me to interview her for a bookstore launch event for her latest novel, The Lion of Mars, out now. I have little astronaut experience but tons of experience talking about good books.
The Lion of Mars is a mystery set in 2091 and set on (spoiler alert) Mars. It explores the dynamic of the varied personalities in the small American settlement and keeps readers in suspense waiting to learn why they do not interact with other countries’ settlements. Ultimately it reveals what the kids do to change that.
This being 2020—wait, sorry, 2021—the event was virtual. We Zoomed in from all over the galaxy: it was hosted by the King’s English Bookshop in Utah. Jenni was in California. I was in Maryland. The story is (as you may recall) on Mars.
I’ve been interviewed countless times and I’ve been on many panels with fellow authors, but this was, I believe, the first time I’ve interviewed another author—certainly the first time one-on-one in front of an audience. It was so fun stepping into this new role. Jenni, of course, had delightful answers to both my questions and the questions from the audience. I hope the unseen attendees (and Jenni) enjoyed it as much as I did.
Though COVID-19 has, of course, put most in-person literary events on hold, I haven’t had a lonely year, authorwise: I did a range of video projects with/for Kwame Alexander, Alan Katz, Jerry Pallotta, and Julia DeVillers. One was even in person—so 2019!
And my public chat with longtime friend Jenni Holm about her engaging Red Planet story was a sweet red cherry on top.
Monday, December 28, 2020
“Super Friends” comic guest stars: good, bad, and original
Super Friends was a Saturday morning fixture for more than a decade, with new seasons every fall from 1973 to 1985 except 1974-76 and 1982; new episodes were produced in 1983 but didn’t air till later.
I had a front-row seat almost the entire time.
A comic book based on the series was published from 1976 to 1981, 47 issues in all. I began collecting with #19 in 1979, then tracked down many of the 18 back issues, and ultimately got a subscription—the first and only time I subscribed to a comic book.
The comic was interesting to me for a number of reasons:
- it sometimes included guest heroes who never appeared on the animated series—and were not even popular characters in mainstream DC comics
- it sometimes included villains who never appeared on the animated series
- it sometimes featured villains created for the comic who never appeared on the animated series or in other DC comics, though at least one did later cross over into “regular” continuity
- it introduced the Global Guardians, who also joined continuity
Statistics (covers only)
heroes who also appeared on show:
Hawkman
heroes who did not appear on show (not counting Global Guardians except Green Fury, who later became Fire):
(tied with Black Orchid for the most obscure guest star)
The Demon
Man-Bat (though a villain at the time)
(tied with TNT and Dyna-Mite for the most obscure guest star)
(inside: Weather Wizard, enemy of the Flash)
pre-existing villains who also appeared on show:
Cheetah (enemy of Wonder Woman)
The Penguin (enemy of Batman)
Solomon Grundy (enemy of multiple heroes)
pre-existing villains who did not appear on show:
Human Flying Fish (enemy of Aquaman)
Hector Hammond (enemy of Green Lantern)
(inside: Kanjar Ro, enemy of the Justice League)
original villains (none of whom appeared on the show):
(also appeared in #45 and #46; see below)
(also appeared in #33; see above)
(introduced in mainstream continuity in
Superman [volume 3] #48, 2016)
(also appeared in #39 and #43)
(inside: Green Lantern, Mera, Aqualad, Nubia, Green Fury)
This leaves 17 covers that fell into none of these categories.
Quick lists
heroes who also appeared on show:
The Atom
Green Arrow
Hawkman
Plastic Man
heroes who did not appear on show:
Red Tornado
TNT and Dyna-Mite
Swamp Thing
The Demon
Man-Bat
Black Orchid
Supergirl
Green Fury
pre-existing villains who also appeared on show:
Toyman *
Cheetah *
The Penguin
The Riddler *
Mirror Master
Bizarro *
Solomon Grundy *
Grodd *
Scarecrow *
Sinestro *
* members of Legion of Doom
pre-existing villains who did not appear on show:
Poison Ivy
Human Flying Fish
Grax
Time Trapper
Chronos
Queen Bee
Hector Hammond
original villains:
World Beater
Skyrocket
Greenback
Menagerie Man
Kingslayer
Overlord
Warhead
Futurio (Overlord)
Green Thumb
Futurio-XX (Overlord)
The Conquerer
Saturday, December 26, 2020
Justice League superhero pairs in DC logo box, 1990-92
Over two series and two-and-a-half years, on certain Justice League covers, DC Comics placed a pair of superheroes posing playfully at top left (below the logo). In all, thirteen heroes were featured.
- Three of those characters (Flash, Elongated Man, Power Girl) made repeat appearances with a different partner.
- Two (Elongated Man, Power Girl) made repeat appearances in a different (arguably worse) costume.
- Two pairs appeared only once: Flash/Power Girl, Elongated Man/Power Girl. (Don’t feel bad, Power Girl; some characters did not appear at all.)
- Three pairs were established buddies (Beetle/Booster, Fire/Ice, Flash/Green Lantern); the rest were more unlikely combos.
The first two pairs appeared on covers of Justice League America, the rest Justice League Europe.
Here is a collage gallery of each pair’s first appearance:
Sources:
Justice League America
- Blue Beetle/Booster Gold - #36, 3/90
- Fire/Ice - #37, 4/90
Justice League Europe
- Metamorpho/Captain Atom - #13, 4/90
- Elongated Man/Rocket Red - #18, 9/90
- Flash/Power Girl - #20, 11/90
- Aquaman/Crimson Fox - #40, 7/92
- Flash/Green Lantern - #41, 8/92
- Elongated Man/Power Girl - #43, 10/92
Monday, December 21, 2020
Syfy interview with "Batman & Bill" directors
I only recently came across a snappy 2019 interview with Batman & Bill directors Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce on Syfy (the brand formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel) about the documentary.
Commentary:
Like a justice-seeking hero from the comics he adores, Nobleman chased the real story like it was a 60 Minutes exposé in hopes of restoring Finger’s legacy, in of all things a children’s book…
Imagine that! A children’s book that requires hard work and aims big! (But I get where this perspective is coming from. All authors of books for young readers do.)
Syfy: When did you guys first meet Marc Tyler Nobleman, and determine his Bill Finger quest would make a great doc?Sheena M. Joyce: We met after a screening at the New York Film Festival, and we hit it off.
They respectfully left out how Don discreetly alerted me that my fly was down. I was practically a parody of making a totally avoidable bad first impression.
Sheena: …Marc was trying to get Athena [Bill's granddaughter] to mount this lawsuit [against DC Entertainment]
This is not quite accurate. From the first time Athena and I talked, I encouraged her to pursue justice for her grandfather’s legacy, but was not specifically advocating for a lawsuit, which can, of course, take years and cost lots (both financially and emotionally). If she ultimately chose to take legal action, I would have supported it. But I preferred a less contentious approach—namely negotiation—if possible, and am confident I was not alone in this feeling.
Sheena: We were there when Marc first met Athena…
As I’ve noted before, Athena and I first met in person on March 18, 2007, in Florida, a year before any talk of a documentary and three years before I had a book contract. I next saw her two years to the month later, in New York. Six months after that, I met Don and Sheena, also in New York. The scene in the film of me going to Athena’s house was in 2011, which was, I believe, the first time I’d seen her since 2009.
Once a nonfiction writer who meticulously doublechecks and documents sources, always a nonfiction writer who meticulously doublechecks and documents sources!
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
“Batman & Bill” makes multiple lists of best documentaries
Streaming recommendations features have likely become even more popular since the pandemic started. Here are a few sites that have kindly included Batman & Bill on best-of lists within the past year (always among humbling company):
- Marie Claire (11/26/20; 20-item list)
- Android Authority (9/1/20; this 12-item list may change as films come and leave the service)
- Daily Dot (7/8/20; 12-item list); fuller review (6/30/20); “a must-watch for comics fans, and a gripping real-life story for the rest of us”
- Mental Floss (1/10/20; 25-item list); unlike the lists above, this one is not limited to Hulu docs, making it an even bigger honor to be on it
- The Cinemaholic (12/28/19; 15-item list); technically, this posted before it was widely known that we had a pandemic on our hands, but I recall that people streamed before COVID, too
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
Thank you again, Maryland State Arts Council
In times of strife, we turn to art. For the second time during the pandemic, my work has been supported by the Maryland State Arts Council. Thank you, MSAC!
Sunday, November 22, 2020
"10 Real Life Heroes Who Helped Bill Finger Get Credit" (Screen Rant)
On Screen Rant, Tim Davis has posted an unranked list of people who helped Batman co-creator Bill Finger receive official credit in 2015 (41 years after Bill died and 76 years after Batman debuted).
The list:
11. (honorable mention) Bob Kane (with a nod to Thomas Andrae); mention is fine, honorable doesn't track
10. the one I live with (see below)
9. Jerry Bails
7. Jerry Robinson/Carmine Infantino
6. Lyn Simmons
4. Travis Langley
3. Alethia Mariotta
2. Fred Finger
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