A Sign of Cultural Apocolypse?

From time to time you might run across people who twist up their face, pound the table, and decry with great fury and indignation the erosion of culture in America.

Usually I dismiss those people as pessimistic blowhards; even when faced with evidence like Jersey Shore and Ke$ha.

But then I read in Publishers Weekly that none of the major morning new shows accepted an offer to let this year's Newbery and Caldecott Medalists speak about their books. The Newbery and Caldecott medals are awarded to outstanding works in children's literature. Getting the recipients of these awards a little press time was a common - and not difficult - practice in the past. Unfortunately it looks like those days may be behind us.

It's always been my position that there are different levels of entertainment and culture, and each has it's own audience. So for every Toddlers and Tiaras there is a NOVA. Those who lament a society that would allow something like Snooki to exist fail to acknowledge that the presence of low-brow doesn't destroy the high-brow. They can both exist, and do both exist.

However, if we fail to even acknowledge the existence of the high-brow, of the excellence in a field, then we might as well as be destroying it.

Christmas Comic Cover - December 25

Santa Claus Funnies

I have to imagine that the space craft Santa is flying in today's cover was part of the victory spoils the fat old man collected after he first introduced Christmas to the martians and then conquered them.

Today is Christmas!

I hope you enjoyed the Comic Calendar this year. I had fun putting it together.

Merry Christmas

DC Comics holiday card

DC Comics published the artwork from their holiday card this year.

Looks like a lot of fun. Though I would have like to see Superman in there somewhere.

Christmas Comic Cover - December 24

The First Christmas - in 3D!

Can there be a better way to learn about the birth of the world's savior than by wearing cheap red and blue cellophane-lensed glasses while reading a comic book?

I don't think so.

Tomorrow is Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas

Christmas Comic Cover - December 23

Holiday Comics

It's the home stretch. Just a few more days. So no more superheroes or goofy covers. Just some good old fashioned straight up Christmas covers.

2 days until Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Christmas Comic Cover - December 22

Christmas With The Super-Heroes

The heroes of DC Comics are my favorite, so I feature their covers as much as possible. That this cover also hits on one this year's themes - people flying in sleighs - only make it an even stronger entry in the calendar.

3 days until Christmas

Merry Christmas

Christmas Comic Cover - December 21

Holiday Special '09

In 2009 DC Comics published two covers for their holiday special. Both used the idea of arranging the characters on the cover in a fashion to bring to mind a Christmas tree. Last year I featured the cover by Frank Quitely. Today's version was done by Dustin Nguyen.

I am fan of both artists, but I think Quitely did a better job.

4 days until Christmas.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Comic Cover - December 20

Comic Cavalcade #13

Wouldn't have thought it, but apparently even the office parties for the Justice League can be so dull that the random appearance of a robin is a welcome diversion from the  forced festivities inside.

5 days until Christmas.

Merry Christmas