POEM: Spring Robins (4)

Posted 11 April, 2010 in Audio Poems, Comic books, My poems, Poetry

Listen to this poem using the player above.

Spring Robins

I’ve been seeing robins everywhere this season
on the lawn when I leave for work
outside my window at the office
in the yard while I’m playing with the kids

they wander to and fro, looking lost and confused
and who can blame them — it’s still early days
prey is scarce and the bright red gives them away
before they can pounce

I think the main problem, though, is that
they’re longing for Batman
he’d only choose one of them anyway
who ever heard of Batman and the Robins?

the warm weather always brings them out
once it’s clement enough for short shorts
and tights, they don their masks and capes
and head out in search of crime

do you think Batman and Robin were dating
like the Comics Code people claimed?
I don’t — they were too far apart in age, and
Robin was in great shape, he didn’t need to settle

for a much older man with obvious identity issues
that said, Dick did agree to let Bruce
dress him in that ridiculous outfit
he should have been twirling a baton

not swinging punches into the jaws of
painted evildoers and crazies
you don’t keep your boyish good looks
being eaten by a shark or buried alive

if you see a Robin, don’t feed him
you’ll only encourage him to come back
before you know it he’ll be on your porch
looking glum and asking if you’ve seen the Batmobile

Book Review: Joe Sacco’s Palestine (0)

Posted 24 January, 2009 in Book Reviews, Comic books, Literature, Politics & Activism

Journalist and comic book artist Joe Sacco has been rightly praised for this intense account of his time in the Palestinian territories during the first Intifada. Sacco decided from the start to tell the Palestinian side of the story — not to aim for the false balance of much of modern journalism. His graphic novel is primarily a series of interviews with Palestinians, some arranged in advance and some on the spur of the moment.

If you enjoyed Art Spiegelman’s MAUS books, you’ll probably like Sacco’s work.

Highly recommended.

Book Review: Will Eisner’s Contract With God Trilogy (0)

Posted 18 January, 2009 in Book Reviews, Comic books

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this collection, which gathers together Eisner’s three graphic novels about the mythic Dropsie Avenue, a street in New York patterned after Eisner’s own childhood neighborhood. I’d never read any of Eisner’s work, famous as he is, and I mostly thought of him as the creator of The Spirit, a comic book hero.

This trilogy, though, is both an autobiography of sorts for Eisner and a biography of a street in New York City. The three books share an attention to detail combined with an epic sweep of history. Eisner explores religion, the meaning of life, aging, poverty, immigration, racial and ethnic relations, and the development of urban centers with a keenly observant — if not objective — eye.

The black-and-white illustrations are perfect for the stories. The drawing has a raggedly realistic style that catches every piece of cracked plaster, every shadowed face, every trick of the light.

Recommended.

Book review: The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation (0)

Posted 11 January, 2009 in Book Reviews, Comic books, Politics & Activism

This brilliant graphic novel tells the unvarnished story of the development and amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The book is no hagiography of the document or its authors. Hennessey and McConnell point out the flaws in the Constitution and its unfortunate application to restrict the rights of many Americans.

In total, though, this book, like the best history books, inspires both an appreciation for past events and a desire to improve conditions going forward. Hennessy and McConnell are to be commended for furthering the cause of Constitutional literacy. Get this for every middle- and high-school student you know, and get a copy for yourself, too.

Highly recommended.

Mark Evanier’s new book about Jack Kirby (0)

Posted 20 January, 2008 in Comic books

If you, like me, are a fan of comics legend Jack Kirby, don’t miss Mark Evanier’s new book. You can pre-order it now at Amazon and save an extra 5%.

By the way, Mark’s popular blog, News From Me, is worth a daily read, too.

Supernatural Law (0)

Posted 19 February, 2006 in Comic books

One of the sites I read every day is Mark Evanier’s News From Me, a blog about TV, movies, animation, comics and more. The other day, Mark linked to Supernatural Law, a comic strip about lawyers who represent the undead, monsters, and other unsavory characters. It’s hilarious, and it’s free, and you should be reading it right now!

Cappy hour? (0)

Posted 14 February, 2006 in Comic books, Rochester

Feel the Rochester-based Cappy love over at The Comic Book Haters!

Ex Machina (with no Deus) (0)

Posted 9 February, 2006 in Comic books

You should be reading the comic book Ex Machina. Really, you should. In fact, if I were you, I’d throw a coat on and go pick up the latest issue right now. There’s a nice video interview with the artist, Tony Harris, at the DC Comics site. Message ends.

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