Ok, we have gone too far now. I mean I thought all the reality shows (Big Brother, Survivor, The Real World, etc.) were just the bottom barrel of public (and cable) television. If there is a complete lack of vision and creativity in this nation, reality shows are the ultimate expression of that. But as bad as it its with reality shows giving us the thrilling adventures of cooks, models and the like there is now a new breathtaking program coming to kill the last few numb brain cells some in America have. Are you ready for this? It’s a show watching 10 cats in a window in New York City. I am not kidding. I won’t even bother to say more as I am killing brain cells just discussing this. And if you are looking forward to this, get an appointment with a psychiatrist because in my opinion you have no life and it’s a problem.
As more and more movies emulate and bring to life decades long, and old, storylines from various comic books I am reminded of something. Mr. David Carradine made a statement in Kill Bill vol. 2 that went along these lines, ‘Superman is the only hero that is always Superman. His alter ego, his disguise is Clark Kent. And that is interesting because what is his choice to blend in with humanity? A coward, a weakling. Someone who is so meek and spineless as to be almost invisible. That is his alien take on our human condition.’ I may not remember the entire quote exactly, but the essence is there. Think of that the next time you watch the ultimate boy scout (while meant as a negative because of the extreme of what Superman represents I do not mean to offend Boy Scouts in general) as he is out there defending truth, justice and the American way. I never like him, and what he stood up for was never what I lived. And if you disagree, where are the Black African American, Hispanic, and other minority characters in the comic books. How many decades does his series go thru before they even show up in the background? And there weren’t even bad guys (other than Asian) for a few decades if I recall correctly.
Of course I have a problem with Marvel Comics right now. Who gave the ok to have Spiderman to reveal his identity to the world? That is insane. Not that Peter Parker ever had an easy life, but every villain and crackpot he has ever faced will be after him. And I understand the corollary being made to the Patriot Act and other issues in the world and America today. But I can’t see a character that is closer to reality, representing the inner strength and struggles we all have, giving up on a massive part of who he is. But I will get into the political ramifications on my http://vasandtheworld.blogspot.com site. On a pure entertainment view I don’t like it.
Yes I’m a comic book geek, or at least I was throughout my teens up til my mid-20's. And for those that don’t know Sin City is hardly the only great graphic novel. Read the Watchmen if you want an intelligent and politically minded comic. And there are dozens of other titles out there of similar quality, especially if you look back a few years. Some comic books stopped being just for little kids a long time ago.
This is what I think, what do you think?
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