News Art Blog

Good versus Evil will always be the stock and trade of storytelling, especially in comic books. The skill of separating good guys from bad comes early to readers, with the occasional antihero appearing as an interesting change of pace. Behind scenes of these imaginative creations, however, many of their flesh and blood creators fight a never-ending, just slightly less Manichean battle for truth, justice, and an equitable share of the profits denied to them by the corporate comic publishers. In Comic Book Babylon, Clifford Meth chronicles the struggles of comic book creators of the past fighting against Marvel Comics and DC Comics for royalties and, just as importantly, recognition. In the midst of this often life-and-death struggle for aging artists, Meth separates the angels from the demons and uncovers the dirty realities behind the comics’ fantasy industry. Meth’s raucous, passionate, no-holds-barred style will leave you looking at comics and the corporate giants they’ve spawned with new eyes. Forget Superman. Forget Doctor Doom. Here are the real heroes and villains in comic books. Please come over to Picture This at Big Think to read more of "The Real Heroes and Villains in Comic Books."

As NYC police attempt to clear Zuccotti Park of the Occupy Wall Street protesters, it seems appropriate to reconsider who OWS is and what they want. To me, their goals are as diffuse and omnipresent as the dysfunctional institutions they want changed. Who they are—the 99% facing off with the economically elite 1%--may be just as elusive. When the protesters looked for a face for their movement, they found an odd one in Guy Fawkes. Fawkes’ failed Gunpowder Rebellion of 1605 made him the Timothy McVeigh of his time—a violent note out of tune with OWS’ peaceful protests. When the protesters donned Guy Fawkes masks (shown above), however, they weren’t thinking of the “real” Fawkes. Instead, they were thinking of a faux Fawkes—the Fawkes of Alan Moore’s graphic novel (and, later, film) V for Vendetta. If the social movement of our time turns to a writer for an identity, does that make Alan Moore the storyteller of our time? Please come over to Picture This at Big Think to read more of "The Face of OWS: Is Alan Moore the Storyteller of Our Time?"

[Many thanks to Rizzoli for providing me with a review copy of Gary Spencer Millidge’s Alan Moore: Storyteller.]