On HU

Erica Friedman looks at incompetent competence in the novel Wicked City: Black Guard.

Alex Buchet attempts to connect Ezra Pound and Kevin Bacon.

Matt Seneca interviews CF.

Ng Suat Tong reviews Oji Suzuki’s “A Single Match.

I discuss the lame bad boys of Groundhog Day and From Dusk to Dawn.

Caroline Small talks about the unsatisfying futurist nostalgia of Pascal Blanchet’s White Rapids.

Marguerite Van Cook discussed the limitations of the video art of Bill Viola.

I looked at some crappy floppies by Morrison, Bendis, and Straczynski.

Utilitarians Everywhere

At comixology I talk about the opening chapter illustration in the Wizard of Oz.

That’s the first page of the first chapter of The Wizard of Oz, written (of course) by L. Frank Baum, and illustrated by W.W. (William Wallace) Denslow. As you can see, Dorothy is leaning on the first letter of her own name, standing beside a Kansas wheat stalk. She stares into a mysterious fairie twilight…and not coincidentally, also seems to be staring into the book itself, with its own mysterious fairie treasures. Dorothy is about to enter the story, and she’s also the story itself; she’s an image and a name. You can’t show her without showing the start of the book.

At Splice Today I talk about Chicago’s lame response to the recent blizzard.

And also at Splice I review the new Iron and Wine record.

On HU

Cough Syrup wonders if we need comics.

Nadim Damluji discusses Mickey Mouse in Egypt.

I talk about fathers and vultures in Chris Ware’s Acme Novelty Library #10.

Richard Cook discusses the limitations of editorial cartoons about the revolution in Egypt.

Vom Marlowe reviews Sakuya Sakura’s yaoi manga Endless Comfort.

I review Johnny Ryan’s Prison Pit #2.

And I talk about Sid and Marty Krofft’s children’s shows.

Utilitarians Everywhere

At Splice Today I review a new DVD of classic nudie films.

So, could that be? Could someone get off by watching this thing?

Anything’s possible, of course. People are turned on by plush toys. People are turned on by Jennifer Aniston. Somewhere out there, there’s probably someone turned on by Jennifer Aniston plush toys. God help them.

Also at Splice, I discuss being underwhelmed by David Wojnarowicz’s Fire In My Belly

The big screen turns out to have been an important part of the experience. When I came out, the gallery attendant commented that I looked shocked. I smiled queasily. “No,” I said. “It’s just the hand-held camera. It makes me nauseous.” And other than that, I was mostly indifferent. The 13-minute version in particular was underwhelming. No ant-covered crucifixes here: instead, this was simply a collage of more-or-less interesting scenes from Wojnarowicz’s trip to Mexico. A boy in the street blowing fire, some circus performers, sugar skulls, Aztec carvings, a cock fight inevitably juxtaposed with a wrestling match. Or, in other words —look! Exotic Mexicans! They are colorful and alien, entertaining and slightly ominous! Also (the wall text helpfully informed me) they are spiritual.

And at Splice I reviewed the new, and sadly kind of crappy Wanda Jackson album.

Other Links
I missed this post mortem on Culture 11, where I was a writer for a while.

The Factual Opinion has been quiet for the last month or so, so I was pleased to see them back up with Nina’s very funny takedown of Memoir and Tucker’s very funny takedown of everything else.

Matthias Wivel has been writing up a storm over at tcj.com, including reports from Angouleme and an interview with Chris Ware.

And your Panelists link of the week: Charles Hatfield on teaching superheroes (including Wonder Woman.)”

On HU

Domingos Isabelinho does a close read of a page of Herge. In comments he explains what he did wrong.

Stephanie Folse looks at issues 3 and 4 of Elfquest.

Matthias Wivel looks at Jimmy Corrigan in light of Chris Ware’s later work.

Richard Cook looks back at the Comics Code.

Ng Suat Tong reviews Brecht Evens’ “The Wrong Place.”

I discuss Stanley Cavell’s theories of film in relation to Mondrian, HIroshige, Jeff Wall, Blaise Larmee, art, film, and comics.

Alex Buchet looks at how British comics have influenced the English language.

Utilitarians Everywhere

At Splice Today I talk about Chicago juke.

Other LInks

Stanley Fish has a nice review of True Grit.

Chris Sims explains Bane.

Matt Seneca on a panel from Tintin.

Jason Overby quits.

Kate Beaton presents sexy Batman. (Via Sean Collins.

And your Panelist link of the week: Derik Badman discusses bricks.