On HU

Our featured archive post this week was Franklin Einspruch’s illustrated version of Wallace Steve’s poem “Of Mere Being.

Albert Stabler on the metal vs. punk, Arriver’s Tsushima, and Russian military disasters.

Nate Atkinson on how he kept Moebius in his living room.

Matthias Wivel on death in Moebius’ last works.

And we finished the week up with the beginning of our Jaime Hernandez Roundtable. Deb Aoki talked about her experience as a Jaime-loving punk rocker in Hawaii; I talked about nostalgia in Jaime’s work; and Jones, One of the Jones Boys explained how you should like Jaime because he said so. The index to all post is here.

The roundtable will continue through all of next week with contributions by regular Utilitarians and guests.
 
Utilitarians Everywhere

At the Atlantic, I reviewed Nicholas Cage’s dreadful new movie Seeking Justice, and talked about revenge narratives.

At Splice I sneered at Rush Limbaugh and Bill Maher.
 
Other Links

Matthias Wivel on the Hermetic Garage.

If you buy Before Watchmen, Alan Moore hates you, God bless him.

Ken Parille on why male supeheroes don’t show any skin.

Smart Bitches make fun of the nipples in romance novels.
 

On HU

For our Featured Archive Post, Vom Marlowe looked at Billy and Blaze.

Erica Friedman discussed the Defenders and other comics she likes despite themselves.

I talked about empowerment and dicks in Almodovar’s Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!

Ng Suat Tong on the not so transgendered world of Tezuka’s Princess Knight.

Domingos Isabelinho on Tim Gaze and abstract comics.

Kinukitty on angst and cat reaction shots in the yaoi manga I Give to You.

I did a series of reviews through the week on Pop R&B. Beyonce, Ashanti, Mariah, Britney, and more.
 
Utilitarians Everywhere

At the Atlantic I review Gail Carson Levine’s children’s book of William Carlos Williams adaptations and talk about how contemporary poetry has isolated itself. Plus! A poem by me!

At Splice Today I talk about Andrew Breitbart and new media navel gazing.

Also at Splice I review the crappy new Springsteen album.

 
Other Links

Art theory map.

A nice essay on Habibi and Orientalism.

A comics anthology supporting marriage equality is running a kickstarter campaign.

Qiana Whitted on how where you shelve comics affects how you read them.
 

On HU

In our Featured Archive point this week, I talked about the sublime incoherence of Moto Hagio’s story, “A Drunken Dream.”

I discussed the bonus sexism of incompetent comics cheesecake.

I talked about war and masochism in Wonder Woman Chronicles volume 1.

Robert Stanley Martin discussed Anais Nin’s fiction of the 30s and 40s.

Kinukitty reviewed the manly assassin yaoi of This Night’s Everything.

I looked at Patrick Conlon and Michael Manning’s sci-fi fetish porn comic Tranceptor.

James Romberger looked at comics by Adrian Tomine, Steranko, Toth, Chester Brown, and more.

Joy DeLyria with a short history of long (and continuing) fiction.
 
Utilitarians Everywhere

At the Chicago Reader I review the magazine Midwestern Gothic. Neither Midwestern nor Gothic; discuss.

At Splice I argue that using children to make progressive points about schooling is not progressive.

At Splice Today I talk about how Sinead O’Connor hasn’t moved on.

 
Other Links

Virginia legislators stop being idiots.

Bad review bingo.

Tucker Stone has some almost nice things to say about Red Hood (plus other reviews.

Kelly Thompson explains that superhero women are not drawn equally.

Andrew Sullivan on the movie Bully and the MPA rating system. Linda Holmes on the same thing.

Alyssa Rosenberg expands on my thoughts on superhero cheesecake.

Depressing piece about sexism in the video game community.
 

On HU

In our Featured Archive post this week, Erica Friedman explains what’s the big deal about Sailor Moon.

I talk about rape, love, and Sally Jupiter from Watchmen.

Jones, One of the Jones Boys on the reactionary sexual morality of Garth Ennis’ Preacher.

Nadim Damluji on new Indian comics opposing the caste system.

Richard Cook looks at horror television and why The River is so bad.

Vom Marlowe on the cozy absurdity of Midsomer Murders.
 
Other Links

Kathryn Van Arendonk on whether television is still episodic.

Kristy Valenti on dick lit: Paying for It and Habibi.

A trailer for a new Wonder Woman documentary.
 

On HU

In our Featured Archive post I look at the blank fugue that is Gantz.

I argue that Joe Shuster’s Superman and Joe Shuster’s fetish comics aren’t all that different.

Ng Suat Tong on the sadomasochism in Alex Raymond’s Flash Gordon.

The new Dr. Manhattan cover appears to have been designed by fools.

I talk about excess meaning in Bert Stabler’s Nanonuts, Frank Miller’s Daredevil,and Hokusai’s 100 views.

I asked how people found this site and how they follow it. Please add your comments if you’d like!

James Romberger on an accelerated production of Hamlet and Before Watchmen.

Kinukitty on Yakuza Café and tea.

A closer, brief look at coloring changes in Watchmen to see if they affected the Sally Jupiter narrative.

Robert Stanley Martin on Godard’s A Married Woman.

A 60s bluegrass gospel mix download.
 
Utilitarians Everywhere

At Splice Today I look at the puzzling nostalgia of Tim McGraw’s Emotional Traffic.

Also at Splice I argue that there is no fancy explanation needed, the GOP candidates just suck.
 
Other Links

Jim Shooter on the Ghost Rider IP mess.

Caroline Small drew my attention to the fact that the Virginia legislature has passed some impressively crappy abortion legislation.

Yan Basque says that 6 issues in the new Wonder Woman series is not any good.

On HU

In our Featured Archive post, P.M. Newton argues that the Wire pulls its punches when it comes to police corruption.

Jones, One of the Jones Boys, looks at Before Watchmen and asks of Alan Moore who lifts from the lifters?

I talk about why How To Train Your Dragon is better than Harry Potter.

Erica Friedman interviewed Marguerite Dabaie, creator of Hookah Girl.

A smooth 70s soul downloadable mix.

Sean Michael Robinson interviwed Gerhard about craft at great length.

I talked about morality and entertainment in Flannery O’Connor and Breaking Bad.

Kailyn Kent on Adam Hines’ Duncan the Wonder Dog.
 
Utilitarians Everywhere

At the Atlantic I discuss Bill Monroe’s pop legacy. Watch people flip out in comments when I express glancing dislike of Bela Fleck.

At Splice Today I discuss my skepticism about the economic recovery.

At Splice I describe the unpleasant sensation of rooting for Santorum.

At Splice I talk Joni Mitchell vs. Kate Bush.
 
Other Links

Alan David Doane on Before Watchmen: scab comics for scab readers.

Cheryl Lynn on listening to black creators, not black characters.

J. Caleb Mozzocco on the mediocrity of the creators on Before Watchmen.

Johnny Ryan on cartoonists vs. radical Islam.

Mahendra Singh is involved in this poetry and comics event next week in New York.

Qiana Whitted on Toni Morrison and how to draw comics characters without giving away their race.

Alex Massie wonders how much better off we might all be if the U.S. hadn’t elected three psychopaths in a row to the presidency.

And late-breaking plug; Marguerite Van Cook is participating in a play/performance extravaganza in Brooklyn, if you’re thereabouts.