Semi-comics blogger Franklin Harris is on a roll today.
First, he posts on the Spurgeon/Raphael Stan Lee book, pointing out that as far as taking too much credit for the creation of the Marvel Universe is concerned, Jack “King” Kirby actually oustripped The Man. Of course, Lee was the one who was actually in a position to truly cement his erroneous claims (or, to be charitable, his lack of correct ones) over the years, but still, a post worth examining.
Second, he examines the deeply creepy news that a North Carolina sheriff’s captain is prepping to wage war against manga, because, you know, all those clean-minded teenagers might think about s-e-x if they were to read Love Hina. I think this could accurately be described as a ripple effect from the federal governments asinine decency hearings of recent weeks–this sheriff is simply modeling the behavior of Michael Powell et al, all of whom really have better ways to spend my tax dollars these days. The problem is that on a small, localized scale, and against a medium that garners little public recognition or support, such crusades as the good Captain’s can really do some damage, ruining businesses and instituting a thought-police regime against small-town kids with no other options. Keep an eye on this one.
Finally, Franklin calls our attention to a minor scandal involving the late Silver-Age superstar Julius Schwartz, who was apparently something of a dirty old man. It would seem that the Comics Journal is exhuming a 13-year-old unpublished interview with cartoonist Colleen Doran to help make this point in an upcoming issue. Worthwhile expose, tasteless schadenfreude, or both? It’s too early to make the call just yet.
Franklin’s a swell linkblogger, but pieces of his that run even slightly longer than usual are a real treat, and these ones are no exception. I hope we see more of them.