Unifying Theory Of Superman's Powers

io9 recently posted an article summarizing a theory that unifies all of Superman's abilities into one. The theory was conceived by Ben Tippett. Tippett proposes that Superman has the ability to manipulate the inertia of matter on the atomic to kilometer length scales in which he is in contact with.

To use x-ray vision, he alters the emission and absorption of atoms/molecules. He can also alter his own physiology. My problem is that this does not explain how Superman can see in 5 different DIMENSIONS while in a bleed in space time which causes multiple different universes to clash into each other, a redundancy which I'm willing to over look for now. If Supes can alter the emission/absorption rate, then it would only be logical that that power would only work in the New Earth (Earth-0, not Earth-Zero) Universe. Since it would illogical to assume that the laws of physics work the same in the other 52, much less when they clash into each other.

If this theory is true, then it would also make sense that Superman would not have to do much to disable missiles, nukes, guns, and many other things that could be sabatoged by changing the inertia of matter just a bit.

My final problem is that this does not explain how Superman is able to fuse with Ultraman to embody a giant Superman Robot to do battle with a void sucking vampire who's part of a race of immortals who control the balance of the 52 worlds.

Although looking back, I think my main problem is with the horrid writing of Grant Morrison.

Presentation Party! (ahem, schedule)

Hi all, below is the official schedule for in-class comics artist presentations.

Plan ahead: you will need to (1.) research interviews,articles, and high-quality images to address the requirements discussed in class (2.) read *at least* one complete printed work that you'll bring to share with the class, and (3.) organize and present a cohesive visual (Powerpoint or Keynote) presentation for the class.

So, without further ado, here's the calendar:

Oct 2: Caitlin Ostrow (David B.); Marissa Eurek (Julie Doucet)
Oct 9: Andrew Shen (Paul Pope); Jane Pigliacelli (Alison Bechdel); Ali Adame (Jhonen Vasquez)
Oct 16: Mike DuPree (Taiyo Matsumoto); Antonia Neva (Marjane Satrapi); John Cho (Kohta Hirano; Erica Li (Jessica Abel)
Oct 30: James Lee (John Porcellino); Lauren Smith (Anders Nilsen); Luthando Mazuboko (Windsor McCay)
Nov 6: Stephen Oliver ( Moebius); Sam Smith (Simon Bisley); Stephen Settles (Osamu Tezuka)
Nov 13: Dylan Rabe ( Frank Miller); Tatsumi Hsu (Junji Ito); Matt Koos (Renee French)

Chicago Humanities Festival

Lynda Barry and Matt Groening will be speaking at the UIC Forum on Nov. 5 as part of the Chicago Humanities Festival. From the CHF website:

Matt Groening (creator of the The Simpsons, Futurama, and Life in Hell) and Lynda Barry (Ernie Pook’s Comeek and The Good Times are Killing Me) first met in the 1970s at Evergreen State College, the improbable seedbed of some of the greatest graphic comic work of the past several decades. They remain close friends and continue to influence each other’s work. Two of the country’s funniest people separately, Groening and Barry together breach the comic sublime.

Great Comics on the Cheap

If you're looking for some interesting new comics (and you should be...) make sure you take advantage of Drawn & Quarterly's 40% - 50%-off sale AND Top Shelf's  $3 Online sales.  These are both great ways to sample a range of great experimental and independent comics without spending a lot of money. Both publishers showcase a diverse range of pretty amazing work, so check out their rosters and, while you're at it, take a look at their submission guidelines for submitting your own!

Note: Top Shelf also features a whole page of links to interviews on other sites with some of the artists they publish. James Kochalka, Allen Moore, Lilli Carre, Jeffrey Brown, Renee French, and more. Drawn and Quarterly also features in-depth bios of its artists.

Web Comics!

I think that, compared to printed comics, I've ended up reading web comics a whole lot more. I thought I'd share some info with you guys about a web comic artist that I recently discovered.

A couple of weeks ago when I was at Borders, I found a graphic novel version of the first book of The Babysitters Club. Of course, like I know a lot of girls did, I read The Babysitters Club series when I was in elementary school, and I remembered reading an article about the new graphic novels online a while ago, so I bought the first book out of curiosity... and I thought it was actually pretty cool. I did a search on the artist, Raina Telgemeier, and come to find out, she also has a really awesome web comic! Also, I hadn't realized that she's the wife of Dave Roman, another comic artist who I've known about and talked to on LJ. Talk about a small world!

Check out Smile!. It's a really great webcomic. Right now it's on hiatus since she's planning on publishing the rest in book form, but hopefully when it comes out to print it'll be an awesome comic comic, too.

Also, here's a list of a bunch of other webcomics I frequent that you all may be interested in reading:

White Ninja Comics
Cat and Girl
Perry's Bible Fellowship
Thinkin' Lincoln
Ryan Estrada Comics
Kiskaloo (This comic is actually drawn by one of my favorite Disney artists, Chris Sanders, who directed Lilo and Stitch)
Bob The Angry Flower

And here's a short synopsis on web comics from a guy that I think some of you might find familiar. :)

MOEBIUS REDUX. documentary on moebius (2007)

Revel in the cheap CGI chapter divisions!

Be amazed by Alexandro Jodorosky's rage towards
America!

Wonder at the French usage of wild gesticulations!

Watch as Stan Lee extrapolates from within his empire of paper based-entertainments business!

Be Hypnotized by the subtle emotions displayed in the tremors of Moebius' creased countenance!

CLICK HERE FOR A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS,
CONVERSATIONS AND AWKWARD DIGITAL PANS! IN MOEBIUS REDUX! a documentary on Jean "Moebius" Giraud.

Money for Comics

Here are links to some funding sources of interest:

The National Cartoonist's Society offers the Jay Kennedy Comics Scholarship for artists pursuing comics in their junior or senior year of college (next year). The deadline is February 6.

For the rest of you, especialy those of you graduating this year, apply apply apply for a Xeric grant. This grant provides funding to self-publish and distribute a comic, and has gotten many great comics artists off the ground running, including Jessica Abel, James Sturm, Scott Mills, Ellen Forney, David Choe, and so many more. There are two deadlines per year, one in March, and one in September.