Ballot Box & Long Box

As if our current political situation here in the USA hasn't created enough turmoil, NPR's new midday show, 1A, got me thinking about how my spending habits impact (positively or negatively) those who either support or oppose political parties/politicians. It was on my weekly drive to the local comic book shop for New Comic Book Day, that I listened intently as the host and guests worked through the question of "How does one respond to an administration that has no issue shaming corporation and businesses that express any disagreement with them?"

One of the guest reminded the listening audience of the Walter Reuther quote regarding the "direct relationship between the ballot box and breadbox."

Turning off the radio at the close of the interview, I headed into the shop wondering about who the publishers of my favorite comic books supported in the most recent election. The two most likely financial contributors of note would be those at the head of the Big Two, Marvel and DC. I recall hearing something in passing about an executive at Marvel Comics being involved with the Trump administration, but had not sussed out any particulars. Yet. Was there... or should there, be a direct relationship between the ballot box and the comic book long box? What practical impact would a potential buy-cott of  a company like Marvel whose chief executives contribute significant amounts of their personal financial gains (and therefore the money the consumer spend on the services provided) have? If I were to find out a Marvel bigwig was helping fund a politician I did not agree with, would my moral compass suggest I stop supporting that line and would it provide a meaningful enough message?

My initial thought is that the majority of artists (editors, writers, inkers, pencillers, letterers, etc.) in the industry, at least based on what can be inferred via Twitter, lean toward the more liberal side of the political spectrum. This group would include some of the most prominent Marvel creatives including Spider-man writer Dan Slott. My weekly pull sheet includes many titles that reflect my own (and presumably those of the creators) political leanings though such a factor has not always been a factor in my choices. (I do however purchase some titles that I don't outright "love" but recognize the need to support the artistic voice in the mainstream with my dollars.)

I am only a comic book fan with a very limited understanding of the industry beyond what can be gleaned though online reading and the tweets of a myriad of creators. (I do know that the "Marvel way" and "bullpen" was something of a ruse, albeit one I totally bought into as a youth: "Kirby, Stan and the crew hang around an office together goofing and making comics, right?")

So, what is "the story" with Marvel Comics and the 2016 Presidential candidate?

Last January, according to most news sources (whether the action was framed as a "good" or "bad" thing depends on the sources ranging from Breitbart to The Hollywood Review), "Marvel Entertainment CEO Isaac 'Ike' Perlmutter joined Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump by donating $1 million of his own money to America’s veterans on Thursday night in Des Moines, Iowa." (Breitbart) This was after first donating $2 million to Marco Rubio's during the primary season (THR). Following Trump's election victory, Perlmutter's wife was part of Trump's Inauguration committee.

Despite this personal support of Republican candidates, Perlmutter's employer Marvel Comics has famously published reality "crossovers" that (at least superficially) are decidedly pro-Democrat. There are two obvious examples that quickly come to mind. Who can forget the Amazing Spider-man #583 variant cover that featured Spidey snapping a picture of President Obama? This stunt proved successful enough to warrant four reprint runs. More recently, issue Ms. Marvel #13 in which the book's protagonist, Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel, overtly throws her support behind Senator Clinton. In an unfortunate twist, the issue actually hit stands after Election Day. This is chronicled in greater detail in "Marvel Comics Superhero Uses Her Powers to Help Elect Hillary Clinton" (from an unbiased website who's mission is to "combat liberal media" so take that as you will).

Whether a calculated move for image purposes or (optimistically) because of the high quality of the product warrants it, Marvel has also been willing to publish titles reflecting a very clear political agenda. The most obvious recent example of this would be the cover to issue 8 of 2016's short-lived "ongoing" Mockingbird. (Ironically the last issue to be published as the book was canceled following it's publication.) It made quite a bit of news when the protagonist was featured on the cover wearing a t-shirt inviting readers to "Ask me about my feminist agenda".

The bottom line is while I like using my disposal entertainment dollars to be entertained, I also recognize to use these limited resources to support political/social perspectives with which I have agreement. Not buying certain comic books might make one "feel better" but ultimately only impact negatively those at the creative level. It is fair to suggest that this group includes many individuals whose ideals are consistent with my own and are giving larger voice to relevant issues.

Nothing is simple, even in the murky place where the worlds of lol it's and "funny books" overlap. The resolution to the decision of whether or not to buy-city is to remain vigilant in following the money in a way that works best for you and your conscience.

Everything Old is New Again (Mostly)

Strangely, this political satire from the 2012 Presidential election
cycle is still relevant... so much for new ideas.

The 1980 United States presidential election was the first political clash of which I was even moderately aware. Through the filter of my eleven year-old mind, the contest for the job of guiding the free world could be distilled down to a competition between "the odd guy with the southern accent" (I lived in Western New York) versus "the actor guy with the one liners." Now, 36 years later. not much really seems to have changed. Given the even smaller time-frame between this current presidential election cycle and the previous one, it is probably not surprising then that many of the characters flooding the airwaves look very similar to those who shone brightly just four years ago.

This past weekend, while going through one of the pile of books stacked around my home, I came across a paper doll collection given to me by a former student. If I recall correctly, I had been given it after he returned from Washington, DC, where he had attended one of the Presidential Ball's following the re-election of Barack Obama in 2012. Flipping though the pages, it became clear that little changes in our political landscape, as many of the players have remained the same. The aptly titled 2012 Political Inaction Figures by Tim Foley remains oddly prescient in its commentary. Both of the current party front-runners were present (with he Donald warranting a YUGE spot on the back cover), and a number of the forgotten "insurgents" of yesteryear such as Herman Caine(?) are there too, soon to be joined by the current roster of never-to-be-heard-from-agains.

Who'd a thunk the back cover might predict the Republic
Party's candidate for 2016?

Maybe you've heard of this brash new political star?

Tim Foley's contribution to the Marco Rubio playbook.

The "dynamic" campaign of Herman Cain lives on as a
flat paper doll.

Don't look for him on Meet the Press... David Gregory, too,
appears to be sitting this cycle out.

Governor Huckabee's campaigns get shorter every four
years... see you in 2020!

The Not-So-Secret Meaning of Typography

Last Wednesday during lunch, I went to the local town hall to apply for a passport. As I was checking the nameplates outside each office for the correct room I couldn't help but notice a very large tarpelin sign proclaiming that one group of offices was clearly under the auspices of "Cheryl Dinolfo, Monroe County Clerk."

What struck me most about the sign, other than the shear size of it, maybe 12' x 5', was the comparative fonts and type sizes used to communicate each piece of information. The typography (size and font of the type) of the lettering used to trumpet Ms. Dinolfo's involvement, as well as her title, was of a significantly larger point size than that of the other relevant information. In fact, Only the county seal was a hair larger than her name, and the information present on the seal was indecipherable from a distance.

One is about as likely to find visual evidence of this phenomena online as you are to find a real picture of a Sasquatch... eventually, after first googling a myriad of possible word chains with the intent of finding an image online, it became clear that without a photographic recon mission would  proving this the existence of this phenomena would be difficult.

Looking forward to The Amazing Spider-man 2 starring.... Maggie Brooks?!

Fortunately, in my community, this is "elephantitits-of-type" only employed by Ms. Dinolfo. I have also noted on a number of occasions that our Monroe County Executive, Maggie Brooks, also has a penchant for having her name and title presented in juxtaposition to the County Logo on signs in such away that the information to be quickly processed by passersby is her name first. The County's seal taking a subordinate role to all else. Surprisingly, as seen in the photo below, somehow her name was not larger than that of the companies being represented below.

Drivers are hard pressed to figure out just for whom Brooks work for.

Both Dinolfo and Brooks are seasoned local politicos, with even more veteran operatives, so this is most surely not a printing error that was made once and never corrected. As students' of rhetoric, my high school Advanced Language and Composition classes quickly realize the implications and message of this choice on the part of the messenger. Visual rhetoric consists in part of text so obviously visual that its visual nature and power is often invisible. This type size conundrum is also a great example of one of those things that consciously goes unnoticed by some, but is subconsciously meant to "say" or communicate a message.

So, is this intended to suggest that when looking for service such as passport applications that the key piece of information one should look for is Ms. DiNolfo's name and title? The use of a rhetorical question here is intended by yours truly to suggest strongly that you know perfectly well what is being implied, as well as which politician's ego is being stroked by seeing there name (and office) in "lights."

Maybe the meaning is not so secret (or subtle) after all...



The message from a Monroe County banner: I love New York, Maggie Brooks,
and Sports--in no specific order.

Sources: Purdue Online Writing Lab

Comic Book Flashback: Woodsy Owl (1973)

Woodsy and the gang lend a hand to protect the land in Woodsy Owl #2 (1973).

Completely on a lark, I recently purchased some wa-a-a-ay back issues of a children's comic book I vaguely recalled from my very childhood, though I don't recall ever actually having read them. Woodsy Owl was a staple of Saturday morning children's television programming when I was a youngster. During the 1970's, there were few options for television programming, so Saturday morning's the place to be was (in my house anyway) on the floor in front of the televising watching whatever fabulous new Hannah-Barbara shows were being premiered.

Cover to issue #8 (1973).

Filling in the gaps along with commercials were public service announcements starring Woodsy. Woodsy's association with children's TV, as well as his popularity as a tool for anti-pollution eventually resulted in him having his own comic book published.

A few days ago I received a box from online retailer MyComicShop.com which included five issues of the Gold Key/Western Publishing series, Woodsy Owl. The entire series consisted of ten issues in  all released from 1973-1975. None of the issues I bought were in anywhere near "Fine" condition, but that was not why I purchased them in the first place. It is just kind of neat to have in my hands something that was released when I was four years-old, hand wanted, and am only now reading some forty years later.

Each issue tells the story of Woodsy and his friends (Loose Moose, Dinah Duck, Robby Raccoon, musical group The Auntie Polluters, and Bitsy among others) battling all types of pollution as well as presenting (a in a childlike manner) the impact of pollution on the environment. Perhaps foreshadowing the modern day comic book approach of having each cover be more of a pin-u than a refection of the book's contents, each cover of Woodsy Owl is a PSA all it's own asking the reader to "Give a Hoot!"

From Woodsy Owl #6: our hero convinces his friend to cross-dress so he can
have more time for his radio broadcasting career (seriously)!

Though only slightly anachronistic, Woodsy Owl remains an entertaining read all these years later. In some ways, I continue to believe that writing a quality all-ages title is much more challenging than a "dark" modern-superhero one, much in the same way I find the use of profanity in creative writing to often be a cheat. This challenge of entertaining on numerous levels is something that each issue of Woodsy Owl does well, even by today's (likely less discerning) entertainment standards.

Unfortunately, Woodsy Owl has never been collected into a trade paperback, but it is however available for purchase either online or in some longer-lived shops, at a reasonable price. The price is reasonable, that is, as long as it is an "entertainment" investment," rather than a speculative, financial one. I, for one, believe that's what comic book purchases should be anyway.

Election Eve Voting Running Fun!

Run: 6.3 miles in :47:22 min. @ 6:10 p.m.
Weather: Mostly Cloudy, 64°F, 56% Humidity, Wind: From SE at 8 mph; feels like 64°F.
Pace: 7:28 min/mi
Course:Around my neighborhood.

After a quick snack following my second consecutive pre-season Track and Field planning session with my fellow assistant coach, I picked up both my wife and son and set off for our polling place to vote.

It has been a long standing tradition that I take my son with me to vote. He enjoys pulling the levers and turning the "crank" to open and close the blind... and act he has only very recently been large enough (or strong enough) to do unassisted. I felt odd old when he reminded me that this presidential and the next in four years would be the last two he would be unable to vote in himself and that he looked forward to it.

"This year," he said as we pulled into the old school building we vote at," I think I'm looking more forward to the election than the Super Bowl."

Strong praise, indeed--now, let's hope the "team" we're pulling for pulls out the victory!

Change We Need (To Work For)

"Hello, my name is Scotty and I am a volunteer for Barack Obama's campaign for change..."

This Sunday afternoon, I forsook watching the Buffalo Bills game--not that I missed much apparently--to volunteer two hours to make phone calls on behalf of the Obama/Biden ticket. After avoiding (or just flat out ignoring) the inquiries for help the past week, I finally answered the call and made my way into the city shortly before noon to do my Democratic duty and work the phones in an effort to get the (Democrat) vote out.

Honestly, if I woke up Wednesday morning and McPalin was the president elect and I hadn't done more than donate money, wear a pin and place bumper stickers on my car, the depression I would surely feel anyway would be laced with guilt. Though the outcome of who will receive New York's electoral votes was never really been in question, for some states it is still remains to be determined how the chips will fall.

Given what I had heard in the news of late regarding the "tightening" of the race in Pennsylvania, I had assumed I would be calling there,. Instead, I was given a printout of registered voters from a number of voting districts in the state of Florida. The overall experience of being "part of the process" was a fascinating one and for a few hours I really felt part of a larger purpose, along with the thirty or so other folks from a variety of genders, ages and demographics. We each sat out our table, stool or folding chair in a building that was bare bones (and if I recall correctly a former bar I had been to in my youth), each of feverishly dialing our cell phones and spreading the word... or more often then not, leaving a message.

Each of the past two presidential elections, I have become incrementally more "involved" and this time I feel more "all in"... I guess with my own perception that the stakes are high (higher than ever I can recall), it feels to good to have done more than I had in the past... of course, either way, for all of us the real work begins November 4.

9 of 11 Shamans Recommend...

Good news, Democrats... "good vibes" are on the way to Senator Obama care of the Perivian shaman community!


MSNBC.com (and other news organization--amazingly!) is reporting that the Peruvian Shaman community has endorsed Senator Barack Obama in his quest for the United State Presidency. At a ritual to on La Herradura beach in Lima Wednesday, nine of the eleven faith-healers from the Apus-Inka healers' association said they foresee Obama winning the election.

Now, Obama can start measuring the drapes, friends!




(Please Note: the phtoo above is by Martin Mejia/AP)

BotB: Beards for Peace

When I first started dating lo those many moons ago, I was given the advice that when meeting a girl's parents there a certain subjects you stay away from, namely, religion and politics. While I am in no way addressing any particular young lady's mother, I am going to enter the previously uncharted (for this blog, anyway) country of politics.

While not a political blog (it's primary focus is "running," for goodness sake!), I do occasionally like to touch on topics spiritual; in nature, especially as I often regard my running as meditative. I thought I might venture into political territory under the guise of discussing an interesting Internet find while trolling for fodder for my Brotherhood of the Beard (BotB) posts.

Recently I came across a little site called Beards for Peace. The site has a unique suggestion for those (like I) who are unhappy with the current direction of United States foreign policy in Iraq... STOP SHAVING NOW!

Growing a beard is also a spiritual and cultural symbol of manhood in some cultures and faiths including Islam and Judaism. By taking this step, you are declaring solidarity with peoples of all faiths around the world, including the one the American leaders would label our 'enemy'.

As a member of the BotB, and proud cultivator of facial hair, I cannot fool anyone into believing that I have grown this beard purely out of activism, but if it can send the message of our disapproval, and the need for a more peaceful resolution, then good...

Fear not ladies, there is a sister organization for Beards for Peace, Women for Beards.

Breathe in, breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!