A Detour to the Second City

Normally, when I would write a post like this, it would start with a warning in big, bold letters in a different font - In the interests of full disclosure, a complimentary ticket was provided for this post. However, the tickets came at the right time for me emotionally - my mother has been in and out of the hospital for the past few months, and my sense of humor was sorely out of whack. (But not so much that, when one coworker asked for another coworker's headband, I asked if he was planning to wear red leather and sing "Working for the Weekend"). But I've only been to Second City once before, years ago - dating a woman on a regular basis (my first "real" girlfriend), not going anywhere, but howling with laughter at News for Dogs with its generation-defining cry of "snacky wacky time" However, the current review, America - All Better!, was a complete and absolute blast. Obviously, it's taking aim at the slightly over-the-top hopes in the wake of the Obama presidency...but it contains some real comedic gems. And oh, is it funny....two couples at various relationship stages have a discussion. Mayor Daley impresses the Olympic committee. Students in a public speaking class face their fears. Two WWE wrestlers And my personal highlight - a wedding DJ makes some...well, unusual choices for an impending event. To say any more would be spoiling a wall-to-wall entertaining show. Although the entire cast is simply brilliant, major kudos need to go to Lauren Ash. No, it's not necessarily her resume or her ability to handle herself onstage...it's just that, well, I imagine with our combined intelligence, wit, and looks, we could create a race of genetic superbeings destined to rule the planet. So Lauren, please, call me. Seriously. But anyway, enough of my yakkin' - in recent months, it has felt like I've been going through the motions in many aspects of my life. So much so that I've felt like my blogging has become cookie-cutter, with a lack of personality to it. Thanks to Second City for the reminder that sometimes, it's best to just work without a net...and that improv is more than just a theatrical tool.

Where Stories Come From: THE JOY OF JOE

(Revised 03/09/2024)

Now I know what you're thinking, and yes...I have been away. Freelance work has been pretty steady, my life is...well, it's there. I've been getting back into the swing of a semi-regular life, and have focused more time on the other blog, discussing comedy stars and free speech issues as well as recent celebrity passing.

But sometimes, I get so busy with the work/writing grind that I forget that I write things that will later be published...and they usually come from the most innocuous of sources.

For example, Jim Beard - he's the editor of Sequart Publishing's Gotham City 14 Miles; he's also put out a ton of great stories. He also looks like Bill Mumy and acts like Jonathan Harris.

(I kid, I kid).

Anyway, Jim reached out to fellow writers via Facebook; he was looking for people who played with G.I. Joe as a kid. Not just any G.I. Joe, mind you, but the classic large, 12-inch action figure; not the 4-inch monstrosities from the 1980s. He was also interested in having people write essays about their experience for The Joy of Joe, celebrating the classic toy line.

Although yes, I owned a GI Joe...I had no idea what to write about. It wasn't the centerpiece of my collection (my Mego Planet of the Apes, Star Trek, and DC Comics figures were my main focus of play), nor could I write about how I owned all the equipment. And I wasn't going to write about how my father would scold me for playing with dolls...

Oh, [expletive], I thought, I'm not going to have to...aw, [another expletive]. I have to, don't I...

See, one of the things about my childhood...was that I was an atypical male. I played with a baby doll at three years old. I was more sensitive than other kids. And I sewed GI Joe a sleeping bag.  That was the memory that I chose to focus on, and how that memory led to me becoming more than just a manly man who does manly things...

(Of course, I am still a manly man who does manly things; I'm just much more open and flexible about being a man).

Writing my essay "The Ultimate Accessory" for The Joy of Joe also allowed me to reconcile some of my feelings for my late father. My dad and I rarely, if ever, got along - Dad was a heady mix of Ken Titus, Ron Swanson, and your local neighborhood douchebag. Look up toxic masculinity in the dictionary, and you'll see my dad's picture...

(As you can guess, June is a rough month for me since Dad was born in early June and...well, Father's Day...and for those without a dictionary, just picture me with a mustache.)

But my essay allowed me, on some level, to embrace some of the more unique aspects of growing up male. It also allowed me to look back with some nostalgia, viewing the past through half-rimmed rose-colored glasses. Yet it also allowed me to let go of my upbringing and continue the cycle of self-assessment and self-acceptance that I have been experiencing since...well, since I moved to care for Mom after last year's health issues.

Although it may seem trivial, writing my essay for The Joy of Joe was a bit of a release for me. It's a bit more self-revelatory than most of my other writing (including my blogs), but it's a great next step before my latest pulp fiction is published...

But check out The Joy of Joe, available in softcover and Kindle: you won't be disappointed.

Where Stories Come From: Essays - A CELEBRATION OF SLASHERS

(Revised 03/09/2024)

So you're probably thinking...."Gee, Gordon, why are you involved with a Celebration of Slashers? After all, just because you wrote a short story about lady vampires doesn't make you a horror dude."

Well, no...and technically, I cheated. Sort of.

(And although I enjoy horror films, my only major horror achievement was conning my parents into taking a teenage me to see a triple bill of Cat People, American Werewolf in London, and Halloween 2).

I've spoken about my involvement with Paul Booth and DePaul's Pop Culture Conferences in a previous post. Last year, I opted not to participate in DePaul's Celebration of Harry Potter because 1) I'm not really a Harry Potter fan and 2) Mom was  sick...so when I saw this year's topic, I was...not impressed.

However, I was impressed with the keynote speaker - Rachel Talalay, who directed Doctor Who and was involved with the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. So I wanted to find an excuse to attend (and yes, I love seeing my name in print...I'm still gobsmacked over the reaction to my C2E2 Doctor Who panel)

So I suggested two topics, both of which appear in the A Celebration of Slashers book of essays/presentations.

My first presentation - since the Celebration was marking the 40th anniversary of Halloween - was a retrospective of John Carpenter's film career. And yes, I have seen every film Carpenter's made except The Ward.

The other essay I wrote concerned the "death" of Gothic horror in pop culture (or "How did we get from Hammer and Roger Corman's Poe adaptations to Halloween and Friday the 13th?")

Well, the answer involves Doctor Who, Richard Matheson, Dark Shadows, and a concept noted in this YouTube Video:



I won't go into too much detail, but suffice it to say...it was a gradual overuse of tropes.

This was a little different than my usual pop culture stalking grounds, and I'll be gobsmacked if I can think of something for next year's celebration (aka A Celebration of Disney), but for one shining moment...I was able to stretch my wings.

Be sure to purchase a copy of A Celebration of Slashers via my Amazon Author page. All proceeds go to Good Girl Media, and quite honestly - there's some really good reading in it.

Your Monthly Summary of Online Shenanigans

If you've been following this blog, you know I've been busy with convention appearances, panels, and all sorts of fun...but now that things are starting to die down, I thought I would highlight some of my online appearances and writings.

For example - for many of you, I appear to be "crushing it", or "the favorite phrase of egotistical douchebags everywhere". Here's my recent Chicago Now post about the myth of "crushing it".

Not only am I proud of my recent C2E2 Doctor Who panel (thanks Dawn, Shira, Karlyn & Phil!), but it's also been written up by Culturess and FangirlBlog. I'm always proud to see my name in print...yes, I am that egotistical.

(A note to Russian hackers - if you're going to contact me via my personal website, please don't write in Cyrillic. It's a dead giveaway that you're looking for me to send my password to you. I'm not that dumb, you know)

In case you missed them - my answers to Sean Taylor's Writer Roundtables on "literary pulp" and "classic tropes".

Also, when I'm not writing or speaking on panels, I'm discussing content creation and thought leadership in #ContentWritingChat on Twitter. Enjoy the transcripts!

Finally, if you missed my appearance at DePaul's recent Celebration of Slashers, click the link and order my essays. Trust me, you'll enjoy them.

Where Stories Come From: TIME LORDS & TRIBBLES, WINCHESTERS & MUGGLES

(Revised 03/09/2024)

I know what you're thinking...Gordon, why are you including something that looks so....academic? And what's the deal with calling it "Where Stories Come From" because they're scholarly papers?

My answer: my blog, my rules. 

I can't talk about my two essays in Time Lords & Tribbles, Winchesters, and Muggles without talking about Paul Booth. Paul and I met at Chicago TARDIS during 2012 (At least, I think it was 2012...either my memory is failing or I drank too much tequila last night) Having run a full-day conference focusing on Doctor Who earlier that year, Paul and I hit it off...of course, what he didn't know at the time was that my father was an alumnus of DePaul University.

(After 2013, I had received marketing certification from DePaul. Small world).

My involvement with DePaul's Pop Culture Conference continued - I sat on a panel on problematic tropes in Joss Whedon's work for Chicago Nerd Social Club, and the third year I sat on a panel on pulp themes in Supernatural. (To prep, I binge-watched eight out of ten seasons of Supernatural...which is seven seasons too many). My last Pop Culture Conference was three years ago, focusing on Star Trek (and running a panel on Deep Space Nine). 

When Paul requested papers for the Time Lords & Tribbles, Winchesters and Muggles collection, my first idea was obvious - a reexamination of Sisko as Star Trek captain. Unlike Kirk or Picard, Sisko was a realist who found himself making ethically challenging decisions in a very murky situation. (Plus, I think Avery Brooks is a very underrated actor). Plus, I already had my notes from the panel (assembled because I had also moderated a screening of Deep Space Nine's Trials and Tribble-ations), so it was easy for me to add that article to my (then) 2017 writing docket...

But then, as things like this tend to happen, Paul needed more articles, and I thought, "OK, there's no way I'm going to write about Supernatural...but do I have notes from the Joss Whedon celebration?"

Short answer: I didn't, but I had come across an old blog post claiming that Serenity/Firefly was better than Star Trek....and then an old idea came to mind.

In that post, I stated that "...Mal Reynolds probably shares more with Raymond Chandler's heroes than Louis L'Amour", and the idea popped in my head: comparing Mal Reynolds (as a character) to Raymond Chandler's "knight errant" as outlined in his essay The Simple Art of Murder....of course, there were two things that prevented me from performing an examination of the entire series.

Time (One ninety-minute and twelve forty-five-minute episodes don't watch themselves, especially with a quick deadline) and word count.

So in that spirit, I limited myself to the ninety-minute pilot and used Chandler's essay as a template. After running some trial titles on Facebook, I chose to name my essay "Neither Shiny Nor Afraid", which reflects the Chandlerian cliche of a hero being "neither tarnished nor afraid". It's one of the best essays I've written, and quite honestly, I enjoy writing the occasional scholarly article...

...especially since proceeds from book sales to Global Girl Media, which is "dedicated to empowering high school age girls from under-served communities around the world through media, leadership and journalistic training to have a voice in the global media universe and their own futures."

(As readers of this blog are also aware, I've contributed to a benefit book focused on creatives and depression, and have also promoted fundraising efforts for Puerto Rico).

If you can't find Time Lords & Tribbles, Winchesters & Muggles via my Amazon author page, you can order it directly via this link.

Deep Thoughts: Introducing the "Nerd Paradox"

Much of this is going to be a bit rambling, and maybe a bit obvious to many of you. For me, it's trying to wrap my brain around quite a bit that's happening in nerd and "New Pulp" culture. This is less of an academic piece and more of a rant...but I'm willing to live with that, and I hope this either spurs on further conversation, and/or points me in the direction of current thought.

Recently, there was news that Damen Lindelof would develop a Watchmen series for HBO....and something just broke in me. I actually found myself hating Watchmen in any form....

....and it's been frustrating to deal with friends and colleagues engage in full-on fan entitlement, complaining about the "design" of Star Trek: Discovery ("It doesn't follow the original show of 50 years ago!") to pulp characters that are over 80 years old ("If it doesn't fit the canon, it's not worth it.") (Or even a recent Doctor Who meetup where an attendee extended our venue time without my knowledge, insulted the venue, and basically disrupted the entire affair). It's even extended to Internet culture, with white dudebros on YouTube mocking the performance of the recent Ghostbusters reboot or claiming that a recent fan film settlement was out of line because this particular franchise "belongs to the people."

My first response is, "No it isn't - intellectual property". But the second - and more measured - response is a response to what I'm calling the "Nerd Paradox."

When we engage in any creative work or works, we develop an affinity for it - we like what we like and we dislike what we dislike. For many of us, that identification becomes so strong that it feels like that creative work (or franchise) "belongs" to us...and it doesn't. We own our reactions, our beliefs, our "feels" if you like....but we don't own the franchise. Part of building any franchise is taking risks: seeing what works and building upon it for modern times. If you're lucky, you get something that builds and expands upon the original (Battlestar Galactica); if you're not, you get....something else.

In addition, though, we crave the new and exciting. We want to see change (or more accurately, as Stan Lee once put it, "the illusion of change") yet somehow feel like our favorite franchises are still the same. (It would be strange if Doctor Who, for example, became a wacky sitcom about a chiropractor with short-term memory problems). There's a tension between being surprised in the same way when we first encountered this work and wanting the comfort of familiarity.

So the Nerd Paradox goes something like this:

"If you are going to make so many changes in this character/franchise, don't call it that franchise...yet, if you give me a new character that has too many changes from the old, why not just call it the old character".

Or, to use Star Trek as an example:

"Star Trek: Discovery looks like a bomb because they're not really following the design or continuity of the past series..." Yet, how many times have there been space operas/science fiction shows where someone has said, "It's enough like Star Trek...so why not call it Star Trek?"

It's frustrating both as a fan and a writer/creator....as a fan, it makes it much tougher to have conversations because any criticism gets serious push back. (Criticize the inconsistencies of how Clara Oswald is written in Doctor Who and the result is "...but I liked her.") Try to have a conversation about what might work about a franchise, and the result is defensiveness (so for many of my New Pulp colleagues: you may think Chris Hemsworth would make a better Doc Savage than Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, but the truth is that in this media climate, an actor who doesn't have any major movie successes outside of Marvel Studios may not be the best choice).

Right now, the three major goals of any entertainment company are 1) Exploiting their existing intellectual properties (and "exploit" is not pejorative in this case); 2) Creating a "tentpole" franchise that is sustainable over several movies, and 3) planning out either trilogies or "cinematic universes" to foster that sustainability. Sadly, our media culture is moving away from originality into something that is more "bankable" and familiar....and unfortunately, the nerd paradox is still coming into play, and I don't really see a way out.

Yes, I've rambled for a bit, but mostly this is a "get-these-thoughts-out-of-my-head-and-on-the-blog" type of post. I'm more than happy to continue this conversation, and welcome your comments...especially if I'm either stating the obvious or just plain wrong about this.

A (Slightly Awkward) Tribute to Adam West

I have to admit that, in light of Adam West's passing, that I wasn't....always....the most faithful of fans. Oh, sure, I grew up with the 1960s Batman. Hell, I dressed up as Batman for Halloween. Several times.

But once I hit my twenties, something happened.

Maybe it was the Keaton movie...or the animated series...but for some reason, I found the 1960s Batman quite corny. Eye rolling.

In short, I was one of those "dark, gritty fanboys" that Bob Chip discusses in his Adam West tribute:


Perhaps I had gotten too "cool for school" - after all, I hadn't actually watched the show. (No markets in St. Louis carried the show, and YouTube hadn't been invented). But gradually, I realized something...

...it was supposed to be corny.

Read a 1960s-era Batman comic, and it's slightly goofy. Not as goofy as time-travelling, gimmicky Batman of the 1950s, but it goofy nonetheless. And the Batman television show reflected that goofiness.

However, Adam West actually took it somewhat more seriously....but giving it a slightly dry tone. In many ways, he was the Bruce Campbell of his time.

And quite honestly, if it weren't for his deadpan performance, the show would have not passed a single season.

Since moving back to Chicago, I've had the opportunity to catch reruns of Batman on MeTV. (In fact, MeTV is holding a day-long Adam West retrospective on June 17th). Although some of the humor is a bit cringe-worthy....the show still holds up, and Adam West never gives a bad performance.

Which is why I can say, without hipsterish irony, that Adam West will be missed.

Muhammad Ali: He Really *Was* The Greatest

It's really hard to describe how prevalent Muhammad Ali was in the prevailing culture of my youth: he was a well-known boxer, star of his own Saturday morning cartoon, and a person bordering on omnipresent.

What I didn't learn until much later was that he was remarkable in another way.

During the Vietnam War, Muhammad Ali - having changed his name from "Cassius Clay" after converting to Islam - publicly declared that he would not serve in Vietnam.

My memory is hazy on the details (learning about this incident from a documentary), but Ali took a highly controversial - and very defiant - stance by refusing to serve.

So although many others will (rightfully) mourn his loss because of his boxing and athletic prowess....I'll miss a man who demonstrated great courage during a turbulent time.

Kick off African-American History Month with MACKED, HAMMERED, SLAUGHTERED & SHAFTED

Macked, Hammered, Slaughtered, & Shafted - a blaxploitation documentary from David F Walker on Vimeo.

Came across this while reading Derrick Ferguson's movie review blog.

Many of his sentiments and opinions echo my own, so I thought that rather than repeat what he said, post both his review....and the direct link to the film.

Definitely a must-watch.

Patrick Macnee: A Tribute

To say that Patrick Macnee had a significant effect on my life would be....an understatement. 

Like many of my peers, I was a tv/movie brat who spent numerous hours late at night scanning for obscure things to watch on a small, portable black & white television.

(Yes, I lived during a time when tv sets were available in black and white. And there were only three networks - four including PBS. Don't be so ageist!)

One night, eight years old, I came across something called Murdersville late on a Friday night. That was my introduction to a show called The Avengers (which I knew automatically had no connection to the Marvel comic)....and to a man who was a kind of masculine role model.

Most boys idolized sports stars, action heroes, and GI Joe. My role models growing up were Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner, Jon Pertwee, and Patrick Macnee...and Macnee was the most influential.

See, most of the men in my family....OK, my father loved four things: Sherlock Holmes, war movies (especially World War II), westerns, and mafia dramas. Most of the other men in my family....well, let's just say that I was deemed as "strange" because I could sew. And didn't date up a storm in high school (low self-esteem will do that to a man, but that's a blog post for another day).

But Macnee as Steed was not only attainable - he was ideal. Witty, urbane, well-read, intelligent - I could be all of those things. His dress sense was something I could also reflect (my father had plenty of nice suits - after all, he was an attorney), and there was a confidence about him that never seemed overdone.

But the thing that really impressed me was how he related to Emma Peel. It was friendly, flirtatious, and yet with a strong sense of equality. There wasn't the kind of will-they-won't-they that permeated many shows that came after (I'm looking at you, Moonlighting), nor was it the application of easy "action babe/sidekick" tropes prevalent in modern shows (I'm looking at you, collective works of Joss Whedon). You knew that Steed liked Mrs. Peel - even if only professionally - and there was always an undercurrent of class about the man.

(Watching the very early episodes of The Avengers, Steed started as a harder-edged character and grew into an Edwardian gentleman. Ironically, only two months ago I wrote about The Avengers for Comic Related. As I noted on Facebook, I might want to reconsider what I write about for the site).

In fact, he's one of the few "role models" I have met in real life - years ago, when Macnee released his autobiography Blind In One Ear , I attended a signing at a downtown bookstore. Cutting class, I was one of the first in line to purchase and have it signed. Waited about half an hour before Macnee came - on time - wearing (if memory serves) an impeccably tailored white suit (which was never advised in Chicago back then - we were a rather dingy, dirty city).

Moving towards the front of the line, I handed my book to Macnee eagerly. He asked my name, and as he signed the book, I mentioned how much of an influence he had on me...in that eager, earnest way that many do when meeting "celebrities." Flashing a smile, he handed me the book and simply said, "Thank you - you're too kind."

He was every bit as charming, urbane, and self-assured as I expected. And yes, he will be missed.

5 Reasons to Watch LAST WEEK TONIGHT on HBO

As many of you readers know, I like a little bit of pop culture mixed in with my politics and news analysis. So my most recent find - HBO's Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - has been on my must-watch list for some time now. Why, you may ask? Well, here are five reasons why this show is a must-watch and a can't-miss.

1. It's like a Sunday morning news show, but with better jokes - Unlike The Daily Show and Real Time, Last Week Tonight focuses on one major and one or two "smaller" stories, giving them a real depth of exploration....as well as making some really great jokes. (Check out this NSFW piece on Warren G. Harding's love letters....and that's not me being clever. I did type "Warren G. Harding" out loud.)
2. It brings a much more global perspective to American news - Perhaps it's because John Oliver is British, but there's a much broader scope than either Maher or Stewart, as stories have focused on everything from the World Cup in Brazil to how the US shaped LGBTQ policies in Uganda. For someone who has had enough of the "look how (the opposition) is acting" online, knowing that the world exists outside of Washington DC is a nice, pleasant relief.
3. Oliver brings charm and class to the snark - Again, maybe it is because he's British, but with his Daily Show pedigree, there is a certain amount of trust Oliver engenders...and at the very least, it pays for those annoying BBC America DVD commercials
4. It's not ashamed to have a strong opinion - Last Week Tonight manages to state its case in each piece without relying on The Daily Show's "We're comedians, not journalists - honest!" posturing nor Real Time's "How can you not agree with us - we're right!" smugness. There's an easy confidence and a sharp, critical mind behind the comedy, and finally...
5. It's a basic cable show you don't need to illegally download - Although new episodes are show on Sunday nights, they're usually posted (in edited form) on their YouTube channel (they also have a healthy presence on Facebook and Twitter). So no matter what, you can easily enjoy this show and "binge watch", as the kids say)

In that spirit, I'm embedding a few of my favorite pieces from the show - that way, you don't even have to leave this web site. But if you want to catch first-run episodes, check your local listings for Last Week Tonight, Sunday nights on HBO

Rik Mayall - A Not-Quite-Appropriate Tribute

But if you're single, lonely, and desperate (for me, two out of three ain't bad), why not watch Bottom on DVD It's the Young Ones (or, more especially, Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson) channelling Beavis & Butthead as two single losers. You'll laugh your tuckus off. 

Hard to believe it's been slightly over eight years since I wrote that review....and I don't think any writer has used the word "tuckus" in casual conversation since Berke Breathed's run on Bloom County.

But it is a kind of strange parallel - I've been watching a lot of Blackadder in my effort to "catch up" on shows I missed "back in the day."


(It was the dark days of Chicago cable, and my mom and dad were concerned with more important matters like sending me to college and making sure I had a roof over my head. Sue me.)

Anyway, I was really shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Rik Mayall.  He is everything I want in a comedian - rude, snarky, and openly inappropriate, almost like a punk rock Groucho Marx.

(Only I think Groucho would have been a little less....well, rude)

Ironically, it seems like these times deserve some rudeness....and I can't help thinking about an interaction I had on social media channel. Confronted by someone being self-important when I attempted to be the voice of insanity, I....walked away from the keyboard.

It was at that moment that I wanted to be Rik Mayall....yes, I might have been booted from this group, but it would have been fun.

Below are some choice viewings - I still recommend Bottom, as well as Young Ones and Blackadder Series Two and Four. Plus, I get a small percentage from orders from the widget below, so you'll be supporting me as well....

RIP, Rik Mayall. we need you now, more than ever.

Your Easter Viewing Moment of Zen

While I'm heading to Mom's to enjoy an Easter feast, here's some videos to help you pass the time.

First, the latest Batman video (by Bruce Timm) that you may have seen floating around the Internet:




Next, a BBC documentary about Machiavelli that basks in several layers of pop culture television goodness:




Your Cab Calloway/Betty Boop crossover moment of zen:




And finally, one of my favorite episodes of Leverage - see if you can guess why? (And yes, I've posted this before).



Happy Easter, everyone!

Argument & Rhetoric Basics

Offered as a public service to those of you who wish to become better advocates and argue for your cause.

First, here's the best introductory lesson in how to argue, used in college philosophy courses everywhere:


And to see some of these principles in action, let me offer Mr. Bill Nye as a master:

Blog THIS, Pal - 2013 In Review

It's become a regular yearly tradition on the blog - I don't know who I "borrowed" this from, but it's a great thing to do. Simply put, I review the blog month-by-month, randomly select a quote, and post it as a way to drive traffic (especially away from that nasty cybersquatter....but more on him later) and have some fun.

(Yes, I admit there was a drought due to personal matters, so I may have a smaller sample to choose from, but I think there's plenty available for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

January - One of the qualities many great bands have is that talking about them is like sharing a secret

February -  I'm especially proud of the job I've done in interviewing him (and yes, I did take the lead, having thoroughly read the book from cover to cover).

March - Without him, it's safe to say,much contemporary popular culture would have a much different nature and character.

April - Unlike 20 years ago, Andy won't be there (he's living in Vegas, and is more than likely on the road as I write this), and I'll actually be funny.


May - Ok, so all of you long-standing readers have probably been wondering...where the heck hasGordon been

Via Zone 4

June - Doctor Who as pulp fiction?

July - It's all Barry Reese's fault.

August - As a side note - can we all agree to lose the term "nerd blackface"?

September - Somewhere in this story is a great book - a Barbarians At the Gate or The Smartest Guys In the Room - about DC Entertainment. I just refuse to be one of the people who helps write it.

October - Compassion seems to be a dirty word these days. Hopefully, my recent loss can help me change that.

November - ....mostly, it gives a pretty good reason to get out of bed in the morning. Even if it's 3:00 am and spent clicking away at a keyboard.

December -  Mark my words - Capaldi's eyebrows will be Series 8's "Bad Wolf"

And so here's hoping to a healthy and prosperous 2014!

SUPERMAN: THE UNAUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY

This past year has seen a plethora of celebrations - you have all of November to see one pop culture franchise's anniversary, but the 75th anniversary of Superman has also been prominent. (And I would like to protest that we should have seen more for Doc Savage's 80th, but there you go). Much like Larry Tye's book about the character, Glen Weldon's Superman: The Unauthorized Biography is a really interesting exploration.

Now, it's a much different take and tone on the character - thankfully, Weldon's book feels much more thorough in exploring some of the more interesting aspects of Superman's development. (However - and maybe this comes from Weldon's co-hosting duties on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast - there seems to be some moments where the humor is overplayed; Weldon's fascination with Superman's mullet seems a little gratuitous). It is much more thorough, including the syndicated Superboy series of the late 1980s, as well as some of more interesting side treks. (Any book that focuses on Superpup really can't be all that bad).

Now, this is not a bad book by any means - it's actually witty, engaging, and hits all of the familiar marks. In short, it's worth reading alongside Larry Tye's Superman: both books provide a well-balanced take on Superman in comics, television, movies, etc. As someone suffering a bit of burnout over a favorite franchise with an anniversary in November, reading this book was a welcome relief as Weldon attempts to explore the character in historical context....but does so with a well-needed sense of perspective and humor. It's a great, breezy read, and is well worth exploring.
Definitely worth your time....but be sure you fit in Larry Tye's Superman as well. Both books in tandem (and it doesn't matter which one is read first) provide a thorough explanation of the Man of Steel.

Lou Reed: An Appreciation of a Different Sort

When I read the news that Lou Reed had passed away, I was a bit moved....but not for the reasons you might think.

In all honesty, most of my appreciation for his work involves the Velvet Underground's album (especially their 3rd one, which is a vastly underrated gem, in my opinion), and a handful of albums from the mid to late 1980s. This is not to denigrate his other work, but to put it into perspective.

Much of my recent fascination with Reed was through some aspects of his recent life - as his obituaries state, he passed due to complications from a recent liver transplant. As many of you are aware, my mother had a transplant several years ago - she's fine, by the way - and I can't help but feel a bit of kinship.

For the record - Mom's liver had developed issues due to complications of diabetes. She was an absolute teetotaller in her life, having never engaged in drug use and the last rare alcoholic drink over twenty years ago. So thinking that Lou Reed's past substance use should preclude him from liver issues.....not the case. Just trying to put it in perspective.

Living before, during, and after a transplant is not easy. First, there's the ever-present realization that in order for a transplant to occur - especially for a major organ like the liver - someone has to pass on. Essentially, you wish for someone else to die before your loved one can go well. It gives new meaning to the phrase "needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few". There's also the changes in lifestyle - at her best, my mother was dependent on lactulose - a foul-smelling medicine that looked much like motor oil. (Mom left the taste up to my imagination). At her worst, ammonia built up in Mom's brain, and her behavior resembled nothing more than alcoholic dementia. In fact, the final time she was hospitalized, she was released on the first Sunday in May because the doctors "wanted her to be comfortable....around loved ones."

Thankfully, early in the morning on the first Monday in May, we received the call that an appropriate liver had come through, and Mom had her surgery.
In the interim, Mom's life is much different...but better. Yes, she has a variety of medications she needs to take to avoid rejection. She also sees a variety of doctors, and she claims that the surgery scars resemble a Mercedes logo. (On that, I will take her word for it.). It has meant a bit more of a strain on my lifestyle, but life post-transplant has been much easier...although I still have to argue with others about caring for Mom (she has other external services for that) versus focusing on my own life. It's also....well, some people in my life could use strengthening of character, but this isn't an experience I would wish on anyone.

As I'm typing this, the Velvet Underground's third album is playing - Lou Reed has an abundant body of work that will last long after his demise. Thankfully, this experience has given me two things - a renewed desire to live each day to its fullest, and a parent who has another extra day - and several years of extra days - due to medical intervention.

All in all, that's a fair exchange, isn't it?

What Evil Lurks: Rediscovering the Pulp SHADOW

It's all Barry Reese's fault.

I've been listening quite a bit to his Shadow Fan podcast, focusing on the best known pulp character - possibly, one of the first true multimedia characters....and have been reacquainting myself on pulp reprints of The Shadow.

Now, in all honesty, I know the Shadow mostly through the old radio series - guns a-blazing, discovering all sorts of mystery and intrigue, almost like a traditional superhero. But the pulp Shadow? Knight and day.

The pulp Shadow is more....well, he's more Jim Phelps than Bruce Wayne - organizing a group of operatives who do most of the ground work, and then the Shadow comes out at the end to make sure that the fruit of the weed of crime is most bitter.

(Some of you will take exception to what I have just said - I'm new to the pulp Shadow. Don't judge me)

But the Shadow in pulp form is a wonder to behold....and easily available for purchase.

Trust me, it's a way to learn about the history of pop culture....and gain a different perspective on a well-known character.

Update: The HIRE ME, PAL! Initiative

I thought it was the craziest idea I ever had - create a social media campaign to not only sharpen my marketing skills, but also engage networks online. After all, if I could hear of how others received fame and fortune through social media, I could receive....a modicum of attention.

Simple, really - encourage people to share the link http://bit.ly/HireMePal (or my Linked In profile) on social media (using the #hiremepal hashtag on Twitter), and those who did would receive a free PDF e-book. (If you've done so and I've missed it, just leave a comment below). Although I haven't seen much traction (after all, it's been active for less than a month), I have had one interview, and a plethora of leads that I am pursuing....but I also have some observations and conclusions:

• For my non-profit minded friends; when I network and ask for contacts, please don't just send me NPO.net's job listings. I am well aware of them; what I'm looking for is to reach out to decision makers so that I can get the inside track. 
• Roger once asked why I wasn't hired yet - and sadly, many employers are choosing to delay new hires for a variety of reasons.
• Just a note - if you run a networking event, and you continually brag about the number of attendees over a certain amount (say, 100), you've just crossed the line to becoming a cocktail party. Nothing wrong with that, but as someone with limited resources, I'm looking to make connections, not meet a two drink minimum.
• Personal highlight: a recruiter reached out to me for a position in the northwest surburbs. I ask if it is accessible by Metra or Pace (i.e., public transportation). Via e-mail, I'm told "No, but would you be willing to purchase a car for a full-time job"? I'm not sure if this question is legal (the job involved no travel, and was strictly a 9 to 5 desk job) - any thoughts?
• For those who would state that "Finding a Job Is a Full-Time Job"....I broke down my efforts, and I'm spending 25 - 30 hours finding leads, following up, applying (including customizing my resume) networking and interviewing. Besides, I would rather place my efforts where they're needed than mindlessly spraying the Internet with resumes.
• For my local (and not quite local) pals who've sent me leads and opportunities - thanks. You have my eternal gratitude and I promise, once I'm employed, I will purchase for you the beverage of your choice. 
• By the way, I'm also available for freelance. For a career overview, you can visit http://www.gordondymowski.com
• Also, I do have some potential cool projects that I am waiting on, and I can't talk about them privately. Mostly because they're very tentative, but if they work out....who knows? But I'm keeping active in the meantime.

So I'm still in it to win it, and I'm seeking both freelance and full-time (would prefer the latter, but the former's nice). I'm looking for a social media position, preferably in non-profits and/or the comics and/or popular culture field. So please feel free to spread the word - simply write/podcast/blog/Tweet/engage online around http://bit.ly/HireMePal, and you'll get my eternal thanks, a free ebook....and the fact that you helped someone who is in their hour of need. 

Movie Ratings Through The Years - In Video Form

Offered with minimal comment and apology (with some slightly NSFW content at the end):

How Movie Ratings Were First Described:


My Personal Favorite Explanation of Movie Ratings:


Why Movie Ratings May Not Be As Respected As They Once Were: