Hostages of 24
Funny how my terrorist is always the same guy. I must have some inner prejudice against bald men. Or maybe I’m terrified by bald men. Also, after I was all done drawing and scanning in the art, and was arranging things in Xara, for the final steps, I noticed that the woman was not tied to the chair. Season 16’s terrorist is apparently not the most challenging adversary for our man Jack.
Big, big news this week in the comic world. And this time, it came suddenly without weeks of advance hype. And it’s already been spoiled by CNN and the rest of the media, so I don’t feel too bad just coming out and saying Captain America was killed in Wednesday’s Captain America #25. The issue is iFanboy’s pick of the week, and I am very much looking forward to their podcast this weekend to hear what they think of it all.
I was lucky enough to catch wind of the big news Wednesday morning and asked Ken at my favorite comic store, Arch Enemy Comics, to set one aside for me, which he graciously did even though people were coming in to buy the issue in mass quantities. The funny thing is, being a Marvel Civil War completist, I was planning on picking it up this week, but there are always issues of Captain America laying around at the comic store, so I wasn’t worried about adding it to my “box”. The Cap just hasn’t been a title that sells out typically, like many of the other Civil War issues that Marvel has been churning out. So…close call.
Many discussions have been going on all over the net as to what this means. Is it permanent? Will someone else take up the moniker and carry on in Steve Roger’s place? The interviews with Marvel indicate that they are using their characters in Civil War to make a statement about current events. So if this is true, what are they trying to say by killing Cap? That the American spirit and mentality that Captain America embodied in the 1940’s and beyond is now dead? And if the speculation turns out to be true that The Punisher is going to now be the new Captain America, what does that say about what the attitude and spirit of our nation has become? Have we changed from being concerned with what is right and always standing by that to now being a nation that shoots first and asks ques…well…shoots first? I personally really like what Marvel is doing in their storytelling. I think it really gives comic fans some material for real debate. And the fans are rising to that challenge quite nicely.
And of course the other big news this week in the comic world is that “300″ is now out in theaters. Hmm…to go now or to wait? I subjected myself to “Sin City” many months ago and was not a fan. So, I’m hesitant. The thing is, “300″ is a highly respected graphic novel in the comicshpere. So…I dunno. I may end up having some time to myself Saturday without the kids, so if the urge strikes me, I may risk it. Depends on what the dollar theater is playing. 
Happy Friday, all!
March 9th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
True, that type of American Pride is dying off. But I feel there is hope. As long as they don’t bring Capt. as a “gay/tree hugging hippie..ect…” like capt. planet.
As for your toon, I thought the woman was wearing a brown belt…. As for the bald thing….
I do love your Jack Bauer. I think it would make a cool T-shirt. Have him looking at Nergon. “not sure if I should shoot you , or just run”
March 9th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Hey, Toby and I will go with ya to see ‘300!’ He’s already clamoring to go see it.
So now that they’ve killed CA off will my CA #100 (http://www.tomheroes.com/Comics/Covers/captain_america_100.htm) will be worth more?
One last thing: I am really, really relieved that you add the “prop gun” disclaimer to your strips. I would be extermely uncomfortable thinking it was a real cartoon gun being held to characters heads! ;D
March 9th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
I think we definitely should go check it out tomorrow! And in digital!
Your Cap 100 may very well be worth more. That would be sweet! I wish comics still cost 12 cents…. It hadn’t occurred to me until just recently that it’s kind of odd that Marvel is on Captain America 25. I know they’ve already had a LOT more issues than that in the past. It must be one of their reboots but without the Ulitimate name tacked onto it or something. I dunno, I only started getting it when Civil War started.
I feel kinda dumb frequenting the comic stores now as a 32-year-old, but I’m having a lot of fun and becoming a big Marvel fan. I only read comics very occasionally as a kid, so I feel like I missed out on something that would have been right up my alley. Especially when all these comic book movies come out. Time to catch up on some lost childhood.
Your prop gun comment made me laugh.
When I started drawing Wednesday’s toon, I suddenly realized I was about to draw one character holding a gun to another character’s head and it kind of shocked me. So putting “Prop gun” there was my way of being silly and lightening the mood enough for me to be comfortable. 
Kinda dumb, huh? 
March 9th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
you’re tho thenthitive