Hello World

The daily superhero comics are generally abysmal, but today's Spiderman really makes you think.



Yes, that's right: characters from DC comics mentioned in a Marvel comic! What is this world coming to?

There have been DC/Marvel comics crossovers before, but I think this is a little different. This comic reveals a fundamental difference between DC and Marvel: Marvel comics are set in the real world, while DC comics take place in a fantasy land. That's why the Fantastic Four live in New York City, while Batman roams the darkened alleys of "Gotham." So this isn't a true crossover--this is just Marvel taking a little shot at DC for being totally unrealistic (ignore the man with the independently-controlled bionic tentacles for the moment). Or, more accurately, a silly little in-joke that rabid fanboys will jump on and attach far more meaning to than it deserves. Plus, I don't really know this but I am willing to bet that nerds don't consider the daily strip part of the "canon." So it's not really a big deal at all.

However, if there's one lesson to take from all this I think it is this: Spiderman 3 is gonna be awesome.

Cross-posted.

It's Garfield, but good. Seriously wonderful and heartbreaking. As a commenter notes, "it's pretty mind-boggling how close Jim Davis is to a good comic; all he has to do is stop making excuses for his characters' actions."

[ferret]

midendian notes, briefly, the new AT&T logo, as well as the fact that from now on I'll have to call it "at&t" instead. This reminds me of something I wrote a month ago, when it looked like the classic logo was to be put to pasture. As it is, they've adulterated it with more white space and lessened the impact of the original, but better to have this second-class version than to lose it entirely.

I don't care if it's just part of an enormous marketing campaign to sell the new collection, I never get tired of reading about Calvin and Hobbes. Slate has a piece that is notable only because a) it analyzes the strip a bit more than seems plausible to me (keep an eye out for "at the end of the mezozoic era") and b) it reproduces C&H's final strip. Man, I miss reading this strip every day. I hope Watterson has spent the last 10 years quietly working on something great that he'll eventually let us see. But I doubt it.

Although AT&T’s name will live on after its acquisition by SBC, its famous logo is poised for retirement. Designed by Saul Bass, the AT&T logo is one of the most recognizable in the world. It was kind of a big deal. As that article from the Design Observer notes, Bass's creation deserves to be remembered, even as it is obsoleted.

For a look back at Bell/AT&T’s logo history, check this page. And, seriously, if you are interested in design at all, you should definitely take a gander at that.

[kottke]

This video, a demonstration of a drawing tool that, well, it's hard to describe. It uses an integrated camera to digitally paint with images and video from real life. It's freaking awesome. Watch it now.

My internet friend catherine put up a very thought-provoking post today, that ended up in a comments-brawl about whether bands should be obligated to play their long-dead hits at shows. I weighed in on the side of playing what the fans want, but I can see the artists' point as well. I'm not going to say any more about it, since I already ended up blathering enough on catherine's blog.

But I will take the opportunity to link you to what I think is a pretty fascinating link on the general subject of "selling out": Dave Eggers goes off on the Harvard Advocate.

Here's an interview between Chip Kidd (who is a graphic designer responsible for dozens of book covers, including Jurassic Park, as well as an author and photographer if I'm remembering correctly) and Milton Glaser (the legend who came up with the "I [heart] NY" design).

CK: Did you make any money off of it?

MG: No. It was all pro bono.

CK: Oh my God. “I ‘Heart’ New York” was pro bono! Yikes! Frightening!

MG: No, that’s what it should be. You want to do things like that, where you feel you can actually change things.

CK: Yes, and affect the culture. Do you mind that the logo is ripped off so much?

MG: No. I mean, look, we have such a weird idea of the relationship of design to the culture, but—I believe the best people in the world are involved in making things. There’s this talk I give in which I compare the idea of Thanatos and Eros, the instinct towards death and the instinct towards life. And people who make things are on the side of Eros. For the right project, you can get good people—the best people—to work for nothing, which is one of the characteristics of being in the world of Eros—you don’t work for money, but you certainly work for your peers’ approval.

I really and truly do hope that you read Dinosaur Comics. today's edition takes a no-holds-barred look at Intelligent Design. I think it is pretty great. Although I think Dinosaur Comics is usually pretty great.

Consider this my official recommendation: read Dinosaur Comics.