So, in the name of continuing to pimp my academic career (since some people have said that they’re interested in knowing what I do… and also just because it’s probably a good idea that I try to do that more than I have been) – as well as proving to all you motherfuckers that I totally can write stuff without cursing like a fucking sailor and shit – I guess I should announce that I had an academic book review published in ImageTexT: Interdisciplinary Comics Studies.
ImageTexT is a pretty cool academic journal that I like that is devoted to the study of comics and graphic novels and the related culture. So for those of you who aren’t academics, it’s somewhat less accessible than what you’d expect out of standard internet comic news sites, BUT it has actual valid intellectual theory on comic book stuff by actual scholars who still care about and respect comics as legitimate literature. You know… all 12 of us on the planet. Actually, it’s better than that, but it often doesn’t feel like it.
Anyway, unlike a lot of academic publications, it’s free to read so I highly recommend it. And even if you don’t care about that stuff in general, check out MY book review where I talk about The Superhero Costume: Identity and Disguise in Fact and Fiction by Barbara Brownie and Danny Gradyon. While I had a few problems with the book on a few levels, I actually think it’s something a lot of people who read stuff I write here might like and…. wait a minute… just read the fucking review already!!!
http://www.english.ufl.edu/imagetext/archives/v9_1/maverick/
As one might expect, the book actually does talk about capes and their impracticality, vs. their function as iconically superheroish a lot… Especially in relation to Superman.
They never mention Edna though. Clearly a missed opportunity.