Thoughts on Funny Books and Cinema

A lot has been said recently about the comments from directors Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese regarding the output of films from Marvel Studios, with the main thesis being that these films are not considered “cinema,” should not be shown in theaters, and even going so far as to say they are “despicable.” While the works of Scorsese and Coppola are for the most part are considered classics, that doesn't mean every single film or output from these directors themselves are also Academy Award-winning films themselves. While I cannot say I have seen every single one of their films, I have enjoyed select films from their filmographies some even more than once. But the claim that these movies from Marvel Studios or even from Warner Brothers, who make those DC Comics films that we enjoy such as "Joker" and Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, do not even merit an audience at the cinema is absurd. Before any adult was a teenager and before teenagers, there were children and sometimes between most likely childhood and teenage years, when it came to their exposure to culture, whether it was in 1930s through today, their most likely first impression of culture was not movies like “Apocalypse Now,” “The Godfather,” or “The Godfather, Part 2,” but from literature, most likely being comic books. This is the medium that most kids would be able to first get there first graspings of imagination, full of colorful characters doing deeds, either good or bad, and learning the consequences of those actions, right or wrong. To see those characters, stories, plots, and so on take to the silver screen and get a “serious” treatment (yes, even the “Batman” movie based on the 1966 TV series counts, and yes, even the Joel Schumacher Batman movies too) is both thrilling, exciting, and, depending on the film, even inspiring. That inspiration can have effects on the movie industry and even lead to advancements in the technology, filmmaking, and story telling that drives even those non-comic movies. At the end of the day, everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion on those “Marvel movies,” and yes, not every single movie, whether from Marvel, DC Comics, or some other “funny book” is a cinematic achievement. But, to claim they are not “cinema” is absurd and takes away ownership of whom the movies belong to: both the creators of the films and the audience that enjoys them. I am not saying that Scorsese and Coppola should be making any Marvel or DC Comics films, but they do not own nor are they the authority on what is or is not cinema. But, just like everyone else they are entitled to their opinion, even if it is wrong.

Clear Your Mind

I’m struggling to decide on what to write. I know it sounds weird to be writing a piece about the difficulty of writing a piece on a blog that will no doubt, at least one time in existence is read by someone. Yet, go along with me. I’m sitting here and trying to figure out what needs to be discussed in pop culture. You know, the Batman, Avengers, the Lord of the Rings, and other similar types of pieces of popular culture. Heck, it could be argued that popular culture could include sports like the NHL, MLB, and NFL. Yet here I am and feel the need to share. Heck, this piece by itself is me trying to share something with you, the reader. Does something need to be said? Surely there is always something going on. But when is there a time for noise/information? We live in a world where information itself is disseminated, dissected, and spit back out in many ways, shapes and forms. But when is it time to shut everything out? I do not pretend to be perfect, but as an observant Jewish man, the weekly Jewish Sabbath, with turning off all electronic media, and I can focus on my family, on my relationship between other people and the Almighty does provide it. I am not here writing telling anyone that they need to do what observant Jewish individuals do, and just turn off, but perhaps if our culture perhaps, even for a few hours a week just turned off electronic media that constantly demands our attention and to focus on other people and, heck, even to read a few pages in a book, could solve a lot of problems, maybe even save lives. I’m not saying it will and I am not some self-help guru demanding you do anything. As Ferris Bueller once said “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Don’t miss it.

Thought on "Joker" and the Joker

Everyone loves Batman. We all love to thrill at his adventures, his gadgets, his gizmos, his Batmobile, and even his love interests. But what we really love and what we really find ourselves drawn to is not just our protagonist, Bruce Wayne, aka Batman but his rogue's gallery. And, we always go back to one member of his rogue’s gallery, the Joker. I admit that I am a fan of the character of the Joker. This does not mean that I love or want to emulate this character or want to be him but I do enjoy watching his exploits on film, in comic books, and particularly any medium not because I like what he does to innocent people but because he is arguably one of the best antagonist to a protagonist in any particular medium. The Joker famously said at the end of Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” that he could not kill Batman because “[he] completes me.” This can be said is true for any particular Joker, whether the campy “Batman ‘66” version or a dark and gritty Joker, such as in “The Dark Knight.”

However, a lot has been said recently about the current film coming out this week “Joker.” A film that has been continuously discussed for its seeming disturbing portrayal of a possibly relatable Joker. There are many other articles and YouTube videos by quality reporters and influencers on this and similar subjects. For me, I want to discuss why a “Joker” movie is even possible. What makes the character so watchable that we are even at this point?

In short, it is because, whether it is the campy version or the gritty version, the Joker is someone who is the same side of the coin of Batman: an individual who, seemingly started out with moral fiber, but whose moral fiber bent or broke enough to form a new identity of self and to unleash it upon the world. For Bruce Wayne, it was the loss of his parents, his desire to fight injustice that lead to the world that killed his parents, but also to make sure no one else feels the pain that he felt that night in Gotham.

For Joker, the antithesis to the Batman, we believe started with the same moral fiber, even though we cannot assuredly say so. We just believe he started out like us, a standard “normal” person because we all believe we all started from the same point. In the comics, Joker famously said he preferred his origin to be multiple choice. Whether you choose to believe he is someone who started as a desperate man (such as in amazing book “The Killing Joke”) or a corrupted man who fell into some chemicals (“Batman,” directed by Tim Burton), or just a man who wanted to watch the world burn (Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight”). Tomorrow night, many of us will be going to see “Joker” and to see another “origin” story, but for me, going into it, it can also be a reminder of what any person can become, at their worst. Just look around the internet, and you can find trolls who just want to troll on people just because, white supremacists who feel a race war is coming, or even those who believe the “lame stream media” or a “deep state” is out to get them.

But, to circle us back to our original discussion: what makes the Joker such an indelible character in popular culture that people can enjoy the character, wear shirts of him on them, read books starring him, and even go see a movie about him, such as “Joker”? It is because the character is a reminder of the monster we could all become, even if he is entertaining, but do not. This is why he is fascinating, why Batman cannot ever kill him and takes him back to Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane: because Batman sees someone who he could also have become but did not.

Also, a psychopathic murderous clown makes a really good character for a story too. Hence the merchandising!

A musing on collecting

Baseball cards

The mere mention of these words would be enough to drive me into a near blissful hysteria to a twelve year old Greg. And around that time, there was no card that I wanted more than this card, a 1998 Mike Piazza Florida Marlins card.

There were other cards for sure, but considering that Mike Piazza was a Florida Marlin for what felt like a nanosecond, getting this card I felt would be the key to my then growing regular baseball card collection (I also had a seperate Mets baseball cards and memorabilia collection going on). One day, I got this card and then 2 other special foiled baseball Mike Piazza Floria Marlins cards. I was in heaven. Yet, when I think back on this period in my life, I wonder why it was so important to me? Sure, the "cool" factor was there and also the thought that this could be rare and valuable one day weighed heavily on me at that time.

I no longer collect baseball cards or Mets memorabilia (although once in a blue moon I will come across something that is cool, but I mostly no longer find myself collecting this). These days, I find myself collecting some comic books (primarily the collected editions of these books) and Star Wars books (almost a lot of Star Wars literature, primarily the novels and comics). 

Avengers #181

From my comic book collection, I would say the most valuable books I have right now are Avengers #181 (first appearance of Scott Lang aka Ant-Man (the second person to wear the costume and become the Ant-Man)). The other book in my comic collection that falls into this category as well is The Amazing Spider-Man #36 (this issue is the one that Marvel put out shortly after 9/11 that addresses the 9/11 terrorist attacks).

The Amazing Spider-Man #36

 In terms of the Star Wars literature, there is nothing that I would say that stands out in terms of valuable; however, I do have some of the original paperback editions of Marvel Comics' adapation of the trilogy as well as having a copy of the original paperback of Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope. This then lead me to begin thinking what I think is the golden question of any collector: why collect at all?

For other collectors, it is about making an investiment and making money off of that. For those who collect for this purpose I hold nothing against. To them, it is about owning an item with the hopes that over time the collectible can gain value and can then sell for a profit. 

Other collect simply because it is something out of love for whatever it is they collect. One of the best examples of these is Rancho Obi-Wan. This collection, owned by Steve Sansweet, President and CEO of Rancho Obi-Wan, simply does this for one reason: for the love of Star Wars.

 

 I like to think that I fall into this category because I do have a love for the comic book heroes (if anyone asks, it is Batman as my all time favorite super hero. In terms of Marvel heroes, my favorite is Captain America, followed by the Hulk) and I do have a love for Star Wars, but it made me wonder, why does anyone collect to begin with? It is an illogical notion, to think that these books, comics, actions figures, etc. would somehow bind me to these exciting worlds and characters. However, the reason people collect to begin with I think is to show one another how much someone loves something and to share it with each other. 

This love for these things bring people together and can bind fans, even those who would never talk to each other or don't know the first thing about perhaps their relgious or social background can automatically discuss about this mutual love. An example of this can be related to an event that happened while I was heading to work. I was waiting for an elevator to head to my floor when I saw a woman who was older than I am carrying a Marvel Enyclopedia (Updated and Expanded). When I mentioned to her that it was a cool book, she mentioned that her pastor was a big Marvel fan and they wanted to get him a gift.

Yes, collecting at times can be difficult, whether it is something that exceeds price, or losing out on an eBay auction; however, these silly things that we all love is something that helps bring collectors (those who collect because they love it) together over these silly things and, to paraphrase here, bind the galaxy together.

Let me please introduce myself....

It has been a long, long time since I did any writing for pleasure. I have been in school studying for my MPA and, after 5 long years, I can say I now have my MPA. While I may be unsure of as to where it will take me, I know I needed a forum where I can write about what I want. Mainly, pop culture and those aspects of pop culture that I have come to appreciate and love.

What they may be will be forthcoming (hint: they may be the droids you are looking for), but I hope to be able to post my musings on various pieces of pop culture and, from time to time, sports, including fantasy sports. Whether you decide these posts are interesting and humerous is entirely up to you. I just hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing about them.

MTFBWYA