This is cool. Several years ago I taught a winter session class at Williams called Comic Book Politics, reading a bunch of classic graphic novels as political texts. I put out an APB on the blog asking for advice on which ones to include - we ended up reading a little bit of Authority, Dark Knight Returns, Watchmen, V For Vendetta, Transmetropolitan, Kingdom Come, Uncle Sam, Persepolis, and a bunch of Cerebus. Ah, good times. But imagine my surprise to suddenly see a bunch of comments showing up today on a three year old post. Turns out that for some reason, Warren Ellis - one of the greatest comic book authors of the age - noticed the thread today. His response: "America is more screwed than I thought - I'm being taught in college." Yes, that's probably true... Pretty cool to be noticed by one of the great comic book writers of the age, though - almost as good as when Dave Sim answered one of my letters way back when. Anyway, back to vacation now, at least until Joss Whedon checks in.
Having just read Authority vol. 1 recently, I made a brief note about it my sidebar, with a link to your post, last week. I suspect that may be responsible...
Posted by: Cosma | August 22, 2007 at 05:57 PM
Not that Ellis isn't the Internet Jesus or anything.
Posted by: Cosma | August 22, 2007 at 05:57 PM
Maybe you should start teaching comic book politics again. I imagine one problem is that it can be difficult to obtain enough copies of the comics or graphic novels for the entire class.
Posted by: Solomon2 | August 22, 2007 at 07:43 PM
Hey A2,
FYI, on topic: "More than words: Britain embraces the graphic novel"
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/21/arts/gnovel.php
Posted by: Jifry | August 22, 2007 at 07:55 PM
Dear Marc,
I am a Jordanian student at Goldsmiths College. I was one of the adinistrators of Jordan Planet. Currently, I am writing my thesis on blogging in Jordan. I am focusing on self censorship.
I have read all your articles about the topic, and i surprises me how subdued the Jordanian blogsphere is, compared the the Bahraini one or the egyptian one. The more i get into this, the more puzzling it is to me. Why are we so afraid?!
I am not sure if you are in England, but if so, I would like to meet with you to get your perspective about this issue, as an expert in the field. Normally, i live in London, but i am in Nottingham at the moment, i would meet with you however, whenever you want and wherever you want, if you give me an appointment.
I really hope to hear back from you soon, since my thesis is due mid September, and i am hoping to get your feedback on board as early as possible.
Thank you
Mariam
Posted by: Mariam (madas) | August 23, 2007 at 05:14 AM
What, not Think Like a Mountain or The Human Dilemma?
Great blog, by the way.
Posted by: Paul Chadwick | September 10, 2007 at 02:52 AM