Sign Language

Ladies and gentlemen...introducing Lois Lane:

Re-Canonization

During production of the documentary we shot the Institute for Comics Studies' "Comics in the Classroom" panel at Wizard World University.

From that panel, here is Steven Varela (University of Texas at El Paso) and his presentation "Re-Canonization: Transforming the English Curriculum with the Graphic Novel."

Part 1:



Part 2:



Click HERE to see the "Comic Book Literacy in Early Childhood Classrooms" presentation.

Inside the Batmobile

While we were shooting the documentary we got to go to a lot of cool places and see a lot of cool things...like the Batmobile!

Here is some footage we shot of an insider's view of the classic crime fighting car:

McMansions

Before we get started, in the interest of full disclosure, I have a confession to make: I am not fond of McDonalds food. I do eat it from time to time but afterward waves of regret and nausea slap me back to the produce section of the grocery store where I desperately seek leafy green penance for my greasy indiscretions.

That being said, I'm still a big fan of effective marketing and nobody puts themselves out there like Ronald and all his wacky pals. And this inundation of the American kiddie consciousness isn't exclusive to toys, TV and billboards.

Ambitious franchise owners design fanciful façades to woo hungry youngsters into the Neverland of Nuggets. Here are some of the better ones that caught my attention.

Awhile back I was downhearted to learn that the Happy Meal box is a thing of the past. However one lone bastion of boxed happiness still exists and is a mecca for Micky D maniacs.
Nothing sells hot dogs like a car in the shape of a wiener, and nothing puts kids in the mood for a meal like the Happy Meal Box McDonalds.
Super sized fries, shakes and Big Macs adorn the sides of the restaurant and can presumably be seen from space.

A more "down to earth" McDonalds (next to the Dallas Zoo) is populated by an ark load of critters and creatures.
An imposing gorilla clutching a large order of fries welcomes zoo patrons eager to expand their wildlife awareness but unwilling to leave their culinary comfort zone.
And now it's time for dessert. A sweetly candied castle beckoning children, Hansel & Gretel style, sits beneath the golden arches and is populated with all your McDonaldland favorites.
Shakes, floats and soft serve are the spires in this calorie laden citadel. I'm not even sure if they serve half the things on the walls. But it sure looks cool.
Sure, we can debate the merits and shortcomings of the world dominating franchise that is McDonalds until we're red and white in the face. But it might be better to just drive by and enjoy the scenery as you head to Whole Foods.

We'll leave you now with a horrific vision of a world where a super powered Hamburgler runs amok leaving a cheesy, meaty trail of destruction in his wake:

Mass Nerder Interview

I was interviewed by Mass Nerder recently about the documentary. Click below to read the interview:

Happy New Year!

Look for more CBL news and updates throughout 2010!

World's Finest Nachos

Doing any entertaining this holiday season? Might I humbly suggest serving something with a distinct fanboy flavor? If you are interested, here's a simple recipe with complex ingredients:Step 1: You'll need procure a bag of Batman Tortilla Chips. Hopefully you aren't too worried about issues like freshness as the haven't been sold in about 20 years. But to make up for this little quirk they come in bat shapes. (That may be hard to see in the picture so you'll just have to take my word for it.)
Step 2: To paraphrase Captain Christopher Pike: You can settle for a less than ordinary cheese or do you feel like you were meant for something special? And what's more special than "Superman Pasteurized Process Imitation Cheese Spread?"

Even though it's from the 1960's, you might not have to worry about the freshness factor as I'm not sure if this substance could possibly go bad. "Superman Pasteurized Process Imitation Cheese Spread" is its own alpha and omega. It was here before us and will most likely be here after we're gone. Hungry yet?
Step 3: How about a little flavor? Give your finicky party guests some options when it comes to their heroic hors d'oeuvres. Because if you are okay with eating 20 year old chips and 45 year old imitation cheese then a spicy sauce made from a radioactive extraterrestrial rock shouldn't be much of a big deal to you.
At least the warnings labels on both the red and green Kryptonite Hot Sauce are clear and straightforward:
Now that you've assembled your ingredients it's time to cook. Below is an instructional video detailing the complicated steps of assembling nachos:

And now you're ready to entertain your guests with novelty food and speedy trips to the emergency room. And isn't that really what the holidays are all about?