The Superman Incident

File this under: Better Late Than Never. *SPOILER ALERT*

So, about a month ago, when issue #900 of Action Comics was released, there was a short story in there called, "The Incident," (written by David Goyer), in which Superman renounces his American citizenship. Well, this created a big uproar among conservitives and right-wingers who were disgusted with the idea of Superman giving up, "Truth, Justice and the American Way." (By the way, he does this because he wants to show solidarity with other people around the world and doesnt want his actions to be seen by other people as U.S. intervention)

First, something to say about why this makes sense: Superman was raised in the U.S., but he wasn't even born on this planet! So, of course, it would be realistic for him to renounce any kind of allegiance to any one country, (or planet for that matter). Superman, as a hero, is interested in saving people, no matter their race, ethnicity, color, religion, sexual orientation, or species!

Secondly, at a time when there is so much scapegoating and hatred directed towards immigrants--or just anyone who "doesn't look American"--it is refreshing for someone like Superman to take a stand like this and say, "Fuck your papers."


(Below are images of key scenes in the story. Click on pics to enlarge view).

Banksy - Idol Worship

The first major exhibit of graffiti/street art, and what does Banksy do? He goes and creates a piece that looks like it criticizes the genre itself--and those who follow this art genre in particular--with this brilliant and beautiful piece. Pretty brave in, my opinion; None of the other artists represented in the exhibit did anything that came similar to this. And the real beautiful thing about it, is that the graffiti-glass stained windows that the little street artist is praying to were created with the help of high school students in Los Angeles. Bomb.com, que no?

Below are a few more pics, in detail of the other pieces he had up at the show. (Please excuse me for not writing down the names for these pieces).


[click on pics to enlarge]

OK, time for this blog to get off Banksy's nuts for a while...

Haters Gonna Hate...on Banksy

So, someone decided to vandalize that awesome piece Banksy did over on Washington (near the Blue Line). That was a true piece of public art, so I'm pretty pissed. There's some glass over it that protects it, so I'm sure it's still in perfect shape, but people can't appreciate it with all this crap covering it. Fuck'n haters:



[click on photo to enlarge]


Anyway, tune in tomorrow when I upload some Banksy pics I took at MOCA's "Art in the Streets" exhibit.

"God Bless Capitalism"

Check out the banter below between two villains, (one of which is off-screen),
in a recent first-issue (reboot) of Venom [click on pics to enlarge]:





Usually it's some "communist" cold-war era super-villain talking about the evils of capitalism in comic-books. Here we have two villians talking, though in a bit sarcastically, about their love of capitalism. This is from the first issue of Venom, that came out a little over a month ago. Of course, we can't expect more, as the anti-hero of this book actually works for the U.S. military, but that was a breath of fresh-air in that dialogue and the main reason why this blog was created!

The Commotion Over Common

You might have heard about a poetry reading going down tonight at the White House, and the commotion it has stirred among right-wing conservatives. They have gone so far as to call Common, a "vile rapper" and "thug." Those accusations are laced in ignorance and racism. To most people, he's known as a "politically conscience hip-hop artist." I wish I could say that he had some radical politics, but not really. He did do a an anti-war piece when Bush was in office, (see video after the jump), but last year he was opening for Obama (at a Democratic rally).

Needless to say, I don't think Common has much of a radical edge these days. As one writer for the Huffington Post said: "I'm not trying to diss Common here, but I'm pretty sure his last two albums were sold in Starbucks." Of course, I'm not excusing the actions of the cons here: Just saying.

Below is Common doing a good political piece (back in the days).

Hope You Haven't Been Sleeping on This...

A new video was released last week for a track on Lupe Fiasco's latest album, Lasers. The song, "Words I Never Said," hold nothing back. In fact, the very first line is, "I really think the war on terror is a bunch of bullshit." The rest of the song goes hard against the U.S. government, including the President. Lupe even dares to say that he did not vote for Obama and wont vote for him in the next elections. Besides touching on other issues like home foreclosures, the dumbing-down of the media, racism, Palestine, and even the pharmaceutical industry, Lupe even has time to throw in some criticism against non-action: "Just listening to Pac aint gone make it stop/ A rebel in your thoughts, aint gon make it halt."

I'm posting the video below and, after the jump, the lyrics for the first verse, which I consider the strongest in the song. The video, itself, shows images of people being taken by, what could only be considered, government agents. It's not as graphic or as strong as M.I.A.'s "Born Free," but still very good!




I really think the war on terror is a bunch of bullshit
Just a poor excuse for you to use up all your bullets
How much money does it take to really make a full clip
9/11 building 7 did they really pull it
Uhh, And a bunch of other cover ups
Your childs future was the first to go with budget cuts
If you think that hurts then, wait here comes the uppercut
The school was garbage in the first place, thats on the up and up
Keep you at the bottom but tease you with the uppercrust
You get it then they move you so you never keeping up enough
If you turn on TV all you see’s a bunch of “what the f-cks”
Dude is dating so and so blabbering bout such and such
And that aint Jersey Shore, homie thats the news
And these the same people that supposed to be telling us the truth
Limbaugh is a racist, Glenn Beck is a racist
Gaza strip was getting bombed, Obama didn’t say shit
Thats why I aint vote for him, next one either
I’ma part of the problem, my problem is I’m peaceful
And I believe in the people.

Help Outernational release their debut EP

My favorite band that you might not have heard of: Outernational. They are currently working on releasing their first album, but they need our help! Check out some of their tunes on YouTube and you will see that they are all about helping to create a revoltionary culture. I just pledged $50, and you all should do the same--even more, if you can!