Not the first mention of Crying Superman on my website.
So there was this question from a late ’70s installment of Bob Rozakis’ Answer Man column:
I was a bit amused by someone’s need to have this question answered. Then again, there was no easily-accessible public Internet at the time…how else were you gonna find out?
‘Course, we all know the answer now:
Why Superman even put up with Jimmy, I have no idea.
Oh, and don’t forget this:
Hey, hey…less crying, more flying, pal.
Anyway, the Answer Man column, for at least part of its run, was part of DC’s “Daily Planet” news/advertising page…this was the headline story of this particular installment:
Well, that’s nice. I’m sure those two crazy kids will make it work. See, Superman, there’s no reason to cry on this, the happiest of days!
In other news:
- Chris Sims, Benjamin Birdie, Jen Vaughn, and the World’s Most Handsome Man, David Wolkin, team up to play live action Dungeons & Dragons and simultaneously create pure hilarity.
- Don’t remember if I linked this before, but it turned up in my Swamp Thing Google alerts feed (…what? What?) and if I posted it before, here it is again: a very nice 2006 drawing of Swamp Thing and Abby by Michael Zulli. Maybe kinda Not Safe for Work, since Abby’s naked, though not showing any naughty bits. Come to think of it, Swamp Thing’s naked in the picture, too. Just look at him, letting his tubers just dangle out there like that.
- Here’s a short bit about Comico’s Black Book anniversary comic. (Hey, I have one of those!) There’s also a short blurb about the first volume of the Comics Interview compilation project, which I talked about a few days ago…I actually have a copy in my possession now, courtesy of the publishers, and it’s quite the impressive tome. I may have more to say about it later, but it’s hard to review, aside from pointing out that if you’re looking for a large collection of interviews with a wide variety of interesting people, here it is! I’ve been enjoying reading through it, and if you have an interest in comics history, you probably will, too.
- Pals Dorian and Ken have their latest movie trailers review over at The Bureau Chiefs. I love it when they do this column.
Maybe it’s the unnatural coloring, but in that first panel (with Jimmy and the eyedropper), Superman looks terrifyingly like Rep. John Boehner.
Heh Heh, he said Boehner.
How did they know where to mail the wedding invite for the Phantom Stranger?? Ah, who am I kidding. The guy’s got “wedding crasher” written all over him.
But the real question is: Does Batman cry?
Of course, we all know what it sounds like when the Dove cries.
I’ve got this Aussie Murray Comics Worlds Finest reprint where Superman calls up Batman for a chat about a case, but Batman is kinda shitty with Supes, so he tells Alfred he doesn’t want the call and that makes Superman cry.
It’s SO gay (not that there’s anything wrong with that, but this page SO is)
Those two Superman panels illustrate perfectly why I like older comics more than more recent comics.
The Jimmy Olsen story about collecting Superman’s tears reminds me of a two-part Story Minute comic:
http://www.waylay.com/Store/OrigPages/265.html
http://www.waylay.com/Store/OrigPages/266.html
Considering how often Superman cries these days, Jimmy could gather a lot more material from his vitreous humour. That’s ALMOST a joke right there.
How much would Batman’s manly tears be worth nowadays? How about the tears he shed as young Bruce Wayne? Would those be more valuable than as an adult, since they weren’t watered with the tears of bitterness?
I also find it interesting that male characters in Manga oftentimes weep openly from the slightest hint of happiness or crushing despair. Quite different from what makes the average S-hero cry.
I’m trying to figure out who’s at the window. Starting from the right and easy one is Clark Kent then Bruce Wayne, I’m thinking Hal Jordan with Carol Ferris, maybe; then Barry and Iris Allen; I’m not sure who that is behind Iris but the next couple is Aquaman (in a suit, dog!) and Mera (rocking the cleavage, way to go, Dillin!); Ralph and Sue Dibny (OK, we can mock Superman for crying like a baby at the drop of a hat but who does not feel an overwhelming urge to tear up just thinking of Ralph and Sue?);Phantom Stranger (oops! Private function so real names! So…Phil?); Oliver Queen (psst! I hear he’s secretly Green Arrow but I’m not sure); I assume the brunette he’s next to is Dinah Lance back in the days when the Canary was not really a blonde; the brunette with the glass is Diana Prince; could the blonde next to her be Linda Danvers? And finally, the last bridesmaid and the dude behind her, I have no idea.
What with the Swamp Thing love, I guess I always knew you had to be into tentacle porn, Mike, but I never really confronted that knowledge til now. I am a sadder, wiser person for it.
Dave-El, you drove me to look up the issue in question on Rob Kelly’s Justice League Satellite blog.
http://www.jlasatellite.com/2008/04/justice-league-of-america-157-aug-1978.html
As you can see, the ad has some coloring mistakes. The version printed in the comic should clarify most of the identities for you.
(I feel compelled to mention that Captain Comet had been teaming with the Atom in SUPER-TEAM FAMILY at the time, hence his inclusion.)
Thanks, C Elam. So the blonde is a red head and is Shiera Hall while the girl behind her would be Linda (Supergirl) Danvers (I should’ve realized that since she wore a brunette wig as Linda) with Carter Hall in the background. (I can’t believe I forgot to even think about the Hawks given Hawkman’s career with the Atom,) You’re right, the right coloring makes all the difference. And I also forgot about Capt. Comet teaming up with the Atom. (And kudos for the tip on the JLA site; looks cool.)