June 3, 2011: The “You Have Many Question, Mr. Sparkle” Edition

EPISODE SEVENTEEN: SPECIAL ALL-BURNING QUESTION EDITION!

PART ONE: MICHAEL VICK IS COMIN’ TO TOWN

Photo: Wikipedia

Selena Gomez Cuts Controversial Pink Horses From Music Video (E!)

Michael Vick Appearance Sparks Activist Ire (Suburban Trends)

PART TWO: THE DC REBOOT: CRISIS ON INFINITE SUPERMEN

DC Unleashes New Universe of Superhero Titles (USA TODAY)

DC Ready For Risky Yet Relevant Change (USA TODAY)

DC Relaunches All Titles (Comic Book Resources)

Jerry Siegel’s 1975 Press Release (The Comics Journal, PDF)

Superman Co-Creator’s Family Given Rights (Variety, 2009)

Can Superman Be Split In Two? (Variety, 2011)

PART THREE: THE SUMMER OF TOO MANY SEQUELS

Newsweek photo illustration

Sequel Madness, by Roger Ebert (Newsweek)

PART FOUR: ORANGEHEAD VS. CARTOON VIOLENCE

New Study Finds Violence Doesn’t Add To Children’s Enjoyment of TV (Ind. U.)

“Picture-Perfect Thief”- “Violent” Version

“Picture-Perfect Thief”- “Non-Violent” Version

Do Children Enjoy Violent Cartoons? (E. Magill)

Memorial Weekend Links (The Animation Guild)

The Burning Question

June 4, 2011

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May 22, 2011: The “I Wonder If She Kept Them Under Her Umbrella” Edition

EPISODE SIXTEEN!

PART ONE: O’Ronald McLaden And How Green Leads To Red!

Ethnic Marketing Is Wrong (Northern Star)
South LA Bans New Fast Food Places In Inner-City Areas (The New York Times)
McDonalds’ Is The Best Company For Minorities (QSR Web)
McDonalds’ Ethnic Marketing Strategy (Nation’s Restauraunt News)
Pros of “Ethnic Marketing” and McDonalds’ Latino Menu (Bloomberg Businessweek)

PART TWO: The Burning Question! (Why Support Animal Rights?)

PART THREE: This Was Actually On Inside Edition! (Women Who Lives With Cheetahs/Engagement Chicken)

(Thanks to SuperFlash101 for this awesome logo!)

Woman Who Lives With Cheetas

Engagement Chicken

PART FOUR: Book Review Time! (The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer)

BLOOPER: BROWN-EYED TOLLBOOTH!

IN COMMENTS:

Is “ethnic marketing” ethical? Is it effective?

Should we support animal rights? Why or why not?

Do you think engagement chicken could work? Why or why not?

Would you ever live with cheetahs?

Have you read The Phantom Tollbooth? If so, what did you think of it?

Book Review Time, The Burning Question, This Was Actually On Inside Edition, Uncategorized

May 22, 2011

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May 20, 2011: The “Like The Time I Met Osama At McDonald’s” Edition

EPISODE FIFTEEN

PART ONE: A READING: AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN: A (VERY) BRIEF HISTORY, BY BOB HARRIS

Text and map excerpted from Who Hates Whom: Well-Armed Fanatics, Intractable Conflicts, and Various Things Blowing Up: A Woefully Incomplete Guide by Bob Harris. ©2007 by Bob Harris. No ownership intended or implied. Published by Three Rivers Press, New York.

PART TWO: THE BURNING QUESTION: THE PEOPLE VS. RONALD MCDONALD

PART THREE: YABBA-DABBA-DO-OR-DIE

This segment originally appeared in textual form on Mostly From Sugar Packets.

IN COMMENTS:

Any thoughts on the ongoing conflicts in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region?

Do you believe Ronald McDonald should be blamed for childhood obesity? Why or why not?

Are you a Flintstones fan? What are your thoughts on the announced MacFarlane revival?

A Reading, The Burning Question

May 20, 2011

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May 8, 2011: The “Even Osama Watched Futurama” Edition

EPISODE FOURTEEN!

PART ONE: COMPLIMENTARY PLAGERISM!

PART TWO: THE BURNING QUESTION! (DO WE NEED SCAPEGOATS?)

PART THREE: TOP FIVE QUESTIONS IN THE WAKE OF OSAMA’S DEATH!

PART FOUR: LAST COMIC STANDING! (SECRET SIX #33, AMERICAN VAMPIRE #14, FF #2, SCALPED #48, SWEET TOOTH #21, AND ACTION COMICS #900!)

IN COMMENTS:

What makes a good poem? What are some of your favorite poets or poems?

Are you a fan of Futurama?

Do we need political scapegoats? Why or why not? What impact do they have on society?

What comics did you dig this week? Did you attend a Free Comic Book Day event?

Last Comic Standing, The Burning Question, Top Five

May 8, 2011

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May 6, 2011: The “Truth, Justice, and the Social Networking Way” Edition

EPISODE THIRTEEN

PART ONE: BIN LADEN’S DEATH: WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR SOCIAL NETWORKING, AMERICA, AND THE WORLD? (AND SUPERMAN?)

New York Times cover ©2011 New York Times, White House photo by Pete Sousa, Time cover by Tim O’Brien ©2011 Time, Inc. White House photo U.S. government work, copyrighted material no ownership intended or implied

IN COMMENTS:

How do you feel about the “you’re with us or against us” mentality which is often used in conflicts such as World War II and the War on Terror? Other than Superman, can you think of any other icons (characters or otherwise) who can or were altered or created to play on this mentality?

Do you think social media has supplanted the traditional news media (or will it eventually)? Besides the Arab revolutions and bin Laden’s death, have there been any other monumental (non-entertainment) events that have been fueled or reported through social media?

Is the speed of social networking harmful or helpful to news reporting? Is it possible that rumors and false information would outnumber the facts in some situations?

Is the death of Osama bin Laden truly “the end of an era?” Do you have any thoughts/comments/questions/fears that have come up in the days since? What, if anything, does the death of Osama bin Laden mean to the world, to America, to terrorism, and to you personally?

The Burning Question

May 7, 2011

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May 1, 2011: The “I’m No Superman” Edition

EPISODE TWELVE

PART ONE: IS SUPERMAN AMERICAN?

IN COMMENTS:

Do you like this new format, or not? If so, how should we incorporate it into Sugared Tomatoes? Should it replace our current format, be added to it, or be posted on a seperate day?

How do you feel about Superman renouncing his American citizenship? Is it a cynical demeaning of  our values or an optimistic embracing of worldliness?

The Burning Question

May 1, 2011

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April 29, 2011: The “Will and Kate Plus Eight (Minus Three and Will and Kate)” Edition

EPISODE ELEVEN

PART ONE: A READING: LET THEM EAT BUNNIES (PART TWO)

As originally published in SPY, April 1992. ©1992 SPY Corp. No ownership intended or implied.

Photo by Oscar Abolafia.

PART TWO: BOOK REVIEW TIME/LAST COMIC STANDING: JEFF SMITH’S BONE

PART THREE: FILM THOUGHTS: HAPPINESS IS A WARM BLANKET, CHARLIE BROWN

©2011 Peanuts Worldwide LLC

In comments:

Almost 20 years after the Bunny Burgers prank, has the public conception of advertising and public relations become better or worse (or the same)? Would you eat a Bunny Burger or any rabbit-based food? Would you like to hear more from the SPY magazine archive?

Have you read Bone? If not, did this review make you interested in doing so?

Are you a fan of Peanuts? What is your “security blanket?”

A Reading, Book Review Time, Film Thoughts, Last Comic Standing

April 29, 2011

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April 24, 2011: The “Part-y Like A Rock Star” Edition

PART ONE: THE TOP FIVE PRESIDENTIAL PIECES OF FACIAL HAIR

PART TWO: A READING OR TWO

GROOVES TO RUN, BY TOMATO SURPRISE

LET THEM EAT BUNNIES, BY SPY MAGAZINE (PART ONE)

featuring R.W. Mead

As originally published in SPY, April 1992. ©1992 SPY Corp. No ownership intended or implied. 

Photo by Oscar Abolafia.

PART THREE: THINGS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND: CRISIS ON INFINITE SHAKESPEARES

PART FOUR: I’D GO ASEXUAL FOR SENATOR STACEY CAMPFIELD AND REPRESENTATIVE BILL DUNN

Text of the legislation in question (Tennessee Senate Bill 49/House Bill 229):

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 10, relative to education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-1005, is amended by adding the following as new subsection (c) and by relettering the existing subsection (c) accordingly:

(c) (1) The general assembly recognizes the sensitivity of particular subjects that are best explained and discussed in the home. Human sexuality is a complex subject with societal, scientific, psychological, and historical implications; those implications are best understood by children with sufficient maturity to grasp their complexity.

(2) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no public elementary or middle school shall provide any instruction or material that discusses sexual orientation other than heterosexuality.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

PART FIVE: THE BIG BURNING QUESTION: HOW SHOULD WE PUNISH R.W. MEAD?

PART SIX: BOOK REVIEW TIME: ARE YOU THERE, VODKA? IT’S ME, CHELSEA BY CHELSEA HANDLER

PART SEVEN: LAST COMIC STANDING: AVENGERS ACADEMY #12, TEEN TITANS #94, WOLVERINE #8, SUPER DINOSAUR #1

Art by Jason Howard

A Reading, Book Review Time, I'd Go Asexual For, Last Comic Standing, The Burning Question, Things That Will Blow Your Mind, Top Five

April 23, 2011

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April 17, 2011: The “Last Comic Standing” Edition

EPISODE NINE!

PART ONE: SO YOU WANNA READ COMICS?

PART TWO: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI’s “AMAZING SPIDER-MAN” 

PART THREE: GAIL SIMONE’S “SECRET SIX”

PART FOUR: WARREN ELLIS’ “NEXTWAVE: AGENT OF HATE”

PART FIVE: GREG RUCKA’s “BATWOMAN: ELEGY”

PART SIX: BRIAN K. VAUGHAN’S “RUNAWAYS”

PART SEVEN: JEFF LEMIRE’S “SWEET TOOTH”

PART EIGHT: BILL WILLINGHAM’S “FABLES”

PART NINE: JASON AARON’S “SCALPED”

PART TEN: JOHN LAYMAN’S “CHEW

PART ELEVEN: KICKING AND SCREENING! (GLEE, “SHOWMANCE”, “ACAFELLAS”, AND “PREGGERS”)

R.W. Mead’s take:

Tomato’s take:

In comments:

What comics would YOU like R.W. Mead to try?

Do you read any of these comics? If so, which ones do you like or not like? If not, which ones interest you?

Does “Glee” rely too heavily on stereotypes? Why or why not?

Top Ten

April 17, 2011

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April 10, 2011: The “Failing At Geography And Logic, But Winning At Cookies And Insane Show Choir Math” Edition

EPISODE EIGHT!

 

PART ONE: RUSH HOUR IN HO CHI MINH!

(Yes, I know that Ho Chi Min is a city. I’m an idiot!)

PART TWO: EVOLUTION COOKIE TIME!

PART THREE: A READING! (FROM FAHRENHEIT 451, BY RAY BRADBURY)

 

PART FOUR: THE JACK CHICK ZONE! (YOU HAVE A DATE)

(The strip in question can be found here.)

 

PART FIVE: KICKING AND SCREENING! (GLEE, “PILOT”)

PART SIX: THINGS THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND! (SEXY ANCIENT MATH)

 

IN COMMENTS:

How much does culture (and how we imagine the culture of others) matter in society, if at all?

What are your thoughts on evolution?

Have you read Fahrenheit 451, or anything else by Ray Bradbury? Did you like it, or not?

What should be the next tract for The Jack Chick Zone? Do you want more, or not?

What did you think of Glee’s pilot?

Can you find anything with a Phi ratio around your house/city? If so, what?

What does Phi mean for society at large?

A Reading, Book Review Time, Glee, Kicking And Screening, The Jack Chick Zone, Things That Will Blow Your Mind

April 10, 2011

1 Comment