Pre/Reviewed at My Cultural Landscape

Very lucky to be invited to the 12th Annual San Francisco Independent Film Festival this week. This is by far the biggest place it has played, so really excited. Jeff Ross and his staff have been nothing short of amazing — can’t wait to get there. I love you Cleveland but you suck in February.

We were even picked as one of “7 Movies to See” at the Festival — though the article does go on to use the term “somewhat dry.” That’s still way better than what they say about the last film…

SF IndieFest

Flavorpill

SF360

7×7

pretty big anniversary today in the Superman mythos: “Shoot the works! Pronto!” Very timely! To celebrate, here’s a picture of Joe I just came across that I hadn’t seen before.

Brad Meltzer is writing comics again, and if you are a Superman fan you must read his first issue of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 #32. Not only does it have tons of Superman stuff, but it has the biggest/best/worst hardcore geek moment I have ever witnessed. I still can’t believe he did it. Brad’s an author, activist, etc. etc., all at very high levels of accomplishment, but he is also a HUGE NERD. The closet door is completely open here. Read it!!!

When I was trudging through grad school, I lived for Tuesday nights at 8 and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Ok, I said it. For one, it was the first time a guy from my generation was writing something on TV that was obviously born of his love for the same ’80s comics I grew up on, mostly the X-men. Really funny, scary, and full of anxiety, with great dialogue and tons of escapism that had nothing to do with vampires (ok maybe a little). The scene in Season 2 where Cibo Matto plays at the Bronze and Buffy pulls Xander onto the dancefloor is still one of my favorite scenes in film or TV all time.

hey! got a new fan shirt from Dan, the Clintonville Kid. really nice!! I wore it to a Superman talk I gave in Philadelphia last month. these are not for sale — but they look like they could be — I really like how they move from b&w to color. if I tried to make one of these it would look like a bunch of shapes.

We’ve been lucky so far in terms of bad reviews. This was from our showing at the Dark River Film Festival in Louisville a couple of weeks ago. I had a school thing so couldn’t go, which I really hated (I really tried), but the films they had looked really phenomenal. “Independent” has become kind of a cliche-y synonym for a movie with Zooey Deschanel in it, but it really encompasses a lot more. Anyway, we got a mention and based on how the rest of the reviews go, I am counting it as a major victory : ) Read it here. Just found out we’ll be playing at a *really* beyond cool place in the new year so stay tuned. Very excited.

If you’ve been reading here, seen the movie, or just know your stuff, you know that Glenville High School is a big part of all of this. And though the old school has been replaced, the history and tradition of this mighty program marches on. Currently, the Tarblooders are battling through the high school playoffs, having already beaten perennial juggernaut St. Ignatius. Next up, Massillon.

They were called the Tarblooders in Jerry and Joe’s time, and it is a name of some controversy. More interesting is the team mascot, who, local legend has it, *may* have been designed by a certain art student. But that’s for later — march on Red.

anyway, I’ve been sitting on this for awhile, mostly to let the ink dry but also because, yeah, you know. Anyway, lots of people keep writing me for information, or for the movie, so easier to just say it here: a Last Son DVD is NOT for sale, nor will it be for awhile. There are some other reasons for this, but one is that I’m writing a book (see below). You can still see the movie at film festivals so check the site or write me, should be more in 2010. I hope it goes without saying THANKS to everyone who has supported me in the film and on this site and all your help — could not have done it alone. To repay you, o awesome Superman fans, you are going to get the most complete account of the story ever written.

Trust me.

from SFScope:
Bradley J. Ricca sells biography of Superman’s creators to St. Martin’s

By Ian Randal Strock

Publishers Lunch is reporting that Bradley J. Ricca sold Super Boys: Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, and the Creation of Superman to Michael Homler at St. Martin’s via agent Scott Mendel of Mendel Media Group. The author is a comic book scholar at Case Western Reserve University.

PL reports that the book is to be “the first-ever biography of the creators of Superman, detailing the complex lifelong collaboration and occasional betrayals, private dramas and public struggles, that accompanied their creation of perhaps the most iconic fictional figure of the 20th century.” That “first-ever” part was the cause of some surprise here, but further research seems to show it might indeed be the first, at least for adults. Author Marc Tyler Nobleman and illustrator Ross MacDonald’s Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman was a 40-page hardcover published for children by Knopf in July 2008. We fully admit that we don’t know everything. Do you, the readers, know of any other biographies of Siegel and Shuster? And if there aren’t, can anyone think why it took so long to get these first two?

Edited: When asked, Ricca tells us more about himself: “I teach a comics course at Case with Mike San Giacomo (a reporter who also wrote the award-winning Tales of the Starlight Drive-In graphic novel). He also adds to the question of “first”, by reminding us of Gerard Jones’ Men of Tomorrow.

Good news! The Friends of Lulu just announced that Joanne Carter Siegel has won the very prestigious “Woman of Distinction” Award for 2009. Think of it as a Lifetime Achievement Award for Women in Comics. Check their site for more information, on Joanne and this important organization. Comics awards are notorious for being rigged and/or shady but the FoL does it right: they take nominations from the field, sift them through an expert panel of judges, and then let the public vote. Really happy to see Mrs. Siegel win — she absolutely earned it.

Had a great time this past weekend down at Miami University in Hamilton. Showed the film to over a hundred people on a Thursday night — in fact, I think it was the overall best screening experience I’ve had. Comic-Con was bigger and cooler but it was pretty manic — the atmosphere at Miami was really good — all great questions too, including (from the back) “Are you Marvel or DC?” She didn’t like the answer. No better audience than college students. Thanks to everyone involved, especially my pal Katie who set it up and did a phenomenal job from dinner to the after-party. They even had a big display at the library with a giant poster (not ever pictured) — it was nuts. Great too to see ex-staffer, now WMSR boss Joe (who produced an extremely important film) and missed sidekick (I was hers)/professor/poet Liz. Though she did sell me out on the film introduction by revealing my musical tastes. Thanks Southern Ohio, I rip you all the time for your folksy ways and weird climate, but I really miss you sometimes.

Symbolism aside, the ‘original’ 1938 Superman (who died several years ago) is currently wreaking Halloween-style havoc in modern DC continuity having been RE-ANIMATED BY AN EVIL BLACK LANTERN RING FROM BEYOND THE STARS. Nothing says never-ending narrative like comics. In other words: comics, how I love thee, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN.

A very well-deserved nomination today from the Friends of Lulu for the prestigious Woman of Distinction Award for “our” own Joanne Carter Siegel. Voting is open NOW and everyone can do it — click on through below.

VOTE NOW!!!

Congrats Lois.

more home-made art from the fanbase. First up, an awesome movie poster image from #1 fan Dan (happy birthday pal). Second is a striking image from his friend Evan. Keep ‘em coming.