John & Martha Kent, Bible Scholars

The graphic novel Superman: For Earth, from 1991, sees the Man of Steel taking on environmental threats of all kinds. In a brief scene back in his hometown of Smallville, Clark and his parents lament the loss of farmland in their community, as it keeps being "gobbled up" to make room for apartments. Pa Kent wonders how these people will be fed, and then quotes one of the famous bits of Genesis 1:28.

"Be fruitful and multiply," he says, before offering some commentary about people using their common sense on that front. Ma Kent adds the next clause of the verse.

"And replenish the Earth," adding her own two cents that people have forgotten that part.

The quote is from the King James Version, and it's reasonable that this is the version of the Bible that the Kents would have heard growing up in church in the Midwest of the 1950s.

Their analysis is an interesting take, one appropriate for a farm family, for people close to the land. The next clause, "and subdue it," is an additional pro-farming concept. And the verse was certainly appropriate for the theme of the work, commenting on overpopulation and poor stewardship of the Earth.

Give the Kents credit (and writer Roger Stern). They did a better job handling their Bible quote than Fox Mulder did with his.

Christmas Blessings!

Another Hanukkah Story!

As we noted in our recent podcast episode, there just aren't enough Hanukkah-themed comic book stories out there. But there was one that we forgot ... and fortunately, our Internet buddy (and friend of the network) Chad Bokelman found it!

'Batman: The Brave and the Bold' #14 features a holiday story in which Batman teams up with Ragman  to defend Gotham City from evil Real Estate investors. 

On his Ragman-themed blog "The Suit of Souls," Chad plans on doing a pair of posts related to this story. In this first entry,he interviewed the writer of the story, Sholly Fisch. In the interview, Fisch talks about his inspiration in writing the story, and in emphasizing the Jewish heritage of the Ragman.

In his second entry, Chad promises to review the issue. That entry has not been posted as of the posting of THIS entry, but check back on his site regularly to look for it.

UPDATE: Here is a link to Chad's review of the story.

Podcast #003: Holiday Special 2015

In this all-new, super-special third podcast episode, Emily & Alan talk about a terrific Hanukkah comic book story, one of the few they've ever read. It's from issue 188 of Justice League of America, from all the way back in 1981.

Then they open up a terrific Christmas present -- all of the feedback they've received from listeners.

Season's greetings, Merry Christmas, and have a blessed 2016!

Click on the player below to listen to the episode:




You may also subscribe to the podcast through iTunes or the RSS Feed.

Link: Anderson Cale's music 
Link: The Crossover Nexus: Podcast Initiative

We would love to hear from you about this issue, the podcast episode, or the podcast in general. Send e-mail feedback to dorknesstolight@gmail.com 

You can follow Alan on twitter @ProfessorAlan or the podcast @DorknessToLight

Happy St. Nicholas Day

To honor the feast day of St. Nicholas, here are 5 interesting facts about the man. The actual man. Not the myth. Not the legend.

1. He was a Greek born around 270, in what is now the country of Turkey.

2. After his wealthy parents died, he spent his entire inheritance to serve the sick and the needy.

3. He was exiled and imprisoned for his faith under the persecution of Emperor Diocletian.

4. He died on December 6, 343, which is why this is his feast day.

5. He served the church as a Bishop, in which position he attended the Council of Nicaea. And yes, he slapped the arch-heretic Arias, who was teaching against the divinity of Christ, and thus denying the Trinitarian nature of God.

Podcast #002: The Spectre's Wrath

In this all-new, super-special second podcast episode, Emily & Alan talk about the comic book character The Spectre, a superhero who is also the embodiment of God's wrath. 

They cover his 75+ years in comics,talking about stories from the Golden Age to the current day. Works from Alan Moore and John Ostrander are also covered. And (of course) the Constantine TV show.

Click on the player below to listen to the episode:

You may also subscribe to the podcast through iTunes or the RSS Feed.

Link: Anderson Cale's music
Link: Johnny Cash: American IV

Special thanks to Michael Bailey for his vocal contributions.

Next Episode: The 2015 holiday special! (and feedback!)

We would love to hear from you about the Spectre, the podcast episode, or the podcast in general. Send e-mail feedback to dorknesstolight@gmail.com 

You can follow Alan on twitter @ProfessorAlan and the podcast @DorknessToLight

Comic Book Review: Gotham By Midnight Annual

Gotham By Midnight Annual, DC Comics, cover-dated September 2015.

“The Gentleman Ghost,” by Ray Fawkes, with art by Christian Duce. Cover by Juan Ferreyra.

There are a variety of ways that a comic book Annual can go. This is a pure stand-alone story, one that could serve a solid “jumping on point” to the reader who hasn’t been reading the ongoing series.

The plot is very simple, a mystery involving the Golden Age character Gentleman Ghost. Along with a mystery involving the valuable necklace The Tears of Eurydice, the story includes the New 52 origin of how Jim Craddock became the Ghost. 

This story does not feature the full cast of Gotham by Midnight. Detectives Only Jim Corrigan and Lisa Drake are featured. But the simple-sounding plot and small cast are not drawbacks, but in fact add depth to the mystery.

The Spectre appears, and suffice it to say that he doesn’t like ghosts. They represent a disorder in the afterlife; they are things that simply should not be. 

"Dead men lie down and rise not again. Thus speaks the Lord."

This is an interesting take. Comic book character routinely violate the Hebrews 9:27 process of "just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment." It is wholly appropriate for the Spectre to be the one character who is made wary by the presence of ghosts. They are unduly delaying their judgment.

It is also an interesting commentary that despite the Spectre's distaste for such beings (and one would assume, the Spectre's Boss), that they nonetheless are allowed to exist in the DC Universe.