‘Ms. Marvel, Vol. 6: Civil War II’

Ms. Marvel is faced with the moral implications of so-called “predictive justice.” Is it OK to arrest and detain a person before they’ve committed a crime?

A meta-human named Ulysses uses mathematical probabilities to identify people who are about to commit a crime, and Ms. Marvel’s idol “Captain Marvel” assembles a team to intercept the people whom Ulysses identifies.

Ms. Marvel is given the task of being Captain Marvel’s liaison and supervisor for the team.

At first Ms. Marvel is relieved at at the idea of no longer having to worry if people she cares about are in danger, by stopping dangerous criminals before they can hurt anybody. And so excited is Ms. Marvel to be in a position of responsibility that was given to her by her idol, that she doesn’t listen when friends and family raise ethical concerns.

‘Miles Morales’ by Jason Reynolds

Miles Morales is a 16-year-old from Brooklyn who lives a secret identity as Spider-Man. His father knows Miles' secret, as does his best friend Ganke, who rooms with Miles at a boarding school.

Lately, Miles’ “spidey-sense,” which warns him of imminent danger, has been going haywire in the class of a history professor who has a romantic view of slavery in the pre-Civil War South. Slavery, according to Mr. Chamberlain, was “the building block of our great country,” and the U.S.’s enslavement of criminals is what keeps the country alive.

Miles is also plagued by disturbing dreams of fighting a blurry assailant that becomes his uncle Aaron, but then becomes ... something else.

‘Superman, Before Truth’: Academic guide

For those library personnel who work with young adults, I want to share a free reading and discussion guide for Superman, Vol. 1, Before Truth, a D.C. Comics publication authored by Gene Luen Yang (National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and National Book Award nominee).

You may wish to share this resource with educators at your schools.

Before Truth deals with the issue of online privacy versus public sharing, as Superman receives anonymous text messages from someone who has discovered his secret identity as newspaper reporter Clark Kent.

‘Superman: Before Truth’

The implications of Internet privacy versus purposeful online “branding” have made regular appearances on my blog, especially during an assignment for a course in Internet ethics, to argue that people do not need a right to privacy to discharge their rights as citizens.

With this course assignment behind me, I read Superman Vol. 1: Before Truth by Gene Luen Yang (DC Entertainment, April 2016).

It fascinated me to observe the iconic character of Superman wrestle with online privacy versus public sharing. Especially compelling were the far greater repercussions that could result from such a decision, than the average person’s lapse into over-sharing.

Summer reading at Jackson County libraries

Jackson County libraries’ summer reading program starts as soon as school finishes. During these final days of the year in Bellview Elementary School library, I’m promoting the summer reading program by making bookmarks available.

Superman/House of El shirt, version 2.0

Version 2.0 of my House of El/Superman shirt

Version 2.0 of my Superman/House of El shirt, moves the machine-appliqued crest from one base garment to another, this a dark-green knit shirt with crocheted-lace sleeves.

Bitstrips: Introducing a cartoon version of myself

Here’s my first Bitstrips comic panel, featuring a cartoon version of myself, that was created using an interface through Facebook.

Decoupage decorates this water bottle

There was a definite “cat” theme to my selections of comic and magazine art for Saturday’s decoupage in the teen department at Jackson County Library Services’ Ashland branch library.

To the left, a stainless-steel water bottle is decorated with superhero and online gaming characters, all of whom have feline qualities in common.

“Decoupage” involves decorating an item’s surface by applying paper cut-outs and coating it with varnish or lacquer. Check the JCLS online catalog or browse among 745.546 in your branch’s nonfiction stacks to look for books about decoupage.

Teen “Crafternoon” takes place on the first Saturday of each month at the Ashland library, located at 410 Siskiyou Blvd. For more information, call 541-774-6994. Watch for announcements on Facebook. I also post notices to my blog.

Teen Crafternoon: Comic decoupage

Image credit: Ashland Teen Library Fans on Facebook

How would a pair of shoes look decorated with comic decoupage? Bring your own shoes and find out during the next Teen Crafternoon, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the teen department at the Ashland Public Library.

“Decoupage” involves decorating an item’s surface by applying paper cut-outs and coating it with varnish or lacquer.

Check the library’s online catalog or browse among 745.546 in your branch’s nonfiction stacks to look for books about decoupage.

Esther Mortensen, teen librarian, indicated that she also has a pile of magazines in her office if participants want other pictures to decoupage. Ashland library is located at 410 Siskiyou Blvd. For more information, call 541-774-6994.

Have a ‘super-powered’ Thanksgiving holiday

Image credit: Random House Library Marketing Team

I couldn’t resist this Justice League “Happy Thanksgiving” graphic, courtesy of the Random House Library Marketing Team, with its accompanying wish for a super-powered holiday to librarians everywhere. Have a blessed, safe holiday with your loved ones.

Banned Books Week 2013: Sept. 22 to 28

Banned Books Week is being observed this week, Sept. 22 to 28. According to the American Library Association, “Banned Books Week stresses the importance of preventing censorship and ensuring everyone’s freedom to read any book, no matter how unorthodox or unpopular.”

Film villains: a pretty homogeneous bunch?

At TheMarySue.com, Dan Wohl writes about a lack of female sci-fi villains, using the “Abramsverse” J.J. Abrams Star Trek remakes as examples.

‘Man of Steel’: T-shirt cosplay for Superman film

A quest to create special shirts for the new “Superman” movie, “Man of Steel,” brought us to Goodwill Industries of Southern Oregon, where we bought T-shirts to serve as base garments and form the layered “S” crest.

The film opens June 14 and my inspiration was guided by Megan Nicolay’s books, “Generation T” and “Generation T: Beyond Fashion.”

Goodwill sponsored an upcycled fashion contest at the Rogue Valley Earth Day celebration. If the competition next year has a “Community” division, maybe you’ll see us displaying our splendor as members of the “House of Jor-El.” Or maybe you’ll see my “Sharrow” shirt.

NPR writer: Superheroes are too popular

Writing for NPR.org, commentator Adam Frank resents the “dominance of comic books in mainstream movie culture;” for him, science-fiction or fantasy fandom has become too easy:

“Part of the joy of being a dork used to be the determined loneliness of one’s science fiction/comic/fantasy compulsions. Back in the day there were only a few other dorks who knew, really knew, Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy. You could drop a Hari Seldon reference and get a few sly smiles from your fellow denizen’s of the sci-fi bookstore. 

“You had to work for your dorky cred, poring over back issues of The X-Men and Captain America to get the whole story. Now all it takes is one Google search and the history of Emma Frost rolls out for you like a bunch of oranges from a broken shopping bag.”

My reaction is one of appalled fascination at seeing the embodiment of “microagression” as dissected by Dr. Andrea Letamendi on MarySue.com.

Microagressions reinforce stereotypes about who belongs and who does not. Letamendi discussed microagression against women in fandom and here’s Frank directing microagression against, well, everyone who doesn’t meet his standards.

I argued earlier in this blog that Letamendi’s essay is a worthwhile read for its thoughtful perspective. And for what it’s worth, Frank demonstrates through his writing that microagression exists: he is making a pretty clear statement about who belongs in fandom and who does not.

As before, I believe there is too much exclusion in the world; real geeks shouldn’t practice it. Fandom should be an inclusive haven; it should not be an exclusive club.

Cosplay ≠ Consent

Here's Cosplay ≠ Consent, created by Kanthara on Tumblr, that is rich with themes I blog about: victim-blaming and the importance of bystanders to combat/negate bullying. Add to it the realm of science fiction/fantasy fandom in which, far from being an inclusive haven, women can be targets of hostility on the basis of their looks.

Credit goes to my brother Andrew Parkhill for bringing my attention to this image, which offers commentary on an incident at PAX East in which a male journalist posed sexually-suggestive questions to women portraying Lara Croft.

Hawkeye Initiative: Male superhero duplicates women’s awkward poses

Source angels-assemble on Tumblr

My brother Andrew R. Parkhill shared this on his Facebook timeline: The Hawkeye Initiative duplicates female superheroes’ -- ahem -- overly exhibitive, off-balance postures with a male superhero, Clint “Hawkeye” Barton. It’s a refreshing alternative and commentary upon depictions of women in superhero comics. And it’s timely given the emphasis of my women’s health class upon media portrayals and social attitudes about women.

‘Superman Day’ to coincide with ‘Man of Steel’ film release

Detail: Superman, the “Man of Steel”
Credit for original image: Random House Gets Graphic

Libraries will celebrate “Superman Day” June 15 to coincide with a June release for the blockbuster film “Man of Steel.”

I was informed via Facebook by Jackson County Library Services that the Ashland teen librarian has sent for promotional material. The prospect delights this library volunteer.

I relate to the dilemma that many superheroes face, of having unique abilities that set them apart while being expected or wishing to blend in among members of “normal” society.

Random House is offering bookmarks, posters and buttons and encourages libraries to share photos, stating that “The library that does the best job exciting the fans for Superman will win 10 movie tickets to see Man of Steel.”

Event kits must be ordered by May 15 from Random House.

Batgirl was a librarian

Yvonne Craig is Batgirl, the superhero librarian

The current Batman film franchise is too dark and violent for my liking. But I have fond memories of the campy television show with Adam West and Burt Ward.

From Random House: Libs on Film, came this timely reminder that Batgirl was a superhero librarian! What better role model for this would-be librarian to aspire to?

Etonic Dragonzilla, Jr. bowling shoes

My birthday gift arrived today: my very own Etonic Dragonzilla, Jr. bowling shoes: black with yellow dragons that will look awesome with my bowling shirt. I look even more the bowling superhero now!

Team bowling: nearly a superhero



The Lake County Record-Bee Killer Bees
From left to right: Jeremy D. Walsh, Cynthia Parkhill,
Kevin N. Hume, Shawn Garrison and Kelly Thorn

Being on a league bowling team is the next best thing to being a member of the Justice League or some other superhero cadre. You'll just have to take my word for it, because I am so not kidding. I rank league bowling with superherodom.

Awesome dragon-enhanced shoes

Maybe it's because we all dressed up in matching shirts. We were the only team that did and I think it made us stand out: black polos with the Record-Bee's name on the front and the emblem, "Killer Bees," on the back.

I personalized my shirt by adding fringe and strung beads.

Team sports wasn't something I enjoyed until bowling with the "Killer Bees." I was always picked last and missed out on that team camaraderie.

But with bowling, any disparities among level of ability is evened out by our handicaps. We only ever compete against our own best scores.

In that sense, I made an improvement: I entered the league with a 67 average and ended with an average of 70. That may not seem like much but to me, the gain shows definite improvement.

I'd wanted to bowl in a league for months before joining the "Killer Bees." I'm grateful to former publisher Gary Dickson for organizing the team and to my teammates, Shawn Garrison, Kevin N. Hume, Kelly Thorn and Jeremy Walsh, for supportive and positive camaraderie.

Special thanks to my mother for letting me use her left-handed, eight-pound ball.