Let Them Eat Cake

“It just wouldn't be appropriate to have a festive occasion while a near-tragedy or a terrible challenge is presented in the form of a natural disaster,” McCain told Chris Wallace of “Fox News Sunday” in an interview taped for Sunday.


We so agree John, now eat your birthday cake and shut up!

Obama Responds to Fey, Uh, I Mean, Palin

40 Years Ago Today From DC Comics -- Bat Lash #1

Bat Lash #1 (On Sale: August 29, 1968) has a cover by Nick Cardy. I never cared for the coloring on this one, maybe the weakest of all the Bat Lash covers.

"We're A-Comin' ta Get You" is plotted by Sergio Aragones, scripted by Denny O'Neil and drawn by Nick Cardy. Bat Lash leaves No Hope Junction to avoid a lynch mob. On the road he meets a monk named Sebastian who offers him kindness. Sebastian has one piece of a marker that leads to the lost fortune of Don Sergio Aragones. After parting ways, Sebastian is killed by outlaws seeking the marker. Bat Lash is wounded while fighting them.

Bat Lash recovers in the town of Wormhole not far from the monastery where Sebastian was headed. He tells the monks there that Sebastian was killed, but the monks are really the outlaws. They then frame Bat for Sebastian's murder.

Bat escapes from jail and locates another traveling monk who carries another marker to the treasure. He takes the monk's place and returns to the monastery. He then sells the crooks the second marker. The sheriff catches Bat on the way out, but he talks his way out of trouble. While romancing Sebastian's niece, he discovers a third marker needed to find the treasure. He allows the sheriff to take the fortune after capturing the outlaws. Bat keeps the money he made from selling the second marker and leaves town. Shamelessly never reprinted.

Edited by Joe Orlando.

One for the Centuries!

He knocks it right out of the stadium!

40 Years Ago Today From DC Comics -- Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #115

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #115 (On Sale: August 27, 1968) has one of my favorite Neal Adams' covers of all time. I know that so much of my appreciation is due to the masterful color work on this, but I also like the almost Wally Wood inspired Superman figure and the wonderful staging of the scene fore which Adams was so well-known.

"Survival of the Fittest" is by Leo Dorfman and Pete Costanza, In a very rare-for-the-time crossover, Aquaman guest-stars. In some even rarer-for-the-time continuity, Aquaman's quest for Mera (Aquaman #40-#48) is mentioned. DC was changing folks, slowly but surely. While reporting on the maiden voyage of a new atomic submarine, Jimmy Olsen rescues the crew when the sub is caught in a whirlpool. Aquaman then arrives to help save the submarine. The whirlpool was caused by Captain Bane, the disguised identity of the Old Man of the Sea.

Seeking revenge against Aquaman and Jimmy, the Old Man of the Sea arranges for Jimmy to gain Aquaman's powers. Then disguised as Superman he arranges for Jimmy and Aquaman to prove which is the best by taking them into the desert. Jimmy is barely able to stay alive, but Aquaman appears to die. The Old Man then strands Jimmy in the middle of the ocean without powers.

When he returns to Earth, Superman apprehends the Old Man, taking the trickster to a lifeless water world where he can't trouble Earth again. Superman also reveals that Aquaman survived when his body was returned to the ocean, the water revived it. Jimmy is also still alive having found a life preserver from the Titanic floating in the ocean.

The back-up is "The Kid Who Unmasked Superman" by Dave Wood and Pete Costanza. Duncan Brite joins the Jimmy Olsen Fan Club with the intention of discovering Superman's secret identity. When Superman visits the club, Duncan gets an impression of Superman's ear, a footprint, and a strand of his hair. Duncan then compares the evidence to men at the Daily Planet. He suspects Clark Kent, but Clark realizes that Duncan's motives.

Edited by Mort Weisinger.

Wake Up America!

Just beautiful!

What I Love About the Olympics, Part IV

Did I mention the volleyball cheerleders?

McCain's Housekeys

He Was Just Biden His Time!

40 Years Ago Today From DC Comics -- Superboy #151

Superboy #151 (On Sale: August 22, 1968) has a pretty damn cool cover by Neal Adams.

"D.O.A. – in Cold Blood" is by Frank Robbins, Bob Brown and Jack Abel. While on patrol Superboy checks out a light in the Smallville High School office. Momentarily blinded by a beam of light while flying through an open window he reaches out blindly and grabs someone. When his sight returns, Superboy finds that he grabbed Lana Lang and killed her. He also finds evidence that she was stealing mid-terms from the office.

Superboy brings the body to the police station and turns himself in to Captain Hall. The police show him a note from Lana that tells them she is afraid of Superboy. An examination of the school office doesn't match Superboy's story about the accident. The Boy of Steel is then locked up.

Superboy begins to suspect Lana is still alive after he receives a note that disintegrates, and after Lana's body is missing from the coffin. Using his x-ray and telescopic vision from inside his jail cell Superboy locates Lana in the hands of Anton Lumar, a photographer who has found a method of making three dimensional photo duplicates that disintegrate.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.

VP Observation III

Kaine he string us along for much longer?

VP Observation II

Time is quickly going Bayh, and still no VP.

What I Love About the Olympics, Part III

Kerri Walsh.

VP Observation I

Obama is Biden his time on this VP announcement.

Question of the Day

Will our goading of Russia back into a cold war stance extend the life of the Space Shuttle? Do you think the US will want to rely on Russia for all its rides into space for five to six years?

What I Love About the Olympics, Part II

Brazilian Women's Volleyball!

40 Years Ago Today From DC Comics -- Metal Men #34

Metal Men #34 (On Sale: August 20, 1968) has another interesting cover by Mike Sekowsky and Jack Abel.

The Metal Men star in "Death Comes Calling" by Robert Kanigher, Mike Sekowsky and George Roussos. Continuing from last issue, the police attempt to apprehend the Metal Men after the robots have lost the public trust. The chase is interrupted when an alien from another galaxy is attracted to Earth by unusual volcanic activity. The Metal Men attempt to stop the alien, but they only succeed in endangering the authorities. The Metal Men decide to return to the lab until the authorities ask for their help. However, Tina remains in the alien's hands.

The police are unable to harm the alien either. When the alien animates store mannequins into an army, the police are forced to summon the Metal Men again. While the robots battle the wax army, Tina lures the alien into an active volcano.

Edited by Jack Miller.

Oh, We're All So Worried!

So the big story yesterday and today is...

McCain Lead Obama in New Poll

Oh, I'm so frickin' frightened! NOT!

What are they not telling you, while they ignore every other poll that says Obama is still ahead of McCain? You need to remember, and you heard it here first, all the way back in March, Zogby polls are always wrong. They are like the crap movie reviewers that stay in business because they can always be counted on to love the latest crappy film. Zogby is around to boost news rating with screaming headlines making predictions that turn the latest political contest on its ear, but which will eventually be proven to be wrong. But gosh, the news networks all get a slight bump in ratings for a day or two.

Remember, never ever get yourself worked up over a Zogby poll.

What I Love About the Olympics, Part I

The cheerleaders at the beach volleyball arena.

40 Years Ago Today From DC Comics -- Star Spangled War Stories #141

Star Spangled War Stories #141 (On Sale: August 18, 1968) has a not so impressive Enemy Ace cover by Joe Kubert. It is also the last issue to use this lack-luster Enemy Ace logo.

Inside we have Enemy Ace in "The Bull" by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert. This story was reprinted in DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #7, Enemy Ace Archives Vol. 1 HC and Showcase Presents:Enemy Ace Vol. 1 TPB.

Edited by Joe Kubert.