Painted heroes...

I thought this was quite wonderful:

Soviet Monument In Bulgaria Painted Like American Heroes.

Heh. But where's Wolverine?

Barbara Gordon, fated for change...

When I first heard that DC was doing another reboot of their universe, I wasn't surprised - or, if anything, I was surprised they were doing it again so soon. Aren't those DC reboots getting closer and closer together?

It's one of the reasons I'm not much of a DC fan. Things change too much, too fast, and not always in the ways I'd want. I like the way Marvel handles change: make it big, make it dramatic, keep it in the same continuum or give it a good rationale. If necessary, make it a whole new line, like the Ultimate Universe, to exist alongside the regular continuity.

This item by Ron Chan made me remember why I don't want Barbara Gordon to get out of her wheelchair - and no, not because of the fans who might be in wheelchairs and who might like to see a hero who is like them, though that's a consideration too. No, it's because it made her different. There are already a fair number of terrific female superheroes in Batman's world: Stephanie Brown, Cassie Cain, Katy Kane, Catwoman, Holly, Huntress, and so on... even Talia al Ghul, whom I'd like to see more of. But Oracle is the only one in a wheelchair. I loved her role, much as I love Alfred's role back at Wayne Manor. Someone who isn't in the thick of the physical action, but who has a strong part in the story.



If this blogger is right that "people have been hoping for Barbara’s return to fighting form for years", I'm not one of them. After the initial shock of reading The Killing Joke when it first came out, I have loved Barbara Gordon's unusual role.

Are there any superheroes left in wheelchairs? In mainstream comics? Professor X is walking now. I liked him better in his wheelchair, too, and lately he hasn't been featured much. I especially liked his Shi'ar wheelchair, the one that levitated.

I liked Superman's Lori Lemaris in her wheelchair too, way back when.