Tag Archives: congress

Around the Tubes

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X-Men Unforgiven #1

It was new comic book yesterday! What’d you all get? What’d you like? Dislike? Sound off in the comments below. While you think about that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web.

Wired – How a Major Toy Company Kept 4chan Online – With ties to Yen Press and more!

Publishers Weekly – Lance Fensterman Is Leaving ReedPop – We wish him well in his next adventure.

The Comics Journal – Cartoon Networking: A New Cartoonist Cooperative is the Latest Group of Creators to Seek Strength in Numbers – Interesting.

Kotaku – Here’s What $30M Of Funko Pops Going To The Landfill Actually Looks Like – Wow!

Kotaku – Congress Finds Time To Yell At Sony On Microsoft’s Behalf – Check the donations.

Variety – Sony Pictures Animation and Imageworks to Release ‘Spider-Verse’ Short, Launch Mentorship Program – Very cool!

Orlando Sentinel – DeSantis’ Reedy Creek board says Disney stripped its power – Well played Disney. Well played.

Reviews

CBR – Avengers Beyond #1
Comic Crusaders – Pimp Killer
Comic Crusaders – Rocketman and Rocketgirl
Collected Editions – The Swamp Thing Vol. 2: Conduit
CBR – Venom: Lethal Protector II #1
CBR – X-Men Unforgiven #1

Cong. George Santos claims he produced Broadway’s Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. He didn’t.

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Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark Santos

There’s so many lies spun and told, it’s hard to keep up with George Santos‘ claims. While running for Congress in 2021, Santos told potential donors he was a producer on the musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. Shocker. He wasn’t.

Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark ran from 2011 to 2014 and lost tens of millions of dollars and featured numerous technical issues and actor injuries. It’s been considered a flop despite the amount of money it was still making. The musical cost $75 million, the most expensive musical ever made, and featured music by Bono and the Edge.

The lead producer, Michael Cohl, denied Santos was involved.

Santos’ spokeswoman referred questions to his lawyer according to reports.

Santos has been under fire for an every growing amount of lies including business dealings, where he went to school, sports he played, jobs he had, his religious and ethnic background, and he even claimed his mother died in 9/11 (she didn’t), whether committed fraud in Brazil, defrauded a fundraiser for a dog, and so much more. There’s also lots of questions as to the funding and fundraising concerning his recent Congressional campaign.

He recently stepped down from committees over all of the questions of his lies as calls for his stepping down from Congress or being expelled have grown louder and investigations from numerous enforcement agencies continue.

(via Bloomberg)

Congressman Robert Garcia “threatens” to haul James Gunn in front of Congress

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Newly elected Congressman Robert Garcia is a comic fan, not only stating his want of a “comic caucus” but also being sworn in on a copy of Superman #1.

Now, Congressman Garcia wants to know the future of the DC cinematic universe and has “threatened” to haul James Gunn in front of congress to find out his plans. According to Garcia “the American people deserve answers.”

Rumors are swirling some of the plans will be revealed this Tuesday. The pressure of Congress!

Gunn has clearly taken notice…

Congressman Robert Garcia to be sworn in on a copy of Superman #1

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We previously covered Congressman Robert Garcia as he threw out the idea of a “comic caucus”. Now, the Congressman is showing off his fandom based on what he’s being sworn in on.

Underneath a copy of the Constitution will be a photo of his parents who he lost to COVID, his citizenship certificate, and an original copy of Superman #1 being borrowed from the Library of Congress. Is it the most expensive swearing in ever?

Garcia will represent California’s 42 district and was recently the Mayor of Long Beach, California. Garcia will love the comics scene in Washington, DC. Not only is it the home to multiple conventions like Awesome Con and Small Press Expo, but also boasts a lot of comic shops (about a dozen within a 30 minute drive), many not far from where Congress performs their business.

We’re sure the Congressman will happily fight for “Truth, Justice and a Better Tomorrow”.

One of us! One of us!

Is a Comics Caucus coming to Congress?

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Could members of Congress soon be showing off their comic fandom? Congressman-Elect Robert Garcia went to Twitter proposing a “comics caucus” for members. Garcia will represent California’s 42 district and was recently the Mayor of Long Beach, California.

A Congressional caucus is a group of members that get together around a goal. Examples would be caucuses of the political parties themselves, but there’s also others around interests. They can include members of both parties and both chambers.

They must be formally submitted with the name of the caucus, statement of purpose, officers and the employe that works on the issues.

There’s actually a lot of issues a “Comics Caucus” could take on from greater recognition and celebration of the art form to the often complicated rules regarding pay as independent contractors.

Garcia will love the comics scene in Washington, DC. Not only is it the home to multiple conventions like Awesome Con and Small Press Expo, but also boasts a lot of comic shops (about a dozen within a 30 minute drive), many not far from where Congress performs their business.

Rep. Katie Porter Goes as Batgirl for Halloween

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Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) decided to dress up for Halloween today going as Batgirl.

The Representative wore the outfit during a Financial Services Committee Session though changed into her civilian clothes for today’s House vote on the impeachment resolution.

Republicans fumed at an elected official having some fun incorrectly identifying her costume as Batman as they Tweeted their anger.

Porter corrected reporters when asked:

“Batgirl,” she told Washington Post reporter Mike DeBonis. “It’s not Batman. It’s Batgirl.”

(via TPM)

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Dunks by Quoting Alan Moore and Watchmen

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2019 is shaping up to be an interesting year for politics and one of the stars already is newly elected Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who has taken social media by storm.

The new member regularly uses social media to pull back the curtain of the political process but also has no problem using it to slapback haters.

Case in point, an article released today by Politico talking about how “exasperated” Democrats are trying to rein her in.

She wasn’t having it and responded back on Twitter with a quote from Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.

The quote comes from Rorschach who is in jail at this point in the comic and he looks at it as a positive being closer to the criminals he wants to punish…

AOC 1 Establishment Dems 0

Live Long and Run for Congress? Star Trek Actor Running for Congress.

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Actor J.G. Hertzler, who played Klingon General Martok on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, is running for Congress against Rep. Tom Reed in New York’s 23rd District which extends along New York’s border with Pennsylvania from the shores of Lake Erie in Chautauqua County to the suburbs of Binghamton in Tioga County. Hertzler filed last week with the Federal Elections Commission to run as a

In the announcement, he said he “disagree(s) with everything Reed supports, including his unrelenting support of Trumpster.”

Hertzler filed last week with the Federal Elections Commission to run as a Demcorat for the seat.

But, there’s a twist!

Hertzler will be making appearances some times as himself and some times as Mark Twain. Hertzler sees this as a “valentine” to Samuel Clemens who used the pen name of Twain. Hertzler sees Twain as a brilliant humorist for all ages.

Hertzler is currently an elected town board member in Ulysses, NY.

(via The Hill)

The Capitol Visitor Center Highlights Comic History

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Comics CodeThere’s a new exhibition at the Capitol Visitor Center, the museum(ish) is highlighting Congressional Investigations. The display highlights 200 years of investigations and includes items on Nixon, JFK, MLK and more. One part has some importance to comic fans. In the 1950s, the United States Senate held hearings about whether juvenile delinquency was caused by comic books.

In addition to displaying the documents, the exhibit also explains how the investigations sparked new policies. During the 1950s, Congress investigated how comic books were affecting a “dramatic rise in juvenile delinquency” and conducted televised hearings on the subject. After the hearings, comic book publishers revamped their content standards, though likely to the disappointment of a 14-year-old from Pennsylvania, whose letter displayed in the exhibit argued that comic books deter crime.

“The person or persons committing the crime always gets caught. The fear of this stops crime and stops juvenile delinquency,” the teen wrote in his June 1954 letter to the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency. “In fact there is not a sufficient number of the comic books on the book stands.”

 

The United States Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency was launched in 1953 and in 1954 its hearings took on the case with hearings. Seriously, the United States Senate debated about comic books.

While we might laugh today at how idiotic this all was, it had massive repercussions including the creation of the Comics Code Authority, which was a self-policing set of rules that laid down what could, and could not, be depicted in comic books. The Comics Code was in use until about 2011, and the impact was felt, resulting in the closing of some comic publishers.

The exhibit at the Capitol Visitor Center runs through September 12.

(via Roll Call)

Vampire LARPing Congressional Candidate Embraces his Gaming Past

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rush and wife cosplayYesterday we brought you the story of Jacob (Jake) A. Rush, a 35-year-old attorney and former sheriff’s deputy is running for Florida’s 3rd Congressional District, the Gainesville area. The story became such news that the campaign was forced to respond with a press release and in a bit of a shocker, embraces his gaming past. In fact Rush and his campaign not only embraces it, he points out the positive aspects of his LARPing group (live action roleplaying), and goes on a bit of an attack towards his opponent.

As a straight shooter, yes, I play and have played video games, role playing games, board games, Yahtzee, Clue,and I have acted in dozens of theatre productions.

In the release, Rush owns up to his hobbies and intelligently in the statement above connects activities like LARPing and video games, which have a negative connotation, with positive ones that individuals might be more familiar with like Yahtzee and Clue.

All my life, I’ve been blessed with a vivid imagination from playing George Washington in elementary school to dressing up as a super hero last Halloween for trick or treaters. Any cursory review of the Internet will show that I have played heroes and villains … I have never hid nor shied away from disclosing my hobby activities. When I was hired at the Sheriff’s office, I fully disclosed my gaming and theatre background on the application, and these hobbies posed absolutely no problem or raised any flags. In fact, when applying for undercover work, these hobbies were considered an advantage, so much so my shift lieutenant nicknamed me ‘Shakespeare.’

The Rush campaign accused his opponents of game playing with their false characterization of what LARPing is, but even says it’s a deflection of his opponents failings.

Bottom line-There is nothing wrong with being a gamer. It’s kinda nerdy, but North Central Florida deserves a legitimate debate on the issues instead of Ted Yoho’s usual sideshow distractions.

In the release Rush and his campaign promote the positive community aspects of the Minds Eye Society (the LARPing organization) and the charities they’ve helped including:

  • Wounded Warrior
  • Houston Area Women and Children’s Shelter
  • Ronald McDonald House
  • Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation
  • Redwood Rehabilitation
  • Operation Homefront
  • ALSAC/St. Jude
  • Child’s Play
  • Sanctuary for Families
  • American Diabetes Association

While we have no issues with Rush’s past, and in fact thing we need more gamers as elected officials, our only question was about comments made on a message board by Rush’s game character. We actually have an answer to that as well. According to the Washington Post:

Another LARPer, Lee Snyder, emailed the Rush campaign and said he had made the comments while gaming as one of Rush’s preferred characters.

Well that answers that question.

There has been numerous recent attacks on gamers seeking office, including a World of Warcraft player who ran for State Senate in Maine, and won. Expect more as the next generation steps up and runs for office.

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