Memorial Day

  Today is Memorial Day.

Here in the United States, the last Monday in May is spent honoring those who had made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their life in service to this country.

Memorial Day as we know it had evolved from many ceremonies done to honor soldiers in the American Civil War. In 1882, the holiday got the familiar "Memorial Day" name over the previous "Decoration Day", but it wouldn't really grow in popularity until WWII. However, it would not be until 1967 that the American federal government law would declare "Memorial Day" be the official name. On June 28, 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved the holiday from May 30 to the last Monday of May, creating a three-day weekend.

On this day, like we have in various forms over the last century plus, we honor those who have given their lives for this country and ensure they have not been forgotten. Their sacrifice will not be remembered always.

Justice League of America #252 (July 1986)

As part of my tribute to Gerry Conway, I thought it'd be neat to take a look at a comic he wrote from a rather...controversial era for DC's greatest superhero team: The Justice League of America. In particular, what would be known as the "Detroit Era" as at the time, the League was operating out of a bunker in the Motor City. You should see my review of Justice League of America #241 (August 1985) to learn more how the Detroit Era came about. 

As I have said before, having read some of that era, I can certainly understand why the Detroit era is seen as a low point for the group by both fans and DC themselves. I really can. Yeah, going from the Satellite Era comprised of DC's most famous, iconic, and powerful superheroes in a space station to a bunker in Detroit with a bunch of young newbies? Yeah. Also, it seemed that Conway was running out of steam on the book, struggling to figure out what to do. That was also understandable, as he had been writing the book since 1978. 

Now personally, I always felt the "Detroit Era" was a time that had a lot of missed potential. Yeah, it clearly was trying to emulate the success of New Teen Titans and X-Men, but the idea of these young heroes trying to live up to the legacy of the JLA while struggling with their own issues? There was a goldmine of storytelling potential. It's easy to poke fun at this era of the JLA (heck, DC themselves have mocked this era), but maybe it if it had a new co-writer to contribute fresh ideas, who knows what heights this era would have reached.

The comic we're looking at here is the start of what I consider the beginning of the Detroit JLA's finest hour, their biggest battle yet against one of the League's oldest nemeses. This is Justice League of America #252!

The cover is a Luke McDonnell piece. It's pretty cool, depicting the JLA fighting monsters, while the evil Despero looms in the background covered in shadows, proclaiming that the League will never defeat his infinite horde in a hammy Silver Age manner. My only critique of this cover is that I wish that the cover used Despero's original look, instead of the new look debuted here. More on that later.

"Arrival"
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciler: Luke McDonnell
Inker: Bill Wray
Colorist: Gene D'Angelo
Letterer: Albert DeGuzman
Editor: Andrew Helfer
Executive Editor: Dick Giordano

The story begins with something crashing into the ground. What could it be, you ask? A plane? A truck? Some drunk Kryptonian? Well, a few hours later, a hunting dog picks up the now-cooled meteor. The dog's owner wonders if it's that bear again. That bear kept stealing his pick-a-nick baskets. But it's not Yogi Bear. It's something...much scarier. And now the hunter is a skeleton.

"And thus was born...Raspberry Neon Skeleton Man!"

A figure demands to know where the Justice League is. The hunter insists he has no idea. The man's telepathic inquisition is torture to the man, but the figure does not care. Instead, he probes deeper, killing the man. And who is this angry figure who has a bone to pick with the League? 

"I shall use my...SPHERE BEAM!" 

Yes, it's Despero, the League's old nemesis. The Kalanorian despot has clearly been hitting the gym and got his fin surgically altered since we last saw him in my look at The Brave and the Bold #1! Remember, he originally looked like this.

When the character is adapted to other media, they tend to lean more towards the more muscular look he gets here. I understand why, it's more physically imposing and helps sell the idea that Despero is a major threat. But I'm a bit of a history nerd, so there you go.

He learns that the League that last battled him is no more. However, it still exists with a new roster led by a former Leaguer that he has a particular enmity with.  

The scene then shifts to New York City. It's here we see another long-time Leaguer: one Zatanna Zatara. She is lying in a bed, muttering she has to stop a man. But when she tries to get out of bed...

"AAAAGH, NOT THE NAKED RAMPAGE DREAM AGAIN!"

Yeah, she got that headband on that shocks her brain. Despite this, Zatanna shows that she has willpower that would make a Green Lantern proud. She's able to make her way out of her bed, thinking he has to stop a man named Adam. You see, in the last issue, this man had a woman named Sheri Stanley (who was Zatanna's roommate at the time) to lure her to him. He harvested some of her DNA to obtain the genetic secrets of the Homo Magi.

Sure. In the DC Universe, the Homo Magi are an offshoot of humanity that are naturally inclined to possess and master great magical power. They're the ancestors of the Atlanteans. For example, Arion, whom we've met before on this blog, is a Homo Magi. He's also an ancestor of Zatanna's, and he may also possibly be an ancestor of Aquaman's due to his connections to Atlantis. But since the DCU has been rebooted around six million times in the last few years, who knows if that is canon anymore.

Zee makes her way to the chamber where Adam is going to get the Homo Magi DNA injected into him. The DNA is attached to a retrovirus, and he's hoping that the Homo Magi DNA will increase his natural charisma to godlike levels. Because in a comic book universe, DNA is like LEGO. The headband continues to give her pain, but she presses on. 

"As you can see, Adam is a freak."

Yeah, I get the feeling that he's just trussed up like this for his own personal pleasure, if you know what I mean.

Zatanna is held back, being told that once Adam has the power of the Homo Magi at his command, all of the world's problems can be solved. A blade cuts into Adam's chest. Let's go somewhere less weird, shall we? Like Gotham City!

While there, Bruce Wayne is on a nice date with Mari McCabe, aka Vixen...and her Wolverine hair.

"I need your help, Bruce. Wolverine is suing me for some reason."

The two discuss Bruce's personal life. The Caped Crusader reveals that he's never really had a lasting relationship. He's had his fair share of flings, being a rich handsome man and all. However, he's never settled down because of the Batman. He's left wondering if Bruce Wayne doesn't exist, that he's just the persona that Batman takes on when he's not out fighting crime in the streets of Gotham. Vixen thinks he's pushing himself too hard, and he should relax tonight. The poor lady ends up eating those words when she and Batman witness a massive explosion in the city. 

As the two get ready to leap into action, Vixen thinks about the look Bruce had in his eyes when he saw the explosion. It leads her to conclude that perhaps, Bruce Wayne is merely a persona, that Batman is what he truly has become. Despero sends the two flying with...a pink waterspout? I don't know.

The Dark Knight is able to save himself with some gymnastics and a tree branch. Vixen calls upon a bird's power to fly, and she lands safely in some water. Despero uses his mental powers to send the Gotham Guardian flying. He knows he's called the League for help. 

"Where's my money, Bats?!"

As you can see in the panel, Despero wants to indulge in the classic supervillain trope of explaining his big scheme...and why he now looks like he did more steroids and hit the gym harder than an 80s pro wrestler. Bats ain't in the mood to hear it, so he gives the Finhead his best Mighty Punch. It seems to hurt Despero, as he tosses Batman aside, ranting about how he'll crush his eyes like eggs. Vixen shoves him into some fire, seemingly incinerating him. It...doesn't work. Despero is still very much alive. And the big pink alien is not a happy alien. He seemingly blows up Batman and Vixen.

Naturally, the rest of the JLA are called in. They all think that J'onn J'onzz, the Martian Manhunter, sent the call. It wasn't him. It could not have been him as he and Cyndi Reynolds were in New York City solving a mystery together in the last issue. The computer's call records reveal that it was from Gotham. Paco Ramone/Vibe isn't buying that it's an actual crisis, as he thinks Batman was just testing them again. Yeah, ever since Batman rejoined the League in issue #250, The Dark Knight has been training the League hard, and it's been getting under Vibe's skin, even making him threaten to quit. 

J'onn confirms that this is a real crisis. The kind of thing Batman wants them to be ready for. The League's teleporter can't get them to Gotham, and all communication to the city has been cut off. Which means, the group's going to have to rely on more old-fashioned methods of transport to Gotham. Time for a helicopter ride! 

"I've heard that Gotham can have some hot nights, but this is ridiculous!"

It looks like home of Batman is slowly being transformed into Hell. Gotham's citizens are being transformed into demons. After being dropped off, the League wonders if magic is involved. It is plausible, and it's a heck of a time for Zatanna to be missing. J'onn discovers that the city is covered by a vibrational barrier. Vibe's powers could counter it, allowing the League entry. True to the Green Martian's prediction, Vibe is able to get the League into Gotham, but he then notices something else: this was easy. Too easy. Clearly, they were expected. And indeed, Despero was expecting the League. He's standing on that looks like some sort of demonic building, Vixen and Batman trussed up. And the story ends with him referring to himself as their final nemesis, and the destroyer of worlds. 

I enjoyed this comic. My favorite scene is the date with Vixen and Batman. I felt there may have been some real potential there for character development-wise. I would have liked to have seen some romantic tension between Vixen and Batman. After all, it's not like Vixen can't handle herself against any of Batman's rogues. And maybe it would have helped Bruce see that he can have some happiness beyond the cape and cowl. Vibe having friction with Batman does make sense. Batman can be a taskmaster, and a metahuman presumably barely out of his teens would naturally chafe with that. Batman may have more experience as a superhero and as a Justice League member, but let's not forget, Vibe is not such a newbie. He's fought the likes of the Cadre, Anton Allegro, and Amazo at this point. His time in the League has been short, but it's been hardly uneventful, and then there's the big Crisis. Yeah, the Detroit League was the incarnation that fought in the Crisis on Infinite Earths.

It was really cool seeing Despero be shown to be this massive threat. He's more powerful than ever, capable of feats that he couldn't do in the past, both physical and mental. This Despero likely would make mincemeat out of the Satellite Era JLA. And that era of the JLA had not only a large roster, that roster included many of DC's most powerful superheroes. It really makes you wonder how the Detroit team can win the day. They lack the numbers (especially since Zatanna is missing and Aquaman quit in an earlier issue), they lack a lot of raw power at the moment (again, Aquaman is out and Zatanna is MIA), how will they save Gotham?! I am excited to read how they pull this off.

The subplot with Zatanna and Adam is a bit weird. I get that he's after the power of the Homo Magi, but couldn't he have just...gone somewhere to learn magic? Or find another way to enhance his natural talents? I get that in the DCU, the Homo Magi have a natural talent for magic, but I don't think that means regular people can't learn magic. I'd get it if Adam thought this would be a shortcut, but there's not indication of that here. it just seems like an excuse to get Zee out of the way to increase the challenge for the League when it comes to Despero's return.

Luke McDonnell is an underrated artist, in my opinion. I think it's because his work isn't flashy and instantly recognizable like say, Kirby or Perez or even a Steranko. It does a pretty decent job. Not much else to say about it, really.

If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2025 trade paperback DC Finest: Justice League of America - The Return. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! If you liked what I write and want to give my blog some additional support, please make a donation to my Ko-fi! See you next time!

World Turtle Day

 Happy World Turtle Day!

World Turtle Day is a day to celebrate, well, the turtle! This day is also intended to celebrate its more land-based counterpart, the tortoise. People often use the names interchangeably, but they do have differences. Turtles tend to have flatter shells and live near and in water, whereas tortoises have domed shells and live only on land.

This day was first observed in 2000. It would be sponsored by the animal rescue organization known as American Tortoise Rescue. The organization is dedicated to rehabilitating, rescuing, and protection of turtle and tortoise species. 

Turtles are rather unique because of one thing: their shells. Some species (like the Indian flapshell turtle) have "soft" shells, while others (like the Galapagos tortoise) have "hard" shells. The difference is that "soft shell" turtle shells are leathery in feel and are more flexible and light, allowing these turtles to move faster than their "hard shell" relatives.

A turtle's shell is comprised of two parts: the carapace on the back, and the plastron on the bottom. The two halves of the shell are linked at the sides of the turtle. The shell is composed of the rib bones and the spine of the turtle fused with its dermal bone. Basically, unlike in Super Mario World, the shell is literally part of the turtle's body. You can't pull a turtle out of it. The shell's main function is to help protect a turtle's vital organs. The turtles' shells are covered in scutes, which all have unique names. These scutes are made of keratin, similar to human finger and toenails.  Aquatic turtles shed their scutes, terrestrial ones do not.

The word "turtle" comes from French. In the UK, the word "turtle" tends to be used for aquatic turtles while the ones on land are called "tortoises". The biggest known living turtle is the aquatic leatherback turtle. These big turtles can reach up to 2.7 m (8'10") in length, and can weigh up to 500 kg (1,100 lbs).

Like other reptiles, turtles are cold-blooded. They have limited ability to regulate their own body temperatures. Due to their size, larger turtle species can use thermal inertia to help regulate their temperatures. Turtle diets can very between species, but they generally are opportunistic omnivores. Terrestrial turtles are more herbivorous, while aquatic ones are more carnivorous. 

Turtles lay their eggs on land, including the aquatic ones. The mothers of most turtle species build nests to lay their eggs, but some do lay them in crevices or vegetation. Where the eggs are laid are dependent on various factors, but mainly temperature and humidity.

Popular culture likes portraying turtles as quiet and slow-speaking, but they can make a variety of sounds. The oblong turtle in particular, care particularly known for this. Turtles have been known to engage in play behavior, and some species are capable of remembering things for months after they are taught. 

Turtles can live rather long lives. For example, Jonathan the Seychelles giant tortoise. In 2026, he is estimated to be celebrating his 193rd birthday. 

Turtles can be found all over the world. As such, many ancient cultures have myths about them. For example, Hindu myth has the World Turtle. Similarly, some Native American tribes have the concept of Turtle Island. The ancient Mesopotamian god Enki had a turtle as a symbol. In Greek myth, it's believed that turtles got their shells because they refused to attend Zeus and Hera's wedding. Zeus got mad and said, "THEN YOU CAN TAKE YOUR HOMES WITH YOU FROM NOW ON, YA JERKS!" In Chinese myth, Bi Xi is depicted as a dragon with a turtle's shell. The tortoise is also one of the four sacred animals of Confucianism. Sea turtles are often depicted in Australian Aboriginal art. And of course, there's more modern turtle heroes, like Gamera, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and well, considering this blog, there are turtle-themed Pokémon like the Squirtle line. 

So, yeah. Turtles are really cool. You can learn more about this day right here. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! If you enjoy what I write, and want to give this blog some additional support, please make a donation to my Ko-fi! See you next time!

Sherlock Holmes Day

 Happy Sherlock Holmes Day!

The reason May 22 is the day to celebrate this holiday is because on this day in 1859, his creator, English author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born. 

The character of Sherlock Holmes first appeared in the 1887 novel A Study in Scarlet. However, he would become popular thanks to short stories starring the character in The Strand, a British magazine. Doyle would go on to write four novels and 56 short stories focused on the character. In the over 150 years since his debut, Holmes's adventures have not only been adapted into various forms of other media, but many authors have written new stories with the character. He also has been parodied and pastiched many a time.

While not the first fictional detective, Holmes is arguably one of the most famous, and helped popularize the genre. Doyle is believed to have drawn inspiration from American writer Edgar Allan Poe's C. Auguste Dupin and French writer Emile Gaboriau's Monsieur Lecoq. Doyle himself has said that one of the inspirations for Holmes was Scottish surgeon Joseph Bell. Doyle had worked for Bell as a clerk, and Bell was known to be quite observant, able to deduce things from a glance.

My first exposure to the character was a small book. It had a gray cover, and it was part of a series of classic literature adapted for children. This small book collected three Sherlock Holmes short stories: The Red-Headed League, The Adventure of the Copper Beeches...and a third. I forget which one it was. But I loved that little book, and I would read the heck out of it. I also was a big fan of the 1980s Grenada TV series starring the late Jeremy Brett as the Great Detective. Heck, my favorite Disney Animated Canon film of all time is the Great Mouse Detective, an adaptation of Eve Titus's books, which were inspired by Holmes. Yeah, I'm a fan.

Holmes is a character that has been retold, adapted, and parodied for over a hundred years. He truly is one of the most iconic fictional characters ever created. So, enjoy a Holmes tale today! Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves, and each other! If you like what I write and want to give this blog some additional support, please make a donation to my Ko-fi! See you next time!

International Tea Day

 Happy International Tea Day!

This day is one that is rather close to my heart, as I am a proud tea-drinker. The first International Tea Day was held on December 15, 2005. This day was held in countries known for the production of tea, including Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Kenya, and Uganda. In 2019, the Intergovernmental Group on Tea decided to celebrate it on May 21. The United Nations made a resolution to celebrate International Tea Day on December 19, 2020. The U.N. would celebrate the first International Tea Day post-resolution on this day in 2021. 

What is the purpose of this day, you may ask? Well, the purpose of this day is to raise awareness of the history and cultural signifiance of tea around the world. It's not surprising. Tea is one of the most-consumed drinks in the world. You know which country consumes the most tea? You're thinking England, right?

Nope. England has a lot of tea drinkers, but India is the country with the most tea drinkers. They love their tea over there. 

Some of the earliest records of tea drinking can be traced to China's Shang Dynasty, in which it was drunk as a medicine. According to Chinese legend, Emperor Shennong discovered tea thanks to some leaves blowing into his cup of hot water. He drank the mixture and was like, "Hey, this is pretty darn good!" A medical text by physician Hua Tuo from 220 AD is an early credible record of ancient tea drinking. However, 21st century research has been rather inconclusive about the health benefits of tea.

In 1555, Italian explorer Giovanni Battista Ramusio would first make Europe aware of tea thanks to his publication Voyages and Travels. In the 16th century that tea would come to the West, thanks to Portuguese priests. Later on, the British would introduce tea to India in an attempt to break China's monopoly on the drink, but it wouldn't be until the late 20th century that tea would become truly popular there.

In the US, for a long time, tea (at least hot tea) would not be popular thanks to British taxation on British taxation on tea while it was a bunch of colonies. In more recent years, specialty teas would become popular, and sweet tea is quite popular in the South.

So yeah, tea has quite a long and fascinating history, more than I could talk about here. But it is an incredible drink. One that I enjoy a nice cup of every morning. So enjoy a nice cup of tea today! If that's your thing, of course. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! If you like what I write and you want to give thsi blog some additional support, please make a donation to my Ko-fi! See you next time!

World Bee Day

 Happy World Bee Day! 

The first World Bee Day was held on May 20, 2014. This day was proposed by the Slovenian Beekeepers' Association to raise awareness of the importance of bees and the pollination process. It's also on this day in 1734 that Anton Jansa, a pioneering figure in beekeeping, was baptized. This was done with the support of the Slovenian government. In 2015, this initiative would become international thanks to Apimondia, aka the International Federation of Beekeepers' Associations.

Beekeeping has been practiced by humanity since the days of ancient Egypt and Greece. The Mayans also practiced it in pre-Columbian times.

Bees are very important to ecologies because they are pollinators. They help flowering plants reproduce. As a result, bees can be found in every continent except for Antarctica, naturally.

The most common kind of bee is the Halictidae, or the sweat bees. They're called that because they're believed to be attracted to sweat. There are 4,500 species of bee in this family. The largest bee family is the Apidae family, with over 5,700 bee species. Halictidae bees are the most common bees in the Northern Hemisphere. 

It's estimated that about a third of the human food supply comes from flowering plants. Thing is, bees are under threat. And there are a lot of reasons why. Pesticide usage, loss of habitat, disease, and climate change. Farmers have been working to mitigate this, mainly by planting native flowering plants to encourage bee population growth. 

Bees are important and fascinating little critters. They also are the reason you may enjoy honey. You can learn more about the importance of World Bee Day here. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! If you like what I write and want to give this blog some additional support, please make a donation to my Ko-fi! See you next time!

International Museum Day

Today is International Museum Day!

This day was first organized in 1977 by the International Council of Museums. It's a day meant to celebrate the importance of museums.

A museum, for those not in the know, is a building that is dedicated to the purpose of collecting and interpreting artifacts. Museums can specialize in a particular artifact, like art museums or natural history museums. Many major cities all over the world have museums. 

The word museum comes from Latin. The word itself was descended from an Ancient Greek term which denoted a place dedicated to the muses, which would be dedicated to the study of the arts and sciences. 

The earliest known public museum was the Ennigaldi-Nanna's Museum, dating to around 530 BCE. It was named after its curator, and is located in modern-day Iraq. It would be discovered by British archaeologist Leonard Woolley in 1925.

Another early public museum is the Capitoline Museums, first opened in 1471 in Rome. These museums came about thanks to Pope Sixtus IV donated some bronze sculptures to the people of Rome. In 1759, the British Museum would be opened. 1793 would see the opening of the Louvre in Paris. Yes, the 18th century was a time of commoners gaining increasing access to knowledge of the past.

The first museum in the United States was the Charleston Museum in Charleston, South Carolina. This museum was opened in 1773, only three short years before the country declared independence from Great Britain. It also had the first female director in 1920 in Laura Bragg. It's a museum decorated to natural history and art. 

So, yeah. Museum have been a large part of community life for generations. So go enjoy one today if you can! Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! If you like what I write and want to give my blog some additional support, please make a donation to my Ko-fi! See you next time!