American leadership is in an odd spot. The 2012 election is coming fast, and the nation appears divided. In a USA Today/Gallup Poll taken Sept. 11-17, 2012, shows the Republican candidate Mitt Romney lagging the incumbent President Barack Obama by a single point, 46%-47%. But in the Marvel Ultimates universe, the Captain is being elected Commander-in-Chief.

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Jeremy Renner rocked his bow and arrow (and an admittedly non-purple jumpsuit). There’s a community college and newspaper named after him (well…they have the same name so maybe). Hawkeye has been kicking ass since his first appearance in 1964, but not as a clean-cut, all-American super hero. His heroism has some bite, and that’s why he’s a fan favorite.

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San Diego Comic Con 2012 was, in a word, bonkers. I had the opportunity to commune with my fellow nerds and hear some of our most revered speak. Specifically, I made my way into the Mike Mignola and Friends panel, with Dark Horse’s Mignola and Scott Allie, and artists Cameron Stewart, James Harren, and Tyler Crook. They talked Big Red and the trials of publishing.

Also, spoilers abound in the paragraphs below!

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Have you ever watched someone smart and capable get stuck, and not be able to help get them to where they need to go?

The Promised Land is a graphic novel for fans of adventure, magic, zombies, video games, beauty, dragons, and people getting to where they need to be. Like a buddy comedy, only with awesome dragon-wielding ladies and a pink bubble-thing.

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Or: The Graphic R. R. Novel

I’m a huge Game of Thrones fan. HUGE.
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As a kid growing up in the 90s, watching X-Men cartoons on Saturday, and disliking Jubilee for reasons I couldn’t quite understand, I loved the X-Men. At the time I had never read a comic about them, but their essence permeated my prepubescent brain as it did many of my peers. In short, X-Men pretty much won the 90s.

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It’s a bold statement, but I stand behind it. The 70s were filled with diversification, including satire comics being added to the publishing lineup. That’s when a waterfowl named Howard the Duck from Duckworld joined the ranks of Marvel heroes.

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In July 2012, Captain Marvel will be reborn as a Marvel-only name. Previously referred to as “Ms. Marvel,” Carol Danvers will take up the Captain’s role and be the only female in the Marvel universe with a solo title. Marvel Comics made the big announcement at Wondercon, passing the Captain Marvel torch to writers Kelly Sue DeConnick and Dexter Soy.

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In 1954, the December 24 issue of the New York Times headline read:  NEW’ COMIC BOOKS TO BE OUT IN WEEK; First ‘Approved’ Issues Put More Clothing on Heroines and Tone Down Violence. It called out the new reign of the Comics Code Authority, a group who set out to ensure comics’ content wouldn’t warp the malleable minds of young readers. The guidelines they managed ruled the content of most comic books from the 50s through the 90s – but did it actually work?

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The Mandarin and Tony Stark have battled repeatedly, but Mandarin can’t seem to defeat the bajillionaire. His new attacks are focused less on brute strength and more on destroying Stark’s public image.

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