The Sixty-Four Cent Question

So I'm sitting at my desk this afternoon, writing the introduction for the first Un-Men trade paperback, due out from DC/Vertigo this April and featuring those wonderfully bizarre creatures created by Bernie Wrightson and myself way back in the second issue of Swamp Thing, when the phone rings. On the other end is my dear old friend, longtime Superman scribe and current Democratic candidate for Congress in California's 24th District, Elliot S! Maggin (and, yes, the exclamation point is intentional).

"Can you do me a favor?" asks Elliot. "If it's possible," I reply. "What's up?"

"I need you to settle an argument I've been having with one of my co-workers for almost two years now," says Elliot, "Just answer me this one simple question."

"I'll try," I say, "I'm no political pundit by any means, but I'll do the best I can. What's the question?"

Elliot pauses for a moment, then in all sincerity asks, "In a fight between Superman and Batman, who would win?"

This, Gentle Readers, what what my life has been reduced to. Apparently, I am now the final arbiter of the ultimate fan geek argument. >sigh< And I used to have such potential.

By the way, for those of you desperate to know the answer, and Elliot completely agrees with me on this, the winner would always be the Batman.

A Few Quick Reminders

Well, in an hour or so, I'm off to sunny Metropolis, Illinois, for the 29th Annual Superman Celebration. I'll be there through mid-day Sunday, signing autographs and shaking hands, so if you happen to be in the area, drop by and say howdy. This, of course, means I won't be blogging for the next few days, since I have neither the equipment nor the knowledge to blog from the road. When I return, I promise to regale you all with my adventures. I'm really hoping to get a picture of me flanked by Noel Neill (the original Lois Lane) and Erica Durance (the current Lois Lane). I just think that would be the coolest thing in the world.

Being in Illinois, of course, means that I'm going to have to miss the premiere episode of the spectacular What's My Line? - Live On Stage this Sunday evening over at the Acme Comedy Theater on La Brea south of Beverly, but the rest of you in the LA area don't have to be so unfortunate. I'm expecting you all to go see the show (you can check out the details a few posts back) and report back to me on what I missed.

I'll see you all Monday. Have a great weekend.

It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's ME!

It suddenly dawns on me that I ought to alert any and all of you loyal WeinWords readers in the Illinois/Kentucky/Whatever area that, the weekend of June 7th-10th, I'm gonna be one of the Guests of Honor at this year's 29th Annual Superman Celebration in the lovely and picturesque city of Metropolis, Illinois. Among the other guests will be the first Lois Lane, the indefatigable Noel Neill; the current Lois Lane, Smallville's own Erica Durance; Supergirl star Helen Slater, former Superman artist, Jon Bogdanove, and comic book legend and my old friend, the Grand Canyon-voiced Murphy Anderson.

There will games, panels, screenings, all manner of fun. We'll be there to shake hands, sign autographs, smile relentlessly, and make sure all attendees have a super-swell time. You can click on the celebration name above for more details. If you happen to be in that neck of the proverbial woods next weekend, come on by and say howdy. We promise we won't bite.

I'll try to remember to remind you as we get closer to the date.