Superheroes, Comic Books, and Cartoons

Several weeks ago, I was complaining to my best friend that Warner Brothers had decided to cancel the current “The Batman” cartoon that had been running for a few years. I really liked that show, but Warner decided to replace it with a new Batman toon with much more childish animation and goofy stories. My friend’s response stopped me cold: “I like the new one. I like that I can watch it with my kids and not worry about it.”

That’s a great perspective, and one that I better learn fast. You see, I always loved superhero comics, stories, and cartoons. From a very young age, my head was filled with fantastic fantasies about saving the world. When I closed my eyes at night, I always drifted to sleep with images of heroic deeds and astonishing adventures running through my head. At bedtime, alone in my room as a kid, I flew. As soon as my eyes closed, I was saving the world. Sometimes, I still am.

I want that for my kids. I want fun, kid-safe comics and superhero cartoons to watch with them. Growing up, I felt like the comic industry matured along with me. The stories were grittier, darker, and more complex. In my teens, I loved it. The problem is, that’s not a great starting point for a little kid. I’d rather sit down with my little geek in a few years and watch the kind of shows that got my own imagination spinning 30 years ago. I want some shows like “Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends” and “Super Friends.” Granted, they aren’t as amazing for me to watch today, but they do remind me of how I felt sitting in the floor watching them for the first time. I’m looking forward to that with Wedge.

So, bring it on, Warner Brothers. May the new “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” cartoon thrive and flourish, ushering in a new era of kid-friendly superhero tales. Keep the flame alive for a while. Wedge needs some more time.

Show Your Geek Pride! Shirts and More Now Available!

I’m excited to announce a new line of geeky dad (and mom) goodies in my new Cafepress shop. I created these items because I wanted a simple “geeky dad” shirt for myself, and I thought others may feel the same way. After not finding exactly what I was looking for, my friend Jeff suggested I just do it myself. So I did.

Dads, you get two options: long or short sleeve, both in black. Moms, you have tons of options, everything from tanks to maternity shirts. A few samples are below. You can access my shop at any time through the link on the right sidebar of this site. Oh, and big thanks to Jeff for the geeky dad logos used on the shirts! Be sure to check his work out at Jaggedsmile!