My Summer Lair Chapter #208: What Makes An 80 Year Old Woman Wonderful?

It’s Wonder Woman Day here at My Summer Lair. Though that’s everyday at the Cartoon Art Museum who are currently hosting The Legend of Wonder Woman. This exhibition celebrates 80 years of the superb superhero with a range of artwork and insights and even focuses on her villains. (If you’re lucky you might be able to see her Invisible Plane.

While in October 2021 Wonder Woman will celebrate her 80 year old debut in All-Star Comics in 1941 this isn’t the only anniversary we’re celebrating. Andrew Farago is an avid writer of pop culture slash books about comic characters while his day job is the curator of the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco.

He’ll be celebrating his 20th anniversary at the Museum having curated and arranged a variety of exhibitions in the past: a Spider-Man 40th anniversary exhibition, an American Splendor showcase. Raw Fury: The Art of Mike Zeck and the 80th Anniversary of The Dark Knight.

Like Batman Andrew operates in the shadows and like Wonder Woman Andrew relies on his wits and talents to make this world a better place.

As you’re about to hear, The Legend of Wonder Woman is “drawing” generations of fans; a preview of what to expect at the exhibition and so much more including why Andrew believes Disco Stu should be in an old folks home but oh man we’re gonna start this whole conversation by talking about the jaw dropping G. I. Joe two-parter Worlds Without End from November 4 and 5 in 1985.

A handful of Joes wake up in an alternative reality where Cobra has won. As a kid it was mind blowing and wildly unsettling. It later formed a massive cornerstone of my imagination. So yeah we’re so gonna start with that and then talk about the superhero from the mysterious island.

The Legend of Wonder Woman @ W • T • F

Host Sammy Younan

Recorded: Friday August 27, 2021 at 2pm EST

Steve Trevor is one of the lamest most worthless comic book characters (anyone who saw the recent Wonder Woman can attest to this fact; and Steve impressively sucks in a DC world filled with losers like Jimmy Olsen, Cyborg, Lois Lane…Spoiler etc.).

75 years and he’s accomplished…well nothing.

As familiar as Spider-Man’s theme song…
“In your satin tights,
Fighting for your rights
And the old Red, White and Blue.

Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman.
Now the world is ready for you,
and the wonders you can do.

Make a hawk a dove,
Stop a war with love,
Make a liar tell the truth.

Wonder Woman,
Get us out from under, Wonder Woman.
All our hopes are pinned upon you.
And the magic that you do.”

Classic late 70s cheeze…that was then; this is now. Wonder Woman by Greg Rucka, Liam Sharp & Nicola Scott.

Listen NOW!
If you’re gonna geek out, GEEK HARD!

-28-

How is Black Panther an icon? Same thing with Wonder Woman…iconic without any storytelling substance. I can’t grasp that flimsy and ultimately foolish premise.

Black Panther has been around since the 60s and done (to quote Stupid Flanders) diddly-squat. Black Panther debuted in 1966; Spider-Man in 1962. Who’s had more impact on the culture?

Round 4! Since I’ve started tracking most of what I read I find it fascinating: I might be the only one. Heh…So Be It. Some adventures are smaller than others. In Round 3 I hit my one and only goal: more than 52 books in 1 year. I’m satisfied now, not sure that I could top that or keep going at that intense level: I’ve Been to the Mountaintop!

To Recap:
Season 3: September 28, 2013 to September 27, 2014 I read:

442 comics

65 books

115 comic book trades/graphic novels

Season 2: September 28, 2012 to September 27, 2013 I read:

466 comics

43 books

100 comic book trades

Season 1: September 28, 2011 to September 27, 2012 I read:
486 comic books

35 books

99 comic book trades

Currently I am reading: