John Hodgman, of Areas of My Expertise, Daily Show, and "Hi, I'm a PC" fame, wrote a four-page column on comics for the June 1, 2008 New York Times Book Review.
No defensiveness; no "but of course these aren't really comics"; no shame of the four-color world--he dives in the deep end of the superhero pool with The Fourth World Omnibus series and Kirby: King of Comics, and then also covers in some depth Age of Bronze and Y: The Last Man, taking them all seriously and on their own terms.
Okay, there's one brief moment of apology:
In one moment, Highfather of New Genesis turns to one of the young boys in his care. "Esak," he asks, "what is it that makes the very young -- so very wise?"
"Tee hee!!" Esak replies. "It's our defense, Highfather -- against the very old!!"
This is probably the only passage in the English language containing the words "tee hee" that has actually moved me.
An apology with propers. Now that's canon.
Posted by Kevin J. Maroney at June 4, 2008 10:55 PM