Leader of the Pack, by Martha Thomases

Martha Thomases

Martha Thomases brought more comics to the attention of more people than anyone else in the industry. Her work promoting The Death of Superman made an entire nation share in the tragedy of one of our most iconic American heroes. As a freelance journalist, she has been published in the Village Voice, High Times, Spy, the National Lampoon, Metropolitan Home, and more. For Marvel comics she created the series Dakota North. Martha worked as a researcher and assistant for the author Norman Mailer on several of his books, including the Pulitzer-Prize-winning Executioner's Song, On Women and Their Elegance, Ancient Evenings, and Harlot's Ghost.

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10 Responses

  1. John Tebbel says:

    Are comics to blame? Sure. Here's Part A, Section 3 of the Comics Code, in force for two or three decades: "Policemen, judges, Government officials and respected institutions shall never be presented in such a way as to create disrespect for established authority." There's lots more.Can you ever know if an when you've recovered from a lobotomy?

  2. Rick Taylor says:

    Hey, we are all adults with free will and can make our own choices.I try to steer clear of all media crapola and decide for myself.

  3. pennie says:

    Lessee, two states with an underwhelming amount of non-Caucasian people. Is it all that mysterious that the elephants sided with a guy who openly advocated rounding up the queers for the long march to the camps? Obama hires an "ex-gay"gospel singer to warble the Lord's prayer for his gravy train tent revival circus…Ah, Hilary Dilary doc…turn, turn, turn turn again…As ever, for me, it begs the question: "Is this the best we can do?"Who would I rather have a shot of Patron Silver with? That's easy: you, Martha!THEM? They can clean up the mess afterwards!They are, at best one-dimensional caricatures–poor representations of even the loosest definition of a hero.Pa-tooie!Give me Emma Goldman, anyday!

  4. Elayne Riggs says:

    I think the focus on trivia does draw in some people; witness the response to your survey of the candidates' favorite comic book character.But I think it's mostly the profit-driven, 24/7 cable news networks that are to blame; in a desperate need to fill time and boost ratings, they inflate every little thing to such monumental importance they've completely lost perspective, so citizens need to be super-savvy nowadays to get beyond that. Fortunately, the advent of online activism seems to indicate that this is exactly what's occurring.

  5. Liz Glass says:

    Great column, as usual. I am making a habit of locking the kids in a closet so I can enjoy it every Sat morning. Millions of people took to the streets to protest the Iraqi invasion, too. Kyle and I did, pushing little Lillian and Isaac in a double stroller with countless others in 2002. But the current administration does whatever the hell they want; they stole the election. It wasn't a secret; why isn't there more talk about this? That is part of the reason I have been so ambivalent about these elections (also b/c I don't want to hear about a 2008 election in 2007, these campaigns are just so long now…YAWN) – who cares? Whomever has control of the voting booths and the associated technology owns the government. Why campaign for a Democrat when he or she can't possibly win because the voting is rigged? The real American superhero is the media-savvy techno-nerd who can expose this and save American democracy. PS Speaking of the Iraq War: I must plug Kyle's "Special Forces" The third issue is going to be awesome. Hey Martha: Can you knit a Felony costume? Free NYCC admission to any Kyle Baker fan (preferably female) patriotic enough to wear such a thing.

  6. Mark Badger says:

    Edwards is one guy has made a difference this year, pushing progressive ideas that Obama and Clinton have had to respond to. I'm looking forward to voting for him.Obama statements recently have been turning me off but the fact he spent his couple of years as a community organizer for an Alinsky organization is what gives him real cred to me. He won because he put together organizers to get people out to vote in Iowa, he's involving people even if the media makes it about him. When asked "How do we know you won't turn into a Washington Shill when you get there?" he said something like "There's got to be a movement pushing me to make sure I don't become a shill, if there's not I will become one". So he has a better sense of the world then the average politico hack.I'd be happy to vote for him too.But I'll keep on working with MoveOn.org then work for any of these folks just yet.

  7. Dave Marsh says:

    Martha's column is indispensable for understanding what is happening now. It is not a matter of party; it is not a matter of skin (Obama sounds as much like a Republican when he talks about health care and Social Security as any Republican); it's not a matter of "change" (what change? where? when? in what direction? benefiting whom?). It's just as Martha says.I blame the illusion of free will, myself. Convincing yourself that the people who spend millions, if not billions, to convince you that they aren't manipulating you, so they can better manipulate you, is a very very dangerous game. I think this country may well die from the illusions thus created.

  8. Marilee J. Layman says:

    When I was 13, I led my school's contingent on the March to the Pentagon against the Vietnam war.This Friday, we can Wear Orange to support the closing of Gitmo:http://www.aclu.org/safefree/detention/closeguant

  9. Anonymous says:

    Is that really Obama in Metropolis?

  10. Joe in Philly says:

    I'm thinking of a write in vote: Martha for President! At least for the primary, since the Democratic candidate will likely be decided by the time the Pennsylvania primary rolls around in April. (Quick rant: the primary system is broken. The primaries should be grouped regionally and the dates rotated every 4 years so that everyone gets a chance to vote first. I'm tired of the Iowa and New Hampshire "tradition" of going first and some candidates being forced to quit the race before I get a chance to consider voting for them.)