I thought I’d post a few thoughts on the current season of LOST. I’ve said for a long time that to me LOST is either going to be the most well written show in history or the biggest waste of time in my life. For me there’s no in between. I’ve never really considered myself a writer, but the more I learn about writing through my work in comics I’m starting to understand the process. As a good friend of mine likes to point out there are many patterns to screen writing and once you recognize them it’s hard to be surprised anymore. LOST remains exciting to me because it is so original and plays by it’s own rules. Unlike 24 for example, LOST still surprises me.

Another thing I like about LOST is how the story is driven by character. I actually care about the characters in the story. The same cannot be said for the 24 crew. This season I’ve also enjoyed the flash “sideways” or the parallel universe story line. What a creative and fresh perspective to take on the characters. My theory is that the creators are secretly showing us the end before the beginning. In other words, instead of building up huge anticipation for the final episode, I think they’ve been showing us the end all along this season by telling us where the characters wind up. Who knows for sure of course, but for now I’m lost in LOST.

I wanted to give a shout out to my buddies Art & Franco and wish them luck with their new podcast Aw Yeah Podcast. They’re genuine nice guys and it’s fun to hear them chat and get a little taste of their now famous telephone creative sessions. Art & Franco are the creative team behind Tiny Titans, Bill Batson, and Young Justice (oops Spoiler). Their podcast is featured on the Word Balloon network by the all-knowing general Zod – John Siuntres. In their honor I put together a little sketch of their antics.

Look! Up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s… it’s a non-citizen. No one watches baseball anymore, apple pie leads to obesity, and Superman is no longer an American. Thanks a lot pop culture!

As a general rule I avoid discussing politics in the creative world in which I roam. Mostly it’s because I look at comics and entertainment as a form of escapism where I can get a break from the drama of the day. Unfortunately after reading this article on Comics Alliance I can’t help myself.

Superman is not a man he’s a hero– an ideal. America is not a country it’s an ideal– it represents freedom. Superman is America and America is Superman, they can’t be disconnected. They are inexorably linked both literally and figuratively. I can’t think of anything more ironic than the symbol of American Exceptionalism– Superman, renouncing his citizenship from the nation whose freedom and idealism made his creation possible. Where else in the world could such a character rise from obscurity and become the media icon that he is today?

Politics, Presidents and American policy change but truth, justice and the American way ALWAYS remain the same. We along with our champion Superman should be able to say that without apology. To deviate from that ideal removes an essential element of Supes’ character and identity including our own. I refuse to live in a world of moral relativism where the very idealism that saved our world through war, both hot and cold during the 20th century is renounced.

I think many people confuse America being exceptional with America being superior. There is a difference. Political parties and pundits act “superior” by promoting their agenda through any means possible. Being exceptional implies tolerating debate because freedom is what’s most important. Superman has no need to renounce his citizenship because as an American he’s FREE to express himself no matter what! He is not a tool of America he IS America.

Maybe it would be more apropos for Superman to renounce his affiliation with DC comics and Warner Bros and return all his profits to the Siegel and Shuster families.