Is Superman Canadian?
Plus, the complete script to WE STAND ON GUARD #1!
Friday. You made it. Congrats.
At breakfast this morning, my kids wanted to know about the “funny grandpa” on the back of the Cheerios box.
Like me, they found it difficult to believe that “Coach Ice-T” was once responsible for a song called Cop Killer off the Body Count album I got in trouble for purchasing back in high school.
The passage of time is cruel and mysterious, so don’t forget to start your day with all four heart healthy workouts.
Thanks to those of you who participated in our most recent chat, where reader Jess wanted to know if I still pick up monthly comics. While I remain a religious Wednesday Warrior, I had to admit that I’m way behind on my towering to-read pile. Still, there’s one comic I’ve always made time for since I was fortunate enough to first read its scripts last year:
Frustratingly, Cliff Chiang has become my latest artistic collaborator to realize that jettisoning me from the creative process will result in their best work yet. Not only is Cliff writing and drawing this badass Black Label series, he’s also coloring and lettering the whole thing himself, having stolen every trick from his poor Paper Girls colleagues. It’s outstanding, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Just don’t get any ideas, Niko.
Speaking of whom, it’s almost time to give away another page of stunning original art from the great Niko Henrichon:
If you want a shot to win this full-color beauty, all you need to do is subscribe to Exploding Giraffe at ANY paid tier (monthly, annually, or at our ridiculous Founder level), and you’ll be automatically entered in this weekend’s drawing. We’ll announce the winner along with our always-free new pages of Spectators on Monday, so it’s not too late to join.
Our generous paid subscribers in what we’re calling The Tower also receive weekly bonus content like the following nonsense. Here’s a free taste…
Is Superman Canadian?
That’s a pretty fucking stupid question, right?
Everyone who has ever passed by the somewhat depressing display at Hopkins International Airport already knows that Kal-El was born not on Krypton, but in good old Cleveland, Ohio, Home of Rock.
As a native of Believeland (nobody calls it that), I had it drilled into my brain from an early age that Supes was our pride and joy, most notably with this memorable Cleveland event to celebrate the character’s 50th birthday:
But nearly a decade later, when I first met my then-girlfriend/now-wife, a native of Ottawa, she laughed right in my dumb face when I claimed that my hometown was responsible for the creation of Superman. Ruth said that everyone knew Canada was the actual birthplace of the Man of Steel.
How the hell did she come to this insane conclusion? And how did our tired old debate eventually help inspire a brand-new comic? The thrilling answers await those of you curious/financially stable enough to follow us Beyond the Paywall…