The Falcon
news DC Shakes the Comic World and Ours
by Matthew Lord Contributing Writer In issue zero of the new 52, a recent revamp of DC Comics major heroes, Green Lantern sent shock waves through the new world. What makes this issue so important is the new character introduced as a Green Lantern is Simon Baz, an Arab American. With this move DC Comics has made history, Simon is the first Arab American superhero. Arabs have been in comics for a long time, but have usually been portrayed as villains and often stereotyped as terrorist. Writer Geoff Johns drew inspiration for the character through his own Arab American ancestry which makes this characters struggles very personal. Simon is a fresh face in a title that has not seen a new character in years. Most of the characters that have been Green Lanterns share a military background, like Hal Jordan the classic Green Lantern. Simon has a more modern feel to him then the statuesque of the Green Lantern title, which makes the character standout from those who have come before.
Page Two
Monday, September 24th, 2012
In the course of Simon’s introduction issue he is accused of being a terrorist during a car theft gone wrong. In fact, Simon is a car thief that stole the wrong car. The car he stole happens to have a bomb in it, acting quickly Simon decides to crash it into an empty factory to save lives. This heroic act leads to him being accused of terrorism. Geoff Johns bravely shows him going through F.B.I interrogations as Simon is insulted and water boarded. As Simon is about to be water boarded his interrogator says “relax Muhammad this is just routine” this single panel speaks so profoundly against intolerance.
“Maybe some of today’s papers have too many ‘feel-good’ features, but there is a lot of good news out there. “ -Ben Bradlee
A Study in Sherlock by Reed Strength Staff Writer
There’s been a recent Sherlock Holmes revival within our culture. A hit BBC television series about the obtuse sleuth has gained a cult following, he is the direct inspiration for the difficult doctor that starred in the recently finished television series “House”, and Robert Downey Jr. has starred in two movies portraying the detective as a lustful, ass-kicking genius who can see visions of a slowed future. The Sherlock Holmes Literary Society, the working title for a group of Montevallo students and professors interested in the literary figure, focus on where he originated: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary books. Started by Professor Kenneth Laeger of the Theatre Department and new English Department faculty
Simon then finds himself with a gun pointed at his head, that is when the green power ring chooses him as its host. As it goes on to his ring finger the phrase every Green Lantern fan knows appears, the acceptance words for every new lantern Most of the “Simon Baz of Earth you have the ability to comic focused on showovercome great fear”. ing the persecution he has to live with. It is The differences likely that this theme between Simon and pre- will follow the characvious lanterns do not ter. Though is the charend with his heritage. acter just a ploy to get Simon with his fore- people talking or will he arm tattoo “courage” in be a permanent addition Arabic adds even more to DCs line up? Geoff to the character. Tat- Johns doesn’t think so; toos being forbidden in Simon will not only be Islam and superheroes a major character in the generally do not sport Green Lantern comic, tattoos. This small de- but also a member of the tail further sets him Justice League of Amerapart from the other ica. It is hard to say DC characters. Which how long he will last, are traditionally rather but this major change clean cut characters but reflects both how we this may be something as readers and AmeriDC is trying to change. cans have changed.
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Photo:Reed Strength thoughts on just what Dr. Watson, the narrator of the story, as well as Holmes’ valuable right hand man, saw and described. Some points of interest included a passage where Holmes, unsatisfied with his failed attempt to poison a small terrier, mixed up a stronger concoction that left the animal dead within the first sip.
mons, despite garnering false information, and later apologizing to Mormon leaders about the passage in 1923.
of being firebombed by a camera. protestors last November for running a simiFrance is home lar editorial cartoon to Western Europe’s and pleas from French largest Muslim popu- government officials lation, and due to the the editors decided to film and cartoon, France go forward and run the ordered that all embas- cartoon. Foreign Minissies, cultural centers, ter Laurent Fabius said schools and other of- in regards to freedom ficial sites to be closed of expression that it last Friday as well as “must not be infringed,” the French school in Tu- but also had this to say, nisia, where US ambas- “Is it pertinent, intelsador Chris Stevens was ligent, in this context killed during protest on to pour oil on the fire? September 11th. The answer is no.”
their decision, “We’re a newspaper that respects French law,” said Gérard Biard, the editor in chief. “Now, if there’s a law that is different in Kabul or Riyadh, we’re not going to bother ourselves with respecting it.”
member Alex Beringer, what was a small meeting to discuss the figure, has blossomed into a full blown club. I sat in at their recent meeting in Hill House. The group had read the first novel in the series, “A Study in Scarlet”, and discussed the portrayal of Sherlock within the story, versus his “Rambo meets Sherlock” persona via Downey Jr. Everyone chipped in observations and ideas, with nary a disagreement or argument. Beringer lead the discussions with a PowerPoint presentation to share background info and help bring up topics. Important passages within the story were brought up and read out loud, and Beringer asked the members for their
The next meeting for the organization is scheduled to be on October 27, at 7 pm in Hill House. Membership is totally free and voluntary, with the only true requirement being to finish the next story After an hour in the series, “The Sign of discussion, a break of Four”, for discussion. was called, and ProfesIn addition, the sor Lager pointed us group plans to watch the to the kitchen, where “Mormon Trail Bis- American adaptation of cuits” (he later admit- the BBC series, “Eleted them to be as “dry mentary” on September as the Nevada desert”) 27 when it premieres, were available along with further details with Utah brand honey. to appear on a future Facebook page. If anyThe combina- one wishes to know the tion was used to coincide real Sherlock Holmes, with a lengthy disserta- and has a knack for discussion, tion Doyle writes during literary “A Study in Scarlett” this group of “Sherwelcomes about the threat of Mor- lockians” you with open arms.
UNREST continued
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Despite the ofThe editors of fices of Charlie Hebdo Charlie Hebdo stood by
The unrest does not seem to be getting any better as the Muslim world continues to rage on. As the turmoil begins to rise or fizzle out we will keep you updated.