Marvel vs. DC
There was a great piece in Saturday's Washington Post about the old "Marvel vs. DC" debate.

There's nothing much new there, but the writer, Hank Stuever, uses some absolutely fantastic imagrey. My personal favorite was "DC was about younger kids in back yards, wearing bath towel capes, leaping from treehouses. Marvel was about older kids in basements, possibly stoned, deconstructing Thor."

[Washington Post] Of the great brand-loyalty debates -- Ford or Chevy? John or Paul? Road Runner or Coyote? Newport or Marlboro? Orthodox or Reform? -- only a very few people still sort themselves along one of the narrowest consumer dichotomies of all:

Marvel or DC?

Back when it mattered, you used to be certain. You would ally yourself and endlessly argue the merits in comic-book stores or at a convention at the airport Ramada. DC Comics, led by Superman, was for people who adored the fantasy, the Ubermensch triumphant. These readers loved skyscrapers and archvillains and sidekicks, billowing flags, unerring ethical strength. Read more.

Dare I ask? Marvel or DC? I started as an absolute Marvel zombie when I first delved into comics in the 80s. When I returned to comics a few years ago as a thirty-something prodigal geek, I was stunned to realize DC titles outnumbering Marvel titles on my reserve list by a long margin.

Ads creep into comic frames

I gotta be honest with you guys. I haven't quite figured out how I feel about this.

OK, actually, I have. If GM offered the right amount of money, Evil Atom would drive a Pontiac. Often. :)

[Detroit Free Press] A young, handsome New York City firefighter had it all, including a loving fiancée whose daughter from a previous relationship adored him and his Pontiac Solstice GXP.

Then, tragedy struck and he lost his job and the two people he cared most about to a deadly fire - but he still had his car. So, he became an action hero and tricked out his Solstice with shotguns and other gadgets to save the lives of others.

If this sounds like a story ripped from the comics, it is. However, Time Warner's DC Comics created this series as a paid product placement for General Motors Corp.'s Pontiac brand. DC, which will launch the six-issue series called Rush City in stores July 19, has already posted it to its Web site, www.dccomics.com. Read more.