Comic Book Summer

Summer is almost over for me - and I'll be back to school in a little over a week. This summer was great, though. My wife and I saw Batman Begins four times, and it inspired me to break open all my old comics (and buy a bunch of new ones).

I think when people ask me what I did this summer, I'll tell them I read comic books. It's a much more interesting answer than "worked on the house" or "played video games" or "nothing."

Comic books are incredible. They are at once works of art and great literature. People might scoff when I say this - but I think both are (or can be) true. They are reflections of our culture and times - and past comic books are a direct link to that period's fears, hopes, and dreams.

Right now I'm digging Captain America. Here is a comic book hero who, above all, fights any evil that might threaten his country. Throughout history he's fought Nazi's, Russians, and, of course, more modern enemies to American liberty. And now, Captain America is having his doubts about his countries past and his role in America's exploitation of the world. Some diehards have freaked out - but Captain America is showing his humanity, and is again a reflection of our times. He's becoming a true American patriot - someone who doesn't blindly follow, but someone who questions the very country he loves, and still has the heart to fight for it.