We discuss the Star Wars Clone Wars: Series 3 trailer and updates regarding the Thor trailer. Additionally, we discuss the details of Baltimore Comic-Con 2010 and the Harvey Awards.

We take a look at one major panel and related booth for each day of Comic Con.

Sociologists often use language to understand culture.  Language is particularly effective in understanding cultural diffusion and cross - cultural tendencies norms.  It is part of what is referred to as ‘cultural relativity.’  Language affects culture, and vice-versa.  For example, cultures that tend to name their sons ‘Jesus’ tend to be more Christian.  According to the father of linguistics Benjamin Lee Whorf, 'Language shapes the way we think, and determines what we can think about.

If this theory was applied to comics, then a comic figure that is mentioned in other uses would be a popular social icon.  There is only one figure in comics which is used in multiple languages and contexts; the son of Krypton himself, Superman.

The term Superman is now a catch phrase for any male performing an seemingly incredible feat of strength or heroism, especially where woman are concerned.  (Think Eminem and “I Can’t Be Your Superman.”) And not just in English.  Superman as a term has the same context whether in Spanish "Superhombre", Chinese "Chao Ren" , or my favorite "Su-Pa-Man" (Japanese.)

You can thank over seventy years of comic book serials, movies, animated TV shows, action figures etc. for bringing this term from part of Nietzsche's philosophy to become forever more associated with the “Man of Steel.”  Part of the allure of Superman as a term is it matches Nietzsche’s philosophical concept in so many ways, both physically and mentally.  Superman is inhumanly strong, fast, bullet proof; with a character that is completely flawless and unselfish.  He is the personification of the ideal that Nietzsche himself admits that no man is able to reach.