Marc Tyler Nobleman's Blog, page 137
December 26, 2011
Winter camp directory
© Nickelodeon; no reuse without permission.
December 24, 2011
Clear and present danger
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December 22, 2011
This looks like a job for Superman…fans
In August 2011, a crime was committed in Illinois, home state of Metropolis. (Metropolis? True story.)
Not only did Superman not stop it, he was the cause of it.
Mike Meyer, a 48-year-old part-time McDonald's employee described as having a mentally disability, let a new acquaintance into his home. While the acquaintance's girlfriend distracted Mike, the acquaintance switched to his secret identity: a thief.
He stole from a collection of at-times rare Superman memorabilia that Mike had been amassing for decades.
Though I read a few articles about this (it was all over the news), I don't recall learning how word of this reached the fan community. In any case, people connected to Superman around the world took a page from his playbook and lent a hand in the form of sending all sorts of Superman merchandise to Mike to help him rebuild his collection.
But even before I read of this, I was honored to be asked to send a copy of Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman, and promptly did. Then I was tickled to read the following in one of the articles:
Obviously, and not just because of the "k," they're not talking about me.
And, of course, they caught the jerk—as all classic superhero stories end.
Not only did Superman not stop it, he was the cause of it.
Mike Meyer, a 48-year-old part-time McDonald's employee described as having a mentally disability, let a new acquaintance into his home. While the acquaintance's girlfriend distracted Mike, the acquaintance switched to his secret identity: a thief.
He stole from a collection of at-times rare Superman memorabilia that Mike had been amassing for decades.
Though I read a few articles about this (it was all over the news), I don't recall learning how word of this reached the fan community. In any case, people connected to Superman around the world took a page from his playbook and lent a hand in the form of sending all sorts of Superman merchandise to Mike to help him rebuild his collection.
But even before I read of this, I was honored to be asked to send a copy of Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman, and promptly did. Then I was tickled to read the following in one of the articles:
A California fan group has contacted actress Noel Neill, who played Lois Lane opposite George Reeves in the original TV series, for an autograph. Neill in fact met Meyer once, Howard said. When Meyer attended the Metropolis Festival several years ago, he got to meet her and stand in Superman's place beside her for a few minutes.
Other celebrities, including Tracy Lewis of the Superboy series and Mark Tyler Nobleman, author of Boys of Steel, are sending autographed items.
Obviously, and not just because of the "k," they're not talking about me.
And, of course, they caught the jerk—as all classic superhero stories end.
December 19, 2011
"Vanished" Reading Group Guide
When I was first asked (in 2008) to write the book that became Vanished: True Stories of the Missing, I said no, feeling it would be too tough to find age-appropriate stories.
Today I discovered that Scholastic has produced a Reading Group Guide for it.
How far we've come.
The guide is strong. Someone spent time getting to know the material and teased out substantial questions and suggestions.
When parents or teachers nervously ask about the content, I say that none of the seven stories contain any gruesome actions, three of the stories are about people who did not remain missing, and two of those stories are about young people who weren't just found—they saved themselves. And I do mean young—second grade and kindergarten.
I did not write the book with a lesson in mind but there's a fine takeaway in that.
Today I discovered that Scholastic has produced a Reading Group Guide for it.
How far we've come.
The guide is strong. Someone spent time getting to know the material and teased out substantial questions and suggestions.
When parents or teachers nervously ask about the content, I say that none of the seven stories contain any gruesome actions, three of the stories are about people who did not remain missing, and two of those stories are about young people who weren't just found—they saved themselves. And I do mean young—second grade and kindergarten.
I did not write the book with a lesson in mind but there's a fine takeaway in that.
December 16, 2011
Insomni-actions
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December 14, 2011
Jerry Siegel as a young man
Rather a young man as Jerry Siegel.
This is AW, who read Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman for a school biography project:
This project required students to pretend to be the people they read about, and the photo here shows AW as Jerry.
I'm still beaming about a series of Siegel and Shuster board games some Texas students created, and now I have the privilege of seeing this—an occurrence unthinkable only a few years ago.
I only wish Jerry (who died in 1996) could have seen it, too.
This is AW, who read Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman for a school biography project:
This project required students to pretend to be the people they read about, and the photo here shows AW as Jerry.I'm still beaming about a series of Siegel and Shuster board games some Texas students created, and now I have the privilege of seeing this—an occurrence unthinkable only a few years ago.
I only wish Jerry (who died in 1996) could have seen it, too.
December 13, 2011
Favorite school slogans #3
F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School, Guam:
Love the humility and conviction of this one.
Note: This is not a ranking but rather a list in order of discovery.
Love the humility and conviction of this one.Note: This is not a ranking but rather a list in order of discovery.
December 9, 2011
Pop songs to teach English grammar
This is great though I'd love to see more songs per category:
December 8, 2011
Jerry Robinson, pioneering Batman artist, 1922-2011
It was my great honor to know Jerry Robinson (early Batman artist; co-creator of Robin and the Joker; brave advocate for Superman creators Siegel and Shuster), who passed away at age 89 on 12/7/11. New Year's Day would've been his 90th birthday.
Many others have already paid tribute to him knowledgeably and beautifully, including Ty Templeton (artist for Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman), so all I can add is my brief personal experience with Jerry.
From 2006 (over the phone) to this summer (on camera, for a documentary), he selflessly spent hours telling me about his old friend Bill Finger. One of the most poignant surprises (and fluky twists) in my upcoming Finger book is thanks to Jerry.
At times Jerry would call me—to ask for my address to invite me to an exhibit opening, to ask if Bill's second wife should be invited to the Bill Finger Awards. I was always surprised he remembered who I was. I suspect dozens of new people thrust themselves into his life each week, and somehow he managed to keep them straight and make time for all of them. I've speculated more than once that Jerry probably gave at least one interview a day.
He was a class act in every direction, to all of us whose paths were lucky to cross his. His contributions were not only artistic but altruistic. He didn't need a cape to be a crusader.
You'll still be expected at my book's launch party, Jerry, and now I'm counting on you to bring Bill, too.
Many others have already paid tribute to him knowledgeably and beautifully, including Ty Templeton (artist for Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman), so all I can add is my brief personal experience with Jerry.
From 2006 (over the phone) to this summer (on camera, for a documentary), he selflessly spent hours telling me about his old friend Bill Finger. One of the most poignant surprises (and fluky twists) in my upcoming Finger book is thanks to Jerry.
At times Jerry would call me—to ask for my address to invite me to an exhibit opening, to ask if Bill's second wife should be invited to the Bill Finger Awards. I was always surprised he remembered who I was. I suspect dozens of new people thrust themselves into his life each week, and somehow he managed to keep them straight and make time for all of them. I've speculated more than once that Jerry probably gave at least one interview a day.
He was a class act in every direction, to all of us whose paths were lucky to cross his. His contributions were not only artistic but altruistic. He didn't need a cape to be a crusader.
You'll still be expected at my book's launch party, Jerry, and now I'm counting on you to bring Bill, too.
December 7, 2011
Computer versus Brain
© Nickelodeon; no reuse without permission.
