The days are getting shorter and colder here in NYC, and I couldn't be happier about it. I don't enjoy warm weather very much, although I do enjoy laying around on the beach from time to time. Part of the joy of the colder season is watching everything slowly die and transition to the next stage of whatever their existence might be. There's beauty in that. The leafs change color and become vibrant because they're dying.
I don't have too much downtime these days because of school, work, and my other disgusting responsibilities, but I have found the time to watch a few things that were on my list. I don't own a television, because the internet provides me with basically everything I need, so I usually watch classic shows, YouTube or Vimeo, and of course anime.
Recently, I've started looking more into the Al Capp character Fearless Fosdick. There's something so likable about his sense of duty, and justice, but also how immensely stupid he is. Somehow, he's even dumber than The Tick and Inspector Gadget. Maybe "dumb" is too harsh of a word, but Fosdick is severely absentminded and clumsy.
The reason for this recent obsession is because I was studying the Principia Discordia again, and I was mulling over who could constitute a Discordian in fiction. The characters that came to mind were Bob Burden's The Flaming Carrot, Marvel's Slapstick, DC's Ambush Bug, and a few others; but when I considered Fearless Fosdick I felt like he was the epitome of what I was looking for. Both Eristic and Aneristic, chaotic but also orderly, balanced but also unhinged, etc., etc., etc.
So in honor of Fearless Fosdick, I dedicated this card to him in the name of Eris of Discordia. Please print it out and carry it with you at all times. As a Junior Agent of The Fearless Fosdick Junior Justice Society, please feel free to win the day and uphold justice in a manner that would make Fosdick himself proud.
Oh, and for your viewing pleasure, check out the Fearless Fosdick puppet show from the 1950's. It's the best. There weren't many episodes made, and they're getting increasingly harder to find, but they are without question treasures. I especially love the villain Evil Eye Fleagle, who was apparently based off a crooked boxing or wrestling manager who gave his opponents the "evil eye" from ringside so they'd lose the match.
Evil Eye Fleagle also appeared in this film about radiation. He was so beautifully animated it makes me wish there was a Fearless Fosdick cartoon in existence!
Lastly, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the passing of comic book legend Stan Lee.
He was a complicated guy in the comics industry. It'd be difficult for anyone to give any sort of one-sided story about Stan, but he was almost unanimously loved by fans, and you could tell he loved the fans too. I met him very, very briefly once at NYCC years ago and he just seemed so blown away by everyone's enthusiasm. He walked the entire line of guests who were waiting to get into the convention and he did his best to greet every last fan. Pretty cool stuff.
The worst part of Stan Lee's passing though, I feel, is that is puts a spotlight on the artists, writers, and creators from his time. There aren't too many left from that era of comics, and that sucks.
So anyway, rest easy Stan.
