RANDOM STUFF | 13th Dimension, Comics, Creators, Culture

Oct31

PATRICK STEWART: Watching a Master Rehearse His Brilliant Craft

Posted by Dan Greenfield on Oct 31, 2026

PATRICK STEWART: Watching a Master Rehearse His Brilliant Craft

A REMEMBRANCE: The Star Trek, X-Men — and Shakespearean — actor, died this week at the age of 86… By SCOTT TIPTON Come, take a trip with me in the Wayback Machine to the fall of 1989, at the University of California at Santa Barbara. It was my freshman year of college, and a childhood friend from back home had come to visit for the weekend, for the first time. On that sunny and cool Saturday morning, I showed my pal around campus. One of the first stops was Campbell Hall, the school’s largest lecture hall, which was also frequently used for theatrical productions. I had no idea if we could get in, but we climbed the steps anyway and found the main doors unlocked. We step inside and are both shocked at what we see and hear. On a bare stage with only a chair and table, there was Patrick Stewart, treading the boards with a book in his hands, speaking to a small group of students in the first two rows. My friend (a lifelong Star Trek fan) stood frozen in surprise and shock, while I played it off as if this was something I saw every day. “Oh, hey: It’s Patrick Stewart rehearsing for his upcoming one-man show of A Christmas Carol. Let’s head on down and listen for a while.” And so it was that my buddy and I had a front-row seat to watch one of the greatest actors alive in the process of creation: figuring out choreography, making character choices, polling the audience on American vs. British pronunciations, singing in full voice to test the acoustics. Watching him jump from the timidity of Bob Cratchit to the bombast of the Ghost of Christmas Present, from the bitter, forlorn Ebenezer Scrooge to the sweet innocence of Tiny Tim – it was a purely-by-chance miracle, never to be repeated. I would be fortunate enough to see Sir Patrick’s magnificent one-man production of the Dickens classic that year, and twice more in the years to come, but none had the magic of watching him craft that remarkable performance in real time, before our very eyes. A master at work. It was a gift, I tell you. — MORE — PATRICK STEWART DEAD AT 86. Click here. — The 13 Best Comics Movie & TV Casting Choices...

Oct21

BATMAN FAMILY #9 AT 50: 13 Groovy Things to Love About One of the Coolest Comics of the Bronze Age

Posted by Dan Greenfield on Oct 21, 2026

BATMAN FAMILY #9 AT 50: 13 Groovy Things to Love About One of the Coolest Comics of the Bronze Age

THE JOKER’S DAUGHTER: A rogues gallery in one package… — UPDATED 10/21/26: Batman Family #9 came out 50 years ago today, in 1976! Fresh off the cover’s appearance in this month’s BRONZE AGE BONANZA, we reprint this groovy piece from September 2022. Far out! — Dan — One of the grooviest podcasts around these days is Batman Family Reunion hosted by Paul Kien and Shawn M. Myers, part of the Fire and Water Podcast Network. It’s an exploration of DC’s Batman Family, which pound for pound was the most consistently entertaining Batbook of the ’70s. Well, Paul and Shawn, fresh off an interview with Bob Rozakis, the mag’s creative force, are up to 1976’s Batman Family #9, one of the series’ highest points and one of my personal fave comics of all time. Paul and Shawn were especially gracious and allowed me to come on their new episode to wax rhapsodic about the climax of the Joker’s Daughter Saga and the rest of the nifty stuff in this 50-cent goldmine. Click here to check out the ep. I think you’ll dig it. And to get you prepped, Paul and Shawn have put together 13 GROOVY THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT BATMAN FAMILY #9. Outta sight! — By PAUL KIEN and SHAWN M. MYERS 13. Awesome Cover by Ernie Chan! Ernie Chan (Chua) was DC’s primary cover artist from 1975-1977 and this issue’s Batgirl vs. Joker’s Daughter struggle doesn’t disappoint! Listen in this month, as we also shed some light on Chan’s professional career. — 12. Three Stories for 50 Cents! Bronze Age Giants are the best, and in this issue we have the new Batgirl/Robin story “The Startling Secret of the Devilish Daughters” where we learn the Secret Origin of the Joker’s Daughter! But we also get a Golden Age Alfred adventure and the Silver Age return of the Blockbuster (and a hint of what is to come with… the Outsider)! — 11. The Ads! C’mon, kids! Pick up a DC suspense book like Ghosts, or House of Mystery! Whoa – the Challengers of the Unknown in Super-Team Family?! Get your copy of Rudolph’s treasury comic before Christmas! Ride into adventure with Evel Knievel! And of course, Green Lantern and the Fruit Pie Scene! — 10. The Dynamite Duo! Batgirl and Robin were always secondary characters, but Batman Family gave...

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Jan28

ADVANCE REVIEW: Saga #18

Posted By 13th Dimension on Jan 28, 2014

Saga is, at its most basic element, an allegory for the terrifying reality of raising a child in a world that can be violent and threatening. And, like raising a child, it is about growth and change, a theme that is embodied in Issue #18, the final act in Saga’s first chapter before a scheduled hiatus:

Jan24

Variants Are The Spice of Life! Coolest of the Week

Posted By 13th Dimension on Jan 24, 2014

Kind of a Dynamite week, but you knew I was gonna lead with this one …

Jan23

You Should Be Reading This: Alex de Campi’s GRINDHOUSE

Posted By 13th Dimension on Jan 23, 2014

Menachem Luchins shines the spotlight on a book you might not be reading — but should.

Jan22

ARCHIE reaches back to the future for April’s #655

Posted By Dan Greenfield on Jan 22, 2014

Cosmo the Merry Martian (!) gets the star treatment this spring.

Jan16

Marz and Moder’s The Mucker Premieres Saturday

Posted By Dan Greenfield on Jan 16, 2014

We gave you the first look at the Edgar Rice Burroughs pulp hero’s new comic. Get ready to read it this Saturday.

Jan10

EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW: Codename: Action #5 — The Finale

Posted By 13th Dimension on Jan 10, 2014

Dynamite’s Captain Action prequel miniseries Codename: Action wraps in February, and we have an early sneak peek! And hey, who’s that blue dude with the exposed brains … ?

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Next Entries »

PATRICK STEWART: Watching a Master Rehearse His Brilliant Craft

BATMAN FAMILY #9 AT 50: 13 Groovy Things to Love About One of the Coolest Comics of the Bronze Age

ADVANCE REVIEW: Saga #18

Variants Are The Spice of Life! Coolest of the Week

You Should Be Reading This: Alex de Campi’s GRINDHOUSE

ARCHIE reaches back to the future for April’s #655

Marz and Moder’s The Mucker Premieres Saturday

EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW: Codename: Action #5 — The Finale

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