tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894516466954796030.post5732954266842532606..comments2024-02-23T03:50:15.853-05:00Comments on The Superman Fan Podcast: Episode #336 Part II: Superman Family Comic Book Cover Dated October 1961: Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #56!Billy Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13947341415379828897noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894516466954796030.post-25079246862284102802016-06-05T13:57:19.747-04:002016-06-05T13:57:19.747-04:00Thanks for the info Brian!Thanks for the info Brian!Billy Hoganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947341415379828897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894516466954796030.post-82264849648617218522016-06-02T00:34:45.720-04:002016-06-02T00:34:45.720-04:00I just listened to Episode 337, where you discusse...I just listened to Episode 337, where you discussed this comment thread, and interestingly enough I had just recently done some research into cousin marriage for a completely different reason. I'm not about to come out in full support of it, but it's definitely not the universal taboo that a lot of people think it is.<br /><br />Marriage of first cousins is legal in 20 US states, as well as in a vast majority of countries in the world. There are even a few where it's fairly commonplace for societal reasons.<br /><br />Much like Billy, I didn't think anything of it as I was reading this story. They didn't emphasize it at all, so while it may raise some readers' hackles I don't think they were trying to pull a fast one on us. It'll be interesting to see if anyone brings this up in the letters page of a future SPJO issue.<br /><br />For more on cousin marriage, should you be so inclined, check out the article on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_marriage" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia</a>.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13817042877733157997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894516466954796030.post-18687420620911002962016-02-24T12:10:05.974-05:002016-02-24T12:10:05.974-05:00If the story had been imagined with Superman marri...If the story had been imagined with Superman married, say, to Lana Lang rather than Lois Lane, it would have eliminated the issue of a romance between cousins, but there would still have been the problem of Superman's hypocrisy about the danger to Jimmy, Jr., from Supermaid's enemies, since the same solution he and his wife used (her marrying Clark rather than Superman) would have worked for the youngsters, with Jimmy, Jr., marrying Lola rather than Supermaid. This says, to me, that the story is really unsalvageable.Halk-Karhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06086839075464653445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894516466954796030.post-42726510757643731512016-02-21T17:51:25.336-05:002016-02-21T17:51:25.336-05:00I had thought of the story of "Superman's...I had thought of the story of "Superman's Super-Courtship", too, but realize that was published after this story, so maybe the writers and editors learned their lesson after this one, at least about not having cousins marry.<br />Halk-Karhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06086839075464653445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894516466954796030.post-87049664358311849592016-02-21T14:38:40.755-05:002016-02-21T14:38:40.755-05:00You're absolutely right. I can't believe I...You're absolutely right. I can't believe I missed that point. Thanks for pointing it out. Back in Action Comics #289, there was another creepy moment when Superman told Supergirl that if he married, it would be to someone like her, and she was still a minor. I covered that story back in Episode #278 for the week of August 21, 2013. It makes you wonder how DC could even consider publishing that story, even if it was only an "imaginary" one.Billy Hoganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947341415379828897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894516466954796030.post-33750038154404421372016-02-21T12:55:31.093-05:002016-02-21T12:55:31.093-05:00Holy moly! (to borrow an expression from Captain M...Holy moly! (to borrow an expression from Captain Marvel) How many problems are there in the imaginary tale "The Son of Jimmy Olsen"?! First, despite Superman's reference to young Jimmy Olsen Jr. as "a nice family friend, and that's all", he is ACTUAL FAMILY! Since his mother and Lola's mother are sisters, he and Lola are first cousins. He is Lois and Superman's nephew! What kid wants to take his cousin to a dance, let alone date her? Holy ick-factor! (to borrow an expression from the Boy Wonder) I'm surprised that you didn't mention the family relationship, especially given your expressed wish for Supergirl to appear in the story. I thought that might have reminded you that Supergirl is Superman's first cousin, which might have reminded you that Jimmy, Jr. and Lola are first cousins.<br /> Beyond that obvious problem, Superman's objection to Jimmy Jr. and Lola's potential romance because it would put Jimmy Jr. in danger from Supermaid's enemies is silly, in the face of Superman's marriage to Lois. Same issue, same solution. If the ordinary humans are married to the superhumans' secret identities, who would associate the ordinary spouses with the superhumans, in order to threaten them? It was the revelation of the secret identities later in the story that was the source of the danger. <br /> Given that this was an imaginary story, maybe this was in a world in which first cousins are free to marry, and cousins/nephews are considered "nice family friends, and that's all", but that doesn't seem to be mentioned in the story, and doesn't seem to fit DC's usual world-view of the time. I have to think of this story as just a big mistake, overall, which is most unusual for me. I generally love Silver Age stories, particularly imaginary stories, beyond all reason, but this one just doesn't work at all for me.Halk-Karhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06086839075464653445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3894516466954796030.post-3424378512427510022016-02-21T11:32:12.672-05:002016-02-21T11:32:12.672-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Halk-Karhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06086839075464653445noreply@blogger.com