Rocket Llama Crew at San Diego Comic-Con 2010: Panels on Digital Comics, Action Chicks, Batman’s Empty Nest, & More

Papa Llama | July 12, 2010

FRIDAY, JULY 23 11:30-1:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #6: Digital Comics— Nick Langley (Rocket Llama) gives a brief history of webcomics and evaluates online economic experiments from subscriptions to micropayments – with Brock Heasley (Super Fogeys, Zuda Comics’ Monsterplex). 2:00-3:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #8: Where Are the Action Chicks?— Katrina Hill (ActionFlickChick.com), Jill Pantozzi [...]

From Superman’s Couch to the MoCCA: Vice-President Danny Fingeroth

Papa Llama | September 23, 2009

Former Marvel Comics editor Danny Fingeroth, whose book Superman on the Couch helped to inspire Papa Llama Travis Langley’s research on comics fans, has been named as the Senior Vice-President of Education at New York’s Museum of Comic & Cartoon Art (MoCCA). From Comic-Con International’s schedule – July 23, 2008: 1:00-2:30 Comics Arts Conference Session [...]

Comic-Con Joker Panel Was Wild: Recap and Reflections

Papa Llama | September 6, 2009

It’s amazing how much information a single experience might yield. A few months ago, Peter Coogan – who, with my colleague Dr. Randy Duncan, co-founded the Comics Arts Conference, the academic conference-within-the-convention held in conjunction with both WonderCon and San Diego Comic-Con International – asked if I’d like to help moderate a CAC panel on [...]

Comic-Con: Jerry Robinson, Michael Uslan, and Adam West on the Joker’s Origins

Papa Llama | August 31, 2009

Continued from “Comic-Con Excerpts: The Joker’s Relationship with Batman.” Concluding our report on the San Diego Comic-Con International panel “Is the Joker a Psychopath? You Decide!”  which our own Papa Llama, in his secret identity as psychology professor Dr. Travis Langley, moderated and co-organized. Other panelists: Dr. Robin Rosenberg (therapist and editor – The Psychology [...]

Comic-Con Excerpts: The Joker’s Relationship with Batman

Papa Llama | August 29, 2009

 Continuing Papa Llama’s report of his San Diego Comic-Con International panel with fellow psychologist Dr. Robin Rosenberg, comic book writer Steve Englehart, The Dark Knight producer Michael Uslan, and Batman himself, Adam West: After Steve Englehart discussed via telephone why he felt that the Joker is insane, I asked my fellow panelists for quick thoughts [...]

Comic-Con International Joker Panel: Actors Playing the Card

Papa Llama | August 11, 2009

One topic I wanted to introduce during our San Diego Comic-Con International panel on the psychopathy of the Joker was how the role affected the actors. We’d lined up the Joker’s creator Jerry Robinson and “The Laughing Fish” author Steve Englehart to discuss the comic books and producer Michael Uslan to discuss filmmaking, but didn’t [...]

Joker Panel Interview: Steve Englehart on The Laughing Fish

Papa Llama | August 9, 2009

During our Comic-Con International panel on the psychopathy of the Joker, one panelist had to attend via remote. Back when comic book writer Steve Englehart had expected to attend Comic-Con in person, he was going to sit on the panel with us. When his travel plans changed so that he would not be coming to [...]

Comic-Con Panel Excerpt: Would the Joker Date?

Papa Llama | August 8, 2009

Toward the end of our San Diego Comic-Con International panel on the psychopathy of the Joker, an audience member asked the panelists whether we thought the Joker’s association with Harley Quinn has been good or bad for the character’s mental health. I’m not going to point out every time the audience laughed because nearly every statement that appears below got a big laugh. Plain text cannot convey the entertaining quality of Jerry’s delivery – his simple “I would” cracked people up – or how Adam was clearly engaging in tongue-in-cheek humor and knew darn well what was going on every step of the way.

Interview: The Joker’s Maker Tackles The Man Who Laughs

Papa Llama | August 5, 2009

Part two: Jerry Robinson discusses the Joker’s enduring qualities with Drs. Robin Rosenberg (The Psychology of Superheroes) and Travis Langley (Papa Llama) in preparation for a San Diego Comic-Con International panel with film producer Michael Uslan and actor Adam West on the psychopathy of the Joker. Jerry refutes the long-standing story that Bill Finger created the Joker based on actor Conrad Veitch from the silent film “The Man Who Laughs” while fully acknowledging Bill’s importance as the character’s co-creator, with a nod to Bob Kane.

Interview: Meet the Joker’s Maker, Jerry Robinson

Papa Llama | July 21, 2009

This Saturday at Comic-Con, our own Papa Lama (Dr. Travis Langley) and his fellow psychologist Dr. Robin Rosenberg (editor, The Psychology of Superheroes) will delve into the psyche of Batman’s arch-nemesis, the Joker, with the help of an illustrious panel of industry professionals, starting with the man who created the Joker back in 1940. Recently Travis and Robin enjoyed speaking with Jerry for the better part of an hour.

Catch Us at Comic-Con 2009 (with Adam West update)

Papa Llama | July 20, 2009

Join Alex, Nick, Marko, Ultimate Tommy, and friends for San Diego Comic-Con International panels this Friday and Saturday. This just in: Adam West (Batman TV series, The Family Guy) is joining Dr. Travis Langley (Papa Llama around here), Dr. Robin Rosenberg (editor, The Psychology of Superheroes), Jerry Robinson (artist, creator of the Joker), Steve Englehart (comic book writer, “The Laughing Fish”), and Michael Uslan (producer, “The Dark Knight) to discuss exactly how crazy the Joker really is.