Ice Age Brighton

In his 1908 novel The Blotting Book, E. F. Benson introduces us to Edward Taynton, a pillar of Brighton's community. He's a respected English lawyer who runs a club for young men to prevent them from falling into vice. One of the activities he plans, but never carries out, is an archeological expedition to a raised beach several miles away. But there's no reason for him to travel so far, as there's a raised beach right at the edge of Brighton that has yielded numerous archeological finds.

Two hundred and fifty million years ago, Black Rock was flat. Due to the way the tectonic plates move and rise and fall, and given how the vast and heavy sheets of ice changed the landscape, the former beach is now a cliff. Had Edward Taynton led his young men here, they could have followed the example of real life archeologists, who have found Neanderthal tools, shells from ancient sea creatures, and bones of land mammals such as the magnificent furry mammoths.

A storm blew through during our week in Brighton. As a result, we had to tread carefully along the paved walkway to avoid splashing white, chalky mud on our shoes and pants. Isn't it amazing that such soft earth, so susceptible to erosion by wind and rain, would still be present, and still yielding treasures from thousands, let alone millions, of years ago? 

I don't know if many of the locals really take time to appreciate Black Rock, or partake of archeological tours there. When I visited, my main reason for doing so was to follow Edward Taynton's journey, and see with my own eyes what E. F. Benson had described in his novel. Having followed Loon's adventures in Kim Stanley Robinson's 2013 Ice Age novel Shaman, it would be neat to return to Brighton, and see Black Rock once again.

I could rent one of these apartments in Brighton Marina, and sit by the window, and read novels set in Brighton. Or I could just gaze out at Black Rock all day, and contemplate the history of this raised beach. Ooh, Black Rock. Ooh, Black Rock. Ooh, Black Rock.

Say, did anyone notice that the raised beach is white, not black?

Dragon Dave

Related Dragon Cache entries
A Day in Brighton

The Dalek Gardener in Glorious Color!

Rusty: You know, I'd never have agreed to model for you if I'd known it would take you two hours just to do the color. I thought Master said he penciled this scene in less than half an hour?
Artist: That's not unusual. Master's friend, who works as a colorist for Marvel Comics, struggles to finish as many as three pages a day, and that's with the aid of advanced computer technology. It makes you wonder why the writers and pencilers grab the headlines in the comics industry, doesn't it?
Rusty: All I know is my energy and patience reserves are nearly drained, drained, drained!

Artist: Fine. I think I've done enough for now to pronounce it completed. What do you think?
Rusty: I think Master made me look a little intolerant of the plants' normal rate of growth.
Artist: Please, we don't criticize Master in this forum. What do you think of my coloring job?
Rusty: You made me look a little too orange, don't you think?
Artist: Do you think so? Let me see.

Artist: Ah, you see, what I was doing here was actually quite sophisticated, yet understated. I preloaded the orange, knowing that in time, it would rust over and darken to resemble your actual appearance.
Rusty: Oh, I see. Say, that's rather smart of you.

Artist: Yeah, I'm a coloring genius.

Rusty & Artist Dalek

Related Dragon Cache entries
Another Year, Another Dalek
The Daleks & The Doctor Who Angels
A Dalek Joyride

The Dalek Gardener in Black & White

The other day, I waited at the dealership for my car to be serviced. After reading my magazine, I wrote a scene for my novel. Then, as they were busy that day, I pulled out my sketchbook and started drawing.

I had no preconceived notions of what to draw. I considered finishing up a drawing I'd started earlier. But then I got an idea. By the time my car was ready, I had done two sketches.

I haven't sketched a lot this year, and felt a little ashamed when the service attendant tapped me on the shoulder and told me my car was ready. But then his eyes widened, and he said, "I wish I could draw." He didn't seem to know about Daleks, or Doctor Who (You know, anything that really matters), but his expression and tone suggested respect.

Odd isn't it, that others might wish for an ability I think so little of, and take so little time to perfect?

Dragon Dave

Anne Bronte: Agnes Grey & Fanny Price

The third in a three-part series on this English literary classic…

A side chapel in Haworth Parish Church,
where Anne Bronte worshipped.

As I read Agnes Grey, I couldn’t help comparing it to Jane Austen’s novels. In particular, it reminded me of young Fanny Price, the heroine of Mansfield Park. Like Fanny, Agnes quietly gets on with the job, and never seeks the limelight. She knows what is right, and never swerves from her code of ethics. She holds out hope that she will achieve what she desires, even though she knows the odds are against her. Aware of the limitations imposed on her by society, she nonetheless does what she can for others. Her circle of influence may be small, but those within it gradually realize her worth, and by the end of each novel, both women achieve their heart’s desire.

(Spoiler Alert: If you plan to read either of these novels soon, you should stop reading now!)

In Mansfield Park, the love of Fanny’s life is none other than her cousin Edmund, with whom she has grown up, and in whose household she lives. Edmund falls in love with another woman over the course of the novel, but ultimately realizes that Fanny is the woman he loves most. They marry, and he becomes the local parish priest.

In Agnes Grey, the title character meets a young curate named Edward. Unlike the rector he serves, Edward preaches messages of substance, and always looks for ways to help the poor in his community. Agnes finds strength and encouragement in his sermons, and meets him during his rounds, when she is utilizing what little free time she has to help out some poor acquaintances. While it’s clear that Edward likes her, the young woman under her tutelage, Rosalie, grows jealous of the attention her governess receives, and embarks on a campaign to win the curate’s affections. But Edward, like Agnes, is firmly grounded in his principles. Events separate the two, and they lose contact for some time, but in the end, they recognize their mutual affection, marry, and embark together on their happily-ever-after.

As much as I enjoyed Mansfield Park, Pride And Prejudice offers more to the average reader, works on a number of levels, and justifiably deserves more praise. Similarly, when comparing the two novels, Agnes Grey never approaches the greatness of Wuthering Heights. Yet with its simple structure and style, we emerge with a satisfactory understanding of who Agnes is, what matters to her, and the society she inhabits. The novel doesn’t read like a fictionalized memoir, but as a tale in its own right.  And unlike Anne’s own life, which (like her sister Emily) ended in illness at a young age, we get to see Agnes amply rewarded for all the trials and tribulations she endured. 

If Agnes Grey can only labeled a classic because of Anne’s association with her sisters, then I’m grateful for that association. As with Jane Austen's novel Mansfield Park, sometimes it's nice to see the more sedate, less sensational stories win through and achieve immortality. Unlike all the countless stories that are destined to be forgotten, I’m glad this one is still remembered. Not because Agnes Grey was great, but because it was good. Really good. Not perfect, not spectacular, not thrilling. Just a nice, relaxing, straightforward, easy read. Sometimes, I need that. Perhaps, every once in a while, you do too.

Dragon Dave

Anne Bronte: Agnes Grey the Adventurer

The second in a three-part series on this English literary classic…

The sanctuary of Haworth Parish Church,
where Anne's father Patrick preached for 41 years.

Literary critics, and even her sister Charlotte, have suggested that Agnes Grey is a fictionalized account of Anne’s own life. If so, it serves as a powerful repudiation of the Victorian aristocracy, who educated their children at home, or sent them off to boarding school. In the novel, Agnes learns that the most important trait for a governess is to be obliging. Thus (perhaps without even realizing it), rich parents empower their children to rule their governesses, and dictate their every movement. Of course, when the children do wrong, and fail to develop the desired skills and temperament, the parents blame the governess. Agnes becomes the Victorian equivalent of the Roman body slave, constantly at the children’s beck and call, yet invisible to the rest of society. By the way the parents and children treat her, her fellow household servants disrespect her, assigning her the lowest rank in the household. While Agnes finds it a lonely life, she has little time to contemplate it, as her charges constantly keep her busy.

Nevertheless, an irony runs through this literary classic. Agnes may not have stepped into the position of power and authority she sought, but she gets to do all the little things her mother and sister would never allow her to do at home. She gets to clean up after her students, write the poems and essays her students refuse to write, and draw or paint the pictures her charges would rather not do themselves. With her thrifty lifestyle, she saves enough of her salary to earn financial independence from her family. Near the end of the novel, when her father dies, and her older sister has married, it is Agnes her mother approaches, and wants as a partner in the school she wishes to run. Her mother now sees Agnes as an adult, and capable of doing everything she can do, which is what started Agnes off on this journey to begin with.

Some view Anne as the least talented of her sisters, and her works classics only due to the family association. Having just read two Bronte novels, I cannot make such a judgment. I certainly found her first novel more straightforward than her sister Emily’s sole novel. But after Wuthering Heights, I wanted something simpler and easier to read, and Agnes Grey fit the bill. Not only that, but as it is told from the protagonist’s perspective, I constantly knew where I was at all time. Seeing the world through Agnes’ eyes helped me better understand her, the role of a governess, the conditions of the poor, the manner in which different levels of society interacted, and the conceits and schemes that permeated Victorian aristocracy. And unlike in Wuthering Heights, where the drama is confined to isolated moors and manor houses, Agnes Grey travels, sees the world, and interacts with others beyond her family and employers.

It might be going too far to call Agnes an adventurer, but unlike any of the female characters in Wuthering Heights, she ventures alone to distant places (at least distant in her day). While her employers naturally limit her schedule and actions, she never grows mesmerized by a man, or allows herself to be drawn into an abusive situation. Nor does she ever need to be cosseted or provided for. She yearns to stand on her own two feet, and does so. If Agnes character and actions resemble those of Anne herself, then the authors seems as worthy of praise as the novels she wrote: someone with whom modern women can identity and respect. Still, if Robert E. Howard had written the novel, we might have seen a much bolder version of the character adapted for comic books. 

Presenting Red Agnes, Adventuring Governess with a Sword!

"Excuse me?" Red Agnes slammed her gauntleted hand on the wooden desk, making little Tom Bloomfield shake. "You don't wish to study?" she hissed. 

He shook his head frantically as her eyes burned into his very soul. 

"By Mitra," she cried, "return to your books, dog, or feel my steel!"

The boy shrieked, and fled through the house. Hot on his heels, Red Agnes pursued him into the garden. Whipping out her sword, she...

Sure, that might be going too far, at least for diehard Bronte fans. But wouldn't that make a great comic book?

Dragon Dave

Anne Bronte: The Relentless Agnes Grey

The first in a three-part series on this English literary classic...

The author standing in the garden of
Haworth Parsonage, where Anne Bronte lived.

In Anne Bronte's novel Agnes Grey, we meet a young woman who grows up in the home of an English priest.  Her father earns little money, and although her mother came from a wealthy family, they severed all ties when she married for love over wealth and status.  While her mother seems happy enough on their limited income, her father seeks ways to make up some of what she gave up. As a final stab at wealth, he invests all their savings in a sea trading expedition. This seems like a sure thing, and the family begins to dream of what they’ll do with the additional income. But then the ship is lost at sea, leaving the family bereft of all hopes of improvement, and saddled with debt.

The family institutes austerity measures. Everyday measures of economy, such as meal portions and candle usage, are further constrained. Her mother and older sister take on what additional jobs they can, and concoct schemes to generate what little they can to survive. Young Agnes wishes to aid their efforts, or help more around the house, but all her offers are repulsed. “No,” they tell her kindly, “you’ll just get under our feet,” or, “That’s kind of you dear, but we’ll manage.” They might as well say, “Just grab your toys and go out and play,” even though she’s educated and eighteen years old. Her parents view her older sister as an adult, but somehow they still see her as a child, and Agnes fears that they always will. So, as a means of earning their respect, empowering herself, and repaying them for all the kindness and love they invested in her, she wonders how she might give back.

Ultimately, she latches onto the idea of becoming a governess. Yes! She will seek out a position with a rich family, and help care for and educate their children. They will value her for her intellect, her capabilities, her wisdom, and the values she instills in their sons and daughters. Her family doesn’t embrace this idea as heartily as Agnes, but she pursues it nonetheless. Eventually, despite her family’s (particularly her mother’s) uneasiness, she accepts a position with the Bloomfield family.

At first, the children seem delightful, and the parents respectable, if reserved. But as she gets to know them better, she realizes that the children are cruel, that they delight in foiling her at every turn, that they truly seek to make her life a misery. The son even derives pleasure from torturing birds and animals. Nor will the parents allow her to discipline the children, or take any firm measures that could enhance her authority over them. They expect results, but they refuse to give her the requisite power to achieve them. So, although her situation might be different than at home, she once again finds herself powerless.

Only now, she’s also lonely, and yearning for home. But she refuses to admit defeat. Recognizing that no venture is without cost, she stays on plan, and continues working toward her goals.  She doesn’t know if she can succeed, but as a model for us all, she vows to try her best, every single day.

But then, we'd expect nothing less of a heroine.

Dragon Dave

The Eleventh Doctor Dalek

DD11: Ah, K-9, there you are. Be a good little fellow and unlock the TARDIS for me. I thought we might pop off to Haworth for a fun English getaway together.
K-9: You are not the Doctor Master. I cannot let you inside.
DD11: Of course I'm the Doctor. I'm the Eleventh Doctor Dalek, designation DD11. Don't you recognize my distinctive fez and bow tie?
K-9: Clothes may make the man, but they can't transform a Dalek into a Time Lord. I cannot allow you inside. 
DD11: K-9, really! Haven't Master's posts on Wuthering Heights transformed you into a Bronte fan?
K-9: Negative. I remain untransformed, and loyal to Doctor Who, Doctor Who, Doctor Who!

DD11: You know, with this hat and bow tie, I really thought I was guaranteed a good timey-wimey.

K-9 & DD11 Dalek

Focusing on What You Do Best

In "Growing Pains," Issue 2 of "Ultimate Spider-Man," once Peter Parker gains his superpowers, he tries out his new abilities. One place he does so is the school Basketball court. Using his enhanced strength and reflexes, he surprises the coach by making shots that would have previously been beyond him.  

Then he notices Flash Thompson chatting up the girl he loves, Mary Jane Watson. He hurls a basketball across the gym. The ball slams into his rival's head.

Needless to say, Flash is not amused.

Flash refuses to calm down, and catches up with Peter after school.  

While the basketball throw might have been instinctive, Peter doesn't really want to fight Flash. Peter tries to evade the blows, and raises his hands to ward them off. Then Flash punches Peter's outstretched palm, and crumples to the ground. Suddenly, it's Peter Parker who grew up on a high-gravity world; along with his increased strength and agility, his hand is as hard and unmovable as stone.

This incident is one of several that helps Peter realize responsibilities accompany abilities.  Even if a career in professional Basketball lay within his grasp, he has more to offer the world than he can ever contribute on the court. So, while he can do much more than he could before his transformation, he decides to focus on what he can do best. For him, this means rededicating himself to his studies, running density tests on the molecular adhesive his father was developing before he died, and keeping the streets of New York clean of nefarious villains. Hmm…an incredibly strong molecular adhesive? I wonder what he could do with that?

What do you do best?

Dragon Dave

Related Dragon Cache entries
Stan Lee's First Spider-Man Story

"Growing Pains" was written by Brian Michael Bendis and Bill Jemas, penciled by Mark Bagley, inked by Art Thibert, colored by Steve Buccellato, and lettered by Richard Starkings and Troy Peteri. You can read about more of Peter Parker's transformation into Spider-Man, and his first battle with the Green Goblin, in the seven-issue compilation Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1: Power And Responsibility. 

Playing Basketball Like Peter Parker

The summer before my Freshman year, I signed up for High School Basketball. I was never particularly good at guarding, or getting the ball in the basket, but I enjoyed playing, and it was a sport I could play by myself, or with a few friends, when I got tired of reading and wanted a little exercise. Suddenly, I was facing off against players from a higher-gravity planet: they could move faster, leap higher, and make far more baskets than me. 

The coach was equally alien. Instead of instructing us to guard man-to-man, or guard in fixed areas of the court, he diagramed plays and strategies as intricate as those of a professional dance troupe.  

In "Powerless," Issue #1 of "Ultimate Spider-Man," Peter Parker finds himself in a similar situation. He's not trying out for the team, but merely enduring his afternoon P.E. class.

After Flash Thompson and Kong make impressive baskets, it's Peter's turn to throw.

Unfortunately, his efforts fall short of impressing the coach.

No matter how hard I tried that summer, my abilities still resembled those of Peter Parker before he was transformed by that famous spider bite. Yet my coach remained kind and gracious. While he constantly encouraged me to step up my performance, he never called me out or belittled my efforts. Even though I was a drag on the team, he kept me involved during practice sessions. He even asked me to attend a preseason game. As it was a close game, he didn't send me in to play. Still, he wanted me there, and I appreciated the fact that he asked me suit up and sit with the team.  

Perhaps my coach was an exceptionally kind man.  Perhaps, in this instance, he decided that effort counted for more than ability.  Either way, he rewarded my efforts that summer with an A, and gave me an Excellent for "Citizenship."  In other words: even though it was to obvious to everyone that I was a drastically inferior Basketball player, he gave me the highest marks possible.  

For me, that makes him a real superhero.

Dragon Dave  

Related Dragon Cache entries
Celebrating Brian Michael Bendis

"Powerless" was written by Brian Michael Bendis and Bill Jemas, penciled by Mark Bagley, inked by Art Thibert, colored by Steve Buccellato, and lettered by Richard Starkings. Read about Peter Parker's transformation into Spider-Man, and his first battle with the Green Goblin, in the seven-issue compilation Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1: Power And Responsibility. 

Our Evolving Morality in Castle and Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Society's ethics, and our own sense of right or wrong, is constantly influenced by what we experience, and those with whom we interact. Each generation embraces its own values, and casts aside ones they believe no longer serve their needs. We always believe we're making the right choices, the necessary choices for us, but our decisions define us, and our evolving sense of morality.

In the recent episode "T.A.H.I.T.I." on "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," Agent Skye lays dying. So Agent May bursts into their plane's detention room and wails away at Quinn, the man who shot Skye.

Their superior agent Coulson calls her off, so she returns to the cockpit. Agent Ward, who witnessed her assault on their prisoner, says, "It was good to see you wail on Quinn like that."

Later, agent Garrett boards the plane mid-flight. He believes Quinn has information that might save Skye's life. So he tells Quinn that he'd better answer his questions now…or he'll rip out his tongue.

In case Quinn doesn't believe him, Garrett shows him how that might feel.

The way Batman wailed away at the Joker's face in "The Dark Knight," while in police custody, turned me off that movie franchise. In "Star Trek Into Darkness," the way Captain Kirk wailed away at Khan, after Khan surrendered to him, left me disgusted. I know our world is full of villains who would do us harm, and embracing reasonable measures of protection is prudent. But as for taking out our anger on others, and employing torture to get the information we need to secure our safety…when did that become okay? 

In season four of "Castle," Captain Gates becomes Detective Beckett's commanding officer. As a former Internal Affairs officer, one of her overriding concerns is public officials who abuse their authority. In the episode "Dial M for Mayor," she asks Beckett, "As for the sergeant who abused my patrol partner under the mantle of authority, who holds him accountable?"

Last year, in the fifth season, boyish, nonviolent Richard Castle is thrown for a loop when his daughter Alexis is kidnapped in the two episodes "Target" and "Hunt." When the police can't find her fast enough, he asks Detective Beckett to leave him in a room, alone, and not come in, while he aggressively questions a man as to his daughter's whereabouts. 

So, naturally, she agrees.

It's easy to love those who love you and show you kindness. It's more difficult to love those whose words and actions annoy or anger you. But isn't the highest test of our morality--both as individuals and as a society--defined how we treat those in our care, whether they be subordinates or prisoners, and whether we approve of their actions or not?

Or does our safety, and that of those we love, trump all other concerns? 

Dragon Dave