Accessibility links

Glen Weldon Glen Weldon is a regular panelist on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast. He also reviews books and movies for NPR.org and is a contributor to NPR's pop culture blog Monkey See, where he posts weekly about comics and comics culture.
Stories By

Glen Weldon
French, English, Comics: Proust On Memory, In Any Language

Marcel Proust Omikron Omikron/Photo Researchers RM/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Omikron Omikron/Photo Researchers RM/Getty Images

Monkey See

French, English, Comics: Proust On Memory, In Any Language

Proust's famous novel Swann's Way is out in the form of — wait for it — a graphic novel. Glen Weldon explains how much of it is substance and how much is gimmick.

French, English, Comics: Proust On Memory, In Any Language

Listen · 4:42
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/421156566/422275334" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Wolverine's Death: Superheroes And The Cycle Of Eternal Return

Go on, guess what it's about. Marvel hide caption

toggle caption
Marvel

Monkey See

Wolverine's Death: Superheroes And The Cycle Of Eternal Return

Nerd-about-town Glen Weldon explains to a non-comics-reading guy exactly what is up with the impending death of Wolverine. (That's not a spoiler; the miniseries is actually called Death of Wolverine.)

Wolverine's Death: Superheroes And The Cycle Of Eternal Return

Listen · 3:44
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/355482974/355661051" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Man Of Tomorrow: Superman, Orson Scott Card And Me

A new version of Superman, penned by Orson Scott Card, has caused a stir in the comics world. AP Photo/DC Comics hide caption

toggle caption
AP Photo/DC Comics

Opinion

Man Of Tomorrow: Superman, Orson Scott Card And Me

NPR contributor Glen Weldon talks about why he, a Superman nerd and a gay man, won't be reading a new iteration of the Man of Steel penned by author Orson Scott Card.

Man Of Tomorrow: Superman, Orson Scott Card And Me

Listen · 4:08
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/172229592/172229643" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Graphic Novels That Flew Under The Radar In 2012
Nishant Choksi

Review

Best Books Of 2012

Graphic Novels That Flew Under The Radar In 2012

It's been a great year for high-profile comics creators, producing landmark works destined for many "Best Comics of 2012" lists. But what about the lesser-known artists and their work? Glen Weldon points to outstanding works that haven't gotten the attention they deserve.

Graphic Novels That Flew Under The Radar In 2012

Listen · 8:19
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/165477883/168035609" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Catharsis In A Cape: On Comic-Book Heroes And Real-World Violence

Emotional Armor: Superheroes like Batman (Christian Bale) function as talismans when our fears are darkest — symbols of good, and of justice, when we wonder whether either exists. Ron Phillips/Warner Bros. Pictures hide caption

toggle caption
Ron Phillips/Warner Bros. Pictures

Opinion

Monkey See

Catharsis In A Cape: On Comic-Book Heroes And Real-World Violence

In the wake of the Aurora massacre, our comics blogger explores the meaning of the violence that's such an integral part of the Batman mythos — and suggests that in the face of real horror, our fictional heroes mean more than ever.

Watch Andrew Garfield Melt Your Cold, Black, Tiny Heart

Actor Andrew Garfield asks a question from the audience wearing a Spider-Man costume during the Sony panel presentation of The Amazing Spider-Man at Comic Con last Friday. Gregory Bull/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Gregory Bull/AP

Opinion

Monkey See

Watch Andrew Garfield Melt Your Cold, Black, Tiny Heart

Actor Andrew Garfield (who stars in next year's Amazing Spider-Man) surprised fans at Comic-Con last weekend, which got our comics blogger thinking about Hollywood, Comic-Con and the things that make us geek out.

'Captain America': Speak Tersely, Carry A Big Shield

The American Way: A military genetics experiment transforms 98-pound weakling Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) into the iconic red, white and blue crusader. Cap must balance superheroics with his patriotic duty to sell war bonds. Jay Maidment/Paramount Pictures hide caption

toggle caption
Jay Maidment/Paramount Pictures

Review

Movies

'Captain America': Speak Tersely, Carry A Big Shield

Lady Liberty's boy wonder does his country (and his genre) proud with a slick, streamlined origin story that never talks when it can blast. Director Joe Johnston knows what his audience is expecting from the fourth superhero movie this summer, but he keeps finding new ways to satisfy. (Recommended)

'Green Lantern': A Hero's Light, Shuttered By Clutter

Green Man: Fighter pilot turned defender of the universe Hal Jordon (Ryan Reynolds) uses his magic ring to do battle with evil. The ring gives him the ability to conjure any shape he desires, but not, unfortunately, to conjure realistic-sounding dialogue. Warner Brothers hide caption

toggle caption
Warner Brothers

Review

Movies

'Green Lantern': A Hero's Light, Shuttered By Clutter

Labored exposition, hokey dialogue and silly cloud villains mean Hollywood's latest superhero origin story can't overcome its own supernerdiness. Director Martin Campbell delivers a movie for the fans — and that's the problem.