Polite Dissent

I don’t do a great deal of link-blogging, but as I was sitting around donating blood yesterday, I decided it would be a good time to look once again upon the wonderful world of comic books and …well…blood. Here’s a selection of fun reads, from blood being responsible for super powers, to blood in comic book ink (and the inevitable demonic possession that follows), to Superman and “alternative medicine,” and finally a look at what our government talks about in offical meetings.

• I know I’ve posted this one before, but it’s too good to pass up. Is Superman’s blood responsible for every super-hero ever? This author thinks so.
• In a similar vein, here’s an article looking at Clark “Hugo” Kent and Superboy and Supergirl. It tries to tie together Siegel and Shuster Superman, Wylie’s Gladiator and much of the Silver Age superbooks.
• From Snopes, is the blood of the band KISS really mixed in with the ink in their first comic book? (No mention of the late Mark Gruenwald and the Squadron Supreme TPB at Snopes, though here it is mentioned in the sidebar of an HBO article on Six Feet Under). According to the conspiracy-minded Jack Chick wannabe Last Trumpet Newsletter, these comics are occult and pure evil!
  

  This nation has developed an insatiable appetite for the occult. One example is the popular demand for a special edition comic book printed with ink that was mixed with the cremated ashes of the author, Mark Gruenwald. The Canton Company made the special ink for the printing of “Squadron Supreme.” (12) This is reminiscent of the 1978 comic book published by Marvel Comics printed with ink mixed with a vial of blood from each member of the rock band, KISS. (13) The name KISS is an acronym for “Kings In Satanic Service.” These comics are read by millions of young people, and the special ink mixed with the ashes of cremation or the blood of the living, devil possessed people attracts evil spirits and gives them the right to stay in the homes of those who buy the books.

• Here’s an article from a homeopath claiming to have cured Superman’s “allergy” to kryptonite. (Makes sense: Superman is an imaginary character and the benefits of homeopathy are all purely imaginary)
• A transcript from a Health and Human Services meeting on “Blood Safety and Availability” where they discuss the poor transfusion techniques at Metropolis Hospital.
  

  Well, as part of my due diligence, I pursued to see what other hospitals in the United States were doing as well. And I came across this photograph in the newspapers which showed Superman receiving a blood transfusion. One of my colleagues, upon seeing this, said, “Well, there’s your answer. Superman doesn’t get leuko-reduced blood. There’s no filter in the line.”

  I was chagrined. So I actually called the Metropolis blood center, spoke to the director, my good friend, Jarriel [ph], and I asked him about this, and he said not to worry, pre-storage leukoreduction.

  [Laughter.]

  DR. SNYDER: So that clearly explains why there is no filter. But ever mindful of the FDA guidance, 606.122, paragraph B, to use a filter in the administration equipment, if you look closely, there are 270 micron filters right over there.

  Lest you think, however, that I am biased by my friendship, let me point this out, that this photograph also shows Lois Lane donating double the usual amount of blood and her saying that she’d gladly give it all. She doesn’t want to go on living. So I bring to the FDA’s attention that the Metropolis blood bank may have some conflicts as far as the validity of the donor screening and also their SOP for blood donations.

Update (14 Sep 05 0830): Broken links fixed.