Semi-Random Stuff

1. I suspect that the International Democrat Union's people will want - or be compelled - to torpedo this agreement as quickly as possible...

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-16/canada-u-k-plan-the-first-carbon-trades-in-paris-climate-deal

2. Patrick Stewart on Labour, Brexit and responsibility:

https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/sir-patrick-stewart-i-find-it-difficult-to-know-what-labour-stands-for-1-5653286

3. The aftermath of the first Wakandacon:

https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/13/17677296/wakandacon-convention-chicago-black-panther-wakanda

4. One more bit of hope in medical research...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-paul-dewar-cancer-clinical-trial-1.4787041

Alpha Flight v.1 + 35 Years

Tony Isabella reminded me - and thousands of others - on Facebook of this anniversary.

Marvel started printing the first Alpha Flight series, written and drawn by John Byrne for its first two years beginning in 1983. I was in Saskatchewan, going to high school. I don't remember whether it was the Regina Book Exchange or the local convenience store that provided the copy I bought. But there it was. Published by Marvel in the decades before Disney, created to host a mostly Canadian cast of super-heroic characters spun out of Uncanny X-Men.

I loved it, even with all its weirdness. Still do. I miss the original premise, and while some of the characters still prosper as supporting cast in Captain Marvel, it's not the same. It's not meant to be.

The original Alpha Flight is the product of a particular phase in Canadian history, politics and culture. It grew up along with me, and the editorial policies of Marvel may force some changes to its backstory over the decades, as has happened with Iron Man and (probably) the Punisher, among others.

I await its core characters' further evolution with interest.