Batman (Apparently) Killed Off

Kevin Keller marries in January issue

(NEWSER) - The Archie gay wedding is here. Kevin Keller, the first openly gay character in Archie’s hometown of Riverdale, is getting married as promised in the January issue of Life With Archie. Kevin, who serves in the US military, and his African-American partner, Clay Walker, met in a military hospital. The Huffington Post has more on the story, as well as the cover art . More»

But Phoenix Jones 'deeply misguided': official

(NEWSER) - Seattle’s “superhero”—the masked Phoenix Jones—has managed to avoid a possible assault charge after a pepper-spray showdown ; he says he was on a rescue mission. A city attorney says there wasn’t enough evidence for a jury to find him guilty, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. But make no mistake: Jones, whose real name is Benjamin Fodor, “is no hero”—he’s “just a deeply misguided individual.” the attorney says. “He has been warned that his actions put himself in danger, and this latest episode demonstrates that innocent bystanders can also be harmed.” More»

Family-oriented strip was 'last frontier of wholesome family humor'

(NEWSER) - Family Circle creator Bil Keane, whose single-panel cartoons have appeared in newspapers across the country for some 50 years, died yesterday. He was 89. The AP recounts a 1995 conversation with Keane, in which he attributed his comic's staying power to its simplicity and consistency. "It's reassuring, I think, to the American public to see the same family"—in his case, Billy, Jeffy, Dolly, PJ, and their parents (wife Thelma was the inspiration for "Mommy," and her spitting image, notes the AP). More»

'Phoenix Jones' vows that arrest won't stop him

(NEWSER) - Even superheroes aren't above the law. Self-appointed Seattle crime-fighter Phoenix Jones was in court last week following his arrest in a pepper-spray debacle . No charges have yet been filed against Jones' mild-mannered alter-ego (read: real identity), one Benjamin Fodor; prosecutors told the judge they want more time to make a decision, the Seattle Times reports. Fodor was arrested after blasting pepper spray at people; he says he was breaking up a fight. More»

Christian Bale looked to Cruise to inspire 'American Psycho'

(NEWSER) - Some things are too good to be true, but that's not the case for these fictional movie characters: BuzzFeed has a list of 10 popular movie icons that you'd never believe were inspired by actual people. A sample:

• Big Lebowski's The Dude: Producer and political activist Jeff Dowd was the archetype for the Coen brothers' interpretation. The Jeffs share their love for White Russians.