|
|
|
| Last Updated: Jul 5, 2008 - 8:12:15 PM |
The Comic Book Bin wishes to extend its deepest condolences to all the family and friends of the victims, to all students, and staff of Dawson College, Place Alexis Nihon and all the businesses and establishments in the area close to the September 13, 2006 shooting.
Regular readers of The Comic Book Bin may or may not know that we are located in Montreal, which witnessed the attack of a lone man at Dawson College and nearby Place Alexis Nihon, on Wednesday, September 13, 2006. As of this writing, the killer has murdered a young woman and harmed 19 other students and civilians. The gunman was shot and killed by Montreal police officer.
As more information becomes available, it seems that the killer, 25-year-old Kimveer Gill, was a Goth fan, a loner and owned several illegal weapons and ammunitions. Today, many will blame the Goth subculture that influenced Gill, and as usual the world of violent entertainment.
In the world of comics, we're used to this type of scenarios. Some of the best-selling series are about anti-conformist, tough guys facing off against society and sometimes evil. Comic books offer more exploration into several sub genres and themes than any other form of entertainment, because the production cycle and fees associated are much lower.
Comic books often attract the attention of loners and people with integration problems and personal issues. Comic book enthusiasts often understand the power of fantasy behind the fictional characters we read about.
But today, as the publisher of The Comic Book Bin, I feel hurt. This tragedy in Montreal hits home. It's the third time in less than 20 years that Montreal institutions of higher learning have been the site of such shootings. There was the Polytechnic School shooting, where misogynist, Marc Lépine killed 14 women studying to become engineers.
The second time, at Concordia University in 1992, associate professor, Valery Fabrikant killed four professors and harmed one secretary.
A stay at Dawson College marks the beginning of adult life for many young Montrealers. Upon leaving high schools, students in the Province of Quebec must attend community college before attending university. Students studying other technical trades also attend colleges like Dawson. With its proximity to the downtown core, the subway system, several shopping malls, and a large movie theatre, for many young Montrealers, Dawson is where the action is.
In my college days, I went to Vanier College, Dawson's main rival. Everybody used to say that all the cool folks went to Dawson. It's hard price to pay today for being such a popular, and a fine place to get a good education. It's no wonder that a loner, probably rejected by many would target the place all the cool kids go to.
This event brings home another point closely related to comic books. Marvel's Civil War is about the registration of meta-humans, such as Spider-man by the authorities. At first, I sided with Captain America's anti-registration camp. Suddenly, Iron Man's camp looks brighter.
People who can lift mountains should be considered weapons. Weapons should be registered. We've had this debate in Canada, since the new Conservative government won the January 2006 election. They want to scrap the hand weapon registration bill. That bill was first inspired by the 1989 Polytechnic shooting. Prime Minister Steven Harper won't be able to hide behind his hardcore conservative and moral beliefs, if he wants to get reelected. In Montreal, the second largest pool of voters in Canada, weapons’ registration is popular. It's as popular in Toronto and Vancouver.
Prime Minister Harper wants to appeal to his conservative constituents outside of Canada's major urban centers. He should consider the well-being of Canada's majority for once.
Comment Script
Join the discussion:
Comments
© Copyright 2002-2008, Coolstreak Cartoons Inc. - All rights Reserved. All other texts, images, characters and trademarks are copyright their respective owners. Use of material in this document(including reproduction, modification, distribution, electronic transmission or republication) without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.
Top of Page
|
|
|
Latest Articles
|
The Joe Shuster Canadian Comic Book Creator Awards
This year's ceremony is coming up - make sure you vote for your favourites!
|
Paul Goes Fishing
Is Michel Rabagliati the next Charles Schulz?
|
Harper Government‘s Social Conservatism Agenda Creeps into a Theatre Near You
The Conservative Government and its partner in crime, the Christian Right, justifying censorship
|
Canadian Industry Minister Jim Prentice Admits Corporations Give Advice on Copyrights Law
Holding an open house invitation for his constituents, in the Calgary riding of Calgary North, new federal Minister of Industry, Jim Prentice, was surprised to see many ordinary Canadians asking him to elaborate on the Conservative Government’s upcoming copyrights law for Canada
|
Canadians Get Preview of New - Made For Hollywood Copyrights Law
The RCMP today that they have arrested and laid charges on Geremi Adams, a Montreal man accused of recording films in movie theatres
|
Stephen Harper May Adopt American-Styled Copyrights Laws For Canada
The New Government of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper may introduce new legislation to change the current copyrights law regime in Canada to make it closer to the United States.
|
Philip Street's Fisher Comic Strip
Canadian cartoonist Philip Street discusses his comic strip, Fisher, that has been published in the pages of the Globe and Mail since 1992.
|
TCAF 2007 Guest List Announced
The Toronto Comic Arts Festival has announced the guest list. National and international stars of the indie and mainstream scene will be attending.
|
Are Canadians Paying Too Much For Comics?
With an historical rate of 92 cents Canadian to the US Dollar, the price of comic book charged to Canadian consumers is a premium on their consumption
|
Creator Spotlight: Janet Hetherington
Janet Hetherington has been a player in the Canadian comics scene for many years, making the leap from reader to creator while gathering attention to her work and getting the opportunity to sit on esteemed panels as both a judge (Eisner Awards) and as a speaker.
|
Invaders from the North
An astounding addition to the slow-growing pile of books that focus on comic book criticism and history. And it's Canadian!
|
Preview: Invaders from the North
What do Superman, Prince Valiant, Cerbus the Aardvark, and Spawn have in common? Their creators are Canadians.
|
Creator Spotlight: Rosena Fung
When I first asked Rosena if she would be interested in being the subject of a Canuck Creator Spotlight interview, she responded with the same ridiculously large amount of enthusiasm she brings to her comic work.
|
Les Derniers corsaires
Les Derniers corsaires is a historical graphic novel about some of the British captains who led submarines during the Second World War. This book is published in French
|
Special Feature - Comic Books and The Dawson College Shootings
The Comic Book Bin wishes to extend its deepest condolences to all the family and friends of the victims, to all students, and staff of Dawson College, Place Alexis Nihon and all the businesses and establishments in the area close to the September 13, 2006 shooting.
|
|
