‘Sup! This is artwork by Italian artist Stefano Caselli. He’s a penciller currently working for Marvel Comics. He is one of my favourites, mostly because how he constructs his characters. I think they are  dynamic, very detailed while retaining that “cartoony” aspect I feel is often missing in mainstream superhero comics these days. Coloring for these images done by Luca Malisan.

Jeremy Renner

by Russ Fischer – SlashFilm.com

Jeremy Renner, who was so great in The Hurt Locker and was batted around as a possibility to become the new Mad Max, is saying he may appear as the superhero archer Hawkeye in a couple of Marvel movies. How do you stock a couple of films with multiple minor superheroes and not have them all look silly? By casting people like Renner, who can do a lot with very little material.

The Playlist transcribed some quotes from the UK edition of Empire, in which Renner says he’s been having discussions with Marvel about playing Hawkeye in at least two upcoming Marvel films, then appearing in The Avengers in a full-blown role, rather than a cameo. If the deal did go through, sounds like he’d at least cameo in Thor before  The Avengers hits. At the end of Captain America, perhaps? Seems very late to be shoehorned into Iron Man 2, but anything is possible.

Renner says “Hawkeye could be interesting. They’re going to send me some stuff on it, see what it is. But I think they’re pretty awesome, trying to make superhero movies almost plausible and not just some fantasy thing”.

Amazon Specials

I’m honored to present to you the amazing, the incredible, the extremely-badass BEARDMAN! He was first conceived at the end of my Senior year of High School along with the catch phrase, “Me father was a werewolf!”, thus explaining his incredible powers. You see, BeardMan can grow out his incredible facial hair and dreadlocks in under 10 seconds. But that is not all, dear readers. He has PREHENSILE FACIAL HAIR and DREADLOCKS.

Recently in my Reading and Writing class, we were asked to come up with our ideal superhero. And so BEARDMAN! made his amazing return, and is now here to stay. With his hairy disguise, this man fights crime WITH HIS HAIR.

I’m exited.

…so (don’t) worry. You will be seeing more of him.

(And don’t worry, I’m not going to tag ‘boobs’ on this post)

Some photos from Komikon 2009 held last October 18 at SM Megatrade Hall.

Chris Ware visited the Raptus comics festival in Bergen in 2002, and I got the chance to interview him both by e-mail in advance and meeting him in person at the festival. Here’s the e-mail interview in full.

FOTO: ØYVIND HOLEN

CW: Dear Mr. Holen, my apologies for not sending this sooner – I actually answered all the questions on Monday, though I like to let them “sit” for a few days, just to make sure that I didn’t say anything too incredibly stupid. Anyway, I hope these answers are okay… and my thanks again for your kind interest!

Very warmest wishes, and regards,
Chris Ware.

ØH: Your title, ACME Novelty Library, seemed to come out of nowhere when it first appeared in 1993. What plans and goals did you have for the title at first, and how did/do these change with time?

CW: Essentially, in 1993, it was sort of a “catch all” title intended to encompass everything I’d done up until that time which I deemed marginally publishable; the earliest comics that have appeared in its pages are from 1988, and the most recent from 2000.

I didn’t want the book to have my name plastered all over the series, since everything I do is essentially autobiography already; the “corporate” tone allowed me to satirize and parody those pseudo-esthetic aspects of the rest of the world (i.e. the business world) that amuse me, as well as to play up the jokes inherent in a medium with its feet set both in art and in commerce. Plus I liked the idea of a “library” for “novelties.” I guess. Maybe, however, I’m starting now to forget why I did it.

ØH: The movie versions of From Hell and Ghost World can be seen as the mainstream’s acceptance that comics are more than colorful characters. They were made into movies because of the stories, not the characters (like Batman and Spider-Man). It’s almost the same when Jimmy Corrigan won The Guardian’s First Book Award. But my question is this: How do you feel about superhero comics and will comics ever step out of the long shadows of the superhero? Even Jimmy Corrigan is using superhero images.

CW: I think the superhero is probably one of the most powerful metaphors that modern culture has produced, but I’m not too crazy about modern superhero comics that pretend to be serious writing, or “adult” literature. However, simply the idea of a father figure all dressed up in proto-military garb, hopping around, saving things, being moral – it’s a wonderful idea, one thoroughly treated by Michael Chabon in The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay – particularly the Jewish aspects of it, starting with the artists and writers themselves, anglicanizing their names — just like their characters, who have to have “secret identities.”

As for me, I grew up reading superhero comics, wanting to be a superhero, so to one degree or another, they’re a part of me… even if I wasn’t a cartoonist, I’m sure superheroes would always still play some part in what I did. A “superman,” to me, is such a perfect stand-in for a lost, or at least a distant, father… as well as sort of a goal towards which to naively aim oneself as a pre-adult, before one realizes that the world is mostly just disappointment.

ØH: In an interview with The Comics Journal you said “if you’re writing a script beforehand, you’re not really writing comics. You’re illustrating a story”. Did you do the whole Jimmy Corrigan story without a script? How are you working?

CW: I write notes on individual pieces of paper before starting to draw, and on the margins of the bristol board while I’m working; currently, I keep three separate notebooks about Rusty Brown. Mostly everything that I write down I either completely forget or don’t use.

Essentially, I work from a very loose outline, trying to let myself into the “world” I’m drawing in the same way I think the reader will enter it, rather than imposing my order on top of it. Plus, I’m deathly sickened by all my ideas, and have to let them develop more “organically”; I have a deeply bipolar confidence, and am sometimes so repulsed and overwhelmed my my own work I have to simply stop working — or force myself to work, depending on how close the weekly deadline is. I realize this is probably irresponsible, though I can’t seem to work any other way, unfortunately.

ØH: Judging by some of your illustrations and written language you seem to be nostalgic of a time period you never experienced in the first place, the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s. Is that correct? It reminds me in parts of the nostalgia in Seth’s comics, like It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken“. Where does this interest come from?

CW: Mostly I just appreciate the skill, craft, and respect for the viewer that so much of the design from those eras seems to have, not to mention the unstable core of folly and dignity about which it all seems to orbit. Most of today’s world appears more interested in being cool, slick, and sexual, which is fine, but generally I find it distracting and not a comfortable place to be. I don’t need an environment that advises me to be more macho or apathetic.

ØH: After the longJimmy Corrigan had finished you started the even more harrowing Rusty Brown. But what are you working on for the years to come. Do you feel that Jimmy Corrigan is a tough act to follow? And will you continue ACME Novelty Library or publish independent graphic novels?

CW: Actually, Rusty Brown is the next book I’m doing — the “gag” strips which appeared in ACME #15 are separate; the book is about eight different characters, the introduction of the story (the first two “chapters”) being set in the 1970s, during Rusty’s childhood, and while he’s one of the central characters, he’s not necessarily the “main” character. (I was recently asked by another interviewer about the plot of this book, who seemed relieved that it wouldn’t just be a 500 page book about toy collectors.)

As well, I’m working on a shorter story, unrelated, which is more experimental, and may never be collected anywhere; I’m not sure if it’s good enough yet. As well, Oog and Blik in Holland and Drawn and Quarterly in Canada are copublishing a book of my sketchbook drawings, though that’s not really comics, I guess. Much of it is fairly embarrassing, as well.

Bonus: Chris Ware on French television.

Photographed by guy schmidt

he’s kinda creepy

– License

Batman, el superhéroe creado por los estadounidenses Bob Kane y Bill Finger (aunque se reconoce la autoría sólo al primero) es propiedad de la compañia DC Comics. Su primera aparición fue en la historieta titulada ‘El extraño caso del sindicato químico’ de la revista Detective Comics n.º 27, lanzada por la editorial National Publications en mayo de 1939. Desde entonces el personaje fue y es dibujado por innumerables artistas en el mundo entero.

Nuestro compatriota Percy Ochoa, radicado en la Argentina, como buen fan del hombre murcielago le rinde un tributo, contandonos esta breve historia.

Mas trabajos del amigo Percy, en su blog personal.

Rogue buries her finger in Wolvie's chest.

I told you we’re back. Another Superhero Throwdown regular, Rachael W., weighs in this week’s challenge with this sweet submission.

Rachael:

An experiment with four Copic Markers and more of an outlined style, then edited in Photoshop. I often have to restrain myself from saying this phrase on a daily basis to the important people in my life.

Make sure you check her own design site, RachaelWDesign. You won’t be disappointed.

If you asked someone who their favorite superhero is, then you’d get a a few responses: Batman, Superman, Spider-Man and maybe a few others, but Wolverine is and always has been near the top of the list since his first appearance in Incredible Hulk #180. Wolverine, as we all know, is not his real but but instead also goes by Logan, while also known as James Howlett, and yet also known as “oh-sweet-jesus-he’s-coming-to-kill-me!” I myself, while not a die-hard fan whose willing to draw blood over the subject, do enjoy reading comics that include Wolverine, if for no other reason then then for the fact that he is a truly great character.

The entire comic book history of Wolverine is about as long as the Great Wall of China and has a depth of a few billion fathoms. From living the life over in Japan, learning mad awesome samurai skills, to being a member to what is nearly a half dozen teams, Wolverine is a truly unique and astounding individual.

Wolverine is his own character, he’s not the rip off of someone else and neither he, nor do the writers, pretend any differently. He’s simply “the best he as and what he does…” Wolverine is not a hero, nor is a villain, but instead an anti-hero. He makes his own rules, does what he feels is right, and is not afraid to get his hands dirty. He’s the Marvel equivalent of Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry. Sure, you have the Punisher and Deadpool, who also fall into the same category, but neither of them are as well loved. Wolverine is not just a unstoppable killing machine, he is much more than that. There is a realness to his personality, after having been around for over a hundred years, that makes him just damn interesting. Smoking a cigar while stabbing the ever-living hell out of whoever is unfortunate enough to cross his path, Wolverine is by definition, a badass.

He is a tortured soul, who has seen a lot in his lifetime, perhaps too much, after having fought through both World Wars, been experimented on, and endured more pain and emotional trauma then the entire cast of the Twilight Saga put together, Logan simply refuses to stay down and wallow in self pity.

Powers: Having had his bones bonded with the neigh indestructible metal alloy known as adamantium, Wolverine is pretty much unbreakable, what with that, his deadly claws, feral senses, insane regenerative ability, and superb fighting skills, Logan is pretty much a force of nature, that once he gets going, is almost impossible to stop. But really, you all know what this guy is capable of and what his abilities are, so there’s no real point in my going over them.

Perhaps one of the only problems I have with Wolverine is his healing factor. The ability itself is cool, but nowadays writers have essentially decided to make the man an immortal. Once upon a time Logan could only withstand a certain amount of damage before, healing factor or not, he would die, now…well, read the Wolverine Civil War arc when he’s chasing down Nitro, and you’ll see what I mean. The dude has everything, and I mean everything blown away, leaving only his skeleton, and yet SOMEHOW he’s able to reconstitute himself entirely. The fandom behind Wolverine has gotten a little absurd over time to where Marvel has the digital comic of Wolverine Vs. Thor.

Now stop me if I’m wrong, but Thor is a THUNDER GOD. Did you get that? A GOD with a godly hammer, and near infinite power, and here he is being in danger of being killed by a temperamental little man with claws. Granted, that same little man is one of the most dangerous human beings on the planet, but that’s just it, he’s still a man, Realistically, Thor should just have to flick Wolverine and that hairy mutant would explode into tiny little pieces. So yeah, I like the good old days where Wolverine wasn’t immortal. Still, Marvel has taken the kindness to say on their website that Wolverine can indeed be killed, it’s just that the writers have forgotten this note.

Regardless, the character of Wolverine will continually be ranked high in the superhero pantheon and for good reason. Having teamed up and fought virtually every hero, along with nearly every villain, Wolverine continues to shine through as that character who’s willing to go toe-to-toe with anyone and everyone. There is no one quite like this mutant, and most likely, there will never be.

So listen, I’ll come out of the cave and say I’ve got a bit of a thing for Batman. It’s harmless and it’s not like I’ve bought the outfit and accessories at one of those seedy Batman sites or anything. Well, none that I’d admit to here.

This mature bad-ass version is a model by Thiago Provin.

Haz click en la imagen para verla al detalle

La gente de Kold Cast TV, una reconocida cadena televisiva online, elaboró una tabla en donde podemos ver, cuidadosamente analizadas, las películasde superhéroes más importantes de los últimos años, comparadas en base a sus costos,  ganancias y otros elementos importantes. No sólo los datos  interesantes, sino que el diseño de la infografía vale la pena por sí misma. Se las dejamos para que la disfruten.

After careful consideration, and several yelling bouts, along with a smattering of battings about the head from Miss Crankypants, Cousin Harold decided that he had to control and disguise his innate ability and distink talent for farting.

No longer would he be Jack the Ripper, sneaking through the dark and cutting up near fine ladies, or not.
No more would society find fault with his mumbled replies to questions he did not even consider anyway.
Cousin Harold would not be taken for granted any more. He would become The Phantom Farter.

Prior to his new sophistication, Cousin Harold would just crank one leg over and let fly. NO matter the  venue, surroundings, or people nearby.
At those times he would not surreptitiously point to Miss Crankypants as the guilty party, this would earn him amused looks, facial expressions of downright disgust, and upon occasion, a severe vomiting from those more sensitively inclined.

Cousin Harold had decided that no more would he be unappreciated, or mistaken for a simple version of Tommy Thunderpants, his native friend. Hee Wahn Huhn wah – rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrip.
No more would be he mistaken as the less fortunate human caretaker of such celebrities as Walter, The Farting Dog.

No, his inspiration and aspiration would combine, and lift him to more surreal heights than Joseph Pujol, le Fartiste, who entertained the crowds at the Moulin Rouge last century or two.
Forget Superman, forget Spidey, or Batshitman.
Cousin Harold would annihilate their memories.

Wall Street, Broadway, Yonge Street, the wooded hills of Tennessee, the lakes of Ontario, the valleys of Kentucky would never be the same again.

Cousin Harold and his Grand Plan were afoot.

(Tomorrow Cousin Harold divulges his true inspiration, beginnings, and through defeat and frustration, his ultimate and crowning moment that led him to this New Land of Discovery.)

©Dean J. Baker

©Dean J. Baker and deanjbaker.wordpress.com, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material that appears here or has appeared here without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Dean J. Baker and deanjbaker.wordpress.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Nelson Rydgis is one of the major villians in the story. One thing that generally seems unrealistic to me is where the average or morally dubious guy somehow turns evil because he has powers. I realize that a some of people probably would start committing crimes if there were to suddenly acquire power. However, most people probably would not. After all, a gun could give them the same leverage that powers might, and firearms are much easier to come by. So, barring insanity, it’s more likely a villain would already be a bad guy before gaining powers.

This is at least true in the case of Nelson Rydgis. Nelson grew up in Los Angeles. His parents died shortly after his seventh birthday, scarring him deeply. The situation was exacerbated by his adoptive uncle and aunt, who had been going through divorce proceedings at the time. Nelson was shuffled between the two, who were too busy making each other miserable to pay any attention. When he dropped out of school and joined the gangs at 14 years old, neither of them even noticed. Nelson left at 17, and spent the next five years involved in a great deal of illegal activities. Eventually, he double-crossed too many people, and ended up alienated everyone he had ever known.

Nelson had always had an explosive temper. Dynamite on a short fuse, and just as deadly. Nelson went on a killing spree, shooting half a dozen random people before calming down. He then began to systematically track down and murder everyone who had done him wrong, starting with his aunt and uncle. He was arrested shortly afterward.

Nelson has received  four life sentences, and it is likely he will receive the death penalty, as his trial is still ongoing. In between cases, Nelson has been held in the Duque maximum security facility, to minimize the risk of retaliation by one of his many enemies.

Unfortunately, Nelson was also in town the day something triggered superpowers in random people, and was one of those to gain them. He broke out of prison immediately. Nelson, perhaps as an extension of his self-centered attitude, has absolute control over his own body, telekinesis over himself and his body functions, in a way. This manifests mainly as enhanced speed, strength, endurance, and resilience. He is the pinnacle of physical condition, and then a step beyond. He is also bulletproof, as his control over his body can even harden his skin, making him impervious to physical attacks. If he is somehow damaged, he can heal up to twice as fast as an average person.

His advanced mental state is also a dangerous weapon in itself. His reflexes are greatly increased, and he is capable of keeping up with multiple events and opponents simultaneously. His furious wrath often accompanies this acceleration, which can impede his reasoning skills.

And finally, Nelson is a vicious, ruthless murderer with no conscience. He has no respect for anyone other than Adam McCollister, (his superpowered partner in crime,) and Nelsons loyalty to him is fleeting at best. He is a self-centered, greedy, powerhungry individual, and a very dangerous threat to the heroes.

Dear Dr. Skeletron,

Hi. My name is Jimmy Ogden and I am currently in the fifth grade. I know you are a busy guy and all, given that you are an evil supervillain sent from the depths of hell to bring about the next great global apocalypse. However, I was wondering if you could find it in your black, shriveled heart to spare some of your free time to use those levitation boots of yours to shoot on over to Rhodes Middle School in central Connecticut to be my friend.

You see, much like you, I am an outcast. Except, whereas you are disliked because you murder everyone in your path and leave a river of blood wherever you travel, I am disliked because I am good at math and have to wear prescription shoes.

So, as I see it, we are cut from the same cloth. Which is why I was wondering if you could be my friend and protect me from being picked on during school.

You wouldn’t even have to shoot poisonous needles from your Slaughter Gun if you didn’t want to. I really think you just being there, sitting next to me on the school bus or standing behind me in the school lunch line would be enough to keep the bullies away (although, I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t be a little disappointed if you didn’t use your Laser Stare to disintegrate at least one skull).

You know how you hunger to feed off the severed heads and crushed bones of your fallen innocent victims? Well I feel a similar hunger every time Rick Barton steals my lunch at school. Which is why I think we would make great friends.

Also, your name indicates that you are a doctor. As such, I can conclude that we both share a passion for scholarly pursuits. Except, whereas you have a PhD in Kicking Ass, I hope to one day have a PhD in Juridical Science.

Listen, my dad has been working with the Navy and Atomic Archer on a plan to send you back to the depths of hell from whence you came. First off, I can say that so far, they got nothing! You don’t have to worry about anything because they have no idea how to crack your impenetrable black demon armor.

Secondly, if you agree to be my friend, I will gladly provide you with any insider information I come across. My dad brings home top-secret documents and blueprints all the time. If you come over to my house for slumber parties or something, I’m sure you could get your hands on them once my dad goes to sleep.

Or, I could pay you in other means. Do you like Chinese paper throwing stars? Because I can make those. I know they’re no Electrocuting Death Chain, but they’re still fun to throw.

Anyway, I’m really tired of getting called names at school. So if you have any free time, I would really appreciate it if you dropped by one day to scare off all those stupid jerks at school. Thanks, and good luck with that toxic gas cloud that you’ve got spreading across Eastern Europe right now. I hope it kills everyone dead real good.

Thanks,

Jimmy

P.S. How’s the new Volcano Lair? Are you all moved in and unpacked yet?

——

If you liked this, then other humor blog posts you may like include:

• Do These Tentacles Make My Butt Look Big?
• Dear God, Please Invent A Clone For Me
• I Would Like To Stuff Your Head And Mount It On My Wall

If I could have any superpower it would be a melding of a photographic memory with the ability to instantly transform any given information into a useful means. A sort of Rain Man – McGyver dude!

Not sure what the outfit would look like exactly but it definitely wouldn’t be from Kmart because Kmart sucks! And of course, no capes! Edna knows her business and I’m not going to second guess her. Although without a cape a flourishing exit just isn’t quite the same, now is it. In any case, it will be flattering to the physique and buoyant yet classically understated. Plus, it will have a special pocket for my iPod. Oh…and a  glow in the dark chest log and neck collar trim.

Inkrediman slowly lifted the canned peas onto the top shelf of Aisle 12 in The Super-Supermarket as he contemplated the unfortunate realities of being a superhero.

When he’d first discovered he had superpowers—an unexpected side-effect of mixing his weight-loss pills with a 12-pack of Red Bull and about 50 Mentos—he’d thought it would be fun and exciting. He’d pictured himself busting bad guys, saving the world, getting the girl, and living in a lavish mansion. Well, it hadn’t happened that way.

“Young man?” An old woman asked suddenly. “Can you tell me where to find the baby formula? It’s for my great-grandson and . . .”

“It’s on Aisle 5,” Inkrediman said abruptly. Disappointed, the woman nodded and slowly wandered off.

Why did the elderly always insist on telling you their life story? Inkrediman wondered. His life was too busy to sit and listen to her hundred years told in real time.

Time was Inkrediman’s first problem. In the comics, superheroes could zip around the world, bust the bad guys, and get back to the office before anyone missed them. That didn’t happen for Inkrediman. True, he could run faster than any other human but that wasn’t nearly as impressive as it sounded. His top speed was only 30 mph and he could only sustain that for about 15 seconds. Usually, he topped out at about 21 mph, a speed he could maintain for 10 minutes as long as it was over even ground. Dashing across the city in a matter of seconds was out of the question.

His super-strength, super-sight, and super-hearing weren’t much better. The ability to lift 500 pounds was great except that now he had to use a feather touch for everything else. The first time he’d stocked tomatoes after receiving his powers had taken hours to clean up. His super-sight zoomed in way too close and his super-hearing gave him a near-constant ringing in his ears. And why couldn’t he fly?

Also, because he had not been born to wealth and privilege, Inkrediman had to work to support himself. He took this job because it was fairly easy and he only had to work the day shift, leaving his nights open for patrolling. The problem was that patrolling kept him up all night, which meant that he spent his days in the zombie-like state of the sleep deprived.

His villains were also a problem, especially because he didn’t know any that posed a credible threat. Since becoming a superhero, Inkrediman’s villains had consisted of one mugger, three graffiti artists, a couple of twelve-year-olds who were out past curfew, and a kitten trapped in a storm drain. Of these, only the kitten had been a real challenge.

Another problem was that, with the exception of one mention in the city newspaper after the kitten incident, he had gone unnoticed by the press. Inkrediman blamed this on his easily mispronounced and more easily misspelled superhero name, which he had been chosen to avoid a lawsuit from the comic book publishers who had copyrighted all of the good ones.

His costume was another problem. His first costume, made with spandex, had itched like crazy and left him frozen on cold nights. His new costume, a sweatsuit, was more comfortable but hot and bulky under his street clothes. And his utility belt, which weighed over 50 pounds but felt heavier, was always catching on things.

He paused in his pea stacking to watch the old woman wander past the end of Aisle 12 again. She hadn’t found the baby formula.

Watching her pass, Inkrediman thought about why he had gotten into the superhero business to begin with. It had seemed like a good idea at first, but now it was more hassle than it was worth. Maybe he should retire.

Then again, there were benefits to being a superhero. Seeing the victim’s face when he’d stopped that mugging had lifted his spirits for a week. And the smile of the kitten’s owner—a 6-year-old girl—had been so big it’d had him floating for days. Maybe, just maybe, those small moments of gratitude made it all worth it.

The old woman passed again, looking confused. Inkrediman set down his peas and limped over to her.

“Still looking for formula?” He asked. She nodded sheepishly. “Right this way.” He pointed and together they walked toward Aisle 5.

“Tell me about your great-grandson,” Inkrediman said, and the old woman smiled.

• Jon Stewart: Indecision 2009–Reindecision 2008 and Beyond(Video)…

• Ariel Kaminer–In Scientology’s Door, but Not Much Farther…

• 7 Superhero Stories Too Big For Movies…

• Austin Dacey: Putting God out of the Ethics Business…

• Skeptics Vs Believers: 2012–The End of the World?…

• Arguing With an Idiot: Glenn Beck’s Lawsuit Against Parody Site Rejected…

• Police worker fired for backing psychic investigations claims religious discrimination…

• On Wikipedia: A list of notable United States Marines…

• When a child dies, faith is no defense–Why do courts give believers a pass…

• Global warming blamed for giant jellyfish swarms…

• More Americans believe in ghosts than in global warming…

• The largest living land-arthropod in the world–The Coconut Crab…

• Twitter experiment casts doubt on psychic ‘remote viewing…’

• the NYT on The Evolution of the God Gene…

• Scientologists: Did Tom Cruise offer to give a beat-down to disobedient members?…

• New jihad code threatens al Qaeda…

• Steven Novella: Some Muddled Thinking from Bill Maher…

• Australia mulls Scientology probe…

Had fun with this one….

For more information on my forthcoming senescence, please consult Superhero Decadence and Superheroes as Senior Citizens.