john ridley

John Ridley is not a comic book fan. Sure, his early love of Batman comic books did inspire him to become a writer. True, he still reads countless comic books and replenishes his supply weekly. And, yes, he has recently created his own superhero, the animated hero of the Web, Undercover Brother. But according to his informal poll, the defining quality of a comic book fan is delusion: comic book fans are people who think Wonder Woman and Aquaman have a life outside of comic book pages. To prove his point, a case study. John takes us to comic book land and introduces us to the the genre junkies.

LISTEN to John's piece about confronting comic book fans at their notorious L.A. hangout. It aired on Weekend All Things Considered. Or plan your own trip from among the choices below.

John Ridley writes novels, TV scripts, screenplays, a superhero series, radio essays, comedy routines and very funny and short emails. Read a sample. Also hear John interview one of his favorite writers, Donald Westlake.

Fighting cultural wrongs like Mariah Carey and the Backstreet Boys, it's ... Undercover Brother. See the animated series.

Take Superman, now married to Lois Lane. He can't tell Lois he's been out saving the world everytime he doesn't come home at night. John and his friend Adam Fierro discuss these and other pedestrian problems particular to superheroedom.

Las Vegas also inspires John's fiction. He makes the drive from L.A. almost every weekend to try his luck and to overhear conversations between other Vegas regulars. Hear John interview a few of them: an exotic dancer, a constable and a bodyguard to the late Howard Hughes.

Check out John Ridley's cultural picks in the world and on the Web.

Post your stories about fanatics, superheroes, Vegas or anything else having to do with this edition of Along For The Ride. And check out our contest.

Contents Copyright 2001, National Public Radio