Howard the Duck. I have some of the original mid-70s comics that I bought when I was around 13. A masterful idea I thought. The universe we know being one of many parallel ones that float in a meta-reality side by side bumping once in a while allowing figures from one to cross to another accidentally. Thus Howard entered our world, cigar in jaw, fighting crime, trying to save the hairless apes. Then the worst movie ever is made and the Howard brand is shot forever despite that reference in The Pretenders song "Precious"...errr, I think it's in there...

As Troy points out, the same sort of thing is happen in a discussion over at the Bar Towel, a brewer of admittedly less complex beers taking on the beer nerds. This is a great example of the difficulties that have been expressed lately with the beer geeks. Not only are there tensions between beer writers and tickers but also with the geeks and the brewers. Is it fair? Is it right? What would Howard the Duck do?

Like him, I often find myself in a state of wonderment about all these hairless apes. Why is there so much disagreement and heat as opposed to the sort of jibing you get between sports fans? Both beer and pro sports are entertainment spectacles and also big money makers. Both are diverting and immersive. Somehow, someway, there should be a venue for the meeting on the level between the few who brew and the many who enjoy, for the pro writer and the amateur scribbler. A venue which gets past the risk to the brewers and the pomposity of the geek which is established on mutual respect. What would such a forum look like?