How to celebrate Labor Day in the legal blogosphere? Last year, we made some Ayn Rand references. We thought about posting this comic book cover, but it’s a bit much we think, especially for a blog run by corporate lawyers. Instead, you get the cover of Labor Force #1 (above) and Justice League #28 (below), both of which offer a slightly difference take on issues of labor in the superhero community. The former, published by Blackthorne Comics back in 1986, asks that the general public pay its community’s heros instead of thanking them. The latter, published by DC Comics way back in 1964, shows the Justice League, apparently on strike, complete with picket signs.  “Lift the Ban on Superman,” says one sign, while another proclaims, “The JLA demands the right to work.”

Somebody better call the NLRB.

Whatever the case, we here at Abnormal Use wish you a safe and happy Labor Day.

Above, you’ll find the cover of Secrets of the Sinister House #17, published way back in 1974. As you can see, the prosecutor has called the murder victim himself to the stand to identify the criminal defendant as his killer. Is there precedent for that, we wonder? We suppose there is no confrontation clause issue if the defense lawyer gets to cross examine the dead guy.  However, everyone in the court room appears shocked by the testimony. Why is that?  They all just observed a  spectral figure walk into the courtroom, take the stand, receive the oath, and provide all of the relevant background information prior to the courtroom identification. Presumably, the corpse had to sit in the courtroom and wait while some other witnesses testified, as well. What’s so shocking about this particular moment taking place after all that? Oh, well.

Our own Frances Zacher’s recent post regarding legal issues prompted by driverless cars is getting some play in the blogosphere.  Max Kennerly of the Litigation & Trial Blog responded here, while friend of the blog Alan Crede of the Boston Personal Injury Lawyer Blog – whose original post here prompted Frances to respond – replies here. Want to hear something off topic but cool? In his post, Alan called us “the darling of The New York Times, National Public Radio and Jackie Chiles” and recipients of “well-deserved blogospheric celebrity.”  Aw, shucks.

Remember back in May when we remarked upon the controversy surrounding Superman’s renunciation of his U.S. citizenship? Well, according to this report, in the final issue of Action Comics – the series in which Superman first appeared in 1938 – Superman addresses the issue yet again. Click here to see the panel in question while you can read a review of that issue here. Oh, well. (By the way, Action Comics is ending its run of more than 900 issues and more than 70 years because DC Comics is rebooting its universe and relaunching all its series).

Well, we’ve previously mentioned that you can now access our blog content on Facebook, right?  Well, guess what? We’ve now got a fancy personalized Facebook URL! How about that? Check it out at http://www.facebook.com/abnormaluse and if you’ve not yet become a fan of Abnormal Use on Facebook, now is your chance.

Red Grange, also known as the “Galloping Ghost,” was a star tailback for the University of Illinois and the Chicago Bears back in the 1920’s.  So we are told.  Apparently, his exploits were worthy of the cover of Football Thrills #1, published way back in 1952 and two decades after Grange’s professional football career came to an end in 1934.  We’re a bit puzzled as to why the referee on the cover is jubilantly leaping into the air as Red makes an apparent touchdown, although the fact that Red himself was the editor of this issue of Football Thrills may explain the conundrum.

Why do we peddle in football nostalgia today?  It’s opening day of the college football season, or as we call it here in South Carolina, “Christmas.”  Around here, college football is kind of a big deal.  We here at Abnormal Use and Gallivan, White, & Boyd, P.A. boast supporters of Clemson, the University of South Carolina, Notre Dame, and Texas, to name just a few schools.  For the past seven months, we have been making bold predictions about the upcoming season.  All those negative plays from last season have been erased from our minds like a hagiographic issue of Football Thrills.

How does football relate to litigation, you may ask?  This is a law blog, after all.  Well, you might be surprised to learn we’ve previously blogged about football, including allegations of a heat stroke causing football helmet as well as  lifetime donors upset at having to pay for football parking. We can only hope this isn’t our last football-related post.  If so, please look forward to the next installment of Football Thrills edited by the Abnormal Use blog team.