Comic pitches are thrown around left and right in the industry, in formal meetings, at social events. Some get made, some don’t. This particular story goes back about a year, when creator Dean Trippe posted on his Tumblr a project of his that never came to fruition. It was called Lois Lane, Girl Reporter and was brought to light once again this weekend when artist Terry Blas was inspired to post a cover image based on Trippe’s unfulfilled idea. Read on for some fantastic images as well as the story which is both wonderful and depressing.

Dr. Leila Daughtry Denmark celebrated her 114 birthday on February 1 of this year. She was an amazing woman who did pioneering work with whooping cough and was still a practicing pediatrician at age 103. That officially made her the oldest doctor in the world to be doing so. Sadly, Denmark passed away over the weekend at her home in Athens, Georgia. Read on for her story. 

Way back in the day, when casting was revealed for the twelve tributes of The Hunger Games‘s movie adaptation, there was a hiccup of sorts. It was the first time that some fans were presented with a fact that they might have glossed over while reading the books. It was the first time I saw the “Wait, Rue and Cinna are black?” conversation happening. As I am constantly reminding myself, not everybody follows movie news as closely as others, and so this weekend the movie’s release began the “conversation” anew, and with a vengeance. Apparently, there were a lot of people out there who felt that Rue’s race “ruined” the movie, that it made her death “less sad,” made her character less “innocent,” and that, along with Cinna, the producers had made all the “good” characters black.

Rue, to make things more infuriating from the reading comprehension standpoint, is explicitly described as having dark skin and hair, and Suzanne Collins has also said outright and publicly that she and her fellow District 11 tribute Thresh are African-American. The whole thing is sad and depressing enough without knowing that thirteen-year-old actress Amandla Stenberg, the voracious reader, fan of the books, and to all appearances a very sweet and eloquent young lady who played Rue, knows all about it.

Dorothy Townsend wasn’t happy working for the “Women’s section” of the L.A. Times, so in 1964 she demanded to cover the local news beat. She moved into the city room, populated my all male journalists, and two years later, the team won a Pulitzer Prize. Coincidence? We don’t think so. However, we’re sad to report this well-respected and talented woman has died at the age of 88. 

Last week I had to bring you the news of Star Wars conceptual artist Ralph McQuarrie’s passing. Today, another huge blow for art lovers. Jean Giraud, known in the art world as Moebius, has died at the age of 73. Moebius was a French artist best known for his comic book work but also his work on films like Tron and Alien. Hit the jump for a look at his work. 

Legendary conceptual artist Ralph McQuarrie has passed away at the age of 82. He’s responsible for helping George Lucas get Star Wars made with his conceptual designs of many of the characters and setting. McQuarrie went on to design for Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T., Back to the Future, Cocoon, Total Recall, and the original Battlestar Galactica series. Take a look at some of his amazing works of art. 

So here’s a story that we’re very unlikely to ever hear the full version of: Patty Jenkins, director of the award winning Monster, has left the production of Thor 2 due to “creative differences.” Thor 2 still has almost two years to get itself done before its unshakable release date in the regimented scheme of Marvel Universe movies, but considering the lengthy post-production process for the effects laden series Marvel is already casting around for new talent to helm the wing-helmed god’s second title role.

This is particularly disappointing news for us at The Mary Sue, because Jenkins would have been the first female director to have a movie set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe put in her care. And can you blame us for being interested in seeing Jenkins, whose most celebrated film rides the line between sympathizing with and demonizing its villainous protagonist, tackle the Thor/Loki relationship? But there may yet be a tiny, possibly illusory ray of hope.

From the New York Times comes an article on how even mall Santas are having to step up their game in hard economic times. And we don’t mean using limited seasonal pay to open pensions and 401(k) accounts. Although they do: the adult students of Charles W. Howard Santa Claus school look forward to training on everything from the best way to bleach your hair white, to supporting yourself on seasonal pay, to the history of the modern idea of Santa Claus. But lately, according to the Times, they’ve been swapping stories on how to prepare children for not getting everything they want on Christmas morning, prompted by the worried, pleading looks of their guardians.

Merry Christmas?

Cartoonist/journalist Susie Cagle drew the illustration above at Occupy Oakland, one of the California branches of the Occupy Wall Street movement. It depicts the Frank Ogawa/Oscar Grant camp 12 hours or so before it was raided. Cagle’s objective as a journalist is to cover Occupy Oakland in an illustrated history but this is the only piece she’s been able to post on her website since she was tear gassed one night and arrested on another. She’s now posted an article giving her personal account of her handling by the Oakland Police and let’s just say, it won’t win them any service awards.

It’s been rumored for a while now that Matt Smith is not long for this Doctor Who world. The British actor is secured for next year’s Who, but after that? In a recent interview with SFX, Smith may have inadvertently let slip that next year would be his last as the 11th Doctor. NOOOOOOOOOOOO!