Things have been changing in America lately, and not necessarily for the better. Not so many years ago, many DC Comics super hero bloggers and I participated in semi-regular crossover events. Now very few of us are still posting.

Both FirestormFan.com and AquamanShrine.net have stopped blogging to focus their efforts on podcasting (fireandwaterpodcast.com). The Martian Manhunter blog, The Idol-Head of Diabolu, has likewise gone silent as its creator also seems to be concentrating on podcasts for his other blogs (DC Bloodlines and Wonder Woman: Diana Prince). So too, Splitting Atoms is now more podcast than blog. Others that have fallen completely silent (like Tower of Fate and Being Carter Hall). Some stalwarts soldier on, including SpeedForce.org and Kord Industres. We seem to be the exception rather than the rule.

Once again, this has made me return to a question I've asked myself from time to time since Booster Gold disappeared from the pages of DC Comics: Has the time for websites dedicated to super hero blogging passed us by? Would comics fans rather listen to a podcast than read a website? Is the problem the characters or the bloggers or just shifting demographics?

Like so many of those now-defunct sites, Boosterrific.com is first and foremost a hobby. I started working on it nine years ago, and I keep it running because I want to. Personally, I have no interest in phone apps, wikis, or podcasting. If that's the future of Booster Gold fandom, I'll leave it to someone else. (The Silver and Gold podcast — now a whole network — seems to be doing just fine without me.)

Don't worry, this post isn't a lead up to the retirement of Boosterrific.com. I'm only committing my rambling grumpy old man thoughts to electronic paper. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. It's just that I'm starting to feel kind of lonely out here all by myself. I sure would like some new Booster Gold comics to keep me company.

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Today marks the observance of Veterans Day in the United States, a time to show our thanks and respect those who have served in the United States military. Since Boosterrific.com is devoted to comic books, it is only natural that we celebrate with comic books!

DC has certainly produced some fantastic titles in the war genre, resulting in an endearing legacy of memorable characters, including Sgt. Rock, the Unknown Soldier, and G.I. Robot. But since this is a website devoted to Booster Gold, one DC war hero springs to mind before any other: Enemy Ace.

While Enemy Ace may seem an unlikely character to champion on American Veterans Day, Hans von Hammer deserves our attention and respect. Known as the "Hammer of Hell" because of his iron will and ruthless diligence to duty, Enemy Ace served unquestionably in the German Air Force of World War I. Though thoroughly a warrior, von Hammer followed an unyielding code of honor that made him an ideal example of a fighting man, no matter which country's flag you salute.

Enemy Ace made his first appearance in Our Army at War -- the same series that also gave us Sgt. Rock -- in 1965. His stories by the legendary team of Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert are dark morality tales emphasizing the horrors of war and the courage of the men who fight them. War in the Enemy Ace stories isn't something to be glorified, but something to be survived. Unlike war, the stories themselves are something to be experienced.

Let us give thanks for the war comics that our veterans have inspired. And let us never forget those brave men and women who have committed themselves to serving their country.

(Thanks to Luke of Being Carter Hall for suggesting this idea.)

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