Glen Weldon
Glen Weldon is a host of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast. He reviews books, movies, comics and more for the NPR Arts Desk.
Over the course of his career, he has spent time as a theater critic, a science writer, an oral historian, a writing teacher, a bookstore clerk, a PR flack, a completely inept marine biologist and a slightly better-ept competitive swimmer.
Weldon is the author of two cultural histories: Superman: The Unauthorized Biography and The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture. He has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Republic, The Atlantic, Slate, McSweeney's and more; his fiction has appeared in several anthologies and other publications. He is the recipient of an NEA Arts Journalism Fellowship, an Amtrak Writers' Residency, a Ragdale Writing Fellowship and a Pew Fellowship in the Arts for Fiction.
-
Each week, guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Bad Bunny's new album, the films Slotherhouse and Birth/Rebirth, and the game show Taskmaster.
-
With Hollywood on strike for most of the summer, we check in on the new releases for the fall. Our critics share their recommendations for more than 25 films coming out between now and Thanksgiving.
-
The current state of superhero cinema may look bleak, but the latest DC film adopts an approach that wrings new life and humor out of a tired formula.
-
Pee-wee's creator, Paul Reubens, died Sunday of cancer. He was 70. Pee-wee was a petulant man-child and a trickster spirit, a burst of joyous id that snuck his brand of anarchy into the mainstream.
-
Some of Marvel Studios' recent movies have been more critically divisive and less profitable at the box office than their predecessors. Is superhero fatigue starting to kick in?
-
The new vampire comedy stars Nicolas Cage as Dracula and Nicholas Hoult as his servant. It's an update to the Renfield character, and an homage to the way he's been played in the past.
-
The sequel to the 2019 film that starred Zachary Levi as the adult superhero persona of a lonely teen goes bigger. And goofier. But the fuel mixture's off and Levi's one-note performance grates.
-
The Malaysian-born actor made history by winning the Academy Award for best actress in a leading role for her performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once.
-
We look at a debate that is currently something of a fixation for content creators: Should they provide a "binge" experience for a series, or dole out episodes weekly?
-
Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Scriptnotes podcast, Elissa Bassist's Hysterical, and more.