While Marvel Movies are chugging along with critical and commercial success, Marvel Comics have stumbled as of late. The most glaring issue is “event fatigue,” with too many major event stories tripping over each other in attempts to be bigger and bolder than ever before!
Here is a list of recent crossover mini-series/maxi-series. Keep in mind that each of these involve 4-12 special issues, in addition to numerous tie-in issues happening throughout regular series.
- Siege (2010)
- Realm of Kings (2010)
- Second Coming (2010)
- Age of X (2011)
- Fear Itself (2011)
- Schism (2011)
- Spider-Island (2011)
- Avengers vs. X-Men (2012)
- Age of Ultron (2013)
- Infinity (2013)
- Battle of the Atom (2013)
- Original Sin (2014)
- AXIS (2014)
- Spider-Verse (2014-15)
- Secret Wars (2015-16)
- Avengers: Standoff! (2016)
- Civil War II (2016)
- Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy (2016-17)
- Death of X (2016-17)
As one comic book store owner observes, “There are quite a few Marvel loyalists that have begun branching out and trying DC titles . . . possibly from Marvel event burnout.”
“Burnout” is a common issue faced by teachers, too, popping up in those loooong middle months or near the end of the semester. Teachers may find themselves overwhelmed, frustrated, and missing a certain spark in the classroom.
Teacher burnout is frequently linked to stress, which can arise from many factors, summarized by Kyriacou (2001):
- Teaching pupils who lack motivation;
- Maintaining discipline;
- Time pressures and workload;
- Coping with change;
- Being evaluated by others;
- Dealings with colleagues;
- Self-esteem and status;
- Administration and management;
- Role conflict and ambiguity;
- Poor working conditions.
Stressors are specific to each individual teacher in his or her unique context. Likewise, successful ways to deal with stress and potential burnout differ from teacher to teacher. Even so, here are some strategies Kyriacou suggests:
- Try to keep problems in perspective;
- Avoid confrontations;
- Try to relax after work;
- Take action to deal with problems;
- Keeping feelings under control;
- Devote more time to particular tasks;
- Discuss problems and express feelings to others;
- Have a healthy home life;
- Plan ahead and prioritize;
- Recognize ones own limitations.
You can find plenty more burnout tips and tools everywhere–from research literature to cyberspace to your closest loving relative. Here are a few resources I’ve uncovered, with some of my favorite highlights (and comments):
4 Warning Signs of Teacher Burnout – “Teacher Burnout is a dark place, and only complaints can live there.” (Sort of like the Negative Zone–tread lightly.)
Reboot: 5 Resources for Teacher Inspiration – Read, share and create Ryan Gosling memes. (A few of my favorites below.)
Stop, Drop, and Roll With It: Teacher Burnout Prevention – “Finding a hobby that allows you to get away from education-related stuff is important.” (This author even suggests playing video games – BONUS!)
And for all of you new teachers . . .
10 Tips for Surviving and Thriving in Your First Year Teaching – “7. Don’t Neglect Your Body: Sleep. Rest. Eat well. Exercise.” and “9. Catalogue Every Single Success in the Classroom: Write them down. Make lists of what’s going well.” (One of my mentors calls these “attaboys” or “attagirls,” and you should keep these in a box somewhere. Or turkey.)
Finally, here’s an inspirational quote I came across recently from master chef Julia Child, which reveals the right attitude:
“Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.”
Teachers, hopefully you are already passionate about teaching and learning. And “keep that fire burning,” so to speak, by fueling your educator’s engine.
As my mother used to say, “In order to burn out you must first be on fire.”
And so as the Human Torch says, “Flame On!”
Kyriacou, C. (2001). Teacher stress: Directions for future research. Educational Review, 53, 28- 35.
Teach Like a Superhero! 