Neal Adams' Growing Earth Theory is now an undisputed permanent fixture within Wikipedia content, after having survived a proposed Article for Deletion process over the weekend.

While it's true that I was initially attracted to Wikipedia editing in order to expand on a lonely Comics Artist Stub biography of myself there, I quickly became familiar with the behind the scenes processes, due to suggestions of a conflict of interest as per Wikipedia policy. The exploration of and intimation to the Wikipedia complex soon landed me at the Expanding Earth Theory article and compelled me to add some content to it on the subject of subduction.

This editing foray eventually led me to introduce Neal Adams' Growing Earth Theory to the article. I was soon advised, however, by some users, that the new content detracts from Australian geologist Sam Carey's original Expanding Earth representation, which the article aspired to. Having no recourse other than to create a new article, Growing Earth Theory was then extracted from Expanding Earth and transposed into a new and separate item of Wikipedia content.

Within a day or two, a Wiki-User, having a passion for mainstream science, proposed the article for deletion on the grounds that it was a joke trying to pass itself off as science. The Articles for Deletion process usually entails a 5 day period wherein the article's merits and shortcomings are discussed, with recommendations presented to either delete or to keep it. Afterwards a board of administrators would vote on its inclusion or deletion.

The deletion discussion page reveals an interesting aspect of Wikipedia policy which was upheld in the critical decision to keep the article. The Wikipedia guidelines do not demand a subjective truth for their content, rather mainly verifiability. The primary method of verifiability is notability, meaning that if referenced widespread popular interest is shown in an item, it would be good enough reason for its inclusion in Wikipedia. The media coverage of Growing Earth Theory, at Coast to Coast Radio and Wired Magazine, had thus ultimately tipped the scales for a decision in favor of keeping the article, based on Wikipedia inclusion policy and the growing popular interest in the theory.

This is a giant step forward for comics creators and for the comic book industry. It is a resounding verification of the intrinsic bond which exists between art and science, echoed through the generations by the likes of Galileo and Leonardo da Vinci. It is also a giant leap forward for the comics medium, becoming an influential tool in the collective societal strides we make as a civilization.

Pop out the champagne and celebrate. Tomorrow we contend with the hangover of the far-reaching implications this development holds.