I am a book lover. More than the stories, I love the actual physical object. I love the weight, the smell, the way the pages feel. When done thoughtfully, a book’s physical interpretation can enhance the story within. The same holds true for comics. Here are some reasons why I insist on buying certain titles in…
Not a Hero’s Journey: Queer vs Normative Storytelling in Devilman
This article does not contain outright spoilers, so feel free to read it whether you’ve experienced any incarnation of Devilman or not. It does however imply the directions things take, so bear that in mind if you want to go into the series completely ‘blind’. My title means a few things, but one of them…
Sleepless #1: a Fairytale
Sleepless #1 Sarah Vaughn (Writer), Leila del Duca (Artist), Alissa Sallah (Colorist), Deron Bennett (Letterer) Image Comics December 6, 2017 The living daughter of a dead king. The knight who seems to be neither living nor dead. The plot to send them all to the sarcophagi housed below. Sleepless #1 follows Pyppenia, the princess, and Cyrenic,…
Go Ahead, Skip the Origin Stories
Action Comics #1 gets Superman’s origin story and “a scientific explanation of Clark Kent’s amazing strength” out of the way on the very first page, and the rest of the issue is devoted to his activities as a grown-up “champion of the the oppressed.” Though obviously his childhood with the Kents, and his infancy on…
WWAC’s Favorite Big Press Comics of 2017
With 2018 and a whole slate of new comics on the horizon, the writers of WWAC looked back to reflect on their favorite big press comics of the year. Featuring superheroes, techno-barbarians, creepy towns, and much more, there’s something for everybody here. Here’s to a year of awesome comics!
“Bug! The Adventures of Forager” Concludes with a Meaningful Reveal
Bug! The Adventures of Forager #6 Lee Allred and Michael Allred (Storytellers), Laura Allred (Colorist), Nate Piekos of Blambot (Letterer) DC Comics December 13, 2017 Spoiler Warning: Discussion of important plot points follows Bug! The Adventures of Forager #6 is a beautiful mess that closes the miniseries with a string of unexpectedly profound musings about…
Comparing the Heart of Assassin’s Creed: Reflections With Its Ancestors
Assassin’s Creed: Reflections Ian Edginton (Writer),Valeria Favoccia (Artist), Giorgia Sposito (Inker), Carlos Lopez (Colorist) Titan Comics September 23, 2017 This articles contains spoilers for the Assassin’s Creed II game and Assassin’s Creed: Reflections. For those who may not be familiar with the Assassin’s Creed game series from Ubisoft, it is a tale of the Templars and the Assassins,…
4 Kids Walk Into A Bank, and Steal Your Heart
4 Kids Walk Into a Bank: A Torrid Tale of Child Crime Matthew Rosenberg (Writer), Tyler Boss (Artist), Clare Dezutti (Flats), Thomas Mauer (Letterer) Black Mask Studios November 8, 2017 The title makes my job a little easier. I wish I were a fly on the wall when the team pitched this to Matt Pizzolo…
The Secret is Out: Bolivar is Beautiful
Bolivar Sean Rubin (Writer and Artist) Archaia/Boom! Studios November 15, 2017 Bolivar, the last living dinosaur, enjoys a quiet life in a New York City apartment. Schoolgirl Sybil lives next door. He depends on no one noticing him, but Sybil and her camera have other plans. When Bolivar is mistaken for the mayor, Sybil finally…
Misfit City Is My Favorite New Series from BOOM! Box
Misfit City Kerstin “Kiwi” Smith (writer), Kurt Lustgarten (writer), Naomi Franquiz (artist), Brittany Peer (colorist), Jim Campbell (letterer) BOOM! Box, an imprint of BOOM! Studios Misfit City is my favorite new series from BOOM! Box. The story focuses on a small group of teen girls in a coastal Oregon town made famous by an ‘80’s…
Long Lost Issue #2 Cultivates Fear in Quiet Moments
Long Lost Issue #2 Matthew Erman (Story), Lisa Sterle (Art, cover) Scout Comics December 27, 2017
Yoko Tsuno is a Heroine On the Edge
Yoko Tsuno: On the Edge of Life Roger Leloup (Writer and Artist) Cinebook August 16, 2007 There is something special about Franco-Belgian comics from the 1970s. The comics of Spirou Magazine, Tintin, and Pilote solidified the dominance of Franco-Belgian comics into the modern era. Large format, long-form narrative storytelling, complex characters, and clean, clear artistic…