The senate will vote on the AHCA (American Health Care Act) bill after they return from their July fourth recess. The controversy surrounding this bill is vast and has many Americans concerned about their future. Rightly so, as it seeks to overturn protections put in place by the previous administration to help cover people who may…
Previously On Comics: Manga News from Anime Expo
Hello readers! It’s a holiday weekend for many people but regardless of whether that is the case for you, I hope the past few days have been treating you well. While you’re gearing up for the week ahead, why don’t we catch up on some headlines from the world of comics? This past weekend was…
Book Beat: Harry Potter’s 20th Anniversary
Hi book lovers! Ashley here! I’ve been a sort of NyQuil haze as I caught some weird viral bug. My local pho shop knows me very well now and I sit there with my soup and read! I just finished The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls as I know the movie is supposed to be…
Divided States of Hysteria: A Form Letter of Dismay
Content Warning: This post discusses depictions of fictional violent racist acts. Due to the unique format of Image Comics as a publishing company, response to their individual titles is hard to register. Following the discovery of the lynching and genital mutilation illustrated on the solicited cover of issue four WWAC has put together the following form…
Diversifying British Theatre’s Shakespeare Productions Isn’t As Easy As We Think
For all but the wilfully obtuse, the need to diversify our theatres is obvious. Great strides have been made over the last few years, but inclusivity in theatre largely remains a case of two steps forward, one step back. While audiences may be seeing increasingly diverse casts on stage, institutional discrimination behind the scenes means…
So You’re Making a Comic – A Flowchart Explainer On The Direct Market
The Direct Market was the name given to the distribution channel that stocked the shelves of the fledgling comic shop network in the 1970s. It was “direct” because the books were shipped from printers straight to the stores on a non-returnable basis, bypassing messy corporate newsstand distributors. Over time, different companies have helped to supply…
What Is Going On in Attack on Titan?
Say what you like, but Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan stirs a lot of emotion in people. Sometimes it’s love for the giant-killing action and cool aesthetic. Other times it’s frustration for the uneven pacing. And, for another group of people, it’s bewilderment. I currently fall into the third category. On a superficial level, I…
Small Press Bites: June 2017 – Pride Edition!
June’s Small Press Bites features three queer stories by queer creators — just in time to stave off that post-Pride slump! Postseason Blues Kristen Rosa The second in her Meet Cute series of “gentle queer stories,” Postseason Blues is a familiar rueful tale of doomed love many a queer woman can relate to — crushing…
Yoshihiro Nakamura Draws Back the Curtain for Mumon – The Land of Stealth
As present (and misinterpreted) as ninjas are in global pop culture references, few of us probably consider the origin of these warriors. Yoshihiro Nakamura has found a way to share new perspectives to their tales, tying their existence to what has become modern Japan in his new film Shinobi no Kuni. Fresh off projects like The Magnificent…
Deconstructing Pretty Deadly: Sissy, the Vulture
I’m the type of person who likes to analyze the things I love. One of those things is Pretty Deadly written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, drawn by Emma Rios, colored by Jordie Bellaire, and lettered by Clayton Cowles. It is probably one of my favorite comics ever (and I have the tattoo to prove it)!…
Bridging Relationships and Secrets in My Brother’s Husband
My Brother’s Husband Gengoroh Tagame (Story and Art), Anne Ishii (Translation) Pantheon May 2, 2017 Ask any manga fan and you’ll learn that boys love, or BL, manga is a staple of the medium. Common are the romanticized stories of relationships–explicit or otherwise–between men. Entire niche manga magazines focus on these works, which do find a…
Get Your Game On Wednesday: Indie Games Are More Relevant Than Ever
It’s time for the Steam Summer Sale! I wish you all good luck and many cheap games on your journeys, and hope that you haven’t already emptied your life savings by purchasing one-dollar games just because you can. Personally, I haven’t bought a dang thing because I’m a cheapskate with a backlog spanning several years….
