When I was a teenager, I first got hooked on comics due to the 2015 “New Riverdale” relaunch over at Archie Comics. Back then I wanted to be desirable and wealthy like Veronica Lodge and cool and capable like Betty Cooper. Ethel Muggs was a non-entity in these rebranded stories–a creative decision which now retroactively…
Previously on Comics: Social Dynamics
Good morning folks! It’s been a few months since we’ve been doing Previously regularly, and in that time, we’ve been doing a lot of behind-the-scenes updates. Our new interns, Quinn and Sabrina, have been absolutely fantastic, and the updates we have coming down the pipe are going to be a great step into the future…
ESSAY: Red Flags in Comics Publishers and Contracts
Many comics creators are unfortunately familiar with this cruel fact: too many direct market publishers have predatory practices. With so many creators fighting for very few spots on a publishers payroll, these practices are often overlooked in an effort to get a foot in the door. But understanding what you as a creator are signing…
REVIEW: Tend Your Garden with Ephemera: A Memoir
Ephemera was a difficult book for me to read, but that’s not a warning—if anything, it’s a recommendation.
Archie Comics Pubwatch: April 2023
Welcome to the Archie Comics Pubwatch for the month of April! I’m Lisa, reporting from a corner booth at Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe, and here’s this month’s news! In April’s Pubwatch, Archie goes to summer camp…to die!, Jamie L. Rotante breaks down the Archie Horror world’s use of canon legacy characters, Archie collaborates with Hours, we…
VIZ Pubwatch: April 2023
Spring is in full swing here in [location redacted], which means it is for some reason more than 80 degrees in mid-April! But more importantly, VIZ has new manga and announcements to share with you all! From an interview with the creator of BLEACH and Ichigo’s Japanese voice actor to new manga series Love’s In…
INTERVIEW: Ben Wilgus chats about Grace Needs Space!
Grace Needs Space! is an immersive and heartening graphic novel about a kid traveling in space in a realistic far future! I, an extremely lucky person, have been friends with the writer Ben Wilgus since college. I got to ask him a bunch of questions about creating Grace, her moms, and the futuristic spacefaring world…
ESSAY: It’s Time to Leave the MCU’s Steve Rogers in the Past
Some characters become iconic, making the actors who played them household names, such as Chris Evans’ portrayal of Steve Rogers/Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But at Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), I was reminded why MCU fans should just let Steve Rogers go.
REVIEW: Polyamory Comics is a Sweet Reflection on Poly Life
If you’re looking for a comic that examines day-to-day relationship realness, Sara Valta’s got you with Polyamory Comics. This sweet and funny collection of short autobio comic strips offers a glimpse into Valta’s life with her boyfriend and his boyfriend, their dreams for their life together, and her adventures in polyamorous dating and self-discovery.
REVIEW: A Dialogue on Body Positivity in Embrace Your Size Manga
When I first heard about Embrace Your Size, I was super pumped and immediately shared it with a friend of mine. She and I read a lot of manga together, and we both noticed how rarely manga depicted anyone who looks like us. So for us, having body positivity be the central theme of a…
REVIEW: Disobey the Duke if You Dare Vol. 1 is Beautiful and Beastly
Manta generously sent me a graphic novel of Disobey the Duke if You Dare (Volume 1) so I could review it for WWAC. This fantasy romance webcomic has been reformatted into a full-color printed book to be sold on Amazon directly to consumers. It’s also the publisher’s first print book! Exciting! The book looks nice.
EXCLUSIVE: Betty and Veronica: Friends Forever: Beach Party #1
Come hang ten with Betty and Veronica as we announce this brand-new upcoming one-shot from Archie Comics!