One of the perks of comics journalism is that we often get to see things early, so that we know enough to write about them accurately. That’s not really a surprise in itself, but it does lead to the occasional perk–such as when we discovered that DC Comics, through, Batman: Damned #1, the first book…
Celebrate Punk Music and Community with Liz Prince’s Be Your Own Backing Band
Be Your Own Backing Band Liz Prince, Hannah Templer (colorist) Silver Sprocket August 2018 Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher. There’s an incredibly profound short comic in Liz Prince’s new, now fully-colored comics collection, Be Your Own Backing Band. When Prince’s childhood cat passed away, her family was able…
Why We Loved Dream Daddy #1
Dream Daddy #1 Wendy Xu (writer), Ryan Maniulit (art and colors), Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (letterer) Oni Press August 2018 Hello and welcome to this group review of Dream Daddy #1. WWAC will be hosting group reviews of each of the Dream Daddy comics in the series.
WWACommendations: X-23, The Wilds, The Wendy Project, Mermaid’s Promise, and More
What comics are you reading for fun lately? While many of us read various comics for research, curiosity, or to keep up with a series, there are certain comics we’re reading just for fun. In this roundtable, WWAC contributors gush about the comics they’ve been reading this past month that were a pure delight.
Kilt On, Shirt Off: The My Lady’s Choosing Dramatic Reading
Late in the evening on July 20th, a cute, mostly well-behaved crowd of Chicagoans gathered inside Foursided, a colorful boutique filled with clever greeting cards, creatively scented candles, snarky nameplates, and wall hangings. On a typical Friday, Foursided would be closing its doors, but on this Friday a crowd slowly gathered around the big wooden…
Artists Have Cool Brains: Short Reviews from Chicago Zine Fest 2018
When I arrived at this year’s Chicago Zine Fest (CZF), the first thing I did was make a zine. It’s been a difficult year thus far, and I have to confess, I haven’t been thinking about zines much. I meant to get back to them, to seek out new zinesters review more work, and make…
Jessica Campbell’s XTC69 gives the Middle Finger to Misogyny and Transphobia
XTC69 Jessica campbell Koyama Press May 2018 Sometimes, when I feel buried under a flood of stress both in my personal life and from the general state of the world, I want to consume media that just makes me feel joy. I need to smile and laugh, to step out from under the weight of…
Cults, Talking Raccoons and Gentrification: A Love Letter to Leaving Richard’s Valley
It’s not always easy to say goodbye.
The Kitchen is a Delicious Recipe for Misandry
The Kitchen Ollie Masters (writer), Ming Doyle (artist), Jordie Bellaire (colorist), Clem Robins (letterer), Becky Cloonan (covers) Vertigo Comics November 2014 As superhero properties continue to be optioned for film and television by the dozen, there are fewer choices for those of us who aren’t super into all things, well, super. My level of excitement…
Hungry Ghosts Left Me Hungry for Context
Hungry Ghosts #1 Anthony Bourdain (writer), Joel Rose (writer), Alberto Ponticelli (artist), Vanessa Del Rey (artist), Jose Villarrubia (colorist), Sal Cipriano (letters), Paul Pope (cover art) Dark Horse 31 January, 2018 I can’t pinpoint exactly when I fell in love with Japanese horror. There’s a solid chance it happened when I stumbled across the anime…
CATS! A Celebration of Hourly Comics Day 2018
I love Hourly Comics Day! On February 1st, many cartoonists take to Twitter or Instagram to draw comics detailing what happened during each hour of their day. There are no rules regarding format, style or consistency; some draw on post-it notes, take pictures of their sketchbooks, do fully shaded, multi-panel comics – anything goes! Hourlies,…
A Good Roundtable on The Good War
“The Good War” is a comic collaboration between cartoonist Mike Dawson and MSNBC anchor and author Chris Hayes, examining how WWII nostalgia played a part in post-9/11 pop culture and political messaging. Published on The Nib, “The Good War” adapts Chris Hayes’ piece “The Good War on Terror,” published by In These Times in 2006…
