Marvel Comics has had a rough couple of years when it comes to making decisions that aren’t morally repugnant. The latest in their new attempts to become Comicsgate’s favorite publisher is if looked at generously, incredibly lazy editorializing in an attempt to tie up the loose ends that come with being a publisher who has…
Review: World of Tanks: Roll Out #1
World of Tanks: Roll Out #1 Garth Ennis (writer), Carlos Ezquerra (illustrator), Michael Atiyeh (colorist), no letterer listed Dark Horse August 31, 2016 Disclaimer: This review is based on an advance review copy from Dark Horse Comics.
Review: The Hellblazer #1
The Hellblazer #1 Simon Oliver (writer), Moritat (illustrator), Andre Szymanowicz and Moritat (colorists), Sal Cipriano (letterer) DC 2016 Disclaimer: This review is based on an advance review copy from DC Comics. The latest character that DC’s Rebirth has brought back from an all-too-brief spell (no pun intended) in publication limbo is John Constantine — or as this comic calls him, The…
6 First Impressions of AMC’s Preacher
AMC’s television adaptation of the classic 90s Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon comic debuted this week. Preacher‘s debut drew “modest ratings” this past Sunday night and trended briefly on Twitter. Is the comic too 90s for adaptation at this point? Did the material, known for being, uh, risqué, translate well from page to screen? Six WWAC…
Interview with Farel Dalrymple, Creator of Pop Gun War: Gift
For the most part, I prefer my comics fast and hard-hitting: Good defeating evil in physical combat or gruff antiheroes solving their problems by shooting them in the face. There’s nothing like that vicarious adrenal spike I feel when the Punisher, bleeding from shrapnel wounds that would kill anyone who wasn’t the Punisher, rounds a corner and opens…
The Unbearable Whiteness of Being (in Comics Academia)
June 2015. The run-up to my first conference abroad as an official comics scholar — and I don’t want to go. I’m panic-crying after reading a chain of emails which, on the face of it, have little to do with me. Short background: we were supposed to have a panel on Charlie Hebdo. A month before…
“Educated into our freedom” – What We Talk About When We Talk About Charlie Hebdo
In the wake of Charlie Hebdo’s latest insult to people of color, The Comics Grid asked if I’d be interested in writing a commentary piece on the event. The end product was something more intensely personal than I expected—and not really in keeping with their academic tone (an assessment on my part, which led me…
REVIEW: Monstress #1 and The Power of Asian Women’s Voices
It’s taken me a while to figure out how I feel about Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda’s savage Monstress. In all honesty, I’m still not sure how I feel. But maybe that’s the mark of a groundbreaking comic.
On Filipino Food and Identity: A Roundtable
Food: It nourishes us. It nurtures us. It comforts us. For immigrants, though, food can also provide a touchstone. A connection to a heritage that may be strained by distance and generations. Even if we don’t know any other aspect of our native culture, there’s a good chance we’ve been exposed to the food. Growing up,…
Racism in 2000AD: It’s Judgement Time
Recently, I caught up on a couple of months’ worth of 2000AD. I read Judge Dredd (of course), some strips that were not Judge Dredd, but which I enjoyed anyway, Strontium Dog: The Stix Fix, and the 2015 Summer Special. I was hoping to enjoy these, too.
Dispatches From Academia: Where’s The Nerd Party?
If, like me, you hate failing at anything, academia is a tough place to be. When I got accepted for a PhD in comics research, I genuinely envisioned a three-year nerd party where I could enthuse about overanalyzing comics to my heart’s content. The research process would be challenging but rewarding. My amazing skills would…
Polyvore Challenge: #WicDiv Stealth(ish) Cosplay
Volume two of The Wicked and The Divine (known as WicDiv by fans) dropped this week, and we have been gushing. WicDiv was exciting cosplayers by the first issue, which, considering the story and McKelvie’s stunning artwork and Wilson’s colors, is no surprise. But cosplay shouldn’t be limited to conventions, so we decided to create some…