Since 2015, Archie Comics has quietly become the industry name to watch. Whether it’s reimagining classic characters in horror settings, confirming a titular character as asexual and aromantic, or sweeping the Teen Choice Awards with a Twin Peaks-esque murder mystery series, Archie is taking risks and making moves that a lot of big publishers wouldn’t…
Iconic Scenes: “Now’s the Fucking Time”
Kill Bill volume one was release in 2003. The film, both volumes, is a love letter to samurai and western films and the relationship the two genres share. Tarantino also calls it a love letter to the colour blonde–to the Bride, Uma Thurman’s hair and the figure she casts in that Bruce Lee inspired yellow…
Love Them or Hate Them?: A Love Triangles Roundtable
Whether you enjoy them or despise them, love triangles are a literary staple. It would be difficult to find a reader who hasn’t come across this trope from time to time. But despite their frequency, there can be some pretty big differences between them—how they’re constructed, the role they play in the story, and what they add…
Music Videos that Shaped Me: Beyonce’s “If I Were a Boy”
“If I Were a Boy,” a post-breakup ballad, was Beyoncé’s follow-up single to 2008’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” the definitive girl power anthem of the late 00s (and, let’s face it, still one of the best). It bolstered the contrast between Beyoncé as herself and as Sasha Fierce, and displayed her range as an artist. Fans…
Tweek X Craig: A Message to Parents of LGBTQ Kids
This past season, South Park caused a stir, reaching out to their viewers in search of fanart—specifically fanart of the popular pairing of Tweek Tweak and Craig Tucker—to be featured in an upcoming episode. The result was “Tweek X Craig,” and in true South Park fashion, it combined an over-the-top scenario with thoughtful social commentary, parodying slash fandom and supporting…
The Auditory Experience of Rapture and Columbia: Audio Diaries and Voxophones
Welcome to the final installation of “The Auditory Experience of Rapture and Columbia” Bioshock miniseries! In this three-part investigation, Paige Sammartino will sound out why this 2K Games series is music to our ears. This article contains spoilers for the Bioshock series.
Fashion Comics! Fashion SUPERHEROINE Comics? Let’s Talk About This
The world of fashion isn’t always one explored in superhero comics, but recently many writers and artists are changing that. Whether it’s designing and sewing superhero (or supervillain!) costumes, or juggling fighting crime and working in fashion, comics are exploring the industry and mechanics of garmentry. We looked at Scarlett Couture from Titan (previously covered by Wendy), Heroine Chic,…
The Auditory Experience of Rapture and Columbia: Sound Effects and Dialogue
Welcome to the second part of “The Auditory Experience of Rapture and Columbia” Bioshock miniseries! In this three-part investigation, Paige Sammartino will sound out why this 2K Games series is music to our ears. This article contains spoilers for the Bioshock series.
Short & Sweet, All-Manga Edition: Barakamon, My Hero Academia, and More!
Barakamon, Volume #5 Satsuki Yoshino (mangaka); Krista Shipley & Karie Shipley (translation); Lys Blakeslee (lettering) Yen Press, June 2015 Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by Yen Press. Volume 5 of Barakamon is just as full of childhood hijinks and warm feelings as earlier volumes. City calligrapher Seishuu Handa has by now more-or-less fully adapted…
The Auditory Experience of Rapture and Columbia: Score and Licensed Music
Welcome to “The Auditory Experience of Rapture and Columbia” Bioshock miniseries! In this three-part investigation, Paige Sammartino will sound out why this 2K Games series is music to our ears. This article contains spoilers for the Bioshock series.
Death and the Family in Ace Attorney
Ace Attorney, a franchise revolving around murder mysteries and courtroom antics, may be best known for its name puns (“Oh really, Ms. Orly?”), shout-outs (“It’s only a flesh wound, Mr. Wright!”), and absurd gambits for catching murderers (“I would like to cross-examine the witness’s pet parrot!”). Yet the series still manages to deliver poignant commentary…
The Capsule Corp Legacy: Technology and Women in Anime
In the year 2015, where technology is so pivotal and so advanced, the sad fact remains that women make up a small percentage of jobs in scientific fields. Only a few months ago, the Huffington Post reported that the number of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers is actually declining. Even Barbie,…