Hello! And welcome back to another of The Trades, the world’s only comic podcast by people who don’t know anything about pen nibs. This month, we swear off literacy in order to better live out deconstructionism. Also, Aaron reads award nominated comics, while Webtoons is taking over my life, and I don’t know how to…
American Horror Story Season 6: Hopes, Fears and the Hole Jessica Lange Leaves Behind
I’ve been a loyal but most recently disappointed fan of American Horror Story. Undoubtedly, there is a lot to be celebrated in the series. It showcases characters who are complex and unique in their suffering. Take Jessica Lange’s alcoholic, conniving character Sister Jude from season two; we went from despising her, to understanding her and finally…
Shall We Say No to Moe?
“It seems that Ming has some issues with you,” my friend Yu told me. Hearing her words, I shrugged and said nonchalantly, “I don’t care about his opinion.” Yu stared me for a moment, “You are truly a tsundere.” She laughed, “I know you do care.” I was surprised, not because Yu misunderstood me and…
Trading Outpost: Pan(demonium) et Circenses
Editor’s note: This installation of The Trades is comedically late, through no fault of your delightful host’s. Look for another Trades soon–and forgive a poor editor her trespasses. It’s The Trading Outpost, an extension of The Trades, with your friend, me, FST. The Trades is me and Aaron doing a podcast where we talk about comics and…
Winners Announced for Inaugural Dragon Awards – Or Should that be Puppy Awards?
The inaugural Dragon Awards have taken place at DragonCon, with fifteen works of science fiction and fantasy across the fields of literature, comics, film, television, and gaming being honored with fiery-red trophies.
A World of Gods and Monsters: Science vs Superstition in Sub-Mariner: The Depths
Superhero comics have traditionally relied upon a clear denotation of right and wrong, a binary of good versus bad, that is easy for children to comprehend. In recent decades, we’ve increasingly seen fans calling for “realism” in superhero narratives, with grittier and morally fallible heroes. Look no further than Batman v Superman and the fact…
Colorist on Color: Matt Wilson
We had a chance to talk to longtime colorist Matt Wilson. You can follow Matt on Twitter and buy his shirts and prints on Big Cartel.
The Evolution of Princess Zelda
As the world waits with bated breath for the release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in 2017, it’s fun to reflect and reminisce on the amount of progress that Nintendo’s protagonist Link has made throughout the years of his development. What once was a 2D top-view game for the Nintendo Entertainment System…
Copyright and YOU! What’s the deal with the Copyright Office’s secret meetings?
A few weeks ago, Megan, goat queen of WWAC, drew my attention to a blog posted by the Internet Archive Blogs with the title “The Copyright Office is trying to redefine libraries, but libraries don’t want it — Who is it for?” My interest was piqued. I’m a librarian, and while it’s not my area…
Mantles, Crowns, and Knowledge: What RiRi Williams Needs
The second I see a panel of RiRi Williams sleeping without a bonnet or silk pillowcase, I’m gonna be waiting for my apology from Big 2 comics folks and their defenders. Black hair is important to me. I have it. My family has it. My friends have it. Black hair is simultaneously an outlet for…
Bug Ladies in Victorian England: Queer Sexuality in Insexts (NSFW)
Note: This article contains spoilers for Insexts and images that are not safe for work. On the surface, Insexts is a monster story. It is gory and graphic, with no qualms about Alien-esque birth scenes and vagina-teeth eating a man’s arm; at no point does the art veer away from being downright gross if it needs…
Margot Robbie Played Harley Quinn, But DC Played Themselves
Let’s talk about this excerpt from Paul Flynn’s Margot Robbie profile in the Autumn/Winter issue of LOVE Magazine. Let’s talk about how harsh a burn it is, against the art form comics. Let’s talk about how disastrous a proof it is of Harley Quinn’s degraded graphic cache.
