Editor’s note: I ran a poll on photo comics to see if I was the only one with a strangely firm prejudice against them—I wasn’t! Some really interesting discussion followed and as it developed I asked cartoonist Meredith Park to share her feelings in a longer form, here, on WWAC. Voila! Strong, personally held opinions:…
BOOM! Bar: 2018 in Licences Vs Creator-Owned Comics
A short week to ease us back in! Yes, friends, foes, readers—it’s been a while. I took a Christmas break that became a year-start break. I feel much better. I’m ready. I’m prepared. Let’s begin. The last week of January sees BOOM! birth six releases: three single issues, two softcover collections, and one hardcover. Of…
Nicole J Georges’ Fetch: It’s Kind of Like Feminism, But for Dogs
An essay on Nicole J. Georges, a prolific zinester and graphic novelist who writes, draws and sings her love for animals, humans and vegan food.
The Shadow Hero’s Shadow is New Super-Man
Welcome to the non-negative Year of the Knockoff on Women Write about Comics! Long ago in the wilds of October 2016, I wrote a guest post for the American Studies blog that discussed how Gene Luen Yang’s 2014 graphic novel The Shadow Hero seems like a rhetorical successor to Superman, particularly because its hero, Hank,…
Be Exceptional: Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon #1-3
Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon #1-3 was a 1992 miniseries that served to launch Larsen’s cartoonist career under the brand-new Image banner. Already a professional, having worked on various indies and as a penciller (and even cartooned Spider-Man) at Marvel, his “Dragon” was also previously “established” in 80s indie publications Graphic Fantasy and Megaton. Larsen takes great…
Hire This Hero: Whither Wander’d Wolverine?
Have you ever wished a certain superhero was on hand to help with a very specific task that they were perfectly suited for, only to have that hero be unavailable? Well, you’re in luck! Welcome to the first installment of HIRE THIS HERO, where we here at WWAC scour superhero employment records to find you…
No, Not Like That: A Scavenger Hunt for Marvel’s New Create Your Own Program
Have you, dear reader, ever wished you could play with the official toys in the Marvel Universe toybox? Well, now you can! Kind of. If you tilt your head and squint a little. Marvel has announced Create Your Own, a service wherein you can create fan comics using Marvel’s licensed properties. There are some caveats;…
Year of the Knockoff: 2018 in Theme
I’m not saying it’s a new thing, I am saying it’s a now thing. Knockoffs! Bootlegs. But ones that are done legally, right there in your face, by the big boys. Maybe we should call them pastiches but “pastiche” feels like a sustained study rather than the premise-snatch-&-run-your-own-way I feel like I’m seeing a lot…
Valiant’s Secret Weapons are Sensible Shortcuts and Condensed Character
Secret Weapons #0: Nikki’s Story does something very cute with its panelling. I’ve been saying this since the previews: it’s doing something very cute. I wasn’t sure if it was going to be something worthwhile or just a natty little gimmick.
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…
Go Ahead, Skip the Origin Stories
Action Comics #1 gets Superman’s origin story and “a scientific explanation of Clark Kent’s amazing strength” out of the way on the very first page, and the rest of the issue is devoted to his activities as a grown-up “champion of the the oppressed.” Though obviously his childhood with the Kents, and his infancy on…
Monthly Marvel Muster: Building A Legacy
Welcome once again to Monthly Marvel Muster… or bi-monthly Marvel Muster, as the case may be. My November was a trash fire, but I’m back now with two months of Marvel news and reviews all at once [Thank goodness! —Ed.]. A lot happened in the last two months. Marvel Legacy is now in full swing,…
