When Black Mask Studios released Kwanza Osajyefo, Tim Smith 3, Jamal Igle, and Khary Randolph’s Black, they unleashed a political comics force on the often homogeneous landscape of our local comic shop. The book imagined a world where only Black people have superpowers, introducing a network of corrupt officials and shady government agents desperate to…
Nothing You Can Say Can Tear Me Away From My Guy: Semi-Radical Romance Comics
There’s nothing like a good bit of media to bring to mind a good bit of criticism—to deepen it, to clarify. There’s nothing like freedom to remind you of discipline—how it works, which parts help you grow, which parts curtail. I read a lot of comics made for mean slutty girls, and I had to…
Recovering Things Forgotten With Ivy Noelle Weir and Steenz
Archival Quality Ivy Noelle Weir (writer), Steenz (artist) Oni Press March 2018 Archival Quality is a story with surprising depth and nuance. The premise of the story, that of a twenty-something who begins working at a haunted library, was enough to get me to read it. In addition to the premise, I wanted to read…
Star Wars Adventures: Forces of Destiny – Rey: The Making of a Hero
Star Wars Adventures: Forces of Destiny #2 – Rey Jody Houser (Writer), Arianna Florean (Artist), Adele Matera (Colours), Tom B. Long (Letters) IDW Publishing 10 January, 2018 Star Wars: The Last Jedi may have divided fans, but one thing is for sure: protagonist Rey is definitely a hero of our times. When we first met…
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.
Previously on Comics: Cultural Change
The Prism Comics Queer Press Grant submissions period remains open until the last day of February (that’s the 28th . . . just in case). Get yourself two thousand dollars and some PR help—it’s worth a punt. Further details are at the link: go! Kelly Thompson has been secured by an exclusive agreement with Marvel, hiking…
Ghostbusters – Answer the Call: The Ladies Are Back
Ghostbusters – Answer the Call #2 Kelly Thompson (Writer), Corin Howell (Artist), Valentina Pinto (Colours), Neil Uyetake (Letters) IDW Publishing 3 January, 2018 You know you are in for a good story when it opens with “Everything is awful.” And everything really is awful for the Ghostbusters at the moment. Having unknowingly unleashed the Schreckgespenst,…
Incognegro: Renaissance #1 Is A Timely Prequel
Incognegro: Renaissance #1 Mat Johnson (Writer), Warren Pleece (Artist), Clem Robins (Letterer) Dark Horse Comics 7 February, 2018 2018 celebrates the 10th anniversary of the original Incognegro graphic novel, the hard-hitting story about an African-American journalist who uses his light complexion to go incognito among white people and uncover the truth behind the murders of…
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…
Can Panel Syndicate Sustain Their Idyllic Publishing Model?
For those who may not know, Panel Syndicate is burgeoning digital, online-only comics publisher that was founded by Marcos Martin (The Amazing Spider-Man, Daredevil) and Brian K. Vaughan (Saga, Paper Girls) in 2013. The idea behind this new comics publisher was to run things differently in a number of ways, not only for creators but…
