In 1993, Saban Entertainment and Toei’s Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers exploded onto television screens, kicking off what would become a long-running franchise. Nine years before that, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles did the same, adapted from comic books published by Mirage Studios. Both TMNT and the Power Rangers would become household names for both ’80s and…
Comics Culture: Visiting a Comic Book Store in Russia
Back in the Before Times when people could still go outside and interact with each other in close proximity, I went to Russia to visit my relatives, whom I haven’t seen in several years. From December 2018 to early January 2019, I stayed at my aunt and cousin’s apartment in the southwest end of Moscow,…
Monthly Marvel Muster: Let the Answer Sustain You
Welcome to the Marvel Muster. We start things on a solemn note this month with last week’s news of the death of Stan Lee, the man who did more than anyone else to create and shape the Marvel comics universe. There have been many lovely tributes to Lee in the last few days; he influenced…
Monthly Marvel Muster – The More Things Change
Welcome back to Monthly Marvel Muster. I’m back once again with all the exciting, and not-so-exciting, news Marvel Comics has to offer. This month we have more new series debuts, some welcome surprises, some baffling decisions, and some exciting announcements.
Of Window Washers and Walkovers: Bella at the Bar
Bella at the Bar Jenny McDade & Primrose Cumming (Writers), John Armstrong (Artist) Rebellion July 2018 In 1971, Fleetway began publishing Tammy, a weekly comic for girls. One of its long-running stars was the newly-collected Bella at the Bar. However, what new readers might not realize (and what no one mentions in the collection’s introduction)…
Praise Carol and Pass the Apocrypha!
The Gospel of Carol: Radical Teen Study Edition John S. Troutman Troutcave Comics The Gospel of Carol traces the life of Carol, the daughter of God, her brothers Thomas and Jesus, and her sister Miriam. She, not Jesus, is the Messiah, but people aren’t as willing to receive the Word of God from a woman…
Grab a Sword and Enter the Cardboard Kingdom
The Cardboard Kingdom Chad Sell (creator & artist); Jay Fuller, David DeMeo, Katie Schenkel, Kris Moore, Molly Muldoon, Vid Alliger, Manuel Betancourt, Michael Cole, Cloud Jacobs, Barbara Perez Marquez (writers) Random House June 2018 Adventure roams the streets as a neighborhood of children turn their suburban homes into a mythical fairy tale world separate from…
Riverdale Volume #2 Fights The Post-Season Blues
Riverdale Vol. 2 Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (stories); Aaron Elling, Will Ewing, Michael Grassi, Ross Maxwell, Brian E Paterson, Tessa Leigh Williams (writers); Joe Eisma, Thomas Pitilli (artists); Janice Chiang, John Workman (letters); Andre Szymanowicz (colors) Archie Comics March 2018 As season two of the CW’s hit TV show Riverdale draws to a close, Archie Comics stands ready…
Let Capture Creatures Capture Your Imagination
Capture Creatures, Volume 1 Frank Gibson (writer); Becky Dreistadt (pencils); Kelly Bastow (inks); Tracy Liang, Joseph Bergin II, Lin VIsel, Becky Dreistadt, Katy Farina (colors); Britt Wilson (letters) Boom Studios February 2018 Decades after war ravaged the environment, teenagers Tamzen and Jory visit the Pacific Coast reclamation area, Tamzen to see her scientist father, and…
Toward a More Intersectional Jew? A Review of Miriam Libicki’s Graphic Essays
Toward a Hot Jew: Graphic Essays by Miriam Libicki Miriam Libicki Fantagraphics Books September 28, 2016 For every human being stuck between two or more axes of oppression, the internecine fighting of intersectional politics can be as frustrating and upsetting as hatred. As sick and horrified as I felt at recent acts of Antisemitism inspired…
Review: La Borinqueña Short Story for CTRL+ALT Pop-Up Exhibition
La Borinqueña Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez (Writer), Matthew Barbot (Editor), Sabrina Cintron (Penciler), Eric Jimnez (Inks), Juan Fernandez (Colorist), William Rosado and Gustavo Vazquez (Breakdowns), Emilo Lopez (Cover Artist), Sabrina Cintron (Pin-up Artist) Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center November 12, 2016 Previously I spoke with Miranda-Rodriguez about his upcoming comic La Borinqueña set for release December 22nd of…
Short & Sweet: Canzine Edition
On October 29, I attended the 2016 edition of Canzine Toronto. Although I didn’t pick up many zines or comics this year, I still found some good ones. Ready? Let’s go.