I could be standing behind the glass-front counter at my retail comic shop job, or behind the formica circulation desk the library where I serve as assistant manager, young adult services coordinator, and overseer of graphic novel collection development, but the parent will always be the same: looking at their phone, occasionally glancing over the…
On IDW’s Transformers: The Robot Politique
The IDW Transformers books are smarter than comics about transforming toy robots that shoot lasers at each other have any right to be. It helps that their creative teams aren’t content to just follow a comic writing schema along the lines of “introduce new faction member who is going to be on the shelves in…
Black and White, Red and Green: Thoughts on 1989’s Batman, 25 Years Later
By strange coincidence, I rewatched the 1989 Batman film yesterday, with no idea that today was the film’s 25th anniversary. I don’t remember when I first saw Batman. I was only three in 1989, but looking back on my childhood, Batman was one of those movies that was always wonderfully there, and I saw it…
The Saviour of Boys’ Literacy: Lovecraft, Bond, and the Order of the British Empire
Here in England there is a man they call the saviour of boys’ literacy. In February, he was awarded an OBE, and his name is Anthony Horowitz. In 2007, Anthony was singled out by then Education Secretary Alan Johnson as the not-so-secret weapon to get boys reading. —Horowitz’ author profile, Walker.co.uk We need an educational strategy that…
Annie Bulloch’s Cook Your Comics: Ma Hunkel and Cake Comforts
When I was originally preparing to write this column, the women-in-comics community suddenly was besieged with what seemed like an usual number of dispiriting incidents. In the worst example, Janelle Asselin was subjected to a week of horrific threats and attacks online because she expressed an opinion about a comic book cover. Gross anti-fangirl merchandise…
Batwoman and DADT, Karen K. Burrows
When Kate Kane admits she’s gay in Detective Comics 859 (November 2009, Greg Rucka / J.H. Williams III), she does a lot more than out herself. Under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT), the US law that prohibited gays and lesbians from serving openly in the country’s military, she gets herself kicked out of college and…
TOONBooks: Interview with Francoise Mouly
For an excellent introduction to graphic novels, or heck, reading at all, TOON Books has you covered. TOON Books was founded by Françoise Mouly as an alternative to Easy Readers. For the uninitiated, Easy Readers are beginner level books that break dialogue and storyline down to the equivalent of caveman grunts. Think “see Spot run….
Captain America vs. Superman: Who Would Win as a Role Model for my Daughters?
I’ve never been a fan of Superman, but it has not been until recently that I bothered to understand why. I thought I could simply blame my dislike for characters that are too goody goody, but a few interesting reads have made me realize that my dislike of the man of steel goes far deeper….
Diversity Doesn’t Mean Talking About John Green… Again
BookCon was yet again in the news this past Tuesday but not in the way you would be expecting. The Daily Dot, an online site focused on community news, has written a piece on the issue of diversity over at BookCon but rather than shinning the spotlight on the authors of colour who’ve been speaking out since…
Top Five: Sexy Witch Books (NSFW)
Supernatural erotica has been as big as a great huge cock in publishing recently, and I’ve got no problem with that. Personally, though, I favour the romantic b-plot — and the active protagonist. If I’m reading heterosexual romance, and I usually am, I need the woman to retain a sense of self and some assurance of agency….
Raise Your Hand If You Love Comics
We are excited to present you with a Brand New Feature! Look at the tag on this post. See how it shimmers and sparkles? And how it says Kids Comics? That’s right! WWAC is proud to bring you the feminist lowdown on Kids Comics! We’re going to be looking at youth oriented comic books, graphic…
A Superior Spider-Man Retrospective
Full disclosure. I am, now, have always been, and will always be a Spider-Man fangirl. I saw the 1966 Spider-Man cartoon when I was four, fell in love instantly, and have never looked back. I hung on through the Clone Saga and gritted my teeth through One More Day. Peter Parker has always been my…
