“This Strange Profession”: Abner Dean Interrogates the Gag
The “Brave Nude World” of philosopher, psychologist, psychiatrist, anthropologist, and cartoonist Abner Dean.
Grid
Comics Survey: Words, Part II
Ken Parille digs through 60 years of comics and says things about words. He explores a diverse creative cast, from Bill Griffith, Gabrielle Bell, and Julia Gfrörer to Jerry Siegel, John Byrne, and Grant Morrison — with a brief appearance by Otto Binder.
Comics Survey: Word / Art, Part I
In Part I of this two-part survey, Ken Parille reviews twelve comic books and graphic novels, paying attention to the words they use.
“Red People for a Red Planet”: Acme Novelty Library #19, Color, and the Red Leitmotif
Things are not going well on Mars or on Earth. Chris Ware tells these tales with the help of a cartoonist’s best friend: the circle.
Two Questions Answered about ‘The State of Comics Criticism: 2013’
Grid asks and Grid answers, sort of . . .
Friendly Ghosts and Comics Form
Greatness and minimalism in a disposable kid’s comic . . .
Secret Loves: A Short History of Two Panels in Charles Burns’s The Hive
Mind-blowing kisses, bitter tears, manic desperation, luxurious eyebrows, and comic book history in Charles Burns’s new graphic novel.
Steve Ditko’s Cartooning: Abstraction / Word vs. Picture / Motion
Grid explores the innovative visual techniques of artist Steve Ditko.
Construction Manual * John Hankiewicz’s “The Kimball House”
A close reading of an unusual comic by the innovative cartoonist John Hankiewicz. Bonus: the full comic is included!
Six Observations about Alison Bechdel’s Graphic Archive Are You My Mother?
Working through the new book.
“This Man, This Monster”: Super-Heroes and Super-Sexism.
Ken Parille looks at Super-Ugly Muscles and Male Superhero Outfits.
2011: A Year in Comic Ambition.
The first GRID of the new year looks at a handful of comics and graphic novels from 2011.
The Death-Ray Discussion Forum
In this month’s Grid, we talk about Daniel Clowes’s The Death-Ray. Please add your two cents or more in the comments section.
Event Watch — Justice League #1: Nothing Will Ever Be the Same Again. . .
They’ve hyped the new Justice League #1 as a “Game-Changer.” But is it? The Comics Journal investigates.
Steve Ditko — HA! / AH! — Laughing at Death.
Ditko is a satirist — Ditko creates Black and White Black Comedy with Sick Humor. Ditko’s Creeper: Performance, Heroism, and Mania. Ditko is the single most innovative artist/humorist to come out of the Mainstream Comics Industry. Discuss.
Drawing Sex and Paying for It.
K asks, “Is there a right way to draw IT?” X, Y and Z answer, arguing about “The Libertarian Aesthetic.”
Bedlam and Baby: Parables of Creation in Jack Kirby and Chris Ware
A look at scenes of creation, drawing, and comics-making.
“Nothing Good Can Come Out of Dishonesty”: An Interview about Teaching with Ivan Brunetti
Cartoonist and teacher Ivan Brunetti discusses his new book with Ken Parille.
Moto Hagio’s “Bianca”: Against Culture
Ken Parille takes a close look at Moto Hagio’s “Bianca” and finds something sinister.
