That's right, muckraking tyro Gary Groth has turned in his first dispatch for the new TCJ, and it's a doozy -- a lengthy refutation of Jim Shooter's recent forays into autobiography. Note that the episode Gary is recounting here (i.e. Jack Kirby's treatment by Marvel) remains one of the most important moments in contemporary comic book history, one that again exposed the shameful history behind so many "beloved" properties, and the complicity of an industry that still needs them to keep afloat. Given the two movies coming out this summer, anyone interested in pop culture would be wise to check out the current piece. In the coming months we will also be posting an older TCJ interview with Kirby, as well as other coverage.
Anyhow, that said, onto the links:
* Joanna Draper Carlson has a few more thoughts on Tokyopop.
* This slipped by me: Matt Seneca writing about Chip Kidd and Art Spiegelman's Jack Cole book from 2001. I don't agree with all of Matt's conclusions (especially the bit about the best duos of the 2000s), but it's a thoughtful piece on an important and, at the time, controversial book. Now, I gotta say, their choice to reprint the comic book as "objects" looks prescient (and good) -- but at the time I remember much hand-wringing over the interventions performed and image types used. It remains a damn good book.
* Over on Hooded Utilitarian, our own Ryan Holmberg has commented on Ng Suat Tong's criticism of Tatsumi. Makes for interesting reading.
* HiLobrow is running a series of essays about... oh, I can't summarize it: "using Battlestar Galactica as a lens through which to view museums’ challenge to create and retain relevancy within a difficult economic climate." I'm enjoying this series, and since TCJ used to have a Star Trek column, and even covered Battlestar Galactica back in the day, it's all fair game. Plus! We comics types should have a more informed dialogue about museum culture. Oh look at me, I'm all preachy today. Ugh, shut up already, Nadel!
* Via Forbidden Planet: An audio interview with British comics greats Pat Mills (the writer responsible for some of the best and strangest SF comics) and Bryan Talbot.
