Recent Reviews
Illuminations
Bloomsbury
Below Ambition
Fantagraphics
Fend
Deathwish Inc.
Earthman & Torch
Floating World Comics & Power Comics
Recent Articles
Dancing with Death in Laila Starr
A passionate and very close reading of one of the standout comic book serials of recent years, The Many Deaths of Laila Starr.
A Very British Scandal – The Missing Writer of the Captain Britain Omnibus
Tom Shapira takes us back to an early moment in the career of Alan Moore, the man superhero comics can’t get over… and shows us some of the people who did.
Remembering Michael Dougan
A few days ago, posts began to appear on social media reporting the death of cartoonist Michael Dougan, a longtime presence on the Seattle scene who had moved to Japan in recent years. A much-loved contributor to anthologies such as Weirdo and Real Stuff, in addition to the solo books East Texas: Tales from Behind… Read more »
“Nobody Gets Into Comics to Get Rich”: Joe Quesada on Movies, Marvel, and the Future of Comics
Former Marvel head honcho & inveterate Batman illustrator Joe Quesada is neck deep in another dream career: movie director. In addition to talking about his short film FLY, he talks to us about times he wishes he hadn’t talked to the press, and questions why so many in the comics industry always seem obsessed with the comics industry ending.
Let’s Kick Some Ice – This Week’s Links
I can’t begin to tell you how sustainable I am feeling right now.
Taniguchi Jirō and His Gekiga Years
Japanese publishers have launched a massive series of reprints spanning the career of the late Taniguchi Jirō, with many supplemental essays. Today we present a 2022 item from Natsume Fusanosuke, laying out a theory of gekiga’s evolution via Taniguchi’s collaboration with the writer Sekikawa Natsuo.
Big Bang Comics
Ireland’s Big Bang Comics reports to Zach and TCJ about the changes they’ve seen in the old school single-issue comics retail model, and whether a periodical-focused store has an economic future.
“It’s Going To Take However Long It’s Going To Take”: An Interview With John Vasquez Mejias
Alex Dueben sits down with self-publishing veteran John Vasquez Mejias, whose 2020 book The Puerto Rican War one of the standout small-press comics of recent years… and he’s got much more going on.
Journey of the Sorcerer – This Week’s Links
“I’ve finally mastered my spell to end the news!” God sent a lightning bolt to shatter my mirror; a shard of glass fell in a maiden’s eye. Her journey begins. (Also, there was news.)
Dialogue Balloons: Getting Medieval On These Cartoons
In this month’s installment of Dialogue Balloons, Jason is heading out to academia to talk about monks, and then back to cartoonists to talk… the Bauhaus!
Zerocalcare: An Introduction to Italy’s Top Man of Comics
Yiannis Papadopoulos presents a brief primer on the works of Zerocalcare – one of the the most popular contemporary Italian cartoonists, whose recognition is growing worldwide.
December 2022: Los Angeles Bound
Last month, Los Angeles played host to the Hernandez Brothers, the 4th Permanent Damage show and Bill Sienkiewicz – and Chris Anthony Diaz was there to document it all!
“It Evolved Over A Long Period Of Time”: George Wylesol on 2120
Author meets translator as artist George Wylesol chats with Valerio Stivè, who adapted Wylesol’s acclaimed nonlinear graphic novel 2120 into Italian – but readers everywhere will find much of interest here.
Partners and Son
Come on in! Zach Rabiroff visits Partners and Son, Philadelphia’s curated zine shop and gallery space, and the force behind the Philly Comics Expo.
Between Yesterday and Today – Tim Hensley’s Detention No. 2
Earlier this week, Tom Shapira named Detention No. 2 the best comic of 2022. Now he goes into much more detail – about Tim Hensley’s book, and about comics in the 20th century.
The Past Does Not Exist: An Interview with Peter Milligan
Marc-Oliver Frisch sits down with one of the preeminent names in unusual genre comics since the late 1970s: Peter Milligan, writing tirelessly.
The Best Comics of 2022
STOP, THE YEAR CANNOT END UNTIL WE HAVE DECLARED THE BEST COMICS.
AfterShocks and Tremors
A recent bankruptcy filing by a comics publisher has resulted in multiple stories of non-payment to creators, some of whom question whether they will ever see compensation for the work they have performed.
Excerpt: John’s Worth
Check out this extended look at Jon Chandler’s latest graphic novel, John’s Worth, courtesy of Breakdown Press!
Titan Comics
We head to Dallas to speak with Jeremy Shorr about Titan Comics for our ongoing look at comics retail. Do all those movies and television drive sales? Why didn’t Jeremy ever watch Endgame? This back issue expert has some stories to tell!
“Put Your Raygun To My Head”: An Interview with Michael Allred
The beloved cartoonist Michael Allred talks about his work on David Bowie, his work adapting the Book of Mormon, and how it all got started: curated single issues, courtesy of a cool sibling.
I Will Stop The Cavalry – This Week’s Links
It’s the Polar Express! It is here to take me to Hell.
