Features
“Stories Can Live On Their Own”: An Introduction to, and Exploration of, MMYOPE
Ryan Carey explores some of the most mysterious comics to emerge from NYC in a while – the allegorical, often-wordless graphic novels of MMYOPE.
Cartoon Networking: A New Cartoonist Cooperative is the Latest Group of Creators to Seek Strength in Numbers
Zach Rabiroff talks to the founders of the Cartoonist Cooperative, a new organization seeking to provide community aid for comics artists in the midst of a hazardous economic environment.
“The Political Aspect Of My Work Is Asserting That Comics Like Tits & Clits Do Have Social Value”: A Discussion with Sam Meier
Edward Dorey speaks to the editor of the new Tits & Clits compendium about academia, feminism, and the shifting historical reputation of comics.
A Sociocultural Oral History of Tits & Clits
Among the comic book titles of the underground era, few were as memorable as Tits & Clits. On the occasion of a new omnibus collection, Edward Dorey sits down with editor/co-founder Joyce Farmer, editor Mary Fleener, and latter-day publisher Ron Turner to hear the story of this groundbreaking erotic anthology for women.
Show Them It’s About The Work – This Week’s Links
When times look tough, news will carry you like a strapping lover, aloft thru the brambles of dull care. -from my novel, The Corrections
Murderers’ Row: Lee Weeks
Beginning a new irregular feature, in which Tegan treats the artists in collaborative genre comics the way writers are more often treated: as authors of their own oeuvre. First up is the slick and shadowed stylist Lee Weeks.
MyComicShop.Com
Zach speaks to comics retail fixture Buddy Saunders about how he went from the early days of comics mail order to online comics behemoth – and all the direct market stores he ran in the meantime.
Doucet and Valium, Angoulême and Marseille
The artist Marc Tessier presents a massive photo record of recent exhibitions in Angoulême and Marseille dedicated to Julie Doucet and the late Henriette Valium.
“I Prefer To Explore The Contradictions, The Nuances”: A Conversation with Valencian artist Ana Penyas
Scholar Esther Claudio-Moreno sits down with the artist behind We’re All Just Fine for a discussion of art, language, politics & generational attitudes in Spanish history.
European Journal 2023, Part 2: Paris and Angoulême
Bill Kartalopoulos is back with the second and final part of his 2023 European travelogue, including stops at bookstores and exhibitions in Paris, and the festival at Angoulême!
Comics Brut-al
In 2021, Paul Karasik introduced the world to the ultraviolent 1940s homemade comics of child artist James Kugler. Now, on the occasion of those comics receiving a scholarly presentation from the University Press of Mississippi, Karasik reflects further on war and cartooning.
Dialogue Balloons: Lucy Knisley
Jason and cartoonist Lucy Knisley talk about shared pencil obsessions, parenting nuances, and comics for children.
At Image, Comic Book Workers United Takes Another Step in a Long Union Walk
A report on the ratification of the first union contract for employees of Image Comics: a historic moment in the labor history of comic books in the United States.
All Over Bar The Shouting – This Week’s Links
When I look at news, I just want to shout! Oh no, the wolves.
Comics at the Oscars: Ivalu
Who says comic book movies get ignored at the Academy Awards? A comparison between the Oscar-nominated short film Ivalu and its comic original.
The Tradition of Training Images in Manga
In this essay from 2012, Natsume Fusanosuke examines images of the body across 70 years of manga history – with a special emphasis on how the body (and the spirit) is transformed through physical training.
Incel Supernova: From a Single Comic Strip to the End of the Universe with Scott Adams
In this expansive essay from 2020, Abhay Khosla explores the story of, the glory of, the creator of Dilbert.
That’s Why They Call It Money – This Week’s Links
I, for one, am old enough to recall the Leisure Town parody of Dilbert…
Past Perfect
Act I So I guess what it comes down to is that I’ve underrated Jim Rugg for a significant amount of time. When I trip merrily down the primrose path of memory I’m struck by how I’ve enjoyed the products of his career, for the most part. And also by how little I’ve rated him… Read more »
Atomic City Comics
Retail Therapy returns to Pennsylvania to take a look at a different perspective on selling comics in Philadelphia, as Zach sits down with Michael Yates of Atomic City Comics.
“The Entire Point Of Being In Comics Is To Be Here For A Long Time”: An Interview with Reimena Yee
Reimena Yee’s extensive comics-making career encompasses adult comics, kids’ comics, serialized webcomics, print comics and illustration. The winner of the 2022 Ignatz Award for Outstanding Artist, Yee’s webcomic Alexander, the Servant & the Water of Life has also been featured in an exhibition at the British Library. My Aunt Is a Monster, Yee’s latest graphic… Read more »
I’ll Smash Another Cup – This Week’s Links
The view up here is stunning… I can see all the news…