The Dame Darcy Interview
In this 1994 interview, Dame Darcy and interviewer Darcy Sullivan talk about Victorian influences, ghosts, and pointy boobs.
From the TCJ Archive
The Problem with Editorial Cartooning Today
This 1988 panel about the viability of satire in editorial cartooning features Jules Feiffer, Chuck Freund, Brad Holland, David Levine, and Peter Steiner. They question what’s left to satirize in a culture that satirizes itself, and ponder if humor helps or hurts the political aims of editorial cartoonists.
Cartoons of Mass Destruction: The Whole Story Behind the Danish 12
In 2006, 12 Danish cartoonists controversially drew pictures of Muhammad at the urging of Flemming Rose, the culture editor of the weekly Jyllands-Posten. This news story from The Comics Journal #275 (April 2006) offers a multitude of perspectives — from cartoonists, Danes, Muslims, Danish Muslims — and is being rerun to help supply context for the Charles Hebdo killings.
Ralph Steadman: Into the Gentle Darkness
In this 1989 Comics Journal interview, Gary Groth picks Ralph Steadman’s brain on the topic of his growth as an artist, changing interests, loss of faith and times working with Hunter S. Thompson in a career-spanning conversation that always finds its way back to politics and all that’s wrong in the world.
The Charles Burns Interview by Darcy Sullivan
In this 1992 interview, Charles Burns and Darcy Sullivan discuss teenagers, critics, his work in Europe and the art of psychological horror.
The Great Comic Book Heroes Intro & Afterword by Jules Feiffer
In this expanded intro and afterword to Jules Feiffer’s The Great Comic Book Heroes, he explains how the art and business of comic books has evolved since its origin.
The Tom Tomorrow Interview
Tom Tomorrow and Gary Groth chat about comics, politics, and the world of Tomorrow in this interview from TCJ #165.
The Al Feldstein Interview
In this 1995 interview for The Comics Journal #177, Al Feldstein takes Steve Ringgenberg behind the scenes of Mad, EC, show biz and more.
“The Nostrand Zone” by Bhob Stewart
In this essay from The Comics Journal #96 (March 1985), Bhob Stewart looks at the career of “Mystery Artist” Howard Nostrand.
The Shary Flenniken Interview
In this interview from The Comics Journal #146 (November 1991), Shary Flenniken talks about running away from home, the Air Pirates, editing National Lampoon, Trots and Bonnie, and more.
Edward Sorel’s Happy Accidents
Emerging from a partnership with some of the most famous and influential graphic designers of the time, Edward Sorel went on to become a celebrated illustrator, writer, and cartoonist whose work graces publications across the cultural spectrum. In this interview from TCJ #158 (April 1993), Sorel spoke to the Journal about his life, his art, and his uncanny ability to be in the right place at the wrong time.
The Bill Watterson Interview
In this 1989 interview, Bill Watterson talks about the tension between realities in Calvin and Hobbes, how popular art doesn’t have to pander, nuance, animation and why he chose not license the strip.
The Joey Manley Interview
In this 2006 interview, Dirk Deppey and Joey Manley discuss the webcomics subscription model, micropayments, how putting comics on the web changes them, and an e-book future.
The Peter Bagge Interview
In this interview from 1998, Peter Bagge talks about ending the first run of his Hate series, developing it for MTV, buying comics off the Internet, and being able to make a living off of doing comics.
Take Five: An Interview with Arnold Roth
In this 1991 interview, Gary Groth talks to Arnold Roth about jazz, Humbug, Harvey Kurtzman, the Senate hearings, Poor Arnold’s Almanac, National Lampoon, and more.
50 Years of Mediocrity
In this piece from The Comics Journal #207, cartoonist Sam Henderson (Magic Whistle) reflects on his time at the School of Visual Arts.
Claire Bretécher: Triumphant Despite Traitorous Translation
In this review from The Comics Journal #42 (October 1978), Kim Thompson critiques National Lampoon’s Claire Bretecher translation.
Another Relentlessly Elitist Editorial
Kim Thompson answers a “silly question” in this editorial from The Comics Journal #55 (April 1980)
One Picture Does Not A Comic Make
In his review of Masters of Comic Book Art from The Comics Journal #49 (August 1979), Kim Thompson makes a distinction between illustration and sequential comic art.
Run of the Miller
In this review from The Comics Journal #82 (July 1983) Kim Thompson reads and reacts to the first issue of Ronin.
Blood and Thunder: Craft is the Enemy
This argument began with a letter by James Kochalka (American Elf) in The Comics Journal #189 (in 2005, he would expand on his theory in The Cute Manifesto). Some readers found this letter inspirational; others, such as Jim Woodring, wrote in refutations.
The Rick Veitch Interview
Rick Veitch’s career spans from the underground to the self-publishing movements. Jeremy Pinkham talks to him about being in the first class at the Joe Kubert school, working on Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing, and his personal take on the superhero genre.
“…That’s the Spice of Life, Bud”: The Todd McFarlane Interview
In this 1992 interview, Todd McFarlane talks about quitting Spider-Man and Marvel, the inception of Spawn and Image Comics, and concludes with a discussion of morality. McFarlane also discusses the comic market and kid culture.
The Barry Windsor-Smith Interview
Barry Windsor-Smith talks to Gary Groth about transitioning out of the X titles into his own creator-owned work, Jack Kirby, subverting genre and the aesthetic state of the industry, ca. 1996.
