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.
Highlights from the Archive
Articles
Blood and Thunder: The Complete “I Am Not Terry Beatty’s Girlfriend” Debate
In a classic example of authors responding to their critics circa 1988, Terry Beatty and his girlfriend Wendi Lee refute a negative review of Wild Dog in this series of letters from TCJ’s Blood and Thunder. An “I am not Terry Beatty’s Girlfriend” letter-writing contest ensues.
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.
Blood and Thunder: Harvey Pekar and R. Fiore
From The Comics Journal’s letters pages (Blood and Thunder), circa 1989-1990: American Splendor creator Harvey Pekar and critic R. Fiore argue over realism and genre fiction in comics. And Animal Farm.
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.
The Megan Kelso Interview
In this interview from TCJ #216, Megan Kelso and Gary Groth talk about the latter’s artistic development, sex in comics, self-publishing minicomics in the 1990s, and much more: introduction by Jason Lutes (Berlin, CCS).
The Spain Interview
In this two-part interview, Gary Groth talks to Spain about Catholicism, working in a factory, rebelling against authority, teaching, the underground comix movement and Zap, and Nightmare Alley.
The Jeff Smith Interview
In this interview, Jeff Smith breaks down for Gary Groth all the work and all of the years he put in to become an overnight success.
The Joost Swarte Interview
In The Comics Journal #279 (November 2006), Joost Swarte talks to David Peniston and Kim Thompson about children’s comics, glasswork, publishing and more.
The Alan Moore Interview
Gary Groth’s 1987 interview with Alan Moore documents the writer’s attitude towards DC after creator protests over a proposed rating system. “The Watchmen and Swamp Thing writer explains why he’ll no longer work for DC.”
A Portal to Another Dimension: Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, and Neil Gaiman
A discussion on the influences and thought behind Watchmen between creators Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons at the UK Comic Art Convention in London on Sept. 21st, 1986. Moderating the panel discussion is Neil Gaiman.
The Alison Bechdel Interview
In this 2007 interview from The Comics Journal 287, Lynn Emmert talks to Alison Bechdel about the art of Fun Home and the politics of Dykes to Watch Out For.
Maurice Sendak Q&A
An interview that took place at the Cartoon Art Museum of San Francisco in December 1987.
The S. Clay Wilson Interview
Bob Levin and the legendary underground artist and Zap contributor engage in a hearty discussion.
The Sheldon Moldoff Interview
This interview with Golden Age artist Sheldon Moldoff (Batman, Hawkman, Hawkgirl), conducted by Steve Ringgenberg, ran in The Comics Journal #214 (July 1999).
The John Severin Interview Parts I & II
John Severin remembers his time at EC, DC, Cracked, and more.
The Kevin Eastman Interview Part I
In Part One of this two-part 1998 interview, conducted by Gary Groth, Kevin Eastman talks about the rise of the Ninja Turtles, Creators Rights and the first Direct Market black-and-white boom.
The Kevin Eastman Interview Part 2
In this 1998 interview with Gary Groth, Kevin Eastman explains how Tundra lost 14 million dollars publishing alternative comics.
Readers Respond to the Kevin Eastman Interview
Here are readers’ responses to the Kevin Eastman interview.
