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Julian Darius
In 1996, while still an undergraduate, Dr. Julian Darius founded what would become Sequart Research & Literacy Organization. After graduating magna cum laude from Lawrence University (Appleton, Wisconsin), he obtained his M.A. in English, authoring a thesis on John Milton and utopianism. In 2002, he moved to Waikiki, teaching college while obtaining an M.A. in French (high honors) and a Ph.D. in English. In 2011, he founded Martian Lit, which publishes creative work, including his transgressive novel Nira/Sussa and The Many Lives of Yelena Moulin (serialized online for free). His blog is Fire Pug Kills Eight. He currently lives in Illinois.
BOOKS AND MOVIES BY JULIAN DARIUS
Not pictured:
- Comics in Focus: Chris Claremont's X-Men (executive producer)
- Diagram for Delinquents: Fredric Wertham and the Evolution of Comic Books (producer)
- The Image Revolution (executive producer)
- Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts (executive producer)
TOP MAGAZINE CONTENT BY JULIAN DARIUS
Why Comics Matter
The following video consists of a lecture I delivered on 5 January 2006 at Glen Carbon Centennial Library in Glen Carbon, Illinois. The total runtime is 46 minutes.
Why Miracleman Matters
Everybody talks about Miracleman, but few have read it. Far more people know of Miracleman’s importance than understand why it occupies such a crucial role in the history of super-hero comics.
The DC Canon
This is the beginning of a series of articles on classic works of the DC Universe. It is the contention of this series that the DC Universe has been around long enough and has produced… [more]
The Obscure Cities: An Introduction
The Obscure Cities (Les Cités Obscures) arose in the midst of a pivotal time in the history of French comics. So let’s talk about French comics, shall we?
Unproduced Attempts to Film Batman’s Origins
Batman Begins was, in fact, preceded by other attempts to dramatize Batman’s origins, both on film and on television. In 1999, one production company proposed a weekly series about the boyhood of Bruce Wayne prior… [more]
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: DC Countdown
We’re now in the third month after DC Countdown, and it’s time to review the various top-selling mini-series and other events counting down to Infinite Crisis…
On Jack Kirby’s 2001: A Space Odyssey
Jack Kirby’s 2001: A Space Odyssey is surely one of the strangest sci-fi franchise comics ever published. For one thing, the comic appeared in 1976, eight years after the 1968 film debuted. Most other sci-fi… [more]
On the Very First Star Trek #1
Star Trek has a long history in comics. In fact, the very first Star Trek comic book began in 1967, at the end of the original series’s very first season. This first series was published… [more]
The Very Different Worldviews of Warren Ellis and Grant Morrison
In an interview for Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts, Ellis recounts how some comics fans, in the wake of 9/11, expressed the wish that Superman were real, so he could have prevented such a devastating tragedy. … [more]
On the Moore / Morrison Feud, Literary Borrowings, and the Anxiety of Influence
It’s long been no secret, to those who paid attention, that Alan Moore and Grant Morrison — arguably the medium’s two most influential writers — don’t get along. But it’s been a slow simmer of… [more]
Why Comics Have Failed to Achieve Real Respect
It might superficially seem as if comics have finally achieved respect. They’re covered by the mainstream press. They’re increasingly taught in colleges. Their adaptations account for a huge percentage of Hollywood blockbusters. Hey, even nerd… [more]
The Sequart Manifesto
What do we call our medium? The most common answer is “comics.” Some would say otherwise, offering “comix,” “the ninth art,” or “sequential art.” Others abroad would say “manga” or “les bandes-dessinés.” All, however, are… [more]
X-Men is Not an Allegory of Racial Tolerance
It’s funny that it’s so resoundingly universally accepted. It’s been repeated so many times, from everyone from fans and comics professionals to scholars, that it’s become an article of faith.
OTHER MAGAZINE CONTENT BY JULIAN DARIUS (196 TOTAL)
Zack Snyder’s Revisionist The Man of Steel
The Man of Steel is very much Zack Snyder’s. But that doesn’t mean what we thought it did. (As usual, here there be spoilers.) Prior to the film’s release, super-hero fans had a lot of… [more]
On “How Superman Would Win the War”
One of the best Superman stories – and probably one of the most important super-hero stories ever told – is also one of the shortest. What’s more, the story didn’t appear in a Superman comic;… [more]
Miracleman, Chapter 9: The Mentality of Big Ben
We’ve begun discussing chapter nine of Alan Moore’s Miracleman (parts 1, 2, and 3), illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter.
The Other Marvel Cinematic Universe?
With all of the attention paid to the development of the Marvel cinematic universe, it’s worth addressing the other Marvel cinematic universe: the one run by 20th Century-Fox.
Jack Kirby Vs. Arthur C. Clarke: A Tale of Two 2001 Continuations
Having introduced Jack Kirby’s 2001, looked at his adaptation of the film, and looked at the first few issues of his continuation, let’s look at his continuation of that film — and how it contrasts… [more]
On Jack Kirby’s 2001: A Space Odyssey Continuation, Part 2
Having introduced Jack Kirby’s 2001, and looked at his adaptation of the film and the first issue of his bizarre continuation, let’s continue examining one of the oddest sci-fi comics in history.
On Jack Kirby’s 2001: A Space Odyssey Continuation
Having introduced Jack Kirby’s 2001, and looked at his adaptation of the film, let’s look at his continuation of that film.
On Jack Kirby’s 2001: A Space Odyssey Adaptation (Part 2)
Continuing an examination of Jack Kirby’s adaptation of 2001: A Space Odyssey begun here. Kirby’s more successful at other points in this chapter, and he seems to thrive on the conflict in this section of… [more]
On Jack Kirby’s 2001: A Space Odyssey Adaptation
Introduced yesterday. Before Jack Kirby continued the story of 2001, he adapted the film into a 70-page comic. Although the comic adapts the film — it uses Jupiter, for example, whereas the novel used Saturn… [more]
Star Trek into Darkness Hostile to Star Trek, Intelligence
Before we continue, I need to issue the obligatory spoiler warning. In order to really get at what’s going on in this film, I’ll have to talk about its plot. So if you haven’t seen… [more]
On the Star Trek Peter Pan Records of 1979
In the last two days, we’ve discussed the seven original Star Trek stories produced by Peter Pan Records in 1975-1976 (parts one and two). Today, we look at the company’s 1979 Star Trek offerings. The… [more]
On the Star Trek Peter Pan Records of 1975-1976 (Batch Two)
Yesterday, we discussed the Star Trek stories produced by Peter Pan Records, including the first three stories. Today, we continue that discussion. “The Time Stealer” “The Time Stealer,” the first track on the second 12″… [more]
On the Star Trek Peter Pan Records of 1975-1976
People who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s will likely remember Peter Pan Records (and its imprint Power Records), which published original audio stories featuring licensed properties during this time. Peter Pan Records actually… [more]
The British Star Trek
While U.S. publisher Gold Key was busy printing Star Trek comic books, Britain had its own Star Trek comics. Comic strips, to be more accurate.
On Gold Key’s Guardian of Forever (in Star Trek Vol. 1 #56)
On Monday, we talked about Gold Key’s Star Trek #1 from 1967, which had the ship exploring the dead Galaxy Alpha, then systematically eradicating the one planet it found with life one it. Oh yeah,… [more]
Why Iron Man 3 is the Best Iron Man Film to Date
Iron Man 3 might not be an Avengers-like, nonstop action fest. But it’s the best of the three Iron Man films. In fact, it’s the only one that really understands the character.
On Underworld Unleashed, Precursor to Kingdom Come
DC’s 1995 crossover Underworld Unleashed — scripted by Mark Waid, penciled by Howard Porter, and published as a three extra-long monthly issues (though the third issue ran late) – featured no less than Satan as its villain.… [more]
On Armageddon 2001 and the Annual-Based Crossover
Armageddon 2001 was the first DC universe-wide crossover to run through the company’s annuals. The central mini-series of Armageddon 2001 was only two issues long, acting as “bookends” to the tie-ins, which ran exclusively through… [more]
Patrick Meaney: The Sequart Interview
Patrick Meaney is the author of Our Sentence is Up, as well as essays in several Sequart anthologies and a contributor to Sequart.org. He’s also the director of Grant Morrison: Talking with Gods and Warren… [more]
On Warren Ellis’s Super-Hero Work at Avatar
We’ve previously looked at Warren Ellis’s realistic worldview, at his much-celebrated 1999-2003 period, and at his work for Marvel from 2004-2010. One of the more interesting developments of Ellis’s career, especially given his professed distaste… [more]
Warren Ellis at Marvel, 2004-2010
We’ve previously looked at Warren Ellis’s overall realistic worldview and how this is reflected in the revisionism of his much-celebrated 1999-2003 period. We now turn to his work at Marvel from 2004-2010.
Warren Ellis, Revisionism, and Reconstructionism
Last time, we discussed how Warren Ellis is a realist, and we contrasted this with the views of Grant Morrison. These two modes correlate strongly with two different modes of super-hero stories. Revisionism, most frequently… [more]
On Chicago Public Schools Censoring Persepolis‘s Images of Torture
In the recent discussions over censorship of Persepolis in Chicago public schools, there’s been a notable lack of discussion over why anyone would want the book removed — and what such reasoning represents.
Ancestral Jungles and Voodoo Fears: Evelyn Cream and Race in Miracleman, Chapter 9 (Part 2)
We’ve begun discussing chapter nine of Alan Moore’s Miracleman (parts one and two), illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter.
Evelyn Cream and Race in Miracleman, Chapter 9
We’ve begun discussing chapter nine of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter.
Miracleman, Chapter 9: “Inside Story”
We’ve previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and eight, as well as the interlude “The Yesterday Gambit.” We now continue this critical examination with chapter nine (written by Alan Moore, illustrated by Alan Davis) of this celebrated but… [more]
Will Brooker on My So-Called Secret Identity
Will Brooker is Reader in Film and Television Studies at Kingston University, London, and editor of Cinema Journal. He is also author, editor or co-editor of nine books, including Batman Unmasked, Using the Force, Alice’s… [more]
Orson Scott Card, Homophobia, and Superman
DC provoked outrage, a few days ago, by hiring Orson Scott Card, sci-fi writer and noted homophobe, to write Superman. The comic in question isn’t one of DC’s current titles. In fact, it’s a new,… [more]
On Invasion #3: “World Without Heroes”
We previously introduced Invasion and discussed its first and second issues. Today, we conclude our look at Invasion with issue #2. Invasion #3 begins with this same explosion, revealed to be a “gene bomb” released… [more]
On Invasion #2: “Battleground Earth”
We previously introduced Invasion and discussed its first issue. Today, we continue with issue #2. By the time Invasion #2 (titled “Battleground Earth”) begins, Superman has successfully negotiated a 24-hour cease-fire with the Dominators. Many… [more]
On Invasion #1: “The Alien Alliance”
We previously introduced Invasion. Today, we look at the first issue in more detail. None of this is to say that the mini-series isn’t also a lot of fun. As previously stated, the first issue… [more]
On Invasion, Written by Keith Giffen and Bill Mantlo
Published in late 1988 as a three-issue monthly crossover mini-series, the central premise of Invasion (titled Invasion!, with an exclamation mark, on the cover) was simple: aliens invade the Earth. The series was plotted by Keith… [more]
On DC One Million, by Grant Morrison and Val Semeiks (Part 3)
In which we continue our discussion of DC One Million, begun here and continued here. Above Earth, Green Lantern has joined the heroes fighting a losing battle against Solaris. Solaris isn’t prepared for Green Lantern’s ring, and… [more]
On DC One Million, by Grant Morrison and Val Semeiks (Part 2)
In which we continue our discussion of DC One Million, begun here. As issue #2 opens, the present-day narrative has caught up with the Montevideo explosion. The Justice Legion A, infected with the virus, joins… [more]
On DC One Million, by Grant Morrison and Val Semeiks
DC One Million was published in September 1998 (the month cover-dated Nov 1998) as a weekly four-issue mini-series – or almost weekly, since the JLA tie-in issue effectively served as an issue of the mini-series.… [more]
Secret Wars, Crisis on Infinite Earths, and the Development of the Universe-Wide Crossover
While Crisis on Infinite Earths was DC’s first universe-wide crossover, there’s some dispute over whether it was the first in comics. The answer largely depends on one’s definitions. Whatever one thinks about this, one shouldn’t… [more]
Alan Moore on the Couch
Previously, we’ve discussed and dismissed the charges that Alan Moore or Grant Morrison ripped off anyone in any serious way. We next discussed the timeline of Grant Morrison’s career, including his hiring at DC. We… [more]
The Moore Narrative of Comics History
Last time, we discussed the anxiety of influence and the silliness of thinking that Moore ripped off Superfolks or that Morrison ripped off Moore. This time, I’d like to look at why these charges persist… [more]
Miracleman, Chapter 8 Concludes
We’ve begun discussing chapter eight (parts one, two, three, four, and five) of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we conclude our exploration of that chapter.
Miracleman, Chapter 8: The Flashback Pages
We’ve begun discussing chapter eight (parts one, two, three, and four) of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter.
Miracleman, Chapter 8: Introducing Big Ben
We’ve begun discussing chapter eight (parts one, two, and three) of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve also previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven, as well… [more]
Miracleman, Chapter 8: Rocket Launchers, Flamethrowers, and Racism
We’ve begun discussing chapter eight (parts one and two) of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven, as well as… [more]
Miracleman, Chapter 8: Two Ninja Vs. Superman
We’ve begun discussing chapter eight of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven, as well as the interlude “The… [more]
Miracleman, Chapter 8: “Out of the Dark”
We’ve previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, six, and seven, as well as the interlude “The Yesterday Gambit.” We now continue our examination with chapter eight of this celebrated but long-unavailable series, written by Alan Moore and… [more]
On the First Year of Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis’ Justice League International (Part 2)
We previously examined the first four issues of Giffen and DeMatteis’ seminal Justice League from 1987-1988. Today, we conclude our examination of that title’s first year, which works as its own unit.
On the First Year of Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis’ Justice League International
While Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis’s run on Justice League (retitled Justice League International with #7) is fondly remembered, it’s worth looking at how that title’s first year, published from 1987 to 1988, develops and… [more]
Thoughts on the Animated Batman: Gotham Knight
Since I’ve written about Batman Begins, I thought it might be nice to write about its follow-up. No, not The Dark Knight. Chronologically, Batman Begins is followed by Batman: Gotham Knight, a made-for-video collection of six… [more]
On Crisis on Infinite Earths
DC’s first universe-wide crossover was the 12-issue Crisis on Infinite Earths (Apr 1985 – Mar 1986). Written by Marv Wolfman and penciled by George Pérez, the team responsible for DC then-hit New Teen Titans, Crisis was designed to… [more]
Building a Better Dredd: The Smart Narrative Choices of Dredd
Earlier, we discussed how Dredd is faithful to its source material, to the extent that it could be described as a violent morality play. Today, I’d like to discuss the film’s narrative choices, because I… [more]
Dredd as Violent Morality Play
Dredd is a far better, smarter, and well-made film than anyone had a right to respect. It gets nearly everything right. It’s visually beautiful, even when disgusting. It’s entertaining. But it’s also disturbing and thought-provoking.… [more]
On Mark Waid and Bryan Hitch’s JLA
With Grant Morrison’s departure from JLA in 2000, DC made the absolute best decisions possible for the title’s new creative team. As writer, DC chose Mark Waid. Waid had written Kingdom Come (which had inspired… [more]
On Denny O’Neil and Dick Dillin’s Justice League of America
While many celebrate Gardner Fox’s inaugural run on Justice League of America, comparatively few appreciate the run that immediately followed it: that of Dennis “Denny” O’Neil and penciler Dick Dillin (who had illustrated Fox’s final two… [more]
On Super Powers (second series), by Paul Kupperberg and Jack Kirby
The six-issue, second Super Powers mini-series from 1985, written by Paul Kupperberg, penciled by Jack Kirby, and inked by Greg Theakston, has been almost completely ignored by critics.
On The Weird, by Jim Starlin and Bernie Wrightson
The 1988 four-issue mini-series The Weird — written by Jim Starlin, with art by legendary comics artist Bernie Wrightson and inks by Dan Green — isn’t told from the Justice League’s point of view. Rather,… [more]
On JLA: Earth 2, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely
Like many classic comics from the 1980s onward, JLA: Earth 2 (the 1999 original graphic novel written by Grant Morrison with art by Frank Quitely) plays with comics history in a postmodern way, offering new… [more]
On Kingdom Come, by Mark Waid and Alex Ross
1996’s Kingdom Come — a self-contained, fully-painted series by writer Mark Waid and artist Alex Ross — was first published as a four-issue, prestige-format mini-series, designated as an Elseworlds (i.e. out-of-continuity) tale. The story was… [more]
Miracleman, Chapter 7 Concludes
We’ve begun discussing chapter seven (parts one, two, and three) of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we conclude our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, and… [more]
Miracleman, Chapter 7, and British Politics
We’ve begun discussing chapter seven (in two parts) of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, and six,… [more]
Miracleman, Chapter 7: The Mike / Liz / Miracleman Love Triangle
We’ve begun discussing chapter seven of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, illustrated by Alan Davis. Today, we continue our exploration of that chapter. (We’ve previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, and six, plus the… [more]
Miracleman, Chapter 7: “Blue Murder”
We’ve previously introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, five, and six, as well as the interlude “The Yesterday Gambit.” We now continue our examination with chapter seven of this celebrated but long-unavailable series,… [more]
The Road to Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins
We’ve previously examined the road to Christopher Nolan taking over the Batman film franchise, from Batman and Robin through Frank Miller’s “Year One” screenplay. This installment concludes the story, taking us up to Batman Begins.… [more]
Why The Dark Knight Rises Fails
Let me start by saying that I’m glad if you like The Dark Knight Rises. I wanted to. I wrote a book about Batman Begins. I love The Dark Knight, and its ending makes me… [more]
Frank Miller’s Year One Screenplay
Late 2000 seems, by all accounts, to have been a turning point for the languishing Batman franchise. It was then that both Batman: DarKnight and the live-action Batman Beyond were cancelled, with Warner Bros. focusing… [more]
Warren Ellis and the Fantastic Four
Warren Ellis hates super-heroes. At least, that’s what people say. He certainly has played his part, through a few off-the-cuff remarks, in this misconception. But it would be more accurate to say that Ellis hates… [more]
The Fever of Urbicande, Chapter 4 Concludes
We’ve previously looked at The Fever of Urbicande‘s prologue (and some of its implications), as well as chapters one, two, three (in two parts), and most of four (parts one, two, and three). We now conclude our… [more]
More The Fever of Urbicande, Chapter 4
We’ve previously looked at The Fever of Urbicande‘s prologue (and some of its implications), as well as chapters one, two, three (in two parts), and most of four (in two parts). We now continue our look… [more]
The Fever of Urbicande, Chapter 4 (Cont.)
We’ve previously looked at The Fever of Urbicande‘s prologue (and some of its implications), as well as chapters one, two, three (in two parts), and the beginning of four. Although it’s been a while, we… [more]
Miracleman, Chapter 6 Concludes
We’ve previously begun discussion of chapter six of Alan Moore’s Miracleman and continued through page five. We now conclude discussion of this pivotal chapter.
Miracleman, Chapter 6: “Investigation” and “Deduction”
We’ve previously begun discussion of chapter six of Alan Moore’s Miracleman and gotten through page three. We now continue discussion of this pivotal chapter.
Miracleman, Chapter 6, Page 3: “Reflections” of Kid Miracleman
We’ve previously begun discussion of chapter six of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, which originally appeared in the classic British magazine Warrior. We continue that discussion today.
Miracleman, Chapter 6: “Secret Identity”
Having introduced Miracleman and discussed chapters one, two, three, four, and five, as well as the interlude “The Yesterday Gambit,” we now turn to chapter six of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, which originally appeared in the classic… [more]
On Body Typing in Comics: What We’re Not Saying and Why It Matters
This is not an essay I wanted to write. Doing so, I’m conscious of wading into waters famous for their landmines. This is at least the sixth full draft of this essay. Most of the… [more]
Alan Moore’s Miracleman and the Influence of Chris Claremont’s Dark Phoenix Saga
Having reached the halfway point of Book One, let’s pause and consider the influence of Chris Claremont and John Byrne’s Dark Phoenix saga on the way Moore presents his own hero-turned-villain, Kid Miracleman.
The Conclusion of Miracleman, Chapter 5
We’ve looked at chapter five of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, examined it in the context of the 1981 Brixton riots, and carried through to Kid Miracleman’s defeat. We now conclude our look at this chapter, originally printed… [more]
Miracleman, Chapter 5 (Cont.)
We’ve begun looking at chapter five of Alan Moore’s Miracleman and examined its reference to the 1981 Brixton riots. We now continue our look at this story, originally printed in Warrior #6 (Oct 1982), which concludes Miracleman’s… [more]
Miracleman, Chapter 5, and the Brixton Riots
Last time, we began our examination of chapter five of Alan Moore’s Miracleman. Originally printed in Warrior #6 (Oct 1982), it concludes Miracleman’s fight with Kid Miracleman and marks the midpoint of Book One.
Miracleman, Chapter 5: “Fallen Angels, Forgotten Thunder”
Having introduced Miracleman and discussed its first, second, third, and fourth chapters, as well as the interlude “The Yesterday Gambit,” we now turn to chapter five of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, which concludes the hero’s first… [more]
Colin Smith in Q Magazine
The May 2012 issue of Q magazine debuts a new comics review column, written by none other than Colin Smith, Sequart friend and mainstay. And although Colin’s keen to emphasize that he’s hardly taken over the magazine,… [more]
Miracleman, Chapter 4: “Dragons” (Cont.)
Last time, we began discussing the fourth chapter of Alan Moore’s Miracleman. This time, we conclude our look at that chapter.
Miracleman, Chapter 4: “Dragons”
Having introduced Miracleman and discussed its first, second, and third chapters, as well as the interlude “The Yesterday Gambit,” we now turn to chapter four of Alan Moore’s Miracleman, in which the hero has his… [more]
“The Yesterday Gambit,” Part 4
We’ve introduced Alan Moore’s Miracleman interlude from Warrior #4, “The Yesterday Gambit,” and examined its first, second, and third segments. We now turn to its final segment, illustrated by Steve Dillon, in which Miracleman and Warpsmith return… [more]
“The Yesterday Gambit,” Part 3
We’ve introduced Alan Moore’s Miracleman interlude from Warrior #4, “The Yesterday Gambit,” and examined its first and second segments. We now turn to its third segment, illustrated by Alan Davis, in which Miracleman and Warpsmith revisit… [more]
“The Yesterday Gambit,” Part 2
We’ve introduced Alan Moore’s Miracleman interlude from Warrior #4, “The Yesterday Gambit”, and examined its first segment. We now turn to its second segment, illustrated by Paul Neary, in which Miracleman and Warpsmith revisit the 1963… [more]
“The Yesterday Gambit,” Part 1
We began discussion of “The Yesterday Gambit” last time, having previously introduced Miracleman and discussed its first, second, and third chapters. We now turn to the story of Alan Moore’s “The Yesterday Gambit,” from Warrior #4.
“The Yesterday Gambit” (A Miracleman Interlude)
We’ve introduced Miracleman and discussed its first, second, and third chapters. We now turn to the famous “The Yesterday Gambit,” from Warrior #4.
Miracleman, Chapter 3 Concludes
We’ve introduced Miracleman and discussed its first and second chapters, plus most of the third (part one, part two). We now conclude our look at this third chapter of Alan Moore and Garry Leach’s Miracleman… [more]
Miracleman, Chapter 3: “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”
We’ve introduced Miracleman and discussed its first and second episodes, plus the first page of chapter three. We now continue our look at that third chapter of Alan Moore and Garry Leach’s Miracleman stories, which… [more]
Sex and the Super-Hero in Miracleman, Chapter 3
Having briefly introduced Miracleman and discussed its first and second episodes, let’s turn to the third of Alan Moore and Garry Leach’s Miracleman stories, which appeared in the legendary British magazine Warrior.
Miracleman, Chapter 2: “Legend”
Having briefly introduced Miracleman and discussed its first episode, let’s turn to the second of Alan Moore and Garry Leach’s earliest stories, which appeared in the legendary British magazine Warrior.
Miracleman, Chapter 1: “A Dream of Flying”
Having briefly introduced Miracleman, let’s begin looking at Alan Moore and Garry Leach’s earliest stories, which appeared in the legendary British magazine Warrior.
Reading Holy Terror’s First Act
After its three-page thematic introductory sequence, Holy Terror shifts to the Fixer chasing Cat Burglar across Empire City’s rooftops. It’s a sequence not without its charms, including a few powerful images. It depicts an eccentric, hard-boiled… [more]
Reading Holy Terror‘s Introductory Sequence
It’s hard for me to describe the mixture of pleasures and pains, both of them quite intense, that I feel reading Holy Terror. The pleasure tends to be artistic, primarily visual. The pain tends to… [more]
Sequart Podcast #1: The Changing Format of Comics
Guests Kevin Thurman and David Balan discuss the future of the comics form, and the implications of digital comics.
A Place for Bold: Understanding Frank Miller
No one seems to get Frank Miller. Despite the flurry of digital ink spilled over him, most critics seem to be left scratching their heads. Indeed, the entire body of Frank Miller criticism can now… [more]
The Fever of Urbicande, Chapter 4
We’ve previously looked at The Fever of Urbicande‘s prologue (and some of that prologue’s implications), as well as chapters one, two, and three (in two parts). This time, we’ll begin to look at chapter four,… [more]
The Fever of Urbicande, Chapter 3 (Cont.)
We’ve previously looked at The Fever of Urbicande‘s prologue, some of that prologue’s implications, chapter one, chapter two, and the beginning of chapter three. This time, we’ll conclude our look at chapter three, in which the… [more]
The Fever of Urbicande, Chapter 3
We’ve previously looked at The Fever of Urbicande‘s prologue, some of that prologue’s implications, and chapters one and two. This time, we’ll continue to chapter three of this fascinating story.
The Fever of Urbicande, Chapter 2
We’ve previously looked at The Fever of Urbicande‘s prologue, some of that prologue’s implications, and chapter one of the comic proper. This time, we’ll continue into chapter two of this fascinating story.
The Fever of Urbicande, Chapter 1
We’ve previously looked at The Fever of Urbicande‘s prologue and some of its implications. This time, we’ll dive into the story itself.
The Fever of Urbicande: Ayn Rand, Totalitarian Architecture, Brutalism, and Busselization
We’ve previously looked at The Fever of Urbicande‘s prologue, which sets up Eugen Robick’s status quo as the story starts. This time, we’ll explore some fascinating parallels and implications of that status quo. Also, I’ve… [more]
The Fever of Urbicande: A French Masterpiece You Probably Haven’t Read
More than any other, this is the the book for which The Obscure Cities is famous. In his afterword to The Walls of Samaris, Benoît Peeters writes that his main criticism of that initial volume… [more]
On The Big Lie, by Rich Veitch and Gary Erskine
Before addressing this controversial comic, let’s establish one thing: anything by Rick Veitch is newsworthy and deserving of better than being written off. Veitch is one of the legends who renewed American comics in the… [more]
Eight Thoughts on Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 3 #1-2
The right-wing media went apeshit over Peter Parker being replaced by Miles Morales, based on a single seven-page sequence (really its own short story) in Ultimate Fallout #4. Lots of people were perfectly prepared to… [more]
How Could They Do That?: Understanding Scott Lobdell and the New Comics Criticism
I’m quite certain writer Scott Lobdell, writer of Red Hood and the Outlaws, didn’t intend to make Starfire in any way diminishing of women. I know this because it’s leaked that DC was concerned, prior… [more]
Sexism, Sexuality, and the DC Relaunch
Last week’s DC relaunch offerings didn’t prompt much serious debate over which title was the best, but they launched a flurry of reactions against their portrayal of women. But first, a warning: my goal here… [more]
Superman Returns Prequel #4: Lois Lane
Five years ago, around the release of Superman Returns, I began a look at its four-part prequel mini-series, examining how it changed Richard Donner’s original films and what it revealed about Superman’s five years of… [more]
The Walls of Samaris, Part 4: Textual Variants
We’ve previously examined the story of The Walls of Samaris, a French masterpiece that deserves to be known among comics-literate Americans. In part two, we looked at several implications of its trompe-d’oeil device. In part three, I wrapped up… [more]
Justice League International #1 Review
It’s hard to put into words how silly Justice League International #1 is. On the one hand, it’s written in a style that’s a throwback to the very early 1990s. That shouldn’t be a total surprise:… [more]
Not Your Daddy’s Superman: How Grant Morrison’s Action Comics #1 Works
Having slammed Justice League #1 so severely in the last week, I feel as if I’d be remiss not to point out how excellent Action Comics #1 is and how it gets right virtually everything… [more]
Hollow Spectacle (or How Super-Hero Comics Warped My Logic Circuit)
There’s nothing wrong with spectacle. Even, I’d argue, for its own sake. Hell, it used to be its own genre of Hollywood movie (e.g. Cleopatra and more recently Gladiator)! But there’s good and bad spectacle,… [more]
How Not to Relaunch a Universe: A Negative Review of Justice League #1
How bad is Justice League #1, written by Geoff Johns and penciled by Jim Lee? It’s virtually a road map for how not to write super-hero comics.
The Walls of Samaris, Part 3: More Mysteries… and Some Possible Solutions
We’ve previously examined the story of The Walls of Samaris, a French masterpiece that deserves to be known among comics-literate Americans. In part two, we looked at several implications of its trompe-d’oeil device.
The Walls of Samaris, Part 2: The Trompe-d’Oeil and You
Having introduced The Obscure Cities and walked through its first volume, The Walls of Samaris in some detail, I ended with that book’s conclusion. I’ll pick up there, so it’s necessary that you read part… [more]
The Simple, Elegant Way to a DC Cinematic Universe
There’s a simple solution to DC’s motion-picture woes: stop following Marvel’s model. Marvel’s shared cinematic universe only proceeded the way it did due to accidents of history.
The Walls of Samaris: A Classic French Comic You Probably Haven’t Read
Many fans of The Obscure Cities (which I introduced here) will tell you that the first volume, The Walls of Samaris, first collected in 1983, represents a freshman effort, despite the acclaim it’s won.
Sex and “The Man who Has Everything”
Long before Alan Moore delved into literary pornography with Lost Girls, he was infusing his work with a broad understanding of human sexuality as natural. And this wasn’t limited to auteur projects like Lost Girls… [more]
Undoing Super-Hero Marriages: The Failure of the Writerly Imagination
With the news that Superman and Lois Lane will no longer be married after DC’s relaunch, super-hero comics have said loudly and clearly: they hate their characters being married because it makes for less drama.
Colin Smith on Comics Criticism, Part 2
Continuing from part one, we now move on to discuss when it’s fair to criticize a work for depicting human rights violations such as torture and rape, writing personally, and comics culture.
Colin Smith on Comics Criticism
As a medium, comics are in a strange place. In many ways, we as comics scholars and advocates have achieved the respect we long sought.
Roundtable on Current Super-Hero Comics, the Problem of Nostalgia, and the Genre’s Future
Depending on whom you ask, current super-hero comics are either sub-competent exercises in nostalgia or exciting, dynamic explorations of heroism, adapted for contemporary times.
Canada Hates Comics
Canadian customs officials have charged a U.S. citizen with possession of child pornography based on his possession of manga comics on a digital device. If found guilty, he faces a minimum of one year in prison…… [more]
Erasing the Justice Society
In the continuity of DC’s relaunches, Superman will reportedly be the first super-hero. This implies that the Justice Society will have been wiped from continuity, and that seems to be DC’s current plan. This isn’t… [more]
Issues in Digital Comics Distribution — and Where We’re Heading
Assuming we recognize the very real and pressing need for a comprehensive digital comics policy, several issues still remain that must be solved, before we can envision what such a policy would look like.
On Digital Comics Distribution
We all know it’s the future. We all know we’re behind the gun. Playing catch up. And scared. But we’ve been here before.
The Diversity of DC’s Relaunch, by the Numbers
Since DC has publicly stated that its line-wide relaunch is partially to increase the diversity of its line, it’s worth asking how the relaunched titles stack up in this regard, including some hard quantitative analysis… [more]
Thor as Camp
Thor is a glitzy, glossy summer movie. It’s also high camp in the traditional sense: super-serious and apparently blissfully unaware of how utterly ridiculous it is on every level. It may take itself more seriously… [more]
A Closer Look at DC’s Line-Wide Relaunch: Non-Super-Hero Offerings
Beyond its super-hero offerings, DC’s relaunch includes its “dark” magic titles, which incorporates some Vertigo characters into the DCU, and also a few non-super-hero, non-supernatural titles. How do these stack up, as part of an… [more]
A Closer Look at DC’s Line-Wide Relaunch: The Rest of the Super-Heroes
In addition to its more obvious “big guns,” DC’s relaunch includes a bunch of other super-hero offerings, including a promising new Aquaman series, new WildStorm-based titles such as Stormwatch, and many more. We’ll examine each here.
A Closer Look at DC’s Line-Wide Relaunch: The Big Guns
Unless you’re hiding under a rock, you’ve heard that DC is relaunching its entire super-hero line, including venerable mainstays like Action Comics and Detective Comics, in the wake of the company’s Flashpoint crossover.
“Fixing” Barbara Gordon’s Legs: The Politics of Retconning a Disability
What does it mean when you take the most successful disabled character in comics and reverse her disability?
On the Anthology Format
Tim Callahan’s recent “When Worlds Collide” column has me thinking about anthologies.
How I Learned to Love the Legion
This is a few days old, but Timothy Callahan opens his most recent column, “When Worlds Collide” over at CBR, with a reference to me. Which puts me one step closer to world domination.
Deconstructing “Batman R.I.P.”
There’s a lot of controversy surrounding Grant Morrison’s Batman run. To detractors, it’s just unreadable. This often goes along with ugly comments about Morrison in general: that he’s admitted to being inspired by drugs and that… [more]
In Defense of Lateness
There’s been a lot of commotion in recent years over late — sometimes very late — high-profile books.
Superman Returns Prequel #3: Lex Luthor
How did Lex meet that girl Kitty anyway? Or that widow Gertrude? And what exactly was he up to for five years?
Superman Returns Prequel #2: Ma Kent
Previously, I introduced the Superman Returns prequel comics and examined the first issue in some detail, paying particular attention to how it changed things from Donner’s 1978 original. This time, we’ll continue on to the second… [more]
The Superman Returns Prequel Comics
In a major coup for the publisher, DC Comics announced in early 2006 that it would, in June 2006, be publishing a four-issue mini-series prequel to the then-upcoming Superman Returns.
What Bryan Singer Has Done
What Bryan Singer has done, with Superman Returns, is to create something lastingly sublime.
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: Firestorm in Space
Besides being featured on a few pages in Infinite Crisis, Donna’s group starred in five issues once they took off into space on New Cronus.
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: The Rann / Thanagar War Special
Over the past months, we’ve examined a hell of a lot of Infinite Crisis. In the process, this study has come to exceed 160,000 words! In fact, our coverage of the Rann-Thanagar War alone runs 40,000 words… [more]
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: “Coalition in Crisis”
With Hawkman #46, which ended with Hawkman and Hawkgirl contacted by Adam Strange, the Hawks’ narrative met up with that of The Rann Thanagar War (a mini-series that had already concluded at that point). The following three… [more]
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: “PowerTrip”
We’ve previously examined the convoluted history of Power Girl. We now turn to Geoff Johns’s revamping of Power Girl’s origin in the pages of JSA Classified, which in turn led directly into Power Girl’s appearance in Infinite… [more]
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: A Brief History of Power Girl
Power Girl, one of the major players in Infinite Crisis, was one of several characters whose history became convoluted in the wake of Crisis on Infinite Earths.
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: Hawkman #46
Having just concluded a two-part look at Hawkman’s history, including the storyline ending in Hawkman #45, the last issue before the title began to be affected by Infinite Crisis, we now turn to Hawkman #46, which ties into The… [more]
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: A Brief History of Hawkman, Part 2
Having previously examined the history of Hawkman from his Golden Age origins through the new Hawkgirl’s debut in JSA, we now conclude our look at Hawkman, terminating just before The Rann-Thanagar War.
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: A Brief History of Hawkman
Given Hawkman’s role in The Rann-Thanagar War, it’s useful to briefly consider Hawkman’s history and his ties to Thanagar.
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: Dr. Light in Teen Titans
Identity Crisis left Dr. Light remembering what he was once capable of and thinking how next to act. In the wake of that mini-series, DC sought to turn Dr. Light into a major villain
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: “Adam Strange: Planet Heist” Concludes
Having examined the history of Adam Strange and the first half of his 2004-2005 mini-series, we now turn to the second half of that series, which leads into The Rann-Thanagar War.
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: “Adam Strange: Planet Heist”
We’ve previously covered the history of Adam Strange, up until the 2004-2005 mini-series Adam Strange, which led into The Rann-Thanagar War. Now, it’s time to address that mini-series…
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: A Brief History of Adam Strange
It’s hard to claim that Adam Strange has a particularly glorious history, but he remains one of the DC’s most beloved science fiction characters.
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: Tie-Ins to The OMAC Project #6
We’ve already seen that, chronologically, Superman #220 occurs during The OMAC Project #6. But a number of other comics also tied into The OMAC Project #6.
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: The Rann-Thanagar War Concludes
Earlier, we looked at The Rann-Thanagar War #1-4. We now return to that series to cover its conclusion.
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: “Crisis of Conscience” Epilogue
Adventures of Superman #644 offers an epilogue to “Crisis of Conscience,” which also ties to other narrative threads and leads into Infinite Crisis #1.
Mike Mackey on Liberality for All
Mike Mackey is the creator of Liberality for All, the first issue of which recently saw publication from ACC Studios. Billed as “the World’s First Conservative Comic Book,” the series takes place 20 years after 9/11.… [more]
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: “Crisis of Conscience”
“Crisis of Conscience,” running in JLA from #115 to #119, was promoted as bridging the gap between Identity Crisis and Infinite Crisis.
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: “Sacrifice” Aftermath
In the month after the historic “Sacrifice” storyline, three of the four titles that participated in that storyline offered stories dealing with the aftermath of “Sacrifice.”
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: The OMAC Project Concludes
The OMAC Project #3 ended with Maxwell Lord surprisingly speaking to a seemingly hypnotized Superman. “Sacrifice,” which that issue noted would continue directly from OMAC #3,
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: Identity Crisis Epilogue
Having mentioned how well Rucka foreshadowed Wonder Woman’s murder of Maxwell Lord, it’s worth looking at exactly how Rucka accomplished this in the pages of Adventures of Superman.
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: “Sacrifice” Concludes
It’s time to update our look at “Sacrifice,” the storyline that spun out of The OMAC Project. Specifically, it’s time to look at the end of that storyline…
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: The Rann-Thanagar War
The final of the four “Countdown to Infinite Crisis” mini-series to be published, The Rann-Thanagar War is certainly not the weakest and is just as certainly the most sweeping.
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: “Sacrifice”
We’ve looked at the first three issues of The OMAC Project. Now it’s time to look at the shocking storyline those three issues flowed into: “Sacrifice,” running through an entire month’s Superman and Wonder Woman… [more]
Your Guide to Infinite Crisis: The OMAC Project
Having examined DC Countdown, let’s turn our attention to the four mini-series it spawned, beginning with the one that most directly springs from DC Countdown‘s narrative: Greg Rucka’s The OMAC Project.
On DC’s New Logo
On 8 May 2005, DC Comics unveiled its new logo — the first in 30 years or so. What’s in a logo? Does it matter?
Tensions Between Text and Image
The medium variously known as comic books, graphic novels, bandes-dessinés, manga, manga, sequential art, and sequart has been defined as the juxtaposition of text and image on the static page. Once can here recall Words… [more]
Watchmen and Intertextuality: How Watchmen Interrogates the Comics Tradition
Today, Watchmen is celebrated as an autonomous work — and it is partly on this basis that its greatness rests.
On In the Shadow of No Towers
In 2004, coinciding with the Presidential elections, Art Spiegelman released In the Shadow of No Towers. It was the first time his work had penetrated the bookstore since his Maus, which had since won a… [more]
Confessions of a New X-Men Reader
Grant Morrison made me care about the X-Men for the first time. Oh, I’d read the X-Men. I liked the ideas behind “Days of Future Past” and “The Dark Phoenix Saga.” I just didn’t care.
In Defense of Sue Dibny’s Rape
Call me a sick fuck, but I’m in favor of Sue Dibny’s rape. Wait. That came out wrong. I’m in favor of its use in Identity Crisis.
Superman’s Copyright: The Never-Ending Battle?
With the current focus on the rights to Superman, it’s worth taking a moment to discuss the history of the Superman copyright.
The State of American Comics Address, 2004
This is the fourth annual State of American Comics Address that I have given. The State of American Comics Address is intended to sum up, in retrospect and for the historical record, the American comics… [more]
Reviews out of Time 3: Amazing Spider-Man #1
Greetings, True Believers! Welcome to the third installment of my continuing attempt to enlighten you about the weird comics I’m discovering down at Clark’s Drugs! And man, have I got a weird one for you… [more]
Bill Jemas Autopsy
Bill Jemas was for a few years the man everyone loved to hate. He played the bad guy to Joe Quesada, who more effectively cultivated himself as the “people’s man” in Marvel Comics’ administration. Now… [more]
Why I Hate Wolverine
Wolverine would have been a good recurring character in The Incredible Hulk, where he first appeared. And I would have defended him, retractable claws and all. But he can’t really sustain his own book, nor being… [more]
Attention Versus Quality (or Fuck the Market)
People love to complain about it. I can’t enter a comic shop without hearing it. Everyone in American comics seems to want another boom — as if the last one was good for us.
Mark Millar’s The Authority and the Polemic over Iraq
For some reason, as I think of the polemic over Iraq (as I often do these days), I keep thinking about The Authority.
The State of American Comics Address, 2003
Things are, in many ways, quite good in American comics. Sales stink, but the quality of the average comic book is really rather high.
Memoir in Ben-Day Dots
I can’t recall the first comic I ever read. I’m sure they featured in my early childhood, as my family has tattered old Donald Duck and other Gladstone comics to prove it.
The Intellectual Rip-Off of Captain America’s The New Deal
There has been some discussion, as of late, of the politics of recent Captain America storylines.
Against Speculators
Comics in the early ’90s were full of collectors, people who bought comics not to read them but to collect them. And comic book companies catered to this market, printing multiple covers, foil-enhanced covers, holographic… [more]
On Continuity: No-Prizes, Retcons, and the Mental Acrobatics of Continuity Repair
In the Golden Age of the 1930s and 1940s, comics were mostly episodic tales in which characters barely changed.
Exposing Status Quo Super-Heroics in Mark Millar’s The Authority
In 2000, a largely unknown writer named Mark Millar took over an already revolutionary title called The Authority, published by DC / WildStorm.
The Genius of the Super-Pets
The creation of derivative versions of super-heroes goes back to Captain Marvel’s derivatives, Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel, Jr. — which were introduced in the 1940s.
Rich Johnston on Comics Gossip
Rich Johnston is the sole relevant gossip columnist for an entire artistic industry in America. Sometimes scandalous, his columns have broken major stories and changed the face of comics historicism,
Media Coverage of Comic Books: The Case of 60 Minutes II
Tonight, I watched 60 Minutes II because I read online that Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada, popular hero for returning (or contributing to the return of) Marvel Comics to greatness (or something closer), would be on the… [more]
Reviews out of Time 2: The X-Men #1, Tales of Suspense #39, and Sgt. Fury #1
I’m told that there’s been a lot of e-mail in response to the last column, and what’s apparently called “printouts” of it has been sent to me, since I don’t do e-mail myself.
Reviews out of Time 1: Fantastic Four #1, The Incredible Hulk #1, and Amazing Fantasy #15
Guys, I’d like to tell you that there’s some good stuff going on over at this company called Marvel Comics! They got this guy Stan Lee writing, and he’s doing some weird stuff.
The Cult of the Writer
One of the major phenomena occurring in American comic books in the last two decades has been the cult of the writer, often in competition with the cult of the artist or illustrator. Various years… [more]
Superman 2002
Metropolis. A group of walking citizens suddenly stops on the street and stares hopefully toward the heavens.
A Brief Consideration of Gaiman’s Usage of Lucifer in The Sandman
Before he had his own ongoing series, Lucifer came to prominence in Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman. But Gaiman’s Lucifer went through three very different depictions, somewhat inconsistent with one another.
Against Silver Age Marvel, the Cult of Stan Lee, and Fantastic Four (Annual) #1 / For Comic Books as Literary Art
To this day, one hears otherwise intelligent comic book creators saying that they want to recapture the joy of reading Fantastic Four #1, of its fun and its newness. This always shocks me, especially when it… [more]
Comic Book Morality
It’s true: there’s a simplicity to seeing Doc Doom or Lex Luthor as bad and Superman or the Fantastic Four as good.
Censorship of The Authority
The 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks upon the United States of America left many Americans, and much of the world, seriously shaken and disturbed. Almost immediately, the shockwaves echoed throughout the artistic world:
The State of American Comics Address, 2002
The American comic book industry, as an economic institution, is doing terribly. Artistically, however, this will be remembered as a fairly good period. Many mainstream titles are selling less than 20,000 copies; a few even… [more]
The State of American Comics Address, 2001
Okay, ground rules: I take it for granted that comics — or, rather, the medium of graphic literature (an important distinction) — is a serious artistic form, obviously under-appreciated by comparison to painting, sculpture, and… [more]
Belfast and New York, Ireland and America, and “Irish Studies” as Reflected by Garth Ennis
Garth Ennis, an Irish writer working in the graphic novel (or extended comic book) format, represents a literary outsider. Although he shows considerably greater disdain for many other groups, Ennis has openly shown disdain for… [more]
Mark Millar on The Authority
The Authority, already popular, has taken off under the new team of Mark Millar and Frank Quitely. Though many doubted they could replace their popular predecessors,
NEWS CONTENT BY JULIAN DARIUS (59 TOTAL)
The Continuity Pages Return
The Continuity Pages is a massive project that seeks to organize comics according to continuity, rather than simply by title and number. This especially has advantages in the current era, with its plethora of mini-series,… [more]
It’s Superman Week at Sequart!
With Man of Steel debuting later this week, Sequart is proud to announce Superman Week, debuting tomorrow — Monday, 10 June. Superman Week is our third themed week, following on the success of last month’s Star… [more]
Two Reviews of The Devil is in the Details
Two reviews of Sequart’s The Devil is in the Details: Examining Matt Murdock and Daredevil describe the volume’s strengths and weaknesses. A review by Gereg Jones Muller calls the book “fascinating” and contains this passage:… [more]
On The Weirdest Sci-Fi Comic Ever Made, the Book on Jack Kirby’s 2001: A Space Odyssey
It’s been a pleasure to write about Jack Kirby’s 2001: A Space Odyssey here at Sequart, especially as part of its Sci-Fi Week event. It’s also my pleasure to announce that all of this material is… [more]
It’s Star Trek Week and Sci-Fi Week at Sequart!
With Star Trek into Darkness debuting later this week, Sequart is proud to feature two back-to-back weeks of themed content: Star Trek Week and Sci-Fi Week. Beginning tomorrow (Monday, 13 May), we’ll begin a week… [more]
Iron Man 3 — Second Biggest Opening in History
It’s official: Iron Man 3‘s opening weekend in the United States is the second biggest in history, after only The Avengers. Iron Man 3 took in an estimated $175.3 million in its opening weekend, which… [more]
Two Sequart Books in Previews
The Devil is in the Details and Curing the Postmodern Blues are now available to order through your local comic-book shop. Both books are in the current, May 2013 Previews catalog, for distribution to comic-book… [more]
Today is Free Comic Book Day!
Today is the 12th annual Free Comic Book Day, in which comic-book fans — and prospective comic book fans — can go to their local comic-book store and receive free comic books.
On Sequart’s Grant Morrison Library (Video)
In which I discuss Sequart’s three books on Grant Morrison’s work: Timothy Callahan’s Grant Morrison: The Early Years, Patrick Meaney’s Our Sentence is Up: Seeing Grant Morrison’s The Invisibles, and Tom Shapira’s just-released Curing the… [more]
On Sequart’s New Daredevil Book (Video)
In which I discuss Sequart’s most recent publication, The Devil is in the Details: Examining Matt Murdock and Daredevil, edited by Ryan K. Lindsay, and my own essay in the volume (which is titled “What… [more]
Sequart Releases The Devil is in the Details: Examining Matt Murdock and Daredevil
Sequart Research & Literacy Organization is proud to release The Devil is in the Details: Examining Matt Murdock and Daredevil, edited by Ryan K. Lindsay. For half a century, Daredevil has been an outsider and… [more]
Blind Dates and Broken Hearts: Sequart’s Fourth Single
Sequart Research & Literacy Organization is proud to release its fourth single (or short, standalone book): Blind Dates and Broken Hearts: The Tragic Loves of Matthew Murdock, by Ryan K. Lindsay. Daredevil is perhaps the… [more]
Sequart Releases Curing the Postmodern Blues: Reading Grant Morrison and Chris Weston’s The Filth in the 21st Century
Sequart Research & Literacy Organization is proud to release Curing the Postmodern Blues: Reading Grant Morrison and Chris Weston’s The Filth in the 21st Century, authored by Tom Shapira. Published in 2002-2003, Grant Morrison and… [more]
Karen Berger to Leave DC
After a long career that included creating and helming DC’s Vertigo imprint since its inception, Karen Berger is departing DC Comics. In an industry where few editors are known to readers and fans, Karen Berger… [more]
Sequart Sponsors Tufts University Live Chat with Artist JT Waldman
Sequart Research & Literacy Organization is proud to sponsor a free live online chat with JT Waldman, collaborator with Harvey Pekar on the graphic novel Not the Israel My Parents Promised Me.
Sequart for Mobile
If you browse the web on your smartphone, Sequart.org now has a mobile-optimized version of the site.
A Brief Report from Comic-Con — with Movie Batmobiles
Here at Comic-Con, our Image Revolution panel seemed to go over well, and thanks to everyone who attended. Special thanks to Marc Silvestri, who was on the panel, for his tremendous support. Top Cow even included… [more]
The Image Revolution at Comic-Con
If you’re going to be at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, be sure to stop by our panel about The Image Revolution, our forthcoming documentary film about Image Comics. On the panel will be director and… [more]
Two Books About Grant Morrison Now on Kindle
Sequart Research & Literacy Organization’s celebrated Grant Morrison: The Early Years and Our Sentence is Up: Seeing Grant Morrison’s The Invisibles are both now available on Kindle.
Get Sequart’s Book on Batman Begins for 99 Cents
Sequart’s Improving the Foundations: Batman Begins from Comics to Screen, by Julian Darius, is now available digitally for 99 cents.
Sequart’s Books Get New, Cheaper Editions
Sequart Research & Literacy Organization’s entire line of eight books of comics scholarship is now available in revised editions featuring significantly lower cover prices.
New Documentary Film: Comics in Focus: Chris Claremont’s X-Men
Sequart and Respect Films are proud to announce a new documentary film, the first in a new series that will take advantage of new forms of distribution. A Kickstarter campaign has been created to help… [more]
Jim Beard Signing Gotham City 14 Miles in Ohio and New Jersey
Jim Beard, editor of and essayist for our Gotham City 14 Miles, will be appearing at two upcoming comic shows to promote the book and celebrate 45 years of the 1966-68 Batman TV series.
Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts Postcards
Promotional postcards have been created for the upcoming theatrical debut of Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts, and we thought we’d share them with you. The front features a distorted image of Warren Ellis, along with the… [more]
Keeping the World Strange in Comics Stores Wednesday
Keeping the World Strange, our book on Warren Ellis and John Cassaday’s Planetary, hits comics stores Wednesday (14 September 2011).
Sequart’s Books Go Digital
As part of Sequart’s roll-out into digital distribution, two of its books are now available digitally: Timothy Callahan’s Grant Morrison: The Early Years and Julian Darius’s Improving the Foundations: Batman Begins from Comics to Screen.
Sequart’s Julian Darius and Kevin Thurman on Comic Related
Comic Related, an impressive website with comics news and a full slate of podcasts, interviewed Sequart’s publisher Julian Darius and marketing director Kevin Thurman for its most recent episode of The Related Recap.
Please Help Diagram for Delinquents, the Documentary Film on Fredric Wertham
We’re in the home stretch on our Kickstarter campaign for Diagram for Delinquents: Fredric Wertham and the Evolution of Comic Books, our upcoming documentary film about the most hated man in comics history: psychiatrist Fredric… [more]
Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts on Kickstarter
Respect! Films has released a brand new trailer (over at Wired.com) for the documentary film Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts and is looking for some finishing costs funding via Kickstarter.
Cover Released for Voyage in Noise
We’re pleased to release the cover art for Voyage in Noise: Warren Ellis and the Demise of Western Civilization, scheduled for a late 2011 release.
Sequart at C2E2
If you’re going to be at C2E2 in Chicago on Saturday, 19 March, come check out Sequart’s “Year of Ellis” panel.
Keeping the World Strange in Previews
Keeping the World Strange: A Planetary Guide, Sequart’s newest book, is now available for order through Diamond Comics Distributors.
Diagram for Delinquents, the Documentary Film on Fredric Wertham
Sequart is proud to announce a documentary film about the most hated man in comics history: psychiatrist Fredric Wertham.
Cover Released for Shot in the Face
We’re pleased to release the cover art for Shot in the Face: A Savage Journey to the Heart of Transmetropolitan, scheduled for a late 2011 release.
Cover Released for Keeping the World Strange
We’re pleased to release the cover art for Keeping the World Strange: A Planetary Guide, scheduled for May 2011 release.
2011: The Year of Ellis
Here at Sequart, 2011 is the Year of Ellis — as in celebrated comics writer Warren Ellis. Throughout the year, we’ll be offering three books and a documentary film on Ellis, exploring his major works, his… [more]
Welcome to the New Sequart!
You may have noticed that, as of a few days ago, our site has been redesigned, including the addition of a couple of new books. Now, we’re rolling out new online content for the first… [more]
Site Back Up (in Stripped-Down Form)
After a long delay, Sequart.org has returned in a stripped-down form focusing on our line of books and movies, including the upcoming documentary Grant Morrison: Talking with Gods. We’re sorry that our archives, including thousands… [more]
Sequart.org Down
Sequart.org has experienced a loss of service due to a server-related issue. Our webhost migrated the site from one server to another, and it turned out that the complex site simply didn’t work on the… [more]
Teenagers from the Future Now Available
Teenagers from the Future: Essays on the Legion of Super-Heroes is now available from Sequart Research & Literacy Organization.
On the Demise of HBO’s Preacher
The live-action HBO series adapting Preacher is apparently dead.
Mutant Cinema Now Available
Mutant Cinema: The X-Men Trilogy from Comics to Screen is now available from Sequart Research & Literacy Organization.
Grant Morrison: The Early Years on Newsarama
Newsarama has an interview up with Tim Callahan about the second edition of Grant Morrison: The Early Years. Callahan talks about Morrison, including his recent Batman work. He also talks about Sequart’s Teenagers from the Future: Essays… [more]
The Dark Knight Approaches $400 Million
In its third weekend of release, The Dark Knight took in an estimated $43.8 million, bringing its total domestic gross to an estimated $394.9 million. The total was the second-best third-weekend in history: Spider-Man took in $45.0… [more]
The Dark Knight Approaches $300 Million in 10 Days
Now in its second weekend, The Dark Knight continues to set records for the highest-grossing film over such a short duration. On Monday, 21 July, on its fourth day of release, The Dark Knight all but matched… [more]
The Dark Knight Breaks Records
The Dark Knight‘s debut in theatres has broken just about all the records for an opening. First, it broke the record for highest-grossing midnight showing on Friday, 18 July. The movie took in $18.5 million… [more]
Support Grant Morrison: The Early Years 2nd Edition
Sequart Research & Literacy Organization is proud to annouce that the second edition of Grant Morrison: The Early Years is now available for order only through comic shops. The book is listed in July’s Previews catalogue, which… [more]
Grant Morrison: The Early Years in Previews
Sequart Research & Literacy Organization is proud to annouce that the second edition of Grant Morrison: The Early Years is now available for order only through comic shops.
Sequart at NYCC
Sequart Research & Literacy Organization will be at the New York Comic-Con, 18-20 April 2008, at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC. Check it out at table #2445.
Mutant Cinema Coming Soon
Sequart’s newest book, Thomas J. McLean’s Mutant Cinema: The X-Men Trilogy from Comics to Screen, has gone to press and will be available for purchase soon. The book examines the X-Men film trilogy from the ground… [more]
Last Chance to Support Kevin Colden
Sequart’s house artist and Xeric award winner Kevin Colden needs your help before the end of February. Kevin is a great guy who has produced our books’ covers as well as Todt Hill over at The Chemistry… [more]
Kevin Colden’s Strangle/Switch at Zuda Comics
Sequart’s own house artist, Kevin Colden, has an online comic at Zuda Comics that needs your support. Zuda Comics, as you may know, is DC’s online imprint that carries only new content. Kevin Colden’s comic,… [more]
New Look
Yes, the organization has a new logo… and the site a new look.
Flash and Green Lantern Films Get Directors
Flash and Green Lantern movies have been given directors and new directions in the wake of the upcoming Justice League film. While work continues on Justice League, set to spin off a number of DC characters into… [more]
Millar Not to Write Next Superman Film
Seeing opportunity in the wake of changes to the next Superman film, Mark Millar offered to write the character’s next cinematic installment… for free. Millar, a longstanding Superman fan, made the offer on Monday in… [more]
Wolverine Film Gets Date
The upcoming Wolverine film, from 20th Century Fox, now has an official title and release date. The scheduled release date is 1 May 2009. This falls on the first official weekend of summer. As for… [more]
Sequart.com: A 10-Year Retrospective
Earlier this week, I authored an item about how Sequart is celebrating its ten-year anniversary. I want to use this space to expand on what I said there, giving a fuller accounting of our history.
Sequart.com: 10 Years!
Today, Sequart is celebrating 10 years online.
Why Sequart.com?
I’ve been writing about comics since the early days of the internet revolution in the mid-1990s. I had read comics forever, and the internet provided an opportunity to make public my examinations of the best… [more]