Sequart Organization » Stuart Warren

Thoughts on Batman V Superman

Stuart Warren — Sun, 03 Apr 2016 17:00:13 +0000

Batman V Superman" title="Thoughts on Batman V Superman" style="float:left;" />When I was first introduced to Zack Snyder’s DC universe, with Man of Steel, I was very hopeful for the project given Snyder’s previous track record with comic book films. I’ve heard from the multitudes… [more]

The Folly of Male Supermasculinity

Stuart Warren — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 11:30:06 +0000

When I discovered comic books I was already in college, but their influence was present in my life far before that. I had seen all the Batman films (Burton and Schumacher’s work) and the venerable… [more]

Independence: Now What?

Stuart Warren — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 11:00:21 +0000

It’s that time of year when all Americans contemplate the civil liberties they enjoy every day. That’s what Americans everywhere have to look forward to, right? But, for some reason, I can’t stop thinking about… [more]

A Sandman Miscellany: Sandman Overture #5 Review

Stuart Warren — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 11:00:44 +0000

Sandman Miscellany: Sandman Overture #5 Review" title="A Sandman Miscellany: Sandman Overture #5 Review" style="float:left;" />One of the difficult aspects of reviewing Neil Gaiman’s bookend of his long developed Sandman conceptual universe is making heads and tails of the myriad pathways that intertwine in the grand narrative. [more]

Eating Brains: Zombies and Dystopianism

Stuart Warren — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 11:00:47 +0000

In 2013 I was at SDCC meeting Julian Darius for the first time. After a long, harrowing comic-con experience we both went to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund after party. There were famous people… [more]

Five Reasons Why Comics Scholarship is Important

Stuart Warren — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 11:00:07 +0000

Before getting into comics, I had no idea where to start, or how to approach comics as a body of work. Over the course of several decades comics have diversified into a multi-headed beast. There… [more]

Studio Ghibli and Fascism

Stuart Warren — Sat, 23 May 2015 11:00:52 +0000

Studio Ghibli’s films have inspired some introspection so far, but upon further inspection there is a very serious issue that preoccupies the studio’s middle cannon: that is fascism, and the portrayal of fascism in Studio… [more]

The Burden of Change: Mourning the Pastoral in Pom Poko

Stuart Warren — Sun, 17 May 2015 11:00:24 +0000

Pom Poko" title="The Burden of Change: Mourning the Pastoral in Pom Poko" style="float:left;" />Japanese tales are burdened with loss, especially modern ones. Modern Japanese fiction, produced by such writers as Natsume Soseki, is conscious about the loss of innocence and the disintegration of Eastern culture against the Western… [more]

Diametric Futures and Alternate Realities Adequately Executed: Lou Iovino’s The Last West

Stuart Warren — Wed, 13 May 2015 11:00:11 +0000

The Last West" title="Diametric Futures and Alternate Realities Adequately Executed: Lou Iovino’s The Last West" style="float:left;" />I’ve never read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. (Most people who don’t like it haven’t either.) But I am aware of Objectivism, the tenet that Rand preaches without abandon, and I refuse to live in… [more]

J.M. DeMatteis and His Neglected Contribution to the Revival of DC

Stuart Warren — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 18:00:48 +0000

“Has our world become so twisted, so violent, that this is the kind of hero we produce?” Lois Lane, in a different world, types on her computer a new story and reveals to the world… [more]

American Sniper, Justice, and Equity before God and Country

Stuart Warren — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 18:00:06 +0000

American Sniper, Justice, and Equity before God and Country" title="American Sniper, Justice, and Equity before God and Country" style="float:left;" />In the 2015 film American Sniper, following the first kill that Navy Seal Chris Kyle undertakes, he arrives on base and is greeted by fellow soldier, and future friend, Biggles reading a Punisher comic. After… [more]

Finding Comfort and Joy in Justice League this Christmas

Stuart Warren — Thu, 25 Dec 2014 17:30:21 +0000

Comfort and Joy in Justice League this Christmas" title="Finding Comfort and Joy in Justice League this Christmas" style="float:left;" />Christmas episodes are generic now in the year of our Lord, two thousand and fourteen, but they are embedded in a larger history of seasonal programing that transcends mediums of all forms. Holiday festivals, derivative… [more]

A Sandman Miscellany: Sandman Overture #4 Review

Stuart Warren — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 00:00:30 +0000

Sandman Miscellany: Sandman Overture #4 Review" title="A Sandman Miscellany: Sandman Overture #4 Review" style="float:left;" />Written by: Neil Gaiman Art by: J.H. Williams, III Cover by: J.H. Williams, III Dave McKean Variant Cover by: J.H. Williams, III Dave McKean The long awaited Sandman Overture #4 has arrived, just in time… [more]

Breaking Through The Far Side: Gary Larson’s Postmodern Antiquity

Stuart Warren — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 12:00:34 +0000

The Far Side: Gary Larson’s Postmodern Antiquity" title="Breaking Through The Far Side: Gary Larson’s Postmodern Antiquity" style="float:left;" />Many grow up with the presence of newspaper strips immediately within reach. These snippets of surreality appeal primarily to children, which is odd considering the intended audience of the “funnies” earlier in the 20th century.… [more]

Why I Am Thankful: How Sequart Has Changed My Life

Stuart Warren — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 14:00:40 +0000

I’ve played a large role in discouraging personal writing in posts on Sequart in the past months, only because how we feel and who we are intrudes on objective analysis of a text or work.… [more]

Conversations with Creators: Ramón Pérez

Stuart Warren — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 18:00:45 +0000

Conversations with Creators is a collaborative interview series designed to understand the processes and inner workings of the artist, their creations, and how their work impacts the comic booking industry. Each meeting is candid and… [more]

Akira Toriyama and the Japanese Superman: Son Goku and Science Fiction

Stuart Warren — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 12:00:25 +0000

There is a divergence between Eastern and Western fantasy in the modern age that is nascent but hidden beneath cultural barriers. Americans can watch an episode of Dr. Who and enjoy the languishing British empire… [more]

Conversations with Creators: Royden Lepp

Stuart Warren — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 18:00:36 +0000

Discovering Black Jesus, Episode 6: “Love Thy Enemy, Part 1”

Stuart Warren — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 11:00:15 +0000

“You better slow down Joe Brown. You know God’s love will get you f*cked up quick.” God’s love dominates Black Jesus as a recurring theme, but what it means exactly has yet to take shape… [more]

Conversations with Creators: Kevin Rubio

Stuart Warren — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 17:00:09 +0000

Discovering Black Jesus, Episode 5 “Fried Green Tomatoes”

Stuart Warren — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 17:00:55 +0000

Black Jesus, Episode 5 “Fried Green Tomatoes”" title="Discovering Black Jesus, Episode 5 “Fried Green Tomatoes”" style="float:left;" />Boonie: Man, God ain’t good man. God sucks right now. Black Jesus: Oh negro of little faith, isn’t the miracle of the forgivin’ cholos enough proof to let yo’ disbelievin’ ass know that God want… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: The Man Called A-X Volume 1 #3

Stuart Warren — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 11:00:17 +0000

The Man Called A-X Volume 1 #3" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: The Man Called A-X Volume 1 #3" style="float:left;" />On Christmas Day 2013, my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was… [more]

Discovering McGruder’s Black Jesus: “I Gave at the Playground,” Episode 4

Stuart Warren — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 17:00:46 +0000

Black Jesus: “I Gave at the Playground,” Episode 4" title="Discovering McGruder’s Black Jesus: “I Gave at the Playground,” Episode 4" style="float:left;" />Fighting the struggle to unite a broken community in Compton, Black Jesus seems to meet his match in Black Jesus, episode 4 “I Gave at the Playground.” This complicates McGruder’s construction of Jesus more so… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Shi: Heaven and Earth Volume 1 #4

Stuart Warren — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 11:00:14 +0000

Shi: Heaven and Earth Volume 1 #4" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Shi: Heaven and Earth Volume 1 #4" style="float:left;" />On Christmas Day 2013, my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Ms. Mystic Deathwatch 2000 Volume 1 #3

Stuart Warren — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 11:00:08 +0000

Ms. Mystic Deathwatch 2000 Volume 1 #3" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Ms. Mystic Deathwatch 2000 Volume 1 #3" style="float:left;" />This Christmas my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was a time… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Volume 1 #8

Stuart Warren — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 17:00:41 +0000

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Volume 1 #8" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Volume 1 #8" style="float:left;" />This Christmas my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was a time… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Firestorm Volume 2 #95

Stuart Warren — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 11:00:21 +0000

Firestorm Volume 2 #95" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Firestorm Volume 2 #95" style="float:left;" />This Christmas my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was a time… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Justice League America Volume 1 #61

Stuart Warren — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 17:00:00 +0000

Justice League America Volume 1 #61" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Justice League America Volume 1 #61" style="float:left;" />On Christmas Day 2013, my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was… [more]

Jack Kirby and His Pal Darkseid

Stuart Warren — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 11:00:49 +0000

Jack Kirby is among the greats in comic book culture, not for his creations really, but for his signature tone that set the stage for what would become modern comicbooking. His antiquated writing style, outlandish… [more]

Discovering McGruder’s Black Jesus: “The Shit Heist,” Episode 3

Stuart Warren — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 17:00:38 +0000

Black Jesus: “The Shit Heist,” Episode 3" title="Discovering McGruder’s Black Jesus: “The Shit Heist,” Episode 3" style="float:left;" />I had the opportunity to meet Christopher McCulloch (AKA Jackson Publick) and Doc Hammer this year at the San Diego Comic Con. (It was a random affair, the sidewalk meeting of a minor hero/celebrity that… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: The New Warriors Volume 1 #33

Stuart Warren — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 11:00:22 +0000

The New Warriors Volume 1 #33" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: The New Warriors Volume 1 #33" style="float:left;" />On Christmas Day 2013, my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was… [more]

Discovering McGruder’s Black Jesus: “Fish and the Con Man,” Episode 2

Stuart Warren — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 17:00:54 +0000

Black Jesus: “Fish and the Con Man,” Episode 2" title="Discovering McGruder’s Black Jesus: “Fish and the Con Man,” Episode 2" style="float:left;" />My previous article was an introductory exposition on Black Jesus and the treatment of Jesus by Aaron McGruder that discussed setting Black Jesus within an environment akin to the historical Jesus’ milieu. Now that I… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Ghost Rider Annual Volume 1 #2

Stuart Warren — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 11:00:53 +0000

Ghost Rider Annual Volume 1 #2" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Ghost Rider Annual Volume 1 #2" style="float:left;" />On Christmas Day 2013, my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was… [more]

On Black Jesus: Adult Swim’s Reimagining of the Messiah

Stuart Warren — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 17:00:15 +0000

Black Jesus: Adult Swim’s Reimagining of the Messiah" title="On Black Jesus: Adult Swim’s Reimagining of the Messiah" style="float:left;" />I wasn’t surprised to see that late night programmer Adult Swim was going to put on a show called Black Jesus. I’ve been watching the network since my early teens (now about 10 years), recalling… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Nexus #32

Stuart Warren — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 11:00:08 +0000

Nexus #32" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Nexus #32" style="float:left;" />Last Christmas my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was a time… [more]

A Sandman Miscellany: Sandman Overture #3 Review

Stuart Warren — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 19:00:02 +0000

Sandman Miscellany: Sandman Overture #3 Review" title="A Sandman Miscellany: Sandman Overture #3 Review" style="float:left;" />Written by: Neil Gaiman Art by: J.H. Williams, III Cover by: J.H. Williams, III Dave McKean Variant Cover by: J.H. Williams, III Dave McKean Since its genesis in the long distant past of December 2013,… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Bloodstrike Volume 1 #2

Stuart Warren — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 11:00:17 +0000

Bloodstrike Volume 1 #2" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Bloodstrike Volume 1 #2" style="float:left;" />Last Christmas my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was a time… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Gen13 Annual 2000

Stuart Warren — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 17:00:50 +0000

Gen13 Annual 2000" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Gen13 Annual 2000" style="float:left;" />Last Christmas my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was a time… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Daredevil Volume 1 #336

Stuart Warren — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 15:00:40 +0000

Daredevil Volume 1 #336" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Daredevil Volume 1 #336" style="float:left;" />Last Christmas my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was a time… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Namor the Sub-Mariner Volume 1 #30

Stuart Warren — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11:00:27 +0000

Namor the Sub-Mariner Volume 1 #30" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Namor the Sub-Mariner Volume 1 #30" style="float:left;" />Last Christmas my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was a time… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 1 #67

Stuart Warren — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 19:00:02 +0000

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 1 #67" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 1 #67" style="float:left;" />Last Christmas my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was a time… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Warheads Volume 1 #5

Stuart Warren — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 15:00:30 +0000

Warheads Volume 1 #5" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Warheads Volume 1 #5" style="float:left;" />Last Christmas my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was a time… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Cage #15 Volume 1

Stuart Warren — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 11:00:27 +0000

Cage #15 Volume 1" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Cage #15 Volume 1" style="float:left;" />Last Christmas my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was a time… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: The Adventures of Superman Volume 1 #512

Stuart Warren — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 19:00:55 +0000

The Adventures of Superman Volume 1 #512" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: The Adventures of Superman Volume 1 #512" style="float:left;" />Last Christmas my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was a time… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Suicide Squad Volume 1 #26

Stuart Warren — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 20:00:53 +0000

Suicide Squad Volume 1 #26" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Suicide Squad Volume 1 #26" style="float:left;" />Last Christmas my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was a time… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Superboy Volume 4 #35

Stuart Warren — Wed, 28 May 2014 11:00:12 +0000

Superboy Volume 4 #35" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Superboy Volume 4 #35" style="float:left;" />Last Christmas my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was a time… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Eternal Warrior Volume 1 #18

Stuart Warren — Thu, 15 May 2014 11:00:13 +0000

Eternal Warrior Volume 1 #18" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Eternal Warrior Volume 1 #18" style="float:left;" />Last Christmas my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was a time… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Tangent Comics: Nightwing Volume 1 #1

Stuart Warren — Thu, 08 May 2014 11:00:43 +0000

Tangent Comics: Nightwing Volume 1 #1" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Tangent Comics: Nightwing Volume 1 #1" style="float:left;" />This Christmas my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was a time… [more]

Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Catwoman Volume 2 #20

Stuart Warren — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 11:00:43 +0000

Catwoman Volume 2 #20" title="Brian’s Comic Book Grab Bag: Catwoman Volume 2 #20" style="float:left;" />This Christmas my brother gave me a booster pack of random, non-sequential issues from a variety of popular comic book titles that syndicated in the late eighties to mid nineties. The nineties was a time… [more]

The Grind: Nine to Five With Patton Oswalt’s Olympians

Stuart Warren — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 11:00:55 +0000

Truth be told, I have about three drafts sitting on my computer hard drive that constitute my attempts at writing this essay. I have never read anything like JLA: Welcome to the Working Week before,… [more]

The Sandman Overture #2 Review

Stuart Warren — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 11:00:16 +0000

The Sandman Overture #2 Review" title="The Sandman Overture #2 Review" style="float:left;" />Written by: Neil Gaiman Art by: J.H. Williams, III Cover by: J.H. Williams, III Dave McKean Variant Cover by: J.H. Williams, III Dave McKean Rating: 9 (of 10) After two delays and much anticipation, the… [more]

Sandman #75: How It Ends, and Begins

Stuart Warren — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 11:00:16 +0000

Sandman #75: How It Ends, and Begins" title="Sandman #75: How It Ends, and Begins" style="float:left;" />What made Shakespeare famous was his ability to pen adaptations. This salacious fact draws from his purloining of content from long dead authors, incapable of making too much of a fuss, though some noticed. Gaiman,… [more]

Sandman: Omnia Mutantur Nihil Interit — Hope for the Exile

Stuart Warren — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 11:00:52 +0000

Sandman: Omnia Mutantur Nihil Interit — Hope for the Exile" title="Sandman: Omnia Mutantur Nihil Interit — Hope for the Exile" style="float:left;" />The words of Ovid’s Metamorphoses bear the emblematic slogan of Sandman #74, the second to last Sandman of it’s original run: “Omnia Mutantur Nihil Interit.” Gaiman’s translation of the phrase in the comic is “Everything… [more]

Sandman: “The Wake” — In which a Funeral and Wedding Occur

Stuart Warren — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 11:00:53 +0000

Sandman: “The Wake” — In which a Funeral and Wedding Occur" title="Sandman: “The Wake” — In which a Funeral and Wedding Occur" style="float:left;" />The final, enigmatic issues of the Sandman emulate a diverse response to the death of the titular Dream. Though there are still two issues left to go in the Sandman series proper, this here is… [more]

Sing Me a Sweet Song: Eisner’s Tragic Love Triangle

Stuart Warren — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 18:00:01 +0000

The lamentable times we find ourselves in are rife with class disparity and injustice. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and cheap, ambling diatribes against these injuries grow more and more cliché. The… [more]

Frimme and His God: Eisner’s Meditations on Suffering

Stuart Warren — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 12:00:57 +0000

Will Eisner, like Walt Disney or Orson Welles, is a household name in his field of expertise. He pioneered his work with such love and dedication that few have contested his reputation as the man… [more]

The Master Builder: Lego Collides with Animal Man #19

Stuart Warren — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 18:00:06 +0000

Animal Man #19" title="The Master Builder: Lego Collides with Animal Man #19" style="float:left;" />If you haven’t seen The Lego Movie yet, you ought to. I found that the film lived up to its expectations, which included the usual kiddy fanfare. But what I was unable to anticipate was… [more]

Death of a Dream – “The Kindly Ones” Conclusion

Stuart Warren — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 12:00:50 +0000

The Kindly Ones ends much how it starts. There is a haunting momentum that drives the story forward, and yet it is clear how this narrative energy is spilling over from the entirety of the… [more]

Dream in Conflict: “The Kindly Ones,” Chapters 7-9

Stuart Warren — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 12:00:50 +0000

It is revealed in The Kindly Ones Part 8 that the identity of the furies has lain in the titular designation all along. When Lyta Hall comes upon them in a solitary shack, deep in… [more]

Justifying Deicide: Lyta Hall’s Feminist Journey in “The Kindly Ones”

Stuart Warren — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 12:00:48 +0000

The final arc of Sandman proceeds to bookend the series with cameos and homages to earlier plots. The feel here is different from previous arcs; Gaiman explains elements as they come, rather than holding back… [more]

Atrocity in Memoriam – Ari Folman’s Waltz with Bashir

Stuart Warren — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 12:00:44 +0000

Waltz with Bashir" title="Atrocity in Memoriam – Ari Folman’s Waltz with Bashir" style="float:left;" />In 2008, Waltz With Bashir, a documentary exploration of the First Lebanon War, was released to wide critical acclaim. The film is animated, told from the perspective of Ari Folman, who dictates his experiences via… [more]

Development of the Spiritual Psychosis: “The Kindly Ones,” Chapters 1-3

Stuart Warren — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 12:00:38 +0000

After absconding to an inn outside the bound of time and reality, Gaiman takes the reader on to the final arc that constitutes The Sandman (discounting the coda material The Wake). The first three issues… [more]

The Marvelous Land of Oz Review

Stuart Warren — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 12:00:30 +0000

The Marvelous Land of Oz Review" title="The Marvelous Land of Oz Review" style="float:left;" />The Marvelous Land of Oz Review Story by: L.Frank Baum Written by: Eric Shanower Art by: Skottie Young Cover by: Skottie Young Rating: 7 (of 10) In the wake of success created by The Wonderful… [more]

The Power Cosmic Screams: The Death of Reality in Sandman #56

Stuart Warren — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 12:00:39 +0000

Sandman #56" title="The Power Cosmic Screams: The Death of Reality in Sandman #56" style="float:left;" />The Worlds’ End Inn: here, reality goes to die. That is the conclusion one can draw after finishing Sandman #56. Existing outside of time, this nexus of infinite zeitgeist is constantly being remade and destroyed… [more]

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Review

Stuart Warren — Sat, 28 Dec 2013 12:00:03 +0000

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Review" title="The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Review" style="float:left;" />The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Story by: L. Frank Baum Written by: Eric Shanower Art by: Skottie Young Cover by: Skottie Young Rating: 8 (of 10) Of all the contemporary and modern American fantasy and… [more]

Batman: Noël — The Redemptive Dickensian Drama

Stuart Warren — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 12:00:20 +0000

Batman: Noël — The Redemptive Dickensian Drama" title="Batman: Noël — The Redemptive Dickensian Drama" style="float:left;" />It’s not uncommon this time of year to hear the phrase “holiday cheer” being thrown around. It’s a nebulous saying, undefined, and passed around like an offering plate collecting alms for the poor. In our… [more]

Our Dearly Departed: Mortality and Death in “Cerements”

Stuart Warren — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 12:00:37 +0000

There is an inside joke at the beginning of Hamlet that few catch. Shakespeare, well known for his wit and narrative charm, deals with religion quite frequently in his plays. This is to be expected… [more]

The Goon Vol. 1: Nothin’ But Misery Review

Stuart Warren — Sun, 15 Dec 2013 12:00:11 +0000

The Goon Vol. 1: Nothin’ But Misery Review" title="The Goon Vol. 1: Nothin’ But Misery Review" style="float:left;" />The Goon Vol. 1: Nothin’ But Misery Written by: Eric Powell Art by: Eric Powell Cover(s) by: Eric & Robin Powell Variant Cover(s) by: Eric Powell Rating 7 (of 10) If art comics ever tipped… [more]

Let Us Worship the Golden Boy: Gaiman’s Teen Prez Messiah

Stuart Warren — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 12:00:36 +0000

Patriotism is difficult to define. There is no true article or concept of what patriotism is. It can, in the hearts and minds of the common man, come to signify a love for one’s country,… [more]

The Sandman Overture #1 Review

Stuart Warren — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 12:00:48 +0000

The Sandman Overture #1 Review" title="The Sandman Overture #1 Review" style="float:left;" />The Sandman Overture #1 Written by Neil Gaiman Art by J.H. Williams, III Cover by J.H. Williams, III Dave McKean Variant Cover by J.H. Williams, III Dave McKean Published by DC/VERTIGO Comics Rating: 10 (of 10) The Sandman takes… [more]

Hob’s Leviathan and Other Fantastic Stories

Stuart Warren — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 12:00:38 +0000

A burial at sea holds so many secrets. The sea, or open waters, have upheld a strange significance in the hearts and minds of passengers, sailors, and captains alike. With satellite imaging and advanced cartography… [more]

Thor’s Facelift: Norse Mythology in the Marvel Universe

Stuart Warren — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 12:00:46 +0000

In 2011, Marvel added the highly anticipated “super-human” alien, Thor, to their cinematic universe, and was largely considered a success. Kenneth Branagh’s direction of the film conjured an old world Shakespearean atmosphere that allowed for… [more]

Aurelia, Restitutor Orbis: Meddling with Sovereignty in Sandman #52

Stuart Warren — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 11:00:33 +0000

Sandman #52" title="Aurelia, Restitutor Orbis: Meddling with Sovereignty in Sandman #52" style="float:left;" />“Cluracan’s Tale” marks the second installment of single, one-shot style issues in the Worlds’ End story cycle in the Sandman. Exhibiting the wit of the Faerie and the corruption of Man, Cluracan’s yarn advances a… [more]

“Life on the Edge”: In Which a Man Named Robert Finds Himself Stuck in a City

Stuart Warren — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 11:00:03 +0000

Sandman has fostered its reputation as a staple in the Horror genre since its conception, often executing stories and fables instigating the subtle and unnerving fear lurking in the modest and mundane. Gaiman’s style, very… [more]

Empire of the Sun: The Golden Age of Islam in Sandman’s “Ramadan”

Stuart Warren — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 11:00:49 +0000

Sandman’s “Ramadan”" title="Empire of the Sun: The Golden Age of Islam in Sandman’s “Ramadan”" style="float:left;" />The previous installments of Distant Mirrors dealt with the cult of government, prospective rulers at the behest of their citizens, blindly careening through history. Caesar Augustus blazed trails, setting into motion the wheels of modern… [more]

When Justice League Changed the World

Stuart Warren — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 11:00:22 +0000

Justice League Changed the World" title="When Justice League Changed the World" style="float:left;" />Before there were comic books in my life, I was aware of the DC Universe solely through the alluring advances of Warner Bros Animation. Lately, the WB has been stepping up their line with a… [more]

Solidarity of Identity Founded in Change: “Brief Lives,” Chapter 7-9

Stuart Warren — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 11:00:47 +0000

The weight and emotional draw of the Brief Lives narrative arc is massive, serving perhaps as the long awaited catharsis for Dream’s inner anguish. Yet it also offers something new, albeit profound: Dream has changed,… [more]

Typically Endless: The Distance Between Gods and Men in “Brief Lives,” Chapters 4-6

Stuart Warren — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 11:00:46 +0000

Sandman’s Brief Lives follows closely with its former, titular predecessor penned by John Aubrey. His work, which compiles the veritable who’s who of the Western Enlightenment from 17th century Europe, succeeds at creating a window… [more]

Coping by Change: Sandman’s “Brief Lives,” Chapters 1-3

Stuart Warren — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 11:00:02 +0000

Sandman’s “Brief Lives,” Chapters 1-3" title="Coping by Change: Sandman’s “Brief Lives,” Chapters 1-3" style="float:left;" />Investigating the corpus of Gaiman’s literary contributions draws fruitful results when contemplating his creative process. Earlier works often foreshadow later ones, the latter being throwbacks to ideas at their genesis, now fully developed theses. American… [more]

The Horror of Baseball: A Review of Sullivan’s Sluggers

Stuart Warren — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 11:00:30 +0000

Sullivan’s Sluggers" title="The Horror of Baseball: A Review of Sullivan’s Sluggers" style="float:left;" />Sullivan’s Sluggers originated as one of the many Kickstarter grassroots projects that have flooded the internet in recent years. While it pigeonholes itself comfortably into predictable tropes familiar to the horror genre, it exhibits more… [more]

Song of Death: The Tragedy of Dream’s Only Begotten Son

Stuart Warren — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 11:00:08 +0000

Through the Sandman, one recurring theme endures that tempers the fantasy offered by Gaiman and his titular protagonist. This is deconstructing the fantastic and popularizing ancient tales into pedestrian tongues. He is contextualizing tales culturally… [more]

Why the World Needs Superman

Stuart Warren — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 11:00:44 +0000

I look back on the things I’ve written occasionally and discover old parts of me that I can treasure and hold on to nostalgically. This is one of those pieces. What follows is the script… [more]

Archetypes of Conflict: Weaponized Narratives in “Parliament of Rooks”

Stuart Warren — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 11:00:20 +0000

“How does the story end?” is a legitimate, but not often enough asked, inquiry of our narratives. Imagine any fairy tale. The Tortoise and the Hare embodies the weathered adage, “slow and steady wins the… [more]

Sandman’s Soft Places: Travelogue Through the Dreaming

Stuart Warren — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 11:00:26 +0000

Sandman’s Soft Places: Travelogue Through the Dreaming" title="Sandman’s Soft Places: Travelogue Through the Dreaming" style="float:left;" />Corporeality is overrated in the comic book multiverse. Grant Morrison’s theoretical conceptualizations of the infinite reality have interwoven themselves through the vein of modern storytelling, but Gaiman’s play on this concept is also well documented… [more]

The Old World: Comics and Cultural Reclamation in Sandman #38

Stuart Warren — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 11:00:44 +0000

Sandman #38" title="The Old World: Comics and Cultural Reclamation in Sandman #38" style="float:left;" />Worthy expressions of folk myth are few and far between in the mainstream media, but persist as the most iconic means of contemporary storytelling. At the conclusion of A Game Of You, Gaiman introduces a… [more]

Jesus Christ Superman

Stuart Warren — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:00:45 +0000

The irony of Superman in the age of Postmodernism is that our world has no need for saviors. Often I find myself in the middle of arguments where I defend Superman to my peers as… [more]

Tag and Bink are Relevant: Comics and the Theater of the Absurd

Stuart Warren — Wed, 22 May 2013 11:00:34 +0000

Star Wars is not without its faults. Though being a noteworthy entry into the expanding universe of modern science fiction, continuity problems continue to manifest themselves today, as hosts of underground creatures, confined to their… [more]

Those that Lead the Blind: Gaiman on Government

Stuart Warren — Thu, 02 May 2013 11:00:30 +0000

Mirrors show us a reflection and repose in stasis. We can reflect upon it, perhaps adjust our appearance to fit our whim, but ultimately the mirror captures more than just personal imagery—it captures our essence.… [more]

That’s Not Funny: Alan Moore’s Tragic Joker

Stuart Warren — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:00:59 +0000

The ’80s for comics is something akin to the British Invasion. American Rock-and-Roll saw a exponential boost in popularity when British acts invaded the already well-established scene, bringing with them unique stylistic influences that would… [more]

Ascending the Throne: Dream’s Return to Dominance in Sandman #25-28

Stuart Warren — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:00:12 +0000

Sandman #25-28" title="Ascending the Throne: Dream’s Return to Dominance in Sandman #25-28" style="float:left;" />Obligation to duty is an odd way of exacting revenge for a condemned archangel. Thus far in Season of Mists, Gaiman’s philosophy of duty and right work ethic encircles the conundrum of Lucifer’s Miltonian Hell,… [more]

Sandman #21-24: Expanding Cosmologies and Dream’s Spiritual Subjugation

Stuart Warren — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 11:00:54 +0000

Sandman #21-24: Expanding Cosmologies and Dream’s Spiritual Subjugation" title="Sandman #21-24: Expanding Cosmologies and Dream’s Spiritual Subjugation" style="float:left;" />In the forward to The Absolute Sandman, Volume One Paul Levitz quipped that Sandman was an unfolding dialectic that narrowed the lines between folk tale and myth. Since the beginning of this narrative, Levitz speculated… [more]

First World Problems: Imperialism and Noncombatant Casualty in Saga Volume One

Stuart Warren — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 11:00:49 +0000

Saga Volume One" title="First World Problems: Imperialism and Noncombatant Casualty in Saga Volume One" style="float:left;" />Comics are analogues of reality, and paint in fantasy tales more compelling than the real world conflicts they are based on. Saga overwhelms the reader with a terrible level of detail, capturing conflicts ranging from… [more]

Humanizing the Endless Immortals in Sandman: Dream Country

Stuart Warren — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:00:23 +0000

Sandman: Dream Country" title="Humanizing the Endless Immortals in Sandman: Dream Country" style="float:left;" />Finalizing the Doll’s House narrative plot, Neil Gaiman’s celebrated Sandman series concludes the first twenty issues with four limited one shot arcs, both harkening back earlier tales and looking forward to future ones. So far… [more]

A Unwelcomed Visitation: A Treatment of Drone Warfare in Royden Lepp’s Rust

Stuart Warren — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:00:16 +0000

Rust" title="A Unwelcomed Visitation: A Treatment of Drone Warfare in Royden Lepp’s Rust" style="float:left;" />With the advent of newer technologies and advanced AI, humans are being systematically phased out from everyday life. This is the machinist’s nightmare: to be replaced by the very things they fabricate and build. What… [more]

Portrait of a Serial Murderer

Stuart Warren — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:00:07 +0000

Conventions exist to bring people together, even serial killers. At least that is the spin put on them in Sandman #14: “Collectors.” Those familiar with Gaiman’s catalog can attest to the diversity of his corpus,… [more]

Gaiman’s Fortunate Men: A Humanizing Tale of Time Well Spent

Stuart Warren — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 12:00:25 +0000

The words of John Donne’s Death be not Proud are Neil Gaiman’s badge of honor. “Death, be not proud, though some have called thee mighty and dreadful for thou art not so,” the emboldened meter… [more]

Sandman #1-8: Preambles and Introductions, Full of Sound and Fury

Stuart Warren — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 12:00:52 +0000

Sandman #1-8: Preambles and Introductions, Full of Sound and Fury" title="Sandman #1-8: Preambles and Introductions, Full of Sound and Fury" style="float:left;" />Paul Levitz once said Sandman is about storytelling, and the point by which it vacillates between mere tales and pithy sayings to the grand myth it is today. DC is full of heroes, truth be… [more]

Gotta Loeb Batman: Batman and Synergy in Hush

Stuart Warren — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 12:00:16 +0000

Hush" title="Gotta Loeb Batman: Batman and Synergy in Hush" style="float:left;" />Jeph Loeb is the quintessential Batman writer, and one is not bereft of evidence for such a claim. His two most recognized works, Batman: The Long Halloween, and the anticipated sequel, Batman: Dark Victory, embodied… [more]

Coping with Hallucination: Revolutionizing Character Internalization in Joe the Barbarian

Stuart Warren — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:00:03 +0000

Joe the Barbarian" title="Coping with Hallucination: Revolutionizing Character Internalization in Joe the Barbarian" style="float:left;" />Indie comics occasionally introduce characters that would otherwise be unexpected, given that they fall outside of the norm of what is expected in a “hero.” When people think “comics,” perceptions arise that eclipse the mundane… [more]

Tale of Sand: The Legacy of Jim Henson in the Graphic Medium

Stuart Warren — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 12:00:20 +0000

Tale of Sand: The Legacy of Jim Henson in the Graphic Medium" title="Tale of Sand: The Legacy of Jim Henson in the Graphic Medium" style="float:left;" />Jim Henson’s love for visual media has touched the hearts of millions, over successive generations in American television and mixed media. To this day, his beloved creatures that walk and talk in the third dimension… [more]