Sequart Organization » Search Results » superhero

Black and Powerful: How Priest’s Depiction of a Powerful Black Panther Upset and Upended Fandom’s Expectations

Michael Hoskin — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:25:19 +0000

1999. It was the fourth issue of Marvel Knights’ Black Panther. For the previous three issues, Everett K. Ross had been tormented by Mephisto, the being who – more than any other demon found in… [more]

Review: A Cultural History of the Punisher

Hank Kennedy — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 16:25:22 +0000

Kent Worcester’s A Cultural History of the Punisher (2023, Intellect Books) was an interesting book to review, seeing as I am thanked in the preface as a “friend and scholar.” I’ll cop to being a… [more]

“The Old Bonds Between Man and Nature Have Been Broken”: Environmentalism, Mysticism, and Folk Horror in The Knights of Pendragon, Part 3

David Sweeney — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 00:45:30 +0000

Although Gawain is victorious in it, Thomas’s vision also implies his own defeat at Captain Britain’s hands: after Gawain has killed Lancelot, he lifts the visor of his helmet to see the face of the… [more]

Thor ’77-’78: On the Never-Ending Road to Ragnarok, Part 12

Joe Muszynski — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 00:37:23 +0000

The Mighty Thor #273: The newsman, Harris Hobbs, tells Thor he is going to film a television special about the Norse gods on location – in Asgard. Thor suggests such a request is not his… [more]

“The Old Bonds Between Man and Nature Have Been Broken”: Environmentalism, Mysticism, and Folk Horror in The Knights of Pendragon, Part 2

David Sweeney — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 00:06:14 +0000

The presence of UNIT analogues W.H.O. in a rural location, investigating an anomaly connected to the land, brings to mind the folk horror-themed episodes of Doctor Who referred to by Scovell and mentioned above; however,… [more]

“The Old Bonds Between Man and Nature Have Been Broken”: Environmentalism, Mysticism, and Folk Horror in The Knights of Pendragon, Part 1

David Sweeney — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 18:41:27 +0000

Although the title of the Marvel UK comic book series The Knights of Pendragon (1990-1993; Pendragon hereafter) refers to a group of superheroes, the main protagonist of its first six issues (July-Dec, 1990) is very… [more]

Thor ’77-’78: On the Never-Ending Road to Ragnarok, Part 11

Joe Muszynski — Sun, 07 Jan 2024 00:12:34 +0000

The Mighty Thor #272: Thor flies over New York City, enjoying the freedom of a beautiful day on Earth, but still he spots some real trouble: a bully is beating up a kid in front… [more]

Thor ’77-’78: On the Never-Ending Road to Ragnarok, Part 10

Joe Muszynski — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 22:10:02 +0000

The Mighty Thor #271: Thor – with other members of the Avengers – calls on Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. (which stood for the rather awkward “Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage, Law-Enforcement Division;” were there other Divisions?).… [more]

Monster Mash: Saga of the Swamp Thing and Monster Tropes, Part 2

Scott Weatherly — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 21:44:40 +0000

When Nature Attacks! Having achieved his goal of joining with the Green, Woodrue quickly begins his attack on the human race. Woodrue starts small but his escalation is devastating. The killing of a group of… [more]

Monster Mash: Saga of the Swamp Thing and Monster Tropes, Part 1

Scott Weatherly — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 11:00:40 +0000

Joining the Monster Squad Monsters enter our lives at an early age. We are told stories about the things that dwell in the shadows and the corners of our minds. The creatures that we –… [more]

Because We are Compelled: How Watchmen Interrogates the Comics Tradition

Julian Darius — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 05:33:36 +0000

In this short consideration of Watchmen, Dr. Julian Darius considers this seminal work in context, helping readers place Watchmen within the comics tradition. It’s the perfect introduction to the work for students and readers new and… [more]

Thor ’77-’78: On the Never-Ending Road to Ragnarok, Part 9

Joe Muszynski — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 12:43:35 +0000

The Mighty Thor #270: Blastaar, the Living Bomb-Burst, engages Thor in battle and prevents him from retrieving his hammer. Conveniently though, before Thor can change back into Don Blake, Blastaar throws him into an alley.… [more]

Dracula, for the Mature Reader: How Marvel Built a ‘70s Horror Book Around a Victorian-Era Monster, Part 2

Gerard Waggett — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 11:00:12 +0000

On the 50th Anniversary of Tomb of Dracula, Gerard Waggett concludes his look back at the book, warts and all. [more]

Thor ’77-’78: On the Never-Ending Road to Ragnarok, Part 8

Joe Muszynski — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 12:00:56 +0000

The Mighty Thor #269: The splash page shows Thor reading a newspaper at a New York City newsstand. As a crowd gathers, he gets pressured into signing autographs. Telling his fans he has duties to… [more]

Thor ’77-’78: On the Never-Ending Road to Ragnarok, Part 7

Joe Muszynski — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 12:00:25 +0000

The Mighty Thor #268: Damocles escaped from Thor, but events take place leading Thor right back to him. To begin this issue, the police contact Dr. Blake and ask him to contact Thor. Being one… [more]

Vehicular Violence, the Lawmaster, and Judge Dredd

Douglas Rasmussen — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 12:00:48 +0000

The character of Judge Dredd that appears in the 1995 adaptation from director Danny Cannon and starring Sylvester Stallone, then later in the more faithful 2012 film with Karl Urban, is based on a British… [more]

Thor ’77-’78: On the Never-Ending Road to Ragnarok, Part 6

Joe Muszynski — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 12:00:37 +0000

The Mighty Thor #267: After an epic battle with the Destroyer, Asgard needs major reconstruction. Balder takes charge and repairs are happening swiftly. Odin banishes an unrepentant Loki to Midgard (Earth) in the form of… [more]

Detective Comics #871: Analyzing an Opening Scene, Part Three

Nikolai Fomich — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 12:00:38 +0000

Though all this information can be inferred, what the black pin signifies is not explicitly stated on page one, and so readers are encouraged to turn the page to learn more. Page two is an… [more]

Thor ’77-’78: On the Never-Ending Road to Ragnarok, Part 5

Joe Muszynski — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 12:00:59 +0000

The Mighty Thor #266: Neither Thor nor Sif realize Balder’s life force is powering the Destroyer, so they don’t understand why Karnilla has ended her attack on him. Thor continues the fight alone, but Sif… [more]

Syphon #1 Review

Roque Briones — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 02:16:57 +0000

Syphon is the latest comic-book effort by Patrick Meaney, better known by his quite informative and insightful documentary works on iconic comic book writers such as Grant Morrison: Talking with Gods and Neil Gaiman: Dream… [more]

Excerpt from Sequart’s Book How to Analyze & Review Comics: Underrepresentation, Stereotyping, Objectification, and Plot Devices: Female Characters in Superhero Comics

Carolyn Cocca — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 13:00:27 +0000

The following is an excerpt from Sequart’s book How to Analyze & Review Comics. For more information, including purchase options, click HERE. Female superhero characters have historically been much less numerous, much more often stereotyped,… [more]

Excerpt from Sequart’s Book How to Analyze & Review Comics: Comics and Context: The Questions That Must Be Asked

A. David Lewis — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 08:00:31 +0000

The following is an excerpt from Sequart’s book How to Analyze & Review Comics. For more information, including purchase options, click HERE. You have a blindspot. More literally, you likely have two, given a pair… [more]

Excerpt from Sequart’s Book How to Analyze & Review Comics: In Defense of Comics Criticism: Why We Need Analysis

Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 12:00:38 +0000

The following is an excerpt from Sequart’s book How to Analyze & Review Comics. For more information, including purchase options, click HERE. When you watch Penn & Teller do their particular brand of magic, it… [more]

Evolution of the Islamic Superheroine: Post-9/11 Representation of Muslim Women in Comics

Sam Smith — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 17:50:49 +0000

Introduction The primary purpose of this piece will be to discuss the history regarding the increased representation of Muslima, or female adherents of Islam, within fictional mediums such as superhero comics. Specifically, following the September… [more]

The Knighted King: A Brief Publication History of Christopher Priest’s Black Panther

Michael Hoskin — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 20:39:02 +0000

When Christopher Priest returned to Marvel Comics in 1998 it had been almost ten years since his tumultuous exit from the company. In the interim the company and the comic book industry had undergone tremendous… [more]

Radiant Black #1 Review

Deborah Majowka — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 18:00:03 +0000

Writer: Kyle Higgins Artist: Marcelo Costa SPOILER WARNING… The superhero genre often uses the “super” element as a way to explore experiences that in real life would be ordinary. Radiant Black certainly fits the genre,… [more]

Wonder Woman 1984 Review

Matthew Kirshenblatt — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 23:33:46 +0000

SPOILER WARNING: Please don’t read this until you’ve seen the film! I never wrote anything on Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman. Well, that isn’t entirely true, as I’d admit if Diana of Themyscira’s Lasso is called… [more]

An Introduction’s Inevitable Conclusion: Art Spiegelman: Golden Age Superheroes were Shaped by the Rise of Fascism

Matthew Kirshenblatt — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 16:23:15 +0000

It’s hard to believe that it’s been over a year since the Folio Society published Marvel: The Golden Age 1939–1949 as compiled and edited by Roy Thomas. I saw it as a sponsored Facebook advertisement… [more]

Citizenship 101: The DC Public Service Announcements of the 1950s and 1960s

Brian Puaca — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 23:30:04 +0000

An unlikely 1949 brown paper schoolbook cover produced by DC Comics and distributed by the Institute for American Democracy (IAD) received a great deal of attention following the violent protests in Charlottesville in August 2017.… [more]

Different Men of Tomorrow: Superman and Providence

Matthew Kirshenblatt — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 01:17:56 +0000

Stop me if you’ve heard this story. A mild-mannered bespectacled journalist works at an American newspaper attempting to find a story, having to deal with a senior editor, a wise-cracking coworker, and a troublesome, opinionated… [more]

Panther’s Range: The History of the Black Panther Prior to Christopher Priest

Michael Hoskin — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 15:24:27 +0000

The Black Panther was a ground-breaking character in his 1966 debut. From his first appearance onward, he was seldom absent for long from Marvel Comics publications, whether as a guest star or part of the… [more]

Excerpt from Brett Dakin’s American Daredevil: Comics, Communism, and the Battles of Lev Gleason

Brett Dakin — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 07:46:17 +0000

INTRO: I never met Lev Gleason—he died five years before I was born. My mother would tell me stories about her flamboyant, free-spending uncle from New York City, and I especially loved hearing about Uncle… [more]

Exploring White Privilege in Christopher Priest’s Black Panther: Part 2, Hunter, the White Wolf

Michael Hoskin — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 17:25:50 +0000

Hunter glided into the pages of Black Panther stealthily, first trailing him under a cloak of invisibility in the closing panels of issue #3, before fully appearing in issue #4. Even then, his back story… [more]

Exploring White Privilege in Christopher Priest’s Black Panther: Part 1, Everett K. Ross

Michael Hoskin — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 15:37:58 +0000

It seems shocking that it took more than 30 years for Marvel’s flagship black superhero Black Panther to have a writer who was himself black. This milestone on its own would have made Christopher Priest’s… [more]

Bold, Precise, Experimental: Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s Young Avengers and Their Coming-of-Age Story

Roque Briones — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 17:18:44 +0000

Whenever Kieron Gillen and Jaime McKelvie’s excellent run on Young Avengers gets mentioned online, it’s more often than not to talk about how diverse and inclusive is in regards of sexual identity. This is absolutely… [more]

Thor ’77-’78: On the Never-Ending Road to Ragnarok, Part 4

Joe Muszynski — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 21:43:31 +0000

The Mighty Thor #265: This one is truly an ALL BATTLE ISSUE! We left off with The Destroyer, a suit of indestructible-looking armor, powered by someone’s spirit force, crashing into battle with Thor. We find… [more]

Green Lantern’s Burden: Re-Evaluating the Superhero Genre’s ‘Woke’ Moment

Daniel Guy — Thu, 28 May 2020 21:20:42 +0000

At the turn of the new decade, as the euphoric epoch of the 1960s finally withered away, the symbols of American optimism took on new burdens and new crises. The superheroes of the 1970s, now… [more]

With Great Power Comes Great Career Opportunities: A Character Study of Grant Morrison and Steve Yeowell’s Zenith

James Heath Lantz — Sun, 24 May 2020 13:34:16 +0000

Zenith" title="With Great Power Comes Great Career Opportunities: A Character Study of Grant Morrison and Steve Yeowell’s Zenith" style="float:left;" />Colin Smith makes some valid points in his article “He’s Not a Super-Hero, He’s Not Even a Very Naughty Boy: The Case Against Grant Morrison and Steve Yeowell’s Zenith”. Zenith isn’t a superhero. That’s the… [more]

Jonathan Hickman’s New Avengers #1: Memento Mori

Matthew Brake — Thu, 14 May 2020 01:00:04 +0000

New Avengers #1: Memento Mori" title="Jonathan Hickman’s New Avengers #1: Memento Mori" style="float:left;" />If Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers #1 begins with a creation story, his New Avengers starts out with a less hopeful proclamation: “Everything Dies.” Hickman’s New Avengers #1 opens with a one-page prologue providing a recap of… [more]

There is Another World: Postmodernism and Identity in Grant Morrison’s Doom Patrol

Roque Briones — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 23:00:00 +0000

Grant Morrison’s run on Doom Patrol is certainly not an easy book to recommend. On the surface, it’s a very dense work with dozens of different literary references hiding in every corner, and it can… [more]

Judge Dredd and the Rise of the Police State

Douglas Rasmussen — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 13:00:20 +0000

The dystopian science fiction film Dredd (2012), starring Karl Urban as the titular Judge Dredd and Olivia Thirlby as his rookie-in-training Psi Judge Anderson, adapts the popular British comic strip character originally serialized in 2000AD… [more]

Send in the Clowns: Todd Phillips’s Joker

Matthew Kirshenblatt — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 02:06:48 +0000

Joker" title="Send in the Clowns: Todd Phillips’s Joker" style="float:left;" />Coulrophobia. A fear of clowns. It’s kind of an ironic fear when you consider the idea that clowns are humanity’s way of making fun of its own mortality. For the longest time, I actually thought… [more]

Van Jensen on His OGN Two Dead

Nathan Cabaniss — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 18:18:11 +0000

Two Dead" title="Van Jensen on His OGN Two Dead" style="float:left;" />“In America, no one is more powerful than a police officer,” a character says at one point in Two Dead, the new crime graphic novel from publisher Gallery 13, “a cop can detain you, hurt… [more]

Because I Am the Goddamn Batman: Political Ideologies and Transhumanism in Superhero Comics

KD Evans — Sat, 21 Dec 2019 17:34:48 +0000

Superheroes give us a way to get at the ideologies at work in transhumanism and politics. The genre of superhero comics is a fantastical take on an often dystopian version of our own real world.… [more]

David Seelow on Teaching with Comics and His Book Lessons Drawn

Nicholas Yanes — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 15:00:36 +0000

Lessons Drawn" title="David Seelow on Teaching with Comics and His Book Lessons Drawn" style="float:left;" />With over twenty-five years of experience in higher education, David Seelow’s career has been defined by his desire to develop new and innovative ways of educating students. In addition to his academic work, Seelow founded… [more]

Academics on the Legacy of Fox’s X-Men Films

Nicholas Yanes — Sat, 28 Sep 2019 17:13:47 +0000

Given how fast our current news cycle moves, it is often difficult to remember a time when comic book movies thrived before the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, if we cast our minds to the early… [more]

Hell is Other People: Superheroes, Outsiders, and Chris Ware’s Jimmy Corrigan, Part 2

Jesse Berberich — Sun, 08 Sep 2019 16:00:43 +0000

Jimmy Corrigan, Part 2" title="Hell is Other People: Superheroes, Outsiders, and Chris Ware’s Jimmy Corrigan, Part 2" style="float:left;" />Previously, I explored the themes of Chris Ware’s landmark graphic novel Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth — specifically the role and function of the superhero in this piece and even beyond in Ware’s… [more]

Hell is Other People: Superheroes, Outsiders, and Chris Ware’s Jimmy Corrigan

Jesse Berberich — Sat, 31 Aug 2019 14:52:59 +0000

Jimmy Corrigan" title="Hell is Other People: Superheroes, Outsiders, and Chris Ware’s Jimmy Corrigan" style="float:left;" />Chris Ware’s seminal graphic novel Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth is a masterwork wherein Ware chronicles the struggles of main character, Jimmy, as he navigates through life, eventually meeting his estranged father for… [more]

Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers #1: An Avengers World is Born!

Matthew Brake — Wed, 28 Aug 2019 14:00:48 +0000

Avengers #1: An Avengers World is Born!" title="Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers #1: An Avengers World is Born!" style="float:left;" />Hickman begins Avengers #1 like a creation story, the theme of creation being prevalent throughout the three-issue opening arc: “First there was nothing. Then everything.” As we will see, this is juxtaposed against New Avengers… [more]

“I won’t wear one of those damnfool spandex body-condom things. I don’t have the bust for it”: Superhero Costume in the WildStorm Comics of Warren Ellis, Part 3

David Sweeney — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 11:26:36 +0000

In How To Read Superhero Comics and Why, Klock applies Harold Bloom’s concept of the ‘agon’ to Ellis’s treatment of superheroes in his work for WildStorm. For Bloom, poets can only escape the ‘anxiety of… [more]

Capes, Cowls, and Purple: How Prince Merged the Worlds of Music and Comics with Batman and Beyond

James Heath Lantz — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 13:00:26 +0000

Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958-April 21, 2016), known throughout most of his career simply as Prince, had been an important part of music since his humble beginnings with the band 94 East in 1975,… [more]

The Road to Vertigo: The Suppression and Eventual Rise of Mature Comics and Their Readers

Mikayla J. Laird — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 11:00:44 +0000

The legacy of Vertigo recalls the very idea of comics finally being allowed to mature; letting people swear, drink, openly take drugs for recreation, and bringing in some serious ambiguity as to what it means… [more]

JLA: New World Order Revisited or, What Makes a Story Essential?

Tom Shapira — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 14:00:44 +0000

JLA: New World Order Revisited or, What Makes a Story Essential?" title="JLA: New World Order Revisited or, What Makes a Story Essential?" style="float:left;" />The world of cape-comics has a rather tortured relationship with certain sets of words used to describe a character, creator or project. ‘Iconic,’ for instance, is probably one of the most overused words in our… [more]

Academics on Avengers: Endgame, Part 2

Nicholas Yanes — Sat, 08 Jun 2019 15:00:37 +0000

Avengers: Endgame, Part 2" title="Academics on Avengers: Endgame, Part 2" style="float:left;" />As mentioned in Part 1, we got so many contributions that we had to split this article up into two parts. Below is the second half, and we hope you enjoy it. And again…BEWARE…FOR SPOILERS… [more]

Ever to Ashes: The Unadaptable Nature of the Dark Phoenix Saga

J. Andrew Deman — Sat, 08 Jun 2019 01:00:17 +0000

INTRO As Hollywood takes its second big stab at The Dark Phoenix Saga, the most popular X-Men storyline of all-time, certain age-old arguments about the adaptability of comics properties find new footing in our collective… [more]

Academics on Avengers: Endgame, Part 1

Nicholas Yanes — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 14:36:44 +0000

Avengers: Endgame, Part 1" title="Academics on Avengers: Endgame, Part 1" style="float:left;" />Avengers: Endgame is a cinematic generational event. The epic conclusion to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first arc that began with 2008’s Iron Man and encompasses twenty-two films. As of this posting, Avengers: Endgame has grossed… [more]

“I won’t wear one of those damnfool spandex body-condom things. I don’t have the bust for it”: Superhero Costume in the WildStorm Comics of Warren Ellis, Part 2

David Sweeney — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 14:21:07 +0000

The Authority’s ‘sister’ title, Planetary was also launched in 1999, following a preview story included in the WildStorm titles Gen-13 and C-23 in September of the previous year. Conceived as a series in which Ellis… [more]

Suzanne Scott Discusses Her Career and New Book Fake Geek Girls

Nicholas Yanes — Sat, 18 May 2019 01:00:56 +0000

Fake Geek Girls" title="Suzanne Scott Discusses Her Career and New Book Fake Geek Girls" style="float:left;" />Currently an Assistant Professor of Media Studies at UT Austin, Dr. Suzanne Scott is a scholar focused on fan cultures, gender studies, popular culture, and the various ways they intersect. She has recently published a… [more]

Avengers: Endgame, Iron Man, and America

James Rovira — Sat, 11 May 2019 13:00:50 +0000

Avengers: Endgame, Iron Man, and America" title="Avengers: Endgame, Iron Man, and America" style="float:left;" />Disclaimer: this article includes spoilers starting in the third paragraph, so I wouldn’t read too far if you haven’t watched Avengers: Endgame yet. It also won’t make much sense if you haven’t watched Endgame and… [more]

“I won’t wear one of those damnfool spandex body-condom things. I don’t have the bust for it”: Superhero Costume in the WildStorm Comics of Warren Ellis, Part 1

David Sweeney — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 22:45:58 +0000

The title of this essay comes from lines spoken by the character Jenny Sparks in Warren Ellis’s first issue as writer on the WildStorm title Stormwatch (#37, July 1996), after she is recruited to the… [more]

My Thoughts on Captain Marvel: It’s Complicated

Karra Shimabukuro — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 00:06:44 +0000

Captain Marvel: It’s Complicated" title="My Thoughts on Captain Marvel: It’s Complicated" style="float:left;" />Here be spoilers… I went into my 10:30a showing of Captain Marvel not really knowing anything about Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel. At a time when the entire media market is glutted with superhero films… [more]

Academics on Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Nicholas Yanes — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 18:00:31 +0000

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" title="Academics on Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" style="float:left;" />Released on December 14, 2018, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a movie that shouldn’t exist. Superhero movies have been dominated by live action adaptations for well over a decade, while animated comic book movies have… [more]

Too Much of Everything

Tom Shapira — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 20:34:36 +0000

Launched in the last month of 2018, TKO Studios is a new publisher that sets out to “redefine the industry.” Their first wave of announced comics includes titles like Sara – a World War II… [more]

Can Thanos Come Snap Comics TV Shows?: Titans Disappoints

Karra Shimabukuro — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 18:29:21 +0000

Titans Disappoints" title="Can Thanos Come Snap Comics TV Shows?: Titans Disappoints" style="float:left;" />When Arrow first premiered on the CW, I was excited because the weekly format seemed the perfect fit for telling comic stories. As more shows got rolled out, I was even more excited. The Flash,… [more]

“We Go Bigger”: Diving into Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers

Matthew Brake — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 10:00:03 +0000

Jonathan Hickman’s run on the Avengers picks up just after Brian Michael Bendis’s eight-year run on the title came to an end. Bendis’s time on the title was a veritable event generating machine, beginning with… [more]

Jason Aaron & Steve Dillon’s PunisherMAX: Kingpin Becomes Walter White

James Kelly — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 14:00:43 +0000

PunisherMAX: Kingpin Becomes Walter White" title="Jason Aaron & Steve Dillon’s PunisherMAX: Kingpin Becomes Walter White" style="float:left;" />Though many fans will rightfully clamor for Ennis’ Punisher, Aaron & Dillon’s 22-issue run on the Punisher is the greatest Punisher story ever told. Beginning with Wilson Fisk rising in the criminal world. [more]

Julian Chambliss Discusses MSU’s Comics Forum and Commitment to Pop Culture Studies

Nicholas Yanes — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 14:00:09 +0000

Leaving the peninsula of Florida for the peninsula of Michigan, Dr. Julian Chambliss is now a professor in Michigan State University’s Department of English. As a scholar of comic books and popular culture, Chambliss will… [more]

A Flying Jatt: A Superhero Movie a la Bollywood

Brian Cowlishaw — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 18:40:52 +0000

A Flying Jatt: A Superhero Movie a la Bollywood" title="A Flying Jatt: A Superhero Movie a la Bollywood" style="float:left;" />No one knows better than Sequart’s readership that there are tons of superhero movies out right now. Especially now, in fact, as high “popcorn movie” season, a/k/a summer, is just beginning. If you know the… [more]

Why Latinx Superheroes Matter: An Interview with Eisner Nominee Frederick Luis Aldama

Shawn Edrei — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 19:39:52 +0000

I first met Professor Frederick Luis Aldama in 2015, at a conference held by the International Society for the Study of Narrative in Chicago. His talk on mixed-race superheroes was part of a larger panel… [more]

“Also, It’s Congruent with Lovecraft’s Ideal State of Ataraxia…” – Providence #12 and the Acceptance of Apocalypse

Dave Whittaker — Sat, 26 May 2018 23:16:26 +0000

Providence #12 and the Acceptance of Apocalypse" title="“Also, It’s Congruent with Lovecraft’s Ideal State of Ataraxia…” – Providence #12 and the Acceptance of Apocalypse" style="float:left;" />“…of all the space unoccupied by familiar material objects not one particle was vacant. Indescribable shapes both alive and otherwise were mixed in disgusting disarray, and close to every known thing were whole worlds of… [more]

Alan Moore’s Marvelman, Part 2: Welcome to the Real World

James Kelly — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 14:00:59 +0000

What if Marvelman woke up in the real world? That was the simple and enticing high-concept that Alan Moore wished to explore when he began to write his graphic novel Marvelman. In the hands of a great writer something as simple as “Superman landing in the Soviet Union” can be developed into something profound and thought-provoking. On the surface, Moore’s premise can sound simple and a desire to bring more realism into the superhero genre. [more]

Alan Moore’s Marvelman, Part 1: From the Ashes of Obscurity…

James Kelly — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 14:00:01 +0000

Alan Moore brought new life to one of the most unoriginal superheroes. See how Alan Moore utilized Marvelman to explore and critique the Golden Age of Comics. [more]

Zaki’s Review: Black Panther

Zaki Hasan — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 19:38:59 +0000

Black Panther" title="Zaki’s Review: Black Panther" style="float:left;" />Black Panther is a movie that, of necessity, means different things to different audiences. As the latest entry in Disney’s expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe, it holds a specific appeal to longtime comic fans and those… [more]

The Tao of Alan Moore and Grant Morrison

Bobby Campbell — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 18:17:28 +0000

I have something of a fascination for the recurring manufactured drama between comic/occult/visionary writers Alan Moore & Grant Morrison. Often times billed as an epic magickal war, w/ thematic shades of Aleister Crowley vs. William Butler… [more]

Larry Nevin Should Never Have Been Taken Seriously, or Why the Super Sons Matter

Benjamin Hall — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 20:20:53 +0000

Super Sons Matter" title="Larry Nevin Should Never Have Been Taken Seriously, or Why the Super Sons Matter" style="float:left;" />DC One Million and Batman Beyond along with many other examples suggest that the concept of legacy characters and superhero parenthood can work. Yes, this ages the characters, but we have been stuck in the… [more]

Shelley Barba and Joy Perrin on The Ascendance of Harley Quinn: Essays on DC’s Enigmatic Villain

Nicholas Yanes — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 17:36:41 +0000

The Ascendance of Harley Quinn: Essays on DC’s Enigmatic Villain" title="Shelley Barba and Joy Perrin on The Ascendance of Harley Quinn: Essays on DC’s Enigmatic Villain" style="float:left;" />Harley Quinn first appeared in a 1992 episode of Batman: The Animated Series. With no previous history in Batman’s lore, Quinn could have just been another random character created for an animated series. However, she… [more]

A. David Lewis on Being a Religion and Comics Scholar, and His New Book Muslim Superheroes: Comics, Islam, and Representation

Nicholas Yanes — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 18:32:49 +0000

Muslim Superheroes: Comics, Islam, and Representation" title="A. David Lewis on Being a Religion and Comics Scholar, and His New Book Muslim Superheroes: Comics, Islam, and Representation" style="float:left;" />A. David Lewis is a scholar of religion, literature, and comics studies. He has published graphic novels and several academic works that explore convergence of religion and comic books. His latest academic project is Muslim… [more]

Adam West Joins Bruce Lee and Van Williams in Heaven

Steven Ronai — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 11:00:31 +0000

Adam West, star of the 1960s Batman TV series, passed away in 2017. He will no doubt be warmly welcomed into heaven by former co-stars Bruce Lee and Van Williams. The three, along with the… [more]

Alack Sinner: The Age of innocence

Tom Shapira — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 18:50:26 +0000

Alack Sinner: The Age of innocence" title="Alack Sinner: The Age of innocence" style="float:left;" />Writer: Carlos Sampayo, Artist: Jose Munoz, Publisher: Euro Comics / IDW “When it comes to stories Alack Sinner heard his share. He had spent his life listening to others… that’s what he was paid for.”… [more]

Thor ’77-’78: On the Never-Ending Road to Ragnarok, Part 3

Joe Muszynski — Sat, 04 Nov 2017 13:00:08 +0000

The Mighty Thor #264: In this issues, Loki sits on the throne because Balder, though left in charge of Asgard, departed to visit Karnilla, Queen of the Norns. The throne was left empty. Now that… [more]

Do You Want to Know My Secret Identity: Professor Marston & the Wonder Women

Matthew Kirshenblatt — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 18:30:06 +0000

Professor Marston & the Wonder Women" title="Do You Want to Know My Secret Identity: Professor Marston & the Wonder Women" style="float:left;" />I haven’t had the opportunity to see any advanced screenings of Professor Marston & the Wonder Women yet and, as such, I only have the majority of positive advance reviews to go on. Nevertheless, the… [more]

Netflix’s The Defenders and the Comics that Inspired Them

Steven Ronai — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 19:40:31 +0000

The Defenders and the Comics that Inspired Them" title="Netflix’s The Defenders and the Comics that Inspired Them" style="float:left;" />The Defenders was the first comic book I ever read. To be precise, my Dad had to read it to me because I was so young. That makes the memory even more special. As I… [more]

Thor ’77-’78: On the Never-Ending Road to Ragnarok, Part 2

Joe Muszynski — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 17:20:30 +0000

The Mighty Thor #263: The story: all the Asgardians (Thor, Sif, Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg), with the Recorder, battle against the Odin-force body, created and controlled by the alien within the spirit mold. All fail,… [more]

Thor ’77-’78: On the Never-Ending Road to Ragnarok, Part 1

Joe Muszynski — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 20:45:53 +0000

The Mighty Thor #262: My favorite Marvel character in August 1978 was The Mighty Thor. What follows is an examination of every issue of his Marvel comic book, from August 1977 to July 1978, issues… [more]

Remembering and Celebrating Superman II – The Richard Donner Cut

Ian Dawe — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 18:30:40 +0000

Superman II – The Richard Donner Cut" title="Remembering and Celebrating Superman II – The Richard Donner Cut" style="float:left;" />By wide consensus, the first two Superman films from 1978 and 1980 are considered if not the strongest, at least among the strongest superhero films ever made. Especially the first of the two, directed by… [more]

The Early Superman

Joe Muszynski — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 16:00:12 +0000

Though I was never a regular reader of Superman comics, his presence was felt. In the Justice League comics and on cartoon shows of the era, Superman was always featured, his powers looming large over… [more]

Book Excerpt: 100 Things Spider-Man Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die

Mark Ginocchio — Sat, 02 Sep 2017 12:00:07 +0000

100 Things Spider-Man Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die" title="Book Excerpt: 100 Things Spider-Man Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die" style="float:left;" />Editor’s Note: Sequart contributor and Spider-Man sage Mark Ginocchio has a new book out! Not shockingly, its focus is on the ol’ Web Head himself. Below is an excerpt from the book. If you like… [more]

“What I do is not up to you”: Respect and Agency in Wonder Woman

Michael Campochiaro — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 15:30:28 +0000

Wonder Woman" title="“What I do is not up to you”: Respect and Agency in Wonder Woman" style="float:left;" />Patty Jenkins’ exceptional Wonder Woman is rightly being celebrated as one of the most inspiring and exhilarating superhero films to date. Still, it has not been immune to criticism, especially with regards to the female lead’s… [more]

Tim Hanley on The Many Lives of Catwoman

Michael Campochiaro — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 14:45:15 +0000

The Many Lives of Catwoman" title="Tim Hanley on The Many Lives of Catwoman" style="float:left;" />Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman in Batman Returns (1992) Tim Hanley (author of Wonder Woman Unbound and Investigating Lois Lane) is back with another superhero spotlight book, The Many Lives of Catwoman. I recently talked to Tim about all things… [more]

Why You Shouldn’t Like Spider-Man: Homecoming, but Probably Do

A.G. Holdier — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 14:30:14 +0000

Spider-Man: Homecoming, but Probably Do" title="Why You Shouldn’t Like Spider-Man: Homecoming, but Probably Do" style="float:left;" />The Catholic philosopher and theologian Peter Kreeft once quipped, “People will forgive you for being wrong, but they will never forgive you for being right.” I imagine that this is why my distaste for Spider-Man:… [more]

Academics Weigh in on Wonder Woman

Nicholas Yanes — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 14:00:27 +0000

Wonder Woman" title="Academics Weigh in on Wonder Woman" style="float:left;" />Released on June 2, 2017, Wonder Woman was a movie decades in the making. As Wonder Woman’s first solo movie, it not only had to do well at the box office but also had to… [more]

All Hail the Queen Malika (and the Princeless Princess)

A. David Lewis — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 18:50:30 +0000

Malika (and the Princeless Princess)" title="All Hail the Queen Malika (and the Princeless Princess)" style="float:left;" />It’s tempting to compare Malika: Warrior Queen from YouNeek Studios to Black Panther from Marvel Comics. Both feature a heroic leader, the inheritor of a royal legacy, attempting to bring security to their fictional African… [more]

Wonder Woman: More than Just an Object

A.G. Holdier — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 20:00:25 +0000

What do armpits, a marketing campaign, and the United Nations all have in common? If you guessed “Wonder Woman,” then you’re close; more specifically, each of these things have been at the center of recent… [more]

The Classical Roots of Wonder Woman and Sandman

Sasha Fraze — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 13:00:42 +0000

Wonder Woman and Sandman" title="The Classical Roots of Wonder Woman and Sandman" style="float:left;" />Note: Here I am primarily concerned with George Perez’s run as writer-artist, issues 1-25 Neil Gaiman likes to wear his influences on his sleeves. Every issue of Sandman has more than enough references to classic… [more]

Beyond the Sword and Shield: What Wonder Woman Stands for and Why She Serves as a Good Example for the Power that Modern-Day People Possess

Jarrett Mazza — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 19:00:51 +0000

It’s not difficult for a comic book fan to understand the reasons why Wonder Woman is one of the greatest superheroes in the extensive gallery that is the DC Universe. It is also just as… [more]

What’s Really at Stake with Wonder Woman

Karra Shimabukuro — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 14:00:08 +0000

Really at Stake with Wonder Woman" title="What’s Really at Stake with Wonder Woman" style="float:left;" />I was born in 1976, a bicentennial baby as my mother used to say. One of my first clear memories is of going to see Star Wars in the theatre. For television, we only had… [more]

Wonder Woman ‘11: Ill-conceived

Leonard Sultana — Wed, 31 May 2017 19:00:53 +0000

There is nothing more frustrating than a squandered opportunity. In 2011, as the Smallville series was reaching its finale, Warner Bros. Television and DC Entertainment attempted to capitalise on the interest in its superhero brands… [more]

Wonder Woman: The Promise of Hope

Michael Campochiaro — Wed, 31 May 2017 14:00:40 +0000

Superheroes are often symbolic representations of any number of emotional, psychological, or behavioral traits. In them, we see highly exaggerated and stylized versions of ourselves. Taking an oath to wage a lifetime war on crime,… [more]

An Amazon and a Crime Writer Walk into a Wardobe: The Retconned Legacy of Dorothy Woolfolk

Sara K. Ellis — Tue, 30 May 2017 18:30:39 +0000

Last December, the UN decision to strip Wonder Woman of her role as Ambassador to Women and Girls felt a bit like the universe had been retconned. Again. It was ugly timing after the U.S.… [more]

Fairy Stories for a Wizarding World: J.K. Rowling’s The Tales of Beedle the Bard

Matthew Kirshenblatt — Fri, 26 May 2017 18:30:10 +0000

The Tales of Beedle the Bard" title="Fairy Stories for a Wizarding World: J.K. Rowling’s The Tales of Beedle the Bard" style="float:left;" />A little while ago, I got into a rant about Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill’s The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Volume Three: Century, or more specifically its final chapter beat “2009.” I understand the creative… [more]