Giving Thanks

I’m not one for turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. I’m more a vindaloo guy. But I like the ritual of giving thanks.

And on this Thanksgiving, I’d like most of all to thank you, Sequart’s readers. It’s because of you that Sequart exists. If it weren’t for your readership, Sequart would still be a few of my random writings about comics, trying vainly to make the case for comics as a legitimate form of art. Your readership led to others contributing. And every time we’ve expanded, whether into books or movies, you’ve stuck with us and supported us, not only reading but sharing what we were doing and supporting our Kickstarters. It still boggles my mind. You’re the best readership anyone could have.

And you’re consistently the best readership of any comics site. When other sites were filled with bashing of women who dared to criticize a mainstream comic, you were engaged in a reasoned debate about the issue. We’ve done so together, in the spirit of being willing to learn. I’m consistently amazed at how the ugliness that sometimes dominates comics criticism is almost entirely absent from anything Sequart does. You consistently distinguish yourself by your intelligence, your civility, and your kindness. You should be proud of yourself, and I’m immensely thankful for you.

I’m also thankful for Sequart’s many contributors over the years. Writing is intrinsically solitary, and I’m a solitary man. Sequart’s contributors are like family to me, and they make me feel like I’m part of a team. They make me feel less alone. I’m proud of their work, which at this point is an immense body of criticism and scholarship. Some of these contributors have gone on to other things; some are still writing for Sequart. But it’s their wonderful work and their kindness that has let Sequart flourish… and that makes me so happy to keep doing this, after all these years.

Sequart has been an astounding journey. It’s a huge part of what my life is about. But it wouldn’t have happened and wouldn’t mean anything without Sequart’s incredible readership and its talented contributors. You make me feel lucky and blessed. You are loved and appreciated. And I feel a tremendous sense of debt to you all.

Wherever you are, whoever you spend this day with, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

In 1996, while still an undergraduate, Dr. Julian Darius founded what would become Sequart 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 comic book Martian Comics. He currently lives in Illinois.

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Also by Julian Darius:

This Lightning, This Madness: Understanding Alan Moore\'s Miracleman, Book One

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Stories out of Time and Space, Vol. 1

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The Citybot\'s Library: Essays on the Transformers

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Because We are Compelled: How Watchmen Interrogates the Comics Tradition

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Judging Dredd: Examining the World of Judge Dredd

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Somewhere Beyond the Heavens: Exploring Battlestar Galactica

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The Cyberpunk Nexus: Exploring the Blade Runner Universe

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producer

A Long Time Ago: Exploring the Star Wars Cinematic Universe

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Classics on Infinite Earths: The Justice League and DC Crossover Canon

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executive producer

New Life and New Civilizations: Exploring Star Trek Comics

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When Manga Came to America: Super-Hero Revisionism in Mai, the Psychic Girl

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a short documentary on Chris Claremont's historic run and its influence

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Warren Ellis: The Captured Ghosts Interviews

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Voyage in Noise: Warren Ellis and the Demise of Western Civilization

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Shot in the Face: A Savage Journey to the Heart of Transmetropolitan

contributor

The Weirdest Sci-Fi Comic Ever Made: Understanding Jack Kirby\'s 2001: A Space Odyssey

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The Devil is in the Details: Examining Matt Murdock and Daredevil

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Everything and a Mini-Series for the Kitchen Sink: Understanding Infinite Crisis

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Revisionism, Radical Experimentation, and Dystopia in Keith Giffen\'s Legion of Super-Heroes

author

And the Universe so Big: Understanding Batman: The Killing Joke

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a feature-length documentary film on celebrated comics writer Warren Ellis

executive producer

Keeping the World Strange: A Planetary Guide

contributor

Minutes to Midnight: Twelve Essays on Watchmen

contributor

a documentary on the life and work of celebrated comics writer Grant Morrison

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Teenagers from the Future: Essays on the Legion of Super-Heroes

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Improving the Foundations: Batman Begins from Comics to Screen

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2 Comments

  1. Thank you and your contributors. Together, you managed to create something that’s smart without being… peculiar (as in patronizing and contrarian). Now… isn’t it time for another book?

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