Sequart Organization » Articles

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]

Dark Knight, Dark Kitty: The Fourth Wall in Christopher Priest’s Black Panther

Michael Hoskin — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 21:12:15 +0000

“None of this is actually happening. There is a man. At a typewriter. This is all his twisted imagination.” Those words were spoken by Deadpool in Christopher Priest’s first issue as the ongoing series writer… [more]

Vampires Never Stay Dead: Dark Shadows Found A Second Life in Comic Strips

Gerard Waggett — Wed, 15 May 2024 12:24:01 +0000

In April 2024, Hermes Press reissued the Dark Shadows newspaper strip that ran from March 1971-March 1972. Gerard J. Waggett provides a remembrance of that series. Three weeks before ABC dropped the Gothic soap opera… [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]

A Joke Stretched to Its Limits

Gerard Waggett — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 19:45:18 +0000

The Brave and the Bold #111 (“Death Has the Last Laugh”) proclaimed itself “the strangest team-up in history,” pairing Batman with his arch-enemy, the Joker. The two join forces to capture a gangster who has… [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]

Storytelling in Criminal: The Dead and the Dying

Matthew Amuso — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 11:00:42 +0000

The Dead and the Dying, written by Ed Brubaker and illustrated by Sean Phillips, is the third volume of Criminal, and it marks the point where the series really hit its stride. This is where… [more]

Panther Beat: The Use of Beat Panels in Priest’s Black Panther

Michael Hoskin — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 22:29:19 +0000

From literally beginning to end, Christopher Priest’s Black Panther made use of so-called ‘beat panels’ for comedic effect. Although Priest had incorporated beat panels into his repertoire prior to Black Panther, and would continue to… [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]

Proper Pronouns: How Wonder Woman Slipped Sexual Slavery, Sadism, and Homosexuality Past the Comics Code Authority

Gerard Waggett — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 14:51:23 +0000

The last few years have taught us the importance the LGBTQ+ community places upon personal pronouns. In 1969, Wonder Woman writer / penciller / editor Mike Sekowsky understood the value of pronouns when it came… [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]

Dracula, for the Mature Reader: How Marvel Built a ‘70s Horror Book Around a Victorian-Era Monster, Part 1

Gerard Waggett — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 12:00:06 +0000

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

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

Nikolai Fomich — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 12:00:05 +0000

The final page of the opening scene, page three, is a splash page. In fact, the boy literally emerges from the depths with a splash. This splash page is effective in part because it follows… [more]

Black Lions and Black Panthers: Wakanda as a Representation of Ethiopia

Michael Hoskin — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 12:00:17 +0000

Wakanda is not a true African nation but it can certainly be compared to many African countries. As a fictional nation whose relationship with the real Africa has always been nebulous (to the extent that… [more]

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

Nikolai Fomich — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 12:00:40 +0000

Several years ago, I received a rejection letter from 2000AD in the mail for a story I had pitched called “The Colorblind Cannibal”. In the letter was a brief note explaining that the story didn’t… [more]

Yearning for Wakanda: The Complex Relationship Between Black America, Black Africa, and the Black Panther

Michael Hoskin — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 13:44:02 +0000

I am a Negro: Black as the night is black, Black like the depths of my Africa. – Langston Hughes, “Negro” Although many Black people in the United States feel a kinship or even yearning… [more]

You Humans Love Your Symbolism, Epilogue: Altruism in House of X / Powers of X

David Canham — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 21:06:32 +0000

“MUTANTS—feared and hated by the world they have sworn to protect. These are the STRANGEST heroes of all!” These words greeted readers of Uncanny X-Men in an introductory caption-box at the top of the first… [more]

You Humans Love Your Symbolism, Chapter 12: Prophecy in Powers of X #6

David Canham — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 06:00:05 +0000

Chapter 12: Prophecy – Foreknowledge Motivating Change in Powers of X #6 – I Am Not Ashamed Writer: Jonathan Hickman Penciler: R.B. Silva with Pepe Larraz Inker: R.B. Silva Color Artist: Marte Gracia with David… [more]

You Humans Love Your Symbolism, Chapter 11: Commandments in House of X #6

David Canham — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 06:00:57 +0000

Chapter 11: Commandments in House of X #6 – House of X Writer: Jonathan Hickman Artist: Pepe Larraz Color Artist: Marte Gracia with David Curiel Cover Art: Pepe Larraz and Marte Gracia Who decides right… [more]

Mister Sandman, It Was a Dream: Was Back to the Future Just a Character’s Dream?

James Heath Lantz — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 12:49:25 +0000

Remember when Marty McFly first arrived in 1955? Remember the song that played? Remember the words, “Mister Sandman, bring me a dream”? You’re probably singing the song now to yourself as you read this because… [more]

You Humans Love Your Symbolism, Chapter 10: The Soul in Powers of X #5

David Canham — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 06:00:56 +0000

Chapter 10: The Soul in Powers of X #5 – For the Children Writer: Jonathan Hickman Penciler: R.B. Silva Inker: R.B. Silva Color Artist: Marte Gracia Cover Art: R.B. Silva and Marte Gracia One theory… [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]

You Humans Love Your Symbolism, Chapter 9: Resurrection in House of X #5

David Canham — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 22:01:01 +0000

Chapter 9: Resurrection in House of X #5 – Society Writer: Jonathan Hickman Artist: Pepe Larraz Color Artist: Marte Gracia Cover Art: Pepe Larraz and Marte Gracia “I will deliver this people from the power… [more]

Judge Dredd: America as a Critique of Unethical Police Practises

Douglas Rasmussen — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 17:00:59 +0000

Recently Rebellion 2000AD Ltd collected a series of stories from the long running Judge Dredd “Democracy” storyline in a collection called Essential Judge Dredd: America (2020). In this collection, the stories “Letter from a Democrat”,… [more]

You Humans Love Your Symbolism, Chapter 8: Evil Beings in Powers of X #4

David Canham — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 18:58:07 +0000

Chapter 8: Evil Beings in Powers of X #4 – Something Sinister Writer: Jonathan Hickman Penciler: R.B. Silva Inker: R.B. Silva Color Artist: Marte Gracia Cover Art: R.B. Silva and Marte Gracia At the end… [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]

You Humans Love Your Symbolism, Chapter 7: Martyrdom in House of X #4

David Canham — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 12:00:54 +0000

Chapter 7: Martyrdom in House of X #4 – It Will be Done Writer: Jonathan Hickman Artist: Pepe Larraz Color Artist: Marte Gracia Cover Art: Pepe Larraz and Marte Gracia Deeply tragic and yet strangely… [more]

From Fan Favorite to Most Despised: The Curious Case of Dr. Hank McCoy

Nikolai Fomich — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 23:28:15 +0000

There was a time in the ‘90s when, if a fan was asked to name their top five X-Men, there was a good chance Hank McCoy would be among them. Maybe you thought Cyclops was… [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]

You Humans Love Your Symbolism, Chapter 6: Doubts and Fears in House of X #3

David Canham — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 21:45:27 +0000

Chapter 6: Doubts and Fears in House of X #3 – Once More unto the Breach Writer: Jonathan Hickman Artist: Pepe Larraz Color Artist: Marte Gracia Cover Art: Pepe Larraz and Marte Gracia Cyclops asks… [more]

You Humans Love Your Symbolism, Chapter 5: The End Times in Powers of X #3

David Canham — Sat, 16 Jan 2021 17:33:40 +0000

Chapter 5: The End Times in Powers of X #3 – This Is What You Do Writer: Jonathan Hickman Penciler: R.B. Silva Inker: R.B. Silva Color Artist: Marte Gracia Cover Art: R.B. Silva and Marte… [more]

You Humans Love Your Symbolism, Chapter 4: Ascension in Powers of X #2

David Canham — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 21:51:18 +0000

Chapter 4: Ascension in Powers of X #2 – We Are Together Now, You and I Writer: Jonathan Hickman Penciler: R.B. Silva Inker: R.B. Silva with Adriano Di Benedetto Color Artist: Marte Gracia Cover Art:… [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]

The Panther’s Priest: Christopher Priest’s Career Prior to Black Panther

Michael Hoskin — Fri, 27 Nov 2020 16:19:31 +0000

To preserve clarity, except when using exact quotes, this history will refer to Christopher Priest consistently by his current name. He was born Christopher James Owsley, and many of his comic book credits prior to… [more]

You Humans Love Your Symbolism, Chapter 3: Reincarnation in House of X #2

David Canham — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 01:15:48 +0000

Chapter 3: Reincarnation in House of X #2 – The Uncanny Life of Moira X Writer: Jonathan Hickman Artist: Pepe Larraz Color Artist: Marte Gracia Cover Art: Pepe Larraz and Marte Gracia It would be… [more]

The Universe of Possibilities: Star Wars, Doctor Aphra, and Literary Concurrency

Jason Kahler — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 22:43:51 +0000

Fans of the Star Wars franchise are probably familiar with the series of events that led to Marvel Comics becoming, once again, responsible for the publishing license, but just in case: Marvel produced the original… [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]

Formless and Void: On BLAME!, NaissanceE, and Liminal Spaces

Roque Briones — Sat, 12 Sep 2020 13:19:38 +0000

“What’s it about?” When I recommend BLAME! – the admittedly a tad obscure manga by Tsutomu Nihei – to someone, I tend to get that dreaded question asked to me. I hate having to answer… [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]

You Humans Love Your Symbolism, Chapter 2: Visions of the Future and the Past in Powers of X #1

David Canham — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 20:44:06 +0000

Chapter 2: Prophecy – Visions of the Future and the Past in Powers of X #1 – The Last Dream of Professor X Writer: Jonathan Hickman Penciler: R.B. Silva Inker: R.B. Silva with Adriano Di… [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]

How Lightsabers Illustrate the Anakin-Ahsoka-Luke Connection

Deborah Majowka — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 15:17:28 +0000

No two lightsabers are alike. Each has a different design on their hilts and various blade colors to pick from. They are completely the choice of the user who builds it. The original trilogy did… [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]

You Humans Love Your Symbolism, Chapter 1: Paradise in House of X #1: The House that Xavier Built

David Canham — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 12:00:09 +0000

“You see, I know how you humans love your symbolism, almost as much as you love your religion.” This bold statement of Magneto towards the end of House of X #1 not only serves as… [more]

Infertility and Destiny in Netflix’s The Witcher

Deborah Majowka — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 13:29:56 +0000

Every fictional world has its own set of rules regarding who has power and how it’s important to the narrative. From Avatar: The Last Airbender, Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc., many stories separate those with… [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]

Jonathan Hickman’s New Avengers #2: In Secret, They Rule

Matthew Brake — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 21:46:00 +0000

To understand some of the elements of this story, one must dive back into Brian Michael Bendis’s time as the writer for the Avengers. In New Avengers: Illuminati #2, the Illuminati gathers together the Infinity… [more]

What the Creators of She Ra and the Princesses of Power Understand About Queer Representation

Diana Mikovsky — Sun, 05 Jul 2020 15:59:58 +0000

When the token LGBTQ+ character is introduced into a TV show or movie, the audience already has a few expectations about them. Typically, that character will have little to no screen time and is only… [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]

The Last Jedi is Repetition, Not Subversion

Deborah Majowka — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 15:49:27 +0000

The Last Jedi is Repetition, Not Subversion" title="The Last Jedi is Repetition, Not Subversion" style="float:left;" />Star Wars: The Last Jedi is known for being one of the most divisive films in recent history. The reason for that is that it seems to involve moving away from the themes of the… [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]

Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers #3: The Garden

Matthew Brake — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 02:12:39 +0000

Avengers #3: The Garden" title="Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers #3: The Garden" style="float:left;" />Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers run consists of multiple mini-arcs that all build and culminate with Secret Wars. Avengers #3 is the action-filled climax and the culmination of his first arc. On Mars, readers are treated to… [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]

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]

Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers #2: We Were Avengers

Matthew Brake — Sat, 26 Oct 2019 14:36:01 +0000

Avengers #2: We Were Avengers" title="Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers #2: We Were Avengers" style="float:left;" />Issue #2 acts as something of an interlude in the first three issues of Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers. As Captain America prepares a new team to go to Mars, Ex Nihilo’s speaks with the imprisoned Avengers,… [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]

Strange Sentiments: Stranger Things and Nostalgia

Jesse Berberich — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 15:00:24 +0000

Stranger Things and Nostalgia" title="Strange Sentiments: Stranger Things and Nostalgia" style="float:left;" />“Stranger Things Season Three, and the Limits of Nostalgia” – the Week “In Stranger Things’ Third Season, the Nostalgia Well Runs Dry” – Slate “Stranger Things Doesn’t Know How to Grow Up” – Vanity Fair… [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]

Casino Royale: Taking It in the Cojones for Her Majesty’s Secret Service

James Rovira — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 14:29:16 +0000

Casino Royale: Taking It in the Cojones for Her Majesty’s Secret Service" title="Casino Royale: Taking It in the Cojones for Her Majesty’s Secret Service" style="float:left;" />The fifth and final installment of James Bond starring Daniel Craig as Bond, currently titled only Bond 25, is set to be released in 2020. It’s notable not only because it will be Daniel Craig’s… [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]

Finding Hulko: Secondary Colors

James Rovira — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 13:53:07 +0000

With the Infinity War storyline wrapping up, it might be useful to take a fresh look at a pre-MCU Marvel Film, the 2003 Hulk. 2003 saw the release of both Eric Bana’s Hulk and Disney… [more]

Women Like Barbara Shermund Have Always Worked in Comics & Cartoons

Sarah Cooke — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 13:00:45 +0000

Always Worked in Comics & Cartoons" title="Women Like Barbara Shermund Have Always Worked in Comics & Cartoons" style="float:left;" />If you’ve spent much time in the world of comic book fandom, you know there are certain fault lines that, unfortunately, can be divisive among fans. One of those fault lines is the issue of… [more]

Captain Video: Forgotten Father of the Sci-Fi Franchise

James Heath Lantz — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 16:41:31 +0000

Captain Video: Forgotten Father of the Sci-Fi Franchise" title="Captain Video: Forgotten Father of the Sci-Fi Franchise" style="float:left;" />Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, Luke Skywalker, the Doctor, Captain James Tiberius Kirk, Captain Video… What do those names have in common? If you said they are protagonists that launched science fiction franchises you’d be correct,… [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]

Jordan Peele’s Us: Untethered

Matthew Kirshenblatt — Mon, 27 May 2019 13:29:37 +0000

Us: Untethered" title="Jordan Peele’s Us: Untethered" style="float:left;" />“There we are – demented children mincing about in clothes that no one ever wore, speaking as no man ever spoke, swearing love in wigs and rhymed couplets, killing each other with wooden swords, hollow… [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]

The Invisible Art that Makes The Temple of Silence: Forgotten Works & Worlds of Herbert Crowley

Matthew Kirshenblatt — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 10:00:54 +0000

The Temple of Silence: Forgotten Works & Worlds of Herbert Crowley" title="The Invisible Art that Makes The Temple of Silence: Forgotten Works & Worlds of Herbert Crowley" style="float:left;" />Recently, I read an article by Noah Charney about Davie Bowie and William Boyd’s connection to an obscure American abstract expressionist artist Nat Tate, operating in the mid-twentieth century, who destroyed most of his paintings,… [more]

A Birthday Card for a Friend

Greg Carpenter — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 15:26:27 +0000

One of my childhood friends turns 80 today. Perhaps he's your friend too. [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]

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]

This Next Experiment and the Values of Fun: Toby Fox and Gaster’s Deltarune Part III

Matthew Kirshenblatt — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 16:00:21 +0000

Deltarune Part III" title="This Next Experiment and the Values of Fun: Toby Fox and Gaster’s Deltarune Part III" style="float:left;" />In our second article, I wrote about Undertale, the presence of W.D. Gaster in the game and its code, the collaborative dynamic between Toby Fox and his audience as well as the implications it had… [more]

Breaking Panels, Breaking Time: Examples of the Connection Between Panel Construction and Narrative Time

Mikayla J. Laird — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 16:00:17 +0000

In Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics, he makes the comment, “To kill a man between panels is to condemn him to a thousand deaths”. An incredibly evocative piece of language, and very poetic in itself. But… [more]

Preliminaries in Undertale: Toby Fox and Gaster’s Deltarune Part II

Matthew Kirshenblatt — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 19:24:59 +0000

Deltarune Part II" title="Preliminaries in Undertale: Toby Fox and Gaster’s Deltarune Part II" style="float:left;" />Where we last left off, I wrote a general outline of how Toby Fox’s work in game hacking, music creation, and his participation in and moderation of EarthBound forums helped influence his development of Undertale,… [more]