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Who’s the Superhero, Who’s the Supporting Player? On Doctor Strange & the Ancient One (Part 9)
In the years since Ditko and Lee stepped away from writing Doctor Strange, the Ancient One tended to be characterized in terms of, at best, his moral authority and, at worst, his physical decrepitude. Yet… [more]
On Invasion #2: “Battleground Earth”
We previously introduced Invasion and discussed its first issue. Today, we continue with issue #2. By the time Invasion #2 (titled “Battleground Earth”) begins, Superman has successfully negotiated a 24-hour cease-fire with the Dominators. Many… [more]
Gotta Loeb Batman: Batman and Synergy in Hush
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]
“Growth Patterns”: Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing Issue #37
Swamp Thing #37 “Growth Patterns” Cover date: June 1985. Writer: Alan Moore. Artists: Rick Veitch & John Totleben. Editor: Karen Berger. Colorist: Tatjana Wood. Letterer: John Costanza.
On the Ancient One, Earth’s Greatest Super-Hero (Part 8)
Steve Ditko was often displeased with Stan Lee’s interpretation of his plots during the last few years in particular of their collaboration. Sadly, there seems to be no way of telling how the artist felt… [more]
On Invasion #1: “The Alien Alliance”
We previously introduced Invasion. Today, we look at the first issue in more detail. None of this is to say that the mini-series isn’t also a lot of fun. As previously stated, the first issue… [more]
The Walking Lonely Hearts: Looking at Relationships in The Walking Dead Compendium One
In the last few years, a massive trend that has infected the current pop culture is the Zombie Apocalypse.
The Aquaman Environment Factor
It has been a good few years for Aquaman. Ever since 2009, he has been treated like one of the most intimidating badasses in the DC Universe, reinvigorating his comic book reputation. While being penned… [more]
On the Coyly Affectionate Doctor Strange (Part 7)
It took almost two years of monthly adventures before Strange finally realized how tremendously fond he was of Clea. As if the relief of finally rescuing her from Dormammu’s banishment had cut through the magician’s… [more]
On Invasion, Written by Keith Giffen and Bill Mantlo
Published in late 1988 as a three-issue monthly crossover mini-series, the central premise of Invasion (titled Invasion!, with an exclamation mark, on the cover) was simple: aliens invade the Earth. The series was plotted by Keith… [more]
“The Nukeface Papers”: Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing Issues #35 and #36
Swamp Thing #35 “The Nukeface Papers Part One” Cover date: April 1985. Writer: Alan Moore. Artists: Stephen Bissette and John Totleben. Editor: Karen Berger. Colorist: Tatjana Wood. Letterer: John Costanza.
On the Romantically Disengaged Doctor Strange (Part 6)
As with friendship, so with romance. Love, or at least lovelornness, tended to ground Marvel’s superheroes in a version of mundane reality that reflected the world-view of young boys just learning to recognise both longing… [more]
On DC One Million, by Grant Morrison and Val Semeiks (Part 3)
In which we continue our discussion of DC One Million, begun here and continued here. Above Earth, Green Lantern has joined the heroes fighting a losing battle against Solaris. Solaris isn’t prepared for Green Lantern’s ring, and… [more]
Changing Attitudes to Comics in the Classroom
There is no shortage of curriculum experts who have weighed in on the growing impact of comics in the K-12 classroom.
Sharpening the Image: Rob Liefeld’s Youngblood, the Man and the Comic that Started It All (Part 4)
Part Four: Final Thoughts
On the Entirely Uncomplaining, Yet Distinctly Overworked Doctor Strange (Part 5)
It seems hard not to believe that Strange was deliberately making himself and his mission known to the world in a somewhat indirect and yet undeniably insistent way.
On DC One Million, by Grant Morrison and Val Semeiks (Part 2)
In which we continue our discussion of DC One Million, begun here. As issue #2 opens, the present-day narrative has caught up with the Montevideo explosion. The Justice Legion A, infected with the virus, joins… [more]
“Rite of Spring”: Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing Issue #34
Swamp Thing #34 “Rite of Spring” Cover date: March 1985. Writer: Alan Moore. Artists: Stephen Bissette and John Totleben. Editor: Karen Berger. Colorist: Tatjana Wood. Letterer: John Costanza.
On the Profoundly Rational Doctor Stephen Strange (Part 4)
Even smiling at the literal-mindedness of the West was no little matter in the Marvel books of the period.
On DC One Million, by Grant Morrison and Val Semeiks
DC One Million was published in September 1998 (the month cover-dated Nov 1998) as a weekly four-issue mini-series – or almost weekly, since the JLA tie-in issue effectively served as an issue of the mini-series.… [more]
Sitting Down with Superman: Q&A with the Man of Tomorrow
The world wasn’t ready for Superman. For what could be expected when comics were only budding and bursting from the confines of syndicated sequential art, with their pithy quips and political yarns? Fantastic worlds had… [more]
Sharpening the Image: Rob Liefeld’s Youngblood, the Man and the Comic that Started It All (Part 3)
Part Three: When Pictures Aren’t Worth a Thousand Words
On the Profoundly Rational Doctor Stephen Strange (Part 3)
The Sorcerer’s Code committed Strange to the defense of the Earth, and it obliged him to place the welfare of humanity above that of any alien race.
Secret Wars, Crisis on Infinite Earths, and the Development of the Universe-Wide Crossover
While Crisis on Infinite Earths was DC’s first universe-wide crossover, there’s some dispute over whether it was the first in comics. The answer largely depends on one’s definitions. Whatever one thinks about this, one shouldn’t… [more]