Magazine Archives for:

January 2013

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]

Looking into the Black Hole

Imagine being a teenager in the 1970s. It was a decade of absenteeism; latchkey kids, apathy toward drug use, and a blind eye to unsafe sex.

Some Like It Azathoth: A Review of Deadbeats

Many readers seem to miss the humor in H.P. Lovecraft. Writers Chad Fifer and Chris Lackey are not among them. These hosts of the H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast have been finding the humor and the… [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.

Coping with Hallucination: Revolutionizing Character Internalization in Joe the Barbarian

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.”

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]

Picture Worth a Thousand Words: Prophet’s Emphasis on Visual Storytelling

With the end of year, “Best of” lists are a common sight, and Prophet by Brandon Graham, Simon Roy, Giannis Milonogiannis, and Farel Dalrymple seems to be on every one of them.

The Marvelous Sci-Fi Villains of Jonathan Hickman

When the Avengers are known as “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes,” they should face off against something so powerful that it takes the combined might of Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, and others to be… [more]

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

Jim Henson’s love for visual media has touched the hearts of millions, over successive generations in American television and mixed media.

A Review of Star Wars #1, “In the Shadow of Yavin”

Script: Brian Wood. Art: Carlos D’Anda. Colors: Gabe Eltaeb. Lettering: Michael Heisler. Cover Art: Alex Ross. Brian Wood is a creator who, over the past few years, has built an impressive resume working in the realm of both creator-owned… [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]

Oscar Math: The Avengers + The Dark Knight Rises = One Nomination

I managed to catch most of the live stream of the Academy Award nominations the other day, and I wasn’t surprised by the list of nominees in each category.

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]

Archer and Armstrong Review

While all of Valiant’s comics are wonderful and imaginative stories, within their central premise there is a small piece that seems like it came from somewhere else.

Critiquing the Superior Spider-Man Design

While we’re on the subject of Spider-Man character designs and concepts, let’s talk about this Superior Spider-Man thing for a second. This is the Marvel NOW! refresh of the Spider-Man line, which switched from Amazing… [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]