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Editorials
The Voice Of The Arts: Why The Philosophy Of The Liberal Arts Are Needed Now More Than Ever Before
The world sucks and people are sad. The news is reporting yet another disaster and more fear are being pumped into the subconscious minds of viewers everywhere. This is but a common experience people have… [more]
Smorgasbord #44: Hail to the King
A fairly quiet week of comic news brings with it a long discussion over recent casting announcements (from Captain Marvel to Mandrake, the Magician), as well as a debate over the viability of a certain… [more]
How Much Trouble is Rogue One Really In?
As some are no doubt aware, there’s something interesting brewing over at Lucasfilm, on the production of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The film, to be released this Christmas, tells the story of how… [more]
Super Karate Monkey Death Car: Geoff Johns and the DC Universe
It’s true, pobody’s nerfect. We live with our foibles and imperfections, our biases and misconceptions, and hope that they don’t cause too many problems for ourselves or those around us. The human failing that most… [more]
A Marvel Cinematic Universe Wish List
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), including their Netflix series, is expanding rapidly. Since having kids, the wife and I can’t seem to keep up. I’m not sure she’s as impatient to see Captain America: Civil War… [more]
Smorgasbord #42: The 99% Strikes Back
After a week off, Shawn & Tom are back to deal with the fallout from Shelly Bond’s firing from Vertigo, Oni’s new imprint, the release of Captain America: Civil War, movie announcements for both Sexcastle and Irredeemable,… [more]
Kevin Smith’s Critic-Proof Yoga Hosers Trailer Debuts
For the past few years, particularly since the release of 2011’s Red State, Kevin Smith has led a (mostly) one-man campaign to carve his own path through 21st-century popular culture. Temporarily ditching his film career… [more]
Better Call Saul vs Breaking Bad: Companion Pieces in a Compelling Universe
A piece by Slate magazine’s Julia Turner is making the rounds today that argues passionately why Better Call Saul is the superior show, when compared with its parent, Breaking Bad. It’s a great piece, and… [more]
Smorgasbord #41: The Cat who Vomits Blood and Other Grisly Tales
The post Emerald City Comicon is a very strange place indeed, with DC announcing a new mature comics imprint, IDW assimilating other companies as if it were the Borg, HeroesCon facing backlash over the Virginia… [more]
Smorgasbord #40: He Came from (and in) Canada
On this Very Special Episode of Smorgasbord, Tom and Shawn talk about dissenting critical opinions of Batman v Superman and season 2 of Netflix’s Daredevil, Dark Tick is a thing we’re pretty sure nobody asked… [more]
Thoughts on Batman V Superman
When I was first introduced to Zack Snyder’s DC universe, with Man of Steel, I was very hopeful for the project given Snyder’s previous track record with comic book films. I’ve heard from the multitudes… [more]
Why CBS Would be Right to Cancel Supergirl: A Ratings and Narrative Analysis
Before diving into this very long article I feel that I should lay my cards on the table. I enjoy watching Supergirl. I enjoy watching most television shows based on comic books. I also have a… [more]
Smorgasbord #39: A Fistful of Nothing
This week on the Smorgasbord: Tom and Shawn discuss AMC’s Preacher, the Civil War trailer (you know which one), the return of Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill to their iconic roles, questionable decisions at Valiant,… [more]
The Near and Distant Horizon
Timeliness is next to prescience, or something like that. Here I was preparing this screed when I chanced upon an article by a person who insists that the survival of comic books is dependent upon… [more]
Smorgasbord #38: Moon Witch is Gonna Get Ya
The Iron Fist casting news brings with it a large discussion which dominates the episode as Shawn and Tom discuss the Marvel monochrome universe, the diminished importance of source fidelity, and being uncomfortable by heaving… [more]
Smorgasbord #37: The Merc with the Merch
Shawn & Tom talk DC reboot (again), DC exclusives (including the man who would be Tom King), the unexpected success of the Deadpool film (and the results thereof), and some of the driest previews ever… [more]
Sidekicks Aside: Is The Concept of a Hero Partner Dying or Returning Slowly to Life?
What is the purpose of a sidekick? The word itself arouses about as much sympathy as one would receive when he or she is referred to as a “second wheel” or “second class citizen” by… [more]
On X-(Wo)men and Third-Wave Feminism
Sometimes you find ideological influences in the unlikeliest places. For example, X-Men comic books helped make me a feminist. Those comics were some of the first places that I saw women as leads who did… [more]
It’s Long Past Time to Retire the Term “Graphic Novel”
In comics, we’re always struggling with titles and definition. At least, some of us struggle with these things when conversing with people outside the field of comics studies. For everyone I’ve ever met who is… [more]
Smorgasbord #35: Going 911 on 4.99
Tom and Shawn get all combative in a very angry Smorgasbord, as they discuss the new Suicide Squad trailer, Image series ending too early, Marvel superhero (and price) inflation, and a complete rundown of the… [more]
The Days of EC: A Critical Examination of the Pulp Books of the Past and What They Can Teach Us About Our Future
The pages were pulpy and the colors were bright, the ink was fresh and the dialogue had been waxed freshly onto each page and all it cost was a nickel to buy. The panels were… [more]
Saying Goodbye to Alan Rickman
With the recent passing of Alan Rickman, it’s appropriate to recognize this versatile, powerful actor and (by all accounts) wonderful human being by celebrating one of his iconic roles. We’re referring, of course, to 1999’s… [more]