RSS feed for Editorials
ON COMICS CHARACTERS
ON SCI-FI FRANCHISES
ON GRANT MORRISON
ON TV AND MOVIES
OTHER BOOKS
DOCUMENTARY FILMS
Editorials
And His Name Is Scott: Why Scott Snyder’s Work Exemplifies Magnificent Superhero Storytelling
There are numerous writers whose talents have lead to tremendous careers in the comic industry. With the greats ranging for Moore to Morrison, Miller to Pope, and Rucka to Brubaker, the list goes on of… [more]
Smorgasbord #28: Sandcastles in the Sand
Tom and Shawn discuss recent news out of Baltimore, Mark Millar’s third run at playing Simon Cowell, the redemption of Chip Zdarsky, Genndy Tartakovsky’s CAGE!, Ta-Nehisi Coates’s upcoming run on Black Panther (and why people… [more]
Smorgasbord #27: Happy Anniversary!
The Smorgasbord is a year old! To celebrate this milestone, Tom and Shawn offer a giant-sized extravaganza in which we discuss the last Previews of 2014, Bad Luck Guillermo, Batman walking in on Robin in… [more]
Why I Am Not A Superhero Fan
I’m fairly open about my own tastes and predilections when it comes to comics, or any other medium. I’ll freely admit to anyone who cares to ask that, while I love comics, I’m not that… [more]
Smorgasbord #26: Totes Outrageous
Kevin Feige flees from under the thumb of Ike Perlmutter, Mockingbird finally goes to pilot, Secret Wars multiplies, the alluring possibilities of avant-garde author Mark Z, Danielewski taking a crack at writing Deadpool… these are just some… [more]
The Sky is Not Falling: Steven Spielberg and the Death of the Superhero Movie
In a recent interview with the Associated Press to promote his upcoming Cold War thriller, Bridge of Spies, director Steven Spielberg said that the superhero move would eventually “go the way of the Western.” He… [more]
The Martian: Already a Problematic Adaptation
Like many fans of literate, thoughtful, plausible science fiction, I greeted the news that Ridley Scott would be directing the film adaptation of Andy Weir’s the Martian with great enthusiasm. The fact that the script… [more]
The Value of Cultural Literacy
Cultural literacy doesn’t appear to be a value that all segments of society embrace. Or, at least, some groups in our world embrace it in a very different way from me. I’ve recently had a… [more]
Smorgasbord #25: How Dare You, Chip Zdarsky
Stephen Amell takes method acting to new levels, Mark Millar seeks greener pastures for his fertilizer, the Ignatz Awards nominees are announced, a new legal precedent for Kickstarter may have some interesting ripple effects, and… [more]
Comics and Literacy: Still Struggling
I recently encountered some (sadly) all-too-familiar anti-comics sentiment, and alas I think it reflects an attitude in society that has yet to pass away. When I am engaged to teach students, particularly students trying to… [more]
Pixels and Why Video Game Films Never Succeed
The release and instantaneous failure of Adam Sandler’s latest production Pixels shines light on one of Hollywood’s longtime pitfalls – movie adaptations of video games and their utter lack of success. While not a direct… [more]
Smorgasbord #24: Schrodinger’s Gambit
This week on Smorgasbord, Channing Tatum is/is not Gambit, Hercules is/is not heterosexual, Bill Willingham is/is not Real-Life Mr. Dark, and Fant4stic is terrible in all possible universes. We also review John Flood #1, Dark… [more]
Ma and Pa Kent vs Man of Steel
Who is Superman, really? That’s one of the more compelling questions about one of the most interesting figures in world culture. (I don’t think of Superman as being a “comic book” character. Since at least… [more]
Smorgasbord #23: Islands in the Sun
Our cups runneth over as Tom and Shawn discuss SDCC trailers and casting news, October Previews, and Marvel’s attempt to revive Franklin Delano Bluth. We also review the first issues of Power Up, Godzilla in… [more]
Smorgasbord #22: Spirited Away
It’s the pre-SDCC episode, so don’t expect any big news. Instead, Shawn and Tom find the time to talk about Warren Ellis’s new James Bond title, Dan Slott’s new Twitter war with Bleeding Cool, Dynamite… [more]
The Folly of Male Supermasculinity
When I discovered comic books I was already in college, but their influence was present in my life far before that. I had seen all the Batman films (Burton and Schumacher’s work) and the venerable… [more]
This Year at SDCC, Buy a Comic!
It’s that time of year again, when people from the comics and entertainment industries gather in San Diego for four days of peace, love and music… Well, not precisely that. As someone who attended San… [more]
Independence: Now What?
It’s that time of year when all Americans contemplate the civil liberties they enjoy every day. That’s what Americans everywhere have to look forward to, right? But, for some reason, I can’t stop thinking about… [more]
The War Against Caption Boxes
Lately I’ve been catching up on some contemporary titles, some of which are produced by my favorite writers in the field, and I’m actually finding plenty of things not to enjoy about them, which doesn’t… [more]
Smorgasbord #21: The Summer of Our Discontent
This week on the Smorgasbord, Shawn and Tom welcome Dark Horse to Comixology (hope they survive the experience!), discuss the latest casting announcements for Doctor Strange, Chew, and Spider-Man, and go through the Previews for… [more]
Look Away, Dixie Land: Reflections on Life in the South, Racist Iconography, and Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing
When I was very young, my family used to make an annual summer trip to Dogpatch, U.S.A. Nestled in the Ozark Mountains near Harrison, Arkansas, Dogpatch was a small amusement park inspired by Al Capp’s… [more]
Jurassic Park, Problematic Science and Compromise
Jurassic Park and to a lesser extent, its sequels, has always been a “problem” film for me, mainly due to wasted potential and bad science. As time has gone on, I appreciate the original film… [more]
Smorgasbord #20: The Black Cat in the Hat
In the burning month of June one must thankful for the little things… like the lack of any recent controversies in the comics scene. Still, Shawn and Tom find much to talk about with IDW’s… [more]
Eating Brains: Zombies and Dystopianism
In 2013 I was at SDCC meeting Julian Darius for the first time. After a long, harrowing comic-con experience we both went to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund after party. There were famous people… [more]
Dangerous Visions: The False Nostalgia of Tomorrowland
SPOILERS FOR TOMORROWLAND Brad Bird’s Tomorrowland presents its audience with a choice. On the one hand there is pessimism – our world is wracked by wars, climate change and rapid overpopulation that could combined bring… [more]