SEQUART MAILING LIST
ON SCI-FI FRANCHISES
ON GRANT MORRISON
ON TV AND MOVIES
ON COMICS CHARACTERS
OTHER BOOKS
DOCUMENTARY FILMS
Magazine
Capital Thoughts: All-New Captain America #2
Karl Marx, writing on the Anglo-French wars, observed that history repeats itself, first in tragedy then in farce. His example was Napoleon, a man defeated by the combined armies of the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Hanover,… [more]
The Top 10 New & Returning Comics to Read in 2015
2014 was a stunning year for comics. Between the debut and rapid success of many creator-owned series to superhero comics finally growing in big ways, comics are only getting even better. 2015 seems to be… [more]
The Amazing Adventures of “Stan” and “Jack”: Michael Chabon’s “Citizen Conn”
A couple of years ago, Michael Chabon gave a reading at our local library. He was promoting a new novel, Telegraph Avenue, and the auditorium was packed. Given my academic background, I’ve had to attend… [more]
“I’m Birdman”
Probably the only truly disappointing thing about Alejandro Innaritu’s Birdman is that we don’t actually get to hear Michael Keaton say, in that oft-imitated voice, “I’m Birdman.” Other than that, this is a technical tour-de-force… [more]
Opeth’s Still Life: A Review
Despite Opeth’s relative popularity, they always seem to avoid widespread recognition when it comes to the modern progressive rock/metal scene in particular, often playing second fiddle to genre heavyweights such as Tool and Porcupine Tree.… [more]
007 at 53: Dr. No (1962)
Beginning this week (and leading all the way up to Sam Mendes’s Spectre), I’m starting a run of James Bond retro reviews, looking back at the many cinematic exploits of Ian Fleming’s unflappable super-spy. So let’s start at… [more]
Portraits In Alienated British Youth Circa 1989-90, Part One: Introduction
Maybe it was something in the water—or something in the air—or just something floating around in the larger cultural zeitgeist of the time—but whatever the reason behind it all may have been, from the late… [more]
Je Suis Charlie
Editor’s Note: Due to some confusion from early reports, the article stated that Hamyd Mourad, brother-in-law to the Kouachi brothers, was the getaway driver for the brothers. He was in no way involved. He turned… [more]
Sequart Organization is on Patreon
Sequart Organization has launched a Patreon fundraising campaign. Comics and popular culture get more respect today than ever before. Yet they still lack a culture of smart criticism, and few are taking them seriously as legitimate… [more]
Sifting Through the Ashes: Analyzing Hellblazer, Part 12
Issue #14 “Touching the Earth” Writer: Jamie Delano Art: Richard Piers Rayner, Mark Buckingham Colors: Lovern Kindzierski Letters: Elitta Fell Cover: Dave McKean Fear is a powerful thing. Scientifically, it is an emotion brought upon… [more]
Whiplash: Faster, and More Intense
Like Foxcatcher, Whiplash is also a film about power relationships between men, particularly older men and younger men. But there, the comparison ends. Where Foxcatcher is measured, graceful, distanced, studied, Whiplash is a tightly wound… [more]
X-Men Franchise: A Spoiled Opportunity? Part 2
The two films that birthed the popularity of modern superhero films were Spider-Man and X-Men[i]. The two films were massive successes and demonstrated that there was interest in superhero films. The two films also were… [more]
IDW Publishing Acquires Top Shelf
Big news in the business side of comics: IDW has acquired Top Shelf Productions. Based in Georgia, this relatively small comics label has been responsible for some of the classiest and most high-quality releases in… [more]
Sharks, Superheroes, and the End of the Showa Era
In which I review two Gamera movies, involving underwater fire breathing, superheroes, Star Destroyers, and more! [more]
Top 10 Films of 2014
2014 was a very good year for film, featuring an impressive balance of quality blockbusters and indie marvels. I saw a lot of movies this year, but of course I didn’t see every single one.… [more]
Illustrator Fran Krause Shows Us Our Fears
We’re all afraid of something, and we can gussy it up however we want with the most intelligent and elaborate horror movies or books out there, but ultimately our fears seem to come down to… [more]
Where True Detective Meets Community: Character Based Meta Examinations
True Detective was an amazing show. Brilliantly thematically driven, fabulously shot, and incredibly acted. It was filled with top-of-the-line craft across the board. There’s so much to learn from that show, but one of the… [more]
Frank Miller’s Daredevil Saga, Part 1: Introduction
Introduction Few writer/artists have been able to leave such an impact on a character that it has forever transformed comics after. Frank Miller was able to breathe life and vitality to characters that had been… [more]
The Fountain Comic Book: Many Roads to the Same Summit
The Fountain, Darren Aronofsky’s heartfelt sci fi masterwork, had a difficult road to the screen. This story is fairly well known: by 2002, he had written and designed the film, hired actors and started building… [more]
Why Does it Hurt So Much: The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies
“These bats are bred for one thing only. . . WAR.” [more]
Superheroes in the Autopsy Room or: How a TV Star Tried to Save my Life
As I write this week’s column, it’s New Year’s Day—that one magical holiday when most of us sit around following a week of indulgences and resolve to do all manner of great things. It’s one… [more]
Comics Were Everywhere in 2014… Just Think of What 2015 Can Bring
Comics were everywhere in 2014, and not just from my perspective. Check your Facebook page, or Twitter feed, and if you’re anything like me you’ll see at least one (probably three) Cyanide and Happiness, for… [more]
“What Happened To Happy Endings?”: The Multiversity: New Thunderworld Adventures #1
Forgive me if I start by stating the obvious, but there something quite archetypal and mythic about Captain Marvel. Obviously because his powers derive from some pretty mythic figures themselves. Add to this a halcyon… [more]
Rah, Rah, Rasputin
Ah, Rasputin. One of history’s great rock stars. And like a great rock star, he died before his time, leaving behind him enough blank spaces in his biography, with enough rumour and mythology, to attract… [more]
Furries are Fellow Fans and Attacking Them Isn’t Funny
Recently, there was what appears to be a chlorine gas attack at Midwest FurFest in a Chicago suburb. Press reaction has ranged from just barely neutral to outright mocking, as in the case of Mika… [more]