ON COMICS CHARACTERS
ON SCI-FI FRANCHISES
ON GRANT MORRISON
ON TV AND MOVIES
OTHER BOOKS
DOCUMENTARY FILMS
Magazine
Megatron, Supreme Leader of All Decepti– Wait. What?
Recently, IDW pitched upcoming events in their Transformers titles very much from the left of field when they began soliciting artwork of leader and founder of the Decepticons, Megatron, wearing an Autobot symbol. This move,… [more]
Justifying Deicide: Lyta Hall’s Feminist Journey in “The Kindly Ones”
The final arc of Sandman proceeds to bookend the series with cameos and homages to earlier plots. The feel here is different from previous arcs; Gaiman explains elements as they come, rather than holding back… [more]
The Great Smallville Rewatch, Part 1
In early 2013, I decided to finally catch up – via the magic of DVD technology – on a show of which I’d been a huge devotee back in the earliest years of its existence. … [more]
“Just Don’t Do It Again”: The American Superhero Comics of Mark Millar, Part 4
Continued from last week. How was it possible for Millar to show so much respect for Bruce Wayne’s back story while portraying such a deeply unconvincing Dark Knight? Though the writer’s take on Wayne was ludicrously… [more]
The Curious Case of the Omnipresent Consulting Detective, Part 1
He’s one of the most popular characters in literary history, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a time when Sherlock Holmes was more visible than the past five years. Offhand, I can’t think of another… [more]
Atrocity in Memoriam – Ari Folman’s Waltz with Bashir
In 2008, Waltz With Bashir, a documentary exploration of the First Lebanon War, was released to wide critical acclaim. The film is animated, told from the perspective of Ari Folman, who dictates his experiences via… [more]
What Batman vs. Superman Could Get Right (And Wrong)
Last year when Man of Steel came out, I was reminded of the line uttered by Chastity (Gabrielle Union) in 10 Things I Hate About You: “I know you can be overwhelmed… and you can… [more]
Review of Community Season 5, Episode 4
Troy and Abed are in mourning. Pierce Hawthorne has died. It’s no secret that the actor that played him, Chevy Chase, didn’t particularly enjoy working on the show. He didn’t find it funny, and he… [more]
Capital Thoughts: Captain America #14
Issue #14 nicely ties up the Nuke story-arc. Nuke justifies his psychotic murder spree by stating that he’s only doing it for the troops, and to keep America strong. He further states that Cap, despite… [more]
Bugged Out!: Scarab Reconsidered 20 Years On, Part Four
Where were we again? Oh yeah, it’s 1992, and despite attempting to jazz things up in their low-selling Dr. Fate title by having the Helmet of Fate’s original bearer, Kent Nelson, pass the golden dome onto… [more]
Twisted Times: My Part in Alan Moore’s “Last Interview”
We are told that Alan Moore doesn’t use email, and rarely goes online. By contrast, I’ve been online – on and off – for twenty years now. I started using the internet when it was… [more]
“Thus strangely are our souls constructed…”: DC’s Frankenstein in Post-Millennial Publication, Part One
Frankenstein (or, rather, Frankenstein’s creature): that oft studied literary figure, that icon of cinematic horror and, upon closer inspection that almost universal and perpetual figure in the comic art. Appearing in various titles from a… [more]
Michael Douglas Adds to Ant-Man’s Legacy
While Marvel Studios’ Avengers franchise (and appendages) tends to garner the most ink, I have to say I find development on the studios’ secondary properties far more fascinating, as it demonstrates their willingness to continually… [more]
Buffy Goes to the Comics: An Introduction
Joss Whedon once claimed that he would continue to engage with the characters of his doomed Firefly series in any possible medium, including “etchings”. As intriguing as a woodcut series sounds, either for Firefly or… [more]
An Apology to Dr. Will Brooker
When I wrote yesterday’s piece on Alan Moore’s most recent interview, I wasn’t aware that the “Batman scholar” Moore was mocking was Will Brooker. I feel really bad about not identifying him, because it perpetuates… [more]
“There are Some Things in Life It’s Best not to See”: The American Superhero Comics of Mark Millar, Part 3
Continued from last week. The suspicion that Millar idled his way through his years at 2000AD is at least in part countered by the contents of Favourite Things. For it seems unlikely that he would have… [more]
The Image Revolution to World Premiere at Amazing Arizona Comic Con, Followed by a Q&A with Liefeld, Silvestri, and Kirkman
Sequart and Respect Films are proud to announce that our documentary, The Image Revolution, will make its world premiere at the Amazing Arizona Comic Con. We’re equally excited to announce that Image founders Rob Liefeld… [more]
On Canons, Critics, Consensus, and Comics, Part 3
This week marks the final installment of our search for a comics canon. As I mentioned in the first column, I recently conducted a survey of the people who contribute to Sequart. A total of 25… [more]
On Alan Moore’s “Last” Interview
This post, which was about Alan Moore’s recent interview, has been removed. After its publication, I became aware that what I had written was factually inaccurate. I also became aware that what I had written… [more]
Review of Arrow Season 2, Episode 10
Arrow’s second season has been marked primarily by the series delivering on the promise of its first season. The show started out unevenly, alternating episodes that showcased the potential of the concept and characters with… [more]
20th Century Boys Volume Four
This is an exciting volume. A lot of it focuses on Shogun being generally badass. Shogun acts rather like a vigilante in this volume. He’s continually saving abused women from Thai gangsters. At first this… [more]
Alan Moore Might be Insane Now
It seems fittingly ironic that Alan Moore announces his exit from the public eye with a 16,000-word harrumph. This interview was a roller coaster of emotions for me – all negative. When I finally finished… [more]
Beware the Batman Episode 4 Review
The fourth episode of Beware the Batman opens up with a very interesting assertion of superhero ethics. Just as Katana, Bruce Wayne’s chauffeur and bodyguard, is about to plunge her sword right into the face… [more]
Review of Community Season 5, Episode 3
The first parody of Community‘s fifth season has landed. “Basic Intergluteal Numismatics”, the season’s third episode, feels a little like a redux of “Basic Lupine Urology”, Community’s pitch perfect Law and Order spoof. Both see… [more]