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superhero
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 Women of Marvel and Geek Subculture
Whilst scrolling through the internet, trying to find the Women of Marvel variant covers which celebrate Women’s History Month through showcasing female artwork on comic book covers, I came across my favorite superhero, as her… [more]
Julian Darius on the DC Cinematic Universe and the State of Pop Culture
What’s your feelings about Batman v. Superman teaser trailer? Do you like it or does it make you bored? My original reaction was underwhelmed. I know it was only a teaser trailer, but there’s not… [more]
Weird Worlds: The Minor Mainstream Works of Steve Gerber, Part 2 – Mister Miracle
Though Jack Kirby’s Mister Miracle ostensibly ran for 6 years (1971-1977), the series produced only 25 issues. Between #18, Kirby’s final issue, and #19, there is a 3 year gap. It is a testament to… [more]
A Brief Appreciation of Comics Lettering
If comics are “Just words and pictures,” then lettering is what allows those two elements to blend into a cohesive whole. Lettering can be artful, it can serve story purpose, it can be decorative, it… [more]
Marvel Studios Selects Ava DuVernay to Direct Black Panther
For those unaware of her work, Ava DuVernay is an award winning and Golden Globe nominated director (Selma 2014) with a pedigree rooted in African-American-themed films. She debuted in 2008 with a documentary about ’90s… [more]
Rasputin Is Back
Rasputin returns for its sixth issue, following one of the most dramatic and unexpected jump-cuts in the history of comics that ended the previous issue. It isn’t as if this issue walks back those surprises… [more]
A Sandman Miscellany: Sandman Overture #5 Review
One of the difficult aspects of reviewing Neil Gaiman’s bookend of his long developed Sandman conceptual universe is making heads and tails of the myriad pathways that intertwine in the grand narrative. [more]
Who Will Save Us Now?: Dirty Realistic Fiction, Grim and Gritty Superhero Comic Books, and the Legacy of 1986—Part 3
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility! In the quarter of a century since these books came out, the American comic book landscape has changed dramatically. Whereas once upon a time, superhero comic books were made… [more]
Who Will Save Us Now?: Dirty Realistic Fiction, Grim and Gritty Superhero Comic Books, and the Legacy of 1986—Part 2
All the reasons which made the initiation of physical force evil, make the retaliatory use of physical force a moral imperative! I read—and loved—The Dark Knight Returns when I was in the 7th grade, about three… [more]
Who Will Save Us Now?: Dirty Realistic Fiction, Grim and Gritty Superhero Comic Books, and the Legacy of 1986—Part 1
Great Krypton! In the fall of 1987, my father gave me 75 cents to purchase issue 595 of Action Comics, the comic book that started my collection. I had read comic books before, but hadn’t… [more]
Watchmen up Close: An Interview with Andrew Hoberek
Andrew Hoberek is the author of Considering Watchmen: Poetics, Property, Politics (Rutgers University Press), a 2015 Eisner-Award nominee for Best Educational/ Academic Work. He is also an Associate Professor of English at the University of… [more]
Weird Worlds: The Minor Mainstream Works of Steve Gerber, Part 1 – Dr. Fate
When I first started my comics blog in 2008, the first post I made was a brief obituary and tribute to Steve Gerber. I think it serves as a nice introduction to the project upon… [more]
Will Brooker on My So-Called Secret Identity Volume 2
With My So-Called Secret Identity Volume 2 now on Kickstarter, I thought it was time to talk to Dr. Will Brooker again about the series, including its innovative new Kickstarter campaign. DARIUS: My So-Called Secret… [more]
“If it Ain’t Broke …”: Revisionist Missteps in Batman: Earth One
Three weeks ago, while discussing the Superman: Earth One series of graphic novels, I mentioned in passing that I “didn’t care” for the Earth One Batman series. Now as far as Internet critiques go, saying… [more]
Play to Win: Nonplayer #2
Some ten years ago I was heavily addicted to the much-missed MMO City of Heroes. My friend Mike and I would ‘meet’ most evenings in Paragon City, chat as we blitzed through missions and even… [more]
Five Reasons Why Comics Scholarship is Important
Before getting into comics, I had no idea where to start, or how to approach comics as a body of work. Over the course of several decades comics have diversified into a multi-headed beast. There… [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]
Get a Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers Collection for Free Using Sequential
To celebrate the 75th birthday of legendary underground comics creator Gilbert Shelton, Sequential, in partnership with Knockabout comics, is currently giving away a 100-page digital collection of The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers for free (until… [more]
The Coming of Comicgate: Backsides, Batgirl and Ethics in Hammer-Wielding
In my previous post I took a close look at the controversy surrounding the Batgirl #41 variant cover that occurred in March. Now, it’s time to take a look at how that debate fits into… [more]
The Flash Season 1 Episode 23 Review
In the penultimate installment of its first season The Flash suddenly seemed to skip ahead of the script. In an episode that wasn’t initially focused on a direct conflict between Barry Allen and Eobard Thawne,… [more]
Director Brad Bird Gives Update and Talks Challenges of Making Sequels with Incredibles 2
Academy Award winning director for Ratatouille and The Incredibles, Brad Bird is busy with the upcoming release of Tomorrowland, but still has time to talk about Pixar Superhero sequel, The Incredibles 2. When asked in… [more]