Tag Archives: comics

Joshua Dysart, Enrique Breccia and Timothy Green II’s Swamp Thing: Love in Vain

With Love in Vain, Joshua Dysart took over the reins of Swamp Thing from the rather more erratic storytelling of Andy Diggle, and the difference is obvious. What Dysart has to work with is an extended continuity that’s mostly been … Continue reading

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Warner Brothers’ The Batman: Training For Power

Batman: Listen, Joker, you’re sick. You need help. Joker: Well, maybe I am a little off. (Kicks Batman rather hard) But what are you gonna do? Lock me in the loony bin? I’m already here! From ‘The Bat in the … Continue reading

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Larry Gonick’s The Cartoon History of the Modern World, Part I

Harvard mathematician Larry Gonick continues his wildly successful Cartoon History of the Universe series with this book, an irreverent cartoon look at world history “From Columbus to the U.S. Constitution.” Anyone who loves history, comics or both should have this … Continue reading

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Terry Zwigoff’s Crumb

I first saw this film a few years ago on Canadian educational TV. My memories of it were dim, even dark, as I thought about it while reading Robert Crumb’s new book Kafka. I recalled a quirky character with big … Continue reading

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Alison Bechdel’s The Secret to Superhuman Strength

I’ve loved Alison Bechdel’s work from the first page of her award winning graphic memoir Fun Home. I know I’m not alone in my enthusiasm for her work, but I just want to get out there that I connect with … Continue reading

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Susan J. Napier’s Anime: From Akira To Howl’s Moving Castle

Napier, a professor of Japanese literature and culture, originally wrote this intriguing analysis of anime in 2001. Following the worldwide critical and commercial success of Miyazaki Hayao’s Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle movies, she decided to revisit and revise … Continue reading

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Ted Naifeh’s Courtney Crumrin Volume 1, The Night Things, and Volume 2, The Coven of Mystics

Rebecca Scott wrote this review. Let’s see: Plucky preteen girl? Check. Parents who don’t pay attention to her? Check. Spooky old house for them to move into? Check. Creepy, mean, elderly relative who lives there? Check Bullies at the new … Continue reading

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Robert Crumb & David Zane Mairowitz’s Kafka

First time I heard of Franz Kafka was when I read the liner notes to the Mothers of Invention album We’re Only In It For the Money. The one with the Sgt. Pepper parody cover! One track was entitled “The … Continue reading

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Joe Sacco’s Palestine: the Special Edition

This lovely edition of Joe Sacco’s classic graphic novel Palestine is being promoted as “celebrating fifteen years of … Joe Sacco’s groundbreaking work of comics journalism.” So, it’s not a graphic novel? It’s “comics journalism.” OK, I’ll buy that. Whatever … Continue reading

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Various artists’ Manga Survey, Part 2

Akimine Kamijyo, Samurai Deeper Kyo, Vols. 1 & 2 Ra In-Soo and Jae-Hwan Kim, King of Hell, Vols. 1-3 Ayano Yamane, Crimson Spell Vols. 1 & 2 This is the second part of what turned out to be a long … Continue reading

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