Category: Comics
Laddertop Books 1-2 by Orson Scott Card, Emily Janice Card and illustrated by Honoel A. Ibardolaza (graphic novel review).
At the same time as this reviewer was working his way through ‘Laddertop’, the British digital channel ‘Film On Four’ was holding a ‘Studio Ghibli’ season. The reason I mention this is that those films are famous for involving pre-teen girls as their central characters, something mainstream filmmakers have often found difficult. Historically, that’s also […]
Back Issue #107 September 2018 (magazine review).
I was surprised with the cover of this issue of ‘Back Issue!’ featuring the Archies but then, this issue is all about the Archie Comics. They were also formerly MLJ Comics but, like DC Comics, adopted their more popular collective name. As is pointed out in the introduction, there isn’t just a Big Two, but […]
Alter Ego #154 September 2018 (magazine review).
1940s comicboook artist Allen Bellman is now 95 and one of the last American comicbook artists of that era. This issue of ‘Alter Ego’ has a cover drawn by him of the characters he drew back then and he drew Captain America, the Human Torch and Sub-Mariner. As the interview with Dr. Michael J. Vassallo […]
Marvel Platinum: The Definitive Ant Man And The Wasp (graphic novel review).
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the characters Ant Man and the Wasp have become something of a symbol of light relief. The epic and heavy events of ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ contrasting with the subsequent and relatively comedic and intimate Ant Man and the Wasp. This latest Marvel Platinum collection shows the insect-monikered duo in a […]
Star Wars – A New Hope: The 40th Anniversary by Stuart Immonen, Adi Granov and Kevin Wada (graphic novel review).
Marvel and ‘Star Wars’ have always had a strong relationship. In 1977, a comicbook adaptation was based on ‘A New Hope’ and swiftly followed by a monthly title that continued the adventures of Luke Skywalker and friends. Massively successful, ‘Star Wars’ continued at Marvel until 1986. A popular run for the title followed by the […]
Comic Book Implosion by Keith Dallas and John Wells (book review).
As Keith Dallas and John Wells explain in their introduction to their book, ‘Comic Book Implosion’, there hasn’t been a book documenting the events in 1978 when DC Comics’ comicbook explosion imploded instead. There’s also been a lot of speculation but no one has really put together all the facts as they draw together interviews […]
Back Issue! #106 August 2018 (magazine review).
In some respects, looking at the latest issue of ‘Back Issue!’, you would think that it’s moving into ‘Alter Ego’ territory. It’s not really as the sub-title. Golden Age In Bronze Age’ reveals its having the older characters still carrying on with their own lives in a different decade…mostly. It’s also pretty much Roy Thomas’ […]
The 10c War: Comic Books, Propaganda And World War II edited by Trischa Goodnow and James L. Kimble (book review).
As you can tell from the title, ‘The 10c War: Comic Books, Propaganda And World War II’, this book sets out to explore comicbooks in World War 2 where even super-heroes stepped in and helped the war effort. As light reads, comics were also popular amongst the armed forces and carried in their backpacks. The […]
Tumult by John Harris Dunning and Michael Kennedy (graphic novel review).
‘Tumult’ is a graphic novel written by John Harris Dunning, drawn by Michael Kennedy and brought to you by SelfMadeHero, who do many interesting books. It’s the story of Adam Whistler, a director of commercials and music videos, who hopes to make it to the big time: feature films! Meanwhile, he lives a reasonably contented […]
Comics And Adaptation edited by Benoít Mitaine, David Roche and Isabelle Schmitt-Pitiot (book review).
There are a few things that you become aware of when you start reading the introduction to ‘Comics And Adaptation’. The first is half the book is devoted to how other fiction is adapted into the comicbook format and most of the examples come from France or Spain so don’t expect the usual suspects. It […]
