We are not at war. There is no enemy. This is a rescue operation. – Mister Six, The Invisibles Volume 3 #12 The comic book industry is in the midst of a full blown crisis in the representation of transgender, non binary, and otherwise gender non-conforming people. The decision by Man-Eaters writer Chelsea Cain to…
The Horror of Internment: MAN-EATERS Under The Microscope
Trying to define “horror,” ultimately, is one of the toughest and most subjective artistic projects because, at its heart, horror relies of value judgement and opinions. What one person considers “horrifying” won’t have the same impact on another person, at least not all the time. You might read a comic, such as some of the…
KIRBYOLOGY!: Charles Glaubitz, Dickheads, and STARSEEDS
A while back I talked to Charles Glaubitz about his ongoing cosmic epic Starseeds, which has been published in two volumes so far. Here’s part two of our talk, with more of Glaubitz’s thoughts on his quantum work, Jack Kirby, and penis hats. Glaubitz’s approach to the concept of starseeds is opposed to what you’ll…
Fire and Suicide: The Legacy of THE DARK PHOENIX SAGA
Eleven is going to kill herself at the end of Stranger Things. Bold claim, I know. Especially since I don’t know how many seasons are left, nor have I uncovered any insider information in the coffee shop I’m sitting in. But listen, Eleven, Mike, and the rest of the gang are going to come up…
Health and Inclusivity: The Kids Can Be Alright with THE CARDBOARD KINGDOM
This one’s for the kids. I had been waiting to drop this particular article for a while. As my little sister moves from fifth to sixth grade, beginning her transition to middle school, an important thought came to mind. We spend a lot of time unpacking media and what it means for diverse people and…
Transmyscira: The Very Stable Genius of THE WILD STORM
There are two reunions in The Wild Storm #22: the full assembly of the latest iteration of The Authority that the series has been building up to over the last two years and Warren Ellis’ reunion with the team he first brought together out of the ashes of Stormwatch nearly twenty years ago. Reunions are…
KIRBYOLOGY!: The Most Prophetic of Jack Kirby’s Orange Monsters
Jack Kirby’s comics are, often literally, a punch to the face of fascism. Some of those punches, inspired by Kirby’s harrowing experience as an army scout in World War II, flew into the future, catching America’s current top fascist squarely in the jaw. As Elana Levin discussed for The Daily Beast, anti-life evangelist Glorious Godfrey…
Cómix Latinx: Populism and Prestige in Comics Studies with Marc Singer
Associate Professor of English at Howard University, Marc Singer has blazed new paths in comics studies with his many articles, books, and editorships. With a nascent scholarly interest in comics growing already as a teen with Watchmen and Dark Knight Returns, and after pursuing a PhD in literary studies at the University of Maryland, Singer…
Comic Love: Being a New Fan and Reading Kamala Khan
“Sana [Amanat] and I initially had very modest expectations for this book. Our goal was to get to ten issues. It was going to be a fun side project—a young adult Muslim super hero! At Marvel!—that would have the lifespan of fun side projects. I budgeted a year for it. But by the time the…
Health and Inclusivity: Navigating Generational Trauma with Krosoczka’s HEY, KIDDO
Family legacy and generational issues are major influences on who we are. Especially when things go awry, we end up carrying these things through each new lineage, very often without someone to guide the newer crop as they navigate these waters. And unfortunately, we become the ones with the skills to begin dismantling them, while…