Comic Books

In the process of going through the endless vastness of my pile, I’ve discovered things that I haven’t thought about in years. Specifically, I’ve pulled from the pile two 80th anniversary issues that DC had put out in 2020 and 2021. I had forgotten that these even existed, but the memory of going to the closest Continue reading

I feel nostalgia for stories about transforming heroes. Not simply people who put on a costume and play the role, but the ones who have the costume within and perform a little ritual and sequence each time the costume comes out. These series with their henshins, magical girls, and motorcycle fighters captures a specific wonder that’s Continue reading

In comics, it’s been a week. Between the Neil Gaiman situation, Diamond Distributors (my nemesis) filing for bankruptcy, and the looming threat of tariffs potentially supremely fucking up the publishing industry, a lot’s going on. So, let’s talk about Batman. I’ve still got a pile of comics to work on—and this one dates back to 2021—and the best way to Continue reading

The pile expands and contracts like a bellows—always adding, always subtracting, but somehow staying the same no matter how many times I chip away at it. Eventually it will diminish. For now, though, it remains ever present as I make my weekly attempts to get my shit together and simply read. But at least I’m not Continue reading

Jazz is one of the oldest American art forms and the one with some of the deepest roots in our cultural landscape. It’s also an art form with fervent adherents that can endlessly debate subgenres, artists, labels, eras, and nearly anything else within the medium. What better way to talk about the history of jazz Continue reading

We once again return to the opening of the year and stare down the barrel of a future none of us wanted. And yet, comics will continue, despite the various policies that may make paper tantamount to a fucking luxury soon enough. But, until that point, here’s some of the most interesting works coming out Continue reading

If ever there was a driver for conflict in a story, the dysfunction of a family that’s been estranged for years and unable to talk about their issues in a constructive way is one of the more reliable. Another driver can also be the giant aliens that the family has a responsibility to eviscerate with Continue reading