Tag Archives: marvel comics

When thinking of the dominant theme in the selection of comics for this week’s round-up, I am reminded of how solitary the act of reading comics is. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I’m lamenting my lot to read every publisher’s books on a weekly basis or issuing a call to …

You ever have one of those weeks when you just can’t stop? Determination, stubbornness, the sense of never giving up – whatever it is that fuels me, I must have gotten it from somewhere. It’s a list with that theme this this week, and it’s a great one. Lots to …

You know, I’m racing against time here. After all, October 31 is the night when ghouls and goblins conspire to raise all sorts of hell on my street, and as a good community member, it’s up to me to dress accordingly in my Knights’ Templar outfit and brandish my four-foot, …

It’s a nostalgic time of the year for me. It’s when my students begin to start considering their futures as they move into the next stage of their lives. Yet for me, as much as they look forward, I look back at the work we’ve shared and I resort to …

Short and sweet this week, loyal readers! Yours truly will be off to a convocation of comic-con goodness this weekend in none other than sunny Orlando for MEGACON, 2017! I will have the good fortune to be moderating the likes of Bob Layton, Jason Aaron, Mike Zeck and other greats. MegaCon …

I can’t get enough of comic conventions and in fact, I’ll be moderating a few panels at MegaCon in Orlando at the end of this month. There’ll be the usual mix of celebrities and comic creators, but for me, meeting the comic people is the thrill. Why? It’s because of …

I’m exclusively reading DC Comics this week. In the last three years that I’ve been writing this column, I don’t think this has ever happened. Are there numbers? I need numbers. Well, according to Comichron.com, March saw Marvel earning the number one position of most units sold with Amazing Spider-Man …

Conflict is inevitable – in fiction and in life. In fact, conflict is often the great accelerator in good fiction but there has to be a balance. As in cooking, there has to be the right balance of ingredients. Conflict is tempered by motivation and good characters need authenticity to …

Back from a two-week stint on a whirlwind trip that saw a lot of adventure and excitement. Comics are great for vicariously living adventures, but there’s nothing that can replace the real thing. But life inspires art and sure enough, experiencing real adventure allows one to fully appreciate the adventure that …

How do you measure commitment in a comic? To me, it’s a reflection of the level of detail in the character-creation, the word-building or the story’s intricacy. Comic story-telling has a greater level of commitment because of its visual dimension and sometimes the teamwork needed, unless you’re a writer/artist. But, …

The February blahs are pervasive. I don’t know about other sun-enriched places but up here, in the land of the ice and snow, we need a change from the dreary and cold routine. Which is why every new comic Wednesday is such a much-needed break in the middle of the …

Surprises can make or break a comic. It’s all part of good storytelling, of course, but in order for surprise to work as a story development device, it has to be based in the proper context of characterization, backgrounds and established history of the comic. If these things aren’t arranged …

The theme this week is dynamic creativism. That’s just a fancy term I’ve made up to, quite simply, describe the relative levels of creativity that I’ve seen this week – and there are some really good examples. Image Comics Wayward #20 Wayward is a comic that really taps into the …

Looking over my last few reviews, I can’t help but notice a decided lack of Marvel titles on my pages. It saddens me because I would have considered myself to be a ‘Marvel Guy”. I came of comic age in the 1980’s and grew up on the stylings of Dave …

I’m a gamer; always have been. I love role-playing games, computer games, and of course, board games. I don’t win a lot … I think I get wrapped up in the social aspect of gaming, the story development of the game and the fun that happens when odd dice results …