Tag Archives: Tom King

Ever felt overwhelmed by life’s many challenges? I think that’s a common experience we comic readers can relate to. Sometimes it feels like there’s too much daily stuff on our plates and too hard to make sense of it all. In our weekly devotional comic fixes, we read about compelling …

Before I begin, I want to acknowledge and mourn the passing of comic artist, Tom Lyle. For me, his Scarlet Spider will always stand out as one of the most recognizable character designs in comic history. Rest in peace, Mr. Lyle, and for your work, we are thankful. The theme …

Dealing with adversity is a good topic for this week’s review. DC’s Greg Capullo is a real motivational guy on the subject and I think he and I share a similar philosophy. It doesn’t matter what life throws at you; it matters what you throw back. Adversity and my family …

Fear can be so powerful but it can also be a subtle influencer. The little, every-day fears in our lives can be pervasive and persuasive in our lives and decision-making. It’s the subtle type of choice-affecting fear that guides our emotions and actions that drives characters or even us that …

I’ve been struggling with a theme for this week. I think it’s because I’m after that initial stage of transition – where everything begins again. I think the stage after you’ve started something new is a comfort stage. So, that seems like a good area to place my comic-reading for …

Here’s a common theme that you might find in comics: being what you are but knowing you aren’t worthy of it. It’s not one that’s restricted to just comic characters however. Many creators feel that way as well as their audience. It’s probably a very common thread that audience, writers …

Kinda exploring the notion of belief this week. It doesn’t have to be religious or some sort of codified system of precepts, but just a sense of what is right, wrong and what is important to us in this world. Super-heroes and comic characters are so clear in what they …

We like continuity; I think it’s a natural state of humanity. But I think humanity also thrives on adaptation, which is an essential to survival. Sometimes, it’s good to change; not just out of a natural need to get along with folks, but because it’s an essential survival skill. So, …

Why are there so many bad people in the world? Or, maybe the question should be: why are there so many bad people doing bad things to people who don’t deserve the trouble? I may be naïve, but I think the most poignant stories are the ones about the righteous …

You know, when I talked to him last, Tom King told me that “he just wanted people to know how much he loved the comics medium”. I love the medium too. But I’ve been thinking about that conversation and it’s made me wonder, as a man leaving his forties, why …

Whatever happened to the simple pursuit of crafting a good story? For that matter, whatever happened to stories having simple endings? In my book, it’s enough for good to triumph over evil and for some reason, that’s just not the expectation any more. I love to be surprised by a complex …

Sorry this is so late. Lots of loose ends to tie up that got in the way this week. Taking care of loose ends is a driving force in people’s lives, so, as in life, we see this element of effective storytelling in occur in comics. … Well-written comics, that …

The theme for this week is unlikely allies. Life takes you in weird directions sometimes and this week, we’re looking at the weird directions that some of our favourite comic heroes are sent. DC Comics Batman #69 We’re finally seeing the picture of Batman’s state of being coming together with …

The greatest adventure is life. We are the heroes of our own adventures and super-heroes, by contrast, are just people with extraordinary gifts and in unusual circumstances. How they make sense of the decisions in their lives is very much like the same way we do, just magnified larger for …

Milestones are important in a person’s life. They are the historical markers that measure the passage of our lives, broken up into episodic achievements. We measure our lives by these achievements: the first kiss, the first job, whatever; these things help to shape our lives by punctuated moments of celebration …