Tag Archives: comic books

Supercontext: X-Men: Grand Design (with guest Ed Piskor)

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This comic book project stitches together the most important moments from decades (and thousands of pages) of X-Men comics. We talk to cartoonist Ed Piskor about his production process, the comics market and the relevance of the X-Men’s themes in the present day.

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Supercontext: The State of Comics Journalism

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We turn to David Harper (Off Panel, SKTCHD) and Augie De Blieck, Jr. (Pipeline Comics) for expertise on what’s going on in comics news. Are the struggles of this niche industry indicative of something broader going on in our media? Is news a trustworthy advocate that can help us make informed decisions?

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Supercontext: David Lapham’s Stray Bullets

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David Lapham’s crime comic Stray Bullets demonstrates the challenges of working independently on creative art. Why did it take almost 20 years for this book to get the attention it deserves? We look into the economics of the comics industry to find out.

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Supercontext: Benjamin Marra

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Comics creator Benjamin Marra is continually described as “notorious” or an “outsider artist” but we talk to him about his genuine sentimentality for these stories. In relation to the release of his work on Fantagraphics’ All Time Comics, we review his body of work and why it might make us so uncomfortable. 

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Supercontext: Warren Ellis’ Normal

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In his new serialized novella Normal, Warren Ellis shows us how too much futurism can lead to “abyss gaze.” Christian went to one of Ellis’ few U.S. readings from the book and reports to Charlie on how social media is the new cosmic horror. And what’s the difference between a foresight strategist and a strategic forecaster?

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Supercontext: DC Rebirth Special

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Charlie and Christian examine DC Comics’ latest attempt to reinvent their publishing line. Is it really about defeating despair with hope, as writer/executive Geoff Johns has said? And is this friendly to new readers? We also look at the ethical implications of using characters from “Watchmen” in an attempt to create a shared universe with an emotionally compelling narrative.

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Supercontext: Saga, Volume 1

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Is media better when its creators have total control? We look at the first volume of SAGA and explore issues of ownership, censorship and salesmanship with this near perfect comic book.

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Supercontext: Alan Moore & Jacen Burrows’ NEONOMICON

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Alan Moore and Jacen Burrows’ horror graphic novel NEONOMICON is explicit, graphically violent, and filled with rape scenes. But is there something more to this award-winning HP Lovecraft homage/critique? And should it be banned from libraries?

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