Skip to Content

Andrew Doscas’ Summer Reading List

There are different themes and moods associated with each season that, aside from the weather, make them remarkably different from one another.  Summer in particular is associated with vitality, energy, and joy, while winter, in contrast, is most linked to death, lethargy, and hopelessness.  These seasonal moods extend to all aspects of pop culture like …

Read More about Andrew Doscas’ Summer Reading List

5 Fourth Wall Breaking Comics Fans of Deadpool Should Check Out

The Merc with the Mouth is infamous for two (often overlapping) categories of crazed conversation: 1) comedic quips similar to Spider-man’s, sans a profanity filter, perhaps slightly more emphatic on non-sequiturs and random ramblings, and 2) fourth wall shattering soliloquies to the reader. For many, the concept of a character cognizant of being in a …

Read More about 5 Fourth Wall Breaking Comics Fans of Deadpool Should Check Out

What About Us?: An Essay on Marvel’s X-Men and Their Unending Search for Social Justice

The recent revelation that Inhuman Terrigen mist is lethal to mutants, reeks of an editorial mandate and adds further fuel to the fire regarding Marvel’s recent distaste for the X-Men franchise. This act of segregation, due to the fact that the world is now (literally) deadly to mutants not only is a blatant attempt to sequester the franchise and put it into an isolated corner of the Marvel Universe, but it also spits in the face of everything the franchise is supposed to stand for. Very few comic books have ever managed to reflect our culture, or make such poignant social commentary as the X-Men franchise has. After all, the ethos of the franchise is that of change and acceptance. For decades, mutants were used as a sort of universal metaphor for anyone or any group of people who were abused, discriminated against, or persecuted by society. With this recent wave of social justice movements sweeping through our society at such a torrid pace, it’s clear that the X-Men are just as relevant and necessary as they’ve ever been. But instead of continuing the fight for justice and equality, Marvel would rather have the X-Men cut their losses and throw in the towel. It just goes to show that art doesn’t always imitate real life…even when it should.

Read More about What About Us?: An Essay on Marvel’s X-Men and Their Unending Search for Social Justice

In ‘Final Crisis’ heroes die, but comics live forever

On the surface, the title of Final Crisis feels like a misnomer. How can there even be a “final” crisis? There will always be a DC Universe, there will always be earth-shattering dangers, and there will always be heroes to ensure the end is never really the end. But the strength of Final Crisis lies in that it recognizes this, and uses this fact as the crux of the entire event: the promotional tagline was, after all, “Heroes die. Legends live forever.” The characters and stories of the DC Universe are timeless, never-ending, and very much alive in the way that language can be said to be alive. It’s from this angle that writer Grant Morrison attempts to comment on and interact with DC’s complex and often unwieldy history. While Final Crisis is not the final challenge these characters will ever face (because nothing ever will be until the day DC stops publishing — and at this point that’ll likely be the same day CNN puts it “Nearer, My God, to Thee” video to use), one walks away from it feeling like they’ve just experienced the ultimate in everything the DC Universe was, is, and will be.

Read More about In ‘Final Crisis’ heroes die, but comics live forever

Best Comics of 2015 (So Far) Part 1

2015 has been quite the eclectic year for comics, and this fact is reflected in our top ten list. Image Comics continues to be the true house of ideas with books ranging from a feminist twist on exploitation films to a murder mystery set in 1940s Hollywood and even a LGBTQ-friendly parody of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Even though they are in the middle of big events (Convergence and Secret Wars), DC and Marvel respectively still have room for offbeat takes on their iconic or not so iconic characters and are represented on this list along with Valiant, which has attracted a veritable Murderer’s Row of creator to shape and develop their shared universe.

Read More about Best Comics of 2015 (So Far) Part 1

The 13 Most Iconic Joker Moments

What makes the Joker such an exciting villain isn’t just his diabolical deeds, but the way he acts as the perfect foil to Batman. The Caped Crusader is a dark and brooding shadow, bound by morals, rules, and logic. The Clown Prince of Crime is a manic, posturing madman, ruled by chaos, entropy, and a disregard for anything…including himself. Everything the Joker does is to make a point, or deliver a punchline even if it comes at his own expense. He knows no limits and pushes Batman to his own limitations like no our villain. The Joker is to Batman as Kurt Cobain was to Axl Rose, or as Aaron Burr was to Alexander Hamilton, a perfect antithesis in every imaginable way. Here’s a look back at 13 of the most iconic Joker moments. These are the moments that made the Joker the one of the most memorable and recognizable villains in all of fiction, across any medium.

Read More about The 13 Most Iconic Joker Moments

Jill Thompson: Jack and Master of All Trades

Artist/writer Jill Thompson has one of the most idiosyncratic bodies of work in contemporary comics ranging from important arcs on legendary comics series The Sandman and The Invisibles to more traditional superhero work like a run on Wonder Woman as well her own creator owned comic/children’s book/film series Scary Godmother. She has drawn everything from dying stripper gods to Romantic poets, Batman to Bart Simpson and even an all animal cast in her Eisner winning Dark Horse series Beasts of Burden with writer Evan Dorkin. She is also one of the few creators not named Neil Gaiman allowed to write The Endless in her Li’l Endless stories.

Read More about Jill Thompson: Jack and Master of All Trades

‘The Multiversity Ultra Comics’ #1: Reading is believing

In the penultimate chapter of his saga, Morrison has crafted the best example for self-referential, meta, blend of fiction and realism a comic has seen in a long time. Not since Pax Americana has a comic challenged you to think about what’s happening on the pages and piece together the ties that bind it to the larger scheme of things. With top-notch art, a (literally!) engaging story about comics being portals for invading aliens, and a comic that works as a simple adventure comic. The Multiversity – Ultra Comics #1 transcends all the boundaries of time and space in a single, phenomenal issue.

Read More about ‘The Multiversity Ultra Comics’ #1: Reading is believing

Mission status is not optimal in ‘Nameless’ #2

One of the strangest elements in Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham sci-fi horror miniseries has been how shockingly tame it’s been. That’s not to say what is presented in this recent issue of the inaugural outing are anything that doesn’t warrant a mature content warning, just that it’s strange to see the creative team of such mind bending works like Batman Inc. and The Multiversity: Pax Americana be this far into their limited miniseries and not fully engage the body horror and raging madness of say Event Horizon. That all being said, this issue is a massive improvement from last month, but to the point one wonders why the first two issues couldn’t have been at least fit together.

Read More about Mission status is not optimal in ‘Nameless’ #2

‘Nameless’ #1 leaves a wanting first impression

Trying to review the work of the writer Grant Morrison always seems like a double act. For one, it’s the job of the reviewer to give their best description of the comic they read and their earnest thoughts on whether it’s worth the customers’ money. However, Morrison tends to write with an excessive amount of psychedelic weirdness that is difficult to critique. As such, please read this review with a grain of salt since this bizarre material is not the easiest thing to quantify.

Read More about ‘Nameless’ #1 leaves a wanting first impression

‘Action Comics’ #1 features a young, socially conscious Superman

Action Comics #1 Written by Grant Morrison Pencilled by Rags Morales Inked by Rick Bryant Colors by Brad Anderson Published by DC Comics Before going into Action Comics #1, which was one of the big launch titles of the DC New 52, I’d like to preface things by saying that this is the first article in a nineteen part series …

Read More about ‘Action Comics’ #1 features a young, socially conscious Superman

‘The Multiversity: The Society of Super-Heroes: Conquerors of the Counter-World’ Review

The Multiversity: The Society of Super-Heroes: Conquerors of the Counter-World #1 Story by Grant Morrison Art by Chris Sprouse Publisher: DC After the grand opening statement in last month’s first issue, Grant Morrison’s epic universe spanning saga continues in The Multiversity: The Society of Super-Heroes – Conquerors of the Counter-World #1. From here on out the story …

Read More about ‘The Multiversity: The Society of Super-Heroes: Conquerors of the Counter-World’ Review

‘The Multiversity’ #1 is an insane love letter to the passionate superhero fan

STORY BY Grant Morrison ART & COVER BY Ivan Reis, Joe Prado COLORS BY Nei Ruffino PUBLISHER DC Comics This one is a lot to take in. Literally years in the making, Grant Morrison’s The Multiversity has finally landed and it is as every bit strange, surreal, fun, and ambitious as you’d expect from the …

Read More about ‘The Multiversity’ #1 is an insane love letter to the passionate superhero fan

‘Batman Inc’ Vol. 1 applies the idea of Batman on a global level

After his death and time travel, Bruce Wayne returns and reclaims his rightful place as Batman. However, after his adventures and trials in Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne miniseries, he realizes that his approach towards crime fighting has been too narrow. Bruce Wayne reveals that he has been funding Batman since his inception and announces Batman …

Read More about ‘Batman Inc’ Vol. 1 applies the idea of Batman on a global level

Justice League United (Canada) Launches Into the Action with Classic Sci-Fi Tropes

Jeff Lemire and Mike McKone’s Justice League United #0 presents part one of a five-part story, making issue #1, the second comic DC has released this month, that is wrongfully billed as a first issue. It’s essentially just the second chapter of a quinary story arc. Following the “Forever Evil” crossover, Justice League United kicks off with a fresh spin and an alternative super team, set in Canada, and that includes several favourite B-list heroes, and 2 new characters never before seen.

Read More about Justice League United (Canada) Launches Into the Action with Classic Sci-Fi Tropes

Karen Berger: The Architect of Vertigo, Among Other Things

Even though she was never a writer or artist, Karen Berger is one of the most influential people in comics. She has won three Eisner Awards for Best Editor and singlehandedly created the Vertigo imprint for DC Comics while recruiting some of comics’ greatest talents to work for DC (Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, Neil Gaiman). …

Read More about Karen Berger: The Architect of Vertigo, Among Other Things

We Don’t Need Another Hero; We Need Garbagemen in Grant Morrison’s The Filth

The Filth #1-13 Written by Grant Morrison Penciled by Chris Weston Inked by Gary Erskine Colored by Matt Hollingsworth Published by Vertigo Comics The world of Grant Morrison and Chris Weston’s The Filth is a perverse one, a world hardly worthy of saving. The good guys fight for the status quo of a bland existence …

Read More about We Don’t Need Another Hero; We Need Garbagemen in Grant Morrison’s The Filth

Christ and Coyotes: Grant Morrison’s Animal Man

“Animal Man” (1988) #1-26* Writer: Grant Morrison Penciller: Chas Truog, Tom Grummett, Paris Cullins Inker: Doug Hazlewood, Steve Montano, Mark McKenna Letterer: John Costanza, Janice Chiang Colourist: Tatjana Wood, Helen Vesik Covers: Brian Bolland *The specific details of #20-26 will not be discussed in the below article. If you’ve never read this comic before, don’t …

Read More about Christ and Coyotes: Grant Morrison’s Animal Man

Batman and Robin Will Never Die but Batman Incorporated Has To End

Grant Morrison’s run on Batman began full of piss and vinegar. He had the Batman shoot Joker in the face. Or at least, he had someone dressed like Batman shoot the Joker in the face, but it was a big, bold statement as he began a seven year adventure with Bruce Wayne and his son …

Read More about Batman and Robin Will Never Die but Batman Incorporated Has To End

Action Comics Misses Greatness as Grant Morrison Rewrites Old Stories

The best Grant Morrison stories are journeys. We travel with the characters to new places or to new levels of understanding. The Invisibles was a race to the end of the world. New X-Men moved through the lives of the X-Men, transforming them along the way from superheroes to people. His Batman run has torn …

Read More about Action Comics Misses Greatness as Grant Morrison Rewrites Old Stories