One of my main literary pleasures is pulp fiction, the serialized magazines from the early 20th century. Printed on cheap paper, pulps comprised one of the larger popular literature movements in the United States. At only ten cents an issue the demand for these periodicals far outstripped the supply. While they touched on most genres,…
In 1946 something amazing happened in the world of comics and pop-culture. The Golden Age of Comics was coming to a close. In less than a decade Fredric Wetham’s Seduction of the Innocent would demonize the industry. Comic books would be smeared as leading to delinquency and fascism. Wertham must have been unaware of the…
Since the Golden Age of Comics heroes have been plagued by an army of unusual and bizarre foes. Jon Morris has collected the best of the worst in The Legion of Regrettable Super Villains. These rogues are organized by era, running from the Golden Age to Modern Age of Comics. If you are thinking about…
One of my main interests is how pop-culture impacts and reflects the society in which it is produced. While some might devalue comic books and cartoons as juvenile literature, they can be complex, and give a greater insight into the public mindset. Marc DiPaolo’s book War, Politics and Superheroes: Ethics and Propaganda in Comics and…
One of the early pioneers of the early comic and sequential art form, Jack Kirby fully deserves the title of “King of Comics”. Born Jacob Kurtzberg in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Kirby would move from selling day old bread to creating some of the most iconic comic book characters. His unique style breathed life into…
The Star Wars Lego saga started in 2005 with the premiere of Revenge of the Brick short on Cartoon Network. Since then there have been numerous other cartoons, and an ongoing series on Disney XD. These DVDs are a great way to introduce younger viewers to the Star Wars franchise. At the same time they…
Sherman Alexie is a celebrated author, considered to be at the forefront of the Native American literary renaissance. A movement starting in the 1960’s, in which Indigenous Americans sought to reclaim, and record their oral traditions and history. Utilizing western literary formats these writers challenged the established historical narrative, and explored their new cultural identity.…
John Carpenter is an American filmmaker well known for his cult films. In the United States he is often derided as a horror director, or in his own words “A bum”, but overseas his cinematography is celebrated. While a significant amount of his work is rooted in the horror genre, they are often quite complex.…
From the minds behind Hellboy comes a dark retelling of the DC Universe. The Doom That Came to Gotham blends the worlds of Batman, and H.P. Lovecraft. This alternate look at the Caped Crusader touches on the noir, steampunk, and cosmic horror genres. Aficionados of Mike Mignola will recognize the iconic art and writing style…