Action Philosophers

Action Philosophers by Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey makes the history of philosophy fun. Profiles cover nine figures — Plato, Bodhidharma (inventor of both Zen Buddhism and Kung Fu), Nietzsche, Jefferson, Saint Augustine, Ayn Rand, Freud, Jung, and Joseph Campbell — using the vocabulary, both visual and verbal, of action-adventure comics. Exaggerations and modern language are used to make points in memorable fashion. Characters have plenty of attitude, making long-dead historical figures easier to relate to from the modern […]

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Kat & Mouse

Kat has just moved from the Midwest to New England, where her dad is the new science teacher at a private school. When a break-in at the science lab puts his job in jeopardy, Kat and new friend Mouse are determined to find out who’s responsible in this series written by Alex de Campi and drawn by Federica Manfredi. It’s a familiar setting, with plenty of welcoming hooks for the reader. As a high concept, it’s Nancy Drew meets Mean […]

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V for Vendetta

I didn’t see this film on the big screen, and as I watch it begin now on the new DVD, I think maybe I should have. The portentous introduction, I suspect, would have played better in a dark theater than a living room with distractions abounding. It quickly became irrelevant, though, as I got lost in the movie. This two-DVD set (review copy provided) has the trailer a 15-minute making-of with artist David Lloyd, producer Joel Silver, director James McTeigue, […]

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Tech Jacket: Lost and Found

The six existing issues of the cosmic teen superhero series written by Robert Kirkman and drawn by E.J. Su have been reprinted in a manga-like black-and-white digest as Tech Jacket: Lost and Found. Zack is a normal kid who happens to see a crashing spaceship. One of the last survivors gives him a tech jacket, an aware mechanical vest that gives him the usual complement of powers through alien weapon technology. Instead of being freaked out or concerned, Zack (with […]

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PR: What Not to Do: Announcing Non-News

Many publishers have glommed onto the fact that if you send out enough press releases, some sites will run them, and you will get easy coverage. Unfortunately, the result is that some companies send out PR announcing complete non-news. For example: Masterpiece Comics places original series, Fireblast, with industry leader, Diamond Comics Distributors, Inc. Masterpiece Comics announced today that its full-color, ongoing series, Fireblast, will be carried and distributed in the English-language world market by Diamond Comics Distributors, Inc., the […]

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Dramacon Volume 1

In Dramacon, Svetlana Chmakova has created an instant classic. Never mind if you don’t like manga, don’t like non-Japanese manga, don’t like Tokyopop… this romantic comedy is witty and amazingly wonderful, hitting all the right notes in a unique setting. Christie and her boyfriend have created a comic. (She writes, he draws.) To promote their effort, they’re attending an anime convention, she for the first time. She’s overwhelmed, mostly by how a different environment turns her boyfriend into a raging […]

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Maze Agency Tee-Hee

Spending a lovely afternoon rereading The Maze Agency, I came across this name-dropping in issue #12. For those who can’t read the text, here it is: Do you have an appointment, young man? Yes, ma’am, I’m Gabriel Webb… … and this is my secretary, Miss Laura Holt. This way, please. Mr. Morrigan will see you now. “Laura Holt”? Where did that name come from? I’ll tell you later… (Written by Mike W. Barr, art by Adam Hughes and Rick Magyar, […]

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Snark: Ronée Returns

Speaking of Friends of Lulu, Ronée is now “Retail Communications and Customer Service Manager” for “TightLip Entertainment (site no longer exists), a company that is dedicated to bringing the world of comic-book entertainment beyond the present day normal” (whatever that means). As a result, she’s no longer Comic News Editor for PopCultureShock. (I hope they’ll be able to get someone capable to replace her.) Here she is bitching about how her PR announcement didn’t get run (link no longer available). […]

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