The more I’m able to knock off the to-do list, the more I look forward to the winter holidays. These wonderful comic-themed advent calendar countdowns help, too. Here’s my list of the ten best graphic novels of 2006. Fun Home: A Family TragicomicAs excellent as everyone says it is, this graphic memoir is all the more powerful for what it doesn’t show about Alison Bechdel’s father’s hidden life. Dramacon Book 2Easily the most entertaining graphic novel I read this year. […]

I’m surprised, since I thought discussion might have died down by now, but people are still saying smart things about DC’s Minx line for teen girls. ICv2 interviews head editor Karen Berger. Dirk Deppey insightfully describes it (link no longer available): When the first question … might as well read, “So that opening quote in the New York Times that everyone laughed at: You aren’t really that dumb, are you?” you know it’s damage control. Still, it’s a good and […]

In honor of the late Chick Checks, let’s count female creators: The complete 2007 Minx lineup was announced yesterday. Two are by male writer/artists. Two are by separate male writers and artists. One is by a male writer with two male artists. One is cowritten by a male and his daughter and illustrated by a male. One is by a female writer and male artist. (I’ve talked about the new imprint previously here and here.) So, we have seven books […]

Today’s hot story: Reaction to the news about DC’s Minx line. Creators have begun commenting. At his message board (all links no longer available), Warren Ellis downplays concern over the lack of female creators, pointing to the two female editors and saying that the imprint is designed to make money, “not raise an ideological tent”. Andi Watson (one of the imprint’s writers) confirms that the editors tried to recruit more women, but “Some creators weren’t interested and then I guess […]

Today’s NY Times has an article (registration required) on Minx, DC Comics’ new line of graphic novels for teenage girls. Disclaimer: I’m quoted in it, because the author, an old Usenet friend, needed someone familiar with the subject matter at short notice who wasn’t actually working on the project. That’s not going to stop me from pointing out some of the sillier statements in the piece, though. It starts with a quote from Karen Berger: “It’s time we got teenage […]

One: Responding to Negative Reviews Kevin Church, blogger and comic writer, tells you how to react to negative reviews (link no longer available). I like this so much, I’m thinking of adding to my form response to “will you review my book?” “Only if you’ve read this.” Here’s the rundown, but his site has a lot more explanation: Your LiveJournal “friends list” does not necessarily reflect the taste of the general reading public. When a reviewer does not like your […]

My talented brother Powell is currently studying for his Ph.D. at Princeton. When I found out Scott McCloud would be stopping there as part of his Making Comics tour, I encouraged Powell to go and report back. Here’s his writeup: “Comics: An Art Form in Transition” Thursday, October 5, 2006 Jimmy Stewart Theater, Princeton University The presentation began with an introduction by Tom Levin, professor of German, media theory, and architecture. He discussed works that were heterochronic and mentioned, as […]