June 24, 2020 Johanna Manga News Leave a comment

Another Cells at Work Spinoff Coming

Boy, Cells at Work is its own little franchise, isn’t it? Makes sense — we’re all curious about how bodies work, and anthropomorphizing the functions and processes gives it all a sense of adventure (and in many cases with these series, fan service). In addition to the original manga by Akane Shimizu, Kodansha Comics has released in English Cells at Work! Code Black (about a guy with more adult problems, by Shigemitsu Harada and Issei Hatsuyoshiya) and two even more […]

June 23, 2020 Johanna Comic News One comment

Clan Apis Returns in Color!

I have missed the wonderful true-science graphic novels of Jay Hosler. He’s put out, among others, The Sandwalk Adventures (about Charles Darwin and evolution, as told by eyebrow mites), Last of the Sandwalkers (the life of desert beetles), and Clan Apis (the biography of a honeybee). That last one came out 20 years ago, but in its direct yet caring approach to the subject matter, it’s timeless. Which is why I was thrilled to see his announcement that the book […]

June 23, 2020 Johanna Movie News 3 comments

More J. Jonah Jameson to Come from JK Simmons

In this brief clip provided by SiriusXM, JK Simmons answers the question as to whether we’ll see him again as J. Jonah Jameson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This comes from a call-in to The Jess Cagle Show. I have to say, one thing the Marvel movies get very right is their casting. Simmons is perfect as the grumpy, old-school newspaper editor, just as Robert Downey Jr. was perfect as Iron Man and Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Strange. I’m so […]

June 15, 2020 Johanna First Second Leave a comment

Science Comics: Crows: Genius Birds

Science Comics: Crows: Genius Birds by Kyla Vanderklugt offers amazing insight into just how intelligent these birds are. That’s why I love this series: I had no idea about any of these facts before reading, and now I am fascinated by corvids (crows, magpies, jays, and ravens). Vanderklugt beautifully navigates between drawing the bird as a bird and giving it the personality it needs to attract the reader and keep them interested. The crow gets a dog, Buddy, to help […]

June 14, 2020 Johanna Graphix / Scholastic Leave a comment

The Midwinter Witch

The Midwinter Witch completes the trilogy Molly Knox Ostertag began with The Witch Boy and continued with The Hidden Witch. Aster, the boy witch, and Ariel, his new friend (who’s a bit undisciplined in her abilities), are attempting to catch up on their magic training. The family is preparing for the Festival, a gathering of all the extended relatives that also features a magical competition to crown the Midwinter Witch. Aster wants to compete, for the first time, but there […]

June 14, 2020 Johanna Toon Books Leave a comment

Ants Don’t Wear Pants!

Kevin McCloskey has a mini empire of educational comics about everyday wildlife from Toon Books called “Giggle and Learn”. They’re handsome hardcovers, aimed at grades K-1, that feature humor and gross facts. The newest, Ants Don’t Wear Pants!, joins the following: We Dig Worms! The Real Poop on Pigeons! Something’s Fishy Snails Are Just My Speed! Like the other books, this installment provides some basic facts: key bits of ant anatomy, the ant life cycle, how they communicate, some different […]

June 10, 2020 Johanna Comic News 18 comments

Is the Single Comic Issue an Outdated Format?

Well, yes, but I’ve been saying that the book-format comic is a superior format for decades, now. (I made a list, somewhere, but searching “graphic novel” on this site is futile.) What spurred the latest? Retailer Brandon Schatz in his column at the Beat has an entry titled “The Death & Rebirth of Print Single Issues”. He’s reflecting on how both DC and Marvel used the pandemic disruption to decide that some of their series — including Supergirl, The Terrifics, […]

June 9, 2020 Johanna Comic News Leave a comment

SPX Legal Defense Fund Case Settled

Almost two years ago, a group of comic creators were sued by small-press publisher Cody Pickrodt for defamation when they accused him (or repeated the accusation) of what the law is calling “sexual misconduct”. Now, a statement has been issued that an out-of-court settlement has been reached. Eight of the defendants had previously been dismissed from the case due to jurisdiction. Cody Pickrodt and Whitney Taylor issued a statement that reads, in part: Both of us wish to put this […]

« 1 2 3 4 5 … 555 »