Comics Journal (1977) comic books 2002-2004

King-Cat Comics - an interview with John Porcellino; John Ney Rieber on Vertigo, writing post-9/11 Captain America and why he hasn't sued J.K. Rowling; a John Buscema retrospective; special international comics coverage - Fabrice Neaud, Hisashi Sakaguchi and 2001 British comics in review. Cover price $5.95.

The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. In this issue: TCJ unearths a long-lost interview of the legendary cartoonist and illustrator Noel Sickles. Sickles drew the adventure strip Scorchy Smith, which in turn inspired Milton Caniff (Terry and the Pirates and Steve Canyon) to further refine Sickles' chiaroscuro style, later championed by Alex Toth. The interview is conducted by another legendary cartoonist, the late Gil Kane, and comics historian Ron Goulart. This is a fascinating conversation among three articulate members of the profession, part history, part shoptalk. Plus: A look at the work of Jason Lutes and Daniel Clowes; some of the last Peanuts strips examined; and DC makes romantic overtures toward Diamond distributors. In addition to the Journal's award-winning news and analysis, this issue also marks the return of critic R. Fiore and his Funnybook Roulette column. Magazine, 128 pages, B&W. Mature Readers. Cover price $5.95.

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The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. In this issue: Tom Spurgeon asks the hard questions of down-under wunderkind Dylan Horrocks: What, exactly, does it take to be the leading voice of an entire generation of cartoonists? With the groundbreaking Hicksville under his belt, and the brand-new Atlas, plus his current work with DC, Horrocks barely had time to make us this glorious all-new cover! Also: A new distributor crisis - independents, friendly LPC files Chapter 11; panel discussions - Burns, Kaz, Deitch, Kidd, McGuire, Spiegelman and Ware; R. Fiore on Ghost World; and a new manga column. Plus: News, criticism, various genius columnists, and everything else you've ever wanted in a comics magazine. Magazine, 120 pages, B&W. Mature Readers. Cover price $5.95.

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The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. In this issue: Spring's in full swing, and TCJ celebrates by bringing you a cover interview with Vertigo artist and Scary Godmother creator Jill Thompson! It is a fun, career-spanning chat with the Eisner Award winner that should not be missed. This issue also boasts an interview with the incomparable illustrator and cartoonist Michael Kupperman (a.k.a. P. Revess). The creator of the unsettlingly funny comic strip, "Up All Night," and author of the book Snake 'N' Bacon's Cartoon Cabaret talks about his life and art in a lively conversation guaranteed to be minty fresh. Plus: Tom Spurgeon weighs in on Box Office Poison, and a look at legal battles over Marvel Comics, 2002 edition. And as always, this issue is rounded out with the award-winning news, indispensable criticism and informative columns you would expect from the only insightful magazine about comics art. Magazine, 128 pages, B&W. Mature Readers. Cover price $5.95.

Interviews with comics old-timer Creig Flessel (Detective Comics, the original Sandman) and Young Turk Dave Cooper. The state of the comics industry 2002. Plus reviews, comics, letters, and news. Typically restrained, subtle cover by Cooper. Black and white with some color pages; 128 pages. Cover price $6.95.

Interviews with underground hero Victor Moscoso and comic-strip artist Mark Tonra. The work of anime pioneer Osamu Tezuka (Astro Boy). Plus reviews, comics, letters, and news. Black and white with some color pages; 128 pages. Cover price $6.95.

A year after 9/11, the comics community's response to the tragedy is examined by Ruben Bolling (Tom the Dancing Bug), Ted Rall, R. Fiore, Rich Kreiner and others. Interview with British cartoonist and activist Donald Rooum. Plus reviews, comics, letters, and news. Black and white; 128 pages. Cover price $6.95.

The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. In this issue: TCJ spends October picking the brain of the staggeringly talented artist Steve Rude, talking about his life, his art, his experiences working for Marvel and DC and his life's work, Nexus. The cover by Rude alone is worth plunking down seven bucks for, but Fantagraphics likes their readers, so they're also interviewing the delightful Andi Watson of Skeleton Key and Slow News Day fame, as well as throwing in the award-winning news and criticism that everybody expects. Plus: Switzerland - the most exciting place for comics in the world; Neil Gaiman trounces Todd McFarlane in court over Miracleman; Whatever Happened to Joe Matt?; and is SPX selling out? Magazine, 128 pages, B&W. Mature Readers. Cover price $6.95.

Recalling childhood with Debbie Drechsler; Will Eisner - a new interview on the 30s shop system; R. Fiore on Dark Knight 2 and Krazy Kat; color essays on manga, minicomix, Trondheim and Punch magazine. Cover price $6.95.

The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. The Journal celebrates its 250th issue with a double-sized extravaganza featuring unforgettable interviews with a fistful of the finest cartoonists of all time, indispensable essays from more than a dozen of comics' finest critics, and the first English translation of one of the world's greatest comics short stories! The Journal presents a translated excerpt from Numa Sadoul's legendary interview with the great Herge, an interview with Raymond Briggs, an all-new "Back to the Drawing Board" interview with Dan Clowes, and a career-spanning interview with Gary Panter! The Journal also makes comics history by being the first to publish manga cartoonist Yoshiharu Tsuge's classic short story "Neji-shiki" in English. The issue's comprehensive criticism section features essays on topics like "What's Wrong with Comics Criticism," "Why Team Comics is Still a Bad Idea," "EC Comics and the Chimeras of Memory," as well as essays on the state of post-9/11 editorial cartooning, racial caricature in comics, young cartoonists of note, and the state of the medium around the world! This issue also includes TCJ's "2002: Year in Review" assessment of the comics and events that mattered most. Cover by Gary Panter. Magazine, 256 pages, PC/PB&W. Mature Readers. Cover price $12.95.

Interview with James Sturm (The Golems Mighty Swing) and panel discussion with the pioneers of underground comics. Ana Merino on the link between comics and design. Trina Robbins on creating classics. Plus reviews, comics, letters, and news. Revealing cover by Sturm. Black and white; 128 pages. Cover price $6.95.

The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. In this issue: An exhaustive conversation with John Romita, Sr.! Tom Spurgeon chats with the artist about his life, art and career! Plus: an interview with Ron Rege, Jr. (Skibber Bee-Bye, Boys) conducted by The Ganzfeld's Dan Nadel. Also: Doubleday abandons graphic novel line. Cover by Romita, Sr. features Spider-Man cast of characters. Magazine, 128 pages, B&W. Mature Readers. Cover price $6.95.

The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. In this issue: The Comics Journal is proud to present a cover-length interview with Eric Drooker, examining his fascinating life and art, his marvelous wordless comics work, particularly his recent novel Blood Song and the seminal Flood! A Novel in Pictures, as well as his illustrations for clients like The New Yorker and Rage Against the Machine, and his collaboration with Allen Ginsberg! Also, esteemed Hal Foster biographer Brian Kane has a brief but utterly absorbing chat with veteran comics legend and inheritor of the Prince Valiant series, John Cullen Murphy! Plus, Eurocomics sensation Jason is interviewed! As always, the issue is packed with the kind of arts/literature coverage on the entire world of comics that earned it a 2002 Utne Independent Press Award. Magazine, 128 pages, B&W. Mature Readers. Cover price $6.95.

IInterviews with pioneering MAD artist Will Elder and Japanese cartoonist Kazuo Umezu. Tom Spurgeon on the link between comics and obesity. Rich Kreiner on comics aesthetics. Plus reviews, comics, letters, and news. Cover by Elder. Black and white; 144 pages. Cover price $6.95.

R. Sikoryak - comics' postmodern chameleon interviewed; Bob Levin answers the question "Whatever happened to Arn Saba?"; Aaron McGruder interviewed; Harvey Pekar, movie star. Cover by R. Sikoryak. Cover price $6.95.

Fort Thunder forever - an appreciation of the Fort, its artists, history and legacy by Tom Spurgeon; exclusive interviews with Mat Brinkman, Brian Chippendale and Brian Ralph; profiles of Jim Drain, Leif Goldberg and Paul Lyons by Robert Boyd, Megan Kelso and Dan Nadel; interview with Barefoot Gen's Keiji Nakazawa by Alan Gleason with an appreciation by Bill Randall; screwed creators, identity theft and a vengeful femme fatale by Michael Dean. Cover price $6.95.

Conversations with the late great comix art visionary Rick Griffin; CrossGen for sale; Superman, X-Men and Automatic Kafka writer Joe Casey interviewed. Cover price $6.95.

The Magazine of News and Criticism. In this issue: The Journal is proud to present a comprehensive look at the work of enigmatic genius Steve Ditko! A massive suite of essays from our Utne Award-winning critics will cover Ditko's 50 years of work, from his early ghost stories to his Marvel monsters, Spider-Man and Dr. Strange, through his later DC and Charlton comics, to Mr. A and his current politically maverick independent work -- and explore the nooks and crannies of what makes Ditko a vital, important figure in our medium's history. Plus: panel chat with Gilbert Hernandez (Love and Rockets) and Craig Thompson (Goodbye Chunky Rice, Blankets). Magazine, 128 pages, PC/PB&W. Mature Readers. Cover price $6.95.

The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. In this issue: TCJ presents their annual, indispensable "Year In Review" issue, examining 2003's vital events and releases from around the world! And this issue also boasts the "Young Cartoonists" section, featuring scads of interviews and profiles of the next generation of emerging talents! Yes, a new generation emerges - Jeffrey Brown, Robyn Chapman, Christopher Forgues, Asaf & Tomer Hanuka, Sammy Harkham, Paul Hornschemeier, Kevin Huizenga, Ben Jones, Derek Kirk Kim, Anders Nilsen, Lark Pien, John Pham, Souther Salazar, Jason Shiga, Drew Weing and Dan Zettwoch. How can you not want this issue? Don't you want to know what the books of the year were? Don't you care about the children? Cover by Drew Weing. Magazine, 128 pages, PC/PB&W. Mature Readers. Cover price $6.95.

The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. In this issue: You know 'em, you secretly love 'em, you'd be speaking English if it weren't for them -- it's the French! Leading off with a cover chat with Philippe Dupuy and Charles Berberian of Mr. Jean fame, we're also proud to present an unpublished conversation between the late, great Gil Kane and Jean-Claude Mezieres (Valerian and Laureline, The Fifth Element)! Zut Alors! And: Eddie Campbell on the work of comics pioneer Rodolphe Töpffer. Also: Dave Cockrum's sickbed deal with Marvel Comics. Plus: reviews, comics, letters and news. Cover by Dupuy and Berberian. Magazine, 128 pages, PC/PB&W. Mature Readers. Cover price $6.95.

The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. In this issue: The Journal is proud to present the long-awaited, exhaustive and engrossing cover interview with Phoebe Gloeckner, author of the tear-down-the-sky brilliant books A Child's Life and Diary of a Teenage Girl! Conducted by the Journal's own Gary Groth, this conversation is not one to miss. If that weren't enough, this issue also boasts a fascinating Gloeckner essay by legendary critic Donald Phelps, author of the American Book Award-winning Reading the Funnies! Also: dropping science with Jay Hosler; the gospel according to Chester Brown; and the early work of comics pioneer Winsor McCay. Plus: reviews, comics, letters and news. Magazine, 144 pages, B&W. Mature Readers. Cover price $6.95.

The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. In this issue: In its 28th year as the preeminent magazine of comics journalism and criticism, The Comics Journal is revamping its format with more color, more pages, better paper and higher quality printing, and a fresh, new design. Content is also being rejuvenated with expanded news and commentary sections, the inclusion of a comics section, and wider and more contemporaneous coverage of current comics publishing. This issue's cover feature is Alex Toth, with an examination of his life and work by Bob Levin, critical essays, an interview, and 30 pages of rare comics from one of Toth's most fertile creative periods in the 1950's, in both B&W and color. Our pre-election 2004 political coverage includes interviews with Steve Bell and Steve Brodner, one of America's the most preeminent illustrators and political satirists, whose work has appeared in periodicals from The New Yorker to Rolling Stone to The Atlantic Monthly to Harper's magazine. Reviews of the most noteworthy current comics and graphic novels and our columns on every facet of comics from manga to European comics to mini-comics and even (gasp!) mainstream comics round out the issue. Cover by Alex Toth. Softcover, 192 pages, PC/PB&W. Mature Readers. Cover price $9.95.

The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. Now revamped with more pages, better paper stock and more color pages, The Comics Journal remains the finest source of comics-related news, reviews and commentary in the market today. This issue features an in-depth, career-spanning interview with writer and cartoonist Ed Brubaker, covering his life in comics from his early days as an indie cartoonist to his work for DC Comics on such titles as Batman and Sleeper. Sean Phillips (the artist behind Sleeper) provides this issue's cover. Also in TCJ #263: In a series of essays, our critics (and a few surprises recruited especially for this issue) take a closer look at one of the most renowned and controversial self-publishing success stories in comics history, Dave Sim and Gerhard's Cerebus! From the duo's many artistic accomplishments to Sim's many pronouncements on gender and politics, this roundtable will put it all into perspective for you as only The Comics Journal can. Also: The legal battle for Superman and Superboy; Jingle Jangle Tales; and the celebrated news and critical coverage that has won the magazine countless awards! Softcover, 9-in. x 11-in., 192 pages, PC/PB&W. Mature Readers. Cover price $9.95.

The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. Now revamped with more pages and higher quality reproduction! This issue features a cover interview with Ivan Brunetti (conducted by editor Gary Groth), a cartoonist known for his caustic, scabrous and self-lacerating comic, Schizo, the cartoon collection Haw!, as well as his comics contributions to anthologies and illustration work in such magazine as Mother Jones, The Baffler, and Entertainment Weekly. Underground comics are highlighted this issue in two major features: Patrick Rosenkranz, the author of the underground comix history Rebel Visions, provides a historical profile of the major underground publishers in a long essay based on interviews with all the participants. Second, his own book comes under the knife in a series of critiques of his own history of underground comix by the underground cartoonists he covered in the book itself! Plus: Darcy Sullivan on defiling the legacy of Jack Kirby; Harold Gray's Little Joe; and vicious smears. Also: TCJ's regular columns covering European comics, manga, newspaper strips, and other facets of the medium, investigative journalism and letters, all in the most iconoclastic and unorthodox magazine about comics in the world. 200 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $9.95.