Comics Journal (1977) comic books 2003-2005

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.

The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. The latest issue of the recently revamped magazine turns its attention to the legendary William Steig, creator of Shrek! Since 1930, Steig produced over 1,600 cartoons and 117 covers for The New Yorker. The tribute to Steig opens with a critical essay by Donald Phelps, and includes a historical essay as well as short tributes from his peers and fellow cartoonists and a gallery of Steig's most significant work. This issue also features an interview with the cartoonist Eric Shanower, creator of the Image series Age of Bronze, conducted by Managing Editor Dirk Deppey. The comic strip reprint this issue is Garret Price's rarely seen, critically lauded White Boy -- 35 Sunday pages printed in full color! Plus: a profile of cult-favorite British cartoonist Chris Reynolds, written by famed graphic novelist Seth! Add in acerbic industry commentary and the celebrated news and critical coverage that has won the magazine countless awards. PC/PB&W. Cover price $9.95.

The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. This issue of the comics profession's foremost magazine of news and criticism contains two main features. First, a career-spanning interview with one of the most skillful and popular genre writers in comics, Brian Michael Bendis. Bendis discusses his crime comics beginnings, writing Sam & Twitch for Todd McFarlane, his early crime comics (Jinx, Goldfish, Torso), his Hollywood satire Fame & Glory and his sordid experiences in Hollywood, his espionage/noir graphic novel Fire, and his break-out into mainstream comics where he rejuvenated Marvel's Daredevil and Ultimate Spider-Man and created Alias, as well as his creator-owned Powers. Second, this is our annual Year-In-Review issue: The Journal's critics revisit 2004, selecting the best comics and graphic novels of the year. We'll also look at manga, webcomics and how the industry itself reacted to the changing marketplace. Add in Garrett Price's White Boy in the comics section, no-holds-barred industry commentary, and the celebrated news, regular columns, elitist judgments and snide remarks that have won the magazine countless awards. Cover by Alex Maleev. PC/PB&W. Cover price $9.95.

Will Eisner Memorial issue. Tributes by Dave Sim, Mike Ploog, Scott McCloud, Jeff Smith, Ron Goulart, Steven Grant, R.C. Harvey, Gary Groth and others. Classic military comics by Eisner. Plus reviews, comics, letters, and news. Black and white with some color pages; 200 pages. Cover price $9.95.

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The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. Now entering its 29th year, The Comics Journal returns yet again with the comics-related news, reviews and commentary that has made the magazine indispensable. In this issue, longtime contributor Charles Hatfield sits down for a conversation with breakout indie comics superstar Craig Thompson in an interview that runs his early days to Goodbye Chunky Rice to Blankets and beyond! Also, Managing Editor Dirk Deppey talks to the genius behind Flaming Carrot and the Mystery Men, Bob Burden. Burden's fame as an easygoing raconteur and surreal wit gets a workout in this freewheeling trip through a career that spans the last two decades of comic-book cartooning. Ut! Plus, British journalist Paul Slade examines the progression of Herge's internationally renowned Tintin series as it grew from classic strip to universal storytelling genius, in an enlightening essay you're not going to want to miss. Add in a reprint of rare, archival comic strips, insightful and acerbic industry commentary, plus the celebrated news and critical coverage that just won the magazine Great Britain's prestigious Eagle Award for "Favourite Magazine About Comics," and you've got another fine issue of the most essential magazine about comics available today! PC/PB&W. Cover price $9.95.

The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. This shoujo manga issue is devoted to exploring and explaining the "Girls don't like comics" phenomenon. Includes an interview with pioneering shoujo cartoonist Moto Hagio, often called "the Osamu Tezuka of women's manga," who is renowned both for her psychologically challenging stories and as the originator of the "shonen-ai" (boy love) subgenre. Includes the first-ever English translation of Hagio's short story "Hanshin." Also: journalist Kai-Ming Cha traces the rise of shoujo as a market force in Asia and the United States; cartoonist Lea Hernandez explains how shoujo shaped her view of comics as an art form; and cartoonist and historian Trina Robbins examines all-ages manga for girls. PC/PB&W. Cover price $9.95.

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The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. This issue, Greg Stump sits down for an interview with award-winning artist Jessica Abel, tracing her career from early, self-published mini-comics to her first deal with a major book publisher. Also: Bill Shafer talks to cartoonist Mark Bode about carrying on the legacy of his famous father, Vaughn. Plus: an interview with Lalo Alcaraz (La Cucaracha); Nell Brinkley comics; and corporate upheaval at DC. PC/PB&W. Cover price $9.95.

Interviews with Jerry Robinson (Batman, The Joker) and Renee French (The Soap Lady). Bill Blackbeard on E.C. Segars Thimble Theater, the strip that introduced Popeye. Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman talk about getting the business end of comics. Plus reviews, comics, letters, and news. Black and white with some color pages; 200 pages. Cover price $9.95.

The Steve Bell interview; the Jeff Danziger interview; Jerry Robinson & political activism; Diamond purges smallest publishers; John Stanley's 'Thirteen.' Cover price $9.95.