Thursday, July 31, 2025

"A Ridiculous Optimist" In a rare interview, Quentin Blake, the inimitable children's-book illustrator behind Roald Dahl's Matilda, explains why he's still drawing at 92

By Lucy Bannerman

July 26, 2025

https://airmail.news/issues/2025-7-26/a-ridiculous-optimist

Exhibit Review: Peter Kuper's Insectopolis

reviewed by José Alaniz

International Journal of Comic Art blog July 30, 2025

https://ijoca.blogspot.com/2025/07/exhibit-review-peter-kupers-insectopolis.html

PW Comics World: More To Come
More to Come 684: Comic-Con is Coming
Heidi 'The Beat' MacDonald, Calvin Reid and Kate Fitzsimons
on 07/18/2025 https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/podcasts/index.html?channel=2&podcast=1379

PW Comics World: More To Come
More to Come 685: SDCC 2025 Interviews Pt 1 [Anna Meyer, Tony Weaver, Jr.]
Meg Lemke
on 07/25/2025
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/podcasts/index.html?channel=2&podcast=1380

PW Comics World: More To Come
More to Come 686: SDCC 2025 Interviews Pt 2 [Mimi Pond]
Meg Lemke
on 07/26/2025
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/podcasts/index.html?channel=2&podcast=1381

PW Comics World: More To Come
More to Come 687: SDCC 2025 Interviews Pt 3 [Tim Fielder, Alessandra Ferrari, Wattpad Studio, Ben Wickey].
Heidi 'The Beat' MacDonald, Calvin Reid and Meg Lemke
on 07/27/2025 https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/podcasts/index.html?channel=2&podcast=1382

PW Comics World: More To Come
More to Come 688: SDCC 2025 Pt 4: 3 Women in a Hotel Room
Heidi MacDonald, Brigid Alverson, Johanna Draper Carlson
on 07/28/2025 https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/podcasts/index.html?channel=2&podcast=1383

PW Comics World: More To Come
More to Come 679: Sue Jeong Ka
Calvin Reid
on 06/27/2025
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/podcasts/index.html?podcast=1374

Paging 'Dr. Werthless': PW Talks with Harold Schechter and Eric Powell
By Brigid Alverson
Jul 30, 2025 https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/98217-paging-dr-werthless-pw-talks-with-harold-schechter-and-eric-powell.html

Amanda Gnecco Named CFO at Alliance
Jul 23, 2025
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/newsbrief/index.html?record=5462

Hulls, Sacco, Yang Take Home 2025 Eisner Awards
By Sam Spratford
Jul 28, 2025 https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/98295-hulls-sacco-yang-take-home-2025-eisner-awards.html

Legendary Dragon Ball Editor Is Breaking Down What's Wrong With Modern Manga
By Rodrigo Sandoval Lahut
CBR July 28 2025
https://screenrant.com/dragon-ball-editor-manga-kazuhiko-torishima-bad-manga-trends-industry/

SDCC '25: Winners and Losers of Comic-Con 2025
Heidi MacDonald, Dan Morris, Gabriel Neeb, Zack Quaintance, Diego Higuera, Javier Perez, Julian Lytle, Riccardo Serrano Denis, Beau Q, Taimur Dar and Ollie Kaplan. 07/30/2025 https://www.comicsbeat.com/sdcc-25-winners-and-losers-of-comic-con-2025/

SDCC '25: Ignition Press revs up its creators
07/30/2025 https://www.comicsbeat.com/sdcc-25-ignition-press-revs-up-its-creators/
By Shaun Manning

Evan Dorkin
Dollar Bin Bandits
Jul 30, 2025 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5pkJw5V2Ys

Russia bookstore fined for LGBTQA+ 'propaganda' by selling books [Fruit of Knowledge by Liv Strömquist]
Darina Boykova | U. Ottawa Faculty of Law, CA
July 20, 2025
https://www.jurist.org/news/2025/07/russia-bookstore-fined-for-lgbtqa-propaganda-by-selling-books/

Community support pours in after West Reading comic shop hit by flooding
José Martínez
WFMZ Jul 11, 2025
https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/reading-area/community-support-pours-in-after-west-reading-comic-shop-hit-by-flooding/article_bebcb0fa-6cdc-4ae3-a5b9-f1d8982ca05d.html

Tim Blake Nelson used his Marvel experience and the larger superhero movie-making biz to inspire new novel (exclusive)
The actor sits down with EW to reveal the book cover for "Superhero" and share insights.
Nick Romano
July 23, 2025 https://ew.com/tim-blake-nelson-superhero-book-cover-marvel-experience-exclusive-11776789

The Fantastic Four: First Steps' boldest choice is a pregnant Sue Storm
Superhero motherhood has never looked like this on the big screen.
By Caroline Siede | July 30, 2025
https://www.avclub.com/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-pregnant-sue-storm

What the evolution of Captain America says about the country's national identity
Devin Katayama
All Things Considered July 30, 2025
https://www.npr.org/2025/07/30/nx-s1-5477627/what-the-evolution-of-captain-america-says-about-the-countrys-national-identity
https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2025/07/20250730_atc_what_the_evolution_of_captain_america_says_about_the_country_s_national_identity.mp3

What's the Deal With That Freaky Bald Creature in 'Superman'?
James Gunn explains what's up with Lex Luthor's bizarre henchman Mr. Handsome—and we only have more questions.
By Sabina Graves
July 30, 2025
https://gizmodo.com/whats-the-deal-with-that-freaky-bald-creature-in-superman-2000636766

The Bad Guys 2 is an even better gateway heist movie than the original
By Matt Donato | July 30, 2025
https://www.avclub.com/the-bad-guys-2-review

Radif Kashapov
If the comic strip 'Barsiki and Neko' will become an animated series [Tatarstan; Russia]
25.02.2025 https://realnoevremya.com/articles/8587-the-first-cartoon-collection-about-a-tatar-family-and-a-japanese-cat

South Park is taking a week off to recharge Trump material; In next week's episode, Mr. Mackey M'asks up and says "M'kay" to joining ICE.
By Matt Schimkowitz | July 29, 2025
https://www.avclub.com/south-park-week-off-trump-paramount

California's Animation Industry Is in Crisis — Here's How to Save It
By John Attanasio and Luisa Huang, Co-Founders of Toonstar —
By Toonstar Animation
July 29, 2025
https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/07/californias-animation-industry-is-in-crisis-heres-how-to-save-it/

Milligan, Mercedes. 2025. 'KPop Demon Hunters' Is Officially Netflix's Most Popular Animated Movie of All Time. Animation Magazine (July 29): https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/07/kpop-demon-hunters-is-officially-netflixs-most-popular-animated-movie-ever/

Jen Sorensen
Comic-Con Wrap Up
Sorensen Subscribers Jul 30, 2025
https://mailchi.mp/fee30f584826/sorensen-subscribers-comic-con-wrap-up

The Sandman Showrunner Breaks Down Dream's Season 2 Journey and Bringing the Comic Saga's Epic End to Life
By Lacy Baugher Milas | July 29, 2025
https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/netflix/the-sandman-season-2-showrunner-allan-heinberg-interview

How Eadweard Muybridge revolutionized photography and got away with murder
Muybridge took iconic photos of a horse in motion. It was far from the only eventful moment in his life
Philip Drost · CBC Radio Day 6 Jul 23, 2025 https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/eadweard-muybridge-photography-1.7590960

Guy Delisle's latest comic book tells the story of pioneering photographer and killer Eadweard Muybridge
Brent Bambury.
CBC Radio Day 6 Jul 23, 2025 https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/eadweard-muybridge-photography-1.7590960

Bookends Highlights: The language of comics with 5 masters of the craft [ Adrian Tomine, Alison Bechdel, Bryan Lee O'Malley, Sarah Leavitt and Chris Ware.]
Bookends with Mattea Roach July 20, 2025
https://app.magellan.ai/listen_links/R12Hqy
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/bookends-highlights-the-language-of-comics-with/id250082529

It's up to the Peanuts gang to save camp in trailer for first musical in decades
Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical features original songs from Jeff Morrow, Ben Folds, Alan Zachary, and Michael Weiner.
By Emma Keates | July 30, 2025 https://www.avclub.com/snoopy-presents-a-summer-musical-trailer-peanuts

Eyes Of Wakanda is thought-provoking, entertaining, and strikingly animated
The Black Panther spin-off examines the costs of MCU isolationism.
By Dennis Perkins | July 30, 2025
https://www.avclub.com/eyes-of-wakanda-review-disney-plus-tv

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

NPR on Captain America as a symbol of the dream, not the government

What the evolution of Captain America says about the country's national identity

Devin Katayama

All Things Considered July 30, 2025

https://www.npr.org/2025/07/30/nx-s1-5477627/what-the-evolution-of-captain-america-says-about-the-countrys-national-identity

https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2025/07/20250730_atc_what_the_evolution_of_captain_america_says_about_the_country_s_national_identity.mp3

Captain America became one of the most popular superheroes during World War II. But after the war, without an obvious enemy to fight, the hero's identity began to morph.

Comics Research Bibliography citations update, 7/29/2025

NEW FILINGS IN DIAMOND CONSIGNMENT DISPUTE; SPARKLE POP AMENDS COMPLAINT AGAINST ALLIANCE ENTERTAINMENT

Diamond Bankruptcy News Round-up

Milton Griepp on July 29, 2025 https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/60161/new-filings-diamond-consignment-dispute-sparkle-pop-amends-complaint-against-alliance-entertainment

Graphic Novel Review: Heartcore by Štěpánka Jislová

reviewed by José Alaniz, University of Washington, Seattle

International Journal of Comic Art blog July 29, 2025

https://ijoca.blogspot.com/2025/07/graphic-novel-review-heartcore-by.html

Štěpánka Jislová, translated by Martha Kuhlman. Heartcore. Graphic Mundi, 2025. https://www.graphicmundi.org/books/978-1-63779-090-8.html

My Red Library': A Štěpánka Jislová Interview

José Alaniz

International Journal of Comic Art blog July 29, 2025

https://ijoca.blogspot.com/2025/07/my-red-library-stepanka-jislova.html

Remembering artist, teacher, publisher and activist Turtel Onli, 1952-2025

Stanford Carpenter | July 29, 2025 https://www.tcj.com/remembering-artist-teacher-publisher-and-activist-turtel-onli-1952-2025/

Moomins Enter the Cuteness Pantheon, With Help From Gen Z

Like Snoopy and Miffy, these adorable creatures have been rediscovered by members of a younger generation.

Adrienne Raphel

July 28, 2025

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/style/moomins-tove-jansson-brooklyn-public-library.html

As 'KPop Demon Hunters' Sings On Netflix, Ted Sarandos Talks Up Original Animated Features

Jill Goldsmith

July 17, 2025

https://deadline.com/2025/07/kpop-demon-hunters-netflix-ted-sarandos-original-animated-feature-1236461532/

The New Deal and the Popular Front Gave Us Superman

The real Man of Steel wasn't woke, but he was radical.

Jeet Heer

July 25, 2025

https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/new-deal-popular-front-superman/

If Charlie Brown Were a Socialist: On Beloved Argentine Comic Strip Mafalda

"Mafalda is truly an angry heroine who rejects the world as it is."

By Alex Dueben

July 21, 2025 https://lithub.com/if-charlie-brown-were-a-socialist-on-beloved-argentine-comic-strip-mafalda/

From Grief to Giggles: Pithitude's Tamara Bissell Sweeps Curry County Pitch Night, Teases New Comic Strip

By Linda Lee Curry Coastal Pilot Jul 20, 2025 https://www.currypilot.com/news/from-grief-to-giggles-pithitudes-tamara-bissell-sweeps-curry-county-pitch-night-teases-new-comic/article_ccade914-cfad-4a5c-92ff-79921ab4f517.html

SDCC '25 Interview: Patrick Horvath on Woodbrook and returning to SDCC

Javier Perez on 07/29/2025 https://www.comicsbeat.com/sdcc-25-interview-patrick-horvath-talks-coming-back-to-sdcc-and-woodbrook/

The 'Fantastic Four' Movie That Never Was
The first attempt at making a film about the superheroes was an extremely low-budget affair that was shot, abandoned and mostly forgotten about in the 1990s.
Maya Phillips
A version of this article appears in print on July 28, 2025, Section C, Page 1 of the New York edition with the headline: 'The Fantastic Four' Beta Version Endures.https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/25/movies/fantastic-four-forgotten-film.html

Designing 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps'
A Manhattan with a retrofuturist sensibility is among the intriguing visual aspects of the film. We talk with its designers to get the details.
By Robert Ito
July 29, 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/movies/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-design.html

Superhero Movies Dominated the Box Office, but Not the Top 100 List
By Maya Phillips
A version of this article appears in print on July 29, 2025, Section C, Page 2 of the New York edition with the headline: Superhero Films Soar, Then Fatigue Settles In.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/04/movies/superhero-movies-best-films-list.html

CHIP ZDARSKY Talks NEW Captain America, Interviewing Friends and Zdarsky Comic News
BJ Kicks
Comics Are Dope Jul 10, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imKq-q62CoU

The Beat Digest 07/29/25: EYES OF WAKANDA coming very soon
Christopher Chiu-Tabet on 07/29/2025 https://www.comicsbeat.com/digest-072925/

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

That Ain't a Word, Bruh by Daniel Boris

Comics Research Bibliography citations update, 7/28/2025

EISNER AWARDS 2025: THE BEAT HONORED FOR COMICS JOURNALISM

Also: Longtime Eisner Awards Administrator Jackie Estrada to Retire

Brigid Alverson on July 26, 2025

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/60146/eisner-awards-2025-the-beat-honored-comics-journalism

WILL EISNER SPIRIT OF COMICS RETAILER AWARD WINNER 2025

Second Win for Akira Comics

Brigid Alverson on July 26, 2025

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/60145/will-eisner-spirit-comics-retailer-award-winner-2025

SDCC 2025 NEWS: ABRAMS TO PUBLISH 'X-MEN: ELSEWHEN'

In Which Jean Grey Survives the Dark Phoenix Saga

Brigid Alverson on July 25, 2025

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/60140/sdcc-2025-news-abrams-publish-x-men-elsewhen

THIEF STEALS 'POKéMON' CARDS WORTH OVER $100K, RUSSIAN BOOKSTORE FINED FOR SELLING 'FENCE,' NEIGHBORS HELP FLOOD-STRICKEN COMIC SHOP

Shop Talk, July 2025

Brigid Alverson on July 25, 2025

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/60144/thief-steals-pokmon-cards-worth-over-100k-russian-bookstore-fined-selling-fence-neighbors-help-flood-stricken-comic-shop

'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Breaks a Box Office Curse

By Brooks Barnes

A version of this article appears in print on July 28, 2025, Section B, Page 3 of the New York edition with the headline: 'Fantastic Four: First Steps' Breaks a Box Office Curse.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/business/media/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-box-office.html

Wigard, Justin. 2024. "Time is Our Only Ally!": Indigenous Heroism and Native Slipstream in Turok, Son of Stone. Heroism Science: Vol. 9: Iss. 1, Article 16.
DOI: 10.26736/hs.2024.01.17
Available at: https://scholarship.richmond.edu/heroism-science/vol9/iss1/16 and https://scholarship.richmond.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1063&context=heroism-science

Martin, Justin F. and Kapoor, Hansika. 2024. It's Worse If Superman Does It: Perceptions of Moral Transgressions Committed by Superheroes and Supervillains. Heroism Science: Vol. 9: Iss. 1, Article 7.
DOI: 10.26736/hs.2024.01.08
Available at: https://scholarship.richmond.edu/heroism-science/vol9/iss1/7 and https://scholarship.richmond.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1056&context=heroism-science

EXCLUSIVE - Conan the Barbarian: FATE REVEALED [SDCC panel]
Jim Zub, artist Dan Panosian, editor Chris Butera, and Conan YouTube Director Shawn Curley
Conan the Barbarian
Jul 25, 2025 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4_Ie_NNwUE

Marvel celebrates Halloween with MASK VARIANT COVERS by James Kerigan
Justin Guerrero on 07/28/2025 https://www.comicsbeat.com/marvel-halloween-comic-covers/

Peter Sanderson
Animals from Krypton! [Superman movie]
Sanderson on Comics Jul 27, 2025
https://substack.com/inbox/post/169417876

Comedy Central Animation Panel | San Diego Comic Con 2025 (Full Panel)
Josh Horowitz, Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Mike Judge, and Andy Samberg
Comedy Central Jul 26, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipSEFpZXmA8

'Rick and Morty' Creator Dan Harmon on Season 8 Tinkering and Fans Pushing for More From the Multiverse
Ryan Gajewski
July 27, 2025 https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/rick-and-morty-season-8-finale-dan-harmon-1236330468/

Watch: 'Light of the World' Featurette Delves into the Design & Animation of Jesus's Story
By Mercedes Milligan
July 25, 2025
https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/07/watch-light-of-the-world-featurette-delves-into-the-design-animation-of-jesuss-story/

Designing Jesus for Light Of The World
John Schafer and Tom Bancroft
Light of the World Movie
Jul 17, 2025 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14xkOWOqd5E

The Hive Studio Crowdfunds Over £100,000 to Animated 'The Vampair'
Mercedes Milligan
July 25, 2025 https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/07/the-hive-studio-crowdfunds-over-100000-to-animated-the-vampair/

'What do you think would happen if we combined Smile with Understanding Comics?' Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud have the answer
Gina Gagliano | July 28, 2025 https://www.tcj.com/what-do-you-think-would-happen-if-we-combined-smile-with-understanding-comics-raina-telgemeier-and-scott-mccloud-have-the-answer/

Off Panel #509: Land Mines with Robert Kirkman
David Harper
SKTCHD
Jul 28, 2025 Off Panel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzd-5qkbPQA

Superhero Movies Have Stopped Obsessing Over Origins
Studios know audiences know Superman and the Fantastic Four, so they're letting these heroes have more storytelling freedom.
By Justin Carter
io9 July 28, 2025
https://gizmodo.com/superhero-movies-have-stopped-obsessing-over-origins-2000635325

Captionless cartoonist SD Phadnis turns 100 on Tuesday, his lines & drawing bring out the humour
Ardhra Nair
Times of india Jul 27, 2025,
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/captionless-cartoonist-sd-phadnis-turns-100-on-tuesday-his-lines-drawing-bring-out-the-humour/articleshow/122927852.cms

Jasmine Crockett lets a Nick Anderson cartoon say it all about Trump and Abbott
Bill Addis
Friday, July 25, 2025
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/7/25/2335252/-Jasmine-Crockett-let-s-a-Nick-Anderson-cartoon-say-it-all-about-Trump-and-Abbott

Monday, July 28, 2025

Comics Research Bibliography citations update, 7/26-27/2025

SDCC '25: Announcing the 2025 Eisner Award winners
Samantha Puc
07/25/2025
https://www.comicsbeat.com/sdcc-25-announcing-the-2025-eisner-award-winners/

SDCC '25: JUNJI ITO voted into the Will Eisner Comic Awards Hall of Fame
Samantha Puc on 07/25/2025 https://www.comicsbeat.com/sdcc-25-junji-ito-voted-into-the-will-eisner-comic-awards-hall-of-fame/

Junji Ito Inducted into the Eisner Hall of Fame
Viz media
Jul 25, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH2rE0NTdkI

SDCC '25: Eisner Awards admin Jackie Estrada announces retirement after 35 years
Samantha Puc on 07/26/2025 https://www.comicsbeat.com/sdcc-25-eisner-awards-admin-jackie-estrada-announces-retirement-after-35-years/

SDCC '25: Image honors Australia's Comics Etc. with Image Select Retailer Award
Samantha Puc on 07/25/2025 https://www.comicsbeat.com/sdcc-25-image-honors-australias-comics-etc-with-image-select-retailer-award/

Image Comics Select Retailer Award Goes To Comics Etc. Of Australia
The Image Comics Select Retailer Award for the Summer of 2025 goes to Comics Etc of Brisbane, Australia, presented at San Diego Comic-Con
25 Jul 2025
by Rich Johnston
https://bleedingcool.com/comics/image-comics-select-retailer-award-goes-to-comics-etc-of-australia/

SDCC '25: For Tony Weaver Jr., an Eisner nom is a win for mental health [interview]
Nancy Powell on 07/26/2025 https://www.comicsbeat.com/sdcc25-tony-weaver-jr-interview/

SDCC '25: Abrams ComicArts creators talk originals, adaptations, and essentials
Shaun Manning
The Beat 07/25/2025 https://www.comicsbeat.com/sdcc-25-abrams-comicarts-creators-talk-originals-adaptations-and-essentials/

The Many Shades of Legendary Trans Colorist Tamra Bonvillain
For nearly two decades, the artist has given life to some of the comic industries' most beloved titles.
By Samantha Riedel
June 21, 2022
https://www.them.us/story/one-of-them-tamra-bonvillain

Paramount Settled With Trump. Its Shows Are Skewering Him.
"South Park," Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert have all been critical of their own company and President Trump this week.
John Koblin and Derrick Bryson Taylor
A version of this article appears in print on July 26, 2025, Section B, Page 4 of the New York edition with the headline: Despite Settlement, Shows Skewer the President.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/business/media/trump-south-park-colbert-stewart.html

"South Park" Skewers a Satire-Proof President
The new season première goes after Trump as never before—and solves a problem that's plagued comedians since his first term in office.
Tyler Foggatt
July 25, 2025 https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-lede/south-park-skewers-a-satire-proof-president

Steve Bissette Eisner Hall of Fame
Bowwowmedia.tv
Jul 22, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?si&v=U62O7ETVFzI

Eisner Hall of Fame Thank you with sub- titles
Steve Bissette
Bowwowmedia.tv
Jul 25, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?si&v=U62O7ETVFzI

Chatting with Liza Donnelly
A recording from Liza Donnelly and Heather Cox Richardson's live video
Liza Donnelly and Heather Cox Richardson
Seeing Things Jul 25, 2025
https://lizadonnelly.substack.com/p/chatting-with-liza-donnelly

Buzz off ["Dustin" letter]
Rhona Bosin
Washington Post July 26 2025: A15.
online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/07/25/nvidia-gergen-texas-flood-misogyny-reagan/

A comic walks into a bar ["Flash Gordon" letter]
Eric Wenocur
Washington Post July 26 2025: A15.
online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/07/25/nvidia-gergen-texas-flood-misogyny-reagan/

A blight in shining armor ["Hagar the Horrible" letter]
Thomas V. Berry
Washington Post July 26 2025: A15.
online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/07/25/nvidia-gergen-texas-flood-misogyny-reagan/

Ay güey, mucho major ["Lio" letter]
Mark Doty
Washington Post July 26 2025: A15.
online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/07/25/nvidia-gergen-texas-flood-misogyny-reagan/

Gail Simone
[" Reputations in this industry are weird." (Chris Claremont)]
Gail Simone's post July 25 2025
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10161599907751778&id=672811777&post_id=672811777_10161599907751778&rdid=spACKkrbpVSYiUil

Can Tiny Chef fans get his show back on Nickelodeon?
Elizabeth Blair
Morning Edition July 2, 2025
https://www.npr.org/2025/07/02/nx-s1-5451718/tiny-chef-nickelodeon-cancellation
https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/me/2025/07/20250702_me_fans_protest_nickelodeon_s_decision_to_cancel_the_tiny_chef_show.mp3
https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5451718

What's the best Pixar movie? Here's what our listeners said
Aisha Harris and Stephen Thompson
Pop Culture Happy Hour July 7, 2025
https://www.npr.org/2025/07/07/nx-s1-5452425/best-pixar-movies-ranked-inside-out-toy-story

'KPop Demon Hunters' is a viral smash that crushes the songs
Stephen Thompson, Regina G. Barber, Jae-Ha Kim
Pop Culture Happy Hour July 17, 2025
https://www.npr.org/2025/07/17/1255812248/kpop-demon-hunters-is-a-viral-smash-that-crushes-the-songs
https://chrt.fm/track/138C95/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510282/traffic.megaphone.fm/NPR2825650857.mp3
https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1255812248

'Superman' takes off and nails the landing
Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Chris Klimek
Pop Culture Happy Hour July 11, 2025
https://www.npr.org/2025/07/11/1255526967/superman-takes-off-and-nails-the-landing
https://chrt.fm/track/138C95/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510282/traffic.megaphone.fm/NPR5440468061.mp3
https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1255526967

James Gunn's 'Superman' movie is corny. Which is why it gets Superman right
Glen Weldon and Scott Detrow
All Things Considered July 10, 2025
https://www.npr.org/2025/07/10/nx-s1-5453867/superman-review
https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2025/07/20250710_atc_james_gunn_s_superman_movie_is_corny._which_is_why_it_gets_superman_right.mp3
https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5453867

The new 'Fantastic Four' starts Marvel's next phase off on the right (gigantic) foot
Glen Weldon
Pop Culture Happy Hour July 25, 2025
https://www.npr.org/2025/07/25/nx-s1-5475015/review-fantastic-four-first-steps-marvel-cinematic-universe

'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' heralds good things for the MCU's future
Glen Weldon, Jordan Morris, Shar Jossell, Ronald Young Jr.
Pop Culture Happy Hour July 25, 2025
https://www.npr.org/2025/07/25/1256217297/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-heralds-good-things-for-the-mcus-future
https://chrt.fm/track/138C95/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510282/traffic.megaphone.fm/NPR9813406717.mp3
https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1256217297

'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' plus a rom-com turned sideways and more in theaters
Bob Mondello
July 24, 2025
https://www.npr.org/2025/07/24/nx-s1-5475021/fantastic-four-first-steps-oh-hi-diciannove-in-theaters

At Zunar's book launch, Anwar vows judicial independence while blasting hypocrisy of new champions
By Anis Zalani
22 Jul 2025
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/07/22/at-zunars-book-launch-anwar-vows-judicial-independence-while-blasting-hypocrisy-of-new-champions/184782

Zunar Celebrates 50 Years with Book Memoir
Alan Gardner
July 23, 2025 https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2025/07/23/zunar-celebrates-50-years-with-book-memoir/

Look Up in the Sky! It's a Trans-Led Supergirl Comic Series Coming Soon!
The new DC series will be written and drawn by Sophie Campbell with colors by Tamra Bonvillain.
By Samantha Riedel
February 21, 2025 https://www.them.us/story/supergirl-dc-comic-series-all-in-sophie-campbell-tamra-bonvillain

Compestine dishes on graphic novel cookbook
New title filled with Chinese folklore, history and recipes
By Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News
February 22, 2025, https://www.columbian.com/news/2025/feb/22/compestine-dishes-on-graphic-novel-cookbook/

Repton Prep School pupil wins prestigious national competition with graphic reimagining of classic novel
Sarah Newton.
24/02/2025 https://penguinpr.co.uk/newscentre/2025/02/24/repton-prep-school-pupil-wins-prestigious-national-competition-with-graphic-reimagining-of-classic-novel/

Crunchyroll is Bringing More Anime to Movie Theaters Like seeing anime in theaters? Crunchyroll hopes so, because its new monthly Anime Nights program wants you in the theater every month.
By Justin Carter July 27, 2025
https://gizmodo.com/sdcc-2025-crunchyroll-anime-night-theates-2000635301

Off Panel #508: Playing the Hits with Si Spurrier
David Harper
July 21, 2025
https://sktchd.com/podcast/off-panel-508-playing-the-hits-with-si-spurrier/
https://traffic.libsyn.com/sktchd/Si_Spurrier_2025.mp3

Editoonist George Danby Inducted to Maine Press Assoc Hall of Fame
D. D. Degg
July 26, 2025
https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2025/07/26/editoonist-george-danby-inducted-into-maine-press-assoc-hall-of-fame/

BDN cartoonist George Danby to be inducted into Maine Press Association hall of fame

Bangor Daily News July 25 2025
https://www.newsbreak.com/bangor-daily-news-1696700/4134621503021-bdn-cartoonist-george-danby-to-be-inducted-into-maine-press-association-hall-of-fame

Returning to My Dress-Up Darling After 3 Years: Hina Suguta and Shoya Ishige
by Bolts, Jul 25th 2025 https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interview/2025-07-25/returning-to-my-dress-up-darling-after-3-years-hina-suguta-and-shoya-ishige/.226816

James Gunn Receives Hero's Welcome During 'Superman' Victory Lap at Comic-Con
Borys Kit
July 26, 2025
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/james-gunn-receives-heros-welcome-superman-comic-con-1236330396/

CBS: Caving. Bowing. Scraping. [South Park; Oliphant]
Maureen Dowd
A version of this article appears in print on July 27, 2025, Section SR, Page 3 of the New York edition with the headline: CBS: Caving. Bowing. Scraping.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/26/opinion/trump-south-park-cbs.html

James Gunn's 'Superman' Hall of Justice Murals are Filled With Deep-Cut DC History
The Hall of Justice's mural in 'Superman' is so full of obscure Easter eggs, even we're not 100% on who some of these guys are!
By Gordon Jackson
io9 July 27, 2025
https://gizmodo.com/james-gunn-superman-hall-of-justice-mural-characters-explained-2000634723

Sunday, July 27, 2025

SDCC 2025 program features Cavna on Peanuts

and my friend Chris Sparks on his friend Bruce Guice, among others. This is the updated version.

https://comic-con.b-cdn.net/2025%20Souvenir%20Book%20v2.pdf

The Great Negotiator by Daniel Boris

Saturday, July 26, 2025

NPR on Tiny Chef, Superman, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and KPop Demon Hunters

Can Tiny Chef fans get his show back on Nickelodeon?

Elizabeth Blair

Morning Edition July 2, 2025

https://www.npr.org/2025/07/02/nx-s1-5451718/tiny-chef-nickelodeon-cancellation

https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/me/2025/07/20250702_me_fans_protest_nickelodeon_s_decision_to_cancel_the_tiny_chef_show.mp3

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5451718

What's the best Pixar movie? Here's what our listeners said

Aisha Harris and Stephen Thompson

Pop Culture Happy Hour July 7, 2025

https://www.npr.org/2025/07/07/nx-s1-5452425/best-pixar-movies-ranked-inside-out-toy-story

'KPop Demon Hunters' is a viral smash that crushes the songs

Stephen Thompson, Regina G. Barber, Jae-Ha Kim

Pop Culture Happy Hour July 17, 2025

https://www.npr.org/2025/07/17/1255812248/kpop-demon-hunters-is-a-viral-smash-that-crushes-the-songs

https://chrt.fm/track/138C95/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510282/traffic.megaphone.fm/NPR2825650857.mp3

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1255812248

'Superman' takes off and nails the landing

Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Chris Klimek

Pop Culture Happy Hour July 11, 2025

https://www.npr.org/2025/07/11/1255526967/superman-takes-off-and-nails-the-landing

https://chrt.fm/track/138C95/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510282/traffic.megaphone.fm/NPR5440468061.mp3

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1255526967

James Gunn's 'Superman' movie is corny. Which is why it gets Superman right

Glen Weldon and Scott Detrow

All Things Considered July 10, 2025

https://www.npr.org/2025/07/10/nx-s1-5453867/superman-review

https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2025/07/20250710_atc_james_gunn_s_superman_movie_is_corny._which_is_why_it_gets_superman_right.mp3

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5453867

The new 'Fantastic Four' starts Marvel's next phase off on the right (gigantic) foot

Glen Weldon

Pop Culture Happy Hour July 25, 2025

https://www.npr.org/2025/07/25/nx-s1-5475015/review-fantastic-four-first-steps-marvel-cinematic-universe

'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' heralds good things for the MCU's future

Glen Weldon, Jordan Morris, Shar Jossell, Ronald Young Jr.

Pop Culture Happy Hour July 25, 2025

https://www.npr.org/2025/07/25/1256217297/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-heralds-good-things-for-the-mcus-future

https://chrt.fm/track/138C95/prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510282/traffic.megaphone.fm/NPR9813406717.mp3

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1256217297

'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' plus a rom-com turned sideways and more in theaters

Bob Mondello

July 24, 2025

https://www.npr.org/2025/07/24/nx-s1-5475021/fantastic-four-first-steps-oh-hi-diciannove-in-theaters

Those darn comic strips in WaPo

Free for All

Washington Post July 26 2025: A15.

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/07/25/nvidia-gergen-texas-flood-misogyny-reagan/

(Steve Kelley, Jeff Parker/King Features Syndicate)

Buzz off

"Dustin" portrays women as shallow, mean and rude. The strip's female characters consistently shame male characters about their weight, intellect, appeal (to women), lack of initiative, struggle with willpower and so on.

The strip also relies on the trope of men approaching women in bars and getting shot down. I find this outdated, stale and devoid of creativity. Do the writers hold a resentment toward women?

Rhona Bosin, Silver Spring

(Dan Schkade/King Features Syndicate)

A comic walks into a bar

Amid all the chaos and violence in the world today, do The Post's comics really need to regularly feature imprisonment and torture? The new "Flash Gordon" strip is written and formatted for a graphic novel, not a newspaper whose readers include children. This kind of material doesn't belong in the Comics section.

Eric Wenocur, Olney

(Chris Browne/King Features Syndicate)

A blight in shining armor

The July 15 "Hagar the Horrible" comic lived up to that titular sobriquet. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a medical condition that can be debilitating to those living with it, not a casual term for somebody who likes things to be clean. The Post's decision to print that strip belittles those who struggle with OCD.

Thomas V. Berry, Orlando

(Mark Tatulli/Andrews McMeel Syndication)

Ay güey, mucho mejor

Regarding the Corrections in the July 19 paper, I must say I rather enjoyed the comic "Lio" being published in Spanish for four days. It made me take the time to look up the translation, and I actually laughed more after translating than if I had read it in English to begin with. It was a nice change of pace and made me use my brain more than I usually would have reading the comics.

Mark Doty, Glen Allen, Virginia

Julian Lytle's interviews from SDCC - 2 and he's teased a 3rd

SDCC'25: Hasbro is real excited about G.I. Joe in 2025

G.I. Joe team is expanding the battlefield

Julian Lytle

07/26/2025

https://www.comicsbeat.com/sdcc25-hasbro-is-real-excited-about-g-i-joe-in-2025/

SDCC '25: What did the Hasbro GHOSTBUSTERS team bring to the show?

Ghostbusters fans have a ton of new items to add to their collection

Julian Lytle

07/25/2025

https://www.comicsbeat.com/sdcc-25-what-did-the-hasbro-ghostbusters-team-bring-to-the-show/

Comics Research Bibliography citations update, 7/25/2025

Pat Oliphant, at 90, Joins TDC's Senior Strippers Club

D. D. Degg

July 24, 2025 https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2025/07/24/pat-oliphant-at-90-joins-tdcs-senior-strippers-club/

TURNING POINTS by Maggie Thompson

July 24, 2025

https://www.overstreetaccess.com/turning-points-by-maggie-thompson-138/

The Simplistic Moral Lessons of "Superman"

In James Gunn's reboot of the franchise, the titular hero's credo is as shallow as it is broad.

By Richard Brody

July 10, 2025

Published in the print edition of the July 21, 2025, issue, with the headline "Fortress of Synergy."

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/07/21/superman-movie-review

2025 Buffalo News Editorial Cartoon Contest Winners [children]

Adam Zyglis

July 24 2025

https://buffalonews.com/news/article_8fa94caf-c911-42c1-9fd8-6134ff1d8c68.html

Trump and Satan Are Bedmates in 'South Park's Scathing 27th Season Opener (Updated with WH response, Comic-Con Panel)

Animation Magazine July 24, 2025 https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/07/trump-and-satan-are-bedmates-in-south-parks-scathing-27th-season-opener/

Musical Adaptation Of Manga Graphic Novel 'Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen' In Development With Duncan Sheik

Greg Evans, February 20, 2025 https://deadline.com/2025/02/memoirs-of-amorous-gentlemen-duncan-sheik-broadway-1236295886/

High school graduate publishes his first trailblazing graphic novel [Ayomiku "Yomi" Adegbile]

Ming Henry

February 20, 2025

https://www.aroundosceola.com/news/high-school-graduate-publishes-his-first-trailblazing-graphic-novel

Art exhibit brings history of Frederick Douglass, John Brown to life in graphic novel form [Barron Bell]

February 19, 2025 : By Ryan Klinker

https://www.liberty.edu/news/2025/02/19/art-exhibit-brings-history-of-frederick-douglass-john-brown-to-life-in-graphic-novel-form/

The Daily Heller: Pepe, a Frog That Was Wronged by the Right [Matt Furie]

By Steven Heller

The Daily Heller July 24 2025

https://www.printmag.com/daily-heller/the-daily-heller-pepe-a-frog-that-was-wronged-by-the-right/

The Daily Heller: Humor as Competitive Sport [Seymour Chwast; Society of Illustrators' "HUMOR '87" competition]

Steven Heller

The Daily Heller July 22 2025

https://www.printmag.com/daily-heller/the-daily-heller-humor-as-a-competitive-sport/

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest Podcast

Episode 211 - Harry Bliss

July 23, 2025 • Vin Coca, Beth Lawler, Paul Nesja, Nicole Chrolavicius • Season 5 • Episode 211

https://cartooncaptioncontestpodcast.buzzsprout.com/1719352/episodes/17553375-episode-211-harry-bliss

Symptom of the Universe — This Week's Links

Clark Burscough | July 25, 2025

https://www.tcj.com/symptom-of-the-universe-this-weeks-links/

Family tragedy, the repression of Argentina's military dictatorship and the delicate legacy hidden in 'The Eternaut'

Martín Oesterheld is the grandson of the man who wrote the comic of the same name. He has led the Netflix series adaptation of the legendary graphic novel. The original creator of the series was disappeared during the Argentine military dictatorship, along with his four daughters and three sons-in-law

Gregorio Belinchón

EL PAÍS USA Edition JUL 20, 2025

https://english.elpais.com/culture/2025-07-20/family-tragedy-the-repression-of-argentinas-military-dictatorship-and-the-delicate-legacy-hidden-in-the-eternaut.html

The comeback of indie comics

Sumi Alexander Anup's Red Eye Chapters, is an online store that offers a space for independent comics; stocks a variety of fiction, non-fiction with graphic narratives

Diya Maria George

22 Jul 2025 https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2025/Jul/23/the-comeback-of-indie-comics

Fanbase Press Interviews Dillon Gilbertson on His Return to Kickstarter for the Third Issue of 'My Neighbor Necromancer'

Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief

July 18, 2025

https://fanbasepress.com/press/interviews/comics/item/57132-fanbase-press-interviews-dillon-gilbertson-on-his-return-to-kickstarter-for-the-third-issue-of-my-neighbor-necromancer/

Reading with Manga One App Editor-in-Chief, NOVELOUS App Producer Yuki Wada

by Rebecca Silverman, Jul 18th 2025

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interview/2025-07-18/reading-with-manga-one-app-editor-in-chief-novelous-app-producer-yuki-wada/.225182

Radical Time Warp: PW Talks to Ben Passmore

by Cheryl Klein

Jul 18, 2025

A version of this article appeared in the 07/21/2025 issue of Publishers Weekly under the headline: Ben Passmore

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/98248-radical-time-warp-pw-talks-to-ben-passmore.html

X-Men Monday #302 – Murewa Ayodele Talks 'Storm', 'Thunder War', and 'Rogue Storm'

Chris Hassan

July 21, 2025 https://aiptcomics.com/2025/07/21/x-men-monday-murewa-ayodele-rogue-storm/

How one G.I. Joe writer turned Marvel Rivals into a comics run for the ages [Paul Allor]

Josh Broadwell

Jul 21, 2025, https://www.polygon.com/features/614688/marvel-rivals-comics-writer-paul-allor-profile

Why Does It Have To Be So Difficult?: Isaac Roller on PETER KAPRELIAN: A Life In Comics [minicomics]

Isaac Roller

SOLRAD Jul 7, 2025

https://solrad.co/why-does-it-have-to-be-so-hard-isaac-roller-on-peter-kaprelian-a-life-in-comics

'DREDD', Peach Trees, and the Architecture of Oppression

Dystopian cyberpunk film DREDD may unfold within a single building, but that building is a microcosm of how power, poverty, and architecture intertwine to brutal effect.

Ryan Dyer / 21 July 2025 https://www.popmatters.com/dredd-architecture-of-oppression

Baumeister, Hannah. 2025. Giuseppe Martinico and Gianpaolo Maria Ruotolo (ed), Graphic Law and Drawn Justice: A Legal Analysis [book review] Liverpool Law Rev (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10991-025-09388-y and https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10991-025-09388-y

Giuseppe Martinico and Gianpaolo Maria Ruotolo (ed), Graphic Law and Drawn Justice: A Legal Analysis, London UK & New York, NY: Anthem Press, 2025

Labra, Diego. 2025. Going "Against the Grain": The (Re)configuration of Argentine Comics as a Field of Restricted Production in the Face of Increasing Globalization, 2001–2019. Studies in Latin American Popular Culture, vol. 43, 2025, p. 129-153. https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/sla.00009. https://muse.jhu.edu/article/966256

https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/15/article/966256/pdf

Intuitive, Impractical Passions

Dan Nadel on the work of legendary underground cartoonist, artist, and sculptor Michael McMillan.

By Dan Nadel

July 21, 2025 https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/intuitive-impractical-passions/

Terminal Exposure: Comics, Sculpture, and Risky Behavior by Michael McMillan and Dan Nadel (editor). New York Review Comics, 2025. 248 pages.

'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Review: A Newborn Franchise
Brandon Yu
A version of this article appears in print on July 25, 2025, Section C, Page 5 of the New York edition with the headline: Family Drama in Superhero Tights.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/movies/the-fantastic-four-first-steps-review.html

The 'Fantastic Four' Movie That Never Was
The first attempt at making a film about the superheroes was an extremely low-budget affair that was shot, abandoned and mostly forgotten about in the 1990s.
Maya Phillips
July 25, 2025
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/25/movies/fantastic-four-forgotten-film.html

Manga's First Century
How Creators and Fans Made Japanese Comics, 1905–1989
by Andrea Horbinski
University of California Press 2025
https://www.ucpress.edu/books/mangas-first-century/

Vintage Vibes and Fresh Finds: Comic book collecting can be an expensive, but joyful hobby
Taylor Staples
Wyoming Tribune Eagle Feb 21, 2025
https://www.wyomingnews.com/features/todo/vintage-vibes-and-fresh-finds-comic-book-collecting-can-be-an-expensive-but-joyful-hobby/article_3073669e-ef08-11ef-89ba-bba75519c288.html

Chery, Samantha and Emily Yahr. 2025. 'South Park' makes fun of Trump over Epstein list, Paramount lawsuit [in print as 'South Park' skewers Trump]. Washington Post (July 25): B1-2. online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/2025/07/24/south-park-trump-episode-paramount-season-27-premiere/

Branigin, Anne. 2025. The hottest sound of the summer? K-pop [in print as K-pop is slaying: With Netflix's animated demon hunters, the music genre is the sound of summer]. Washington Post (July 25): B1-2. online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/2025/07/24/k-pop-demon-hunters-bts-blackpink/

Yang, Jeff. 2025. How 'KPop Demon Hunters' became a global phenomenon: The hit film shows how remixing South Korean culture with an American eye can have universal appeal. Washington Post
(July 25): https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/07/25/kpop-demon-hunters-asian-americans/

Klimek, Chris. 2025. Finally, the Fantastic Four get the movie they (and we) deserve [in print as For superheroes, a step in the right direction]. Washington Post (July 25): Weekend 18. online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/movies/2025/07/23/fantastic-four-first-steps-review/

For Superman, sequels are kryptonite
James Gunn's upbeat new blockbuster is an attempt to reboot a superhero with a dodgy screen history.
Chris Klimek
July 25, 2025
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/movies/2025/07/24/superman-movie-sequels/

SRJC Multicultural Museum features Black comic book character history exhibit
Max Underdown,
February 20, 2025 https://www.theoakleafnews.com/arts-entertainment/2025/02/20/srjc-multicultural-museum-features-black-comic-book-character-history-exhibit/

Lessons from a comic mastermind [Bill Watterson].
By JEREMY SPEER
Feb 22, 2025
https://advertiser-tribune.com/news/566085/lessons-from-a-comic-mastermind/

CT resident and longtime comics fan has created funny-named private eye for new graphic novel [Mark Nelson O'Brien]
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant February 21, 2025
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/ct-resident-longtime-comics-fan-110000347.html

The Million Year Picnic: A Hidden Comic Haven [store]
Neeraja S. Kumar
February 20, 2025
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/2/20/the-million-year-picnic/

Pages