Mar 10
The 2018 Marvel movie Black Panther featured an advanced yet isolated African kingdom called Wakanda which is the birthplace of the titular superhero character, T’Challa, who is its King. Wakanda is powered by vibranium, one of those rare yet powerful imaginary elements favored by comic writers. Vibranium is both a blessing and a curse: blessing, …
Dec 14
French comic artist Olivier Ledroit’s fairies have a wicked, wide-eyed, kinky look even as they verge into disappearing into their own ornamentation. Like Louis Wain’s schizophrenic cats, they’re hypnotic.
Nov 02
Existential angst that is in store for all of us one day, if we’re still sentient that is.
Oct 26
Japanese demons, or yokai, invade the personal space of this very aghast male bather.
Jul 20
Sample drawings from a (probably unauthorized) manga adaptation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Note Aslan seems to be wearing a crown of thorns and the dessert Mrs. Beaver is holding is a Swiss roll cake, a Japanese favorite.
May 06
I’ve always considered Dune and its many sequels more science fantasy than science fiction. Sure, there’s starships and other planets, not to mention sandworm biology, but there’s also a Catholic-like sisterhood with sinister mind powers, swordfights, a Chosen One trope, and a feudal society with emperors, princesses, and dukes. Herbert cribbed a lot from human …
May 04
Cobalt’s axim: If you open up a graphic novel and see psychedelic mountains made of disembodied boobies, it must be French.
Nov 25
Jimmy Olsen, Superman’s pal, got up to all sorts of trouble in the 1950s, so much so that he had his own comic. This was one of the milder issues. Note the comics authority code at the upper right, probably the reason why such bizarre storylines became commonplace — violence and mayhem had become definite …
