The crime elements of Jane The Virgin are the weakest part of the show, but they serve a vital purpose boosting the momentum of the story with new twists and complications. This show is much more of a romantic comedy than a crime drama, and the writers excel when they are operating within the framework of the former.…
Four years ago, Archie Comics gave the world Archie Vs. Predator, an absolutely outrageous miniseries that sent the alien murderer to Riverdale and put him in the middle of a love triangle with Betty and Veronica. Written with subversive wit by Alex de Campi and drawn in the classic Archie style by Fernando Ruiz, the…
Tom King’s run on Batman has been a wild ride of twists and turns, an unpredictable series that veers from meditative introspection to bombastic action as it dismantles and dissects Bruce Wayne’s character. King’s run on the main Batman series concludes with “City Of Bane,” the culmination of Bane’s gradual takeover…
Being a professional writer is a dream job for Jane Gloriana Villanueva, but it’s extremely difficult for her to make it a reality. “Chapter Ninety-Six” starts with Jane getting hit with a wave of creative inspiration, finishing her entire new novel over the course of three weeks, five pizzas, and one and a half…
The international success of the Marvel movies has made Marvel a global brand in a way that it’s never been before, so naturally the publisher would try and reach out to readers outside of the U.S. Last year, Marvel Comics partnered with Chinese tech giant NetEase to introduce new Chinese superheroes in comics…
DC’s line of Wal-Mart exclusive comics has been an interesting experiment, attempting to bring in new readers by putting DC comics in a high-traffic retail space. But comic-book collectors are aggressive creatures, and many of these books were scooped up in bulk because they contained new stories by A-list DC creators…
For the past 4 years, Boom! Studios’ Giant Days has consistently been one of the very best comics published every single month. The tale of three young British women during their three years at university, Giant Days tells heartfelt, hilarious stories about everyday struggles, amplified to new levels of intensity…
Lois Lane is one of the most popular characters in the superhero canon, a journalist who may not have superpowers, but is a hero in her own right. Lois had her own series back in the Silver Age, and after decades, she’s finally stepping back into the solo spotlight with a 12-issue miniseries written by Greg Rucka with…
Motherhood has always been very complicated for Jane, and the telenovela shenanigans she’s had to deal with since fertilization have changed how she approaches being a mom. She was already a big planner and over-analyzer, but after having her son kidnapped and suffering multiple betrayals from people she thought she…
For nearly 10 years, Luke Pearson’s Hilda comics have delighted readers of all ages with the whimsical stories of an adventurous young girl, her adorable little deerfox, and the mystical creatures they meet. These oversized graphic novels feature beautiful illustrations of natural, urban, and magical environments…
It’s been 20 years since Buffy’s vampire boyfriend got his own spin-off show, Angel, expanding the scope of Joss Whedon’s TV universe while cementing David Boreanaz as a TV leading man. With Boom! Studios’ acquisition of the Whedon licenses, it was only a matter of time before Angel showed his chiseled face, and the…
The Flash is way faster than a speeding bullet, but running into a barrage of gunfire is a risky move, especially for a young superhero still learning the ropes. The current “Year One” storyline in The Flash looks back at the early days of Barry Allen’s superhero career, with writer Joshua Williamson, artist Howard…
There have been many writers of Captain America in the character’s nearly 80-year history, but Ta-Nehisi Coates is the first to go to Capitol Hill and call out the Senate Majority Leader during his comic-book run. Coates was in the national spotlight this week when he spoke at a hearing for H.R.40, which would create…
“Chapter Ninety-Four” is an episode full of major developments that drive character arcs forward, but before we get to any of them, I have to shout out the star of this episode: Rogelio’s Martian tail, which he is forced to wear in public for a week so it looks more natural on camera. In what I assume to be a…
DC Comics’ Young Animal imprint gave readers exceptional off-kilter superhero books for two years. Then, it was put on hiatus as DC redirected attention to the resuscitation of the Vertigo line for its 25th anniversary. Thankfully, the shelving of Young Animal didn’t last long, and the imprint curated by Gerard Way is…
Hair and maturity are tied together in significant ways. Getting your first haircut is a milestone in personal care, and trying to make drastic changes your own hair is a common mistake made by the young, who learn the hard way that they should trust professionals. For cartoonist Ebony Flowers, hair is an essential…
ADHD might be sending young Mateo’s brain in a million different directions, but it does wonders for his parents’ relationship in “Chapter Ninety-Three,” which follows Mateo as he struggles through his first school musical. His ADHD isn’t getting any better, and Jane is still nervous about committing to medication.…
While the majority of people only know Jimmy Olsen as Superman’s dopey redhead sidekick, the character has a long history as the conduit for really strange shit. In the pages of the Silver Age Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen, the young Daily Planet photographer would land in wild situations that often involved physical…
Learning how to ride a bike is one of the earliest opportunities young people get to explore their independence, gaining the ability to move farther away from the parents and home than is possible on just two legs. The young characters of Ryan Andrews’ new First Second graphic novel, This Was Our Pact, use their bikes…
