Critiquing Comics #045: “Yuki vs. Panda”

A Japanese girl has an altercation with a panda cub at the zoo! That’s the setup for this Asia-themed, mangaesque comic. Fresh off its successful Indiegogo crowdfunding project, Yuki vs. Panda faces its next test: a critique by Tim and Mulele! Will it survive?!

#347 Deb Aoki: Manga geek extraordinaire

Deb AokiEnglish-speaking manga fans are probably familiar with the name Deb Aoki. She covers Japanese comics for about.com, and is deeply into manga and anything remotely related to it. Deb made a manga geek pilgrimage to Japan recently, and Tim had a chance to sit down and talk with her about Japan, the changing manga culture in the US, and much more.

#151 “I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets!”

De Structo's head

FLASHBACK! Fletcher Hanks created some bizarre, sadistic superhero comics in 1939-1941. Tim and Kumar discuss the Hanks collection I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets!, edited by Paul Karasik.

Also: Comic Book Comics #2!

(Originally published October 27, 2008)

#346 Boston Comics Roundtable

The Boston Comics Roundtable is a thriving group of creators who have weekly meetings and put out anthology books of their work, including Show & Tell; a Collection of Comics about Teaching & Learning; and The Greatest of All Time. This week Tim talks to anthology co-editor (and comics creator) Dan Mazur, who publishes the books through his own imprint, Ninth Art Press; Norwegian artist Line Olsson; and first-time comics writer (and former English teacher here in Japan) Ben DiMaggio.

#345 Annie Sullivan, Helen Keller, and the talent of Joseph Lambert

Annie Sullivan and the trials of Helen KellerYou’ve probably heard of Helen Keller, one of the first (but not the first!) blind & deaf Americans to become educated. If so, then you probably also know the name Annie Sullivan – Helen’s teacher. Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller, by Joseph Lambert, is a graphic novel biography more of Annie than Helen, taking advantage of the comics medium to show symmetry in the lives and situations of the two women. It’s also pretty awesome.

Critiquing Comics #044: “Black Mountain Elementary”

Black Mountain ElementaryThree kids, regarded as troublemakers who’ll never amount to anything, are the stars of Roland Harrison‘s Black Mountain Elementary. Will a zombie apocalypse in the lunchroom allow them to redeem themselves? Tim and Mulele critique.