Tag Archives: Doug Moench

3 striking uses of red by Greg Wright

I don’t write much about colorists in this blog. Coloring is one of those ungrateful tasks that, while absolutely vital to the feel of a comic, tends to go unnoticed when it’s merely done well. According to mainstream coloring conventions, … Continue reading

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Weird futuristic war comics

It has become a kind of winter tradition here at the blog to do a post spotlighting cool sci-fi comics about warfare. This started out years ago, as a one-idea post prompted by Rogue One, but there is an endless … Continue reading

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COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (January 2019)

I had so much fun doing these last year that I’ve decided to carry on… Here are another three pulpy splash pages to remind everyone that comics can be awesome: The Unknown Soldier (v2) #10 The Hands of Shang-Chi, Master … Continue reading

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My ideal deluxe omnibus volume – part 2

If you read the last post, you know what’s going on. Here are another ten stories that would definitely be included if I had a chance to put together a giant Batman omnibus collecting personal favorites: ‘The Underworld Olympics ‘76!’ … Continue reading

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Essential Batman stories every fan should read – part 2

If you read the last post, you know what’s going on. This is the second part of my list of essential comics that serve as the best possible gateway into grasping the overall Batman meta-narrative. This week, I’m highlighting post-Crisis … Continue reading

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Anatomy of Batman #372 and Detective Comics #539

Back when I discussed Doug Moench’s 1980s Batman run, I singled out as its most striking features Moench’s literary emphasis on symbolism, characterization, politics, and intertextuality. This week, I’ll zoom in on one story in particular which powerfully combines all … Continue reading

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COMICS CAN BE AWESOME (May)

As the world slides into a bigger mess and as the entertainment industry further displays its seedier underside, it is harder to uncritically consume pop culture. That said, I do continue to find a degree of comfort in engaging with … Continue reading

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Going to the movies in Gotham City

Longtime readers won’t be too surprised to find out that, as an unabashed cinephile, I am fascinated by Gotham City’s film culture. In fact, throughout the years, I think I’ve managed to piece together some of its key features… Batman #459 … Continue reading

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The tragic fate of Sarah Essen

Batman #406 When people talk about the tendency for bestowing gruesome violence against prominent female characters in comic books – the ‘women-in-refrigerator’ trope – Sarah Essen is always one of the first names to come to my mind. She was … Continue reading

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Gothic Batman stories from the ‘90s

Goth subculture had quite a devoted fan base in the 1990s. You couldn’t miss the hordes of stylish, pretentious teens with black clothes and eyeliner back then. Tim Burton and Marilyn Manson were all the rage for a while. Bands … Continue reading

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