Category Archives: Comics

Graphic Novel Review: The Customer is Always Wrong

What’s a girl got to do to get some respect around here? Stick a needle in her arm?

I discovered Mimi Pond’s comix in National Lampoon, back in the early 80s. The magazine had hopelessly passed its glory days by then; Pond was one of the reasons to keep reading. I lost track of her work after the 80s, though I was aware she wrote the first full-length episode of The Simpsons1.

I stumbled over her stuff again recently. Published at the end of summer, 2017, The Customer is Always Wrong is the second in a series of semi-autobiographical memoirs. Its justification for being reviewed here is that it’s a graphic novel. Otherwise, it’s somewhat removed from our usual fare. Mind you, Madge’s self-medicated supporting cast probably see aliens and monsters all the time.

Continue reading →

Comic Review: Batman/Elmer Fudd #1

Sometimes the wain comes down so hawrd you fowrget you’ve ever been dwy. I twy to see it, out there in the past or in the future wainbows waiting.

Going into Powrky’s that day, I twy my best to wemember. I weawy do.

Things wewrn’t awways this way. They won’t awways be this way.

The most-talked about comic of the season pits the Dark Knight against a cewtain speech-impediment-afflicted hunter, in the shadows of a more-insane-than-usual version of Gotham City.

Continue reading →

Free Comic Book Day

We’re a bit behind on some reviews, but we do have a look at Free Comic Book Day. Local to me, we had low temperatures and rain, but it still turned into a fun day:

Stories? Hauls? Comments? What was FCBD like local to Bureau-crats?

Review: Secret Path

Tragically Hip frontman Gordon Downie and Canuck comix auteur Jeff Lemire joined forces to create this graphic / musical collaboration, based on the story of Chanie Wenjack, who died just before Halloween, 1966 trying to escape a Residential School for Native children.

Profits from this 2015 work go to the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba.

The project has been performed as a live concert, and also exists as an animated film:

Continue reading →

Graphic Collection Review: Killing and Dying

If I had to describe Adrian Tomine to someone who didn’t know his work, I would call him – I can’t possibly conjure any higher praise – the Alice Munro of comics.
–Rachel Cooke, The Guardian

Adrian Tomine released this collection a little over a year ago. A New York Times bestseller, its six stories reveal key moments and revelations in the lives of ordinary people.

Continue reading →