Tag: graphic novels

September 5, 2024

Haunting Lights

A review of Jen Storm’s “Little Moons”By Derek Newman-Stille Little Moons is a powerful exploration of the violence inflicted on the Indigenous community, particularly through missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people. It is an examination of grief and how grief shapes us, changes us, and can bring some of us closer to traditions while it may also...

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December 15, 2019

‘Twas The Night Before Krampus

‘Twas The Night Before Krampus A review of Sam Beiko’s Krampus Is My Boyfriend By Derek Newman-Stille  As a folklorist, the figure of Krampus has fascinated me for years. Krampus is the devilish companion of St Nicholas and while the saint passes out gifts to good children, Krampus passes out beatings to the bad ones. He’s got a Pan-like look...

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June 5, 2019

Intertextual

Intertextual A review of Jeff Lemire’s Black Hammer: Age of Doom Part 1 (Dark Horse, 2019) By Derek Newman-Stille Throughout the Black Hammer series, Jeff Lemire has been experimenting with intertextuality, playing with his knowledge of Golden Age comics while adding modern comic sensibilities and skepticism about the genre. In Black Hammer: Age of Doom, Lemire’s superheroes, who have been...

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May 28, 2019

Disrupting Some Tropes and Reinforcing Other Tropes

Disrupting Some Tropes and Reinforcing Other Tropes A review of Jeff Lemire’s The Sentry: Man of Two Worlds (Marvel Comics, 2018). By Derek Newman-Stille Superhero narratives tend to have clear boundaries between heroes and villains. They tend to play with the duality between civilian identity and hero identity, but tend to privilege the hero identity. Like most of his comics,...

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May 11, 2019

Flipped Worlds

Flipped Worlds A review of “Flip” (Markosia, Enterprises, 2018) edited by Jack Briglio and featuring work by Derek Kunsken, Wendy Muldon, Eleonora Dalla Rosa, Miguel Jorge, Hugh Rockwood, Alberto Massetti, Marcello Bondi, Francesco Della Santa, and Salvador’s Coppola. By Derek Newman-Stille The comic “Flip” offers a series of flashes through different worlds filled with different possibilities, inviting readers to turn...

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February 11, 2019

Stealing Resources From Indigenous People

Stealing Resources From Indigenous People A review of The Champions: Northern Lights (Marvel Comics, 2018) By Derek Newman-Stille Although an American comic created by Marvel Comics, The Champions: Northern Lights is set in Nunavut and features some distinctly Canadian elements. Firstly, the superhero team Champions comes into contact with Alpha Flight, another Marvel Comics creation – a superhero team set...

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November 12, 2018

Queerly Ever After

Queerly Ever After A review of Ricky Lima’s Happily Ever Aftr (Lime Press, 2018). By Derek Newman-Stille She grew up in a kingdom filled with toxic masculinity… perhaps that’s why she thought she could make a princess love her by kidnapping her. Happily Ever Aftr explores the traditional fairy tale motif of a princess locked in a tower… but adds...

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June 25, 2018

Mute Power

Mute Power A review of Savannah Houston-McIntyre and Andrew Hewitt’s Amya Vol 1 (2014) By Derek Newman-Stille Amya Vol 1 is a fantasy tale of mystery and suspense, filled with secrets and magic. It is about two kingdoms on the brink of war and the possibility of the return of a divinity who may be able to save everything. This...

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June 22, 2018

Coming of Age With Super Powers

Coming of Age With Super Powers A review of Mariko Tamaki’s Supergirl: Being Super (DC Comics, 2018). By Derek Newman-Stille Canadian comic writer and artist Mariko Tamaki has frequently explored coming of age and that fascinating experience of being between childhood and adulthood in comics like Skim and This One Summer. She shows an incredible ability to draw her readers...

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June 20, 2018

Next Top Villain

Next Top Villain A review of Jeff Lemire’s Thanos Vol 1: Thanos Returns (Marvel Comics, 2017). By Derek Newman-Stille Canadian comic book writer and artist Jeff Lemire has worked on independent comics, but has also worked with the comic company giants DC and Marvel. He tends to take his Canadian interest in grey areas and ambiguous endings into his comics...

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