RVA Mag

Richmond, VA Culture & Politics Since 2005

Menu

RVA Comics X-Change: Issue 28

|

Topics: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Happiest of Tuesdays, comic fans! Welcome to issue number twenty-eight of your biweekly comic exchange in what is only the best and spookiest month of the year. I have some good old-fashioned Halloween-flavored news for you. After that, our good friends down the block at Velocity Comics have some hearty recommendations for you this week that cover the gamut, including one from a (neighboring) hometown hero.

Grab your candy of choice, and grab your favorite blanket. Not only is it finally chilly in the River City, it’s time for comics. Dig on in, friends.

This past week the newest cinematic dive into the DC Universe was released in the form of The Joker’s origin story in Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix. The film is one of DC’s most divisive film releases yet – from a rave review in The Observer to a borderline critical score of 69% on Rotten Tomatoes to polarizing reviews all over the internet, Joker is already a film with no middle ground.

You’re really going to love it, or you’re going to really hate it.

Phoenix portrays Arthur Fleck, a failed stand-up comedian in the 1970s, who falls into a quickly spiraling decline to madness and crime as he becomes the titular Joker of Gotham City. Refusing to acknowledge that he just isn’t cut out for comedy, he decides to go for a life of crime instead, and apparently, if you believe reviews, decides to go into a weird rendition of Taxi Driver. Moral of the story: Maybe comedy just isn’t for everyone – even Batman’s favorite frenemy who could never take a hint.

Fellow Evil Dead fans – dust off your chainsaws, because Sam Raimi has teased that he is giving us more. The only catch is that it might be without Bruce Campbell’s beloved Ash, at least not on screen..

“There’s more Evil Dead coming,” Raimi told NME while on a press tour.

No word yet on any further details, aside from the fact that Campbell is set to produce, but needless to say, if he’s involved – even backstage – it will not disappoint.

And now, on to the comics! We’re finally getting chilly and seasonally appropriate down in Richmond, and we could not be more excited. Nothing says fall like cool air and a good read, and luckily for us, our good friends over at Velocity Comics have some page turners to keep us warm and cozy while the leaves fall around us.

Doctor Doom #1, by Christopher Cantwell and Salvador Larocca

“Marvel’s original bad guy gets his own ongoing series for the first time, and he gets thrown in the deep end as he’s accused of an act of terror he didn’t commit,” said owner Patrick Godfrey.  “Writer Christopher Cantwell has been dazzling the comic biz for the last few years with his creator-owned titles She Could Fly and Everything, and the layered complexity of his plotting is perfectly suited to this Monarch/Villain/Sorcerer/Scientist. It’s gonna be good!”

The Batman’s Grave #1, by Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch

“About 20 years ago, writer Warren Ellis and artist Bryan Hitch teamed up to create The Authority, a superhero team book that changed the direction of comics forever,” said Godfrey.  “Here they reunite for a 12-part series starring everyone’s favorite orphan (sorry, Annie) confronting the notion of his own mortality. Sounds fun!”

Ginseng Roots #1, by Craig Thompson

“Craig Thompson puts out comic work every 6-8 years or so, and every time he does the accolades and awards almost bury him alive,” said Godfrey. “The guy’s a master brush n’ inker, and is also pretty good at making you feel sad and stuff. Ginseng Roots is an autobiographical look back at Thompson’s childhood, when he and his brother worked on a farm harvesting ginseng. I’d expect some whimsy  with a side of existential dread, sprinkled with familial dysfunction.”

Pug Davis, by Rebecca Sugar

“One of the past decade’s cartoon phenomenons [Steven Universe] was created by Rebecca Sugar,” said Godfrey. “[She] grew up just north of NoVA… and before she became a beloved animation showrunner, she did some comics! This is a new printing of an old favorite that has been very, very hard to get one’s hands on until this week. A pug-headed space hero fights evil aliens with his sensitive partner named Blouse. And for the first time ever: it’s all in color!”

RWBY #1, by Marguerite Bennett and Mirka Andolfo

“Learn about the prestigious Beacon Academy, training the next generation of monster hunters,” said Godfrey. “This one follows the adventures of a tight-knit team of students as they try to protect their world. Tying in with the hit Rooster Teeth series! I’m 48 so I don’t know what that means. But this looks cool!”

The Hard Tomorrow, by Eleanor Davis

“Eleanor Davis is for sure one of the premier cartoonists working today,” said Godfrey. “Her work mines delicate territory with depth and humor, and her experimental linework never fails to connect. Here she explores the ups and downs of a couple in their 30s grappling with the realities of relationships, aging, and surviving in the current world.”

That wraps it up for us this week, comic friends. Tell us: what are you cozied up with this week? Did you see Joker? Was it everything you wanted Taxi Driver to be?

Until next time!

Top Image via Warner Bros

RVA Comics X-Change: Issue 27

|

Topics: , , , , , , , , , ,

Happiest Tuesday, Comic fans! Welcome to issue #27 of your favorite biweekly place to talk shop on comics and pop culture, the RVA Comics X-Change. 

This week we have a smaller, post-Labor-Day-lull edition of the exchange, but just enough to get us ready for fall. We’ve got a bunch of pop culture favorites, an indie nod, and even a Throwback Thursday style recommendation to dig right into. Grab your best pumpkin spice latte and get comfortable. We’re diving in. 

GLOW, by Tini Howard and Hannah Templer

Time and time again, IDW Publishing continues to prove that it is one of the best names in comic publishing right now. If you’re like me, after you have binged all eight episodes in season 3 of the popular Netflix series, GLOW, as soon as it’s released, you find yourself with a gaping, 80s-sized hole in your heart. Whatever shall you do now that you have binge-watched all three seasons again? Obviously you start digging into the comic series. The series mimics the show pretty closely and allows us to spend more time with favorite characters, such as Marc Maron’s Sam and Alison Brie’s Ruth. The only downside? This release is only four issues long, three of which have been released as of now. 

SLAM! The Next Jam, by Pamela Ribon and Marina Julia

I have a confession to make. One of my secret dreams was always to be a roller derby babe, and that dream was only furthered by films such as Whip It. Now along comes this comic series. The Next Jam is the sequel series to its predecessor, SLAM!, which follows derby girls Knockout and Can Can, who have to fight to stay in their roller derby league. 

Napoleon Dynamite, by Carlos Guzman-Verdugo, Jorge Monlongo, Sara Richard, and Alejandro Verdugo

Yet another pop culture favorite makes its way to comics, and much like GLOW, this one is also limited to a four-issue run. The comic series follows closely behind the end of the original film, and brings us to senior year. Napoleon and Deb are together (naturally), and Pedro is the student body president. However, when a fellow student accuses Pedro of cheating the election, its up to the gang to prove his innocence. Impeach Pedro? I say never. 

Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: Saturn Returns, by Mike Mignola, Scott Allie, Christopher Mitten, and Brenn Wagner

Did you enjoy the David Harbour blockbuster remake of Hellboy? No, of course you didn’t (unless you’re me who probably only enjoyed it because of David Harbour). However, luckily for us, we have yet another brand new Hellboy comic to heal the big red demon-fist-sized hole in our heart. Hellboy and Agent Kinsley have discovered a whole lot of murders in New Hampshire, and are trying to figure out where they keep coming from and if its supernatural. Shenanigans? Natch. 

The Dark Tower by Stephen King, Peter David, Robin Furth, Jae Lee, Richard Isanove, and others

This weekend saw the release of another Stephen King film adaptation, the remake of one of his most famous stories, It. Trust me when I say this is probably the best adaptation of any of King’s works. However, to my surprise, there weren’t any comics or graphic novel releases to tie in or coincide with it. That being said, it’s possible we may get some closer to Halloween, or even next year closer to the Blu-ray release… but don’t quote me.

Regardless of the lack of graphic novel tie-ins, it did make me want to hop in the not-so-wayback machine and revisit one of my favorite King stories ever – The Dark Tower. The comic series was released in 2007, originally published by Marvel and based on the book series of the same name. Running through three different series, which were reissued last year in 16 graphic novel volumes from Gallery 13, the comic version of The Dark Tower mixed material adapted from the original book series with new stories that were original to the graphic novels.

The Dark Tower is one of those underappreciated King works that deserves more love and appreciation – like a sequel to the 2017 film starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey. Incorporating a little bit of everything including dark fantasy, horror, sci-fi, and more, The Dark Tower follows a man known as The Gunslinger as he tries to find the eponymous Dark Tower and The Man in Black. 

That is what we are cooking with this week, comic fans! What comics are you reading this week? What are you looking forward to? 

Until next time…

RVA Comics X-Change: Issue 26

|

Topics: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Welcome back, comic fans of the beautiful River City! Welcome to this week’s special birthday edition of your RVA Mag Comics X-Change! I have a few hot recommendations for you that I just might take off my save-for-later list, and then after that, we’re going to take a second to talk about Tom Holland’s Spider-Man leaving the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), and what that means for the future. 

Grab that cold iced coffee and let’s dive on in, comic fans!

Ghost Spider #1, by Seanan McGuire and Takeshi Miyazawa

Once again we are gifted with the return with one of my favorite newer Marvel characters, Spider-Gwen. While the character of Gwen Stacy is of course not new to the Spider-Man Universe, Spider-Gwen is a little fresher. In Ghost Spider, Gwen wants to start anew and does something I think we’ve all pondered a little at some point – goes to another dimension. 

Absolute Carnage vs. Deadpool #1, by Frank Tieri and Marcello Ferreira

Carnage and Deadpool both check into the same therapy institution? Whatever could be the worst thing that can happen? Considering they are also in a group therapy session together, I’m sure absolutely nothing. 

Pretty Violent #1, by Derek Hunter and Jason Young

Gamma Ray has had super powers since she was a baby, so it only makes sense that she should be a superhero and save the world, right? Probably, except when you factor in the fact that her family is full of criminals who hunt and kill heroes. Awkward. If you were a fan of I Hate Fairyland, this is sure to be right up your alley. 

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #11, by Tom Taylor and Juann Cabal

Our beloved MJ is finally back, and from the looks of the cover, it appears that she is donning the classic red and blue suit as well. I guess we’ve hit the jackpot, beloved readers. 

Fearless #1, by Seanan McGuire, Leah Williams, Kelly Thompson, Claire Roe, Carmen Nunez Carnero, and Nina Vakueva

This summer Marvel gives us a gift in the form of a female-hero anthology series. Captain Marvel, Storm, The Invisible Woman, and even Netflix favorite Jessica Jones can be found starring in this multi-part series focusing on stories featuring different women from the Marvel Universe. 

As you’ve undoubtedly seen this week, Sony won back the rights to Spider-Man from Disney. This means a lot of things for the friendly neighborhood Avenger and the future of his roles in the narratives going forward. It may be the last time we see Tom Holland hanging out with Thor and Rocket, but on a heavier note, it also means that all of the work done to set up Phase 5 of the MCU may be in jeopardy. 

The Infinity Arc not only set up the pacing for the new heroes being introduced into the MCU (Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, and others), but established Spider-Man’s long awaited role in the franchise. As it stands, where Avengers: Endgame left us with Tony Stark’s death, and after the events in Spider-Man: Far From Home, there’s a strong implication that Spider-Man will be carrying the bulk of the story as Phase 5 moves on. 

With Spider-Man now back out of the picture, that leaves all of these storylines out in limbo (not to mention billions of dollars in potential film revenue). However, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Spider-Man being taken back out for a while could actually end up helping the MCU as it moves forward, crafting a new version of the franchise for upcoming generations. 

It has long been a popular complaint with the MCU, that the films, and even the individual scenes within them, are cluttered with too many characters. As the original cast of Avengers, and maybe even Spider-Man as well, move on, this leaves room for new superheroes to move in and build new stories. The female empowerment scene that a lot of folks called cheesy? Now we might actually see the female-led Avengers film it paved the way for.

While the door may not be entirely closed on Spider-Man and the stories he built in his time in the MCU, if nothing else, this shift has opened up room for other characters that previously would not have had much space. So we may have lost a spider, but we’re likely to gain quite a bit more. 

See you next time, comic fans.

RVA Comics X-Change: Issue 25

|

Topics: , , , , , , , , , ,

Good afternoon, comics fans! Welcome to our brand new, quarter fresh issue of RVA Comics X-Change. Twenty-Five issues in and we’re still hot off the presses and bringing you everything for your comic and nerdy needs every other week. 

This week we spoke to Alex Smith, Co-Owner of Alpha Comics and Games at Willow Lawn, who gave us a few choice faves to beat the heat. After that, if you’re not in the mood to read, I’ll be serving you a hot dose of nostalgia in the form of a new film on Netflix starring some of your 90s faves. Grab that Surge slushie and let’s dive on in. 

Snowpiercer by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette

“With the new show for Snowpiercer being announced I have finally gotten around to reading the trilogy,” said Smith. “The overall premise is that humanity has destroyed the world, making the outside into a completely unlivable frozen wasteland. The last members of humanity exist on a self-sustaining train that never stops called the ‘Snowpiercer.’ Written in the 70’s originally as a call for environmentalism, it has since become a story of civil unrest and revolution- as the wealthy live a sheltered and decadent life at the front of the train and the lowest classes live in the tail in squalor and misery.”

Absolute Carnage by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman

“This past Wednesday, the first issue of Absolute Carnage came out of Marvel,” said Smith. “Cletus Kasady (Carnage) is returning to New York in a much anticipated series with several tie-ins, including Absolute Carnage: Scream, and (another) Separation Anxiety,” which harks back to a similar mid-90s mini-series about another symbiote-linked character, Venom.

Aero #2 by Greg Pak and Pop Mhan

“I am really fond of this character, who also appears in Agents of Atlas alongside some other great faces like Shang-Chi, Silk, and (my personal favorite) Luna Snow,” said Smith. The Shanghai-based aerokinetic hero is breaking out into her own title.

Those of us who survived the 90s remember vividly that we had a very unique brand of cartoons in our arsenal. From Cartoon Network’s Cow & Chicken to The WB’s Freakazoid, we knew and embraced our strange taste in humor. As our generation continues to dive headfirst into 90s nostalgia, Netflix brings up the newest slice of heaven for us. 

Now available on the streaming service is the return of Rocko’s Modern Life in the form of a new film, Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling. 

Rocko, and his favorite band of misfits — Heffer, Filbert, and his trusty dog Spunky — are back at it again. This time they have to figure out how to live in a world that is suddenly not the 1990s, and in which somehow Rocko’s neighbor, Ed Bighead, has lost his job. Amongst all of these travesties is another devastating one – Rocko’s favorite television show, Meet The Fatheads, has been off the air for a long time. 

What is a wallaby who has worked more jobs than Barbie to do? 

While the show itself will certainly appeal to 80s babies like myself regardless of the quality, another interesting thing to note is on how the creator of Meet The Fatheads is approached. The creator, child of Rocko’s neighbors the Bigheads, has come out as transgender. 

On the one hand, I want to be ecstatic about my childhood favorite approaching representation, especially for the trans adults who grew up loving this show. On the other hand, I’m not stupid. I am fully aware that my favorite cartoons of yore mostly had what we’d deem very problematic humor today. Naturally I was apprehensive about how the issue was approached. 

I have not seen it yet, but after looking up multiple reviews of the film, all said the same thing – the trans character is not treated as a joke. She is genuinely treated as part of the narrative and treated with as much respect as the other characters. 

Part of why we reach out to nostalgia from our youth is a sense of comfort, especially in a world where we honestly don’t know what is going to happen from day to day. There is comfort in reaching out to things that remind us of happier times in order to keep going. To find validation in our existence through these same things, to be told that we deserve to take up real estate in the world just like our peers? It’s everything. 

Until next time, comic fans.

RVA Comics X-Change: Issue 24

|

Topics: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Happiest of Tuesdays, comic fans of the River City! Welcome to yet another summer-fresh issue of RVA Comics X-Change. Not only do we have T-Minus 33 days left of summer, but we get to start the dog days as well.

Luckily for you and for me, local musician and improv comedian, Josh Wright, and I have some graphic novels and a brand new television series on Amazon Prime to keep you cool as you camp out in front of your oscillating fan this week. Grab your favorite flavor of La Croix and your popsicle of choice and let’s dive on in.

This week we have some recommendations from Wright — as one half of an improv team, Sweet Sweet Angel Babies, and one half of the sweet indie stylings of LovelyDove, Josh is no doubt multi-faceted. From the list of recs he has for us this week, it shows that he doesn’t stop there either.

Paper Girls, by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang

“[Paper Girls] tells the story of four 12 year old newspaper delivery girls and their accidental entry into a war across time,” Wright said. “The artwork by Cliff Chiang and Matt Wilson does a great job of capturing each different time period, and making a complex story easier to follow. The last issue comes out this week. If you are a fan of mystery and science fiction, this is the perfect time to catch up on this series.”

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell 

“[Laura Dean is] an amazing high school relationship story that we all can relate to,” Wright said. “You feel for the characters and watch them make mistakes that you know they shouldn’t make, but they do anyways. We need more queer fiction like this for younger people to read, and to understand that they are not alone in the world — and it’s okay to get out of the relationships that are not healthy for you.”

Bloom, by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau

“Ari wants to follow his dreams of making it in the music industry, but struggles with his commitment to his family’s bakery,” Wright said. “In comes Hector Galea to take over for Ari: Ari thinks this is the solution to all his problems, but is it? What do you think will happen if you hire a cute boy who bakes? If you love boys in bands, lush illustrations of baked goods, and a realistic coming-of-age story, then you should definitely check this book out.”

The Witch Boy, by Molly Knox Ostertag

“Aster is thirteen years old and still hasn’t shape shifted, but maybe Aster doesn’t want to,” Wright said. “Will a fascination with spells and witches get Aster into more trouble than they bargained for? This graphic novel does a great job of exploring gender roles, and presents it in a way that is easy for kids to understand. This series should be in every school library. Does anybody need a copy for their kid? I’m happy to donate mine. I can’t wait to pick up the next volume of this series.”

Pretty Deadly (Volume One), by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Emma Rios 

“The first volume is a gritty, fantastical western that presents a fresh take on mythology and folklore,” Wright said. “This book is a visual wonder. Emma Rios and Kelly Sue DeConnick created these characters that you will be dying to find out more about. Learn about death-faced Ginny and her search for vengeance in this super affordable $9.99 trade paperback.”

One of my biggest guilty pleasure tropes is the normalization of superheroes. It should make sense, right? After a while, most people I’d think would stop being impressed or shocked that someone has superpowers of varying degrees. The Boys (now streaming on Amazon Prime) takes it one step further — what if people with superhero status took normalization in a darker direction, and explored the corruption tied to money and celebrity status?  

The Boys is based on the graphic novel of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robinson, and is produced by Eric Kripke (known best by Supernatural fans), and stars Karl Urban (of Star Trek fame, amongst other things). Not only are superheroes taken advantage of, succumbing to the dangerous trappings of celebrity and the web woven therein, but a company called Vaught International goes so far as to try monetizing it. The Boys is grimly dark and addicting, and is already picked up for a second season.

That wraps up this week, comic fans! What series are keeping you cool in these balmy summer days?

Until next time!

RVA Comics X-Change: Issue 22

|

Topics: , , , , , , , ,

Good afternoon, comics fans! The summer is almost halfway through and it’s only getting warmer from here. With only about 45 more summer days left until September, we’re quickly running out of go-to beach reads for those long, hot days relaxing by the pipeline. 

This week we met back up with local comic artist and VCU professor, Francesca Lyn (who you know best from her comic Flower Girls, with art by Sally Cantirino). Lyn had a few great picks for us to help get through July, and I’ll round out this week’s issue with the only graphic novel I’m interested in this week — from Sulu himself, Mr. George Takei. 

Grab your sunscreen and your seltzer flavor of choice. Let’s hop on in. 

Hot Comb, by Ebony Flowers

Based on creator Ebony Flowers’s doctoral dissertation and her own experiences, Hot Comb looks at hair care in black communities, the shared experiences black women have growing up, and the way they relate to their hair, whether metaphorically or otherwise. Flowers, who also illustrated the graphic novel, opens with the story of receiving her first relaxer, and the various events that happen around that singular event, among others. 

Gender Queer: A Memoir, by Maia Kobabe

Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, tells eir life story from adolescence to finding eir identity, bonding over erotic fanfiction with eir peers, coming out to family and friends, and ultimately how violating being on the receiving end of a pap smear can feel (Answer: A lot). Comics featuring non-binary characters are few and far between in general, let alone one that is this intimate and focused on one person’s journey. What is gender identity? What is gender fluidity? These are the questions we ask ourselves daily, and it never hurts to have someone willing to help sort it out through their own coming of age stories.

George Takei has hardly been mum about the issues currently being faced at the border with immigrant detention centers, especially in regards to children. Now with news about the locations of ICE centers around the country popping up more readily with information, it is all the more important to listen to our elders — elders who have survived similar horrors, which my generation swore up and down would never happen again. 

We never thought we would be the generation to see concentration camps return, and yet here we are. 

George Takei is renowned around the world not only for his acting and comedy prowess, but as Captain Hikaru Sulu in the Star Trek franchise. He is world famous, and he is using his fame to shut down misconceptions about the detention centers along the border, which are being allowed to treat children in dehumanizing conditions, in any way he can. 

Cages. They are keeping children in cages. 

“I know what concentration camps are,” Takei tweeted last month. “I was inside two of them, in America. And yes, we are operating such camps again.”

Today, July 16th, 2019, marks the release of his graphic novel, They Called Us Enemy, which he wrote with Justin Eisinger and Steven Scott, and features illustrations by Harmony Becker. “Enemy” is told from Takei’s point of view as he recalls his childhood beginning in 1942 when, at only five years old, he was forced with his family to the Santa Anita racetrack, before being tagged and relocated again. 

Takei’s Enemy follows in the similar traditions of March by Congressman John Lewis, and Maus by Art Spiegelman, graphic novels that recalled similar personal experiences from important moments in history. Lewis’s March recalled his time during the civil rights movement and the Selma to Montgomery march, while Maus is Spiegelman’s father’s story of his experiences in the Holocaust. 

There is no way to come back from this heavy of a comics column, friends, but I think we can all agree that Enemy is one of the most important graphic novels you can read right now. Comics have always been political (See: Superman), and they always will be. Comics allow us to not only make a statement against what is going on in the world (See: Marvel’s Civil War), but how we wish things could be and know they should be.

Anyone who doesn’t see that comics are inherently political has the privilege of not needing to pay attention. 

See you next week, comic fans.