Action Comics - Custom Comic Folders

A recent project I’ve been undertaking is putting full runs of comics I really enjoy, or runs that don’t have trade paperbacks, into nice displayable folders. Primarily, I wanted to do this so I could easily put them on a shelf without having to pull everything out just to check what it is (a problem I’ve had in the past when putting singles with paperbacks). I wasn’t happy using A4 folders and…

View On WordPress

Animal Man by Jeff Lemire

The shadow of Grant Morrison looms large over the character of Animal Man. Morrison’s 26 issue run with the character in the mid-80s brought newfound attention to the almost forgotten character, and left an expectation for the character moving forward. DC Comic’s New 52 initiative in 2011 sought to erase the previous continuity and give readers a new experience with familiar characters. However,…

View On WordPress

‘Part of the Journey is the End’ – The Conclusion of Myth in the MCU and the Legacy of Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man

The concept of conclusions in on-going serial superhero comics typically refers to the ending of a storyline, such as a major event or story arc. However, media adaptations of these narratives are capable of providing a different form of conclusion, namely, the conclusion of character myth. This paper seeks to highlight a fundamental difference between the superhero narrative surrounding death in…

View On WordPress

The 7th Superhero Project Conference – 15 Years of the MCU Write Up

View On WordPress

Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent – A Wasted Promise

As a character, Jon Kent was born with tremendous potential. The son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, Jonathan Samuel Kent gave Superman a brand-new perspective on his life’s mission. We saw this masterfully handled in both Superman: Lois and Clark by Dan Jurgens and Lee Weeks, and the 2016 to 2018 Superman run by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason. When Brian Michael Bendis took over the Superman…

View On WordPress

Superhero Comics and the Meta-Narrative

The narrative within superhero media can and has explored a variety of concepts, from weighted stories of grief and loss to light-hearted material focused on bombastic action. This freedom allows for creators to discuss superhero narratives as a form of superhero narrative. This can be viewed as a meta-narrative, a term which Waugh describes as a ‘fictional writing which self-consciously and…

View On WordPress

YouTube's Passion for Superheroes ft. Comic Drake and Owen Likes Comics | Superhero Project Podcast Issue #5

As Danny, Torsten, and Caleb are busy with work, Mikayla sits down with the wonderful Owen Farrington and Drake McWhorter! Owen, a fellow PhD researcher, runs and operates the YouTube channel Owen Likes Comics, where they focus on uncovering the history of and behind superhero comics. Drake, a long time content creator, explores avenues of comics that deeply fascinate him and explains it to the…

View On WordPress

Shazam! #1 (2023)

The concept of Mark Waid and Dan Mora on a Shazam book is a thought that fills me with absolute joy. This is the dream team for a character like Shazam, and yet some of the first reactions I saw were negative. Naturally, I jumped in as soon as my copy arrived, and I’m not sure why there is a negative response. When a book opens with Shazam riding an extra-terrestrial T-Rex, because he had gotten…

View On WordPress

In memory of Jones - The Cosmic Cat of Comics

Media has a profound effect on our lives. In some cases, it forms how we view the world, we may tie significant memories to media we consumed at the time, and in some cases, it can become motivation for our actions. I have a lot of familial ties to the film industry, but its comics that affect my life the most. It has become fuel for my doctoral research, it’s let me form close friendships with…

View On WordPress

Crisis on Infinite Earths - Carrier Research

This is an extract from my current research and is unfinished. With print, the spoken word is given visual representation. As McLuhan discusses in his 1964 book Understanding Media (McLuhan.1964), the notion of visual representation of speech also comes with the properties of speech. However, due to print only being able to show what is said, timing and tone are missing and must be implied based…

View On WordPress

The Enduring Myth of Superman ft. Phillip Kennedy Johnson | Superhero Project Podcast Issue #4

In this special, Danny Graydon and Mikayla J. Laird celebrate the 85th anniversary of Superman by interviewing the phenomenal Phillip Kennedy Johnson. In this special, we ask Johnson about his favourite moments in Superman history, the challeneges of writing such an important character, and just how influenctial the Christopher Reeve incarnation of Superman truly is.

View On WordPress

The Variant Cover ft. Bruno Porto | Superhero Project Podcast Issue #3

On this edition, DG is away leaving Torsten, Caleb and Mikayla to interview the phenomenal Bruno Porto. Bruno discusses his fascinating research into superhero comic covers and the changes that have happened across the years.

View On WordPress

Regarding the MCU | Superhero Project Podcast Issue #2

In the second episode, the Steering Group reflect on 15 years of the MCU and the impact it has had on Superhero discorse.

View On WordPress

The Books That Brought Us Here | Superhero Project Podcast Issue #1

In the first episode of the Superhero Project Podcast, the Steering Group discusses the academic superhero texts that started our journeys. These are the texts that built built the foundations of the Superhero Project and the International Superhero Society.

View On WordPress

Life Update - I love Pokémon Plushies in Stressful times.

I haven’t written for here in a while, its not due to neglect, it’s just that this year has not been great so far. My bellowed cat of 14 years, Jones, passed away on April 1st. To say that it is devastating to me is an understatement. I adore her, and at some point, I want to post a dedicated piece for her. There’s been some family health problems that have caused some stress. Plus, my own health…

View On WordPress

Personal Favourite Comics of 2022

Personal Favourite Comics of 2022

It has been an extremely busy year, especially juggling work, health, and study. However, I have managed to keep up with a few titles this year. It has been a fantastic year for comics, and while those who know my well will not be surprised by my picks, I do just want to highlight the books I enjoyed the most this year. These are not in any particular order other than the order I feel like…

View On WordPress

The Benefits of Facsimile Editions in 2022

The Benefits of Facsimile Editions in 2022

Throughout 2022, both DC and Marvel have released facsimile editions of classic issues. These are essentially, complete reproductions of early issues. While I have not been able to pick all of them up, I have been lucky enough to get my hands on: Action Comics #1 Superman #1 Detective Comics #27 Detective Comics #38 Amazing Spider-Man #1 Brave and the Bold #28 Fantastic Four #52 Marvel…

View On WordPress