Comics Journal (1977) comic books 2004

The Magazine of News and Criticism. In this issue: The Journal is proud to present a comprehensive look at the work of enigmatic genius Steve Ditko! A massive suite of essays from our Utne Award-winning critics will cover Ditko's 50 years of work, from his early ghost stories to his Marvel monsters, Spider-Man and Dr. Strange, through his later DC and Charlton comics, to Mr. A and his current politically maverick independent work -- and explore the nooks and crannies of what makes Ditko a vital, important figure in our medium's history. Plus: panel chat with Gilbert Hernandez (Love and Rockets) and Craig Thompson (Goodbye Chunky Rice, Blankets). Magazine, 128 pages, PC/PB&W. Mature Readers. Cover price $6.95.

The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. In this issue: TCJ presents their annual, indispensable "Year In Review" issue, examining 2003's vital events and releases from around the world! And this issue also boasts the "Young Cartoonists" section, featuring scads of interviews and profiles of the next generation of emerging talents! Yes, a new generation emerges - Jeffrey Brown, Robyn Chapman, Christopher Forgues, Asaf & Tomer Hanuka, Sammy Harkham, Paul Hornschemeier, Kevin Huizenga, Ben Jones, Derek Kirk Kim, Anders Nilsen, Lark Pien, John Pham, Souther Salazar, Jason Shiga, Drew Weing and Dan Zettwoch. How can you not want this issue? Don't you want to know what the books of the year were? Don't you care about the children? Cover by Drew Weing. Magazine, 128 pages, PC/PB&W. Mature Readers. Cover price $6.95.

The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. In this issue: You know 'em, you secretly love 'em, you'd be speaking English if it weren't for them -- it's the French! Leading off with a cover chat with Philippe Dupuy and Charles Berberian of Mr. Jean fame, we're also proud to present an unpublished conversation between the late, great Gil Kane and Jean-Claude Mezieres (Valerian and Laureline, The Fifth Element)! Zut Alors! And: Eddie Campbell on the work of comics pioneer Rodolphe Töpffer. Also: Dave Cockrum's sickbed deal with Marvel Comics. Plus: reviews, comics, letters and news. Cover by Dupuy and Berberian. Magazine, 128 pages, PC/PB&W. Mature Readers. Cover price $6.95.

The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. In this issue: The Journal is proud to present the long-awaited, exhaustive and engrossing cover interview with Phoebe Gloeckner, author of the tear-down-the-sky brilliant books A Child's Life and Diary of a Teenage Girl! Conducted by the Journal's own Gary Groth, this conversation is not one to miss. If that weren't enough, this issue also boasts a fascinating Gloeckner essay by legendary critic Donald Phelps, author of the American Book Award-winning Reading the Funnies! Also: dropping science with Jay Hosler; the gospel according to Chester Brown; and the early work of comics pioneer Winsor McCay. Plus: reviews, comics, letters and news. Magazine, 144 pages, B&W. Mature Readers. Cover price $6.95.

The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. In this issue: In its 28th year as the preeminent magazine of comics journalism and criticism, The Comics Journal is revamping its format with more color, more pages, better paper and higher quality printing, and a fresh, new design. Content is also being rejuvenated with expanded news and commentary sections, the inclusion of a comics section, and wider and more contemporaneous coverage of current comics publishing. This issue's cover feature is Alex Toth, with an examination of his life and work by Bob Levin, critical essays, an interview, and 30 pages of rare comics from one of Toth's most fertile creative periods in the 1950's, in both B&W and color. Our pre-election 2004 political coverage includes interviews with Steve Bell and Steve Brodner, one of America's the most preeminent illustrators and political satirists, whose work has appeared in periodicals from The New Yorker to Rolling Stone to The Atlantic Monthly to Harper's magazine. Reviews of the most noteworthy current comics and graphic novels and our columns on every facet of comics from manga to European comics to mini-comics and even (gasp!) mainstream comics round out the issue. Cover by Alex Toth. Softcover, 192 pages, PC/PB&W. Mature Readers. Cover price $9.95.

The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. Now revamped with more pages, better paper stock and more color pages, The Comics Journal remains the finest source of comics-related news, reviews and commentary in the market today. This issue features an in-depth, career-spanning interview with writer and cartoonist Ed Brubaker, covering his life in comics from his early days as an indie cartoonist to his work for DC Comics on such titles as Batman and Sleeper. Sean Phillips (the artist behind Sleeper) provides this issue's cover. Also in TCJ #263: In a series of essays, our critics (and a few surprises recruited especially for this issue) take a closer look at one of the most renowned and controversial self-publishing success stories in comics history, Dave Sim and Gerhard's Cerebus! From the duo's many artistic accomplishments to Sim's many pronouncements on gender and politics, this roundtable will put it all into perspective for you as only The Comics Journal can. Also: The legal battle for Superman and Superboy; Jingle Jangle Tales; and the celebrated news and critical coverage that has won the magazine countless awards! Softcover, 9-in. x 11-in., 192 pages, PC/PB&W. Mature Readers. Cover price $9.95.

The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. Now revamped with more pages and higher quality reproduction! This issue features a cover interview with Ivan Brunetti (conducted by editor Gary Groth), a cartoonist known for his caustic, scabrous and self-lacerating comic, Schizo, the cartoon collection Haw!, as well as his comics contributions to anthologies and illustration work in such magazine as Mother Jones, The Baffler, and Entertainment Weekly. Underground comics are highlighted this issue in two major features: Patrick Rosenkranz, the author of the underground comix history Rebel Visions, provides a historical profile of the major underground publishers in a long essay based on interviews with all the participants. Second, his own book comes under the knife in a series of critiques of his own history of underground comix by the underground cartoonists he covered in the book itself! Plus: Darcy Sullivan on defiling the legacy of Jack Kirby; Harold Gray's Little Joe; and vicious smears. Also: TCJ's regular columns covering European comics, manga, newspaper strips, and other facets of the medium, investigative journalism and letters, all in the most iconoclastic and unorthodox magazine about comics in the world. 200 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $9.95.