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ComiXology Has 7 New Digital Comics For You Including More Classic Wolverine!

Posted on September 24, 2020 by Graphic Policy Team

There’s seven new digital comics available for you right now! ComiXology has you covered with new comics from Marvel, Harlequin, and Seven Seas. See them all now or check out the individual issues below!

Ghost Rider Team-Up

Written by Tom DeFalco, Michael Fleisher, Steven Grant, Bill Mantlo, Jim Shooter
Art by Pat Broderick, Bob Hall, Don Perlin, Frank Robbins, Ron Wilson
Cover by Bob Budiansky
Purchase

Collects Marvel Team-Up #91, Marvel Two-In-One #80, Marvel Premiere #28, Avengers #214, And Ghost Rider (1973) #27 And #50.

The Spirit of Vengeance rides roughshod over Spider-Man, the Thing and the rest of the Marvel Universe! The Spider, the Ghost and the soul-stealer who hates them both – who will survive the Carnival of Fear? The Thing vs. the Ghost Rider in Death Race! Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, Morbius and Werewolf by Night – the Legion of Monsters – join forces for the most spine-tingling team-up of all in the mysterious Marvel manner! Hawkeye, the Two-Gun Kid and the Ghost Rider take on the menacing might of the Manticore! Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, the Avengers, embark on their most dangerous mission yet: capture the Ghost Rider! Plus: the Ghost Rider’s strangest adventure ever – featuring the Night Rider, Marvel’s first Ghost Rider!

Simply Scandalous

Written by Carly Phillips
Art by Yuki Kuriya
Purchase

Catherine runs a catering business, and when she’s catering a big party for the famous Montgomery family, she feels a burning gaze on her. The man looking at her is Logan Montgomery, a successful attorney who’s a shoo-in to be the next mayor. Catherine has been wrongfully shamed by high society in the past, so she’s sworn she’ll never get involved with anyone from that world. However, she can’t fight the feelings she has for this man. She has no idea the dramatic change her life is about to go through after meeting Logan and his family.

My Androgynous Boyfriend Vol. 2

Written by Tamekou
Art by Tamekou
Purchase

Meguru might be impossibly cute, but he’s not the only androgynous model around! Enter Sasame, another beautiful boy at Meguru’s talent agency. The world is in for some serious gender nonconforming magic when the two cross paths!

Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do

Written by Kevin Smith
Art by Terry Dodson
Cover by Terry Dodson
Purchase

Collects Spider-Man/Black Cat: Evil That Men Do #1-6.

The mysterious disappearance of an old friend brings Felicia Hardy, the Black Cat, to New York in search of answers – and a certain web-slinging ex-lover of hers is following the same trail. How long will it take before they do some…catching up?

Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do

Stan Lee Meets

Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Paul Jenkins, Stan Lee, Jeph Loeb, Roy Thomas, Joss Whedon
Art by Mark Bagley, Mark Buckingham, Olivier Coipel, Alan Davis, Michael Gaydos, Scott Kolins, Salvador Larroca, Ed McGuinness, Lee Weeks, Mike Wieringo
Cover by Olivier Coipel
Purchase

Collects Stan Lee Meets Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, Dr. Doom, The Thing And Silver Surfer.

Celebrating the 65th anniversary of Stan Lee’s employment at Marvel Comics! In five astounding tales written by “The Man” himself, Stan meets his web-slinging creation, journeys to Greenwich Village to catch up with his old pal Doctor Strange, is abducted to Latveria by the sinister Doctor Doom, makes the mistake of bicycling past Yancy Street and surfs the stars with a certain silver-skinned space-farer! Plus: best-selling writers and artists pay homage to Stan’s life and career in five thrilling stories.

Wolverine Classic Vol. 4

Written by Archie Goodwin
Art by John Byrne
Cover by John Byrne
Purchase

Collects Wolverine (1988) #17-23.

Enemies like Roughouse are hard to find, as Wolverine learns all too well when his favorite Asgardian sparring partner gets abducted into a dictator’s experiment! But the trail leads the mutant marvel to more menace than he expected in the form of a Nazi cyborg, an amphibious evildoer and a giant germ of the gods! Featuring the X-Men, the Avengers and Daredevil!

Wolverine Classic Vol. 5

Written by Peter David, Jo Duffy
Art by John Buscema, Gene Colan, Bill Jaaska, Klaus Janson, Barry Kitson
Cover by Jim Lee
Purchase

Collects Wolverine (1988) #24-30.

He’s the best there is at what he does…but what if he doesn’t remember how to do it? Investigation of an eerie agenda leaves Wolverine without even his altered memories, but could the loss of his old life be his only hope for peace? Plus, secrets of Wolverine’s past are revealed in Madripoor, Japan and an adventure in baby-sitting that hints at a stranger Wolverine origin than any seen before! Guest-starring the New Mutants!

This site contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from these sites. Making purchases through these links helps support the site.

Review: The Death of Captain Marvel

Posted on January 2, 2019 by Brett

The classic story, The Death of Captain Marvel, is back in an all-new printing! This trade collects Marvel Super-heroes (1967) #12-13, Captain Marvel (1968) #1 and #34, Marvel Spotlight (1979) #1-2, and Marvel Graphic Novel #1: The Death of Captain Marvel by Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Jim Starlin, Steve Englehart, Doug Moench, Gene Colan, and Pat Broderick.

Get your copy in comic shops now and in book stores January 15th! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Amazon/comiXology/Kindle
TFAW

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with FREE copies for review
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

Review: Ripley’s Believe It or Not #1

Posted on September 29, 2018 by pharoahmiles

Television of the 1990s usually get a bad rap, as most critics including myself tend to celebrate 1980s more than any other decade. The thing is that the decade deserves to be revered for the many excellent genre shows it introduced to the world. This was the decade that brought the world, The X-Files and Buffy The Vampire Slayer. As these shows are not only cultural milestones but worldwide movements, as these characters often spoke to audiences who have never been heard.

One show that premiered in the crux of these two wunderkind decades is Tales From The Crypt. I wasn’t old enough to even remember these comics, but the stories that came out of the series, made the horror accessible to the mainstream. As the shows were well told but still was scary enough to creep out viewers. In the debut issue of Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, we get a series of vignettes that will remind readers of the landmark show.

In “A Tale As Old As,” we get the true story behind Beauty and The Beast, one which proves to be far more interesting than the fairytale readers around the world have gotten to know. In “I’ve Been Working on The Railroad,” a man survives an accident which would have killed anyone else but became one man’s strength. In “The Ride of His People,” one man wins a race only to die once he reaches the finished line. In “Mother Nature Blew Her,” one father foretells his daughter how the world will be if world continues with pollution of the land and water. In “49 Lives,” one cat predicts the death of a patient.

Overall, it’s an interesting set of mostly true stories are as bizarre as they are riveting. The stories by the different writers captures the eeriness of the show. The art by the different artists is both captivating and alluring. Altogether, one of the best horror books to come out in a while.

Story : Howard Mackie, Ben Meares, Dale Mettam, Victoria Rau
Art: Hakan Aydin, Marcelo Basile, Pat Broderick, Deivis Goetten, Daniel Maine
Story: 10 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy

Pat Broderick, Vito Delsante, Jim Rugg, and Dan Slott Head to Baltimore Comic Con

Posted on July 30, 2018 by Brett

Baltimore’s Inner Sees the return of the Baltimore Comic-Con on September 28-30, 2018 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Purchase your tickets to the show now to avoid additional lines at the show. The Baltimore Comic-Con has announced the return of a number of guests to our show in 2018: Pat Broderick, Vito Delsante, Jim Rugg, and Dan Slott.

Pat Broderick began his comics career in the 1970s after presenting his portfolio for the DC Comics Junior Bullpen Program. Initially drawing filler pages and short stories for 100-Page Super Spectaculars, he went on to work on a variety of DC and Marvel titles. He transitioned briefly to working at Atlas Comics before returning to Marvel and spending time on their black-and-white magazine titles, Captain Marvel, and a run on Micronauts. Returning to DC, Broderick’s work could be found on titles such as Justice League of America, The Fury of Firestorm, Detective Comics, Captain Atom, Swamp Thing, and Green Lantern. He again returned to Marvel in the early 1990s to work on books like Alpha Flight and Doom 2099. In the mid-90s, Broderick took a break from comics, working for an advertising firm and providing design work on the movie Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, but eventually returned to comics, pencilling issues of Micronauts once again, this time for Devil’s Due Publishing.

Vito Delsante is a comic book writer/graphic novelist. He’s written for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Image Comics, AdHouse Books, and Simon & Schuster, among others and his stories have been reprinted in other countries. His creator-owned superhero story, Stray, was published by Action Lab Entertainment, where he also wrote Action Lab: Dog of Wonder, Actionverse, Militeddy, and Midnight Tiger Stronger.

Jim Rugg makes comics, books, drawings, illustrations, and designs. His books and comics include Street Angel, Afrodisiac, the PLAIN Janes, Rambo 3.5, Notebook Drawings, and Supermag. He has exhibited drawings at iam8bit, Gallery1988, Mondo, and the Society of Illustrators. Honors include Eisner and Ignatz Awards, The Pittsburgh Foundation’s Investing in Professional Artists grant, and AIGA’s 50 Books/50 Covers selection for best-designed books. He teaches classes in the MFA Visual Narrative program at the School of Visual Arts and co-hosted BoingBoing.net’s Tell Me Something I Don’t Know podcast. His latest books are Street Angel’s Dog and Street Angel Goes to Juvie from Image Comics. Street Angel vs. Ninjatech debuts in November and the PLAIN Janes will be out in 2019!

Dan Slott‘s early comic work included many kid-friendly titles, including Mighty Mouse and Ren and Stimpy at Marvel and Scooby Doo, Power Puff Girls, Looney Tunes, Batman Adventures, and Justice League Adventures at DC Comics. With the beginnings of success under his belt, he was able to work on more serious titles at DC, including Arkham Asylum: Living Hell and JLA: Classified. Returning to Marvel, Slott helped launch the standalone She-Hulk series, as well as mini-series Spider-Man/Human Torch and GLA: Misassembled. His extensive run on Amazing Spider-Man was controversial, award-winning, and a sales success. He was the successor to Brian Michael Bendis on The Mighty Avengers, penned The Silver Surfer with Mike Allred (which won an Eisner Award for Best Single Issue of the Year), and authored Avengers: The Initiative, following the events of Civil War. He has since gone on to write Tony Stark: Iron Man and Fantastic Four for Marvel.

In addition to on-site CGC grading, this year’s confirmed guests for the show include: Arthur Adams (Guardians of the Galaxy), Joel Adams (Bucky O’Hare Graphic Novel Coloring Book), Neal Adams (Deadman), Zeea Adams (Neal Adams Monsters), Ethan Scott Ambruson (Azteca: Ciudad Paradiso), Marc Andreyko (Jeepers Creepers), Arantza (fantasy artist), Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets), Mike W. Barr (The Outsiders), Jeremy Bastian (Cursed Pirate Girl), Marty Baumann (Big Hero 6), John Beatty (Batman), Carolyn Belefski (Curls), Simon Bisley (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Bodycount), Ziggy Blumenthal (Operation Pajama Pants), June Brigman (Power Pack), Pat Broderick (Micronauts), Harold Buchholz (Mystery Science Theatre 3000), Mark Buckingham (Scooby Apocalypse), Greg Burnham (Tuskegee Heirs), Buzz (Superman: The Coming of the Supermen), Jim Calafiore (Leaving Megalopolis), Frank Cammuso (Wrong Earth), Chris Campana (Pathfinder: Worldscape – Vampirella), Greg Capullo (Dark Knights: Metal), Joe Carabeo (Black Magic Tales), Christa Cassano (Ghetto Klown), Howard Chaykin (Captain America), Joyce Chin (All-New Wolverine), Frank Cho (Harley Quinn), Michael Cho (Batwoman), Amy Chu (Red Sonja), Steve Conley (The Middle Age), Steve Conte (Action Figure Kingdom), Katie Cook (Thanos Annual), Denys Cowan (The Question), Paris Cullins (WWE Superstars), Kristina Deak-Linsner (Vampirella: Roses for the Dead), J. Robert Deans (The Bear from A.U.N.T.), Tom DeFalco (Spider-Girl, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Jose Delbo (Spongebob Comics), Vito Delsante (Midnight Tiger Stronger), Todd Dezago (Tellos), Dave Dorman (Black Hops: U.S.A.-*-G.I.), Charles C. Dowd (Lilith Dark), Emily Drouin (Eplis), Anne and Jerzy Drozd (Science Comics: Rockets), Todd Emko & Piggy (A Piggy’s Tale), Garth Ennis (Jimmy’s Bastards, Friday and Saturday only), G.D. Falksen (The Ouroboros Cycle), David Finch (Trinity), Meredith Finch (Rose), Ramona Fradon (The Mike Wieringo Tellos Tribute), Franco (Encounter), Jenny Frison (Wonder Woman), John Gallagher (Captain Canuck Season 4), Will Gallagher (EPIC Bros.), S.L. Gallant (G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero vs. the Six Million Dollar Man), Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (DC Nation), Steve Geiger (Web of Spider-Man), Joe Giella (The Flash), Mike Gold (The Pilgrim), Michael Golden (Micronauts: Wrath of Karza), Daniel Govar (Thanos: A God Up There Listening), Jimmy Gownley (Zootopia), John Patrick Green (Mickey Mouse Shorts: Season One), Dawn Griffin (Zorphbert & Fred), Tom Grummett (The New Titans, courtesy of Hero Initiatiive), Laura Lee Gulledge (Will & Whit), Bob Hall (Squadron Supreme), Dean Haspiel (The Red Hook), Glenn Hauman (The Whisper Campaign), Marc Hempel (Sandman), Clinton Hobart (Disney fine artist), Ken Hunt (Lady Death: Devotions), Jamal Igle (Molly Danger), Tony Isabella (Black Lightning), Klaus Janson (Nightwing, Saturday and Sunday only), Todd Johnson (Tribe), Justin Jordan (Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps), Chris Kemple (The Mike Wieringo Tellos Tribute), Karl Kesel (Batman ’66 Meets Wonder Woman ’77), Tom King (Batman), Barry Kitson (The Flash), Todd Klein (Black Hammer: Age of Doom), Evelyn Kriete (Weird Tales), Alisa Kwitney (Mystik U), Jade F. Lee (Rolled & Told), Leo Leibelman (Heavy Metal), Paul Levitz (Brooklyn Blood), Mike Lilly (The Tick), Joseph Michael Linsner (Vampirella: Roses for the Dead), Kevin Maguire (Man of Steel), Mike Maihack (Cleopatra in Space), Mike Manley (Judge Parker), Chris Mariano (Claire Lost her Bear at the World’s Fair), Mark Mariano (Adventure Time), Shawn Martinbrough (Shadowman), Ron Marz (Fathom Vol. 7), Ed McGuinness (Avengers), Bob McLeod (G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero), Carla Speed McNeil (Empowered & Sistah Spooky’s High School Hell), Dawn McTeigue (Divinica), Adriana Melo (Plastic Man, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Frank Miller (Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander, Saturday and Sunday only), Stuart Moore (Deadpool the Duck), Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise), Mark Morales (Justice League), Michael Moreci (Nightwing), Tony Moy (Mainstream), Trevor Mueller (Albert the Alien), Adriane Nash (The Whisper Campaign), Jamar Nicholas (Leon: Protector of the Playground), Denny O’Neil (DC Universe Holiday Special, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Jerry Ordway (G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero vs The Six Million Dollar Man), Rachel Ordway (The Elvis Adventures), John Ostrander (Suicide Squad, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Tom Palmer (Avengers), Dan Parent (Betty & Veronica Friends Forever), Jeff Parker (Future Quest Presents), Paul Pelletier (Titans Special), Andrew Pepoy (Mighty Moe Szyslak), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Brandon Peterson (Green Lanterns), Tom Peyer (Captain Kid), Richard and Wendy Pini (Elfquest), Ed Piskor (X-Men: Grand Design – Second Genesis), Chase and Mark Poulton (Pizza Tree), Andy Price (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic), David Proch (Quarter Moon), Tom Raney (Giantkillers), Mark Redfield (Hunted), Frank Reynoso (Garbage Pail Kids: Fables, Fantasies and Farts), Roy Richardson (The Flash), Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge), Craig Rousseau (Startup), Stephane Roux (Faith: Dreamside), Jim Rugg (Street Angel), Andy Runton (Owly), P. Craig Russell (Salome and Other Stories), Stuart Sayger (GI Joe: A Real American Hero vs. The Six-Million Dollar Man), Brian Shearer (William the Last), Jeff Shultz (Archie Jumbo Comics Digest), Mimi Simon (Judge Parker), Louise Simonson (Action Comics #1000), Walter Simonson (Thor), Matt Slay (Equilibrium), Dan Slott (Tony Stark: Iron Man), Andy Smith (Demi-God), John K. Snyder (Fashion in Action), Scott Snyder (Justice League, Saturday only), Mark Sparacio (Chelsea Dagger), Jim Starlin (Thanos: The Infinity Siblings, Saturday and Sunday only), Joe Staton (Dick Tracy), Brian Stelfreeze (Black Panther), Jim Steranko (Action Comics), Paul Storrie (The Viking Queen), Larry Stroman (Tribe), Rob Stull (The Mike Wieringo Tellos Tribute), Peter Tomasi (Superman), Tim Truman (Grimjack), David Trustman (God Slap), Sarah Trustman (The Memory Arts), Billy Tucci (Shi), Ted Tucker (Disney World caricature artist), Gus Vazquez (Sunfire and Big Hero Six), Emilio Velez Jr. (Dodgeball Teens), Magdalene Visaggio (Eternity Girl), Mark Waid (Captain America), Adam Wallenta (Punk Taco), Adam Warren (Empowered & Sistah Spooky’s High School Hell), Michael Watkins (Pantha), Larry Watts (Evil Dead 2: Cradle of the Damned); Todd Webb (Mr. Toast Comics), Dexter Weeks (Savage Eve), Mark Wheatley (Stargate Atlantis Singularity), Bob Wiacek (All New Wolverine), Matt Wieringo (Stargate Atlantis Gateways), Marcus Williams (Hero Cats of Stellar City: Year One), Javier Cruz Winnik (A Reason to Smile), Renee Witterstaetter (X-Force Epic Collection), Rich Woodall (The Mike Wieringo Tellos Tribute), John Workman (Kick-Ass), Thom Zahler (Time & Vine), and Mike Zeck (The Punisher).

Conventions

“Take Back the Shield” Starts NOW! Your First Look at Captain America: Sam Wilson #14!

Posted on October 10, 2016 by Graphic Policy Team

Steve Rogers has returned. Then why won’t Sam Wilson give up the shield? Marvel has released a first look inside Captain America: Sam Wilson #14, the first chapter in the new story arc “Take Back the Shield”! Sam Wilson stands at the crossroads of a divided nation. When the terrorist organization Ultimatum and their leader the Flag-Smasher begin to wreak havoc, Sam Wilson is the first to dive headlong into the fray. Yet as cries of #TakeBacktheShield trend worldwide, can Sam continue to uphold the ideals of Captain America? As he teams with Steve Rogers to take down Ultimatum, is there room in the Marvel Universe for two Captain Americas? Only…Steve has a secret.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: SAM WILSON #14 (AUG160828)
Written by NICK SPENCER
Art by PAUL RENAUD
Cover by MARCOS MARTIN
Champions Variant by MIKE DEODATO (AUG160829)
Classic Variant by PAT BRODERICK (AUG160830)
Story Thus Far Variant by PAUL RENAUD (AUG160831)
FOC – 09/26/16, On-Sale – 10/19/16

“The Quiet Room” Starts Now! Your First Look at Uncanny Inhumans #5!

Posted on January 24, 2016 by Graphic Policy Team

The mighty Kang the Conqueror has been defeated, but the Inhumans troubles are just getting started!

Marvel has released a first look at Uncanny Inhumans #5 – the first chapter of the new arc “The Quiet Room”! Inhuman scribe Charles Soule teams with artist Brandon Peterson introduce you to the Midnight King’s newest headquarters – the Quiet Room!

But Black Bolt’s new place is a fascinating curiosity that could very well put all the Marvel Universe in jeopardy. Be there when the flagship Inhuman title moves into its blockbuster second arc!

UNCANNY INHUMANS #5 (DEC150797)
Written by CHARLES SOULE
Art & Cover by BRANDON PETERSON
Variant Covers by MICHAEL CHO (DEC150798) and PAT BRODERICK (DEC150799)
Story Thus Far Variant by KRIS ANKA (DEC150800)
FOC – 1/25/16, On-Sale – 02/17/16

mans

Let’s Get Weird – Your First Look at Weirdworld #1!

Posted on November 14, 2015 by Graphic Policy Team

The smash-hit Secret Wars series is back! And just when you thought the journey was coming to an end. This December, book a trip to the strangest place in the entire Marvel Universe in the all-new Weirdworld #1 – coming at you from blockbuster writer Sam Humphries and Weirdworld artist Mike Del Mundo! Ripped from the pages of Secret Wars comes a most dangerous destination – chock fuphrill of swords, sorcery, rocket launchers and all manner of oddities firmly planted in the All-New Marvel Universe!

Meet Becca, an ordinary teenage girl trapped in an extraordinary world. Stranded in Weirdworld and separated from all she knows, her mission is clear – GET HOME ALIVE! Easier said than done. Crystal Warriors! Wizardslayers with muscle cars! Catbeasts that spit fire! The queen of sinister sorcery Morgan Le Fay! All this and more await Becca around every corner. Can she make it home in one piece? Or is she Weirdworld’s newest permanent resident?

Strap in and hang on tight as the newest corner of the Marvel Universe comes alive before your very eyes!

WEIRDWORLD #1 (OCT150793)
Written by SAM HUMPHRIES
Art & Cover by MIKE DEL MUNDO
Variant Cover by MATT RHODES (OCT150796)
Hip-Hop Variant by JUAN DOE (OCT150794)
Classic Variant by PAT BRODERICK (OCT150795)
FOC – 11/16/15, On-Sale – 12/16/15

Random

Unstoppable Armies Clash on Battleworld in Age of Ultron Vs. Marvel Zombies #1!

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Brett

In the southern wastes of Battleworld, a never ending battle rages on. Two unholy factions of cold machines and rotting zombies wage war for supremacy. Today, their conflict reaches another level of horror in a new look Age of Ultron Vs. Marvel Zombies #1! Eisner award winning writer James Robinson and critically acclaimed artist Steve Pugh take you beyond the Shield – and show you a new reason to fear! Here, on the far side of Battleworld’s impenetrable barrier, all hope is lost. These festering wastes on the border between two domains are where the genocidal robotic armies of Ultron fight the endless hordes of flesh-eating corpses. Pity those poor souls trapped between these unstoppable forces, for their demise is definitely assured! Will you choose death by the super powered living dead? Or by an unending army of indestructible, undefeatable robots? One thing is for certain, neither demise will be quick or painless!

The Vision, Wonder Man, Jim Hammond, and more brave these apocalyptic hellscapes in search of sanctuary, and for survival. Can they make it out alive? One thing is for certain, whoever wins – we lose.

AGE OF ULTRON VS. MARVEL ZOMBIES #1 (APR150721)
Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art by STEVE PUGH
Cover by CARLOS PACHECO
Variant Covers by ROCK-HE KIM (APR150722)
And SKOTTIE YOUNG (APR150725)
MAOS Variant by NATHAN FOX (APR150723)
Ant-Sized Variant by PAT BRODERICK (APR150724)
Blank Cover Also Available (APR150726)
FOC – 06/01/15, On-Sale – 06/24/15

Interview: Pat Broderick on Comic Cons, Cosplay, and all that Controversy

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Brett

If you regularly pay attention to comic and cosplay blogs, you’ll no doubt have noticed a new “controversy” surrounding comments concerning the role of cosplay, and direction of “comic” conventions has cropped up over the past week. The story has been covered by numerous sites, and even some mainstream press like The Atlantic.

This latest round was spurred by the comments by comic artist Pat Broderick (known for his work on The Fury of Firestorm, Swamp Thing, Micronauts, Batman: Year Three, Doom 2099, among others) made through his Facebook account. The comments, which you can read to the left, concerns friend invites on the site from “cosplay personalities” and also invitations from “comic” convention promoters, where the convention is more focused on cosplay events and television and movie stars, instead of comic writers, artists, and the comics themselves.

This debate has cropped up numerous times in recent years as the focus on “comic” conventions have shifted from comics to more broad entertainment and fandoms. While some comic conventions still exist, (Baltimore, SPX, Heroes Con, are examples), conventions with “comic con” still in their names, like Comic-Con International (aka San Diego Comic Con) and New York Comic Con, have moved on to wider audiences. Other conventions have ditched the “comic con” label such as Wizard World who has found success in their dozens of shows a year that appeal to a wide fandom. Cosplay is an absolute draw, becoming more mainstream over the years, as evidenced by numerous televisions series involving it, some even being picked up for multiple seasons.

Like a bad game of telephone, Broderick’s post was interpreted and reinterpreted in numerous posts that twist and ignore what he was getting at. A lot of “comic cons” aren’t that. They’re entertainment or fandom shows. Also, with the shifting demographics in fandoms and focus, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for comic creators to make money at shows, and support themselves. This is an issue that’s been echoed by numerous creators, for some time now. They’re not just competing with each other, but also with that person that appeared on that one show in that one episode that one time.

Some have pointed out studies and surveys, like the one by Eventbrite, that dispel the notion these attendees aren’t spending money. While that particular survey doesn’t break out the cosplaying attendees, it also doesn’t say what they’re spending money on. The fact is, both sides can be right in this. Cosplayers are spending money, just not necessarily on comics or from the comic creators displaying at the show.

There’s also the issue of the “celebrity.” Lets face it, the comic creator has never been the real focus of comic publishers, the comics and the characters are. The creators rotate (sometimes pretty regularly) so to invest lots of money promoting non-exclusive writers or artists isn’t the most sound strategy. This is unlike movies where the actors are the promotion, there to talk up the movie, and make the rounds. Think about the last time you’ve seen a comic creator on a talk show to promote a comic release.

There’s also the different goals of convention promoter, and the creator. The promoter’s job is to get people in the door, and clearly cosplay and celebrities help make that happen. The creator’s job is to sell themselves and their products to those attendees, and at times it might not be the right audience at all.

What’s most egregious about all of this, is the fact no site reached out to Broderick to ask for clarification. Instead of treating it like a story, commentary and opinions (some times heated and pointed) were thrown out without talking to the source first.

I decided to do exactly that. I reached out, and asked him about his comments, the controversy, and conventions, and through email, Pat agreed to partake. Check out below for further details on what he has to say, and meant, and see why you shouldn’t always jump to conclusions without talking to someone first.

Graphic Policy: It seems like we should just dive right into it. What prompted your post about conventions and cosplay? How long had you been thinking about it all?

Pat Broderick: Well Brett, I had just finished about six conventions and all along I had seen where what should had been a great con based on attendance turned out to be shows plagued with problems. A general sense of aggravation underlining conversations with vendors and professionals. For the first show I wrote this off to inexperience, but by the third show I had to change my conclusion. So I was still scheduled for a show in south Florida this upcoming weekend. A small show trying to establish a presence. I had seen that this show seemed to be building itself on cosplay attractions and cosplay personalities. After many times inquiring why the artist seemed to be getting the back seat at the show and getting reassurances that it wasn’t the way it looked I decided to cut my losses. After all I do have pending work which is time sensitive. Now the very next morning when I got online and opened my friend requests I had noticed quite a few cosplay inquiries. I went to their pages and was faced with the same photos. Wonderful kids having a great time at shows. But nothing strangely enough was there about comics. Just them posing for the shots, rarely any of them with shots of them with different creators holding art. Or purchased comics. Or anything. I rarely accept cosplay friends at all. But that being said I do have cosplay friends. These are people who have photos of them with comics, and family, you know, the regular photo page items. So I decided that I should just go ahead and make a statement. It came off rather harsh, and was directed at the show promoters building large cosplay based shows combined with multiple media guest to just please don’t invite me as I probably will pass. That cosplay based shows really add no value to the industry. It took about an hour for this statement on my home page to get picked up and go viral…

GP: How many conventions have you been to in your career? What have you generally seen over that time?

PB: I’ve been going to conventions since 1974… I cut back on them back in ’96 and started again in ’99. I witnessed the change in the industry from video gaming to media guest and along the way from a few people in costume to what we call cosplay today

GP: So the big thing about your original post was this part, “You bring nothing of value to the shows, and if you’re a promoter pushing cosplay as your main attraction you’re not helping the industry or comics market..” Who was the “you” in “you bring” aimed towards?

PB: It was aimed at cosplay Facebook requests, and convention promoters who are developing their shows in the described direction.

GP: Did you expect your post to get picked up by sites like it did?

PB: Well obviously no, I woke up the next morning to quite the storm. But really when I reviewed the different blog sites I realized what was going on and how to handle it…. which is stay in front.

GP: Did any sites or press (other than us) reach out to you at all?

PB: No one has asked for any clarification of my comments. So I posted a second statement giving more detail and apologized to any cosplayer who my comments might have offended. It saw some pick up, but not to the degree of the first. I guess that one wasn’t “News worthy.”

(We’ve included that second statement to the right for you to read – The Management)

GP: What’s the reaction and feedback been like?

PB: Well how could I put this compared to how should I put this… I’ve had a huge turn out of negative response from cosplayers, loads of threats, and conventions uninviting me to their shows… I’ve also had an even larger turnout of support from fans and pros backing my position, and I’ve gotten convention invitations. So I guess that my original comment worked. But even more than that since I’m not the first comics pro to make such statements about these problems perhaps this attention will make some of these show promoters realize that there IS a problem out there which CAN be addressed in a positive way.

GP: What’s your thoughts on cosplay in general beyond the personalities/celebrities?

PB: I think they’re great. I also think that they have a responsibility to uphold a PG rating with their outfits. These are family shows and not nightclubs. Take some consideration for the family’s who attend. And also when someone asks if they can take your picture just ask the interested party to step with you to an area outside of the isles. You’re there for fun and to show off your costumes, artist and dealers are there to earn some rent.

GP: There’s comic conventions and then there’s general entertainment conventions. What do you see as defining the two?

PB: The direction it’s going will divide it itself. Its happening even now. There will eventually be a clear “comics” show controlled, and there will be media shows.

GP: What conventions today would you consider “comic” conventions?

PB: Right off of the top of my head is HeroesCon.

GP: You announced also on Facebook that you’ll be developing your own four show convention circuit. What can you tell us about that? What prompted it? Where are you looking to have them? How will your shows stand out?

PB: I started down this road about three months ago. These shows will first be in Florida, North, Central and South. These will be shows for the vendors and the public. I’m also an old adman so I know the power of not only promotion, but linked promotional events. We already have some exciting ideas which will bring in the public but also bring in people looking to discover a great find. pick up sketches, meet the creators. We will be bringing in media guest. but controlled and very limited in number. we will also be involving cosplay into our shows but in such a way as to satisfy both their needs and the shows direction. But first and fore most these will be shows for the industry. for the vendors and for the creators…