Category Archives: Comics

by | May 15, 2014 · 1:21 pm

Our Favorite Black Heroes

Over the past couple months, we’ve had several requests from readers who are interested in comics, but would like to know about some black heroes. So in order to help our friends out, I’ve gone through and come up with a few of my favorites and some of the more popular ones. This is by no means an all inclusive list, but instead a good place to start.

John Stewart

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One of the four Green Lanterns from Earth, John Stewart has been guarding Sector 2814 since the early 70’s. Stewart is the by far the most stable and reliable of Earth’s Green Lanterns, providing a grounded perspective, especially when compared to fellow Lanterns Hal Jordan, Kyle Rayner and Guy Gardner. After the launch of DC’s New 52 Stewart took over the star role in Green Lantern Corps.

Cyborg

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Victor Stone became Cyborg when he was seriously injured by a creature from an extra dimensional experiment gone wrong. Initially a member of the Teen Titans, Cyborg has earned himself a place as a fan favorite. Cyborg has taken an interesting turn in the last few years. There has been a serious push to make him more of a big deal since the start of the New 52. This has included making Cyborg a founding member of the Justice League, giving him a leading role in Teen Titans Go! and a rumored appearance in the new Superman-Batman movie. Continue reading →

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by | May 10, 2014 · 1:16 pm

Saturday Reviews | Psycho Gran

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David Leach’s Psycho Gran is not like anything else to be sure. This book consists of a series of one to five page shorts all featuring Psycho Gran, an elderly woman who is truly deserving of her name. The various stories range from amusingly possible to completely absurd, and are in general quite entertaining. There is something very amusing about seeing a character of that age acting like Psycho Gran does. Leach, being the creator, has a great sense of the character and has a lot of fun telling her stories. Leach’s dialogue and, to some extent his characterization display a particularly British sensibility.

Pyscho Gran up to her old tricks.

Pyscho Gran up to her old tricks.

Leach’s art has a style that is definitely in the same genre as R. Crumb, but it’s not a reproduction of Crumb’s work. I found that the coloring complimented the art extremely well. Although I’m not against black and white comics, I’ve always found comics (especially this style) more enjoyable with color. Psycho Gran is available on Comixology for only $1.99, and it’s worth a read, if for no other reason than to help expand comic book horizons and enjoy some really goofy and amusing shorts.

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by | May 9, 2014 · 12:23 pm

Q&A with David Leach of Psycho Gran

Recently Therefore I Geek had the good fortune to poke the brain of David Leach, who is the writer, artist and creator of Psycho Gran, a wonderfully warped British comic that is making a return. Issue one came out just a few weeks ago. David provided us with some great insight into his creative process and the origins of Psycho Gran.

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TIG: What was your personal introduction to comics?

David: When I was about six I was given a copy of the Tintin book, King Ottakar’s Sceptre, which I still have. When I was nine I saved up all my school bus fare to purchase the 1972 Beano annual, which I still have and my sister gave me a copy of the 1975 Giles annual for a Christmas present, which I still have.

As a reader, I started with the humour comics like Cor, Whizzer and Chips, Buster and Topper, then moved over to Battle, Warlord, 2000AD, Starlord and Action. I didn’t come to American comics until much later. I’d read Marvel UK titles like Tomb of Dracula, Planet of the Apes and Frankenstein’s Monster and I vividly remember reading several pivotal issues of both the Hulk and Spider Man as well as Super Man and Batman, but I didn’t start reading US comics properly until Mike Zeck’s run on Master of Kung Fu. Back then I read just three US comics, MOKF, Legion of Super Heroes and Frank Miller’s Daredevil. Then a whole new world opened up for me and I was hooked.

 

TIG: How did you get started in the comic industry?

David: To quote Mafia Gangster, Henry Hill, “Ever since I can remember I wanted to be a cartoonist.”
All through my early years, nothing drove me more than that desire. But I didn’t want to draw super hero comics. I wanted to draw funny stuff, kids comics. I have a pathological obsession to make people laugh. So, after leaving Art College, I got a job working for animation legend, Bob Godfrey (creator of Rhubarb and Custard). He employed me as his ghost artist and for the next year, I pencilled all of the Henry’s Cat comic strips that appeared in the Halifax Young Savers magazine, the New of the World’s Sunday magazine, and Buttons comic, as well as other stuff too. Then I went freelance. I got a four-week gig drawing for Whizzer and Chips comic, which lead to Oink! and the publishing of my first comic strip under my name and starring my own character, Psycho Gran. Then I went on to work on Toxic! Which lead to working for Marvel US on the Toxic Crusaders, followed by more British stuff. Continue reading →

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by | May 1, 2014 · 1:01 pm

Free Comic Book Day

This Saturday is a magical day. It is a day that is better than Christmas, my birthday and some other great day all rolled into one. Ok, so I might be exaggerating things just a bit, but this Saturday will still be pretty awesome. You may be asking yourself what makes it so awesome and let me tell you, it’s Free Comic Book Day.

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For the past twelve years, the first Saturday in May has been Free Comic Book Day.  FCBD was started to take advantage of the opening of big comic movies, but the annual event has become something much more. While not every retailer participates in the festivities, most independent comic book stores join in. Many stores make a huge deal out of the day, having sales, giveaways and parties. Comic artists and writers have also gotten involved by participating in signings at stores across the country. Fans have been known to line up outside their local store for hours before the store opens, just to get ahold of the books they want. It’s a great event for comic fans to get out, meet other comic fans, and really celebrate comics.

Free Comic Book Day is meant to be a thank you to the millions of comic fans out there and nothing says thank you quite like free books. The comic publishers produce books specifically to be given away on FCBD, typically featuring either blockbuster movies or the latest event comic. Of course there are books of all kinds, especially those for younger readers. One of FCBD’s stated goals is to encourage young readers to pick up comics. When we talked to Peter Newcomb of Borderless on Random Thought Generator, Pete stressed how important comics were in improving his ability to read and that he wants to share that with kids. Pete is not alone in his beliefs, and FCBD is proof of that. With almost twenty books that are family friendly this year, it’s the perfect opportunity for kids to get into comics and to read more in general.

If you’re interested in checking out FCBD head on over to freecomicbookday.com and use the store locator to find a participating store near you.

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