Legendary writer Alan Moore apologizes for his “responsibility” for the popularity of comic book stories because he believes they prime people for fascism. Is the Watchmen author right? — Comic books as an art form have faced a lifetime of mostly scorn from people who see it as low art, if art at all, and claptrap for kids. This perception changed in the late 20th Century in no small part to the work of writer Alan Moore on titles…

My review of Kevin Smith’s return to the Quick Stop with a grounded story about the big lives of ‘little people.’ — When director and podcaster Kevin Smith revealed his plans to bring Clerks III to the screen, he said he did it because he wanted to reward the characters who made his life so rewarding. This motivation promises a very different movie than we actually get. Which is to say, the…

Reevaluating ‘Reward’ in Samuel Richardson’s Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded. — In Samuel Richardson’s Pamela, Or Virtue Rewarded, much attention is often paid to the characterization of Pamela herself and how it reflects Richardson’s opinions about women and their virtue. Pamela’s character is surely meant to be a model to the young women of the day, yet she also serves as…

Bobby Ann Mason’s “Shiloh,” is seen as a masterpiece of feminist short-fiction and it is through this prism that the author skews the traditional love story and readers’ understanding of gender roles. The story is named after a Civil War battlefield that serves as the setting for the final scene…

The new Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is being heavily scrutinized for its miracle VFX work and comedy, but the story is great, too. — The reviews are out for the first four episodes of the new Disney+ Series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and as is to be expected they are mostly middling. The reviews from the premiere event, however, were more glowing. This is also expected, since people who attend premiere events are most…

Warner Bros. Discovery’s baffling and outrageous decision to write off Batgirl as a loss damages the studio more than any bad movie or budget deficit. — The DC universe of live-action films is an utter mess, and fans hoping to see the ship righted welcomed the new corporate overlords at the (now) Warner Bros. Discovery with high hopes. Yet, with each successive week those hopes are dashed against the ground like Superman dragging one of those…

The Star Wars Celebration Live presentation was perhaps the biggest ever, yet Lucasfilm made the inexplicable decision to not broadcast the panels for their most-anticipated releases. — Over Memorial Day weekend in 2022, more than 60,000 Star Wars fans descended on Anaheim, California for Star Wars Celebration. The regular fan convention hosted by Lucasfilm is part con and part marketing event, featuring panels with the creators and actors who bring the galaxy far, far away a little…

Avengers Age of Ultron is a compelling follow-up to the original team-up movie, yet the distinct voice of the writer/director overshadows it. — There is no question that 2012’s Avengers movie was a triumph in every sense of the term, and much of its success was due to writer and director Joss Whedon’s efforts. Throughout his career, Whedon employed a distinct style and voice. One so clear even casual fans could identify which…

One of the directors who helped bring Marvel to the big screen returns to helm the most comic-booky and daring (in franchise terms) films yet. (Spoiler-free) — Over a decade into the dominance of Marvel Studios films as both blockbuster and superhero films, some still actively resist the idea that these movies are comic books come to life. The history of Hollywood hating on comic book stories is long and continues to this day, from folks like…