There's something deeply satisfying about a villain whose very identity is a mystery. Not "I wonder what their backstory is" mystery, but genuine, sustained, readers-arguing-in-letters-columns mystery. The kind where the clues are there if you're paying attention, but the answer keeps shifting just out of reach. That's what Roger Stern and John Romita Jr. gave … Continue reading Who’s Under the Mask? The Hobgoblin’s Long Con
Hitting the Back Issues
The Boy Who Had to Die: How Jason Todd Changed Batman Forever
There's a version of Batman that existed before 1988 — a hero who was wounded, yes, driven by grief, yes, but ultimately defined by a kind of grim optimism. The idea that one man, with enough discipline and enough gadgets, could hold back the darkness. And then there's the Batman who existed after the summer … Continue reading The Boy Who Had to Die: How Jason Todd Changed Batman Forever
For the Man Who Has Everything: Alan Moore’s Exploration of Superman’s Deepest Desires
There is a version of Superman that Hollywood keeps trying to sell us. He is a god among men — stoic, invincible, and just a little bit boring. He punches things. He catches falling planes. He stands in front of explosions looking heroic. And then he flies away, presumably to go do more punching somewhere … Continue reading For the Man Who Has Everything: Alan Moore’s Exploration of Superman’s Deepest Desires
Hush: Unraveling the Mystery and Its Impact on Batman’s Relationships
There are Batman villains who want to destroy Gotham City. There are those who want to drive Batman insane, blow up a building, or flood the streets with fear toxin. And then there's Hush — a villain who wanted something far more specific and, in a way, far more chilling. He didn't want to destroy … Continue reading Hush: Unraveling the Mystery and Its Impact on Batman’s Relationships
E Is for Extinction: Grant Morrison’s New X-Men Era
Fair warning before we dive in: this post discusses major plot points from Grant Morrison's New X-Men run (2001–2004), including significant revelations and character deaths. If you'd rather go in completely fresh, bookmark this and come back. You've been warned. I'll be honest with you — I came to Grant Morrison through DC Comics. His … Continue reading E Is for Extinction: Grant Morrison’s New X-Men Era
Villains and Heroes: A Gallery of DC Characters in Smallville
There's a particular kind of thrill that comes with watching a superhero television series slowly populate itself with characters you recognize from the comics. It's the same feeling you get when you're reading a novel and a character you weren't expecting walks into the room. Smallville understood that feeling intimately, and over the course of … Continue reading Villains and Heroes: A Gallery of DC Characters in Smallville
The Path to Heroism: Clark Kent’s Journey to Becoming Superman
There's a moment in the final episode of Smallville that a lot of fans had been waiting ten years to see. Clark Kent — farm boy, alien, reluctant hero — finally runs toward the camera, tears open his shirt to reveal the iconic "S" shield, and (we assume) leaps into the sky (off camera) as … Continue reading The Path to Heroism: Clark Kent’s Journey to Becoming Superman
The Night Gwen Stacy Died
Every once in a while, something happens in a piece of pop culture that quietly rewires the whole genre around it. You might not notice it in the moment. But look back from a few decades out and you can trace a clear line — before and after. Before this, superhero stories worked one way. … Continue reading The Night Gwen Stacy Died
House of X / Powers of X: Jonathan Hickman’s Reimagining of Mutant Society
If you've ever watched the X-Men in any form — the films, the iconic '90s animated series, even a casual scroll through Marvel's social media — you probably walked away with a pretty solid idea of what the X-Men are. They're outcasts. They're feared. They fight for a world that doesn't want them, led by … Continue reading House of X / Powers of X: Jonathan Hickman’s Reimagining of Mutant Society
Wonder Woman: Earth One – Grant Morrison’s Controversial Take on Amazon Culture
When DC Comics launched its Earth One line in 2009, the concept seemed straightforward enough: modernize iconic heroes for contemporary audiences with standalone graphic novels that reimagined their origins without the baggage of decades of continuity. J. Michael Straczynski kicked things off with Superman: Earth One in 2010, presenting a Clark Kent who wrestled with … Continue reading Wonder Woman: Earth One – Grant Morrison’s Controversial Take on Amazon Culture
The Confusing Middle 