Bottom Line Up Front: Sixteen years later, DC's ambitious death-and-resurrection epic remains the blueprint for how to simultaneously kill everyone and immediately regret it—while somehow managing to influence every major comic book event that followed. Death Becomes Them In 2009, DC Comics made a bold creative decision: What if we killed literally everyone and turned … Continue reading The Future of Heroes: A Look at Blackest Night and Brightest Day
Comic Books
Maximum Carnage: When Symbiotes Ran Wild in New York
In the summer of 1993, Marvel Comics did something that would make modern crossover events look quaint by comparison: they unleashed pure, unfiltered chaos across New York City in the form of a 14-part storyline that spanned five different Spider-Man titles. Maximum Carnage wasn't just a comic book story—it was a publishing experiment, a merchandising … Continue reading Maximum Carnage: When Symbiotes Ran Wild in New York
Reimagining Paradise: Phil Jimenez’s Political Vision of Themyscira
In the wake of September 11th, as America grappled with questions of diplomacy, intervention, and national identity, one of comics' most enduring symbols of peace was undergoing her own transformation. Phil Jimenez's run on Wonder Woman from 2001 to 2003 didn't just continue the character's legacy—it fundamentally reimagined what Paradise Island could represent in a … Continue reading Reimagining Paradise: Phil Jimenez’s Political Vision of Themyscira
How Darwyn Cooke Reimagined Hal Jordan for the Atomic Age
In 2004, comic book artist and writer Darwyn Cooke delivered what many consider to be the definitive interpretation of Hal Jordan's Green Lantern origin with DC: The New Frontier. But this wasn't just another retelling of the classic Silver Age story from Showcase #22. Instead, Cooke crafted something far more ambitious: a sweeping reimagining that … Continue reading How Darwyn Cooke Reimagined Hal Jordan for the Atomic Age
The Killing Joke: Batman’s Most Controversial Masterpiece
When Batman: The Killing Joke hit comic book stands in March 1988, it arrived as more than just another Batman story—it was a psychological excavation of one of comics' most enduring relationships. Written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Brian Bolland, this 48-page prestige format one-shot would become one of the most influential and controversial … Continue reading The Killing Joke: Batman’s Most Controversial Masterpiece
Friday the 13th in Video Games, Novels, and Comics
When Sean S. Cunningham's Friday the 13th slashed its way into theaters in 1980, few could have predicted that Jason Voorhees would become one of horror's most enduring icons. What started as a low-budget slasher film has evolved into a multimedia franchise spanning video games, novels, comics, and merchandise worth over $125 million. Yet this … Continue reading Friday the 13th in Video Games, Novels, and Comics
Blitz: Zoom’s Devastating Attack on Wally West and His Loved Ones
How Geoff Johns and Scott Kolins Crafted The Flash's Most Psychologically Brutal Story In the pantheon of superhero comics, few storylines achieve the rare feat of being both critically acclaimed and genuinely disturbing. Geoff Johns and Scott Kolins' "Blitz" arc from The Flash vol. 2 (#197-200, 2003-2004) stands as a masterclass in psychological horror disguised … Continue reading Blitz: Zoom’s Devastating Attack on Wally West and His Loved Ones
The Dark Phoenix Saga: Jean Grey’s Transformation and Fall
In the pantheon of comic book storytelling, few narratives have achieved the cultural resonance and lasting impact of "The Dark Phoenix Saga." Published in Uncanny X-Men #129-138 between January and October 1980, this ten-issue arc by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Byrne didn't just tell the story of Jean Grey's cosmic transformation—it fundamentally redefined … Continue reading The Dark Phoenix Saga: Jean Grey’s Transformation and Fall
Superman vs. The Fantastic Four: The Man of Steel Meets Marvel’s First Family
When two comic book powerhouses collide, fans are treated to something truly special. Few crossovers capture the imagination quite like seeing DC's iconic Superman interact with Marvel's groundbreaking Fantastic Four. This rare meeting of comic book royalty took place in the 1999 one-shot "Superman/Fantastic Four: The Infinite Destruction," bringing together characters with vastly different origins … Continue reading Superman vs. The Fantastic Four: The Man of Steel Meets Marvel’s First Family
Superman: Brainiac – Geoff Johns’ Reimagining of One of Superman’s Greatest Foes
Introduction: A Modern Classic In 2008, writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank delivered what many Superman fans consider a definitive take on one of the Man of Steel's most iconic villains in the five-issue story arc "Brainiac," published in Action Comics #866-870. This compact yet emotionally powerful storyline not only reinvigorated the character of … Continue reading Superman: Brainiac – Geoff Johns’ Reimagining of One of Superman’s Greatest Foes
The Confusing Middle 