Located at 4258 N. High Street, Columbus, The Laughing Ogre has been a fixture for area comic fans for over two decades. They stock a wide variety of comics, graphic novels, and collectibles. Learn a little bit more about the store’s origins and the store’s founder, Gib Bickel.
10 Questions with Victor Dandridge
Victor Dandridge Jr. created Vantage:Inhouse Productions in 2011. Since then, he’s created a list of thought provoking and engaging properties including “The Samaritan,” “Origins Unknown,” “The Trouble w/Love,” as well as the novella series, “8 Mins.” and the writer for the all ages friendly “Wonder Care Presents: The Kinder Guardians.” Vantage:Inhouse Productions is also aiming to educate, encourage, and inspire future creators through its U Cre-8 Comics brand, an education-based line of products and programming designed to bridge comics with classroom fundamentals. As if that wasn’t enough, Victor freelances as host/moderator at comic and pop-culture conventions meeting celebrities of all varieties. He also hosts a youtube channel where he critiques comics with Comic Town Owner, Ryan Seymore, called “Black, White, and Read All Over.” Did we mention he also has a fiancé and five kids?
They Called Us Enemy
When studying World War II in high school, I vaguely remember brief mentions of Japanese internment camps, but it was never really more than a footnote in a larger discussion of America’s history. With that tragic oversight in mind, I am glad we have the graphic novel They Called Us Enemy. The book is an insightful look at the events of WWII from someone whose experience was different than those of the people who were in power and those who fought on the front lines.
Fury in the Skies
A Brief History of Tarpé Mills and Miss Fury
High above the clouds, a B24 bomber flies over the hills of Germany streaked across the nose is a woman, brunette hair flowing behind her and the words “Miss Fury” written above. This is not a one-off occurrence in World War II, a number of bomber noses are adorned with this woman of mystery. The woman chosen to strike fear into the hearts of the Axis power was, in fact, the first major female comic adventurer to see the printed page, beating Wonder Woman to the presses by over six months. Her name was Miss Fury and, while her likeness was soaring above the clouds, her adventures were being published in newspapers around the world.