Dinosaur Arsonist

Dinosaur Arsonist is a clever potentially one-off comic (the backcover promises a return in First Dinosaur on the Moon) written by James Moore with art by Talcott Starr. Through the course of 19 pages we learn the history of a Coelophysis punished by his pack for some unspecified crime, cursed to keep guard over the land should his bones ever be disturbed. Awakened by oil drilling in present day, he quickly absorbs all the knowledge of the past eon for which he has laid buried. He then, reluctantly at first but eventually with great passion, begins setting about his duty to lay waste to those that disturbed his land the only way he knows how: with a flamethrower.

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Boogeymen

A brief history of the anti-comics movement and the birth of the Comics Code

In the quiet neighborhoods of Binghamton, New York, masses gather behind St. Patrick’s Parochial School around a roaring fire as parents and their children toss armfuls of comic books into the blaze amongst onlookers who watch with glee. It’s December 10, 1948, three years after World War II and comics are under attack. The rally in Binghamton would spark similar fires around the country as crusaders for children’s morality waged war against America’s newest medium. Continue reading “Boogeymen”

Spotlight on All-Ages Creator: Joel Cramer

Honzy and Joel are the lead investigators of the Kragon Detective Agency. Joel’s martial arts and keen wits have often saved the day while Honzy, his pint-size dragon partner, has the ability to breath fire. They are joined by Kara, an ex-police officer, who joined the Kragon Detective Agency after falling in love with Joel. Claw, an alien of great strength, and Copper, Joel’s pilot roommate, round out the group of heroes. Continue reading “Spotlight on All-Ages Creator: Joel Cramer”

What are Autobio Comics?

You may be asking, “what is an autobio comic?” Let’s break it down to it’s components. First, autobiography, which is an account of a person’s life written by that person. Next, comic, which is a medium used to express ideas through images, as well as the reason we are all here at the Columbus Scribbler. So putting it together, an autobiography comic, or autobio comic for short, is a comic about one’s own life. Continue reading “What are Autobio Comics?”

My Hot Date

My Hot Date is the Ignatz award-winning (2016, Outstanding Story) short comic telling the true story of author Noah Van Sciver’s first date as a 14 year old kid growing up in the suburbs of Arizona. The artwork is amazingly colorful and fun, and the dialogue and look help to capture the feelings and attitude of the time both in society and in a young boys life. Continue reading “My Hot Date”

The Complete Persepolis

The Complete Persepolis collects the two English translated works of Marjane Satrapi (published as four separate works in their original French) chronicling her childhood to her years at school abroad (Persepolis 1) and her return to her home in Iran (Persepolis 2). The novel reads as a series of vignettes detailing important moments in Satrapi’s life as an Iranian growing up in Iran and Vienna during the Islamic Revolution. Continue reading “The Complete Persepolis”

Comic Strip Wars

A Brief History of The Yellow Kid

There was a time when comics sold newspapers, when having the right comic in your paper could be the difference between success and failure. The Yellow Kid wasn’t the first comic character ever created, but he was the first phenomenon. So much so that in his prime two competing papers ran their own versions of his strip. It was the dawn of a new century, the heart of the newspaper wars, and the beginning of the artistic medium known as comics. Continue reading “Comic Strip Wars”