Comical Opinions: Comics Reviews for Image, Dynamite, Zenescope, And More

Let's discuss what the Publishers said and didn't say during ComicsPRO 2024. Read the full review👉 https://comicalopinions.com/comicspro-2024-round-up ===========================================================Subscribe to our newsletter to read more comic reviews and analysis every week. =========================================================== Subscribe now👉 https://comicalopinions.com/subsc...

Let's look at the Good, Bad, and Ugly of this past weekend's ComicsPRO 2024 announcements Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past week and reviews coming up this week. Read the full newsletter 👉 https://comicalopinions.substack.com/p/what-did-we-learn-from-comicspro Subscribe to our newsletter to read all about it every single week. Subscribe now👉 https://comicalopinions.com/subscribe Follow...

Today, we address why there is a predictable backlash over an interview with the X-Men 97 showrunner and why the oft-parroted response phrase "Why do you care so much?" is inherently a foolish question. Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past week and reviews coming up this week. Read the full newsletter 👉 https://comicalopinions.substack.com/p/why-do-you-care-so-much Subscribe to our newslet...

Today’s Op-Ed takes a ride on the woojah-woojah woo-woo train to talk about listening to that still, small voice inside your creative self. Discomfort is often a sign that a change is coming, so comic creators would be wise to take heed. Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past week and reviews coming up this week. Read the full newsletter 👉 https://comicalopinions.substack.com/p/spiritual-pre...

Pacing. We use that word a lot in our reviews because the pace at which a comic moves and a story unfolds is just as important as the character work, the art, or the plot. However, most people don't realize there are two kinds of pacing in Western Periodical comics, and if a creator doesn't get them both right, poor comic plot pacing can kill a story. Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past we...

Last week, the Eisner Nominations Committee announced it would be doing away with a dedicated category for Comics Journalism. Instead, Comic News sites and publications will be rolled into the "Comic-Related Book" category, which effectively eliminates the possibility of a journalism site or publication ever winning. To which I say, "Good riddance to the Eisner Awards." Plus, I cover the comic rev...

When you're surrounded by so much noise and uncertainty, it's nice to get confirmation that certain Laws of Nature still hold. Today, we'll look at three recent examples that confirm success is (almost) guaranteed when you follow the Golden Rule of Success in Comics - Transformers, Thundercats, and Ultimate Spider-Man. Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past week and reviews coming up this wee...

2024 is here, so it's time to reflect. Instead of offering up a bevy of New Year's resolutions, let's look at what went right and wrong in 2023 as indicators of what we can expect as our deepest hopes and fears for 2024. Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past week and reviews coming up this week. Read the full newsletter👉 https://comicalopinions.substack.com/p/hopes-and-fears-for-2024 Subscr...

It's fair to say the Comics Industry is reaching a point where the division on either side of any issue is consistently drowned out by the most extreme, sometimes unhinged, voices. Invariably, you have to ask yourself, "Can you separate the art from the artist?" Or are you resigned to taking all the collected works you have from that creator and chucking them in a dumpster? With one exception, the...

Glenn O'Leary of The Comic Palace set off a firestorm of reactions with his brief lament about the quality of comics and the writers responsible (without naming names). Today's Op-Ed addresses the common belief that 'Fans Hate Change' and what a creator can do to be creative without inviting backlash. Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past week and reviews coming up this week. Read the full n...

Moon Knight #29 introduced a new way for characters to ward off vampires. Unfortunately, Jed MacKay's "cool twist" creates a lot of headaches for Marvel's vampire stories in the future. Today's Op-Ed is a cautionary tale about how poor ideas and lack of editorial oversight create a mess. Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past week and reviews coming up this week. Read the full newsletter👉 ht...

This week's release of Wonder Woman #3 is drawing attention for all the wrong reasons. It's yet another bad attempt at putting Wonder Woman on the path to relevance and elevating her status to match the other two-thirds of DC's Holy Trinity (Batman and Superman). Today's Op-Ed looks at why DC can't seem to figure Wonder Woman out and what to do about it. Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past...

Phil Boyle of Coliseum of Comics got a lot of folks stirred up about the difficulties of running a comic shop. Today's Op-Ed doesn't debate Boyle's view, but I take a look at the broken/damaged/toxic relationship between the Big 2 and the Direct Market. Sometimes a breakup is the best thing for everyone involved. Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past week and reviews coming up this week. Rea...

The Marvels is shaping up to be a financial flop. With just a little bit of mathematical elbow grease and an understanding of market demographics, comic creators can turn the film's flop into comic-selling success. Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past week and reviews coming up this week. Read the full newsletter👉 https://comicalopinions.substack.com/p/bad-budgeting-lesson-from-the-marvels...

As my family would say, "S**t or get off the pot." This week's newsletter forgoes the always insightful Op-Ed for an announcement about a special project. you won't want to miss it! Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past week and reviews coming up this week. Read the full newsletter👉 https://comicalopinions.substack.com/p/following-my-own-advice Subscribe to our newsletter to read all about...

Tim Sheridan made the bold claim that there's a HUGE market for LGBT characters in superhero action comics. Is he right? This week's Op-Ed digs into the numbers and sets the record straight. Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past week and reviews coming up this week. Read the full newsletter👉 https://comicalopinions.com/op-ed-myth-of-lgbt-comic-audience/ Subscribe to our newsletter to read a...

There's no Op-Ed today because we're doing research into a longer article concerning the Tim Sheridan negative sales pitch for this week's release of Alan Scott: Green Lantern #1. Stay tuned later this week for a different take most pundits aren't considering. Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past week and reviews coming up this week. Read the full newsletter👉 https://comicalopinions.substa...

Every big convention has its share of announcements, whether exciting, sad, or baffling. Today, I dive into one particular announcement that’s exciting and encouraging for indie comic creators. Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past week and reviews coming up this week. Read the full newsletter👉 https://comicalopinions.substack.com/p/you-dont-have-to-start-from-scratch Subscribe to our newsl...

Every month, ICv2 publishes the monthly Comichron sales charts, but the numbers don't tell the full story. Today, I explain what the report says, what it makes up, and what you can take away from the report that's as close to facts as possible. Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past week and reviews coming up this week. Read the full newsletter👉 https://comicalopinions.substack.com/p/the-mon...

Too many indie creators are lost when it comes to SELLING comics Today, we're announcing work on a tutorial video that will show indie creators a simple, easy, free way to set up a payment platform so they can sell their comics and build an email list for future projects. Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past week and reviews coming up this week. Read the full newsletter👉 https://comicalopi...

Why do some readers and reviewers think a bad comic is good? Today's Op-Ed talks about a trick creators will use, consciously or unconsciously, to make you think a terrible comic is actually great. It's not. Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past week and reviews coming up this week. Read the full newsletter👉 https://comicalopinions.com/op-ed-how-to-hide-a-bad-comic/ Subscribe to our newslet...

A pattern is emerging with creators turning against DC Comics. Today's Op-Ed talks about a pattern of behavior that could be a sign of trouble for DC Comics in the near future. Have creators had enough of DC's mismanagement? Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past week and reviews coming up this week. Read the full newsletter👉 https://comicalopinions.substack.com/p/is-dc-comics-in-trouble Sub...

It takes a lot of work to make a memorable character, but seconds to destroy it. Today's Op-Ed talks about the three Cs that define a character and a cautionary tale about a known creator who almost broke the most important C of all. Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past week and reviews coming up this week. Read the full newsletter👉 https://comicalopinions.substack.com/p/protect-your-darli...

You can't make a great comic when you don't know when to back off a bad idea. Today's Op-Ed talks about a comic creator's obligation to know his/her limitations with three examples of comics that should never have gone to print. Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past week, reviews coming up this week, and reveal the winner of our subscriber poll about podcast platforms. Read the full newslett...

Our best-reviewed comics are the ones that have one BIG idea at its core. Today's Op-Ed talks about the concept of "One BIG Idea," how to define it, and why it's important. Plus, I cover the comic reviews of the past week, reviews coming up this week, and reveal the winner of our subscriber poll about podcast platforms. Read the full newsletter👉 https://comicalopinions.substack.com/p/one-big-idea...