April 30, 2025
Known for turning intimate, often painful experiences into autobiographical comics, the cartoonist stresses they won’t share everything with readers—even in a graphic memoir. more 
Here’s the latest: a U.S. trustee moved to convert Diamond’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case into a Chapter 7, which could liquidate its assets; Diamond once again requested a sale to Universal and Ad Populum, with a twist; and Alliance filed a new lawsuit charging that Diamond inflated the value of its business. more
The Hasbro veteran, who has a background in both books and comics, was tapped to lead the storied comics house following its acquisition by Penguin Random House last year. And he has big plans for its future. more
The award-winning historical mystery author explains how she managed to combine epic fantasy with a fair-play whodunit in The Raven Scholar, the first volume of her Eternal Path trilogy. more
Middle School
Grace is learning to navigate the 7th grade, trying to get over a best friend breakup and a strained relationship with her mom. But could joining the middle school fencing club help her find her people and maybe even herself? This new series is perfect for graphic novel lovers and fans of the Click series, Real Friends, and Nat Enough. (Sponsored) More
Calvin Reid, Heidi MacDonald, and Kate Fitzsimons recap a host of comics publishing news, preview this year’s Free Comic Book Day—will it be its last, with Diamond’s fate still twisting in the wind?—and more.
Heidi chats with the powerhouse comics writer about Exquisite Corpses, his new comic line created with Michael Walsh that’s due out from Image Comics in May, and more,
Amir Bahari’s Austin-based startup has launched what it describes as the first online wholesale marketplace connecting retailers directly with comics publishers. more
The second annual awards, hosted by Anime NYC and Japan Society, will be held on August 21. Nominees, along with the 2025 Manga Publishing Hall of Fame honoree, will be named on June 17. more
Holler: A Graphic Memoir of Rural Resistance by cartoonist and environmental activist Denali Sai Nalamalapu is a moving account and tribute to the local West Virginia activists fighting to protect their land from the ravages of the Mountain Valley Pipeline project. Raised in Maine by South Asian immigrants, Nalamalapu outlines her lifelong interest in ecological activism and tells the story of the decade-long fight to halt the pipeline project. In this 11-page excerpt, she describes the destructive impact of the pipeline and introduces the reader to six local activists determined to prevent its construction. Holler: A Graphic Memoir of Rural Resistance by Denali Sai Nalamalapu will be published in May by Timber Press.
Ginseng Roots by Craig ThompsonThompson revisits the setting of his Eisner-winning graphic novel Blankets in this bighearted examination of ginseng farming in rural Wisconsin. A feat of generous observation, it stands with his very best work. more
Paul Auster’s The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster et al.This spectacular graphic adaptation of the classic postmodern trilogy, cowritten by Paul Karasik, unites three tales of lonely men seeking meaning into a distilled portrait of the haunted urban soul. The long-anticipated volume was well worth the wait. more
Each of the linked stories in this moody debut depicts a young Asian American woman’s attempt to find safety and love. This poignant work will appeal to fans of Megan Kelso’s comics and Nicole Holofcener’s films. more
The New Yorker cartoonist picks at the emotional tangle of new parenthood in this candid if slight graphic memoir debut. Parents will find plenty here that’s painfully familiar. more
“Who will remember them, if not us?” asks this meticulous chronicle of the author’s Jewish family’s history of disruption and dislocation, which proves a weighty and well-constructed addition to the graphic literature of the Holocaust. more
- RIP Jack Katz: The Comics Journal explores the life and legacy of comics artist and writer Jack Katz, who died on April 24 at 97.
- Rebecca Burke’s Tell-All: The U.K. cartoonist, who was detained by U.S. ICE agents for nearly a month while backpacking across North America, talks about the experience with the Comics Journal.
- The State of Manga Bans: Anime News Network maps out the manga titles that have been banned or challenged during the Trump administration—so far.
- Comics and DEI Under Trump: For the Beat, E.B. Hutchins considers the ramifications of the Trump administration’s “war on DEI” upon the comics industry—and offers a case for resistance.
- Superman Controversy: Frank Quitely’s original pencil art for the cover to the All-Star Superman collected edition was sold for $50,000, a price too steep for some critics, reports the Beat.
- Shop Talk In the Comics World: ICv2 rounds up the latest updates on comics shops and retailers, including the closure of Purple Earth Comics in West Virginia, the opening of Common Ground Games in Dallas, and how tariffs are affecting businesses.
- ‘Banned Book Club’ Team Axes U.S. Tour: Ryan Estrada and Kim Hyun Sook, whose Banned Book Club was nominated for a 2021 Eisner Award, have canceled a planned four-month trip to the U.S. because of concerns about Kim’s safety, per ICv2.
- TCAF Seeks Support Amid Financial Stress: Amid rising costs and new expenses, the Toronto Comics Arts Festival is seeking donations to maintain its free table policy for artists from historically disadvantaged and marginalized groups.
- Kickstarting the Comics Courier: The Comics Courier, a newspaper-format journal dedicated to in-depth comics criticism, is currently raising funds for its second issue.
- Eric Drooker Brings ‘Naked City’ to NYC: The comics artist will read from his latest book, Naked City: A Graphic Novel, and give a slide lecture about New York City’s changing landscape on May 1 in the East Village, per EV Grieve.
- Tintin’s Timeless Allure: The College Towns Substack considers the enduring appeal of The Adventures of Tintin, which officially entered the public domain this year.
- Studio Ghibli vs. ChatGPT: Japanese lawmakers are looking to take legal action against AI recreations of Studio Ghibli’s animation style, reports ScreenRant.
- How ‘Asterix & Obelix’ Came to TV: Directors Alain Chabat and Fabrice Joubert discussed Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight, the latest TV adaptation of the comics franchise, with Animation Magazine.
- Will Sci-Fi Destroy the World?: Skewed interpretations of classic works are feeding the dark visions of tech moguls including Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, argues the Guardian.
- The ‘Curse’ of Being George R.R. Martin: Another year, another lament over lateness: the author of the Song of Ice and Fire series, whose penultimate novel has now been in the works for nearly 15 years, is tired of fans questioning how he spends his time, per Entertainment Weekly.
- ‘The Martian Chronicles’ at 75: Literary Hub explains how Ray Bradbury’s 1950 classic legitimized, and revolutionized, science fiction.
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Editor Emeritus: Calvin Reid
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