The 2024 In Reviews and News— Comic Bookmarks December 29th, 2024

While I’m working on pulling together my favorite books of 2024, let’s look back what we did here at the site this year. 34 reviews and 23 link posts. That’s not too bad.

I’ll have more about my thoughts on 2024 in my favorites post (currently planned to go up on Tuesday, although it may be pushed until Wednesday.)

And if you’re reading this on the website, did you know that you can get From Cover To Cover in your email inbox? Just click the subscribe button in the lower right hand corner of the screen.

Criticism

From Cover to Cover’s Favorite Comics of 2023

James, Mike and Scott take a look at our favorite comics of 2023.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Tekkonkinkreet by Taiyo Matsumoto

Tekkonkinkreet, now 30 years old, is this story of aging, growing old, and trying to preserve the innocence of youth.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

It’s the End of the World-- a look at Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys

It’s weirdly prophetic to read 20th Century Boys in 2024, looking back on the last decade and wondering how we missed Urasawa’s possible warning of all of this.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

My Claremont Year- The End

Chris Claremont’s X-Men were rarely about the costumes or their super-heroics

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Comics Sure Are Expensive and Other Curmudgeonly Thoughts

Does this difference in price and presentation align with a hierarchy of comics?

From Cover to CoverMike Baxter

Lost Reflections on a Photograph in Paco Roca’s Return to Eden

In Paco Roca’s new book, each generation just wants to see their mothers smile.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

From the Archives: The Micronauts #1-12 by Bill Mantlo and Michael Golden

As Akira Kurosawa is to Star Wars, George Lucas is to The Micronauts, Bill Mantlo and Michael Golden’s 1979 comic series that was based on a toy line.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Igort’s ‘How War Begins’: A Poignant Portrait of Ukraine’s Struggle, Echoing Global Calls for Compassion

Igort’s “How War Begins” shows the human toll of the Russian invasion on Ukraine through personal narratives, urging readers to empathize with the individuals worldwide affected by conflict.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Gaiman and Buckingham write the new gospel of Miracleman in The Silver Age

You’ve got to wonder what Miracleman: The Silver Age would have read like if it had come out in the 1990s instead of the 2020s.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Feeling Gravity’s Pull in Melissa Mendes’ The Weight #13 & 14

This is one of those rare comics that makes you feel something deep and heart-wrenching. It’s painful to read; that’s part of why it’s so good.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Barda IS — a look at Ngozi Ukazu’s new comic book BARDA.

It’s a meet-cute story set in the torture dungeons of Darkseid’s Apokolips.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

The 1990s speak to 2024 in Peter Bagge’s Hate Revisited #1

It’s 2024. Do we really need more HATE in our lives? (Answer: Yes)

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Finding the Truth in Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips’ The Enfield Gang Massacre

The title gives away what’s going to happen but The Enfield Gang Massacre is about stories as much as it is about the massacre.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

When Richard Corben met Hellboy

The humanity of Richard Corben’s Hellboy work is that it doesn’t try to spare the reader of anything.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Sidestepping the Event to Tell the Story in Jonathan Hickman and Valerio Schiti’s G.O.D.S.

Hickman and Schiti pull away from telling the huge story that we expect and find another way to tell a character-driven story between the context of those loud battles.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

One Last Dose of Joe Matt’s Self-Deprecating Humor in Peepshow #15

Joe Matt is the target of the ridicule and jokes but he’s also the one telling the jokes.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Atsushi Kaneko Uses Action To Reveal Character in Search and Destroy Vol. 1

Search and Destroy is a revenge thriller you feel in your bones.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

It’s About The Ethics of Super Powers in Gillen and Wijngaard’s Power Fantasy #1

Relaxed but always on edge until the narrative bomb drops, you can see how far Gillen and Wijngaard are willing to go with this story.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

A Great Comic for the Dog Days of Summer- King-Cat Comics & Stories #83 by John Porcellino

Cartooning as a worldview, as therapy, as confession, and as autobio.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Not Just One of the Boys-- thoughts on Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette’s Wonder Woman Earth One

Morrison and Paquette challenge the power structures that are inherent to our world to try tot show a better way forward.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

The Ghost of Bourdain Haunts Ram V and Filipe Andrade’s Rare Flavours

This tale itself is a feast as we travel with the demon and the filmmaker. Andrade’s art tickles all of your senses even as it only interacts with one of them.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

All New Collectors’ Edition #56: Superman Vs. Muhammad Ali

Neal Adams’ artwork demands that you enjoy it now the way you would have in 1978.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

With Great Power, Yadda, Yadda, Yadda... thoughts on Jonathan Hickman and Macro Checchetto’s Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 1.

It’s the small changes that say the most about Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto’s Ultimate Spider-Man.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

The Form Is the Story in Kevin Huizenga’s Fielder #3

Huizenga’s playful pages lead to the truth of his cartooning.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

On Junji Ito

I discovered Juni Ito’s manga about 9 years ago, when Viz started rereleasing his work again, starting with Uzamaki. At Panel Patter, I jumped on his stuff, getting sucked into Uzamaki and GYO. Other books followed and there are some that I need to still catch up with (Remina

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Transformers Volume 1: Robots in Disguise— Mini Review

Daniel Warren Johnson makes you feel something for these toys.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Hate Revisited #4 by Peter Bagge- Mini Review

Nostalgic without the nostalgia.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

The Power Fantasy #3– Mini Review

In this issue, we learn so much but realize that we know so little about this world.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Absolute Wonder Woman #1— Mini review

This isn’t quite the hero that we know but it is the woman who inspires everyone.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theater #1– Mini Review

An idea in search of a story.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

The Nice House On The Sea #4 by Tynion IV, Bueno, and Bellaire— Mini Review

Álvaro Martinez Bueno and Jordie Bellaire’s artwork enhances James Tynion IV’s The Nice House stories, highlighting the contrast between the two houses and the characters’ evolving relationships.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

The Fight for Justice in Absolute Superman #1

What does Truth, Justice, and the American Way mean after November 5, 2024?

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

A Life Formed by Manga: a look at Taiyo Matsumoto’s Tokyo These Day

Tokyo These Days isn’t a travelogue or a how to but it wants to let the reader know about the spirit of Tokyo and manga, how they’re intertwined, and how they weigh down on the artists and editors who create them.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

The Breaking of a Good Man— a look at Garth Ennis and Goran Parlov’s The Punisher: Valley Forge, Valley Forge

Maybe it’s not the right time to be writing about a lone gunman prowling the streets of NYC. Or maybe it is as Garth Ennis and Goran Parlov are less focused on the exploits of Frank Castle the man and more dialed into the symbol that is The Punisher.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Comic Bookmarks

The Comics Debrief-May 3rd, 2024

’97 pic.twitter.com/l7daKt2f5r — Michel Fiffe (@MichelFiffe) April 29, 2024 Consider this a soft-launch of a semi-regular link post- the .1 issue of you will allow us to use some comic parlance. For the next couple of weeks, we will be testing out ways to collect links as well

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

The Weekly Debrief- May 10th, 2024

But until we meet again, read about the goings and comings in the comic journalism realm, a poetry comic by Hagai Palvesky and Danielle Taphenel, and some thoughts on Lynda Barry, Grant Morrison, and Neil Gaiman. And John Oliver.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

The Weekly Debrief- May 17th, 2024

A Cake fundraiser, musings on comic culture, thinking about Don Perlin and cooking comic books.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

The Comic Bookmarks- VanCAF, Emil Ferris @ CPL, new Manga Awards, Marvel fumbling Pride comic, a couple of returns to the blogosphere and more…

It’s the end of Krakoa and I feel fine.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

300,000 copies sold, Ping Pong, selling comics or produce, and more on Van CAF— Comic Bookmarks June 15, 2024

Comics link for the second week of June.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

How do you mess up Superman’s S symbol? Bad AI artwork I guess —Comic Bookmarks 6/22/2024

An AI focused week.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Maus banned, The Beat Covers SDCC, My Hero Academia ending, and more— Comics Bookmark 6/30/2024

Maus ban. Who created Wolverine? The best selling comic of 2025 already announced. New Mignola!!!!! All that and more in this week’s links.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Gaiman accusations, Ukazu’s next book, manga announcements, French rights to Dan Clowes, and more — Comic Bookmarks 7/7/2024

It’s July. That means all the sites start running SDCC announcements- who’s going to be there, what big signings they’ll be having, and what “major” releases they’ll be hawking. Let’s see if we can survive this month together, shall we? This week on the site,

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

More on Neil Gaiman, lots of manga news, and a killer X-Men #1 review— Comic Bookmarks 7/14/2024

The comic news you need to know for July 14, 2024.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Manga awards, Samnee and some other guy on Batman, and a bunch of reviews— Comic Bookmarks 7/21/2024

Things to read from the past week in the world of comics.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

More Jay Stephens’ comics, the classic DC Logo, Inoue’s Slam Dunk and more — Comic Bookmarks 7/28/2024

Comics news from the last week

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

The launch of K-ComicsBeat, the fight against AI comics, and more— The Comic Bookmarks 8/4/2024

Your links for the post-SDCC week.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Human Trafficking at SDCC, Original Art Market, the Stolen Art Market — Comic Bookmarks 8/11/2024

Let’s start off with usual with what was happening around here this week before diving into the news and reviews of the week. It’s About The Ethics of Super Powers in Gillen and Wijngaard’s Power Fantasy #1Relaxed but always on edge until the narrative bomb drops, you can

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

The Apple Tax Hits Patreon, Comics’ Award Season Continue, a Zoe Thorogood Poetry Comic on Instagram, and more -- The Comic Bookmarks Aug 18th, 2024

The summer must end but not yet. There’s still a few weeks left to it. This week on the site, I explored John Porcellino’s latest issue of King-Cat Comics & Stories. A Great Comic for the Dog Days of Summer- King-Cat Comics & Stories #83 by John PorcellinoCartooning as a worldview, as

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

The Summer Season 2024– Comic Bookmarks Sept 1st, 2024

A look back on the reviews and news of the summer.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Dragotta’s Batman, Kirby Commerials, Scott Pilgrim and more— Comic Bookmarks- September 22, 2024

It’s been a few weeks as I’ve taken a brief break from the site so now it feels like having to get back to using some muscles that have already been forgotten a bit. And maybe it’s just that it’s the end of the summer but happenings around the internet

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

A look at Banned Comic Books, Award Season Never Ends, Kieron Gillen Speaks, Reviews, and More — Comic Bookmarks September 29, 2024

I’ve had a review I’ve been wrestling with all week so nothing new from this site but that doesn’t mean that there wasn’t all kinds of good, interesting, and thoughtful things happening this past week. Hopefully I’ll get this review done this week and be able to be a

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

A Tribute to Bernie Mireault, Shortbox Comics Festival is Live, Kurtzman, Toxic Fandom and more- Comic Bookmarks- October 5, 2024

Some great news, interviews, and reviews from the last week.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

A follow up on Desert Island Comics, The Comics Courier, An Appreciation of a Letter and More— Comic Bookmarks October 13, 2024

The week that was in link form.

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

The Return of the Monthly Sales List, Remembering Bernie Mireault, and An Appearance by Alan Moore— Comic Bookmarks October 26, 2024

I was sick last week so didn’t get one of these out so there’s interesting reads from the last couple of weeks here to catch up. Do not obey in advance. Lesson 1, first page, of my pamphlet “On Tyranny” https://t.co/C3857ouRzO pic.twitter.com/FWIDPecber

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

How Do We Respond to Trump? “God of Horror” Passes Away and a lot of reviews— The Comic Bookmarks November 10th, 2024

O.k. So I missed last week. In my defense, it was a busy weekend (two concerts and a wedding to attend) and then this past Tuesday just knocked the wind out of everything else that was happening. The Nice House On The Sea #4 by Tynion IV, Bueno, and

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Off To Blue Skies, Amos on Gaiman, Best Of 2024 Lists, and more — The Comics Bookmarks December 15th, 2024

So it’s been a month or so since we did one of these. It felt like we were rolling along pretty good there since we started doing these link posts in the early summer but then we hit November and let’s just say, things happened in November. But

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund

Reader’s Polls, Angouleme’s American invasion, Content Mills Strike Back, and More— Comic Bookmarks December 22, 2024

From the Archives The holidays caught up with us and nothing got finished this week so hereare two pieces by Mike and myself from our days at Panel Patter. A Compassionate Time of Mourning in Jiro Taniguchi’s A Journal of My FatherComic Reviews and commentaryPanel PatterScott CederlundWhy Do Humans

From Cover to CoverScott Cederlund