Comic Book Herald

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Previously On #112: Missing Milestone Media Comics!

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Today I’m looking at the history of Milestone Comics (the home of Static Shock), and particularly this big question: Why do Milestone comics remain so terribly inaccessible in 2020?

Milestone Comics was founded in 1993 by exclusively African-American creative voices, Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis, and Derek Dingle (Christopher Priest also had a very early role prior to launch). The creators built their own shared superhero universe (the “Dakotaverse”) with a focus on underrepresented minorities in their stories. Milestone was distributed via DC Comics, although technically Milestone retained editorial control. The company published in the vicinity of 250 comics across around 8 monthly series until closing comics publication in 1997 (Milestone Media remained, though, and went on to ensure a home for the animated Static Shock series – which notably crossed over with DC’s Batman Beyond – from 2000 to 2004). [Read more…] about Previously On #112: Missing Milestone Media Comics!

Supporting Black Creators (Follow-Up)

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At the start of the month, I wrote about some good ways to support black comic book creators, and in addition to the monthly charitable donations I mentioned there, I promised all proceeds from that post would be donated.

Supporting Black Comics & Creators

I’ve crunched the numbers, and thanks in part to the fact that supporting black comics creators is *easily* my most frequently shared post on social in some time, the guide was a top 20 most viewed page on CBH throughout June. Likewise, the page was the 28th most searched landing page throughout the month, with an encouraging number of searchers looking for “black comic book artists/writers.” [Read more…] about Supporting Black Creators (Follow-Up)

Previously On #111: 2020 Eisner Votes!

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The Eisners are the most well known awards in the comic book industries, selecting the best of comics since 1988, and named in honor of all time great cartoonist Will Eisner. Like all awards ceremonies, they share the trappings of imperfect systems, but winning an Eisner is clearly reason to celebrate for comic book creators and those in the industry.

After seeing a handful of creators and comics-industry folks sharing requests to vote for their work, I was surprised at the apparent openness of voting, like the Eisners were decided ala the NBA All-Star game fan vote. So, naturally, I registered to vote as a “journalist” (“obsessed, aging blogger” is more realistic, but way less impressive sounding), and was delighted to find I could vote! [Read more…] about Previously On #111: 2020 Eisner Votes!

Previously On #110: X-Men Milestones!

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This week on “Previously On,” I explore Marvel’s “X-Men Milestones” collections, considering the selected events and whether they provide an adequate exploration of X-Men comics history. The inspiration for the column is inspired by the following question.

Joshua asks via the X-Men reading order:

This guide is incredible, thank you for putting it together! i’m interested in reading the messiah complex storylines and subsequent related arcs; do you think the three new milestones trades (messiah complex, messiah war, and second coming) do a good job of covering the necessary material? and should i also read the necrosha milestones trade in the middle of there somewhere?

[Read more…] about Previously On #110: X-Men Milestones!

Previously On #108: Why Do I Like Ice Cream Man So Much?

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As My Marvelous Year clubbers know, I like to highlight the near infinite number of different opinions co-host Zack and I have when it comes to comics. Leading examples include our ongoing feuds over the value of Stilt-Man, Alpha Flight, Secret Wars (although he’s come around on this one a bit!), and if I’m being honest the one that will always assure me I’m right, Fallen Angels.

Other examples are too numerous to even begin counting (see also: I, uh, can’t think of any right now), but Ice Cream Man is a notable recent highlight. I’ve been raving about the Image Comics horror anthology since it debuted in 2018, and as of the CBH best of 2020 so far list, I’d consider Ice Cream Man the best ongoing comic book of the year. Co-Host Zack has read some, and without malice, didn’t see why I’m so into it. After an MMY recording he asked me, and I’m paraphrasing, “Oh great one [that’s what he calls me, didn’t ask him to, but I don’t ask him *not to* either], why do you love Ice Cream Man so much?”

*Mild Spoilers for the comics follow*

[Read more…] about Previously On #108: Why Do I Like Ice Cream Man So Much?