We approach one of the main crescendo points of the year, here at this week’s links, as the fall festival season kicks into gear, and we await the issuing forth of white smoke from the chimneys of Bethesda to signal that the winners of the Ignatz Awards have been announced, also indicating, simultaneously, that Hallowe’en, in relative terms, is mere seconds away, as the crow flies, and it’s probably past time to make good on previous year’s promises to actually keep track of books read this year, for when the best-of 2026 collectors come insistently a-knocking for their tithes of words.
BUGS coming soon to patreon & comradery
This week’s news.
• Ahead of this weekend’s edition of the Small Press Expo, the organising team for SPX released a second statement relating to the ongoing nationwide boycott of the expo’s venue, the Marriott Conference Center, in which SPX is unable to take part, due to the prohibitive cancellation penalties that the event would incur, should it seek a different venue at this juncture. SPX’s latest statement supports the position of UNITE HERE Local 25’s union of hospitality workers, as they pursue a Labor Peace Agreement to be put in place for the conference center, and calls for attendees and the wider community to join in promoting a letter writing campaign to support Local 25’s efforts.
• Elsewhere, returning to a story that’s been bubbling away for almost my full tenure to-date on The Links, it was announced this week that AMC will pay Robert Kirkman, Glen Mazzara, David Alpert, Charles Eglee, and Gale Anne Hurd $120 million to settle a long running lawsuit relating to profit participation rights for the television adaptation of The Walking Dead, which followed a separate (also long running) lawsuit filed by former series showrunner Frank Darabont that was itself (eventually) settled for $200 million. We are the walking dead, indeed.
• In memoriam, remembering those the world of comics has lost, as news was shared of the passing of mangaka Shin’ichi Abe, creator of That Miyoko Asagaya Feeling, who has died at the age of 76.
This week’s reviews.
• Frank M. Young reviews the unsubtle melodrama of Taschen’s Hal Foster’s Tarzan: The Complete Sunday Comics 1931-1937— “Progressive writers and commentators of the 1920s ragged hard on 19th-century media; I can now see their impetus. A work like the comic stripTarzan(Foster’s illustration of Burroughs’ fiction, streamlined for an ongoing narrative) doesn’t go down easy anymore. It’s fascinating as a study of Foster’s progress from magazine illustrator to cartoonist, however, and rewards students of comic art who can stomach the crudeness of the narrative content.”
• Annabelle Dolidon reviews the labyrinthine joys of Jacques Tardi’s The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec, Volume 1, translated by Kim Thompson — “The appeal and contemporaneity of the series also lies in its political, pacifist and anti-colonial outlook. These concerns are as central here as inGoddam This War!(also published by Fantagraphics), where Tardi condemns the French leaders’ thirst for power and disregard for human life. Sarcasm directed at politicians and state institutions is a national pastime for many of us French, and it is one of the great pleasures of the series.”
Isaiah Colbert reviews the interpersonal turmoil of Shuzo Oshimi’sSound Of A Blink, Volume 1.
• David Brooke reviews the intriguing mystery of Todd McFarlane, Mark Spears, et al’s Spawn ‘77 #1.
• Robert Reed reviews the overwritten opening of Saladin Ahmed, Andrea Arcari, et al’s ThunderCats: Cheetara #1.
• Christopher Franey reviews the intergalactic downtime of Morgan Hampton, Fernando Pasarin, Oclair Albert, Juan José Ryp, et al’s Green Lantern Corps #20.
• Jonathan Waugh reviews the rushed payoffs of Steve Orlando, Ibraim Roberson, et al’s The End 2099.
• Collier Jennings reviews the grounded heroics of Cody Ziglar, Kei Zama, et al’s Marvel Mangaverse: Iron Knight #1.
• Tim Rooney reviews the dreamlike world of Darcy Van Poelgeest, Ian Bertram, et al’s The Karman Blade #1.
• Clyde Hall reviews the slow-paced eeriness of Jeremy Haun, Alex Lins, et al’s The Folk of Dooney Hollow #1.
• Zack Quaintance reviews the relatable horrors of Christian Ward, Sami Kivela, et al’s The Forever Home #1.
• Jordan Jennings reviews the solid mystery of Tom King, Gabriel Hernandez Walta, et al’s Six of Us #1.
• Khalid Johnson reviews the building tension of Amy Chase, Savanna Mayer, et al’s Fixation #1.
• Matt Ledger reviews the pitch-perfect delights of Mark Waid, Chris Samnee, et al’s Batman and Robin: Year One – Dynamic Duos #2.
• Kathryn Hemmann reviews the emotional core of Insha Fitzpatrick and Ashley Robin Franklin’s The Girl Who Loved Monsters.
• Elias Rosner reviews the dramatic focus of DC’s Animal Man by Tom Veitch and Steve Dillon Omnibus.
• Gary Usher reviews the unique ugliness of The Hutchinson Brothers’ Joe’s Comix: Wild Kingdom.
• Andy Oliver reviews the masterful horror of Keezy Young’sIt’s Bitter, Baby, and it’s Very Sweet,and the eclectic showcase of Zinezilla’sThe Zinezilla Comics Anthology, Volume 3 – Sea Shanties.
Henry Chamberlain reviews the treasure trove of Todd Webb’sThe Goldfish & Bob 25th Anniversary Edition.
Ryan Carey reviews the flowing confidence of Steve Lafler’s1956, the unconventional approaches of Darya Foroohar’sDiasporoid, and the ferocious ambition of Katie Lane’s Girls Gone Wild #2.
David Rooney reviews the stretched charms of Hirokazu Kore-eda’s live-action adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’sLook Back.
Paul O’Brien reviews the puzzling intrigue of Gail Simone, Luciano Vecchio, et al’sUncanny X-Men #35.
Daniel Lukes reviews the gruesome hyperrealism of Shintaro Kago’s Brain Damage, translated by Zack Davisson.
Hagai Palevsky reviews the narrative hope of Mike Mignola’sUri Tupka and the Gods.
Jay Weissberg reviews the moving sweetness of Hirokazu Kore-eda’s live-action adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto’sLook Back.
Nancy 9/7/26 … Happy Labor Day 🛠️
This week’s interviews.
• Zach Rabiroff presents a two-part interview with Richard Bruning about design direction at DC Comics, fighting against traditionalism, and the dawn of digital comics — “When we didDark Knight, I didn’t want to put a big DC bullet on the cover. I reduced the bullet down to about 65% of its size because I always saw it as a circus poster. It’s this big one-inch, loud circle up in the left-hand corner. Frankly, I had always wanted to get a new design for the logo. That’s something I started fighting for.”
• Jason Bergman interviews Warren Bernard about SPX and a lifetime of collections, museum archives, exhibitions, and book contributions, and the expensive nature of acquiring classic comics — “A current project I am working on is the zineMonograph. Run by Ivy Lynn Allie and E.B. Sciales, it is dedicated to the world of single panel gag cartoons. Every issue features a different woman single-panel cartoonist from the 20th Century. The first issue featured the great Hilda Terry, the second issue, that will debut at SPX, will feature the work Barbara Shermund drew for Esquire and the Hearst papers. This issue will also have some cool single panel cartoons from various members of the SPX Community. It is a great thrill to work with Ivy and E.B., very thankful to them for asking me to be part of this fun project.”
- Kyle HigginsaboutG.I. Joe: A Real American Hero / Tomb Raiderand relative absurdity levels for crossovers.
- Rory McConvilleaboutArchie vs. Terminatorand the joys of writing strange visitors to Riverdale.
- Marina Lisa KomiyaaboutOn Their Frontlines: The Lives of Japanese War Bridesand the exhibition origins of the project.
- Jordan D. WhiteaboutQueen in Blackand the various goings-on with various symbiote hosts.
- Michael WalshaboutJonah Hex and the Shadow of Deathand trying to find different facets of such a storied character.
Avery Kaplan chats withCharlie Jane AndersaboutStar Trek: Zero Point, personal history withStar Trek, and editorial discussions across the publishing line.
Rob Salkowitz interviewsRaina Telgemeier and Gale GalliganaboutBaby-Sitters Club, collaborating for the series’ upcoming 40th anniversary, and how publishers need to take more chances.
Jed W. Keith talks toChristian WardaboutThe Forever Home, the real-world inspirations of the horror of the tale, and current reading lists.
Jonathan Sandler interviewsNoah Van SciveraboutThe Mess,Joseph Smith and the Mormons, andThe Hypo, fiction versus nonfiction, and analog processes.
David Smith speaks withDana Mashoian WalrathaboutThe Book of Genocides, the searching questions posed by the book, and the physical toll of grief.
Elias Feroz talks toJoe SaccoaboutRequiem for Gaza, the dedication of the book to Palestinian journalists, the realities of in-country research as an independent cartoonist, and the history of Israeli state violence against Palestinians.
Rylea Combs talks to Liberty University Art Museum’sTodd Smith and Anna McCulloughabout the museum’s “Visions of a Nation: The American Story” exhibit, and the depictions of American history in comics form to be found therein.
Lee Jae-yong chats withSanhoabout recently winning an Eisner Award forFuneral Cake Shop Yeonokdang, the stifling nature of the webtoon environment, and wanting to see the book stocked in school libraries.
JD Linville talks toStefano Knuchelabout new documentaryA Longing to Be of No Use – Hugo in Venice, Pratt’s legacy, and closing out a trilogy of films about the legendary comic creator.
Adam Wescott interviewsAkiko HigashimuraaboutPrincess Jellyfish, the core visual elements of manga, the importance of work-life balance, and manga assistant coordination.
This week’s features and longreads.
• Here at TCJ, Chris Anthony Diaz presents a whistlestop photo-tour of this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, celebrating the various winners at 2026’s Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards — “The female 2026 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Hall of Fame inductees were Colleen Doran, Edwina Dumm (deceased), Lee Marrs and Carol Tyler. All four have long and distinguished comics careers and canvassed a variety of mediums/genres from newspaper strips, underground comix, indie/alternative comics to mainstream comics. The highlight for me was Doran, Marrs and Tyler were in attendance to accept their trophies in person and give heartfelt speeches.”
• Also for TCJ, Henry Dykstal writes on the art of adaptation, on the occasion of the Minnesota Opera‘s bringing to the stage of a version of Ram V and Filipe Andrade’s The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, and the unique connections that comics has with opera — “A strange thing happens, as the preview continues. The differences, which I had been keeping track of, begin to stop becoming apparent. Not that I cannot tell what is different, but rather that it does not matter. The piece becomes its own work. I am experiencing the show. The same story, but there isLaila Starrthe comic, and there isLaila Starrthe opera. The same story, told in the way its medium needs. It’s up there on stage, in the air, making the most of its music.”
• Finally for TCJ this week, our esteemed editors present an excerpt from marina Lisa Komiya’s On Their Frontlines: The Lives of Japanese War Brides, Volume 1, available for store purchase or library borrowing now.
• For The Beat, following the recent passing of journalist and activist Gloria Steinem, who died earlier this month at the age of 92, Christopher Chiu-Tabet writes on Steinem’s involvement with the evolution of DC’s Wonder Woman.
• On the occasion of the long-awaited opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Jane Horowitz reports for The Los Angeles Times on the high and popular aht to be found within its curved walls, and the connections drawn by the collection between various artforms.
• For Portland Monthly,Ben Coleman and Michael Raines profile the comic creators of Helioscope Studio, detailing the collective’s cafe origins, and the studio’s long-running creative mentoring programme.
• Over at Shelfdust, Hank Kennedy writes on the enduring popularity of Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert’sSergeant Franklin John Rock, and the (partial) confrontation of US war crimes inOur Army at War #233.
• From the world of open-access academia, in the International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, Sneha Sebastian writes on interrogates the narrative conceit of ‘Women in Refrigerators’ in superhero comics, as coined by Gail Simone, and the manner in which superhero narratives are moving away from female suffering serving development of male characters to agency and autonomy of female heroes.
• Key touchstones appear in this week’s Mindless Ones newsletter, as the orb presents shifting visions of Grant Morrison, Peter Milligan, and Chas Troug’s Animal Man; A Brief History of British Comics’ reaches the advent of Deadline; and appreciation continues of Pat Mills and Simon Bisley’s Sláine: The Horned God.
• Paul O’Brien’s tallying of the villains of Daredevil continues, for House to Astonish, as this week we observe the muted emergence of Blackheart, and give consideration to how far rotten apples fall from the family tree.
• Mike Peterson rounds up the week’s editorial beat, over at The Daily Cartoonist, as midtermelections and presidential elections loom ever larger in the news cycle.
No more links this week, as it’s the last hardcore show I’ve currently got on the docket for 2026 tonight, so it’s time to open up the pit and find out, once again, just how badly shot my knees and back are.
This is the final week of Ignatz Awards voting! Vote! Vote! Vote!Make sure your favorite creators know you appreciate by casting your vote so… VOTE.Voting ends September 11 at midnight, EST!Have at it!
