Today's Wired bears a nice primer on manga in the USA, a 1.9MB PDF of a comic tracing the history of English manga. It's laid out "backwards," which is unbelievably hard to read off a screen (go to the last page, read, go back two pages, read, go forward one page, read, go back two pages, read, etc), but it rewards patience (or printing). This is some fascinating stuff, and it's superbly presented.
Sure, Watchmen might be generally revered as the greatest graphic novel of all time. But I'm sure one or two people have wondered: how much better could it have been if Dave Gibbons' art had more pouches and big guns and fewer feet? In other words: what if Alan Moore's script had been illustrated by… READ THE REST
In 1977, a New Mexico judge reading The Amazing Spider-Man comic in his daily newspaper had a flash of inspiration. In the strip (excerpted above), Kingpin is seen slapping an "electronic radar device" on Spidey's wrist so he could "zero in" on Spidey's location whenever he wanted. Judge Jack Love realized such a device would… READ THE REST
Sixty-one years ago today, Marvel Comics started their morning as yet another publisher fighting for space on the newsstand. By day's end, their reputation as a mediocre company would never be the same. In modernity, Marvel is one of the world's most dominant entertainment brands. Similar to the superheroes they publish, Marvel's upward trajectory as… READ THE REST
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. While you do almost everything on your phone today, from buying groceries to finding out what that ex-buddy from high school is doing these days, there's nothing quite like putting pen to paper. Psychology… READ THE REST
With around a million people using American Sign Language in the U.S. these days, there's a chance you'll encounter someone who uses this way of communication, even if you don't personally know anyone who is deaf or hard of hearing. That's why more folks are becoming interested in learning ASL, understanding the importance of being able… READ THE REST
Whether it's Jimmy Page, Slash, or Jimi Hendrix, watching your favorite rocker can make those fantastic guitar riffs sound easy. But if you've ever picked up a guitar before, you know that acquiring those skills is easier said than done. It takes a lot of practice, a few calluses, and serious dedication to sound the way… READ THE REST
