By Andrew A. Smith

Scripps Howard News Service

 

Jan. 25, 2011 -- Archie Comics has been making a lot of headlines lately, none bigger than the two recent stories of the Riverdale redhead’s “what if” marriages to Betty and Veronica. Somebody at Abrams ComicArts recognized them for their historical importance, and collected them…

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By Andrew A. Smith

Scripps Howard News Service

 

Jan. 18, 2011 -- Original graphic novels are hitting bookshelves like a tsunami these days, but DC’s Vertigo Crime line is always welcome. They’ve released another winner, Noche Roja ($19.99), that is nerve-wracking from first page to last.

 

Writer Simon…

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By Andrew A. Smith

Scripps Howard News Service

 

Jan. 11, 2010 -- Papercutz is re-launching the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys graphic novels – and the first volumes of each are a delight.

 

"Hardy Boys: The New Case Files" #1 ($6.99) is titled Crawling with Zombies,” and revolves around new phenomena like…

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By Andrew Smith

Scripps Howard News Service

 

Jan. 4, 2011 -- Some times it’s more obvious than others that comics are ultimately a matter of taste.

 

Take for example Return of the Dapper Men ($24.95, Archaia), by comics writer Jim McCann and gallery artist Janet Lee. Dapper Men is a surreal,…

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By Andrew A. Smith

Scripps Howard News Service

 

Dec. 28, 2010 -- Graphic novels and reprint collections came in an avalanche at the end of 2010, capping the best year in history for comics you can put on your bookshelf. That’s worth a column in itself, but who’s got time to do industry analysis when there’s so much great stuff to review?

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