Forum 2.0

Pride Month, Hellfire Gala, Infinite Destinies, Heros Reborn — four important summer comics events

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

June 10, 2021 — It’s summertime, and the comics are busy.

It's not new. Back in the Long-Before Time, comics publishers would increase the frequency of some titles in the summer, and issue oversize “annuals”

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A Q&A on "A Very Special Episode" of "WandaVision" (which lives up to its name)

Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen, left) and Vision (Paul Bettany) almost throw down in WandaVision episode 5, “On a Very Special Episode …” (Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021)

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

Feb. 11, 2021 — Afte

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December offers tons of great genre shows — all of them on streamers

His Dark Materials stars the likes of Dafne Keen, James McAvoy, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Ruth Wilson, but it’s also got armored polar bears, which is pretty cool too. (Photo courtesy HBO)

 

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

Dec. 3, 2020 — Recen

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Mr. Freeze, Frazetta, Frank Herbert: Three more recommended books

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

Nov. 26, 2020 — My mailboxes, analog and digital, keep filling with great graphic novels. Here are a few:

DUNE

Abrams ComicArts, $24.99

The latest adaptation of Dune promises to be the most faithful yet. (Co

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'Resident Alien' is a good TV show, but it's a better comic book

 

The first three Harry Vanderspeigle stories are collected in the Resident Alien Omnibus Volume 1. (Cover art by Steve Parkhouse, copyright Dark Horse)

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

Feb. 4, 2021 — Now that you’ve watched Harry Vandersp

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'Gaiman Library,' 'Blacksad': Two anthology graphic novels that leave you wanting more

 By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

Nov. 19, 2020 — Staying at home due to COVID is the perfect time to catch up on reading. Here are two primo graphic novels I practically inhaled this week:

THE NEIL GAIMAN LIBRARY VOLUME 1 HC

Dark Horse Boo

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Many 'Hawkeye' characters have surprising back stories in the comics

Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld, left) and Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) are both called Hawkeye on the Disney+ TV show of the same name. (Courtesy Marvel.com)

 

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

Dec. 16, 2021 — Hawkeye may have the title Most

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From Maine, Japan and the '50s with love: Three recommended graphic novels

 By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

Nov. 5, 2020 — Ready to curl up with a good graphic novel? Here are some options:

BASKETFUL OF HEADS

Basketful of Heads is an original story by writer Joe Hill and artist Leomancs. (Cover art by Leomancs,

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December TV: 'Lost in Space' s2, 'The Expanse' s6, 'Station Eleven,' 'The Witcher' s2, 'Book of Boba Fett'

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

 

Dec. 2, 2021 — The year may be drawing to a close, but the onslaught of prestige TV isn’t slowing. Here’s a look at the December premieres that have my fanboy senses tingling.

 

LOST IN SPACE

The Robinson

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'Disney+ Day' spills the beans on streamer's plans for Marvel shows

The Marvel Studios Disney+ Day Special discussed no less than 12 upcoming TV series. (©Marvel Studios 2021)

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

Nov. 18, 2021 — “Disney+ Day” arrived Dec. 12, with a lot of announcements for Marvel TV shows on

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The big movies I'm looking forward to in 2022 (and a few I'm not)

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

Dec. 30, 2021 — The COVID logjam is finally breaking in movies, so 2022 is going to be a big year at the local multiplex. Here’s a look at some of the big movies I’m excited about, and a few I’m not, in al

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The sensational saga of the Sinister Six, Spidey's greatest foes!

Five foes from various Spider-franchises appear in Spider-Man: No Way Home, including (from left) Electro (Jamie Foxx), Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) and Lizard (Rhys Ifans). (© 2021 Sony Pictures)

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

Dec. 23,

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11 Fun Facts to Know and Tell about 'The Suicide Squad'

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

Aug. 12, 2021 — The Suicide Squad premiered Aug. 5, written and directed by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy), and yes, it’s a hoot. Let me add to the party with 11 Fun Facts to Know and Tell about the f

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What to look for at Free Comic Book Day 2021

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

Aug. 5, 2021 — Free Comic Book Day is returning, my friends!

On Saturday, Aug. 14, participating comic shops will offer at least 50 titles absolutely free. OK, some shops will require a minimum purchase. But

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'Sabrina,' 'Adler,' 'Fat': Three GNs starring women, from fun to painful

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

April 1, 2021 — We’ve just wrapped up Women’s History Month, but the importance of women in comics is pretty much a year-round thing. Case in point: Three female-centric graphic novels this month that come h

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Yes, there was a Comic-Con this year, and here are some things that happened

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

July 29, 2021 — The world-famous Comic-Con International: San Diego took place last weekend. You can be forgiven if you didn’t notice.

The venerable SDCC, once home to the biggest comics, movie and TV news on

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'Godzilla vs. Kong': Lessons learned from 'Tales to Astonish'

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

April 15, 2021 — I had a strange experience with Godzilla vs. Kong, which premiered in theaters and on HBO Max March 26: It reminded me of lessons learned from a 43-year-old comic book story.

“Let There Be B

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'Falcon and Winter Soldier' episode 3: Just who are these guys, anyway?

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

April 8, 2021 — Welcome to Who Are These Guys, Falcon and Winter Soldier edition!

The third episode, “Power Broker,” introduced some people and concepts that are a little farther off the beaten path than usu

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The Hellfire Gala: Boy, this party left a hangover

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

July 1, 2021 — The party’s over. Now comes the hangover.

(Warning! Many spoilers ahead for recent issues of Marvel’s X-Men titles!)

The party in question is the Hellfire Gala, a high-fashion, elites-only soir

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The Weird, the wacky and the wonderful: Three graphic novels to make you say "What th--?"

 By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

Sept. 9, 2021 — The Teetering Tower of To-Review is once again in danger of falling over and destroying the city, so let’s pull out some graphic novels to relieve the pressure. Today’s theme: Books that ar

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