Forum 2.0

Plus ça change: The many faces (and names and costumes) of Henry Pym

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

 

Shrinking to the size of an ant seems like an odd super-power. But it's not remotely the oddest thing about Marvel's Ant-Man character, whose movie premieres July 17.

For one thing, the comic book Henry Pym

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Think small: The Top 10 superheroes who shrink

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

 

It's hard to imagine why getting smaller than your opponent is a useful super-power, but shrinking has been a staple in comics since 1939. I can't explain why, but with the advent of "Ant-Man" the movie (pr

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'Wytches' delves deep into Americana -- and horror

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

 

Writer Scott Snyder wants to scare you. And if you read Wytches Vol. 1 ($9.99, Image Comics), he'll probably succeed.

First, it should be noted that the difference between the monsters in this book and "wit

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We demand a 'Black Widow' movie!

Scarlett Johansson has demonstrated in movies like Avengers: Age of Ultron that she has the chops for a solo movie. By Jay Maidment. ©Marvel 2015

Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron director Joss Whedon used the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) for

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The true horror of comics: 'Weird Love'

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

 

In the 1940s and ‘50s, many preachers, parents and politicians railed against comic books as the cause of juvenile delinquency, tossing around phrases like “seduction of the innocent” and “horror in the nur

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Dark Horse provides more clues to the mystery of Jughead

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

 

Who is Jughead Jones?

Everyone knows him as Archie’s best pal and Riverdale’s resident chow-hound. A quietly confident eccentric, Jughead has been known as a talented prankster (he regularly turns the table

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Comics Guide for 5/6/15

I don't care how late this title is; it's always welcome when it gets here. I just hope the title of the current storyline, "Betty R.I.P.", is a misdirect. You can lose Moose and Midge and even Jughead, but without the Big 3 it ain't Archie!

This iss

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'iZombie' comics, TV similar in tone, not specifics

Liv Moore (Rose McIver) may have to eat brains, but she does what she can to make it less nasty.  Cate Cameron/Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. © 2015 WBEI. All rights reserved.

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

 

“Zom-com,” the zombie comedy

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'The Flash' season ender: 'Wait -- what just happened?'

Despite his character dying in the season finale, actor Tom Cavanagh (left) will continue to co-star with Grant Gustin on The Flash. See what happens when you mess around with the space/time continuum? All art copyright The CW.

 

By Andrew A. Smith

T

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'The Walking Dead': Read, watch -- or both?

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

 

You love The Walking Dead on AMC. But as you watch the show, and re-watch the show, and Story Sync (for the two-screen experience!), and play the trivia games, and talk over The Talking Dead, one lingering

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'Daredevil' Netflix series will lift from some famous DD stories

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

Netflix’s new series Daredevil won’t offer the most famous Daredevil story. But it will have elements of some very good Daredevil stories.

Daredevil premieres April 10 on Netflix, which will offer all 13 one-

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New GNs: Witches, fashions, sex and the desperate inner lives of middle aged women

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

 

While comics aren’t  in any danger of becoming a girls’ club, many recent graphic novels are female oriented, either in subject matter or protagonist. The quality is uneven, but they’re worth a look.

Take,

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'Batgirl' #41 controversy sucks all oxygen from 'Women in Comics' month

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

March is “Women in Comics” month in the comics industry. So, naturally, instead of a celebration, there’s a huge controversy over the portrayal of a woman in comics.

The woman in question is Batgirl. And the

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'Big Hero 6' and 'John Carter': It's complicated

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

Nov. 13, 2014 -- If you saw Big Hero 6 and are looking for the Marvel Comics it’s based on, well … you won’t find any. Why not? It’s complicated.

Yes, the movie credits say “Based on the characters published

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NBM surprises with 'Zombillenium 2,' tells more sober stories with 'Beauty,' 'Miss Don't Touch Me'

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

Oct. 30, 2014 -- Eclectic publisher NBM has a new raft of tempting books, one of which is even in tune with the season.

Zombillenium Volume 2: Human Resources ($14.99) is the second volume in a series featuri

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'Kingsman' movie may or may not be good, but graphic novel is terrific

A new printing of the graphic novel “The Secret Service: Kingsman” has been released. Copyright Marvel Entertainment.

Jack and Gary London from the graphic novel become Harry Hart (Colin Firth, left) and Gary Unwin (Taron Egerton) in the movie. Phot

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Terrific TV shows can be terrific comics, too

Orphan Black #1 has launched the TV show successfully in the comics medium. Copyright IDW Publishing Inc.

Batman ’66 Meets the Green Hornet is a romp in the style of the old TV show. Copyright DC Comics/Dynamite Entertainment Inc.

Buffy the Vampire S

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'Agent Carter' subtly reveals origin of a modern Avenger

Bridget Regan played “Dottie Underwood,” an alias for a Soviet agent who was almost certainly an early version of today’s Black Widow. ABC/Kelsey McNeal

 

Howard Stark’s right-hand man Edwin Jarvis (James D’Arcy, right) lives on in the present as the

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Think you know the 'Batman' TV show? Take this quiz!

By Andrew A. Smith

Tribune Content Agency

 

“Atomic batteries to power … turbines to speed!”

So said Robin (Burt Ward) to Batman (Adam West) every time the Dynamic Duo launched the Batmobile from the Batcave to battle dastardly do-badders on the orig

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Marvel Universe to reboot in 'Secret Wars'

Secret Wars kicks off with Secret Wars #0, a free prologue arriving on May 2, Free Comic Book Day. Copyright Marvel Entertainment Inc.

 

The first issue of Secret Wars, out in May, will begin the story with the heroes of two worlds failing to stop a

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