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Showing posts from February, 2025

The Infernal Hulk and Merleau-Ponty: Body Schemas and Structuring Absence

Won't the Real Hulk Please Stand Up? The Infernal Hulk comic series grants Bruce Banner his wish of separation from his monster, but the progression of the story reminds us to be careful of what we wish for. One of the most unsettling ideas in The Infernal Hulk is not that Bruce Banner loses the Hulk, but that losing him doesn’t bring relief. Banner is free of the monster, yet he is weaker, disoriented, and haunted by something that refuses to stay gone. The Hulk persists, not as a body, but as an absence that still shapes Banner’s life. This dynamic closely mirrors what philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty describes through the phantom limb. Amputees often continue to feel sensations in limbs that no longer exist. For Merleau-Ponty, this happens because the body is not merely a physical object, but a lived structure, a body schema through which we orient ourselves in the world. When something is removed, the body’s orientation does not immediately adjust. Banner’s condition in The ...
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Six-Shooter News: Top Comic Book Stories

 Extra! Extra! Read All About It! 1 .  I Was A Fashion School Serial Killer Garners Critical Acclaim The recently released graphic novel "I Was A Fashion School Serial Killer" has been praised for its unique blend of fashion industry satire and dark humor. Critics highlight its sharp writing and distinctive art style, making it a standout in contemporary comics. Source 2.  Sidekicks' by Dan Santat Receives Positive Reviews Dan Santat's graphic novel "Sidekicks" has been lauded for its engaging story and cinematic-quality artwork. The narrative centers on Captain Amazing's super-powered pets vying to become his sidekick. Source 3. Gunsmith Cats Return Dark Horse Comics has announced the return of Kenichi Sonoda's classic manga series, Gunsmith Cats , in new omnibus editions . Source 4.  Peacemaker Spin-Off: Vigilante & Eagly Take Center Stage in New DC Comic! Comic Book Club reports that James Gunn is collaborating with DC Comics on a new five-iss...
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Dive into the World of Vagabond: The Genius of Takehiko Inoue Unveiled

  Splash-Page Spotlight: Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue I went ahead and selected  at least four of my favourite splash-pages from the epic manga that is Vagabond . Beautifully delivered in hardcover format, Takehiko Inoue puts his talents on full display with this epic story of swordsmanship and self-discovery.  Contented The first image jumped out at me with its tranquil and serene tones, which none the less managed to communicate something far deeper. While the traditional Japanese countryside home remains a bucket list destination, I felt it appropriate to appreciate the sense of balance that the page communicated. The home, a wonderful representation of culture, of values and tradition,  is dwarfed by the larger natural landscape, which further dwarves our contented monk and cat below, thus perfectly illustrating and completing a well-balanced  natural hierarchy. Scars For my second choice, I chose the striking image of one of the primary female characters...
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Uplift Your Spirits with 'Cyanide & Happiness' Humor in Tough Times

Don't I Know You From Somewhere?   Cyanide and Happiness have been a common fixture in the life of the average social media frequenter for years, and many may very well have cracked a smile or three at these quirky comics without ever knowing their names. Well, if there ever was a time to become better acquainted with these little dollops of joy, then the time is now.  The three masterminds behind these crudely drawn delights, invite readers to accompany them down memory lane in Cyanide and Happiness: Twenty Years Wasted(A Questionable Recollection of Two Decades) . Kris Wilson, Rob Denbleyker, and Dave McElfatrick stand as the prime culprits in the line-up and fill these pages with old and new pieces, as well as photographs documenting a remarkable journey from unassuming knuckleheads, to internet sensations. Spoonful of Cyanide Makes the Medicine Go Down  Indeed, what readers can look forward to is not only the impressive collection of some of their finest work, but als...
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Six-Shooter News: Top Comic Book Stories

Extra! Extra! Read All About It! Geiger's Radioactive Success: Double Sell-Outs Prompt Quick Reprints Image Comics' "Geiger" issues #10 and #11 have flown off the shelves, selling out rapidly. In response to the high demand, both issues are being fast-tracked for reprints this week. Fans eager to continue following the post-apocalyptic adventures of Geiger should grab these reprints before they disappear again.  Dark Horse Dives into Murder Mystery with 'Abadana' Manga Announcement Dark Horse Comics has unveiled plans to publish "Abadana," a three-volume murder mystery manga series by NON. Set to begin releasing this August, the story delves into a small-town double homicide, exploring themes of class, exploitation, and familial expectations. Manga enthusiasts should mark their calendars for this intriguing new series. - Full Story Captain America: Brave New World Sparks Cultural Debates The latest Marvel film, "Captain America: Brav...
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Splash-Page Spotlight: Spectregraph

  "...Beautiful, Isn't It"    I believe an explanation is in order concerning the splash-page spotlight section. Anytime the mood strikes, and a particular splash-page from a comic and/or graphic novel invokes strong emotions within, I hope to share them as inspiration and heap praise upon the talented artist that conjured them up.  This particular piece comes from the comic, Spectregraph , written by James Tynion IV in collaboration with artist, Christian Ward. A bone tingling graphic horror novel on one excentric's quest to create ghost, and unlock the secrets of eternity. Some serious 13 Ghosts vibes from this one, and this particular Splash-Page so perfectly capturing the dark and myterious tones of this offering.  The naivety of the real estate agent augments the ominous feel of the book, in conjunction with the well balanced use of black, blue and grey colours. A title not to be missed, and one certainly worth pre-ordering now. 
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  Welcome To the Gutter! In many ways, The Gutter Chronicles is a humble attempt to pay homage to The Anti-Gravity Room show that inspired a generation of comic book and video game lovers way back in 1995.  In that spirit, this space endeavors to situate itself as a platform for showcasing and praising the talents of comic book creators across the world.
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Discover Wolverine’s Next Chapter: A Collector's Essential!"

  Wolverine: The Undisputed Icon of the X-Men When it comes to familiarity and indeed, popularity, Wolverine stands head and shoulders above all of the X-Men - voted most likely to succeed in the yearbook, and mimicked the world over with several children, myself once included, shoving pencils in the spaces between our fingers to imitate the unmistakable adamantium claws of this ferocious warrior. Ultimate Wolverine #1 cuts an imposing figure with the yellow and black tights that Logan so often adorned, replaced with a slightly more menacing black and red outfit, arranged into the foreboding and ominous red star of the so-called Eurasian Republic.   East vs. West: A Mutant Cold War Indeed, from what can be inferred from some of the pages, the X-men have been divided into the good ol’ fashioned East vs. West rivalry, with the aforementioned republic placing mutants such as Colossus at the forefront of a brainwashing program to weaponise the immortal Wolverine. Logan’s memories ...
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