Surely you’ve heard otherwise, but for nearly three decades THE COMICS JOURNAL has been the best American magazine about comix, comic books, sequential arts, etc, and issue 260 is another shout of “Amen” from the choir. In fact, the lead feature, Bart Beaty’s interview with French comix stars Philippe Dupuy and Charles Berberian, is just one bon bon from a big candy box. There is also the added attraction of Gary Groth and Gil Kane’s 1986 interview of Jean-Claude Mézières, artist of publisher Dargaud’s
Valerian graphic album series.
However, the editorials, new articles, and commentary are what usually make TCJ a treat. Michael Dean’s five-page article on Dave Cockrum’s deal with the devil (Marvel) to get much needed money for his health care is superb. Beyond the issue of Cockrum’s and his supporters dealings with Marvel, the article also highlights the ongoing disgrace of huge corporations making millions upon millions of dollars off trademarks and copyrights created for a pittance by work-for-hire comics creators. In fact, neither side, employer nor creator, could reasonable foresee that comic book characters would make so much money just from licensing, not to mention publishing gold. Dean’s article is so good that one can’t possibly read it and not at least begin to grasp the how morally and ethically funky it is for Marvel and DC not to financially recognize the many artists they barely, if at all, acknowledge.
If that weren’t enough, the regular review section, “Firing Line,” is full of wittiness including Darcy Sullivan’s skewering of
Blab! #14 and Tom Crippen’s hilarious review of Mark Waid’s
Fantastic Four.
B+
