Archive Page 2221

February 2025

AI Challenge #31 – Grok vs Chat GPT with the theme of a superhero on a motorcycle (with variations) – see the generated images.

Chris Claremont denies the minority-metaphor analogy for understanding his run on X-Men

Story at Boundingintocomics

For those unfamiliar with the topic, there exists an ongoing debate among comic book fans regarding whether or not the plight of Marvel’s X-gene carrying population should be read as a not-so-subtle metaphor for the struggles of real-world minorities..."

I read the original Claremont run when it was coming out (wish I had kept the issues! I traded them out for some DC books at a Manassas, Virginia comic book shop. The shop owner was delighted to handle the transaction!) but the metaphor-analogy theory was already cropping up back then.

An aside: Because of the popularity of deconstructionist critical thinking applied to comics (and, really, anything else of a fictional nature), it doesn't take much more than a bit of imagination to shift story and character elements into a paradigm of whatever oppressor/oppressed duality you'd like to have. Batman against crooks in Gotham? He's the billionaire class represented through a classical bloodsucking emblematic terror-agent attacking the lower classes distorted deceitfully into "crooks and street ruffians." Wonder Woman in America? A high-achieving female must use disguise to offset the misogynistic attitudes of a male-dominated world. Spider-Man: arachnid-influenced teen boy cannot find true affection and acceptance because of the prejudiced attitude of people towards spiders... okay that last one is a bit crazier but in each case translating a story and character into something else is mostly a game of Rashomon (1950, Akira Kurosawa) applied to funny-books.

Defending "synthetic comics"

Story at Comics Journal

The emergence of online tools enabling users to create images from text prompts has sparked debates about generative AI, resulting in polarized opinions and ethical dilemmas within the cultural industries..."

Pre-ticket sales in Chine for Captain America Brave New World Order ahead of Deadpool Wolverine

Story at Comicbookmovie

There's already reports online of Chinese advertising materials showing Anthony Mackie's character (he's Captain America) being obscured in some way to hide that he is African American, apparently a repeat of past Disney advertising in China that obscures black characters.

With Diamond Distributors bankruptcy, what happens to the 2025 May Free Comic Book Day? – Bleeding Cool

Disney defies expectations with Lion King prequel Mufasa which has crept past Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in earnings and is approaching the $700 million box office mark – Hollywood Reporter

The history of Reed Richards moustache – Escapist Magazine

New Thunderbolts* Preview Trailer

AI Challanege #29 - Flaming Swords and White Suits

Comic book fans are finally getting what they always wanted from Hollywood "accurate costumes" – Screenrant MSN

The article makes a statement that is true, which is that between the coming Fantastic Four film and the last Deadppol and Wolverine movie, we're getting comic book accurate costuming. As long as it looks good, thats a kind of "win" for comic books.

But what do comic book fans really want from Hollywood in regard to comic book movies? I want them to pay the comic book people (writers, artists, letterers and colorists! And editors!) for what they've been lifting out of comics to use in their movies.

Review of The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud – Kirkus Reviews

Famous manga Kingdom finally coming to English language version after 20 years – Gamesradar

Review of the animated Dog Man film – UK The Times

Dog Man is actually a less interesting character than Petey, his wisecracking feline nemesis (voiced with a flourish by Pete Davidson), who creates a more agreeable mini clone of himself called Li’l Petey..."

AI Challenge #28 - Superheroes and Cars - see the other generative images

Disney rare memorabilia auction at Heritage Auctions – Newsweek MSN

Heritage Web Site

Moon Knight Season 2 rumors – Superherohype

Manga Reader for Nintendo Switch – Gamesradar

Special Bill Finger event at Gallery 795 – Gallery725

"Rob Liefeld cuts ties with Marvel" – Comicbookmovie

The story of the Diamond Comics Distribution business implosion – The Comics Journal

Aeropostale Marvel Comics Spider-Man store front - click to enlarge – Chesterfield, Virginia

Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art Festival 2025 artist list announced – Comicsbeat – Official site https://www.moccafest.org/

"It is one of the most prestigious indie comics festivals in the U.S., celebrating independent comics, cartooning, and illustration. "

About Mocca according to ChatGPT

Stop saying superhero comics are dead!

Stop it! Article at Screenrant MSN - sings the praises of Snyder's Absolute Batman

Futuristic war comic of Canada vs USA now selling quite well

Story at Bleedingcool

...Image Comics is enjoying an unexpected spike in sales for their We Stand On Guard original graphic novel by Brian K. Vaughan and Steve Skroce in light of the recent discourse surrounding Canadian tariffs and the potential of USA-Canada trade wars… Our source tells us that, in Amazon orders alone, more people have bought the book in the last week in Canada than all of last year combined...."

The Crossover Event of the Century: The Batzman Family featuring DD and SW – click to enlarge (Parody cover)

About Comic Book Brain Parody Covers

Secret morse code message inside Fantastic Four trailer? – Gamesradar

Folio Society Superman hardback features 85 Superman stories – Gamespot

AI Challenge #25 Cheeseburger Themed Superhero - Grok vs Chat GPT - see the rest of the generated images

Index of all the AI Challenges on Comic Book Brain

Fantastic Four Official Teaser

Next villain to fight against for the Captain America movie series? Juggernaut – Superherohype

"In comics in general, there's a definite softening of everything. The numbers are hurting... the books are not selling"

Lawsuit against Neil Gaiman for human trafficking, assault, etc – Comicsbeat

Comic book printing impacted with the coming tariffs – MSN Screenrant

While the article lists a series of negative impacts on the industry, they then bring up this to add to the burden:

Amid that chaos, publishers and fans alike had to deal with the headaches brought on by Diamond Comics Distributors, which long held a stranglehold over comic distribution in North America..."

Profile of comic book artist Ron Marz – The Hindu

Profile of comic artist Gabo – QC Times

DSTLRY comics now has a digital remarque system so that buyers can get personalized digital copies of a comic – Article at comicbook

The DESTLRY website

IDW earnings call – Comicsbeat "Earnings are flat..."

Who might buy Diamond Distributors? – Bleedingcool

The article lists out the likely contenders to take over Diamond's operations (and its remaining marketshare): Canadian distributor Universal Distribution; Lunar Distribution "...they are owed a lot of money"; Penguin Random House "Diamond owes them more than anyone else, nine million dollars"; UCS Distribution/Midtown Comics; Simon & Schuster; The Steve Geppi and family 'Geppi has money though Diamond does not.'

AI Challenge #24: Superhero Woman wants to buy a Comic Book Distribution System

Grok vs Chat GPT #24: Both engines were asked to include a confetti of comic books flying from the sky, but neither could get it figured out, though they had no problem with a confetti of dollar bills in the sky.

Index of all the AI Challenges on Comic Book Brain

Is there more Blue Beetle coming? – Comicbookmovie – An animated series ahead?

Remembering the "disaster" of the 1990 Captain America film – MSN Film

Trying to find space on the shelves in the crowded comics marketplace for Cleveland cartoonists – WUXU

Get into the Public Domain archives that are online at Graphic Chatter

Original page February 11, 2025