Skip to main content

Joe Zabel

Webcomics Examiner Out Tomorrow

Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on March 13, 2005 - 16:13

I'm not sure I'm used to the new quarterly schedule yet, but Joe Zabel's Webcomics Examiner will have a new issue tomorrow. Nate posted a link to the Snapshots section (which is like Comixpedia's PREviews) which in addition to mentioning Atland also reviews Flora, Stone Cold Fish, Lamp-lighter, 319th Dark Street and the new Shutterbug Follies story.

Through the Looking Back Glass by Erik Melander

January 10, 2005 - 00:00 | Erik Melander

Through the Looking Back Glass: 2004 Is No More

Everyday of every month, news from the world of webcomics sweeps past us and we don't always have time to make sense of it all. In this new monthly column, our very own Erik Melander tracks down the headlines of the most recent month gone by and connects the dots for you in snappy prose.

The Current Modern Tales Lineup

Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on January 2, 2005 - 23:40

Since this post will sound a bit negative once you get through the whole thing let me just set the context:

I'm a real life customer of MT and have subscribed for about 2 years. I like what I get from MT and don't have any current thoughts about quitting. But just skimming through all of MT today (I do that since I subscribe to it!) and it hit me that Modern Tales right now has only 9 series running -- from Donna Barr and Dorothy Gambrell -- out of 43 (there's one coming from Joe Zabel not yet started so I'm not counting that).

That seems like a lot.

Graphic Novel Review January Issue Now Online

Submitted by Joey Manley on January 1, 2005 - 18:39

Just in time for the new year, it's the fourth issue of The Graphic Novel Review! Our sneak preview this month is a 15-page full-length story -- "inner sanctum" by Michael Gagné -- from the upcoming second volume of the Flight anthology.

MORE FEATURES: Joe Zabel interviews Harvey Pekar, Andrew Leal reviews P. Craig Russell's adaptation of The Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde, and Hubert Vigilla reviews Less Than Heroes by David Yurkovich. Cover by Will Eisner and Gary Chaloner.

PLUS: In Brief reviews of Crazy Love Story, Vol. 1, Club Zero-G, Carnet de Voyage, and Waterwise.

December Webcomics examiner out

Submitted by Erik Melander on December 13, 2004 - 11:27

Decembers Webcomics examiner is out and it wasn't hyperbole when editor Joe Zabel said it was a strong issue. This issue also marks a change from a monthly to quarterly realease schedule.

What is Comixpedia for?

Submitted by Stark on November 9, 2004 - 08:07

I have just read the new article 'Beyond Journal Comics: Life-like Webcomics' and I must ask: what is the point of this article?

Okay, I'm being a bit unfair to pick on this article in particular because of something that is endemic across the site, but this is where my patience snapped.

When 'Comixpedia' launched, I was very optimistic; I thought that finally there would be a site covering webcomics in critical depth. However, instead we get numerous articles like the above: 750 words that skim the surface of a topic, patronising lists of obvious terms (does anyone, anyone really imagine that people need to have the difference between autobiography and biography explained to them?) with random words made into links and absolutely no attempt at analysis beyond a couple of throwaway questions. How much thought goes into creating an article like this? Ten minutes, maximum, with maybe another five to collate the links? It's lazy, that's all it is. Lazy and patronising, both in its condescending tone and in its assumption that people are so stupid as to find something so devoid of original thought interesting.

And the reviews are no better: mere descriptions of comics, again with random linked words. One single (pre novel-writing-month) article on http://www.websnark.com/ has more depth of analysis than every review Comixpedia printed in its first six months. So it's a good thing that Burns is now writing for Comixpedia, but it doesn't excuse the lack of substance that still abounds over the entire rest of the site.

I know that people aren't getting paid for Comixpedia work, but really, what is the point fo doing something if you don't do it properly? A real, meaty site dedicated to webcomics would be a wonderful thing but Comixpedia just isn't it.

So I suppose the question is, what is Comixpedia meant to be? Is it just a glorified news site for which people occasionally dash off articles form the top of their heads, articles that say nothing -- candy-floss for the eyes? Or is it a serious attempt to provide commentary on the emerging medium of webcomics? Because if it's meant to be the latter, you really need to shape up and start writing articles that assume your readers are intelligent, knowledgable people, not children who need to have it pointed out to them that there are 'many moments within journal comics and illustrated blogs that definitely fall within the slice of life category' as if it's some great revelation, rather than something which any webcomics reader with half a brain has already noticed for themselves. That assume your readers can understand basic critical terms like 'focalisation' and 'diegetic' and discuss such things in articles that provide real insight.

So which is it?

November Webcomics Examiner Out

Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on November 8, 2004 - 11:13

The Webcomics Examiner is a monthly forum of reviews, interviews, and critical articles evaluating webcomics as a fine art. The free-access website is at http://webcomicsreview.com.

Amber "Glych" Greenlee is the interview subject of the latest issue of The Webcomics Examiner. Greenlee explains her prolific approach to webcomics to interviewer Alexander Danner. Also this issue, examiner art director Neal Von Flue and editor Joe Zabel continue the focus on innovative webcomics in the second of series, Aggressive Experiments. This issue they look at a trio of non-conformists: Ray Murphy- Detective of Dreams; Invisible Forces; and Tree City.

William G. reviews Loxie and Zoot with commentary by it's creator, Stephen Crowley; A. G. Hopkins assesses Return to Sender; and Zabel reviews the new series A Lesson is Learned, But the Damage is Irreversible.

The Comixpedia Community Interview with Ted Rall

October 24, 2004 - 22:15

You asked some tough questions and Ted Rall provided the answers. Read on for an interesting dialogue with one of the most controversial editorial cartoonists working today.

New Webcomics Examiner Issue Out

Submitted by Xaviar Xerexes on October 11, 2004 - 10:34

The Webcomics Examiner celebrates Halloween with a focus on the recently concluded vampire comedy Bite Me and its creator Dylan Meconis. Examiner editor Joe Zabel interviews Meconis, and Shaenon Garrity reviews the popular series.

Also this issue, examiner art director Neal Von Flue focuses on innovative webcomics in the first of a series, Aggressive Experiments. The first installment focuses on a trio of maverick works: After Days of Passion; 48 Vignettes About Everything; and Electric Spirit.

Rounding out the issue are reviews of Loyola Chin and the San Peligran Order, and Reasoned Cognition.

Insular Little Groups?

Submitted by William_G on October 10, 2004 - 02:33

I had an interesting email exchange the other day with someone and she mentioned the idea that webcomics fans tend to be insular people who don't expand their horizons beyond the circles they travel in now. For example, Keenspacers are only really interested in stuff Keen and quite honestly wouldn't give a crap about the greatest webcomic ever if it appeared on Modern Tales. And unless the words "X-Box funnies" appear in the title somewhere, gamer webcomic fans wouldnt read it....etc And as I thought about what she said, the more true it seemed to me