Over the weekend I went down to Birmingham for a comic con at the NEC and to see some of the local sites. Being the comic geek that I am, I was on the lookout for anything pop culture related and I was happy to discover a comic shop called Nostalgia & Comics near to my hotel. The shop looked inviting and seeing I was in town for a comic con, it only seemed right that I went inside.
Continue reading “Visiting Nostalgia & Comics In Birmingham For A Nostalgic Experience”
Comics can be a valuable source of commentary on political issues, and a character who represents a liberal viewpoint is Green Arrow. Oliver Queen has established a reputation of standing up for the little guy, with various stories delving into his political worldview. One of the best arcs I’ve read that deals with political fallout is Green Arrow: Crawling Through The Wreckage. Written by Judd Winick, the graphic novel involves Green Arrow becoming the Mayor of Star City to make his home a more socially conscious place to live.
Pop culture is an exciting phenomenon that connects people all over the world through a love of fictional worlds and characters. Some of the best places to experience it are comic cons, which is why I was excited to attend two in March: Liverpool Comic Con and Birmingham Comic Con. Both events were carried out back to over two weekends. I was at Liverpool Con on the 10th Match and Birmingham Con on the 17th March. Both events were different, with each being enjoyable for different reasons. Here are my thoughts on both and why I think everyone who loves pop culture should attend a comic con.
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The X-Men have featured in some of the most recognisable stories in the history of comics, and Jean Grey is among the most iconic. Having been dead for years, Jean was resurrected in the pages of X-Men: Red, a series that sees her grappling with a changed world for mutants. Still believing in Professor X’s dream, she puts together a team of her own X-Men to try and make the world a better place for mutants and humans. I recently met the artist of the series, Mahmud Asrar in Manchester at a comic signing in Travelling Man and I couldn’t resist getting his thoughts on what it’s like to draw such an important character. He was really open and The Comic Vault is pleased to present an interview with Mahmud about his drawing process, what it meant to handle Jean and why the X-Men are so relatable in the modern day. Continue reading “X-Men: Red Artist Mahmud Asrar Talks About What It Means To Bring Jean Grey Back To Life”
On the emotional spectrum, anger is a common reaction felt by everyone at some point in their life. It could be triggered by something small or large. In certain situations, anger is justified, while other times it can simply be the result of an overreaction. Anger management can be difficult for some and when I think of how emotions are dealt with in comics, the best representation is found in the Lanterns Corps. Rage is represented by the Red Lanterns Corps, with the group being made up of individuals who are prone to losing control.
An exception in the Red Lanterns is Rankorr, due to him being able to control his rage and channel it more constructively. As a character, Rankorr is intriguing because he can be used as a metaphor for anger management. The Comic Vault is looking into the character’s history to understand what makes him different to other Red Lanterns.
Continue reading “How Rankorr Can Be Used As A Metaphor For The Positivity Of Anger Management”
With the release of Black Panther, it’s offered a window into the world of ethnic superheroes and demonstrated that they deserve to be recognised as important characters. It’s inspired me to look into other heroes of colour, such as DC’s Vixen, who represents and African perspective that spans generations. She was intended to be DC’s first African female superhero to appear in her own ongoing series, though it was cancelled during the DC Implosion of 1978. Despite this, Vixen went on to become an integral member of the Justice League. The character also received her own TV series within the Arrow verse, which displayed her relevance to a modern audience. With the ability to harness the powers of the animal kingdom, Vixen is an intriguing superhero that’s worth looking into.
Continue reading “Appreciating The Cultural Significance Of Vixen And Her Role In The DC Universe”
When it comes to comics, certain identities like Superman are set in stone, as there is only one character associated with the name. Other identities are fluid, with different people taking on a superhero role. Two identities that have always fascinated me are Hawk and Dove, as they represent a divide between peace and war. Over the years, the identities have been used by a few characters, with the common theme being clashing ideologies that balance each other out. The Comic Vault is looking into the history of the identities to see if they still have any relevance in the modern day.
Continue reading “Peace And War: An Examination Of Hawk And Dove’s Relevance In Modern Day Comics”
Ever since I started The Comic Vault, I’ve been consistently blown away by the amount of people who’ve come back to read my articles and given me a reason to indulge my inner geek. Each time I’ve reached a new milestone it’s been something that’s kept me motivate and I’m happy to say I’ve hit another goal of 900 followers. For people who’ve been reading the website for a while you’ll have noticed I like to connect comics and mental health together. As it feels like I’m running out of ways to say thank you, I figured I’d take the opportunity to shine a light on bloggers who promote mental health.
Continue reading “900 Followers And A Shout Out For Mental Health Advocates”
In the modern day, mental health is an important issue, with people becoming more comfortable talking about it. But there are many who still struggling with their disorders or feel afraid to talk about it for fear of being judged. This feeling is common among young men, which is why The Comic Vault advocates mental health positivity. A male character who reflects feelings of inadequacy and guilt is Speedball. His struggle to overcome his mental health issues is a poignant journey that deserves to be looked at it more detail.
We’re living in an exciting time for comics, with plenty of independent creators being able to get their work in front of an audience and engage with people around the world. A number of apps for independent comics have started to be developed, and one of the most promising is Macroverse. The brainchild of M2, Macroverse is a phone app that allows comics to be consumed in a creative format. Creators Eben Matthews and Adam Martin teamed up with comic artist Steven Perkins to produce an original comic for Macroverse called DeadTown. I enjoyed talking to all three of them about how the app can help indie creators and the hope that Macroverse can become the Netflix of comics.
The Comic Vault 