Culture

Mobile comics platform LINE Webtoon is huge in Korea and getting bigger here, and they are no slouches in the diversity department. According to a release, 42% of LINE WEbstoon's creators are female, 48% of its comics feature female leads, and 50% of its over 6 million daily readers are women. Impressive, if not surprising statistics. And they'll discuss them more at a “Women in Digital Comics” panel to be held at SXSW on Friday, March 18^th. Participants include moderator Tom Akel, LINE Webtoon's director of content, and 2 Broke Girls’ star Beth Behrs (Dents), digital star Michelle Phan (Helios : Femina), LINE Webtoon creators Kaitlyn Narvaza (Where Tangents Meet, Siren’s Lament) and Susanna Nousiainen (ShootAround), and one of the winners of LINE Webtoon’s recent Superhero Comics Contest, Sandra Diaz (Supersonic Girl).

We survived the server move! Did you miss us? Don't lie! A lot more change and improvement lie ahead but we're settling into our new IP nicely. And it's Leap Day! What better way to celebrate than with a salute to Batroc...the Leaper! This Captain America villain was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and appeared in Tales of Suspense #75. A French kickboxing champion he has no superpowers...save the ability to talk in a horrible French accent and...to leap!

Abraham Riesman. New York magazines resident comics expert, has a long and long brewing profile of Stan Lee called Why Is Stan Lee’s Legacy...

Prof. Carol Tilley, who previously revealed that anti-comics crusaderDr. Fredric Wertham's research wasn't all that is at it again. While rummaging through the archives...

Rokudenashiko (aka Megumi Igarashi) is a Japanese artist best known for creating a kayak that was based on a 3D scan of...an intimate part of her body. And she paddled around in it. Happily. The Japanese government was somehow offended by this and prosecuted her for obscenity—the trial has taken place and a verdict has not been rendered yet. Her memoir What Is Obscenity? The Story of a Good For Nothing Artist and Her Pussy, will be published this spring by Koyama Press, and she's coming to North America for a series of lectures and signings sponsored by arts organizations and free speech advocacy groups. And appearing at TCAF. So you will be able to hear all about her travels and canoeing*** in person.

  For years, there have been rumors of Marvel and Dc shutting down the countless unauthorized prints, t-shirts and sketchbooks sold at conventions featuring licensed...

The Columbia University Science Fiction Society (CUSFS) is hosting a talk with artist Dennis Calerotonight at 7 pm: This event is at 207 Milbank Hall...

Ippudo is an esteemed Japanese restaurant famed for their noodles.They have a "secret" ramen bar, which sounds quite exciting. And if you have special...

Continuing our spotlight on #BlackComicsMonth, by arrangement with Vixen, catching up with a ton of creators and comics. Check out some talented people you...

The comic book holiday calendar is getting crowded, and here's a new one: Dark Horse Day, which will be held on June 4th to...

Artist Reilly Brown had a hell of a week last week. On Monday, he and wife Shawna became parents for the first time, with the arrival of...

When Heidi offered her forum to me to discuss issues of diversity, I was hesitant. I admire activism, but I’m a writer and my passion is talking storytelling and character. The opportunity made me feel unsafe, like somehow I would put storytelling in danger by raising the issue of diversity within it. I realized, during a long play session of FALLOUT 4 (my chosen tool for meditation), that my safety wasn’t at stake. I was protecting my comfort. Diversity is an uncomfortable conversation, especially on the internet. Writing popular fiction is kin to walking barefoot on hot coals. If you ignore the heat, you can make it to the other side. The moment you think about what’s underneath you, the flame takes you forever.