Culture

I can't think of a better story to end this year with than that of Ariell R. Johnson, reportedly the East coasts first black...

It's becoming a tradition like plum pudding and A Christmas Story: Kate Beaton's annual comics about her family from her trip home for Christmas. I'm not sure how they're tagged but if you click around her Tumblr you'll see them all. Kate's family is no more odd or endearing than anyone's and that what's make these so universal. IF these don't give you that fuzzy holiday feeling, nothing will.

And by few I mean a handful. Michael Cavna reports on this in a powerful piece called Why are there no staff black cartoonists at a time when we need them most? He spotlights a few of the black cartoonist who have a voice, including Keith Knight, Darrin Bell, and, Congressman John Lewism who thought not actually a cartoonist has certainly become a voice in comics. But the numbers are still awful:

In an interview with Vulture, Mike Mignola reveals that his much-lauded Hellboy in Hell series will end with issue #10 which comes out early...

Okay this one isn't exactly fun, but it is powerful. Baseline Blvd is a story about grief and

Black Santa's Revenge from David F Walker on Vimeo. If you're in the mood for something a little more cheeky for your holiday viewing,...

It's December 29th and most of you are on holiday or traveling around or sitting at your desk counting the minutes until you can leave. I'm in the middle group—traveling— and for those of you in the latter group, today were just posting some fine reading. The provenance of some of these is, um, hazy, but no judgements. Just entertainment!

Merry Christmas from everyone at the Beat to all of you. Wishing you a peaceful, happy holiday and all the presents you asked for. If...

It's been a while since we linked to Michael Carlyle'sThe Crapbox of Son Of Cthulhu, examining awful comics of the past, but here he...

This presidential campaign seems to be all about optics so here's a good one. Although there is a loose prohibition against involving the kids...

Breaking news! Breaking Cat News is back with a new holiday special! Pucky’s Purrfect Christmas Tips. The link is to the first chapter and then hit next to read the whole searing saga of how robber mice steal Buzzy Mouse and Puck becomes a creature of vengeance. Of course there are also special tips on how cats can "help" with Christmas that any feline owner will recognize and fear.

If there was a tidal wave that swept over the comics world in 2015 it was diversity. Great strides were made, though more needs to be done. And here here's an award to recognize come of what's going on, under the auspices of the Virginia Library Association. Publishers take note; more info here.