Rocketed to Chicago as a young adult from a doomed suburb, James now writes for truth, justice and the conspicuous consumption of comic books. He currently attends graduate school for an MFA. Send all complaints, concerns and hate mail to jay.orbesen@gmail.com. Twitter @jamesorbesen. Blog http://alphajayomegajay.blogspot.com/
Features
Wednesday, October 6 2010
The Three Creators: PopMatters at the "Chicago Women in Comics" Panel
This past week Columbia College hosted the Chicago Women in Comics but rather than unearth a discourse of marginalization, the event showcased a deep wellspring of talent and widescale commercial success.
Monday, August 23 2010
Life and Anti-Life: Kirby’s Fourth World Gambit
Already having established himself as the co-creator of the Marvel Universe, Jack "the King" Kirby, ran very little risk in moving to rival publisher DC. The gamble of producing a single story told over four distinct titles however, proved to be an incredible commercial challenge.
Thursday, August 12 2010
Catwalk: Images of Female Power
For over 70 years Catwoman's Selina Kyle has been a character to offer a more credible voice to questions of power in the representation of women in comics.
Reviews
Monday, February 28 2011
Keep It Rolling: Gordon McAlpin's 'Multiplex'
In Multiplex creator Gordon McAlpin attempts to track the same path as the sublimely successful South Park by scripting his webcomic around topical media goings-on.
Thursday, February 10 2011
Polarized: Mr. Luthor Goes to Arkham
Action Comics regular writer Paul Cornell demonstrates a deep and abiding gift for the character-driven story in 'The Black Ring (Pt.8)', when he puts Superman villain Lex Luthor in a jousting match with Batman's Joker.
Monday, February 7 2011
Attack of the Apps: Solider Zero #5
With a bold new era beginning in Stan Lee's Soldier Zero, and a new creative team taking the helm, what is left to be said? Except perhaps a hope for greatness once demonstrated.
Monday, January 31 2011
Infinite Existential Crisis: The Infinite Vacation #1
It's not that writer Nick Spencer seems to be everywhere. It's that his writing is exceedingly good, marshaling maybe the best strategies of comics-scripting. Spencer's most recent project, The Infinite Vacation, seems to have all the hallmarks of a magnum opus
Monday, January 24 2011
Empirical Replicants – Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?: Dust to Dust
It's not often that prequels hit their mark. But Dust to Dust clearly does, a feat made more surprising by the fact that this series is the prequel to Philip K. Dick's celebrated Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.
