Good Writing About Comics

There is a lot of bad writing about comics.

Here are a few things recently that I read, that I enjoyed.

1. http://www.comixology.com/articles/228/I-Dont-Like-Me-Either-So-Were-Even

2. http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/brubaker_cooke_rough/

3. http://www.walrusmagazine.com/blogs/2008/11/17/a-conversation-with-lynda-barry/

So, yeah. Tucker’s article does one of my favourite things when talking about comics–it takes an entirely intangible idea, makes it solid, and then explains why you should give a shit. That’s the sort of thing I like writing about, that’s the sort of thing I like reading. On and off I’ll disagree with a point or a conclusion he makes, but the meat of the piece, don’t get complacent about the stature of comics, is a great idea, well expressed.

Meanwhile, Tom Spurgeon’s joint interview with Darwyn Cooke, Ed Brubaker, and Scott Dunbier, on Cooke’s upcoming PARKER: THE HUNTER graphic novel from IDW? That’s great reading. A good interview is obviously helped along by good interview subjects, and Cooke and Brubaker can talk and talk even on their worst days they’re entertaining. But I’ve read shitty interviews with both creators, where the interviewers just totally let them down. Spurgeon’s a professional and a talented one, he keeps them engaged, focussed, and the annecdotes and jocular back-and-forth are nicely balanced with nuts-and-bolts answers that cover the 5 W’s, the H, and a few more besides.

Finally, D&Q just linked to this interview with Lynda Barry at The Walrus. It was conducted last year in the midst of Lynda! Barry! Fever! which included tons of interviews and coverage of Barry and her graphic novel/creative writing course, WHAT IT IS! I don’t think I mentioned it at the time, but I quite enjoyed it (it and Spurgeon’s stood out to me, actually), so I figured I’d bring it up now. It’s a solid, wide-ranging interview with Barry about her work and life. Good stuff.

So there’s three things to read. 

– Chris