Story Archives of 'Comics and Comic Books'

It's often the job of editorial cartoonists to shock their readers. Whether their preaching to the choir or trying to change minds, the images on the editorial page can sometimes make you wince. So, it may be hard to imagine the cartoons that were so offensive they didn't make the cut. Luckily, though, we don't have to imagine it: editor David Wallis has collected them in a book called "Killed: Casualties from the War on Free Expression". We'll talk with David about his book and about our culture's stomach for dissent in the post-9/11 world.

***This show originally aired April 20th, 2007***

It's often the job of editorial cartoonists to shock their readers. Whether their preaching to the choir or trying to change minds, the images on the editorial page can sometimes make you wince. So, it may be hard to imagine the cartoons that were so offensive they didn't make the cut. Luckily, though, we don't have to imagine it: editor David Wallis has collected them in a book called "Killed: Casualties from the War on Free Expression". We'll talk with David about his book and about our culture's stomach for dissent in the post-9/11 world.

Manga, the popular Japanese comic art form has transformed the look of the comic sections at local book stores across the country. Some people say the artwork is too stylized, too mechanical and too industrial, but its fans are growing and passionate. We're going to look at the roots of Manga, how it developed in Japan, and how it now fits into American comic culture. We're also going to explore Asian-American graphic novels, and see why they're finally making their way onto the library shelves across the country. Our guests include David Berona, the Library Director at Plymouth State University which is putting on a show of Japanese Manga at the Lamson Library beginning September 5th, and Laura Braunstein, the English Language and Literature Librarian at Dartmouth, and the curator of the exhibit From Choju Giga to Manga and Beyond: Sequential Art and Asian Culture which traces the roots of Asian art to Asian-American art.

Collectors and dealers will gather in Manchester this weekend for a comic book convention (or "Comicon"). We'll talk with some local artists and publishers about the culture and business behind the art form. Major motion pictures have helped graphic novels gain main stream attention and respect lately. But still, it may be harder than ever for smaller publications to get noticed.

Shay's guests are:
James Sturm, Cartoonist and Director of the Center for Cartoon Studies
Matt Talbot, Co-Writer and Inker for the comic book Johnny Raygun
Ralph DiBernardo, Publisher and Owner of Jetpack Press

The song at the end of the show is "The Comeback" by the Swedish band the Shout Out Louds. It's off their album Howl Howl Gaff Gaff

Jack Kamen was an artist for EC Comics in the early 50s, when it put out some of the most creative, daring comic art ever. But after a brief golden age, EC was devestated by a wave of reaction and censorship. Jack Kamen left the business, made his living in commercial art, and raised four children- including the inventor Dean Kamen.