Rarely in discussions of apocalyptic fiction is friendship brought up. My personal observation is that the genre focuses on whatever topic is relevant in the current political discourse (i.e., Planet of the Apes). Whenever human interaction is brought up, it’s usually the worst ways possible. Many apocalyptic storytellers seem to think humanity’s negative qualities will […]
About Ben Howard
Boston Terriers and Desert Vibes: A Conversation with Jay and Sanders Fabares of “The Pale”
Not too long ago, I wrote a review of The Pale, a black and white mystery comic about the discovery of a burned corpse in a small desert town. Jay and Sanders Fabares are the husband/wife duo behind the comic. Sanders writes the comic while Jay handles art duties. They have been making the comic […]
In Sarah Nelson’s Daniel, Toxic Masculinity is Vampiric
Over time the metaphorical meaning of the vampire has diversified, shifting away from its earliest existence as a literary representation of xenophobic beliefs. Whatever cultural fear or anxiety vampires come to represent is dependent on the context of the story and the storyteller’s motivations. Sarah Nelson’s Daniel, a horror webcomic about a young man turned into a […]
Satellite Falling is Action Packed Sci-fi with an Important Message
Written by Steve Horton Art by Stephen Thompson Colors by Lisa Jackson Letters by Neil Uyetake Edits by Sarah Gaydos Published by IDW Whenever I see the argument to “keep politics out of sci-fi” come up, I have an urge to point out the genre has always been on the forefront of political writing. Many […]
“The Pale” is a Strong, Character Driven Mystery
In the literary world, one gets the impression mysteries are the bastard child no one wants. Sherlock Holmes aside, rarely do mysteries get recognized as significantly contributing to literature. Just about every critic feels comfortable dismissing them as complete trash. I can understand the revulsion to the genre. Most of it contains repetitive storylines, recycled […]