Recent Andrew Smith Columns

DC unleashes ‘Second Wave’ of titles

Andrew Smith | Sunday, May 20, 2012

DC has begun its “Second Wave” of six new series, following “The New 52” titles launched last September. The first four are already out, and …

‘The Origin’ does ‘The New 52’ justice

Andrew Smith | Sunday, May 13, 2012

When DC Comics relaunched its entire superhero line last September as “The New 52,” it put its best foot forward with “Justice League” No. 1. …

Prepare to assemble with The Avengers

Andrew Smith | Sunday, May 6, 2012

Avengers Assemble! Those outside the comics world may not be familiar with that battle cry, but they will be after this weekend, when “The Avengers” …

‘Shooters’ focuses on human element of war

Andrew Smith | Sunday, April 29, 2012

“Shooters” is a new graphic novel that puts the emotional journey of its warrior protagonist at the center of the story. As such, it’s a …

Blondie has set standard for 8 decades

Andrew Smith | Sunday, April 15, 2012

Perhaps it’s all the talk of women’s right on the news, but I just read two comics collections that provide a history lesson on the …

US-Middle East connections recounted in ‘Best of Enemies’

Andrew Smith | Sunday, April 8, 2012

Sometimes a graphic novel arrives that’s more important for what it teaches than how it entertains. Such is the case with “Best of Enemies: A …

A comics character that’s too Marvelous for words

Andrew Smith | Sunday, April 1, 2012

Marvel Entertainment announced a new Captain Marvel – a character with a lot of strikes against her – at WonderCon in Anaheim, Calif., on March …

‘Fairest,’ ‘Saucer Country’ live up to expectations

Andrew Smith | Sunday, March 25, 2012

Call it self-fulfilling prophecy, but I’ve read the first issues of two of DC’s four new Vertigo books, and I feel about them exactly as …

Vampire world expanding out West

Andrew Smith | Sunday, March 18, 2012

The comic book series “American Vampire” started small, with just one bloodsucker in the Old West. But now, as is evidenced by the recently released …

It’s Mars, so what’s not to love?

Andrew Smith | Sunday, March 11, 2012

If you’re wondering who John Carter is and why there’s a big, splashy movie about him premiering March 9, let me add two words that …

DC’s Vertigo has ‘Fairest’ tales in the land

Andrew Smith | Sunday, March 4, 2012

DC’s relaunch of its 52-title superhero line last September made explosive headlines, and now the publisher is upgrading its mature-reader line, Vertigo – albeit on …

‘Spirit of Vengeance’ may describe Marvel

Andrew Smith | Sunday, February 26, 2012

The new Ghost Rider movie’s ticket sales aren’t very hot, but the controversy raging in the comic-book community is an inferno. The story begins in …

Italian artist’s work reprinted by Dark Horse

Andrew Smith | Sunday, February 19, 2012

Milo Manara is one of Europe’s most famous artists, known for his beautiful women, meticulous craftsmanship, sweeping landscapes, storytelling skills and even pornography. His work …

‘Yiddishkeit’ gives readers historical perspective

Andrew Smith | Sunday, February 12, 2012

Shalom! Did you ever wonder why you know so many Yiddish words, fellow goyim? I know I have – I’ve used words such as putz, …

Comics: Where good overshadows evil

Andrew Smith | Sunday, February 5, 2012

While comic-book industry news is usually all about characters, creators and circulation, sometimes the real world intrudes – for good or ill. This week, we …

Hits and misses upcoming on the silver screen

Andrew Smith | Sunday, January 29, 2012

If you thought Hollywood strip-mined comic books for movie ideas in 2011, you ain’t seen nuttin’ yet. Which is not to say that all you’re …

Behold ‘Inner Sanctum’ of Colon’s work

Andrew Smith | Sunday, January 22, 2012

The Golden Age of radio is a nearly forgotten era, which makes it all the cooler that writer/artist Ernie Colon has brought it back in …

Ghost Who Walks lives on in reprints

Andrew Smith | Sunday, January 15, 2012

My introduction to Lee Falk’s “The Phantom” was in comic books, not the syndicated comic strip. Thanks to Hermes Press, you can experience both at …

‘Annotated Sandman’ enhances Gaiman series

Andrew Smith | Sunday, January 8, 2012

Ever since Neil Gaiman’s astonishingly literate “Sandman” series ran from 1989-96, I’ve wanted someone to point out the cool stuff I missed. And now, with …

Grant Morrison shows us what comics are all about

Andrew Smith | Sunday, December 25, 2011

If you’re still looking for the perfect gift for the geek in your life, here’s our third and last round of suggestions: “Supergods: What Masked …

Christmas ideas for relative peanuts

Andrew Smith | Sunday, December 18, 2011

We’re entering the home stretch on the holiday season, and I’ve yet to scratch the surface on potential gifts for the beloved geeks among us. …

52 chances to make Christmas merry

Andrew Smith | Sunday, December 11, 2011

From Christmas to Kwanzaa, the holiday season provides an occasion for just about anyone of any faith to please the geek in their life with …

IDW planning even bigger ‘Infestation’

Andrew Smith | Sunday, December 4, 2011

IDW Publishing pulled off a storytelling coup in early 2011 when it involved a variety of unrelated, licensed books with a common threat – vampires. …

Flash on fast track to renewed popularity

Andrew Smith | Sunday, November 27, 2011

The Flash has always been an important character in DC Comics mythology, and co-writers Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato plan to keep the super-speedster’s newly …

Girl’s harsh life in Poland recounted in ‘Marzi’

Andrew Smith | Sunday, November 20, 2011

I doubt many of us have wondered what it was like to grow up as a little girl in Communist Poland, but after “Marzi: A …

Batman confronts the spirits of Christmas

Andrew Smith | Sunday, November 13, 2011

It doesn’t seem probable, but a new graphic novel with Batman at the center of a classic Christmas story is simply terrific. Lee Bermejo writes …

Angel anthology takes flight through Guay’s art

Andrew Smith | Sunday, November 6, 2011

Occasionally, someone executes a standard storytelling device with such dazzling skill that it reminds you why that device became standard in the first place. Rebecca …

Crime doesn’t pay, but book does

Andrew Smith | Sunday, October 30, 2011

It’s said crime doesn’t pay, but “Crime Does Not Pay” sure did. Now, thanks to Dark Horse, we can see what made this particular comic …

Talent shines through in ‘Batman: Year One’

Andrew Smith | Sunday, October 23, 2011

“Batman: Year One” is one of the most critically acclaimed and fan-revered stories about the Dark Knight. Wisely, Warner Bros. has hewed closely to the …

‘Stargazing Dog’ an emotionally wrenching tale

Andrew Smith | Sunday, October 16, 2011

It isn’t often that a graphic novel can bring me to tears. “Stargazing Dog,” by Takashi Murakami, did just that. It’s the story of “Daddy,” …

Jonah Hex headlines DC’s new ‘All-Star Western’

Andrew Smith | Sunday, October 9, 2011

DC Entertainment may have saved the best for last in its ambitious revamping of its entire line of superhero comics – and it’s a book …

Putting the Wonder back in the Amazing Amazon

Andrew Smith | Sunday, October 2, 2011

Some things never change. One is human nature. Another is the vivid way writer Brian Azzarello brings human nature to life. “I go back to …

New 52 only the start for DC

Andrew Smith | Sunday, September 25, 2011

DC Comics is in the third week of relaunching all 52 of its superhero titles in a single month, and it’s reportedly going big guns. …

DC’s experiment nothing short of super

Andrew Smith | Sunday, September 18, 2011

DC’s grand experiment, “The New 52” titles starting over at issue No. 1, launched 13 of them Sept. 7, with augers and portents of success. …

‘Sidekicks’ charts unique path in familiar premise

Andrew Smith | Sunday, September 11, 2011

Falling vaguely in this column’s bailiwick is “Sidekicks” (Abrams, $16.95), an entertaining young-adult novel set in a superhero milieu, written by Emmy-award-winning writer Jack Ferraiolo …

Cool reception for August graphic novels

Andrew Smith | Sunday, September 4, 2011

Maybe it’s the heat, but several graphic novels in August simply didn’t wow me. n “99 Days” ($19.99), by Matteo Casali and Kristian Donaldson, is …

DC considers itself No. 1 – 52 times over

Andrew Smith | Sunday, August 28, 2011

On Tuesday, hundreds of comic-book fans, some in costume, will line up in front of Midtown Comics in New York’s Times Square at midnight. It’s …

Geary puts his deft touch on ‘Sacco and Vanzetti’

Andrew Smith | Sunday, August 21, 2011

Like most Americans, I first heard about the Sacco and Vanzetti trial in school – my eighth-grade American history class. But it took Rick Geary’s …

Cartoon Network series does justice to super-group

Andrew Smith | Sunday, August 14, 2011

Cartoon Network’s “Young Justice” cartoon isn’t your daddy’s Teen Titans. It isn’t even your older brother’s. “Young Justice” is its own animal by virtue of …

Simon, Kirby showed how patriotism is done

Andrew Smith | Sunday, August 7, 2011

With the arrival of the Captain America movie, Titan has released two excellent books shining a light on the character’s creators. For those just coming …

Fun in the saddle: ‘Cowboys & Aliens’

Andrew Smith | Sunday, July 31, 2011

Another comic-book concept made its movie premiere Friday: “Cowboys & Aliens.” And therein hangs a tale. “Cowboys & Aliens” debuted as a standalone graphic novel …

Star-Spangled Avenger comes to silver screen

Andrew Smith | Sunday, July 24, 2011

“Captain America: The First Avenger,” which premiered Friday, looks to be the best comics-to-film movie of the summer – which is saying a lot – …

‘Complete’ is perfect description of this collection

Andrew Smith | Sunday, July 17, 2011

In the early part of the 20th century, the United States had the world’s most amazing and unique comic strips, a legacy of innovation and …

‘Cowboys’ shot down by unlikable characters

Andrew Smith | Sunday, July 10, 2011

The Teetering Tower of Review Stuff is perilously high, so let’s bang through some of it: n I usually enjoy DC’s “Vertigo Crime” line of …

Adams set bar for comic-book art

Andrew Smith | Sunday, July 3, 2011

Neal Adams changed how comic books were drawn in America. I still remember the first time I saw his artwork. It was in the late …

Archie gets it right with ‘Kevin Keller’

Andrew Smith | Sunday, June 26, 2011

Archie’s Kevin Keller is a first in a lot of ways. He’s the first openly gay teenager in Riverdale. He’s the first Archie character to …

Green Lantern conjures up a movie

Andrew Smith | Sunday, June 19, 2011

Green Lantern, who debuted in his first big-budget movie Friday, was my favorite DC Comics superhero as a child. Given the loving care lavished on …

‘X-Men: First Class’: Embrace change

Andrew Smith | Sunday, June 12, 2011

“X-Men: First Class,” the X-movie that premiered June 3, has been getting rave reviews. But it can be confusing to anyone familiar with the characters …

Filling in basics of Archie’s history

Andrew Smith | Sunday, June 5, 2011

The bid by Archie Comics to become a bigger player in pop culture keeps expanding, buttressed by the first comprehensive history of Archie and the …

Taking vampires to a whole new level

Andrew Smith | Sunday, May 29, 2011

“American Vampire” writer Scott Snyder is having a lot of fun creating a new vampire mythology – which means a lot of fun for us. …