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10 Years of WWAC
🕑 Added 2021-12-20 02:10:11 +0000 UTCDecember 21st is a pretty auspicious day, what with it being the 10th anniversary of WWAC. As we look back at where it all began, it's amazing to see how far we've come. Over 300 contributors have shared their passion for comics through WWAC and we are grateful to all of them and especially proud to see them spread their wings in the comics industry and beyond.
Here's a little walk down memory lane, spotlighting some of the best writing at WWAC over the past decade.
Universal FanCon: Peeling Back the Layers by Jazmine Joyner and Rosie Knight (2018)
Universal FanCon was meant to be a celebration of fandom inclusivity. Instead, just weeks before its opening day, it ended up being a mess of controversy with no one taking responsibility. Rosie Knight and Jazmine Joyner pulled together some top-notch reporting, laying out the timeline of events leading up to the failed convention.
The Major's Body by Claire Napier (2014)
In this 10-part series focusing on the Ghost in the Shell franchise, Claire Napier begins the conversation by asking why, for a science-fiction philosophy character named for her military position, is the audience so caught up in thinking about Major Motoko Kusanagi's gender and sexual status?
The Wedding Issues by Rebecca Henely and Kayleigh Hearn (2016-2020)
Aside from “Who would win in a fight?” nothing gets comic fans more heated than the question of whether or not superheroes should marry. In this long-running feature, eventual brides Rebecca Henely and Kayleigh Hearn take a trip down memory lane to the most significant times comic companies took the plunge and got their characters hitched! Did we like the couple? Did we like the dress? And more importantly … why did (or didn’t) the marriage last?
The Vampyre's Legacy by Doris V. Sutherland (2019)
"Two hundred years ago, a genre was born." Doris V. Sutherland has contributed many incredible essays to WWAC's shelves, not the least of which is The Vampyre's Legacy, a series that explores the birth of the vampire lore, beginning with Dr. John Polidori’s short story “The Vampyre” in 1819 and moving all the way through to modern media.
Comics Academe (2015-present)
Curated by Kate Tanski, Comics Academe is an interdisciplinary space for women and nonbinary individuals to publish short-form articles on comics, comic studies scholarship as well as the field of comics studies itself and related events, such as conferences, archives, libraries, and museum exhibits. This includes essays, roundtables, conference reviews, and interviews.
By the Letters by Wendy Browne (2019-2021)
Letterers are some of the many unsung heroes that help shape the comics we love. Word and thought balloons, sound effects (SFX), and narrative boxes appear throughout the pages of each book, but readers tend to take those storytelling devices for granted, without realizing just how much of our reading experience those seemingly simple letters and shapes control. In the By the Letters series, Wendy Browne spotlights several letterers to learn more about their work and its importance to comics.
Colorists on Color by Marissa Louise (2016)
Colorists on Color is a series focusing on another group of comics industry professionals that play an integral role in shaping comics, colorist Marissa Louise share's her expertise and industry connections to spotlight the role of the colorist.
The White Privilege, White Audacity, and White Priorities of STRANGE FRUIT #1 by J.A. Micheline (2015)
In this review of Strange Fruit #1, J.A. Micheline calls out its creators -- two white men -- for the arrogance and audacity of sharing their "deeply personal" story about racism in the old south.
Men Moan About Comics (April 1, 2021)
At WWAC, we understand the importance of making space for men to talk about comics too because they so often are denied that opportunity. And so, on April 1, 2021, we gave them that space. Please be sure to check out Meanwhile on Planet Boob, Is He Warm Enough? and review of Bashiva #1 and Tarot.
Rorschach #1 Is Dangerous And Irresponsible by Corinne McCreery (2020)
While everyone else was busy praising Tom King's Rorschach #1, Cori McCreery took a look at the narrative work within the context of the clear and present danger of our times and called out the irresponsibility of 'both-sidesing.' Given where America ended up just a few months later...
Sequential Sartorial
Does fashion matter in comics? Damn right it does and this series will tell you why.
Knit Your Comics
Kate Tanski's skill with knitting needles is surpassed only by her love of comics. In the Knit Your Comics series, she brings both passions together to create geeky, cozy, fuzz fashion.
Alfie Deserves an Eisner (or at Least a Fair Shot) by Anna Bloomfield (2021)
The webcomic Alfie has been running for over six years and earns a lot of popularity as a porn comic, but there's so much more to Alfie that makes it worthy of mainstream comics criticism -- and awards.
Do I Hate the Nine-Panel Grid or Do I Just Resent Watchmen? by Claire Napier (2019)
Claire Napier's comics critique takes us into the gutters with a look at how (well) the nine-panel grid can be used to tell a story.
House of X #1: All These Worlds are Yours—Except Krakoa by Kayleigh Hearn (2019)
Kayleigh Hearn is one of the most eloquent comics critics around and, as a big fan of the X-Men, it is only fitting that she took on the review of Jonathan Hickman's new vision of the X-Men with House of X #1.
A Brief History of Webcomics: 2010 to Now by Masha Zhdanova (2021)
The most recent History of Webcomics article was written for The Comics Journal by webcartoonist Shaenon Garrity in 2011, but the webcomics landscape has changed drastically since then. Masha Zhdanova catches us up on what's been going on over the past decade.
Cover Girl
Sometimes serious, sometimes silly, the Cover Girl series has a simple rule: judge a comic by a cover that features one or more women.
Beyond the Metaphor: Marvel’s Long-Forgotten Trans Mutant by Dani Kinney (2020)
[caption id="attachment_112138" align="aligncenter" width="527"]
Jessie Drake explaining what it is to be trans to Typhoid Mary.[/caption]
Jessie Drake is an explicitly trans mutant who appeared in Marvel Comics Presents #150 and #151. Many readers don't remember Jessie Drake, but in this essay, Dani Kinney will ensure that you never forget her.
Okay, But Does Batman Fuck? WWAC’s Definitive Take (2019)
Does Batman kill? Zack Snyder says that Batman definitely does, but at WWAC, we have more important questions to answer.
Daddy Issues by Rosie Knight (2017)
Who are the worst fathers in comics? Rosie Knight will let you know in this six-part series.
We Need to Talk About Mantis’ Abuse in Guardians of the Galaxy 2 by Gretchen Smail
Some changes from the source material are expected when a character makes it to the big screen, but Mantis' portrayal strips her of everything she is in the comics. "Gendered insults and gendered violence are so integral to Gunn’s portrayal of her that I have to sincerely ask: Mr. Gunn, do you hate Mantis?"
Nola "SPECIAL BLOOD" Pfau (all the time)
Editor-in-Chief Nola Pfau is another excellent critic who has a way with words. She has written many incredible pieces, but I have to point out that she sometimes does some fine work with our banners, too. Like this one, which makes me laugh so damn hard that I cry every time I see it.
One Ginger’s Top Ten List of Red-Headed Superheroes (and Villains) by Ashley Schmuecker (2014)
And last, but certainly not least, we have our list of top 10 ginger heroes and villains. We're not sure what it is about this list, but the redheads are consistently bringing in the pageviews each month for WWAC, and for that, we are tickled pink.
Do you have a favourite piece from WWAC? Share in the comments or tweet us!
