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Though there are two comic book shop five minutes away from my house I will hop on the subway and go into downtown Toronto to shop at a particular store because I trust their opinions over anyone else I have spoken to. There is one young miss who has never led me wrong, making solid suggestions whenever I tell her what kind of book or series or artist I am looking for. She is better than the boys.    Some of what she has helped me find are female driven or centric series, books written or illustrated by women like Lumberjanes, the work of Tamra Bonvillain and Tess Fowler in Rat Queens, and Fiona Staples` Saga. Yet, according to Marisa Stotter's documentary She Makes Comics...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

The parties will jointly produce a slate of pop culture and music-focused documentaries and TV series for worldwide distribution on XLrator Media’s Lifeframe documentary label.

The first title will be the TV series Origins, which will explore the roots of pop culture’s biggest comic book franchises through the eyes of creators, industry legends and fans. The completed pilot focuses on X-Men comic book creator Chris Claremont.

The companies’ first feature documentary co-production will be Cosplay Universe (pictured), styled as a definitive look at the worldwide cultural phenomenon in which participants transform themselves into iconic pop culture characters. The parties have earmarked a late 2017 release.

XLrator Media and J2 Films will also collaborate on the North American release of the documentary Man In The Camo Jacket about Mike Peters, lead singer of the Welsh rock band The Alarm, and his inspirational battle with cancer and his work to help others with the disease.

Earlier this year...

Sequart Organization is proud to announce the publication of A Long Time Ago: Exploring the Star Wars Cinematic Universe, an essay anthology edited by Star Wars Expanded Universe author Rich Handley and Joseph F. Berenato.

In 1977, the cinematic world was changed forever, thanks to a science-fantasy film about a farm boy, a princess, a wizard, a cyborg, two smugglers, and a pair of robots. Written and directed by George Lucas, Star Wars — in essence, The Wizard of Oz meets The Odyssey meets Lord of the Rings, but in space — was a visual and audio extravaganza like nothing anyone had seen before. And going to the movies would never be the same again. The movie ushered in two (soon to be three) film trilogies and numerous television shows, making the franchise one of the most successful of all time. Star Wars mesmerized audience-goers young and old with its state-of-the-art special effects and resonant soundtrack,...

In the early 1970s, when I was in college, I went to hear Gloria Steinem speak. The modern version of the feminism movement was still in its early stages. My memory of the talk is fuzzy, but I remember her recounting the reaction of men on the left to women’s issues:

“She walks! She talks! She gets down on there belly and slithers like a snake! It’s – a woman who thinks!”

That quote kept coming to my mind while watching She Makes Comics, a terrific new documentary directed by Marisa Stotter. I say “terrific” because it is a thorough overview of women who have worked in the comics industry, from newspaper strips to cosplay costumers. To quote from the promotional material: “Featuring dozens of interviews with such vital figures as Ramona Fradon, Trina Robbins, Joyce Farmer, Karen Berger, Kelly Sue DeConnick, and Becky Cloonan, She Makes Comics is...

Director: Marisa Stotter; Featuring: Karen Berger, Gail Simone, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Jenette Kahn, Becky Cloonan, Colleen Doran, Wendi Pini, Kate Leth, Raina Telgemeier, Marjorie Liu, Louise Simonson, Heidi MacDonald; Running time: 110 mins

The issues faced by women in comics are perennial but have been particularly visible in recent years - whether it is in terms of people speaking out about poor treatment, creators and fans saying appalling things or, on better days, representation and inclusion actually improving in the industry.

There's a whole lot to say on the matter, and today (December 9) director Marisa Stotter's documentary She Makes Comics has arrived to have its say.

The film has done a fantastic job of representing the new and old guard of comics, with interviewees including Jenette Kahn, Louise Simonson, Colleen Doran, Wendi Pini, Kate Leth, Becky Cloonan, Raina Telgemeier, Marjorie Liu, journalist Heidi MacDonald and many more.

Particularly spotlighted are...