The Comics Journal

The Comics Journal

Jay Lynch self-portrait for The Comics Journal #114 (February 1987)
Editor-in-chief	Michael Dean (since 2006)
Categories	comic books news and criticism
Frequency	monthly
Publisher	Fantagraphics Books
First issue	1977
Country	United States
Language	English
Website	TCJ.com
ISSN	0194-7869

The Comics Journal, often abbreviated TCJ, is an American magazine of news and criticism pertaining to comic books, comic strips and graphic novels.^[1] Known for its lengthy interviews with comic creators, pointed editorials and scathing reviews of the products of the mainstream comics industry, the magazine promotes the view that comics are a fine art meriting broader cultural respect, and thus should be evaluated with higher critical standards.^[2][3][4]

History

In 1976, Gary Groth and Michael Catron acquired The Nostalgia Journal, a small competitor of the newspaper adzine The Buyer's Guide for Comics Fandom. At the time, Groth and Catron were already publishing Sounds Fine, a similarly formatted adzine for record collectors that they had started after producing Rock 'N Roll Expo '75, held during the July 4th weekend in 1975 in Washington, D.C.

The publication was relaunched as The New Nostalgia Journal with issue #27 (July 1976), and with issue #32 (January 1977), it became The Comics Journal ("a quality publication for the serious comics fan"). Issue #37 (December 1977) adopted a magazine format.

In addition to lengthy interviews with comics industry figures, the Journal has always published criticism—and received it in turn.^[2] Starting in the early 2000s, the Journal published a series of annual specials combining its usual critical format with extended samples of comics from specially selected contributors.

With issue #300 (November 2009), The Comics Journal ceased its semi-monthly print publication.^[5] As part of this transition, TCJ shifted from an eight-times a year publishing schedule to a larger, more elaborate, semi-annual format supported by a new website.^[6][7]

Lawsuits

Over the years The Journal has been involved in a handful of lawsuits.^[2] Artist Rich Buckler attempted legal action for a review that called him a plagiarist while printing his panels next to earlier and quite similar Jack Kirby art.^{[8][9][10][11]} A Groth interview with science fiction writer Harlan Ellison sparked a lawsuit by writer Michael Fleisher, over an informal discussion of Fleisher's work and temperament.^[12] Co-defendants Groth and Ellison won the case, but emerged from the suit estranged.^[13][14][15]

The Comics Journal Library: The Writers (2006) reprinted the Ellison interview with the cover blurb "Harlan Ellison: Famous Comics Dilettante", for which in part, Ellison shortly thereafter filed suit against the Journal, Groth and Thompson.^[16]

The Journal has on occasion published, as cover features, lengthy court transcripts of comics-related civil suits. Notable instances include the Fleisher suit^[15][17] and Marv Wolfman's failed suit against Marvel Comics over ownership of the character Blade.^[18][19]

Content

The Journal features book-length interviews, conducted by Gary Groth and others. Noteworthy interviews include Gil Kane in #38, Steve Gerber in #41, Harlan Ellison in #53, Dennis O'Neil in #64, Robert Crumb in #113, and Charles M. Schulz in #200.

In 2006, the immediacy of online news coverage led the Journal to largely abandon "Newswatch" in favor of "Journalista", a topical daily blog, edited by Dirk Deppey, that covers the same area.^[20]

Staff members and regular contributors

Gary Groth has been the Journal's publisher and nominal editor for almost all of its existence. Staff members and regular contributors have included Kim Thompson, Greg Stump, Eric Millikin, Eric Reynolds, Ng Suat Tong, R. Fiore, R.C. Harvey, Kenneth Smith, Don Phelps, Robert Boyd, Tom Heintjes, Michael Dean, Tom Spurgeon, Robert Rodi, Gene Phillips, Marilyn Bethke, Cat Yronwode, Heidi MacDonald, Lee Wochner, Arn Saba, Ted White, Bob Levin, Carter Scholz, and Noah Berlatsky. Guest contributors have included Dave Sim and Trina Robbins.

Managing editors

• Carol Sobocinski, 198?
• Greg S. Baisden, 1988–1989
• Robert Boyd, 198?-1990
• Helena Harvilicz, 1990–1992
• Frank Young, 1992–1994
• Tom Spurgeon, 1994-1999 (also executive editor 1998-1999)
• Eric Evans and Darren Hick, 1999–2001
• Anne Elizabeth Moore, 2001–2002
• Milo George, 2002–2004
• Dirk Deppey, 2004–2006
• Michael Dean, 2006–2011

Online editors

• Kristy Valenti, 2010–2011
• Dan Nadel and Tim Hodler, 2011-present

Top 100 Comics list

The Journal published a 20th-century comics canon in its 210th issue (February 1999). To compile the list, eight contributors and editors made eight separate top 100 (or fewer than 100 for some) lists of American works. These eight lists were then informally combined, and tweaked into an ordered list.^[21]

1. Krazy Kat by George Herriman
2. Peanuts by Charles Schulz
3. Pogo by Walt Kelly
4. Maus by Art Spiegelman
5. Little Nemo in Slumberland by Winsor McCay
6. Feiffer by Jules Feiffer
7. Donald Duck by Carl Barks
8. Mad Comics by Harvey Kurtzman and various
9. Binky Brown Meets the Holy Virgin Mary by Justin Green
10. The Weirdo stories of Robert Crumb
11. Thimble Theatre by E.C. Segar
12. EC's "New Trend" war comics by Harvey Kurtzman and various
13. Wigwam Bam (L&R) by Jaime Hernandez
14. Blood of Palomar (L&R) by Gilbert Hernandez
15. The Spirit by Will Eisner
16. RAW Magazine, edited by Art Spiegelman and Françoise Mouly
17. The Acme Novelty Library by Chris Ware
18. Polly and Her Pals by Cliff Sterrett
19. The Sketchbooks of Robert Crumb
20. Uncle Scrooge by Carl Barks
21. The New Yorker cartoons of Peter Arno
22. The Death of Speedy Ortíz (L&R) by Jaime Hernandez
23. Terry and the Pirates by Milton Caniff
24. Flies on the Ceiling (L&R) by Jaime Hernandez
25. Wash Tubbs by Roy Crane
26. The Jungle Book by Harvey Kurtzman
27. Palestine by Joe Sacco
28. The Mishkin saga by Kim Deitch
29. Gasoline Alley by Frank King
30. The Fantastic Four by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
31. Poison River (L&R) by Gilbert Hernandez
32. Plastic Man by Jack Cole
33. Dick Tracy by Chester Gould
34. The theatrical caricatures of Al Hirschfeld
35. The Amazing Spider-Man by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
36. Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
37. Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau
38. The autobiographical comics from Yummy Fur by Chester Brown
39. The editorial cartoons of Pat Oliphant
40. The Kin-der-Kids by Lyonel Feininger
41. From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell
42. Ghost World by Daniel Clowes
43. Amphigorey by Edward Gorey
44. The Idiots Abroad (Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers) by Gilbert Shelton and Paul Mavrides
45. Paul Auster's City of Glass by Paul Karasik and David Mazzucchelli
46. Cages by Dave McKean
47. The Buddy Bradley saga by Peter Bagge
48. The cartoons of James Thurber
49. Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
50. Tantrum by Jules Feiffer
51. The Alec stories of Eddie Campbell
52. It's a Good Life, If You Don't Weaken by Seth
53. The editorial cartoons of Herblock
54. EC's "New Trend" horror comics by Al Feldstein and various
55. The Frank stories by Jim Woodring
56. Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer by Ben Katchor
57. A Contract with God by Will Eisner
58. The New Yorker cartoons of Charles Addams
59. Little Lulu by John Stanley
60. Alley Oop by V. T. Hamlin
61. American Splendor #1-10 by Harvey Pekar and various
62. Little Orphan Annie by Harold Gray
63. Hey Look! by Harvey Kurtzman
64. Goodman Beaver by Harvey Kurtzman and Bill Elder
65. Bringing Up Father by George McManus
66. Zippy the Pinhead by Bill Griffith
67. The Passport by Saul Steinberg
68. Barnaby by Crockett Johnson
69. God's Man by Lynd Ward
70. Jimbo by Gary Panter
71. The Book of Jim by Jim Woodring
72. The short stories in Rubber Blanket by David Mazzucchelli
73. The Cartoon History of the Universe by Larry Gonick
74. Ernie Pook's Comeek by Lynda Barry
75. Black Hole by Charles Burns
76. The Master Race story by Bernard Krigstein and Al Feldstein
77. Li'l Abner by Al Capp
78. Sugar and Spike by Sheldon Mayer
79. Captain Marvel by C. C. Beck
80. Zap Comix by Robert Crumb and various
81. The Lily stories (Daddy's Girl) by Debbie Drechsler
82. Caricature by Daniel Clowes
83. V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd
84. Why I Hate Saturn by Kyle Baker
85. The Willie and Joe cartoons of Bill Mauldin
86. Stuck Rubber Baby by Howard Cruse
87. The New Yorker cartoons of George Price
88. Jack Kirby's Fourth World by Jack Kirby
89. The autobiographical comics of Spain Rodriguez
90. Mr. Punch by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean
91. Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
92. The "Pictopia" story by Alan Moore and Don Simpson
93. Dennis the Menace by Hank Ketcham
94. The humor comics of Basil Wolverton
95. Los Tejanos by Jack Jackson (alias Jaxon)
96. The Dirty Plotte series by Julie Doucet
97. The Hannah Story by Carol Tyler
98. Barney Google by Billy DeBeck
99. The Bungle Family by Harry J. Tuthill
100. Prince Valiant by Hal Foster

Awards

Year	Organisation	Award	Result
1990	Harvey Award	Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation	Won[22]
1991			Won[23]
1992			Won[24]
1993			Won[25]
1995			Won[26]
1996	Eisner Award	Best Comics-Related Periodical/Publication	Won[27]
1997		Best Comics-Related Periodical/Publication	Won[27]
	Harvey Award	Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation	Won[28]
1998	Eisner Award	Best Comics-Related Periodical/Publication	Won[27]
	Harvey Award	Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation	Won[29]
1999	Eisner Award	Best Comics-Related Periodical/Publication	Won[27]
	Harvey Award	Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation	Won[30]
2000			Won[31]
2001			Won[32]
2003		Best Anthology Comics Journal Summer Special 2002	Won[33]
2005	Eagle Award	Favourite Magazine About Comics	Won[34]
2006	Harvey Award	Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation	Won[35]
2009	Eisner Award	Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism	Nominated[36]

See also

	Comics portal
	United States portal

• List of Comics Journal interview subjects — provides issue numbers with interview subjects.

Notes

1. ^ Wolk, Douglas. Reading Comics (2007) Da Capo Press. p.68. ISBN 0-306-81509-5
2. ^ ^{a b c} Brad Brooks; Pilcher, Tim. The Essential Guide to World Comics. London: Collins & Brown. pp. 32–36. ISBN 1-84340-300-5. 
3. ^ Inge, M. Thomas, Comics as Culture. p.153.
4. ^ Skinn, Dez. Comix: The Underground Revolution. p.244.
5. ^ The 300th and final magazine-sized issue of the Comics Journal The Comics Journal #300 free and online
6. ^ Phegley, Kiel. "Rethinking 'The Comics Journal'", Comic Book Resources, October 30, 2009
7. ^ Spurgeon, Tom. "TCJ Moves More Dramatically On-Line; Print Version To Come Out Two Times A Year", The Comics Reporter, October 27, 2009
8. ^ "Plagiarism: Rich Buckler Signs his Name to Jack Kirby's Work," The Comics Journal #83 (Aug. 1983), pp. 33-35.
9. ^ "Rich Buckler Answers His Critics," The Comics Journal #86 (November 1983), pp. 28-31.
10. ^ "Rich Buckler Sues Comics Journal and two of its Writers for Libel," The Comics Journal #88 (Jan. 1984), p. 13.
11. ^ "Buckler Drops Comics Journal Libel Suit," The Comics Journal #93 (Sept. 1984), pp. 11-12.
12. ^ "Newswatch: Notice From The Editors," The Comics Journal #59 (October 1980), p. 19.
13. ^ "Harlan Ellison Out of Comics Journal Libel Case," The Comics Journal #69 (December 1981), p. 29.
14. ^ "Newswatch: Comics Journal wins Fleisher libel suit," The Comics Journal #113 (December 1986), p. 11.
15. ^ ^{a b} The Comics Journal #115 (April 1987), pp. 51-142: Special section on the Fleisher lawsuit, including the testimony of Ellison, Groth, and Jim Shooter; the disposition of Dean Mullaney, closing arguments; and jurors' recollections.
16. ^ Deppey, Dirk. "EXTRA: Harlan Ellison sues Fantagraphics" Journalista! blog post (2006). Accessed 2006-11-12.
17. ^ The Comics Journal #115, April 1987
18. ^ The Comics Journal #236, August 2001
19. ^ The Comics Journal #236 at The Comic Journal website, August 17, 2001
20. ^ "Journalista"
21. ^ The Comics Journal #210, pages 34-108
22. ^ 1990 Harvey Award winners at the Harvey awards website
23. ^ 1991 Harvey Award winners at the Harvey awards website
24. ^ 1992 Harvey Award winners at the Harvey awards website
25. ^ 1993 Harvey Award winners at the Harvey awards website
26. ^ 1995 Harvey Award winners at the Harvey awards website
27. ^ ^{a b c d} List of Eisner Award winners at the San Diego Comic-Cob International website
28. ^ 1996 Harvey Award winners at the Harvey awards website
29. ^ 1998 Harvey Award winners at the Harvey awards website
30. ^ 1999 Harvey Award winners at the Harvey awards website
31. ^ 2000 Harvey Award winners at the Harvey awards website
32. ^ 2001 Harvey Award winners at the Harvey awards website
33. ^ 2003 Harvey Award winners at the Harvey awards website
34. ^ 2005 Eagle Award winners at the Eagle Awards website
35. ^ 2006 Harvey Award winners at the Harvey awards website
36. ^ 2009 Eisner Award Nominees Announced (press release), Comic Book Resources, April 7, 2009

References

• Groth, Gary (editor), Spurgeon, Tom (executive editor). The Comics Journal #210. Fantagraphics Books, February 1999. ISSN 0194-7869
• Dean, Mike; Moore, Elizabeth Anne. "Timeline". The Comics Journal #235 (July 2001), p. 82.
• Dean, Mike. "The Comics Journal Examines Its Own Navel," The Comics Journal #235 (July 2001).
• Groth, Gary, and Robert Fiore, eds. The New Comics: Interviews from the Pages of The Comics Journal. New York : Berkley, 1988. ISBN 0-425-11366-3.
• Complete collection of The Comics Journal and The Nostalgia Journal held by the Michigan State University Comic Art Collection.

External links

• Official website
• TCJ Covers, Contents and Mastheads at The Comics Reporter
• History of The Nostalgia Journal