Article 10: Final Analysis
In the last Article 10, Paul O'Brien reflects on five years of comics commentary in changing times, the origins and intentions of the column, and the dismal future faced by superhero fans.
19 June 2006

Top Nine: O'Brien's Choice
He's shared his insights with Ninth Art readers for five years, and he's been reviewing comics since any of us can remember. Now Paul O'Brien reveals his nine favourite comics, from NEW MUTANTS to OHOTMU.
05 June 2006

Article 10: Arts From Their Elbows
Is there truth in art? Storytellers place great value in the power of fiction to communicate ideas - but does the artist reveal truth, or just an amazing simulation? Paul O'Brien looks for the facts in fiction.
22 May 2006

Article 10: Crossovers At Cross Purposes
Marvel and DC cross paths at crossover central this month, but while DC's big event tried to serve the existing audience, Marvel appears to be trying to court a new one. Paul O'Brien wonders which company has the better idea.
08 May 2006

Article 10: Productive Thinking
What sort of car does your favourite hero drive? What's their favourite T-shirt? Do you really care? Paul O'Brien does, as he looks at the thorny issue of product placement in comics.
24 April 2006

Article 10: TM Comics
What's the difference between a young Clark Kent and Superboy? When is a superhero not a superhero? Paul O'Brien wades in to the frustratingly baffling world of comic book intellectual property law.
10 April 2006

Article 10: Beyond The Fringe
If you love Silver Sable, if you love Dominic Fortune, and if you're a fan of Brendan Cahill, then boy, does Marvel have a comic for you! But chances are you're none of these things. Why do publishers pump out these under-promoted fringe projects?
27 March 2006

Article 10: Zero FM
As another direct market distributor closes its doors, Paul O'Brien asks whether the future of comics distribution looks brighter than you might at first think.
13 March 2006

Article 10: Take Manhattan
New York plays host to a lot of stories, but this past weekend was the first time it played host to a major comic convention. Paul O'Brien looks at the distance between the real cities we know and the fictional cities they inspire.
27 February 2006

Article 10: Blood In The Inkwell
Around the world, people have been taking to the streets in protest - and people have even been dying - over cartoons. Paul O'Brien looks at both sides of the controversy surrounding the Danish 'Muhammad' cartoons.
13 February 2006

Article 10: Nice Day For A Black Wedding
It's the comic book wedding of the century! Star-crossed lovers Storm and Black Panther are tying the knot, after years - well, months - of courting. Paul O'Brien asks, what's behind Marvel's latest publicity stunt? Is it because they're black?
30 January 2006

Article 10: Virgin Territory
Richard Branson has a finger in almost every pie, but can the man behind the Virgin brand launch a successful comics line? Paul O'Brien assesses Virgin's bid to create a new comics market in India.
16 January 2006

Article 10: Auld Lang Syne
Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Paul O'Brien looks at how Marvel and DC are treating their enduring icons, and asks, what's the best way forward for the likes of Superman, Batman, Spider-Man and the X-Men?
02 January 2006

Article 10: Infinity And Beyond
Paul O'Brien takes his customary look back over the year that was, when the big story was big stories at the Big Two, the risk-taking of recent years was abandoned, and Diamond set about some housekeeping.
19 December 2005

Article 10: Claypool Deadpool
Another small publisher is in crisis. Claypool Comics is facing a crunch because of those meddling busybodies at Diamond. Or that's their story. Paul O'Brien suggests that it might have rather more to do with the fact that no-one's ever heard of them.
05 December 2005

Article 10: Room To Grow?
While DC looks poised to pour ever more energy into the bookstore market, retailer Brian Hibbs has argued that there remains untapped potential in the direct market. Paul O'Brien looks at the latest research.
21 November 2005

Article 10: King's Shilling
Marvel have caused a stir with the announcement that they're working with Stephen King on a line of DARK TOWER comics - but what does 'working with Stephen King' actually entail? Paul O'Brien takes a closer look.
07 November 2005

Article 10: Grand Theft Artist
A Japanese comic creator has been caught swiping, and her career may never recover. In America, swiping is a minor embarrassment at worst, and business as usual for many. Paul O'Brien wonders at the difference in attitudes.
24 October 2005

Article 10: Indirect Action
With Diamond setting a new threshold for minimum orders, the small press could be frozen out. But are small press comics wasting their time trying to conquer the direct market, and has FINDER's Carla Speed McNeil found a better way?
10 October 2005

Article 10: Exile On Mainstream
Has manga taken over from superheroes as the comics mainstream, or is it just another niche? Paul O'Brien looks at the facts and figures, and explores just what we really mean by 'mainstream'.
26 September 2005

Article 10: Little Earthquakes
Will a planned Spider-Man crossover have ramifications for the character? One retailer wanted to know, and Paul O'Brien insists it's a fair question. Marvel may find continuity a bore, but it still has to play by its own rules.
12 September 2005

Article 10: Man Walks Into A Bar
Not a hoax! Not a dream! Not an imaginary story! Well, OK, a bit of an imaginary story. Pray sit and listen, humble friend, as Paul O'Brien shares a parable about one man, one pub, and one very specific shopping list.
29 August 2005

Article 10: The Year Of Living Aimlessly
In comics, 'no news' is most certainly not good news. As the same writers keep churning out the same work for the same crossovers, Paul O'Brien takes the temperature of a stagnating industry.
15 August 2005

Article 10: Wicked Wizard
Next year's Heroes Con looks set to be a sensation, and it's all thanks to some ill advised jostling by WizardWorld. Paul O'Brien examines how one PR blunder untapped a reservoir of hostility toward Wizard.
01 August 2005

Article 10: Teenage Kicks
Holy sidekicks, Batman! Paul O'Brien asks what place a brightly-clad teenager has in today's grim 'n' gritty world of BATMAN, and finds the answer is all too mundane.
18 July 2005

Article 10: Please Release Me
Selling out is headline news, everyone's got an exclusive and nothing in comics will ever be the same again. Paul O'Brien delves into the tired and tawdry world of the publisher's press release.
04 July 2005

Article 10: Confronting The Unknown
Acclaimed novelist Jonathan Lethem plans to bring back OMEGA THE UNKNOWN, to creator Steve Gerber's consternation. Gerber wants to know why Lethem can't just create a new character. It's a fair question, says Paul O'Brien.
20 June 2005

Article 10: Behind The Times
A recent article in the Times of London caused a stir among comic fans by calling them socially maladjusted misogynists. It was a poor piece of journalism, says Paul O'Brien, but was there a grain of truth to its claims?
06 June 2005

Article 10: Faux Grit
Grimness continues to be the order of the day in superhero comics. It's a far cry from the silliness of the Silver Age, but, says Paul O'Brien, in most cases the grit is just as stupid, and it's usually a sight more pretentious.
23 May 2005

Article 10: Mouse Of Ideas
Marvel continues its efforts to refocus on a younger audience with the apparent demise of Max, its mature readers imprint. So was there ever a market for mature-reader superheroes, and where does this leave Icon?
09 May 2005

Article 10: Selling Marvel
Marvel has been rated the fourth most effective licensor of 2004, but on the back of a limited range of properties. The company's next target, says Paul O'Brien, is to find a way to market the Marvel brand.
25 April 2005

Article 10: Power Struggle
As DC sets about apologising for whimsy and making all of its characters depressed, Paul O'Brien looks at the decline of the power fantasy in superhero fiction and the rise of the soap opera.
11 April 2005

Article 10: Crossover And Over Again
The universe-shattering event comic is back, with books like INFINITE CRISIS and HOUSE OF M. Paul O'Brien explores why the Big Two are falling back on old habits, and explains why these comics may actually be a sign of a maturing mainstream.
28 March 2005

Article 10: CMX Bandits
TENJHO TENGE is a manga series with plenty of sex and violence, often at the same time. So why has DC decided to reprint it through it's CMX imprint as a heavily edited all-ages title?
14 March 2005

Article 10: Here Be Readers
The online comics community may not be representative of the wider audience, but it's still an audience worth having, says Paul O'Brien, and it's still an audience worth listening to - even at its worst.
28 February 2005

Article 10: Naked Truth
A Georgia retailer faces prosecution for giving away a comic containing nudity. On the face of it, it looks like another case of stupid law, but as Paul O'Brien discovers, it may not be the letter of the law that's at fault.
14 February 2005

Article 10: Stan Versus The Man
Stan Lee has won his case against Marvel Enterprises and garnered himself a huge chunk of the company's movie profits. Paul O'Brien looks back at the details of the case and explains the ramifications.
31 January 2005

Article 10: Critical Distance
The critics' favourite books are rarely the ones that succeed. In fact, they're often the ones that get cancelled quickest. Long-time reviewer Paul O'Brien explores the gap between the critics and the mainstream audiences.
17 January 2005

Article 10: Card's Big Deal
Novelist Orson Scott Card is coming to Marvel with an Ultimate spin on Iron Man, and he's bringing a cloud of controversy in his wake. Paul O'Brien asks, should Card's homophobic views make a difference to potential readers?
03 January 2005

Article 10: Frightful '04
CrossGen finally drank the Kool Aid, Marvel flooded the market with faded trademarks, and DC unleashed IDENTITY CRISIS on an undeserving world. Paul O'Brien looks back over the big events ? and the big event comics ? of 2004.
20 December 2004

Article 10: Real Writers
The man behind HOUSE PARTY has come to the House of Ideas, and Marvel wants you to know it. But what does it say about comics' self-image when writers like Whedon and Meltzer are marketed as 'real writers'?
06 December 2004

Article 10: The Relaunch Reloaded
As comics' own "class divide" grows ever wider, publishers are resorting to desperate tactics to revive their flagging books. Paul O'Brien wonders where it all went wrong, and who's really to blame.
22 November 2004

Article 10: Left At The Comic Shop
Like most artists, comic creators tend towards the political left, and they're bound to have a reaction to four more years of George W Bush in the White House. Paul O'Brien asks; will any of it have substance?
08 November 2004

Article 10: Speed Bump
It's hard enough to blend in with a crowd when you're dressed in skintight spandex. Can Judd Winick really tell stories about an HIV positive superhero where the virus is a non-issue, or is Speedy doomed to be another token?
25 October 2004

Article 10: The Ascent Of Fan
Comics sell to an audience composed of hardcore fans and nothing much besides, and comic fans are a peculiarly contrary bunch. Paul O?Brien looks at what serving this audience means for the industry.
11 October 2004

Article 10: The Revivalist Movement
On the back of ALPHA FLIGHT and INVADERS, another Marvel team book is getting a relaunch - with a completely different concept. But do these makeovers for previously cancelled books ever really work?
27 September 2004

Article 10: Judgement Calling
It may not always be fair to judge a book by its cover, but sometimes that's all you've got to go on. With so many comics jostling for your attention every month, Paul O'Brien argues in defence of the judgement call.
13 September 2004

Article 10: Done Too Much
As Elektra joins the ULTIMATE line and two more X-Men characters are launched into solo series, Paul O'Brien looks at the risks of pushing a franchise too far. Can the ULTIMATE line succeed where other franchises have failed?
30 August 2004

Article 10: Clash Of The Cretins
First they fight, then they team up. That may be the plot of a BATMAN/DAREDEVIL crossover, or it may just be the publicity stunt that Marvel and DC have cooked up to sell it. Paul O'Brien tries to separate the children.
16 August 2004

Article 10: Launch Sequence
'Run it up the flapgole and see who salutes' is all very well in the army, but is it any way to launch a host of new comic series? Paul O'Brien argues not, and suggests a possible solution.
02 August 2004

Article 10: The Wonderful World Of Dibny
Welcome to the wacky comics world of the Elongated Man, a world of goofy heroes, gimmicky villains, and a little rape and murder. Paul O'Brien examines Brad Meltzer's 'event' comic, IDENTITY CRISIS.
19 July 2004

Article 10: The Fool Variations
In the second of today's articles on sales gimmicks, Paul O'Brien looks at the return of the variant cover. It's an old trick that still seems effective, but after it almost destroyed the industry in the '90s, is it really worth pursuing?
05 July 2004

Article 10: Dead Line
As another cancelled imprint joins comics' graveyard of failed ideas, Paul O'Brien returns his focus to DC Focus and asks what this latest failure says about the marketplace. Was the line doomed from the start?
21 June 2004

Article 10: Foursquare Panels
Controversy stalks the funny pages. Gary Trudeau's long-running Doonesbury strip has again come under fire from American conservatives, this time for its treatment of the situation in Iraq. Paul O'Brien gets embedded.
07 June 2004

Article 10: Crossover Appeal
Continuity can add to a reader's enjoyment, but it can also add to a creator's headaches. Paul O'Brien looks at the advantages and disadvantages of shared universes, and the confusion that can result.
24 May 2004

Article 10: Somewhere Beyond DC
Is CAPER really a DC Universe book? Does THE LOSERS belong at Vertigo? As WildStorm shuffles its brands, Paul O'Brien looks at DC's range of imprints and tries to find a straight line.
10 May 2004

Article 10: License To Shill
On the back of the PUNISHER movie, Paul O'Brien takes another look at Marvel's 'core business'. Licensing may be a sensible way to make money, but why is Marvel tapping the back-catalogue and not developing anything new?
26 April 2004

Article 10: Power And Responsibility
When CrossGen's investors pulled the plug on Chuck Dixon's AMERICAN POWER, Dixon's fans cried foul - but was this really a case of corporate censorship, or did CrossGen cross the line?
12 April 2004

Article 10: Heroes Click
Comics can tell stories in a wide variety of genres, so why do superhero stories still fill the shelves? According to Paul O'Brien, it's not about superheroes dominating comics; it's about comics dominating superheroes.
29 March 2004

Article 10: Leaving Sim City
CEREBUS has finally reached its end, and its unconventional creator wants his papers preserved in an archive. Paul O'Brien looks beyond the ramblings of Dave Sim to examine the achievement of CEREBUS.
15 March 2004

Article 10: Firing Lines
Igor Kordey's recent dismissal from EXCALIBUR raises all sorts of questions - about the behaviour of the fans, the behaviour of creators, and most of all, the behaviour of publishers. Just what is going on at Marvel?
01 March 2004

Article 10: Embedded Coverage
What does it take to make a comic book cover stand out on the shelves? Amid a sea of Marvel pin-ups, how does a title keep its identity while calling out to potential readers? Paul O'Brien wades in.
16 February 2004

Article 10: Return To Old Marvel
As regime change starts to take effect at the publisher formerly known as New Marvel, Paul O'Brien looks at what the implications might be for the realignment of Marvel Knights and the launch of Marvel Age.
02 February 2004

Article 10: Getting The Dirt
In the wake of last week's ruling by a Tokyo court that a manga book violates Japanese obscenity law, Paul O'Brien looks at what obscenity really means, and asks whether laws like this are something we should be worried about.
19 January 2004

Article 10: Switching Focus
Nothing much of interest ever seems to happen at DC, claims Paul O'Brien, but once in a while, the publisher does try to do something different. This time around it's the Focus imprint, but is it likely to succeed?
05 January 2004

Article 10: Another Year Older
Another year wiser? Paul O'Brien looks back at the lessons learned in 2003, the year in which manga dominated the bookstores, Marvel's Bill Jemas was shown the door, and CrossGen crumbled.
22 December 2003

Article 10: The British Aren't Coming
Com.X promised great things when it arrived on the scene in 2000, but has thus far produced fewer comics than Brian Michael Bendis on a wet weekend. Now it's making noises again, but do they signify anything?
08 December 2003

Article 10: Vis A Viz
Viz's SHONEN JUMP has been a huge industry success story - but can its success be replicated? Paul O'Brien looks to the example set by another Viz; the British humour comic that briefly stole the mainstream, but failed to change the market.
24 November 2003

Article 10: An Epic Finish
When it was first announced, the Epic line looked like it might seriously shake up the talent pool and create some changes at Marvel. Now, with Bill Jemas shuffled out, it looks like Epic is finished. And maybe that's just as well, says Paul O'Brien.
10 November 2003

Article 10: Pictures At An Exhibition
Chad McCail is one comics artist you've probably never heard of - because all his works hang in galleries. Paul O'Brien visits his current exhibition in Edinburgh to check out some sequential art that's fit for hanging.
27 October 2003

Article 10: Exit, Stage Left
As the industry's most theatrical executive takes his final curtain call at Marvel, Paul O'Brien offers his theories on why Bill Jemas had to go, and looks at what the future might hold for the company and its readers.
13 October 2003

Article 10: Studio Brief
CrossGen continues to grab headlines with the seeming demise of its studio set-up, but is it fair to call this bold experiment a failure? Paul O?Brien assesses the possible merits of the CrossGen system.
29 September 2003

Article 10: Altered Image
Image once posed a serious threat to the dominance of Marvel and DC in the sales charts, but these days it runs at a distant third place. Paul O'Brien looks at the Image system, and the meaning of the Image brand.
15 September 2003

Article 10: The CrossGen Kool Aid Acid Test
Mark Alessi?s Compound of Creativity has been making headlines again, this time for cashflow problems that have led some freelancers to speak out against the company. Has CrossGen reached a crossroads?
01 September 2003

Article 10: Cover Story
Marvel's recent photocovers have caused a few raised eyebrows, and not without cause - but they're neither as provocative nor as inappropriate as the work of one of Marvel's favourite cover artists.
18 August 2003

Article 10: The Football Strip
A self-published comic with an advertising budget of £250,000 and a pre-existing audience of 3.5 million readers? In a market with a terrible track record for launching new comics? Paul O'Brien investigates the strange case of STRIKER.
04 August 2003

Article 10: Difficult Princess
Goodbye England's Rose: Princess Diana has been scrubbed from the pages of X-STATIX, but was it a necessary move on Marvel's part, and what does it mean for the strength of the story?
21 July 2003

Article 10: No End In Sight
The new orthodoxy dictates that closed arcs are good, ongoing stories are bad. Yet while there may be economic advantages to the book-driven format, the artistic justifications aren't as conclusive as we've come to believe.
07 July 2003

Article 10: Return To Sim City
Ninth Art's lead columnist returns to one of his most popular subjects; the crazy world of Dave Sim. As CEREBUS heads in to an increasingly incomprehensible home strait, Paul O'Brien wonders at the artistic merits of Sim's meandering comic book thesis.
23 June 2003

Article 10: One For The Team
The Comic Journal's Tom Spurgeon attacked last year's Top Shelf rescue drive as an example of 'Team Comics'. Paul O'Brien argues that it was nothing of the sort. As readers flock to help Fantagraphics, it's clear that 'community' isn't the only way to muster good will.
09 June 2003

Article 10: Pitch Perfect
Aspiring writers for Epic were handed the wisdom of Jemas with the publication of MARVILLE #7 last week. But, says Paul O'Brien, the book sends conflicting signals about just what sort of talent Marvel is expecting to find.
26 May 2003

Article 10: Intent To Solicit
Solicitation copy: It's the retailer's friend and the storyteller's enemy. In his latest column, Paul O'Brien looks at the inherent problems with publicity blurbs. We'd tell you more about it, but we don't want to give away the ending...
12 May 2003

Article 10: Wind In The Sales
Many comics professionals regard the bookstore as the Promised Land - but is the promise all its cracked up to be? And if the bookstores aren't the answer to the industry's prayers, then what else is there?
28 April 2003

Article 10: For Art's Sake
Why is the focus of mainstream comics criticism so firmly placed on writing when it's the visuals that make the medium distinctive? Paul O'Brien examines the possible reasons for comics' ingrained critical bias.
14 April 2003

Article 10: Modern Epic
It's official: Marvel is relaunching its Epic imprint, and it wants you as a new recruit. So what will Epic mean for aspiring creators, and what will it mean for readers? Is this the beginning of comics' new fanfic revolution?
31 March 2003

Article 10: Cash In The Attic
Strip-mining the back-catalogue and reinventing old characters is a staple strategy for the major publishers. The creative rewards seem few, so does it make any sense from a business point of view?
17 March 2003

Article 10: Supermanchild
They may often be dismissed as childish power fantasies, but are superhero comics really aimed at children? Certainly a lot of superhero comics are unsophisticated, but then, Paul O'Brien argues, so are a lot of adults.
03 March 2003

Article 10: No Smoke Without Fire
Truth is out there. In student dorms, fairgrounds, and on billboards twenty-three years in the future. The truth appears to be that Marvel has cut a deal with an anti-smoking lobby that has consequences for the reputations of both groups.
17 February 2003

Article 10: Riding The Wave
When the sales figures came in for SHONEN JUMP, the rest of the industry asked, how high? Now Marvel's trying to cash in with its ill-defined Tsunami line. Will the manga audience be interested, or is there little crossover between manga and comics?
03 February 2003

Article 10: The Game Of Risk
The direct market is a flawed system for retailers and publishers alike, but DC is sticking with it. DC's latest initiative is a returnability programme for retailers, but is it a cynical move, and does DC have cause to be optimistic?
20 January 2003

Article 10: The Price Is Right?
Thirteen Marvel comics are getting a 33% price rise. In the case of the books that are close to cancellation, it makes perfect economic sense - but what about those midtable books that are safely above Marvel's cancellation threshold?
06 January 2003

Article 10: 2002 Backwards
Another good year for Marvel, another so-so year for DC, but the big news is the bookstore breakout of manga. Ninth Art's lead essayist Paul O'Brien looks back over 2002, and examines the trends that may shape 2003.
23 December 2002

Article 10: A Catalogue Of Errors
See that bigger-than-a-phone-book catalogue sitting on your floor? The one with hundreds of comics listed in it, that you're supposed to read and order from? Paul O'Brien takes a closer look, and tries not to get too depressed.
09 December 2002

Article 10: Creative License
Image, Dreamwave and Viz have all discovered in recent days that they don't hold the licenses to sell some of their best-selling titles overseas. An easy mistake to make, or a typical example of why some people just can't take the comic industry seriously?
25 November 2002

Article 10: Trouble At The Top
The question on every Marvel zombie's lips is, 'Why are mommy and daddy fighting?' Paul O'Brien looks at the merits of Stan Lee's case against Marvel. Does Marvel have a defence, and will the case mean anything for creator rights?
11 November 2002

Article 10: The House Across The Pond
There's a comic by Grant Morrison about clockwork robots that you'll probably never read - and would probably never want to. Such is the legacy of the British division of Marvel. Paul O'Brien reflects on the days when TRANSFORMERS comics were good.
28 October 2002

Article 10: Sturm Und Drang
The author of the THE GOLEM'S MIGHTY SWING caused a storm last week with the announcement of his new project. Paul O'Brien explains why everyone should calm down and put their umbrellas away.
14 October 2002

Article 10: Dead Letters
Should we be mourning the passing of the letters pages from our monthly comics, or are they nothing more than a publishing throwback and a home to bad poetry? Paul O'Brien dips his quill.
30 September 2002

Article 10: On Comics On Comics
One of the major preoccupations of comics appears to be... comics. This can lead to some fascinating insights for established readers, but it also makes a lot of books - like the recent nine-cent FANTASTIC FOUR - inaccessible.
16 September 2002

Article 10: Press On
Wizard is the loudest voice in comics journalism. It's puerile, it's adolescent, and it knows its audience. Thankfully, there are more alternatives now than ever before - but there are still a couple of gaps in the market.
02 September 2002

Article 10: Cape Fear
Readers with a spandex phobia tend to criticise superheroes for their simplistic Silver Age morality - but the genre's not just been sitting there waiting for Grant Morrison to arrive. The critics need to face their fears and face the facts, says Paul O'Brien.
19 August 2002

Article 10: The Strange Case Of The Unwed Husband
Renewed success in the cinemas has changed corporate comics. Is there cause for concern when the 'spin-offs' are more important than the product, or is character development an overvalued concept in superhero fiction?
05 August 2002

Article 10: Automatic For The People
Is there any room for oblique storytelling in serial fiction? Large parts of the comics reading audience have dismissed AUTOMATIC KAFKA as impenetrable and inaccessible. Can it hope to succeed where THE MONARCHY failed?
22 July 2002

Article 10: Reasons To Be Cheerful
Is the comic industry making you tired and listless? Does it leave you angry and frustrated? Then why not treat yourself to a dose of patient optimism, courtesy of Paul O'Brien, and put some bounce back in your step.
08 July 2002

Article 10: Operation Underwire
She's beautiful. She's dangerous. And she's got great big tits. We're not talking Lady Death here - we're talking about the new look Tara Chase in Oni's QUEEN & COUNTRY. Big breasts may not make her stupid, but is she still the same old Tara?
24 June 2002

Article 10: Rough Trade
The rise of the collected edition means that more and more readers can afford to 'wait for the trade'. But it's also forcing a compromise on comic creators. Smooth storytelling in one format can mean rough edges in the other.
10 June 2002

Article 10: Medium Sized
The term 'comic book' is a widely used synonym for simplicity, but fans insist that there's nothing you can't do in a comic. If that's the case, says Paul O'Brien, then why can't they make a decent BLADE comic?
27 May 2002

Article 10: Law and Orders
It's the big show that everyone's talking about - no, not the SPIDER-MAN movie, but the class action lawsuit filed by retailers against Marvel. Ninth Art's resident legal expert looks at the likely aims - and outcome - of the case.
13 May 2002

Article 10: Duty Call
Is there a place for real-life heroes in the world of comics? With the CALL OF DUTY series, Marvel is betting there is. But Paul O'Brien believes there's a reason the area's been poorly served in the past.
29 April 2002

Article 10: Everything Old Is New Again
The unthinkable has happened: An indie comic by unknown creators has knocked NEW X-MEN off the top of the sales chart. But don't get too excited. That book is TRANSFORMERS, and the secret of its success could be your inner child.
15 April 2002

Article 10: In At The Deep End
The notion that each issue of a continuing serial should be easily understood by new readers is often touted, but is it practical? Or should comics written for different formats stick to what they do best?
01 April 2002

Article 10: The Envelope Please
Alan Moore. Chris Ware. Dan Clowes. Ron Marz. One of these things is not like the others. This year's Harvey Award nominations put a poor spin on both CrossGen and the awards themselves, says Paul O'Brien.
18 March 2002

Article 10: The Story So Far
Continuity. At best it's considered a necessary evil, at worst it's the bane of good storytelling. But in truth, says Paul O'Brien, continuity is a good thing - it's just the application that's suffered.
04 March 2002

Article 10: Suffering Vertigo
Somewhere between SANDMAN and S.C.I.-SPY, DC's Vertigo imprint went from groundbreaking to generic. Paul O'Brien looks at how this once-strong brand lost its way.
18 February 2002

Article 10: The Battle of Britain
Comics' leading publisher! The medium's greatest creator! In a titanic tussle that could challenge the very foundations of the industry! Moore versus Marvel: Don't believe the hype.
04 February 2002

Article 10: Shop Tactics
Stores like Forbidden Planet do a good trade in action figures and DVDs. Are these goods unwelcome intruders, or is it the comics that are taking up more room than they deserve?
21 January 2002

Article 10: Two Cents On Ten
DC finally stole some of Marvel's thunder with BATMAN: THE 10-CENT ADVENTURE - and then Marvel stole it right back again. DC has hit on a winning idea - but it could still be a case of less dollars, less sense.
07 January 2002

Article 10: Tomorrow Stories
What does the year ahead hold for comics? Will Marvel continue to overshadow DC in 2002? Will the trade paperback movement flounder? And will Todd McFarlane get his just desserts? This is the future, and it's happening one comic at a time.
24 December 2001

Article 10: The Smartest Comic On Earth
JIMMY CORRIGAN is a work unlike any other. That's almost certainly why it was able to grab a literary prize, and that's also why its success may not have the revolutionary impact that fans are hoping for.
10 December 2001

Article 10: WildStorm In A Teacup
WildStorm, the number three superhero universe, found its niche as an edgier imprint and until recently looked set to seize it. Now, with THE AUTHORITY in limbo and Chris Claremont on board, is WildStorm running scared?
26 November 2001

Article 10: When Is a Cross a Square?
CrossGen seems to be doing well enough that it must be getting something right. Yet a lot of comic fans are steering clear, and it seems the company's image might have something to do with it.
12 November 2001

Article 10: Miracle Workers
In the blue corner: Neil Gaiman. In the red corner: Todd McFarlane. Throw in Alan Moore and Joe Quesada, and the stage looks set for a first-rate throw-down. Paul O'Brien takes a ringside seat.
29 October 2001

Article 10: Silly Billy
Marvel Comics is the industry's biggest juggernaut, and in president Bill Jemas it appears to have an idiot at the wheel. It's all an act, claims Paul O'Brien, but to what end?
15 October 2001

Article 10: How Many Months In A Year?
If a book misses its schedule, should the paying public tolerate it in the name of art, or have the customers earned the right to an explanation?
01 October 2001

Article 10: Necessary Questions
In the wake of last week's devastating terrorist attacks on America, Paul O'Brien asks: How should we respond? Where does the artform go from here?
17 September 2001

Article 10: Character Witness
Who created Jessica Drew? Paul O'Brien suggests that, as the Wolfman v. Marvel court case proves, the issue of creator ownership is more complex than one might assume.
03 September 2001

Article 10: Ultimatum
With rumours flying that Marvel's newsstand magazines are to be cancelled for low sales, Paul O'Brien asks, where will this leave the Ultimate line, and where did the experiment go wrong?
20 August 2001

Article 10: Make 'Em Laugh
Comics breaking through into the mainstream? Is this a joke? It doesn't have to be. For an ailing industry, laughter may be the best medicine.
06 August 2001

Article 10: Alan Moore's Magical Mystery Tour
Is PROMETHEA a challenging work of incredible genius, or the elegantly rendered ramblings of a respected crackpot? Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour.
27 July 2001

Article 10: The Quick and the Deadline
Some artists are good, and some artists are quick, but few artists manage to be both. Paul O?Brien asks, is it time we replaced Frank Quitely with a robot?
09 July 2001

Article 10: You Know, For Grown Ups!
Marvel's mature readers line is on its way, but does it bring with it the promise of a brave leap forward, or do the books on offer merit a more guarded response?
25 June 2001

Article 10: Pop Art
With MINISTRY OF SPACE, Warren Ellis has launched his own publishing model for the future of comics. He calls it 'Pop Comics'. But is it?
11 June 2001

Article 10: Un-American Activities
Regular columnist Paul O'Brien assesses whether there's any place left for Captain America at today's Marvel.
01 June 2001

Article 10: Sim City: Population 1
From alimony to animal rights, Dave Sim has an opinion on everything. Regular columnist Paul O'Brien reflects on the CEREBUS creator's latest outbursts, and asks; why, man, why?
14 May 2001

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