Comics n' Stuff

Annotation 1

The Many Deaths of Laila Starr

Publisher: Boom!

Writer: Ram V

Illustrator: Filipe Andrade

Colorist: Inês Amaro

Letterer: AndWorld Design

Editor: Eric Harburn

Published: 2021

Annotation 2

Absolute Martian Manhunter

Context: This is a collection of panels from issues 4 and 6 of Absolute Martian Manhunter! The series is so fascinating and I adore the use of color to express information. The story follows John Jones after an explosion, encountering a mental being calling itself the Martian Mind**er (Its censored like that in the comic but has been filled in as well with "Help" "Heal" "Kill" "Save" "Hunt"). The Martian opens Johns eyes to the emotions of those around him as he works to uncover the mystery of the White Martian and the "Bad Ideas" that are spreading.

Publisher: DC Comics

Writer: Ram V

Illustrator: Deniz Camp

Artist: Javier Rodríguez

Published: 2025

Annotation 3

Zatanna Issue 3

Publisher: DC Comics

Writer/Artist: Jamal Campbell

Published: April 16, 2025

Annotation 4

The Boy Wonder Issue 2

Context: Damian Wayne aka Robin is trying to redeem himself after killing a man in front of his father (Batman). The story is told as a story within a story with a girl in a hostage situation telling Damian’s story like a fairytale. In this issue, Damian teams up with Jason Todd aka Red Hood. After hallucinating the Joker, Jason lashes out and shoots everything around him trying to get the Joker. He accidentally shoots Damian instead and is instantly regretful and shocked out of his hallucination.

Publisher: DC Comics

Writer/Artist: Juni Ba

Colorist: Aditya Bidikar

Published: 2024

Annotation 5

Superboy: The Man of Tomorrow Issue 1

Publisher: DC Comics

Creators: Kenny Porter and Jahnoy Lindsay

Genre: Superhero

Published: 2023

Annotation 6

Homestuck (Act 5 Part 2 Page # 5836)

Context: Slightly different format from most comics. Homestuck is a multimedia webcomic hosted currently at homestuck.com. This annotation is a screenshot from the webpage. This page features a bunch of jumbled together panels due to a scrapbook falling and a bunch of the photos falling out. The reader is currently in Doc Scratch's domain and is at his whim during this segment. The reader is able to click on each of the pictures in panel 2 in order to see what is happening in that frame. This segment of the comic also messes with the established form (using the header as a panel). It really showcases how little control the reader has and how much is dictated by Doc Scratch (an all knowing time demon)

Author: Andrew Hussie

Genre: Coming of age, webcomic

Published: 2009-2016

Annotation 7

Dust n' Dread

Context: Dust n' Dread is a webcomic about two supernatural guns for hire. In this scene, the page right before has Clayton and Holt realizing the true threat they are facing and realizing they need to go back and help the woman we see here on this page. The sharp realization, coupled with this dark, dreary, silent page builds suspense and tension in the audience. The webcomic was updated every Wednesday, so folks reading it in real time would be left to stew for a week wondering what was going to happen next. This comic contains adult themes and body horror, this is one the tamest pages I could find with action on it. The author was very inspired by 80s horror movies and manga which really adds to the vibes

Author: Kieu

Published: dustndreadcomic.com

Genre: Horror

Annotation 8

The Apothecary Diaries

Context: Maomao is an apothecary who is kidnapped and brought into the inner palace as a maid. She quickly rises to poison taster after revealing her ability to read and her knowledge of poisons. This is her recollecting her youth of making and testing poisons on herself.

This story actually started off as a light novel in 2011 before getting two different manga adaptations by different companies. This manga in particular is the one the anime is based off of

Publisher: Square Enix

Author: Natsu Hyuuga

Artist: Nekokurage

Compilation: Itsuki Nanao

Character Design: Touco Shino

Genre: Drama, Mystery, Romance

Published: 2017

Annotation 9

Under the Red Hood

Context: Jason Todd finally reveals himself to Batman as the Red Hood. Bruce is in disbelief at his dead son resurrected and out for revenge as Jason leaves all the proof he could need to verify that it really is him.

Publisher: DC Comics

Author: Judd Winick

Artist: Doug Mahnke, Eric Battle, Shane Davis

Genre: Superhero

Published: 2005

Annotation 10

A Death in the Family

Context: The Joker beats Robin, Jason Todd, as Jason’s mother watches. Batman is rushing to where Robin is, fearing the worst.

Publisher: DC Comics

Author: Jim Starlin

Artist: Jim Aparo, Mike DeCarlo, John Costanza, Adrienne Roy

Genre: Superhero

Published: 1988