The release of Chris Harnan’s debut graphic novel, Big Pool, in July 2025, marked a significant pivot point for contemporary avant-garde comics. Published as a high-concept collaboration between the London-based Breakdown Press and the French risograph specialists Fidèle Editions, the work represents more than just a collection of illustrations; it
The Architect of Literary Manga: The Life, Legacy, and Lasting Influence of Yoshiharu Tsuge (1937–2026)
The world of international literature and visual arts mourns the passing of Yoshiharu Tsuge, a titan of Japanese manga whose work transcended the boundaries of the medium. As The Comics Journal revisits its archives—specifically the seminal 2005 analysis by Béatrice Maréchal—the industry reflects on a man who didn’t just draw stories but pioneered
The Steward of Lusiphur: Robb Horan and the Enduring Legacy of Drew Hayes
The history of independent comics is littered with "what ifs," but few are as poignant or as enduring as the saga of Drew Hayes and his magnum opus, Poison Elves. When Hayes passed away in 2007 at the age of 37, he had completed just 80 issues of a planned 300-issue epic. He left behind […]
The Architecture of a Waking Dream: Chris Harnan and the Evolution of Abstract Comics
In the landscape of contemporary sequential art, few works have managed to bridge the chasm between fine art abstraction and narrative drive as effectively as Chris Harnan’s Big Pool. Released in the summer of 2025 by the UK’s Breakdown Press and France’s Fidèle Editions, the book has quickly become a touchstone for the "anti-technical" m
The Human Element: Nick Norlen’s ‘Paper Airplane’ and the Renaissance of Analog Media
May 1, 2026 In an era increasingly defined by the rapid encroachment of generative artificial intelligence and the sterile efficiency of algorithmic curation, a new movement in independent publishing is taking flight. Paper Airplane, an ambitious "magazine for humans," has officially released its second volume, signaling a shift toward ta
The Eternal Alchemist of Sequential Art: Bryan Talbot on the Legacy of Grandville and the Future of the British Graphic Novel
By J.D. Harlock Special Feature for The Comics Journal May 4, 2026 In a career spanning over half a century, Bryan Talbot has earned the moniker “the David Bowie of Comics.” It is a title bestowed not merely for longevity, but for a restless, chameleonic ability to reinvent his aesthetic and narrative voice across every […]
