Welcome to the “Iron Man: Crash” graphic novel database review entry. Journal log: 6-4-25.  This data upload processes 1980s comics history: Sub context: 1988. Reflection: the 1980s — a decade of big hair, neon lights, and comic book experimentation. Things got weird through  experimentation. Comics were deviating from their established trajectory. Boy Scout capes and…

As a kid, I couldn’t pay attention to the reality of the classroom’s chalkboard world. My pencil was always scribbling from its warped source of reality, fueled by hours and hours of maniacal Saturday morning cartoons—a happy place vividly logged under nostalgic memories in the farther recesses of my data banks. Back in the day,…

Getting a comic delivered by mail rules! A couple of days ago, “Batman: Court of Owls,” the graphic novel, flew straight into my snail-mail inbox hot off the reprint press of comic book land—perfect timing for this week’s column. Shout-out to Jon M. from Connecticut for sending it my way—and for getting me back into…

By Pat Wise When I was 12 years old, a new wave of artists emerged in the '80s. One artist in particular, Frank Miller, stood out. Why’d he stand out? He was a comic book punk rocker and visionary who broke the rules. It was through his work on Batman and Daredevil, his creation of…

Last week, I revisited the style of “Watchmen,” a masterpiece that took me 35 years to appreciate fully. This week is a graphic novel that struck me immediately, and it has served as a standard by which much of the art I appreciate is measured: “Havok & Wolverine: Meltdown,” written in 1988 by Walter and…

I’ve owned “Watchmen #1” since the day it came out, or close to its release date in September of ’86. It’s spent most of its life bagged but not boarded. The spine is still crisp, as are the edges. It lies relatively flat, and the color seems good. Maybe slightly dimmer. I think I’ve been…

RUTLAND—Snowbank Productions, led by community snow sculptor Matt Morris, were in Depot Park in Rutland this past Saturday, Feb. 15, preparing for the Snow Sculpting National Qualifier on Sunday, Feb. 16, a part of Rutland’s Winterfest 2025 celebration. Morris, who has been creating impressive snow sculptures for years in his hometown of Waterloo, Ontario, is…

By Pat Wise The holiday spirit sparkled at Rutland’s Paramount Theatre with three show dates of “Elf The Musical Jr., ” a remake adapted from the 2003 comedy film which had been directed by Jon Favreau, written by David Berenbaum and starring Will Ferrell as Buddy the elf. “Elf The Musical Jr.,” presented by Rutland Youth Theatre, brought Buddy…