First up is Alan David Doane’s interview with the comicsblogger, Dirk Deppey. Dirk’s thoughts on the comics artform, the comics industry, and the blogging phenomenon are invaulable. Here’s a sample:
If you follow comics as compulsively as I do, weblogs have become essential reading, a fact due in large part to the democratic, almost Darwinian opportunity they provide. Anyone can start a weblog, after all, but nobody’s forcing people to read them. It’s only by having something significant, informative and entertaining to say that one can attract a readership these days; those that do it well earn their success accordingly — write well and write often, and other weblogs (and their readers) will notice, which in turn will get others to notice, and so on. Because of this, there’s an enormous range of opinions and perspective available out there, and the conversations produced in the blogosphere have often been quite valuable.
Sharp stuff, and part of Alan’s terrific series of five-question interviews. I hope he keeps them coming.
Next up is David Fiore‘s second installment of Watchmen analysis. Obviously Watchmen has been a hot topic around the comicsphere for the last couple of weeks, but here Dave comes up with some of the sharpest insights into Moore’s characters I’ve ever read. Here’s a couple:
[The Comedian] blows up every single time he appears–and this is very good characterization, as far as I’m concerned: like every person I’ve ever met who poses as a nihilist–the Comedian can’t take a joke…
and
Now, [Dr.] Manhattan is a nihilist through most of this story, in that he places no more value on one thing than another…. [but] One thing is certain–every once in a while, he remembers how miraculous it can be for someone else to buy you a beer. “Someone” can buy themselves a beer, but it’s nothing without that “else”. And you’d better believe in that–or else.
Gorgeous, and he’s promising more. I’m looking forward to it.