‘The outrage had been percolating…’ The winner of our graphic short story prize 2021
A funeral in Germany provides the setting for our winning story in this year’s Cape/Observer/Comica award for emerging cartoonists
Graphic short story: Andrew
A Wolfgang Crowe has been named joint runner-up in the Observer/Cape/Comica graphic short story prize 2021. This is his entry
Graphic short story: A Funeral in Freiburg
Astrid Goldsmith has been named winner in the Observer/Cape/Comica graphic short story prize 2021. This is her entry
The shrimp returns: beloved flamenco singer Camarón stars in graphic novel
Thirty years after his death, the rich life of the Spanish Gypsy singer is depicted through 10 illustrated episodes
On my radar: Mark Oliver Everett’s cultural highlights
The Eels frontman on a biography of Vampira, a Pixar triumph and the glory of Bobbie Gentry
I read all 27,000 Marvel comics and had a great time. Here’s what I learned
Did Dark Reign foresee Trump? Was Iron Man about US military might? Who was Unbeatable Squirrel Girl – and was her superpower really non-violent conflict resolution? Only one man knows …
‘Me against the world’: why superheroes are so often orphans
Batman, Spider-Man and many others lost parents when young. A new exhibition explores their complex stories
Rare first edition of The Incredible Hulk comic sells for $490,000
The near-mint condition copy of the first Hulk story, in which the hero is depicted as grey not green, is the most expensive ever sold
Walk Me to the Corner by Anneli Furmark review – Brief Encounter for the digital age
The Swedish graphic novelist perfectly captures the rush, confusion and pain of a marriage exploded by unexpected attraction
Cripes! Spotty becomes Scotty as the Beano reflects modern thought
New name for James Scott Cameron of the Bash Street Kids follows Fatty’s name change to Freddy in May
‘Comic-book crack for generations’: why Spider-Man still has us all in his web
With his teenage neuroses and gawky vulnerability, Spidey isn’t your ordinary superhero, but despite the dodgy wrist action he still resonates with armies of fans
Top 10 books about the Roman empire
From Edward Gibbon to Asterix the Gaul, the astonishing endurance of the largest state Europe has ever known continues to inspire a compelling literature
Best comics and graphic novels of 2021
Alison Bechdel on her exercise obsession and a spectacular cold war epic from Marvel veteran Barry Windsor-Smith are among this year’s finest
The best graphic novels of 2021
There were sublime tales of fitness and bad but gifted fathers – but the story of a young girl’s everyday existence was this year’s standout title, wooing readers of all ages
Is Superman Circumcised? wins oddest book title of the year award
Study of the superhero’s Jewish influences beats off stiff competition to come first in this year’s Diagram prize