Charlotte Finn

The best idea from the New 52 relaunch of Superman continues to endure, in fan consciousness if not in continuity; Superman as social crusader, taking on the ills of our world that have been elevated to human-plus levels, including one of the most virulent evils of our world: white supremacists.

In the 1990s, Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson foresaw a future of twisted behavior, renegade politics, and uncontrollable technology in Transmetropolitan. We're revisiting the series book by book, because in a time of unrest and uncertainty we could all use some Filthy Assistance. In book two, Lust For Life, the world is brought into sharper relief as the new and the old crash into each other repeatedly, leaving our characters dealing with the fallout. Spider Jerusalem also confronts assassins putting a hit on his life as part of a convoluted scheme tied up in a messy divorce --- in a storyline that may go a bit too far...

Todd McFarlane's Spawn was one of the four core titles published by Image Comics at its foundation 25 years ago, along with Youngblood, Savage Dragon, and WildCATS. Back then, when I still thought I was a cishet white guy, Spawn hit like an atomic bomb, one where the mushroom cloud formed the visage of Eddie from an Iron Maiden album cover. Everything about the character was focused like a laser on appealing to a #teen who is sure angry at something --- the chains, the skulls, the spikes, the glowing eyes, the rubbery monsters and dark inks, all fused with the sleek lines and bright colors of the superheroic aesthetic.

In the 1990s, the Warren Ellis/Darick Robertson comic series Transmetropolitan foresaw a future full of twisted behavior, renegade politics, and uncontrollable technology. Now that reality seems to have caught up with the adventures of Spider Jerusalem, we at ComicsAlliance are returning to the series and examining what it has to say. Do you need help navigating a political world turned upside down and inside out? We’re here --- with some Filthy Assistance. This week, we kick the series off with Spider Jerusalem forced by financial distress and contractual obligation to return to the City --- a post-cyberpunk future and an alchemical mix of the ancient and the bleeding edge. He finds a nascent movement in danger of getting its teeth kicked in by authority, attends a religious convention, transforms into a television program, and teaches the president that everything poops.

Comics can live forever, but the great talents that make them are mortal like the rest of us. We at ComicsAlliance would like to take a moment to salute and remember those creators that the comics community lost in 2016. You work was loved, and you are remembered.

Tara Madison Avery and Jeanne Thornton of Stacked Deck Press have announced an anthology dedicated to transgender and nonbinary cartoonists, entitled We’re Still Here, showcasing the comics medium from the transgender/nonbinary perspective. The editors are also inviting open submissions from trans/nonbinary cartoonists who want to show what they can do.

If you know someone who has succumbed to the cult of Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye, whether they're a new convert or a long-time fan, we've put together a gift guide to some of the best of these toy robots, and other merchandise featuring them, so they can let the whole world know how they feel about Transformer.

The percentage of comics consumers who actually want to become comics creators is probably higher than in most other mediums, and while the barriers to comics publication are lower than ever, with multiple sites offering hosting for free, there are still plenty of barriers to creation to overcome, from acquiring the right tools to developing the right skills. We've put together this gift guide to help you buy the ideal present for an aspiring comic creator.

There’s a strong strain of the collector in fandom, and buying for a comics fan can be a difficult endeavor, because so much of what they want is something they already know about. But even the most famous writers, artists, and characters have obscurer works that often go overlooked. This gift guide looks at deep cuts for the superfan in your life, and we've divided into three sections; favorite artists, favorite writers, and favorite characters. If you know someone who is passionate about Darwyn Cooke, devoted to Warren Ellis, or a big-time Superman fan, we may have the perfect gift suggestion.

To mark Trans Week of Visibility, ComicsAlliance has put together a list of great comics for younger readers featuring transgender or nonbinary characters. These are comics that are suitable for a wide range of ages, and come from a wide array of genres, from fantasy to electro-pop to superheroes to slice-of-life --- so there should be something for everyone. If you're a young trans or nonbinary comics reader, or if you know someone who is, or if you just want to read some amazing comics, these are our recommendations!