The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. This issue, Greg Stump sits down for an interview with award-winning artist Jessica Abel, tracing her career from early, self-published mini-comics to her first deal with a major book publisher. Also: Bill Shafer talks to cartoonist Mark Bode about carrying on the legacy of his famous father, Vaughn. Plus: an interview with Lalo Alcaraz (La Cucaracha); Nell Brinkley comics; and corporate upheaval at DC.

Letters
Blood & Thunder (p. 9)
News
Michael Dean, "Corporate Upheaval At DC" (p. 14)
Michael Dean, "How Michael Jackson Almost Bought Marvel" (p. 18)
Michael Dean, "Online Comics Journalism: Part 7" (p. 24)
Michael Dean; "Girl Comics Readers Courted" (p. 26)
Greg Stump and staff, Journal Datebook (p. 29)
Interviews
Greg Stump, The Jessica Abel Interview (p. 68)
Ana Merino, The Lalo Alcaraz Interview (p. 107)
Bill Shafer, The Mark Bodé Interview (p.124)
Reviews
Tim O'Neil, "Prometheus Stillborn" (p. 42)
Daniel Holloway, "Half a Masterpiece" (p. 46)
Sean T. Collins, "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (p. 48)
Paul Sloman, "White Hole" (p. 50)
Rob Vollmar, "What Beside Remains" (p. 52)
Gregory Cwiklik, "Form over Function" (p. 54)
Bullets Reviews, "Wanted #1-4", "Baraka and Black Magic in Morrocco", "Way to Go",
and "My Faith in Frankie" (p. 56)
Essays
Ng Suat Tong, "Chinese Manhua" (p.60)
Trina Robbins, Nell Brinkley Comics (p.130)
Columns
Bart Beaty, Eurocomics For Beginners (p. 169)
R.C. Harvey, Comicopia: "George McManus's ‘Son' and Heir and How That Didn't Work Out" (p. 171)
Daniel Holloway, Minimalism: "Birds of America" (p. 178)
Tom Spurgeon, Cape Fear: "What Makes a Superman?" (p. 183)
Tim O'Neil, Ctrl-Alt-Delete: "Electronic Voting" (p. 188)
Kenneth Smith, Time Out Of Joint: "Power and Personal Chaos" (p. 193)