The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. This issue, travel from Marvel to Hollywood and back, as Michael Dean conducts a definitive interview with cartoonist and illustrator Mike Ploog (Man-Thing, Abadazad)! Also: a conversation with Sophie Crumb (Belly Button); Greg Sadowski on early Harvey Kurtzman comics; and distributor deathwatch - the struggles of Diamond's last competitor! Plus: reviews, comics, letters and news. Cover by Mike Ploog.

Letters
Blood and Thunder (p. 9)
News
Michael Dean, Newswatch: "Distributer Deathwatch" (p. 20)
Michael Dean, "Crumb vs. Amazon" (p. 28)
Michael Dean, "Judge Sends Alternative Comics Case to Trial," (p. 30)
Michael Dean, "Speakeasy Hits Hard Times and Finds New Focus," (p. 32)
Gary Walker, "The World's Biggest Comic Strip" (p. 34)
Greg Stump and staff, Journal Datebook (p. 36)
Interviews
Michael Dean, The Mike Ploog Interview (p. 80)
B.N. Duncan, The Sophie Crumb Interview (p. 120)
Reviews
John Carnahan, "Why Are You Doing This?" (p. 50)
Gabriel Carras, "Eisner/Miller"
Charles Hatfield, "The Birth of a Nation" (p. 54)
Gregory Cwiklik, "The Life and Art of Murphy Anderson" (p. 56)
Ian Brill, "Wimbledon Green" (p. 59)
Adam Stephanides, "Finder: Mystery Date"
Tom Underhill, "Planetary Book 3" (p. 62)
R.C. Harvey, "Earthboy Jacobus" (p. 65)
Bullet Reviews, "Public Enemy #2", "Or Else #2", "The Murder of Abraham Lincoln", "Super F*ckers" (p. 66)
Essays
Chris Lanier, "Charlotte Salomon's ‘Life? or Theatre?'" (p. 69)
Greg Sadowski, "Early Harvey Kurtzman Comics" (p. 137)
Columns
Fighting Words (p. 177)
Rich Kreiner, Meet the Comics Press (p. 178)
R.C. Harvey, Comicopia: "Another History of Comics Book" (p. 186)
Kenneth Smith, Time Out of Joint (p. 193)