The Magazine of Comics News and Criticism. 30th Anniversary Issue! "Where we came from, where we're going": The Comics Journal celebrates its 30th year as the nation's premier trade journal and comic arts review by examining the last three decades of comics arts and industry history. It offers a look at where the medium may be headed in the next decade, in an oversized special issue guaranteed to give you a new perspective from which to view the art form. News Editor Michael Dean and Managing Editor Dirk Deppey offer a concise history of the comic book marketplace, from the early days of the Direct Market to the turbulent 1990's and their consequences for today. Executive Editor Gary Groth talks about the aesthetics of the medium with renowned cultural critic Donald Phelps. French cartoonist and controversial L'Association co-founder Jean-Christophe Menu offers a European perspective, and a host of cartoonists (including veteran comic book creator Kyle Baker, breakout web-cartoonist Chris Onstad, and others) and publishers discuss the future of the medium as seen from their vantage points. Plus: Donald Phelps offers an extended look at revered classic comic strip Barney Google, complete with an extensive collection of daily strips from the series!

Editorial
Dirk Deppey, "Parting Shot" (p. 5)
News
Greg Stump and staff, Journal Datebook (p. 25)
Interviews
Gary Groth, "A Conversation with Alex Toth" (p. 17)
Gary Groth, Donald Phelps Interview (p. 34)
Matthias Wivel, Jean-Christophe Menu (p. 144)
Gary Groth, R. Kikuo Johnson Interview (p. 176)
Kristy Valenti, Chynna Clugston Interview (p. 194)
Dirk Deppey, Chris Onstad Interview (p. 202)
Jim Roll, Fred Gallagher Interview (p. 210)
Michael Dean, Mark Siegel Interview (p. 218)
Michael Dean, Chris Staros Interview (p. 230)
Dirk Deppey, Diana Schutz Interview (p. 239)
Dirk Deppey, Dallas Middaugh Interview (p. 248)
Dirk Deppey, Joey Manley Interview (p. 258)
Essays
Jesse Hamm, "Alex Toth Dies at 78" (p. 8)
Howard Chaykin, "Alex Toth: An Appreciation and an Assessment" (p. 13)
Donald Phelps, "The Middle Depths" (p. 46)
Michael Dean, "Fine Young Cannibals" (p. 5)
Gary Groth, "Black and White and Dead All Over" (p. 60)
Dirk Deppey, "Suicide Club" (p. 67)
Michael T. Gilbert and Ken Quattro, "It Rhymes With Lust" (p. 78)
Kenneth Smith, "Time Out of Joint" (p. 266)