Alex Grand
@alexgrand.bsky.social
Author UNDERSTANDING SUPERHERO COMIC BOOKS. Host of LEGO ART: SPIDER-MAN. In Russo Bros’ SLUGFEST, BBC, NPR, WSJ, New York Times & TODAY. CBH founder.
Jim Shooter, Stan Lee and Al Milgrom going over The Savage She-Hulk comic book cover in 1980 written by David Anthony Kraft.
November 7, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Jim Shooter, Stan Lee and Al Milgrom going over The Savage She-Hulk comic book cover in 1980 written by David Anthony Kraft.
1976 Creation Con with Paul Levitz left and Jenette Kahn right, the year she was hired by DC Comics to be the new publisher, replacing Carmine Infantino.
November 7, 2025 at 1:59 AM
1976 Creation Con with Paul Levitz left and Jenette Kahn right, the year she was hired by DC Comics to be the new publisher, replacing Carmine Infantino.
Journey Into Mystery 1 1952 has a few of those Get Muscles Quick ads with the Charles Atlas one shown on the left, and issue 2 has a satire short comic story with art by... Russ Heath? of the muscle density potion gone wrong.
November 6, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Journey Into Mystery 1 1952 has a few of those Get Muscles Quick ads with the Charles Atlas one shown on the left, and issue 2 has a satire short comic story with art by... Russ Heath? of the muscle density potion gone wrong.
Two years later and my book is still in the top 5! I’m beyond grateful.
September 26, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Two years later and my book is still in the top 5! I’m beyond grateful.
I love the idea of the grandmaster of comics looking at his creations, and acknowledging its beauty, power and grace. Long live Jack Kirby.
September 18, 2025 at 4:42 AM
I love the idea of the grandmaster of comics looking at his creations, and acknowledging its beauty, power and grace. Long live Jack Kirby.
September 16, 2025 at 2:07 AM
#SpiderMan’s costume by Steve Ditko changes the foreshortening art rules that Kirby often used.
September 16, 2025 at 2:04 AM
#SpiderMan’s costume by Steve Ditko changes the foreshortening art rules that Kirby often used.
There’s something so pure about 1970 comic book fandom. Especially since Jack Kirby was around to interact with it all.
September 14, 2025 at 1:35 AM
There’s something so pure about 1970 comic book fandom. Especially since Jack Kirby was around to interact with it all.
Spider-Man’s life was full of stress from the get go. Nobody captured that as well as his visual creator, Steve Ditko.
September 13, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Spider-Man’s life was full of stress from the get go. Nobody captured that as well as his visual creator, Steve Ditko.
Honestly I liked it when Ditko or Kirby drew the other’s characters. Sure, Ditko was better on Spidey and Dr Strange while Kirby was better on Thor or Hulk, but I just love a good artistic crossover!
September 6, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Honestly I liked it when Ditko or Kirby drew the other’s characters. Sure, Ditko was better on Spidey and Dr Strange while Kirby was better on Thor or Hulk, but I just love a good artistic crossover!
William Powell nails Dashiell Hammett’s Nick Charles, always two steps ahead and tossing off quips between martinis. This 1934 film is an early template for the charming, self-medicating hero that Marvel sharpened decades later in Tony Stark.
September 1, 2025 at 7:36 PM
William Powell nails Dashiell Hammett’s Nick Charles, always two steps ahead and tossing off quips between martinis. This 1934 film is an early template for the charming, self-medicating hero that Marvel sharpened decades later in Tony Stark.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a sparkling snapshot of 1961 Manhattan, lifted by Audrey Hepburn & George Peppard’s chemistry. It sets the template that Sex and the City would modernize. Henry Mancini’s Moon River is the film’s beating heart. Rooney’s Mr. Yunioshi portrayal remains indefensible.
September 1, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a sparkling snapshot of 1961 Manhattan, lifted by Audrey Hepburn & George Peppard’s chemistry. It sets the template that Sex and the City would modernize. Henry Mancini’s Moon River is the film’s beating heart. Rooney’s Mr. Yunioshi portrayal remains indefensible.
Flower Drum Song (1962) is a vibrant adaptation of C.Y. Lee’s 1957 novel The Flower Drum Song, the basis for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s hit musical. Nominated for five Academy Awards. the 1st major Hollywood feature to showcase a majority Asian-American cast in a contemporary story. Nancy Kwan!
August 31, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Flower Drum Song (1962) is a vibrant adaptation of C.Y. Lee’s 1957 novel The Flower Drum Song, the basis for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s hit musical. Nominated for five Academy Awards. the 1st major Hollywood feature to showcase a majority Asian-American cast in a contemporary story. Nancy Kwan!
Loved the cast but Ann Margret’s searing eyes stole the show. Weird to see Joan Blondell who really struck me in Gold Diggers of 1933.
August 24, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Loved the cast but Ann Margret’s searing eyes stole the show. Weird to see Joan Blondell who really struck me in Gold Diggers of 1933.
Loved hail the conquering hero. Morgan creek was funnier but this movie had a real touching beautiful punchline
August 24, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Loved hail the conquering hero. Morgan creek was funnier but this movie had a real touching beautiful punchline
Walter Matthau really kicks a$$ in Charley Varrick. It’s a crime film that literally goes upside down. You gotta love a ratings system that shows an incredible amount of bank robbery and mafia based violence then gives it a PG rating. I love the 70s!
August 24, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Walter Matthau really kicks a$$ in Charley Varrick. It’s a crime film that literally goes upside down. You gotta love a ratings system that shows an incredible amount of bank robbery and mafia based violence then gives it a PG rating. I love the 70s!
One of the best romantic comedies. Betty Hutton is magnetically hilarious and Eddie Bracken feels like Jiminy Cricket made human. Two thumbs up.
August 24, 2025 at 3:53 PM
One of the best romantic comedies. Betty Hutton is magnetically hilarious and Eddie Bracken feels like Jiminy Cricket made human. Two thumbs up.
Watched #FantasticFour again today! Probably the most #1960s #Marvel Jack Kirby movie we’ll ever get.
August 3, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Watched #FantasticFour again today! Probably the most #1960s #Marvel Jack Kirby movie we’ll ever get.
Marie Severin drew the cover to a 1969 Esquire magazine featuring football player, Joe Namath.
August 2, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Marie Severin drew the cover to a 1969 Esquire magazine featuring football player, Joe Namath.
Wordless comics have a long history of this going back through various decades. Here is a 1952 example of Little Lulu's friend Tubby, as a short and sweet one page wordless comic.
August 2, 2025 at 4:48 AM
Wordless comics have a long history of this going back through various decades. Here is a 1952 example of Little Lulu's friend Tubby, as a short and sweet one page wordless comic.
Cathy Guisewite started the Cathy Newspaper Comic strip in 1976 about the comedic day in the life of the modern working woman. The strip ran for 34 years and Cathy earned an Emmy in 1986 and a Reuben Award in 1993.
August 1, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Cathy Guisewite started the Cathy Newspaper Comic strip in 1976 about the comedic day in the life of the modern working woman. The strip ran for 34 years and Cathy earned an Emmy in 1986 and a Reuben Award in 1993.
Exciting news. 📚 Cengage Learning is reprinting part of Understanding Superhero Comic Books in Contemporary Literary Criticism vol. 562. This core academic series places my work beside essays students and scholars rely on. Grateful for the chance to share and keep learning.
July 30, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Exciting news. 📚 Cengage Learning is reprinting part of Understanding Superhero Comic Books in Contemporary Literary Criticism vol. 562. This core academic series places my work beside essays students and scholars rely on. Grateful for the chance to share and keep learning.