National allegories and power fantasies

I saw this comic, About Face, about fascist aesthetics and Punisher by Nate Powell, which got me thinking about superhero comics – but getting there is going to require some preamble through cultural theory, so please bear with me as I lay down the foundations: In 1986, Fredric Jameson, a Marxist and political and literary … Continue reading →

A pandemic summer update

I had originally planned to focus on creative work this year, but that fanciful idea has been thoroughly laid to rest for the foreseeable future. Pandemic life has exploded responsibilities in my life in ways that has made it unrecognizable to me. What were once ties of friendship and exciting commitments have transformed into a … Continue reading →

#quaranzinefest

I had originally planned to write a nice HK/Bangkok travel guide for March, but that month kind of went to shit. Plus no one is traveling anywhere to see art for the foreseeable future. In the spirit of the times, as a part of the digital zine fest, Quaranzine, I’m uploading the print file for … Continue reading →

Luo Yang 罗 洋

One of the best things about traveling to Asia was discovering artists I’d probably never hear of in Canada. Will write more about art spaces I discovered in Bangkok and Hong Kong but for now, please enjoy these photos by Luo Yang (罗 洋), known for her photographs of Chinese youth and women. Continue reading →

Comics I like about philosophers

Reich, Elijah Brubaker (2007-2014) An incredibly ambitious, well researched biographical comic series about Wilhelm Reich, one of Freud’s defectors who combined his psychoanalytic practice with political theory. He’s something of a fringe figure. There’s a pretty good review here. The Index vol. 1, Caitlin Cass (2015) A most charming comic exploring philosophical ideas and featuring … Continue reading →

Hello 2020

2019 was a difficult year for me and I subsequently didn’t work on my own comics, something I hope to rectify in the coming year. I took on volunteer work and a couple leadership positions in a bunch of organizations, including those related to climate justice. This kind of work can easily become all-consuming, but … Continue reading →

BTTM FDRS review

I forgot to post here that I wrote a little something for Your Chicken Enemy about BTTM FDRS! Check it out ❤ Continue reading →

Sex zine and journal series hit list

A round up of sex related zines that I’ve either recently enjoyed reading or want to read: Cold Cuts Fledgling biannual photojournal series based in exploring Queer Culture and the Middle East. Based in Beirut. Full colour. Leste Erotic Montreal-based journal that features a mix of photography, prose and poetry, interviews and essays and focuses … Continue reading →

An article on Sino-Canadian relations

The Walrus just published my article: China, Prosperity, & Stereotypes that won’t Die. It’s written in first person but is very much a research-based piece. The original title I had pitched was “The Involuntary Switch” (the original draft was more about shifting positions of power in society). But that was not very SEO-friendly so the … Continue reading →

An obituary for Queen Video or, Metaphors for a Beloved Rental Store in a City of Cinephiles (1981-2019)

This obit isn’t comics related but I met so many comics people through Queen Video, I thought it was appropriate to post this here. Queen Video’s swan song was like a slow-burn ambient track incrementally building in noise and dissonance until reaching a frenzied climax. We had all known for years that the legendary movie … Continue reading →