ComicsVerse

Founded in 2012 by Justin Alba, ComicsVerse was incorporated in 2016. Alba and colleague, current Assistant Editor at Marvel, Kathleen Wisneski, co-organized the ComicsVerse podcast alongside the site following a class at Columbia University in 2012 entitled “Comic Books and Graphic Novels as Literature.”^[2]

In his Open Letter, Alba writes that “comics saved my life” by teaching him how to cope with severe bullying and develop self-confidence. Alba notes that ComicsVerse's goal is to “help people like me who went through challenging and turbulent times” by engaging in a community of comics fans and creators.^[2]

ComicsVerse immediately treated comics as an art form, rejecting the tendency in academia to dismiss comics as anti-literary.^[3] Since its inception, ComicsVerse has expanded its discussion of mainstream comics like Marvel and DC to include comics from smaller and independent publishers, as well as comics-related television and film, and politics and culture outside of comics.^[1]

ComicsVerse also features a Special Edition series on New York Comic Convention,^[4] focusing on creator interviews and character analysis in Marvel, DC, Image and indie comics.^[2]

ComicsVerse defines its mission to use “comics as a platform to discuss social issues of our time like race, sexuality, gender and inequality” ^[1][5] ComicsVerse investigates diversity in comic books and pop culture in order discuss representation, social justice, and build a community.^[6]

ComicsVerse writer and current Lion Forge editor Kat Vendetti spoke to the BBC in 2018 regarding Ms Marvel, Captain America, and the first Muslim women superheroes.^[7][8][9] ComicsVerse has also discussed racial diversity in X-Men and New Mutants^[6] The website's Feminist Voices and Queer Voices pages gather articles related to social equality for women ^[10] and people who identify as LGBTQ+ ^[11]

In 2017, ComicsVerse was recognized by the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Hatewatch for its story on The Dangers of Normalizing the Alt-Right.^[12]

Discover more about Purpose related topics

BBC

BBC

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom, based at Broadcasting House in London, England. It is the world's oldest national broadcaster, and the largest broadcaster in the world by number of employees, employing over 21,000 staff in total, of whom approximately 17,900 are in public-sector broadcasting.

Captain America

Captain America

Captain America is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by cartoonists Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 from Timely Comics, a predecessor of Marvel Comics. Captain America was designed as a patriotic supersoldier who often fought the Axis powers of World War II and was Timely Comics' most popular character during the wartime period. The popularity of superheroes waned following the war, and the Captain America comic book was discontinued in 1950, with a short-lived revival in 1953. Since Marvel Comics revived the character in 1964, Captain America has remained in publication.

X-Men

X-Men

The X-Men are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby and writer/editor Stan Lee, the team first appearing in The X-Men #1. Although initially cancelled in 1970 due to low sales, following its 1975 revival and subsequent direction under writer Chris Claremont, it became one of the most recognizable and successful franchises of Marvel Comics. They have appeared in numerous books, television shows, the 20th Century Fox X-Men films, and video games. The X-Men title may refer to the superhero team itself, the eponymous comic series, or the broader franchise including various solo titles and team books such as the New Mutants, Excalibur, and X-Force. This team of heroes marks a striking resemblance to another superhero team conceived by DC Comics called Doom Patrol, that released three months prior to release of the X-Men.

New Mutants

New Mutants

The New Mutants are a group of fictional mutant superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, generally in association with the X-Men. Originally depicted as the teenaged junior class at the Xavier Institute, subsequent stories have depicted the characters as adult superheroes or as teachers and mentors to younger mutants.

Southern Poverty Law Center

Southern Poverty Law Center

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, it is known for its legal cases against white supremacist groups, for its classification of hate groups and other extremist organizations, and for promoting tolerance education programs. The SPLC was founded by Morris Dees, Joseph J. Levin Jr., and Julian Bond in 1971 as a civil rights law firm in Montgomery. Bond served as president of the board between 1971 and 1979.

The ComicsVerse podcast has an international audience.^[2] The podcast has earned attention for its in-depth discussion of politics, human rights, and social justice as well as character analyses, creator interviews, and coverage of comics-related events like the New York Comic Con.^[1]

The podcast balances discussion of mainstream superhero comics with niche graphic narratives, using different genres and media to investigate political topics.^[5]

In 2017 the webcomic was nominated for a People's Choice Podcast Award in entertainment.^[13]