The Comics Journal is an American magazine of news and criticism pertaining to comic books and strips, renowned for its in-depth interviews, often scathing reviews, and an editorial ethos that views comics as a fine art deserving of broader cultural respect. Fantagraphics Books was founded in 1976 by Gary Groth and Mike Catron expressly to publish the Journal; only later did Fantagraphics become a comics publisher in its own right.
The Journal, often abbreviated TCJ, has been viewed with disdain by most mainstream, superhero comics publishers for its hardline non-mainstream editorial slant and insistence upon investigating industry news in the manner of a traditional journalistic enterprise — a practice that runs in sharp contrast to the uncritical and overtly fannish approach of such other publications as Comics Buyer's Guide and Wizard. Nevertheless the Journal has taken home multiple industry awards over the years.
The Journal has also prevailed in a handful of intense lawsuits, one of which involved author and critic Harlan Ellison. Though co-defendants at the time, Groth and Ellison are now bitter adversaries.
The ComicsJournal is the one, single comics-related periodical that I have never stopped buying, reading and re-reading, even in the times when I have been so utterly disgusted by the poor quality of corporate comics that I stopped buying them altogether.
If you aren't a regular reader of The ComicsJournal, this issue will also give you the usual dose of thoughtful reviews, in-depth reportage and as is the new standard, reprints of rare comics you won't find anywhere else, probably ever.
But with the current focus on the entire comics industry, with improvements, adjustments and expansions in just about every department, and even with Kenneth Smith back occupying the back pages, The ComicsJournal is as indispensible as it has ever been, as satisfying as sex and as necessary as oxygen.
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