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Author: John Maher

John Maher is news and digital editor at Publishers Weekly and editor in chief at The Dot and Line, which he co-founded. His work has been published by New York magazine, The Los Angeles Times, and Esquire, among others.
timmy turner fairly oddparents
TV

Fairly Oddparents and the Terror of “Tiimmy Turner”

August 2, 2016December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on Fairly Oddparents and the Terror of “Tiimmy Turner”

Or, how a Nickelodeon reference can depress the crap out of you while still being couched in an experimental-ish club banger.

Movies

Wrestling With the Animated ‘Batman: The Killing Joke’

July 27, 2016December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on Wrestling With the Animated ‘Batman: The Killing Joke’

DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation had every opportunity to make this film better — and they didn’t take any of them.

Movies

Notes on ‘Belladonna of Sadness’

June 20, 2016December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on Notes on ‘Belladonna of Sadness’

Viewer discretion HELLA advised.

Movies

Conroy v Balefleckman: Jawn of Grimdark

April 5, 2016December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on Conroy v Balefleckman: Jawn of Grimdark

The best Batflick is animated and you’ve probably never seen it. This one might be better. And darker.

wide whale venture bros
Interviews TV

Hal Lublin Breaks Down ‘Venture Bros.’ and Playing Up His Asthma: Exclusive

March 17, 2016December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on Hal Lublin Breaks Down ‘Venture Bros.’ and Playing Up His Asthma: Exclusive

We chatted with the comedian and voice actor on his craft, his health, playing to rooms filled with judgment, and how he came to voice Wide Wale — the soggiest archvillain of 2016.

TV

If Fandom Has Killed the Cliffhanger, Sign ‘Young Justice’ Up

March 5, 2016December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on If Fandom Has Killed the Cliffhanger, Sign ‘Young Justice’ Up

This year, three cartoons make unexpected returns. Justice demands a fourth.

batman the animated series eyes gif
Movies TV

Anatomy of an Animated Badass

February 17, 2016December 29, 2019 John MaherComments Off on Anatomy of an Animated Badass

Nine core qualities that make a cartoon cool.

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EDITORS PICKS

rockos modern life movie

The ‘Rocko’s Modern Life’ Revival Looks Bonkers Good

By Eric Vilas-Boas

Well, this looks exciting.

Farewell to Clay Martin Croker

By John Maher

The longtime Adult Swim animator and voice actor joins Space Ghost far too soon.

dragon ball z explosion of anger

This Is the Best Scene in Every Version of ‘DBZ’—No Matter What

By Eric Vilas-Boas

Applause for this moment.

prince zuko avatar the last airbender

The Best Redemption Arc in Television History, Examined

By John Maher

Prince Zuko's story in 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' is a master class in character development. And it gets even better in the comics.

todd chavez asexual relationships

What ‘BoJack Horseman’ Season 5 Gets Right About Asexual Relationships

By RoAnna Sylver

Even if we share an orientation, we’re not a monolith.

gateway shuffle cowboy bebop

In Defense of “Gateway Shuffle”—The Lamest Entry of ‘Bebop’

By Eric Vilas-Boas

This may be the show’s worst episode, but its final minutes are a sci-fi thrill ride. Pour one out for the space seals.*

shinichiro watanabe cowboy bebop

A Final ‘Bebop’ Question on Shinichirō Watanabe’s Legacy

By John Maher

‘Cowboy Bebop’ busted the anime curve. But what is its director’s legacy? And is his greatest work really his, anyway?

garnet steven universe

At the Start of 2016, Rebecca Sugar Gave Garnet Something Entirely New

By Maya Gittelman

How Rebecca Sugar and ‘Steven Universe’ set precedents for queer love in cartoons.

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GREATEST HITS

A Definitive Ranking of the Water Tribe’s Nonbenders on Avatar

By Sam Reynolds

The element of change requires ebb and flow even in its nonbenders. These folks deliver…mostly.

death of superman

‘The Death of Superman’ Finally Stuck the Landing

By Eric Vilas-Boas

Did we need another adaptation? This movie proves we did.

2017 editorial | Editorial by MysteryThemes.