Augie De Blieck Jr.
I started reading comics at the ripe old age of 13, well after most of my peers got hooked by that "G.I. Joe" commercial. But I haven't stopped reading since. I gave up counting how many comics sit in longboxes throughout the house years ago. Someday soon, I hope to count my comics by the megabyte.
My entrée into the world of writing about comics was in the letters columns of the 1990s, most prominently in "Savage Dragon" and DC's "Star Trek" series. I entered the on-line world -- well, back in 1986 on Q-Link, but I wasn't reading or talking about comics yet at that point, so nevermind. I started up on USENET and CompuServe in the mid-1990s, and eventually tried writing my own review column (creatively titled "Augie's Reviews"), which eventually became Pipeline in 1998. Pipeline has run every week since, without a break, and even ran twice a week for a couple of years, and alongside the first comic book podcast for nearly six years. I was the original editor of CBR's "The Commentary Track" feature, and now edit the CBR Reviews section.
I'm a computer programmer by trade, and a photographic enthusiast in addition to my sequential narrative habit. My wife enjoys Tom Beland's "True Story, Swear to God," while my daughter enjoys the works of Sandra Boynton, Dr. Seuss, and a tattered copy of "Little Lulu."
FIRST COMIC: "Amazing Spider-Man" #318
FAVORITE CHARACTER: Savage Dragon, Ultimate Spider-Man, Oracle, Jubilee, Asterix, Largo Winch
Articles By Augie De Blieck Jr.
Showing results 21-40 of 1157
Pipeline - 1/15
Tue, January 15th, 2013 | Category: Comic Books
Augie gives his eulogy to The Comics Buyer's Guide, his entry point into the world of comics journalist. And an old comic strip friend,"Baby Blues," releases a book celebrating 20 years!
Pipeline - 1/08
Tue, January 8th, 2013 | Category: Comic Books
Augie looks back at his reviews from 2012, and ahead with reviews for six of Image's releases this week. Plus, a trip around the web for news of French comics and unpublished works.
Pipeline - 1/02
Wed, January 2nd, 2013 | Category: Comic Books
Was 2012 the year of the creator? Or are we still working towards that? Will Franco-Belgian comics go digital in North America? And what can Santa Claus teach us about storytelling and S-curves?
Pipeline - 12/26
Wed, December 26th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie gives Manga Studio Debut 4 a run through, finds a nice way to create a workflow around creating digital comics and shows off some of his results. Also, who did DC fire by fax in the '90s? Augie has the answer!
Pipeline - 12/18
Tue, December 18th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie runs down Image's 2012 second printings, looking for patterns, and his conclusions may surprise you, Plus, Humanoids has a new title out, and some advice to wannabe comic creators.
Pipeline - 12/11
Tue, December 11th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie returns to the inappropriately named One-Liner format to look at past CBR columnists, Erik Larsen and the Savage Dragon's longevity, Tom Orzechowski's lettering output, Gail Simone's "Batgirl" dismissal and more.
Pipeline - 12/04
Tue, December 4th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie covers the cost of comics, the dreaded Comics Collector's Lull and how to get out of it. Plus, a random assortment of comics thoughts and links covering "My Little Pony," Rob Liefeld's "New Mutants" and more.
Pipeline - 11/27
Tue, November 27th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
The ridiculously large and undeniably beautiful "Groo: Artist's Edition" catches Augie's eye, presenting an opportunity for some art lessons while revisiting one of comics' greatest funny books of all time.
Pipeline - 11/25
Sun, November 25th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
CBR's own Augie De Blieck Jr. spends some time in the hot seat as the longest continuously-published online comics columnist looks back on his career as a comics pundit with Jonah Weiland.
Pipeline - 11/20
Tue, November 20th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie takes a look at the second year of Marvel's classic "Excalibur" series from Chris Claremont and Alan Davis. And just how productive was Ron Lim back then? Hint: Very.
Pipeline - 11/13
Tue, November 13th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie has his hands on an early copy of the "Art of Todd McFarlane," an awesome retrospective of the last 25 years of McFarlane's career, even with some narrative difficulties. Also, Dave Sim follows through on his lettering.
Pipeline - 11/06
Tue, November 6th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
's Augie versus Hurricane Sandy, writers versus artists, and DC Comics versus alternate cover starvation as Augie hunts for gas, reads "Groo"and weighs in on 52 "Justice League of America" covers.
Pipeline - 10/30
Tue, October 30th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie looks at the first year of the classic 'Excalibur' series and finds much to admire from Chris Claremont and Tom Orzechowski. Time for writing and lettering lessons, kids!
Pipeline - 10/23
Tue, October 23rd, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie finishes his trek through New York Comic Con's Artist Alley, and brings the XFL footlball pictures to prove it. Plus, Todd McFarlane shows off his new art book and Dave Sim podcasts.
Pipeline - 10/16
Tue, October 16th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie attended the New York Comic Con last weekend and came back with lots of stories of cute costumes, encounters in Artist Alley and more good stuff from the con.
Pipeline - 10/09
Tue, October 9th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie travels back to his childhood to review the new "MacGyver" comic, whose transition to sequential art is sadly bumpy. Also, we have Cerebus, New York Comic-Con, "The Walking Dead" and more.
Pipeline - 10/02
Tue, October 2nd, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie finds a lot to like in the action-filled "Epic Kill" trade and laughs at Doug TenNapel's "Ratfist" collection. In the good way. Plus, "Avengers" updates, original art scams and "My Little Pony."
Pipeline - 9/27
Thu, September 27th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
The ultimate superhero movie is now out on Blu-ray, as "Marvel Studios' The Avengers" hit store shelves this week. Augie takes a look and discovers that he needs a bigger television screen.
Pipeline - 9/25
Tue, September 25th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie takes a look at the original "R.I.P.D." miniseries that's been optioned for a 2013 movie, leading him to some thoughts on the use of a grid-style layout in comics storytelling.
Pipeline - 9/18
Tue, September 18th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie goes shopping for Halloween and comes across an odd assortment of comic book-themed costumes. Plus, a comics documentary that's fair, alternate publishing for Cerebus, and lots more.
The Walking Dead #98
Thu, May 31st, 2012 | Category: Review
The danger comes to Rick and the gang, as one ally falls and tensions rise in "The Walking Dead" #98.
The Walking Dead #95
Wed, March 28th, 2012 | Category: Review
Rick and his small band of survivors encounter a new zombie-free community where things aren't quite what they seem.
Thief of Thieves #2
Wed, March 14th, 2012 | Category: Review
Despite a lot of talking heads and some decompressed storytelling, this second issue carries the story forward admirably with a great action sequence smack in the middle of things.
Thief of Thieves #1
Wed, February 8th, 2012 | Category: Review
It's a new heist series, with snappy dialogue, a clever opening heist, and just enough cliffhanger to make you wonder what will happen next. And Shawn Martinbrough's art make widescreen storytelling come alive again.
Savage Dragon #177
Wed, December 21st, 2011 | Category: Review
Dragon's kids fight a Hulked-Out Osama Bin Laden, while the subplots keep rolling.
The Walking Dead #92
Thu, December 15th, 2011 | Category: Review
A cloaked figure fights it out with Michonne and Abraham. And his revelation could set up the next new status quo for the series.
Near Death #3
Wed, November 30th, 2011 | Category: Review
“Near Death” gets closer to fulfilling the promise of the series, but trips up on an ending that feels too simple.
Savage Dragon #176
Wed, November 30th, 2011 | Category: Review
A nice done-in-one issue that would be a good introduction to new readers.
The Walking Dead #91
Sun, November 20th, 2011 | Category: Review
Things settle down again, as a shortage of canned food causes worries, Carl misses his eye, Andrea talks to her hat, and somebody is watching. . .
The Walking Dead #88
Wed, August 17th, 2011 | Category: Review
Carl is up and talking, but is Rick prepared to handle it? Things start to break apart in the shadows as Rick and crew rebuild their neighborhood.
The Walking Dead #79
Mon, November 29th, 2010 | Category: Review
Robert Kirkman brings out some new writing tricks, as the current phase of the series begins to take its inevitable turn.
Fraggle Rock #1
Mon, May 3rd, 2010 | Category: Review
Jim Henson's creations arrive as a comic book, 25 years later. It's a three-story anthology that features a beautiful array of art, and stories that are on point for the series.
Usagi Yojimbo #128
Fri, April 30th, 2010 | Category: Review
It's not that this is a bad issue, but it's definitely not a good one for new readers.
Wall-E #5
Fri, April 23rd, 2010 | Category: Review
The second Wall-E story arc finally gets started, and it's a wondrous mix of animated art with the themes and style of the movie.
True Story, Swear to God #12
Sun, March 7th, 2010 | Category: Review
Tom Beland returns to Disney to marry Lily, but "where it all began" is not entirely what Tom remembered. And, yes, there are vows in this issue!
New Avengers #62
Mon, March 1st, 2010 | Category: Review
Spider-People fight in half the book. Captain America returns in the other half to fight the Living Laser. It's quite entertaining
Green Hornet #1
Sun, February 28th, 2010 | Category: Review
While the foundation from the movie script shows, this first issue is more than just set-up. It's a classic "Open on Action" comic story.
The Adventures of Blanche
Wed, December 30th, 2009 | Category: Review
Rick Geary goes the fiction route, but maintains his reputation for superb historical research and the visuals to back them up.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Wed, December 30th, 2009 | Category: Review
Oz has never looked better in the comics format.
Powers #1
Tue, November 24th, 2009 | Category: Review
"Powers" returns, and it hasn't lost a step. Walker has a new partner, and a new addition to his history as Bendis and Oeming take us to his "Rat Pack" days.
