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 1-20 of 1079
Pipeline - 5/15
Tue, May 15th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie talks about "The Avengers" in terms of box office, camera choices, 3D effects and more. Plus, the mother of all original art pages is going up on the block! Save your pennies. And gold bars.
Pipeline - 5/08
Tue, May 8th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
To sum it all up: Augie thinks "The Avengers" is the best superhero film ever, was disappointed by "Captain America'" and enjoyed "Thor" more than he expected.
Pipeline - 5/01
Tue, May 1st, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie sees his comic shop through a three year old's eyes, and an Apple developer's conference through jaded comic convention-going eyes. Plus, "Before Watchmen" and unions!
Pipeline - 4/24
Tue, April 24th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie gets an early look at "Mind the Gap" #1 and catches up on a number of other recent Image titles including Jonathan Hickman's "Secret" and "The Manhattan Projects," Erik Larsen's "Savage Dragon" and more.
Pipeline - 4/17
Tue, April 17th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie recaps his recent visit to DisneyWorld as only a comics fan can: By comparing it to CCI: San Diego. Lines, geeks, costumed characters and everything else is included!
Pipeline - 4/10
Tue, April 10th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Occupational hazard: Everything you see and do relates to comics. This week, Augie saw "Wicked" on Broadway and a lot of it seemed familiar, as a comic fan.
Pipeline - 4/03
Tue, April 3rd, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie shows off his sketchbook, conveniently located in a new app on his iPad. Plus, a heartbreaking tale of a man and his dog, and some newsbits from Seattle.
Pipeline - 3/27
Tue, March 27th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
How can you mess up fly boys and a war with robots? Augie read "Rust" and figured it out. Also, Guillem March's art book is here, and what's wrong with the "Monkeyman and O'Brien" logo?
Pipeline - 3/20
Tue, March 20th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
New iPad in hand, Augie takes it for a test comics-reading spin and finds much to be excited about with the best digital comics reading experience he's ever had.
Pipeline - 3/13
Tue, March 13th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie chimes in on the techno-babble behind Marvel's new announcement, poor paper stock quality at Vertigo, a feminist reading of The Smurfs and the fun of "Astonishing Spider-Man and Wolverine."
Pipeline - 3/06
Tue, March 6th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie sits with the second collection of Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca's "The Invincible Iron Man," has an advance look at Jimmy Palmiotti's "Queen Crab" and revisits Arthur Adams' "Monkeyman and O'Brien."
Pipeline - 2/28
Tue, February 28th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie has a crazy guess about Brian Michael Bendis' post-Avengers gig, a tip for scanning original art, a look back at Image Comics' tenth anniversary, a possible future for conventions and lots more!
Pipeline - 2/21
Tue, February 21st, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie surveys the state of con sketches today and has a hard time recommending artists remain complacent, saying it's not Chicken Little; it's good business practice. Plus, coloring and lettering tips!
Pipeline - 2/14
Tue, February 14th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
IDW re-discovered Chuck Jones' lost comic strip and made a book. Augie likes the book, even if the strip isn't so good. Also, is "Comic Book Men' any worse than "Big Bang Theory?"
Pipeline - 2/07
Tue, February 7th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
This week's Pipeline begins with a look at "Joe the Barbarian," a 200-page low-blood sugar attack. Plus, an alternate vision for the comics industry, and what can the Wiggles teach comic creators?
Pipeline - 1/31
Tue, January 31st, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie opens up the new "John Romita's The Amazing Spider-Man" and talks of is newfound appreciation for the art at large size. Also, Alan Moore did a funny "Spawn" spin-off once that's worth a second look
Pipeline - 1/24
Tue, January 24th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie's review of the recently-collected 'Wolverine and Jubilee' miniseries quickly turns into an appreciation of Tom Orzechowski's lettering.
Pipeline - 1/17
Tue, January 17th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
"Modern Masters: Ron Garney" leads to a lot of talk about inking while Image Comics' "Screamland: Death of the Party" proves to be an enjoyable murder mystery.
Pipeline - 1/10
Tue, January 10th, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie explains why 2012 will be the year of the creator with Image Comics set to be the publisher of the year. Also, "Rocketeer Adventures" is a great compilation of short stories by top comics talent.
Pipeline - 1/03
Tue, January 3rd, 2012 | Category: Comic Books
Augie looks at some pretty French comics, explains why no comics publisher will defend the internet against SOPA and has a new business model for digital comics to consider.
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.
Beast
Mon, November 16th, 2009 | Category: Review
Marian Churchland's retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" is a completely new animal, with beautiful art and an open-ended story.
