Legal | Inventor Stephen Kimble, who was dealt a final loss Monday by the Supreme Court in his years-long fight with Marvel over royalties for a Spider-Man toy, is of course disappointed by the 6-3 decision. However, he seems hopeful that there might be a legislative solution to the outdated patent law. “We can take this opinion, go to the legislators … and say, ‘Look, the court is saying that if this needs to be changed, you’re the guys to change it,’” he said. “And there is a huge body of evidence out there that this needs to be changed.” [Tucson Sentinel]
Manga | Kathryn Hemmann looks at the ways publishers courted female readers in the early days of manga, and how their strategies led to permanent changes in the comics landscape. [Contemporary Japanese Literature]
Comics | Jon Morris talks about his compendium of obscure characters, The League of Regrettable Superheroes: “The name ‘regrettable’ doesn’t mean that they were just bad ideas. Some were just weird ideas. Some were bad execution. And with others, their publisher just vanished in the night.” The book highlights 100 forgotten superheroes, including Amazing Man, The Bouncer and Pow-Girl, and one who has just made a comeback: Prez. [The Fresno Bee]
Creators | Alison Bechdel discusses what it was like to see her graphic novel Fun Home turned into a musical: "Ever since I listened to the first version of this musical I've been stunned by how it cut to the heart of the emotional story of the book in a way that I wasn't really able to." [Rolling Stone]
Creators | Gary Panter interviews Leslie Stein about Bright Eyed at Midnight. [The Comics Journal]
Creators | Indian cartoonist Pawan talks about his work and what sets him apart from other political cartoonists — the way he incorporates tidbits of everyday life into his work. [Patna Daily]
Comics | Janelle Asselin discusses her digital romance comics anthology Fresh Romance. [The Reader]
Commentary | In a lengthy article that is accessible to comics newcomers as well as longtime fans, Jaime Weinman discusses continuity, lays out the case against it, and ends up arguing that it may not be such a bad thing after all, finishing with a list of series in which writers used the history of their universe in creative ways. [Macleans]
History | Mental Floss dredges up 12 fun facts from the history of MAD Magazine. [Mental Floss]
Conventions | The Ashland, Oregon, library's comics convention drew tens, not thousands, of visitors, but the exhibitors and attendees were just as enthusiastic as those at a big-city con, and the event served as a way to connect different groups and bring comics to a wider audience. [Mail Tribune]