DC’s Own Comic Critic
Written on September 19, 2010 – 10:54 am | by gpelkofski
Yes, the Washington Post has it’s own comic book reporter. Michael Cavna writes the “Comic Riffs” blog for the Washington Post‘s website. 
It’s not just comic books and cartoons that Cavna writes about. He covers a wide variety of topics from politics to TV and movies, and usually finds a way to tie those into comics.
In fact, I wouldn’t describe Cavna as a critic or reviewer. Rarely, if ever, does he write a single review of a comic book or cartoon. According to the description of his blog, Cavna “celebrate[s],contemplate[s], eviscerate[s], and pontificate[s] on cartoons.”
One of the prime examples of Cavna’s topicality is when he wrote several blog entries defending Comedy Central’s show “South Park” after they were censored for attempting to show the Muslim prophet Muhammed last April.
Cavna’s comic book blog represents the growing trend of geeky things (like comics) going mainstream. Many of his posts revolves around comic book’s moving from the printed page to the big screen. Just after this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, Cavna reported that Marvel had already released a teaser trailer for their upcoming Avengers movie in 2012.
His style of writing about comic books for the general audience is one that I try to emulate anytime I write for this blog or for student publications like Broadside and connect2mason.com. It is the way that comic book reporting should be, and hopefully will further influence people into reading and appreciating comic books as much as Cavna and I do.
Tags: Comic Books, critic profile
2 Responses to “DC’s Own Comic Critic”
I have never read Michael Cavna’s “Comic Riffs” before, but since reading your post I have read a few of Cavna’s post and I have found his work to be interesting. I think it is amazing that the Washington Post would spend the money to keep a comic book reporter on staff. I think it is great to get the behind the scenes perspective from the artists who create the comics.
Cavna is a nice guy. We don’t have the money for a comic book reporter; he is also an editor in the culture department who writes about comics just because he loves them. Greg, please check your AP stylebook section on plurals and possessives — you’ve misused apostrophes all over this post. 9/10