Website type | Comic book |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Owner | Max Douglas |
| Editor | Max Douglas |
| Website | sequentialpulp |
| Registration | Yes |
| Launched | 2002 |
Sequential is an English-language web-magazine which publishes news, interviews, and reviews about Canadian comics, with a focus on the small press scene. It was founded by cartoonist Max Douglas in 2002. In 2019 the site transitioned to a full-colour print magazine under the editorship of Brendan Montgomery. To date, 17 issues of the magazine have seen print.
In 2002, the Montreal-based Douglas began publishing what was essentially a linklog about local goings on in his scene. It began as an outgrowth of the news page of the Montreal Comics Jam website, but with a handful of volunteer contributing writers and artists, the blog, with the full title Sequential: Canadian Comix News & Culture, quickly established itself as a hub for cartoonists, comic creators, publishers, and comics readers, posting news about book releases and events. Over the years, the blog has served a secondary function of documenting and preserving Canadian comics history, ensuring that Canada's distinct cartooning legacy, from the 19th century through the launch of the "Canadian Whites" during WW II, to today, is actively studied and preserved. Through columns like the "C-List" and other specialized features, Sequential bridges past movements with modern Indie comics developments, preventing Canadian pop-culture history from being overshadowed by larger national comics markets. The site has historically put an emphasis on amplifying independent and underrepresented voices, dedicating its platform almost exclusively to independent comic book creators, with the stated goal of giving visibility to localized and marginalized narratives, routinely spotlighting Indigenous comics and alternative regional creators who exist outside of mainstream publishing. In this sense, Sequential acts as a central bulletin board for the Canadian cartooning industry. It provides tangible structural support to the community by centralizing:
Beginning in 2009, Sequential published a free black-and-white zine to coincide with the annual Toronto Comic Arts Festival. Edited and designed by Douglas, issues were published for 2009, 2010, and 2011.
In 2019 Sequential relaunched as a print magazine edited by Brendan Montgomery, with the website used mostly to promote new issues of the physical version. Rebranded "Sequential: Canadian Independent Comic Book Magazine," the new full-colour version was an outgrowth of Montgomery's Canadian Independent Comic Book Wiki project and website. In introducing the new magazine, Montgomery announced his stated goal: "to expand the efforts of both Sequential and the Wiki to promote self-published and indie comic books made by Canadians. We hope to provide a new avenue for readers to connect to these creators through in-depth interviews and to discover new books through reviews and previews."
The magazine provided long-form interviews with cover-featured creators, and published several special-focus issues, including an issue dedicated to First Nations comics, and an issue dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Canadian Whites.
The magazine added its own annual awards in 2019 with online voting from readers in seven categories Best Comic Book, Best Graphic Novel, Best Webcomic, Favourite Writer, Favourite Artist, Favourite Cartoonist, and Favourite Podcast.
After 17 issues, Montgomery announced he was giving up his role as editor and publisher of the magazine as of January 2025. The editor reigns were reportedly handed to Christian Muise. Since that time no new issues have been published and the website has remained largely inactive.
The Web has also allowed for the development of several Canadian blogs devoted to graphic narrative, including the excellent Sequential: Canadian Comix News & Culture, founded by Max Douglas in 2002.
This blog exists to give Canadian creators and publishers a stronger voice in the north american market. To raise the profile of new talented creators, promote the local, the quality over quantity, revive our history and celebrate our avant-garde. We believe this is the best way to help build local markets and readerships. There are many benefits from living next door to the world's largest English language publishing market. But it's easy to get lost in its shadows.