Episodes
Sunday Oct 19, 2014
Episode 62 - Slow Burn
Sunday Oct 19, 2014
Sunday Oct 19, 2014
Two comics from October 15, 2014. Plus a Second Opinion, featuring questions answered by a different listener each week, with Sam Marx.
Show Notes:
It's October, and we're in the mood for some good horror comics. This week’s theme is the slow burn, as applied to those frightening situations that tease and entice us, revealing just enough to keep us interested. These two comics play to and distort our need to have all of the questions answered as soon as possible. And when they don’t, it often makes things even scarier.
Trees #6 32:45
The creepiest premise. More questions than answers. And the sensation that when things finally start happening, they'll probably not go well for anyone.
The Veil #5 46:40
An end that feels more like a beginning.
Saturday Oct 11, 2014
Episode 61.1 - I Want To Be A Part Of It (&Not Podcast)
Saturday Oct 11, 2014
Saturday Oct 11, 2014
Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.
No show this week! Andrea decided that she just wanted to be on vacation and not podcast. Its all her fault. Next week will be our best show yet, we guarantee it.
Sunday Oct 05, 2014
Episode 61 - Die For The Government
Sunday Oct 05, 2014
Sunday Oct 05, 2014
Two comics from October 1, 2014. Plus a Second Opinion, featuring questions answered by a different listener each week, with Carl Smith. Carl's Kickstarter for The Horror at Loon Lake is going on now!
On The Couch: artist Annie Wu.
Show Notes:
This week, we’re looking at anti-heroes, but cut from a very specific cloth. Say you are a former sidekick. You used to pal around with a pretty serious hero-type. Captain America, say. Or Batman. Strong moral integrity, clear cut sense of right and wrong. Willing to go to extremes to help the little guy. So what happens when you stop being a sidekick? When you get to decide the hero you want to be, instead of standing in the shadows of another. What traits would you emulate? How much of your former role model would you use to define yourself? We’re looking at two books this week whose characters are definitely not sidekicks, and haven’t been for awhile. These men have broken away from their former identities, though those experiences still inform the kind of hero they are today. The assassin. And the spy.
This is the assassin. You knew that. He's hanging out with Daisy Johnson. You may have known that. She is not his sidekick. Now you know that. And he's definitely not a traditional hero.
Grayson #3 22:15
This is the spy. Did you know that? He used to be Batman's sidekick. You probably knew that. He may still be. Does he know that? He's not a traditional hero, either.
The Couch - Annie Wu 32:47
Most of you will know Annie as the artist behind Kate Bishop’s adventures in Los Angeles in Matt Fraction and David Aja’s Hawkeye. She also co-created the new Batgirl in Batman Beyond with writer Scott Peterson. Annie is a storyboard artist for The Venture Brothers on Adult Swim, and straight up one of the funniest people on the internet.
Saturday Sep 27, 2014
Episode 60 - You're A Lot Like Me. (I'm Sorry.)
Saturday Sep 27, 2014
Saturday Sep 27, 2014
Three comics from September 24, 2014. Plus Second Opinions, featuring questions answered by a different listener each week, with Chase Magnett.
Show Notes:
This week's theme is parents and children: re-introductions. As we grow older, we usually lose that close parental bond, if we had it at all, as parents and children interact more and more within the context of their broader family and communities. Sometimes that shift happens prematurely, even violently. Sometimes it happens before one or both sides is ready to let go. So when we have a chance to sit down with mom or dad again, we have to rediscover who they are and what they mean to us. The characters in this week’s comics are cast adrift, physically separated from others and forced to re-introduce themselves as a family again. To address past misconceptions and miscommunications. And to decide if they’re going to work together or fall apart.
Low #3 18:05
Faith of the mothers.
Butterfly #1 31:32
Sins of the fathers.
Cyclops #5 39:00
Bounty (hunters) of the fathers.
Monday Sep 22, 2014
Episode 59 - The Music In Me
Monday Sep 22, 2014
Monday Sep 22, 2014
Two comics from September 17, 2014. Plus Second Opinions, featuring questions answered by a different listener each week, with Matt Baum.
On The Couch: writer Sean E. Williams.
Show Notes:
The theme this week? If music be the food of love, play on. For centuries, music has been a focus and an outlet for friends, fools and foes alike. It’s a shared passion that brings us together like few other things can. It’s a distraction from pain and an opportunity for greatness. Every musician dreams of hitting it big, becoming a star, becoming a god. We’re looking at two books this week where music and character intertwine. And where gods and mortals do, too.
Aaaaand then we recorded. And Aaron essentially vetoed the theme, as he is wont to do. So instead of talking about comics and music, we mostly just talk about how much he hates comics, and other fun things that are fun.
The Couch - writer Sean E. Williams 36:15
Sean is the co-writer of Artful Daggers, published digitally by Monkeybrain Comics and in trade by IDW. He wrote the New York Times best-selling Fairest: Return of the Maharaja, published by Vertigo, and has written for The Vampire Diaries and upcoming Sensation Comics, published by DC.
Sunday Sep 14, 2014
Episode 58 - Just The Two Of Us
Sunday Sep 14, 2014
Sunday Sep 14, 2014
Two books from September 10, 2014. Plus, our brand new segment Second Opinions, featuring questions answered by a single listener each week. Starting us off, Jessica Boyd.
On The Couch: Eisner-nominated artist Ibrahim Moustafa.
Show Notes:
The theme this week is (deep breath) nonverbal sidekicks and the monologuing women who love them. We’re looking at two comics with strong young female protagonists, both of whom we’ve discussed, but whose point of view, and commentary thereof, is an important part of the identity of the book. In both cases, that insight is tempered by our heroines’ relationships with their nonverbal companions, who serve to actually humanize the interactions with the rest of the characters. Seriously. This is going to be a good conversation. Actually about comics.
Amelia Cole #18: The Enemy Unleashed 11:35
Amelia and Lemmy. And spoilers.
Ms. Marvel #8 22:45
Kamala and Lockjaw. And yet another conversation about predictive gender roles.
The Couch - artist Ibrahim Moustafa 41:30
Ibrahim drew The Pound: Ghoul’s Night out for IDW but you probably know him as the artist on High Crimes, digitally published by Monkeybrain Comics and out in hard cover next spring by Dark Horse Comics.
The artist Ibrahim mentions during the interview is Kim Jung Gi.
Saturday Sep 06, 2014
Episode 57 - Small Town
Saturday Sep 06, 2014
Saturday Sep 06, 2014
Three books from September 3, 2014.
Show Notes:
This week’s theme is small town, big terror. There’s a special kind of monster - and justice - that inhabits a fictional insular community, whether it be in the Pacific Northwest, the deep South or inside the brain of a killer. Yeah, you read that right. This is comics, kids, where murder and mayhem in small town, U.S.A. can take on a whole new level. Serial bullies, serial monsters, serial killers. And don’t get us started on the daddy issues.
Be mindful of the internal time stamps this week. The conversation sort of evolved...or devolved, depending on your perspective, so at various points all three books are sort of loosely discussed. Remember, no reviews. Just analysis. And this episode, a very skewed one at that.
Not a lot of comics talk, but plenty about our own experiences with small towns. Let's just say we can both agree this setting is ripe for the story picking.
Nailbiter #5 11:40
Start with an intense (and ignorant?) debate about small towns vs. urban areas. Then at 24:45, our fearless hosts attempt to get back on track and chat about comics. It doesn't take.
At 26:50, Andrea prompts Aaron again about - you know, the comic - and then they move on. Don't worry, Nailbiter comes up in subsequent segments at 30:45, 35:32, 37:02 and 43:05.
Headspace #4 27:57
Let's call this segment 35% comic, 65% more arguing about small towns. And the human psyche.
Southern Bastards #4 38:45
And finally, a more evenly balanced discussion about faith, small towns and going back home again. Also comics. Ish.
Songs for the segments transitions are variations of the song "Homeward Bound" by the following artists:
Simon & Garfunkel
Alison Brown
Willie Nelson
Passenger
Red Molly
Sunday Aug 31, 2014
Episode 56 - Fight The Power
Sunday Aug 31, 2014
Sunday Aug 31, 2014
Two comics from August 27, 2014. Plus Regression Therapy (about DC and Marvel, go figure).
On The Couch: writer Joe Casey.
Show Notes:
This week’s theme is one part respect my authority, one part know your enemies. We’re looking at two comics where the organizations in power are characters in and of themselves. Where the members of said organizations are guided and influenced, for better or for worse, by their affiliation. Where the greater good is wildly up for debate and where absolute power just might corrupt absolutely. We’d like to believe that super powered authorities would have our super best interests in mind, but in comics that’s definitely not the case.
C.O.W.L. #4 13:17
Superhero union negotiations in 1960s Chicago. When the super law of the land is an official - and public - part of the political machine, corruption is included.
Mind MGMT #25 26:07
Sometimes managing the super talented is secondary to using them to manage the regular folks. But when the shadowy organization designed to do that falls apart, chaos reigns for all.
The Couch - writer Joe Casey 41:15
Joe has written for Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse among others, and his creator-owned works like Godland, The Bounce and Sex have been published through Image Comics. His development and production company Man of Action created Ben 10 and Generator Rex, both on the Cartoon Network, and produced and story edited Ultimate Spider-Man and Marvel's Avenger’s Assemble on Disney XD. Just recently he picked up the reigns on the new Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers ongoing published by Dynamite Entertainment, and at the Image Expo that kicked off San Diego Comic Con, he announced his newest creator-owned book Valhalla Mad.
Saturday Aug 23, 2014
Episode 55 - We Can Build This Dream Together
Saturday Aug 23, 2014
Saturday Aug 23, 2014
Two comics from August 20, 2014. Plus your Nerd Confessions (about your favorite teams).
On The Couch: Eisner-nominated writer and artist Farel Dalrymple.
Show Notes:
This week we’re talking about teams, however reluctantly they may come together. We’ve always been fascinated by group dynamics, especially if the members of the group are aware of their own inherent dysfunction. And maybe it’s more accurate to say we’re talking about that self awareness rather than the teams themselves. In all three books today - Secret Avengers and The Multiversity, as well as The Wrenchies which we discussed with creator Farel Dalrymple - members of the teams in question are not only aware of the precariousness of their partnerships but also that their entire existence is a construct in a comic book. The ultimate meta team for the multiverse.
Secret Avengers #7 8:43
Breaking the fourth wall. Ask Aaron how he feels about that.
Also: Marvel continuity and a shocking role reversal.
The Multiversity #1 26:15
Bending the fourth wall. Now ask Aaron how he feels about that.
Also: DC continuity and...we don't know shit.
The Couch - Farel Dalrymple 36:33
Farel is known for his creator-owned work, like the Eisner-nominated It Will All Hurt, published by Study Group Comics and Pop Gun War, published by Dark Horse Comics. He also drew Omega the Unknown for Marvel Comics. In 2013, Delusional, a collection of comics and sketches was published by AdHouse Books. His newest work, the graphic novel The Wrenchies, was published this summer by First Second.
Saturday Aug 09, 2014
Episode 53 - On The Streets (Alternate Title: Oh The Humanity)
Saturday Aug 09, 2014
Saturday Aug 09, 2014
Two comics from August 6, 2014. Plus your Nerd Confessions (shouting out your most favorite LCS, in honor of our friends at Legends Comics & Coffee taking home an Eisner for best comic shop in the world!)
On The Couch: artist and writer Ulises Farinas.
Show Notes:
This week’s theme is on the streets where you live. (There’s even a great song from the musical My Fair Lady that we could have used for the intro music, but of course Aaron vetoed that because he hates joy.) We are looking at two characters who live on and are masters of the streets. One, a masterful tactician one the wrong side of the law, the other a skateboarding vigilante. Both happen to be young and female, by the way, so that’s kind of awesome.
We were also off for two weeks, so we talked for a loooooooong time at the top of the show. (Turns out we actually like each other. Except Aaron.) As always, the markers are below if you'd like to skip past the kid talk and SDCC recap.
Genius #1 27:45
Genius or sociopath? How plausible is a young, black female embodying the military genius of Napoleon or Patton? And how much does that matter as her story unfolds?
Street Angel #3 41:35
In a more fantastical world, a young teen battles ninjas, conquistadors and the Devil. Plausibility is less of an issue, but just how important is it that Street Angel is female to tell her story?
The Couch - Ulises Farinas 54:40
Ulises drew the Agents of Change stories in the Catalyst Comix reboot, published by Dark Horse and just wrapped up the Judge Dredd: Mega City Two mini series published by IDW. He is teaming up again with his Agents of Change collaborator Joe Casey for the Captain Victory series published by Dynamite Comics the first issue of which came out this week. He’s co-writing the anthology series Amazing Forest, published digitally by Monkeybrain Comics. And he’s the artist and co-writer of Gamma, a one-shot serialized in Dark Horse Presents.