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A Weekly* Podcast with @andreashock & @aaronmeyers talking about the bigger issues in life using comics as the starting point.
Episodes
Friday May 23, 2014
Friday May 23, 2014
Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.
Two comics from Wednesday, May 21, 2014. Plus your Nerd Confessions (about your favorite historical comics).
On The Couch: writer and artist Box Brown.
Show Notes:
This week we’re looking at historical fiction, with a twist. From biographies like Box Brown’s Andre the Giant graphic novel to adaptations and re-interpretations like Steve Niles and Damien Worm’s Monster & Madmen to contemporary investigations of decades-old mysteries like Andre Sirangelo and Gabriel Lumazark’s Last Broadcast, comics creators - and readers - love their history. It doesn’t have to be true - and in the case of the two comics we’re analyzing, neither are. We talked about the manipulation of time last week, but we’re talking today about honoring time. Telling the stories of the past to help us better understand today.
Monster & Madmen #3 17:33
A nineteenth century mashup of fictional (and monstrous) horror with a series of true unsolved murders in London.
Last Broadcast #1 28:30
Magic and mystery in 21st century San Francisco meets magic and mystery in 20th century San Francisco.
The Couch - Box Brown 42:25
Box Brown's graphic novel biography Andre the Giant: Life and Legend was published this month by First Second. He also wrote and drew Everything Dies, a series about religions around the world and the webcomic Bellen!, the story of Ben and Ellen. Several years ago, he successfully kickstarted Retrofit Comics, dedicated to publishing mini comics from some of the best alternative comics creators working today. Last year, Retrofit announced a partnership with Big Planet Comics to help with distribution as well as a monthly subscription deal for 2014. You can also find some of Retrofit’s comics, including Box Brown’s Beach Girls via Comixology Submit and other digital comics providers.
Saturday May 17, 2014
Saturday May 17, 2014
Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.
Two books from Wednesday, May 14, 2014. Plus your Nerd Confessions (about favorite time travel stories).
On The Couch: writer Joe Keatinge.
Show Notes:
This week’s theme is time travel, because why not. It’s probably the most common theoretical exercise, right? A daydream that starts at a young age and gets more and more complicated as we’re exposed to the rules and parameters of countless stories, movies, television shows and comics that use traveling through time as a catalyst, solution or problem to be solved.
All New X-Men #27 13:30
Remember that time the original X-Men came to the current Marvel time line and in doing so ripped apart the entire time space continuum so it will never be the same again?! Again. (Yeeaaaah.)
The Field #2 32:15
Remember that time a guy traveled through time and seemingly relived the same events over and over again but still had no idea what was going on? Again.
The Couch - Joe Keatinge
Joe is a Harvey and Eisner-winning editor. Over the years he's also been a writer, artist, colorist and even publicist. These days, he’s probably best known for his work as a writer with Marvel Comics and Image Comics,including his new creator-owned series Shutter, with Leila DelDuca, published by Image and What If? Age of Ultron, published by Marvel. His upcoming Adventures of Superman story was recently announced by DC Comics.
Saturday May 10, 2014
Saturday May 10, 2014
Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.
Two books from Wednesday, May 7, 2014. Plus your Nerd Confessions (about the best day jobs in comics).
On The Couch: Allison Baker and Chris Roberson from MonkeyBrain Comics.
Show Notes:
Don’t quit your day job. No, really. That’s the theme. We’re looking at two comics where the character’s jobs are an integral part of their identities in very different ways. For most of us that’s true in real life, too. The question is, do we define our jobs or do our jobs define us?
We are also looking at this through the lens of predominantly female characters, bringing up all sorts of interesting things about empowerment, gender roles and stereotype. Some of which makes us uncomfortable to discuss.
She Hulk #4 10:45
What do you want to be when you grow up? What's your major? Who do you work for? Tracing the point at which our jobs and our identities are first inextricably linked, in the hopes of understanding why a hero would still want to practice law after she became super.
Rat Queens #6 25:52
Four female characters in the traditional male role of adventurers for hire.Sounds great. Equal rights for everyone. Or are there? Turns out defining the personality traits of a female mercenary are even more difficult than we thought.
The Couch - Allison Baker and Chris Roberson 43:10
Allison is a film and political media producer and Chris is a prolific writer of both prose and comics. He’s the co-creator of the Eisner-nominated comics series iZombie, currently in development for television by the CW and he writes a great many other things including Edison Rex, drawn by Dennis Culver who we talked to back in Episode 35. Allison handles the day to to day operations of Monkeybrain and her column Allison Types appears on ComicBookResources.com. They are both awesome in vastly different yet compatible ways, which is probably why they’re content to both live and work together.
Friday May 02, 2014
Friday May 02, 2014
Comics Therapy. New Reviews. Just Analysis.
Two books from April 30, 2014. Plus your Nerd Confessions (about your creator dream teams).
On The Couch: writer Joe Harris.
Show Notes:
The theme this week is sleep. Specifically the kind of sleep where dreaming is possible, if not inevitable. Everybody dreams. But through thousands of years of speculation and study, we’re no closer to really understanding why we do or what they mean. Dreams in fiction have a special power all their own, often exploring the more surreal aspects of this shared experience we have no control over. It all comes down to how much you trust your ability to stay safe within your own subconscious.
Dream Police #1 22:05
Part Inception, part Dragnet.
Bad Dreams #1 34:55
An all-ages blend of Wizard of Oz, Labyrinth, and maybe even a bit of Harold and the Purple Crayon.
The Couch - Joe Harris 47:20
Joe has written for all the major publishing companies, including Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and Dynamite. He published two creator-owned miniseries, Ghost Projekt and Spontaneous, and a graphic novel, Wars in Toyland, with Oni Press. He is, of course, currently writing his creator-owned series Great Pacific, published by Image Comics, which we talked about two weeks ago in episode 37 and X-Files Season 10, published by IDW, which we talked about way back in September in episode 9.
Saturday Apr 26, 2014
Saturday Apr 26, 2014
Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.
Three books from Wednesday, April 23, 2014. Plus your Nerd Confessions (about your best LCS experiences).
Show Notes:
Our theme this week is betrayal. We thought about doing a Stockholm Syndrome-type investigation, but that’s such a loaded and controversial psychological term that trying to apply it, even poetically, to fictional situations seemed like more of a stretch for us than usual. But there’s no doubt about it, betrayal is par for the course in comics. It keeps things interesting amongst established teams, and when doled out piecemeal to readers, it can up the intrigue in a developing story faster than almost anything else. Very occasionally it’s even used for laughs, but more often than not a true betrayal is unexpected and shocking. (And if you’re Andrea, elicits an audible gasp. Or shriek. Whatever. She is also a delight to watch to watch movies with.)
The Eltingville Club #1 15:25
Behavior so disgusting it has to be satire, right? Sadly, Aaron's experiences in his youth - and more recent egregious examples within the larger comics community - tell us this intentionally ugly glimpse into the minds of the adolescent nerd hits remarkably close to home.
The Bunker #3 33:05 - 39:55 (if you want to completely avoid spoiling the big twist in this issue)
If you can't even trust yourself, you certainly can't trust your friends. Now or ever.
Avengers Undercover #3 41:27
Alternative title: Avengers PTSD. Alternative alternative title: If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em.
Our favorite teen heroes are dealing with the aftermath of Murder World in a variety of ways, some more healthy than others.
Friday Apr 18, 2014
Friday Apr 18, 2014
Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.
Two books from April 16, 2014. Plus your Nerd Confessions (about the best start to a series) and Aaron's Inner Child.
On The Couch: artist and writer Phil Hester.
Show Notes:
The theme this week is creation and destruction. Limitless power invokes the age old question of responsibility. And playing God can have nasty side effects for both deity and disciple alike.
Genesis 14:03 - 24:00 (if you'd like to completely avoid spoilers for this OGN)
A dreamlike journey before imminent death or a twisted reality as death itself is avoided? Creation and destruction in one gorgeous package.
A Voice in the Dark #6 26:15
One of the most unique female characters in comics today is also a serial killer, but we're not judging, just fascinated. Her acceptance of her own darkness is what gives her strength.
The Couch - Phil Hester 37:45
Phil has worked for many publishers over the course of his long career but is particularly recognized for his runs on Swamp Thing with Mark Millar and Green Arrow with Kevin Smith and Brad Metzner. His creator-owned book The Wretch was nominated for an Eisner award for best new series. He is also known for taking over writing duties on DC’s pre-New 52 Wonder Woman. He is currently writing Thunder Agents for IDW and Invincible Universe for Image Comics.
Friday Apr 11, 2014
Friday Apr 11, 2014
Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.
Two comics from April 9, 2014. Plus your Nerd Confessions (about comics that blew your mind, in the metaphorical sense).
And on The Couch, we talk with writer Fabian Rangel Jr.
Show Notes:
This week's theme is...let’s call it intervention. In the drug parlance. We’re looking at two books that dabble a bit with the effects of drug use and abuse. But in the midst of that, we also delve into some even bigger issues, including sexual violence in comics, date rape drugs, and gender division amongst readers across the industry.
TL;DR Andrea is crazy and Aaron was drinking. We're back!
Ghost Rider #2 24:30
Character reboots, pink pills and a brief interlude about *that scene* in Invincible #110. Poor Robbie gets the short end of the stick in life and from us.
Great Pacific #14 34:55
If you're power hungry, and your populace is hungry for drugs instead, what are your choices? Fish or cut bait is still applicable here.
The Couch - Fabian Rangel Jr. 44:10
Fabian is the creator of Doc Unknown, a superhero action adventure series, and has lately gotten a lot of attention due to his consistent success self-publishing his comics through Kickstarter and Comixology Submit. You can also find Doc Unknown short stories as a backup in Five Ghosts, published by Image Comics.
Thursday Mar 27, 2014
Thursday Mar 27, 2014
Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.
Friday Mar 21, 2014
Friday Mar 21, 2014
Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.
Two books from March 19, 2014. Plus your Nerd Confessions (about how much better you could be than Meyers as a co-host), and speaking of...
Up first is ALL! NEW! NUMBER! ONE! NOW! Andrea's Got Her Groove Back #1 (see below to download the uncut version) with guest hosts Roderick Ruth and Keith Silva. But don't worry, that doesn't last for long. Aaron is back with a vengeance for the main part of the show.
And on The Couch, Andrea and Aaron talk with artist Dennis Culver.
Show Notes:
This week’s theme is the more things change, the more they stay the same. (Get it?) It was incredibly tempting to just pick two all new number one relaunches and be done with it...oh wait, that’s exactly what we did. Looking at an iconic character - Daredevil - and the return of a much loved story - American Vampire - gives us a chance to talk about the patterns in our lives that might feel different but are probably as old as time itself.
American Vampire: Second Cycle #1 18:55
Daredevil #1 33:30
The Couch - artist Dennis Culver 46:25
Dennis is the co-creater and artist of Edison Rex, published digitally by MonkeyBrain Comics. Volume 2: Heir Apparent is out in trade from IDW. Also this week, you can find the first part of his story Davey Jones And The Mystery of the Monocle Men in Dark Horse Presents #34.
Andrea's Got Her Groove Back #1
Big shout out and thank you to Roderick and Keith for playing along on the intro to this week's episode. You can find more from Keith at Comics Bulletin and Rod at Comicosity. These guys know their stuff, and Andrea had a great time talking with them for far longer than she intended. You can listen to the full, uncut version of their conversation about Batman & Aquaman #29, Sex Criminals #5, True Detective, and Disney's Frozen here.
Also, huge thanks to Matt Baum and Joe Patrick from the Two-Headed Nerd Comicast, Charles from Panel Culture, Jason Sacks from Comics Bulletin and Jake Arky, My Friend Dahmer playwright and Comics Therapy's own in-house voice talent, for sending in "auditions" to be Andrea's 'new' co-host. The check's in the mail.
Friday Mar 14, 2014
Friday Mar 14, 2014
Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.
Two books from March 12, 2014. Plus your Nerd Confessions (suggested by Cameron Williams about who you trust to recommend new comics).
On The Couch: writer Matt D. Wilson.
Show Notes:
We’ve got trust issues this week, and for once we're not just talking about the hosts. Aaron and Andrea look at a few dangerous characters making shady choices to stay alive, who’d stab you in the back as they whispered sweet nothings in your ear. There's also a great example of one of Andrea's personal favorite character types, the unreliable narrator. So unreliable that he’s not even in this month’s issue. Who can you really trust these days, anyway?
Astro City #10 19:40
Slice of life stories about the citizens and heroes of Astro City. Your guide - occasionally - may be less reliable than you might hope, but at least he is enthusiastic.
East of West #10 29:55
The story of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, except now there are three. The story of Death, except now he is in love. The story of the end of the world, no exceptions.
The Couch: writer Matt. D. Wilson 39:44
Matt co-hosts the War Rocket Ajax podcast with Chris Sims, who we spoke to back in episode 28. Under the pseudonym King Oblivion, PhD, Matt wrote The Supervillian Handbook and The Supervillian Field Manual. He writes Copernicus Jones: Robot Detective, published by Monkeybrain Comics. He’s also contributed to the AV Club, Cracked.com and McSweeneys.com.