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A Weekly* Podcast with @andreashock & @aaronmeyers talking about the bigger issues in life using comics as the starting point.
Episodes
Sunday Nov 09, 2014
Sunday Nov 09, 2014
Three books from November 5, 2014. Plus a Second Opinion, featuring questions answered by a different listener each week, with Keith Silva.
Show Notes:
This week’s theme is all creatures great and small. It’s heartwarming, isn’t it? After a month of horror books we needed this. Like a giant, cuddly, soft and furry palate cleanser. Wait, that came out wrong. Anyway, we’re looking at three books that feature animals in three dramatically different ways. Cybernetically enhanced smart ass killing machines, time traveling imprinting dinosaurs and neglected-then-coveted man’s best friend.
Rocket Raccoon #5 21:10
Cuteness, or The Secret of My Success
Terrible Lizard #1 31:55
Back to the Future
Kinski Hardcover (collecting issues #1-6) 42:45
Sunday Nov 02, 2014
Sunday Nov 02, 2014
Two books from October 29, 2014. Plus a Second Opinion, featuring questions answered by a different listener each week, with Joe Patrick.
On The Couch: artist and writer Michel Fiffe.
Show Notes:
Happy Halloween! No, for real. It is Halloween right this very second, and we are happy and you should be, too. (Sure, now that this is posted it's actually November, but in the moment let us celebrate October with one final round of horror comics.) This week’s theme is creepy children. Some of the scariest books, movies and comics we’ve ever seen or read have involved kids who are either not all there, or not what they seem or just...not. These two books do their part to add to this delightful niche in the genre, where children aren't a source of joy or peace or love, but in fact something to fear or fear for.
Missing children. Children who keep demons away. Boogeymen who take children. Parents who miss children. Hit men who kill children.
Rachel Rising #29 39:35
A child destined to bear Satan's heir. A child who kills, repeatedly. Happens to be the same child.
The Couch - Michel Fiffe 52:50
Michel’s critically acclaimed self-published series Copra was on a number of best of lists last year, and Round One, collecting the first six issues, was recently published by Bergen Street Press and is available through Diamond for the first time. He is also currently writing All-New Ultimates for Marvel Comics.
Tuesday Oct 28, 2014
Tuesday Oct 28, 2014
Two comics from October 22, 2014. Plus a Second Opinion, featuring questions answered by a different listener each week, with Jason Sacks.
On The Couch: artist Jim Rugg.
Show Notes:
It’s still October, kids, and we’re still reading scary books. Because when Andrea hits on a theme, she likes to really drive it into the ground, killing it slowly until its rotting, festering remains poison the water supply, causing pestilence and death for miles around. At least for the next two weeks, anyway. Today’s theme is about setting the tone. We’re looking at two first issues of new horror series, and how they establish the look and fear of what is to come.
Colder #1 19:50
A new volume begins. How does it pull new readers in while living up to the expectations of fans of the first series? With a cool glass of milk. Gross.
Goners #1 32:05
A brand new story. How does it introduce (and kill off) characters while raising the stakes with an appropriate creep factor? With the undead. And conspiracies.
The Couch - Jim Rugg 42:05
Back in episode 53, we talked about Jim’s comic Street Angel, published by SLG originally, re-released digitally by MonkeyBrain Comics, and beautifully packaged in a newish hardcover by AdHouse. He’s also the co-creator of the Ignataz-award winning Rambo 3.5 and Afrodisiac. He drew The Guild, written by Felicia Day and published by Dark Horse Comics, and pages for Joe Casey’s new Captain Victory series which we've also talked about, published by Dynamite.
Jim recommended Jane, The Fox and Me, written by Fanny Britt with art by Isabelle Arsenault.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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