Storied Arcs: Recent Episodes

Storied Arcs

A Deep Dive Into Comics, One Story Arc at a Time...Welcome to Storied Arcs! The podcast for deep dives into indie comics. In each episode, we will discuss one story arc, typically in the form of a trade paperback, for a completed comic series. In general, we will be avoiding ongoing or continuing series so that we can discuss a work in its entirety. We’ll also be avoiding the “big two” (Marvel and DC.) While we love those comics, there are plenty of podcasts covering characters like Batman, Superman, Spiderman, and so on. Instead, we’re excited to explore some of the great creator-owned stories. We’ll deep dive into the story while evaluating the prose, art, and all the easter eggs we can find.

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"Does abandoning society- humanity- for science make you a sociopath? Was I better than the other because I could still ask such a question? Should I even ask such a question?"

This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex come to the end (question mark?) of Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra's The Manhattan Projects that isn't actually the end, with Volume 5: The Cold War (issues #20-25). They start with Hickman's letter at the end of issue #25, in which he lays out his and Pitarra's plan for the future of the book, and dissect how influences their views on this volume. Does this volume still work as an ending to the first phase of the comic if the next phase barely makes it out of the gate? With those thoughts in mind, the guys take a look at all of the story lines laid out in this volume and speculate some on what kinds of books we could have gotten out of them. Along the way, the address yet another depiction of the Kennedy Assassination in a book they've covered here and perhaps the greatest interpretation of LBJ ever put on page.

We wrap things up for real on The Manhattan Projects next week with Volume 6: The Sun Beyond the Stars (issues #1-4 of The Manhattan Projects: The Sun Beyond the Stars), the one and only (as of now) follow up series in the previously announced new anthology format. Find it wherever you get your comics and join us back here to see where this crazy ride ends!

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"But I think it's time for something new- truly radical thoughts. To ze underbelly of what we call science- into ze abyss and out towards ze unknown."

Mike and Alex are back to dive deep into The Manhattan Projects Volume 4: The Four Disciplines (issues #16-20) by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra. The guys discuss how this volume feels like the closing of the first chapter of this story (aka Oppenheimer) and the beginning of the next (aka Einstein), even though that's not exactly what's happening with the comic. They talk about the narrative risks Hickman and Pitarra take in this volume and what those risks communicate about where they think the story might be headed. How does knowing that the comic effectively "ends" next volume effect how we look at the choices the creators made here? And is that hindsight totally fair?

The Manhattan Projects both ends and don't end with the next volume, and if that's confusing, we'll explain next week. Grab Volume 5: The Cold War (issues #21-25) wherever you get your comics and join us back here again to make sense of it all!

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"It seems, in winning, that we have become afflicted with ze malady called responsibility."

This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex continue their exploration into The Manhattan Projects by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra with Volume 3: Building (issues #11-15). The guys discuss the escalation in the absurdity of the book (compliment) and how Hickman and Pitarra are managing an anthology-esque story across an on-going comic. Then they dive deep into Jordie Bellaire's colors, with specific attention paid to how those colors are utilized as storytelling hacks for the reader.

This comic only continues to get wilder and weirder, and we'll be back next week to jump into The Manhattan Projects Volume 4: The Four Disciplines (issues #16-20). Find it wherever you get your comics and join us then!

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"Wait... so we now have unlimited funding to try and discover how to do things we've already discovered how to do."

This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex continue their trip through the alternate history of Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra's The Manhattan Projects with Volume 2: They Rule (issues #6-10) from Image Comics. The guys examine the anthology-like nature of the narrative, and discuss how expanding the cast of characters and scope of the story hits differently with this book (and why that's a feature, not a bug). They also breakdown Ryan Browne's turn as guest artist for issue #10 and how Jordie Bellaire's consistency on colors helps sell the story. Finally, they give some love to the cover design work done by Jonathan Hickman, which is both subtle and obvious at the same time.

This book's only getting weirder from here, so pick up The Manhattan Projects Volume 3: Building (issues #11-15) wherever you get your comics and we'll you see you back here next week!

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"Most people cannot tell ze difference between a genius and just ze highly intelligent."

Kicking off this new season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex crack open Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra's The Manhattan Projects from Image Comics with Volume 1: Science Bad (issues #1-5). The guys start with a broad look at how wild this comic is right out the gate, from Hickman's writing to Pitarra's art, and how it immediately sets the tone for what you're about to read. Then they discuss the level at which the book does and does not intersect and interact with known history, and how reading it post-Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer has a radical influence on how you receive the material (in a good way, mostly). Finally, the guys discuss where they think a story like this can go, given the anthology-like nature of the comic and the apparent lack (as of now) of a main narrative through line.

The book only gets crazier from here, so go pick up The Manhattan Projects Volume 2: They Rule (issues #6-10) wherever you get your comics and join us here again next week to dive into all of the madness!

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On this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are exploring the limits of science and morality as they get ready to cover The Manhattan Projects by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra from Image Comics. The guys previously covered writer Jonathan Hickman with his book The Nightly News and letterer Rus Wooten when they discussed Extremity, so in this episode, they take a look at artist Nick Pitarra and main series colorist Jordie Bellaire (who they somehow haven't covered before), as well as the other artist and colorists who contributed to the book throughout its run. Then they give a spoiler-free pitch for the comic, which asks the question- what if the minds what developed the atomic bomb were actually brought together to do something sinister. You know, besides develop the atomic bomb.

We kick things off with The Manhattan Projects Volume 1: Science Bad (issues #1-5), so pick it up wherever you get your comics and join us back here again next week!

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This week, Mike and Alex are stoked to be joined by the writer and co-creator of Skyward and Shadecraft, Joe Henderson! They start with Joe's comic book origin story (shout out, Darkhawk) and chat about how he went from film and television writing to dipping his toes into comic writing. Joe talks about his collaboration with artist Lee Garbett on Skyward and Shadecraft (and The Big Burn from DSTLRY), what makes Lee so great, and why he keeps going back to him for his comic projects. Then they dive into Skyward and Shadecraft, discussing the similar themes and ideas presented in both books, and Joe addresses some of the nitpicks the guys brought up in their episodes (spoiler alert- Joe is responsible for the error into the Skyward solicitation). Finally, they cover what Joe is working on presently in his day job (aka the Energon Universe animated series) and what the future might hold for adapting both Skyward and Shadecraft. It was awesome to chop it up with Joe about comics and we can't thank him enough for offering up his time!

You can follow Joe on Instagram and Bluesky.

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"So you're saying, to use it, I need to control my negative emotions? You know I'm a teenager, right?"

This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex make a quick U-turn and return to the creative team of Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett to discuss their follow up book to Skyward, Shadecraft (issues #1-5) from Image Comics. The guys parse through their thoughts on this gone-too-soon story and discuss what does and doesn't work for them in this limited run of issues. They also examine some of the parallel themes that exist in both Shadecraft and Skyward and look at how the Henderson and Garbett approach the traditional "young person coming of age and finding their place in the world" narrative. Finally, the guys lament what could have been for this comic had it been able to continue while also celebrating the work we did get.

Skyward and Shadecraft are two books that are in conversation with each other, and next week, we pleased to share our exclusive interview with the writer of both, Joe Henderson!

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On this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are calling audible and running it back with a book from a creative team they just recently covered- Shadecraft by Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett from Image Comics. Why the turnaround? Truth be told, when they covered this team's previous book, Skyward, they considered tacking Shadecraft onto the end, but ultimately decided against it. Then, writer Joe Henderson listened the Skyward discussions and reached out, so they took that as a sign to dive into Shadecraft as well. Since they've already covered the entire creative team, including colorist Antonio Fabela and letterer Simon Bowland (check that out here), this episode's just a quick, spoiler-free intro to Shadecraft.

Shadecraft is painfully just a single volume, so go find Volume 1 (issues #1-5) wherever you get your comics and join us for our deep dive next week. And stay tuned the following week, when we'll have an exclusive interview with writer Joe Henderson!

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"Three kids out to change the world with three chords and the truth. That's all it was ever about really, wasn't it"

This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex dive into the finale of Home Sick Pilots by Dan Watters and Caspar Wijngaard with Volume 3: Three Chords and the End of the World (issues #11-15). The guys start at the end and discuss the twist/reveal of the book and break down why it felt like the "right" ending for the story. Then they continue their exploration of the book's commentary, and possible rebuke, of the early 90s Gen X slacker mindset, and examine what the comic, created by two non-Americans, has to say about the idea of America itself. Finally, the guys throw out some possible follow up story ideas if Watters and Wijngaard ever decide to return to this story.

We hoped you enjoyed this little trip back into the 90s. We'll be back next week to kick off our next discussion into another great comic!

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"But there's a bunch of us, we sing about these things. We scream about them. We go on marches and all that stuff. And because we care, does that mean that it's our responsibility?"

This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex continue their journey back into the 90s with Home Sick Pilots Volume 2: I Wanna Be A Walking Weapon (issues #6-10) by Dan Watters and Caspar Wijngaard. The guys dive right in and break down some of the the larger themes they've been picking up in the story, especially in this volume, from an exploration of trauma to a critique of the the Idea of America to a pointed commentary on Gen X. They also discuss how these themes mesh together as Watters and Wijngaard hop between genres as they tell their story. It feels like it shouldn't work and yet it reads seamlessly.

The story wraps up next week, so go find Home Sick Pilots Volume 3: Three Chords and the End of the World (issues #11-15) and we'll see you back here for the grand finale!

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"There are corridors between us. All of us. All those things we leave unsaid. All those things that we assume of each other- about each other. Sometimes it feels like all the tragedies of being human exist in those lonely spaces."

Welcome to another season of Storied Arcs! This time out, Mike and Alex journey back to the mid-90s for Dan Watters and Casper Wijngaard's Home Sick Pilots Volume 1: Teenage Haunts (issues #1-5) from Image Comics. The guys dive right into the book, discussing the POV of the narration and how that effects the reader's interpretation of the story, and the wonder of Casper Wijngaard's art and use of color. They also dig into the 90s nostalgia of it all, examine what genre this comic is, and come to terms with the "Power Rangers meets The Shining" line from the official solicitation. Finally, the guys speculate a little on the many different directions the story could continue down heading into the next volume.

The 90s flashbacks continue next week as we get into Home Sick Pilots Volume 2: I Wanna Be A Walking Weapon (issues #6-10), so find it wherever you get your comics and join us for the discussion!

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On this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex travel back into the 90s to discuss Home Sick Pilots by Dan Watters and Caspar Wijngaard from Image Comics! The guys start with a quick rundown of the creative team, including letterer Aditya Bidikar, before giving a quick synopsis of the book and what they are looking for in the story. Power Rangers meets The Shining? Sure, why not.

We kick things off next week with Volume 1: Teenage Haunts (issues #1-5) so pick it up wherever you get your comics and join us back here to dive into it all!

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"There is no fixing the world, Lucas. It was broken then, and it's broken now. You just have to make the best of it."

This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex wrap up their discussion of Skyward by Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett with Volume 3: Fix the World (issues #11-15). The guys start with their thoughts on the letters both Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett included at the end of the trade and on how the story concluded. They dive deep into how they felt the story may have pivoted from initial conception to final execution, and how that does or doesn't work for the reader on a storytelling level. Then the guys break down what the story arc title "Fix the World" might really mean for a story arc in which the world isn't exactly fixed in the way it was implied it might be, and why that different interpretation might not be a bad thing. Finally, they give their last thoughts on the book and, if the story were to continue, what direction they'd like to see it go. And they also broach the most important unanswered question of the comic- what are sports like now?

We hope you enjoyed this deep dive look into Skyward. We'll be back next week to kick off our next discussion into another great comic!

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"Then, I went to the streets. Saw how the rich live. What it must feel like to be... safe. I don't think I ever realized that was an option. Feeling 'safe'."

Mike and Alex are back this week to continue their journey through Image Comics' Skyward from Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett with Volume 3: Here There Be Dragonflies (issues #6-10). The guys discuss some of their (minor) hang-ups with the book, and try and analyze why they are compelled by the story but at the same time find something missing from it. Then they break down the twists and turns of this arc and praise how these issues handle the pacing of the story and the reveal of information.

We finish our discussion next week with Skyward Volume 3: Fix the World (issues #11-15), so go find it wherever you get your comics and we'll see you back here then!

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"Haven't you figured it out by now? People down here are crazy. Anything to pretend the world hasn't changed. That includes forcing a kid who doesn't need his legs into a wheelchair."

Welcome to a new season of Storied Arcs! This week, Mike and Alex take to the skies to dive into Skyward Volume 1: My Low-G Life (issues #1-5) by Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett from Image Comics. The guys start by chatting about the efficiency of the world building presented in this book and how the creators immediately set the stakes for both the readers and the characters. Then they break down some of societal themes and commentary explored by the comic, looking back to when it was first published, and discuss how prescient a book like this can look when life ends up imitating art but only the bad parts. Finally, the praise Lee Garbett's character work and Antonia Fabela's colors and how their art helps sell and reinforce the low-g world depicted in the comic.

The discussion continues next week with Skyward Volume 2: Here There Be Dragonflies (issues #6-10) so find it wherever you get your comics and join us back here again to break it all down!

[Apologies for Alex's audio quality on this episode; his mic clearly decided to only sporadically work properly this recording.]

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On this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex lifting off with Image Comics' Skyward by Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett. They guys start with a spoiler-free pitch on the book and chat about how they came to the comic and what to expect from the story. Then they dive into the creative team, including writer Joe Henderson (another TV-writer-turned-comic-writer), artist Lee Garbett, colorist Antonia Fabela, and letterer Simon Bowland.

The discussion kicks off next week with Skyward Volume 1: My Low-G Life (issues #1-5) so pick it up wherever you get your comics and join us back here again to jump right in!

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This week, Mike and Alex are proud to share an exclusive interview with Matthew Roberts, artist of Manifest Destiny, recorded live at the Lexington Comic & Toy Convention on March 28, 2026. We sat at his table in Artist Alley and chatted all things Manifest Destiny, including how he got attached to the project, working with writer Chris Dingess, the amount of research that went into the book, and some of the themes and ideas they were looking to explore with the comic. Finally, Matthew gives a pitch for his new comic, Corpse Knight, with writer (and The Conjuring Universe filmmaker) Michael Chaves and colorist Rico Renzi, coming soon from Image Comics (issue #1 due out on April 22, 2026). Matthew was so generous with his time and we can't thank him enough for speaking with us.

You can find all of the places to follow Matthew Roberts collected here, including his Instagram.

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Mike and Alex are back with another bonus episode to recap their trip down to the Lexington Comic & Toy Convention. The guys chat about what they saw, who they talked to, and what convention swag they came home with. They also discuss the news that there will be second Lexington Comic & Toy Convention this year. The fall version of LexCon is scheduled for September 4-6, 2026, and who knows, maybe we'll have another preview/recap special for that show as well. For more info on the show and to stay updated on announced guests, keep an eye on the LexCon website.

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"This place will always be of monsters."

This week, Mike and Alex wrap up their discussion of Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts' Manifest Destiny from Image Comics with Volumes 7 and 8 (issues #37-48). The guys discuss the end of the Corps of Discovery and the final encounter at the Pacific Ocean and what they think the books says, if anything, about the expedition. They break down the ending pages and admire how the book managed to weave itself back in line with known historical facts, even adding some additional context to perhaps how and why certain characters met the fate they did. Finally, the guys look back on their journey with this comic and how it ultimately ranks in their minds.

We've reached the end of our discussions but we're not quite finished with Manifest Destiny. Stay tuned next week for an exclusive interview with artist Matthew Roberts which we recorded live at the Lexington Comic and Toy Convention. It's a great chat with on the creative minds behind this comic, and we hope you enjoy it!

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"If we have learned nothing on this journey, it is the fact that we know nothing. What the next danger will be, or where it will come from."

Mike and Alex are back this week to continue their trek through Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts' Manifest Destiny from Image Comics with Volumes 5 and 6 (issues #26-35). They dive right into how the book followed up on the major revelations shown in Volume 4, and how the creators kept the tension and conflict present as they continued to deliver their version of the "monster of the week" story. The guys then discussed how the shifting viewpoints of the journal writings worked for them as a narrative device. Finally, they note the story elements that have them the most intrigued going into the final issues of the book.

We wrap up our expedition next week with our final deep dive into the story, so go find Manifest Destiny Volumes 7 and 8 (issues #37-48) wherever you get your comics and join up back here again for the anchor leg discussion!

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Mike and Alex hop on the mic to discuss a preview of one of their favorite comic events of the year: Lexington Comic & Toy Convention in Lexington, KY. It approaches this weekend. Listen to this episode to hear a little history of our experience with the event and what we're really looking forward to this year. Additionally, if you're within a few hundred miles then consider making the drive. Tickets are available: https://www.lexingtoncomiccon.com/

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"There is vast land out there, but it is deadly. And we can't destroy that danger. Only Navath, Keeper of the Realms, can. But we must pay. Make a sacrifice."

This week, Mike and Alex continue their journey west with Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts' Manifest Destiny Volumes 3 and 4 (issues #13-24) from Image Comics. The guys discuss the narrative swings these volumes take, from jumping back and forth through time to tweaking the established story format, and break down what elements of those swings do and don't work for them. They also dive into the darker turn the book takes in these issues and why they felt it was important that happened. Finally, they throw out some overarching theories (pun intended) on the nature of the structures depicted in the book, and how they might relate to the arch we know exists in our world.

We've hit the halfway point of the book but there's still plenty of ground to cover, so pick up Manifest Destiny Volumes 5 and 6 (issues #25-36) wherever you get your comics and join us here again next week to dive into it all!

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"Men are braced for action. Surely we will encounter the creatures spoken of by President Jefferson when he wisely commissioned this mission."

Welcome to the latest season of Storied Arcs! This week, Mike and Alex begin their trek westward with the Corps of Discovery as they dive into Manifest Destiny Volumes 1 and 2 (issues #1-12) by Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts from Image Comics. The guys start with an overview of their thoughts, sharing what their expectations were heading into this story and how those changed and/or shifted once they started reading. Then they examine the story through the lens of the known historical record of Lewis and Clark and discuss when events in the book map onto events in real life and why the creators might have chosen those points to sync up when they did. Finally, they touch on the vibrancy of the art and colors in the comic and some of the visual flourishes they enjoyed in these issues.

The expedition continues next week as we make our way further into the unknown, so pick up Manifest Destiny Volumes 3 and 4 (issues #13-24) wherever you get your comics and join us back here again to break it all down!

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For the next season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex will heading into the western frontier as they tackle Manifest Destiny by Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts from Image Comics/Skybound. They guys give a spoiler-free pitch for the comic (aside from the parts of the book that intersect with known history) and chat a bit about some of their expectations going into the story. Then they give the comics background on the creative team of Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts, as well as colorist Owen Gieni and letter Pat Brosseau.

The plan is to cover this book two trade collections at a time, so go find Manifest Destiny Volumes 1 and 2 (issues #1-12) wherever you get your comics, and join us back here next week to break it all down!

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"I don't care if we win... I just want them to lose."

This week on Stories Arcs, Mike and Alex finish up their deep dive into The Fade Out by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips from Image Comics with Volume 3: Act Three (issues #9-12). They start at the end- how does the mystery resolve and what does it all mean? Did any of it matter in discovering the truth? And what is truth in a world run by story, myth, and legend? The guys examine these questions in the light of noir storytelling, and analyze how the various character see themselves in relation to the larger forces at play in this world. They also look at how relevant the themes and ideas presented in the comic remain today, despite being created some 10 years ago and set some 80 years ago, and why that's more of a commentary on our world today than it is on the prescience of the story. Finally, the guys wrap with a detailed look at some the incredible visual storytelling choices made by Sean Phillips throughout the comic.

We hope you enjoyed this look into another neo-noir classic from the team of Brubaker and Phillips. We'll be back next week to intro our next deep dive discussion. See you then!

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"Charlie's just a moth who figured out how to get closer to the flame. But Maya, and people like her, they did him one better... they figured out how to be the flame, instead."

This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex continue their look into the seedy underbelly of Golden Age Hollywood as depicted in Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips' The Fade Out Volume 2: Act Two (issues #5-8) from Image comics. The guys start by discussing how this volume subverts some of the expected narrative beats one might anticipate from this type of noir story, from who is leading the investigation into the death that was the inciting incident to the entire story, to how important (or not) that investigation even is to the overall story. They also discuss the comic leaving Charlie's perspective more and following other characters, and how that additional information for the reader both rounds out the world and raises more questions as to what exactly is going on.

The mystery wraps up next week with The Fade Out Volume 3: Act Three (issues #9-12), so find it wherever you get your comics and join us back here again then!

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"Whatever it was inside that made him a writer had been stolen over there. Now he was just empty. And every word he typed felt like a waste, and not enough at the same time."

This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex start their deep dive into Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips' The Fade Out from Image Comics with Volume 1: Act One (issues #1-4). The guys discuss how the post-WWII Hollywood setting is the perfect fit for Brubaker and Phillips' neo-noir leanings, and how the story weaves real world events and circumstances (and sometimes people) from history into its story. Then they take a look at the narrative construction presented in the comic and break down how effective it is in building up the mystery that's at the heart of the book. Finally, they heap praise on Sean Phillips and the collaboration with Elizabeth Breitweiser for the phenomenal artwork through the comic.

The mystery trail continues as we get into The Fade Out Volume 2: Act Two (issues #5-8), so find it wherever you get your comics and we'll you see you back here again next week!

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For the next season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are returning to the noir-tinged world of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips with their 2014 book from Image Comics, The Fade Out. The guys covered Brubaker and Phillips (and colorist Elizabeth Breitweiser) back when they discussed Kill or Be Killed (check that out if you haven't already), so first they give a brief update on some of the work the pair have published in the interim, then they give a spoiler-free intro to The Fade Out. They talk about why they decided on this story being the next Brubaker/Phillips joint they covered on the show and what their history with the book is.

The Fade Out is the kind of comic that if Brubaker and Phillips hadn't done it, they would be constantly asked why they hadn't done a comic like The Fade Out. We can't wait to dive into this one, so go find The Fade Out Volume 1: Act One (issues #1-4) wherever you get your comics and join us back here again next week to kick of the discussion!

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"But Gus failed and is forgotten now, and I fear I am forgotten as well. Maybe someday trees will also spring from my joints and moss will crawl over my skin."

Mike and Alex are closing out Lonely Sci-Fi Month with Andrew MacLean's OGN ApocalyptiGirl: An Aria for the End Times from Dark Horse Comics. The guys touch on how they came to find this book, and how it slots into their overall theme. They discuss how this book is effectively the inverse situation of the books they've covered thus far (isolated on a place versus isolated on a trip to a place), and how twist in perspective alters how we view the actions and choices of our main character(s). They guys also work through some narrative nitpicks they have, and praise MacLean's art style and coloring. Finally, they put a bow on Lonely Sci-Fi Month and wrap things up with a long lens view back on all four of the great comics they've touched on this month.

We hope you enjoyed kicking off another year of Storied Arcs with another theme month! We'll be back next week with an intro to another great comic. See you then!

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"All these years lost, and I've never felt more alone."

This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex continue Lonely Sci-Fi month with Gone (issues #1-3) by artist/writer Jock from DSTLRY! The guys start with some nitpicks and notes about the story and on Jock as a writer, before transitioning into discussing Jock as an artist, where the guys have nothing but praise. They examine the themes of isolation presented in the comic, from the physical to the economical to the temporal, and explore how it fits into their larger theme of Lonely Sci-Fi on multiple levels. Finally, the guys start threading some through lines through the first three books they've covered this month in anticipation of the final entry next week.

And that final book is ApocalyptiGirl by Andrew MacLean. It's an OGN with a recent re-issue in 2020, which should hopefully make it easier to find. Once you do, join us back here next week as we close out Lonely Sci-Fi month!

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"It could be that our collective fate will be the same as this book. May that's all any of us are... a letter to the Universe no one will ever read."

Welcome back to Lonely Sci-Fi month! This week, Mike and Alex are tackling Mark Russell and Roberto Meli's Traveling To Mars (issues #1-11) from Ablaze Comics. The guys start by looking at this book in relation to Mark Russell's other comics (such as The Flintstones and Not All Robots, just to name a couple) and examine how this comic may be the ultimate Mark Russell Comic(tm), where all of the satire and social commentary from all of his stories find a place here. They discuss how the epistolary-like narrative structure and presentation is an ideal format for the story they are trying to tell, and how Roberto Meli's art captures the mood and sense of the isolation being experienced Roy, our main character. Finally, the guys step back a bit and view the comic through their lens of Lonely Sci-Fi and reflect on how it takes a very common science fiction prompt and flips it on its head to tell a completely different kind of story.

We continue with Lonely Sci-Fi month next week when we'll be diving into Gone (issues #1-3) by artist/writer Jock from DSTLRY. Find it wherever you get your comics and we'll see you back here again next week!

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"After that, things started to change. We started to change. And so did Val. If only I knew then what I know now, maybe I could have saved her."

Mike and Alex are starting Lonely Sci-Fi month with a look at Sentient (issues #1-6) by Jeff Lemire and Gabriel Hernandez Walta from TKO Studios. The guys chat about how and when they first found this book, and how their perspective on in has shifted between then and now. Then they dive deep into the science fiction idea of A.I. (as depicted in the book) versus the junk crap that's marketed to us right now as A.I., and discuss what kind of impact that has when revisiting a story centered around artificial intelligence. The guys also examine how Sentient fits into their theme of "lonely sci-fi" and how it depicts different forms of isolation and loneliness throughout the story. Finally, they wrap their discussion by praising the work of Gabriel Hernandez Walta and his talents as a storyteller when paired with Jeff Lemire.

Lonely Sci-Fi month continues next week with Traveling to Mars (issues #1-11) by Mark Russell and Roberto Meli, so find it wherever you get your comics and join in the discussion!

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Welcome to a new year and new season of Storied Arcs! In what may be turning into an annual tradition, Mike and Alex are once again starting off the calendar with a theme month- Lonely Sci-Fi. Alone in space. Stranded on a planet. It's a prevalent trope in science fiction and we're excited to examine it from an assortment of angles using these comics as a lens:

-Sentient by Jeff Lemire and Gabriel Hernandez Walta from TKO Studios

-Traveling to Mars by Mark Russell and Roberto Meli from Ablaze

-Gone by Jock from DSTLRY

ApocalyptiGirl by Andrew MacLean from Dark Horse Comics

We've covered a few of these creators on the show previously (looking at your, Jeff Lemire and Mark Russell), but we still want to highlight the various creative teams (and some new publishers). So in this episode, we do just that, plus give a little synopsis of each book and touch briefly on how we think it fits into our overall theme.

We're starting next week with Sentient (issues #1-6) from TKO Studios. Go find it wherever you get your comics (which might be a little different for this book, given TKO's publication strategy, which we talk about a bit here), and join us here again as we talk about being alone together.

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"There will be times in the future, my daughter, when you will question everything you are. Hearing your name spoken over will help when everything falls away."

Mike and Alex are here to finish up their look at Daniel Warren Johnson's Extremity from Image Comics with Volume 2 Warrior (issues #7-12). They kick things off with a deep look at the (possible) religious parallels that seem to infuse the back half of the story, and discuss how even if those parallels are unintended or go unnoticed by the reader, the message of the book is still clear. The guys also examine the ending (because endings are hard) and chat about how of all the potential ways the story could have wrapped up, what was presented was absolutely the most fitting. Finally, they have larger discussion about art styles and spotlighting new and upcoming creators, even ones that aren't quite as new and upcoming as DWJ.

We hoped you enjoyed this look at an early book that helped put a creator on the map! We'll be back next week (and next year!) to dive into another great comic!

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"But no matter what the fight... no matter who lives or dies... I won't kill my own brother."

This week on the Storied Arcs podcast, Mike and Alex kick off their deep dive of Daniel Warren Johnson's Extremity from Image Comics with Volume 1 Artist (issues #1-6). The guys start by discussing the world building (or lack there of) that DWJ provides in this book, and how what is and isn't explained on the page effects how the reader relates to the story. They explore some of the themes presented in the book, such as loss, grief, and revenge, and how those ideas are often present in Johnson's creator owned work. Finally, the guys look at DWJ's art style and note some of the visual flares showcased in this comic that will become recurring motifs in this comic career, and how colorist Mike Spicer works seamlessly with the art to evoke the emotion expressed on the page.

This miniseries wraps up next week, so go find Extremity Volume 2 Warrior (issues #7-12) wherever you get your comics and join us back here again to break it all down!

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In this new season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex taking a look at Daniel Warren Johnson's sci-fi-ish/fantasy-ish revenge epic Extremity, from Image Comics. The guys start with a spoiler-free preview of the book, talking a bit about how the book was initially sold in solicitations ("the beauty and imagination of Studio Ghibli meet the intensity of Mad Max") and how each of them came to the comic. Then they give a rundown on writer/artist/creator Daniel Warren Johnson, one of the true singular voices in comics at the moment, as well as his collaborators on this book, colorist Mike Spice and letterer Rus Wooton.

We kick off our discussion next week with Extremity Vol. 1 Artist (issues #1-6), so find it wherever you get your comic books and join us back here again to dive in!

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"This isn't a nightmare. This is the night. And I'm in a playground for monsters filled with monstrous things. I don't belong here."

This week, Mike and Alex are here to wrap up November by Matt Fraction and Elsa Charretier with Volume 4 The Mess We're In. The guys dive right into things, breaking down the ending and discussing how the various story threads converged in this final volume. They take a look at the three main characters and parse through their actions and examine how (and where) each of them ended up after the fact. Then the guys reflect on the story as a whole, how it was presented and told across these four volumes, and how the various storytelling decisions affected (both good and bad) their reading experience.

We hope you enjoyed diving deep into a different type of comic series this time around. We'll be back next week to kick off another great series!

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"Who knew I had a line? Who knew I could cross it? Well... almost."

Mike and Alex are back with the penultimate volume of November by Matt Fraction and Elsa Charretier, breaking down Volume 3 The Voice on the End of the Phone. The guys discuss what is (and isn't) happening in the actual story of the comic, and how that story continues to be presented to the reader, three-fourths of the the way through the narrative. They speculate on how much of the material in this volume would have existed had the book remained in its original three-volume structure, and what the story might look and feel like without it. Then the guys once again praise the art team of Charretier and colorist Matt Hollingsworth and examine how their work elevates the storytelling to a different level.

The story of November wraps up next week and we're excited to see how it all comes together, so go read November Volume 4 The Mess We're In wherever you get your comics and join us back here again to be a part of the discussion!

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"It's not every time the world ends you're look at a click when it happens. Some girls... we're just lucky."

This week, Mike and Alex continue their exploration of November by Matt Fraction and Elsa Charretier with Volume 2 The Gun in The Puddle. The guys talk about how the various story threads begin to intersect in this volume, gently overlaying and crisscrossing and hinting at the bigger narrative at play. They chat a little about the pacing of the story and what storylines/characters are holding their interest at the moment, and discuss how when the decision to expand the book from 3 to 4 volumes was made may (or may not) have affected what ended up on the page. The guys also dive a little deeper into the paneling and coloring choices of Charretier and Hollingsworth, especially in the opening chapter of Volume 2.

Things continue to get messy and complicated in the world of November, so pick up Volume 3 The Voice on the End of the Phone wherever you get your comics and join us again week to dive back in!

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"I'm just a working man, trying to make a living, Dee. We're all parts of a machine we cannot see. A system. All of us have our function."

Mike and Alex are back with another season of Storied Arcs, this time diving deep into the tangled web of November Volume 1 The Girl on the Roof by Matt Fraction and Elsa Charretier from Image Comics. They start by discussing how they think they should consider what was (and perhaps wasn't) presented in this book, knowing it's just the first entry of a three-turned-to-four part story. Is it really part one, or merely a prologue? Does that distinction even matter? If you weren't already bought in to the premise and the creators, was there enough in this volume to keep a causal reader hooked? The guys wade through these questions while touching on various aspects of the storytelling along the way, including the paneling structure, Matt Hollingsworth's color choices, and Kurt Ankeny's unique lettering. All vibes.

If you're a little confused as to what's happening in the story right now, your best option is to just keep reading. So find November Volume 2 The Gun in the Puddle wherever you get your comics and join the discussion with us next week!

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On this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex will be diving into November, the graphic novella series by Matt Fraction and Elsa Charretier from Image Comics. Originally planned as a series of three OGNs, it ultimately expanded to four, which were released across the span of about 15 months. The guys start with a spoiler-free preview of November, giving the official synopsis that accompanied the initial solicitation, and talk a little about why they enjoy the type of storytelling construction utilized in this book. Then they give some background on creative team behind the comic, including writer Matt Fraction, artist Elsa Charretier, colorist Matt Hollingsworth, and letterer Kurt Ankeny.

November is the first series of OGNs we've covered, and we're excited to explore a different storytelling approach. So go find November Volume 1: The Girl on the Roof wherever you get your comics and join up back here next week to start the discussion!

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This week, Mike and Alex are thrilled to be joined by writer and co-creator of The Bunker, Joshua Hale Fialkov! They start with the origin of The Bunker and how the idea came to be, from the initial germ of a story idea to how Joshua linked up with Joe Infurnari. Joshua then takes up deep into the business and commerce side of comics, discussing how his initial experiences working at DC and Marvel led him and Joe to self publish The Bunker digitally at first before finding a home at Oni Press, and how circumstances eventually lead him away from writing comics and into working in television for several years (he also answers our question about the placement of issue #10 in Volume 3). He lets us in on the many attempts at making a Bunker television adaptation, and how each of those (failed) attempts would have related to and affected the comic. It's a fascinating look at the way one story could been woven and told across different media. Finally, Joshua gives his thoughts on The Bunker a decade-plus on, and how its themes and ideas fit into the world today and inform the work he's doing currently as a teacher. We can't thank Joshua enough for being so generous with his time!

You can follow Joshua at his website as well as on Instagram and Bluesky.

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"Your job, your purpose is to tell people why they matter. To tell them the truth. Always. If you spend your life lying to the people you love, hiding who you are, and what you want... then we lose.

Mike and Alex wrap up their deep dive into The Bunker by Joshua Hale Fialkov and Joe Infurnari this week with Volume 4 (issues #15-19). The guys jump right into the ending, breaking down the final revelations and consequences presented in the book from meddling with time, and discussing their thoughts about the story's ultimate message. What does it say about someone who's capable of developing time travel that they always believe that they're the only ones who can fix the problems they created by traveling through time? It's a common time travel theme, and the guys take a long examination into how The Bunker comments on it. It's a compelling book, inviting the reader to ask themselves how they might handle things, and if their choices would be any better or worse than the characters' in the story.

We hope you enjoyed this look at The Bunker. Next week, we are excited to share an exclusive interview with writer Joshua Hale Fialkov, where we dig into the origins of The Bunker and so much more. Be sure to check it out!

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"This is about TRYING to make things better. Listen, the best part about all of this is that if we're wrong, we just start over again."

In this episode, Mike and Alex break down the penultimate volume of Oni Press' The Bunker by Joshua Hale Fialkov and Joe Infurnari with Volume 3 (issues #10-14). The guys jump right into things, exploring how the three-month time jump in the story was handled, and how the "backward" issue plays as a storytelling device. And as they are attempting to heap some praise on Joe Infurnari's art, they get waylaid by the real-time discovery that the trade collection re-orders the issues so that issue #10 (the peek-at-the-future interstitial story drawn by Brahm Revel and colored by Jason Fischer) is presented as the final chapter in this arc (as Alex read it) as opposed to the first (as Mike read it), and go into a discussion of how that shifts the readers' perspective on the remaining issues of this volume. Mike goes so far as to reach out to Joshua Hale Fialkov mid-discussion to try and get some clarity (more on that later).

Join us next week as we wrap up our look at The Bunker with Volume 4 (issues #15-19). Find it wherever you get your comics and join the discussion!

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"-How do we know that we aren't the ones who killed these people, and started this whole thing? How do we know that we didn't do this all already? -We don't. And we never will."

This week, Mike and Alex continue their exploration of Oni Press' The Bunker by Joshua Hale Fialkov and Joe Infurnari with Volume 2 (issues #5-9). With some further examination of the time travel rules by the book itself, the guys dive a little deeper into what they think might and might not be possible to accomplish by traveling into the past, then take a larger existential look at free will versus fate and how that debate is presented on the page. What does it mean to make a choice if you know how that choice will play out? Is it even still a choice at that point? Finally, they discuss who the good guys and bad guys are of the story (if there even are any of either), and who they may be focused on heading into the back half of the story.

We head into the penultimate story arc with The Bunker Volume 3 (issues #10-14), so grab it wherever you get your comics and we'll see you here next week!

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"We wrote these letters to tell you that its not too late. To inspire a future we hope can be made. That is a lie. If this works, and you are reading this, you need to understand something. This NEEDS to happen. The world HAS to die."

This season on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are delving deep into The Bunker by Joshua Hale Fialkov and Joe Infurnari from Oni Press, starting this week with Volume 1 (issues #1-4). The guys start by revisiting the topic of time travel stories (see: Paper Girls, Time Before Time) and discuss what kind of time travel rules apply (or appear to apply) to The Bunker. Is it a closed loop, or can things be changed? They also examine the trope of "trauma as character trait" as it's presented in these issues, and as it is used throughout popular media today. What would you do if you received a letter from your future self? And what would you write to convince your past self that it's really you? And would you even trust yourself either way? These are the questions The Bunker offers up.

The timey-wimey-ness continues with The Bunker Volume 2 (issues #5-9), so find it wherever you get your comics and join up back here again next week!

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This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex crack open The Bunker from Oni Press by Joshua Hale Fialkov and Joe Infurnari. In this spoiler-free introduction, they shine the creator spotlight on Fialkov and Infurnari, exploring their past comic work, then set the stage for what makes this time-bending thriller worth your attention. Along their way, the guys discuss how they came across this book, how its initial digital-first publishing strategy was a sign of the times, and why time-travel stories remain a fruitful storytelling well.

Whether you’re brand new to the series or just curious about the creative minds behind it, this episode gives you the perfect jumping-on point. So go find The Bunker Volume 1 (issues #1-4) wherever you get your comics and and join us back here next week to break it all down!

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"We can set down our tools and, at last, rest. The next generation is no longer our concern. Because we are the last."

Mike and Alex contemplate the end (question mark?) of human civilization as they dive into the final issues of Charles Soule and Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque's Letter 44 with Deluxe Volume 3 (issues #25-35) from Oni Press/Image Comics. The guys start at the end of the story and go deep into the final issues, debating the ending notes of the comic and the feelings they were left with at its conclusion. They also discuss the ways in which this book was prescient about the future (aka the present, as this episode was recorded) and how, once again, it was seemingly all the bad things that came true. That's probably something we should sit with a little longer.

We really enjoy taking a look at an early work from a now-more established creator (like Charles Soule), and we hoped you enjoyed it as well. We'll be back next week to get you ready for our next deep dive into another great comic!

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"You're in command, sir. Everything you do is the right thing. Even when it's not."

This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex continue their exploration of Letter 44 by Charles Soule and Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque with Deluxe Volume 2 (issues #13-24). The guys start by discussing the escalation in the storylines, both on Earth and in space, and dive into the decision of a world leader to unilaterally inform the planet that alien life exists and it's on its way here (spoiler alert- it goes poorly; World War III, anyone?). They once again examine the real world parallels/allusions presented in the book, and how those overlays effect the reader's relationship to the story. Then the guys break down how the space portion of the story has gained more traction and speculate how the two storylines might converge at the comic beings to draw to a close.

We wrap up our look at this political sci-fi mashup next week so go read Deluxe Volume 3 (issues #25-35 aka all of the remaining issues) and join us here again to see how it all ends!

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"But in my opinion, if they can travel between stars then we can invent as many laser guns as we want and it won't make a damn bit of difference."

Welcome to the new season of Storied Arcs, where Mike and Alex are diving into the political/sci-fi mash-up of Letter 44 by Charles Soule and Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque from Oni Press and Image Comics with Deluxe Volume 1 (issues #1-12, if you're reading in single issue or compendium). The guys start with a few nits to pick (no book is perfect) before jumping into the parts that really excited them. They survey the political landscape presented in the comic and then examine how the real world overlays map onto the story. The world of Letter 44 is just a slightly skewed version of our world, and the guys discuss how that story construction and presentation works (or maybe doesn't) in the book's favor. Finally, they wrap up by talking through which part of the story- the political drama or the sci-fi drama- has them more interested at this point.

The deep dive continues next week with Letter 44 Deluxe Volume 2 (issues #13-24). Go find it (or just read the next batch of issues in the compendium) wherever you get your comics and join the discussion!

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In this zero episode, Mike and Alex get you primed for Letter 44 by Charles Soule and Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque from Oni Press (originially) and Image Comics (currently). The guys start with a quick synopsis of the book (sci-fi thriller in space combined with political drama on Earth) and recount its publishing history, providing a little background of Oni Press along the way. Then, they dive into the creative team, including writer Charles Soule (who was covered more fully in the Eight Billion Genies zero episode) and artist Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque, along with a host of other collaborators (colorists Guy Major, Dan Jackson, and Sarah Stern, and letterers Shawn DePasquale and Crank!, plus guest artists Joelle Jones, Drew Moss, Ryan Kelly, Alise Gluskova, and Langdon Foss). Letter 44 is crazy mix of genres that seem like they shouldn't work on paper but when handled properly, mesh together perfectly.

It's likely that the most accessible way to read Letter 44 at the moment is the new (as of this recording) compendium recently published by Image containing all 35 issues. We'll be covering the book across three discussions, divided up as the Deluxe editions from Oni Press had them:

09/04: Issues #1-12

09/11: Issues #13-24

09/18: Issues #25-35

So, go read Letter 44 issues #1-12 wherever (or however) you can can find them, and join us back here next week to break it all down!

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"Mindset's advanced habitat helps us all become free from manipulative social media algorithms. Because when a person knows how they're being influenced, they have the power to break free and change their mindset!"

Welcome to the final entry in Social Media Summer! For this final discussion on the theme, Mike and Alex question who really is in control as they dive into Mindset by Zack Kaplan and John Pearson from Vault Comics. The guys break down how this comic still feels relevant and accurate to our relationship to technology and social media (which feels a little silly to say about a book that's only about 3 years old, but given how we've been tracking changes across the past 10 years, holding on for the past 3 years seems like an eternity), and also examine the ways in which it could still be predictive of what might be to come. Finally, they wrap up Social Media Summer with a wide-angle lens look at all four books they've covered and take a swing a making it all make sense somehow (and don't forget to share, like and subscribe!).

We hope you enjoyed this deeper dive look at the way social media and technology has been portrayed throughout the recent past. We had a blast working our way across the timeline and who knows, maybe this is episode construct we can return to again in the future. Until then, please join us here again next week as we get ready to jump into another great comic!

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This week, Mike and Alex are here to intro the final installment of Social Media Summer, Mindset by Zack Kaplan and John Pearson from Vault Comics. They start by covering the creative team behind the book (including mentioning letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, who's lettered seemingly every book they've covered that's been published within the last few years) before giving a spoiler-free tease for the comic. This books brings us to the very recent past along the decline of social media timeline (June 2022 to January 2023), meaning our relationship to social media and technology today is closer to what's depicted in Mindset than in any previous book we've covered thus far.

Mindset is another single volume story (issues #1-6) so find it where you get your comics and we'll see back here next week to discuss it and Social Media Summer as a whole!

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"I was showing everyone that technology is nothing but a monster." "Technology is just a tool. Human beings still do the heavy lifting."

Welcome to book three of Social Media Summer! This week, Mike and Alex dive into Thumbs (issues #1-5) from Image Comics by Sean Lewis and Hayden Sherman. They start by examining the slightly different angle this book takes towards technology versus the previous two books they've covered in this series, and how that almost agnostic view of tech muddies the focus on who are the good guys and who are the bad guys in the story (which kinda feels like the point). The guys also dig into how the timing of this book, released just before the COVID lockdowns of 2020, lends a meta quality to the themes presented, and how reading it post-2020, it could be mistaken as a reaction to that. Finally, the guys wrap by placing Thumbs in the larger conversation with Hacktivist and Unfollow in terms of how we are seeing ourselves and our relationship to technology across the timeline of social media.

Next week, we get you prepped for the final entry in Social Media Summer, Mindset!

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Social Media Summer continues this week as Mike and Alex jump a little further forward on the decline of social media timeline (June to August 2019) to introduce Thumbs by Sean Lewis and Hayden Sherman from Image Comics. As usual, the guys give a quick rundown of the creative team's comics history, as well as whatever projects they may be working on now (like maybe one of the best superhero comics on the stands as we record this). Then they wrap with a spoiler-free intro to Thumbs and chat a little as to how and why they see it fitting into the overall theme. And Alex references another movie from the 80s that Mike hasn't seen. Because of course.

Thumbs is just a single volume (issues #1-5) so go find it wherever you get your comics and be a part of the discussion next week!

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"It is no longer white noise. It is a deafening crescendo. News flits by in a millisecond. Who can tell what is truth? Every moment of every day... we are besieged."

Mike and Alex close out book two of Social Media Summer this week with a dive into Unfollow Volume 3: Turn It Off (issues #13-18) from DC Comics/Vertigo. The guys grapple first with the ending of the story, parsing what they think Rob Williams and Michael Dowling may have been trying to say (or not say) about society given the comic's nihilistic finale, and discuss how it ultimately felt consistent with the overall vibe of the book. They also break down how of all the ideas and themes presented, the quasi-deep fake, generative-AI speech model of Akira that only gets a passing glance within the story might have been the more prescient one. And finally, the guys wrap their discussion by examining how this story has aged now in 2025 and compare/contrast that with book one of the theme, Hacktivist. The two books overlapped a bit in publication but their perspectives couldn't have been more different.

Next week, we jump ahead a few years along the social media timeline and get you primed and ready for book three of Social Media Summer, Thumbs!

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"I mean, what's the point of doing something unless you can tell the whole world?"

This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex continue to make their way through Social Media Summer with Unfollow Volume 2: God Is Watching (issues #7-12) by Rob Williams and Michael Dowling from DC Comics/Vertigo. The guys discuss how narrowing the story into two or three main threads works to its advantage as it allows the book to more easily juggle the number of characters it wants to follow. They touch on all the main characters and break down which ones appear to be set up for interesting and/or satisfying arcs, and which (if any) still maybe feel underserved. Finally, the guys discuss the plot twist that isn't really treated like a plot twist, and what they think it means for the story as it rounds towards the finale.

We wrap up our look at Unfollow next week with Volume 3: Turn It Off (issues #13-18), so pick it up where ever you get your comics and join us back here again to dive into it!

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"The great terror comes form the universe's actions that do not have a cognizant mind behind them. What if all we are is swept away by something that wants nothing? That means nothing?"

Welcome to book two of Social Media Summer! This week, Mike and Alex begin their look at Unfollow by Rob Williams and Michael Dowling from DC Comics/Vertigo with Volume 1: 140 Characters (issues #1-6). The guys dive right into the comic, breaking down the overall narrative setup (a tontine established by a dying billionaire tech genius involving 140 randomly-chosen social media users) and the deployment of certain story beats. They discuss the various characters among the 140 who seem to get a spotlights in this volume but without any real depth (yet), and how that affects their focus on the story. The guys' level of investment in these characters varies greatly after one volume, and they agree that there was just a lot of table setting to get ready for what the comic is actually going to be about.

It hasn't been a huge jump forward in publication time along the social media timeline from our previous book, Hacktivist, but the cracks in the technological veneer are already showing. So go read Unfollow Volume 2: God Is Watching (issues #7-12) wherever you get your comics and join us here again next week!

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This week, Mike and Alex setup the next book in their Social Media Summer series, Unfollow from DC Comics/Vertigo by writer Rob Williams and artist Michael Dowling. They guys first give some background on the creative team, including colorist Quinton Winter and letterer Clem Robins, as well as acknowledge the handful of guest artists brought on the pinch hit for an issue here and there (more on them when the discussion reaches those issues). Then they give a spoiler-free preview of Unfollow and discuss briefly how it fits into the decline of social media timeline they have been tracking (November 2015 to April 2017 in this case).

Unfollow is on the more mature side of things, but hey, that's just how it goes with comics sometimes. So find Unfollow Volume 1 (issues #1-6) wherever you get your comics and join us next week to jump into Social Media Summer Book Two!

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"I put the gun in their hands and I trusted them to use it wisely. Just like Tunisia. Just like Sirine. And they used it to kill. I have to stop them. There's no other choice, this is my responsibility. It's on my hands."

This week, Social Media Summer continues with Hacktivist Volume 2 (issues #1-6) from Boom Studios by Alyssa Milano, Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, and Marcus To. Mike and Alex start by airing some of things that they bumped on in this volume with regards to some of the specifics in the storytelling choices before discussing the overall theme of actions and consequences, which they quite liked. They dive deep into the underlying naivety present in this volume (a product of it's 2015 publication), where our tech bro protagonists learn an important lesson but are still shown to be righteous in their beliefs, and how that aged like milk over the past decade. Social media in real life hadn't plummeted to the depths of despair yet when this book came out, but you can already see the signs of what could, and would, come in its pages. Another example of a comic foreseeing the future, but not the good parts.

Our journey through social media's history in comics continues next week as we intro the next book in our series, Unfollow! See you back here next week as we get you primed for our next discussions!

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"It's Moore's Law. Every two years, transistors double on integrated circuits. This is a constant since 1958. That means that we the people, the ones with the technology, we're getting more powerful by the day."

Welcome to the first entry in Social Media Summer! This week, Mike and Alex are jumping back to 2014 to dive into Hacktivist Volume 1 (issues #1-4) by Alyssa Milano, Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, and Marcus To from Boom Studios. The guys reminisce about social media's stature and place in society in 2014 and discuss how different it looks now through a 2025 lens. They examine the main thesis of the book- what if tech billionaires were actually the good guys?- and look at how that desirable, and maybe even believable, fantasy a decade ago is now so farcical, it wouldn't make it past the pitch meeting. They guys also praise the visuals throughout the comic, from Marcus To's art to Ian Herring's colors to Deron Bennett's lettering (which I think is some of the best depictions of foreign languages I've ever seen).

Social Media Summer is just getting started. Next week, we're finishing up Hacktivist before introing the next book in our series, so go find Hacktivist Volume 2 (issues #1-6) wherever you get your comics and join is here again to be apart of the conversation!

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In this episode, Mike and Alex introduce their latest themed set of books (see: Death Month from January 2025), only this time, instead of just a month, it's going to stretch all season. They're calling it Social Media Summer and they're focusing on four comics that utilize and comment on society's relationship with technology, specifically social media. And those books are: Hacktivist by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, and Marcus To from Boom Studios, Unfollow by Rob Williams and Michael Dowling from Vertigo/DC Comics, Thumbs by Sean Lewis and Hayden Sherman from Image Comics, and Mindset by Zack Kaplan and John Pearson from Vault Comics.

Then the guys intro the first offering in Social Media Summer, Hacktivist from Boom Studios. Co-creators Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, and Marcus To were discussed a few weeks back in the intro to Joyride, and here, the rest of the creative team is covered, including actress Alyssa Milano, colorist Ian Herring, and letterer Deron Bennett (and if you haven't heard the interview with artist Marcus To about Joyride, the origins of Hacktivist are mentioned as well).

We'll be covering these books in chronological order as they were originally published in order to track the depiction of technology and social media within each story along side society's relationship to them at that time. That's January 2014 to January 2023; a fair amount changed in the world in that time span, and we're excited to examine it through the lens of these four comics. So go find Hacktivist Volume 1 (issues #1-4) wherever you get your comics and join us here next week to kick off Social Media Summer!

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This week, Mike and Alex are honored to be a joined by artist Marcus To, one of the co-creators of Joyride! They start with an quick overview on Marcus' work on Hacktivist with Alyssa Milano, Jackson Lanzing, and Collin Kelly (a comic you may want to consider picking up soon for discussion on this podcast) before diving into Joyride. Marcus lets us in on the origins of Joyride and how sci-fi storytelling, specifically Star Trek, impacted him as a storyteller and creative, as well as how he and the Hivemind workshopped and developed the ideas of the book. They go into the publication history of the comic, going from an initial 4-issue miniseries to an ongoing, and what kind of effect that had on their storytelling choices and the story's ultimate conclusion. Marcus also shares an incredible story about one of his main inspirations for the Earth we see depicted in Joyride and why the themes of art and music and creativity are so central to the narrative. Finally, they examine how the comic feels more relevant now than it might have when it first came out, and how the the overarching themes in it remain as important as ever to consider and keep in mind. Marcus was so generous with his time and we can't wait to see what projects he has coming out next!

You can follow Marcus at his website as well as on Instagram, Bluesky, and whatever we're calling Twitter. You can also purchase his original art at The Artist Bullpen.

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"Good and bad, humanity can transform anything into something. We express. We create. Even when we're under a dictator. Even when we can't see the stars, we imagine them."

In this week's episode, Mike and Alex return to Earth to wrap up their discussion of Joyride from Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, and Marcus To with deep dive into Volume 3 (issues #9-12). The guys start by looking at how the story wrapped up, both in a narrative sense (which they both generally enjoyed) and a structural sense (which they both felt was a little rushed). They offer up some potential external factors that may have lead the pacing of the final arc to feel off, and acknowledge that those factors are just a reality of the industry. They guys also imagine a version of this story with just a little more runway to reach its conclusion and ponder what just a few additional issues might have added to this comic. And finally, while examining the ultimate message behind the story of Joyride (see the pull quote above), Mike and Alex spend way too much time wondering if the youths today can identify blind song lyrics from The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, N.W.A., and Radiohead.

We really hope you enjoyed this look into an early work from some creators who are now mainstays in the industry, and another book that's become relevant again, years after its original publication (and not for the fun reasons). We'll be back next week to kick off the discussion for another great comic (or comics, perhaps)!

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"The dead are dead-- and their sacrifices kept me alive. They made this place possible. They made me possible. Moments like this... they matter 'cause they end."

This week, Mike and Alex throw a planet-wide rave and jump into Joyride Volume 2 (issues #5-8) by Jackson Lanzing, Colin Kelley, and Marcus To. The guys start by discussing the heavy character focus this volume takes, and how that (mostly) pushes the narrative forward. They also praise the art team of Marcus To and colorist Irma Kniivila for their incredible work, from dynamic splash games to creative paneling, and examine how that work enhances the storytelling throughout the book. Finally, they look at this volume's cliffhanger ending and contemplate what this series might have looked like had it run longer versus setting up for a landing in four issues.

The discussion wraps up next week with Joyride Volume 3 (issues #9-12) so find it wherever you get your comics and join us again and be a part of the conversation!

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"Right now, you gotta get it through your propaganda-themed brain that you're not the one giving me the choice. It's 100% the other way around. I'm not going back to a world without stars."

Kicking off this season of Stories Arcs, Mike and Alex hijack a spaceship and head out into the unknown as they dive into Joyride Volume 1 (issues #1-4) by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, and Marcus To from Boom Studios. The guys chat about how the story pacing feels for this first volume, knowing that for at least one issue, this was only meant to be a 4-issue miniseries, and what things (if any) might have been altered as the plan shifted into a longer run. Then they break down the three main characters- Uma, Dewydd, and Catrin- and examine the ways each of them both reinforce and subvert the conventional character architypes they fulfill for this kind of coming-of-age story. Finally, they take a look at the ways in which the fictional totalitarian world of Joyride kinda maybe sorta has more relevance to the real world in 2025 than it did when it was first published in early 2016, and wonder a bit if that contributed at all to the publication of its recent complete collection edition. Probably just a coincidence.

The journey into deeper outer space continues next week, so go find Joyride Volume 2 (issues #5-8) wherever you get your comics and join us here for the next discussion!

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For this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are heading back into outer space to dive into Boom Studios' Joyride from co-writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly (aka the "Hivemind"), artist Marcus To, and colorist Irma Kniivila. The guys run through the comic book history of the full creative team (including letterer Jim Campbell), along the way noting on how and when each of them first came across the book, and discuss how the creators are far more recognizable names now than they were when the book first came out. Then they talk a little about what drew them to the story and give a spoiler-free tease for the series. It's another version of the kids-on-bikes setup (think Paper Girls or Outpost Zero), but instead of bikes, the kids here just steal a whole spaceship.

This is a really fun, early work from some creators who are now mainstays in the industry, and we're excited to jump in. So go find Joyride Volume 1 (issues #1-4 if you're reading the floppies or have the recently-released complete collection edition) and join us here next week to get into it!

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“Just look above you. Do you see? That is called the Immense Board of Lights. And there is the Great Black. And, strewn across it, small and surrounded and vulnerable and brave… there is the Great White.”

This week, Mike and Alex wrap up their discussion of Top 10 by Alan Moore, Gene Ha, and Zander Cannon with Volume 2 (issues #8-12) of the initial run. They guys jump right into issue #8, The Overview, and discuss the major themes it presents. They also delve into why the issue so highly regarded and the effect it has over how the entire series is remembered. From there, the move into the remainder of the issues, touching on how the book shifts into a more conventional, everything-is-connected superhero-type story construction and diving into how that meshes with the more procedural storytelling presented into the first volume. The guys wrap things up with some legacy talk about Top 10 and its influence on the cop comic genre going forward.

We hoped you enjoyed this look at a critically beloved comic from one of the masters of the craft, and while we aren't covering them on the show here, we definitely recommend checking out the Top 10 sequel and spin-off stories (Smax, The Forty-Niners, Beyond the Furthest Precinct, and Season 2) because what is being a comic reader if not being a completionist.

We'll be back next week to kick off a new discussion into another great comic. See you then!

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"Listen, I got a call for you and Slinger. Irma and Li are at Seventh and Macaroni handling some kind of psychokinetic Santa."

Welcome to a new season of Storied Arcs, and Mike and Alex are here to dive into Alan Moore, Gene Ha, and Zander Cannon's Top 10 Volume 1 (issues #1-7) from America's Best Comics/DC Comics. The guys jump right in, discussing the denseness of Alan Moore's writing and the way he, Ha, and Cannon build their world so it feels both new and recognizable at the same time. They talk about the dissonance the comic creates in the reader's mind, playing off the preconceived notions of both police procedural and superhero stories, and how that dichotomy can be a little confusing at first. They guys also discuss what this book would have been had it be published 15-20 years later (and had Alan Moore not been the writer) and how the bones of Top 10 make it a perfect candidate for the current comic trend of micro-universes. There are, of course, sequels and spin-off (which we won't be covering), but a more modern-thinking approach to the publishing could have really expanded the world.

Next week, we're diving into Volume 2 (issues #8-12), which includes one of the more celebrated single-issue stories of recent memory, so go find the remaining issues of Top 10 by Alan Moore, Gene Ha, and Zander Cannon and join us here again to break it all down!

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For this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex will be tackling the critically-acclaimed, multi-dimensional police procedural comic Top 10 (issues #1-12 of the original series only) from America's Best Comics (aka Wildstorm aka DC) by Alan Moore, Gene Ha, and Zander Cannon. They start with some background on America's Best Comics and use that to track the publication history of Top 10 and its subsequent spinoffs and sequels through the years. Then the guys attempt to (briefly) cover the comics history of writer Alan Moore (he's Alan Moore, folks), along with the works of artists Gene Ha and Zander Cannon, and letterer Todd Klein. To close, they give a short, spoiler-free synopsis for the book and talk a little bit on why they picked it for the show.

For our purposes, we'll just be focusing on the original Top 10 comic from 1999 to 2001 (issues #1-12) and breaking our discussion across two trade collections as they were originally published- issues #1-7 first and then issues #8-12 to close. We understand that the most likely way of reading Top 10 at the moment is either the 2015 single-trade collection published under the Vertigo banner or the 2023 compendium containing all of the Top 10 series, spinoffs, and specials, but the single issues are out there to be discovered as well. However you find it, go read Top 10 Volume 1 (issues #1-7) and join us back here next week to jump right into the discussion!

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This week, Mike and Alex have the good fortune to be joined by another incredible member of the Deep Cuts team, all the way from Italy, artist Helena Masellis! Helena starts by describing the comic scene she was exposed to growing up in Brazil, from both the US and Asia, and how that influenced a whole generation of Brazilian artists. They also discuss into the importance of having diverse voices from all different backgrounds contributing to comics and how the widening of the talent-pool net has led to better stories. Then they dig into Deep Cuts issue #2, Helena's issue, and go deep into things- from her process as an artist to working with colorist Igor Monti to all of the Wizard of Oz references peppered throughout the issue. Helena also describes how the scripts she received from Kyle Higgins and Joe Clark gave her the freedom to express the story in the way she felt was best, and explains why, despite having never been to Chicago before, the 1920s jazz era was already perfectly suited for her to draw. We can't thank Helena enough for being so generous with her time (especially with the time difference) and we can't wait to get our hands on the the four(!!!) different books she's working on currently (well, three, I guess, for those of us in the US).

You can follow Helena on Instagram and Bluesky, and you keep track of all her work on her Linktree.

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In this week's episode, Mike and Alex are elated to be joined by Joe Clark, one of the co-writers/creators of Deep Cuts! Joe starts off by giving his origin story, both in comics and in music, and tells us how the meeting of those two things in high school led him to befriending Kyle Higgins, this co-writer/creator on this project. Then the guys go deep into Deep Cuts, discussing where the idea came from, how Joe got involved, and what the process was like working (and juggling) with six completely different artists. He addresses the delays that occurred during publication and how that had a chain effect on the remaining issues at the time, and touches on how important it was for continuity to have one colorist and one letterer for the entire run. From there, Joe essentially takes us issue by issue, praising the work of the artist each time, and providing fascinating additional historical context and real-world comps for the characters, situation, and environments depicted throughout the series. He also peels back the second, third, and sometimes fourth layers built into every issue, shining a light on some of the hidden and less-obvious things they put to page. Maybe have a notepad at the ready when you listen; Joe names of a ton of jazz musicians from across the eras that you're definitely going to want to remember to check out later.

You can follow Joe at his website as well as on Instagram, Bluesky, and whatever we're calling Twitter right now. There are also direct links to his Spotify and Apple Music pages.

You can listen to "I'm Just Here For The Music," Gail Geldstein's song from Deep Cuts issue #2, on YouTube.

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"Jazz, America's music, was born from a combination of uptown and downtown, of high art and low places. Now, it combines the free, the electronic, the spiritual, the revolutionary, the ancient, the immediate."

In this week's discussion, Mike and Alex jump right into Deep Cuts by co-writers Kyle Higgins and Joe Clark and a stable of brilliant artists from Image Comics. In a break from the usual, the guys (mostly-ish) go through the book issue to issue, touching on the era of jazz each issue covers and highlighting each issue's artist (shout out Danilo Beyruth, Helena Marsellis, Diego Greco, Ramon Perez, Juni Ba, and Toby Cypress). They go deep into the use of color throughout the comic and marvel at colorist Igor Monti's work, bridging themes and ideas across six very different art styles. Finally, the guys look at all the ways this anthology weaves itself into one story and discuss why for this particular book, acknowledging those connections within the structure story was important to the overall meaning of the comic.

We hope this comic encourages some of you to take a deeper dive into one or more eras of jazz, as Deeps Cuts, despite the title, can only really scratch the surface. We have another special episode coming your way soon, so stay tuned and we'll see you back here next week!

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For this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex dive into the beautiful chaos that is jazz as they get ready to discuss Deep Cuts from Image Comics by co-writers Kyle Higgins and Joe Clark along with a litany of incredible artists. A different artist is brought in for each of the 6 double-sized issues of this anthology miniseries: Danilo Beyruth, Helena Masellis, Diego Greco, Ramon Perez, Juni Ba, and Toby Cypress. The guys run through the notable credits of the entire creative team, including colorist Igor Monti and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (who seems like has lettered every book they've covered this year). Finally, they give a quick synopsis of the Deep Cuts and give a little preview as to what drew them to the comic and why it's worthy of discussion.

This comics is a story about jazz, which in turn in is, a lot of ways, the story of America in the 20th Century, so go find Deep Cuts (issues #1-6) wherever you get your comics and join us again next week to dive into it!

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This week, Mike and Alex are super stoked to be joined by Matthew Erman, one of the co-writers/creators of Golgotha Motor Mountain! Matthew first gives his comic origin story before diving head first into the entire publishing saga (and that might be an understatement) of Golgotha Motor Mountain. He covers where the initial idea for the comic came from and how the creative team eventually came together, then discusses in detail how changes at the publisher level at IDW trickled down and had a major impact on their final product. It's a candid look at an unfortunate reality that's ever too present in the comics industry. Along the way, they praise the incredible work that Robbi Rodriguez, Marissa Louise, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou did throughout the comic, and Matthew touches on how each one brought their absolute best to the project. Matthew was wonderful with his time and candor, and the guys did their best not to get too hyper-local Ohio about things. But at the end, Matthew reveals the one thing in the book that still bothers him, that one is extremely hyper-local Ohio. Sorry, not sorry.

You can follow Matthew at his website as well as on Instagram and Bluesky. There are also direct links to his IndieBound shop and Hoopla author page.

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"Grief is the ether-like fumes of memory evaporating into nothingness. But from nothing, things can appear. From the void and blackness, magic can arrive."

In this one-shot episode, Mike and Alex travel to the backwoods of Kentucky to discuss Golgotha Motor Mountain by Matthew Erman, Lonnie Nadler, and Robbi Rodriguez from IDW Publishing. They guys break down the larger extended metaphor played out through the story and try and drill down on why stories about these communities seem to be having a moment right now. Then they turn their attention to the story construction and presentation, praising the art and letter work, and working through why they found the comic compelling and interesting despite not really connecting with any of the characters. Finally, the guys look at the ending and try and process what it means if in order to get the thing you want, you end up burning down everything you left behind.

We hope you enjoyed this wild, grotesque, southern-fried horror story, and stay tuned next week for what we hope to be a special episode. After that, join us here again next week to dive into another great comic!

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In this new season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are diving into a one-shot discussion about Golgotha Motor Mountain from IDW Publishing by Matthew Erman, Lonnie Nadler, and Robbi Rodriguez. They first give a little history about IDW (a publisher they somehow haven't covered properly before), then give a rundown of the full creative team behind the book, including co-writers Matthew Erman and Lonnie Nadler, artist Robbi Rodriguez, colorist Mariss Louise, and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, plus back-up story artist Nikola Cizmesija. Then they dip a toe into the comic itself, giving a brief synopsis (Kentucky fried Cthulu, anyone?) and a little tease as to why they wanted to cover it on the show.

Get ready for the space-dust infused body horror adventure in the rural hills of Kentucky and then grab Golgotha Motor Mountain (issues #1-4) wherever you get you comics and join in the discussion next week!

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"Can’t paint on a smile and expect it to work, ya know?”

This week, Mike and Alex break down the mind-bendy conclusion to Christopher Cantwell and I.N.J. Culbard's Everything from Dark Horse Comics and Berger Books with Volume 2: Black Friday. The guys jump right into the end and discuss how the ultimate reveal for the explanation of the store did or didn't work for them, and how the final story beats retroactively effect their thoughts on the opening handful of issues. They also touch on how while this generally feels like the ending that the creators always intended for, the delivery felt truncated, and then they ruminate on what a longer series run might have done to the vibes of the comics. Finally, the guys try and get their heads around the overall themes presented in the book, and ask the deep question- now that you're done with Everything, what do you do with Now?

We hope you enjoyed this season of the show and diving into a trippy book like Everything. We'll be back next week to start another deep dive into another great comic!

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"I just... I just want to be happy. Or at least... happy with being sad."

Welcome to Everything! Mike and Alex are ready to start a new season of Storied Arcs by wandering the aisles of Everything Volume 1: Grand Opening (issues #6-10) from Dark Horse Comics and Berger Books by Christopher Cantwell and I.N.J. Culbard. The guys start the conversation by considering Cantwell's television history and how those storytelling influences, from something like, say, Twin Peaks (RIP David Lynch), are apparent in Everything. They also discuss how the slow-burn pacing of the story effects the reader, for both good and ill, and why they think this volume benefits from at least two readings. From there, they break down what they think the reader is supposed to take away from the mysteries presented in the story thus far and which character(s) they're supposed to be connecting with and investing in. A lot of weird stuff happens here, all in the name of capitalism.

The series wraps up next week, so grab Everything Volume 2: Black Friday (would-be issues #6-10 if those single issues had ever actually been published) wherever you get your comics and join us here again to close out the story!

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For this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are talking about Everything. Well, not everything everything, but Everything by Christopher Cantwell and I.N.J. Culbard from Dark Horse Comics and Berger Books. The guys give a quick rundown of the of the creative team, including Cantwell's television work (like AMC's Halt and Catch Fire) and Culbard's many collaborations with writer Dan Abnett, as well as letterer Steve Wands (who we covered in our intro to The Underwater Welder, which you can find here) and editor Karen Berger (who we discussed in the the intro to The Seeds, here). Then they give a short, spoiler-free synopsis of the book and hit on why they picked it for the show.

Like a lot of a books we've covered recently, Everything is a "COVID book," meaning its publishing scheduled was severely effected by the disruptions in the comic industry in 2020. Issues #1-5 were published and collected in trade volume 1, but the remaining single issues that had been solicited were never printed. Instead, the remaining material, what would have been issues #6-10, were published all at once as trade volume 2. So if you're hunting down the single issues, you might still see entries for issues #6 and #7, but know that they don't actually exist.

Everything is a trippy, slow burn story that takes a little while to get going, so stick with it if you feel a little lost at first. Go find Everything Volume 1: Grand Opening (issues #1-5) and join us back here again next week to break it all down!

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"Only when you accept that one day you'll die can you let you and make the best out of life. And that's the big secret. That's the miracle."

Mike and Alex are closing out Death Month with a comic that's been on their to-discuss list since the earliest days of the show, Daytripper by Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba from DC Comics/Vertigo. A beautiful and emotional journey through the important moments in one man's life, the guys jump right in and try and get to the bottom of why these moments are the important ones, and it says about life and living life that the important moments aren't always the one we think they are. They dive into the storytelling mechanics of the comic and how their perception of the book might have changed had they read it in single issue versus in trade, and discuss what that says about the Moon and Ba as storytellers and creators, and how the themes and ideas presented land on multiple different levels. In the end, this is legitimately one of Alex's all-time favorite books, and the comic he's probably recommended the most to other people, which apparently includes Mike (I don't remember doing that, but it tracks as something I certainly would have done).

We've really enjoyed exploring the concept of death the past few weeks through these four disparate comics, and truly hope you did as well. Theme months will definitely be a thing we return to now, so if you have any ideas or suggestions, reach out and let us know. Until then, we'll be back next week to kick off the discussion of another great comic!

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"All things that live, die. This is why you must find joy in the living, while the time is yours, and not fear the end. To deny this is to deny life. TO fear this... is to fear life."

Death Month rolls on as Mike and Alex face down monsters with I Kill Giants (issues #1-7) by Joe Kelly and JM Ken Niimura from Image Comics. The guys start their discussion by covering all the ways someone might connect with this story, and how it facilitates multiple re-reads over time by allowing the reader to connect with different aspects and characters each time they return to it (probably contributes to the fact that the trade paperback has had multiple anniversary editions with multiples printings of each). Then they dive deep into the different themes and messages they take from the story, and do their best to break down the actions of a child without sounding like a couple of washed old men. There's a universality to this comic that goes beyond the character's struggle to cope with the idea of death and dying. It's about how it's hard to be a kid, regardless of whatever life factors may be in play, and the guys try and remember back to what they were like at 10 years old (spoiler alert- neither was all that great). What makes this book special is how Kelly and Niimura focus that kid perspective through the lens to death, and the result is an ideal book for our theme month.

Next week, we wrap up Death Month with one of the more weightier books we're ever covered, Daytripper (issues #1-10) by Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba from Vertigo/DC Comics. This is literally one of Alex's favorite comics of all time, and it's one that if you have the time, maybe consider taking a short break in between issues and giving your thoughts time to marinate before moving on to the next chapter. It's a book that invites that kind of study, and we'll be getting into all of it next week, so go find Daytripper wherever you get your comics and join in on the conversation!

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"Who is to say exactly how things end? If there is one thing we have learned, it is that life's endings are bereft of answers."

Welcome to Week 2 of Death Month, where Mike and Alex head to Mumbai (in a storytelling sense) to discuss Ram V and Filipe Andrade's The Many Deaths of Laila Starr (issues #1-5) from Boom Studios. The guys jump right into the story and lay out how its specificity of place and culture is essential to the comic and how that's an invitation to readers into a world they may not be all that familiar with, and not a barrier. They also break down the pacing of the comic and the decision to tell the story in discreet moments from the character's lives, as opposed to a potentially more wide-ranging scope. Finally, the guys praise the incredible art in this book, including colorist Inez Amaro, and take a quick look at how this depiction/personification of Death compares to other stories that focus on similar themes and ideas. We both think this is a great comic that could, and should, be an evergreen title that you can give to anyone at anytime and they'll find something they connect with in it.

Next week, Death Month continues as we make a hard, buy important, perspective shift on the topic with I Kill Giants (issues #1-7) by Joe Kelly and JM Ken Niimura from Image Comics. Find it wherever you get your comics and join us here again next week to dive deep into it!

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"The fact that we know things will end actually presents each of us with an amazing choice: What will you do with the limited time you get on this spinning rock?"

To kick off Death Month, Mike and Alex are looking into the W. Maxwell Prince-penned anthology comic Swan Songs (issues #1-6) from Image Comics. In each issue of the series, Prince collaborates with a different artist to explore the end of something- the world (Martin Simmonds), a marriage (Casper Wijngarrd), the end of the world (Filipe Andrade), a sentence (Caitlin Yarsky), anhedonia (Alex Eckman-Lawn), and the sidewalk (Martin Morazzo). The guys start by sharing their initial thoughts on the book and each giving a quick personal ranking of the stories, then they dive right into the issues, in order, breaking down the specific variation of the theme presented in that issue, the storytelling choices made to convey that theme, and the work of each contributing artist. They guys try and work through what does and doesn't work for them in each story and in the end, reassess their initial rankings. Each issue offers a fascinating perspective on the death, or ending, of a thing, and while it's unlikely that every story will resonate with every reader, we feel pretty confident that at least one of them will hit you in a way that'll make you stop and think a little longer.

Next week we move back to a more traditional narrative comic for our discussion, The Many Deaths of Laila Starr (issues #1-5) by Ram V and Filipe Andrade from Boom Studios, but the specter of Death still looms. So go find The Many Deaths of Laila Starr wherever you get your comics and join us back her next week for another great discussion!

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Welcome to a new season (and year!) of the Storied Arcs podcast! Mike and Alex have returned with another theme month- DEATH. Or dying. But, living. Or ending. But, continuing on. It’s kinda all the same thing. Every story about death is really a story about life, and that’s the thing we’re hoping to explore with the books we’ve picked for our discussions. They’re a wide assortment of stories from a slew of amazingcreators that all examine the concept of death and dying from different angles and perspectives. Those books are:

-Swan Songs by W. Maxwell Prince, Martin Simmonds, Caspar Wijngaard, Filipe Andrade, Caitlin Yarsky, and Martin Morazzo, from Image Comics
-The Many Deaths of Laila Starr by Ram V and Filipe Andrade, from Boom Studios
-I Kill Giants by Joe Kelly and JM Ken Niimura, from Image Comics
-Daytripper by Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba, from DC Comics/Vertigo

That’s a lot of titles and creators to cover here, so in this episode, we’ll give a very brief synopsis of each book, how we think it fits into our overall theme, and some of the highlights from the creators’ comics resumes. We’ll talk more about each specific team when we cover that book.

We’re going to start off next week with the most unconventional book on our list, Swan Songs (issues #1-6) from Image Comics. It’s an anthology book with a single writer (Prince) working with a different artist for each issue (hence all of the names listed above), each focusing on a different kind of death or ending. It’s a fascinating look at the subject and one we’re eager to dive into. We know death can be a heavy topic, but we’re not looking to make our discussions all downers. We’re far more interested in the portrayal and usage of death as a storytelling device than we are in the actual idea of it (I think). So grab a copy of Swan Songs wherever you get your comics and join back here next week for as we start our journey into Death Month. TO LIFE!

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"It became this giant spectacle. The more attention it got, the more money it raised. Because it dumb or funny or stupid. Who cares why. People wanted in."

This week, Mike and Alex wrap up their look at Crowded by Christopher Sebela, Ro Stein, and Ted Brandt with Volume 3: Cutting-Edge Desolation. They get right to it and start at the end, breaking down everything surrounding the final reveals and revelations the story gives you. Seeing how it all played out, the guys discuss some of the storytelling decisions made throughout the series to get them to this end, and ponder how releasing this final volume as a completed collected trade (versus returning with single issues) may or may not have affected said storytelling. This is a super fun book that we really enjoyed taking a deeper look at, and hope you enjoyed it as well.

And with that, we come to the end of another calendar year for the Storied Arcs podcast. We cannot thank you enough for listening, and we'll see you in 2025, ready to dive head first into some more incredible comics!

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"Charlie, from what I've seen in the last four days, the fact that he knows you doesn't mean he's not gonna try to kill you."

In this episode, the action heats up in Crowded Volume 2: Glitter Dystopia (issues #7-12) by Christopher Sebela, Ro Stein, and Ted Brandt, and Mike and Alex are ready to break it all down. They start with some stand-out moments from this volume (spoiler alert- it involves a heist that goes wrong but also still somehow goes kinda right) and discuss how an increased focus on the relationship between Charlie and Vita helps fuels both the action and the comedy of the story. They also touch on some of the new satirical elements shown in this volume, and what that might be saying about our society. The guys end by examining some different panel and page layout decisions in these issues that really enhance the storytelling experience for the reader.

If you were reading Crowded in single issue as it was being published, you would have gotten to the end of issue #12 and thought, "wait, is that it?!?" And it was, for nearly TWO YEARS before the creative team was able to reassemble and finish out their story. We'll get into all of next week with Crowded Volume 3: Cutting Edge Desolation (no single issues this time), so find it where you get your comics and join us back here again!

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"You Just pretend to be people's friends. You don't have feelings. I didn't start the campaign, but I wish I could thank whoever did. You deserve this."

Mike and Alex are here to kick off a new season of Stories Arcs by diving into the action-comedy-romance-question mark comic Crowded Volume 1: Soft Apocalypse (issues #1-6) from Image Comics by writer Christopher Sebela and artists Ro Stein and Ted Brandt. The guys jump right in and talk about how the book builds its slightly-skewed version of our world through the various apps and websites utilized by the characters, and discuss the various layers of satire and commentary they present. Then they look at how Crowded works as a tried-and-true buddy cop/odd couple story and try and break down why the trope continues to work so well (and lament why it isn't used more). Finally, they praise the entire art presentation, from the lush colors by Triona Farrell to the distinctive lettering by Cardinal Rae. This is a fun kickoff to a very fun story.

The discussion continues next week as we dive into Crowded Volume 2: Glitter Dystopia (issues #7-12), so go find it wherever you get your comics and come be a part of it!

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On this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are backing the campaign for Crowded from Image Comics by writer Christopher Sebela and the art team of Ro Stein and Ted Brandt. The guys start with a quick synopsis for the comic (crowded funded assassinations, anyone?), their histories reading it (don't judge a comic solely by its cover), and why they're interested in discussing it (over-the-top action mixed with sharp social commentary). Then they give an overview of the full creative team behind Crowded, including Sebela, Stein and Brandt, colorist Triona Farrell, and letterer Cardinal Rae (who we originally discussed a few seasons back during our intro to Eat The Rich/Know Your Station, which you can find here). No spoilers for the comic here, just a tease of what's to come.

If you look up Crowded on any comic app, you'll see that it ran for twelve issues and there are three trade paperback collections. This, however, doesn't tell the full publication story. Issues #1-12 are collected in trade volumes 1 and 2, and then trade volume 3 was published as a single-volume nearly two years after issue #12 was released. So if you're searching for single issues (a pursuit much encouraged by the hosts of this podcast), know that you'll still need that final trade to complete the story.

Crowded is a super fun, kinda outrageous comic, and we can't wait to dig into it with everyone. So go find Crowded Volume 1: Soft Apocalypse (issues #1-6) wherever you get your comics and join us here next week to kick off the discussion!

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"And when it comes down to it, really, time is all we have. And it doesn't matter how long you live if you're not spending it the way you want."

This week, Mike and Alex are here to wrap up their discussion of Time Before Time from Image Comics with Volumes 5 and 6 (issues #25-29 and #6, #12, #18, and #24). They start at the end (of the narrative, at least) and discuss how the story concludes, how it works for each of them as an ending, and whether the actual end of the story is issue #28 or #29. Then they dive into the one-shot stories that make up Volume 6 and examine them from all angles, from how those issues read and fit into the overall narrative when presented at the end of said narrative to if any of those stories would have been better served being more integrated into the main narrative. It's not easy to end a story, and with these one-shot issues collected at the end, Time Before Time presents an interesting discussion point in the single issue reading vs. trade reading debate. We're not going to tell you one way is better than another; we just want people to read as many comics however they can.

That brings another season of Storied Arcs to a close. We hope you enjoyed our look into Time Before Time, and be sure to join us again next week as we get ready to do it all again with another great comic!

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"I really thought things were going to be better when we came back here. Maybe the world's just cruel no matter what time you're in, though."

Mike and Alex are here to continue their trip through time and space with Image Comics' Time Before Time, this week examining Volumes 3 and 4 (issues #13-17 and #19-23). They guys discuss the introduction of a new character who gets his own two-issue mini-arc and how it meshes (or maybe doesn't) into the main narrative. Then they dive deep into the story, debating what parts are working for them and what parts feel a little extraneous, and try and work through how the "closed loop" presentation of time travel is being utilized and presented in the comic. Finally, they tip a hat to some of the subtle differences in page and panel layout seen in these volumes that come with the addition of guest artists into the series.

There's only one trade volume left of the main story, but two trade volumes left of the comic, and we're eager to discuss the how/what/why of it all. So pick up Time Before Time Volumes 5 and 6 (issues #25-29, and #6, #12, #18, and #24) wherever you get your comics and join us next week to finish out the discussion!

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"Well, let me put it this way... if the past could be changed, do you really think the world would be like this?"

It's been a while since Mike and Alex have tackled time travel (you have to go all the way back to the very first book they covered, Paper Girls), and it felt overdue in returning to the concept. So inn this season of Storied Arcs, they're diving into Image Comics' Time Before Time from Declan Shalvey, Rory McConville, and Joe Palmer with the first two trade paperback volumes (issues #1-5 and #7-11). The guys do their best to break down the various time jumps while not losing track of what the "present" time of the book is. They also examine the world that's being created for the reader, from the rules that govern their version of time travel (closed loop system, technology doesn't travel, etc.) to trying to decipher why the future is so bad, you'd indenture yourself to a crime syndicate just to escape it. And before they wrap up their discussion, they highlight some of their standout storytelling elements, from the artwork to the coloring to the letters.

The end of Volume 2 really sets the story in motion, perhaps more so than the end of Volume 1, so we're ready to dive right into our next discussion. Find Time Before Time Volumes 3 and 4 (issues #13-17 and #19-23) wherever you get your comics and we'll you see you back here next week!

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Welcome to another season of Storied Arcs! This go-round, Mike and Alex are ready to tackle time travel paradoxes head on as they dive into Time Before Time from Image Comics from Declan Shalvey, Rory McConville, and Joe Palmer. The guys start by giving a run down of the full creative team behind this book (to start, at least; a roster of guest artists come into the series after issue #11, and we'll talk about them when we get to those issues), including colorist Chris O'Halloran and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, before talking a bit about why they chose this book, what drew them to it in the first place, and a little tease to get you into the story.

Time Before Time ran for 29 issues, and has been collected into 6 trade paperbacks. We'll be covering the story two trade paperbacks at a time; we feel it flows better that way. But if you're reading in single issue, be aware that every 6th issue (#6, #12, 18, and #24) is a stand-alone one-shot story, and those issues have been collected separately to comprise Volume 6. So in accordance with the trades, we'll skip over those issues as we go and cover them all at once at the end of the story.

The time travel logic can get tricky, so give yourself time (and space) to read Time Before Time Volumes 1 and 2 (issues #1-5 and #7-11) wherever you get your comics and join us back here next week and be part of the discussion!

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In honor of Halloween, Mike and Alex are delighted to chat all things horror comics with special guest and comics connoisseur Rosie Knight, co-host of X-Ray Vision! They start with a big picture look at horror as a genre and why it has such lasting appeal in comics, and also discuss their own history consuming horror stories. The trio then each give their top three horror comics recommendations for folks to check out (plus many, many sidebars and honorable mentions) to keep Spooky Season going year-round.

You can follow Rosie on Instagram and at her website, and track all of her work online on Authory. You can purchase Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp, Rosie and Oliver Ono's middle grade OGN, here or at your local comic shop.

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This week, Mike and Alex are incredibly excited to be joined by the creators of Revival, Tim Seeley and Mike Norton. They start by discussing the origin of Revival (it helps when you work in the same studio) and how it evolved to incorporate multiple different genres, all working under the umbrella of "rural noir." Tim and Mike then dive into on how and where they feel Revival fits in (or doesn't) with some of the other zombie/vampire/monster/horror stories that were becoming increasingly popular at the time, and what they did as an intentional zags away from what they saw as traditional horror comics. They guys also discuss the cover art of Jenny Frison and its importance to the series, the sometimes uncomfortable prescience of Revival, and how they might approach the same subject matter differently if they were to tackle it today versus a dozen years ago. Finally, Tim and Mike say what they can about the upcoming Revival TV adaption on Syfy that, at the time of this recording, is currently in production and speak on the comic's journey to get to this point.

You can follow Tim at his website as well as on Twitter, Instagram, and Bluesky.
You can follow Mike at his website as well as on Instagram and Bluesky.
You can follow their studio at Four Star Studios.

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"But after Revival Day, we all went back to being within reach of the scythe. It made us remember how little time we get together. It made us honest. It made us human."

This week, Mike and Alex warp up their discussion of Tim Seeley and Mike Norton's rural noir, Revival, as they dive deep into Deluxe Volume 4 (issues #36-47). The guys start at the end and break down the comic's final moments, looking at what does and doesn't work for them from both a story (aka "what happens") and plot (aka "how it happens") standpoint. They also discuss the relative happiness of the ending (in which Mike has one specific exception with) and what they think the final coda page means, if it's supposed to be mean anything at all.

We hope you've enjoyed our deep dive look into Revival. But wait, there's more! Next week on the feed, we're super excited to present an exclusive interview with Revival co-creators Tim Seeley and Mike Norton. The chat covers all aspects of Revival, from its origin to its presentation and storytelling to the upcoming TV adaptation of Syfy. You don't want to miss it!

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"Or, Martha Cypress... maybe, our paths crossing again is meant to redeem us both. Maybe this moment defines what we do with our gifts."

Mike and Alex are continuing their deep dive into Tim Seeley and Mike Norton's rural noir Revival from Image Comics, this week breaking down Deluxe Volume 3 (issues #24-35). They start by looking at the some of the big reveals given in these issues, from both narrative and character standpoints, and discuss how those reveals were handled and deployed within the story. The guys also revisit the idea of Seeley and Norton continually ratcheting up the tension in the town and how that culminates in a literal explosion, only to then find a way to ratchet up the tension even more in the aftermath. Finally, Mike and Alex both take aim at some visual motifs that start to become more prevalent in this volume, namely water and red thread.

We're in the home stretch now and we don't want to spoil the ending, so go find Revival Deluxe Volume 4 (issues 36-47) wherever you get your comics and join us here again next week for the epic conclusion!

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"I don't know what makes that kind of monster, Martha. And I don't know what has to happen to make a person decide they have to take a life to protect their family."

In this week's episode, Mike and Alex continue their discussion of Tim Seeley and Mike Norton's farm noir tale Revival from Image Comics. The guys jump right into the Chew/Revival crossover issue included in this collection and break down its surprising significance to the overall narrative, and why that's unusual for a publisher crossover book. Then they take stock of the story as a whole and how they're feeling about what has and hasn't been revealed, what's being set up for the back half of the run, which characters they find compelling and which just feel like plot devices, and how reading this comic in single issues as it was released would have been a vastly different experience than reading it now in collected form, knowing there's an endpoint.

There's a fairly big cliffhanger at the end of this arc, and we don't spoil anything coming afterwards, so if you want to know what happens, go find Revival Deluxe Volume 3 (issues #24-35) wherever you get your comics and join up back here again next week for another deep dive discussion!

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"If you add more weight onto the backs of the people here... if you push them just a little farther, someone might just... snap."

Welcome to the newest season of Storied Arcs, where Mike and Alex are heading to small-town Wisconsin to deal with the not-zombie zombies of Tim Seeley and Mike Norton's Revival from Image Comics. The guys dive deep into how the comic wastes no time in introducing the reader to the book's premise (recently deceased come back to life), sprawling cast (over a dozen or so seemingly major and semi-major named characters), and supernatural undertones (glow-y demon spirit thingies in the woods), and how the storytelling decision might affect the reading experience of this book as a monthly release versus as a complete series binge. They also take a look at what Seeley and Norton are setting up with the Revivers as stand-ins for "otherness" and the role politics and religion will play going forward. Finally, they end by discussing how the comic doesn't really look or feel like other horror and horror-adjacent books it often (fairly or not) gets compared to, and why that's probably a good thing.

As per usual, we're doing our best not to spoil anything about the story beyond what've covered thus far (it is a whodunit detective story at its core, after all). But you can remedy that fear by reading Revival Deluxe Volume 2 (issues #12-23 + Chew/Revival #1) and joining us again next week for another deep dive discussion!

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For this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex will be dipping back into the world of horror as they get ready to discuss the "farm noir" zombie (question mark?) story Revival by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton from Image Comics. As usual, the guys start off by talking about what drew them to this book and how they came initially read it, given that neither particularly trend to horror. Then they go through some of the comics history of its creators, Tim Seeley and Mike Norton, as well as series regular cover artist Jenny Frison. Finally, the guys wrap up with a spoiler free tease for the comic to get you into the story (mostly spoiler free, that is; Mike drops a minor spoiler for issue #1, but he was reading Image's official description of the series compendium, so whose fault is it really?).

There are several ways to find and read Revival (including the aforementioned compendium, which is scheduled for release September 25, 2024), and like with similar length comics we're covered before, we will be using the Deluxe Editions as our discussion breaks. The issues breakdown as follows:
Deluxe Edition Volume 1: issues #1-11 + Free Comic Book Day 2012 story
Deluxe Edition Volume 2: issues #12-23 + Chew/Revival #1
Deluxe Edition Volume 3: issues #24-35
Deluxe Edition Volume 4: issues #36-47
[Each Deluxe Edition is also two trade paperbacks combined.]

We can't to jump into this story, so go read Revival Deluxe Edition Volume 1 (issues #1-11 + FCBD 2012 story) wherever you get your comics and join us back here next week to kick off the discussion!

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"They are the history behind the history. The hands that turn the world. We are their beasts. Their reckoning."

Here at Storied Arcs, we like to celebrate completed runs and stories of independent, creator-owned comics. Sometimes, that means a book wraps up after 24 or 30 or 54 issues because that's what the story required. And sometimes, that means a book is canceled after its first arc because that's just how it goes. Romulus (issues #1-4) by Bryan Edward Hill and Nelson Blake II from Image comics is one of the latter, but that doesn't mean there aren't things to enjoy and celebrate about it. Mike and Alex dive deep into this short-lived comic that is ultimately little more than a really good pilot episode for a TV series that wasn't picked up, discussing everything from the panel layouts to coloring choices to the character designs. They also let their story-pilled brains run free with pitches for the hypothetical next issues and arcs that will never be but they can't help to consider because the world presented in Romulus had so much potential. It's a bummer when a book gets canceled before it really has a chance to do the things it wants to do, but that's comics. They'll break your heart.

Thanks as always for listening and following along! We'll be back next week, ready to dive deep into another great comic (one with an ending this time, hopefully)!

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Welcome to a new season of Storied Arcs! This time around, Mike and Alex will be driving deep into Romulus (issues #1-4) by Bryan Edward Hill and Nelson Blake II from Image Comics. Never heard of it, you say? Not surprised. Neither Mike or Alex have ever met another person who's read this book other than each other. In fact, this book was a topic of discussion the first time the guys had a conversation at the comic shop, thus one could argue that without it, there would be no Storied Arcs. But it's more than that. It's a book that had a lot of promise in its setup that never got a chance to live up to its potential, be it great or terrible, because it was canceled after four issues when there were clearly more stories to be had. And that possibility of "what if?" head canon is what the guys are interested in exploring. So after running through the comic resumes of creators Bryan Edward Hill and Nelson Blake II, Mike and Alex will try and sell you on why you should read a comic with zero conclusion and no hope of every being continued (it's not as bleak as it sounds; this is fun book, even if it's ultimately just an prologue for would have come later).

So next week, it's a one-shot discussion of Romulus Vol. 1 (issues #1-4), the only volume of Romulus there is or ever will be, which should hopefully be available wherever you get your comics. Find it, read it, and join us back here next week to break it all down.

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"I guess when you look at the way my life turned out so far, it's about the only way you can look at it. Good after bad. Kind of amazing."

In the final installment of Storied Arc's look into the selected works by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, Mike and Alex swing into Spider-Man: Blue (issues #1-6), the second book in the Loeb-Sale Marvel Colors Quadrilogy (which is totally a word). The guys again start with their personal histories with the character of Spider-Man, before jumping right into the book. Mike had a lukewarm reaction to it back when he first read it (he's higher on it now), and Alex feels it's one of the best Spider-Man stories every told, so they unpack those viewpoints and try and work through where and what the divide is. They also discuss how Blue would work as someone's first Spider-Man story, and why it might not be as successful as a introduction as some of the other Loeb and Sale collaborations we've discussed on the show.

We really hoped you've enjoyed this little detour into the world of Big Two Superhero Comics over the past handful of weeks. There's always a chance we'll do it again sometime, too, because as far as we're concerned, good stories are good stories, regardless of who publishes them. But in the meantime, we will be here next week to dive back into the familiar waters of independent, creator-owned comics. See you then!

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"I had promised my dad I would never ben an 'uneducated pug' like him. He wanted me to be a lawyer and I made good on that. But it wasn't enough. I had seen how the law- which I still steadfastly believed in- wasn't always the same as justice."

Mike and Alex are back diving deep into the selected works of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, this week moving over to Marvel Comics for Daredevil: Yellow (issues #1-6). They guys open with their personal reading history for Daredevil, one of the few characters Mike has read more of than Alex, before discussing how they feel this book works, or maybe doesn't, as an introduction to the world of Matt Murdock. They also break down some of their favorite panels and pages in the comic as a way to highlight the evocative storytelling of Loeb, Sale, and the entire creative team (and Alex gets to talk about one of his favorite gimmicks in comics, the De Luca Effect). The guys close by trying to decide whether or not Daredevil: Yellow can work as a compelling story for a reader who has zero prior knowledge of Daredevil as character, and whether or not that's even the point of the book.

We down to the final week of our Loeb/Sale examination, and we're closing out with the second book in the Marvel Color Series, Spider-Man: Blue (issues #1-6). This one should be more readily available than Daredevil: Yellow, so go find it wherever you get your comics and join us back here again next week!

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"Folks tend to call him 'The Man of Steel' nowadays. I guess that he's the most famous person in the world... not that he was ever interested in being famous in the first place."

Welcome to another week of the Storied Arcs podcast as Mike and Alex continue their look into the works of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, this time diving in Superman For All Seasons (issues #1-4), Loeb and Sale's retelling of the earliest years of the Man of Steel. The guys discuss how they feel this comic captures the essence of Superman and try and parse out why that essence has been so hard to translate on to the big screen (small screen, less of a problem, though). They also talk about some of the differences in presentation between For All Seasons and the book they covered last week, Batman: The Long Halloween, such as the warmer color palette and story narration. What follows is an examination into the core of who Batman and Superman are as characters (as they see them) and how those cores are expertly reflected in these two stories from Loeb and Sale. This is the Superman story to give to someone who says they don't "get" Superman.

Next week, we're jumping across the proverbial publishing street as Loeb and Sale begin their Color Series over at Marvel with Daredevil: Yellow (issues #1-6). This one might be a little harder to track down (in a physical copy, at least) because it hasn't been reprinted as much, but we're confident it's out there to be found. Go read it and join us back here again next week to break it all down!

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"I made a promise to my parents that I would rid the city of the evil that took their lives. No matter what that evil looks like or becomes. I believe someday I will make good on that promise. I have to. I believe in Batman."

In this very special (and very long) episode, Mike and Alex are pleased to welcome their good friend Drew (aka the person we're pretty sure is responsible for getting Mike into comics in the first place) to the show to discuss the first entry in their Jeph Loeb and Tim sale deep dive, Batman: The Long Halloween (issues #1-13). They start by getting a little backstory on Drew's history with both Loeb and Sale and The Long Halloween, and then jump right into discussing the comic. They break down Sale's iconic and unique art style and character design, and how combined with the use of color and shadow (and the lack of color) by colorist Gregory Wright, it created a storytelling atmosphere that so many Batman creators have chased in the years since. The trio also breakdown the mystery whodunit aspect of the story and delve into how Loeb's storytelling style holds up to multiple re-reads of this comic. in general, it's a love-fest for one of the best Batman stories every told, one that's been evergreen on the store shelves for the past 25+ years and will continue to be as long as there are comics to be sold.

Next up, we go from Gotham City to Smallville and Metropolis as we pick up our next Loeb and Sale collaboration, Superman For All Season (issues #1-4). A beloved Superman story, go find it wherever you read your comics and join the conversation with us next week as we dive into it!

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And now for something (not entirely) completely different.

For this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are taking a detour away from creator-owned, independent comics and stepping into the caped and cowled world of mainstream, Big Two (that's Marvel and DC) superhero comics. But with a twist. The through line of the season isn't a character or title, but creators, writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale (RIP), and the guys will be examining four of this dynamic duos more revered and celebrated works. Those books are (in the order in which we plan to cover them):

Batman: The Long Halloween (issues #1-13)
Superman For All Seasons (issues #1-4)
Daredevil: Yellow (issues #1-6)
Spider-Man: Blue (issues #1-6)

In this zero episode, the guys discuss their history with the team of Loeb and Sale and how they first came to read their books (hint: it involves Batman). They also give a quick rundown of Loeb and Sale's comic history, both separately and together, as well as a brief tease as to why they picked the four comics that they did.

We're super excited for this next round of episodes and hope you will be, too. Batman: The Long Halloween is a hefty book to get through, so go find it wherever you get your comics and we'll see you back here next week to dive right in!

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This is a very special one-off episode. Alex and Mike were asked to host a meet-up night at a local Cincinnati Manga shop (Manga Manga.) We recorded the entire discussion and you can hear us discuss western comics, manga, and more! Keep your notes app open since there are a ton of great recommendations we gathered from people in attendance.

A few apologies for the audio quality:

We were outdoors so there is some traffic noise and crowd noise at all times.
There was a 30-second stint where Mike's daughter paused the recording so don't be alarmed if you miss a few seconds.
The audio interface only has two mic inputs so we used two condenser mics for everyone involved. After the first few minutes Mike is behind the mic but you can still hear him pretty well.
Something happened to the last 30 minutes where we do trivia and it is garbled and digitized so we cut that out. Still, you get to hear all the great recos but none of the wild guesses in the trivia time!

Thanks to Manga Manga for the invite, if you want to buy anything you heard about you can find the shop or buy from there here: https://www.mangacincinnati.com/.

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"I... I want purpose. To contribute. I want to be accepted by society... live in a world I don't have to hide in... make choices without being in constant fear of them destroying me or the ones I care about."

Mike and Alex are here to dive deep into the final arc of Alex + Ada (issues #11-15) and they do so by hitting on what they think may be the secret theme of the whole book. Artificial intelligence is used in stories for all manner of metaphors, and the guys have honed in on one they really like for this comic and go deep in exploring it. Then as usual, they talk about the ending; less so about what happens and more so about how Vaughn and Luna got there. Whether you think the final panels are happy or sad (or something in between), the guys break down how satisfying and earned it was (or wasn't; could go either way).

We hoped you enjoyed this look into a perhaps lesser-known indie comic. Stay tuned next week for the start of a brand new season of Storied Arcs that will take us away from the prime directive, but one that we're very excited to dive into. See you then!

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"Technology will always advance. But we need to be careful as we advance that we have humans always at the center of our best interests."

Mike and Alex are back to dive into right into Alex + Ada Volume 2 (issues #6-10) from Sarah Vaughn and Jonathan Luna. The guys discuss how much they enjoyed this story arc versus the opening one and what they thought was improved between the two (hint- it has something to do with one of the title characters actually becoming a character). They also dive deeper into the larger theme of AI sentience and how it's exploration in the comic reflects onto our real-life society.

The final story arc for Alex + Ada awaits so go read Volume 3 (issues #11-15) wherever you get your comics and join us back here next week for our concluding discussion!

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"It's complicated, what makes a person. I think... part of it is experiences- whether you seek them out or they come to you- and your reactions to them."

In this new season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex jump back into the world of robots and androids and artificial intelligence as they begin their deep dive into Sarah Vaughn and Jonathan Luna's sci-fi love story, Alex + Ada Volume 1 (issues #1-5) from Image Comics. They discuss what they find different about this specific AI/robot story that sets it aside from some of the other, more well-established takes on the topic, and what landed for them in this opening story arc. They also debate some of things that may have worked less well for them, like the pacing of the story, before taking a look at perhaps the most divisive part of the comic, Luna's artwork (spoiler alert- taste in artwork is totally subjective and completely dependent on the person viewing it; crazy, I know).

Thanks for joining us for the start of our discussion of Alex + Ada. The conversation continues next week as we dive into Volume 2 (issues #6-10) so go read it wherever you get your comics and we'll see you then!

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For the next season of Stored Arcs, Mike and Alex are jumping back into the world of androids and A.I. as they dive into Alex + Ada by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn from Image Comics. The guys talk about what drew them to this book (and why it maybe took a little longer for them to start reading it than some other books) and give a little, lightly spoiled, tease as to what it's all about. Then as usual, they give a rundown of the creative team's other comic credits, hitting some of the other places where you might find Luna and Vaughn's work.

We'll be starting off with Alex + Ada Volume 1 (issues #1-5) next week so find it wherever you get your comics (the Complete Collection Deluxe Edition is probably the most readily available) and join us back here again to kick off the discussion!

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"He's always got some eminently pragmatic blanket solution for a world that's complex and irrational and... and human."

We've come to the end of another season of Storied Arcs, but before we move on, we have to discuss the final part of Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris' political-slash-superhero tale, Ex Machina Deluxe Volume 5 (issues 41-50 plus Special #4). Mike and Alex dive deep into what they did and didn't like about the end of the series, and why they thought some parts (the political machinations) may have worked better than others (the origin of Hundred's powers). They also break down the literal final pages of the story and try and parse what they think they mean, if anything. Finally, the guys also speculate some more on what a hypothetical real-time follow-up series could look like, as well as the movie adaptation starring Oscar Isaac that is totally a thing that's still happening.

We hope you enjoyed our look into a slightly less renowned, but no less important, work from one of the biggest names in comics currently. Thanks as always for following along and we'll see you here next week to jump into another great comic!

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"The 'Great Machine' was nothing but a burdened White paternalist who thought he could swoop down out of the heavens to save the helpless people of the ghetto."

We're into the home stretch as this week, Mike and Alex dive right into Ex Machina Deluxe Volume 4 (issues #30-40) by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. The guys work their way through the two major story arcs in this volume and discuss why those arcs worked for them and how they rank those stories in the overall run thus far. Then they take a look at the one-shot, stand alone stories contained in this run of issues and break down why those worked less well for them. Finally, guys close by breaking down the most meta of meta issues, Ex Machina #40.

There's just one collection left to discuss in this season of Stories Arcs, so find Ex Machina Deluxe Volume 5 (issues #41-50 plus Special #4) wherever you get your comics and join us back here again next week to close out another great comic!

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"If the city gets too comfortable in the belief I'm going to personally fix everything, they'll stop striving to solve problems on their own."

In this week's episode, Mike and Alex are here to discuss Ex Machina Deluxe Volume 3 (issues #21-29 plus Special #3) from Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. The guys dive into how the use of flashbacks is (or isn't) working at this point in the comic and whether their reaction to them as a narrative device is affected by the condensed reading of a collected edition. They also explore the internal tension that exists within the book between telling a political story and telling a superhero story, and how this volume of issues manages to balance that near perfectly. Finally, the guys use the stand-alone issue on Bradbury's backstory as a springboard to have a chat about character development for everyone in the comic not named Mitchell Hundred.

We've passed the halfway point in the story with just two deluxe volumes left, so go find Ex Machina Deluxe Volume 4 (issues 30-40) wherever you get your comics and join us back here again next week for our penultimate discussion!

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"I don't know when I went from hero to villain in this town, but it sure as s* happened fast."

In this week's episode of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex tackle Ex Machina Deluxe Volume 2 (issues #12-29 plus Specials #1-2) from Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. The guys jump right into the various storylines presented in this volume and discuss how they do or do not fit with the flow of the comic. They also look at some of the weightier political issues addressed in this volume, with specific focus on the language of the time and the state of society in this county post-9/11 (again, it ages poorly but that seems to be kind of the point). They guys also ask the big question everyone is thinking about- are we sure Mitchell Hundred is even a good mayor?

Next week's discussion will focus on Ex Machina Deluxe Volume 3 (issues #21-29 plus Special #3), so go find it wherever you get your comics and we'll see you back here then!

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"Everyone was scared back then, and when folks are scared, they want to be surrounded by heroes. But real heroes are just a fiction we create. They don't exist outside of comic books."

Welcome to the new season of Storied Arcs, where Mike and Alex are diving deep into Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris' Ex Machina, originally published by DC Wildstorm. They guys start by discussing first issues and how BKV may be the best first issue writer in comics before going into how the ending of Ex Machina's first issue completely reorients the reader's perception of what kind of story they're reading. They also examine how the comic has aged over the past 20 years, looking at what the perspectives of both the creators and the readers would have been at the time (the immediate aftermath and wake of 9/11) versus what they might be to approach a book like this today. And finally, Alex goes to the mattresses to defend his professional colleagues over a single line in a panel that you the reader/listener probably gave zero second thoughts to. Apologies in advance.

The discussion continues next week with Ex Machina Deluxe Edition Volume 2 (issues #12-20 plus the Ex Machina Specials #1 and #2), so find that volume wherever you get your comics and join us back here again!

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For the new season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex strap on their jetpacks and soar into the sky as they get ready to discuss Ex Machina by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris, originally published by DC under the Wildstorm imprint beginning in 2004 before moving over to the Vertigo imprint and then eventually to the Black Label imprint. The guys start off by giving the CliffsNotes of the CliffsNotes about the history of Wildstorm, from its founding as a studio by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi as part of the creation of Image Comics in 1992 to its sale to DC Comics in 1998-1999, and how all of that affects where the book ends up when imprints get shuttered and shifted. Then they give you some background on the creative team behind the book, mainly focusing on artist Tony Harris, inkers Tom Feister and Jim Clark, and colorist JD Mettler (we covered writer Brian K. Vaughan and letterer Jared Fletcher way back in the very first episode of this show while previewing Paper Girls). The guys also give a spoiler-free preview of Ex Machina, including a content warning for some things presented in the comic that were meant to be provocative 20 years ago and remain provocative today, but perhaps for different reasons now. All the more to discuss when we dive deep into the story.

There are many ways to find and read Ex Machina (the series is 50 issues plus 4 specials), and we've decided to use the Deluxe Editions as our guide. The issue breakdown is as such:
Deluxe Edition Volume 1: issues #1-11
Deluxe Edition Volume 2: issues #12-20, specials #1-2
Deluxe Edition Volume 3: issues #21-29, special #3
Deluxe Edition Volume 4: issues #30-40
Deluxe Edition Volume 5: issues #41-50, special #4

We can't to get into our discussion, so go read Ex Machina Deluxe Edition Volume 1 (issues #1-11) and join us back here next week!

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Welcome to a very special bonus episode of Storied Arcs! This week, Mike and Alex are ecstatic to bring you a conversation they had with writer Lydia Sherrer, the author of the Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus series aka The Lily Singer Adventures! They get into everything here, from how Lydia built and planned her book series from the start to some specific storytelling choices she made in her books (but all done so in a non-spoilery way). We really go deep into the world building and story creation aspects of the series, in ways that we think will be interesting and insightful to fans of all stories. And if you like what you hear, we definitely recommend checking out the Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus series. You can follow all of Lydia's works at the links below:

Lydia's Website: https://www.lydiasherrer.com/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lydiasherrer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lydiasherrer/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lydiasherrerauthor/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/757417044407402
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15009385.Lydia_Sherrer
Website-Formerly-Known-As-Twitter: https://twitter.com/LydiaSherrer

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This week, Mike and Alex are pleased to be joined by writer and letterer Erica Schultz, one of the co-creators of Bylines in Blood. They start by covering the origins of Bylines in Blood, how Erica got hooked up with both Van Jensen and Aneke to create this comic, and what the experience was like working with a co-writer in shaping and scripting the story. They then dive a little deeper into the book, exploring its genre-hopping nature and discussing some of the specific storytelling choices and decisions that were made along the way. To close out, they touch on some of Erica’s other comics work, specifically the books she’s written for Marvel and her entry into the extended Spawn Universe with Rat City, before getting several teases of what else she has coming out soon. You can stay up-to-date with everything Erica has going on at her website and by following her on Twitter, Instagram, and Bluesky.

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This week, Mike and Alex are pleased to be joined by writer and letterer Erica Schultz, one of the co-creators of Bylines in Blood. They start by covering the origins of Bylines in Blood, how Erica got hooked up with both Van Jensen and Aneke to create this comic, and what the experience was like working with a co-writer in shaping and scripting the story. They then dive a little deeper into the book, exploring its genre-hopping nature and discussing some of the specific storytelling choices and decisions that were made along the way. To close out, they touch on some of Erica's other comics work, specifically the books she's written for Marvel and her entry into the extended Spawn Universe with Rat City, before getting several teases of what else she has coming out soon. You can stay up-to-date with everything Erica has going on at her website and by following her on Twitter, Instagram, and Bluesky.

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And now for something completely different (that isn't actually that different at all).

Back in fall of 2023 at the Cincinnati Comic Expo, Mike got to chatting with writer Lydia Sherrer, author of the Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus series aka The Lily Singer Adventures. While not specifically comic-focused, Lydia has a passion for storytelling and world building, so we decided to have her on the show to discuss all things story creation. That interview will run on May 16th, after we've wrapped up our current season of Storied Arcs, and this episode is just meant to be a primer to the world of Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus. We don't go into any spoilers about the book series in our chat with Lydia (because we'd like for you to go read the books), but we wanted to at least give you an idea of the kinds of stories they are. Storytelling is storytelling, but it with prose or sequential art, and that's what we want to celebrate here.

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"Reality is, there is no truth. Everyone's got their own perspective. No one gets to be the arbiter of that. The only thing you can do is make your own truth."

On this episode of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are ready to fight for the truth as they dive deep into Bylines in Blood by Erica Schultz, Van Jensen, and Aneke from AfterShock Comics. They discuss how the comic balances several different genres across the story, and how having co-writers on the book, Erica Schultz and Van Jensen, may have helped that feel seamless in enhancing the reading experience. The guys also talk about how the story does (or perhaps does not) work as specific mystery thriller, and whether or not that really matters in the grand scheme of the comic. Finally, they praise the artwork of Aneke, particularly her use of color throughout the book.

We hoped you enjoyed this comic from a publisher you may not have read much from (and, depending on how the chips fall, you may or may not read much more from in the future). But we're not down with this story yet! Next week, we're very pleased to be joined by co-writer Erica Schultz for an exclusive interview. We talk about her career in comics, including all the projects she has on her plate right now and coming in the near future, and get a chance to dive a little deeper into the making of Bylines in Blood. Hope you join us for that next week!

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Welcome to a new season of Storied Arcs! For this outing, Mike and Alex will be diving into their (and perhaps last, question mark?) series from AfterShock Comics, Bylines in Blood (issues #1-4) by Erica Schultz, Van Jensen, and Aneke. They start by pitching you on why they love this comic, including the way it balances multi-genre storytelling and the dynamic art and color that jumps off the page. Then, they do their best to give a brief overview of AfterShock as a publisher, from their start in 2015 to their current in-limbo state as they work their through bankruptcy proceedings. Finally, the guys get you acquainted with the creative team behind this book by running through the comic work of Erica Schultz, Van Jensen, and Aneke (we covered letterer Cardinal Rae in our intro episode to Eat The Rich and Know Your Station). In the process, Mike discovers a new life goal job achievement.

We can't wait to dive deep into this comic, so go read Bylines in Blood (issues #1-4) wherever you get your comics and join just back here next week and be a part of the discussion!

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This week, Mike and Alex are super excited to be joined by Kyle Starks, the writer of their most recent discussion, Assassin Nation, along with so many other great comics. They cover a wide range of topics, including how Kyle got started working in comics (and why that might be Matt Fraction's fault) and how he was able to find his niche in the industry. They also go into why that specific niche (comedy and humor) is so hard to do well in comics these days and how Kyle manages to infuse his books with both. Jumping into Assassin Nation, the guys talk with Kyle about working with Erica Henderson, how this book came along right as both of them were starting to make their names, what the creative process was like for the book, and how the editorial process for it maybe wasn't the smoothest. Finally, we get a some teases as to what projects Kyle has coming down the line soon. You can stay up-to-date with everything Kyle has going on at his website and by joining his Patreon. You can also follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Bluesky.

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"So, what's the best way to stay safe from a hitman? Hire a bunch of better hitmen."

Mike and Alex are here for another season of Storied Arcs, and this week they're discussing Kyle Starks and Erica Henderson's Assassin Nation (issues #1-5) from Image Comics. The guys jump right into things, looking at this story through the lens of the kinds of stories it was clearing influenced by, from the action-comedy movies of the 80s and 90s to more modern tales of hitmen and assassins like John Wick (and there's a lot of John Wick talk, tbh). They talk about the humor laced throughout the comic and how the specific traits of Kyle Starks' writing and Erica Henderson's art mesh together to make the humor work. They guys also touch on how effective the "mystery" of the story is delivered and whether or not that really matters with a book like this when so much of selling point is vibes. These are characters you want to hang out with. Assuming they aren't trying to kill you.

We hoped you enjoyed reading and discussing Assassin Nation, and we're very pleased to announce that next week on the feed, we have an exclusive interview with writer Kyle Starks! We covered a vast range of topics and got some behind-the-scenes insight into the making of Assassin Nation. We had a blast chatting with Kyle and can't wait to share it with you!

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For this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are diving head first into the crazy world of assassins and hitmen with Kyle Starks and Erica Henderson's Assassin Nation from Image Comics. They guys discuss a little about what drew them to this book and then give some background on both Starks and Henderson and the other comic work you might know them from. Then they give a spoiler-free pitch for Assassin Nation and tell you why they think you should pick up this comic (hint- it's funny and absurd and hyper-violent but in a funny and absurd way).

Go find Assassin Nation Vol. 1 Number One with a Bullet (issues #1-5) wherever you get you comics. And don't worry; it's titled "Vol. 1" because all Image collections are titled "Vol. 1" even if the story is just one collection, like Assassin Nation. This is also one comic where if you can find the single issues, we actually recommend you read it that way. The single issues have recap/title pages that are not included in the collected trade that are not necessary to the story, but serve as a fun visual gag that enhances the story. Worth checking out in our opinion, if you're able. But either way, single issue or trade, join us back here next week for our discussion of Assassin Nation!

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In this special episode, Mike and Alex were fortunate to chat with cartoonist Justin Madson, the creative force behind Breathers. They discuss Justin's origin in comics, and how and why he began writing and drawing his own stories. Then they dive into Breathers, from its initial conception back in 2007 to its eerie prescience in 2024. Justin talked about how the story and the world of Breathers came together and how he navigated weaving together his various character threads into a cohesive story. He also commented on how it felt/feels to see the real world become more like his story and how that meta-context affects how readers receive it. We touch on his experience working with It's Alive! to publish Breathers, and chat briefly about his YA graphic novel, Tin Man, including his influences and motivations for writing that story. Finally, we get a little tease of things Justin is working on for the future (like Breathers sequel?!?). You can follow Justin's work at his website and purchase his books and prints directly from his shop. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

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"Nothing's really all that different, is it? I mean, sure, we don't have to wear our breathers anymore, but we still have our scars. No amount of vaccines is ever gonna change that."

Mike and Alex are back in the world of Justin Madson's Breathers with Part 2 of the extra-long discussion. As they being to wrap things up, the guys take a step back and consider all of the meta-textual aspects that come with reading a book like Breathers in a post-2020 world. All the things you specifically think about when you read this book are all the exact same things everyone thinks about when they read this book, and that's kinda crazy. It's unavoidable and universal at this point, and Mike and Alex do the best they can to try and figure what it means for a story to have to carry so much weight that just didn't exist when it was first created.

We really hope you enjoyed diving into a truly independent comic, and we hope to cover more books like this in the future. Until then, though, we appreciate your support and can't wait to jump into our next great comic!

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"Show me an idea that's not a little bit dangerous, and I'll show you a bad idea."

Welcome to Part 1 of our discussion of Breathers from cartoonist Justin Madson! In the first part of this extra-long deep dive, Mike and Alex start by taking a look at Madson's storytelling approach and style, touching on the short story cycle-ness of the mini-stories presented in the comic and on his distinctive visual style. Then the guys examine the interlocking nature of the small cast of characters at the center of this story and how the way Madson weaves those stories together to create a full realized world in this one small town is the book's real strength.

There is a lot more to talk about with this comic, so please join us next week for Part 2 of our discussion of Breathers!

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Welcome to another season of Storied Arc! For this installment, Mike and Alex are going about as indie comic as they can get as they get ready to discuss Breathers by Justin Madson. They guys get you familiar with cartoonist Justin Madson, someone they understand is probably not that well known, if at all, by most comic readers, even the most dedicated ones, as well as some of his work, including Carbon and Tin Man. Then they preview Breathers, Madson's story about a dystopian future where a virus in the air is lethal and everyone has to wear masks just to survive. Oh, aid we mention this comic was originally conceived by Madson back in 2006 and was first self-published as a completed work back in 2011? The guys discuss Breathers' circuitous publication history, from self-published to It's Alive! to Dark Horse, and try to convince you as to why you should read a book about the COVID-19 pandemic that isn't at all about the COVID-19 pandemic.

We're assuming that the complete edition of Breather published by Dark Horse in October of 2023 is the only way folks will be able to read this comic. It's 9 issues worth of material (about 440 pages), which is a lot to cover in one discussion, and it doesn't have a clear mid-point that could serve as a convenient break. So what we're doing for this book instead is having one long discussion, broken up into two parts. We'll be talking about the book in totality across both weeks of the discussion, so be sure to have read all of Breathers before you start to listen.

You can learn more about Justin Madson at his website and purchase his books directly from his shop. Get Breathers there, from local shop, or from the public library and join us back here next week for Part 1 of our discussion!

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In a special bonus episode, Mike and Alex jump back one season and revisit their discussion of Eat The Rich and Know Your Station because they had the privilege of chatting with the writer and co-creator of those comics, Sarah Gailey! They start as usual with Sarah's introduction to comics and discuss how they made the move from writing prose to writing comics and what the transition was like. Then they dive back into Eat The Rich and Know Your Station, examining some of the reoccurring themes that appear across Sarah's various works and getting some inside baseball details on the creation of each book and collaborating with both Pius Bak and Liana Kangas (who you can listen to talk about working with Sarah and many other things here). Finally, they wrap by talking about Sarah's recent work for Marvel, particularly their Yelena Belova/White Widow miniseries with Alessandro Miraccolo, and how it was formulating a concrete identity for character that historically hasn't really had one while still operating within the defined Marvel Universe. You can stay up-to-date with everything Sarah has going on at their website and by signing up for their newsletter, Stone Soup. You can also follow them on Tumblr, Instagram, and Bluesky.

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"And if I learned anything from Damian Lake's betrayal, it's that every move I make from now on has to be two moves. So I'm not just sneaking back to the U.S.; I'm lighting a signal fire."

The adventures of Velvet Templeton come to a close in Velvet Volume 2 The Man Who Stole The World (issues #11-15) and Mike and Alex are here to wrap up the series. The guys start by diving deep into the decision by Brubaker and Epting to tie their story so specifically to actual historical events (apparently everyone was at the Watergate Hotel that night) and how choices like do or don't affect their enjoyment of a story. Then they look at some of final espionage story tropes Velvet deploys, like fake deaths and double-double crosses, before lamenting the lack of any further stories in this universe.

While we wish there were more Velvet stories out there, we hope you enjoyed diving into this comic with us. We'll be back again soon to kick off another season of Stories Arcs!

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"All these weeks on the run, I've just been angry... self-righteous. And it's so stupid... I know... but I'd actually forgotten to be afraid."

Mike and Alex are back on the hunt for the most dangerous woman in the world as they jump into Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting's Velvet Volume 2 The Secret Lives of Dead Men (issues #6-10). They start by examining Steve Epting's incredible covers and look at how their throwback, pulpy nature is perfect for the series. Then the guys discuss how Velvet's competency and ability as a spy is presented throughout the story, both through the eyes of her pursuers and her own self critique, and how that informs and reinforces the world that Brubaker and Epting are depicting. Lastly, there's some lettering talk (because Alex loves him some lettering talk), as the guys highlight the work Chris Eliopoulos is doing in this arc.

The story reaches its thrilling conclusion (question mark?) in the next arc, so go read Velvet Volume 3 The Man Who Stole The World (issues #11-15) wherever you get your comics and join us back here again to dive deep into the finale!

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"A group of highly-trained spies and killers. And she'd played each of us... with ease. That was when I realized just how dangerous Velvet Templeton actually was."

Welcome to another season of Storied Arcs! Mike and Alex are here to plunge head first into the world of espionage and intrigue as they break down Velvet Volume 1 Before the Living End (issues #1-5) by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting from Image Comics. The guys start by examining how the concept for Velvet fit into the wider pop culture zeitgeist surrounding spy fiction and "reboot" culture in the mid-2010s, and discuss how Brubaker and Epting's clear love and appreciation for the classic spy stories they grew up on shines through in their story. Then they eventually get to talking about the comic, mainly highlighting the incredible colors by Elizabeth Breitweiser and the unique storytelling devices the team employs that only work in sequential art. Alex also bad-mouths baccarat, because it's a silly game that seemingly only exists to be played by shady people in spy stories. No real person plays baccarat.

The conversation continues next week with Velvet Volume 2 The Secret Lives of Dead Men (issues #6-10), so pick it up wherever you get your comics and join us back here again for anther deep dive!

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For the next season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are once again revisiting the work of one of their favorite creators. This time, it's writer Ed Brubaker as the guys get ready break down Velvet, the noir spy thriller from Image Comics by Brubaker and comics legend Steve Epting. First, they give an intro to the book and tease a little bit about why they wanted to discuss it (and they talk a lot about James Bond, which actually does make sense once you know what Velvet is about). They they put artist Steve Epting in the spotlight (along with letterer Chris Eliopoulos) and take a look at his long and storied career, in particular his work with Ed Brubaker. [Note, we covered Ed Brubaker and colorist Elizabeth Breitweiser back when we discussed Kill Of Be Killed; check it out if you haven't already.]

We're starting next week with Velvet Vol. 1: Before The Living End (issues #1-5), so go read it wherever you get you comics and join us back here for the discussion!

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This week, Mike and Alex are pleased to be joined by artist and illustrator Liana Kangas to chat about their work on Know Your Station and all manner of other things! They start with Liana's origins as an artist and learn how they went from selling comics in an LCS to making them. Then they move to Know Your Station, touching on how they got involved in the book in the first place and what the creative process was like working with Sarah Gailey, plus a deeper dive into some specific scenes and moments from the comic. They also touch on their work with writer Scott Bryan Wilson on Trve Kvlt from IDW, which is definitely a book you should pick up and read. And finally, they discuss Liana's contribution to "Meanwhile... A Comic Shop Anthology," a comic put together to celebrate the comic shop experience, and how their short story, Absence Is Unsettling, fits into that prompt. You can find Liana's work, requests for commissions, and upcoming convention appearances on their website, and be sure to follow them on Twitter, Twitch, and Patreon.

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"They controlled every aspect of our lived on Earth... and they used that power to make it so being up here, waiting on them hand and foot, was the best future we could reach for. We're not people to them. We're punching bags, scapegoats, and test subjects. We're disposable."

Mike and Alex are back and ready to dive right into Boom Studios' Know Your Station (issues #1-5) by Sarah Gailey and Liana Kangas. Much like their previous week's discussion, they guys once again examine how what the book is about (a murder-mystery aboard a space station) isn't really what the book is about, and break down how Gailey and Kangas use and rely on the reader's existing story preconceptions to help mask their intent and ultimately subvert expectations (and maybe read a little too deeply into the presence of a Hamilton poster in one panel). They also take a look at Know Your Station and Eat The Rich work as a spiritual pairing, two offerings from the same writer, commenting on similar societal themes but approaching them from different angles. Something is killing the rich people. Again.

We hope you enjoyed these stories, and thank you as always for listening and reading along with us. Before we move on to our next season, we're extremely excited to welcome Know Your Station artist Liana Kangas onto the show next week for an exclusive interview! We'll be discussing their whole career, from selling comics to creating them, and dive a little deeper into Know Your Station. Join us here next week to hear it all!

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"Ever since that first day, I keep trying to be the right kind of girl so you'll approve of me. But I'm not the right kind of girl, am I?"

How does the saying go again- when the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich? Seems like a more than appropriate title for Mike and Alex's next discussion, Eat The Rich (issues #1-5) by Sarah Gailey and Pius Bak from Boom Studios. The guys are here to break down the whole story, including how a story about eating rich people isn't actually about the eating of rich people. They dive deep into the larger themes and social commentaries offered by Gailey and Pak, while also praising the entire creative team for both their subversion of narrative expectations and their brilliant story presentation. It feels pretty obvious where this book is heading after the first issue and yet the story remains engaging and gripping throughout. Welcome to Crestfall Bluffs. Hope you survive the experience!

This story may be complete but we're not done with the uber-rich just yet. The discussion continues as we turn to Sarah Gailey's follow up comic in this spiritual pairing, Know Your Station with artist Liana Kangas. Go find Know Your Station wherever you get your comics and join us back here next week to dive deep into both stories!

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New year, new season of the Storied Arcs podcast! And to kick things off, Mike and Alex will be covering two books by the same writer, the Hugo Award winning and up-and-coming comic star Sarah Gailey- Eat The Rich (with artist Pius Bak) and Know Your Station (with artist Liana Kangas), both published by Boom Studios. The guys talk about what drew them to these books, another set of similarly themed stories that aren't officially a series but are spiritually connected, and also give a spoiler-free tease on what's to come (hint- some horror and a lot of talk about the haves versus the have nots). Then they discuss the creative teams behind both books and take a look at some of the other comic work done by Gailey, Pak, and Kangas.

We're excited to jump into these stories, and for you to join us in the discussion, so go out at find Eat The Rich (issues #1-5) by Sarah Gailey and Pius Bak from Boom Studios wherever you get your comics and we'll see you back here next week!

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We've reached the end of another calendar year and once again, Mike and Alex have come up one week short on stories to talk about. But fear not! Earlier this month, Mike, Alex, and great friend of the show Andy took a quick road trip up Interstate 71 to attend GalaxyCon Columbus 2023 and decided that was a perfect opportunity to record a podcast episode. In the car. So with Andy driving, Mike handling the recording, and Alex contributing pretty much nothing, the trio run down their top 5-ish lists of the best comics they read in 2023 (with many cheats and honorable mentions) and discuss what made these books standout and worthy of recognition. A list of all of the comics we mentioned in this episode can be found here.

Thank you so much for listening to Storied Arcs! We'll be back next week to kick off a new season diving deep into another great comic!

Find a full list of the comics discussed in order on our website: https://www.storiedarcs.com/annual-best-of-2023/

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"-I mean, after everything you have seen, it is so hard to believe there may be a design to the universe? -A design? All I see is chaos and death."

We've reached the conclusion of Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen's space epic, and Mike and Alex are here to break it all down as they jump into Ascender Volumes 3 and 4, The Digital Mage and Star Seed (issues #11-18). The guys have a frank discussion of what does and does not work for them in these final volumes and then take a look at the complete Descender/Ascender story as a whole. Endings are hard, as has been said multiple times here, and Mike and Alex dissect what it means when they think a story ends well narratively but might have a flawed process to reach that end. Ultimately, while it may seem like they're down on the book, they've picking at nits and really enjoyed revisiting these books.

This wraps up another season of Storied Arcs and effectively wraps up 2023, BUT WAIT! There's still one more week left on the calendar and we have a special episode coming up on the feed- our best of 2023 Annual, recorded live in a car on the highway in the rain. It was a lot fun to talk about some books we don't normally cover on this show so enjoy it and we'll be back to our regularly-schedule deep dives in 2024!

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"There is no magic in the galaxy that I do not oversee. No power I do not control. I am Mother and the universe is mine."

The cover may say "Ascender" but these collections might as well just be Descender Volumes 7 and 8, and Mike and Alex are here to break it all down, starting with Ascender Volumes 1 and 2, The Haunted Galaxy and The Dead Sea (issues #1-10). The guys explore the decision by Lemire and Nguyen to jump the story 10 years into the future and debate what does and doesn't work about it. They also pick some nits on some storytelling choices, which felt a little odd for a story both of them very much enjoyed revisiting. Despite these nits, there is so much like here, and they guys dive deep into all of it, from Dustin Nguyen's art to the return of fan-favorite characters to the narrative (even you, Driller). Getting the band back together to tell a whole new story. That's actually still the same story from before.

We have one more discussion episode left in this season of Storied Arcs, and in the year, before a special episode drops in two weeks (more on that later). In the meantime, to finish the year our strong, go read Ascender Volumes 3 and 4 (issues #11-18) wherever you get your comic books and we'll be back next week to wrap up this great series!

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"But do you know the irony of that, Doctor? Robots never lied before you created the Tim series... before you gave robotkind the upgrades that made us more human and more like you."

In this finale that's not really a finale, Mike and Alex are here to discuss the last chapters of Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen's Descender in Volumes 5 and 6, Rise of the Robots and War Machine (issues #22-32). As usual, the guys talk about not just what happens at the end of the story, but how the story gets to that end. They break down how Lemire and Nguyen once again subvert expectations with their storytelling and dive deep into just how much foreshadowing and table-setting Lemire and Nguyen do for the follow up story, Ascender. The guys also look back on some of their comments from earlier in the season, before either had fully re-read the comic, and offer mea culpas for what Mike accidently remembered correctly about the ultimate reveal in Descender and for what Alex misremembered about how connected the end of Descender was to the beginning of Ascender. Our bad.

The comic titled Descender may be over but the story is far from complete. Join us as we jump 10 years into the future after the events of Descender and go right into Lemire and Nguyen's sequel series, Ascender! We'll be covering Volumes 1 and 2 (issues #1-10) next week so find them wherever you get your comics!

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"What does it look like, Creator? I'm doing that you programmed me to do. I'm eliminating waste... just like a human."

Mike and Alex are here to jump right back into Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen's Descender as they dive deep into Volumes 3 and 4, Singularities and Orbital Mechanics. The guys debate and discuss the choice Lemire and Nguyen made with Volume 3 to essentially pause the ongoing narrative and tell a series of character flashback stories so early in the run, and how that may read differently now, knowing the comic is complete, versus how it might have read in real-time as the issues were published. Then they take a look at how Volume 4 sets up both the story to come now and the story to come later. The guys also praise Dustin Nguyen some more (which you can honestly never do enough), especially the mostly-silent issue #17. Alex loves a silent issue.

As usual, we don't spoil anything about the story beyond what we've covered thus far so if you're the comic for the first time, you're in the clear. But be sure to pick up and read Descender Volumes 5 and 6 (issues 22-32) wherever you get your comics and join us here next week as we wrap up our discussion on Descender and get you primed for the sequel, Ascender!

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"Because they fear us, Tim-21. Because they were hurt and they wanted to hurt something back. Because they are human."

We've arrived at a brand new season of Storied Arcs and Mike and Alex are diving right into Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen's space opera epic Descender Volumes 1 and 2, Tin Stars and Machine Moon (issues #1-11). The guys discuss how this book touches on the kinds of sci-fi plot tropes and character archetypes one might expect for a story about the relationship between humanity and robot A.I., and then attempts to elevate beyond that (or, at least begin to). Once again we find ourselves asking the question, what does it mean to be human? Along the way, the give a big shout out to letterer Steve Wands, who is doing more work in this series than you might realize, and praise Nguyen's unique and iconic art style. Mike also makes a comparison for the characters in this book to a certain Marvel Studios movie about a rag-tag team of misfits traveling in space that fits a surprisingly well.

This is one of those comics that both Mike and Alex have read to completion previously, but regardless, they won't spoil anything about story beyond what's in these first two volumes. So if you want to find out what happens next, go find Descender Volumes 3 and 4 (issues #12-21) wherever you get your comics and join us here next week as we continue the discussion!

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For the next season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are revisiting the works of Jeff Lemire (aka Mike's literal favorite creator in comics) as they plan to dive head first into a pair of books by Lemire and superstar artist Dustin Nguyen, Descender and Ascender from Image Comics! The guys give a quick tease of this epic, two-part space opera and give you some insight on why love these books and why they want to discuss them. Then as usual, they give some background on the creative time, focusing this time just on Dustin Nguyen since they previous covered co-creator Jeff Lemire (and letterer Steve Wands) back when they discussed The Underwater Welder (which you should definitely listen to).

Given the length of these series (32 issues for Descender, 18 issues for Ascender), we're going to be covering it similar to how we covered The Unwritten aka two trade collections at a time. The breakdown looks something like this:
-Descender
Volumes 1 & 2: issues #1-11
Volumes 3 & 4: issues #12-21
Volumes 5 & 6: issues #22-32
-Ascender
Volumes 1 & 2: issues #1-10
Volumes 3 & 4: issues #11-18

So, go pick up Descender Volumes 1 and 2 ( or issues #1-11 if you're reading single issues or the deluxe editions) wherever you get your comics and join us back here next week to kick off the conversation!

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"And what if I could make it so race would never be a part of the equation again? That the way the world views us would never rely on how much melanin our ancestors needed to protect themselves from the sun? I could make us all the same. I could make us better."

The final installment of the James Tynion IV and Eryk Donovan's Apocalyptic Trilogy, Eugenic (issues #1-3), takes a different approach than the previous volumes and Mike and Alex are here to break it all down. The guys discuss the radically different storytelling format employed here and how that effects the narrative, both as a self-contained story and in comparison to the overall trilogy of stories. They dive deep into how this might be the most disturbing of the volumes, given the terrible real-world history surrounding the study and use of eugenics, and look at how eerily prescient some aspects of the story have become in ways that no one could have anticipated when the comic was initially released back in 2017. Mass skepticism of vaccines? No way that one was gonna come true, right?

And with that, we come to the end of another season of Storied Arcs! We hoped you enjoyed exploring the end of the world with us, and we'll be back next week to kick off another deep dive discussion into a great comic!

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"You were always selfish. You rallied us together to stop him all those years ago because you were afraid of losing one life you treasured more than the whole. You convinced us that life was all about those little glories. The little loves. And we believed you. And here, you've done it again."

The end of the world, take two! Humanity meets its demise yet again as Mike and Alex turn their attention to part 2 of the the Apocalyptic Trilogy, Cognetic (issues #1-3). They discuss how they feel Tynion and Donovan leveled up their game from Memetic to Cognetic and how it feels like Cognetic is better able to accomplish the things they were trying to do in Memetic. While they might like the setup for Memetic more, there's no denying that Cognetic is a better constructed comic. So they guys get right into it, talking about how Tynion uses escalation in this story to keep the reader engaged and enthralled. They also take a look at the main characters' motivations and examine how, at the end, you the reader aren't left with any real good choices. The individual versus the collective; once again, we ponder what it is that defines humanity. No pressure.

Just one apocalypse left (for now, at least), so go find Eugenic (issues #1-3) wherever you get your comics (probably a similar place to where you found Memetic and Cognetic) and join us next week as we wrap up our discussion of Tynion and Donovan's Apocalyptic Trilogy!

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"So the fate of the world rests in the hands of the maniac who decided to end it with a weird picture of a sloth."

Storied Arcs is back with another great season as Mike and Alex get ready to talk about the end of the world three times over. First up is part one of James Tynion IV and Eryk Donovan's Apocalyptic Trilogy from Boom Studios, Memetic (issues #1-3). The guys dive right into the story, discussing how plausible it would be for the world to end on a weaponized meme if such a thing were real (spoiler alert- very), and how prescient the story feels knowing it was first published back in 2014. They talk about how our relationship with technology, specifically social media, has changed and evolved since the release of Memetic and how that could color your reading of it. Then the guys examine the ending and take a look at how the choices the characters make reflect back on the story's overall exploration of humanity's struggle between individualism and tribalism. They also delve into some of the issues they have with the comic. Not so much the story, which they both enjoyed, but more with the mechanics of the storytelling. But not to worry, we've got Good Times Sloth to cheer us up! Praise him!

As we mentioned last week, we're going to be covering this thematic trilogy in publication order, so up next is Cognetic (issues #1-3). Find it wherever you get your comics (local shop, library, etc.) and join us back here next week to discuss how the world ends for a second time!

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"No matter where we hide, we die. But, even if they know they will die... even if they know they will die no matter what they do, they do not abandon hope. That's what it means to be a human."

At last, we have arrived at the epic conclusion of Naoki Urasawa's Pluto and of the Storied Arcs/Tankobon Podcast crossover event! Mike, Alex, and Cole are here one last time to dive deep into Pluto Volumes 7 and 8 (chapters 48-65) and discuss how it all wraps up. Endings are hard (as has been discussed on this show before) but the guys all agree that Pluto pretty much nails it. It wraps up its narrative and gives closure to its characters, but leaves the world open for continued thought and consideration. In the end, what does it mean to be the Greatest Robot on Earth? That's what we get into.

And with that, the first ever Storied Arcs crossover series comes to an end! We can't thank Cole and Tankobon Podcast enough for joining us on this trip and bringing his more-experienced manga palate to our discussions. You can find Tankobon on Instagram or anywhere else using their LinkTree. Big thanks to everyone for listening and if you have any ideas for another possible manga crossover for us to cover, hit us up and let us know!

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For the next season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex invite you to join them at the end of the world as they get ready to dive into the Apocalyptic Trilogy, a spiritual and thematic trilogy of comics from Boom Studios by James Tynion IV and Eryk Donovan consisting of the books Memetic, Cognetic, and Eugenic. As usual with these zero episodes, the guys will give a preview of the comics and discuss what drew them to the titles, why they want to talk about them, and why you should read them, too. Then they take a look at the creative team and touch on how some of their current work, especially from Tynion, the literal biggest writer in comics at the moment, has its roots in this trio of stories from early in their career.

As mentioned, this is a spiritual trilogy of stories, not a literal one, so technically, they can be read in any order since they aren't connected by character, place, events, etc. That said, we will be covering the comics in publication order (Memetic then Cognetic then Eugenic) and our discussions will progress as if you've only read what would have been available to you at the time. So for example, when we talk about Cognetic, we'll assume you've read Memetic but we won't spoil Eugenic.

Now that that's clear, go find Memetic from Boom Studios wherever you get your comics and join us back here next week to talk about the end of the world, part one!

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"If the stronger man wins, someone even stronger will just take him out. That's all there is to it."

The Storied Arcs/Tankobon Podcast crossover continues! In this penultimate episode, Mike, Alex, and Cole examine Pluto Volumes 5 and 6 (chapters 32-47) and discuss how Naoki Urasawa is able to masterfully juggle a murder mystery detective story-turned-global conspiracy with deeply compelling and interesting characters. Urasawa simultaneously widens the story lens while narrowing in on specific characters in these volumes, and it all feels seamless. The guys dive deep into how the bigger story beats and the smaller character ones all feed into the overall ideas and questions at the heart of Pluto- what does it mean to be human? Is humanity something you have or something you are? Is they anything creepier than a Teddy bear sitting alone in a dark room, speaking into the void?

It was hard for Alex this week to not read ahead and finish the series, but he resisted so if you're reading along with our release schedule, there are no spoilers here for how the story wraps up. But we can't to get there, so find Pluto Volumes 7 and 8 (chapters 48-65) in shop or at plutocomic.com and join us back here next Tuesday as we wrap up our manga crossover with Tankobon Podcast!

Find Tankobon on Instagram or anywhere else using their LinkTree.

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This week, Mike and Alex sit down and chat with the creator of Plume, K. Lynn Smith! They discuss her artistic and storytelling influences and look back at her origins posting her first work to the webcomic community. Then they dive into Plume, looking at why the Western genre was an appealing setting for her. They also examine how the immediate feedback from readers as the comic was being published page-by-page on the web affected (or didn't) the ultimate direction of the story. Finally, they wrap by teasing what K. Lynn has coming down the line (hint- more Plume, but in a different form). To keep track of everything she has going on, including appearances and commissions, hit up her website or follow her on Instagram, Bluesky, and Twitter (if that's still a thing at this point).

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"A.I.? An A.I. is not created. It is raised. Terrible sadness, frustration... these are what nurture and A.I."

Welcome back to the Storied Arcs/Tankobon Podcast crossover, where Mike, Alex, and special guest Cole are jumping right into the next volumes of Naoki Urasawa's Astro Boy-inspired manga, Pluto Volumes 3 and 4 (chapters 16-31). The guys discuss the widening of the story, both in character and in scope, and take a look at how Urasawa is able to stay true to elements from the original Astro Boy story while deepening and expanding on it. They also touch on how specific American history and culture is viewed in Japan, and how that can translate (or not) when referenced and alluded to in manga or anime.

As mentioned last week, Alex is not reading ahead so he can't (intentionally) spoil anything during our episode discussions (he's pretty sure Atom's coming back, though). The great manga crossover with Tankobon Podcast continues next Tuesday so grab Pluto Volumes 5 and 6 (chapters 32-47) where you can or read them for free at plutocomic.com and we'll see you next week!

Find Tankobon on Instagram or anywhere else using their LinkTree.

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"Revenge is for the selfish, justice is for the brave."

In this episode, Mike and Alex head back to the wild, wild West and dive deep into the concluding arc of Plume by K. Lynn Smith with Volumes 3 and 4 (issues #10-17). They revisit the litany of Western-genre story tropes and discuss how Smith was able to once again subvert those genre expectations and deliver an ending that's both surprising and satisfying. Plume's a classic hero's journey that feels both familiar and new at the same time. But that doesn't mean the guys don't have some lingering questions, which they examine and debate with the full understanding that most of it is trivial and none of it takes away from their enjoyment of the comic. Nitpicking the minutia is kinda the whole get-down of this show.

That wraps up our deep-dive discussion of Plume but that doesn't mean we're done with the book quite yet. Next week, the one and only K. Lynn Smith will be joining us to discuss not only Plume but her entire career in comics. We can't wait to share another exclusive interview with an incredible creator with everyone!

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"He kept waving his hand until I could no longer see him. It filled my hard with emotion. My robot heart."

Welcome to the Storied Arcs/Tankobon manga crossover event! This week, Mike, Alex, and Cole from the Tankobon Podcast dive right into Pluto Volumes 1 and 2 (Chapters 1-15) by Naoki Urasawa. The guys talk about the origins of Pluto, its ties to the classic manga Astro Boy, why it was was picked as the subject of this crossover, and rundokwn their personal experience with manga (Cole- a lot; Mike- a little; Alex- actively none). From there, they start breaking down the larger themes and ideas presented in the book and take a look at some of the influences the story draws from, from other manga to classic science fiction stories to real-world events.

In a change of roles from the usual, Alex is now the one who hasn't read ahead in the series, so as per usual, nothing in our discussion will spoil beyond the volumes we have covered up to that point. Go read Pluto Volumes 3 and 4 (chapters 16-31), whether you pick up a physical copy or go to plutocomic.com and read for free, and join us back here next Tuesday for our continued crossover discussion with Tankobon Podcast!

Find Tankobon on Instagram or anywhere else using their LinkTree.

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"My father once told me that revenge was like a plume of black smoke. It seems tangible... but when you reach for it... you're grasping nothing but air."

In this first episode of the new season, Mike and Alex head to the Old West to discuss Plume Volumes 1 and 2 (issues #1-9) by cartoonist K. Lynn Smith. They look into the history of the Western as a genre in popular culture and examine how Smith uses and manipulates those existing tropes and architypes to tell her own version of a Western. The guys also touch on Plume's origin as a webcomic and how that influenced both its narrative and art styles when presented now in print. They also go off the deep end of the pop culture reference pool this week, ranging from Indiana Jones to Firefly to the Mandalorian to Aladdin. But we swear it all makes sense.

As usual with multi-volume books, we don't spoil anything in this discussion about what happens beyond Volume 2, aka Issue #9 if you're reading in the omnibus version. Head over to plumecomic.com to continue reading along and join us back here next week as we conclude our discussion of Plume with Volumes 3 and 4 (issues #10-17)!

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And now time for a special announcement!

On Tuesdays in the month of October, we will be dropping some bonus content on this feed that we're super excited about. We have teamed up with the Tankobon podcast for a manga crossover event to discuss Pluto by Naoki Urasawa, a story inspired by the classic manga Astro Boy by Osamu Tezuka. There are eight volumes, or tankobons, and each week, the gang will dive deep into two volumes of the story at a time, looking something like this:

October 3rd: Volumes 1 & 2 (Chapters 1-15)
October 10th: Volumes 3 & 4 (Chapters 16-31)
October 17th: Volumes 5 & 6 (Chapters 32-47)
October 24th: Volumes 7 & 8 (Chapters 48-65)

If you can't find physical copies to read, you can always go to plutomanga.com and read the entire story for free. And if you follow along with our schedule, you'll be ready to watch the anime adaptation on Netflix when it drops on October 26th.

We're really looking forward to this crossover with Tankobon and we hope you are, too, even if you're not a regular manga reader (or a manga reader at all, like Alex). But either way, our standard episodes will be still be releasing on Thursdays as usual, so whether you're here for the Western comics or the Eastern comics, thanks for listening!

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Mike and Alex are back for another season of Storied Arcs, and for this outing, they are diving into the world of webcomics as they get ready to discuss Plume by artist/writer K. Lynn Smith, originally published on the internet (RIP Smack Jeeves) and then in print by Devil's Due Comics. The guys get you primed for this supernatural-tinged western saga by teasing how Plume plays with established tropes and architypes of the genre (no spoilers, obviously) and talking about about what drew them to the book. They also take a quick look at Devil's Due Comics, an independent publisher out of Chicago. Then the guys wrap it up with a discussion of K. Lynn Smith and her comic works to date.

We understand that print versions of Plume may be a little hard to come by. If you are fortunate enough to find physical copies, we'll be covering Volumes 1 and 2 (issues #1-9) next week for our discussion. For everyone else, you can read the entire comic for free online or download it as a .pdf at plumecomic.com. See you back here next week!

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Mike sits down with the writer, penciler, colorist, and letterer for Gospel... Will Morris! They discuss the book's meaning, especially the ending, and how/why there was a change from the single-issue release to the trade paperback. Will also settles the score on the debate Mike and Alex had during their discussion of Gospel- which pop culture theory of interpretation is more correct, Big Fish or The Usual Suspects? The answer will shock you (okay, probably not, but it's still a fun debate). They also discuss other influences on Will's work, which include other American comics, manga, anime, feminist histories of medieval Europe, and some popular films! You can follow all of Will's work over at this website as well as on Instagram, Bluesky, and the thing we're still calling Twitter.

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"Joan of Arc never sought to be martyred, nor to be venerated. She wanted only to deliver France from oppression. That is what I want. To deliver my friends from danger."

Mike and Alex are back for another one-shot episode, this time discussing Will Morris' book from Image Comics, Gospel. The guys take time to praise Morris' wonderful artwork before exploring how the specific historical setting of the comic (the English Reformation) adds layers and context to the world. Then they tackle the underlying theme of the book, one that seems to be present in a lot of the comics they discuss- what is the meaning of stories and storytelling. Is the act of telling a story more important than the event depicted in it? Are stories only meaningful if they're true? Is the old man who's narrating the story an immortal soul bound to this Earth and charged with passing on the history of the land, or is he Keyser Soze? These are the things we talk about. That, and The West Wing. Again.

We hope you enjoyed this under-the-radar book. Next week, we are pleased to once again present an exclusive creator interview as we (well, Mike; Alex had to sit this one out) chat with writer/artist Will Morris about Gospel and his career in comics. Stay tuned for that, you don't want to miss it.

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Welcome to a new season of Storied Arcs! In this entry, Mike and Alex will be diving into the Gospel from cartoonist Will Morris and Image Comics. They'll talk about what drew them to the book (and maybe why Alex missed it when it was initially released) and also give some big picture thoughts on the story to set-up the discussion. Then as usual, the guys give the lowdown on the series creators and contributors, starting with cover artist Ver before moving to writer/artist/colorist/letterer/etc. Will Morris.

We know that Gospel and Will Morris may not be names that are readily recognizable to a lot of comic fans in the U.S. and North American market (your two co-hosts included), but we think this is a really cool book from a very talented creator that's worth checking out. So find Gospel (either in trade paperback collection or single issue #1-5) from Image Comics wherever you get your books and join us back here next week for our deep-dive discussion!

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In this one-shot, Mike sits down with Javon Harris. Javon has dreamt of writing and publishing manga (Japanese comics) since the 3rd grade. Now, he's making it happen. In 2022, he founded what is now an international collaboration of creators and he's trying to get the word out.

Know someone who is a manga fan? Be sure to share this episode with them!

Be sure to support his efforts by reading and commenting on new chapters at:
www.lumebento.net

Follow them on:
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter/X

The Mike-approved manga series mentioned in this episode are:
Spy x Family (comedy espionage)
Pluto (mystery sci-fi coming soon to Netflix)
Death Note

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[Content note, the language in this interview get a little spicy, but hey, it happens sometimes.]

After speaking with both the artist (Alexandre Tefenkgi) and writer (Pornsak Pichetshote) of The Good Asian, Mike and Alex had to keep it moving and snag the colorist as well, the great Lee Loughridge! We talk about his lengthy career to date and go back to his origins getting into the comics industry nearly 30 years ago now (spoiler alert- it involves a faux ransom note, which kinda tells you everything you need to know about Lee). Then the guys dive into The Good Asian and explore how Lee's colors enhance the storytelling on the page. They also discuss some of Lee's past work (like Fables), and what he has coming in the future, including his own creator-owned books where he served as the writer (and colorist, naturally). Links to his work can be found here at our website, StoriedArcs.com.

We can't thank Lee enough for joining us. You can follow him on Instagram as well as his comics studio, Zylonol Studio, to keep up with his latest projects and announcements!

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In this episode, Mike and Alex are proud to present an exclusive interview with the Eisner Award-winning writer of The Good Asian, Pornsak Pichetshote! We discussed his origin in the comics industry, including his time as an editor at Vertigo Comics where he worked on such books as The Unwritten, Daytripper, Sweet Tooth, and many, many more iconic titles. We also talked about the influences that went into writing both The Good Asian and The Sandman Universe: The Dead Boy Detectives (over at DC) and what it means to represent a people and a culture that haven't historically been featured in comics (though it's getting better on that front). Oh, and there's West Wing talk. Because Mike and Alex just can't help themselves. Links to Pornsak's work can be found here at our website, StoriedArcs.com.

We can't thank Pornsak enough for joining us. You can follow him on Instagram, Twitter (or whatever it's called now), and Bluesky to keep up with his latest projects!

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"You pay attention. When they're nervous. Whey they're relieved. All the different ways they think the world owns them happiness. They'll tell you everything about how they want to be treated. You just have to pay attention."

Mike and Alex are back with another episode of Stories Arcs, this time discussing The Good Asian Volume 2 (issues #5-10) by Pornsak Pichetshote and Alexandre Tefenkgi from Image Comics. The guys breakdown the "parlor room" reveal of the mystery at the heart of the story and dive deep into how the mechanics of the storytelling work smoothly to keep the reader on edge but never in the dark. They revisit some more well-worn film noir tropes that appear in this volume and consider how The Good Asian fits in among other neo-noir detectives stories and similar ilk. A satisfying end to an exceptionally well-told tale.

This wraps up another season of Storied Arcs. Thanks as always for listening, but wait, there's more! Just as we were so fortunate to have the artist of Outpost Zero (and The Good Asian), Alexandre Tekenkgi, join us for an interview at the end of last season, we are equally lucky to have had a chat with with the writer of The Good Asian, Pornsak Pichetshote! That exclusive interview with run next week. We can't wait for you to hear it!

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"Chasing perfect's normal- it's the ones who get there you have be wary of. The perfect smile. Posture. Part in their hair... perfection takes sacrifice, so you have to be suspicious of anyone sad enough to go through with it."

In this episode, Mike and Alex dive right into The Good Asian Volume 1 (issues #1-4) by Pornsak Pichetshote and Alexandre Tefenkgi from Image Comics. The guys discuss the various film noir/hard-boiled detective tropes utilized by the creative team and talk about why those tropes still work as story elements. They talk about the title itself, The Good Asian, and what that signals to the reader before they even open the book. They also have an extended discussion of color, which is used to great effect here. Finally, the guys (okay, mostly Alex) explore the real-life history of the Asian and Asian-American experience in the United States in the early part of 20th Century and reflect on how that informs every piece of the storytelling throughout the comic. It's a wide-ranging conversation; buckle in.

As usual, we don't spoil anything about the comic beyond what is covered in this volume, and that feels especially important to note for this book, given that it's a mystery story. This was difficult for Mike this time because he's actually read the whole series before we'd covered it on the show! But fear not, the conclusion of this limited series is just around the corner, so go find The Good Asian Volume 2 (issues #5-10) wherever you get your comics and we'll be back next week to wrap another season of Storied Arcs!

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After getting the chance to talk with Eisner-award winning artist Alex Tefenkgi last week, Mike and Alex felt it was only appropriate to focus the next season of Storied Arcs on the comic that won him that Eisner, The Good Asian from Image Comics. The guys discuss what makes this book special and why it stood out to them in a sea of new comics that are released every month. Then as usual, they give a spotlight to the creative team behind the book (save for Tefenkgi; we covered him in the intro to Outpost Zero last season), including long-time comics editor turned-writer Pornsak Pichetshote (who shared the 2022 Eisner for Best Limited Series with Tefenkgi), colorist Lee Loughridge, letter/designer Jeff Powell, and cover artist Dave Johnson.

We can't wait to jump into this hard-boiled detective story, so grab The Good Asian Volume 1 (issues #1-4) wherever you get your comics and join us back here next week for another season of Storied Arcs!

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In the special episode, we have an exclusive interview with the great Alexandre Tefenkgi, the artist behind Outpost Zero, who was kind enough to chat with us all the way from his home in France. We discussed his origin in comics and how he got into the industry, then dove into his mindset when approaching projects. We also talked about his thought process and some of the creative storytelling decisions he made while working on not only Outpost Zero, but The Good Asian and Once Upon a Time at the End of the World. He also teased a little bit of what he's working on next, which we can't wait to see come to fruition. Links to his work can be found here at our website, StoriedArcs.com.

We can't thank Alexandre enough for joining us. You can follow him on Instagram and Twitter to keep up with his latest projects!

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"You guys are asking questions I don't think anyone's asked in a long time. It's dangerous, what you're doing... but someone should be doing it."

Mike and Alex are here once again to break down the finale of Outpost Zero Volume 3 The Only Living Things (issues #10-14). The guys give their overall impressions of the book before jumping into the ending (or lack of ending) and what does and doesn't sit with them at the close of the series. They also touch on how the timing of the series' cancellation may have impacted the storytelling coming down the stretch and, as a result of that cancellation, what other stories they might like to see set in this universe. There's always something more to discover out there!

We hoped you enjoyed this season of Storied Arcs! We know that a YA-focused comic like Outpost Zero was a different speed then the books we've covered previously, but that doesn't mean it's any less worthy for discussion. We have special treat for you here in the feed next week so be on the look out for that, and then join us back here again the following week as we get ready to dive into another great comic!

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"When all is said and done, when it's all over... would you want to say you lived your life waiting to die? Or would you want to say something different?"

In this episode, Mike and Alex return with you to Outpost Zero in Volume 2 Follow It Down (issues #5-9) and dive deep into the story as the characters dive deep into their home. The guys discuss how the creators expand their world in the volume, filling out more sides and dimensions to it while continuing to focus on the central coming-of-age adventure. What does it mean to transition from being a child to entering the workforce? What does substance abuse and addiction look like in this world? Is having children just another obligation and duty of living in this society? And what was that giant tentacle thing deep below the Outpost? A lot of real-world parallels addressed in this volume (save for maybe the giant tentacle thing).

No spoilers here for the end of the series, as per usual. Once you've caught up, go out and read Outpost Zero Volume 3 The Only Living Things (aka the final chapter in the collected edition) and then meet us here next week as we wrap another season of Storied Arcs!

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"I wish I could be there. Wish I could see all the incredible alien things. If you're watching this... I guess you were lucky."

Welcome to Outpost Zero and to another season of Storied Arcs! In this opening episode, Mike and Alex gravity-jump straight into Volume 1 The Smallest Town in the Universe (issues #1-4) of the Skybound comic and consider it's place among similar type "kids on bikes" coming of age stories. They discuss the book's re-branding (so to speak) as a more YA story now that the complete collection is out and why that's probably a good decision. They also break down the main characters as a way to examine how trauma is handled and explored in stories like these.

[Content note, this episode does address the issue of teen suicide, as it's a major theme throughout in the comic. We understand that can be a difficult topic to broach but we hope that this story can help lead to a safe, open, and respectful discussion about it.]

As usual, we're not spoiling anything beyond what we've covered thus far, so listen away once you've finished Volume 1. Then go out and read Outpost Zero Volume 2 Follow It Down (or just read the next chapter in the complete collected edition) and join us back here next week for another deep-dive episode!

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Welcome to another season of Storied Arcs! For this outing, Mike and Alex will be covering the YA-focused (that's Young Adult) series Outpost Zero by Sean Kelley McKeever and Alexandre Tefenkgi from the Image Comics imprint, Skybound. They guys will talk about why they choose a YA book for discussion and what appealed to them about this specific comic (generational ship, last ark to save humanity, kids on bikes adventure but make it Hoth- you know, things like that). Then as always, they'll give you the background of the series creative team and talk about why McKeever, who has a long history of writing comics focused in and around teen characters, and Tefenkgi, who made his US comics debut with this book, were the perfect combo to tell this story.

If you find the label "YA comic" off-putting, I implore you to give Outpost Zero a shot. It's a fun coming-of-age story that deals with real-world topics and issues and doesn't shy away from them. It's a book that can be enjoyed by someone in that middle-grade reader age range from 10 to 14ish, as well as readers significantly older (like your two co-hosts). So go find Outpost Zero Vol. 1 (issues #1-4) wherever you get your comics and join us back here next week for our deep-dive into the comic!

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"Role-playing games are conversations in quotations marks, letting you talk about true things with a little distance, as a fantasy. But for all of that, they're still conversations. And you should listen to what you are telling the game and what the game is telling you."

We've reached the center of DIE and Mike and Alex are here to break it all down as they discuss Volume 4 Bleed (issues #16-20). They reflect on the end of the game and the end of the story and explore how each character's journey wrapped up in the finale. They also dive deep into the meaning of it all- of DIE, of role-playing games, of storytelling, and of life (maybe). It's an incredible end for a spectacular comic book.

As always, thank you so much for joining up on this season of Storied Arcs. We'll be back next week, ready to jump head first into another great comic!

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"I'm presuming that's a reference I don't remember because I grew up and actually got a life."

In this episode, Mike and Alex delve deep into DIE Volume 3 The Great Game (issues #11-15) as all the answers of DIE are finally revealed. Or are they? We see how all the pieces fit together, from the Brontë sibling's wooden soldiers to the dice that brought our Paragons to DIE in the first place, but there's still some timey-wimey stuff going on. A LOT of timey-wimey stuff. Things that happen in the future that cause events in the past to have already occurred; time loops are apparently a recurring topic for is. It's like we're trapped in a repeating cycle of events or something.

We're almost at the end so there's no way we'd spoil the finale now. So go read the epic conclusion in DIE Volume 4 Bleed wherever you get your comics and join us back here next week to wrap up another season of Storied Arcs!

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"'What is Twitter?' 'It's a place devoid of any sentient life, entirely hostile to humanity. A lot like here, really.'"

Welcome back to DIE! In this episode, Mike and Alex breakdown Volume 2 Split The Party (issues #6-10) from Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans. They dive deep into the mechanics of the game, what the rules are and how they govern the players, and why that's so important to establish for Gillen and Hans. They also continue the discussion on self-identification and how that manifests through role-playing games. There's also the One Big Issue to cover, so I hope you're up to speed with the Brontë sibling's juvenilia.

No spoilers in this episode for anything to come down the line in the comic so if you're reading along, listen freely. And when you're done, go read DIE Volume 3 The Great Game wherever you get your comics and join us back here next week for another great discussion!

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"While our peers back on Earth were doing their A-levels, we were trapped here. The world of Die taught us different lessons. I was the Dictator. I learned how to tell stories."

In this episode, Mike and Alex roll for damage as they enter the world of DIE from Keiron Gillen and Stephanie Hans, published by Image Comics. They dive right into Volume 1 Fantasy Heartbreaker (issues #1-5) to discuss the players of the game and how the line between fantasy role-playing and real life gets blurred when the characters are forced to return to the game. They also touch on the various historical and literary references featured in this first volume, from JRR Tolkien to the Bronte siblings to Prussian Army war games. All very normal things to encounter in a fantasy game.

As usual, we don't spoil anything about the comic beyond what's shown in this volume, so if you're reading along with the show, you should be safe. But keep on reading because we'll be right back here next week to continue our deep-dive discussion into DIE with Volume 2 Split the Party. Go read it wherever you find comics.

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Mike and Alex are back with another zero episode to get ready for the next season of Storied Arcs, DIE from Image Comics. As always, the guys first focus on the creators of the comic, Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans, before giving you a preview of why you should read the book. They review Gillen's vast resume of Marvel and creator-owned comics, as well as Hans' relatively few entries (as an interior artist, that is; her work as a cover artist is extensive and flawless), but discuss how what interior work Hans had done, specifically with Gillen, suited the style we see represented in DIE. Gillen once described DIE as "goth Jumanji" which is simultaneously too flippant and dismissive of what the comic is and also describes it perfectly. It's an immersive fantasy adventure that never forgets the real cost stories like these can have.

Don't worry if you're not a tabletop RPG gamer, it's not a requirement for reading this book. Trust me; neither Mike or Alex play or played D&D or other such games and they still find the comic very enjoyable. So go out and read DIE Volume 1: Fantasy Heartbreaker (issues #1-5) wherever you can find it and join us back here next week for the start of another season of Storied Arcs!

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"Humans are like a bucket with a hole in it. You try to fill it up with happiness, but you can't. It runs out as fast as you pour it in, so you're always trying to find ways to get more. Every wish we grant is the same wish. I wish I had enough."

In this one-shot episode, Mike and Alex jump into Charles Soule and Ryan Browne's recently concluded hit, Eight Billion Genies (issues #1-8)! They discuss the structure of the storytelling, the mechanics of the wishes, and the note-perfect ending (well, almost note-perfect, if you're Mike). They also talk about how they would use their one wish and what that wish might be, potentially revealing buried character flaws along the way. But that's what this comic does; it forces you to ask yourself "what would I wish for?" and then deal with that your answer is. Who needs therapy when you can just read a comic book?

We hope you enjoyed diving into a recent release comic like this one, and definitely recommended pick up the deluxe hardcover collection that's scheduled to be released later in 2023 (or that's already available, depending on when you're listening to this). We'll be back next week for the start of another season of Stories Arcs. See you then!

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In this zero episode for the newest season of Stories Arcs, Mike and Alex discuss the creative team behind the recent Image Comics hit Eight Billion Genies, Charles Soule and Ryan Brown! They chat about the previous comic work published by the pair (with a fair amount of talk about Soule's Star Wars work, which is a must-read for any Star Wars fan), including their first comic team-up, Curse Words. Then as always, they preview Eight Billion Genies and pitch you on why you should go pick it up.

This is an unusual choice for us because a)the comic just finished its run and b)doesn't have a collected edition out yet. But fear not! Issues should be available at your local comic shop (good luck getting a 1st printing, though) and they are definitely available from your local library through apps like Hoopla. And since Amazon Studios has already optioned the rights to it, I guess you could get through comiXology as well. Anyway you do it, go read Eight Billion Genies and join us back here next week for another great deep-dive one-shot discussion!

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" I bet you're loving this. Hmm? The team at its best. It's just like old times. Best funeral ever!"

In this special bonus episode of Storied Arcs, Alex flies solo as he discusses (with himself) Netflix's adaption of The Umbrella Academy. He touches on what he thinks makes for a good comic book adaptation before diving in on what he thinks The Umbrella Academy show does well. Then he speculates on how the show could potentially influence the hypothetical Volume 4 of the comic that is definitely a thing that will be released someday. Definitely.

Mike's sitting this one out as he hasn't watched the Netflix show yet so everyone make sure he doesn't listen so he doesn't get spoiled. Until then, we'll be back next week with our regularly-scheduled discussions as we dive deep into another great comic!

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"While I fully support revenge, now is not the time."

In this week's episode, Mike and Alex take a look at Volume 3 of The Umbrella Academy, the final (for now) volume of Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba's comic from Dark Horse (The Umbrella Academy: Hotel Oblivion issues #1-7). They dive deep into what does and does not work for this in volume and how the long layoff between story arcs may have contributed. They also discuss the future of the comic speculate on what direction it could go with the as-announced-but-not-yet-real Umbrella Academy Volume 4 (please, Way and Ba, don't make us wait as long as we did between Volumes 2 and 3).

Thank you so much again for listening to another season of Storied Arcs! As mentioned before, if you enjoyed this crazy world created by Way and Ba, we recommend you check out The Umbrella Academy show on Netflix as a companion to the book. It's a lot of fun and just might hint at some future things to come in the comic. We'll see you back here again soon for our next deep dive discussion!

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"But this one's something special. He's an idea. And what you can't take down with bullets... you have to take down with words. That's why I needed her."

Welcome back to another episode of Storied Arcs! This week, Mike and Alex travel back to Dallas 1963 to discuss Volume 2 of Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba's The Umbrella Academy (The Umbrella Academy: Dallas issues #1-6). They once again talk about time travel (seems to be an underlying running theme for the show) and examine how its depiction here differs from some of the other books they've covered. They also go out of their way to praise every member of the creative team, all of whom do exception work on these issues. I heard a rumor that you'll dig this one.

Again, this episode does not cover anything beyond what's in this volume, nor does it breech the topic of the Netflix adaptation, so you're safe from any potential spoilers there. That said, if you haven't checked out the Netflix show, it's highly recommended. It's delightfully weird and different enough from the source that there really aren't any spoils there anyway. Besides that, go out and find The Umbrella Academy Volume 3 Hotel Oblivion and meet us here next week as we wrap up our discussion for this season!

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"Lacking in finesse, but... adequate. Can I interest you in destroying the world"

In this week's episode, Mike and Alex jump right into their discussion of Volume 1 of Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba's The Umbrella Academy (The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite issues #1-6). They pick up a couple of threads from last week's zero episode and examine how Gerard Way's solid and efficient character work quickly changed their opinion of him as a writer and how the Umbrella Academy falls in line with other "alternative" superhero books, like a Black Hammer or Astro City. They also go in on Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring," as one normally does. Hold on to your seats.

As per usual, this episode does not spoil anything beyond what's in this volume. And specific to this book, there is also no in-depth discussion of the Netflix adaptation and any potential spoilers that may exist there. So you should be good either way. In the meantime, go pick up The Umbrella Academy Volume 2 Dallas wherever you get your comics and join us back here next week for another deep dig discussion!

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Welcome to another season of Stories Arcs! In this zero episode, Mike and Alex take a look at Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba, the creators behind the Dark Horse comic The Umbrella Academy. They discuss how Gerard Way's previous day job (being an internationally-famous rock star) may have colored they opinion of the book before ever reading it and how those preconceived notions were quickly proven false. They also praise the work of Gabriel Ba and Greatest Comic Colorist of All Time(tm) Dave Stewart, who really make the comic sing. If you only know The Umbrella Academy from the Netflix adaptation, now's the perfect time to dive into the original story.

Hit up your local comic shop or public library for The Umbrella Academy: The Apocalypse Suite and join us back here next week to jump right into the discussion!

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"Do you still cling to such binary oppositions? Do you believe everything must be wholly real or wholly imagined?"

In the Season 8 finale of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex talk about the apocalypse, aka The Unwritten Volumes 10 and 11 (issues 1-12 of The Unwritten: Apocalypse). How does it all end? What does it all mean? Does the ultimate payoff feel satisfying and earned? Can we still not read the actual Tommy Taylor books? The guys discuss it all and then some before bidding farewell to the world of The Unwritten.

This concludes the most ambitious season of Storied Arcs to date. We hope you enjoyed this deep dive and we'll see you back here next week to start another journey into another great comic!

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"But in the end-- without story-- without the ability to step sideways from fact into hypothesis-- human life is untenable."

In this episode, Mike and Alex discuss how everything finally comes together in The Unwritten Volumes 7 and 8 (issues 36-49). Random details and story beats that have been sprinkled throughout the entire run thus far all begin to converge here, whether that's in Brisbane, Australia or in the land of the dead (or in a story about the land of the dead; it's unclear). What happens to the world if we don't have stories? Where do we turn to to guidance and what is there to believe in if not the stories we tell ourselves every day? It takes going to Hell/Hades/wherever to find out, but we're up for the journey. Just don't look back on your way up the steps.

Things get a little weird next week, as we'll be covering The Unwritten Volume 9 and the OGN The Unwritten: Tommy Taylor & The Ship That Sank Twice. We don't spoil anything beyond what we've covered through each episode, but as a heads up, Volume 9 is a quasi-crossover with another Vertigo title, Fables! You don't have to have read Fables to follow along in the story (Alex has; Mike hasn't), but if you want to check it out, it's really not that much: 157 issues (and counting), one of them being the length of a full trade paperback, a handful of one-shots, a half dozen or so spinoff series running anywhere from 6 to 50 issues, prose novels and short stories, video games adaptations- okay, maybe it is a bit of commitment. But if you're enjoying The Unwritten, Fables is a great companion piece. A second cousin in the genre of meta-fiction stories about stories.

Go read Volume 9 and the OGN (and maybe all of Fables, who knows) for next week and we'll be back right here to dive deep into all of it!

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"No honest man need fear cartoons."

In this episode, Mike and Alex get ready for war as they delve deeper into the world of The Unwritten with Volumes 5 and 6 (issues 25-35 plus 31.5-35.5). Finally, approximately halfway through the run, it feels like the story is on solid ground and it's clear to both the reader (and the characters) what is going on, why it's happening, and what Tom/Tommy's role in it is. So why does it also feel like it could have been the end of the story? The guys get into all that, plus they discuss Tommy Taylor Version 1.0 aka The Tinker (which makes them just want to read "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay" again) as well as the secret origin of both Pullman and the Cabal. And why is Madame Rausch still hanging around the story?

As usual, we don't discuss anything about the story beyond what's presented in the first 6 volumes. Go out and read The Unwritten Volumes 7 and 8 and join us again next week as we continue our deep-dive discussion.

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"Some symbols become more real than what they stand for. Like they're part of a truth that's beyond the regular kind of truth."

In this episode, Mike and Alex are back to discuss The Unwritten Volumes 3 and 4 (issues 13-24), where we finally start to get some clarity as to what exactly is going on. Not so much on the why, though, and the guys talk about how that ambiguity this far into a comic series plays for the reader. They also chat about all of the literary influences the comics is pulling from, from Herman Melville's Moby Dick to the highest form of literary achievement, the Choose Your Own Adventure series [side note- if you haven't already, I highly suggest you track down a physical copy of issue 17; it greatly enhances the reading experience.]. We're ready to journey into the fiction unconsciousness with you just as soon as we figure out what kind of vampire you are. Hopefully it's a Wilson Taylor vampire and not one that sparkles.

Nothing beyond the story from the first 4 volumes is spoiled in this episode, as is our rule. Go find The Unwritten Volumes 5 and 6 for next week and we'll be back then for another deep-dive discussion.

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"Stories are the only thing worth dying for."

Welcome to The Unwritten and the magical world of Tommy Taylor, who is definitely not a total ripoff of that other orphan boy-turned-wizard savior you're probably thinking of. In this first episode, Mike and Alex discuss Volumes 1 and 2 (issues 1-12) of Mike Carey and Peter Gross' examination of stories and storytelling and our relationship to them, both in the power they have over us and the power we give to them. They dive deep into the storytelling mechanics of the comic and Alex spends an inordinate amount of time talking about lettering (which is super important in comics and too often overlooked; show some respect!). They also talk about how a book can be so very clear to the reader as that what's it's doing and yet remain utterly confusing as the what is happening. But stick with it; it all makes sense in the end.

As per usual for these longer series, we won't be spoiling anything in this episode beyond what is presented in the first two volumes (Mike was only about halfway through the series at the time of recording so he couldn't spoil much even if he wanted to). Then go pick up The Unwritten Volumes 3 and 4 and join us here next week as we continue to fall deeper into this meta-fiction rabbit hole.

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Welcome to the most ambitious season of Stories Arcs to date!

In this zero episode, Mike and Alex discuss the comics history of creators Mike Carey and Peter Gross and provide an introduction to their sprawling meta-fiction tale, The Unwritten. The guys touch on Carey and Gross' collaboration outside of The Unwritten, such as the Sandman spin-off Lucifer and The Highest House, as well as their other comics work, both at the Big Two publishers and creator-owned independent books. Then they sell you on why you should pick up The Unwritten and journey into the world of Tommy (or is it Tom?) Taylor. If you like stories about stories, storytelling, and the power of stories both fictional and non, The Unwritten is the book for you.

Given the length of the this series, we're going to covering things a little differently this season. Each episode will cover TWO trade collections at a time, for a total of 6 discussions. The plan is as follows: Volumes 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, 7 and 8, 9 and the original graphic novel "Tommy Taylor and the Ship That Sank Twice," and then 10 and 11 (published in single issue format as The Unwritten: Apocalypse).

It's a lot to read and a lot to discuss so find The Unwritten at your local comic shop or public library and join us back here next week as we dive into Volumes 1 and 2!

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"If you believe in nothing, how can you accomplish anything."

In this one-shot episode, Mike and Alex dive right into The Nightly News from Image Comics, superstar writer Jonathan Hickman's first-ever published comic work. They talk about how Hickman being the sole credited creator on the book effects the presentation of the story on the page, including how some storytelling elements that would persist throughout his career are present in this comic right from the jump. Then they dig into how a book written in 2006 could feel so prescient that it could easily be mistaken for a book written in 2023 (the heavy plot reliance on the existence of cassette tapes and the lack of smart phones and social media kinda gives it away, though). Is it amazing that a creator could so fully grasp the world around them that they could synthesize a story that would remain relevant and timeless? Or is just that our world continues to have the same problems over and over again so when in doubt, assume the worst and you'll probably be right? I'd say tune in at 11 for more but I don't think anyone watches the news anymore.

Thanks for joining us for another episode! We're done with the one-shot discussions for a little while as we get ready to jump into a new multi-volume book starting next week. See you then!

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Mike and Alex have another one-shot deep dive lined up for discussion but before they do, they have a chat about the creative team behind that comic, The Nightly News from Image Comics- writer Jonathan Hickman, artist Jonathan Hickman, colorist Jonathan Hickman, letterer Jonathan Hickm... okay you get the idea. He did everything on this book and it was his first published comic work all the way back in 2006! The guys give a brief overview of Hickman's illustrious comics career to date and discuss how this early work shows signs of both the massive talent to come and the mistakes of a rookie creator. Then as always, they pitch you on why you should read The Nightly News and why the topics and ideas it tackles might be more relevant now than they were when it was originally published

Go find The Nightly News from Image Comics at your local comic shop or public library and join us next week for another one-shot discussion episode!

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"Repeat a lie often enough, it takes on the illusion of truth."

In this one-shot episode, Mike and Alex dig deep into The Seeds by Ann Nocenti and David Aja from Berger Books. They break down the myriad of themes presented in the book (and there are a lot of them) and explore how effectively each one was managed and presented. Is this comic an ecological commentary on humanity's relationship with the natural world? Is it mocking our over-reliance on and addiction to technology? Is it a story about star-crossed lovers looking for acceptance and belonging? Or is it about ethics in end-of-the-world journalism? Listen in to hear the guys gush over all things David Aja and find out why the answer to all of those questions is "yes."

Thanks for joining us for another special one-shot episode! We'll be back next week with another great book. See you then!

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In this episode, Mike and Alex take a look at the creative team behind their next one-shot deep dive, The Seeds. They discuss the influential career of Karen Berger and the name-brand power she brought to Dark Horse with her Berger Books imprint, as well as the the works of legendary writer/editor Ann Nocenti and artist extraordinaire David Aja. Then they pitch you on why The Seeds is some advanced-level reading and why it it was worthy of discussion on the show.

Go find The Seeds from Berger Books at your local comic shop or public library and join us next week for another one-shot discussion episode!

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You'll find all kinds of goodies in this oversized holiday episode which we've dubbed an "annual." In true comic fashion, we ran out of stories to cover by a week so we've compiled an annual edition. Alex and Mike talk about the books they'd like to cover for 2023 as well as shine a light on the book selection process.

Each podcaster provides a list of books that they'd like to cover as well as books they love but don't fit the podcast. Those books are broken into a few buckets and so is this episode. For a full list of books mentioned be sure to check out this episode's show notes on our website www.storiedarcs.com.

2:05 Books we'd like to cover, but not enough meat on the bone

27:30 Books we'd like to cover, but they're ongoing/unfinished

50:40 Books we'd like to cover, but they're Marvel/DC

1:14:35 Books we'd like to cover, but we've already discussed the creators

1:28:45 Books we'd like to discuss, but we'd only get one episode out of them

2:02:10 Books Mike would like to discuss, but they're manga

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"And I suppose this has been the problem from the very start. The fundamental crack in civilization that has always set us against each other- mistaking productivity for value."

In the final episode of Season 5 of Stories Arcs, Mike and Alex leap into the not-so-distant future to chat about Mark Russell and Mike Deodato, Jr.'s Eisner-award winning Not All Robots Volume 1 (issues 1-5). They dive deep into the idea of resentment and misplaced blame and discuss how the premise of the comic allows Russell and Deodato to pointedly address the issues they are satirizing (toxic masculinity, what about-ism, etc.). The guys also reflect back on the topics and ideas presented in The Flintstones and connect the modern Stone Age family to the Walters family of 2056 and their government-assigned robot, Razorball.

That puts a bow on anther season of Storied Arcs! We'll be back soon to dive deep into another great comic. See you then!

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"If civilization is going to last, if it's going to amount to anything more than must a place to watch TV and get cheap snake meat, it will only be because we've learned to do one thing... To care for people who mean nothing to us."

In this episode, Mike and Alex continue their discussion of The Flintstones and focus in on the main theme of Volume 2 (issues 7-12): does humanity deserve to exist? Are we even worthy of our place in the universe? Russell and Pugh lay out plenty of strikes against us in this volume- classism and the increasing wealth gap, the religious industrial complex, the military industrial complex, gentrification, pretentious art critics, etc.- but they also offer us some hope. Things might be bad now but maybe, just maybe, we can turn things around and make a better life for all of us by just having a little faith in one another. We learned that from a bowling ball and and vacuum cleaner.

While this is the end of our time in Bedrock, we aren't finished with the Mark Russell Extended Comic Universe (the MRECU?). Join us next week as we jump into the future with Mark Russell and Mike Deodato, Jr.'s Not All Robots. Find it wherever you get your comic books!

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"No offense, but it seems like the whole point of civilization is to get someone else to do your killing for you."

Welcome to Bedrock and a new season of Storied Arcs! Mike and Alex travel back to the Stone Age to discuss Volume 1 (issues 1-6) of Mark Russell and Steve Pugh's cutting satire of modern-day life, The Flintstones. What does a 60-year-old cartoon have to say about our 21st century world? Quite a bit, it turns out. Rampant consumerism, colonization, PTSD, marriage equality, voting issues, doomsday prophecies; does any of this sounds familiar? The guys try and cover it all and not lose themselves in cynicism as they look into the mirror Russell and Pugh are holding up to our own society. And a moment between a bowling ball and a vacuum cleaner just might bring you to tears. Yabba-dabba-do.

This isn't necessarily a comic that can be "spoiled" in a traditional way, but regardless, we're not covering any issues beyond #6 in this episode. Be sure to grab Volume 2 from your local comic shop or public library and join us next week as we continue our deep-dive into this modern-take on the modern Stone Age family.

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This is a big one! Not only do we dive deep into the work and themes of Mark Russell, we also examine the art of Steve Pugh (Flintstones) and the storied career of Mike Deodato (Not All Robots.)

This serves as the zero episode and intro for both Flintstones and Not All Robots which are written by Mark Russell. The two books may seem like a strange juxtaposition, but Russell's salient commentary on society spans from pre-human to post-human. The books are quite different, but the themes are similar.

We'll also look at the great partnership between Russell and Steve Pugh which began on Flintstones and has continued into books like Billionaire Island. Finally, we'll look at Mike Deodato, who, if you read comics, you have likely seen before. The particular challenges associated with Not All Robots was something that only a talented and veteran artist could make the most of.

Grab your copies of Flintstones volume 1 and join us next week as we begin a deep dive into the work of Mark Russell!

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In this mini-episode, you get to hear the introduction from the deluxe edition of The Flintstones written and read by Mark Russell. This book has a particular context and speaks distinctly to our modern world. This introduction lays the groundwork beautifully and will set you up for the emotional and intellectual ride that is The Flintstones.

The best part of this little bonus episode is that Mark Russell has graciously agreed to read his letter for us. So you'll hear our intro music and a brief comment from Mike, but for the most part you listen to the man himself.

Join us after this for a deep dive into the creative work of Mark Russell including a trade-by-trade breakdown of The Flintstones and Not All Robots.

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"How did it all get so bad? And when did we lose hope that it might ever get better... instead of worse?"

In the final episode of Storied Arcs Season 4, Mike and Alex are here to wrap up Brubaker and Phillips' instant-classic Kill Or Be Killed with Volume 4 (issues 15-20). How does it all end, what does it all mean, and does any of it ultimately even matter. Can a book be pessimistic and hopeful at the same time? If the world is so broken and terrible, what's there to be optimistic about? The guys grapple with the dichotomy presented in the story and try to make sense of it all (the comic, not the whole world; that'd be asking a bit much).

We thank you all once again for listening along through another season of Storied Arcs. We hope you enjoyed diving into the world of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips and definitely recommend reading any and all of their other collaborations; you never know, we might circle back around and cover one of them in a future season.

Please keep sending in your questions and comments about Kill Or Be Killed, or any of the books we've covered so far, and we'll see you again soon for the next season of Storied Arcs!

As always, join our discussion on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our website.

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"Fear is a weird thing. Sometimes it's a survival mechanism... like the instinct that made our ancestors flee from saber-tooth tigers. But a lot of the time it's the handcuffs that we put on ourselves."

In this episode, Mike and Alex discuss the changing motivations of the vigilante killer and examine how that alters our perception of what he's doing. Does the "why" matter at all if the end result either way is someone going around killing people, even if those people are perceived as being the bad guys? And what does it say about someone when they realize they might actually be good at being a vigilante killer? Kill Or Be Killed Volume 3 (issues 11-14) asks these questions of the reader and the guys are here to break it all down.

This is the penultimate volume of the comic and there are no spoilers in this episode for the final arc. We've come too far to ruin things now for new readers (and Mike!).

As always, join our discussion on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our website.

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"I don't believe in fate, but you can't deny that things in life sometimes fall together like there actually is some big cosmic plan at work. Which would suck for about 95 percent of us, right?"

In Volume 2 (issues 5-10), Brubaker and Phillips begin to expand the world of Kill Or Be Killed and Mike and Alex are here to break it all down in this episode. They revisit the idea of fate and destiny vs. self determinism (something of a semi-recurring theme in the books they've been covering) and explore how it factors into the motivations and justifications for a vigilante killer. They look at the real-world parallels that are referenced in this volume and also discuss how the broadening of the story beyond the viewpoint of its narrator effects our understanding of how reliable what we're being told and shown really is.

As previously stated, we won't be spoiling anything about the story beyond the trade collection we're coving that week because we want to preserve the experience for those those reading through the comic for the first time, just like Mike!

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"It's so easy for the guys in those old vigilante movies to find their targets... they just walk around waiting to get mugged. Or they listen for screams and arrive just in time. In real life, it's not like that."

In the first episode of Storied Arcs Season 4, Mike and Alex take a peak inside the mind of a vigilante killer as they dive into Volume 1 (issues 1-4) of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillip's modern crime noir classic, Kill Or Be Killed. They discuss what the book has to say about the state of the world and the systems that govern it and what that has to say about the nature of vigilantism and who is empowered to enact justice if those systems are inherently unjust. Oh, and something about a demon that may or may not be real. Who can say.

Like our previous seasons, we aren't spoiling anything about the story beyond the trade collection we're covering that week. This is particularly notable this season because Mike is reading through Kill Or Be Killed for the first time as we are recording so he has no other choice in the matter!

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In this episode, Mike and Alex take a look at Alex's favorite creative team in all of comics- writer Ed Brubaker and artist Sean Phillips. They discuss the duo's long history of incredible comic work, both separately and together, how noir storytelling infuses all of their collaborations, and sell you on why the vigilante crime-noir book Kill Or Be Killed was their choice for the next deep-dive discussion on the podcast.

Enter the world of Brubaker and Phillips by finding Kill Or Be Killed at your local comic shop or public library and be here next week as the guys dive right into volume 1!

As always, join our discussion on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our website.

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"The most spectacular episode of The Twilight Zone that was never produced." - Damon Lindelof, from the introduction to The Underwater Welder

In this oversized, one-shot episode, Mike and Alex cover the entire book for Jeff Lemire's solo masterpiece, The Underwater Welder. No chapter breaks, no multiple volumes, just the whole story all at once, so be sure you've finished reading before jumping into the episode. They discuss how the exploration and presentation of time is central to so much of Jeff Lemire's work and how effectively it is or isn't used in this book. Mike talks about how eerily the setup of the story mirrors his own current life situation (hint- it's not the underwater welding part) and Alex forced to confront several very terrible (are there any other kind?) water puns.

The themes in this book are dark, and the characters aren't necessarily likeable, but it has an overall optimistic view that will definitely strike an emotional chord with the reader. What kind of emotion? You'll have to dive in find out (dang it!).

This special on-shot episode serves as Season 3 of our show, and Season 4 will be coming down the line soon. See you all then!

As always, join our discussion on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our website.

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In this episode, the guys discuss Mike's all-time favorite comic creator: Jeff Lemire (Alex is a big fan, too, just not quite on the buy-every-Jeff-Lemire-variant-cover-published-regardless-of-series level Mike is). They give a history of Lemire's work, an overview of his style and themes, and finally, provide a synopsis and sales pitch for their next discussion, The Underwater Welder!

Find the original graphic novel (or OGN, as the cool kids say) at your local comic shop or public library and join us next week for a special double-sized, one-shot episode!

As always, join our discussion on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our website.

In this episode, we have an exclusive interview with the INSANELY talented Hilary Jenkins who provided colors for Eisner-nominated Grass Kings and continued her collaboration with Matt Kindt and Tyler Jenkins into Black Badge, Fear Case, and Apache Delivery Service. We talk about the creative process and the colorist's role in comic creation. We also discuss her other comic projects and will provide links to her work and original artwork on our website, www.storiedarcs.com

You can follow Hilary on Instagram and Twitter to keep up with her latest projects!

And as always, join our discussion on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our website.

A community of people living off the grid, opposed to government oversight, get raided by federal agents. That's never ended poorly before, right?

Join Mike and Alex as they cover the EPIC conclusion to Grass Kings in Volume 3 (issues 11-15), where the Kingdom faces off against the outside world, their own personal demons, and oh yeah, a serial killer. Listen in to hear how the guys rate the ending of the series and their thoughts on what did and didn't work throughout the run now that the story is complete.

Once again, we've reached the end of another season of Storied Arcs and we thank you all for listening along. Some of the books we'll cover here will be bigger titles that we're fairly confident a good number of people have read; some of them will be like this season, a book we enjoyed that we feel got a little overlooked by the readers at large. We hope you enjoyed checking out Grass Kings and please keep sending in your comments and/or questions,

Coming up next in the Storied Arcs feed, an exclusive interview with one of the members of the Grass Kings creative team, colorist Hilary Jenkins! Then after that, a special double-sized, one-shot episode on a book from one of our favorite creators. See you then!

As always, join our discussion on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our website.

What's the price of living in a free society? Is constant surveillance acceptable if you're the one doing it and not the big bad overlords of the world? And do the rules change at all if you find out there might be a serial killer living among you?

Mike and Alex explore these questions and more and they jump into Grass Kings Volume 2 (issues 6-10). They touch on what feels like a shift in tone for the comic and how a change in focus reshapes our view of both the story and the characters in it.

As always, join our discussion on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our website.

You are now entering the Grass Kingdom!

In this episode, Mike and Alex discuss the first volume (issues 1-6) of Grass Kings by Matt Kindt and Tyler Jenkins, including Jenkins' stunning artwork, the innate need for war and conflict found in human nature, and what this book has to say, if anything, about the idea of sovereign citizenry.

As always, join our discussion on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our website.

Welcome to the Grass Kingdom! In this episode, Alex and Mike will give a spoiler-free pitch for Matt Kindt and Tyler Jenkins' Eisner-nominated book, Grass Kings. You'll get a background on Boom Studios, bio and overview of the creators Matt Kindt, Tyler Jenkins, and Jim Campbell, as well as a spoiler-free synopsis and breakdown of the main characters.

Grab this in single-issue from your local comic shop, in the three trade paperback collected editions, or borrow it from your library and meet us back here next week to discuss volume 1!

As always, join our discussion on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our website.

After six long weeks of a deep dive into the source material, Alex and Mike share their thoughts on Amazon Prime's adaptation of Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang.

Long story short, they LOVED it!

This episode does contain spoilers for Season 1 of Paper Girls and a fair bit of speculation for future seasons based on what we know from the comics. If you have not watched Season 1 yet then we highly recommend downloading this episode and saving it for later!

Maybe the real storied arcs are the friends we made along the way.

In this season finale, Mike and Alex discuss the epic conclusion to Paper Girls in the final story arc, Volume 6 (issues 26 - 30). Endings are hard because it's nearly impossible to give everyone the satisfying closure they're looking for. Spoiler alert- this one nails it.

Thanks for listening along all season and we hope you enjoyed diving deeper into this incredible story. Don't forget to send in your comments and/or questions for the mailbag episode that'll be coming down the line. We love hearing from everyone about their experiences reading Paper Girls, whether it was the first time for them or a re-read.

See you guys again real soon for Season Two of Storied Arcs!

As always, join our discussion on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our website.

It's true, folks; the future's so bright, you gotta wear shades. But never mind that, we have more important things to discuss, like, if you had to say, which Ninja Turtle are you?

In this week's episode, Mike and Alex travel into the future for Paper Girls Volume 5 (issues 21-25) and talk about how things there maybe aren't so different from how they are right now. Over-policing? Still an issue. Hospitals? No insurance, no help. Libraries? Woefully underutilized always helpful. And it anyone happens to be listening to this in the year 2171, please leave a comment on how right/wrong they got things. I'd be interested to know.

In the homestretch now with just one more trade collection to go. This episodes covers everything so far through issue 25 but does not spoil the final arc.

As always, join our discussion on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our website.

Where were you when Y2K hit? Were you hiding in a fallout bunker? In Times Square to watch the ball drop? Or were you defiantly at your computer, actively ignoring the explicit warnings of electronics retailers, like one of your podcast hosts? And if you were too young to remember Y2K or weren't even born yet, we're curious- what do you know about it? Do they talk about the giant robots? Because that totally happened. Trust me. I was there.

In this episode, Mike and Alex revisit the final year of the 20th Century (NOT the first year of the 21st Century, thank you very much) in Paper Girls Volume 4 (issues 16-20). They discuss the best way to deliver a whole lot of exposition in a story without having it feel like you've just been delivered a whole lot of exposition and how this arc starts to tie together threads that have been laid out going back to the first issue. We're on the back half of the roller coaster and gaining speed towards the end!

If you're here and listening, we assume you've read through issue 20, but no spoiler beyond that!

As always, join our discussion on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our website.

Travel back to 11,706 BCE and meet the woman who invented time travel! But she's not even technically the first time traveler because people from the future will use the technology she invented to go back into the past which will allow people from that past to go even further into the past and thus be present in that past when she arrives there after having just invented time travel in the future.

Everybody clear? Good.

As they jump into Paper Girls Volume 3 (issues 11-15), Mike and Alex try to parse through the timeline above and do a quick ranking of the story arcs thus far, working through where and how this arc fits in with the overall narrative. They discuss if the ins and outs of how time travel works within the story are even necessary to know, and also revisit the many biblical references that continue to arise throughout the arcs.

Be sure you're read through the first three volumes before you listen, and there won't be any spoilers beyond issue 15.

As always, join our discussion on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our website.

If you could be told with exact certainty when you were going to die, would you want to know? Would you find that knowledge be freeing or burdensome?

Mike and Alex go deep on that very topic and more as they cover Paper Girls Volume 2 (issues 6-10). They touch on how prescient it was in 2015 to refer to 2016 as the begin of The Problems and how weird it would be to meet an younger version of yourself. Or an older one, for that matter. Not that 40 is old or anything because it definitely isn't. Nope. Not old at all.

As always, this episode will cover this trade collection and what's come before but won't be spoiling anything beyond issue 10.

As always, join our discussion on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our website.

Welcome to scenic Stony Stream, Ohio! Okay fine, it's just suburban Cleveland. In 1988.

In this episode, co-hosts Mike and Alex kick off the first season of Storied Arcs by breaking down Paper Girls Volume 1 (issues 1-5). They discuss the storytelling choices made by the creative team that are specific to sequential art, the use (or potential overuse) of nostalgia when dealing with period setting, and Alex gives his three immutable theories for time travel in fiction (as opposed to, you know, time travel in real life).

As will be the case going forward, this episode assumes you've read through issue 5 aka first trade collection but won't spoil anything beyond that.

As always, join our discussion on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our website.

Join co-hosts Mike and Alex as they provide a spoiler-free preview of what's to come in the ensuing trade-by-trade analysis of Paper Girls from Image Comics. They'll introduce the creative team, key information, and most importantly, why they love this book and decided to start their podcast off with it.

Welcome to Storied Arcs! The podcast for deep dives into indie comics. In each episode, we will discuss one story arc, typically in the form of a trade paperback, for a completed comic series. In general, we will be avoiding ongoing or continuing series so that we can discuss a work in its entirety. We’ll also be avoiding the “big two” (Marvel and DC.) While we love those comics, there are plenty of podcasts covering characters like Batman, Superman, Spiderman, and so on. Instead, we’re excited to explore some of the great creator-owned stories. We’ll deep dive into the story while evaluating the prose, art, and all the easter eggs we can find.

In this trailer, we'll introduce ourselves and what we're here to do.

A Deep Dive Into Comics, One Story Arc at a Time