Crying in the Book Club: Recent Episodes
Crying in the Book Club
We're back! And this episode, we're reading a comic from one of our favorite contemporary writers, or at least one of our most-referenced, Mark Russell. Traveling to Mars may be the most contemporary series we've covered, an 11-issue epic following a terminal cancer patient's journey to become the first human to set foot on the red planet, and claim it for the Easy Beef Corporation. Along the way we get some robot shenanigans, one man's critical appraisal of his life, and the beautiful story of a fish called Leroy Brown.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We're heading to a galaxy far, far and away for the comic that inspired everyone's favorite Star Wars movie: Dark Empire.
- Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
- Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
- Follow us on Twitter:
- @cryingbookclub
- @mtdewliker
- @empandanada
- @alexhandziuk
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We tackle something more modern with Mark Russell's Journey to Mars.
- Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
- Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
- Follow us on Twitter:
- @cryingbookclub
- @mtdewliker
- @empandanada
- @alexhandziuk
We're closing out Pride Month with a classic Emily-core pick in Gunjo, a toxic yuri manga about two lesbians who fucking hate each other. But also love each other. And also commit all kinds of crimes. I would call it fun but it's actually grim and sorta depressing.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We're going back to the X-Men for God Loves, Man Kills
- Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
- Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
- Follow us on Twitter:
- @cryingbookclub
- @mtdewliker
- @empandanada
- @alexhandziuk
We're kicking off pride month with one of the best queer comics of the last decade: The Pervert. Chad's here, so we're reuniting the lineup that initially heaped praise on Michelle Perez and Remy Boydell's graphic novel way back when it originally came out.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We take our first foray into toxic yuri with Gunjo.
- Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
- Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
- Follow us on Twitter:
- @cryingbookclub
- @mtdewliker
- @empandanada
- @alexhandziuk
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We kick off pride month with The Pervert.
- Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
- Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
- Follow us on Twitter:
- @cryingbookclub
- @mtdewliker
- @empandanada
- @alexhandziuk
It's May in the book club (and everywhere else, I suppose?) and you know what that means: it's time to return to Marvel Comics' best team of all time, the GOATs of teenage superheroes: The Runaways. This episode, we read the first 12 issues of BKV and Adrian Alphona's second volume of Runaways, and discuss all the teenage angst that comes with the territory. Also: Jean-Luc found a sick forum from 2005 where they talk about Runaways and reports back. Also also: We find out which hosts have experienced sex with a power vacuum.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We close out Runamay 2 with the last twelve issues of BKV's Runaways.
- Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
- Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
- Follow us on Twitter:
- @cryingbookclub
- @mtdewliker
- @empandanada
- @alexhandziuk
This episode, we celebrate our 50th episode by talking about some other notable 50th anniversary celebrations. Some of them might rise to the level of this podcast... but not many.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We're kicking off Runamay 2 with more Runaways!
- Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
- Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
- Follow us on Twitter:
- @cryingbookclub
- @mtdewliker
- @empandanada
- @alexhandziuk
This week on "Comics With Names That Are Needlessly Long...." Ok that was mean. The name is fine. Chad's back, hanging with the usual hosts. It's just like the old days, right down to the fact we talk about some perv shit the whole time. Except unlike the old days this time it's actually what we're here to do! So that's cool.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: It's episode 50! We've got some stuff planned! You'll find out when we do!
- Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
- Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
- Follow us on Twitter:
- @cryingbookclub
- @mtdewliker
- @empandanada
- @alexhandziuk
We are here talking about a little known comic book called The Walking Dead. Maybe you've heard of it, maybe you haven't.... Ok you definitely have. But you haven't heard us talk about it! Fix that right now!!!
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: Chad's coming back for the Wize Wize Beast of the Wizarding Wizdom? I think that's the name??? Emily made us read some gay furry shit
- Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
- Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
- Follow us on Twitter:
- @cryingbookclub
- @mtdewliker
- @empandanada
- @alexhandziuk
Jean-Luc is back as we conclude our read of Grant Morrison's New X-Men!
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: A little indie comic you've never heard of.... The Walking Dead.
- Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
- Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
- Follow us on Twitter:
- @cryingbookclub
- @mtdewliker
- @empandanada
- @alexhandziuk
Cowabunga dudes! Chad here and I'm totally psyched to talk about the rad racing realness that is Speed Racer (2008). With Jean-luc away at Star Wars camp, it's me Emily, Alex and Racer X in the cockpit of a T-130 for a full hour of thrills, chills and wacky racing! What does Chad really think about the U.S government? Does Emily have a secret alter ego? And is Alex a real person, or two Speed Racer (2008) Blu-Rays in a trench coat? All that I know is that I miss Jean-luc and I hope that he's thinking of us. XOXO
- Chadley
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We're going back to the well for, you guessed it, the rest of New X-Men.
- Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
- Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
- Follow us on Twitter:
- @cryingbookclub
- @mtdewliker
- @empandanada
- @alexhandziuk
- @vicunad
BUY CHAD'S BOOKS YOU SILLY GOOSE! https://www.amazon.ca/stores/Chad-Waller/author/B005979WWG?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
We noticed it had been a few months since we talked about a Grant Morrison comic on the show, so naturally we had to remedy that. It's also been a minute since our last Marvel series, so we figured: why not New X-Men, a cornerstone of Marvel's turn of the century bounce back form bankruptcy? We covered the first four trades for this episode, so it's not a complete breakdown, but we discussed some of the newer characters, in particular Xorn, Angel, and Quentin Quire's crew. We also discovered Emily is a secret X-Men fan? Who knew!
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We're going back to the well for, you guessed it, the rest of New X-Men.
- Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
- Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
- Follow us on Twitter:
- @cryingbookclub
- @mtdewliker
- @empandanada
- @alexhandziuk
- @vicunad
This week in the book club we subjected ourselves to the scourge of the comic book industry: video game adaptations. The crew checked out selections from Dishonored, Kingdom Hearts, and Overwatch, and discussed them individually as well as any broader trends they picked up on between the series.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We kick off a month with everyone's favorite super-team, the X-Men, and everyone's favorite superhero comics writer, Grant Morrison.
- Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
- Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
- Follow us on Twitter:
- @cryingbookclub
- @mtdewliker
- @empandanada
- @alexhandziuk
- @vicunad
The book club has reconvened in the manga aisle of Barnes & Noble and stumbled upon this little series called checks notes Delicious in Dungeon? Just kidding I know the actual Japanese of the manga is Dungeon Meshi. We also left Alex in the car for this trip to the book store and coincidentally ran into friend of the show Teese (@vicunad) who also coincidentally loves Dungeon Meshi. I'm going to drop this book store bit now.
The crew discusses some of their critiques of the series, especially the early chapters, and how it eventually grows into something really special and exciting. They briefly touch on the newly released anime, and spend a good deal of time pontificating about eating the monsters themselves.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: The crew looks at a trio of video game adaptations: Overwatch, Dishonored, and Kingdom Hearts. This might be painful.
- Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
- Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
- Follow us on Twitter:
- @cryingbookclub
- @mtdewliker
- @empandanada
- @alexhandziuk
- @vicunad
The book club is back and kicking off 2024 in style--with an episode recorded in 2023. That's right, we're on top of things such as "Scheduling" over here. And we're kicking off the new year with something special! Instead of talking about "comic" "books" we are instead talking about an animated television show. A motion comic, if you will.
This episode, we discuss 2023's Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, its take on the beloved source material, the return of the all-star cast from the live action movie, the animation, and everything in between. Also, Jean-Luc and Emily get excited about the multiple David Cronenberg references. It's a little lame but hopefully also endearing.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club:
- Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
- Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
- Follow us on Twitter:
- @cryingbookclub
- @mtdewliker
- @empandanada
- @alexhandziuk
This episode, the book club convenes to discuss the first three volumes of Robert Kirkman's coming of age superhero drama Invincible. It's a first time read for Emily and Alex, and a surprisingly pleasant revisit for Jean-Luc. The crew discusses Kirkman's take on superheroes, the series' humor, and a little bit about where it goes outside of the issues discussed.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: As a treat for the end of the year we branch outside of comics for the first time to discuss Netflix's Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.
- Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
- Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
- Follow us on Twitter:
- @cryingbookclub
- @mtdewliker
- @empandanada
- @alexhandziuk
This Thanksgiving, we are all thankful for Darth Vader, the most beautiful man ever to grace our cinema screens. But did you know he got up to other quirky adventures in between the events of the Star Wars movies??? Well, he did, and Kieron Gillen wrote about some of them! And not just Darth Vader, but his besties Dr Aphra, Triple 0, and BT-1. Oh and Black Krrrsantan! I can never remember how to spell that. But they're all Darth Vader's friends and they do hot girl shit together (regime change operations).
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We read the first three arcs of Robert Kirkman's Invincible.
- Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
- Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
- Follow us on Twitter:
- @cryingbookclub
- @mtdewliker
- @empandanada
- @alexhandziuk
Spooky season may have ended, but horror is year round. So for this episode, the book club turns their sites to 2011 and the reboot that got Alex and Jean-Luc into comics: The New 52 run of Animal Man. There's a lot to be said about the art, but also Jeff Lemire juggling traditional superheroics with horror and slice of life elements.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: The crew heads to a galaxy far, far away for the 2015 Darth Vader comic.
- Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
- Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
- Follow us on Twitter:
- @cryingbookclub
- @mtdewliker
- @empandanada
- @alexhandziuk
Spooky season has come to a close, but the manga train continues with Alex's childhood favorite Yu Gi Oh. The book club discusses the manga, how different it is from what they expected, and go deep on some of the goofy scenarios Yu Gi finds himself in. Jean-Luc disparages both the comic and the card game (somewhat undeservingly) * Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib. * Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily. * Follow us on Twitter: + @cryingbookclub + @mtdewliker + @empandanada + @alexhandziuk
~~Spooooooky season~~ continues this week in the book club with the debut work of acclaimed horror manga writer/artist Junji Ito, Tomie. The crew discuses his gruesome and gorgeous body horror, what the series is actually about, and how badly Emily wants to be like Tomie. * Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib. * Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily. * Follow us on Twitter: + @cryingbookclub + @mtdewliker + @empandanada + @alexhandziuk
Welcome to spooooooooky season! We're kicking it off with a book that is spooky, but maybe not in the most fun way? Anyway we're talking about The Crow, the circumstances of its creation, its enduring legacy, and O'Barr's, well, let's say "interesting" portrayal of 1980s Detroit. * Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib. * Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily. * Follow us on Twitter: + @cryingbookclub + @mtdewliker + @empandanada + @alexhandziuk
Continuing on our Morrison kick after Wonder Woman Earth One, we're looking at their unique take on the early years of another iconic DC character: Superman.
- Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
- Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
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Follow us on Twitter:
- @cryingbookclub
- @mtdewliker
- @empandanada
- @alexhandziuk
Despite a seemingly never ending series of technical difficulties, the book club got together to discuss Grant Morrison and Yannick Paquette's Wonder Woman: Earth One, a unique and zany reimagining of the iconic DC's character.* Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib. * Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily. * Follow us on Twitter: + @cryingbookclub + @mtdewliker + @empandanada + @alexhandziuk
Do you guys like having fun? Here at Crying in the Book Club, we enjoy a good time. And very few comics are as good a time as Mark Russell and Stephen Byrne's Wonder Twins, a series released in 2019 that channels the best that silver age comics have to offer. And has a little dollop of social commentary for good measure. Ever wonder if the prison-industrial complex exists in the DC Universe? Well, this book has the answer!Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We check out this small indie writer named Grant Morrison and their 2016-2021 saga Wonder Woman: Earth One.* Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib. * Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily. * Follow us on Twitter: + @cryingbookclub + @mtdewliker + @empandanada + @alexhandziuk
It's manga time on Crying in the Book Club, and we have an absolute doozy for this episode: A big chunk of Berserk. For this episode, we read The Black Swordsman and the first half of The Golden Age, or if you're Jean-Luc, just The Golden Age. He can't follow basic instructions. It's the whole crew's first time with Berserk, so no one was entirely sure what to expect. There's a lot of raving about the book as a whole--and Griffith's hair in particular--but also some more critical discussion of the art and Kentaro Miura's handling of his female characters. But overall, it's quite positive--positive enough we'll be coming back for more in the near future. Next, on Crying in the Book Club: The book club experiences tonal whiplash by going directly from Berserk to Mark Russell Stephen Byrne's Wonder Twins.* Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib. * Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily. * Follow us on Twitter: + @cryingbookclub + @mtdewliker + @empandanada + @alexhandziuk
For the first time, the book club heads across the Atlantic rather than the Pacific to tackle a foreign comic. And what better way than with one of the most influential European comics of all time, Tintin. We spend a good amount of time discussing the book, but also the reactionary politics of Tintin's creator, Herge. Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We tackle the early chapters of the seminal dark fantasy manga Berserk.Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.Follow us on Twitter:* @cryingbookclub * @mtdewliker * @empandanada * @alexhandziuk
Pride month may be over, but the gay comics talk keeps rolling with Maia Kobabe's Genderqueer, the most banned book in America two years running. So what makes it so controversial? Is it the inclusion of a subplot about One Direction fanfiction? The book club tries to puzzle it out, and came away a bit surprised at just how inoffensive the book is. Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We head back in time to discuss one of the most influential French comics of all time, Tintin and the Blue Lotus.Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.Follow us on Twitter:* @cryingbookclub * @mtdewliker * @empandanada * @alexhandziuk
Happy pride month! (again) This episode, we close out pride month by talking about one of Emily's favorite books (and soon to be released animated film) Nimona, by ND Stevenson! We talk about everything from Stevenson's excellent art to its origin as a Tumblr webcomic and its portrayal/inclusion of queer characters.Plus Emily and Jean-Luc (especially Jean-Luc) were drinking. Fun times were had by all! (but 0 Suicide Squad references)Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We celebrate the 4th of July by talking about the most banned book in America, Gender QueerOur theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.Follow us on Twitter:@cryingbookclub@mtdewliker@empandanada@alexhandziuk
Happy pride month! This episode, we're discussing the seminal queer graphic novel Fun Home, Alison Bechdel's autobiography. Which, as we find out, has a surprising amount in common with the 2016 film Suicide Squad. (It really doesn't). There's a lot to discuss in Fun Home, from Bechdel's use of a simple color pallet to her inclusion of tons of literary references, and the book club crew discusses it all.Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We continue celebrating pride month (and the release of the animated adaptation) with the 2015 graphic novel Nimona!)Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.Follow us on Twitter:@cryingbookclub@mtdewliker@empandanada@alexhandziuk
Much to all of our chagrin, we have reached the end of the debut RunaMay. There are plenty of Runaways comics left for next year, but we're wrapping things up with the most recent ongoing series featuring our favorite Marvel characters, the 2017 Rainbow Rowell and Kris Anka run.The hosts discuss the way the characters have aged, as well as how Rowell updates the characters for the modern age, and OF COURSE, the payoff to over a decade of devoted shipping,Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We kick off Pride Month with a seminal work of queer literature, Alison Bechdel's Fun HomeOur theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.Follow us on Twitter:@cryingbookclub@mtdewliker@empandanada@alexhandziuk
Y'know what's crazy? We could have just kept going with the BKV issues of Runaways, but instead skipped ahead to the five issue closer written by Joss Whedon. The only logical explanation is that we're all masochists, because not one of us came away liking this. Instead of quality comics, we were "treated" to some really weird racism and character assassination of Nico Minoru. Fuck you Joss Whedon! Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We skip forward yet again for Rainbow Rowell's (much better) take on the Runaways.Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.Follow us on Twitter:@cryingbookclub@mtdewliker@empandanada@alexhandziuk
Welcome to May! And, more importantly: the debut of Runawamay, where we spend a whole month talking our favorite Marvel characters, the Runaways. For our first episode, we're reading the series that started it all, the BKV + Adrian Alphona classic. We love BKV, don't we folks? (In this case we really do this book owns)Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.Follow us on Twitter:@cryingbookclub@mtdewliker@empandanada@alexhandziuk
If Crying in the Book Club listeners know one thing about the hosts, it's probably their complicated history with comic book writer extraordinaire Brian K Vaughan. We covered his graphic novel Pride of Baghdad in episode 4, and his name has recurred throughout this show. You may know him for iconic works like Y: The Last Man or Saga, but this episode we take on... well, let's call it a hidden gem: Ex Machina.Given how large post-9/11 American politics loom over the creation of this book, a significant portion of the discussion is devoted to how BKV portrays issues like gay marriage, marijuana legalization, and the Iraq War. They also discuss the attempt to integrate superhero mythology into a world otherwise identical to our own, and the pitfalls therein. Next, on Crying in the Book Club: The inaugural month of RunaMay begins! We're going back to the BKV well with his original 18 issues of the now-iconic Marvel series. Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.Follow us on Twitter:@cryingbookclub@mtdewliker@empandanada@alexhandziuk
This week, the crew takes a secret portal through Emily's hair to the Green, the home of the most popular DC Comics character of all time: The Swamp Thing. Ok, that may not be true. But good ol' Swampy has loomed large over Jean-Luc's comic book experiences, and so he's curated a sampler of issues to introduce Alex and Emily to the character. Those issues are:
House of Secrets #92, the origin of Swamp Thing
Swamp Thing (1984) #34, a pivotal issue of the iconic Alan Moore run
Swamp Thing (1984) #145, the first issue of Mark Millar's run on the character
Swamp Thing (2001) #2, written by host-favorite Brian K Vaughan
Swamp Thing (2011) #10, from the New 52 run that got Jean-Luc into the character
and The Swamp Thing (2021) #4, from the most recent Ram V run on the character
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: I hope you liked hearing about BKV, because we're talking about him for the entirety of the next episode as we flashback to one of the most blatant 9/11 trauma comics, Ex Machina.
Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
@cryingbookclub
@mtdewliker
@empandanada
@alexhandziuk
This week, we hosted the book club in an atelier, which is "A workshop or studio used by an artist." And what is podcasting, if not an art form? It definitely isn't but comics are and we're here to talk about one of the comics of all time: Witch Hat Atelier.
The bulk of our conversation focused on the incredible world building of the first three volumes; the rules of the world, how those rules were developed, and the implications for the characters. The hosts also discuss the adorable cast of characters, the various hijinks they get up to, and Jean-Luc's distaste for such trivialities.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We're heading back to the warm embrace of DC comics for a look at the history of the one, the only The Swamp Thing.
Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
@cryingbookclub
@mtdewliker
@empandanada
@alexhandziuk
The book club is up a member on this episode, as first time returning guest Chad comes back to talk about Colin Lorimer's The Hunt an urban fantasy/Irish folk horror from a few years back. It's got some creepy monsters, which apparently is the #1 thing we all remembered about it! Rather than a trip down memory lane, this episode is closer to a rediscovery of... well I'll leave it open-ended as to whether we think it's a classic or not. We do kind of disagree what it's actually ~about~ though, so look forward to some spirited (mild) debate.
Also everyone had a cough on this episode for some reason? You probably won't notice because I edited them out but it does lead to a couple wonky audio moments so hopefully it's all fine!
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: Emily's introducing to another new manga: Witch Hat Atelier. Do y'all know what Atelier means? I sure don't!
Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
@cryingbookclub
@mtdewliker
@empandanada
@alexhandziuk
What's up bro. The book club is back bro, hope you did your reading for this episode, bro. Hopefully you did, bro, because otherwise these notes will just be really annoying to you, bro. (It's a reference to the tracksuit mafia from the comic book series Hawkeye)
Anyway, we're once again heading back to the nostalgia mines for Alex and Jean-Luc as the crew discusses Matt Fraction, David Aja, Francesco Francavilla, Javier Pulido, and Annie Wu's seminal run on Hawkeye. It's a total blast of a book, and a breezy episode to match the fun tone of the series. Of course, there's some heavier talk to: is Clint and Kate's relationship weird? (yes!) Is Clint really a superhero? (No!) and much, much more.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: Chad is coming back to chat about another of our favorite books from the halcyon years of 2016/17, an Irish horror book called The Hunt.
Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
@cryingbookclub
@mtdewliker
@empandanada
@alexhandziuk
It's a two person show this week--Alex is still recovering from the high level ideas of Civil War. And to be fair, Jean-Luc and Emily are as well, So it's a lighter episode on a story about the notoriously light topic "coming of age as a woman in America." The duo discusses Jillian Tamaki's gorgeous art style and use of colors, and of course Mariko Tamaki's story about young women discovering themselves on a summer vacation.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: Chad makes his return for the 2016 mini series The Hunt.
Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
@cryingbookclub
@mtdewliker
@empandanada
@alexhandziuk
For the first book club episode of the new year, the crew checks out Mark Millar and Steve McNiven's highly influential Civil War event. It's a tall order to try and dissect the book's themes, politics, and tie ins in a reasonable time frame, but we did our best!
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: Chad makes his return for the 2016 mini series The Hunt.
Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
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Happy new year! While everyone else may already be done reflecting on the year that was, the book club is turning their sights back on the debut year of the show before launching into new books. First, Jean-Luc presents his ten favorite ongoing series of the year, which Alex and Emily (who haven't read them) put in a ranked order. Then, the trio rank the books they read for the podcast. Will Watchmen be outranked by SpyxFamily? How does The Amory Wars stack up against Kingdom Come? Well, you'll simply have to listen and find out.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: Jean-Luc subjects his two wonderful friends to the psychological torture of Mark Millar's mind with Civil War.
Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
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(Kingdom) Come one, (Kingdom) Come all, to this, the final episode of Crying in the Book Club's first year. For Jean-Luc, this is a return to a foundational text that shaped his love of superhero comics. For Alex, a first outing with one of the most iconic stories told about some of his favorite characters. And for Emily, perhaps the best arc of all: closing the loop on some really fucking cool action figures (which we definitely talk about for 5+ minutes at the beginning of the episode).
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: The crew recaps the year that was in comics.
Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
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They tell me you're not supposed to pronounce the "x" in Spy x Family, which makes me wonder why they even put it there to begin with. We don't actually answer that question on the episode, which is a bummer, but the good news is we delve a bit deeper than insipid conversations about title stylization.
Instead, the book club answers real questions about Spy x Family, a shonen manga about a spy who has to forge a family in a foreign country in order to achieve world peace. Questions like "do Yor and Loid love each other?" (yes), "was Damian inspired by Damian Wayne?" (seems likely). and most importantly "did Emily trick two western comic book fans into liking a manga series?" (you'll have to listen to get that answer).
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We're kicking it 90's style with two of the greatest to ever do it, Mark Waid and Alex Ross, as we revisit the classic Kingdom Come.
Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
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Hoo boy, did the universe ever conspire against us releasing this episode. Alex's internet went down, so he had to record from a scuffed setup. Jean-Luc's internet kept going in and out. Emily.... well, Emily's issues weren't technical but they kept dropping a pen or something and I had to edit all of it out.
Nevertheless! We soldiered on and talked for a little more than an hour about the 2017 Cecil Castellucci-written and Marley Zarcone-drawn Shade the Changing Girl, the Young Animal imprint soft-reboot of Shade the Changing Man. The series follows Loma Shade, an Avian from the planet Meta who becomes obsessed with Earth, which leads to her possessing the body of a dying high school bully. Clearly inspired by the classic Vertigo books of the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, it's hard not to be impressed by the swings taken by Castellucci and Zarcone. But, do those swings connect? And when they do, are they hitting homers? Well, for those answers, you'll have to listen to the episode.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: Emily takes the book club international once again, this time for the first three volumes of the smash hit manga SpyxFamily.
Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
@cryingbookclub
@mtdewliker
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@alexhandziuk
Just like Daredevil, Crying in the Book Club has been reborn. Reborn into what, you may ask, and I simply do not have a good answer for you. But as the title suggests, we are going to talk to you about Frank Miller and David Mazuchelli's Daredevil Born Again, a major stepping stone both for superhero comics writ large and the Daredevil character specifically.
And, hoo boy, is there a lot to talk about. Y'know what ages well? Some of these beautiful Mazuchelli pages. You know what decidedly doesn't age well? Frank Miller's handle on women. And social issues! Well, some of them. It's a really contradictory book!
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: Alex takes us back to the wild days of DC's Young Animal imprint with Shade the Changing Girl.
Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
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@mtdewliker
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This episode, the crew time travels back to 2017 for a look at Donnie Cates' and Geoff Shaw's breakout Image miniseries God Country. And, wow, it's almost like a different podcast with our good friend Chad Waller joining us to talk about a comic book again! You love to see it folks.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: Alex takes us back to the wild days of DC's Young Animal imprint with Shade the Changing Girl.
Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
@cryingbookclub
@mtdewliker
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@inonumband
What better way to celebrate Halloween (which is still two weeks away) than with a book about the longest Halloween ever record, Batman: The Long Halloween? Which is a convoluted way of saying something you already know if you read the title: we're talking about Batman: The Long Halloween! Which is a classic Batman story! That starts and ends on Halloween!
But first, you have to hear Alex, Emily, and Jean-Luc relive getting their drivers' licenses. Not exactly pertinent, but, uh, Batman has a car? After that, it's about an hour of talk about the book, from Tim Sale's wonderful art to its spot in the Batman canon bridging the gap between mobsters and supervillains.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We welcome back our old co-host, Chad, to talk about the 2017 miniseries God Country.
Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
@cryingbookclub
@mtdewliker
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@alexhandziuk
This episode, things get ~~~sppoooooky~~~ at Crying in the Book Club HQ as the crew rewinds to 2014...er, 2015? No, 17? Ah, yeah, 2021. Maybe that won't read well. It's a joke about Chilling Adventures of Sabrina's inability to release new issues. But there are some issues that exist and dammit, we're gonna talk about them!
It's a bit of a lighter episode, but there's plenty of time to go long on Robert Hack's incredible artwork, which really brings RAS' characters and settings to life. The hosts also discuss the book in relation to its Netflix adaptation, its surprising mean streak, and how the writing has changed over its 7 year run.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: With Halloween right around the corner, the book club is returning to Gotham for Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale's Batman: The Long Halloween.
Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
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@mtdewliker
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@alexhandziuk
After an episode in the manga-zone, the Book Club makes their glorious return to the most western comics possible: a Superman book. And not just any Superman book, but the 2004 Stuart Immonen-drawn, Kurt Busiek-written Superman: Secret Identity a (sort of?) Elseworlds take on the character. The crew dives deep into what makes Superman tick, and how altering the character, even in small ways, affects who he eventually becomes.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We kick off ~spoooooky season~ with Chilling Adventures of Sabrina!
Our theme music was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
@cryingbookclub
@mtdewliker
@empandanada
@alexhandziuk
This week, it's finally time for Crying in the Book Club crew to leave American comics behind. Y'know, for one episode, to finally talk about Battle Angel Alita.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... an episode of the show about Superman! For their ninth episode, Jean-Luc introduces the hosts to the classic Superman: Secret Identity.
Our theme song was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
@cryingbookclub
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Alex is back Alex is back Alex is back! And with him, he's brought many wonderful gifts from the land of DC Comics, proprietor of the most popular superhero the world has ever seen.......that's right.......and episode devoted entirely to........BOOSTER GOLD! Just kidding, it's Batman. Y'know, the guy what has the pointy ears.
That's right, for this episode, Alex curated a collection of six issues of Batman comics and took Emily and Jean-Luc on a tour of the caped crusader from his inception, to his goofy silver age period, to the gritty, serious detective we know today. He chose: Detective Comics #27: The Case of the Chemical Syndicate, Batman #188: The Eraser Who Tried to Rub Out Batman (I have also tried this), Batman #251: The Joker's Five Way Revenge (I would like to try this), Batman and Robin #1: Batman Reborn, Batman (2016) #37: Superfriends, part 2 and Batman #125: Failsafe part 1.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: The show takes a turn for the cyberpunk, as Emily takes Alex and Jean-Luc on a trip to Japan for the first four volumes of the 1990 manga series Battle Angel Alita.
Our theme song was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
@cryingbookclub
@mtdewliker
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@alexhandziuk
This week on Crying in the Book Club: Alex runs to the hills and hides from Jean-Luc and Emily hunting him with copies of In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 and Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV Volume I: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness. They didn't hunt him for very long though, because they're both lazy and got tired.
Instead, we welcomed Emily's Imagine Me and Utena co-host Alice on for an exceptionally self-indulgent, over two hour affair to talk about the band Coheed and Cambria and they're accompanying comic book series, The Amory Wars. All three are big fans of the band's work, and... kind of fans of the comics? It's complicated!
Also: I apologize for the audio on this one, Jean-Luc had the wrong mic selected when he recorded and so it's a little scratchy. I did what I could to fix it but it's going to sound a little worse than the other episodes.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: Alex makes his triumphant return to talk Emily and Jean-Luc through the history of everyone's favorite superhero: The Bat-Man.
Our theme song was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
@cryingbookclub
@mtdewliker
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@alexhandziuk
Welcome to the inaugural "one of the hosts gets drunk before recording" episode of Crying in the Book Club! This week, the hosts are discussing the 2019 graphic novel Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me. There's a lot to tackle--everything from complicated relationships to how the book handles its queer representation. Oh, and Jean-Luc (because he was drunk) talks about Quinlan Vos a lot.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: Alex takes a week off as Jean-Luc and Emily welcome a special guest for an incredibly self-indulgent discussion of The Amory Wars, the comic book adaptation of the music of Coheed & Cambria.
Our theme song was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
@cryingbookclub
@mtdewliker
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@alexhandziuk
This episode, Alex brings Brian K Vaughan and Niko Henrichon's critically acclaimed 2006 graphic novel Pride of Baghdad for Jean-Luc and Emily to cry about. Vaughan has been a staple of American comics ever since the early 2000's, and returning to the writer behind Saga and Paper Girls in 2022 proves to be a fairly jarring experience for our hosts. It's a fascinating case study in how western pop culture--all the way down to niche releases like a Vertigo-published original graphic novel--responded to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Fortunately, there's still a fair amount to like here, and this episode gets into all of it.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: It's time to learn about the philosophy of Emily-core with Mariko Tamaki's 2019 graphic novel Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me.
Our theme song was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
Our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
@cryingbookclub
@mtdewliker
@empandanada
@alexhandziuk
This week on Crying in the Book Club, it's time for our hosts to be introduced to the greatest villain in Batman history: Alexandre LeRoi.
Despite reading comics for the better part of their respective lives, none of the hosts of this show had ever read Gotham by Gaslight, the seminal elseworlds story from Brian Augustyn and Mike Mignola. coming to it decades after its release, the trio interrogates its interpretation of Batman, whether the sequel lives up to the original, and whether or not Alexandre LeRoi should get his own spinoff ongoing series.
Next time on Crying in the Book Club: The show takes a turn for the furry (not really) with Brian K Vaughan and Niko Henrichon's 2006 graphic novel Pride of Baghdad.
Our theme song was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
And our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
@cryingbookclub
@mtdewliker
@empandanada
@alexhandziuk
Welcome back for the second installment of Crying in the Book Club! Someone actually stuck around for episode 2, which we did not expect. For this episode, we discuss one of the most psychically damaging (positive) comics to Jean-Luc and Emily's "young" psyches, and a series Alex had never read before: Bryan Lee O'Malley's magnum opus Scott Pilgrim.
The conversation is pretty wide-ranging, from Alex's nostalgia for the Toronto depicted in the comic, to 16 year-old Jean-Luc's fantasies about literally becoming Scott Pilgrim, to the 2010 film adaptation directed by Edgar Wright. There's a lot to unpack here given the hosts' varied histories with the book.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: The crew reconvenes for a double feature of Gotham by Gaslight and Batman of the Future, featuring one of the greatest villains in the Batman canon.
Our theme song was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
And our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
@cryingbookclub
@mtdewliker
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@alexhandziuk
Hello! And welcome to listeners new and old. Or I suppose just new, given this is our first episode. And what better to launch a podcast about comics than with one of the most iconic works in the medium, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' Watchmen.
There is, of course, much to discuss, from the political situation of the world Watchmen takes place in, to the interiority of the book's wide-ranging cast, and (unfortunately) the 2009 Zack Snyder adaptation. Which, for all it's faults, does feature one of the greatest sex scenes ever committed to film.
Next, on Crying in the Book Club: We're kicking it mid-aughts style with the one and only Scott Pilgrim.
Our theme song was composed by our wonderful friend Gwyn. You can find their work on Soundcloud at https://soundcloud.com/hopefullynotbadlib.
And our podcast art was done by everyone's favorite co-host Emily.
Follow us on Twitter:
@cryingbookclub
@mtdewliker
@empandanada
@alexhandziuk