The Comic Binge: Recent Episodes
Paul and Chris assemble to talk about some select titles from DC's wide-ranging "Future State" event, which sees the DC Universe of the near future engulfed in an entirely new set of circumstances for some of its core characters.
Of particular attention for the guys here is The Next Batman written by John Ridley, and both Superman: Worlds of War and Superman: House of El by new monthly Man of Steel writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson.
Chris and Paul take a closer look at the highly-anticipated film Zack Snyder's Justice League, from two different perspectives about the director's previous work with DC Comics-based heroes. Featuring special guest Sean Gerber!
It's all about Marvel's Man Without Fear in this episode, where Paul and Chris are joined by the founder and webmaster of the web's premiere source for Daredevil ManWithoutFear.com!
Kuljit Mithra joins the guys to bring his encyclopedic knowledge of all things Matt Murdock to a discussion about "LAST RITES," the influential Daredevil/Kingpin showdown taking place in issues #297-300. The guys also all check into a major status quo change for Daredevil's corner of the Marvel Universe, which took place in 2020's DAREDEVIL (vol. 6) #25. Give it a listen now!
One of the most long-awaited DC Comics events in years is the subject of the latest episode, as Paul and Chris talk all things DOOMSDAY CLOCK! In 2016, DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH posited a reality that had been irrevocably changed by none other than DOCTOR MANHATTAN, the sole super hero to be found in Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' WATCHMEN. What followed was a hype machine nearly two years in the making as fans waited to discover what the first collision between the mainline DC Universe and the world of WATCHMEN would bring.
What followed was a series that ended up being far less about WATCHMEN, and far more about the symbolic power of hope contained in the heroes of DC Comics. Listen in as Paul and Chris drill down into this series, and what it's truly all about.
Another issue, and another point of contention: Paul and Chris return to talk about comics in general and what they've been up to before getting into it over Tom King and Jorge Fornes' RORSCHACH #2, and many of the same excitement and criticisms return for this latest go-around. An engaging mystery story invoking comics history, or a needless expansion of the WATCHMEN brand?
You decide! Listen in now.
After Chris scarfs down a burrito and Paul talks about his pickups for the week, the guys settle into a review and reaction to BATMAN: THREE JOKERS #3, the final issue of the highly-anticipated miniseries from writer Geoff Johns and penciler Jason Fabok.
To call this story consequential for all of the involved characters is an understatement, as we see the intimate character study and how they overcome trauma put under an intense microscope in this series finale. What do the new revelations for Batman and his allies mean, and what does the story's events tell readers about who Batman is at his core? What does this mean for his relationship with his most notorious enemy, and how has Batman's defining trauma been affected by this story?
Listen in for Paul's and Chris' answers to these questions, and a whole lot more!
At the end of the "Dark Reign," Norman Osborn was deposed and S.H.I.E.L.D. had returned. Installed as the nation's foremost law enforcer, former Captain America Steve Rogers spearheads Marvel's "Heroic Age" with a black ops version of the Avengers!
Paul and Chris take a look at the second arc of the ongoing SECRET AVENGERS series, the final arc on the title from writer Ed Brubaker and penciler Mike Deodato which invokes superhero action, intrigue, espionage, secret societies and a whole lot more! The guys revisit this solid series from the 2010 line-wide Heroic Age event, and see how well it holds up a decade later.
Plus, the guys talk about a recent interview given by Alan Moore about the nature of the comics medium, as well as about how these influential creators like Moore and Ed Brubaker have been conducting themselves after making their names in superhero fiction.
The Binge returns to tackle another brand new comic book series coming from the DC Black Label: writer Tom King's and artist Jorge Fornés' Rorschach #1!
The enduringly popular character created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons from 1986's Watchmen – though he was inspired by Steve Ditko's original Charlton incarnation of the Question – has returned in an all-new series, taking place 35 years after Walter Kovacs met a sticky end at the glowing blue hand of Dr. Manhattan.
The story seems to try and evoke political intrigue and mystery as well as a couple of callbacks to the popular HBO Watchmen series, but Paul and Chris have different ideas about how well it lands. Listen in to find out why!
Paul and Chris are back to react to the second issue of the current Black Label Batman event mini-series by writer Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok, Batman: Three Jokers!
Trauma is the overriding theme here, and readers get to take a new look at what trauma is – and how it can be overcome – through another major focus character for this series. Listen in as Paul and Chris react to the twists and turns of this second issue, and what its events say about the core characters at the center of this deceptive plot.
Plus, listen in for what's next! It's a...secret.
The Binge is back with our very first non-superhero related comic book read, but the writer behind it is very well known to superhero fans everywhere: Greg Rucka.
Recently making the jump to a big budget feature film starring Charlize Theron, The Old Guard is a comic book series about immortality: the burden it brings for the people that have it, and the lengths others will go to try and get it.
We couldn't talk about all the dimensions of this series alone, though, as Paul and Chris are joined by the supremely talented Johnamarie Macías of the Geeky Bubble Podcast to help break it down!
It's not often that the Binge dives into a freshly-released single issue, but then again...this is no regular comic book. The guys react to the first issue of writer Geoff Johns' and artist Jason Fabok's ambitious tale about comics' greatest villain — Batman: Three Jokers — to examine how it landed with them, what it means for the future of the Batman mythos, and how the destinies of the three main characters could be irrevocably altered by this very unique conflict.
Listen in now to this rare Binge episode reacting to the here and now of comic book storytelling, and why this single issue has already made an all-time greatest list for one of our co-hosts!
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The Binge is back to take on the first arc of Marv Wolfman and George Pérez's seminal run on NEW TEEN TITANS! One of the most foundational titles of the modern DC Universe, Paul is reading it for the first time while Chris is re-reading it for the first time in over 15 years.
Plus, the guys catch up and talk about what books they've been reading, and -- of course -- naturally go on a tangent about a whole host of other comics-related topics. Nick Spencer! The Joker! Jason Aaron! Green Lantern! The Avengers! Spider-Man! Captain America! Sean Gerber?!
Listen in now!
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It's been a while, but co-hosts Paul Hermann and Chris Clow are back on the Binge!
In this episode, listen in as the co-hosts explain what they've been up to for the last few months before sharing what they've been reading, and find out the subject of what they'll be reading for the upcoming episode #11!
Co-hosts Paul Hermann and Chris Clow return, and are joined by Matt Moore of the Star Wars Splash Page podcast to discuss the 2008 Marvel mini-series ADAM: LEGEND OF THE BLUE MARVEL! Written by Kevin Grevioux and featuring a team of several artists, the series features the introduction of a hero called the Blue Marvel: a hero from the past, unknown to the major players of the Marvel Universe until an enemy from the past nearly defeats the Avengers.
Listen as Paul, Chris and Matt unpack this series and discuss the major themes of tolerance, racism and forgiveness, as well as its ability to serve as a major retcon in the Marvel Comics Universe. Does it work? Why couldn't this have been an independent series? Listen to this and more in the ninth episode of The Comic Binge!
Paul and Chris dive into the first six issues of writer PAUL DINI's momentous mid-2000s run on DETECTIVE COMICS in issues #821-824, and 826-827! As a series of done-in-one stories featuring a whole host of new characters and returning favorites, Dini leans on his episodic chops from the likes of BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES to deliver a solid series of individual Batman stories.
Plus, the guys share their perspectives on the latest DC Comics film, BIRDS OF PREY!
NOTE: A previous version of this episode had audio sync issues. This version has been edited to eliminate them. Sorry for the inconvenience!
The Binge is back in 2020! In this episode, co-hosts Paul Hermann and Chris Clow take advantage of the fact that they're both in the same physical space at the same time, and having just come off of seeing STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER they've decided to do an episode of the Binge that's all about that galaxy far, far away!
Listen as the guys break down what their favorite STAR WARS comics are, along with their recommendations for places you can go to read some great new stories that take place in that legendary world. From TALES OF THE JEDI and LEGACY to the all-new monthly and Marvel's recent canonical adventures, these two do their best to leave no asteroid un-turned. Listen now!
In our biggest episode yet, co-hosts Paul Hermann and Chris Clow welcome a very special guest in the form of an old friend, the Apex Fan himself JUSTIN BOLGER! The trio unpack their feelings on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' celebrated comic book milestone, WATCHMEN. Listen into a discussion about how each of our panelists first absorbed the book, what they felt about the film adaptation, how the HBO series has unfolded over the course of its first season, and more!
Our fifth episode brings a very special guest: comic book podcaster and commentator extraordinaire MICHAEL BAILEY! In this episode, Michael and co-hosts Paul Hermann and Chris Clow dive into two works of the incomparable PETER DAVID: THE LAST AVENGERS STORY, and INCREDIBLE HULK: FUTURE IMPERFECT. Are these works from a noted writer created equal? Nope! Listen to our discussion about them now!
In our fourth episode, co-hosts Paul Hermann and Chris Clow dive into the first arc of Grant Morrison's sweeping recalibration of Marvel's mutants: NEW X-MEN, in issues #114-116 and ANNUAL 2001! Paul didn't like that the series lacked traditional costumes, and Chris says it's his favorite X-Men comics run ever. How do they talk about this first story? Find out by listening now!
On the opening weekend of Warner Bros. Pictures' JOKER, Paul and Chris are joined by Batman-On-Film's Ryan Hoss to discuss the Joker's first-ever appearance in BATMAN (vol. 1) #1, the modernized 2005 retelling of the Joker's first encounter with the Dark Knight in BATMAN: THE MAN WHO LAUGHS, along with some recommended Joker stories you should read before seeing the movie!
Welcome back to the Binge! In our second episode, co-hosts Paul Hermann and Chris Clow dive into the first six issues of writer Warren Ellis' fascinating run on DOOM 2099. What happens when the Marvel Universe's most enigmatic villain finds himself in the future, and sets his sights on remaking parts of the world? Listen to what the guys think of this surprising story, and find out what they're going to be reading next!
In our very first episode, co-hosts Paul Hermann and Chris Clow introduce what this show is all about, before discussing our very first topic: "Superman: Last Son," published in Action Comics (vol. 1) #844-846, 851, Annual #10 and 11!