Comics Syllabus: Recent Episodes
Paul Lai
A comics and graphic novels appreciation podcast, where literacy educator Paul Lai (@twoplai) reads widely and digs deep in search of the socio-cultural, literary, and artistic significance of comic books, including superhero media, graphic novels, all-ages comics, and comic shop single issues. For comics fans, teachers, librarians and parents, and young readers alike.
Thoughts on MOON KNIGHT! Digging into themes of the Lemire and Smallwood Marvel Comics run (2016) in light of the first episode of the Marvel Studios Disney+ show.
Oh, mishaps! This week, the podcast was MEANT to cover the 2016 ”Moon Knight” run by Lemire and Smallwood (which we DO!) AND the graphic novel “Memories from Limon” by Edo Brenes… but mysterious forces struck (a power outage in Paul’s home studio) … only the first half of that promise was met.
So “Memories from Limon” (NoBrow) will go on the list of UPCOMING TITLES to be discussed on future episodes of Comics Syllabus (visit us at comicssyllabus.substack.com ), along with these:
The Reading List for Upcoming Reviews:
“Squire” by Alfageeh and Shammas (HarperAlley/Quill Tree, 2022)
“Cyclopedia Exotica” by Aminder Dhaliwal (Fantagraphics, 2021)
“Walk Me to the Corner” by Anneli Furmark (Drawn + Quarterly, 2022)
“Killadelphia” v1-3 by Rodney Barnes and Jason Shawn Alexander (Image) and Barnes’ Substack, Dark Apocrypha.
“Dear Sophie, Love Sophie” by Sophie Lucido Johnson (HarperOne, 2022)
and “My Badly Drawn Life” by Gipi (Fantagraphics, 2022)
This week’s Comics Syllabus podcast: “Girl on Fire” (HarperAlley). Come meet Lolo Wright, a hero for all ages, crafted by singer-songwriter-superstar Alicia Keys, co-written by Andrew Weiner, and brought to comic life by Brittney Williams.
Check out the Comics Syllabus Substack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this RSS feed.
Paul’s on Twitter and Instagram @TwoPlai, and you can also email twoplai at gmail :)
This week’s Comics Syllabus podcast: “Wingbearer,” an incredible new middle grade graphic novel by Marjorie Liu and Teny Issakhanian from HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books.
Then, Paul’s NON-SPOILER thoughts on “The Batman,” the small indie movie directed by Matt Reeves.
Check out the Comics Syllabus Substack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this RSS feed.
Paul’s on Twitter and Instagram @TwoPlai, and you can also email twoplai at gmail :)
“Borders,” a graphic novel with story by Thomas King and art by Natasha Donovan (Little, Brown, & Company, 2021), is the main topic of this brief episode of the Comics Syllabus podcast, recorded in conversation with Cohost Kid.
Paul and Cohost Kid are actually on a family vacation, so pardon the poorer audio quality. But catch our convo as we also chat about two recently completed mini-series, “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” by Tom King and Bilquis Evely (DC) and “Fantastic Four: Life Story” by Mark Russell and Sean Isaakze (Marvel).
(As we discuss “Borders,” we also mention the children’s book I Am an American: The Wong Kim Ark Story by Martha Brockenbrough and Grace Lim, even though I fail to remember the title.)
Check out the Comics Syllabus Substack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this RSS feed.
Paul’s on Twitter and Instagram @TwoPlai, and you can also email twoplai at gmail :)
On this week’s Comics Syllabus pod, I make star-eyes emojis at the litany of New Comics at Substack, covered by Multiversity here and at the Comics Syllabus Substack here. And (at 52:55) we look a little deeper at “STARSIGNS” by Saladin Ahmed, Megan Levens, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Shawn Lee, and Heather Antos, available for free at Copper Bottle.
First, a warning: I let slip a spoiler for The Book of Boba Fett at around 7:00-7:10, so if you’re trying to stay away from those, SORRY and BE FOREWARNED! Skip past that moment at 7:00 if you’re keeping ears pure for the Disney+ show’s surprises.
Also, in the intro I tease some talk about “Fantastic Four” #14-19’s arc, “Point of Origin,” but I ran out of time. So we’ll save that for a future chat!
Check out the Comics Syllabus Substack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this RSS feed.
Paul’s on Twitter and Instagram @TwoPlai, and you can also email twoplai at gmail :)
Back from a winter break, we (eventually) dive into Kurt Busiek and Carlos Pacheco's return to "Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines" from Image Comics. First we touch bases with "Usagi Yojimbo," open The Book of Boba Fett, revisit "Shadow Hero," and then round the corner into the return to Busiek and Pacheco's storyworld of a fantasy-infused World War I.
We also talk about recent runs of comics we're reading, like "Action Comics," "Amazing Spider-Man," Dash Shaw's "Discipline" from New York Review Books, and "Buckhead" by Shofo and George Kambadais (Boom!). Let's dig deep!
Check out the Comics Syllabus Substack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this RSS feed.
Paul’s on Twitter and Instagram @TwoPlai, and you can also email twoplai at gmail :)
Graphic Novel Review: “No One Else” (Fantagraphics) by R. Kikuo Johnson.
PolyBagged (New Comics in Shops, Reviewed):
“The Good Asian” #7 by Pichetschote and Tefengki (Image),
“Made in Korea” #6 by Holt and Schall (Image),
“The Me You Love in the Dark” #5 by Young and Corona (Image),
“X-Men: Legends” #9 by Hama and Tan (Marvel),
“Crush and Lobo” #7 by Tamaki and Nahuelpan (DC),
“Devil’s Reign” #1 by Zdarsky and Chechetto (Marvel),
“Fire Power” #18 by Kirkman and Samnee (Image), and
“Amazing Spider-Man” #80.BEY by Ziglar and Fiorello (DC).
Would you do us a HUGE favor and let us know on this Google Survey what you want to hear on the Comics Syllabus podcast? https://forms.gle/R5tJBDJuGgAPUC2y8
Check out the Comics Syllabus Substack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this RSS feed.
Paul’s on Twitter and Instagram @TwoPlai, and you can also email twoplai at gmail :)
Would you do us a HUGE favor and let us know on this Google Survey what you want to hear on the Comics Syllabus podcast?
This week, Paul asks for your input through the survey above. You— YES YOU!— can shape the future of the Comics Syllabus podcast. We want this podcast to meet your interests. Let us know!
Then, Paul walks through samplings of the segments to potentially expand in the future of the podcast, including:
PolyBagged (New Comics in Shops): “Decorum” #8 (Image), “Mazebook” #3 (Dark Horse), “What’s the Furthest Place from Here” #1 (Image).
Infinite Unlimited: on Marvel Unlimited— “Kang” #1, “Way of X” #5, “Trial of Magneto” #1; on DC Universe Infinite— “Icon and Rocket” #5, “Nightwing” #80, and “Wonder Girl” #1.
Sunday Substack Comics Rack: “FISHFLIES” by Jeff Lemire serialized at jefflemire.substack.com
Archival Revival: “Hawkeye” by Matt Fraction, David Aja, Annie Wu— and in issue 7, Steve Lieber and Jesse Hamm. Also Paul’s binds of “Superior Foes of Spider-Man” and “The Fix” by Nick Spencer and Steve Lieber, as well as “Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen” by Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber.
Graphic Novel Review: “Grass of Parnassus” (Adhouse) by Kathryn and Stuart Immonen
Check out the Comics Syllabus Substack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this RSS feed.
Paul’s on Twitter and Instagram @TwoPlai, and you can also email twoplai at gmail :)
Cohost Kid joins Paul again to talk about “Laid-Back Camp” by Afro (Yen Press) volumes 1-2. This charmingly low-key manga was an enjoyable read.
But first, dad and kid talk about other recent comics reads for each of them, including the “Wings of Fire” series by Tui T. Sutherland and Mike Holmes (Graphix), the “Frazzled” series by Booki Vivant (HarperCollins), “¡¡Manu!!” by Kelly Fernandez (Graphix), “Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles” by Fermín Solís (Self-Made Hero), and “Welcome to the New World” by Jake Halpern and Michael Sloan (Metropolitan).
And of course, we HAVE to check in with “It’s Jeff!” the Jeff the Landshark Infinity Comic by Kelly Thompson and Gurihiru on Marvel Unlimited. Because JEFF!
Check out the Comics Syllabus SubStack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
This week, Paul talks about “Asadora!” volumes 1-4 by Naoki Urasawa (Viz) and “Marshmallow & Jordan” by Alina Chau (First Second), two comics that have provided wonder and delight in hard times. (Those chats begin around 27:40 on the podcast.)
But first, Paul talks about some comics he’s been teaching and reading, including “Secret Coders” by Gene Yang and Mike Holmes (First Second) and “Long Way Down” by Jason Reynolds and Danica Novgorodoff (Atheneum).
From comic shops, Paul discusses “I Am Batman” by John Ridley and various artists (DC), “Shang-Chi” by Gene Yang and Dike Ruan (Marvel), “Compass” by Robert Mackenzie & Dave Walker and Justin Greenwood (Image), and a few others.
And Paul also chats about some updates on Substack comics. Thanks for listening!
Check out the Comics Syllabus SubStack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
It’s JEFF! Jeff the Landshark. Kelly Thompson’s Marvel Unlimited Infinity Comic with artist team Gurihiru has won our hearts. And by “our,” we mean Comics Syllabus host Paul and his special guest, Cohost Kid! (That’s his daughter.) Today on the Comics Syllabus, we dive deep into the far reaches of Marvel history (2018!!!) to explore the origins of this irresistibly adorable character, his origins in the “West Coast Avengers” and “Deadpool” (also scripted by Thompson). Here’s Thompson’s Substack post detailing Jeff’s origins!
Then, Cohost Kid and the Comics Syllabus talk about some comics that have also won our hearts lately, including “Yotsuba&,” “Wings of Fire,” “The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl,” “Ms. Marvel,” and Dad’s weird “Spider-Man” reading. We also chat about “Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3” and the Disney+ “What If?” series.
Check out the Comics Syllabus SubStack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
On this week's Comics PLEASE! (for Parents, Librarians, Educators, and Student Enthusiasts!), we look at “Ms. Marvel: Stretched This” (Marvel/Graphix) by Nadia Shammas and Nabi H. Ali, “Unearthed: A Jessica Cruz Story” (DC) by Lilliam Rivera and Steph C., and “BlancaFlor: The Hero with Secret Powers” (TOON) by Nadja Spiegelman and Sergio García Sánchez, three super cool comics for different audiences of younger readers.
Then, in “Polybagged,” Paul talks about new comics he’s picked up recently, including “The Mighty Valkyries,” “Seven Secrets,” “I Am Batman,” “Nightwing,” “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow,” “The Death of Dr. Strange,” “Black Hammer: Visions,” “Robin,” “Adventureman,” and “The Amazing Spider-Man.” Comics!
Finally, continuing on with Substack’s comics, including Jeff Lemire’s FISHFLIES, James Tynion IV, Michael Avon Oeming, and Aditya Bidikar’s BLUE BOOK, and Chip Zdarsky’s PUBLIC DOMAIN.
Check out the Comics Syllabus SubStack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
Apologies for the late post here. Some issues with podcast plugin!
On this week's Comics Syllabus, Paul talks through thoughts on the first volume and complete run of "Y: The Last Man" as part of the first Comics Syllabus "Long Read" segment. Over the next few weeks, read along with us as we re-read the seminal Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra Vertigo comic from the early aughts, timed with the new FX/Hulu show. You can also read more about the Long Read at the Comics Syllabus Substack: https://comicssyllabus.substack.com/
Then, Paul offers a few thoughts on his experience of watching "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," catching the movie (and hopefully not COVID!) at a drive-in movie theater, and pondering his feelings on seeing Chinese-American culture represented... IN AN MCU MOVIE!
Finally, Paul talks about the comics that are starting to appear on Substacks for creators who have made the move to the newsletter platform making a big investment in comics. For subscribers, Jeff Lemire's "FishFlies" and Chip Zdarsky's "Public Domain" and James Tynion IV, Michael Avon Oeming, and Aditya Bidikar's "Blue BOOK" are starting their early installments. Brief reviews!
Check out the Comics Syllabus SubStack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
On this week’s Comics Syllabus, some examination of “Shang-Chi”… but not the movie, since host Paul is still avoiding theaters. Pandemic! Delta! (For a good take on Marvel’s groundbreaking movie, check out Christopher Chiu-Tabet’s Multiversity review as well as All Over the Internet.) Instead, Paul shares thoughts on the recent Marvel series written by Gene Luen Yang and drawn by Dike Ruan and Philip Tan, including the five issue mini-series “Brothers and Sisters” and the first three issues of the current ongoing.
Then, a brief “Polybagged” with mentions of comics that Paul’s recently been reading, including:
“Jia and the Nian Monster” by Mike Richardson and Megan Huang (Dark Horse)
“Amazing Fantasy” #1-2 by Kaare Andrews (Marvel)
“Always Never” by Jordi Lafebre (Europe Comics)
“Eve” #1-4 by Victor LaValle and Jo Mi-Gyeong (Boom!)
“Superman: Son of Kal-El” #1-2 by Tom Taylor and John Timms with Gabe Eltaeb (DC)
“Mouse Guard: Fall 1152” by David Peterson (Villard, 2008)
Finally, we launch our “Long Read” for the Fall, a re-read of “Y the Last Man” by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra. With the show coming in a couple weeks, join us as we read the original run of this series. A reading schedule:
Deluxe Edition v1 and v2: Sep 19, 2021
Deluxe Edition v3 and v4: Oct 3, 2021
Deluxe Edition v5 and v6: Oct 17, 2021
Read with us!
Check out the Comics Syllabus SubStack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
On this week's Comics Syllabus, we look into "Snow Angels," a Comixology Originals series by Jeff Lemire and Jock, now three issues into its second season. "Snow Angels" can be found here free for Comixology Unlimited or Amazon Prime subscribers.
Then, on our "Polybagged" segment about new comics in shops, Paul INADVERTENTLY figures out that he's completely Lemire-centric this week. Along with "Snow Angels," we look at:
"Ascender" #18 by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen (Image)
"The Unbelievable Unteens" #1 by Jeff Lemire and Tyler Crook (Dark Horse)
and coming up soon, "Mazebook" #1 (Dark Horse, Sept 8) and "Primordial" #1 with Andrea Sorrentino (Image, Sept 15).
Let's admire this deft engineer of comics whose heft mirrors our life and years: Jeff Lemire!
Now, you can SHAPE THE FUTURE (of this podcast):
What should Comics Syllabus do for our next "Long Read," where we make a reading schedule and discuss a longer series for a couple months? Our choices for you to vote on:
"Bone" by Jeff Smith (Cartoon) "Y the Last Man" by Brian K. Vaughan & Pia Guerra (DC/Vertigo) "Secret Coders" by Gene Yang & Mike Holmes (First Second) "Runaways" by Rainbow Rowell & Anka & Genolet (Marvel) VOTE HERE!
...and Paul's looking for feedback to make Comics Syllabus better! Y'know, it's one of those Google Form surveys. Respond to as little or as much as you please. Check it out here: https://forms.gle/eMVocv6M8LxTBzgv5
Let's keep reading!
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Check out the Comics Syllabus SubStack (and find out how you can support Paul) at comicssyllabus.substack.com
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
Welcome to the Comics Syllabus, where on this week’s audio-only episode, we talk a bit about the sequel series to the celebrated “March” autobiography of John Lewis, “Run” volume 1, written by Lewis and Andrew Aydin, with art by L. Fury and Nate Powell.
Then, some chatter about the “What If” comics on Marvel Unlimited compared to the MCU show on Disney Plus and the “Suicide Squad” comics on DC Universe Infinite.
Let’s keep reading!
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
On this episode of Comics Syllabus, another installment of Comics PLEASE! (Parents, Librarians, Educators, and Student Enthusiasts). We are hyped about some new graphic novels for kids out this summer as we enter the Fall’s new school year:
“The Mystery of the Meanest Teacher: A Johnny Constantine Graphic Novel” by Ryan North and Derek Charm (DC Kids)
“Miles Morales: Shock Waves” by Justin A. Reynolds and Pablo Leon (Scholastic Graphix/Marvel)
“Chibi Usagi: Attack of the Heebie Chibis” by Julie and Stan Sakai (IDW)
“Fifth Quarter” by Mike Dawson (First Second)
All four won us over and we talk about the virtues and potential audiences for these four cool new comics. Let’s dig deep!
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
And for a glimpse of possible upcoming books and topics on the Comics Syllabus, check out Paul's reading spreadsheet. Get in touch if you have suggestions!
On this episode of Comics PLEASE! (Parents, Librarians, Educators, and Student Enthusiasts), we are hyped about some new graphic novels for kids out this summer as we enter the Fall's new school year:
"The Mystery of the Meanest Teacher: A Johnny Constantine Graphic Novel" by Ryan North and Derek Charm (DC Kids)
"Miles Morales: Shock Waves" by Justin A. Reynolds and Pablo Leon (Scholastic Graphix/Marvel)
"Chibi Usagi: Attack of the Heebie Chibis" by Julie and Stan Sakai (IDW)
"Fifth Quarter" by Mike Dawson (First Second)
All four won us over and we talk about the virtues and potential audiences for these four cool new comics. Let's dig deep!
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
This week's Comics Syllabus is a review of "Adora and the Distance" by Marc Bernardin and Ariela Kristantina from Comixology Originals. And in Polybagged, we talk about "Bermuda," "Dark Blood," "Radiant Black," and "Save Yourself."
We begin with "Adora and the Distance." Marc Bernardin writes and Ariella Kristantina draws this all-ages fantasy about Adora, a girl whose adventurous spirit, courageous heart, and generous soul lead her and a band of companions on a voyage that is more than meets the eye. From Comixology Originals, this is a graphic novel for parents and caregivers as well as kids. Both will find a familiar sort of fun, but the story is set in a surprise context that reverberates with significance.
Then, on this week's "Polybagged," covering some new comics in shops last week (July 21, 2021), we talk about:
"Bermuda" #1 by John Layman and Nick Bradshaw (IDW)
"Dark Blood" #1 by LaToya Morgan and Walt Barna (Boom!),
"Save Yourself" #2 by Bones Leopard and Kelly & Nichole Matthews (Boom!), and
"Radiant Black" #6 by Kyle Higgins, Cherish Chen, and Darko LaFuente (Image)
with mentions of other titles.
Let's keep reading!
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
Marc Bernardin writes and Ariella Kristantina draws this all-ages fantasy about Adora, a girl whose adventurous spirit, courageous heart, and generous soul lead her and a band of companions on a voyage that is more than meets the eye. From Comixology Originals, this is a graphic novel for parents and caregivers as well as kids. Both will find a familiar sort of fun, but the story is set in a surprise context that reverberates with significance.
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
On this week's "Polybagged," covering some new comics in shops this week (July 21, 2021), we talk about:
"Bermuda" #1 by John Layman and Nick Bradshaw (IDW)
"Dark Blood" #1 by LaToya Morgan and Walt Barna (Boom!),
"Save Yourself" #2 by Bones Leopard and Kelly & Nichole Matthews (Boom!), and
"Radiant Black" #6 by Kyle Higgins, Cherish Chen, and Darko LaFuente (Image)
with mentions of other titles.
Let's keep reading!
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
This week's Comics Syllabus is a set of thoughts on the "Black Widow" movie from Marvel/Disney (SPOILERS aplenty!) with some reference to the comic book history of the character.
But first, Paul opens with a correction/apology, as last week's "Polybagged" misattributed the backmatter story in "Ordinary Gods" #1 to Kyle Higgins, when the author is the awesome Jana Tropper. (And I mention Reading with Pictures and an upcoming comics for educators conference: https://www.readingwithpictures.org/ )
Then we delve into "Black Widow," and Paul shares some of his responses to the movie and connections to various "Black Widow" comics iterations of the character.
Finally, a plea for feedback and some help getting the word out about Comics Syllabus during this experimental summertime period.
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed. Connect with us at the Comics Syllabus Facebook or TwoPlai on Twitter or Instagram.
Let’s keep reading!
This week's Comics Syllabus is a set of thoughts on the "Black Widow" movie from Marvel/Disney (SPOILERS aplenty!) with some reference to the comic book history of the character.
But first, Paul opens with a correction/apology, as last week's "Polybagged" misattributed the backmatter story in "Ordinary Gods" #1 to Kyle Higgins, when the author is the awesome Jana Tropper. (And I mention Reading with Pictures and an upcoming comics for educators conference: https://www.readingwithpictures.org/ )
Then we delve into "Black Widow," and Paul shares some of his responses to the movie and connections to various "Black Widow" comics iterations of the character.
Finally, a plea for feedback and some help getting the word out about Comics Syllabus during this experimental summertime period.
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed. Connect with us at the Comics Syllabus Facebook or TwoPlai on Twitter or Instagram.
Let’s keep reading!
This week: Part 1 of Discussion about 2021's Eisner Nominees, and covering new comics this week: "Karmen" #5, "Mamo" #1, "Ordinary Gods" #1, and "Wynd" #8.
On this week's Comics Syllabus, we start with “Polybagged,” (video episode here) covering some new comics in shops this week (July 7, 2021), talking about:
"Karmen" #5 by Guillem March (Image),
“Mamo" #1 by Sas Milledge (Boom!),
“Ordinary Gods” #1 by Kyle Higgins and Felipe Watanabe (Image), and
“Wynd” #8 by James Tynion IV (Boom!)
with mentions of other titles.
[CORRECTION: In my review of “Ordinary Gods” #1, I mistakenly attributed the backup prose story at the end, “Flip of a Coin,” to the comic’s writer, Kyle Higgins. In fact, the backup story was written by Jana Tropper. Apologies for the misattribution!]
Then, we talk through about half the list of Eisner Nominations for 2021 (video episode here), including Best Continuing Series, Best Limited Series, Best New Series, Best Single Issue, Best Short Story, Best Writer, and Best Writer/Artist.
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed. Connect with us at the Comics Syllabus Facebook or TwoPlai on Twitter or Instagram.
Let’s keep reading!
On this week's "Polybagged," covering some new comics in shops this week (July 7, 2021), we talk about:
"Karmen" #5 by Guillem March (Image)
"Mamo" #1 by Sas Milledge (Boom!),
"Ordinary Gods" #1 by Higgins and Watanabe (Image), and
"Wynd" #8 by Tynion IV and Dialynas (Boom!)
with mentions of other titles.
[CORRECTION: In my review of “Ordinary Gods” #1, I mistakenly attributed the backup prose story at the end, “Flip of a Coin,” to the comic’s writer, Kyle Higgins. In fact, the backup story was written by Jana Tropper. Apologies for the misattribution!]
Let's keep reading!
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
On this segment of Comics Syllabus, a couple months ago the Eisner nominees for 2021 were announced. Here's the whole list from their website:
https://www.comic-con.org/awards/2021-eisner-awards-nominations
But in this segment, Paul runs through the list of nominees (and his own selections for most of the categories) in:
Best Continuing Series
Best Limited Series
Best New Series
Best Single Issue
Best Short Story
Best Writer
Best Writer/Artist
We'll be back next week for Part 2 about the other major categories Paul plans to decide!
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed. Connect with us at the Comics Syllabus Facebook or TwoPlai on Twitter or Instagram.
Let’s keep reading!
This week: "Djeliya” by Juni Ba (TKO). New issues of “Crossover,” “Monstress,” “Usagi Yojimbo,” and “Made in Korea."
First, we review “Djeliya” by Juni Ba from TKO Studios (video episode here). Juni Ba’s new graphic novel is “A West African Fantasy Epic” and follows djeli (storyteller and advisor) Awa as she fights for (and with!) Monsour, heir to a throne, against gods and beasts for the rightful throne. Ba’s work artfully mixes Cartoon Network stylistics with folk narratives from Ba’s Senegal/West Africa, as he mentions in this great interview with the Comic Book Couples Counseling podcast. Paul unpacks some of why this book has jumped to the tops of his list, and Juni Ba to the group of creators Paul’s most excited about.
On this week’s “Polybagged,” (video episode here) covering some new comics in shops this week (June 30, 2021), we talk about:
“Usagi Yojimbo: Dragon Bellow Conspiracy” #1 by Stan Sakai and Pattison (c) (IDW),
“Made in Korea” #2 by Holt and Schall (Image),
“Monstress” #35 by Liu and Takeda (Image), and
“Crossover” #2 by Zdarsky, Hester, and Parks (Image)
with mentions of other titles.
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed. Connect with us at the Comics Syllabus Facebook or TwoPlai on Twitter or Instagram.
Let’s keep reading!
On this week's "Polybagged," covering some new comics in shops this week (June 30, 2021), we talk about:
"Usagi Yojimbo: Dragon Bellow Conspiracy" #1 by Stan Sakai and Pattison (c) (IDW),
"Made in Korea" #2 by Holt and Schall (Image),
"Monstress" #35 by Liu and Takeda (Image), and
"Crossover" #2 by Zdarsky, Hester, and Parks (Image)
with mentions of other titles.
Let's keep reading!
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
On this video episode, we review "Djeliya" by Juni Ba from TKO Studios. Juni Ba's new graphic novel is "A West African Fantasy Epic" and follows djeli (storyteller and advisor) Awa as she fights for (and with!) Monsour, heir to a throne, against gods and beasts for the rightful throne. Ba's work artfully mixes Cartoon Network stylistics with folk narratives from Ba's Senegal/West Africa, as he mentions in this great interview with the Comic Book Couples Counseling podcast. Paul unpacks some of why this book has jumped to the tops of his list, and Juni Ba to the group of creators Paul's most excited about.
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed. Connect with us at the Comics Syllabus Facebook or TwoPlai on Twitter or Instagram.
Let's keep reading!
[Audio version of Comics Syllabus podcast]
On this week's audio-only version of the Comics Syllabus, first, we open with "Polybagged", new comics in shops this week that Paul picked up, including:
"Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters" #4 by Samnee and Samnee (Oni)
"Good Luck" #1 by Erman and Simeone (Boom!)
"The Blue Flame" #2 by Cantwell and Gorham (Vault) and
"Black Hammer Reborn" #1 by Lemire and Yarsky (Dark Horse)
Then, "The Infinite Unlimited" looks at some new titles available on the Marvel Unlimited and DC Universe Infinite apps. It’s Vita Ayala Week on “The Infinite Unlimited,” our segment of the Comics Syllabus where we check out new arrivals and dope archivals on Marvel Unlimited and DC Universe Infinite!
Ayala’s “Static” #1 with CrissCross and Nikolas Draper-Ivey (DC) and their “Children of the Atom” #1 with Bernard Chang (Marvel) popped up on their respective apps this week, along with:
DC Universe Infinite: "Batman/Fortnite Zeropoint" #5, "Sensational Wonder Woman" chapter 10, "Death Metal: Last Stories of the DC Universe" #1, and "Sweet Tooth: The Return" #2.
Marvel Unlimited: "Thor & Loki: Double Trouble" #1, "Daredevil" #28, "Eternals" #3, and "Non-Stop Spider-Man" #1
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed. Connect with us at the Comics Syllabus Facebook or TwoPlai on Twitter or Instagram.
Let's keep reading!
On this week's "Polybagged," covering some new comics in shops this week (June 23, 2021), we talk about:
"Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters" #4 by Samnee and Samnee (Oni)
"Good Luck" #1 by Erman and Simeone (Boom!)
"The Blue Flame" #2 by Cantwell and Gorham (Vault) and
"Black Hammer Reborn" #1 by Lemire and Yarsky (Dark Horse)
with mentions of other titles, and a little preface about opting not to cover any Image titles this week among our main reviews.
Let's keep reading!
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
It's Vita Ayala Week on "The Infinite Unlimited," our segment of the Comics Syllabus where we check out new arrivals and dope archivals on Marvel Unlimited and DC Universe Infinite!
Ayala's "Static" 1 with CrissCross and Nikolas Draper-Ivey (DC) and their "Children of the Atom" 1 with Bernard Chang (Marvel) popped up on their respective apps this week, along with:
DC Universe Infinite: Batman/Fortnite Zeropoint 5, Sensational Wonder Woman chapter 10, Death Metal: Last Stories of the DC Universe 1, and Sweet Tooth: The Return 2.
Marvel Unlimited: Thor & Loki: Double Trouble 1, Daredevil 28, Eternals 3, and Non-Stop Spider-Man 1
Let's keep reading!
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
On a new segment (series?) on the Comics Syllabus, Paul talks about comics and graphic novels of interest to Parents, Librarians, Educators, And Student Enthusiasts in "Comics P.L.E.A.S.E." (see what I did there?)
We start by discussing "Truly Tyler" from Balzer + Bray, the latest in Terry Libenson's "Emmie and Friends" series which was kicked off by "Invisible Emmie." Emmie reappears as one of the two main characters here, and we also get to know Tyler, her friend and cartooning partner, as the two deal with the pressures of middle school social circles and a growing friendship across boundaries.
Join us as we dig deep into "Truly Tyler" and talk about why Libenson's latest offers gifts and opportunities for different points of view for young people.
Then, in "Polybagged" (21:35), new comics in shops this week that Paul picked up, including
"Home" #3 (Image) by Anta and Wieszczyk,
"The Many Deaths of Laila Starr" #21 (Boom!) by Ram V and Andrade,
"Rangers of the Divide" #3 (Dark Horse) by Megan Huang,
and "Compass" #1 (Image) by Mackenzie, Walker, and Greenwood.
Let's keep reading!
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
Connect with us at the Comics Syllabus Facebook or TwoPlai on Twitter or Instagram. Let's keep reading!
On a new segment (series?) on the Comics Syllabus, Paul talks about comics and graphic novels of interest to Parents, Librarians, Educators, And Student Enthusiasts in "Comics P.L.E.A.S.E." (see what I did there?)
We start by discussing "Truly Tyler" from Balzer + Bray, the latest in Terry Libenson's "Emmie and Friends" series which was kicked off by "Invisible Emmie." Emmie reappears as one of the two main characters here, and we also get to know Tyler, her friend and cartooning partner, as the two deal with the pressures of middle school social circles and a growing friendship across boundaries.
Join us as we dig deep into "Truly Tyler" and talk about why Libenson's latest offers gifts and opportunities for different points of view for young people.
Let's keep reading!
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
Connect with us at the Comics Syllabus Facebook or TwoPlai on Twitter or Instagram. Let's keep reading!
On our "Polybagged" segment for the week of June 16, 2021, Paul discusses new comics in shops this week that he picked up, including:
"Home" #3 (Image) by Anta and Wieszczyk
"The Many Deaths of Laila Starr" #3 (Boom!) by Ram V and Andrade
"Rangers of the Divide" #2 (Dark Horse) by Megan Huang
"Compass" #1 (Image) by Mackenzie, Walker, and Greenwood
Let’s keep reading!
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
Connect with us at the Comics Syllabus Facebook or TwoPlai on Twitter or Instagram. Let's keep reading!
On our "Polybagged" segment for the week of June 9, 2021, Paul discusses new comics in shops this week that he picked up, including
"Good Asian" #2 (Image),
"X-Men" #21 (Marvel),
"Wonder Woman" #775 (DC),
"Eve" #2 (Boom!), and
"Far Sector" #12 (DC/Young Animal).
Let’s keep reading!
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
Connect with us at the Comics Syllabus Facebook or TwoPlai on Twitter or Instagram. Let's keep reading!
On this Comics Syllabus segment, we review the graphic novel "Black Star" by Eric Anthony Glover and Arielle Jovellanos. "Black Star" is from the new Megascope imprint of Abrams ComicArts, spotlighting comics by and about people of color (see Paul's review of "After the Rain" here). "Black Star" is a sci-fi thriller about a competition for survival in a distant and dangerous planet, beautifully told with gripping, relentless comic book storytelling.
Let's keep reading!
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
Connect with us at the Comics Syllabus Facebook or TwoPlai on Twitter or Instagram. Let's keep reading!
We start this new weekly episode of the Comics Syllabus audio podcast with a review of the graphic novel "Black Star" by Eric Anthony Glover and Arielle Jovellanos (at 7:53). "Black Star" is from the new Megascope imprint of Abrams ComicArts, spotlighting comics by and about people of color (see Paul's review of "After the Rain" here). "Black Star" is a sci-fi thriller about a competition for survival in a distant and dangerous planet, beautifully told with gripping, relentless comic book storytelling.
Then, in "Polybagged" (20:57), new comics in shops this week that Paul picked up, including "Good Asian" #2 (Image), "X-Men" #21 (Marvel), "Wonder Woman" #775 (DC), "Eve" #2 (Boom!), and "Far Sector" #12 (DC/Young Animal).
Let's keep reading!
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
Connect with us at the Comics Syllabus Facebook or TwoPlai on Twitter or Instagram. Let's keep reading!
Subscribers/followers of Comics Syllabus, thanks for your patience as we figure out how to integrate video segments to our originally audio-only podcast. This episode is to clarify the video and audio podcast feeds (so far!) for our show, which is all about reading widely and digging deep in the world of comics and graphic novels. So...
Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos.
For audio-only episodes, you can find us on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this weekly audio-only RSS feed.
Connect with us at the Comics Syllabus Facebook or TwoPlai on Twitter or Instagram. Let's keep reading!
The Comics Syllabus continues its return with...
A new segment called "The Infinite Unlimited," exploring comics available on subscription apps like DC Universe Infinite and Marvel Unlimited, beginning with the 1993 "Static" series that was part of the original Milestone Comics line. Co-written initially by Milestone founders Dwayne McDuffie and Robert L. Washington III, Static is probably Milestone's most well known character... and a new series starring Static leads off Milestone's revival later this month.
But the original 90s Milestone series have become available for the first time digitally on DC Universe Infinite, and @TwoPlai digs into the early issues of "Static," which feature pencils by none other than John Paul Leon, legendary artist who we recently lost to cancer.
Then, at (15:48) in “PolyBagged,” our segment covering new comics in shops this past week, we discuss:
"Fire Power" #12 (Image)
"Iron Fist: Heart of the Dragon" #6 (Marvel)
"Dead Dog's Bite" #4 (Dark Horse)
"Nocterra" #4 (Image)
…along with a list of honorable mentions for this week.
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or RSS feed (with video) or (audio only RSS)
Comics Syllabus Facebook or TwoPlai on Twitter or Instagram
This week in “PolyBagged,” our segment covering new comics in shops this past week, we discuss:
"Fire Power" #12 (Image)
"Dead Dog's Bite" #4 (Dark Horse)
"Nocterra" #4 (Image)
"Iron Fist: Heart of the Dragon" #6 (Marvel)
…along with a huge list of honorable mentions for this week.
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or RSS feed: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
Comics Syllabus Facebook or TwoPlai on Twitter or Instagram
A new segment called "The Infinite Unlimited," exploring comics available on subscription apps like DC Universe Infinite and Marvel Unlimited, beginning with the 1993 "Static" series that was part of the original Milestone Comics line. Co-written initially by Milestone founders Dwayne McDuffie and Robert L. Washington III, Static is probably Milestone's most well known character... and a new series starring Static leads off Milestone's revival later this month.
But the original 90s Milestone series have become available for the first time digitally on DC Universe Infinite, and @TwoPlai digs into the early issues of "Static," which feature pencils by none other than John Paul Leon, legendary artist who we recently lost to cancer. Dig in to some early issues of "Static" and Leon's art with us.
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or RSS feed: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
Comics Syllabus Facebook or TwoPlai on Twitter or Instagram
[VIDEO VERSION. For the audio version of this episode, check out the podcast feed or jump to https://paulflai.com/podcast/2021-05-29-the-dragon-path-and-other-new-comics/ ]
The Comics Syllabus podcast returns, this time with a video version of our segments, including a weekly segment we’re calling “Polybagged,” where I talk up some of the new comics out this week that I’m finding interesting. This week, we spend time talking about:
“Black Panther” #25 by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Daniel Acuña, Brian Stelfreeze, and Laura Martin (Marvel)
“Shadecraft” #3 by Joe Henderson, Lee Garbett, Antonio Fabela (Image)
“Blue Flame” #1 by Christopher Cantwell, Adam Gorham, Kurt Michael Russell (Vault)
“Bitter Root” #13 by David F. Walker, Chuck Brown, and Sanford Greene (Image)
and “Batman Black and White” #6 by various spectacular artists and writers (DC)
…along with a huge list of honorable mentions for this week.
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find podcasts, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus
or with Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twoplai/
[VIDEO VERSION. For the audio version of this episode, check out the podcast feed or jump to https://paulflai.com/podcast/2021-05-29-the-dragon-path-and-other-new-comics/ ]
The Comics Syllabus returns, this time with a video version of our segments (look for those on this stream!), which this week include…
A graphic novel review of “The Dragon Path,” the new book by Ethan Young from Scholastic’s Graphix imprint. The young prince of the Wong Clan has to lead his people through a fraught journey to the Old Land through the Dragon Path! One of our favorite graphic novel creators, Ethan Young, has a new book out for young readers that builds an intriguing fantasy world set in an Asian backdrop and featuring fun characters, along with Young’s characteristic lively art.
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find podcasts, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus
or with Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twoplai/
[AUDIO VERSION] ...and we're back!
The Comics Syllabus podcast returns, this time with a video version of our segments (look for those on this stream!), which this week include...
A graphic novel review of "The Dragon Path," the new book by Ethan Young from Scholastic's Graphix imprint. The young prince of the Wong Clan has to lead his people through a fraught journey to the Old Land through the Dragon Path! One of our favorite graphic novel creators, Ethan Young, has a new book out for young readers that builds an intriguing fantasy world set in an Asian backdrop and featuring fun characters, along with Young's characteristic lively art.
And then, a segment we're now calling "Polybagged," where I talk up some of the new comics out this week that I'm finding interesting. This week, we spend time talking about:
"Black Panther" #25 by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Daniel Acuña, Brian Stelfreeze, and Laura Martin (Marvel)
"Shadecraft" #3 by Joe Henderson, Lee Garbett, Antonio Fabela (Image)
"Blue Flame" #1 by Christopher Cantwell, Adam Gorham, Kurt Michael Russell (Vault)
"Bitter Root" #13 by David F. Walker, Chuck Brown, and Sanford Greene (Image)
and "Batman Black and White" #6 by various spectacular artists and writers (DC)
...along with a huge list of honorable mentions for this week.
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find podcasts, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus
or with Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twoplai/
On this week's episode, we're graced by an interview with Mark Russell, writer of the Ahoy Comics series "Billionaire Island" with artist Steve Pugh and the newly collected first arc of "Second Coming" with artist Richard Pace. Mark Russell talks with Paul about the origins of these sharply satirical but ultimately profound comics, one about the extremes of our contemporary wealth inequality and the other about Jesus returning to earth and becoming pals with a superhero. Russell digs deep into the origins of his ideas, his collaborations with publishers and artists, and how he employs humor and humanity to make wonderful comics. This conversation's a real treat!
(Note: There's a brief audio gap about 30:25 in the episode where Mark comments that he just drew inspiration from the renditions of the God of the Old Testament-- apologies for the Skype error!)
Then, our "Picks and Shovels" segment on what we're reading, including...
“Almost American Girl” by Robin Ha (Balzer + Bray)
“Shadow of the Batgirl” by Sarah Kuhn (w) and Nicole Goux (a) (DC Kids)
"Daredevil” #1-19 by Chip Zdarsky (w), Mark Chechetto (a), Jorge Fornes (a), others (Marvel)
“Folklords” #1-4 by Matt Kindt (w), Matt Smith (a), (Boom!)
"The Golden Age, Book 1" by Roxane Moreil (w) and Cyril Pedrosa (a) (First Second)
Let's dig deep!
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find podcasts, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus
or with Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twoplai/
and Johnny on Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnnyhall3 or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnnyhall_3/
Thanks for listening!
On this week's episode, Johnny digs deep into a pair of series from Image Comics, "Little Bird" by Darcy Van Poelgeest (W) and Ian Bertram (A) and "Pretty Deadly: The Rat" by Kelly Sue DeConnick (W) and Emma Rios (A).
But first, our "Picks and Shovels" segment on what we're reading:
Johnny:
"Green Lantern" Seasons 1 & 2 (DC Comics) W: Grant Morrison A: Liam Sharp C: Steve Oliff & Olyoptics
"Sentient" (TKO) W: Jeff Lemire A: Gabriel Walta
"Ascender" Vol 1 (Image Comics) W: Jeff Lemire A: Dustin Nguyen
"Canopus" (Scout Comics) W/A Dave Chisolm
"Trillium" (DC/Vertigo) W/A Jeff Lemire
Paul:
“Spy x Family” (Viz; Shonen Jump) by Tatsuya Endo
“Parable of the Sower” (2020, Abrams) by Octavia Butler (original novel), Damian Duffy (adapt.), John Jennings (art). Paul's review: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/reviews/parable-of-the-sower/
“Conan the Barbarian” (Marvel) by Jason Aaron (w), Mahmud Asrar (a)
“The Banks” (TKO) by Roxane Gay (w) and Ming Doyle (a)
“Legend of Korra: Ruins of Empire” (Dark Horse) by Michael Dante DiMartino (w) and Michelle Wong (a)
“Superman Smashes the Clan” (DC) by Gene Luen Yang (w) and Gurihiru (a)
From Johnny's deep dig: Image from "Little Bird" by Darcy Van Poelgeest (W), Ian Bertram (A), Matt Hollingsworth (C), Aditya Bidikar (L):
Image from "Pretty Deadly: the Rat" by Kelly Sue DeConnick (W) and Emma Rios (A):
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find podcasts, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus
or with Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twoplai/
and Johnny on Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnnyhall3 or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnnyhall_3/
Thanks for listening!
Ben Passmore's new "Sports is Hell" from Koyama Press satirically sends up our intertwined sports, politics, and cultural madnesses. Paul and Johnny dig deep into the short graphic novel.
But first, our "Picks and Shovels" (What We're Reading) include:
Johnny: "The Last God" (DC Black Label), "Nancy" by Olivia Jaimes (Andrews McMeel), "East of West" (Image Comics)
P: "Commute: An Illustrated Memoir of Female Shame" by Erin Williams (Abrams), "Wonder Woman Dead Earth" #1 (DC Black Label), "Criminal" #12 (Image Comics), and the upcoming "Dragon Hoops" (First Second)
Look forward to our upcoming deep dives into "Little Bird" (Image Comics) and "Pretty Deadly: The Rat" (Image Comics)
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find podcasts, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
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Thanks for listening!
This week, Johnny and Paul offer a perspective and critiques of the "Dawn of X" mutant titles from Marvel, drawing on theory of the "literary carnivalesque" from Mikhail Bakhtin to describe what's intriguing about the X-books in the wake of Jonathan Hickman's House of X/Powers of X relaunch. Our discussion then touches on all the DoX titles so far, including "X-Men," "Excalibur," "New Mutants," "X-Force," "Fallen Angels," and "Marauders."
But first, the What We're Reading segment touches on Strnad and Corben's "Mutant World," Jemisin and Campbell's "Far Sector" (DC), Mignola's "Cosmic Odyssey" (DC), Minh Le and Andie Tong's "Green Lantern: Legacy" (DC Kids), Cates and Stegman's "Venom" (Marvel), "Noisemakers: 25 Women who raised their voices and changed the world" (Random House), Johns and Franks' "Doomsday Clock" (DC), and Bill Amend's "FoxTrot."
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find podcasts, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
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Thanks for listening!
What comics meant the most in the 2010s... to us, to comics, to the larger culture? "Saga"? "Ms. Marvel"? Raina Telgemeier's "Smile"?
Paul and Johnny run through their list of the comics of the decade, the graphic novels, superhero books, independent or alternative comics that marked out the 2010s for them. They also try to project ahead into what these selections say about the trends and transformations of comics in the 2020s.
Listen in to hear our whole list and all the commentary.
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find podcasts, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
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Thanks for listening!
What graphic novels in 2019 stood out as the most significant, most soul-stirring, most thought-provoking, most artistically innovative?
Co-hosts Paul and Johnny are excited to share the Comics Syllabus Podcast's favorite graphic novels of 2019. Listen as they chatter about the comics works and collections that they loved most this year.
Johnny's List:
10: The Adventure Zone: Murder on the Rockport Limited Carey Pietsch/Clint,Griffin,Justin,Travis McElroy – 1st Second Books
9: GUTS Raina Telgemeier – Scholastic
8: Hot Comb Ebony Flowers – Drawn & Quarterly
7: Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me W: Mariko Tamaki A: Rosemary Valero-O’Connell – 1st Second Books
6: Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction Vol. 4-7 Inio Asano – Viz Media
5: Rusty Brown Chris Ware – Pantheon Graphic Library
4: Pittsburgh/River at Night Frank Santoro – New York Review of Comics Kevin Huizenga – Drawn & Quarterly
3: BTTM FDRS W: Ezra Clayton Daniels A: Ben Passmore – Fantagraphics Books
2: The Hard Tomorrow Eleanor Davis - Drawn & Quarterly
1: Are You Listening? Tillie Walden - 1st Second Books
Paul's List:
10: MIghty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl Ben Hatke -- First Second
9: New Kid Jerry Craft -- HarperAlley
8: Angola Janga: The Kingdom of Runaway Slaves Marcelo D’Salete -- Fantagraphics
7: Making Comics Lynda Barry -- Drawn and Quarterly
6: The House Paco Roca -- Fantagraphics
5: BTTM FDRS W: Ezra Claytan Daniel (w) and A; Ben Passmore -- Fantagraphics
4: Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me W: Mariko Tamaki A: Rosemary Valero-O’Connell – First Second Books
3: In Waves AJ Dungo -- NoBrow
2: Hot Comb Ebony Flowers -- Drawn and Quarterly
1: The Hard Tomorrow Eleanor Davis -- Drawn and Quarterly
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find podcasts, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
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Thanks for listening!
On this week's Comics Syllabus, Paul (@twoplai) shares his favorite comic books series of 2019, recommendations for the holiday season and for all your year-end reading. His top ten series list includes:
"Giant Days" by John Allison and Max Sarin (BOOM!)
"Paper Girls" by Brian K. Vaughn, Cliff Chiang, Matt Wilson, Jared K. Fletcher (Image)
"Black Panther" by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Kev Walker, Daniel Acuña, Jen Bartel and others (Marvel)
"Batman Universe" by Brian Michael Bendis and Nick Derington (DC)
"Fairlady" by Brian Schirmer, Claudia Balboni, and Marissa Louise (Image)
"Criminal" by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, and Jacob Phillips (Image)
"Isola" by Brenden Fletcher, Karl Kerschl, MSASSYK, and Aditya Bidikar (Image)
"Sea of Stars" by Jason Aaron, Dennis Hallum, Stephen Green, and Rico Renzi (Image)
"Invisible Kingdom" by G. Willow Wilson and Christian Ward (Dark Horse; Berger Books)
"Red Sonja" by Mark Russell and Bob Q (Dynamite)
with special honorable mentions to: "House of X" and "Powers of X" by Jonathan Hickman, Pepe Larraz, RB Silva, and others (Marvel), "Ironheart" by Eve Ewing and others (Marvel), "Unbeatable Squirrel Girl" by Ryan North, Derek Charm, Erica Henderson and others (Marvel) "Doom Patrol: Weight of the World" by Gerard Way, Jeremy Lambert, and James Harvey (DC/Young Animal), "Batman: Creature of the Night" by Kurt Busiek and John Paul Leon and others (DC), "Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen" by Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber (DC), "Superman Smashes the Klan" by Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru (DC), "Far Sector" by N.K. Jemisin and Jamal Campbell (DC) "Sera and the Royal Stars" by Jon Tsuie and Audrey Mok (Vault)
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find podcasts, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
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Thanks for listening!
On the Comics Syllabus today, guest co-host Johnny Hall (@johnnyhall3) and Paul (@twoplai) discuss Frank Santoro's graphic novel "Pittsburgh," (starting at 12:30) a potent reminiscence and contemplation of Santoro's immediate family and upbringing in the city.
But first, Johnny and Paul remember Tom Spurgeon, comics reporter extraordinaire and example for us all. After talking about "Pittsburgh," Paul asks Johnny about his recent re-read of Warren Ellis and John Cassaday's "Planetary" from DC twenty years ago (at 47:50) and then dive into the recent Dawn of X and House of X/Powers of X series written by Jonathan Hickman and others at Marvel (at 1:07:38).
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find podcasts, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
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Thanks for listening!
On the Comics Syllabus today, another installment of COMICS PLEASE! (for Parents, Librarians, Educators, and Student Enthusiasts), covering comics and graphic novels for kids and teen readers.
This time, a review of the "Wings of Fire" graphic novel series, adapting Tui T. Sutherland's fantasy series as graphic novels with art by Mike Holmes from Scholastic's Graphix line. This chat is with Cohost Kid!
Then, a chat about "Superman Smashes the Klan" by Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru (DC).
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find podcasts, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
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Thanks for listening!
On the Comics Syllabus today, our special guest is Alea Perez (@ShhhYeah), President-Elect of the American Library Association's Graphic Novels and Comics Roundtable and Multiversity contributor.
At ( 38:40 ), we talk about Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O'Connell's "Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me" (First Second), this past summer's graphic novel hit.
But first, we talk with Alea about comics and graphic novels in libraries, how she became a librarian advocate for comics, and the ALA's Graphic Novels and Comics Roundtable.
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find podcasts, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
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Thanks for listening!
This week's Comics Syllabus podcast features a discussion of Kevin Huizenga's "The River at Night" (Drawn + Quarterly) ( 35:20 ) with good friend of the podcast Johnny Hall. Johnny and Comics Syllabus host Paul met up at Cartoon Crossroads (CXC) Columbus, had a chance to meet Mr. Huizenga, and talk about this collection of Huizenga's wonderful "Ganges" series of comics, originally published in issue form by Fantagraphics but now collected by D+Q!
But first, Johnny and Paul discuss the CXC show in Columbus, Ohio, and their experiences, including mentioning creators and comics they encountered there, such as Jaime Hernandez, Natasha Alterici, Nate Powell, Ezra Claytan Daniels, Frank Santoro, Kevin Huizenga, Melanie Gillman, Carta Monir, Mike Mignola, Jeff Smith, and more. It's a really special convention, and Paul and Johnny discuss why.
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find podcasts, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
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Thanks for listening!
For kids and middle grade readers: “Guts” by Raina Telgemeier (Graphix) (6:22)
And for teens and young adults: “Simon and Louise” by Max de Radigués (Conundrum). (18:39)
In this pilot episode of “Comics PLEASE! Kids Graphic Novels and YA Comics for Parents, Librarians, Educators, and School-aged Enthusiasts,” @TwoPlai tries out a new format for podcasting about comics for young readers.
We begin with two 8-Minute Reviews, starting with “Guts,” the new autobiographical kids and middle grade book by Raina Telgemeier from Scholastic’s Graphix line. A follow up to the mega-hits “Smile” and “Sisters,” Telgemeier’s new “Guts” explores her childhood experiences with anxiety, stomach pains, friendships, and therapy.
Then, a review of “Simon and Louise” by Max de Radigués, a Conundrum book for teens and young adults that tells two connected stories about the mishaps and misadventures of a boyfriend and girlfriend on separate summer breaks. “Simon and Louse” came out in early August, 2019.
Paul follows up these reviews with a few other recommended titles (26:30 ) for folks who have enjoyed Raina’s memoir books, including “Sheets” by Brenna Thummler, “New Kid” by Jerry Craft, “Click” by Kayla Miller, and the “Luz” series by Claudia Dávila. And he recommends the other work of Max de Radigués, especially the new "Stig and Tilde" from Nobrow.
Then, in the “Chalk Talk Chat,” Paul talks about a question other parents have asked him before: “Okay, I got my kid into reading comics... What if my kid will ONLY read comics now?” (36:56)
Your thoughts?
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find podcasts, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
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Thanks for listening!
"Best Friends" by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham! "Might Jack and Zita the Spacegirl" by Ben Hatke! "Hilda and the Mountain King" by Luke Pearson!
This week, @TwoPlai is joined by his first (and admittedly favorite) guest host of the new Comics Syllabus era-- Cohost Kid! We talk about a couple books from First Second that are the next installments of really fun kids comics series. Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham's "Best Friends" is a follow up to "Real Friends" that autobiographically explores friendships and worries of the latter half of elementary school for Hale. Ben Hatke's culmination of both his "Mighty Jack" AND "Zita the Spacegirl" series has also just come out. And we also talk about NoBrow's new "Hilda and the Mountain King," book number six for Luke Pearson's awesome "Hilda" series.
Let's dig deep!
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find podcasts, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
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Thanks for listening!
First, @TwoPlai offers an analysis of "King of King Court" by Travis Dandro (Drawn & Quarterly), an affecting graphic memoir employing comics' repertoires of subjective narrative to explore the experience of growing up with family, addiction, love, and pain.
Then, a rundown of recent series that @TwoPlai has been reading in a new segment called "New Comic Book Day (NCBD) Notes."
Mentioned: "Once and Future" #1 by Kieron Gillen & Dan Mora (Boom Studios) "Red Sonja" by Mark Russell and Mirko Colak (Dynamite) "Reaver" by Justin Jordan, Rebekah Isaacs, & Alex Guimarares (Image) "Forgotten Queen" by Tini Howard & Amilcar Pinna (Valiant) "Fairlady" by Brian Schirmer, Claudia Balboni, Marissa Louise (Image) "Sera and the Royal Stars" by Jon Tsuei and Audrey Mok (Vault)
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find podcasts, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or with Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twoplai/
Let's dig deep.
On the return of the Comics Syllabus podcast, we talk about "Hot Comb" by Ebony Flowers (Drawn & Quarterly), a memoir in vignettes about Flowers coming-of-age in the Baltimore area black community as a young woman and her experiences surrounding hair, touching poignantly on race, gender, growing up, family, societal expectations, community, class, identity, and selfhood. It's a beautiful and powerful book that TwoPlai tries his best to unpack his responses and questions about.
Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find podcasts, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or with Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twoplai/
Thanks for listening!
TwoPlai sets up to return to the Comics Syllabus, and he offers a remembrance of Derek Parker Royal of the Comics Alternative.
Derek and the Comics Alternative: http://comicsalternative.com/
Engage with the Comics Syllabus: https://twitter.com/twoplai https://www.instagram.com/twoplai/ http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe to the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or add this RSS feed to your podcast app: https://paulflai.com/feed/podcast/comicssyllabus
For upcoming Comics Syllabus discussions:
"Hot Comb" by Ebony Flowers, which I think I called "Blowout Comb" on the podcast, mistaking that title for the Digable Planets album from 25 (!) years ago: https://www.drawnandquarterly.com/blog/2018/05/dqhq-pr-hot-comb-ebony-flowers-spring-2019
A farewell... for now. Paul is redirecting his podcasting energies to start "Mother Box: A New Gods and Jack Kirby's Fourth World Podcast" with Matt Lune, as well as to appear weekly on the Comics Alternative and pursue other endeavors. This episode is a fond farewell as the Comics Syllabus podcast goes on indefinite hiatus, with heartfelt thanks to all the guests, listeners, friends, and Multiversity colleagues who've made this podcast a total joy for the past two years.
Comics Syllabus may be back in the future or on occasion, but for now, Paul's signing off. Look for "Mother Box" to come soon (and fill in this every-other-Tuesday slot at Multiversitycomics.com), and look for Paul and his friends at Multiversity, as well as on the Comics Alternative podcast weekly review episodes.
And thanks for listening! Let's keep reading.
(Track art is a drawing of Paul by wonderful artist Max Sarin)
On today's Comics Syllabus, Paul and brother Sonny discuss "Green Lantern Earth One Volume One," Gabriel Hardman, Corinna Bechko, and Jordan Boyd's DC graphic novel retelling of Hal Jordan Green Lantern's origin story in the Earth One universe. "Green Lantern Earth One" is a dash of Sonny's favorite stuff-- Green Lantern Corps and Green Lantern lore--filtered through the cinematic stylistics of Hardman and Bechko, some of Paul's favorite creators.
Then, Sonny and Paul pick upcoming trade collections on their wait list:
Sonny picks "Batman Detective Comics TP Vol 06 Fall Of The Batmen Rebirth" by James Tynion IV and Joe Bennett and artists (DC), the fall of Clayface and nearing the end of the Tynion Detective run.
Paul recommends "Fantastic Four Epic Collection TP New Fantastic Four" (Marvel) by various writers and artist, notably (for Paul) Art Adams art, collecting "Fantastic Four" #347-361 and Annual #24, a 90s run that includes Wolverine, Spiderman, Hulk, and Ghost Rider subbing for Marvel's first family.
Finally, a new wrinkle to the "Wait List with Sonny" segment. The brothers try out three "number one" issues, and Sonny decides if he'll add any to his trade wait list. They discuss "Detective Comics" #982 (the first post-Tynion issue), "Thor" #1, and "By Night" #1 (Boom).
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or with Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
Chad Sell, the creator and artist of the wonderful new all-ages graphic novel, “The Cardboard Kingdom” (Penguin Random House), joins Paul to tell the inspiring origin story of the book, co-written with a team of contributors. Just as Chad and many other contributors lent their talents and perspectives to the craft of this book, the book itself is a tribute to the diverse imaginations and explorations of a neighborhood of kids, having fun and finding themselves through an extended universe of play. The kids take on roles like The Sorceress, the Big Banshee, and The Gargoyle, fashioning costumes and castles from cardboard and creativity. The graphic novel’s assembled short stories amass into an overarching tale of childhood fun, community formation, and identity development, enjoyable for young readers and adults too. Chad shares about the craft and process of putting together “The Cardboard Kingdom”… its inspiration from kids comics, drag queens, and coloring book contests. It’s a great conversation… don’t miss it!
Chad’s co-writers on the book include Jay Fuller, David Derek, Katie Schenkel, Kris Moore, Manuel Betancourt, Molly Muldoon, Vid Alliger, Cloud Jacobs, Michael Cole, Barbara Perez Marquez, Vid Alliger, David Demeo, and Chad himself! Check out “The Cardboard Kingdom” at http://chadsellcomics.com/thecardboardkingdom/ or http://twitter.com/TheCardboardK and find Chad and his work at http://chadsellcomics.com/
(Oh, and check out the awesome papercraft designs for Cardboard Kingdom available through the book’s site: http://ntanos.co.uk/collections/the-cardboard-kingdom )
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named “Study Comics with Paul”) here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or with Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
Writer Jacob Semahn joins Paul on the Comics Syllabus podcast to talk about “No. 1 with a Bullet,” the Image Comics series he co-created with artist Jorge Corona, colorist Jen Hickman, and writer Steve Wands. “No 1 with a Bullet” is collected in a trade that comes out June 6, 2018. It’s a thrilling near-future story about Nash Huang, a TV personality’s assistant who must survive the brutal public exposure of our social media age… and worse! Jacob and Paul talk about the big ideas and cultural trends that prompted the book’s creation, and the craft behind his and his collaborators’ creation of this dynamic book. Let’s dig deep!
(Note: Swears and content warning– with respect, Jacob and Paul discuss issues of harassment and violence, though not graphically. Separately, heads up for some adult language in this one.)
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named “Study Comics with Paul”) here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or with Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
On today’s Comics Syllabus podcast, Cohost Kid comes on to talk about Elise Gravel’s “The Mushroom Fan Club” from Enfant/Drawn and Quarterly. Let’s dig deep!
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named “Study Comics with Paul”) here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or with Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
A special, slightly different episode: Paul and "That's the Issue" host Matt Lune embark on a podcast journey, as they launch "The Mother Box: A New Gods by Jack Kirby Podcast" project, a read-through of the "Fourth World Omnibus" by Jack Kirby. Together, Matt and Paul aim to learn about the New Gods universe, characters, and stories in anticipation of the planned "New Gods" movie directed by Ava Duvernay. They will read through and discuss Kirby's New Gods work issue by issue. And they'll invite on experts and other readers to inform them along the way.
This episode is a pilot, of sorts, for "The Mother Box," as well as a briefing about Jack Kirby, the New Gods, and what we hope to do with the project. Next week, on "That's the Issue," we will continue with a closer reading of the first issues of the "Fourth World Omnibus," the first three issues of Jack Kirby's work at DC on "Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen."
Let us know what you think!
Some primer articles you might check out: Multiversity’s Jonathan O’Neal’s piece: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/longform/fourth-world-problems/ DC’s 101: https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2016/03/09/dc-comics-101-who-are-the-new-gods Nerdist Primer: https://nerdist.com/new-gods-primer-dc-comics-jack-kirby/ IGN rundown: http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/03/16/the-new-gods-explained-who-are-the-dc-characters Chris Sims at Comics Alliance: http://comicsalliance.com/ask-chris-54-the-mythology-of-jack-kirbys-new-gods/ A blogger’s explainer piece: https://dcmultiversehistorian.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/what-the-deal-with-the-fourth-world/ Recent Kirby write-up in the Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/jack-kirby-new-gods-marvel-comic-book-artist-recognition-a8259236.html The Vulture’s Reisman longform: http://www.vulture.com/2017/11/jack-kirby-fourth-world-steppenwolf-justice-league.html Another blogger’s take, what’s wrong with New Gods (it’s Superman): http://www.comicscube.com/2013/11/whats-wrong-with-new-gods-look-at-jack.html LA Times “Reading Irresponsibly with Jack Kirby” piece: http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-ca-jc-jack-kirby-20171229-story.html
Find the full podcast at http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play podcasts, or wherever or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss
Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai
Feel free to drum up discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus
Today's Comics Syllabus podcast looks at BE PREPARED by Vera Brosgol (First Second), colors by Alec Longstreth, a wonderful autobiographical summer camp story for all ages.
Images discussed on the podcast: 1. The Cover of BE PREPARED and the alienation of Camp https://images.macmillan.com/folio-assets/macmillan_us_frontbookcovers_1000H/9781626724457.jpg
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Birthday Party and Outsider Feelings https://us.macmillan.com/interiors?isbn=9781626724457
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The "Hollywood" and Cultural Camp Experiences https://i0.wp.com/www.comicsbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BePrepared_INT_056.jpg https://i0.wp.com/www.comicsbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/BePrepared_INT_057.jpg
Find the full podcast at http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play podcasts, or wherever or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss
Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai
Feel free to drum up discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus
In typical Comics Syllabus fashion, Paul has the most niche of niche solo discussions (with YOU!) about AVENGERS INFINITY WAR. This conversation features SPOILERS but then again kind of doesn't because, as usual, Paul explains very little, kind of hoping that you've not only already seen the movie but consumed the recaps and reviews abounding everywhere. So it's more of a reflective piece, thinking about ideas and themes provoked by the movie. Listen only after you've joined the throngs of people who've already seen the film, cool?
Find the full podcast at http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play podcasts, or wherever or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss
Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai
Feel free to drum up discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus
MIGHTY THOR #706 from Marvel Comics, written by Jason Aaron, art by Russell Dauterman, colors by Matt Wilson, letters by VC's Joe Sabino.
Elias Rosner's Thor by Jason Aaron piece: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/longform/worthy-jason-aaron-thor-retrospective/
Images to go with this episode, via Comixology https://www.comixology.com/The-Mighty-Thor-2015-706/digital-comic/637936 :
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Sacrificial Jane https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/cmx-images-prod/Item/637936/Previews/ed8382bf0c8094ef9952999d9b93b86d._SX1280_QL80_TTD_.jpg
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To Valhalla https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/cmx-images-prod/Item/637936/Previews/6120a942658ed957b1597bd81fd9f848._SX1280_QL80_TTD_.jpg
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Aaron's Thor summed up in an eye-roll
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/cmx-images-prod/Item/637936/Previews/448e3770ee85ca84916bd8da5d61aeb8._SX1280_QL80_TTD_.jpg
Find the podcast at http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named “Study Comics with Paul”) here: http://studycomics.club/
Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai
On this episode (at 0:00 ), Paul explains a(nother!) shift in the podcast format for the near future.
Then (at 7:52 ), Multiversity's Michelle White ( http://www.multiversitycomics.com/author/mwhite/ ) returns to talk about three graphic novels by single creators:
(at 10:42 ) "The Interview" by Manuele Fiore (Fantagraphics),
(at 29:24 ) "Science Comics Bats: Learning to Fly" by Falynn Koch (First Second),
(at 41:30 ) and "One! Hundred! Demons!" by Lynda Barry (Drawn + Quarterly).
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or with Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
On this episode (at 0:00 ), Paul serves up next week's Syllabus (see below), inviting you to a discussion of "Critical Dystopia" and readings for next episode of the pod!
Then (at 13:32 ), we welcome back Ram V ( http://www.ram-v.com/ ), writer of Image Comics series "Paradiso" whose first arc is collected in trade and out May 16, 2018. Ram talks to us about the experience of writing "Paradiso" issues 1-4 and beyond, and we dig deep in a spoiler section into the characters and world of this fascinating series, drawn by Dev Pramanik, colored by Dearbhla Kelly, and lettered by Aditya Bidikar from Image Comics.
At ( 1:16:45 ), Paul tackles a few books from last episode's "Syllabus" and starts to discuss "Critical Dystopias," with the surprising and NOT dystopic books "Dragon Slayer" by Jaime Hernandez (TOON Books) and the children's book Islandborn by Junot Diaz (Dial), and then delving into a mini-comic from ShortBox ( http://shortbox.bigcartel.com/ ) by Matthew Pettit entitled "Sending You Love from Paradise." Paul lays out different ideas about critical dystopias, ideas he plans to delve further into in the next Comics Syllabus.
Finally, Paul's brother Sonny returns for "The Wait List" (at 1:58:32 ), a discussion of trades and collections in the month of April that his trade-waiting brother is excited for. That means it's time to talk "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" (Boom!) and "Detective Comics" (DC)! Paul also tries to trick his brother into reading "Kramers Ergot" 10 (Fantagraphics) and "X-Men: Grand Design" by Ed Piskor (Marvel).
"The Syllabus" for 4/11/2018: Critical Dystopias Part 2:
(And join us next time for Multiversity's Michelle White on some of her recent reads for the Throwback Thursday, Family Friday, and Sequential Saturday picks)
Throwback Thursday: “One Hundred Demons" by Lynda Barry (Drawn + Quarterly)
Family Friday: “Science Comics Bats: Learning to Fly" by Falynn Koch (First Second) and “Science Comics Robots and Drones: Past, Present, and Future," written by Mairghread Scott; illustrated by Jacob Chabot (First Second).
Sequential & Small Press Saturday: "The Interview" by Manuele Fiore (Fantagraphics)
Superhero Sunday: "Thanos" by Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw (Marvel)
Manga Monday: "Planetes" by Yukimura (Dark Horse)
Alt/Trade Tuesday: "Monstress" by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda (Image)
World/Web Wednesday: "Centron Files" by (Delcourt and Europe)
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
On this episode (at 0:00 ), Paul starts with some shout outs and mentions.
Then (at 12:40 ), the next two weeks’ Syllabus. Join us to read:
"The Syllabus" for 3/26/2018: Critical Dystopias
Manga Monday: “Vinland Saga” by Makoto Yukimura (Kodansha) and "Planetes" by Yukimura (Dark Horse)
Alt/Trade Tuesday: "Monstress" by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda (Image)
World/Web Wednesday: Titan Graphic Novels: "Death of Stalin," "Beautiful Death," "Doctor Radar," "Lone Sloane," "Normandy Gold," "Dan Dare," "Fighting American."
Throwback Thursday: “The Fourth World Omnibus” by Jack Kirby (DC)
Family Friday: “Islandborn" by Junot Diaz (Dial) “The Dragon Slayer: Folktales from Latin America” by Jaime Hernandez (TOON)
Superhero Saturday: Marvel Catch Up. Your recommendations?
Sequential & Small Press Sunday: "Glow" by Ray Chou and Vincenzo Ferriero with art by Anny Maulina and Dia Jia: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1039309513/glow-1-2 Short Box from Comics and Cola: shortbox.bigcartel.com (pictured below)
[image width=600]http://multiversitystatic.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2018/03/shortbox-comics-cola-january-2018.jpg[/image]
Then (at 32:51 ) Paul is inspired by social movements and current trends to think about hard questions that artistic and literary texts can pose about the prospects of masculinities. His thoughts roam over "Why Art?" by Eleanor Davis, "Deathstroke" by Priest and artists (DC), "New Superman" by Gene Luen Yang and artists (DC), "Brazen" by Penelope Bagieu (First Second), "Slots" by Dan Panosian (Image), "Grass Kings" by Matt Kindt and Tyler Jenkins (Boom), "Atlas and Axis" by Pau (Titan), "Vinland Saga" by Makoto Yukimura (Kodansha), and "The Super Life of Ben Braver" by Marcus Emerson (Roaring Brook Press).
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
Images that go with this episode are at http://wp.me/p42KN3-KXo
On this episode (at 0:00 ), Paul articulates a mission statement for the Comics Syllabus podcast, to “read widely and dig deep” in the process of studying how comics work towards and reflect social and cultural change.
First (at 15:00 ), the next two weeks’ Syllabus. Join us to read:
"The Syllabus" for 3/13/2018
Family Friday: “Atlas & Axis” #1-3 by Pau (Titan Comics) “The Dragon Slayer: Folktales from Latin America” by Jaime Hernandez (TOON)
Superhero Saturday: DC: “Eternity Girl” #1 by Visaggio & Liew, “Michael Cray” #6 by Hill, Ellis, Vines, & Harris, “Justice League” #41 by Priest & Woods, “Super Sons” #14 by Tomasi, Thibert, & Barberi. Lion Forge: “Astonisher” v1 by De Campi & Mhan. Marvel: “Astonishing X-Men” #9 by Soule & Buffagni, “Mighty Thor” #705 by Aaron & Dauterman. Valiant: “Secret Weapons: Owen’s Story” #0 by Heisserer, Allen, & Martin.
Sequential & Small Press Sunday: “Why Art?” By Eleanor Davis (Fantagraphics) “Brazen” by Penelope Bagieu (First Second) “Puerto Rico Strong” by various artists (Lion Forge) Short Box from Comics and Cola: shortbox.bigcartel.com
Manga Monday: “Vinland Saga” by Makoto Yukimura (Kodansha)
Alt/Trade Tuesday: Image: “Port Of Earth” v1 by Kaplan and Mutti, “Sleepless” #4 by Vaughan, Del Duca, and Sallah, “Slots” #6 by Dan Panosian, Dry County” #1 by Rich Tommaso, “Descender” #28 by Lemire & Nguyen, “Southern Bastards” #14 by Aaron & Latour, and “Paradiso” v1 by Ram V and Pramanik, “Grass Kings” #13 by Kindt & Jenkins (Boom), “Giant Days” v7 by Allison & Sarin (boom).
World/Web Wednesday: “Corto Maltese: The Golden House of Samarkand” by Hugo Pratt (IDW/Euro)
Throwback Thursday: “Sandman” by Gaiman & various artists (DC/Vertigo)
Then (at 35:40 ) Paul talks about storytelling and grasping the individual in history, touching on titles from last episode’s Syllabus reading list, such as “The Sandman” #19 by Gaiman & Vess (DC/Vertigo), “Wires and Nerves” by Meyer and Holgate (Feiwel & Friends), “The Wicked + the Divine” by Gillen & McKelvie (Image), "Rocket Girl" by Montclare & Reeder (Image), and “Hypercapitalism” by Kasser & Gonnick (New Press).
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
"The Syllabus"-- Paul's reading list ( 0:00 ) Political biographies with Edward Haynes ( 48:31 ) "The Wait List" with Sonny ( 1:43:12 )
First, (at 0:00) Paul tries a new approach to “the Syllabus,” his reading list of comics to read widely with him these next two weeks (see list below). He touches on various titles from his last two weeks’ reading list as an explainer about the idea of “Prolepsis and Futures,” and how it applies in comics. Those titles include “The Incal” by Jodorowsky and Moebius (Humanoids), “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson and Emily Carroll (FSG), “Battle Angel Alita” by (Kodansha/Comixology), “Birthright” by Joshua Williamson and Andrei Bresson (Image), “Universe” by Albert Monteys (Panel Syndicate), and Black Panther, the comics and the movie!
Then we welcome Multiversity’s Edward Haynes (at 48:31 ), who visits to talk about Political Biographies he has read recently. Ed’s on Twitter at twitter.com/teddyhaynes , his Multiversity work can be found at www.multiversitycomics.com/author/ehaynes/ and he makes mention of the literary magazine he’s co-editing for transgender writers, Across & Through, at www.acrossandthrough.co.uk/ . We chat about “Castro” by Reinhardt Kleist (SelfMadeHero/Arsenal Pulp Press), “March” by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell (IDW/Top Shelf), and “Sally Heathcote, Suffragette” by Mary Talbot, Bryan Talbot, and Kate Charlesworth (Dark Horse).
Finally, we play catchup with Paul’s brother Sonny for a March edition of the Wait List (at 1:43:12 ), spotlighting upcoming trades and collections they’re planning to check out. Titles include “Green Lantern: Earth One” by Corinna Bechko and Gabriel Hardman (DC), “Super Sons” v2 by Peter Tomasi and Jorge Jimenez (DC), “Letter 44” by Charles Soule and Alberto Albuquerque (Oni), and “Invincible” by Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker (Image).
“The Syllabus” for 2/2/2018. (Read along wherever you’d like, and we welcome you to share your thoughts on any of these comics with #ComicsSyllabus)
World/BD (Wednesdays): “Ring of the Seven Worlds” by Gualdoni, Clima, and Piana (Humanoids)
Throwback (Thursdays): “Fourth World Omnibus” by Jack Kirby (DC), more “Strangers in Paradise” by Terry Moore (Abstract).
Family (Fridays): “Wires and Nerve” by Marissa Meyer and Douglas Holgate (Feiwel and Friends).
Superheroes (Saturdays): “Avengers: No Surrender” by Waid, Ewing, Zub, Larraz, Jacinto (Marvel) and “Justice League: The People versus the Justice League” by Priest, Woods, Santucci, Churchill (DC).
Sequential/Small Press (Sundays): “Happy Hour in America” by Tim Lane (Fantagraphics), “Hypercapitalism” by Larry Gonnick and Tim Kassar, “Something City” by Ellice Weaver (Avery Hill)
Manga (Mondays): “Dr. Stone” by Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi in Weekly Shonen Jump (Viz).
Alt TPB (Tuesdays): “The Wicked and the Divine” by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie (Image) and “Animosity” by Marguerite Bennett and Rafael de Latorre (Aftershock)
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundclo…739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named “Study Comics with Paul”) here: studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage. Thanks for listening!
Images are at http://wp.me/p42KN3-K4L
First, (at 0:00) a walk through the Syllabus, a reading list of comics Paul invites you to read along with him in the weeks to come. See the Syllabus full list below.
This episode's Close Read (at 28:42 ) is with comics scholar and #BlackComicsChat's Grace Gipson ( http://twitter.com/GBreezy20 ) examining “Concrete Park” by Erika Alexander (W) and Alex Puryear (W/A) (Dark Horse), set in Scare City, a dystopic future place on a prison planet where the criminalized are sent to make their way, trying to carve loyalty and love in a scifi world packed with real world resonance. IMAGES TO GO WITH OUR DISCUSSION OF "CONCRETE PARK” are at http://wp.me/p42KN3-K4L
Finally, we wrap up by checking in with Paul’s brother Sonny for a late February installment of the Wait List (at 1:48:00 ), anticipating upcoming trades and collections they’re looking too, and brotherly banter.
"The Syllabus" for 2/13/2018. (Read along wherever you'd like, and we welcome you to share your thoughts on any of these comics with #ComicsSyllabus)
Alt TPB (Tuesdays): “Birthright” by Joshua Williamson and Andrei Bressan (Image), “Rock Candy Mountain” by Kyle Starks (Image), and keeping track of “Paradiso" (Image), “Kid Lobotomy” (IDW/Black Crown) “Sherlock Frankenstein and the Legion of Evil” (Dark Horse), and “Sleepless” (Image).
World/BD (Wednesdays): “Universe” by Albert Monteys (Panel Syndicate) at http://panelsyndicate.com/comics/universe
Throwback (Thursdays): “The Incal” by Jodorowsky and Moebius, more "Fourth World Omnibus" by Jack Kirby (DC), more “Strangers in Paradise” by Terry Moore (Abstract).
Family (Fridays): “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson and Emily Carroll (FGS) and “Prince and Dressmaker” by Jen Wang (First Second), along with “Wires and Nerve” by Marissa Meyer and Douglas Holgate (Feiwel and Friends).
Superheroes (Saturdays): "X Men Red," "Jean Grey," and the "Phoenix Resurrection" event from Marvel; Young Animal/JLA "Milk Wars" crossover and "Batman" #40 from DC.
Sequential/Small Press (Sundays): “Happy Hour in America” by Tim Lane (Fantagraphics), "Zegas” by Michel Fiffe (Fantagraphics), “The End of the F—ing World” by Charles Forsman (Fantagraphics), “Something City” by Ellice Weaver (Avery Hill)
Manga (Mondays): “Happiness” by Shuzo Oshimi (Kodansha); more “Alita."
And Sonny and Paul's "Wait List" mentions: Victor LaValle's "Destroyer" by Victor LaValle, Dietrich Smith and Joana LaFuente (Boom!), "Teen Titans" vol. 2 by Ben Percy and Khoi Pham, Phil Hester, other artists (DC), "Grass Kings" by Matt Kindt and Tyler Jenkins (Boom!), "Mother Panic" v2 by Jody Houser and Phil Hester, Shawn Crystal, John Paul Leon, Ande Parks (DC).
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
Images at Multiversitycomics.com at http://wp.me/p42KN3-JIR
Welcome to the Comics Syllabus podcast, where we read widely and we dig deep. Your host Paul, a literacy researcher and English teacher, introduces curious readers to a range of current and classic comics, and then engages in closer discussion and analysis of particular comics works.
First, (at 0:00) a walk through the Syllabus, a reading list of comics Paul invites you to read along with him in the weeks to come. See the Syllabus full list below.
This episode’s Close Read (at 32:20 ) is with Rachelle Cruz, as we dive into two graphic novels from Filipina/o creators, “Duran Duran, Imelda Marcos, and Me” by Lorina Mapa (Conundrum, 2017) and “Elmer” by Gerry Alanguilan (SLG, 2010). We start by catching up with Rachelle about her forthcoming comics textbook, “Experiencing Comics,” and then examine Alanguilan’s moving and vexing fable of chickens who acquire consciousness and Mapa’s moving autobiography about growing up in the Philippines and Canada, noticing powerful similarities in the two stories.
IMAGES TO GO WITH OUR DISCUSSION OF “ELMER” AND “DURAN DURAN, IMELDA MARCOS, AND ME” are at http://wp.me/p42KN3-JIR
In the discussion, Rachelle also mentions the documentary Komeriko Chronicles ( http://www.facebook.com/Komikero-Chronicles-1602564500070445/ ), Budjette Tan’s TRESE anthology (found at http://www.mervstore.com/products/kabuwanan ), and the comics work of Arnold Arre ( http://arnold-arre.com/ ), so check those out!
Finally, in the Discussion Section (at 1:35:00 ), the Discussion Section, with mentions of interviews with Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen at Multiversity http://www.multiversitycomics.com/interviews/descender-27-preview-interview/ and other podcasts, and shout outs to the #ComicsSyllabus community.
Next Time: "Concrete Park" by Tony Puryear and Erika Alexander (Dark Horse).
“The Syllabus” for 1/30/2018. (Read along wherever you choose, throw in your comments via #ComicsSyllabus)
Manga (Mondays): “Hatsune Miku Future Delivery” by Hugin Miyama and Satoshi Oshio (Kodansha).
Alt TPB (Tuesdays): MANY IMAGE SERIES including “Invisible Republic,” “Shutter,” “Autumnlands,” “Rocket Girl,” “No Mercy,” “Monstress,” “East of West,” and more! (There are so many!)
World/BD (Wednesdays): “Jerome K Jerome Blouche” by Alain Dodier, Pierre Makyo, and Serge Le Tendre (IDW Euro Comics)
Throwback (Thursdays): “Fourth World Omnibus” by Jack Kirby (DC)
Family (Fridays): Kamikaze by Alan Tupper, Carrie Tupper, and Havana Nguyen (at http://kamikazeanimated.com/ ); Future release: “The Cardboard Kingdom” by Chad Sell and others
Superheroes (Saturdays): “Black Panther,” anyone?
Sequential/Small Press (Sundays): “Slasher” by Charles Forsman (Floating World), “Queen Street” by Emmanuelle Chateauneuf (Chapterhouse), and “Alienation” #1-6 by Inés Estrada ( http://inechi.com/alienation.html )
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named “Study Comics with Paul”) here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
Images are at the site page: http://wp.me/p42KN3-Jim
First, (at 0:00) the renewed schedule, format, and mission of the Comics Syllabus podcast… and an apology for the weeks we’ve been gone.
Then, in the General Ed segment (at 8:20 ), a look ahead at comics we’re anticipating in 2018 with Matt Lune. Matt’s the host of the “That’s the Issue!” podcast, the Comics Syllabus’s new partner podcast on alternating weeks. You can check out the rest of the conversation between Matt and Paul about the year ahead on next Tuesday’s “That’s the Issue!”
This week’s Close Read (at 56:00 ) is “Golden Kamuy” by Satoru Noda (Viz), a seinen manga series set at the turn of the 20th Century about the Immortal Sugimoto, a veteran of the Russo-Japanese war, and Asirpa, a girl whose Ainu (a Japanese indigenous culture) expertise with the wild forest setting helps the two protagonists in a hidden-treasure chase against dangerous criminals. Images to go with Paul’s discussion are at the link at the top of these shownotes.
On the Syllabus segment (at 1:35:00 ), Paul introduces his Reading Schedule, an invitation (or an assignment, if you like), to find something to read along with Paul and join the discussion. This month, we apply the reviewer’s questions from Ann Hornaday’s Talking Pictures (Basic Books) — what are the creators trying to accomplish? did they? and was it worth trying? — to the effort to “read widely” this year. On the Syllabus this month:
Manga (Mondays): “A Silent Voice” by Yoshitoki Oima (Kodansha) and “Battle Angel Alita” by Yukito Kishiro (Kodansha).
Alt TPB (Tuesdays): “Crosswind” by Cat Staggs and Gail Simone (Image); next: “Eternity” by Matt Kindt and Trevor Hairsine (Valiant)
World/BD (Wednesdays): “Largo Winch” v1 by Phillipe Francq and Jean van Hamme (Cinebook); next: “Valentine” v1 by Vanyda (Europe Comics)
Throwback (Thursdays): “Strangers in Paradise” by Terry Moore (Abstract Studios), volumes 1-2; next: “Miss Fury: The Best of the 1940s” by Tarpe Mills, edited by Trina Robbins (IDW Library of American Comics)
Family (Fridays): “I Am Alfonso Jones” by Tony Medina, Stacey Robinson, John Jennings (Lee and Low); next: “Science Comics: Flying Machines” by Alison Wilgus and Molly Brooks First Second)
Superheroes (Saturdays): “Action Comics” by Dan Jurgens and artists (DC); next: “Black Panther” by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Brian Stelfreeze and other artists (Marvel)
Sequential/Small Press (Sundays): “The Green Hand and Other Stories” by Nicole Claveloux (NYRC); next: “Psychology” by Danny Oppenheimer and Grady Klein (Norton)
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named “Study Comics with Paul”) here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
Images to go with this episode are at http://wp.me/p42KN3-IJt on Tuesday 12/19/2017.
On the “Pull Call” ( 8:22 ), Paul talks about several recent reads, including “Doomsday Clock” #1 (DC, Geoff Johns and Gary Frank), “Extremity” #9 (Image, Daniel Warren Johnson), “Dr. Stone” (Viz’s Weekly Shonen Jump, Riichiro Inigaki and Boichi), and “Duran Duran, Imelda Marcos, and Me” (Conundrum, Lorina Mapa). Then, ( 40:15 ) a deep dive into “Black Bolt” by Saladin Ahmed and Christian Ward from Marvel Comics.
Welcome to the Comics Syllabus podcast, where we read widely and we dig deep. Your host Paul, a literacy researcher and English teacher, introduces curious readers to a range of current and classic comics, and then engages in closer discussion and analysis of particular comics works.
First, ( at 0:00 ) an Announcement about some changes upcoming for the Comics Syllabus podcast.
Then, on the “Pull Call” ( 8:22 ), Paul briefly discusses some recent reads. Links to preview images discussed are below:
Doomsday Clock #1 by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank:
Check out Frida Keränen’s annotations: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/annotations/doomsday-clock-01/
And the DC3 Cast bonus episode: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/podcasts/the-dc3cast-doomsday-clock-1/
And Brian Salvatore’s review: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/reviews/doomsday-clock-1/
Preview images are at: http://www.dccomics.com/reader/#/comics/433545
Extremity #9 by Daniel Warren Johnson, Mike Spicer (c), Rus Wooton (l):
https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/extremity-9
Dr. Stone in Weekly Shonen Jump by Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi:
https://www.viz.com/shonenjump/chapter/dr-stone-chapter-3/5587?read=1
Duran Duran, Imelda Marcos, and Me by Lorina Mapa: (error note: Paul misspeaks and discusses Mapa's story as Filipino-American, but the story takes place in Mapa's youth spent in the Philippines, before migrating to Canada. Sorry!)
http://www.conundrumpress.com/new-titles/duran-duran-imelda-marcos-and-me/
Then, at ( 40:15 ), Paul digs deep into “Black Bolt” by Saladin Ahmed (w) and Christian Ward (a), lettered by VC’s Clayton Cowles and edited by Wil Moss. Paul considers how “Black Bolt” functions as a prison narrative, with implications for how readers relate to the character and what resonances the story has.
A shorter episode: Multiversity's Mike Mazzacane comes on the Comics Syllabus's General Ed segment to break down his list of favorite comic book movies of 2017.
Welcome to the Comics Syllabus podcast, where we read widely and we dig deep. Your host Paul, a literacy researcher and English teacher, introduces curious readers to a range of current and classic comics, and then engages in closer discussion and analysis of particular comics works.
Apologies for this short episode, lacking a proper intro and without the usual deep dive into a particular comic. But we hope you'll enjoy this chat this week nonetheless:
On this shorter episode of the Comics Syllabus (Apologies! Paul's fallen sick!), Multiversity's Mike Mazzacane http://www.multiversitycomics.com/author/mmazzacane/ comes on to talk about his favorite movies adapted from comics of 2017, a year that was replete with comic book movies... and the train isn't slowing down! Mike and Paul discuss Logan, Wonder Woman, Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, and Atomic Blonde (Mike's picks), also chatting up the Marvel and DC movie universes.
NEXT WEEK: Let Paul know if you're interested in discussion about "Shutter" (by Keatinge and Del Duca from Image), "Black Bolt" (by Ahmed and Marvel), "Secret Coders" (First Second), or "Everything is Flammable" (by Gabriel Bell from Uncivilized) by voting at the Twitter poll linked here: http://twitter.com/TwoPlai/status/940416465395576833 or by reaching out through one of the means below!
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
Images are at http://wp.me/p42KN3-IkQ
Paul discusses the Catalyst Prime superhero sci-fi universe, published by Lion Forge, with titles like "Noble," "Accell," "Superb," "Astonisher," "The Incidentals," and "Kino," and featuring creators and editors like Joseph Illidge, Desiree Rodriguez, Joe Casey, Brandon Thomas, Alex De Campi, Christopher Priest, Sheena Howard, David F. Walker, Ray-Anthony Height, Damion Scott, Roger Robinson, Juan Fernandez, Marco Turini, Jessica Kholinne, and many others!
Welcome to the Comics Syllabus podcast, where we read widely and we dig deep. Your host Paul, a literacy researcher and English teacher, introduces curious readers to a range of current and classic comics, and then engages in closer discussion and analysis of particular comics works. First, on the Wait List/Discussion Section ( 4:00 ), Paul lists various collections, trades, and graphic novels coming out in December that he's anticipating, while commenting on Marvel and CB Cebulski. And as always, lots of shout outs. Escapist Comics Podcast interview with "Sleepless" creators Leila Del Duca and Alissa Sallah: http://art19.com/shows/the-escapist-comics-podcast/episodes/f4fe7cec-d666-48e0-9a15-d4c75f7a4e3f
Then, at ( 26:23 ), Paul talks about Lion Forge's Catalyst Prime, discussing the prospect of creating an interconnected superhero sci-fi universe, running through each of the Catalyst Prime titles so far, and appreciating the effort the line makes toward diversity. Robots from Tomorrow episode with Joseph Illidge interview about Catalyst Prime: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/podcasts/rft-387-illidge-catalyst/ Graphic Policy piece about Catalyst Prime: http://graphicpolicy.com/2016/10/10/nycc-2016-talking-lion-forges-catalyst-prime-with-joe-illidge/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
Multiversity’s Matt Lune joins Paul to talk about their year-end lists of favorite ongoing comics, original graphic novels, writers, artists, cover artists, and publishers… as well as the prospect of making and discussing these lists themselves!
Welcome to the Comics Syllabus podcast, where we read widely and we dig deep. Your host Paul, a literacy researcher and English teacher, introduces curious readers to a range of current and classic comics, and then engages in closer discussion and analysis of particular comics works.
First, in the introduction, ( 0:00 ) an apology that the promised discussion of Catalyst Prime titles will be postponed until next week because… well… this episode was already too long and Paul got plenty busy during the US holiday! But NEXT WEEK: Catalyst Prime, the Valiant universe, superhero universes, DCEU and MCU, and diversity!
Then, at ( 4:00 ), Multiversity’s Matt Lune comes to talk to Paul about their favorites for 2017. Matt’s work at Multiversity can be found at http://www.multiversitycomics.com/author/mlune/ and he’s on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MattLune , and you can find him one Super Comic Battle Wars podcast ( http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/super-comic-battle-wars/ ) and the That’s the Issue podcast ( http://awesomesourcecomics.com/category/thats-the-issue/ ). Matt mentions his recent “Don’t Miss This” column about “Doom Patrol,” which is at http://www.multiversitycomics.com/news-columns/dont-miss-this-doom-patrol/
And here are our lists!
Matt’s Best Ongoing Comics (Not necessarily in this order): Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (Marvel) Paper Girls (Image) Detective Comics (DC) Babyteeth (Black Mask) Black Hammer (Dark Horse) Extremity (Image) Redlands (Image) Rock Candy Mountain (Image) Doom Patrol (DC/Young Animal) Scales and Scoundrels (Image)
Paul’s Best Original Graphic Novels of 2017: 5- Spinning (First Second) by Tillie Walden 4- Boundless (Drawn and Quarterly) by Jillian Tamaki 3- Eartha (Fantagraphics) by Cathy Malkasian 2- My Favorite Thing is Monsters (Fantagraphics) by Emil Ferris 1- The Best We Could Do (Abrams) by Thi Bui
Honorable Mentions: Lighter than My Shadow (Lion Forge) by Katie Green; Savage Town (Image) by Declan Shalvey; House of Women (Fantagraphics) by Sophie Goldstein; Tenements, Towers & Trash ( Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers) by Julia Wertz; Stone Heart (First Second) by Faith Erin Hicks, Newsprints (Graphix) by Ru Xu, Roughneck, Mighty Jack and the Goblin King (First Second) by Ben Hatke
Matt’s Best Writers 10- James Tynion IV 9- Daniel Warren Johnson 8- Emil Ferris 7- Declan Shalvey 6- Kelly Thompson 5- Kyle Starks 4- Jeff Lemire 3- Jordie Bellaire 2- Tom King 1- Donny Cates
Paul’s Best Cover Artists 3- Becky Cloonan 2- Nick Derington 1- John Paul Leon
Matt’s Best Artists 10- Daniel Warren Johnson 9- Dustin Weaver 8- Lee Weeks 7- James Stokoe 6- Dan Mora 5- Alyson Sampson 4- Erica Henderson 3- Emil Ferris 2- Mitch Gerads 1- Geoff Shaw
Paul’s Best Publishers 5- Image 4- Dark Horse 3- IDW/Top Shelf 2- Fantagraphics 1- DC Comics
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named “Study Comics with Paul”) here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
Images are at http://wp.me/p42KN3-I1P
( 9:35 ) Brooklyn teacher Wolf Warner (on Twitter @drewarner) runs through his best miniseries of 2017. ( 20:02 ) Then Jason Shiga joins us to talk about his recently completed “Demon” series from 2017, including some SPOILER-FILLED TALK! (BEWARE!) NEXT WEEK: Lion Forge’s Catalyst Prime line.
Welcome to the Comics Syllabus podcast, where we read widely and we dig deep. Your host Paul, a literacy researcher and English teacher, introduces curious readers to a range of current and classic comics, and then engages in closer discussion and analysis of particular comics works.
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First, in the introduction, ( 0:00 ) a mention to Brooklyn’s Mama Says Comics Rock (http://www.mamasayscomics.com/), comic store of Wolf Warner, and a set up for the two pieces we feature this week.
On our General Ed segment (at 9:35 ), friend of the podcast and middle school teacher Wolf Warner @drewarner breaks down his list of best miniseries of 2017. Here’s Wolf’s list:
Honorable Mentions: Clue (IDW) by Paul Allor and Nelson Daniel; Jazz Maynard (Magnetic) by Raule, Roger Ibanez Ugena, Godshaper (Image) by Si Spurrier and Jonas Goonface.
- Black Panther and the Crew (Marvel). By Ta-Nehisi Coates, Yona Harvey, Butch Guice.
- Nightwing: The New Order (DC). By Kyle Higgins, Trevor McCarthy.
- Batman: The White Knight (DC). Sean Murphy, Matt Hollingsworth.
- Secret Weapons (Valiant). By Eric Heisserer, Raul Allen (w/ variant cover artist Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic).
- Plastic (Image) By Doug Wagner, Daniel Hillyard, Laura Martin.
- The Button (DC). By Joshua Williamson, Tom King, Howard Porter.
- Shirtless Bear Fighter (Image). By Sebastian Girner, Jody LeHeup. 3.God Country (Image). By Donnie Cates, Geoff Shaw.
- Victor LaValle’s Destroyer (Boom). By Victor La Valle, Dietrich Smith.
- Mister Miracle (DC). By Tom King and Mitch Gerads
Then, (at 20:02 ) our creator chat is with cartoonist Jason Shiga about his Eisner-winning series “Demon” from First Second. We open with some general talk about Jason’s background in Berkeley and beyond, including this past year in an artist residency in France at Angoulême. At (34:55) SPOILER WARNING we begin talking about Jason Shiga’s “Demon” touching on moments from the first two volumes of the collected story from First Second. At (58:10) FURTHER SPOILER WARNING we discuss the ending parts found in Volumes 3 and 4 of “Demon” as published by First Second. (Images we discuss are at the link at the top of these show notes).
By the way, Jason mentions a number of other sources and comics, including Jesse Hamm’s Tips Twitter account (http://twitter.com/Hamm_Tips), “Nancy” by Ernie Bushmiller, Norakuro manga (http://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/norakuro/), “L’ours Barnabé” and “Petit Poilu” and the work of Ben Hatke, and “Death Note.”
Some links: Previous episode of this podcast where Paul discussed “Demon”: https://soundcloud.com/twoplai/083116-demon-by-jason-shiga-shigabooks-and-first-second Transcribed (and abridged) version of this interview with Jason Shiga: http://wp.me/p42KN3-HWK Previous Multiversity Interview with Jason Shiga by Leo Johnson: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/interviews/jason-shiga-talks-demon/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named “Study Comics with Paul”) here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
Images are at http://wp.me/p42KN3-HOA
( 16:45 ) Multiversity’s John Schaidler talks with us about empathy, literacy, and comics and graphic novels like “Spinning,” “Arab of the Future,” “American Born Chinese,” “Persepolis,” and “Nimona.” ( 1:24:26 ) Then we talk to John about his work in education and literacy, and how it leads to his part in the “Lake of Tears” comic project with writer Kwabena Ofei and artist Setor Fiadzigbey, in collaboration with Human Rights organization Challenging Heights. NEXT WEEK: Jason Shiga’s “Demon” (First Second)
Welcome to the Comics Syllabus podcast, where we read widely and we dig deep. Your host Paul, a literacy researcher and English teacher, introduces curious readers to a range of current and classic comics, and then engages in closer discussion and analysis of particular comics works.
First, in the introduction, ( 0:00 ) a shout out to “Plant Pathologist” for his Apple Podcasts review, and some of Paul’s comments on Bendis, Berganza, and podcast business. Mentioned: Elias Rosner’s “Thor” longform piece at Multiversity: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/longform/worthy-jason-aaron-thor-retrospective/ (Also, apologies that in comments about Bendis I misname Gabby Rivera as "Gabby Ramirez".... great job, Paul)
On our General Ed segment (at 16:45 ) , we talk about “Empathy and Comics” with Multiversity’s John Schaidler ( http://www.multiversitycomics.com/author/jschaidler/ ), discussing notions of how comics can help us build empathy and understanding of others and what that has to do with literacy.
John and Paul discuss: Tillie Walden’s “Spinning” (First Second), Riad Sattouf’s “Arab of the Future” (Metropolitan Books), Gene Luen Yang’s “American Born Chinese” (First Second), Marjane Satrapi’s “Persepolis” (Pantheon), Noelle Stevenson’s “Nimona” (Harper Collins), and Honorable Mentions: Thi Bui’s “The Best We Could Do” (Pantheon), Alison Bechdel’s “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic,” Craig Thompson’s “Blankets,” and Jillian and Mariko Tamaki’s “This One Summer.”
Also mentioned, Kidd and Castano’s study in Science about Literary Fiction and Theory of Mind: http://science.sciencemag.org/content/342/6156/377
Then our creator chat (at 46:01 ) is about John’s literacy education and comics life, culminating with the new “Lake of Tears” project based in Ghana. “Lake of Tears,” drawn by Setor Fiadzigbey and written by Kwabena Ofei, is edited by John and done in partnership with Challenging Heights, a human rights organization founded by James Kofi Annon.
Lake of Tears Ghana: http://lakeoftearsghana.com/
And on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakeOfTearsGhana/
Interview about Lake of Tears Ghana with Setor Fiadzigbey: https://view.publitas.com/natu-creative/newage-artists-issue-002/page/26-27
Challenging Heights, working to end child trafficking in Ghana: http://challengingheights.org/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named “Study Comics with Paul”) here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
Digging deep into “Southern Bastards” with DC3Cast and Multiversity Editor Brian Salvatore; Best of 2017 with Multiversity’s Kevin Gregory.
Images are at http://wp.me/p42KN3-HvT starting Tuesday 6 AM EST
Welcome to the Comics Syllabus podcast, where we read widely and we dig deep. Your host Paul, a literacy researcher and English teacher, introduces curious readers to a range of current and classic comics, and then engages in closer discussion and analysis of particular comics works.
On our Multiversity’s Best of 2017 chat ( at 5:00 ), we talk with Multiversity’s Kevin Gregory ( http://www.multiversitycomics.com/author/kgregory/ ), host of the new “Make Mine Multiversity” podcast ( http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/make-mine-multiversity/ ) covering Marvel Comics. But today, Kevin’s here to discuss his Best of 2017, in a series of chats the Comics Syllabus is having with Multiversity contributors about their picks for the best comics of the year in various categories. (Pardon some minor sound hiccups in the recording!)
Kevin’s picks:
Best Mini-Series: The Unstoppable Wasp by Whitley, Charretier, et al (Marvel)
Best New Series: Super Sons by Tomasi, Jimenez, et al (DC)
Best Single Issue: Deathstroke #11 (DC) by Priest, Cowan, et al ; Royal City #5 (Image) by Lemire; Black Monday Murders #5 (Image) by Hickman, Coker, et al
Breakout Writer: Joshua Williamson
Best Publisher: Valiant Comics
Our deep dive this week (at 46:01 ) is “Southern Bastards” by Jason Aaron and Jason Latour, volumes 1 (“Here Was a Man”) and 2 (“Gridiron”), collected in the first hardcover, published by Image Comics. We’re excited to be joined by DC3Cast-member, Lead Editor, and dear friend Brian Salvatore to dig deep into this harrowing, poetic, and darkly tragic/comic tale of the South and football. Warning: the discussion calls for us to talk in mildly salty ways, at least saltier than Paul customarily does in front of children. But then again, this is “Southern Bastards.” Images to go with our talk are at the bottom of this page.
We make reference to episodes of the podcasts the Hour Cosmic with the Jasons at http://www.multiversitycomics.com/podcasts/special-announcement-the-hour-cosmic-live-at-emerald-city-comicon/ and Chris Thompson’s Pop Culture Hound with them commentating “Southern Bastards” at http://www.multiversitycomics.com/podcasts/orbital-in-conversation-aaron-and-latour-on-southern-bastards/ so check those out.
Finally, (at 2:21:12 ), we wrap with a quick “Discussion Section,” with a few notes from listeners and a few podcast and comics shout-outs. Some mentions:
The Escapist Comics Podcast conversation with Jacob Semahn, writer of “No. 1 with a Bullet” (Image): https://art19.com/shows/the-escapist-comics-podcast/episodes/57e08862-49ca-4f59-bcde-cb25b38d4ef9
Michigan State University Comics and Graphic Novels Podcast: http://msucomics.libsyn.com/
Cartoon Art Museum in SF is back! https://www.cartoonart.org/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named “Study Comics with Paul”) here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
Images will be at http://wp.me/p42KN3-Hpf
Studying "Silver Surfer" (Marvel Comics) by Dan Slott and Mike and Laura Allred; Multiversity's Kent Falkenberg picks some of his favorites of 2017.
Welcome to the Comics Syllabus podcast, where we read widely and we dig deep. Your host Paul, a literacy researcher and English teacher, introduces curious readers to a range of current and classic comics, and then engages in closer discussion and analysis of particular comics works.
On the General Ed segment ( at 5:00 ), we welcome back Multiversity's Kent Falkenberg to talk about some of his picks for Best of 2017. Kent's favorites of 2017 include:
Best Mini-Series: (tie) Swordquest (Dynamite) and God Country (Image)
Best New Series: Mister Miracle (DC) by Tom King and Mitch Gerads
Best Series: Dept H (Dark Horse) by Matt and Sharlene Kindt
Best Publisher: DC Comics
Best Single Issue: (tie) Over the Garden Wall #17 (Boom!) and The Kamandi Challenge #9 (DC)
Our deep dive this week (at 50:21 ) is a look at Dan Slott and Mike and Laura Allred's "Silver Surfer" run, volumes 1 and 2, running from 2014 until the final issue (#14) released last week. We dig deep into that final issue after an initial general discussion. SPOILERS for issue #14 (starting from 1:31:59 ) Here's a past 'Paul List' episode on an earlier point in the Silver Surfer run: http://soundcloud.com/twoplai/silver-surfer-6-by-dan-slott-mike-allred-laura-allred-marvel
Finally, (at 1:57:55 ), in the Pull Call, Paul mentions some comics podcasts and comics he's reading.
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
Images are at http://wp.me/p42KN3-HfG
We dig deep with cartoonist Katriona Chapman about Katzine, her self-published comics, and her upcoming graphic novel; and we talk to Multiversity and Geeks OUT's Kate Kosturski about her favorites of 2017 in our first installment of Multiversity Best of 2017 chats.
Welcome to the Comics Syllabus podcast, where we read widely and we dig deep. Your host Paul, a literacy researcher and English teacher, introduces curious readers to a range of current and classic comics, and then engages in closer discussion and analysis of particular comics works.
On the General Ed segment ( at 5:00 ), the first of a series of chats with Multiversity contributors about some of their Best of 2017 picks. Paul is joined by writer for Multiversity and Geek Out (geeksout.org) Kate Kosturski to discuss her favorite ongoing comics, graphic novels, publishers, artists, cover artist, and new series from 2017. Kate can be found on Twitter at twitter.com/librarian_kate and her great writing at Multiversity is at multiversitycomics.com/author/kkosturski/ . Her Best of 2017 picks include:
Best Cover Artist: David Mack for "Jessica Jones" (Marvel)
Best Artist: Mathieu Bablet for "Beautiful Death" (Titan) and Morgan Beem for "The Family Trade" (Image)
Best Publisher: Image Comics
Best New Series: "Shirtless Bear Fighter" (Image)
Best Original Graphic Novel: "My Favorite Thing is Monsters" by Emil Ferris (Fantagraphics) and "Generations" by Flavia Biondi (Lion Forge)
Best Ongoing Series: "Ms. Marvel" written by G. Willow Wilson, various artists (Marvel) and "Unbelievable Gwenpool" by Christopher Hastings and (mostly) Gurihiru (Marvel).
Our creator interview this week (at 43:30 ) is with Katriona Chapman (http://katrionachapman.com/), who was nice enough to discuss her comics work in depth, including Katzine, her self-published series (available at her website and at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TomatitoPress ) and the graphic novel she's working on now, "Follow Me In," forthcoming from Avery Hill. Katriona was on last week's episode as marketing manager for Avery Hill Publishing, but this week we focus on her own really appealing cartooning. Katriona and Paul dig deep into the sample pages posted below as examples of her wonderful work.
Finally, (at 1:45:13 ), in the Discussion Section, Paul responds to some listener questions and shouts out other comics podcasts and titles.
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
Images to go with this episodes at http://wp.me/p42KN3-GZ2
Avery Hill Publishing's intriguing lineup with Katriona Chapman and writer Ram V takes us to the heart of upcoming Image Comics series "Paradiso" about a future city come to life.
Welcome to the Comics Syllabus podcast, where we read widely and we dig deep. Your host Paul, a literacy researcher and English teacher, introduces curious readers to a range of current and classic comics, and then engages in closer discussion and analysis of particular comics works.
On the General Ed segment ( at 5:00 ), Paul is joined by Avery Hill Publishing's Katriona Chapman to talk about the UK publisher's intriguing comics lineup, its history as a comics press, and its upcoming releases. We touch on works like Tillie Walden's "End of Summer," Rachael Smith's "Artificial Flowers," and Steven Tillotson's "Epic Adventures of Untitled Ape." Find out more about Avery Hill at http://www.averyhillpublishing.com/ and B. Mure's book at http://www.brokenfrontier.com/mure-ismyre-avery-hill-publishing-bczf-bristol/ (... and Katriona will also join us next week for a discussion of her own wonderful comics, which can be found at http://katrionachapman.com... hooray!)
Then, (at 29:30 ) the Comics Syllabus is excited to preview an upcoming Image comic, "Paradiso," with its writer, Ram V (at https://www.ram-v.com/ or https://twitter.com/therightram ). "Paradiso" features art by Dev Pramanik, colors by Dearbhla Kelly & Alex Sollazzo, and letters by Aditya Bidikar, and introduces a richly textured sci-fi story about a city of the future, a city vast and complex enough to be not only setting but character as well, as it seeks to understand its inhabitants. Ram talks to us about how his protagonist Jack Kryznan brings us into Paradiso City, breaking through its outer barriers and into its heart. Images that go with this in-depth discussion are below, and you can find "Paradiso" at https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/paradiso-1 coming out December 6th, 2017 (so preorder at your local shops now!)
Finally, (at 1:22:55 ), in the Discussion Section, Paul interacts with questions and insights from listeners. Paul also mentions stuff he's been reading, including works for recent review episodes at comicsalternative.com as well as Astro City #48 (Vertigo), Descender #25, and Spy Seal #3 (Image) out this week, Trumptrump by Warren Craghead III (NoBrow), Perry Bible Fellowship Almanac, Chaboute's Moby Dick (Dark Horse), Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue's Shakespeare (First Second), Kobane Calling (Lion Forge), Femme Magnifique, and also the Inks Journal http://inks.comicssociety.org/ and the Ink Newsletter http://ink-mag.co.uk/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
Images for this episode are at http://wp.me/p42KN3-GQ4
It's a family affair this week: "Peanuts" by Charles Schulz (Fantagraphics collections) with Cohost Kid and the Wait List segment with Cohost Brother Sonny!
On the General Ed segment ( at 5:00 ), Paul talks to his brother Sonny for their monthly "Wait List" segment, about the trades and collections coming out in October they're looking forward to. Sonny is Paul's "trade waiting" brother who also happens to have drastically different comics tastes from his older (yet not wiser) brother. Hear them discuss "Detective Comics" (DC), "Baking with Kafka" by Tom Gauld (Drawn + Quarterly), "Power Rangers" (Boom), and why Sonny is not looking forward to the Fantagraphics Jaime Hernandez Studio Edition.
Then, (at 43:31 ) the Close Read features a special guest... Cohost Kid! Paul is excited to have on his own daughter to talk about some "Peanuts" comic strips, as they pick one volume from the entire collection of "Complete Peanuts" from Fantagraphics that has been part of their shared literacy experience... since the day she was born! Images to go with the discussion are below....
Finally, (at 1:28:45 ), the Discussion Section and Pull Call, where Paul interacts with listener mail, and re-announces one last chance at the Discussion Section drawing to win a signed copy of 'Paper Girls' #1.
The Charles Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa: https://schulzmuseum.org/ The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum: https://cartoons.osu.edu/
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
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Classic Batman origin re-telling by Len Wein and Jim Aparo, a rundown of recent reads from DC, Valiant, Boom, and Kelly Bastow, and how Paul learns to talk about comics art!
Images are at http://wp.me/p42KN3-Gxn starting 9am EST on 10/3/2017
On this week's Comics Syllabus podcast, an ultra-long-solo-droning of Paul talking comics! First, in a General Ed segment change-up, we start with the "Discussion Section," (at 4:54 ) where Paul tackles listener Mike McQuillian's question of how he learns to talk about comics art! He makes reference to a Multiversity piece by Mike Romeo: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/longform/a-guide-to-discussing-comic-art/ as well as to various sources where this amateur critic has learned to be a fraction less amateurish in discussing art in comics.
Then, (at 28:55 ) in a new segment called "The Pull Call," Paul runs through comics he's read recently and discusses how the visual work in each contributes to their thematic and narrative potency. He tackles the following titles with reference to some of their visuals:
"Aquaman" #28 (DC, preview pages at http://graphicpolicy.com/2017/09/21/preview-aquaman-28/#jp-carousel-393043 )
"Year Long Summer" (Ignatz-nominated creator Kelly Bastow sells at https://www.etsy.com/listing/480148749/year-long-summer?ref=shop_home_feat_1)
"Secret Weapons" #4 (Valiant, preview pages at http://www.multiversitycomics.com/previews/secret-weapons-4/ )
"HiFi Fight Club" #2 (Boom! Studios, preview pages at http://graphicpolicy.com/2017/09/23/preview-hi-fi-fight-club-2-4/#jp-carousel-393604 )
(At 1:02:52 ) For the Close Read, Paul takes us into "The Untold Legend of the Batman," a 1980 3-issue mini-series written by Len Wein with art by Jim Aparo and John Byrne, colored by Glynis Wein, and lettered by John Costanza. Part-nostalgia trip, part-dialogue with listener Johnny, part-examination of Batman's psychology, Paul walks through this re-telling of Batman's origin story by a legendary creative team at the height of their powers. Images from that discussion are at the show page at http://wp.me/p42KN3-Gxn
(Note: Apologies that we recorded and prepared this episode before tragic and grievous violence in Las Vegas, so it goes unmentioned. Our deepest condolences to victims, family, and friends.)
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments on the showpage at http://wp.me/p42KN3-Gxn
Thanks for listening!
On this week’s Comics Syllabus podcast, two super interesting guests! First, on our General Ed segment, we learn about the Latino Comics Expo ( http://www.latinocomicsexpo.com/ ) taking place November 11-12, 2017 at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, California, from one of its cofounders and executive director, Ricardo Padilla. We discuss the origins of the show, the community of creators and fans that LCX brings together, and Ricardo’s own story as a convener of Latino creators. We mention Javier Hernandez’s vital role in founding the Expo, Daniel Parada’s ZOTZ at http://www.zotzcomic.com/, and many more awesome creators.
(At 27:50) Then, we are treated with a conversation with Falynn Koch ( http://www.falynnk.com/ ), cartoonist and illustrator, creator of two books in First Second :01’s “Science Comics” series, the recent “Plagues: the Microscopic Battlefield” and last year’s “Bats: Learning to Fly.” Paul is joined (partly) by Cohost Kid to talk to Falynn Koch about how she turns informative science info into entertaining all-ages storytelling. Falynn talks about making improbable living things like bats, germs, and mythical creatures into fascinating characters, and how she went from running a food truck (award-winning Mac and Cheese!) to comics and illustration.
Finally, in the Discussion Section (1:11:40), some shout outs, comics studies and English Departments, and Paul’s annoying verbal tics.
NEXT WEEK: ‘The Wait List’ with Sonny, and a close reading of “The Untold Legend of the Batman” written by Len Wein with art by John Byrne and Jim Aparo from DC Comics (1980), available in Tales of the Batman: Len Wein and other places (use your Googling skills to find it!)
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named “Study Comics with Paul”) here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
Images at http://wp.me/p42KN3-Gbt
On this week's Comics Syllabus podcast, Paul has the pleasure of speaking with Paul K. Tunis, comics poet (find him at http://paulktunis.com/) and an editor for InkBrick (at http://inkbrick.com/), the poetry comics journal, for a General Ed segment (at 4:58) to look at how comics do poetry, with the example of Tunis' own beautiful and troubling work (see "Paper Mice" above, as well as many examples on his website). More artists and stuff listed in the links below...
(At 1:01:00) Then, Paul discusses two Ignatz Award winners from this past weekend at Small Press Expo (SPX), "Your Black Friend" by Ben Passmore (available at https://store.silversprocket.net/products/your-black-friend-comic-book-by-ben-passmore) and "Say Her Name" by Bianca Xunise (available at https://southsideweekly.com/say-her-name/). Paul explores cartooning and racial discourse in these times, touches on criticism and comics art, and sings kumbaya with more than a little hesitation.
Finally, in the Discussion Section (1:43:06), shout outs some good friends and a few questions and recs from you listener-participants of the Syllabus out there.
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
FROM PAUL K. TUNIS:
William Blake: http://www.blakearchive.org/
Joe Brainard C Comics: https://www.divisionleap.com/pages/books/20772/joe-brainard-ed/c-comics-no-1
Matthea Harvey: http://www.mattheaharvey.info/
Alexander Rothman: http://versequential.com/
Warren Craghead: http://craghead.com/
IGNATZ and PASSMORE and XUNISE
SPX Ignatz Awards: https://www.spxpo.com/ignatz-awards
Washington Post Comic Riffs coverage: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/09/18/emil-ferriss-graphic-novel-monsters-tops-diverse-slate-of-2017-ignatz-award-winners/
Mary Sue coverage: https://www.themarysue.com/2017-ignatz-award-winners/
Images available at http://wp.me/p42KN3-G1p starting 9/12/17 9am EST
(4:58)On this week’s Comics Syllabus podcast, Paul is honored to be joined by Dr. Elizabeth Coody ( https://twitter.com/ecoody ) of Sacred and Sequential ( http://www.sacredandsequential.org/ ) for a General Ed segment to talk about how comics take on the Bible. Dr. Coody describes how a New Testament scholar ended up studying comics, and breaks down different ways that comics interface with the Bible. Check out the list of references at the bottom of this page for the titles they discuss.
(49:06) Then, after some announcements, Paul offers a reading of “Barrier” by Brian K. Vaughan, Marcos Martin, and Muntsa Vicente from Panel Syndicate, available at http://panelsyndicate.com/ and recently completed in 2017. Paul talks about this pay-what-you-want web-based comic’s take on immigration, language, and fascinating violence.
Finally… a new segment! (1:48:55) The Discussion Section today features the long list of comics that Paul’s been reading. What are you reading? Let us know!
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named “Study Comics with Paul”) here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
TEXTS MENTIONED BY DR. COODY:
Janice Capel Anderson, and Stephen D. Moore, eds. Mark and Method: New Approaches in Biblical Studies. 2nd ed. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2008. Steve Ross (w, a). Marked. New York: Seabury Church Publishing, 2005. Frank Stack (w, a). The New Adventures of Jesus: The Second Coming. Seattle: Fantagraphics Books, 2006. Jack Chick tracts (cf. Martin Lund) R. Crumb (w, a), The Book of Genesis Illustrated. New York: W.W. Norton, 2009 Grant Morrison (art), Frank Quitely (a) All-Star Superman (2 vols.) New York: DC, 2006-09. [Bonus: Samson, too!].) Doug Mauss (w), Sergio Cariello (a). The Action Bible: God’s Redemptive Story. Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2010. Tim Seeley (w), Nate Bellegarde (p), Mike Norton (p), Mark Englert (i). Joseph Baker (i), Melissa S. Kaercher (i). Loaded Bible, Book I: The Jesus vs. Vampires Gospels. Berkeley, CA: Image Comics, 2010. Eric Peterson (w), and Ethan Nicolle (w,a), Jesus Christ: In the Name of the Gun. vol. 1: A Hollow Cost. [Unknown]: Bad Karma Productions, 2009. Chester Brown, Mary Wept over the Feet of Jesus. Prostitution and Religious Observance in the Bible. Montreal: Drawn & Quarterly, 2016.
Images at http://wp.me/p42KN3-FOb starting 9/5/17 9:00am EST.
On this week's Comics Syllabus podcast, Paul's digs deep with good friend and Multiversity's own Greg Matiasevich, one of the hosts of the Robots from Tomorrow podcast. They discuss the 1985-1986 "Squadron Supreme" 12-issue maxi-series written by Mark Gruenwald and drawn by various artists, notably Bob Hall and Paul Ryan (not THAT Paul Ryan). Squadron Supreme is Marvel's version of the Justice League (and perhaps this series is Marvel's version of "Watchmen"... before "Watchmen"!) An overlooked treasure that Mark Gruenwald poured all of himself into (literally!), "Squadron Supreme" stands as one of the most underrated all-time great comics...or at least, so Greg and Paul boldly proclaim.
Before that, our "General Ed" segment is the monthly "Wait List," where Paul talks to his trade-waiting brother Sonny about collections, trade paperbacks, and hardcovers coming out in the month of September. Paul poopoos Sonny's superhero solipsism and Sonny scoffs at Paul's professorial pretensions. It's all love! (Note that Paul over confidently credits Joe Kubert with Andy Kubert's work. We lost the elder Kubert five years ago. Apologies. Also... Francesco.)
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus
Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai It's the only place on earth he stays under 140 characters.
Thanks for listening!
Images for this podcast will be at http://wp.me/p42KN3-FDJ starting 8/29/2017 9amEST
On this week’s Comics Syllabus podcast, Paul’s guest for the “General Ed” segment is Matthew Noe, medical librarian and specialist for graphic medicine, the use of comics for health care purposes. Matthew joins Paul to talk about what graphic medicine is and where it came from, offers some sources and resources in the field (see below), and discusses a few comics exemplifying graphic medicine in practice.
Then, on the centenary of Jack “King” Kirby’s birth, Paul offers a discussion of the “Jack Kirby’s New Gods Artist Edition” from IDW. (Confession: this is a replay of an episode recorded last year.)
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named “Study Comics with Paul”) here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus
Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai It’s the only place on earth he stays under 140 characters.
Thanks for listening!
IMAGES AND LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Resources from Graphic Medicine discussion with Matthew Noe
Matthew Noe’s Graphic Librarian site: https://graphiclibrarian.wordpress.com/
National Network of Libraries of Medicine Graphic Medicine Book Club Kits: https://nnlm.gov/ner/guides/graphic-medicine-book-club-kits
http://www.graphicmedicine.org/
UMich Graphic Medicine & Comics in Healthcare: http://guides.lib.umich.edu/graphicmedicine
MK Czerwiec, Comic Nurse: http://comicnurse.com/
Graphic Medicine examples Matthew shares with us
“When I Returned: A Cartoonist and Veterans Project” (Center for Cartoon Studies): http://gumroad.com/l/whenireturned#
“Raised on Ritalin: A Personal Story of ADHD, Medication, and Modern Psychiatry” by Tyler Paige: http://raisedonritalincomic.blogspot.com/
“Pain is Really Strange” by Steve Haines: https://painisreallystrange.wordpress.com/
“Taking Turns: Stories from HIV/AIDS Care Unit 371” by MK Czerwiec (Penn State University Press): http://www.psupress.org/books/titles/978-0-271-07818-2.html
Images with this episode are at http://wp.me/p42KN3-FsY starting 8/22/2017
On this week's Comics Syllabus podcast, Paul is joined by fellow Multiversity contributor Matt Lune to discuss the classic "Astro City" by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson from DC/Vertigo and Image Comics.
But first, in the "General Ed" segment, Paul recommends comics to inform, educate, and inspire in the wake of white supremacist violence and action, and the counteraction on different scales in response.
In the General Ed segment, Paul mentions a past episode of this podcast discussing March by Lewis, Powell, and Aydin: https://soundcloud.com/twoplai/paul-list-2016-08-05-march-book-3-by-lewis-aydin-powell-top-shelf
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here: http://studycomics.club/
Comics Syllabus past episodes are also at http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus
Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai It's the only place on earth he stays under 140 characters.
Thanks for listening!
Images to go with this episode available starting 8/15/17 at http://wp.me/p42KN3-Fhz
Welcome to the Comics Syllabus podcast, where we read widely and we dig deep. Your host Paul, a literacy researcher and English teacher, introduces curious readers to a range of current and classic comics, and then engages in closer discussion and analysis of a certain title with comics critics, creators, scholars, and teachers.
On this week's Comics Syllabus podcast, Paul digs deep with fellow Multiversity contributor Kent Falkenberg about "Dept H" by Matt and Sharlene Kindt from Dark Horse.
(Images and links to go with our conversation are below!)
Then in the "General Ed" segment at ( 02:07:05 ), Kent holds forth about some comics related to "Dept H," including "Grass Kings" by Matt Kindt and Tyler Jenkins (Boom!), "Royal City" by Jeff Lemire (Image), and "The Wake" by Scott Snyder and Sean Murphy (Vertigo). He also recommends "Mister Miracle" #1 by Tom King and Mitch Gerads (DC) and "Swordquest" by Chad Bowers, Chris Sims, and Ghostwriter X (Dynamite).
NOTE: For reasons Paul discussed in the intro, this episode recorded before Charlottesville events of 8/11-12. Hope to address those next week.
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here: http://studycomics.club/
A rating, review, or star on whatever podcast source would help make the world a slightly better place. (No, Really!)
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus
Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai It's the only place on earth he stays under 140 characters.
Thanks for listening!
IMAGES AND LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE AT http://wp.me/p42KN3-Fhz
For images to go with most recent (3rd arc) issues covered in the third part of the episode, jump to this page at the former home of the Comics Syllabus (Study Comics) podcast: http://studycomics.club/post/164106343375/from-dept-h-by-matt-and-sharlene-kindt-dark
Images can be found at http://wp.me/p42KN3-F9w
On this week's Comics Syllabus podcast, Paul chats with comics creator Declan Shalvey about writing "Savage Town," an upcoming original graphic novel from Image Comics (out September 20, 2017). Shalvey, who broke out as an artist for his work on Marvel's "Moon Knight" and "Injection" from Image, has written comics before, but in "Savage Town" he presents a distinctive writing voice to a crime story set in Limerick, Ireland, this time drawn by artist Philip Barrett, with colors by Jordie Bellaire and letters by Clayton Cowles. Paul talks to Declan about finding just the right amount of dialect to depict in dialogue, the crime and gangster story inspirations for his tale and why crime is so effective a genre, and how "Savage Town" represents the Irish comic he's always wanted to see. Declan also touches on why Philip Barrett was perfect for this book, how he works this time with colorist-extraordinaire/Red Cube Studio-mate/partner Jordie Bellaire, and why art credit and creator ownership matter.
But first, in the "General Ed" segment, Paul presents "The Review Session," a bi-monthly discussion about comics Paul is reading, making connections to the past few episodes of the podcast and looking forward to future episodes and discussions to come. Paul talk about our past couple months of Comics Syllabus episodes, and how comics discuss politics, identity, relationship and family, and culture, pointing ahead to future titles we will discuss: "Astro City" by Busiek and Anderson (Image/Vertigo), "Dept H" by Matt and Sharlene Kindt (Dark Horse), "Calexit" by Pizzolo and Nahuelpan (Black Mask), "Mech Cadet Yu" by Pak and Miyazawa (Boom!), and "Barrier" by Vaughan and Martin (Panel Syndicate).
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here: http://studycomics.club/
A rating, review, or star on whatever podcast source would help make the world a slightly better place. (No, Really!)
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus
Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai It's the only place on earth he stays under 140 characters.
Thanks for listening!
IMAGES AND LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Images can be found at http://wp.me/p42KN3-F9w
Pieces with Declan Shalvey by David Harper can be found here: www.multiversitycomics.com/interviews/artist-alley-an-inside-look-at-cover-art-with-declan-shalvey-interview/ (Multiversity) and here: http://sktchd.com/podcast/off-panel-2-declan-shalvey-on-making-a-career-as-a-comic-artist/ (Off-Panel/SKTCHD); by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRRh39nyA-g (Strip Panel Naked).
Red Cube Studio, creative home of Declan Shalvey (as well as Jordie Bellaire, whose new Redlands from Image is out this week!): http://www.theredcubestudio.com/
FROM THE "REVIEW SESSION" DISCUSSION WITH PAUL: Escapist Comics Podcast episode interviewing the creators of Calexit (Black Mask): http://art19.com/shows/the-escapist-comics-podcast/episodes/037d2ba3-2e3e-413e-9489-89fd736e6744
"Can Comics Matter to Our Politics"-- Paul's piece on politics for Multiversity: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/longform/can-comics-matter/
Images and links to go with our conversation are at http://wp.me/p42KN3-F2L
On this week’s Comics Syllabus podcast, I caught up with creator Sonny Liew about “The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye” (Pantheon) just a few days after he and the book won Eisner Awards for Best Writer/Artist, Publication Design, and International Material from Asia. After setting the scene and giving context to our conversation, I present my discussion with Sonny about the Eisners and San Diego Comic Con; the artistry, themes, and politics of “Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye;” and which of the book’s homages to comics masters he found most challenging to create. Let’s dig deep!
(Apologies for the sound quality of the interview– explanation is in the episode introduction.)
Then afterwards, in the “General Ed” segment, we feature “The Wait List” for August, joined by the podcast brother to look at upcoming collections and trade paperbacks this month.
I’m Paul, and I’m inviting you to join us for another episode of The Comics Syllabus, a comics analysis podcast. Our mantra is, we read widely and we dig deep. Each week, we choose one work from a wide breadth of current and classic comics, including superhero fare, comics from independent publishers and small presses, global comics, newspaper strip archives, and various collected editions. We spend time digging deep into the work from various perspectives, sometimes in actual live conversation with others, sometimes with just me on a mic surrounded by a pile of comics studies and academic books. It’s like a comics seminar, where the only prerequisite is that you love comics. You can find the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or find archives for this podcast (previously named “Study Comics with Paul”) here: http://studycomics.club/ A rating, review, or star on whatever podcast source would help make the world a slightly better place. (No, Really!) Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai It’s the only place on earth he stays under 140 characters. Thanks for listening! IMAGES can be seen at http://wp.me/p42KN3-F2L
The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye website: http://artofcharliechan.com/
Spotlight Panel with Sonny Liew at San Diego Comic Con (with Paul Levitz), posted by Penguin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8bvXov4fso
Past episode of this podcast (when it was “The Paul List”) reviewing “Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye”: https://soundcloud.com/twoplai/08252016-art-of-charlie-chan-hock-chye-by-sonny-liew-pantheon-and-pull-list?in=twoplai/sets/the-paul-list-podcast-comics
Comics Alternative interview with Sonny Liew: http://comicsalternative.com/comics-alternative-interviews-sonny-liew/
From 15:56 “The King of Comics at SDCC”
from 19:07 The Beat piece “Money Matters Must Read”: http://www.comicsbeat.com/money-matters-must-read-the-salary-of-charlie-chan-hock-chye/ from 25:32 New York Times piece Sonny references: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/14/world/asia/sonny-liew-singapore-charlie-chan-hock-chye.html
from 26:35 “Presented by Sonny Liew”
from 29:45 and 34:32 “Invasion! after Frank Hampton’s “Dan Dare”
from 35:49 “Bukit Chapalang after Walt Kelly’s Pogo”
from 36:54 “Ah Huat after Tezuka”
from 39:41– Sonny mentions various sources about the life of a comics artist in an earlier period, including Lat, Tatsumi, Taniguchi, and Noro Shinpei in Allen Say’s Drawing from Memory
from 52:02 “You’ll have to look after your own family”
Images for this episode will be at http://wp.me/p42KN3-ESt starting 7/25/2017 9am EST.
On this week’s Comics Syllabus podcast, researcher, teacher, and podcaster Grace Gipson joins Paul to talk about “Black Panther: World of Wakanda” by Roxane Gay, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Alitha Martinez, and others, and “Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur” by Amy Reeder, Brandon Montclare, Natacha Bustos, and others from Marvel Comics. We’re really excited to have Grace (on Twitter @GBreezy20) as a guest, and she talks about her comics origins, her research, and her podcasting on the #BlackComicsChat team. Then, Grace and Paul explore her approach to these portrayal of black female characters in current Marvel comics, and we dig into the significance of Lunella Lafayette (Moon Girl) and Ayo and Aneka, the protagonists of “World of Wakanda.”
But first, in the opening “General Ed” segment, we’d happy to have “The Non-Fiction Section” with Michelle White, Multiversity contributor and lifeblood of the “Keep It Real” column that looks at reality-based comics and graphic novels. Michelle offers a wide-ranging list of three non-fiction comics recommendations for us, “Feynman” by Jim Ottaviani and Leland Myrick (First Second), “The Green River Killer” by Jeff Jensen and Jonathan Case (Dark Horse), and “The Influencing Machine” by Brooke Gladstone and Josh Neufeld (WW Norton).
I’m Paul, and I’m inviting you to join us for another episode of The Comics Syllabus, a comics analysis podcast. Our mantra is, we read widely and we dig deep. Each week, we choose one work from a wide breadth of current and classic comics, including superhero fare, comics from independent publishers and small presses, global comics, newspaper strip archives, and various collected editions. We spend time digging deep into the work from various perspectives, sometimes in actual live conversation with others, sometimes with just me on a mic surrounded by a pile of comics studies and academic books. It’s like a comics seminar, where the only prerequisite is that you love comics.
Download the podcast episode here.
You can find the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss
or find archives for this podcast (previously named “Study Comics with Paul”) here: http://studycomics.club/
A rating, review, or star on whatever podcast source would help make the world a slightly better place. (No, Really!)
Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai It’s the only place on earth he stays under 140 characters.
Thanks for listening!
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Grace Gipson on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gbreezy20
Black Comics Chat: http://twitter.com/blackcomicschat
Michelle White’s Work on Multiversity: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/author/mwhite/
Oversight: I failed to mention in my conversation with Grace Gipson about black women superheroes my intellectual debt to Dr. Deborah Whaley for understanding topics we discuss, which you can check out here http://www.multiversitycomics.com/interviews/deborah-e-whaley-interview/ and in her book, "Black Women in Sequence" (U of Washington Press).
A little extra episode, not on usual host Multiversitycomics.com, but just on the feed for subscribers. I discuss the winners of tonight's Eisner Awards from San Diego Comic Con.
Then, I encourage listeners to rate and review the Comics Syllabus on iTunes or wherever and to spread the word about the podcast. Thanks!
The Comics Syllabus on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-list-comics-analysis/id1130632546?mt=2
on Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/twoplai
The podcast at Multiversity: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/
Paul on Twitter: http://twitter.com/TwoPlai
Images for this episode (starting 7/17, 9am EDT): http://wp.me/p42KN3-EDD
On this week’s Comics Syllabus podcast, Paul and writer/poet/teacher/podcaster Rachelle Cruz talk about “Uncomfortably Happily” by Yeon-Sik Hong (translated by Hellen Jo), out recently from Drawn + Quarterly. After an introduction to Rachelle and her work, they delve into this autobiographical tale of a period of Korean manhwa artist Hong’s life when he and his wife moved out of big-city Seoul and into the mountains, maintaining their marriage, life in the countryside, and the travails and triumphs of a creative life together. Rachelle helps to shed light on why this deceptively simple work has been celebrated by Korean audiences and yet speaks to widely appealing themes.
But first, in the opening “General Ed” segment, part 2 of this month’s “The Wait List” segment, where Paul discusses some of the hardcovers, trade paperbacks, and collections coming out over the next couple weeks with “trade-waiter” and casual comics fan Sonny (who also happens to be Paul’s brother). Paul and Sonny mention releases from the 3rd week of July (19th): “Mighty Thor Premium HC v3” ‘Asgard Shi’ar War’ (Marvel), “Ms Marvel v7” ‘Damage per Second’ (Marvel), “Palookaville” #23 by Seth (D+Q), and “Punisher v2” ‘End of the Line’ (Marvel); and releases from the 4th week of July (26th): “By Chance or Providence” by Becky Cloonan (Image), “Flash Rebirth Deluxe Collected HC” (DC), “Kill or Be Killed v2” by Brubaker and Phillips (Image), and “Street Angel Gang HC” by Jim Rugg (Image).
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Rachelle Cruz on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rawqeli
Blood Jet Writing Hour: https://thebloodjet.wordpress.com/
Newsarama Interview with “Uncomfortably Happily” translator Hellen Jo: https://www.newsarama.com/35041-hellen-jo-gets-uncomfortably-happily-translating-korean-graphic-novel-for-d-q.html
I’m Paul, and I’m inviting you to join us for another episode of The Comics Syllabus, a comics analysis podcast. Our mantra is, we read widely and we dig deep. Each week, we choose one work from a wide breadth of current and classic comics, including superhero fare, comics from independent publishers and small presses, global comics, newspaper strip archives, and various collected editions. We spend time digging deep into the work from various perspectives, sometimes in actual live conversation with others, sometimes with just me on a mic surrounded by a pile of comics studies and academic books. It’s like a comics seminar, where the only prerequisite is that you love comics.
NEXT WEEK on the Comics Syllabus: Paul is joined by comics scholar and #BlackComicsChat podcaster Grace Gipson to talk about “Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur” and “Black Panther: World of Wakanda” from Marvel. Subscribe to the podcast or keep it locked here at Multiversity for that conversation.
You can find the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss
or find archives for this podcast (previously named “Study Comics with Paul”) here: http://studycomics.club/
A rating, review, or star on whatever podcast source would help a lot and would be greatly appreciated!
Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai
Thanks for listening!
Images at MultiversityComics.com or here: http://wp.me/p42KN3-EsC (starting 7/11/17)
On this week's Comics Syllabus podcast, Paul and this episode's co-host Johnny Hall discuss "Transmetropolitan" by Warren Ellis (w), Darick Robertson (p), Rodney Ramos (i), Nathan Eyring (c), looking closely at the start of volume 3, "The Year of the Bastard" (DC/Vertigo; originally DC/Helix), originally published starting Sept, 1998. On the 20th anniversary of Transmetropolitan's debut, they dig deep into the social and political commentary of this landmark series, how Spider Jerusalem calls forth Hunter S. Thompson for contemporary times, and the prescience of Ellis and Robertson's dark comic vision of the future (or present?).
But first, in the opening "General Ed" segment, Johnny and Paul talk about their lists of some "Best Comics of 2017 So Far," a non-comprehensive but wide-ranging list of some of the comics they've most appreciated in the year. They also review similar lists from AV Club, Paste Magazine, and Vulture.
I'm Paul, and I'm inviting you to join us for another episode of The Comics Syllabus, a comics analysis podcast. Our mantra is, we read widely and we dig deep. Each week, I choose one work from a wide breadth of current and classic comics, including superhero fare, comics from independent publishers and small presses, global comics, newspaper strip archives, and various collected editions. We spend time digging deep into the work from various perspectives, sometimes in actual live conversation with others, sometimes with just me on a mic surrounded by a pile of comics studies and academic books. It's like a comics seminar, where the only prerequisite is that you love comics.
NEXT WEEK on the Comics Syllabus: Paul is joined by comics scholar Dr Rachelle Cruz to talk about "Uncomfortably Happily" by Yeon-Sik Hong and translated by Hellen Jo (Drawn + Quarterly). Subscribe to the podcast or keep it locked here at Multiversity for that conversation.
You can find the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss
or find archives for this podcast (previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here: http://studycomics.club/
A rating, review, or star on whatever podcast source would help a lot and would be greatly appreciated!
Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai
Thanks for listening!
Images to go with this episode are available starting Tuesday 7/4 morning at http://wp.me/p42KN3-Eed
On this week's Comics Syllabus podcast, Paul talks to Ethan Young, creator of "Nanjing: The Burning City" (Dark Horse), "The Battles of Bridget Lee" (Dark Horse), and "Pilgrim Finch" (STELA app). We discuss Young's art an storytelling and Motion and Emotion on the Battlefield. Let's dig deep!
And in the opening "General Ed" segment, the first edition of "The Wait List," as Paul talks to a guest (his little brother) about trade paperbacks, graphic novels, and collections coming out in early July
Comics Syllabus is a comics analysis podcast where we read widely and we dig deep. Every Tuesday we choose one work from a wide breadth of current and classic comics, doing analysis and close reading of various types. Like a comics seminar!
In the episode, Ethan Young and I mention the first interview we did for a previous version of this podcast. You can find that discussion here: http://studycomics.club/post/156041274400/ethan-young-and-the-battles-of-bridget-lee
You can find archives for this podcast (previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here: http://studycomics.club/ Or find the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss
A rating, review, or star on whatever podcast source would help a lot and would be greatly appreciated! Also, your comments or questions in the Comments section or at Paul via Twitter are welcomed. (But let's keep it respectful!) Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai
Thanks for listening….
Images can be found at http://wp.me/p42KN3-E7L (starting Tuesday morning)
Today on the Comics Syllabus podcast, Paul is joined by Multiversity writer Kent Falkenberg to discuss "Sweet Tooth" by Jeff Lemire from DC/Vertigo. We discuss loss, longing, and the post-apocalyptic animal hybrid survivalist scenario. Kent's work at Multiversity: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/author/kfalkenberg
And in the opening "General Ed" segment, Paul talks to Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou of "Strip Panel Naked": https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYJAToPH5GSGShP7Yoc3jsA
and the new "PanelxPanel" comics criticism digital magazine: http://panelxpanel.com
SPOILER WARNING: The opening "General Ed" segment and the beginning of our discussion about "Sweet Tooth" does not contain spoilers, but soon (around 46:40 ), we start diving into close-readings of the chosen work. So if you don't want to be spoiled on the events and details of this work, please go and read it first, and come back to finish the episode with us and enjoy it with us. Consider it homework, but more fun!
LANGUAGE WARNING: This episode contains some tastefully used swears. Hide the children.
WEIRD SOUND WARNING: Please excuse Paul's voice getting warped at around 1:10:00 - 1:20:00 -- Paul sounds like he's turned into a Slug Monster but luckily Kent is articulate as ever!
NEXT WEEK on the Comics Syllabus: creator Ethan Young talks to us about his Eisner nominated Nanjing: The Burning City (Dark Horse), The Battles of Bridget Lee (Dark Horse), and Pilgrim Finch (STELA).
A rating, review, or star on whatever podcast source would help a lot and would be greatly appreciated!
Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai
Thanks for listening!
Track image by Sonny Liew.
In another .5 episode (not the usual comics analysis we do here at the Comics Syllabus podcast at multiversitycomics.com, but a filler between off-weeks during this month), Paul shouts out fellow Multiversity Podcast Network friends Pop Culture Hound podcast and Robots from Tomorrow, mentions the Process Party and Comics Alternative podcasts, and then...
Discusses his picks if he had an Eisner ballot for the various categories in the 2017 Eisner Awards.
List of Eisner nominees can be found here: https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards-nominations-2017
You can find archives for this podcast (previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here: http://studycomics.club/
Or find the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss
A rating, review, or star on whatever podcast source would help a lot and would be greatly appreciated!
Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai
Thanks for listening!
Images to go with this episode are at: http://wp.me/p42KN3-DJj
Today on the Comics Syllabus podcast, we discuss ‘4 Kids Walk into a Bank‘ by Tyler Boss (art/design), Clare Dezutti (flatting), Thomas Mauer (lettering), Courtney Menard (wallpaper design), and Matthew Rosenberg (writing) from Black Mask Studios, along with ‘Secret Warriors’ by Rosenberg (writer), Javier Garrón (artist), Israel Silva (color artist), VC’s Clayton Cowles (letterer) from Marvel Comics. We talk about team books and the radical difference of a collective narrative.
I’m Paul, and I’m inviting you to join us for another episode of The Comics Syllabus, a comics analysis podcast. Our mantra is, we read widely and we dig deep. Each week, I choose one work from a wide breadth of current and classic comics, including superhero fare, comics from independent publishers and small presses, global comics, newspaper strip archives, and various collected editions. We spend time digging deep into the work from various perspectives, sometimes in actual live conversation with others, sometimes with just me on a mic surrounded by a pile of comics studies and academic books. It’s like a comics seminar, where the only prerequisite is that you love comics.
This week’s Comics Syllabus podcast digs deep into the two comics written by Matthew Rosenberg, joined by artist Tyler Boss on ‘4 Kids Walk into a Bank’ and by artist Javier Garrón on ‘Secret Warriors.’ I quote at length from Ramzi Fawaz’s The New Mutants: Superheroes and the Radical Imagination of American Comics (2015, New York University Press) to frame how team comics in the superhero genre present opportunities for different narratives, ones that involve containing multiple perspectives and personalities into one big mix.
SPOILER WARNING: In the beginning of the episode, we discuss these two comics in non-spoilery general terms. But after the second break at ( 38:00 ), we start diving into close-readings of the chosen work. So if you don’t want to be spoiled on the events and details of this work, please go and read it first, and come back to finish the episode with us and enjoy it with us. Consider it homework, but more fun. You can find archives for this podcast (previously named “Study Comics with Paul”) here: http://studycomics.club/
Or find the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss
A rating, review, or star on whatever podcast source would help a lot and would be greatly appreciated!
Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai Thanks for listening!
A one-point-five episode... not a full-fledged episode of the podcast, although Paul certainly rambles enough. Today at Multiversitycomics.com, the new home for the Comics Syllabus podcast, you should check out Pop Culture Hound's interview with Ron Marz. But to maintain the weekly schedule during this transition period, rather than a regular analysis of a single comics work, Paul invites listeners into what's coming up in the podcast and also what he's been reading. It's also an invitation to participate, interact, and contribute your thoughts to shaping the Comics Syllabus podcast.
Past episodes can be found at http://studycomics.club/ Paul's on Twitter at https://twitter.com/TwoPlai Future episodes will be at http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/ Subscribe wherever fine podcasts are found, rate and review us if you please, and your feedback and thoughts are welcomed. Let's keep reading!
Images for this episode are at http://www.multiversitycomics.com/podcasts/comics-syllabus-001-wonder-woman-year-one/
(also, please note a correction below- 5/31/2017)
This week's Comics Syllabus podcast digs deep into the "Year One" story arc from "Wonder Woman" #2, 4, 6, 10, 12, and 14 by writer Greg Rucka, artist Nicola Scott, colorist Romulo Fajardo Jr., and letterer Jodi Wynne (leaving out an interlude in issue 8 with Bilquis Everly on art). I draw heavily on Carolyn Cocca's Superwomen: Gender, Power, and Representation (Bloomsbury), recently nominated for an Eisner, to consider the heavy "representational weight" that Wonder Woman has historically carried as the iconic female superhero. I think about how the "Year One" creative team deals with (or doesn't deal with) this history and the present in the pages and panels of their new origin story for Wonder Woman. (For a briefer primer on Wonder Woman and cultural history, check out this piece from the Nib by Lucy Bellwood and Sarah Mirk: https://thenib.com/what-does-wonder-woman-actually-represent?t=recent )
Also mentioned in this episode, an editorial from the National Review quoting a commentary piece from the James G. Martin Center throwing shade on the trend of comics in college classrooms:
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/447676/comic-books-college-martin-center-article https://www.jamesgmartin.center/2017/05/graphic-novels-trending-english-departments-thats-problem/
and the venerable Comixscholars listserv where great researchers and theorists fan the flames. http://www.english.ufl.edu/comics/scholars/
SPOILER WARNING: In the beginning of the episode, we discuss Wonder Woman and comics in non-spoilery general terms. But after the first break at ( 33:00 ), we start diving into close-readings of the chosen work. So if you don't want to be spoiled on the events and details of this work, please go and read it first, and come back to finish the episode with us and enjoy it with us. Consider it homework, but more fun.
You can find archives for this podcast(previously named "Study Comics with Paul") here. Or find the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Soundcloud. You can also follow Paul on Twitter @TwoPlai . Thanks for listening.
CORRECTION (5/31/2017): Upon re-listening to the episode, Paul realized that one of his brain farts was an egregious error that needed correction, naming the WW variant cover artist of some controversy as Michael Cho-- an artist whose art and views Paul greatly admires-- when it is actually Frank Cho-- an artist whose art Paul sometimes admires, sometimes not so much. Paul is often unflatteringly mistaken for others, and so deeply regrets the flub, and has re-recorded that snippet for posterity. Also, while shouting out the Comix-Scholars listserv, Paul misspelled "scolars." Great job. The irony ..)
Where have you been, Paul? On this episode, the last one for a while, Paul answers where he's been... and where this podcast is (hopefully) going. He also posts a brief progress report on his continuing efforts to "read widely" and "dig deep," talking about his "Paul List" of recent comics reads from mainstream and more indie comics (and leaving many out, in retrospect!). Finally, for March's "Trypod" initiative, and to point to some podcasting peers to tide folks over until "Study Comics" returns, Paul talks about a bunch of other comics podcasts he listens to.
Episode archives and more info can be found at http://studycomics.club and you can find Paul on twitter at https://twitter.com/TwoPlai
Thanks for listening, and stay in touch.
Visuals for this episode are at http://studycomics.club/post/157683673085/113-delilah-dirk-series-by-tony-cliff-from-first
Our Family Friday podcast looks at ‘Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant’ and ‘Delilah Dirk and the King’s Shilling’ by Tony Cliff (all art above by Tony Cliff) from First Second. Paul drools over the lively and exhilarating art, but also heaps praise on the ranginess of the adventure stories that Cliff meticulously crafts and tells in these compelling tales of the butt-kicking Dirk and her companion and friend Selim. Let’s dig deep!
Upcoming Episodes of ‘Study Comics with Paul’ (Read along! Send me your thoughts and questions!) SP4RX by Wren McDonald (NoBrow) Kamandi Challenge 1-2 by Various (DC) Bakuman by Ohba and Obata and Weekly Shonen Jump (Viz) Lazarus 22-25 by Rucka and Lark (Image)
Study Comics with Paul is a comics analysis podcast. It’s like a comics seminar, but the only prerequisite is love. I’m Paul, a literacy researcher, English teacher, and comics reader, and every week I take a work from a wide range of comics and apply various approaches to analysis.
You can also subscribe to the podcast through iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-list-comics-analysis/id1130632546?mt=2
or through the RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss
Past episodes of the podcast are at https://soundcloud.com/twoplai
Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai
Throwback Thursday has Paul mealy-mouthed about the moral framework of Preacher by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon (colored by Hollingsworth and Rambo, lettered by Clem Robins, cover above by Glen Fabry) from DC/Vertigo. Let's dig deep!
Upcoming Episodes of ‘Study Comics with Paul’ (Read along! Send me your thoughts and questions!) Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant/King’s Shilling by Tony Cliff (First Second) SP4RX by Wren McDonald (NoBrow) Kamandi Challenge 1-2 by Various (DC) Bakuman by Ohba and Obata and Weekly Shonen Jump (Viz) Lazarus 22-25 by Rucka and Lark (Image)
Study Comics with Paul is a comics analysis podcast. It's like a comics seminar, but the only prerequisite is love. I'm Paul, a literacy researcher, English teacher, and comics reader, and every week I take a work from a wide range of comics and apply various approaches to analysis.
You can also subscribe to the podcast through iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-list-comics-analysis/id1130632546?mt=2
or through the RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss
Past episodes of the podcast are at https://soundcloud.com/twoplai
Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai
‘Study Comics with Paul’ discusses Mosaic issue 5 (and the issues leading up to it) by Geoffrey Thorne (w), Khary Randolph (a), Thony Silas (a), cover by Mike Del Mundo (above), and others. Paul’s interested in how the new Inhuman (or NuHuman? I dunno…) manifests powers that get at questions of identity and selfhood in a very public lifeworld. Let’s dig deep!
Upcoming Episodes of ‘Study Comics with Paul’ (Read along! Send me your thoughts and questions!) Mosaic (1-5) by Thorne and Randolph (Marvel) Preacher: Until the End of the World by Ennis and Dillon (DC/Vertigo) Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant/King’s Shilling by Tony Cliff (First Second) SP4RX by Wren McDonald (NoBrow) Kamandi Challenge 1-2 by Various (DC) Bakuman by Ohba and Obata and Weekly Shonen Jump (Viz) Lazarus 22-25 by Rucka and Lark (Image)
Study Comics with Paul is a comics analysis podcast. It’s like a comics seminar, but the only prerequisite is love. I’m Paul, a literacy researcher, English teacher, and comics reader, and every week I take a work from a wide range of comics and apply various approaches to analysis.
You can also subscribe to the podcast through iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-list-comics-analysis/id1130632546?mt=2
or through the RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss
Past episodes of the podcast are at https://soundcloud.com/twoplai
Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai
A different kind of episode. More informal and chatty, "Review Session with Sonny" is where Paul tries to convince his brother Sonny, a somewhat erstwhile comics reader, to read widely and dig deep, and Sonny comes back with his honest responses and appraisals.
Comics we discuss:
Paul’s “Pick Remender”: Mother Panic 3, by Jody Houser and Tommy Lee Edwards (DC/Young Animal) and Jessica Jones 5, by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos (Marvel)
Paul’s “TryMe Hernandez”: SP4RX by Wren McDonald (Nobrow)
Paul’s “Fail Simone”: Weekly Shonen Jump’s “We Never Learn”
Paul’s “Elsa Chart-top-ier”: Black Monday Murders by Jonathan Hickman and Tomm Coker (Image)
Study Comics with Paul is a comics analysis podcast. It’s like a comics seminar, but the only prerequisite is love. I’m Paul, a literacy researcher, English teacher, and comics reader, and every week I take a work from a wide range of comics and apply various approaches to analysis.
You can subscribe to the podcast through iTunes or through the RSS feed.
Past episodes of the podcast are at https://soundcloud.com/twoplai
Follow Paul on Twitter at https://twitter.com/TwoPlai
The Study Comics with Paul podcast http://studycomics.club/ looks at Melissa Mendes’ Lou from Alternative Comics (via the Sequential App), about a girl and her family in rural New England. Paul thinks about the universality and specificity of cartooning and of this story of childhoods, especially in a time when urban vs rural, or New England/West Coast vs Beltway differences are so underscored.
Visuals at http://studycomics.club/post/157027358545/lou-by-melissa-mendes-alternative-comics
Lou: http://indyworld.com/imprints/alternative-comics/melissa-mendes/lou/
Amazon Associates link to buy Lou: http://amzn.to/2k8xB94
Mendes’ site: http://www.mmmendes.com/ and http://www.mmmendes.com/news/2016/7/5/lou
Find visuals to go with this episode at http://studycomics.club/post/156204482625/ep108allagesfavescohostkid
This week, Paul's sick, so he calls on his favorite guest, Cohost Kid, to talk about some of her favorite current comics reads, namely the DC Secret Hero Society books (by Derek Fridolis and Dustin Nguyen from Scholastic) Yotsuba (or Yotsuba&!) by Kiyohiko Azuma from Yen Press, and the Donald Ducks and Uncle Scrooge comics by Carl Barks and Don Rosa collected by Fantagraphics.
Find out more or subscribe to the podcast at http://studycomics.club
Let's dig (sorta) deep!
On this special episode of Study Comics, a conversation with creator Ethan Young about his book 'The Battles of Bridget Lee: Invasion of Farfall' (Dark Horse), his storytelling influences and artistic style, and why Bridget Lee is a hero we all need.
Also, some explanation of the podcast's status. You can always find the podcast at http://studycomics.club
Thanks for listening, and let's dig deep.
‘The Study Comics Club’ with Paul podcast explores Jiro Taniguchi’s ‘A Distant Neighborhood’ from Fanfare Ponent Mon. Translated by Kumar Sivasubramanian, Graphic Adaptation by Frederic Boilet.
Find images to go with this episode at http://studycomics.club/post/155847005815/the-study-comics-club-with-paul-podcast-explores
Let’s dig deep
Our Pluto reading project continues!!! We are reading 'Pluto' by Naoki Urasawa, from Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy story. (And if you haven't been following, get that amazing comic and listen along to the whole thing here: https://soundcloud.com/twoplai/sets/the-paul-list-reads-pluto-by )
Paul (sorta) discusses v4 and 5, touching on Artificial Intelligence and emotion, thoughts from listeners Seth, Johnny, and Frank, and these articles:
"The Doomsday Invention" by Raffi Khatchadourian from the New Yorker: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/11/23/doomsday-invention-artificial-intelligence-nick-bostrom
''The Great AI Awakening' by Gideon Lewis-Krause from the New York Times Magazine: http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/12/14/magazine/the-great-ai-awakening.html?&_r=0&referer=
Find the podcast at thepaullist.com
What were your favorites of the year? Paul goes through the best comics in 2016 (according to others!) that he DIDN'T read this year. Think of it as his pull list of comics that he's looking forward to digging deep into. And let him know (@twoplai on Twitter what your favorites were, ones on this list and ones that weren't!)
Best Comics Paul Didn't Read 2016 Mooncop Arab of the Future Megg and Mogg Rolling Blackouts One Hundred Nights of Hero How to Survive in the North Nod Away Muhammad Ali Longest Day of the Future I Thought You Hated Me Irmina Panther Hilda and the Stone Forest World of Edena Corto Maltese
Astro City Unfollow Deathstroke Nightwing Flintstones Legend of Wonder Woman
Spiderwoman Moon Knight Moon Girl Star Wars and Darth Vader Mighty Thor
Invisible Republic, No Mercy, Autumnlands Prophet: Earth War Jupiter's Legacy 2 Lake of Fire Drifter Black Monday Murders
Giant Days The Spire Klaus Joyride Usagi Artist's II Mignolaverse
Kirby Pencil and Ink Comics on Stela and Sequential Apps Yotsuba&! Stand Still Stay Silen
Visuals for this episode are at: http://thepaullist.com/post/154178811035/black-panther-by-coates-stelfreeze-sprouse
Paul discusses 'Black Panther,' written by Ta-Nehisi Coates and drawn by Brian Stelfreeze, Chris Sprouse, and Karl Story, with colors by Laura Martin and letters by Joe Sabino, from Marvel Comics. Paul talks about the first seven issues or so of the recent series (2016), although with only minor spoils so the episode is friendly for readers and non-readers. Paul touches on conceptions of nationhood, Ta-Nehisi Coates writing comics, contrasts with Christopher Priest and Reginald Hudlin runs, the complexities of leadership, portrayals of peoples, and a little politics.
And now, the links (support your LCS, but if you have to, here's Amazon Associates links for the podcast):
Black Panther v1: http://amzn.to/2h7weKo Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates http://amzn.to/2gc0qEy Coates in the Atlantic: http://www.theatlantic.com/author/ta-nehisi-coates/ Christopher Priest's Black Panther: http://amzn.to/2h7rQLm Reginald Hudlin's Black Panther: http://amzn.to/2h7wicQ Fanon!: http://amzn.to/2gbYRGI Hayden's Middle Passage: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/43076
As always, subscribe and rate and review on iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher, and see more via http://thepaullist.com/
'Pope Hats' by Ethan Rilly from Adhouse has four absorbing issues out-- and at last, you can get the second one! For a long time out of print, with the recent reprinting of issue 2, Paul finally gets to read the full story, and talks about what good comics it is, in the vein of Clowes, Seth, Huizenga, Ware, and Tomine. Find Pope Hats at http://www.adhousebooks.com/
Paul also mentions other comics he's reading and may discuss:
When We Were Kids by Andy Warner (Irene) http://andywarnercomics.com/store/20090080
The Games We Played by Ryan King and Daryl Toh (Tiny Fugu) http://studygroupcomics.com/main/the-games-we-played-ryan-king-daryl-toh/
557 by Fred Noland http://frednoland.com/store/store.htm
Hilda and the Stone Forest by Luke Pearson http://amzn.to/2gC26pW
The Owner's Guide to Terrible Parenting by Guy Delisle http://amzn.to/2fYU2eH
Lake of Fire by Fairbairn and Smith, No Mercy by de Campi, McNeil, Lee, Kill or Be Killed by Brubaker and Phillips (Image),
Ether by Kindt and Rubin (Dark Horse) http://amzn.to/2gC3c52
Black by Osajyefo and Smith and Igle (Black Mask) http://amzn.to/2fYNi0z
The Castoffs by MK Reed, Brian Smith, and Molly Ostertag (Roar Comics) http://amzn.to/2gBWbRG
The Nao of Brown by Glyn Dillon (SelfMadeHero) http://amzn.to/2h1uYEM
Find the visuals with this episode at: http://thepaullist.com/post/153955333440/ep101-mighty-jack-by-ben-hatke-first-second
'Mighty Jack' by Ben Hatke (First Second) is the subject of today's Paul List-- at least one page of it, and at least for the first 25 minutes! Paul digs deep into a page of Hatke's art from the adventurous all-ages retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, discussing the architecture of panels and angle of limbs, gardens of good and ill, and the wonderful work of Ben Hatke.
Sorry for a long absence, Paul also delves in the last half hour into what he's been reading in comics (see the list below). Let's read widely and dig deep.
Comics Mentioned on Paul's "Pull List": Marvel: Black Panther and World of Wakanda, Champions, Vision, Empress, Captain Marvel, Death of X, Dr. Strange: The Oath, and Ultimates. DC: All Star Batman, New Superman, Doom Patrol and Young Animal books, Supergirl, Super Powers, Trinity, Death: The High Cost of Living, Annotated Sandman, Gotham Central Image: Deadly Class, Saga, Reborn, Shutter, Romulus Others: Slam, Batman TMNT Adventures, Black, Pacific; Moebius: World of Edena, From Now On, Nao of Brown, Pope Hats, Yotsuba&!, Sithrah book 2, Attack on Titan
Comics Alternative Young Readers review of 'Mighty Jack' by Gwen Tarbox and Andy Wolverton http://comicsalternative.com/young-readers-reviews-of-mighty-jack-and-ghosts/
Our 100th ep features a conversation with artist Justin Greenwood and the 'All Time Pull Lists' of podcast friends Images & links http://thepaullist.com/post/153329174445/100thepjustingreenwoodfriends (12:47) Conversation w/Justin Greenwood (http://www.justingreenwoodart.com/ ) Justin Greenwood's art from The FUSE: http://www.justingreenwoodart.com/original-art-for-sale/89f4ab7qpt7xlz6wcs8g3zrsojxk93 Stumptown: http://www.justingreenwoodart.com/line-art/u3kgytdb79zo841bvr4iig8aukd8m8 Urasawa in Pluto: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_n5xC4ByBQAU/SuTv5PfDXmI/AAAAAAAAKtk/2GGx-IDcB80/s400/IMG_0009.jpg All Time Pull Lists (42:10) Johnny Hall: Transmetropolitan by Ellis & Robertson (Vertigo) http://amzn.to/2flYSmZ (49:15) Rachelle Cruz is at http://www.rachellecruz.com/ and Blood-Jet radio at https://thebloodjet.wordpress.com/ What It Is, Syllabus (Drawn + Quarterly) by Lynda Barry https://www.drawnandquarterly.com/what-it-is and https://www.drawnandquarterly.com/syllabus Zana (Emet Comics) by Jane Barker, Joey Granger http://zanacomic.tumblr.com/ Black (Black Mask) by Kwanza Osajyefo, Tim Smith 3, Jamal Igle, Randolph http://blackmaskstudios.com/black/ Boxers and Saints (First Second) by Gene Luen Yang http://geneyang.com/boxers-saints World of Wakanda (Marvel) by writers Roxane Gay, Yona Harvey, Ta-Nehisi Coates, artists Alitha Martinez, Afua Richardson http://marvel.com/comics/issue/61406/black_panther_world_of_wakanda_2016_1 Prince of Cats (Image) by Ron Wimberly https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/prince-of-cats-hc (57:57) Mike McQuillian: Darkhawk (Marvel) by Tom DeFalco and Mike Manley https://www.comixology.com/Darkhawk-Vol-1/comics-series/10620 Death: The High Cost of Living (Vertigo) by Neil Gaiman and Chris Bachalo http://amzn.to/2f9jjWo Bone by Jeff Smith (Cartoon Books) http://www.boneville.com/bone/ (1:04:08) Jessica Balboni is part of the Escapist comic book store at at http://www.escapistcomics.com/ 5. Gotham Central by Rucka, Brubaker, Lark and various (DC) http://amzn.to/2go6JoW 4. EC Comics: Crime Suspense Stories, such as #22 https://jacks-attic.com/2012/08/01/crime-suspenstories-22-the-most-infamous-comic-book-cover-of-all-time/ 3. "Judgement Day" (Weird Fantasy 18) by Al Feldstein and Joe Orlando http://kb-outofthisworld.blogspot.com.co/2010/02/anti-racism-in-1950s-comics-weird.html 2. Saga by Vaughan and Staples (Image) http://amzn.to/2goa6MI 1. X-Men Whedon or Morrison runs: http://amzn.to/2f5UwiB or http://amzn.to/2glS8te (1:11:30) Cameron Morgan on twitter https://twitter.com/spidercam Maison Ikkoku by Rumiko Takahashi http://amzn.to/2g10thT Rising Stars by J. Michael Straczynski and artists http://amzn.to/2f5UaZs The Ultimates by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch http://amzn.to/2f5WoId Daredevil by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev http://amzn.to/2gofOhv 20th Century Boys by Naoki Urasawa http://amzn.to/2goeThf Mentions: The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Time Sale http://amzn.to/2goeUkX Crossgen Comics http://amzn.to/2fKG2qe (1:20:57) Seth T. Hahne is at sethhahne.com Seth’s blog: http://goodokbad.com/ "75 Best Comics by Women" http://goodokbad.com/index.php/about/female_creators Children of the Sea, Daisuke Igarashi (Viz) https://www.viz.com/read/manga/children-of-the-sea-vol-1/8315 Cross Game, Mitsuru Adachi (Viz) https://www.viz.com/read/manga/cross-game/all Summit of the Gods, Taniguchi (Ponent Mon) http://amzn.to/2fKtDS8 Last Man series, by Bastien Vivès and Michaël Sanlaville (First Second) http://amzn.to/2fKnSUK Duncan the Wonder Dog, Adam Hines (Adhouse) http://amzn.to/2fKr6rh The Nao of Brown, by Glyn Dillon (Abrams) http://amzn.to/2eRrTsU Daytripper, Ba and Moon (Vertigo) http://amzn.to/2fZm6UI Stand Still, Stay Silent, by Minna Sunberg (Self-published/web) http://www.sssscomic.com/ Blankets, Craig Thompson (Top Shelf) http://amzn.to/2eMP5oN Yotsuba&!, Azuma (Yen Press) http://amzn.to/2eRye7x (1:46:13) The Future of the Paul List
The Paul List wakes up after the US election and rolls up sleeves to discuss 'Southern Bastards' volume 3: 'Homecoming' written by Jason Aaron (with one issue by Jason Latour) and drawn by Jason Latour (with one issue by Chris Brunner) from Image Comics.
You can find the Paul List, images to go with this episode, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher at http://thepaullist.com/post/153089726075/the-paul-list-wakes-up-after-the-us-election-and
Jason Latour's "On the Rebel Flag" essay is at http://jasonlatour.tumblr.com/post/122732990328/on-the-rebel-flag-as-you-can-imagine-ive-heard
'Save the Cat' screenwriting book by Blake Snyder: http://amzn.to/2g0vh7q
Our late Saturday Smaller Press comic is Tillie Walden's 'End of Summer' from Avery Hill, available on the Sequential app and elsewhere.
Images to go with this episode are at http://thepaullist.com/post/152892195505/theendofsummerwalden
'The End of Summer': http://tilliewalden.com/work/the-end-of-summer
Tillie Walden's website and work (including her diary comic on Patreon): http://tilliewalden.com/category/comics
Sequential App: http://www.sequential.cc/
Gene Luen Yang column mentioning story from Creative Confidence about finishing: http://bookriot.com/2016/10/31/creativity-progress-finishing/
Our Monday Marvel is ‘The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl’ by Erica Henderson and Ryan North, most recently the ‘Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Beats up the Marvel Universe’ OGN, but also the recent trade collections of this fine comic magazine which @TwoPlai has been enjoying with his cohost today. Let’s dig deep!
Images for this episode are at http://thepaullist.com/post/152779833820/the-unbeatable-squirrel-girl-by-ryan-north-and
Amazon associates link to Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: http://amzn.to/2fGB8hN
Find the Paul List: Comics Analysis Podcast at http://thepaullist.com/
Thursday’s Throwback is the Doom Patrol Omnibus from DC Comics. @TwoPlai talks about ways to approach this significant, profound, and sometimes impenetrable run of Grant Morrison and Richard Case's Doom Patrol. Let’s dig deep.
Images at http://thepaullist.com/post/152775259605/doom-patrol-omnibus-by-grant-morrison-and-richard
Great (some spoilery) pieces on Doom Patrol or Morrison–
The British Invasion by Greg Carpenter: http://sequart.org/books/26/the-british-invasion-alan-moore-neil-gaiman-grant-morrison-and-the-invention-of-the-modern-comic-book-writer/
RFT with Mike Phillips: http://robotsfromtomorrow.libsyn.com/episode-344-sequarts-mike-phillips
Sequart pieces on Doom Patrol (unfin ished) by Desmond White: http://sequart.org/magazine/39773/grant-morrison%E2%80%99s-doom-patrol-a-companion-reader/
Noah Berlatsky in the Atlantic: http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/04/doom-patrol/360616/
Douglas Wolk in LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-ca-jc-grant-morrison-20140824-story.html
Greg Burgas’ deep look in Comics You Should Own on CBR: http://www.cbr.com/comics-you-should-own-doom-patrol-19-63/
Comics Alternative Spotlight discussion on Morrison with Marc Singer: http://comicsalternative.com/episode-22/
Our Tuesday Trade Paperback is actually a Hardcover, a reprint by Image Comics of Ron Wimberly’s ‘Prince of Cats,’ his B-side remix of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet story but centered on the character Tybalt. Iambic pentameter, samurai swords, and hip hop culture in 1980′s Brooklyn. Wimberly interweaves cultural resources that give pulsating life to the Tybalt character in a new context. Let’s dig deep.
Images to go with this episode at http://thepaullist.com/post/152618053595/prince-of-cats-by-ron-wimberly-image-comics-on
Mentioned in this episode:
Amazon Associates link to Prince of Cats: http://amzn.to/2ela6K7
Ron Wimberly’s piece ‘Lighten Up’ on the Nib: https://thenib.com/lighten-up-4f7f96ca8a7e
Seth Hahne’s description of his process for Monkess the Homunculus: http://imgur.com/a/kUbyj and the book itself: http://sethhahne.com/monkess/
The Paul List is always at http://thepaullist.com/
Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary Special 1 by Various (DC Comics)
art by Jim Lee (cover), Rafael Albuquerque and written by R. Scavone and colored by Dave McCaig (2nd image); written and penciled by Renae De Liz and inked and colored by Ray Dillon (3rd image)
Sunday’s Superfriend is Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary Special from DC Comics, a collection of stories and pinups from a great range of incredible talents, dedicated to the different dimensions of the strength and integrity of Wonder Woman. Paul thinks about the various art styles represented in the book and how they reflect the various aspects of the character’s heroism, iconography, and artifice. Let’s dig deep.
Visuals at http://thepaullist.com/post/152499517540/wonderwoman75thspecial
Amazon Associates link to the issue: http://amzn.to/2fj2XMT
The Paul List is always at http://thepaullist.com/
'Dear Creature' by Jonathan Case, originally published in 2011 but re-published in 2016 by Dark Horse, is Saturday's Smaller Press book (ok ok, Dark Horse is not small, but for more small press picks, see yesterday's episode!) Paul talks about Case's craft in pulling together a strange and beautiful story about a sea monster and his Shakespeare-fueled love. After meeting Jonathan Case at a signing, Paul is inspired to offer a rare Halloween recommendation, and finds the book lovely and alarmingly weird. Let's dig deep.
Find the visuals at http://thepaullist.com/post/152499074025/dearcreature
Amazon Associates link to Dear Creature: http://amzn.to/2eVQsWn and Jonathan Case's other books: http://amzn.to/2f1H4hr
The Escapist Comics Bookstore in Berkeley: http://www.escapistcomics.com/ (and find their podcast there!)
On today's Paul List, Paul tries an experiment (a failed one? Let me know @twoplai): talking about multiple books and issues in one long episode. First, introductory words about the podcast itself (1:05), followed by a discussion of Marvel's 'Mockingbird' and Chelsea Cain (18:12), then part 3 of our 'Pluto' by Urasawa reading project (43:01), and then discussion of three titles Paul recommends: 'Monkess the Homunculus' by Seth Hahne (1:02:30), 'The Battles of Bridget Lee: Invasion of Farfall' by Ethan Young from Dark Horse (1:15:30), and the forthcoming 'Untitled Ape's Epic Adventures' by Steven Tillotson from Avery Hill (1:27:00). Let's try to dig deep, though we'll probably run out of shovel before we finish marking the territory….
The Paul List is at http://thepaullist.com
twitter link: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai
Chelsea Cain's Blog: https://chelseacain.com/blog/140-characters-plus-few-thousand-more-twitter-hubbub
Alice Castle's Multiversity piece about Cain and comics: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/longform/industry-is-dying/
Mockingbird at Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ff3Lm4
Pluto v3: http://amzn.to/2eNox8i
Monkess the Homunculus: http://sethhahne.com/monkess/
Battles of Bridget Lee: http://amzn.to/2dUtudM
Untitled Ape's Epic Adventures: http://www.averyhillpublishing.bigcartel.com/product/untitled-ape-s-epic-adventure-by-steve-tillotson
On Saturday's (?) Smaller Press Comics, Paul talks about Zack Soto's 'Secret Voice,' touching on the three issues that have been published by Study Group Comics. While he's at it, Paul gets into Bakhtin and intertextuality, David Harper's interview with Tom King, and all the voices in his head (and YOURS TOO!) Let's dig deep.
The Secret Voice: http://theesecretvoice.tumblr.com/
Process Party: the new podcast from Study Group by Soto and Mike Dawson: http://studygroupcomics.com/main/pod/
That David Harper interview with Tom King: http://sktchd.com/podcast/off-panel-67-the-best-intentions-with-tom-king/
That Comics Journal piece about Soto: http://www.tcj.com/study-group-comics/
and the Paul List is always find-able at http://thepaullist.com
Our Monday Marvel is A-Force vol 2 (1-10) written by Kelly Thompson (w/ G. Willow Wilson at the beginning), drawn by Jorge Molina, Ben Caldwell, and Paulo Siqueira, colored and lettered by various. A-Force has been cancelled for now after issue 10. Paul talks about the emotional labor women characters in the Marvel U do, trying to draw together sociologist Arlie Hochschild with She-Hulk and Carol Danvers. Let's dig deep!
Amazon Associates link for A-Force: http://amzn.to/2dXdsAz
Amazon Associates link for Arlie Hochschild: http://amzn.to/2dxcHNG
Newsarama piece mentioned: http://www.newsarama.com/31604-marvel-s-a-force-axed.html
Thursday's Throwback continues the 'Pluto' reading project on the Paul List, where we are reading a volume of Pluto each week. Urasawa's masterpiece extension of Tezuka's Astro Boy story reaches a bigger set of questions in this volume, but Paul focuses it all on a close reading of one of the opening scenes, one packed with meaningful silences and profound questions. Let's dig deep!
Find the Paul List at http://thepaullist.com
Amazon Associates link for Pluto: http://amzn.to/2eNBjYh
The Tuesday Trade is 'Tokyo Ghost' (v1 & 2) by Rick Remender, Sean Murphy, Matt Hollingsworth, and Rus Wooton (Image Comics), and Paul discusses a pre-spoilers and spoiler-y set of thoughts about the dystopic sci-fi adventure's themes of our hyper-distracted technology-mediated lives.
You can always find the Paul List at http://thepaullist.com/
Amazon Associates link to Tokyo Ghost: http://amzn.to/2eun0nF
Amazon Associates link to Daniel Dinello's 2005 'Technophobia': http://amzn.to/2eGm2Zc
Sunday's DC/Vertigo book is The Sheriff of Babylon by Tom King and Mitch Gerads, v1 (issues 1-6) with mention of the whole 12-issue story, concluding next month. (No spoilers past v1). After a lengthy set up, Paul delves into Media and Morality by Roger Silverstone as a lens to consider the important and impact of King and Gerad's story set in the Iraq War. And in a rare experiment, Paul made a video of this episode.
Find the video of the episode at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMbGcoi3iR-T4VQcIP52oLA
FInd the Paul List at http://thepaullist.com/
Sheriff of Babylon amazon link: http://amzn.to/2eusKBJ
Media and Morality by Silverstone amazon link: http://amzn.to/2ee5Ej2
Nerdwriter video about Saving Private Ryan and Spielberg staging battle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFpki7v4xiI
The Friday Family Comic is Mini Marvels: The Complete Collection (Marvel) by Chris Giarrusso. TwoPlai is joined FOR THE FIRST TIME on the Paul List by AN AWESOME GUEST HOST who gives her opinions of this hilarious adaptation of Marvel's superheroes for kids.
Amazon link to Mini Marvels: http://amzn.to/2edFjgF
The Paul List can be found at thepaullist.com
In the first of an eight-part reading project, we look at Pluto v1 by Naoki Urasawa based on "The Greatest Robot on Earth" Astro Boy/Atom story by Osamy Tezuka. TwoPlai invites you to read along and contribute thoughts as we read each volume of the 8 part manga masterwork.
Mentioned on this episode: Amazon Associates link to Pluto volumes: http://amzn.to/2d8QytN
Deb Aoki: http://manga.about.com/od/vizmedia/gr/Pluto1.htm
Understanding Manga by McCloud: http://sundaycomicsdebt.blogspot.com/2011/02/understanding-manga.html
Seth Hahne on Pluto: http://goodokbad.com/index.php/reviews/pluto_review
Comic Pusher's reviews: http://comicpusher.blogspot.com/search/label/pluto%20review%20series
Monday's Marvel is Death of X #1 from Marvel Comics, written by Jeff Lemire and Charles Soule, art by Aaron Kuder, colors by Morry Hollowell. Paul talks about the place of the X-Men and Inhumans in Marvel's Universe, both on the page and behind the scenes, and how we end up with a mini-series pronouncing the end of mutants... again. Let's dig deep.
For Small Press Saturday, Paul went to Alternative Press Expo http://alternativepressexpo.com/ , and while he didn't get to explore everything that interested him, picked up a pile of comics that caught his eye. Included in the discussion:
Dan Vado and SLG http://www.slgcomic.com/
Jimmie Robinson https://imagecomics.com/creators/view/jimmie-robinson
Latino Comics Expo http://www.latinocomicsexpo.com/
Daniel Parada's 'Zotz' http://www.zotzcomic.com/
Ben Seto and Skullbunnies http://www.blacksheepcomics.com/
Jen Hickman http://umicorms.com/
Society of Unordinary Young Ladies by Algarmi and Sigua http://souyl.blogspot.com/
Karate Petshop http://www.karatepetshop.com/ publisher of Rikki by Norm Harper and Matthew Folz-Gray http://www.foltz-gray.com/
Lee Marrs and 'Pudge' http://amzn.to/2emOEpB'
Transcat by Knave Murdok http://parasomniacomics.blogspot.com/
'American Born Chinese' by Gene Luen Yang (First Second) is our Thursday Throwback (yeah, yeah, it's Tuesday already...). Paul talks about the decade-old graphic novel, a landmark in comics and culture, a landmark in his own comics reading life. Paul had the chance to speak with Gene Yang at the Alternative Press Expo recently, and he discusses the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and MacArthur fellow's reflections on his breakthrough book a decade later.
Find out more about the Paul List at http://thepaullist.com/
To find 'American Born Chinese' on the Paul List's Amazon Associates link: http://amzn.to/2dFE2kv (although we always encourage you to support local bookstores and comic shops)
Let's dig deep.
Monday Marvel --> Unbeatable Squirrel Girl 12, written by Ryan North, art by Erica Henderson, colors Rico Renzi, from Marvel Comics. This comic is very funny. If you like funny, read it first, before you listen to this, before @TwoPlai explains the haha out of it, analyzing the humor ("incongruities from social expectations"? wha?) for waaaaaayyy too long, squeezing all the fun out of it. TwoPlai makes grand claims that USG is the smartest kid in the room when it comes to Marvel Comics, but also suggests that the subversion of superheroes that USG accomplishes may indeed save us all. Let's dig deep.
Our Sunday Superfriend (DC) coverage of the Bat-family 'Night of the Monster Men' crossover manages to skip talking about monsters altogether... (yes, that's a Theme Fail), although TwoPlai does disappear into a rabbit hole about ethics and superhero team stories, like this one, where Batman's toughest challenge might not be the building-sized monsters traipsing around Gotham but the sundry and individual partners that are his Bat-family. Along the way, TwoPlai has some praise for Steve Orlando's writing prowess, as well as Tom King's Batman run so far, and for what superheroes can do to instill healthy questions in us about goodness and rightness. Let's dig deep.
This Smaller Press Saturday, our comics work is 'Finding Molly: Adventures in Catsitting' 1-4 by Justine Prado, Jenn St-Onge, & Carey Pietsch, from Emet Comics. Molly is a recent art school graduate trying to make her way and find herself in the LA arts scene, and this playfully illustrated and told story also explores AND exemplifies the search for authenticity between the commercial and the artistic. Let's dig deep.
'Trinity' 1 by Francis Manapul, with letters by Steve Wands, from DC Comics, is today's interruption of @TwoPlai's research break on the Paul List:Comics Analysis Podcast. In a bit of a meandering episode (sorry!), Paul describes why Manapul is the consummate current DC artist for his tastes, a perfect synthesis of various influences that works perfectly for the Rebirth moment. (Error correction: At one point, Paul says "Wildstorm" when he means "Top Cow." Sorry again!) The artistic and storytelling qualities that Manapul brings to this gathering table of DC's three iconic heroes is the kind of match that makes this book a treat to read. And while he's at it, Paul gets into why the Surface Pro that Manapul has been pitching is a pretty nice device for a comics person.
Links:
The Multiversity Comics interview with Brian Salvatore that Manapul did in 2013: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/interviews/artist-august-francis-manapul-interview/
The Detective Comics volume with Manapul and John Paul Leon for contrast (via the Paul List's Amazon Associates): http://amzn.to/2ctvr4X
The Paul List: thepaullist.com
Thanks for listening. Let's dig deep.
Raina Telgemeier's 'Ghosts' from Graphix, word balloons and lettering, dialogue with kids about death, and cultural appropriation are the subjects in this brief interruption from Paul's research break. The Paul List Daily Comics Analysis podcast will be back in full force in October. Let's dig deep!
Support your local comic shop or bookseller, but if you'd like to purchase Ghosts through The Paul List's Amazon Associates link: http://amzn.to/2cVt2yR
While announcing a break from DAILY podcasting for a few weeks, TwoPlai also pauses to reflect on things he's learned from doing the Paul List for two-and-a-half months (and around 75 episodes). Thanks for listening.
'Doctor Strange 11' is Monday's Marvel on the Paul List: Daily Comics Analysis Podcast. Written by Jason Aaron, with art and colors by Kevin Nowlan, Leonardo Romero, and Jordie Bellaire, 'Doctor Strange 11' is a well-timed intermission in the breakneck run that Aaron and Bachalo and team have had on Doctor Strange this year, one of the best superhero comics around in TwoPlai's opinion. Thematic recaps, story-element recoups, and origin-story rewrites make this a satisfying pause... just in time for TwoPlai to announce a bit of a pause for this podcast. Thanks for listening and let's dig deep!
Sunday's Superfriend is 'Aquaman 6' by Dan Abnett, Brad Walker, Andrew Hennessy, and Gabe Eltaeb (DC Comics). TwoPlai tries to describe the tensions that the creators have mounted so that the dialogue between Superman and Aquaman in this culminating issue of the mounting conflict between Atlantis and the US feels convincing and exploits the contradictions and turmoil that make for compelling stories. TwoPlai tries... but time runs out before the case can reach full cogency, further exemplifying the failures of language in tight circumstances. Haha that's just a rationalization for some of the gobbledegook plaguing this episode, but hey, give it a listen, see what you think. Sometimes, when you dig deep, you get a little messy. Thanks for listening.
Smaller Press Saturday’s pick on the Paul List podcast is ‘Niobe: She is Life’ by Amandla Stenberg, Sebastian Jones, Ashley Woods, and Darrell May, available from Stranger Comics. TwoPlai talks about fantasy stories in an agonistic world and the use of the widescreen panel in his analysis. (By the way, it's a late night recording, so TwoPlai says "Roxane Gray" once instead of "Roxane Gay" and cites one of his favorite novels, "The Strange and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao"-- it's "The Brief Wondrous Life....," along with probably three or four other verbal flubs. Beggin' your pardon.) Let's dig deep!
The Friday Family Comic is 'Coral Reefs: Cities of the Ocean' in the Science Comics series from First Second by Maris Wicks. TwoPlai talks about information literacy and comics, how Wicks makes this unfamiliar subject so dang interesting, and how kids' comics inspire and train different kinds of reading.
Drawing heavily from Thomas Andrae's 'Carl Barks and the DIsney Comic Book,' this episode of the Paul List Comics Analysis Podcast looks at our Thursday Throwback, 'Walt Disney's Donald Duck Lost in the Andes by Carl Barks' published by Fantagraphics, all as a way of talking about Carl Barks, cultural studies of comics, and a phenomenal classic cartoonist's exceptional work within the Disney empire. Let's dig deep.
Wednesday's Webcomic is 'Barrier #2' by Marcos Martin, Brian K. Vaughan, and Muntsa Vicente, available at panelsyndicate.com at pay-what-you-want prices. TwoPlai compares Barrier, a scifi story about immigration and aliens (both kinds) with AmericaTown which he discussed on "yesterday's" episode. But first, he talks about his NCBD pull list and recommendations, including PB Soldier on Kickstarted and Black Comics Chat. Then at 7:00 he gets into Barrier 2, what doing immigration stories as scifi does for the politics and narratives connected to immigration.
Our Tuesday Trade Paperback is 'AmericaTown' from Boom Studios by Bradford Winters, Larry Cohen, and artist Daniel Irizarri. Apologies that this Tuesday Trade is neither a trade (it's a Hardcover) nor released on Tuesday. 'AmericaTown' tells the story of an undocumented immigrant... from America. In a near-future where the US economy has collapsed and migrants flood to places like Buenos Aires, AmericaTown's protagonist is smuggled into Argentina, into an enclave of American immigrants, trying to find safety and opportunity in this reversal of the standard US immigration narrative. TwoPlai discusses the idea of immigration narratives in this context, and how AmericaTown gets or doesn't get at the larger issues interlaced in a story such as this.
On a late Sunday Superfriend, @TwoPlai reviews-- er, analyzes-- Future Quest 4. But first, a few words about "analysis" vs. "review," some discussion about the nature of nostalgia, and then an honest response to Future Quest 4, an issue that pushes TwoPlai on the edge of jumping off a book that started very invitingly. You're free to disagree, and we're just glad you take the time to listen. Let's dig deep.
A bit out of order, Monday's Marvel is Silver Surfer 6 (or 200) by Dan Slott, Mike Allred, and Laura Allred, from Marvel Comics. Slott and the Allreds have been writing a very different kind of Silver Surfer story, and @TwoPlai offers analysis of how the epic drama of Surfer retains its high stakes when the story is "domesticated" by the new relationships Norrin Rad has with earth, Dawn Greenwood, and his newfound cultural attachments. But the focus of analysis is how those stakes are elevated even in scenes of talking heads between to normal ol' human characters. Let's dig deep.
Small Press Saturday's feature is Kevin Budnik's 'Handbook', available at http://kevinbudnik.storenvy.com/products/16825002-handbook Budnik was nominated for an Ignatz as Promising New Talent, and TwoPlai explores his diary comic about recovery from eating disorders. If the vulnerability of self-disclosure makes you wince, you might skip this one. Otherwise, you're welcome to the circle as we look at Budnik's book. Let's dig deep. (CORRECTION: I previously listed 'Handbook' as published by One Percent Press, which was an error-- 'Handbook' was self-published and Patreon-supported. One Percent Press IS publishing Kevin Budnik's forthcoming work though!)
Family Comics Friday features 'Sunny Side Up' by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm, colored by Lark Pien, from Graphix/Scholastic (2016), a charming and gentle story of Sunny Lewin's summer in Florida with her grandfather and whole mounds of free time to roam and wander around a retirement community. @TwoPlai meanders a little himself about childhoods, unsupervised time, and the importance of artifacts of imagination (like comics) in helping us cope and process with the harsher things in life. You can always find accompanying pictures at thepaullist.tumblr.com and reach out with feedback or rate and review us on the podcatcher of your choice. Thanks for listening!
Thursday's Throwback celebrates Jack Kirby with the 'New Gods Artist Edition' from IDW, as TwoPlai relies on Charles Hatfields 'Hand of Fire' and Mark Evanier's 'Kirby: King of Comics' to inform his awe of the ink blots and raw energy of these reproductions of Kirby's original art. There's discussion of Kirby's life and career, the two inkers represented in this work, and the experience of looking at this Artist Edition. Let's dig deep!
Wednesday's Webcomic (in this case) is 'Demon' by Jason Shiga, on shigabooks.com and soon to be collected by First Second. @TwoPlai talks about the fascinating character that is Mr. Shiga and his intriguing and slightly disturbing story of a man who cannot stay dead, and the mathematical possibilities of such a story. But first, we review TwoPlai's pull list for New Comic Book Day and set the schedule for the next week of Paul List episodes. Thanks for listening!
Trade Paperback Tuesday puts Pretty Deadly volume 2: "The Bear" before @TwoPlai, who tries to cram too many thoughts into too short a time to do them (and the book) justice! Kelly Sue DeConnick, Emma Rios, Jordie Bellaire and Clayton Cowles take their time to tell a story with grace and ferocity, while TwoPlai trips over his own words rushing to describe the "ecological" thematics of the work. Thanks for bearing with the roughly prepared and produced endeavor that is this daily comics analysis podcast...
The Marvel Monday issue is Nighthawk 4 by David Walker, Ramon Villalobos, and Tamra Bonvillain, where @TwoPlai talks about how comics have always been involved in political and racial discourse, offers thoughts about how Nighthawk has done so, and Villalobos' mesmerizing art style.
Action Comics 962 is our Sunday Superfriend (released a day early), as @TwoPlai thinks about this ending of the first Superman arc of Rebirth, placing it in the context of the arc's storyline, the entire Rebirth project, and the "neobaroque" macrotext described by Arnaudo's 'Myth of the Superhero' (2013, Johns Hopkins U Press). TwoPlai doesn't quite string it all together before the bell rings this time, but at least lays down some pieces of his thoughts about these stories and their value. This issue written by Dan Jurgens, penciled by Stephen Segovia, and inked by Art Thibert(apologies for not spending enough time on the artists' work).
On Smaller Press Saturday, we look at 'Our Mother' by Luke Howard, just out from Retrofit. @TwoPlai considers its various abstract narratives that ultimately deal with a child's coping with a mother's depression and anxiety, sometimes comically, but ultimately both heartbreaking and sentimental. If only we could stay forever Jung.
For Family Friday, @TwoPlai goes back to 2008's 'Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam' by Mike Kunkel for DC Comics. Kunkel's charming rendition of the classic superhero gives TwoPlai reason to think about kids, superhero mythology, and the attraction of Shazam. CORRECTION: TwoPlai incorrectly stated in the recording that this title ended at issue 12. 'BB and the Magic of Shazam' continued until issue 21 in 2010. Sorry.
We missed Wednesday, but for the World Comics episode, @TwoPlai looks at the Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye by Sonny Liew, culminating our four-episode focus on Liew's work. Pantheon published AoCCHC this March and TwoPlai argues it's one of the most significant comics works of recent memory, synthesizing dreamed-up comics history with the cultural and political milieu of Liew's Singaporean context, but significant to all of us as participants in a global comics culture.
Also, TwoPlai highlights New Comic Book Day and stuff around the internet picks, starting around 42 minutes.
Let's dig deep!
@TwoPlai continues a week (ok, actually a few days) of focusing on Sonny Liew, today taking the Tuesday Trade a little out of the routine to discuss 2014's 'The Shadow Hero' written by Gene Luen Yang and drawn and colored by Liew. @TwoPlai flies his Chinese-American flag high in this once-again overlong episode. Thanks for listening, and let's dig deep.
A little out of the norm, @TwoPlai uses the Monday Marvel to go back to 2010's 'Sense and Sensibility,' the Austen novel adapted by Nancy Butler and this week's focus creator Sonny Liew. @TwoPlai describes the challenges of adapted Austen to comics, and how Liew's art style is specially suited for that tough task.
Warning: if you're looking for analysis of story and formal qualities of the wonderful Doctor Fate series written by Paul Levitz and drawn by Sonny Liew, which is worthwhile for that kind of study, you're going to be disappointed. Instead, @TwoPlai burns up his 30 minutes (haha... more like 50) on a high horse about the appeal of alternatives to DC's house style, his own tastes and Pierre Bourdieu's 'Distinction,' and Tom King and David Finch's 'Batman,' failing to give Doctor Fate itself its due... again. But @TwoPlai will work throughout the whole week to pay tribute to Sonny Liew's art style, which he calls "cosmopolitan," and hopes to one day elaborate on why the Doctor Fate story is such a great marker of the future directions of DC superhero comics. Or maybe he'll never touch on that, and instead, you can chime in with your your opinions to TwoPlai on twitter or email. Either way, thanks for listening, and let's dig deep!
For today's Smaller Press Saturday, @TwoPlai discusses Rachael Smith's 'Artificial Flowers' published earlier this year by Avery Hill. 'Artificial Flowers' tells an earnest and appealing story of Siobhan, a young artist trying to get noticed in the London art scene, whose pyromaniac brother suddenly becomes both her responsibility and her ticket to respectability. @TwoPlai talks about artistic expression as an individual's culmination of others' voices and presences in their life. Let's dig deep!
Our Family-Friendly Comics Friday is a discussion of Raina Telgemeier's adaptations of four books of 'The Baby-Sitters Club' originally written by Ann M. Martin, published and recently reprinted in color by Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic. @TwoPlai talks about reading the books with her daughter and the impact they had on her literacy and social development, and how comics teach subtly different things than a lot of narration in prose.
@TwoPlai revisits his ten year old self and its fandom of Todd McFarlane and the epithet-less Spider-Man by McFarlane Omnibus that Marvel just released. He tries to articulate what was so attractive about McFarlane's artistic style during this run, and speculates wildly about what is unique to McFarlane and those times. Once more, the audio podcast medium fails to adequately serve the visuals of the comics medium, but TwoPlai sure takes his time trying to swim uphill against that, ruminating on the McFarlane detailed webbing, contorted figure, and big Spidey eyes.
@TwoPlai is still playing catch up, so rather than a real analysis, today is his rundown of this Wednesday's New Comic Book Day picks, and the books he's anticipating discussing in the coming days. Have some feedback about that? Reach out at Twoplai on twitter, gmail, or carrier pigeon.
Mostly, @TwoPlai tries to articulate why he's back and continuing the Paul List, a daily comics analysis podcast, but also touches on Ms. Marvel's fanfic issue in All New All Different Avengers Annual #1, with contributions from various but especially a framing story by G. Willow Wilson and Mahmud Asrar and company, as well as a contribution from Mark Waid and Chip Zdarsky. Along the way, TwoPlai shouts out really lovely people who encouraged him during the break to continue the podcast, contemplates the whole idea of comics podcasting and the participatory cultural production surrounding comics, and revels in what it means to have voices like Ms. Marvel-- while stumping for a different priority than mere "representation" in some of its forms. This one goes long, but @TwoPlai's just glad to be back and thankful you're listening.
On the last podcast before hiatus, on this Family Graphic Novel Friday, @TwoPlai takes on March Book 3 by Rep John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell, from Top Shelf/IDW. This one's long because it means so much to TwoPlai personally, and because there's so much worth talking about. Warning, there's a small swear in this non-explicit podcast as @TwoPlai quotes a member of the movement from a history text, but hopefully that doesn't keep you from hearing his thoughts on why March is so significant for comics specifically and for society in general. Let's dig deep!
Our Thursday Throwback is the early years of Peanuts, here represented by the IDW Schulz Peanuts Artist's Edition. But the discussion from @TwoPlai ranges from the Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, California, to the Fantagraphics Complete Peanuts collection, and from David Michaelis's 2007 biography to the response from Monte Schulz and others in the Comics Journal shortly thereafter. Mostly, @TwoPlai talks too long about one of his favorite subjects. That blockhead.
On this Wide World of Comics Wednesday, @TwoPlai can't resist talking about an American book, from cultural ambassador and DNC speaker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (I think he was also a basketball player...) writing 'Mycroft' 1 from Titan Comics along with Obstfeld and Cassara. @TwoPlai ponders the prospect of childhood hero Kareem sky-hooking a Victorian steam-punky genius adventurer comic. Also, the Paul List Pull List discusses new comics out today (Wednesday) in shops that @TwoPlai will be picking up, noting that the wide spectrum of comics is a glorious thing to witness.
For our Tuesday Trade, @TwoPlai rectified his trade-waiting for 'Shutter' by Joe Keatinge, Leila Del Duca, Owen Gieni, and John Workman, and picked up issues 18-22 for this upcoming collection. If you haven't been reading Shutter, enjoy the first 25 minutes of @TwoPlai talking you into this book, despite his frustrations with it at one point. And if you've read through vol 4: All Roads, stick around for his thoughts on the arc as a whole. Let's dig deep!
On our Monday Marvel (TWO days early!), @TwoPlai talks up 'Totally Awesome Hulk 9' by Greg Pak and Mike Del Mundo from Marvel. @TwoPlai reflects on being Asian American, the complexities of challenging stereotype, and hulking out defiantly against racial essentializing... maybe? Long, rant-y, and from the heart about Totally Awesome Hulk.
On our Sunday Small(er) Press analysis (a day early again), @TwoPlai offers thoughts on 'The Opportunity' by Will Volley published by Myriad Editions. Available from myriadeditions.com or the Sequential app on iPad, 'The Opportunity' is a haunting graphic novel about the relentless striving of a contemporary 'Death of a Salesman' figure.
On this Saturday Superfriend ep (released a day early), @TwoPlai talks about Batgirl 1, written by Hope Larson and drawn by Rafael Albuquerque with colors by Dave McCaig. @TwoPlai sees Barbara Gordon hitting the road for an Asian backpacking journey as a welcome relief for a character who deserves lighter baggage and a fleet-footed journey of self discovery.
Friday's Family Graphic Novel is Norm Feuti's 'The King of Kazoo' from Graphix. @TwoPlai describes the reading experience of Feuti's approaching and appealing story of a haplessly narcissistic King and his courageous and creative daughter Bing.
Today's Thursday Throwback is 'Jack Davis: MAD Original Idiots' collection from MAD Comics. @TwoPlai tries to pay homage to the brilliant cartoonist Jack Davis, who passed away Wednesday, and rolls in a discussion of Carol Tilley's 'Seducing the Innocent' about Wertham and facts.
On this Wide World of Comics Wednesday, @TwoPlai looks at 'Little Robot' by Ben Hatke from First Second, as well as reviewing the winners of the Eisner Awards (and seeing where my picks from last week were right or wrong), and finally, runs through his New Comic Book Day pull list.
Our Tuesday Trade Paperback this week is 'Wild's End vol 2: The Enemy Within' by Dan Abnett and INJ Culbard from Boom Studios. @TwoPlai discusses the dialogue and dialect and its correspondence with the remix of tropes that make the story new and fresh.
In the Marvel that's making up for Monday's missed mepisode, @TwoPlai talks about the art of Chris Samnee in Black Widow 5 (co-written by Waid and colored by Wilson), applying the artistic analysis and advice of Jesse Hamm at patreon.com/jessehamm and the principle of "Burn and Bury." Tomorrow TwoPlai plans to play catch up to present the Tuesday Trade and the Wednesday Wide World of Comics books, but for now, enjoy another over-long analysis from 'The Paul List.'
Even though it's Monday, to make up for the missing Saturday Superfriend and Sunday Scholar, @TwoPlai discusses 'Wonder Woman' Rebirth, 1, and 2, by Greg Rucka, Nicola Scott, Liam Sharp, Matthew Clark, and others. But first, he spends time on Jill Lepore's 'The Secret History of Wonder Woman' from Vintage. Tons of speculation, unfinished thoughts, unmade connections, and a general invitation to give some feedback and offer your take. Tweet @twoplai, email at gmail, rate and review on podcast platform, and we'll come back to this topic in months to come. Keep reading!
Thursday Throwback: Jeff Lemire's 'Collected Essex County' (Top Shelf/IDW). Comics poetry.
In this Extrasode, @TwoPlai fakes like he's going to talk about Essex County (fear not, that's coming up in a separate ep), but instead goes over-long with his Eisner picks. The Eisners, comics' Oscars, will be announced on Friday at SDCC, so @TwoPlai makes a prognosticatin' fool of himself, guessing blindly at what the voters will have selected and pontificating ignorantly about what he would pick.
In an unusual Wednesday Wide World of Comics, @TwoPlai continues a spotlight on Jeff Lemire by discussing a pair of interviews on Paste Magazine between Lemire and his friend and collaborator Matt Kindt. (see https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/02/jeff-lemire-interviews-matt-kindt-on-his-upcoming.html )... But only after discussing the books on his Pull List for this New Comic Book Day. Hope you enjoy, and if you do, drop a line to TwoPlai, rate and review on your podcasting platform, and keep reading!
Our Jeff Lemire week continues as we read Plutona, out from Image Comics this week in Trade Paperback and Hardcover, written by Lemire and drawn by Emi Lenox with colors by Jordie Bellaire. @TwoPlai talks about adolescence, longing, and superheroes in the unique sensibility of Jeff Lemire, indie-and-mainstream comic writer extraordinaire. Keep on reading!
Monday's Marvel is 'Old Man Logan 8' by Jeff Lemire, Andrea Sorrentino, and Marcelo Maiolo from Marvel. @TwoPlai discusses the Old Man Logan character's history and present (and future?), and a single-issue story that touches on trauma and relationships. @TwoPlai is recording late at night, so apologies that he sounds so sleepy and slow. But this is just the start of a week focused on works of Jeff Lemire. Let's dig deep!
This Sunday's Scholarship is 'Contemporary Comics Storytelling' by Karin Kukkonen, from University of Nebraska Press. Listen to @TwoPlai stumble around trying to explain the relevance of (a very relevant!) academic discipline to comics-- a cognitive analysis approach. The Paul List will take a brief hiatus but be back soon.
The Saturday Superfriend is 'New Super-Man' 1 by Gene Luen Yang and Viktor Bogdanovich, inked by Friend, colors by Hi-Fi, letters by Sharpe, from DC Comics. @TwoPlai tries to break down how an origin story, first issue, new setting, micro- version of the macro-trajectory (maybe) is accomplished by an accomplished writer like Yang.
Today's Friday Find is 'The Nameless City' by Faith Erin Hicks (First Second), with colors by Jordie Bellaire. @TwoPlai gushes about the leaps in visual storytelling, from Hicks' previous Eisner-nominated work to this epic and timeliness book. References images at twoplai.tumblr.com
Thursday's Throwback is 'Bone: The Great Cow Race Artist's Edition' by Jeff Smith, published by IDW. @TwoPlai's daily comics analysis podcast considers why in the world it might be worth it to get a not-cheap volume like an Artist Edition, with a little help of a couple passages from TwoMorrows' Modern Masters Jeff Smith by Eric Nolen-Weathington.
Wednesday's Wide World of Comics features a look at Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy Omnibus, with less detail about Astro Boy and more about @TwoPlai's experiences with manga resulting from a transnational upbringing. @TwoPlai also gets long-winded (but purposeful!) about his pull list on this New Comic Book Day.
Tuesday's Trade is 'Monstress v1' out Wednesday from Image by Marjorie Liu, Sana Takeda, and Rus Wooton. @TwoPlai offers some thoughts on the six issue run collected in this trade, including why he loves a book with elements that are "not usually [his] thing." But Monstress is praiseworthy and learning to listen attentively to works that TwoPlai doesn't grab at first blush is part of the beauty of reading.
This Monday's Marvel is 'Invincible Iron Man' 11 by Bendis, Deodato, and Martin, out this week from Marvel. @TwoPlai's Daily Comics Analysis Podcast also discusses a big of a scholarly book by Ramzi Fawaz, 'The New Mutants,' as well as some of the controversy surrounding Riri Williams, the new Iron Man.
What is 'the Paul List?' Who is this TwoPlai character? What am I listening to? Why in the world should I listen to it? A re-introduction episode for folks wondering what this daily comics analysis podcast is all about and who it's coming from. I don't do a great sales job, but if you listen this far, and you're still interested, hats off to you. And I'd love to hear from you... an iTunes review, a tweet or message, a Soundcloud like. Thanks, and keep reading.
Saturday's Superfriend is Superman 2, written by Pete Tomasi. But @TwoPlai spends most of the time fumbling to find words to verbally describe the visually luscious art of Patrick Gleason with inker Mick Gray. The Paul List is a daily comics podcast of analysis, and today we try detailed comics art analysis. We might have failed miserably. Either way, thanks for listening, and keep reading.
In a revised Friday Find, @TwoPlai's words utterly fail to describe an indescribably powerful graphic novel, read in an indescribably difficult context. To talk about 'Nat Turner' by Kyle Baker, self-published but later collected and printed by Abrams (2008), I try to pass the proverbial microphone to others and listen, something we all must do in these harrowing times, even as we mourn loss of life and communities hurt, even as we affirm Black Lives Matter.
Thursday's Throwback is 'Green Arrow: A Celebration of 75 Years' from DC, from a variety of illustrious creators in Green Arrow's long legacy. @TwoPlai discusses that legacy as represented by this volume.
In this extrasode, @TwoPlai tries to make amends for an oversight in his New Comic Book Day Pull List... he failed to mention that one of his favorite Image comics, The Fuse 19, hit stands today. This addendum episode gives him a chance to explain why artist Justin Greenwood is one of his favorite current artists, using a comparison to one of his all-time favorites, Chester Gould, creator of Dick Tracy.
Wednesdays are for the Wide World of Comics. Besides @TwoPlai's lengthy list of new comics he's going to (eventually) read coming out this week, we get into Jessica Abel's 'Out on the Wire: The Storytelling Secrets of the New Masters of Radio' from Broadway Books, and ruminate on the similarities between podcasts and comics as storytelling platforms. Keep reading...and listening...and reading!
Today's Tuesday Trade is Saga volume 6, written by Brian K Vaughan and art by Fiona Staples. Heard of it? Thoughts about family in comics and media from @Twoplai, whose Paul List is a daily comics analysis podcast. Keep reading!
Monday's Marvel is Ms. Marvel 8, and @TwoPlai's daily comics analysis delves into Civil War II's wrangling with questions of profiling, civil liberties, and the vantage point of the exile. Many props to writer G. Willow Wilson and artists Miyazawa, Alphona, and Herring (and company) for continuing to press the questions with Kamala.
Today's Sunday Scholarship is 'Bending Steel: Modernity and the American Superhero' by Aldo Regalado, published in 2015 by University Press of Mississippi. The Paul List is podcast of daily comics analysis, and on Sundays we discuss works from the wide ranging fields of Comics Studies-- which @TwoPlai briefly discusses in this episode.
The Paul List Daily Comics Analysis considers its Saturday Superfriend, 'DC Bombshells' written by Marguerite Bennett with various artists, including Marguerite Sauvage and cover artist Ant Luca. @TwoPlai thinks about digital comics, feminism and superheroes, and how much others educate him.
Friday's Find is 'Bird in a Cage' by Rebecca Roher from Conundrum Press. The Paul List is a daily comics podcast where @Twoplai offers analysis and commentary on a comic, today from the noisy driver's seat of a car (don't worry-- he's hands free!)
Thursday's Throwback is the Walt and Skeezix collection by Frank King, edited by Jeet Heer, Chris Oliveros, and Chris Ware, from Drawn + Quarterly, as well as the Sunday Press Books 'Sundays with Walt and Skeezix.' The Paul List is a daily podcast of comics analysis and discussion by @TwoPlai.
In today's extra-long, extra-low-energy, but extra-informative episode of the Paul List, we preface the Wednesday Wider World of Comics pick with a long explanation of what a Pull List is (where we get our name), by what means @TwoPlai acquires his comics, and what titles are on his pull list this Wednesday, which will become a weekly routine. Then, the Wednesday Wider World takes a look at direct-to-smartphones app Stela, and a new title by Ethan Young entitled Pilgrim Finch.
This week's Tuesday Trade is Semiautomagic by Alex De Campi and Jerry Ordway and published by Dark Horse Comics. The Paul List is a daily comics analysis podcast from @TwoPlai. Keep reading!
Today's Paul List daily analysis of comics covers our Monday Marvel comic: Power Man and Iron Fist issue 5, written by David Walker and drawn by Flaviano, with colors by Rauch and lettering by Cowles.
Today's Saturday Superfriend is The Flash #1 from DC Comics, written by J. Williamson and art by C. Di Giandomenico. The Paul List is a daily podcast analyzing comics.
Today's Friday Find is The Fiction by Boom Studios, written by Curt Pires and art by David Rubin. Also talk about metafiction and comics journalism.
Today, the daily Paul List's Thursday Throwback is Amazing Spider-Man 121-122, "The Death of Gwen Stacy."
Today in our very first Wednesday Wider World of Comics, @TwoPlai talks about Belgian publisher Dupui's Europe Comics digital release of Mathieu Bonhomme's 'Esteban the Whaler.' An adventurous romp on a whaling ship off Cape Horn at the turn of the 20th century, starring a young Indian hero. But is it another imperialist fantasy?
I discuss comics daily as a lens to consider culture, society, literacy, and spirituality.