Deconstructing Comics

Sometimes the topics of Critiquing Comics episodes come back for seconds – or thirds! We look at a couple of these repeat submitters this week: Thready #2, “Tuesday,” by Brandon Hayes with art by James the Stanton, highlights the problem many bipolar people have with hypersexuality. Tim and Jason discuss Tales from the Interface, Emmanuel … Continue reading Critiquing Comics #230: “Thready” #2 and “Tales from the Interface” #4

In the year 2038, invisible drones are sent to the past to pick up any event you want to see, if you have the money to pay for it. One woman using the service discovers a secret that puts her in danger in the present. Our friend Jason McNamara, author of such graphic novels as … Continue reading #764 “Past Tense”, Tough Translation, and Audio Drama

This time Tim finds some intersections of comics and the world of graffiti. First, Argentine graffiti artist and animator Cof talks about his cartoonish art style, the difference between a graffiti artist and a muralist, graffiti scenes around the world, which country has the best spray paint cans, and more. 2012 interview with Cof (buenosairesstreetart.com) … Continue reading #763 Graffiti and Comics

Marvel’s “Phase Four” block of movies and TV shows has wrapped up, and it’s occasioned a lot of annoyance online for all sorts of reasons. Are the complaints legitimate? Is it ginned-up anger just to get noticed? Is there anything good to say about Phase Four? Tim and Emmet examine the good and bad of … Continue reading #762 MCU Phase 4: Why so much complaining?

George Wylesol’s 2120 is a choose-your-own-adventure horror graphic novel that blocks your progress and punishes the reader for cheating. Kumar and Emmet found it disturbing and fascinating. This week, they present their review. Wylesol interview from The Migratory Brought to you by: The Quarter-Bin podcast Our supporters on Patreon

What’s it like to be trans AND have Dissociative Identity Disorder? What’s it like to have a therapist who doesn’t have enough training to really help you? Emma Grove has experienced this and has produced an engaging memoir graphic novel, The Third Person, which exhibits an amazing memory for detail and a sharp understanding of … Continue reading #760 “The Third Person”

Christiania, a silent comic written by 13-year-old Abi Behe, is a take on the ills of social media by someone who has never lived in a world without online culture. But silent comics can be a storytelling challenge. How did artist Taka do on getting the story across? This time, Tim and Jason critique Christiania. … Continue reading Critiquing Comics #229: “Christiania”

Kirt Burdick is back with the second issue of his hyper-violent science fiction comic Galacto: Pit Fighter, “Requiem for a Humanzee.” It’s good and bloody, but is it bloody good? Tim and Adam critique. Brought to you by: The Law of Equivalent Exchange: A Fullmetal Alchemist manga podcast Our supporters on Patreon

After he left DC Comics, but before he returned to produce Even Gods Must Die and The Hunger Dogs, Jack Kirby produced a sort of substitute Fourth World story called Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers, which was eventually published by Pacific Comics in 1981 and 82. Two Morrows publishing in 2003 released what it … Continue reading #759 Kirby’s Fourth World(?): “Captain Victory, Graphite Edition”

“A biker revenge tale” isn’t a story pitch that appeals to everyone, but any kind of story can get a thumbs up if it’s well-done! This time Tim and Adam discuss the first four issues of Mayfield Eight, written and illustrated by Tim Larsen. Brought to you by: Worst Collection Ever podcast Our supporters on … Continue reading Critiquing Comics #227: “Mayfield Eight” #1-#4

A few weeks back, Tim and Jason discussed Sean Lewis’ Immortalis— issue 3. This time, we’re reading the first two issues, and grasping, in some ways, why he made issue 3 first. But if you need to start with issue 3 to hook readers, isn’t that indicative of a problem with the first two issues? … Continue reading Critiquing Comics #226: “Immortalis” #1 and #2

What happens when a group of people must work in the middle of nowhere, with virtually no supervision or accountability? Generally it’s not a good situation, as Kate Beaton, now well-known as the creator of the web comic Hark! A Vagrant, found in her younger years when she got a job on Alberta’s oil sands. … Continue reading #758 “Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands”

A supernatural western, Holy West, captivates Tim and Adam in this episode. The comic features smart writing by Seth Jacob and beautiful art by Daniel Irizarri. Now that we’ve given away whether we liked it, listen to the show and check out the comic! Buy Holy West #1 Lettering tips from Nate Piekos Brought to … Continue reading Critiquing Comics #225: “Holy West” #1

“TIM CATCHES UP WITH THE MCU” continues: Peter Quill (whose name we both blanked on while recording the show!) and the gang are back (yeah, BACK in 2017) and Tim (feeling encouraged by being a mere 2.5 years behind on MCU movies) and Mulele discuss the film. And Star Wars. Brought to you by: The … Continue reading “Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2” (2017)

Kumar and Matt E celebrate the life and work of Kevin O’Neill with a look back at his breakout work on Nemesis The Warlock in 2000 A.D. with writer Pat Mills. O’Neill’s art very style in itself is shocking and intense, and the storytelling seems to approach everything backwards, but somehow it all comes together … Continue reading #757 “Nemesis the Warlock”

Immortalis is the story of a 19th-century woman, transplanted to the 21st, who is expected to be the world’s savior in a war between gods. But how did she get to the 21st century? Who is this team who has revived her? And… why did the creators start with issue 3? Tim and Jason try … Continue reading Critiquing Comics #224: “Immortalis”

If you’re at all aware of Tokyo Rose, it’s most likely simply as a woman heard over a radio in a movie set in World War II. But who was she, how did she end up in that situation, and what was the result for the war effort and for her? Tokyo Rose- Zero Hour … Continue reading #756 “Tokyo Rose – Zero Hour”

Here 2 Cypher is an anthology of stories written by Brandon Hayes, whose story Thready Tim and Jason enjoyed back in January. Does this set of stories stack up against that book? The guys evaluate the collection in this episode. Here 2 Cypher‘s Kickstarter Brought to you by: The Batgirl to Oracle podcast Our supporters … Continue reading Critiquing Comics #223: “Here 2 Cypher”

“Tim Catches Up with the MCU” discusses Doctor Strange — an enjoyable yet problematic movie, based on a 1963 origin story (in Strange Tales #110) whose ideas about race and gender roles are, at best, dated. Tim and Mulele review. (Originally published on Patreon October 12, 2019.) Brought to you by: Superman Fan Podcast Our supporters … Continue reading “Doctor Strange” (2016)

FLASHBACK! While this podcast has covered the odd League of Extraordinary Gentlemen book here and there, no one has dared think of trying to discuss all of Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill‘s series in one episode… until now! Kumar and Dana take on the task, with special attention paid to Black Dossier (and the record … Continue reading #361 “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” marathon!