The Comics Alternative

Latest Episodes:

On Location: The February Visit to Heroes Aren't Hard to Find Feb 23, 2018

Show notes

Derek is back at Heroes Aren't Hard to Find for the February on-location episode. As he usually does, he set up his mics on a Wednesday evening while customers were coming into the shop to pick up the weekly releases. And during this time a couple of Wednesday Warriors sat down with Derek to talk about what they were reading, what they were looking forward to in the coming months, and what about comics culture they currently find exciting. Both Zyg and Fadi shared the week's titles that they had come to pick up, but the conversation went well beyond that. Among the various topics they discussed were current happenings in the Marvel Universe, favorite artists, eagerly awaited upcoming releases, the new Black Panther movie, Riverdale and other non-superhero comics adaptations, and (believe it or not) Hughes and Whitney's Herbie. Yep, they talked about the Fat Fury.

Euro Comics: Reviews of Alone and Park Bench Feb 22, 2018

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:26 - Introduction
00:02:41 - Catching up
00:04:47 - Alone
00:44:03 - Park Bench
01:12:16 - Wrap up
01:13:10 - Contact us

For the February Euro Comics episode, Edward and Derek discuss two works from Christophe Chabouté, Alone and Park Bench, both published by Gallery 13, an imprint of Simon and Schuster. The first is a largely quiet meditation on solicitude, exile, and imagination. Because of physical deformities, the protagonist lives isolated in a lighthouse, with only a couple of fishermen to bring him supplies and serve as his link to the outside world. By contrast, Park Bench is a completely silent narrative that is all about community. The titular object functions as a simple focal point that brings together, inadvertently, a variety of diverse individuals, demonstrating an interconnectedness that is not readily apparent. While Derek appreciates Chabouté's uncomplicated style and thematic approach, Edward is more critical, preferring more visual difference and ambiguous messaging.

Episode 269: Reviews of The Lie and How We Told It, Abbott #1, and Punks Not Dead #1 Feb 21, 2018

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:31 - Introduction
00:02:53 - Black Panther info
00:06:51 - Our new Discord account
00:09:15 - More listener mail!
00:16:37 - The Lie and How We Told It
00:48:02 - Abbott #1
01:08:28 - Punks Not Dead #1
01:21:32 - Wrap up
01:22:37 - Contact us

This week Gene and Derek discuss three fascinating titles...and with a '70s twist! They begin with Tommi Parrish's The Lie and How We Told It (Fantagraphics). Both had encountered Parrish's work previously in the first two issues of the Now anthology, but this is the first long-form narrative from them that the guys have read. This is an intriguing work that begs for multiple readings and provides much discussion fodder. After that, Gene and Derek turn to two recent #1 issues. Saladin Ahmed and Sami Kivelä's Abbott (BOOM! Studios) is a crime noir story set in the early 1970s, and with a curious injection of horror. Punks Not Dead, the latest from IDW's Black Crown imprint, is a wild tale from David Barnett and Martin Simmonds, one that mixes punk sensibilities with what appears to be X-Files-like undercurrent.

Young Readers: Reviews of The Prince and the Dressmaker and Speak: The Graphic Novel Feb 20, 2018

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:28 - Introduction
00:03:56 - Setup of the discussion
00:05:44 - The Prince and the Dressmaker
00:30:55 - Speak: The Graphic Novel
01:00:39 - Wrap up
01:03:07 - Contact us

Art and Perceptions

Gwen and Paul are back with another Young Readers episode. For February, they discuss two recent publications, both that explore how perceptions, for better or for worse, figure into our lives. They begin with Jen Wang's The Prince and the Dressmaker (First Second), a fairy tale-like narrative focusing on romance, identity, and creativity. Next, they look at Speak: The Graphic Novel (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux), a comics adaptation of Laurie Halse Anderson's young adult novel Speak. Illustrated by Emily Carroll, it's a story of a young high school outcast who uses art to confront the hardships that have kept her on the margins.

Comics Alternative Kickstarter: Plaguers Int'l Feb 17, 2018

Show notes

On this weekend's Kickstarter episode, Derek talks with Max Huffman about his current campaign for Plaguers Int'l. As described on the Kickstarter page, Plaguers Int'l is

a loud, fast comic-shaped comic, with elements of all three genres: madcap romp, slapdash genre pastiche and relationship disaster. A panel or two might be unsafe for work.

And its plot?

Swirving Wildley is the newest member of the world's most beloved extranational paramilitary death squad. Movement Salon is the leader of a wasteland guerrilla junk cult. They have a long day.

This promises to be a fun project, one that's right in The Comics Alternative's wheelhouse, an alternative look at established genres with a healthy dose of humor and visual panache. While you're at it, check out more of Max Huffman's work.

This is definitely something work backing. Learn more about Max's Kickstarter!

Sample Art

Euro Comics: Reviews of Various IDW Translations from the Last Half of 2017 Feb 16, 2018

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:29 - Introduction
00:02:48 - Derek goes solo!
00:07:35 - Alack Sinner: The Age of Innocence
00:23:33 - Calamity Jane: The Calamitous Life of Martha Jane Cannary, 1852-1903
00:35:23 - Jerome K. Jerome Bloch, Vol. 1: The Shadow Killer
00:41:10 - Corto Maltese: Fable of Venice
00:46:25 - A Story of Men
00:56:48 - The Man from the Great North
01:02:43 - Wrap up
01:04:34 - Contact us

Welcome to the January episode of The Comics Alternative's monthly Euro Comics series. That's right, the January episode. As Derek explains during the opening of this show, he and Edward had planned on covering IDW Publishing works in translation that had been released in the last half of 2017, and doing so for their January episode. However, life got in the way again, and they had to delay the recording. Derek then sought out Dean Mullaney (editor of IDW's EuroComics series) and Justin Eisinger (senior editor at IDW) to assist him with this show, but neither were available. So Derek decided to do the episode solo, something that he's never done on the podcast before. And he hopes the results aren't unlistenable.

And here you have it, the "January" episode of the Euro Comics series...albeit released in February. In it, you'll hear Derek discuss six different titles from IDW released since July 2017, including Carlos Sampayo and Jose Munoz's Alack Sinner: The Age of Innocence; Christian Perrissin and Matthieu Blanchin's Calamity Jane: The Calamitous Life of Martha Jane Cannary, 1852-1903; Alain Dodier, Pierre Makyo, and Serge Le Tendre's Jerome K. Jerome Bloche Vol. 1: The Shadow Killer; Hugo Pratt's Corto Maltese: Fable of Venice; Zep's A Story of Men; and Pratt's The Man from the Great North.

Episode 268: Reviews of Recent Romance Comics Feb 14, 2018

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:30 - Introduction
00:003:11 - Listener mail!
00:07:41 - Twisted Romance #1 and #2
00:32:46 - Death of Love #1
00:50:03 - Bingo Love
00:00:00 - Weird Love, Vol. 6: So This Is Love!
00:00:00 - Young Monsters in Love
01:14:34 - Wrap up
01:15:39 - Contact us

It's Valentine's Day, and this week the Two Guys with PhDs are doing something they've never done before: devote an entire episode to recent romance comics. And this year, there are quite a number of new comics devoted to love and relationships...and with curious twists. And speaking of twists, they begin their show by discussing the first two issues of the new Image Comics series, Twisted Romance. This is a four-issue anthology published weekly throughout the month of February, and in issues #1 and #2 we see comics contributions from the creators Alex de Campo, Katie Shelly, Sarah Horrocks, Alejandra Gutierrez, and Meredith McClaren, with short prose offerings from Magen Cubed and Vita Ayala. From there they go to Death of Love #1 (Image Comics), written by Justin Jordan with art by Donal Delay. Much like Twisted Romance, this is a skewed look at love -- and this one includes assholes and drugs.

Following that, Gene and Derek discuss one more recent release from Image Comics, Tee Franklin and Jenn St-onge's Bingo Love. This is a unique LGBT narrative that focuses on the relationship of older citizens. While intended for teen readers, this is a graphic novel that can be appreciated by all ages. After that they visit, once again, the wacky world of Craig Yoe and his partner Clizia Gussoni. Weird Love, Vol. 6: So This Is Love! (IDW Publishing/Yoe Books) is the latest collection of their Weird Love series, classic romance stories from the 1950s and 1960s that not only appear warped to our contemporary eyes, but were probably strange to their original audiences. And finally, the guys wrap up their special Valentine's Day episode with an offering from DC Comics, Young Monsters in Love. Much like last October's DC House of Horror, this is an extra-long seasonal anthology issue written and drawn by a who's who of DC creators. Included are stories focusing on, among others, Swamp Thing, Man-Bat, Raven, Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E., Solomon Grundy, Deadman, the Creature Commandos, and (one of the guys' favorites) Monsieur Mallah and the Brain.

Love is definitely in the air this week!

Comics Alternative Interviews: Bill Kartalopoulos and Ben Katchor Feb 13, 2018

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:26 - Introduction
00:02:30 - Setup of interview
00:04:05 - Interview with Bill Kartalopoulos and Ben Katchor
01:36:02 - Wrap up
01:37:10 - Contact us

Derek talks with Bill Kartalopoulos and Ben Katchor about the 2017 volume of The Best American Comics (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). They are, respectively, the general editor of the series and last year's guest editor. Paul and Derek had wanted to interview the two back in December, but due to life complications, they weren't able to have them on the show. And although Paul wasn't able to join in on this interview, he was with everyone in spirit. So better late than never, Derek speaks with Ben and Bill about the process of their collaboration, the challenges that they faced in collecting potential material, Ben's choices in structuring and populating the 2017 volume, the ways in which current politics couldn't help but find their way into the text, and the questions both editors faced with the very concept of "best comics."

Webcomics: Reviews of The Flying Ship, Next Town Over, and Yu+Me: Dreams Feb 12, 2018

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:28 - Introduction
00:03:29 - Weather talk
00:05:40 - The Flying Ship
00:33:55 - Next Town Over
01:05:43 - Yu+Me: Dream
01:35:46 - Wrap up
01:37:12 - Contact us

For February, Sean and Derek discuss three very different webcomics, each published by a single young female creator. They begin with two currently ongoing titles, Jess Milton's The Flying Ship and Erin Mehlos's Next Town Over.The first is webcomic inspired by a Russian fairytale, and despite its relatively short run so far, Milton does a great job at establishing a detailed premise. Mehlos's Next Town Over is a curious mix of magic, steampunk, and the western genre (although not set in the American West). The Two Guys then wrap up with the already-completed webcomic, Yu+Me: Dream. This long-form narrative ran from 2004 to 2010, and there are several fascinating stylistic turns that the guys cannot discuss in detail for fear of soiling the webcomic for first-time readers.

Comics Alternative Kickstarter: Ada's Adventures in Science Feb 10, 2018

Show notes

This week Derek talks with Edward Gomez and Laura Sorvala about their Kickstarter campaign Ada's Adventures in Science. This project began as a three-comic-book series, starting with the idea, “There’s no such thing as a stupid question.” The ultimate goal of this Kickstarter is not only to excite children about science, but to empower them to pursue it. Edward and Laura's protagonist Ada is a believable, relatable character pursuing her interests in science. She functions as both as a role model and as a conduit for the reader.

What is so significant about this Kickstarter campaign is that not only will you be able to get the collected three-issue Ada's Adventures in Science series in one nice volume, but by backing this project you'll be providing students around the world with copies of the comic books and encouraging them to pursue their own passions in science.

So help promote this educational tool, and read a great adventure, by backing this Kickstarter!

Sample Art

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected