The Comics Alternative

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Episode 126 - Reviews of The Sculptor, Divinity #1, and Descender #1 Mar 11, 2015

Show notes

The Two Guys with PhDs are back with another review episode, and on this one they explore three fascinating titles. They begin by discussing the much-anticipated recent release from Scott McCloud, The Sculptor (First Second). In fact, Derek and Andy begin their conversation with the very fact that this was a much-anticipated, and heavily reviewed, new book, and how all of that attention may be affecting the book's reception. They speculate on the ways in which the artist's prestige and reputation feeds into the expectations. Although McCloud has created memorable narratives -- e.g., the Zot! series and The New Adventures of Abraham Lincoln -- this is an author most famously known for Understanding Comics and the expository/instructional books that followed, Reinventing Comics and Making Comics. The guys question if the author can ever get beyond his reputation as primarily a theoretician of the medium, and if he can ever gain renewed recognition as a creator of innovative narrative forms. And both Derek and Andy feel mixed over the prognosis. Yet despite all of the extra-textual commentary, the Two Guys spend most of their conversation in a close reading of the text. Much of their talk centers on the book's protagonist, David Smith, and the author's possible attitude toward his creation. Does McCloud want us to see Smith as a heroic (possibly romantic?) figure, or are we expected to read the sculptor more critically and as a flawed artist? This is a question that remains unanswered, and perhaps it speaks to McCloud's talents that the Two Guys cannot put a finger on an exact character assessment. They also discuss The Sculptor as not only as a creative treatise on art and its place in our culture, but also, and perhaps more specifically, as a commentary on the comics industry today. Theirs is not a gushing, unequivocal endorsement of the new graphic novel -- there are already plenty of those out there -- but Andy and Derek do see this as a serious new work and give it the full Comics Alternative treatment...spending a little over an hour discussing the text! Next, the guys look at two new number one issues from some of their favorite creators. Matt Kindt and Trevor Hairsine's Divinity #1 (Valiant) is a beautifully rendered science fiction narrative that apparently rests just on the periphery of the Valiant University. This is the first of a four-part series, and Hairsine's cinematic style is the perfect platform for Kindt's complex storytelling. Both Derek and Andy love Matt Kindt as a writer/artist, but this time around they get their fix through his scripting only. They experience the same with Descender #1 (Image), written by Jeff Lemire and with art by Dustin Nguyen. Most times they discuss Lemire's work -- and the Two Guys have done this often -- they do so by looking at him as a sole creator, but his new series with Nguyen demonstrates without a doubt Lemire's developed writing chops. The first issue accomplishes what it sets out to do, establishing a premise and tone that will both frame and propel the first story arc. This is definitely not a title that encourages trade waiting. Indeed, with both Descender and Divinity, you'll want to get every issue as soon as they come out.

Special - A Will Eisner Week Panel Discussion, "The Relevance of Graphic Novels in Culture and Modern Education" Mar 09, 2015

Show notes

On this special episode of The Comics Alternative, the Two Guys with PhDs wrap up Will Eisner Week by featuring a recording of an event that took place on Saturday, March 7, at Collected Comics and Games's Keller location. The title of the panel was "The Relevance of Graphic Novels in Culture and Modern Education," and speaking on it were Derek, Matthew Kolman of the Forth Worth Public Library, and Christopher Kilgore of the University of Texas at Arlington. All three shared their experiences using comics for educational purposes and discussed the many facets of their presentational potential. Along the way, they covered such issues as strategies for visual learning, labeling and categorization -- e.g., how useful of a term is "graphic novel," anyway? -- comics and literacy, the presence of a de facto graphic novel canon, reader maturity and visual explicitness, the place of seriality and cartoon one-shots, and the various forms in which comics are published. The audience members asked a variety of challenging questions, and some even shared their own experiences as both readers and teachers of comics in the classroom. All in all, it was an engaging conversation, and one that truly participated in the spirit of Will Eisner Week.

Webcomics - Reviews of Star Punch Girl, The Last Mechanical Monster, and Dreamless Mar 06, 2015

Show notes

The Two Guys with PhDs continue their valiant attempt to bring you monthly shows devoted to quality, substantive discussion of webcomics. In this March episode, Derek and Andy W. focus on three distinctive titles, two currently ongoing and one completed webcomic. They begin by looking at S.D. Lockhart and Patibut Narm Preeyawongsakul's Star Punch Girl (and Derek deeply apologizes for butchering Preeyawongsakul's name). This is a different kind of webcomic that has a heavy manga and video gaming influence. This title began in April 2013, and so far the creators have completed the first two chapters. The first establishes the narrative with a creation myth, the titular character forming our world and then protecting it from nefarious forces. In the second chapter Star Punch Girl is invited to Earth and is honored by its worshipful inhabitants. Preeyawongsakul's colors are vibrant and the standout feature of this webcomic. The guys also discuss this series' apparent fan base, believing that it comprises mainly a younger demographic, and then contrast that with readers of the next webcomic they discuss, Brian Fies's The Last Mechanical Man. Readers aware of comics history will especially appreciate this webcomic in that Fies bases it off of an episode of the Fleischer Studio's 1941 episode of their Superman serial, "The Mechanical Monsters." What makes this series so captivating is the elaborate drama that Fies spins from a relatively simple superhero premise, making his story primarily character driven and psychologically thick. Andy and Derek speculate that, as he did with his Eisner Award-winning webcomic, Mom's Cancer, Fies is using the webcomic format to develop and experiment with his story before finalizing it in hardcopy form. This series began in November 2013 and may soon be wrapping up. And while not taking anything way from the other titles, of the three webcomics discussed this week, The Last Mechanical Monster is by far the one that the guys appreciated the most. Finally, Derek and Andy conclude the episode -- as they usually do -- by looking at an already completed webcomic, Bobby Crosby and Sarah Ellerton's Dreamless. This series originally ran from January 2009 to July 2010, and the creators later published a special edition hardcopy of the completed story. This is more of a novella than a novel-like narrative, with Crosby writing in a tightly condensed manner. The guys focus on Ellerton's watercolor-like illustrations, giving the story a soft and emotive tone that underscores the content. In fact, the best way to describe Dreamless is as a melodramatic romance, with an emphasis on the "melodrama." It may not be to everyone's tastes, but as the Two Guys with PhDs point out, if you appreciate a good love story, then this title may be for you.

Episode 125 - The March Previews Catalog Mar 04, 2015

Show notes

It’s the beginning of the month, and that means that the Two Guys with PhDs Talking about Comics take a metaphorical stroll through the latest Previews catalog. And this month, their peregrinations are more than casual; this is more like a power walk. The March Previews contains a hefty series of solicitations that make for an extra-long episode, almost leaving the guys feeling like they’ve completed a marathon. Among the many upcoming titles that Derek and Andy highlight are Fight Club 2 #1, Harrow County #1, and High Crimes (from Dark Horse Comics); You Don’t Say, Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland, and Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency #1 (IDW Publications); the usual slew of #1 issues from Image Comics such as Injection, Mythic, Material, Valhalla Mad, and Minimum Wage: So Many Bad Decisions; Russian Olive to Red King (AdHouse Books); a variety of books from and distributed through Alternative Comics, such as Irene Vol. 4, It Will All Hurt #1, Island of Memory Vol. 1, The Secret Voice #2, and Smilin’ Ed Comics; the first issue in Alan Moore’s new Lovecraftian series, Providence (Avatar Press); the new Captain Canuck #1 (Chapter House Publishing); Don’t Get Eaten by Anything and The Disappearance of Charley Butters (Conundrum Press); Drawn and Quarterly: Twenty-five Years of Contemporary Cartooning, Comics, and Graphic Novels and Optic Nerve #14 (Drawn and Quarterly); the usual impressive offerings from Fantagraphics, including Maria M. Book 2, Adventures of Tad Martin #Sick Sick Sick, and The Life and Legend of Wallace Wood; Exquisite Corpse (First Second); Annihilator, Vol. 1 (Legendary Comics); Louise Brooks, Detective (NBM); Aama Vol. 3: The Desert of Mirrors and The King in Yellow (SelfMadeHero); Surface Tension #1 and The 6 Voyages of Lone Sloane #1 (Titan Comics); and Monster Mash: The Creepy, Kooky Monster Craze in America: 1957-1972 (Tomorrows Publishing). In addition to focusing on all of these upcoming releases, Andy and Derek also discuss Dark Horse’s recent decision to make several of their ongoing series digital-only, IDW’s acquisition of Top Shelf Productions as a new imprint, Alternative Comic’s new distribution agreement with several small presses, the joys of Adrian Tomine, and the fact that this is “Women in Comics” month in the March Previews catalog. In all, lots o’ things are covered…the kind of substantive, quality programming you’ve come to expect from the Two Guys with PhDs.

Special - A Roundtable Discussion on Will Eisner Week with Denis Kitchen and Michael Schumacher Mar 02, 2015

Show notes

On this special episode of The Comics Alternative, Andy and Derek kick off Will Eisner Week by having as their guests on the show Denis Kitchen and Michael Schumacher. Denis is an underground comix legend as well the force behind Kitchen Sink Press, and he was a close friend, business associate, and former publisher of Eisner. Michael is an author whose biography, Will Eisner: A Dreamer's Life in Comics, was released by Bloomsbury in 2010. The Two Guys talk with them about the comics of Will Eisner, the artist's impact and innovations, and the person behind the legend. They discuss with Denis his recollections of his relationship with Eisner, explore the impact of the underground comix movement on the artist's career, and hear anecdotes about Eisner's aesthetic philosophy and business practices. Derek and Andy also talk with Michael about his experiences researching Eisner, his papers, and former associates, and they learn about his efforts in chronicling Eisner's life. The result is an engaging conversation that not only celebrates the artist, but also honors the man who was Will Eisner.

Episode 124 - Reviews of 10 Different Number One Issues Feb 25, 2015

Show notes

On this week’s podcast, the Two Guys with PhDs take on a gargantuan task: they review ten different #1 issues from a variety of publishers. First they look at several debuts from Image Comics, including Bryan Hill, Matt Hawkins, and Isaac Goodhart’s Postal; Jimmie Robinson’s The Empty; Brian Joines, Jay Faerber, and Ilias Kyriazis’s Secret Identities; and Ben Acker, Ben Blacker, and J. Bone’s Sparks Nevada: Marshall on Mars. After those they discuss three new titles from Dark Horse Comics, such as Richard Corben’s Rat God, Rafael Albuquerque and Mike Johnson’s Ei8ht, and Dean Motter’s Mister X: Razed. And then they wrap up with two #1 issues from BOOM! Studios/Archaia — Swifty Lang and Skuds McKinley’s Plunder, and Ed Brisson and Damian Couceiro’s Cluster — and finally Ryan Ferrier and Valentin Ramon’s D4ve from IDW Publishing. Almost all of these new titles are worth checking out, with enthusiastic recommendations going to Cluster, Secret Identities, and especially the clever and comedic D4ve (perhaps the best of the bunch). And while Derek and Andy W. try to focus on the positive, they aren’t overly enamored of Sparks Nevada, a miniseries based off of a Thrilling Adventure Hour performance. In fact, some of the comedy in this first issue seems to rely — and, at times, confusingly so — on sounds, a strategy that doesn’t translate as effectively in comics. But outside of this little bump, this episode presents a smooth and enjoyable trip down the road of recent comicsdom. There’s a lot to digest in the extra-long podcast, so just sit back, relax, listen up, and let the Two Guys do the driving.

On Location - Discussing Ethnoracial Issues in Comics at Collected Comics Feb 20, 2015

Show notes

Derek is back at Collected Comics and Games in Plano, TX, and this month he and the customers are discussing ethnoracial issues as they relate to comics. Since this is Black History Month, the guys thought that they'd take the opportunity to look at a few African American comics (however you choose to define that term) and how race and diversity has become part of the comics' historical tapestry. They mention a variety of specific titles -- Craig came prepared with his copies of The Harlem Hellfighters, March: Book One, and the collection Strange Fruit -- several key creators, such as Kyle Baker and Ho Che Anderson, and the attempts (at times pathetic) of mainstream publishers to diversify their titles' rosters. Derek and the guys also spend a good deal of time talking about broader ethnic issues in comics, including stereotyping, the responsibilities of representation, and author subject position. The result is an all-too-brief, tip-of-the-iceberg effort to address one of the medium's most complicated (and complicating) features, but it's a conversation well worth having.

Episode 123 - Reviews of March: Book Two, Copra: Round One, and Nameless #1 Feb 18, 2015

Show notes

This week on the podcast, Derek and Andy discuss three new titles. They begin by looking at the second book in John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell's March trilogy. Although the first volume from fall 2013 was a powerful debut, March: Book Two (Top Shelf Productions) is a decidedly more gripping work. There is more action and drama in this book -- and not only conflict between the protesters and the Southern white community, but perhaps more pointedly, conflict within the nonviolent movement's ranks -- than there was in the initial one. What's more, this is a much more emotionally charged work, in that readers are taken to the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement and Lewis's encounters with senseless beatings, attack dogs, firehoses, and bombings. The guys note that for younger readers, or those unfamiliar with mid-century American history, this book may be a bit of a shock -- or a wake-up call -- in that it paints a very different, starker picture of race relations in this country than experienced today...even given the realities of Ferguson, Missouri, and the shooting of Trayvon Martin. At the same time, March is a complement to these contemporary tragedies and a much-needed reminder that racial equality in this country is a yet unfinished project. Next, Andy and Derek turn to Michel Fiffe's Copra: Round One (Bergen Street Press). They begin by discussing the subtle popularity of the self-published Copra series, a title that has gained attention primarily though word of mouth. Andy had been telling Derek about this series for several months, and now the guys finally get to talk about its impact. Andy is particularly interested in Fiffe's take on John Ostrander's Suicide Squad. And while Derek voices his uncertainly of the collection's initial pacing, he acknowledges the artist's unique style that requires more reader engagement with completing the narrative. Finally, the Two Guys with PhDs look at the new title from Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham, Nameless #1 (Image Comics). As they point out, any new Grant Morrison title is a cause for notice -- and most times, for celebration. There are times when his books don't resonate as well as the guys would like, but there are others when his unique brand of storytelling recalls the groundbreaking Doom Patrol and The Invisibles. This first issue of Nameless appears to hold a lot of promise, but the guys are keen to see how Morrison's narrative plays out. While they think it will resonate more than his last series with Image, Happy!, Derek and Andy wonder how it might compare to what Morrison has currently been doing in the DC University with Multiversity or his creator-owned miniseries over at Legendary, Annihilator. Regardless, both guys on on for the ride, and as with any Morrison tale, who knows where that ride may lead?

Interviews - Arlen Schumer Feb 13, 2015

Show notes

On this interview episode, Andy and Derek are pleased to have as their guest Arlen Schumer. His book, The Silver Age of Comic Book Art, has recently been released in a beautiful, new revised edition from Archway Publishing. It originally came out in 2003 as a softcover, with a hardbound companion that included an extra section, but in this revised edition Schumer includes all the material from the longer hardbound release, but with brighter images and cleaner type. The result is a unique visual experience, a text on comics art history in the form of a coffee table book. As the guys point out in their discussion, this is the kind of book that every comics aficionado will want to get, and the perfect gift for anyone unfamiliar with the medium but interested in the many forms of American art. The Two Guys kick off the conversation by asking Arlen how he defines the Silver Age, and he argues that while everyone can agree that it began in 1956 with the publication of Showcase #4, the era ended in 1970, a watershed year that inaugurated the way we read comics today. Then they get into the particulars of the book, Arlen's chapter-by-chapter visual study of legends Carmine Infantino, Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby, Gil Kane, Joe Kubert, Gene Colan, Jim Steranko, and Neal Adams. They spend quite a bit of time discussing the work of Infantino, Colan, and Adams (one of Arlen's favorites), but the artist they spend the most time exploring is Gil Kane. In fact, on the topic of Kane's art -- specifically, the way he rendered punches -- Andy is able to flex his superhero acumen in ways he normally doesn't on the podcast. The guys also talk with Arlen about the creators he didn't have the room to explore in the book, many of whom receive some attention in the final "More Masters" chapter of the book: Murphy Anderson, Wally Wood, John Buscema, Nick Cardy, and Curt Swan. In many ways, this is a departure for The Comics Alternative, a podcast devoted to non-mainstream, non-superhero comics, but given the significance of this book as both a work of art and a necessary critical/historical text, the guys just had to have Schumer on their show.

Episode 122 - Reviews of Corto Maltese: Under the Sign of Capricorn, Effigy #1, and The Unwritten: Apocalypse #12 Feb 11, 2015

Show notes

This week on the podcast, Derek and Andy discuss beginnings, endings, and renewals. They start with the latter, looking at the first in a projected twelve-volume Hugo Pratt collection from IDW/EuroComics, Corto Maltese: Under the Sign of Capricorn. This is a brand new English edition — translated by Dean Mullaney and Simone Castaldi — and presented in the original black-and-white. (The previous translated version of a Corto Maltese edition, 2012’s The Ballad of the Salt Sea, from Universe Publishing, was colorized.) It’s also published in a European album-sized format, roughly 11 1/2 x 9 1/2″, so that the reader can experience the clean, full radiance of Pratt’s art. Although they’ve read a little of Pratt’s work in the past, this is the guys’ first real introduction to Corto Maltese, at least in terms of full storylines. They spend a lot of time focusing on the narratives in this new volume, noting that the first three chapters form a cohesive and ongoing story, with the final three chapters — especially the final “The Seagull’s Fault” — participating in the continuity, but nonetheless functioning as standalone pieces. Another topic the Two Guys discuss is Pratt’s style of drawing Corto Maltese’s legs…particularly the ways that legs are presented in fight scenes. Check it out to see what they’re referring to. Next, Derek and Derek look at two recent Vertigo titles, a first issue and a final issue. With Tim Seeley and Marley Zarcone’s Effigy, they focus on the three-part structure of the story and how the creators deftly present the premise, include reasonable exposition, and then strategically set up the central mystery that will drive the narrative forward. The guys then spend the rest of the episode discussing The Unwritten: Apocalypse #12, the final installment in Mike Carey and Peter Gross’s epic. Both Andy and Derek have been with The Unwritten from the very beginning, and for the most part they have kept up with the series religiously. (Well, Derek has let things slide a bit these past few months.) They discuss the impact of this final issue, what it means to the overall series, and how much it helps readers to wrap their brains around the high concept of the title. This leads the guys into a broader discussion of DC’s Vertigo imprint, it’s possible future, and the challenge of finding another long, ongoing series from the publisher similar to The Unwritten, Scalped, DMZ, and Fables (which will also end later this year). But don’t get all teary-eyed over the loss of Tom Taylor and the gang. Celebrate the conclusion of this engaging series, and bask in the yummy goodness of the fun comics talk! Also: this show marks the debut of The Comics Alternative‘s brand new theme song, written and performed specifically for the podcast by DJ Copely. Be sure to check him out on Twitter @Webpuppy45

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