The Comics Alternative

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Interviews - Derek Van Gieson Jul 15, 2014

Show notes

On this episode of The Comics Alternative Interviews Andy and Derek are excited to have Derek Van Gieson as their guest…or “DVG” to distinguish him from Derek R. The Two Guys are big fans of DVG’s minicomic series, Eel Mansions, with its wild premises, its absurd scenes, its plentifully pop-culture references, and its intertwining soap opera-like storylines. DVG describes it as “The Young and the Restless meet The X-Files,” and his series embraces both the drama and the freakishness of those television series. DVG shares the history behind Eel Mansions; his experiences writing for Fantagraphics’ now-defunct Mome; his new magazine project, Gonna to Make You My Bisquits; and his relationship with Tom Kaczynski both as publisher and fellow artist. He also talks with the Two Guys with PhDs about his work as a musician and songwriter. In fact, all of the music you hear in this episode of The Comics Alternative Interviews is performed by DVG himself!

Episode 91.2 - Our July Visit to Collected Comics Jul 14, 2014

Show notes

We’re deep into July, so that means it’s time for the monthly visit to Collected Comics and Games in Plano, TX. And this is the second month in a row that the shop’s manager, Jennifer, has coupled The Comics Alternative‘s on-location show with their monthly Collected Talks (an opportunity for customers and staff to get together and share the kind of comics they are reading). The event is a success, with there being more participants than last month. Joining Derek on the podcast this time around are Jennifer and some of her shop employees, Sabrina and (occasionally) Freddy. Also a part of the conversation is stalwart podcast respondent Shea Hennum, and loyal shop customers Laura, Craig, Nick, and David. The conversation is broad and meandering, taking a number of unexpected turns. Everyone begins by discussing each other’s summer reading habits, and along the way a variety of other topics come to the fore, including violence in comics, this summer’s upcoming movie releases, Image comics, sexual explicitness and how much is too much, profanity, the World Cup, and Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staple’s unique way of “giving birth” to certain issues of Saga. There’s a lot of conversation and a lot of fun, so be sure to listen in on what the guys had to say this month at Collected!

Episode 91.1 - The Teaching Difficult Texts Panel at HeroesCon 2014 Jul 11, 2014

Show notes

On this special episode of The Comics Alternative, the Two Guys with PhDs bring you a recording of the “Teaching Difficult Texts” panel that was held at HeroesCon a couple of weeks ago. One of the Two Guys, Andy, was a participant on this panel. Joining him in the discussion were Mike Kobre from Queens University and Dana Hayward from HarperCollins. Shawn Daughhetee served as the panel moderator. It’s an engaging panel, focusing on teaching comics and methodological approaches to using controversial texts in the classroom. The panelists touch upon such topics as racial stereotypes, the visualization of violence, and sexual explicitness. This panel recording originally appeared on The Dollar Bin podcast. A very special thanks to Adam Daughhetee and the rest of the Dollar Bin crew for making this recording at the con, and for allowing The Comics Alternative share it with its listeners.

Interviews - Liz Plourde and Randy Michaels Jul 10, 2014

Show notes

On this episode of The Comics Alternative Interviews Andy and Derek are pleased to have on the show Liz Plourde and Randy Michaels, the creative team behind the new self-published series, How I Made the World. Liz and Randy are winners of a 2012 Xeric Award — the last year, in fact, that the Xeric Foundation gave out grants for self-publishing comic books – and they share their experiences applying for the grant, complete with last-minute postage anxieties, and how the award helped to propel their project both financially and for marketing purposes. The Two Guys ask them about the genesis of the series, the protagonist’s links to Liz’s own life experiences, Randy’s artistic inspirations, how the two of them actually met, their marketing strategies for the title, the reasons behind their choosing to self publish, and what the two of them might have in store for future issues of the series. (They already have a lot of material for issue #2 of How I Made the World!) At one point, Derek goes off the deep end with his in-depth Freudian reading of the issue’s core story, “The Monster,” but Andy chooses to stay in more formalistic territory…while both Liz and Randy sit back, amused at their academic antics. How I Made the World is a wonderful new title that might fly under the radar of many readers, which is all the more reason to listen to this engaging interview with the creators. It should inspire you to go out and get a copy.

Episode 91 - The July Previews Catalog Jul 09, 2014

Show notes

It’s that time of the month for the Two Guys with PhDs…that is, it’s time for the July Previews catalog! On this episode, Andy and Derek take their monthly gander at some of the great comics being solicited in Previews and due out in the next couple of months. All of the major publishers, and many, many of the smaller ones, are represented here, and the guys comment on how this is a particularly fat month when it comes to new and upcoming comics. They begin the show by looking at some of the titles being offered for this year’s Halloween ComicFest, and then they get into the nitty-gritty of the catalog. Some of the titles that they highlight include Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly’s The New York Four and Satoshi Kon’s Opus (Dark Horse), Peter Milligan and Leandro Fernandez’s The Names #1 and Scott Snyder and Sean Murphy’s The Wake hardcover (Vertigo/DC Comics), Will Eisner’s Spirit, Vol. 2: Artist’s Edition and Craig Yoe’s The Worst of Eerie Publications (IDW Publishing), Jay Faerber and Scott Godlewski’s Copperhead #1 and Ryan Browne’s God Hates Astronauts #1 (Image Comics), Gary Scott Beatly and Aaron Warner’s Number One #1 (Aazurn Publishing), Roberto Aguirre Sacasa and Robert Hack’s Sabrina #1 (Archie Comics), Hubert and Marie Caillou’s Adrian and the Tree of Secrets and Julie Maroh’s Skandalon (Arsenal Pulp Press), George Perez’s Sirens #1 (BOOM! Studios), Duane Swierczynsky and Keith Burns’s Ex-Con #1 (Dynamite Entertainment), Gilbert Hernandez’s Bumperhead (Drawn and Quarterly), Dash Shaw’s Doctors and Joe Sacco’s Bumf 1: I Buggered the Kaiser (Fantagraphics), Paul Pope and J. T. Petty’s Battling Boy: The Rise of Aurora West and Farel Dalrymple’s The Wrenchies (First Second), Grant Morrison and Frazer Irving’s Annihilator #1 (Legendary Comics), Greg Rucka and Justin Greenwood’s Stumptown: The Case of the King of Clubs #1 (Oni Press), and Jorg Tittle and John Aggs’s Ricky Rouse Has a Gun (SelfMadeHero). And this is just the tip of the solicitation iceberg. You really do have to listen to the entire episode to get the full scope, and warm fuzzy feelings, of this month’s Previews.

Interviews - Gene Luen Yang Jul 07, 2014

Show notes

Andy and Derek are proud to have Gene Luen Yang on the podcast. With the upcoming release of his new book from First Second, The Shadow Hero (illustrated by Sonny Lieu), the Two Guys thought this would be the perfect opportunity to talk with one of their contemporary creator heroes. In this engaging conversation, Gene talks with the guys about the genesis of his Green Turtle, and how the original – an obscure ethnically ambiguous crime fighter from the pages of 1940s’ Blazing Comics — inspired him to delve into the superhero genre. Demonstrating a keen sense of pacing, along with a healthy dose of humor, Yang shows himself adept in action-packed comics, something that the guys comment on throughout the interview. But as Derek and Andy both observe, The Shadow Hero nonetheless bears that unique Gene Yang stamp in wrestling with ethnoracial issues in the U.S., and doing so through the meshing of Chinese folklore and American pop culture. In this way, the book can be read as a thematic companion of such earlier books as Level Up, The Eternal Smile, Boxers and Saints, and of course American Born Chinese (all published by First Second). The Two Guys ask Gene about these earlier books, as well, discussing along the way his views on writing for a young adult audience, his 1997 Xeric Grant for Gordon Yamamoto and the King of the Geeks, and his contributions to the New York Times Magazine‘s “Funny Pages” feature (later collected as Prime Baby). All in all, it’s a super fun conversation…and on top of that, Andy and Derek can now say that they’ve had a National Book Award nominee on The Comics Alternative!

Episode 90 - American-Themed Comics, New and Not-So-New Jul 02, 2014

Show notes

It’s the week of July 4th, and so on this episode of The Comics Alternative the Two Guys with PhDs pay homage to the stars and stripes…in comics! Yes, that’s right dear patriotic listener: this week Andy and Derek are focusing only on American-themed comics, new as well as not-so-new. They begin by looking at new recent books where the American project stands front and center. First, they discuss Manifest Destiny, Vol. 1: Flora and Fauna, by Chris Dingess, Matthew Roberts, and Owen Gieni (Image Comics). Both of the guys are bowled over by this first collection and see the series as a great example of American gothic. Next, they turn their attention to the new work by Ilan Stavans and Lalo Alcaraz, A Most Imperfect Union: A Contrarian History of the United States (Basic Books). While the guys applaud the creators’ intentions of creating an alternative or oppositional history, they’re not convinced that the book lives up to its title. In short, they’re hard pressed to find much that is contrary in this contrarian history. But then, after discussing these two new titles, they highlight several of their favorite American-centered comics from years gone by (and some others that are more recent). And what a varied list it is. Andy mentions the following:Strange Fruit, Vol. 1: Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History, by Joel Christan Gill (Fulcrum Publishing); American Flagg!, by Howard Chaykin (Image Comics); Saga of the Swamp Thing, by Alan Moore and Stephen Bessetti (DC Comics); Shade the Changing Man, by Peter Milligan and Chris Bachalo (Vertigo/DC Comics). And Derek briefly discusses several other American-themed titles: Lewis and Clark, by Nick Bertozzi (First Second); The Big Lie, by Rick Veitch and Gary Erskine (Image Comics); R. Crumb’s America, by Robert Crumb (Last Gasp); Uncle Sam, by Steve Darnall and Alex Ross (Vertigo/DC Comics). They could have go on and on with other, similar titles, but there’s only so much you can pack into a single week’s show. So fire up the grill, light up those fireworks, and pledge your allegiance to The Comics Alternative on its special Independence Day episode!

Interviews - Ben Hatke Jul 01, 2014

Show notes

On this episode of The Comics Alternative Interview, Derek and Andy W. talk with Ben Hadke, creator of the Zita the Spacegirl series. Of course they discuss Ben's signature works -- Zita the Spacegirl, Legends of Zita the Spacegirl, and The Return of Zita the Spacegirl (the latter of which was just published by First Second) -- but they also delve into some of his other work, including his upcoming picture book, Julia's House for Lost Creatures (also from First Second). Along the way they discuss the wellspring of Ben's sketchbooking, the origins of Zita, the close links between Ben's art and his family, the appeal of all-age comics, the artist's schedule and philosophy as a speaker, and the many wild and fantastical creatures that populate his books. (Ben, Andy, and Derek also give a shout out to Gina Gagliano at First Second for her unparalleled work as a publicist and for being an all around good person!) The guys have a great time talking with Ben, and in doing so they're able to tap into the excitement and passion that bring life to all of the Zita books.

Episode 89.1 - Interviews with Creators at HeroesCon 2014 Jun 27, 2014

Show notes

On this special episode of The Comics Alternative, Andy shares his experiences last week at the 2014 Heroes Convention in Charlotte, NC. Derek couldn’t make it this year, so Andy fills him in on what he missed and shares his thoughts on the many people he met and the many adventures he had at the event. Most notable are his interviews with various writers and illustrators in Artists Alley, and presented on this podcast. You’ll hear Andy’s conversations with Brian Clevinger, Andy Hirsch, Kyle Starks, Frank Barbiere, Gabriel Dunston, and Max Dowdle. It’s that special one-on-one interaction, a smooth, nougaty combination of intellectual curiosity and personal camaraderie, that you’ve come to expect from the Two Guys with PhDs in their never-ending quest for thoughtful comics talk.

Episode 89 - Reviews of The Amateurs, The Superannuated Man #1, and Star Trek: Harlan Ellison’s The City on the Edge of Forever #1 Jun 25, 2014

Show notes

On this week’s show, Derek and Gene review three new titles. They begin with an unusual story from Conor Stechschulte, The Amateurs (Fantagraphics Books). The guys aren’t entirely sure about the narrative cohesion or the connecting events in this story — and they’re okay with that — but they’re mesmerized by the absurdist, and at times violent, paths this comic takes. This novella-length work is a strange combination of slapstick comedy, slasher horror, and existential angst. Think of Laurel and Hardy meets Waiting for Godot…but with slaughtered livestock. Next the Two Guys move on to the first issue of Ted McKeever’s new miniseries, The Superannuated Man (Image Comics). They start off by comparing this comic to some of McKeever’s earlier works, such as Eddy Current, Plastics Forks, and Metropol, but see in its detail a more meticulously crafted art that pushes more visual boundaries. In this way, the work is quite similar to last year’s Miniature Jesus, another title with a perspective-skewing feel. What’s more, the guys feel that McKeever does an outstanding job at introducing us to this strange narrative world, providing just enough exposition to grab our attention and propel the miniseries forward, full-throttle. Finally, Gene and Derek discuss a comic that is sure to make Trekkies happy the world over, Star Trek: Harlan Ellison’s The City on the Edge of Forever: The Original Teleplay #1 (IDW Publishing). Beginning with a few comments on the history behind “The City on the Edge of Forever” – specifically, the controversy surrounding Harlan Ellison’s famously unused original teleplay — they beam into this first issue by looking at the artwork of J. K. Woodward. While Gene isn’t sure that his painterly style is most appropriate for an action-based sci-fi comic, Derek is more won over by the visuals. But they both can agree that this Scott and David Tipton’s adaptation of Ellison’s original teleplay is not only a good story, but a fascinating study in progressive translation: it’s a comic-book adaptation of a text originally intended for an entirely different medium, yet “maladapted” by that original medium and inadvertently giving the original new life through both dramatic prose and now graphic storytelling.

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