The Comics Alternative

Latest Episodes:

Critical Takes: A Conversation with Keith Dallas and John Wells Aug 07, 2018

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:25 - Introduction
00:02:11 - Introduction of new Critical Takes series, and setup of interview
00:05:00 - Interview with Keith Dallas and John Wells
01:12:11 - Wrap up
01:12:47 - Contact us

With this episode the Two Guys are starting a brand-new series on The Comics Alternative, one they’re calling "Critical Takes." This will be an occasion series devoted to critical and scholarly works about comics. In the past, whenever they've talked with a comics scholar or historian on the show, they’ve included those in their Interview series, one where they primarily focus on comics writers and artists. But they wanted to spin off their focus on critical works with its own series. After all, and as the show's tagline states, they’re “Two Guys with PhDs Talking about Comics,” so it’s only appropriate that the guys devote a series of episodes to the more theoretical, historical, and scholarly side of comics studies. Some of these shows, such as the current one, will be interviews with authors of critical texts that enlighten our understanding of the medium. Others may be general discussions or reviews of critical or scholarly texts, like the histories coming out from TwoMorrows Publishing or McFarland or the kind of scholarly works one will find through the University Press of Mississippi, Rutgers University Press, or Bloomsbury Academic. Unlike the regular monthly series, but similar to what you find with the guys' interviews, these Critical Takes episodes will be released on no set schedule, but just whenever the shows are completed and can fit into The Comics Alternative's ever-expanding offerings.

And today the Derek starts off the new Critical Takes series with a conversation with Keith Dallas and John Wells. They are the authors of a new book from TwoMorrows Publishing, Comic Book Implosion: An Oral History of DC Comics Circa 1978. As the title suggests, this is an in-depth look at the events leading up to the DC Implosion of June 1978, the buildup of the Explosion that preceded it, and the effects and ramifications of the Implosion, as well as its impact on what at the time was the highly flawed distribution system. What makes this text unique is its construction. This is an oral history, and John and Keith have excerpted a variety of first-hand accounts from interviews, news stories, and fan publications of the time, stories from the insiders who personally witnessed and were even victims of the DC Implosion. These accounts are presented in such a way that they create a cohesive and compelling narrative of this moment in DC Comics history. Derek talks with Keith and John about the genesis of this project, some of the challenges they faced when doing their research, and their manner of chronicling comics history.

Euro Comics: Reviews of Hasib and the Queen of Serpents: A Tale of a Thousand and One Nights and Moon Face Aug 06, 2018

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:26 - Introduction
00:03:07 - Setup
00:04:47 - Hasib and the Queen of Serpents: A Tale of a Thousand and One Nights
00:33:52 - Moon Face
01:14:41 - Wrap up
01:15:34 - Contact us

On the July episode of the Euro Comics series -- actually being released in early August -- Pascal and Derek discuss two beautiful texts. They begin with David B.'s Hasib and the Queen of Serpents: A Tale of a Thousand and One Nights (NBM Publishing), an incredible adaptation of one of the tales in the classic work. The guys point out the attention-gragging handling of Scheherazade "Queen of Serpents" story, but what stands out in this text is David B.'s illustrations, colors, and design. The creator is able both to translate the story into comics with much fidelity and to give the tale his own spin that is recognizable to any fan of David B.'s work (Epileptic is a case in point).

Next, Derek and Pascal jump into Alejandro Jodorowsky and Francois Boucq's Moon Face(Humanoids). This isn't the first time that this creative team has been discussed on the podcast, the first time being the December 2016 showwith Bouncer (and, with Boucq, his work with Jerome Charyn). The guys spend a lot of time discussing the wild ride of Jodorowsky's story -- and this as a defining characteristic throughout much of his oeuvre. It is all over the place, yet compelling. But one of the things that marks Moon Faceis Boucq's art. While readers can appreciate Jodorowsky's writing, it is Boucq who stands out, arguably as the biggest strength in this text.

On Location: The First August Visit to Heroes Aren't Hard to Find Aug 03, 2018

Show notes

Michael and Derek are back at Heroes Aren't Hard to Find, in Charlotte, NC, for the first of their planned August on-location episodes. And as the Two Guys have been doing with their new format, Michael highlights recent mainstream publications and Derek focuses on more indie or non-DC and Marvel titles. Michael starts the ball rolling by discussing the recent work of Ta-Nehisi Coates, specifically his current writing on Captain America (Marvel Comics). He specifically focuses on the politics embedded in the narratives -- and not only with Cap, but in his Black Pantherwork, as well -- and how Coates is learning the form and growing as a comic-book writer. Derek discusses three recent #1 issues, including Rob Guillory's Farmhand and John Layman and Nick Pitarra's Leviathan(both from Image Comics), as well as She Could Fly, written by Christopher Cantrell and with art by Martin Morazzo (Dark Horse Comics). He links the comedy, and the outrageousness, of Guillory's and Layman's new titles, because the two made their big splash with Chew. The guys also talk about She Could Fly, not only on its own story terms, but as the latest contribution from Berger Books.

Comics Alternative Interviews: Another Conversation with Jules Feiffer Aug 02, 2018

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:24 - Introduction
02:16 - Setup of interview
04:20 - Interview with Jules Feiffer
58:54 - Wrap up
59:26 - Contact us

In 2014 Jules Feiffer published Kill My Mother (Liveright Publishing), a noir crime narrative set in 1933 -- and then later moving forward into 1943 -- involving not only hard-boiled characters, but also their exploits within the entertainment industry. Feiffer followed that up in 2016 with Cousin Joseph, the second book in what was now projected as a trilogy. That graphic novel is, in many ways, a prequel to the earlier book. Taking place in 1931, readers are introduced to police detective Sam Hannigan, a figure who looms largely over Feiffer’s recent run. His spirit is likewise prevalent in the new graphic novel, The Ghost Script. With this book, Feiffer wraps up his series, which he has called an “accidental noir trilogy.” In this interview, Derek talks with Feiffer about the “accidental” nature of his writing and how the idea for a trilogy came into play. They also discuss his writing style, where, curiously enough, Feiffer sees himself as both instigator and observer to what unfolds under his pen. Over the course of their conversation, Feiffer meditates on his love of noir fiction and films, the challenges he faced in writing this trilogy, and the overriding influences of such legends as Milton Caniff and, especially, Will Eisner. He also discusses the impact of 1950s red scare and the blacklist, which is the temporal setting of The Ghost Script, what that time meant to him as a young writer, and how those politics are not entirely alien to us today. The guys had the pleasure of talking to Feiffer back in 2014 when Kill My Mother was released, so it’s only appropriate that Derek talk with him again upon the completion of his noir trilogy.

Episode 288: Reviews of Five Recent #1 Issues Aug 01, 2018

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:50 - Introduction
00:03:32 - It's our 6th birthday!
00:09:03 - The Seeds#1
00:36:02 - Euthanauts#1
00:54:51 - The New World#1
01:09:38 - Unnatural#1
01:24:00 - Bone Parish#1
01:40:02 - Wrap up
01:41:15 - Contact us

This is a special episode of The Comics Alternative, as it's the guys' sixth anniversary! The podcast began on August 1, 2012, and Paul and Derek discuss some of the things they've done over the past six years, the number of episodes they've published, the amount of interviews they've conducted, etc. It's a celebratory time, and the Two Guys hope that listeners will join in on the celebration and chime in with some of their favorite moments from The Comics Alternative's past.

After a brief discussion of the podcast's anniversary, Paul and Derek then leap into the episode's core, a discussion of five recent #1 titles. They begin with Ann Nocenti and David Aja's The Seeds, the latest in Dark Horse Comics' Berger Books imprint. The guys are fascinated by this first issue, not only with Nocenti's multi-layered storytelling, but also with Aja's signature art and design. They then look at the first issue of Tini Howard and Nick Robles's Euthanauts, part of IDW Publishing's Black Crown imprint. While they're intrigued by the series' premise, they're not entirely sure if this is a successful #1 issue. There are confusing moments and, arguably, too many unanswered questions that dampen any desire to read on before the trade.

After that, Paul and Derek discuss two recent #1 titles from Image Comics. First, they look at Aleš Kot and Tradd Moore's The New World, an intriguing futuristic narrative that juggles contemporary socio-political concerns along with a Romeo and Juliet-inspired storyline. They also review the first issue of Mirka Andolfo's Unnatural, an erotic -- but tasteful -- anthropomorphic tale that was originally published in Italian and now is available as a limited series.

Finally, the guys wrap up with the first issue of Cullen Bunn and Jonas Scharf's Bone Parish (BOOM! Studios). This appears to be a horror title -- after all, that's primarily what Bunn is known for -- but as Paul and Derek point out, this first issue reads more as a crime mystery than it does horror. It's an interesting premise, one that the guys are curious to see unfold.

So enjoy this week's episode, and celebrate The Comics Alternative's sixth anniversary!

Manga: Reviews of My Solo Exchange Diary, Vol. 1 and Grand Blue Dreaming, Vol. 1 Jul 31, 2018

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:28 - Introduction
00:02:26 - Why we do the manga series
00:05:31 - My Solo Exchange Diary, Vol. 1
00:39:50 - Grand Blue Dreaming, Vol. 1
01:09:24 - Wrap up
01:10:28 - Contact us

Radically Different

For July, Shea and Derek discuss two works of manga that are radically different, one from the other. They begin with Nagata Kabi's My Solo Exchange Diary, Vol. 1 (Seven Seas Entertainment). This is the follow-up to her previous autobiographical work My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness, a text the guys discussed last year. Whereas the earlier work was more targeted to a particular experience, the first volume of Kabi's Solo Exchange Diary is broader in scope and chronicles a variety her life phenomena. Both Shea and Derek are fascinated by this project, especially given the diary's structure and the creator's conversations with herself.

Next, the Two Guys check out the first volume of Kenji Inoue and Kimitake Yoshioka's Grand Blue Dreaming (Kodansha Comics). The premise of this series is based on a young man going off to college and expecting to have the usual college experiences. What he finds instead is a wild world of drunken and naked partying, all generated by the men of the local Diving Club. Both Derek and Shea find this title quite different from their usual reading, and they didn't expect the wildness, and the weirdness, embedded within. If you're looking for a manga about heavy drinking and naked game play, then Grand Blue Dreamingis for you.

Webcomics: Reviews of Daisy Blackwood: Pilot for Hire, Moby Dick: Back from the Deep, and Hana and the Firebird Jul 30, 2018

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:29 - Introduction
00:03:13 - Almost four years!
00:07:22 - Daisy Blackwood: Pilot for Hire
00:22:44 - Moby Dick: Back from the Deep
00:40:32 - Hana and the Firebird
00:59:41 - Wrap up
01:01:05 - Contact us

For the July webcomics episode, Sean and Derek discuss three unique titles. They begin with Ryan Howe's Daisy Blackwood: Pilot for Hire. This is a series of short stories featuring an Indiana Jones-like figure whose job as a pilot introduces her to a variety of adventures. And many of these adventures involve supernatural elements. Next, the Two Guys look at a relatively new title, Moby Dick: Back from the Deep. This webcomic, written by Matt Schorr and with art by Joe Bilicic, is reminiscent not only of Herman Melville's classic, but also Spielberg's classic, Jaws. Finally, Sean and Derek wrap up with a recently completed webcomic, Katya Granger's Hana and the Firebird. This is a fantastical narrative about a community of individuals with special powers, and one resident in particular who must come to terms with her past and her current relationships.

Episode 287: Reviews of Nowbrow 10: Studio Dreams, Love and Rockets Vol 4 #5, and Last Mountain #4 and #5 Jul 25, 2018

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:33 - Introduction
00:03:10 - 2018 Eisner Award winners
00:10:38 - Nobrow 10: Studio Dreams
00:29:19 - Love and Rockets, Vol. 4 #5
00:54:56 - Last Mountain#4 and #5
01:14:34 - Wrap up
01:15:42 - Contact us

This week Paul and Derek discuss three unique titles that help define our understanding of what comics can be. They begin with a visual anthology that is, arguably, not a comic at all. Nobrow 10:Studio Dreams(Nobrow Press) is a series of 70 gorgeous illustrations by a variety of artists -- all of whom have contributed to Nobrow publications in the past -- that reveal their ideal studio space. The styles in this volume vary widely, but each illustration is a luxurious work that invites visual lingering.

After that the Two Guys turn to one of their favorites, the Hernandez brothers. The latest issue of Love and Rockets (Fantagraphics) is notable in that it wraps up Jaime's ongoing storyline, "Is This How You See Me?" This narrative began back in the New Storiesvolumes, and in it Maggie and Hopey attend a Hoppers reunion that begins well, but then takes a darker turn for the two. Jaime also contributes a couple of shorter comics that revisit Maggie and Hopey in their younger days, another narrative thread we've seen in recent issues of Love and Rockets. Gilbert's contribution, "Rosy," is a long story about one of Fritz's daughters who confronts her mother's colored career and decides what it means to her.

Paul and Derek wrap up the episode by looking at the two latest issues of Dakota Mcfadzean's minicomic Last Mountain. Issue #4 is a surreal look at the disturbing power of product iconography, where a little girl is terrorized by a cereal box mascot. Issue #5, "To Know You're Alive," can be read as a response to the previous issue in that it also concerns childhood and media, but from the perspective of a stay-at-home father. Unfortunately, both of these minicomic issues are sold out, but as the guys mention, listeners should definitely keep their eyes on Mcfadzean as he releases new material.

Comics Alternative Interviews: Back with Carol Tyler Jul 23, 2018

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:34 - Introduction
00:02:44 - Setup of interview
00:04:38 - Interview with Carol Tyler
01:36:12 - Wrap up
01:38:15 - Contact us

On this interview episode, Gene and Derek are excited to have Carol Tyler back on the podcast. Her new book Fab4 Maniahas recently been released from Fantagraphics. It's Carol's memoir about her time growing up as a Beatles fan, covering the early years of the mop tops and especially The Beatle's presence in America. As Carol reveals, she was a devotee from the very beginning, watching the group's legendary appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964, their initial tour around the United States immediately after, the media and merchandising circus surrounding it, and the almost never-ending radio presence of four lads. And everything in the book leads up to the crescendo of The Beatles' appearance at Comiskey Park on August 20, 1965, a concert that Carol excitedly attended. Fab4 Maniaalso covers the many excitements and challenges Carol faced in displaying her love of The Beatles, especially among friends and when it came to her Catholic school.

In her conversation with Gene and Derek, Carol talks not only the book, but her own personal recollections growing up during that time. They talk music of the time -- where Carol disses by comparison other British groups such as Herman's Hermits, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and The Dave Clark Five-- and Carol even DJs and sings for the guys. It's definitely a memorable interview, one that Derek and Gene will not soon forget.

Comics Alternative Interviews: Back with Nate Powell Jul 19, 2018

Show notes

Time Codes:

00:00:23 - Introduction
00:02:38 - Setup of interview
00:04:02 - Interview with Nate Powell
01:19:33 - Wrap up
01:22:26 - Contact us

Paul and Derek are pleased to have Nate Powell back on the show. This time they talk with him about his new book Come Again, just released from Top Shelf Productions. They discuss the genesis of this project, the significance of the story's setting, the unsteady balance between needs for personal isolation and the importance of community, and the narrative's forays into the fantastic. Yet they also talk about several of Nate's other works, including March, Swallow Me Whole, Any Empire, and Sounds of Your Name. But what comes out over the entire course of the conversation is the kind of fun these three guys have talking together. Can't you just hear it?

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