The Comics Alternative

Latest Episodes:

Episode 57 - A Review of Battling Boy, Shaolin Cowboy #1, and Rocket Girl #1 Oct 16, 2013

Show notes

This week on The Comics Alternative podcast, Derek and Gene review Paul Pope’s Battling Boy (First Second), Geof Darrow’s Shaolin Cowboy #1 (Dark Horse), and Brandon Montclare and Amy Reeder’s Rocket Girl #1 (Image). The Two Guys with PhDs begin with Battling Boy, placing it within the larger context of Paul Pope’s body of work — seeing similar themes, stylistic flair, characterization, and tone found in comics such as 100%, Heavy Liquid, and THB – and also reading it in light of other First Second publications. Both are fascinated by what Pope is doing in this all-age (?) superhero (?) sci-fi narrative, and they are eagerly anticipating the next installment of the story, The Rise of Aurora West. Gene brings keen insights not only to the metaficational aspects of Battling Boy, but also Pope’s use of lettering and font choices. The Two Guys are not in the same kind of agreement with Shaolin Cowboy. Derek feels that it’s one of the most visually intriguing, and funniest, comic books of the year, while Gene wants more story. (And Derek recommends that Gene read the first Shaolin Cowboy series from Burlyman Entertainment…although even he has his problems with the way that first series unfolded.) But they do agree on Montclare and Reeder’s Rocket Girl, feeling that the series starts off with a blast — sorry for the pun — and promises interesting things in the issues to come, especially in terms of time travel twists.

Episode 56 - The October Previews Catalog Oct 09, 2013

Show notes

This week on The Comics Alternative, Gene Kannenberg, Jr. joins Derek to talk about the many great finds in the October Previews. They begin by looking at some of the offerings coming up soon for Halloween ComicFest 2013, then they get into the nitty gritty of this month’s catalog. Among the many titles they highlight are 47 Ronin and Breath of Bones (Dark Horse), Dead Boy Detectives #1 and The Invisibles Deluxe Edition, Book One (DC/Vertigo), Richard Stark’s Parker: Slayground and The Illegitimates #1 (IDW), The Saviors #1 and The Complete Multiple Warheads, Vol. 1 (Image), Where Bold Stars Go to Die (Slave Labor Graphics), The Wonderful World of Lisa Simpson #1 (Bongo Comics), The Midas Flesh #1 (BOOM! Studios), Susceptible and Trove Jansson’s Moomin books (Drawn and Quarterly), The Blighted Eye and Sucker Bait and Other Stories (Fantagraphics), The Fifth Essence Part Two: Planet Difool (Humanoids), The Best of Wonder Wart-Hog (Knockabout Comics), Diesel Sweeties: Bacon Is a Vegetable, Coffee Is a Vitamin (Oni Press), The First Kingdom Vol. 3: Vengeance (Titan Comics), and World War 3 Illustrated #45 (Top Shelf). This episode is jam-packed with sweet, nougaty comics goodness, and Derek and Gene discuss more good titles than humans should be allowed to read.

Episode 55.1 - Talking with Creators at the October Dallas Comic Con: Fan Days Oct 07, 2013

Show notes

Another Dallas Comic Con was held this past weekend, October 4-6, at the Irving Convention Center. Derek was there looking through comics, taking in the sights, and talking with a variety of creators and publishers. He recorded his conversations, and you’ll find the fruits of his labor in this new episode. This con was filled wtih celebrities, cosplayers, and comics sellers, but Derek headed straight for the people who are actually the heart and soul of the event: the writers, artists, and publishers of comics. While on the floor Derek was able to get brief interviews with Joe Eisma, Cary Nord, Robert Wilson IV, Josh Howard, Andy Hirsch, Richard Dominguez, Michael Golden, Steve Niles, and comics legend Neal Adams. He also took the time to engage with folks at several independent publishers such as Terror Comics (where you can find Life Is Brutal and Thought Nog), Overground Comics (home of Absent Captain and Graduate), Space Gun Studios (publishers of The Old Ones and Dash Bradley), Comic Book Divas (with Miss Misery’s A Haunting Desire and Penny Dreadful’s Cauldron of Terror), and the local distributors of Vamplets. There’s lots of fun talk and interesting insights, so listen along as Derek meanders the convention floor.

Episode 55 - A Review of David B.’s Black Paths and Incidents in the Night, Book 1, and Jonathan Hickman and Mike Costa’s God Is Dead #1 Oct 02, 2013

Show notes

This week on The Comics Alternative, Tof once again joins Derek to talk about comics, and this time they’re reviewing new books by David B. – Black Paths (SelfMadeHero) and Incidents in the Night, Book 1 (Uncivilized Books) — and issue #1 of God Is Dead by Jonathan Hickman, Mike Costa, and Di Amorim (Avatar). The Two Guys with PhDs begin by discussing David B.’s surreal and idiosyncratic style, and how that style manifests itself in his two most recent books. First they look at Black Paths and how David B. uses history, the Italian poet Gabriele D’Annunzio and the ill-fated Free State of Fiume, as a scaffolding for his story. Tof and Derek also highlight the various narrative connections between that book and Incidents in the Night, pointing out the creator’s penchant for interlinking his narratives though iconic markers. They talk in-depth about David B.’s surrealistic style, his “flat” or two-dimensional art, and the dream-like world where most of his stories take place. Next, the Two Guys turn to the first installment of Jonathan Hickman and Mike Costa’s new six-issue miniseries, God Is Dead. Although Tof is a little uncertain about Di Amorim’s art (e.g., the depiction of women), Derek is fascinated by the way that Hickman and Costa set up their storyworld, giving us several events that promise to converge in the coming issues. There’s a lot to listen to…so start listening already!

Episode 54 - A Creator Spotlight on Dash Shaw Sep 26, 2013

Show notes

This week on The Comics Alternative, the Two Guys with PhDs feature another “Creator Spotlight” episode, this one focused on the works of Dash Shaw. Tof Eklund joins Derek in discussing and defining a truly unique presence in comics, an artist whose work has been evolving over the past decade. They begin by looking at Shaw’s most recent works, the comic book 3 Stories and the brand new graphic novel, New School (both from Fantagraphics). Tof and Derek note the distinctive visual style of these books — with their heavy linework and their prominent reliance on color, patterns, and background images — and how they differ greatly from most of Shaw’s previous comics. Next they turn their attention to some of Shaw’s earlier works published by Fantagraphics, such as BodyWorld (Tof’s favorite Dash Shaw book), Bottomless Belly Button (Derek’s favorite), The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century AD (which includes previously published short comics, including the pieces included the quarterly anthology, Mome), as well as his lesser known works, such as The Mother’s Mouth (Alternative Comics) and the recent minicomic, New Jobs (Uncivilized Books). If you are unfamiliar with the comics of Dash Shaw, then this is your opportunity to jump right on in and discover a creator whose work stands out from the pack.

Episode 53.1 - Talking Science Fiction Comics at Collected Comics, Part 2 Sep 20, 2013

Show notes

It’s time again for the Two Guys with PhDs to head back to Lone Star Comics in Plano, TX, for their monthly on-location show. However, this month it is not Lone Star Comics they are visiting, but Collected Comics. That’s right, Collected bought out the Plano store, so although the Two Guys are at the same physical location, they are now doing their show from a different store. This time around, Derek is joined by one of the co-owners of Collected, Brent Erwin, along with Rick Cromack (the store’s manager), and Comics Alternative mainstay, Shea Hennum (Andy couldn’t be on this episode). This is the second of the two science fiction shows that they had planned: one to open the summer (the June on-location show) and another to wrap it up. On this episode, everyone begins by discussing some of their favorite sci-fi comics, along with some of the favorites that the listeners contributed. They also find time to talk about the various science fiction blockbuster films of the summer, various sci-fi televisions programs, and toys based on sci-fi comics. Everyone goes through an array of diverse science fiction titles, and Brent and Rick especially bring in some of classics from the 1960s and 1970s. So come get your science on with this month’s on-location show at Collected!

Episode 53 - A Review of Gene Luen Yang’s Boxers and Saints, and Adrian Tomine’s Optic Nerve #13 Sep 18, 2013

Show notes

This week on The Comics Alternative podcast, Derek is joined by Lan Dong, and the two of them discuss Gene Luen Yang’s new two-volume set, Boxers and Saints (First Second), as well as Adrian Tomine’s Optic Nerve #13 (Drawn and Quarterly). The Two (Guys?) with PhDs begin by briefly discussing the book that Yang is most known for, American Born Chinese, and then they segue into the new works and how Boxers and Saints differ in terms of theme, scope, and narrative approach. They point out the historical nature of the books and the ways in which Yang fictionalizes the Boxer Uprising. Along the way they discuss the work’s two-text structure, the differences between the books’ themes and perspectives, the gendered and religious differences between the two volumes, and Yang’s aesthetic approach to both. Then Lan and Derek move on to the latest issue of Adrian Tomine’s foundational series, Optic Nerve. They do so by way of issue #12, which came out two years ago, drawing parallels between that issue and the latest one. They discuss issue #13′s one-page autobiographical piece, the offbeat story “Owls” — in the process, drawing some links to both Shortcomings and Summer Blonde — and the beautiful and evocative short, “Translated, from the Japanese.” All in all, Lan and Derek cover a lot of ground, and they wholeheartedly recommend these new releases.

Episode 52 - The September Previews Catalog Sep 11, 2013

Show notes

It’s that time again to flip through the pages of the Previews catalog, and this week Derek is joined by Bob Bretall of ComicSpectrum to discuss the offerings in the September Previews (Andy couldn’t make it for this episode). Among the many titles they highlight are Clown Fatale, S.H.O.O.T. First, EC Archives: The Vault of Horrors Vol. 3 (Dark Horse), The Planetary Omnibus, Creature Commandos, The Sandman: Overture Special Edition, DMZ Deluxe Edition Book One, FBP: Federal Beureau of Physics (DC/Vertigo), The Maxx: Maxximized, Doctor Who: Prisoners of Time, Triple Helix (IDW), Black Science, Umbral, Alex + Ada, Strangeways, Five Ghosts (Image), Princeless Encore Edition, Pirate Eye: Iron Bars, Wretched Tales (Action Lab), Lunita (Amigo Comics), The Joyners in 3D (Arachaia), Afterlife with Archie (Archie Comics), Soulfire (Aspen Comics), Absolution: Rubicon (Avatar Press), Shahrazad (Big Dog Ink), Beautiful Darkness (Drawn and Quarterly), Maria M. Book One, Pretty in Ink: North American Women Cartoonists 1896-2013 (Fantagraphics), Tune: Still Life (First Second), Jewish in America Vol. 1-2 (NBM), and Renée (Top Shelf). There’s a lot of comics talk packed into this episode. Bob and Derek cover a lot of ground, and you’re sure to hear about something that will interest you…and something you may not have known about before. Check out the podcast! Check out the comics!

Episode 51 - Discussing Rocketeer Comics Sep 04, 2013

Show notes

This week on The Comics Alternative the Two Guys with PhDs discuss Rocketeer comics. In fact, it’s an all-Rocketeer episode, from the Dave Stevens material to the most recent manifestation with The Spirit. So come put on your jodhpurs, strap on your jet pack, and get ready to take off as Andy and Derek try their best to cover the full range of Rocketeer titles – a formidable task, indeed – beginning at the beginning with Dave Steven’s groundbreaking Rocketeer stories, the mulit-creator collections Rocketeer Adventures vol. 1 and Rocketeer Adventures vol. 2, Mark Waid and Chris Samnee’s The Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom, Roger Langridge and J. Bone’s The Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror, and Mark Waid and Paul Smith’s most recent Rocketeer story, The Rocketeer and The Spirit: Pulp Friction (all published by IDW). This episode it chocked full of that nougaty goodness we have come to know as Cliff Secord and his posse. Plus, lots of Betty talk. What’s not to like?

Episode 50 - Talking All-Age Comics at Lone Star Comics Aug 20, 2013

Show notes

The Two Guys with PhDs are back at Lone Star Comics in Plano, and this month they are talking about all-age comics. Joining them is Lone Star employee Shea Hennum and special guest Andy Hirsch, artist of such comics as Garfield, Peanuts, Regular Show, The Royal Historian of Oz, and an upcoming issue of Adventure Time. The conversation is engaging, and the camaraderie is more dynamic than humanly possible. Come listen to the fun as everyone discusses the philosophy of all-age comics, the definitions of “all-age” and “young reader” comics, the joys of Adventure Time, the centrality of Archie and Richie Rich, and the reality of having to bleep Andy K’s language on an episode devoted to all-age comics. Plus, Andy K says “I’m playing with it right now” during the show. We’re dearly sorry about this, listeners. Parents: email your complaints to Andy K directly.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected