Saturday, January 25, 2014

Episode 27 - It's All Part of My Fantasy


Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Two comics from January 22, 2014. Plus your Nerd Confessions (about your first introduction to the fantasy genre) and Aaron's Inner Child.
On The Couch: writer Josh Williamson.

Show Notes:
The theme of the show this week is fantasy. Not like sex, guys. Like magic and swords and dragons and elves and all that kind of stuff. The literary genre, if you will. We’re looking at two books that fit solidly in that generous world, and talking about what that even means in these days of mash-ups and derivations. Is “traditional fantasy” actually a thing?

Umbral #3 22:10
Dark fantasy with magic, swords, demons and thieves. So far.

Traditional fantasy with elves, wolves and magic. Just don't call it cute.

The Couch - Josh Williamson 49:05
Josh is currently writing Ghosted, published by Image Comics, Masks & Mobsters, published digitally by Monkeybrain and in a hardcover collection by Image, and Captain Midnight, published by Dark Horse Comics. He’s also written for DC Comics and Marvel and his upcoming series Nailbiter was announced at Image Expo.


Listen to this episode


Download this episode (right click and save)

iTunes

This weeks Intro Is Bad Company - Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy:


This weeks Outro Is Gary Wright - Dream Weaver:

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Episode 26 - For What It's Worth



Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

This week it's all #imageexpo and your Nerd Confessions (about your best and worst con experiences).
On The Couch: Eisner-nominated writer Brian Wood.

Show Notes:
This week, no reviews, no analysis, just conversation. And for what it's worth, we think it's a pretty great one. We had a candid discussion with writer Brian Wood about his writing process, work/life balance and thoughts on the comics industry as a whole, and we want you to hear it. But we also want you to hear (briefly) about our adventures together at Image Expo (spoiler alert: there were no fatalities). We promise we'll get back to our regular comics analysis routine next week. Maybe even with some Grief Counseling, eh?

(Editor's note: If you're jonesing for Andrea's Image Expo rundown over at Comicosity, look no further.)

The Couch: Brian Wood (introduction begins at 23:10)
Brian is known for his series DMZ and Northlanders, published by Vertigo Comics. He’s just finishing up runs on Conan the Barbarian and Star Wars, both published by Dark Horse Comics, which also publishes his book The Massive. He's currently writing the flagship X-Men title for Marvel Comics. 


Listen to this episode


Download this episode (right click and save)

iTunes

This week's intro is Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth:



This week's outro is Doobie Gray - Drift Away:

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Episode 25 - A Moment of Weakness



Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

On The Couch this week: writer Frank Barbiere.

Show Notes:
A backwards show for a backwards week. Try to keep up.

The Couch: Frank Barbiere
Frank is the writer of Five Ghosts, published by Image Comics, and two upcoming mini series White Suits and Blackout, both published by Dark Horse Comics.

And as for the rest of the segments, well, your intrepid hosts were at Image Expo and managed to get the show hijacked in their absence so graciously allowed two friends to fill in.

Big thanks to Adam P. Knave, writer of Amelia Cole, Artful Daggers and Never Ending, and Twitter's own Cameron Williams for doing the show. We uh, apologize in advance.

(The imposters begin at 46:45.)

Adam and Cameron talk about donuts, assistant editors month at Marvel Comics, legacy at DC Comics, and Dazzler #30 and Marvel Team-Up #137. You know, from January 1984. Seriously. Also, Grief ROMseling. Totally a thing.

Adam also chose the show music, as he is wont to do.

Listen to this episode


Download this episode (right click and save)

iTunes

This week's intro is Bif Naked - Moment of Weakness:



The break music is Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way



And this week's outro is Firewater - Another Perfect Catastrophe:

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Episode 24 - There's No 'I' in Team


Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Two comics from December 31, 2013. Plus your Nerd Confessions (about favorite character teams) and Aaron's Inner Child.
On The Couch: Amy Reeder and Brandon Montclare.

Show Notes:
Go ahead and blame Andrea for the lousy sound quality this week. She's very sorry. 
She's also on vacation, enduring freakishly cold temperatures on the east coast. Forgive her?

Theme of the show is there’s no 'I' in team. Comic books are full of teams, some more successful than others. Some of us (read: Andrea) are suckers for the brooding guy in the leather jacket who usually isn’t much of a team player. But almost everyone loves a great superhero team book (specially if the brooding guy is forced to play nice with others and reveal his secret heart of gold). So why is that? Why do we gravitate towards these extreme personalities in extreme situations? Because it’s fun. And it’s often a recipe for damn good storytelling.

Guardians of the Galaxy #10 19:27
Sometimes teams are just for marketing.

Catalyst Comix #7 32:30
And other times, teams are a little more cerebral.

The Couch - Amy Reeder and Brandon Montclare 43:17
Artist Amy Reeder and writer Brandon Montclare are the creators of Rocket Girl, published by Image Comics. Brandon and Amy also collaborated on the well received one-shot Halloween Eve published last year by Image. They’ve been working together for a number of years, but have really hit their stride as a creative pair with Rocket Girl, the third issue of which is out this week. Amy's English-language manga Fool's Gold was published by Tokyopop. She also drew Madame Xanado for Vertigo, which Brandon edited. Brandon was an editor with Tokyopop and DC Comics/Vertigo before moving to the writing side full-time.





iTunes

Download this episode (right click and save)

This weeks Intro Is Queen - We Are The Champions:


This weeks Outro Is LORDE - Team: