Comics Alternative

It's the first of the month, and that must mean that it's time once again to look at the latest Previews catalog. For the month of March, Gene and Derek step up to the plate to take a swing at the many solicitations, highlighting what they consider the most notable upcoming titles. In fact, there's so much to choose from, that this month's Previews episode is an extra-long show...running for almost three hours! Are the Two Guys up to the challenge? Do they heroically take on an unwieldy  amount of material, or do they unnecessarily extend what could have been covered in a more manageable hour and a half? Listen to the episode, and you decide. And while doing so, you'll discover many new comic books and graphic novels such as those published by: Dark Horse Comics - Ether: The Copper Golems #1, Dork, Blackwood #1, and Brooklyn Blood DC Comics - Batman by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale Omnibus and The Ruff and Reddy Show IDW Publishing/Top Shelf - Strong Female Protagonist Vol. 2, Gumballs, Lost Girls: Expanded Ed

Time Codes: 00:26 - Introduction 02:22 - Setup of interview 03:26 - Interview with Ivy Noelle Weir and Steenz 49:58 - Wrap up 50:30 - Contact us Derek talks with Ivy Noelle Weir and Christina "Steenz" Steward about their new book coming out this week from Oni Press, Archival Quality. It’s the story of a young woman who gets a job as a museum archivist, but who soon discovers that her new place of employment is haunted. As she investigates the mystery behind the spectral activity, she also confronts her struggles with mental health and the relationships that have sustained her in the past. Over the course of the conversation, Ivy and Steenz share the genesis of the narrative, their methods of collaboration, and the story’s thematic observations and keen cultural awareness.

Time Codes: 00:00:26 - Introduction 00:02:37 - Setup of interview 00:04:05 - Interview with Denis Kitchen 01:10:35 - Wrap up 01:11:35 - Contact us We're in the middle of Will Eisner Week 2018, and over the past several years The Comics Alternative has offered special episodes to celebrate the annual event. This year is no exception. On this episode, Derek is pleased to have back on the podcast Denis Kitchen, this time discussing his relationship with the comics legend, his history with him as a publisher and businessman, and his first-hand accounts of the various career moves  Will Eisner experienced beginning in the 1970s. Along the way Denis talks with Derek about his first encounters with Eisner, how Kitchen Sink Comics helped to introduce The Spirit to a whole new generation, Eisner's evolution as a graphic novelist, and his experiences in working with Eisner as both an editor and as an agent.

On this weekend's Kickstarter episode, Derek talks with Barron Bell and Koi Turnbull about their campaign The North Star: The Emancipation of Frederick Douglass. It's a graphic adaptation of the memoir, Life and Times of Frederick Douglass, and it's the first of three planned volumes on Douglass's life. The North Star is a dramatic retelling of three pivotal moments in Frederick Douglass's story, bringing to life the legendary figure's efforts as an abolitionist, a businessman, a politician, and a man of faith. There are a variety of reward levels, some of which underscore this project's goal as an educational tool. Support these noble intentions by backing this Kickstarter campaign. And learn more about the work of Barron Bell and Koi Turnbull. Sample Art

Time Codes: 00:00:26 - Introduction 00:02:47 - Thanks to Holly English! 00:05:07 - The 2017 releases from kuš! 01:36:29 - Wrap up 01:38:00 - Contact us This week Gene and Derek focus a critical spotlight on the Latvian publisher kuš! This is a press that the vast majority of listeners are probably unaware of -- indeed, neither of the Two Guys knew about kuš! until about three years ago -- and that's a shame. They produce incredible comics from artists that span the globe. And as Gene points out, there's really no such thing as a "kuš! style." The sheer variety of visual approaches that can be found in kuš! publications is truly astounding. Since kuš! publishes so many comics, Derek and Gene have decided to limit their discussion to just those titles the press released in 2017. But even that is a challenging volume of output. Last year kuš! put out four of their š! anthologies, four kuš! mono volumes, and sixteen issues in the mini kuš! series. As the guys point out multiple times during this epi

Time Codes: 00:00:29 - Introduction 00:02:43 - Listener mail! 00:07:10 - Red Colored Elegy 00:42:32 - The Promised Neverland, Vol. 1 01:14:32 - Wrap up 01:15:27 - Contact us Shea and Derek are back with their February manga episode. This month they look at two titles that, in many ways, are diametrically opposite in terms of style and audience. They begin with Seiichi Hayashi's Red Colored Elegy, the softcover edition of which has just been released from Drawn and Quarterly. This is the story of two young artists cohabiting and the struggles they endure with their families, they work, and their relationship with one another. But there's much more going on in this narrative, as the guys abundantly point out. This is an experimental work that was originally serialized in Garo during the early 1970s, and Hayashi's variations in visual style, along with his employment of nonconventional storytelling techniques, are what make this such an intriguing and significant work. After that, Shea and Derek

Time Codes: 00:00:25 - Introduction 00:02:22 - Setup of interview 00:03:43 - Interview with Gary Groth 01:07:09 - Wrap up 01:07:42 - Contact us On this interview episode Derek talks with Fantagraphics publisher Gary Groth about his new book Sparring with Gil Kane: Debating the History and Aesthetics of Comics. It's a collection of thirteen interviews, conversations, and panel transcripts focusing on Kane and his aesthetics. The pieces that Groth collects highlight the legendary artist's thoughts on the potential and limitations of the medium, his relationship with other creators, and Kane's place within the larger context of comics history. As Groth reveals, this book was long in the making, and it's the first of several Gil Kane-related works that Fantagraphics will publish in the coming years.

This week talks with Nadia Shammas about her Kickstarter project Corpus: A Comic Anthology of Bodily Ailments. It's a collection of comics by various creators all focused on health issues, including physical ailments, mental illness, struggles with disease, and healthcare experiences. The anthology is in full color and will include over 200 pages of content by a wide variety of artists including Christopher Sebela (Heartthrob) / Haley Boros (They Have Issues) Ryan Cady (Magdalena) / Phillip Sevy (Tomb Raider)  Ram V (Paradiso) / Caspar Wjingaard (Angelic)  Alex Paknadel (Arcadia & Turncoat) Vita Ayala (The Wilds) / David Stoll Ryan King (Nico's Fortune) / Alabaster Pizzo (Ralphie and Jeanie)   Kendall Atkins / Page Firby Matthew Erman (Long Lost) / Renee Kliewer  Elaine Will (Look Straight Ahead) Tini Howard (Assassinistas) / Caroline Stuart Alejandro Aragon (Cult Classic: Sludge)  Christof Bogacs (Citizen) / Kaska Gazdowna Ann Uland Ben Khan (Heavenly Blues) / Lilly Tain

Derek is back at Heroes Aren't Hard to Find for the February on-location episode. As he usually does, he set up his mics on a Wednesday evening while customers were coming into the shop to pick up the weekly releases. And during this time a couple of Wednesday Warriors sat down with Derek to talk about what they were reading, what they were looking forward to in the coming months, and what about comics culture they currently find exciting. Both Zyg and Fadi shared the week's titles that they had come to pick up, but the conversation went well beyond that. Among the various topics they discussed were current happenings in the Marvel Universe, favorite artists, eagerly awaited upcoming releases, the new Black Panther movie, Riverdale and other non-superhero comics adaptations, and (believe it or not) Hughes and Whitney's Herbie. Yep, they talked about the Fat Fury.  

Time Codes: 00:00:26 - Introduction 00:02:41 - Catching up 00:04:47 - Alone 00:44:03 - Park Bench 01:12:16 - Wrap up 01:13:10 - Contact us For the February Euro Comics episode, Edward and Derek discuss two works from Christophe Chabouté, Alone and Park Bench, both published by Gallery 13, an imprint of Simon and Schuster. The first is a largely quiet meditation on solicitude, exile, and imagination. Because of physical deformities, the protagonist lives isolated in a lighthouse, with only a couple of fishermen to bring him supplies and serve as his link to the outside world. By contrast, Park Bench is a completely silent narrative that is all about community. The titular object functions as a simple focal point that brings together, inadvertently, a variety of diverse individuals, demonstrating an interconnectedness that is not readily apparent. While Derek appreciates Chabouté's uncomplicated style and thematic approach, Edward is more critical, preferring more visual difference and ambiguous

Time Codes: 00:00:31 - Introduction 00:02:53 - Black Panther info 00:06:51 - Our new Discord account 00:09:15 - More listener mail! 00:16:37 - The Lie and How We Told It 00:48:02 - Abbott #1 01:08:28 - Punks Not Dead #1 01:21:32 - Wrap up 01:22:37 - Contact us This week Gene and Derek discuss three fascinating titles...and with a '70s twist! They begin with Tommi Parrish's The Lie and How We Told It (Fantagraphics). Both had encountered Parrish's work previously in the first two issues of the Now anthology, but this is the first long-form narrative from them that the guys have read. This is an intriguing work that begs for multiple readings and provides much discussion fodder. After that, Gene and Derek turn to two recent #1 issues. Saladin Ahmed and Sami Kivelä's Abbott (BOOM! Studios) is a crime noir story set in the early 1970s, and with a curious injection of horror. Punks Not Dead, the latest from IDW's Black Crown imprint, is a wild tale from David Barnett and Martin Simmonds, one tha

Time Codes: 00:00:28 - Introduction 00:03:56 - Setup of the discussion 00:05:44 - The Prince and the Dressmaker 00:30:55 - Speak: The Graphic Novel 01:00:39 - Wrap up 01:03:07 - Contact us Art and Perceptions Gwen and Paul are back with another Young Readers episode. For February, they discuss two recent publications, both that explore how perceptions, for better or for worse, figure into our lives. They begin with Jen Wang's The Prince and the Dressmaker (First Second), a fairy tale-like narrative focusing on romance, identity, and creativity. Next, they look at Speak: The Graphic Novel (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux), a comics adaptation of Laurie Halse Anderson's young adult novel Speak. Illustrated by Emily Carroll, it's a story of a young high school outcast who uses art to confront the hardships that have kept her on the margins.

On this weekend's Kickstarter episode, Derek talks with Max Huffman about his current campaign for Plaguers Int'l. As described on the Kickstarter page, Plaguers Int'l is a loud, fast comic-shaped comic, with elements of all three genres: madcap romp, slapdash genre pastiche and relationship disaster. A panel or two might be unsafe for work. And its plot? Swirving Wildley is the newest member of the world's most beloved extranational paramilitary death squad. Movement Salon is the leader of a wasteland guerrilla junk cult. They have a long day. This promises to be a fun project, one that's right in The Comics Alternative's wheelhouse, an alternative look at established genres with a healthy dose of humor and visual panache. While you're at it, check out more of Max Huffman's work. This is definitely something work backing. Learn more about Max's Kickstarter!  Sample Art

Time Codes: 00:00:29 - Introduction 00:02:48 - Derek goes solo! 00:07:35 - Alack Sinner: The Age of Innocence 00:23:33 - Calamity Jane: The Calamitous Life of Martha Jane Cannary, 1852-1903 00:35:23 - Jerome K. Jerome Bloch, Vol. 1: The Shadow Killer 00:41:10 - Corto Maltese: Fable of Venice 00:46:25 - A Story of Men 00:56:48 - The Man from the Great North 01:02:43 - Wrap up 01:04:34 - Contact us Welcome to the January episode of The Comics Alternative's monthly Euro Comics series. That's right, the January episode. As Derek explains during the opening of this show, he and Edward had planned on covering IDW Publishing works in translation that had been released in the last half of 2017, and doing so for their January episode. However, life got in the way again, and they had to delay the recording. Derek then sought out Dean Mullaney (editor of IDW's EuroComics series) and Justin Eisinger (senior editor at IDW) to assist him with this show, but neither were available. So Derek decided to

Time Codes: 00:00:30 - Introduction 00:003:11 - Listener mail! 00:07:41 - Twisted Romance #1 and #2 00:32:46 - Death of Love #1 00:50:03 - Bingo Love 00:00:00 - Weird Love, Vol. 6: So This Is Love! 00:00:00 - Young Monsters in Love 01:14:34 - Wrap up 01:15:39 - Contact us It's Valentine's Day, and this week the Two Guys with PhDs are doing something they've never done before: devote an entire episode to recent romance comics. And this year, there are quite a number of new comics devoted to love and relationships...and with curious twists. And speaking of twists, they begin their show by discussing the first two issues of the new Image Comics series, Twisted Romance. This is a four-issue anthology published weekly throughout the month of February, and in issues #1 and #2 we see comics contributions from the creators Alex de Campo, Katie Shelly, Sarah Horrocks, Alejandra Gutierrez, and Meredith McClaren, with short prose offerings from Magen Cubed and Vita Ayala. From there they go to Death

Time Codes: 00:00:26 - Introduction 00:02:30 - Setup of interview 00:04:05 - Interview with Bill Kartalopoulos and Ben Katchor 01:36:02 - Wrap up 01:37:10 - Contact us Derek talks with Bill Kartalopoulos and Ben Katchor about the 2017 volume of The Best American Comics (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). They are, respectively, the general editor of the series and last year's guest editor. Paul and Derek had wanted to interview the two back in December, but due to life complications, they weren't able to have them on the show. And although Paul wasn't able to join in on this interview, he was with everyone in spirit. So better late than never, Derek speaks with Ben and Bill about the process of their collaboration, the challenges that they faced in collecting potential material, Ben's choices in structuring and populating the 2017 volume, the ways in which current politics couldn't help but find their way into the text, and the questions both editors faced with the very concept of "best comics."  

Time Codes: 00:00:28 - Introduction 00:03:29 - Weather talk 00:05:40 - The Flying Ship 00:33:55 - Next Town Over 01:05:43 - Yu+Me: Dream 01:35:46 - Wrap up 01:37:12 - Contact us For February, Sean and Derek discuss three very different webcomics, each published by a single young female creator. They begin with two currently ongoing titles, Jess Milton's The Flying Ship and Erin Mehlos's Next Town Over. The first is webcomic inspired by a Russian fairytale, and despite its relatively short run so far, Milton does a great job at establishing a detailed premise. Mehlos's Next Town Over is a curious mix of magic, steampunk, and the western genre (although not set in the American West). The Two Guys then wrap up with the already-completed webcomic, Yu+Me: Dream. This long-form narrative ran from 2004 to 2010, and there are several fascinating stylistic turns that the guys cannot discuss in detail for fear of soiling the webcomic for first-time readers.

  This week Derek talks with Edward Gomez and Laura Sorvala about their Kickstarter campaign Ada's Adventures in Science. This project began as a three-comic-book series, starting with the idea, “There’s no such thing as a stupid question.” The ultimate goal of this Kickstarter is not only to excite children about science, but to empower them to pursue it. Edward and Laura's protagonist Ada is a believable, relatable character pursuing her interests in science. She functions as both as a role model and as a conduit for the reader. What is so significant about this Kickstarter campaign is that not only will you be able to get the collected three-issue Ada's Adventures in Science series in one nice volume, but by backing this project you'll be providing students around the world with copies of the comic books and encouraging them to pursue their own passions in science. So help promote this educational tool, and read a great adventure, by backing this Kickstarter! Sample Art

Gwen and Derek are back with another Previews episode. And since February is Super Bowl time, in the super spirit of that super day they present a super long show. That's right, there were so many titles that the two wanted to highlight this month, that this episode inadvertently turned into (we think) the longest Previews show ever recorded on The Comics Alternative. History in the making, or an annoyingly long experience? You decide. Among the many comic books and graphic novels that Gwen and Derek highlight are: Dark Horse Comics - Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander #1, Black Hammer: Age of Doom #1,  A Study in Emerald, Hellboy: The Complete Short Stories, Vol. 1, Resident Alien: An Alien in New York #1, Space Boy, and Michael Chabon's The Escapist: Pulse-Pounding Thrills DC/Vertigo - Action Comics #1000, Super Hero Girls: Out of the Bottle, Supergirl: Being Super, and Astro City #52 IDW Publishing - Sonic the Hedgehog #1-4, Eight Million Ways to Die, Black Crown Quarter

Time Codes: 00:00:43 - Introduction 00:03:01 - Setup of interview 00:05:06 - Interview with Box Brown 01:05:35 - Wrap up 01:06:48 - Contact us Box Brown returns to The Comics Alternative, this time discussing his new book Is This Guy for Real?: The Unbelievable Andy Kaufman, just out this week from First Second. Similar to his previous Andre the Giant, this is a graphic biography of a colorful celebrity with a complicated life story...and involving wrestling. Box talks with Derek about his ideas for beginning this project, his appreciation of stand-up comedy, the challenges he faced in constructing Kaufman's story, and how his emphases are notably different from those of Miloš Forman's 1999 biopic Man on the Moon. And since both Box and Derek are big Andy Kaufman fans, there's a lot of nerding out and reminiscing over the comedian's many TV appearances, many of which can be found on YouTube. So put on your wrestling tights, slip into that sequin high-collar Elvis jacket, and get ready to engage w