Join host Zack Soto—cartoonist, editor and bin crawler—for In This Issue… a podcast about formative comics reading experiences, with a focus on the single issue format. Every episode of In This Issue... finds Zack and a special guest doing a close reading of a comic book (not a graphic novel!) and havin’ a lively chat about it.
Clenched Fists and Hunched Backs are discussed!
THE ISSUE: Dirty Plotte #9 (aka Purty Plotte #9 aka New York Diary chapter 1) By Julie Doucet Published 1995 Drawn & Quarterly Jenn Woodall (Space Trash, Magical Beatdown) joins In This Issue... to discuss the ninth issue of Julie Doucet's seminal alt-comic comic series Dirty Plotte. Lots of talk about art school, bad romances, skeezy dudes, illustration rates, zine aesthetics, collage, graffiti and more! Tune in next time for another close read with In This Issue...
THE ISSUE: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind #1 By Hayao Miyazaki, Tom Orzechowski, Dana Lewis & Toren Smith Published 1989 by Viz Comics THE GUEST: Adam DeSouza Adam (Ish, A Gleaming) joins In This Issue... to discuss the first issue of animation legend Hayao Miyazaki's main contribution to comics, Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind—specifically the 1988 first issue, which was released in what we might call "Prestige Format" (please excuse me while I tie an onion to my belt). Lots and lots of hot takes about Miyazaki in general and Nausicaa in particular in this extra-long episode, as we're both huge fans of this work and find it impossible not to wax rhapsodic over it. We do hope you'll excuse our enthusiasm! Tune in next time for another close read with In This Issue...
THE ISSUE: Hard Boiled #2 By Frank Miller, Geof Darrow, Claude Legris & John Workman Published 1990 by Dark Horse Comics THE GUEST: Ian Densford Ian Densford (Trench Dogs, Soggy Landing) joins In This Issue... to discuss the second issue of the satirical maximalist epic Hard Boiled, which as a series arguably paved the way for a ton of vibes-and-ultraviolence-driven comics made since. Tune in next time for another close read with In This Issue...!
THE ISSUE: Marvel Comics Presents #100 By Howard Mackie, Sam Kieth, Glynis Oliver & Janice Chiang Published 1992 by Marvel Comics THE GUEST: Ian MacEwan Ian MacEwan (Roofstompers, MCMLXXV) joins In This Issue… to discuss the 100th issue of Marvel Comics Presents, which is essentially an early Sam Kieth showcase, as he draws the whole issue of what's normally an anthology title. Tune in next time for another close read with In This Issue…!
THE ISSUE: ACME Novelty Library #8 Written, illustrated, & lettered by Chris Ware Published 1997, Fantagraphics Books, Inc. THE GUEST: Austin English Domino Comics impresario Austin English joins In This Issue… to discuss our first experiences with the Chris Ware comic ACME Novelty Library #8. (We also briefly discuss the legacy of the Vertigo Comics release Dhampire: Stillborn (1997) by Nancy A. Collins & Paul Lee) _
THE ISSUE: SCUD: The Disposable Assassin #17 Written by Dan Harmon illustrated & lettered by Rob Schrab Published 1997, Fireman Press, Ltd. THE GUEST: Zac Gorman Zac Gorman (Magical Game Time, Costume Quest) joins In This Issue… to discuss the Rob Schrab/Dan Harmon comic SCUD: The Disposable Assassin #17. Tune in next time for another close read with In This Issue…!
THE ISSUE: Heavy Metal Magazine V17 #4 By Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri and Various Published 1992 by Metal Mammoth, Inc. THE GUEST: David King (website/insta/twitter) David King (Crime World, Loud House) joins In This Issue... to discuss the November 1992 issue of Heavy Metal Magazine in this double sized episode. We're focused on the central piece of the issue (Serpieri's Morbus Gravis: Creatura) but we talk a LOT about the other stories and the general publishing landscape of the time, as filtered through the masthead and included advertising. Tune in next time for another close read with In This Issue...!
THE ISSUE: ACME Novelty Library #8 Written, illustrated, & lettered by Chris Ware Published 1997, Fantagraphics Books, Inc. THE GUEST: Austin English Domino Comics impresario Austin English joins In This Issue... to talk about our first experiences with the Chris Ware comic ACME Novelty Library #8. (We also briefly discuss the legacy of the Vertigo Comics release Dhampire: Stillborn (1997) by Nancy A. Collins & Paul Lee)
THE ISSUE: Black Hole #1 Written, illustrated, & lettered by Charles Burns Published 1995, Kitchen Sink Press THE GUEST: François Vigneault We kick things off on In This Issue... talking about our first experiences with Charles Burns' work, including a discussion of the short story where Burns first explored some of the ideas he'd later come back to in Black Hole—"Teen Plague," first published in Raw Vol.2 #1 (1989). From there, we dive into the plot/art/themes/symbolism/production design of Black Hole #1. A good time!