Podcast appearances and mentions of kurtis wiebe

Comic Reviews: DC Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War – Red Hood 1 by Matthew Rosenberg, Nikola Cizmesija, Rex Lokus Flash 1 by Si Spurrier, Mike Deodato Jr., Trish Mulvihill Power Girl 1 by Leah Williams, Eduardo Pansica, Julio Ferreira, Romulo Fajardo Jr. Tales of the Titans 3 by Steve Orlando, Bob Quinn, Katherine Lobo, Adriano Lucas Marvel Avengers Annual 2023 by Stephanie Phillips, Alvaro Lopez, Alberto Foche, Raul Angulo Miracle Man: Silver Age 6 by Neil Gaiman, Mark Buckingham, Jordie Bellaire Ultimate Invasion 4 by Jonathan Hickman, Bryan Hitch, Andrew Currie, Alex Sinclair Marvel Unlimited Marvel's Voices: Miles Morales by David Betancourt, Alba Glez I Am Groot 4 by Chiya Dark Horse Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow 1 by Stan Sakai, Hi-Fi Image Rat Queens: Sisters, Warriors, Queens 1 by Kurtis Wiebe, Roc Upchurch Comixology Black Sight by Stephanie Phillips, Conor Boyle Boom Stuff of Nightmares: Red Murder 1 by R.L. Stine, Adam Gorham IDW Sonic the Hedgehog: Amy's 30th Anniversary Special by Star Trek: Day of Blood – Shaxs' Best Day by Ryan North, Derek Charm Vault Sainted Love 1 by Steve Orlando, Giopota OGNs Super Hero's Journey by Patrick McDonnell Mall Goth by Kate Leth, Diana Sousa Meems & Feefs: Ferrets From Planet Ferretonia! by Liza Cooper A Sky of Paper Stars by Susie Yi Nephilim: On the Trail of the Ancients by David Dusa, Sylvain Runberg, Stephane Crety, Juliette Crety, Elvire de Cock The Out Side: Trans and Nonbinary Comics by Various Additional Reviews: Ahsoka ep7, T.I.M., A Slow Fire Burning News: Cullen Bunn kickstarts a novel, Didio goes ComicsGate, Mad Cave lands Dick Tracy rights with Alex Segura to write, Christopher Nolan and James Bond Trailers: Wish, Tomb Raider, Devil May Cry, Naughty Nine, Silent Night Comics Countdown (26-Sep) Penguin 2 by Tom King, Rafael de Latorre, Marcelo Maiolo Miracle Man: The Silver Age 6 by Neil Gaiman, Mark Buckingham, Jordie Bellaire Action Comics 1057 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Rafa Sandoval, Matt Herms Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow 1 by Stan Sakai, Hi-Fi Black Hammer: The End 2 by Jeff Lemire, Malachi Ward Green Arrow 4 by Joshua Williamson, Sean Izaakse, Romulo Fajardo Jr Newburn 11 by Chip Zdarsky, Jacob Phillips Immortal Thor 2 by Al Ewing, Martin Coccolo, Matt Wilson Super Hero's Journey OGN by Patrick McDonnell Void Rivals 4 by Robert Kirkman, Lorenzo De Felici, Mat Lopes

Welcome to Liquid Swords. Learn who we are, what we're doing, and how we came to be from Founder and CCO Christofer Sundberg. Understand the complex world of narrative from our Senior Narrative Designer, Kurtis Wiebe; how it can be a ‘nightmare', and why a multi-discipline approach is essential. Discover what makes Liquid Swords special and how the studio empowers its teams from Tech Designer, Antonia Kiili. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gabriel e Raphael convidam pessoas que fazem podcasts para indicar quais foram suas melhores leituras no ano.Confira a listaGabriela Mayer - Põe na estanteTorto arado (Itamar Vieira Jr)Tomás Chiaverini - EscafandroSangue, ossos e manteiga (Gabrielle Hamilton)Rodrigo Casarin - Página 5Rua de dentro (Marcelo Moutinho)Bellhell (Edyr Augusto)Somente nossos corações vão debater bravamente (June Jordan)Torto arado (Itamar Vieira Jr.)O avesso da pele (Jeferson Tenório)Grama (Keum Suk Gendry-Kim)Cem anos de solidão (Gabriel García Márquez)Kramp (Maria José Ferrada)A débil mental (Ariana Harwicz)A casa na rua Mango (Sandra Cisneros)Luana Werb - O nome do livroA subtração (Alia Trabucco Zerán)Juliana Leuenroth - O nome do livroHeimat (Nora Krug)Rafael Kalebe - O nome do livroTorto arado (Itamar Vieira Jr.)Vilto Reis - 30:MIN - LiteraturaRat queens (Kurtis Wiebe e Roc Upchurch)Filhos de sangue e osso (Tomi Adeyemi)AJ Oliveira - 30:MIN - LiteraturaKindred (Octavia Butler)Cecilia Marcon - 30:MIN - LiteraturaA princesa prometida (William Goldman)Kindred (Octavia Butler)Arthur Marchetto - 30:MIN - LiteraturaEnraizados (Naomi Novik)Manual da faxineira (Lucia Berlin)As alegrias da maternidade (Buchi Emecheta)Kindred (Octavia Butler) Bloodchild (Octavia Butler)Os sons da fala (Octavia Butler)Piquenique na estrada (Arkady Strugatsky e Boris Strugatsky)Aniquilação (Jeff Vandermeer)Tadeu Rodrigues - RabiscosChão e chama (Juan Rulfo)Todas as cartas (Clarice Lispector)Céu noturno crivado de balas (Ocean Vuong)Torto arado (Itamar Vieira Jr.)Sontag: vida e obra (Benjamin Moser)Beatriz Fiorotto - BraincastPara toda a eternidade (Caitlin Doughty)Áureo Lustosa Guerios - Literatura viralSonhos tropicais (Moacyr Scliar)Leticia Daquer - PistolandoA vida invisível de Eurídice Gusmão (Martha Batalha)Going clear. Scientology, Hollywood and the prison of belief (Lawrence Wright)Abílio Pacheco - A gente não quer só chibéAquele um (Benedicto Monteiro)Vago verde mundo (Benedicto Monteiro)O minossauro (Benedicto Monteiro)República dos sonhos (Nélida Piñon)Viva o povo brasileiro (João Ubaldo Ribeiro)Heloíza Barbosa - FaxinaTorto arado (Itamar Vieira Jr.)Amada (Toni Morrison)Americanah (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)A máquina de fazer espanhois (valter hugo mãe)As miniaturas (Andrea del Fuego)O homem azul do deserto (Cidinha da Silva)The undocumented Americans (Karla Cornejo Villavicencio)Homegoing (Yaa Gyasi)

On this week's Stack we've got reviews for: King in Black #1 Marvel Written by Donny Cates Art by Ryan Stegman Batman/Catwoman #1 DC Comics Written by Tom King Art by Clay Mann Lumberjanes: End of Summer #1 BOOM! Box Written by Shannon Waters & Kat Leyh Layouts by Brooklyn Allen Illustrated by Alexa Bosy & Kanesha C. Bryant The Union #1 Marvel Written by Paul Grist Pencils by Andrea Di Via w/Paul Grist Justice League: Endless Winter #1 DC Comics Written by Andy Lanning & Ron Marz Art by Howard Porter That Texas Blood #6 Image Comics By Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips Fantastic Four: Road Trip #1 Marvel Written by Christopher Cantwell Art by Filipe Andrade Unearth #8 Image Comics Story by Cullen Bunn and Kyle Strahm Art by Baldemar Rivas Batman #104 DC Comics Written by James Tynion IV Art by Ryan Benjamin & Danny Miki, Bengal & Guillem March Backtrack #9 Oni Press Written by Brian Joines Art by Jake Elphick M.O.D.O.K.: Head Games #1 Marvel Written by Jordan Blum & Patton Oswalt Art by Scott Hepburn Buffy the Vampire Slayer #20 BOOM! Studios Written by Jordie Bellaire & Jeremy Lambert Illustrated by Ramon Bachs Far Sector #9 DC Comics Written by N.K. Jemisen Art by Jamal Campbell Dryad #7 Oni Press Written by Kurtis Wiebe Illustrated by Justin Barcelo Black Widow #4 Marvel Written by Kelly Thompson Art by Elena Casagrande and Jordie Bellaire Strange Adventures #7 DC Comics Written by Tom King Art by Mitch Gerards and Evan “Doc” Shaner Inkblot #4 Image Comics Created by Emma Kubert & Rusty Gladd Daredevil #25 Marvel Written by Chip Zdarsky Art by Marco Checchetto The Boys: Dear Becky #7 Dynamite Written by Garth Ennis Illustrated by Russ Braun SUBSCRIBE ON RSS, ITUNES, ANDROID, SPOTIFY, STITCHER OR THE APP OF YOUR CHOICE. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER, AND FACEBOOK. SUPPORT OUR SHOWS ON PATREON. This week's show is sponsored by the Just Been Revoked podcast. Full Episode Transcript: Alex:                 What is up, everybody? Welcome to The Stack. I'm Alex. Justin:              I'm Justin. Pete:                I'm Pete. Alex:                 And in The Stack we talk about a bunch of big comic books that have come out right here at the beginning of December. Very exciting times to be alive in. Everybody is very happy, excited, doing a great job. Justin:              We're all doing a great job. Let's take a second and chill. Pete:                I don't know. Let's not pat ourselves on the back. Alex:                 Pete, you're doing a great job. Pete:                No, don't patronize me, all right? Fuck you. Alex:                 No. Man, you are. Justin:              Don't patronize him. Alex:                 Do you know who else is doing a great job? The King in Black. He's really just really putting himself out there in the Marvel Universe, really inventing a bunch of stuff with his wet dragons, I like to call them. Justin:              They are moist dragons. Pete:                He's not doing anything moist during- Alex:                 King in Black#1 from Marvel written by Donny Cates, art by Ryan Stegman. This of course is the … I don't know if it's the final storyline, but it's certainly the peak of everything that they've been building up over the past couple of years, through Venom and other storylines. Pete:                … Venom. Alex:                 As the King in Black, Knull, the god of the symbiotes invades earth. And man, it goes basically about as bad as things could go. And I don't know that I have read a kickoff to an event where the heroes lose so thoroughly as they do in this issue, which in my mind was very impressive. Justin:              Yeah, I agree. The way they go hard here. The Donny Cates goes hard with this story. It's a ton of big emotional beats and then heroes just losing, every plan failing instantly. And setting up Knull as this like truly terrifying villain, despite the fact that he's fighting with wet dragons. Pete:                Yeah, what an entrance the King made here. I think it was a great start with the nicest building and everything that's been going on. And then the twist where you think, “All right, he's after Venom,” and it's like, “No Venom's kid,” and it's like, “Oh, shit.” Justin:              Oh, shit. Pete you're riding with the King, is what you're saying? You love the King and- Pete:                Yeah, I'm riding with King. Alex:                 Yeah, I got to be honest. Even though I've really enjoyed what Donny and Ryan had been doing on this title, I was a little trepidatious about this event just because Knull to be the design of it, it was like, “Ah, he was very big teeth.” I don't like that. And the whole Venom thing I always feel reticent about in general just because Venom is not my favorite character, but I should have known better. Pete:                Venom. Alex:                 Venom. Justin:              … You like a drier character like Sandman. Alex:                 Yeah, like a nice dry character. Like a Sandman is more my style. Justin:              Yes. Alex:                 But I should have known better, because they'd been, like you said, Justin, they've been doing emotionally based work on this title throughout the entire time. This is based on Eddie Brock's relationship with his son, that is the emotional crux of the issue, even though there's a good Tony Stark stuff in here, there's some good other character stuff in here. But it's great. I am also fascinated to see what happens over the course of five issues because this is, like we said, as bad as it can get, and it seems like there's four more issues where it's only going to get worse. Justin:              Yeah. What Donny Cates does a great job at is really including a bunch of other aspects of the Marvel Universe, like you were saying, Alex, and they feel very real. It feels very current. We get some X-Men in here and it feels like they just stepped out- Pete:                Oh yeah, that was fun. Justin:              … of the current X-Men books. It's really good. And touching on continuity where all the characters know about what's going on in their universe, which I think is rare in comics to have a real deep understanding of continuity for something that is a standalone event like this. Pete:                I'm glad you brought that up, Justin, because I was very excited when I saw the X-Men show up and still be kind of like heroes. They're not just island fucking. You know what I mean? They're not just trading swords and half-assing a bunch of games, they're actually still stepping up and being heroes. Justin:              It would have been great if there was just a cutaway in this to a bunch of X-Men having sex on an island. I would have loved where they were like, “Wait, what did you say?” Pete:                I would have lost it. Alex:                 It's weird that they saw that much black goo and do nothing. This is prime fucking material. Justin:              “This is fucking material,” says Alex. A couple of follow-up questions I'm going to ask off-mike. Before we go too much further, I do think the fact that Pete and I are agreeing so hard on this book, there will be one book later on I predict where Pete and I will have a subtle disagreement. Pete:                … Yeah, it will be very hard to tell. Justin:              See if you can spot it. Pete:                Yeah, it will be tough to tell. Alex:                 Let's wait and see. Next up, Batman/Catwoman #1 from DC Comics written by Tom King, art by Clay Mann. This is the continuation of Tom King's abbreviated run on Batman, now focusing or continuing to focus on the Batman/Catwoman relationship. It's a little hard to tell whether this is a direct continuation or they rejiggered it in any way to make a new title. But regardless, we're jumping around in time periods here. Spoilers, we're introducing the Phantasm from Mask of the Phantasm into the main Batman continuity. Pete:                Yes. Alex:                 That's big stuff happens here. We talked about this a little on live show. I got to tell you, it took me a little while to hook into this because I could not remember the rhythm of the Batman book the way they did it. But there is a point, and this is a big spoiler, but the page, the reveal of the Joker about halfway, three quarters of the way through the issue was such a classic Clay Mann page. So terrifying that it immediately sucked me back in emotionally. And that was the point- Pete:                You're talking about- Alex:                 … where I started to feel like, “Okay, I'm really on board with this book again.” Pete:                … Yeah, but it wasn't just regular Joker, that was Miami Vice Joker. Did you see the way the wind was taking his shirt and he had the over the kind of shoulder holsters rocking? Come on, that was like- Alex:                 He could feel it coming in the air tonight, that's all I'm saying. Pete:                … Yeah, and that's what I'm saying. People talking about three Jokers, there's a fourth one and that's Miami Vice Joker and he's the best one. Justin:              See, I would consider him more Miami-Dade County Retirement Home Joker. Sure. Pete:                Oh wow, shots fired. Alex:                 Trump voter Joker. Justin:              Exactly, this dude votes Trump. Clay Mann's art in this issue is so, so good. All of Tom King's work I feel like is so writer-driven, but man, he works with such great artists, and this one, and this issue specifically I feel like is so, so good. And I love the pace and the way that he's telling the story is really rooted in the romance. Justin:              There's so many big romantic splash panels in this, and it's great, and it's still setting up a bunch of mystery elements and great action. Just so much going on in a great way. And it's romance, it's sexy, it's horrifying. And then the Phantasm reveal, it's like … I feel like this book is just doing everything all at once in the best way. Pete:                Yeah, I agree. I'm really just happy to have T King back on Batman. Justin:              T King. Pete:                I'm excited to see how this story unfolds. And I also was really impressed at how much was in this first issue. There was so much going on. But it was also cool the way kind of Nightwing gave us, instead of it being like flashbacks to see somebody's story, to see kind of Nightwing telling the story of the Ghost-Maker was really kind of a cool discovery. Alex:                 Ragnarok. Pete:                Oh, my bad. Alex:                 That's Batman, this is Batman/Catwoman. Pete:                Ah, my fault. Alex:                 It's okay. Pete:                I'll wait for it. Justin:              Good idea. Pete:                We talked a lot about the art. Just that first title page, really setting up the different cadence, the different kind of art that really focuses the story, I think it's very interesting. And I'm very excited for Mask of the Phantasm, my favorite Batman movie of all times, so I'm very excited about this. Alex:                 Not Batman Forever? Pete:                No. Alex:                 Hmm. All right. Let's move on and talk about Lumberjanes: End of Summer #1 for Boom! Box, written by Shannon Watters and Kat Leyh, art layouts by Brooklyn Allen, illustrated by Alexa Bosy and Kanesha C. Bryant. I figured this was really worth talking about because of the last issue of Lumberjanes, a book that we've only sporadically reviewed, and I've always appreciated, but always personally had a little bit of a hard time hooking into. What did you think about this issue, and how do you think about it as a wrap-up to the Lumberjanes saga? Pete:                I was really impressed with this issue. I thought they really did a great job of wrapping things up. But also we see so many different ways of characters struggling with the, “I don't want to kill. This person should die, but why is it on me?” I felt like this was kind of handled in an interesting way. And the art does a great job of really telling this story. The art is so good. There's a ton of action, but it's a little cartoony to give it that heart that the kind of story has. Pete:                I just really impressed with the characterizations. And it's a lot of over the top fun, but also it's got a lot of deeper meaning stuff going on. And yeah, I mean, just, it goes back and forth between these absolutely hideous, evil looking things and these adorable characters, and they all fit into the same realm. Lumberjanes is a great read, it's really creative. I feel like there's something for everybody. This is a good book. Justin:              Yeah, it's very fun. It dips into some wild sort of fantasy realms in a series of different ways. And I'm sort of in the Alexa's boat where I'm like, “Oh, right. Oh, yes. Okay.” And then the way it's sort of, to Pete's point, is sort of everything at once. Sometimes it's a little flashy, but it is also very fun and a great read. Alex:                 I agree. And I appreciate the fact that it exists, even if I don't quite get it all the time, because I know so many people who love this book so much. I believe it's also being adapted into an animated series by Noelle Stevenson who also did the She-Ra series that was phenomenal, so I'm very excited to see that. Even if I don't quite get the comic, I'm glad it exists, and I'm excited that it wrapped up on its own terms. Alex:                 Next up, The Union #1 from Marvel, written by Paul Grist, pencils by Andrea Di Vito with Paul Grist. This is a bunch of British superheroes getting together and then ultimately crashing straight into the King in Black event. This reminded me a lot or felt a lot to me like a Garth Ennis book that was not written by Garth Ennis. And I made that complimentarily. What did you guys think about this one? Justin:              Yeah, this reminded me of, and I feel like maybe I made this comparison already recently, of the Ultraverse book, The Exiles. Do you remember that back in the day, where a team of superheroes gets just straight up murdered in the first issue and then reforms in a sort of different way? And this has that same vibe of like a doomed team. And the fact that it's crashing into a big event makes me wonder what this book actually means. It's a fun book that's a good story. I like the characters. Union Jack is very cool. And there's a little bit of a mystery here. I was surprised by how much I liked this in relation to what kind of book it is. Pete:                Yeah, I agree with Justin, this is a fun book. Some great action, some cool stuff is happening and it ties in. Not like a must read for everything that's going on, but very cool kind of dealing with stuff kind of from the fallout of the X of Swords or 10 of Swords. Alex:                 Wait, what? How is this a fallout of 10 of Swords? Pete:                Because of the Britain, the choosing of the kind of who's going to be the next kind of- Alex:                 It's a different character. It's a different character, Pete. Pete:                … Cool. Justin:              You're killing his vibes. Pete:                I'm killing it today. Alex:                 You're doing a great job. Yeah, it is interesting that it ties in, particularly given we had Dennis Hallum on the live show last week, I think at this point. And he was talking about how Spider-Woman was stuck in the Spider-Verse event, and I couldn't help but think about this the entire time where I was like, “You're launching a book, but it ties into King of Black, kind of, but not really.” Alex:                 But it was cheeky enough and sort of skewering of superheroes enough that I'm intrigued to check out a second issue of this. Next one, Justice League: Endless Winter #1 from DC Comics written by Andy Lanning and Ron Marz, art by Howard Porter. Alex:                 A bunch of seasoned vets getting together for a Justice League event, where as you could probably tell from the title they fight a frost giant and the entire world is plunged into non-stop winter. I liked this kickoff a lot more than I thought I would, and I think that is all to the fact that Andy Lanning, Ron Marz and Howard Porter all know what they're doing around a superhero event. Justin:              Yeah, I agree completely. There's a bunch of stuff in here where they're like, “How do you really manage your work-life balance?” Alex:                 Yeah, that was weird where the flashing Green Lantern and like, “Work-life balance is a hard thing, right?” In the middle of this event, we got time to talk about it. Justin:              But I appreciated it. It felt like a Marvel book featuring DC heroes in a good way. And I got to the end and I was like, “Oh, this is an event. Right. Where is this going to go?” Because to me it felt a little bit like a one-shot, like a classic DC one-shot for the holiday season. And I do think that DC goes to the whole the earth is freezing a lot, where the sun gets extinguished, was a few years ago, so I was like, “Oh yeah.” But it was a good read for this again. Alex:                 I mean, I don't want to jump on your spot and everything, but the whole sun gets extinguish thing was several decades ago. Justin:              That was a long time ago, but I feel like there was another thing after that. There was like- Pete:                Stop not flexing on us. Jesus Christ. Alex:                 Yeah, that's true. Let's … Oh, go ahead, Pete. Pete:                I was just going to say I really loved the last page. I think this does a good job of really getting you excited for more. And yeah, the kind of reveals of who else is in this is very exciting. Alex:                 Also fun stuff with like Secret Six types super villains that could feel disposable in terms of like they could have brought in the Royal Flush Gang and just have them do their thing where they get beat up in the Justice League, but more fun that. I had a good time reading this comic book, much more fun than I thought I would have. What happens when a robotic overlord imprisons a rant god and a humble narcissist? Alex:                 You get this week's sponsor of the Comic Book Club, The Just Been Revoked Podcast. Join Chris G, Tom Legaci and Mr. Rhace as they discuss the origins, the ends and everything in between of all things film. Episodes are released weekly on Apple, Spotify and all other major podcast platforms. Looking for a film podcast that has fun and doesn't take things too seriously, then check them out at justbeenrevoked.com. Alex:                 Next up, That Texas Blood, excuse me, #6 from Image Comics, by Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips. This is the end of the first arc. It is as bloody and as sad as you might expect. I really liked how this tied up. How did you guys feel? Pete:                I've really been loving this book, but they've been giving us like little bits. It was crazy to get so much in this issue. I almost felt like, “Whoa, this is too much information,” because it's been so little, but now we really kind of get the who done it kind of stuff behind it. So it was a little bit of a shell shock for that. But you can't say enough about the art and writing, this continues to be a really great series. I'm excited to see where it goes. Justin:              … Yeah, I agree. This is good. It feels very … I mean, there's a bunch of sort of mentions of this in the back matter. It feels very of the place of Texas where the story takes place. It's right in the title. And it's just a series of sort of tragic mistakes by so many different people. A lot of the characters feel very real, there's some nice emotional moments here. It's a great first start. Alex:                 Very good stuff. Either pick up the individual issues or pick up the collection when it comes out. And it should be back next year. I'm very excited and intrigued to see how they continue it, particularly given Chris Condon told us this was initially a movie script that now he is doing into, not an ongoing, but at least continuing it for a little while, so that will be curious to see. Next up, let's talk about my favorite book of the week, Pete. Fantastic Four: Road Trip #1- Pete:                Come on. Justin:              Yes. Pete:                You are not serious. Alex:                 … from Marvel. I'm 100% serious. Pete:                This was- Alex:                 Written by Christopher Cantwell, art by Filipe Andrade. This is a one-shot that shows the immortal Hulkazation, I think, of … Hulkamania if you will- Justin:              Yeah, [crosstalk 00:18:01] Alex:                 … of the Marvel Universe, as we get a absolutely horrific story involving the Fantastic Four taking a road trip to the Grand Canyon of the [crosstalk 00:18:09] title gone horribly wrong. They literally start falling apart. Love the metaphor here, love the art. I screamed out loud several times reading this book, it was so horrific, but great. Just fun to read, horror story involving with Fantastic Four like nothing that I had read before. So exciting. Justin:              This was also one of my favorite books of the week. Agree with everything you're saying, like we get to see all of the tropes of the Fantastic Four used against them in the best way, especially Read. The art was fantastic. It's truly I was worried for the gang here. The cover I- Alex:                 This is- Justin:              … was like, “Oh, that's a fun sort of horror cover.” And then you read the book and it's like, “Holy shit, this is way more horrifying than you ever saw it before.” It was great. Pete:                … This is everything I hate about the Fantastic Four all in one issue. The things that happen to our characters are just awful to watch. Justin:              No, they really come together as a family to save the day. Pete:                They literally like glue together, and it's creepy. I don't want to see two kids melting into each other, that's so creepy on so many levels. Alex:                 … My kids do that all the time. You don't have kids, you don't understand. Pete:                Nobody asked you about your goddamn kids, all right? Alex:                 They do that, and I respect them and their choices. Pete:                Wow. That's good for you. Justin:              All right, unmelt, it's time for bed. You sleep in separate beds. Pete:                Now, and then it's just Reed Richards is being a fucking awful father, an awful husband, the shit is just ridiculous. At one point even as soon as like, “Yeah, you're a horrible person. I'm going to go do the good things in life while you sit there by yourself just ignoring your family and making something worse.” Just, ah, this issue drove me nuts because the art amplified how much I don't like this family in the way they're kind of put together in all the wrong ways. And it was just not only a stressful read, but horrifying. Don't pick up this book. Don't encourage this shit. Justin:              You hate how this family is put together? Pete:                I hate the fact that you have- Justin:              They're the first family of the Marvel Universe. Pete:                … you have someone who's very smart, but then treats his family like shit. And then you've got a beautiful person in Sue Storm, who's ignored mostly by her husband and post aside. And then you've got- Alex:                 Okay. I see where this is coming from. You think you could be a better husband to Sue Storm than Reed Richards. Pete:                No, I'm not trying to- Alex:                 And you want to marry Sue Storm. Justin:              Exactly. Pete:                … No, that's not … Don't try to shrink me you fucking piece of shit. Justin:              Don't shrink me. Let me say this, Pete, let me put it in this perspective. Don't you think that to your cat you're the Reed Richards who's too busy recording his podcasts to spend time with the cat, and maybe the cat needs a little bit more attention? How does it feel to be the Reed Richards of your cat? Alex:                 It is kind of interesting not to backup Justin's point, but your goopy arm is in a bucket right now, Pete. What do you have to say about that? Pete:                I think you guys are assholes and I can't believe I've done a show with you for this many years. That's what I have to say there. Justin:              We're the first family of the Comic Book Club Universe. Alex:                 I'm the Valeria. Justin:              Oh, interesting choice. Pete:                Wow. Alex:                 Great book, definitely pick it up. Next up, Unearth #8 from Image Comics, story by Cullen and Kyle Strahm, art by Baldemar Rivas. I think we talked about the first issue of this which was like, “Ooh, going into cave and other monsters of the cave,” it's evolved since then. Justin:              Yes. There's a lot of different things happening in this book, really like the art. It's just like a series of vignettes from a horror TV show or like an outer limits type TV show. Alex:                 Yeah, it feels very like Clive Barker Books of Blood to me. Justin:              Yeah. But it's good, I'm into it. Pete:                Yeah, it's scary. The arts, the real hero, very cool issue, kind of sets things up. I thought it was solid. Alex:                 All right. Let's move on to a book with the thing that happened that Pete mentioned earlier, Batman 104 from DC Comics written by James Tynion IV, art by Ryan Benjamin and Danny Miki, Bengal and Guillem March. This is the book where Nightwing fills in Bad Girl about everything that's been going on with Ghost-Maker. Pete, what did you think about this one? Pete:                Yes, thank you. Sorry about earlier, but I thought it was- Alex:                 No, it's all good. It's funny we talked about in the live show, how do you keep all the books straight, sometimes it's hard. Justin:              Sometimes we don't. Pete:                … Sometimes we don't. Yeah. Sometimes you think you're talking about one book, but you're actually talking about another. But yeah, like I had mentioned, I thought it was really cool the way we kind of got Ghost-Makers backstory from the perspective of Nightwing. Also really cool, kind of scary moment where Batman wakes up in Arkham. Pete:                And I love the kind of like moment where they're like, “The plants told us …” I loved that. I love the Bad Girl's joke. Yeah, and I also liked this kind of trap. Our heroes get stuck in the trap and you're like, “Ergh,” but this is very interesting to see how this is going to work between Clownhunter and Harley Quinn, and how this is all going to kind of go down. But yeah, great issue of Batman, amazing art. This whole kind of Ghost-Maker thing is very interesting. Justin:              I have a question for you, Pete. There are so many different artists in this issue, does that bother you? That often bothers you when a single issue has multiple artists. Pete:                Yeah, but when they're woven into the story in a way where it's like if you're kind of showing something that's back in time or whatever, I think it can work if it's done well and it doesn't feel too jarring. Justin:              I agree with you. And it's done really well here, because I do think it works. And when I read the number of artists on the page, on the title page, I was like, “Huh.” And then it really flowed nicely, which is weird because these artists are pretty distinct when stylistically. But I thought it really worked. And I agree, this book is fun. Pete:                Yeah. Alex:                 Good stuff. Next up, Backtrack #9 from Oni Press, written by Brian Joines, art by Jake Elphick. We're getting towards the end here, I believe this is the penal explanation of the book. If you haven't been picking it up, it is a car race through time here. We're leaving pirate times and finally getting some answers about what's been going on in the back. Definitely a exposition issue, but I think it was well done and tied into the characters. I continue to enjoy this book. This is going very well in my mind. How did you guys feel? Pete:                Yeah, I really am impressed because a lot of times, sometimes I feel like when characters are standing around talking about their feelings and past and stuff, it can get a little not enjoyable, but this has done really well. And I really liked where we have a character kind of talk about the stuff that she's going through and she's like, “You know what? I'm going to stay here. I'm going to live the life that I want to lead.” And I thought that was really cool, and I thought this issue ended really well. I'm very excited to see how this all wraps up. So far this has been a really fun book. Justin:              Yeah. I mean, every issue of this, I feel like this feels like a movie, it feels like sort of a sci-fi Fast & the Furious just ready to be made and- Pete:                Too fast. Justin:              … Too fast. Pete:                [inaudible 00:25:59] Justin:              Oh, interesting. Jump right to the sequel. That's the move, it's to make the sequel first. Pete:                First. Yeah, exactly. Justin:              But yeah, this feels ready-made for that. Alex:                 I 100% agree. Let's move on to something that is going to be a TV show, kind of. M.O.D.O.K.: Head Games #1 for Marvel, written by Jordan Blum and Patton Oswalt. Pete:                Head Games. Alex:                 Art by Scott Hepburn. This is very clearly setting up the new M.O.D.O.K. show that's going to be coming to Hulu with Patton Oswalt doing the voice of M.O.D.O.K. I don't know how much it ties into that necessarily, but this is a fun lack with MODOK. He's having some weird memories that are popping up in him, and he is fighting with the rest of A.I.M. As the same time as I say it's a fun lack, much more serious than I expected personally. Justin:              Yeah, I liked that M.O.D.O.K. is really given some emotional underpinnings in this, and he's … The sort of premises that he's struggling with some memories, because he has a bunch of different memories from all the different lives that he's had because he's a genetically engineered being. And there's this one where he seemed to be a happy family man, and I'm curious where that's going to go. I really liked that sort of heartfelt background to this, and it feels like M.O.D.O.K., you have sympathy for him and he's trying to just his shit figure out. Pete:                Yeah. I mean, first off the title made me think there was going to be maybe some Locke & Key tie in, but that didn't happen so I was a little disappointed. But I thought this was fun. I really liked the kind of M.O.D.O.K. falling into an armory where he gets to kind of play with all the cool, that was really fun. But because we see Patton Oswalt's name on it, I wanted it to be funnier, I wanted it to be heavier on the jokes. It was a good story, so maybe I kind of put that on that too much. But yeah, I thought it was good. Alex:                 I bet Patton Oswalt listens to this podcast and says, “I wish Pete was funnier and more on jokes.” Pete:                He could say that and that would be fair. That man is a professional comedian. Justin:              But you would say, “I'm a journalist and I don't … I'm not some sort of clown.” Pete:                No, I would never, never say that. Justin:              Huh. Alex:                 You write an editorial every week for the New York Times, Pete. What are you talking about? Pete:                It still doesn't count. Alex:                 All right, fair enough. Justin:              Yeah, when people write a letter to the editor of the New York Times, Pete's the one that reads it. Alex:                 Buffy the vampire Slayer from Boom! Studios, written by Jordie Bellaire and Jeremy Lambert, illustrated by Ramon Bachs. I just realized I didn't mention the number of the issue here. Pete:                20. Justin:              20. Alex:                 20. Thank you very much. There you go. But in this issue, the Scooby Gang is dealing with multiple new slayers, Xander who is a vampire and lots of other things going on. We've checked in on this book now and again. Justin, I know you've been a little back and forth on it. So what do you think about this one and where we are at now? Justin:              I do think I'm sort of on the downside of it a little bit. I like when they get away from the sort of continuity a little bit in a deliberate way, and this feels a little like all over the place to me. But again, I'm not a crazy Buffy head that is like, “I got to know what happens,” I just want to read a fun story and this feels like it's a little lost in the middle. Pete:                Yeah, I agree. I'm not sure if it's in between seasons or trying to touch on something and be its own thing. I kind of was hoping we'd be past this little bit, but I feel like it's interfering with the storytelling and I just kind of want to get this thing off and running. It feels like a lot of standing around talking and then people kiss, and I'm like, “Who are these people? What is happening?” Yeah. Alex:                 It sounds like I liked it a little bit more than you guys. Particularly I think what they're doing with Xander is interesting, turning him into a vampire. The emotional step between him and Willow is really nice. Also the twist at the end is cool, there's a new villain that I don't think we've seen before. That's pretty interesting, given a motivation that is very different than we've seen on the TV show, which is good. Alex:                 The one downside to your point is there are a lot of slayers going on at this point, which potentially needs to downsize. But maybe they're being set up as cannon fodder, so I guess we'll have to wait and see. Next up, Far Sector #9 from DC Comics, written by N.K. Jemisin and art by Jamal Campbell, AKA the best Green Lantern title going on. Pete:                Hell, yeah. Alex:                 We have kind of wrapped up the first mystery of the book or at least part of it and are moving on to a new mystery evolving the digital world that our Green Lantern is finding out more about. Pete, what's going on? Pete:                Well, I just wanted to say I love this book, but one of the negative things I have to say about this is I was really grossed out by this digital food. If this is what's going to happen in the future where people are eating food digitally and not real food, I'm not going to fucking do it. All right? I'm not going to be a part of your fucking evil future with your fucking robots running shit. Go fuck yourself. That was really upsetting to watch that happen. Other than that though- Justin:              Oh, sorry, Pete. We're actually we're downloading lunch today. If you're not going to have any, then I guess you just won't get to eat anything. Pete:                … Yeah, because you're- Alex:                 Yeah, I downloaded you a cobb. Pete:                … Yeah, well, you can fuck your cobb salad. Alex:                 All right. Justin:              Actually don't worry too hard about it, Pete, because I feel like subway meatball sandwiches will be one of the last downloaded foods. Alex:                 I will say I loved the joke that they've created downloadable food that feels like food and stimulates your taste and so it tastes like food. Pete:                Awful. Alex:                 But it tastes terrible because it's made by robots that don't know what things taste like. So fun. Pete:                No, it's not fun. This is where we're headed and it's awful. Justin:              Well, we're a couple of beats away from that, I think, as a culture, as a people. But I think that example is so indicative of just how imaginative the series is, and how there's so many great details, and the world itself is so fully understood by the writer and the artist that it makes for just such a great read. Especially, this issue goes off on a totally new place that we don't- Pete:                Yeah, it's a new read, it's very exciting, a crazy last page. I can't say enough about the art, it's the real hero of this. And the story just keeps getting better. It doesn't kind of set in a pattern and stay there, it keeps exploring it, it's as creative as it looks. I'm just constantly impressed by this. It was great. Justin:              … It reminds me a little bit of the comic book Die, the Kieron Gillen book in a good way. So if you're a fan of that book and aren't reading this, which seems crazy, you should come check it out. Pete:                Yeah, read more comics. Alex:                 Let's move on to another fantasy sci-fi book, Dryad #7 from Oni Press, written by Kurtis Wiebe, illustrated by Justin Barcelo. This is dealing with the massive twist from the last issue, turn away if you don't want to know, that the kids that we've been following the entire time are in fact adopted, is to put it lightly. Basically they were discovered in tubes by their parents and then speared away from there. They're dealing with that ramification. The parents are dealing with the fallout as well. In particular what I loved about this issue is the kids finally embracing and moving on with their lives and finding a fun time in the cyberpunk city. I thought- Justin:              Finding other teens. Alex:                 … And finding other teens. Just a fun montage sequence that I enjoyed quite a bit. Pete:                Yeah. I mean, it's tough to find out you're a tube kid, that's got to be tough. I felt like they handled it well. But yeah, this continues to be like every time you get an issue of this book, you have no idea where it's going to go, what it's going to do, it's very creative. The storytelling is very interesting and fresh. Yeah, this continues to surprise in a good way. Justin:              Yeah, I liked this book a lot too. It's a common, it's almost a cliche at this point that, oh, science and magic, they're the same thing, man, just different energies man. And- Pete:                Yeah, everybody knows that, man. Justin:              … I feel like it's all tubes, man. Everything is a tube. Your body is a tube. Pete:                Sweeping tubes earlier, man? Justin:              A sub is just a tube. A beer can is a tube with beer in it that you open on one end and drink out of the inner tube of the outer tube. Pete:                What? Justin:              So anyway, what was I talking about? No. Pete:                Dryad #7. Justin:              Yes. No, this book really walks the walk of science and magic being the same thing in a way that other books sort of tell, but don't show. And this book really feels like one of the first books I've read where science and magic are the same thing, and these characters are trying to use them and control those two, those singular forms of energy and failing a lot. Alex:                 Yeah. Great stuff, definitely pick up this book. Next up, Black Widow #4 from Marvel, written by Kelly Thompson, art by Elena Casagrande and Jordie Bellaire. This title has been phenomenal from the get-go. Justin:              So good. Alex:                 … As Black Widow had her memory wiped, we finally find out exactly what happened in the past in this issue. She's been captured by Arcade working for shadowy cabal of Black Widow's enemies, given a husband, given a baby. And this issue she's finally trying to take it all back. As usual, Kelly Thompson's book equal mounts of characterization and absolute heartbreak by the end. This has been a Banner run on Black Widow and I cannot get enough. Justin:              It's a Bruce Banner run and I- Alex:                 Yes. Pete:                Come on. Justin:              … I agree, this is my other favorite book of the week. So good. The art's fantastic. The covers by Adam Hughes, both the cover of this issue and the next issue cover, I was blown away by. And yeah, the story is just excellent. It's- Pete:                I mean, this is just- Justin:              … You really feel for the characters. Pete:                … It's just Marvel being smart, like, “Okay, we got Black Widow movie coming out, let's put some great talent on the Black Widow book and get people excited.” It's just a phenomenal story. The art's unbelievable, storytelling is fantastic. It's really great. Alex:                 Such a good book. Next up, Strange Adventures #7 from DC Comics, written by Tom King, art by Mitch Gerads and Evan ‘Doc' Shaner. In this issue, we're dealing with a little bit of the fallout that it turns out that Adam Strange's wife might not actually be the bad guy of the story as we have suspected for most of this time. It turns out it might actually be Adam Strange himself. Alex:                 And in this issue, we get the usual dual timelines for the book. We see Adam Strange being tortured by an agent of the Pykkts. And in the present he reveals that he's made some mistakes, but maybe doesn't reveal all his mistakes. Man, again, such a great issue, gorgeous art throughout, but it really changes a lot what I personally thought about what was going on in this series. And like a lot of Tom King's stuff, it makes me feel like, “Okay, I've got to have to read this and then go back and read the entire thing again to really get what has been going on.” Pete:                You got- Justin:              Yeah, this is my other favorite book, I think. I feel like this issue really sort of pops the cork on the series, I think. In a way, Tom King is often … You don't quite know what sort of emotional or psychological area he's exploring for a bit, it's like, “Oh, this person is dealing with some sort of trauma.” This gets compared to Mister Miracle a lot, where Mister Miracle was sort of depressed, but his adventures gave him the next emotional truth that he needed. Justin:              And it feels like this is almost the opposite where Adam Strange has been so hardened by his adventures that he may have become a villain. And I think it's about trauma, it's about what it's like to actually be in war. This feels like it takes some of the themes from Heroes in Crisis and maybe uses them in an easier to deploy way, a more clean way as opposed to that book which a lot of people criticized for being a little obvious, I guess. Pete:                … Yeah. I mean, a lot of crazy things happen in this issue. You want to talk about the tubes, this gets real trippy in this issue. And- Alex:                 I would love to talk about tubes. Yeah, let's do it. Pete:                … Well, make sure they're milky. If you're going to do it, make it a milky tube. But yeah, the Batman, I don't care, the tyranny line was unbelievable. Justin:              Are you talking about an ice cream cone? The milky tube? Pete:                No, I'm not talking about an ice cream cone. Justin:              Rocket pop. Pete:                No. And I'm not talking about Choco Taco either, just to cut you off there. Justin:              But yeah- Pete:                Are you talking about Choco Taco … Oh, yeah. Got you. Justin:              … But yeah, there's a lot of snapping necks in this issue, which I appreciated, a lot of action that we finally kind of get some information that really turns the story on its head, if you will. That's a snap a neck joke. This continues to be weird in all the right ways and keeps you wanting more, that freaking T. King, I tell you. Alex:                 T. King. “Spill your tea, King,” that's what I always say. Next up, Inkblot #4 from Image Comics, created by Emma Kubert and Rusty Gladd. I got to say, I've been warming to this book after not initially liking it that much. Love the art. Thought that the character design of the cat was great. But understanding that each issue is kind of its own adventure involving the cat has made me appreciate the book more. And in this one, a bunch of dudes are fighting as fags, I guess. But it's fun. It has a nice, weird light tone throughout. And I know it took me four issues to come around, but I'm enjoying quite a bit more. Pete:                Wow, that's funny because it's like the reveal on this was kind of almost a letdown for me because it was like, we kind of got a little bit more of what the cat stealer is in this issue. And I liked it kind of being its own thing, so I was almost a little disappointed when it made a little sense, so that's funny that it got better for you. But yeah, the art is unbelievable. The cat is just super cute and fun to watch go on adventures. Justin:              Pete, do you think, and I'm theorizing about your cat a lot, but do you think that this is what … When you're ignoring your cat and being like a bad cat husband- Pete:                First off, how dare you? I am a fantastic cat husband. Justin:              … No, you're being the Reed Richards. Your cat looks over at you and is like, “Oh, there he goes again with his podcasting experiments, trying to solve the podcasting mysteries.” Alex:                 His goopy arm is in a bucket, as usual. Justin:              His arm in a bucket. And then your cat travels through time and encounters different adventures of their own. Pete:                It would be quite amazing. I mean, it would explain why my cat is so tired all the time. Justin:              There you go. I like this book as well. Alex:                 Great. Moving on to Daredevil #25 from Marvel, written by Chip Zdarsky and art by Marco Checchetto. Daredevil is in prison and Elektra is not happy about it. We're kicking off the next arc here as Elektra has a plan of her own of course as to what she needs Daredevil for. Big stuff goes down here. Pete, I know you were a little mixed about the last issue, how did you feel about this one? Pete:                I like this. I really like getting the kind of Elektra Natchios side of things and like … Sometimes when she's written, it feels like it's not a real person, but I kind of liked this perspective in her trying to be Daredevil for Daredevil. I thought that a was very cool take. I mean, of course the art's unbelievable, but I'm really getting into Daredevil more, and I'm hoping Chip does Foggy right. Justin:              Foggy seems to be losing his spot, and I think the sun is finally coming up and drying up the fog, which I'm fine with. Pete:                No. Justin:              Marco Checchetto's art is excellent. You got that wild Elektra hair. This lady's hair is going every which way. Pete:                Yeah. Justin:              She's got zero-G hair. It's a lot of flyaways, which she needs some Pantene Pro V. This podcast, as always, is brought to you by Pantene Pro V. Alex:                 By Pantene Pro V. Pete:                Wow, dude. Alex:                 You got flyaways, Pantene Pro V. Justin:              What I give Chip Zdarsky credit for with the writing of this book is moving past the parts we've sort of done a bunch before. Like Daredevil putting himself in jail and going into court and all that, we've seen that a lot in the past couple 15 years say. So he sort of moves past it and Daredevil is in jail, leaving Elektra on the streets to become sort of a new Daredevil, and setting up this new sort of hand mystery, getting back with Stick. There's a [crosstalk 00:43:47] Pete:                Yeah, the Stick comeback. Justin:              This is a lot of fun. Great pivots, and a book I've really been enjoying lately. Alex:                 Last but not least let's talk about The Boys: Dear Becky #7 from Dynamite, written by Garth Ennis, illustrated by Russ Braun. This is the last issue of this new The Boys series focusing on Wee Hughie as he finds out an unknown tale of Butcher's past, specifically the death of Becky, his wife, as you could probably figure it out, and how he dealt with that and how he became the Butcher that we know when The Boy starts. What did you think about this wrap up here? Pete:                It's an interesting take on Thanksgiving. Justin:              Yeah. Pete:                Really kind of like I know I'm not the only one who's kind of felt that way of like you just wish you could take an axe to a table full of people you don't like. But I think The Boys does a great job of giving you a little bit of heart and then fucking around and being insane. And Garth Ennis is twisted in all the right ways, and this is kind of a crazy fun read. Justin:              That's a life motto I think we all stick by, a little bit of heart and fucking around. All right, Pete? It was very chatty. I was surprised by how much of this book was about exploring the backstory of Butcher in a way that didn't feel … Maybe watching the TV show has sort of tried this territory already that we're covering here. Not necessarily in the content, but in the performances and the way they sort of play these roles, that I wasn't surprised by but I love the information in it. I wanted a little bit more out of just the storytelling in general, I wanted more to happen. Alex:                 Yeah, I could see that. I think as usual with Garth Edison stuff, he writes great dialogue, he does good characters. I don't think this takes away from The Boys in any way. It's not one of those sequels, prequels, whatever that feels like, “Ah, why did you go back to the [inaudible 00:45:53]?” It's something that if I read through The Boys I would be happy to read this volume as well. Alex:                 And in fact, it might read better as a complete story verses in the individual issues. And Russ Braun's art is very good, it fits in well with Derek Robinson's art. So that was nice to see. All in all I think this was a solid series. To your point, not 100% necessary with The Boys, but it doesn't take away from it either. Justin:              Indeed. Pete:                Agreed. Alex:                 All right. We're all- Justin:              Agreed. Indeed. Agreed, agreed, indeed. Alex:                 … Agreed. Indeed. Agreed, agreed, indeed. And if you want to hear more of this song that we're singing- Pete:                No. Alex:                 … patreon.com/comicbookclub- Pete:                Don't. Alex:                 … to support the show and other shows we do. We also do a live show every Tuesday night at 7:00 PM at Crowdcast in YouTube. Come hang out, we'll chat with you about comic books. iTunes, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, or the app of your choice to subscribe and listen to the show. @comicbooklive on Twitter, comicbookclublive.com for this podcast and many more. Until next time, this has been Comic Book Club, goodbye. The post The Stack: King In Black, Batman/Catwoman, And More appeared first on Comic Book Club. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/comicbookclub See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's comic book review podcast: Crossover #1 Image Comics Story by Donny Cates Art by Geoff Shaw Sweet Tooth: The Return #1 DC Comics Creator, writer, artist Jeff Lemire Wolverine: Black, White & Blood #1 Marvel Comics Written by Gerry Duggan, Matthew Rosenberg and Declan Shalvey Art by Adam Kubert, Joshua Cassara and Declan Shalvey Origins #1 BOOM! Studios Created by Arash Amel, Lee Krieger and Joseph Oxford Script by Clay McLeod Chapman Art by Jakub Rebelka Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons #1 Dark Horse Comics/IDW Written by Jody Houser & Jim Zub Line art by Diego Galindo Backtrack #8 Oni Press Written by Brian Jones Art by Jake Elphick U.S.Agent #1 Marvel Comics Written by Priest Art by Georges Jeanty That Texas Blood #5 Image Comics By Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips Mighty Morphin' #1 BOOM! Studios Written by Ryan Parrott Illustrated by Marco Renna Spy Island #3 Dark Horse Comics Written bye Chelsea Cain Art by Lea Mitternique Web of Venom: Empyre's End #1 Marvel Comics Written by Clay McLeod Chapman Art by Guiu Villanova Batman #102 DC Comics Written by James Tynion IV Art by Carlo Pagulayan Dryad #6 Oni Press Written by Kurtis Wiebe Illustrated by Justin Barcelo The Goddamned: The Virgin Brides #4 Image Comics Written by Jason Aaron Art by r.m. Guéra Thor #9 Marvel Comics Written by Donny Cates Art by Nic Klein Wicked Things #6 BOOM! Box Created and written by John Allison Art by Max Sarin DCeased: Dead Planet #5 DC Comics Written by Tom Taylor Art by Trevor Hairsine Inkblot #3 Image Comics Written by Emma Kubert Art by Rusty Gladd X-Men #14 Marvel Comics Written by Jonathan Hickman Art by Mahmud Asrar and Leinil Yu Marauders #14 Marvel Comics Written by Gerry Duggan Art by Stefano Caselli SUBSCRIBE ON RSS, ITUNES, ANDROID, SPOTIFY, STITCHER OR THE APP OF YOUR CHOICE. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER, AND FACEBOOK. SUPPORT OUR SHOWS ON PATREON. Full Episode Transcript: Alex:                 What's up, everybody? Welcome to The Stack. I'm Alex. Justin:              I'm Justin. Pete:                I'm Pete. Alex:                 And on The Stack, we talk about a bunch of comic books that have come out this week. Pete:                We sure do. Justin:              Yeah. Alex:                 This is the main thing people are concerned about right now is new comics. That's what we're all talking about on this Wednesday morning. So let's get into it. Let's talk about new comics. Let's just chill out and have a good time and not stress about absolutely anything else going on in the world. Kick it off with Crossover #1 from Image Comics, story by Donny Cates, art by Jeff Shaw. This is a highly anticipated comic. And I got to say, I feel like it was worth the wait. If you didn't pick it up, mild spoilers here. But the idea of the book is it takes place in a world where a comic book crossover suddenly pops up in the real world, in Colorado, essentially changing the entire world. And a bunch of things reverberate off of there years later, as we meet various characters who have been affected by this comic book crossover. What did guys think about this book? Pete:                Well, from the cover, I really wanted to get blasted in the face with a rainbow. And I'm glad that they took the time to make sure that happened in the comic, so- Justin:              So you felt like you got blasted in the face? Pete:                Yeah, yeah. I felt like they did a good job of getting that across. Justin:              I like this book a lot as well. It's one of those like, bang bang premise books where it's just like, this is it. And then it's like you slowly then start to meet the characters. And I do think in this book specifically, you don't really get too much of a sense of the characters by the end of the first issue. But the premise is such a sort of satisfying idea that I think it sells it on that alone. Pete:                Can I just be the guy who says the thing we're all thinking? That little girl in the comic, shitty artist, she's probably not going to be able to get any work. Justin:              Wow. Because she's got dots. Alex:                 No, no she draws- Pete:                No, because of her artist skills. Alex:                 Yeah, she draws a not so great drawing by the end of the book. Justin:              I see, I see, I got you. Oh at the end, yes. Alex:                 What I really appreciate about this, like you're saying Justin is, there's so many things that are nicely set up in this book beyond the central concept of the book. It's such, as usual, smart writings from Donny Cates. It also really stretches Jeff Shaw, in terms of multiple comic book styles. The promise here is that Donnie and Jeff have gotten characters that we know. This isn't just them, creating a world whole cloth. This is also them bringing in characters from Image from other comic book companies, that this is legitimately a actual comic book crossover. And we haven't quite gotten there yet. Because most of it, we're spending outside of Colorado and the ground zero zone where it all goes down. Alex:                 But the promise is, we're going to get there soon. And I would be shocked if we don't get things like Rick Grimes walking in front of a comic book store, Savage Dragon popping through. At least all of these Image Comics characters, and potentially some DC and Marvel characters through as well. As long as it stays grounded in those characters, the main characters of the book, I think it's going to be a wild ride to take. Justin:              Yeah, and the revelation at the end of the first issue was like, “Oh, shit, can they do this?” And I think that's a great feeling to have at the end of an issue. Like, can they pull this off? And feeling like, “Well, this issue is good.” So yeah, they probably can. Alex:                 Yeah. Pete:                It'll be interesting. I think it does a good job of being like, “Here is something that… We all know what a crossover means. Like, here's the title that's going to grab you and then kind of try to put a twist on it.” And it is that will they be able to pull this off? And that's very exciting for a first issue. Alex:                 Let's talk about another book that probably shouldn't work. But I think of course totally does. Sweet Tooth: The Return #1 from DC Comics creator, writer and artist, Jeff Lemire. As you can figure out from the title, this is Jeff Lemire, returning to a almost perfect comic book series, Sweet Tooth years later, that was about a young animal boy that pairs up with an old man journeys through a post apocalyptic world try to find Safe harbor. They eventually kind of found it. And this picks up as happens in the first panel of the first issue, 300 years later, except things are happening again. As they say in old Twin Peaks, it is happening again. And that's definitely a lot of the vibe that I think we get here. Man, I loved this book and the audacity of it and the fact that I have no idea where it's going to go. Particularly by the end, how'd you guys feel? Justin:              I agree with you like the idea of setting the premise like, oh, the story is starting over and we're hitting very similar beats, but in a totally different world, means they're going to just like totally throw that out of whack. Like very quickly, I think. And I love Sweet Tooth. It's such a distinct book, and to be able to see it back on the shelves in a limited series though. Right. So that's a totally different thing. Alex:                 Yes. Pete What do you think about this one? You're a big Sweet Tooth fan. Pete:                Yeah, this was- Justin:              You got a real sweet tooth. Pete:                Yeah, it just… Don't get me started, I eat so much fucking candy. Alex:                 Hey Pete you got the sweetest teeth I've ever seen. Justin:              Hey it's Sweet Pete. Who's here? It's Sweetie Petey. Looking for his little sugar lick. Alex:                 Sweet Pete you want one of your meat treats? Pete:                When you guys are done. Alex:                 Never. Justin:              Never done. Pete:                So Black Label's putting this, which is interesting. It means they can kind of get a little crazier. So it'll be interesting to see how much they push on that side. But I thought like the art was great. It really felt like Sweet Tooth. I thought it was very kind of weird world that he kind of woke up in. This inside, but kind of outside world. So I think they did a good job being like, “Hey, remember everything you love still here? New-ish kind of scenario. Come along for this ride.” And I think yeah, it does a great job of getting you excited for another story, with this team with this kind of gang that we know and love. So I think they did a great job of kind of returning to the well on this. Alex:                 Yeah, I agree. Let's move on to another one that I'm sure you like Pete. Wolverine Black, White and Blood #1 from Marvel Comics written by Gerry Duggan, Matthew Rosenberg, Declan Shalvey, art by Adam Kubert, Joshua Cassara and Declan Shalvey. As you could probably figure out from the title, I think this is an anthology all about Wolverine that uses black, white, and blood and that's pretty much it. So- Justin:              Actual blood. Alex:                 Yeah. Justin:              Human blood is what it's printed in this book. Pete:                So, this is just the story that I need right now. With all the insane shit going on I just want a Wolverine story. Okay, I don't want to have to think about Fuck Island or how many swords, whatever, who's got and read a bunch of fucking menus or articles or whatever the fuck in between panels. Just give me a fucking comic book about Wolverine. Thank you. Yes, this is my favorite pick from the week. I loved it. Great use of red, and then the black and white coloring. This is just a lot of fun and good times. Justin:              Exactly. Pete, you're right. It's so simple. The first story is just a simple story about a man from the 19th century who is born a mutant, has a healing factor he falls in love with the red haired woman. Later he is absorbed into a Weapon X program which is run by a secret government organization. He's experimented on, adamantium is added to his claws for some reason, in his skeletal system. He is then trained to fight using magnets, fight other monsters, that are built in this thing, and that people eventually feel pity for him because he does have some sort of conscience. It's a simple story. Pete:                Yeah it's simple. Just give me a Wolverine story. All right. Alex:                 Classic. It's like Dick and Jane, basically. Justin:              Yes. Exactly, you're talking about of course, the Jim Carrey movie. Alex:                 As usual with this sort of thing I think. Gerry Dugan and Matthew Rosenberg, Declan Shalvey, all good storytellers. Pete:                The Dugs. Alex:                 The Dugs. So they're all solid stories. For my money, the Declan Shalvey- Pete:                Rosenberg's great. Alex:                 … The third story is easily the best one. And I think part of that is that Declan Shalvey, as both the writer and the artist understands the challenge here and creates a story that plays to the strengths of the panels. It's simpler, it's more straightforward. It plays to those splashes, the small splashes both of blood but also the splash of the paddles. And I like that one quite a bit. Personally. Justin:              Interesting. I really like the Weapon X story from Gerry Dugan. Pete:                I loved the Rosenberg story the most. The Wolverine and a baby, I don't need to see that. But [Zaubs 00:09:40] you do you. But what's nice is three stories. If you pick this book up, probably like one of them. I thought this was great. You what you're getting and it delivers. Justin:              One of my favorite movies was Three Claws and a Little Baby. So I get it. Pete:                I thought you were going to say and a little lady, but you didn't. Justin:              No, I preferred baby. Alex:                 That's the sequel. Justin:              The sequel, yeah. Alex:                 Origins- Justin:              One claw's played by Steve Gutenberg, one claw's played by Ted Danson… Pete:                Come on, The Gute- Alex:                 What do you prefer? Do you prefer Three Claws and a Baby or Claws Academy? Justin:              That's though, or the Santa Claws? We're getting to that season. Alex:                 Origins #1 from Boom Studios created by Arash Amel, Lee Krieger and Joseph Oxford, script by Clay McLeod Chapman and art by Jacob Rebelka . I got to tell you I probably should have done some research here because I was very confused about the credits. Is this a video game or was this a previous property Why are there so many creators and a different script writer? What's going on? But as it is the hero here I think is Jacob Rebelka's art which is weird, set in a post-apocalyptic world, there's a bunch of people wandering through. It seems very close to the Museum of Natural History but clearly isn't. They pick up those strawberries but the strawberries are very bad for you. I needed more information personally in this first issue, but I still like the art quite a bit. Justin:              The strawberries are just filled with worms. It's not like they're… Alex:                 Oh, okay. Gotcha. So normal strawberries. Justin:              A normal strawberry. Alex:                 Yes. Justin:              I agree with you, the art in this book is amazing. I'm very intrigued by the story. I don't know exactly what's happening. It feels like there's a some sort of clone baby, but they talk about the baby, who is then later somewhat more of an adult, is named David. But they make it seem like he's famous somehow. Is there a David that you think it is, like David Beckham? Alex:                 Copperfield? Justin:              Oh, yes. When I was five, David Copperfield made me disappear. Pete:                Yeah, you've told us that story. Alex:                 Yeah, we know. Justin:              Have I told you that story? Yeah, well, just letting me know, it's available- Alex:                 Not to interrupt but when I was five, David Beckham made me disappear. Pete:                Wow. Justin:              He bent you out of reality. Alex:                 Pete, what do you think about this one? Pete:                I think the art's are unbelievable. I love the kind of like, seeing the subway entrance in the middle of the grass was kind of really cool. Justin:              It's lush. Pete:                Yeah, it's very creative. It's a cool story. I'm excited to see where this goes. But as of now, it's like, there's this baby named David. And so it's like, is this… Justin:              Oh, David Schwimmer. Pete:                Oh, it's a friend's reference. Because David Schwimmer did have that scene where he got it on in the museum. Justin:              Yes, he worked in a museum and it's in New York. Pete:                Yeah. So that's it, right there. Justin:              And if you're going to need to clone a human to restart the population. You're going to want a Schwimmer. You're going to want to get a Schwimmer. Pete:                Yeah, you're going to want a Schwimmer. Alex:                 You got to yell “Get me the pall bearer.” Justin:              Yes, definitely. Iconic film. Alex:                 Stranger Things Dungeons and Dragons #1 from Dark Horse Comics and [crosstalk 00:13:16]- Pete:                Yeah. Alex:                 Written by Jody Houser and Jim Zub. Line art by Diego Galindo. This is something that Jim Zub plugged on our live show many, many weeks ago at this point. I still kind of didn't know what to expect going in this. But I was surprised how much I enjoyed this. There are less of the Stranger Things and more as an homage, a loving tribute to the history of Dungeons and Dragons is what kind of comes through here. And that's kind of nice. Pete:                Yeah, that's what the Zub-hub was talking about. Like he was really talking about how this really is a love letter to D&D, and kind of really gets into it. And I thought that was a cool kind of way to come at it. You can tell from this, the passion kind of just comes through in the pages. At first when he was telling us on the show, I was like, “Okay.” But this really works in this comic, I thought this was a lot of fun. And I love the kind of little pages at the end where you can kind of start your own. I thought this was great. I thought this was a lot of fun. Justin:              It felt like regular things. It felt like, just things. They were just going about their business as kids. That's not a criticism per se it's just I think this is a hard prequel to the TV show Stranger Things. Bringing in how they got into D&D, which is very cool. And I like this book a lot better than the other Stranger Things book that we read, I think last week, because it feels a little more true to the characters and it feels like in line with the story of the TV show. Pete:                It's going to get strange. All right, they're just kind of starting things out first. Alex:                 Yeah, they've started with Dungeons and Dragons. They're going to move to Advanced Dungeons and Dragon and that's when things are going to get real fucked up. Pete:                Real strange. Justin:              That's crazy. Alex:                 Let's move on to Backtrack #8 from Oni Press written by Brian Joines and are by Jake Elphick. This is, as we've plugged in many, many times, about a Cannonball Run style race but through time. Here mysteries are slowly starting to unfold about the racers who are all tied to the race in different ways. They also end back in pirate times, which is a fun era to put them in. I, as usual, had quite a blast reading this issue. How'd you guys feel about this one? Justin:              It's fun. We're getting into a lot of like, specific character, small moves. And I feel like we're building up towards sort of some big revelations here pretty soon. And yeah, I like them being in pirate times. It's a fun, iconic place for them to be. Pete:                Yeah, it's interesting, because it's like this crazy race throughout time. So you're like, “Oh, Fast and Furious meets Back to the Future.” But like, what's great is we're getting as we're in this insane race, we're getting little kind of windows into people's backstory, why they're here, why they are the way that they are. And it's nicely layered, like some comics issues are more focused on the race. This one's a little bit more focused on the kind of story, which is good. This comic continues to be really great, the art is fantastic. And it really adjusts to what time period it's in such a great way. Alex:                 I also like that we've finally gotten to a point with this book where it feels like Well, you can't eliminate any of these characters. But of course, they're going to and that's going to make it hurt that much more. We're not quite there yet, but in the next couple of issues, it feels like that's coming. And that's a good emotional place for the book to be in. Still a blast to read. If you haven't read it, definitely pick it up. Alex:                 Next up US Agent #1 from Marvel Comics written by Priest, art by George Jeanty. I was very excited personally to see George Jeanty on this book. I've really liked his art a lot since he was on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and other things. He's good stuff. Of course priest, always reliable. And this is a bonkers book about the asshole Captain America going through the heartland, fighting who even knows why. But I really really enjoyed this quite a bit just for how best up it was. How'd you guys feel about it? Justin:              Yeah, if you're looking for sort of a Hawkeye style comic. I feel like this has some strong like Hawkeye vibes back when he was living in Brooklyn with the Russian tracksuit dudes. That whole thing feels very much in line with what this book is. Except he's a little bit more of a shit head. Sort of in the Scott Lane Ant Man style and constantly being mistaken for Captain America which that's going to burn. Pete:                Yeah, I was really happy when that one pizza delivery guy kicked the shit out of them. That was great. Justin:              It is a weird… Like the story, like USA Agent. There's a pizza delivery man who becomes his sort of sidekick. He's keeping all these other pizza delivery people in the basement. Like I don't quite know what the whole thing, the whole deal is here. But it's fun. And it's super unique, I feel like. Alex:                 Yeah, that feels like typical Priest stuff to be where it's just these details thrown in. Where you're like, “What I can't quite get a handle on this, but it's still fascinating at the same time.” Let's move into a very dark turn for a book that we've been enjoying quite a bit. That Texas Blood #5, from Image Comics by Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips. Again, when we had Chris Condon on the show a couple of weeks back, he promised that things were going to get real bad real soon, and oh, boy, they got real bad as our main character is losing his mind down in Texas doing some very dark stuff. In the name of his brother being killed. This is definitely the most brutal issue of this yet. I would say. Justin:              Yeah, I like this book a lot. I feel like the art in this issue specifically is so good. Some hard boiled crime I'm sure this book gets compared to Criminal a ton. And if you're a fan of that, like this is right in line. I do think it's strange that they use the same interior monologue lettering as a Criminal. And Jacob Philips is Sean Phillips' son. I would move away from that because I think this book really stands alone on its own right. It doesn't need to feel like it's drafting off of Criminal's success. Alex:                 How do you feel about Pete? Pete:                Yeah, I think the art's unbelievable. This is some real great storytelling, very intense. This book moves at a very interesting pace. It's sometimes very fast, sometimes it seems like slow. But this is a really kind of great storytelling. Great character stuff. I'm very much enjoying myself. Alex:                 Let's move on then and talk about Mighty Morphin #1 from Boom Studios, written by Ryan Parrott, illustrated by Marco Renna like that Texas blood This is a brutal issue for the Power Rangers. Just devastating, it's a lot of blood. Justin:              Devastating. Oh, Power Rangers. That makes sense, now. They must have left the other two words off the title. Alex:                 Yeah, well, that's how you know they're being serious. Unlike the other actually very dark Power Rangers books that we've been reading recently. This is a return to form. This is like classic Power Rangers. The Green Ranger is evil is he not? We don't even know who he is. Doesn't matter. You got all the villains here. You got all the Power Rangers. But with a slightly more modern style. How did you people feel about this one, particularly given that we've been quite enjoying the other Power Rangers books that have been coming out from Boom. Justin:              This book felt like when you're at a party, when we used to go to parties, and you end up talking to someone you don't really know. And they tell you a very long story and you're like, “I don't know you. Why are you telling me this crazy involved story about your life? Like where are we going with this?” It felt like, “Oh yeah, I guess I see how that relates. Oh, the mighty Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Yeah. Oh, I see like we're dealing with Zed and all this stuff.” But I will say I enjoyed reading. Despite the fact that it's definitely feels like not my wheelhouse. Pete, how did you feel? Got to shoot your Bulk and Skull? Pete:                Yeah, I mean, this is great. This is just fun. This, to me was like a animated version of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers kind of like the new update of Voltron. I very much had a lot of fun. We got some great fighting, some badass panda stuff. It was fun to see them talk about making the villains and that kind of stuff. Yeah, I thought the reveal at the end was great. I think this was just fun, Mighty Morphin comic stuff. Justin:              It checks out. That's the title and he said stuff at the end. So that's what it is. Alex:                 I did like the reveal at the end. I think what I have been responding to and the other Mighty Morphin books that have been set in this post apocalyptic world where the Power Rangers mostly lost in the villains that are trying to just kind of hold on to what they have, is this idea of playing with the continuity. Which the shows could never do because they're mostly working off of what the Japanese versions, right? Of Power Rangers then remixing them. So they're all very kiddy and very silly and badly dubbed on purpose and all of these things. That just I never liked, this splits the difference between those two things. So to your point Justin, I also actually had a fun time reading this even if it is not quite my thing. But definitely more of my thing is those other books I would personally lean towards those. Justin:              I agree and obviously I've always been a Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog. But it's especially funny the way that… I was surprised by how all their animals, the animal machines they ride are like saber toothed tiger and all that. I was like, “They all look exactly the same, but they're all different.” The mythology of the Power Rangers is so weird and convoluted. Alex:                 Yeah, I just can't get a handle on it. Pete:                Yeah, if that stuff made sense to you won't be pulled out of the story like that I think. Alex:                 I'll tell you, not to pull back the curtain too much but at my day job I got offered this exclusive clip for I want to say Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Dino Thunder or something like that. Pete:                Oh, wow. Alex:                 Yeah, I know. And they sent it to me. And it was the casts from like four different Power Rangers shows all getting together. So clearly we've done enough stuff that I could watch it I was like, “Okay, this is like Avengers: Endgame for Power Rangers.” But it was such a deep dive to understand what they were talking about at any point in that clip. Normally a clip I'm like, all right, I could write this up and half an hour tops. That's it. But this one I was like opening up wikis and looking at casts, and debut dates and everything. I was like “What is happening here? This is weird.” But there you go. Deep dives. Alex:                 Let's move on to another one. Which is a one of my favorite books that is coming out right now, Spy Island #3 from Dark Horse Comics written by Chelsea Kane art by Lia Miternique. So this is set on an island in the Bermuda Triangle that is filled with spies of different types. In this issue our mean spy is starting to figure out that her father, who is also on the island hiding out as a mime may have a bigger plan at work. We also find out more about what happened to the first two issues in terms of what she laid down. This book is fantastic. In my mind, it is like a perfect mix between Mind Management and Superior Foes of Spiderman with a flavor of his own. And I am loving every single issue of it. How are you guys feeling? Justin:              Pete? Pete:                Well, I was waiting for you to go. This is really kind of crazy, but it's also a lot of fun. I also like the kind of art. The way the art changes throughout the book. The whole like a series where she's dating different dudes and the kind of like the way the father sees the dudes, very interesting. Yeah, I think this is a very creative, cool book and the art matches it perfectly in such a cool way. Yeah, I'm not always understanding what's happening, but it's very interesting and very creative. So yeah, I think this is a great book. Justin:              Yeah, I agree. It's really funny. It reminds me a bit of Mark Russell's Flintstones, I guess all of Mark Russell's stuff. If you're a fan of that, like this book is like legitimately funny, it has sort of an irreverent tone. The way they do full page sort of jokes, visual jokes is really awesome. But it's still has like some… I'm very interested in the story as well. Like, these characters are fun. Like I don't quite know what's happening with the mystery itself. But it's just a smart world and universe this book creates in every issue. Alex:                 Yeah. I just wanted to reiterate what you said Pete about Lia Miternique's art which collages in so many different styles throughout the book, it's so impressive. Pete:                Very impressive. They're straight flexing. It's unbelievable in this. Alex:                 It's great. Yes, straight flexing is actually a really good way to put it. It's definitely a book to be like, “Here's what we could do. Here's what we can show off.” It's awesome. Definitely pick it up. Next up Web of Venom: Empyres End #1 for Marvel Comics, written by Clay McCloud Chapman, art by Guiu Villanova. This is as you can probably tell from the title, following up on the End of Empyre as a bunch of the Skrull and Cree leave Earth at run directly into the King in Black, the next event, and have literally like a crossover, while one of them is heading one way the other is heading the other. And ends up like aliens on a Skrull ship. I like this, I was a little hesitant, just because it wasn't Donny Cates ready to get and he's been such a mastermind behind this event. But I thought this was a very good, scary book. Justin:              That's such a funny way to put it, Alex. Because it really does feel like it's we're backstage at Marvel and one event is like, “Hey, we finished our performance. Thank you so much.” And another event is like, “Oh, we're up next. We're going to… Sorry. Oh, did we sorry, we bumped into you and made a big mess with all of our symbiont juice. So sorry.” Because it is like, when I saw this I was like, “Empyre. No way.” But it is actually a great story and it does have that sort of Aliens. Like it's game over man for everybody in this issue. And the King in Black is terrifying. Like I'm excited to see this event the more I see of sort of the insanity. Reminds me of the insane Adam Warlock from back in Infinity Gauntlet days, as the villain here. And it's a good read even though it feels unessential from the title. It's worth picking up. Pete:                Yeah, I mean, they got some space vampire bats in here. This is just some crazy, fun stuff that's going on. Yeah, I mean, it's just kind of like alright, space aliens. Cool. There's not too much more going on but it's definitely a cool comic and worth checking out. Alex:                 Next up Batman 102 from DC Comics written by James Tynion IV in art by Carlo Pagulayan. This is the intro of Ghost-Maker who of course, is the guy who builds ghosts. We all know that in the DC Universe. Justin:              Yes. Pete:                No, no, because when he makes ghost by killing you and then you're a ghost. That's how that's… Justin:              Oh no, I think he makes the ghost in the original Pac Man game. He made Inky, Blinky, Dot. Pete:                And also just in case you're wondering he doesn't like crochet little ghosts either makes them. No. Okay, he kills people turning them into ghosts. Justin:              I guess we have different takes. Alex:                 So this introduces that character. And Ghost-Maker, well, he got introduced before, but this is his official introduction. He is going directly for Clownhunter. So we got two new additions to the Batman mythos, going head to head with Batman, of course stuck in the middle. As it turns out, though, Ghost-Maker has a deep tie to Batman's origin. Pete you got to like this right? There was a lot of fighting. Pete:                Yeah, this was a great issue. I love the action. Also fun reveal. Well, all right, let me back up the truck a little bit. Love the Batman like punch entrance. Nice when you can like make your entrance and punch someone in the face. I mean, that's like- Justin:              Yes. I've seen you walk into a lot of weddings. Pete:                Yeah, anyways. But I think this was a ton of action, which is great. But also the way they kind of knew each other, the way it was like, “Ghost-Maker.” “Batman.” And like right into it. It was really cool. Also very interesting how Clownhunter is still hanging on like still a thing. I thought Clownhunter would have kind of like faded away after Batman gave him his talking to. But not the case. And now we're also dealing with Grinners which is interesting. Talking to Oracle on the old earpiece there “Okay, that's cool.” But I think that they also had some funny moments like when Knife Guy was like, “I hate teenagers.” That was hilarious. Justin:              Because you hate teenagers? Pete:                No, no, I just think that it was like a funny line, where he's like, “Teenagers.” But yeah, I think there's some interesting stuff happening in this. And instead of kind of like a cool down from such a big event that we just had. The fact that they kind of ramped it right back up into that it's very kind of interesting. And also cool name, Ghost Stories part one. Justin:              I feel like James Tynion got sort of his first big story out of the way. And now he can really settle in and create his bat universe. And I think Clownhunter, Ghost-Maker are a big part of that. Really leaving his mark on Batman as a character and the whole world there. And I like that. I'm excited that we're sort of in that point in his arc here. Pete:                And it's also interesting to have a villain that's like, “Yo, Batman, do your fucking job. Gotham is a shit show. It's constantly on fire. Like What's your deal?” That's an interesting way to come at it. Alex:                 A lot of the discussion in this book is about what Gotham is now that the Joker War is done and what it's going to become next. I'm excited for what's going to become next. And I trust James Tynion enough to bring it there. But to your point, Justin, he thought he was only going to be on until Issue 100 and he's continuing from there. So in my mind definitely feels like “Oh, okay, I'm going to keep going. Alright, I'm going to set up the next 15, 20, 30 issues, however long I'm on for.” Versus what I was doing before, which was my definitive Batman story. Alex:                 So I'm curious to see what this sets up and where it goes. Because again, I trust James Tynion's storytelling, he has certainly proved himself more than capable. Let's move on to Dryad #6 from Oni Press written by Kurtis Wiebe, and illustrated by Justin [Barcello 00:33:49]. This issue our main family is still hanging out in cyberpunk Tech City, trying to figure out what's going on. Trying to figure out if they should help the kids who are currently in a coma. Turns out they don't need help, they do wake up by the end. We find out another huge revelation about our family. I got to tell you, I was not totally into the cyberpunk stuff in this issue. But I definitely turned around by the end. Love the twist there. I thought that was so great for the series going forward. What was your guys take on it? Justin:              I agree. I love the way the story is unfolding. I think the way they're able to capitalize on this two pronged like fantasy side of the story and the technological side of the story. In a way that it's a tough trick to pull off. And I think it is working on both fronts. I like the sort of Blade Runner vibe to the front end of the book. And then when we shift generations to the kids for the back end, I like all these characters. I'm curious to hear… It feels like this is sort of like a mission went bad a long time ago and we're dealing with the fallout is what this series is actually about. So I want to know What that is. I feel like that was a reveal in this issue that we didn't really know from before. Pete:                This book continues to be very, very creative. Each issue kind of comes at things a little differently. It's fun to see what you're going to get with every issue. Yeah, and we keep getting deeper into the story. They're doing a good job of kind of piecemealing information while still giving us a lot of action. Fun reveal at the end. I think this is very interesting. And also it's cool the way they kind of swap around styles. So I continued to be impressed by this book. Alex:                 Cool. Next up The Goddamned: the Virgin Brides from Image Comics written by Jason Aaron and art by R.M. Guera. Pete, I know what you're going to say it's creepy. So Justin, what did you think about this button? Justin:              This is a book you want to leave out for your grandparents, they're going to love the fighting, they're going to love the very short tops that expose all of your breasts. It's a good stuff for the older generation. But I like this book a lot. The R.M. Guera art is unbelievable. It's so detailed. It feels like it's in the style of Prince Valiant, but with a exciting, much more irreverent story. And the twists and turns, it's also written from the point of view where like, I don't know… We have our protagonists who are on the run. They're virgin brides who are supposed to mate with this like monster basically, that is the god here. And they escaped, we're on the run. And then things aren't going well, basically. And I feel like this book could be very harsh with its character, so I really don't know what's going to happen next. Alex:                 Yeah, I agree. That's one of the biggest things about the book is it's very dark, and it's a super gritty, I hesitate to say realistic but that probably gives the best sense of it take on the Bible and biblical mythology. But if you look at the Bible, lots of people dying all the time, or almost dying or horrible things happening to them almost constantly. So it's actually very- Justin:              Not a fun read. Not a fun read. Alex:                 Yeah. Not a beach… I don't usually take the Bible to the beach, to be honest, like to read it, to just chill out. But like you said, R.M. Guera's art is fantastic. This is very dark. I don't know what's going to happen in the next issue at all. But there's a crazy cliffhanger that happens that was awesome. Good stuff. Let's move on to talk about Thor #9. Pete:                I just wanted to say. Alex:                 Yeah, yeah. Pete:                I agree with you. The ending was really kind of amazing. Justin:              You do like it, you love it. Pete:                No, it's creeptastic in all the wrong ways. Justin:              But do you like the art Pete? Because this is R.M. Guera, same artist on Scalped? Which you like. Pete:                Yeah, amazing artist. Alex:                 Would you say it's worth it for the art alone? Pete:                Nope. Justin:              Wow. Alex:                 You're very wrong. Justin:              Can't get past it. Alex:                 Yeah. Thor #9 from Marvel Comics written by Donny Cates art by Nick Klein. So this is kicking off a new crazy story arc. Donny Cates doing his Donny Cates Marvel thing as he goes back to an old part of Marvel continuity, lifts it up again and makes it as fucked up as possible. In this case, we're exploring what happens to Donald Blake when Thor comes out. Something that we haven't touched out in years. Where does he go? And it ends up being pretty messed up. But I love where the storyline is going. And Nick Klein's art of this book is phenomenal. So good. What did you guys think? Justin:              Totally agree. Like I love… This is my favorite book of the week, the way that finding this little bit of Thor mythology that has been just legitimately ignored. Dr. Blake was the character that was Thor's human form and he would tap his walking stick and become Thor. And Thor just hasn't transformed out of him. It's like Bruce Banner has been the Hulk for so long that like what's Bruce Banner up to? And we get to explore that side of that here. And it is fucked up. And it's super smart the way we get there and to have Donald Blake become this new aspect of the Thor mythology I think is super exciting. Pete:                I don't know man. Like this is to me, it's like, it's okay if we're out of ideas, guys, we can just maybe… Justin:              Jesus. Alex:                 Wow. Justin:              Harsh take. Pete:                What it's like, “Hey, remember how I turn into this guy? Well, when I turn into him, he just kind of walks the earth. What if he got angry about that?” And it's like “Wait, what is happening? What are we doing right now?” Alex:                 That's what's happening, you just described what's happening. Pete:                Yeah, I know, but that doesn't make it a good idea. Justin:              It's fun though. It's like when Wolverine when he died he had to fight a sword dude. Like that was cool. Pete:                Okay. Alex:                 Was it? Pete:                Yeah, I don't know if it was. Justin:              I liked the fighting this sword dude. I didn't like the fact that he came back from just a little speck of blood Lobo-style. Alex:                 I do love… I don't know, just I love the visual of what happens when Donald Blake finally comes out of his reverie, the way that Nick Klein draws him. I don't know if Nick Klein specifically designed him Pete:                The art's unbelievable. Alex:                 What? Pete:                The art's unbelievable. Alex:                 Yeah, it's great. It's worth it for the art alone, I would say. Pete:                Wow. Justin:              Wow. Alex:                 The that Nick Klein designs the new Dr. Donald Blake is great. Justin:              What a cool turn of phrase. Alex:                 It's a great new villain for the Marvel Universe. Spoiler, obviously, but I think in the same way that Donny introduced Cosmic Ghost Rider. And it immediately became like, “Oh, it's this thing. Like that exists. That's fun. That is a fun thing to look at.” Yeah, it's the same thing with whatever Dr. Donald Blake has become. It's a fun clear visual and I love it. And I'm excited to see what this means, it ties into the overall mythology that he's building for Thor, with what's happening with Mjolnir. It just feels very smart across the board. Justin:              100%. Alex:                 Next up, Wicked Things #6 from Boombox created written by John Allison and art by Max Sarin. We've been very complimentary of this book, which follows a teen detective who is framed, probably for murder, as she ends up teaming up with the police department in I believe London. Not 100% sure, but I'm going to say yes. And she is pretty much smarter than him. This is a weird ending for this book I got to say. It feels like there were supposed to be more issues. And then it got cut short, personally, which is disappointing, even though I enjoyed this issue as well. Justin:              Well, that may be true. It does feel… It could also just be a cliffhanger that they're really pushing. I think the last page makes it feel like there was truly like a page ripped out of the back of the book. And I was like, “Wait, what?” I wanted to know how this conversation ends. But in general, it's fun. This main character is such a fun… I love her energy. I like the world this is in which is like this detective, 14 to 16 years old, the best detective in the world. And there's a moment where she's being held hostage and you expect her to like elbow the guy and get away. But it doesn't happen because she's just a regular teen detective. And I think that's fun that they're really keeping within the storyline. Pete:                Just a regular teen detective? Justin:              Yeah, like a… Pete:                Like a normal teen detective. Justin:              Because like, surely you were a teen… You solved some crimes in your small town, right Pete? Pete:                Oh definitely. Definitely did. Yeah, I agree. This is a ton of fun. Alex:                 Sorry, Pete, what did they call you? They called you Thesaurus LePage? Pete:                No they didn't. Justin:              He was really good with saying other words that were like words. Pete:                Yeah. Justin:              He didn't solve a lot of mysteries but he was like, “Oh, I think you mean sweaty.” Alex:                 Yeah. Pete:                Yeah, I think it did feel a little rushed. Every issue up until this issue didn't feel that way. But man, this is still a great story. Really creative, fun, main character. I could definitely see a lot more with her. I hope they keep going in some iteration or whatever. But yeah, this has been a lot of fun and I hope this doesn't end. Alex:                 I agree with definitely worth picking up in trade whenever it's collected and hopefully we'll get a second series of it. Moving on to DCeased: Dead Planet #5 from DC Comics, written by Tom Taylor and art by Trevor Hairsine. In this issue John Constantine is launching a desperate mission to fight back against the anti life plague. And it's predictably dark but with moments of real humanity and humor, everything that we've come to expect from this series I think so far. Justin:              This book has really migrated to the top of my stack like I love reading a book. It's a good book. The characters are fun. The Damian Wayne Batman is great. Constantine still a dick. Just a straight up dick. Pete:                Oh man. Justin:              There's some fun jokes here. Pete:                Constantine is great in this book, this book continues to impress. And I think this was a really great Constantine, hilariously messing with Dr. Fate and Swamp Thing even getting in on the joke. Batman doing father jokes, I don't know. I don't know how I feel about that. But Batman getting a punch in at the end, liked that. That was good. But yeah, this continues to be a very creative, very funny, well done comic that does like a lot of cool things. The Shazaam moment in this is so badass. That was so cool. Yeah, I thought this was a great, great issue. Justin:              And there's a lot of dread here still where like any character could die and everything could go wrong at any moment. And I believe on the last page at the bottom they say things get worse. Alex:                 There we go. Next up Inkblot #3 from Image Comics written by Emma Kubert, art by Rusty Gladd. I got to tell you I keep throwing this book in the stack because I can't wait to figure it out. Like what's going on here. There's a little bit more of a hint in terms of this is a cat that can jump through universes? Pete:                That's the thing. Alex:                 I guess that's the idea of the book that they establish at the beginning here. Pete, you've been enjoying this book. What did you think about this issue? Pete:                Yeah, I don't know what it is. It's just the two eyes are so adorable. It gets me. Justin:              You're a cat guy. Pete:                I'm a cat guy now. So like I get it, cats are very mysterious. They have a lot of things going on that they don't share with us. And yeah, I think that this makes sense of how the Loch Ness Monster came into fruition. I think this is just a crazy kind of creative book. And the art is phenomenal, some adorable storytelling. This is just fun. Alex:                 I just wanted to mention Justin before you get into your comments if you are a cat who would like to share something with us. Please email us at ComicBookClublive@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you. Justin over to you. Justin:              Yes. I always pick up after the cat call out. Pete:                After the cat plug. Justin:              Cat plug. We're looking to meet some single cats. There's something about this book. The art is really cool. And I think changing gears a little bit with this issue, for the few issues it was like what's the big story here? But I think reading this issue it was like, oh maybe it's just like fun little romps with this cat. Alex:                 Yeah, yeah I think so too. I felt a lot better about this one that I did for the first two because I was trying to figure it out. But I had the same sense as you did Justin. I reserve the right to be robbed with issue #4. But the art is so good and it is a fun little pirate adventure with a cat and the Loch Ness Monster, enjoyable stuff. Justin:              I reserve the right to be wrong. Alex:                 Last thing here we're going to end with our X of Swords, X of Swords block, talking about two issues that came out from Marvel. We got X-men #14, written by Jonathan Hickman art by Mahmud Asrar and Leinil Yu. Marauders #14 written by Gerry Dugan and art by Stefano Caselli, two very different issues. So I do think actually, if anything, we kind of need to talk about them differently. But so far, the champions of Arakko and the champions of Krakoa and they gathered in Otherworld for a dinner. In the first issue and X-men we find out about Apocalypse and his wife, what went on there we find out about her secret history. Pete's got to love that one because there was a lot of text and confusing things that happened. Alex:                 And then in Marauders everybody gets together for dinner and things go predictably badly. Would you think about these chapters of X of Sword? And Pete I know you're upset they're not fighting with swords yet. That aside, how'd you feel about these books? Pete:                Alright, so first off you know what's better than having a huge battle that we've been building to taking the time out to have a dinner first. Alex:                 Agreed, agreed. Pete:                And let's just talk at the dinner table. Justin:              When you're hungry. Pete:                And really just kind of talk things out and have a walk? “Hey, Apocalypse, why don't we hold hands and talk about the past and not fight. And get into a giant action sequence like maybe some people would enjoy?” Justin:              Well, let me give you a quick breakdown of the way the story. They teleport to this strange dimension. Dinner, dinner, sleep, midnight snack, brunch, coffee, sword sharpening and shining. Alex:                 You're forgetting something in the middle there Justin, there's several times when they get handed cards. Pete:                What's not to love. Justin:              That's right. Let's not forget about the… Pete:                [crosstalk 00:49:38]. Justin:              So I feel like there's some like magic happening, some light table magic. I think someone's going to eventually have a yo-yo and other like juggling tricks. It's just a fun day out. Anyway, where was I? Okay, then it's going to be lunch. And then they're going to have like a baseball game. Pete:                Don't forget to show the menu. They're going to show the menu a couple times. Alex:                 The menu was fun. It was a fun menu. Justin:              The menu was very fun. Well, let me say so Pete's criticisms aside, and let's put them far, far aside. I love this. I think that the X-Men issue by Jonathan Hickman is a full take down of Apocalypse. It's like a subtle takedown of Apocalypse. Apocalypse went to earth and he like had these like piddling battles with the X-Men, claiming that he was like survival of the fittest. We need to all be better. The mutants must rise. Justin:              Meanwhile, the world he left behind had everyone literally fighting for their lives, constantly. They became the fittest and he has to come back hat in hand, sword in hand with this woman that he left behind that he maybe still loves and be like, “Oh, you've been literally becoming the best fighters in the universe while I have been shitting the bed on Earth. Okay, cool, cool, cool. Let's go have a little day off.” And then the Marauders issue I feel like is a little bit more focused on the Wolverine side of it, but I do think this series- Pete:                Had time for a nice dance. Did you like the dance? Justin:              Some dancing. Wolverine likes to get fucked up. And I think he feels like he really gets to drink in this issue, which he never really… He's always like, I drink. But then the healing factor eradicates everything. Pete:                Yeah, Wolverine gets real fucked up in this issue. Justin:              Yeah. But I do think a lot of this arc, this whole storyline is about repositioning Apocalypse and I'm curious what the landing point of that is. And I do feel like the Marauders issue definitely had that sense of dread. Like an Agatha Christie story where you're like, “Fuck, some of these people are going to die.” Alex:                 Yeah, it really does feel like… And this is something that was a big point of conversation when the X-men introduced resurrection. It feels like these people are a danger. It feels like all of these characters are not actually going to make it out of this or at least in the same way at the end of the day. And that's great that they went in what has it been, a year, something like that. From everybody being like the exploiter just come back to life whenever, to positioning them into a place where they are in actual danger. And bad things may happen to them maybe for the first time at a really long time. That's super smart. Alex:                 And the Marauders issue in particular plays with that with Storm dancing with the literal personification of death, and mentioning “Hey, you've never actually died. You're one of the few X-men that has not died and come back. So let's talk about that. Isn't that interesting?” I thought there was such smart character work in the Marauders thing, the X-men issue as well. Both with Apocalypse and Annihilation I love as usual the insane world building. I do know where he pulls it out from with Jonathan Hickman there. Alex:                 I do think there are touches of East of West going on with the apocalypse, Annihilation stuff. Particularly in the relationship that's popping up there. But that's fine. That's a great book. So I'm okay to skim some of those ideas a little bit. And of course, the art. Mahmud Asrar, Leinil Yu, Stefano Caselli. Awesome. I know I said this the last time. But this is one of, not just with Marvel, but one of the best crossovers I've read in years. At this point. Pete:                Oh shut up. That's just… Shut up. Alex:                 Years. Pete:                Awful, just awful. Alex:                 Years. Decades. Pete:                First off- Alex:                 Millennia. Justin:              Lifetimes. Pete:                … X of Swords, are we even going to get 10 individual issues, like we got to see how they fought… If we don't get to see like 10 issues of fighting after all this fucking lead up. Oh, if we get no… I'm worried, we're getting close. We're past halfway, we still don't have any fighting yet. Justin:              Would you be disappointed Pete if we only got this fighting from the source perspective? Like it was just like metal banging another metal. Pete:                Just clang clang? Justin:              Clang, clang. Alex:                 And you don't actually get to see it. It's just the interior monologue of the swords. “Wow this hurts.” Pete:                I got to say in the Marauders ep, seeing magic like sizing everybody up. That was pretty cool. Justin:              She's a badass. Alex:                 Super fun. Justin:              You mentioned it before, but the menu at the top of the Marauders issue was super fun. Like I love that, the detail there was great. Pete:                Waste of a page. Justin:              I'd eat that shit. Alex:                 Pogg Ur-Pogg, very fun character. I'm just- Justin:              Marinated in urine. I'm here for it. Alex:                 Yeah, all of the Arakko characters also, I think are great and super fun. They're just… I don't know, I don't know if it's Jonathan Hickman in conversation with other people. I don't know if he's necessarily driving the rest of the X-Men team to this but it's just he comes in just and he's like, “Here's these new additions to Marvel continuity. They totally make sense. You love them know.” They are just these perfect things that absolutely work. And the greater part about all of these new additions from Arokko is only one or two of them are completely black and white, which I think is very cool. And a way of Jonathan Hickman really stretching himself as a creator. Justin:              Yeah. Wow, what a blistering takedown. That's the harshest I've ever heard you speak, Alex. Alex:                 These issues are great at that same for The Stack. If you'd like to support us, patreon.com/comicbookclub. Also we do the live show every Tuesday night at 7:00 PM to crowdcast and YouTube. Come hang out. We would love to chat with you about comics at Comic Book Live on Twitter, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, or the app of your choice to subscribe and listen to the show. Also leave us comments on iTunes. Those help out quite a bit. Comicbookclublive.com for this podcast more. Until next time, we'll see you at the virtual comic book shop. Justin:              And remember the door is always open for any stray cat looking to wander in. The post The Stack: Crossover, Sweet Tooth And More appeared first on Comic Book Club. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/comicbookclub See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's Stack podcast: Iron Man #1, You Look Like Death: Tales From The Umbrella Academy #1, Batman #99, Thor #7, Stillwater #1, Detective Comics #1027, Goosebumps: Secrets of the Swamp #1, Giant-Size X-Men: Storm #1, Big Girls #2, Justice League #53, Seven Secrets #2, The Immortal Hulk #37, Dryad #5, Catwoman #25, Once & Future #11, X-Men #12, Faithless II #4, The Amazing Spider-Man: The Sins of Norman Osborn #1, and Head Lopper #13. SUBSCRIBE ON RSS, ITUNES, ANDROID, SPOTIFY, STITCHER OR THE APP OF YOUR CHOICE. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER, AND FACEBOOK. SUPPORT OUR SHOWS ON PATREON. Full Transcript: Alex:                 What is up y'all? Welcome to The Stack. I'm Alex. Justin:              I'm Justin. Pete:                I'm Pete. Alex:                 And on The Stack we talk about a bunch of comics that have come out today. Pete:                Sure do. Alex:                 We review them, unless they're DC comics, those rap scallions, they come out on Tuesdays. They go out for 24 hours. You already know about them. Justin:              Yes, but you can read them today. You can read comics whenever you want. That's the freedom of the comic book industry. Alex:                 Right. And if you break into writer's brain, you can read comics that haven't even been made yet, man. You know what I'm talking about? Justin:              Yes. I know what you mean by breaking into a writer's brain too. You talk about with like a hammer? Alex:                 Yeah, man. But six feet away, keep your safe distance. Let's get into this because I don't know where I was going. Pete:                Wait, what? Yeah, what the fuck. Alex:                 I don't know where I was going with this, Pete. Iron Man, number one from Marvel written by Christopher Cantwell, art by Cafu. This is, as you can imagine, another new start for Iron Man, a back-to-basic start after the big robot war. And this book spends quite a bit of time with Tony Stark, the man, before it puts him in a classic Iron Man costume, throws him up against a new, old threat. What'd you think about this book? How'd you feel about this versus the last couple of years in Tony's life? Justin:              I don't know if I'd call it an Iron Man costume, but other than that I think this is a fun book. I feel like Tony Stark is popping a little bit more here. He feels a little bit on his own, less tied up in a sort of the galaxy brain, worried about everything, stuff that he's mostly been in for the last few years and more just like the guy who puts on the suit. Pete:                It's nice to see him not being a robot or a dead version of himself or whatever it is. It's nice to see Tony being Tony, but there's a lot of interesting things in this comic. I didn't really get past the sad girl playing her violin outside of an Apple store and then asked to leave where she was crying and walking away, that was fucking heartbreaking, man. That was cold as ice. But I'm interested to see what happens. The problem is what I didn't like was there was this moment where it was just like the movie where Tony Stark's like, “Oh yeah.” And then someone comes out to him at a party and was like, “Hey Tony, I got this thing to pitch you.” And he's like, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, later.” And then that person becomes the villain. And that was like we saw that in this comic as well. And I was like, “Well, it's kind of played out, but all right, I'll see what's up.” Alex:                 But it plays out differently, right? Because he turns around to the guy- Pete:                A little differently. Alex:                 I mean, that's a classic Iron Man, Tony stark scenario. What I liked about this book is I spent most of the running time thinking we were going to be running out of time that I was like, “Jesus, why are they spending so much time on Tony Stark out of armor? Get to it already, you're going to run out of the page length here. But this was well paced. It was well thought out and they clearly gave it a little bit of extra time to breathe. You could spend time with Tony Stark before putting him in an action scenario. I don't know if it's going to pay out with the page length every issue necessarily like that, but it's refreshing and nice. Like you were saying Justin, to see him on a back-to-basics level, Tony stark, because we haven't really seen that in a very, very long time. Justin:              Yeah. Reading this I was like, “Oh yeah, he used to be sort of a dude who dealt with his own stuff. And now he's been trapped in the Neanderthal age in a cave for a while.” Also a couple more details I love, Terrax as a villain. One of my favorite villain characters, cosmic villains, who you don't see hardly ever, like cool acts, cool look, cool looking dude. And I love the triangle shield in the first couple of pages and the Iron Man armor. Alex:                 I agree. Good stuff. Art by Cafu as well, yes. Pete:                Yeah. The art was great. The moment where he, spoiler alert, flies through a helicopter blade was pretty bad ass. Alex:                 Yeah. All very cool stuff. Let's move on and talk about You Look Like Death: Tales from the Umbrella Academy, number one, from Dark Horse Comics, story by Gerard Way and Shaun Simon, art and colors by I.N.J. Culbard. This of course does not have the regular artists Gabriel Ba on Umbrella Academy. And that's because- Pete:                Yeah, what the fuck. Alex:                 Hold on. You can probably tell from the title, this is a spinoff. This is a side story focusing on Klaus as he gets kicked out of the Umbrella Academy and heads off to Hollywood. Man, there's just a lot of fun. You got to love this, Klaus high on drugs. Justin:              You know Alex is going to love this. The original Klaus head. Alex:                 I love Klaus. I also love going back to the Umbrella Academy after being so deep into the show with Umbrella Podcademy our Umbrella Academy podcast, to revisit the characters in the original format. It's like, “Oh right, Kraken's actually a badass and not just a sad sack. That's nice to see, that's fun.” Justin:              Yeah. What's your favorite type of hero, bad-ass or sad sack? Alex:                 Great question. It's very much a toss up. Pete, you got to love the vampire buggy, right? Pete:                Yeah. [crosstalk 00:05:44]. That was really fun. First of, [crosstalk 00:05:47]. Justin:              Wait, hold up, Why'd you go to Pete for the vampire monkey? Alex:                 Because I was reading the book and I was like, “Pete's going to hate this, but he's going to like the vampire monkey.” Justin:              Is that true? Pete:                Well, I didn't hate it. I mean, what's upsetting is the father just kills me in this, just how cold this fucking dad is, it's hard to get past and it's just hammered all the time during the book, so it's tough. If this father had any compassion, these kids would have such a better chance in life, and it is just heartbreaking. Justin:              Pete shitting on fatherhood, going after the whole enterprise. Pete:                That's right. Just you guys better fucking get your shit together and fucking [crosstalk 00:06:33]. Alex:                 I just kicked out my son. I told him he was cut off. Justin:              Wow. Alex:                 He headed to Hollywood. He got crazy high. Justin:              Nice. He's going to love it out there. Pete:                Yeah. Anyways, Klaus is fun. It's nice to revisit this a little bit, but I like Gabriel Ba. Justin:              Are you crying, Pete? I love, the art really pops in this, especially once the story moves out to the West coast, I feel like the scenes are really great, really fun. Great all around. Alex:                 Yeah. Let's move on then to Batman number 99 from DC Comics written by James Tynion IV and art by Jorge Jimenez. This is the I think penultimate chapter of the Joker war storyline- Justin:              It seems that way. Alex:                 … this is the Joker has basically destroyed Gotham city, taken over Bruce Wayne's fortune. Finally Batman and the crew are fighting bad Batman by appealing to his family saying, “I messed up, get back together with me all. Let's take this town.” Catwoman meanwhile is attacking financially trying to get the funds back. Man, this is the stuff that happens in this issue. And I almost don't want to spoil it, but particularly towards the end made me exclaim out loud. There are two moments towards the edge of the issue that I went, “Haha,” just like that, out loud. What'd you guys think about it? Pete:                Well, I was really … This is a lot of fun. This book is great. Part of me does really want to kind of get back to the bat and cat stuff, that was kind of set up before this. So seeing them kind of a part is driving me crazy a little bit. But man, the whole start of this, like Joker rolling in his fucking limo, this is really insane to kind of see where things are right now. And it really does get you kind of like hyped for that and in such a great way. I mean the panels where Batman just kind of lands in front of the spot where he's supposed to be, so epic, so well done. I love this kind of show down kind of atmosphere that is being set up. And the reveal at the end was holy fucking shit. Justin:              Yeah. James Tynion is such a tactical writer. He comes at the full story and the individual scenes with different angles than we've seen before. We get to spend more time with the Joker than I feel like we get to see normally. Normally the Joker is just cackling and plotting against Batman. In this we get to see a little bit more of him doing the logistical bits of his plan, and then executing in the way leading up to that last page reveal. And that stuff is fun and smart and makes this story seem fresh despite the fact that we've been … I want to say drowning in Joker for the past couple of years. Alex:                 Yeah. Well that, and also that it is another Gotham city is in flames story, but it's still … which we've seen a million times. I don't know why anybody lives there, but to your point, it's still feels dangerous. It still feels like it could go either way at the end of the day. Great, great stuff. Pete:                Just before we move on, we were talking about some oh shit moments towards the end. But also some touching stuff that happens in this too just before Batman kind of gives his speech or right after it, someone gets a gift, very touching. Alex:                 You're talking about the Nightwing costume, right? Pete:                Yeah, I am. I'm trying not to spoil it you fuck, but cool. Alex:                 Well, I mean, I think that's okay. We've already seen him in the costume several times because of the publishing schedule. But yeah, it's good bad family staff, James Tynion gets it. It works really well. This is a great issue. We went on to another one, Thor number seven from Marvel Comics written by Donny Cates and art by Aaron Kuder. This is pick it up after the death of Galactus last issue. And Thor's big vision, that some bad things are coming not just his way, but the Marvel universe's way. And he is throwing [inaudible 00:10:52] down on Broxton once again, because he feels like he is not worthy to pick it up. Turns out more people might be worthy to pick it up. As usual Donny Cates just find some fun, unique angles on his characters. And I love Aaron Kuder's art so much, just I love it. Every time it's just a pleasure to see his name. Pete:                Yeah. It's very enjoyable. The art is fantastic. Sorry, Justin, I didn't mean to cut you off. Justin:              No, please, it's your time to shine. Pete:                Well, this is such a fun back and forth between Tony and Thor that I love very much. Yeah, this is what a cool kind of setup for this new kind of arc. Very excited to see where this goes. A little kind of twist on the unworthy. But I'm very much on board and it's also great to see the kind of blanking on his name there [crosstalk 00:11:55]. Yeah, thank you. I'm just going to say horse Thor. Justin:              Speaking of Beta Ray Bill, when he takes his helmet off that dude's fucked. Alex:                 It's weird. Scary. Very weird. Yeah. I don't like it. He looks much less like a horse without his helmet. Justin:              Yeah. And much more like a nightmare that I'm going to have tonight. I mean, this book reminded me of a conversation we've had a lot about Batman. Thor is a character that is often pretty serious. Like God dealing with God level things speaking in very heightened language, yet Donny Cates finds a way to make this fun. There's a lot of humor here and that Thor can play around, something we've been talking about a lot lately with Batman is like, why does it always have to be doom and gloom, there's room in our ability as fans to take two sides of a character, someone who takes their job seriously, but also likes to play around a little bit with his friends. And this book does a great job of keeping the action fun, the stakes high, I mean two issues ago, everything was hell. And now here we are where we're having fun with words on [inaudible 00:13:04]. Pete:                Yeah, just leave words on the hammer, man. Alex:                 Words on the hammer, that's what I always say. Moving on to one that I know Justin is super psyched about, Stillwater number one from Image Comics written by Chip Zdarsky and art by Ramon K. Perez. Now this is a bit of a spoiler because they only eventually get around to it in the second half of the book, but it is the concept of the book is about a guy who loses his job, gets an inheritance or so he thinks, that brings him to the small town of Stillwater. And it turns out in the small town of Silverwater, nobody ever dies. Things get darker from there. Justin, talk about this book a little bit. Justin:              I mean the art by Ramon K. Perez is so good. I love his work on everything that he does. I think the first book that really caught my eye he did was I think called Tale of Sand, I want to say, based on a Jim Henson script. And great book and this just art really shines. The story itself reminded me a lot of Lovecraft Country actually, the first two episodes of that, except with none of the race elements and it's just sort of spoiled white dudes doing the … going on a similar journey. But the way the story ends is exciting and curious what the next move is, if that make sense. Pete:                Yeah, this is the new like, hey, I'm a prince, and if you send me money I'll send you money tenfold. When you get the letter that somebody died and there's inheritance, you don't fall for that. All right. That's a trap. It's clear. If you didn't know that person- Alex:                 Wait, sorry. Pete, did you just say somebody died and left me money? Let me know where I need to go to pick it up. Pete:                Oh, okay, well you got to go to Stillwater. Justin:              And let me say on the other side, Pete, your rich great uncle did die and you have to go get that money. You can't just leave that hanging there just because you're scared. Pete:                I'm not going to fall for that, all right. It's some creepy town where- Alex:                 No, I back up what Justin is saying, this is true and accurate. And if you give us $50 right now, we'll tell you where to go. Pete:                Oh, okay. All right. Well, I'll just Venmo you guys then. Alex:                 Yeah, that sounds great. Actually, you know what might be easier is if you gave us your credit card number. Pete:                Oh okay, sure. Yeah, why don't I give it to you right over here? Alex:                 All right, go ahead. Pete:                Five, five, five, five, five. Justin:              It is weird it's all fives. It is crazy. Pete:                Yeah. Alex:                 Wait, actually I had a question just to step back. Thor, I didn't try this yet. The phone number he puts down on me on [inaudible 00:15:52] for Tony, that's just like a regular two on two number, right? That's pretty weird. Justin:              Yeah, let me, I guess you're right here. Two, one, two, nine, seven, zero, four, one, three, three. Alex:                 Ooh, I don't get any phone service down here. You want to give it a call? Justin:              Yeah, I'll give it a call. Alex:                 Okay. That sounds great. Pete:                Oh man, that's exciting. Alex:                 Yes. Meanwhile, I'll talk about Stillwater. This reminded me a little bit of Revival, the Tim Seeley book, just in terms of concept, which is a great book that everybody should check out. It does feel a little more [inaudible 00:16:26] and a little more focused on this character. I'm also sure Chip Zdarsky is aware of revival and trying to do something different in that. But I'm curious to see how it delineates itself from that going on, just in terms of the pure people coming back to life. You're about to call the number Justin? Justin:              Yes. We have not planned this, so we truly have no idea what's going to come up here. Alex:                 There's going to be an old lady that's going to be like, “Hello.” Speaker 4:        Yes, this is Iron Man. However, due to some big blonde jerk, I no longer use this number. But hey, nice try anyway. For all things Tony stark, please visit www.tonystarkironman.com, and try and stay safe out there, yeah. I'm busy enough as it is. Alex:                 Ah, that's fun. Justin:              Is that Downey? Alex:                 That's cool. Maybe. Justin:              It could be, it sounds like him. Alex:                 Yeah. Fun stuff. Good [inaudible 00:17:22] comic books. Pickup Stillwater number one, moving on to, this is going to be a mouthful, are you ready? Detective Comics number 1027 from DC Comics. This isn't an anniversary issue, so it's a bunch of stories. It is written by Peter J. Tomasi, Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, Greg Rucka, James Tynion IV, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Marv Wolfman, Grant Morrison, Tom King, Scott Snyder, Dan Jurgens and Mariko Tamaki. And the art is by Brad Walker, David Marquez, Chip Zdarsky, Eduardo Risso, Riley Rossmo, John Romita Jr., Emanuela Luppachino, Chris Burnham, Walter Simonson, Ivan Reis, Kevin Nowlan and Dan Mora. Justin:              You read so fast, it sounded like you said Snot Snyder. Pete:                It did sound like Snot Snyder. Alex:                 Oh man, thank you for picking on the thing that I screwed up out of 20 names. Justin:              Alex, I just wanted to say, you really nailed it when you said Peter J. Tomasi, Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, Greg Rucka and the rest. Alex:                 I like this package. I know we talk a lot about short story [inaudible 00:18:30], this is like- Pete:                Justin loves talking about nice packages. Justin:              Wow. Alex:                 This is a good set of Batman stories. I was fully prepared to be like, “Yeah, I don't know, I like this one.” But I like most of them. Justin:              Yeah. No, it was hard to pick a favorite as well. I really liked the masterclass story was a good use of the bat family where everyone really got to pop for a second. The Grant Morrison detective number 26 story was like- Alex:                 So funny. Justin:              So fun. And I was like, “Oh, Grant Morrison. Yes. I haven't seen that Grant Morrison in quite a while.” Where it's just like finds a little fun bit and just needles it into a story. Alex:                 I mean, I'll mention with the idea of the story is as you can figure out, it's the guy who came to the issue before Batman and he's already to be the next big vigilante. He's going to be the silver ghost. He has the whole plan. He has his origin story. He has his motivation, everything. And then he goes out of his first mission and he sees Batman and he's like, “Ah, shit.” Justin:              This guy's got good branding, good ears. Alex:                 To your point it's great, I want more of that out of Grant Morrison. I don't need crazy musical notes from Superman saving the universe anymore, just give me that fun stuff. He did that on Klaus as well at least at the beginning where it's just the simple idea of what if Santa was battle Santa. That's great, more of that fun stuff. Pete, which ones did you like? What are you into? Pete:                I really loved the fraction happy returns, the Rocco rookie story was really great that we've had an eye on you was a awesome moment. Justin:              That was cool. Pete:                Love the shout-out to the old costume and generations fractured and the Dan Mora art and the gift, yes please, just fantastic. Alex:                 Yeah. Just such a good package across the board. Pete:                It really is. It's one of those ones where you're like, “All right, a collection,” but then you're like, “Holy shit, this is worth it.” Alex:                 Yeah, pretty much every story is good. The art is great, definitely pick this up. Next step, Goosebumps: Secrets of the Swamp, number one from IDW written by Marieke Nijkamp, and art by Yasmin Flores Montanez. This is a new story, I guess, set in the Goosebumps universe. This is honestly something that is very much out of my wheelhouse. I never read Goosebumps as a kid or anything like that. But it's about a kid who is a gamer. She has one prosthetic arm, so clearly she feels uncomfortable about going outside. But she meets another friend who's a prominent gamer and they begin exploring their town that has some spooky monsters in it. What'd you think about this book? Pete:                Well, yeah, I'm not really a big Goosebumps head, but I really like the start of this. This is a solid first issue. Does a great job of introducing interesting characters and then throwing into a shit show. And I understand like you look up to some hero, somebody you admire and they're like, “Oh yeah, kid, you want to roll with me? Guess what? We're going out into the nightmare that is this world.” Alex:                 And I appreciate you explaining all ages, mostly kids book as throwing them into a shit show. Pete:                Well, what would you call that fucking swamp land that they live in? Justin:              There's nothing wrong with swamp. Pete:                I'm not saying that, but the swamp with monsters- Justin:              What's so scary about a swamp, Pete? Because it feels it's moist. Pete:                No, they have straight up monsters in their fucking swamp. Justin:              But you seemed like hung up on the swamp. Pete:                You're the one hung up [crosstalk 00:22:03]. Alex:                 Fill the swamp, fill the swamp. Justin:              That is what you always cheer. Even your time cheerleading at Cornell University, you were a huge fill the swamp. Alex:                 See you, go big red. Pete:                Oh my God. Justin:              Just building out some of our background on the show. I liked this a lot, I also didn't read Goosebumps, so I don't know what Goosebumps brings to this story. It's just like a creepy story I guess, the branding on it, because this story of these people coming together sort of through gaming and then the gaming becoming real. And then they go on the swamp to face a monster, could stand on its own in a fun way. Pete:                Yeah, it's a fun- Alex:                 [crosstalk 00:22:51] a story, like you said, I like the character, so I wanted a little more out of the story. But I feel like obviously we're going to get that in the second issue. Pete:                Issue two is a good spot to look for that. Justin:              Yeah. Wait for it. Alex:                 There you go. Let's move on to another one, Giant-Size X-Men: Storm, number one from Marvel, written by Jonathan Hickman and art by Russell Dauterman. Now we have talked incessantly, but these Giant-Size X-Men books about what is going on here, these seem like half finished stories. What is happening? Well, [inaudible 00:23:21] as one might say. Pete:                Nope. Alex:                 No, but I would not say that. This issue- Pete:                I also wanted to say though that this Jordan D. White said that this issue would change things for Storm forever. So there was a lot of hype going into this issue. Justin:              Well, and can you pinpoint what that is? Pete:                Yeah. Justin:              What? Pete:                Turns out Storm is sick and she's got some things going on, and it makes me very sad. Justin:              Well, but she- Alex:                 No. Justin:              But she's cured by the end, spoiler. Pete:                Yeah. Is she though? Because it seems like that demon they pulled out of her is just going to grow. Alex:                 The only thing that I was going to say, just to kind of finish up the thing that I was saying that we can turn over to the rest of it, is this is finally bringing together some threads specifically from the Giant-Size X-Men issues. We get the Nightcrawler one, which focused a little bit on Cypher. We get the Storm one obviously which, or I guess it was the Jean Grey one maybe- Justin:              I think so. Alex:                 I honestly don't remember. Whatever it was, it was a Storm story and they're finally picking up on that. And we also get the [inaudible 00:24:31] one picking up with that as well and started to loop all of these disparate threads together. Justin, what did you think about this? Because you've been very, critical is probably the wrong word, but I would say dubious at least about [crosstalk 00:24:44]. Justin:              Yeah, surprised just in general that these have been sort of off the main character standalone stories or seemingly standalone stories. But to your point where you were just saying, I do think this amounts to a lot, it feels like, I don't know if maybe it's faded in our minds because of how much has happened in the X universe since the Dawn of X. But so much of those first issues were about sort of the artificial intelligence that will eventually destroy not only the mutants but the humans and be the real enemy. If humans and mutants can get over their shit and face AI. Justin:              And it feels like maybe this is the moment where it starts. That being in the world which the whole premise of the world is that it accelerates time, it accelerates evolution. They pull this techno organic virus that Storm picked up in a recent issue where they went into … what is the place they went into? Alex:                 The orcas, I think. Justin:              Yeah. Orcas and The Children of the Vault is what I was trying to think of. And she pulls this techno organic virus, The Children of the Vault also a hyper evolving hyper time place, and takes it to this other even more pocket dimension where the time extends, it happens even faster. And I think that is the AI evolution that will eventually lead to some of the real monsters that the X-Men face in the Dawn of X issues. And the people we have at the end of this issue, sort of being there are Phantom X, Phantom X's sort of twin, I guess. And then a random dude from AIM. Alex:                 Yeah. And the other thing that's kind of messed up about it, particularly as of a fan of the character is Cypher and Warlock seem to know what's going on and seem to be kind of cool with it, which is not great. There's definitely been some weird, potentially dangerous stuff going on with Cypher and Warlock over the course of this entire run. And that certainly seems to be the clearest tip of the hat to what's happening here. So yeah, I 100% agree with you, Justin. This is like, I think the important thing, it's surprising you said Storm, because I think the important thing is to the overall plot of what is happening with the X-Men line since the very beginning, versus necessarily Storm. Justin:              Yeah. It feels like a bigger thing. That's why I always say, “Don't trust the guy that speaks all the languages.” He's up at the bar, he's talking to the bartender, ordering you a weird drink because he knows too much. Alex:                 But yeah, good issue. Particularly if you've been reading these Giant-Size X-Men books, if you've read House of X and Powers of X, you really like those. I think this is a good thing to pick up on to kind of get potentially the ongoing story. Let's move out to Big Girls Number two from Image Comic story and art by Jason Howard. I think we were pretty into but a little reserved on the first issue of this book, takes place in a post apocalyptic world where women grow to gigantic size, men also grow to gigantic size, but become monsters and are attacking one of the last remaining cities. We've been following one of the so-called Big Girls who was fighting back against them. We get more fleshed out about the world, this issue. I like this issue a lot more personally, because of the details and the nuance that it added. How'd you guys feel? Pete:                Yeah, this is good because it's like, all right, now we're kind of really getting understanding of who's who, where's what type of situation. Justin:              Who's big, who's little. Pete:                Yeah. Men are monsters, women are saving the world, it's great. I do think though that the kind of reveal at the end is really what's going to kind of take this concept and kind of push it. But the art's great, the action's phenomenal. It's a interesting world, so I'm excited for more. But I'm glad that and agree with Zalben that issue too kind of like solidify things a little bit better. Justin:              Yeah, I agree. I mean, it's nice to sort of, like you're saying, Pete, see the sides of where everyone is. We have our main character who's a little bit dubious about the status quo. And then we have this sort of rebel faction in the back half that is maybe- Pete:                Also I was a little worried about how slow that one main character was to pull the trigger to save that other person's life there. I was like, thought that would be a bigger issue and might come back. Alex:                 We'll have to see what happens. Justin:              I love the double page spread in the middle of the book of our main Big Girl being operated on, and sort of repaired like really- Pete:                Oh yeah, that was fun, some of the like- Justin:              Cowgirl as she's known. Pete:                Yeah. Alex:                 Very Gulliver in that moment. Pete:                Yeah, Gulliver, and I was going to say like, Fraggle Rock reminded me of the dozers a little bit. Alex:                 Yeah. [crosstalk 00:29:49]. Justin:              You say Fraggle Rock a lot, just in general. Pete:                Down at Fraggle Rock. Down at Fraggle Rock. Alex:                 Down at Fraggle Rock. Justin:              That's not a criticism, that's just an open ended statement. Pete:                Every time I walk by a construction society, I want to take a bite out of it, what? Justin:              Every time I walk past a pile of garbage, I want to talk to you. Pete:                Yeah. Justin:              You walk past a construction site and you're like, “What up dozers?” And they're like, “Get the fuck out of here.” Alex:                 We're trying to build radishes here, come on. Justice League number 53 for DC Comics written by Joshua Williamson and art by Xermanico. This is tying into Dark Nights: Death Metal. This arc is called Doom Metal, and focuses on one mission of … I think it's fair to call them sub Justice League members, slash- Justin:              Woo, spicy. Alex:                 Yeah, I'm sorry. [crosstalk 00:30:43]. Justin:              Shots fired. Alex:                 It's Detective Chimp. It's hot girl. She's a member of the Justice League. But they are going after Perpetua's throne. Pete, you raised your hand, what would you like to say? Pete:                I would say cute start, what a touching adorable start. Little Robin trying to sneak up on Batman [inaudible 00:31:05]. Justin:              Great. I guess I agree with Pete technically. But I do like- Pete:                I mean the POV angles, it really was a kid looking up at these heroes. I thought that was such great attention to detail that really gives- Alex:                 This really is not helping my theory that you don't read beyond the first page or two, Pete. Pete:                Okay, fine. Justin:              That's one conspiracy theory I can get behind. Pete:                How about they born on a Doomsday panel that was later your dick, that was awesome. Alex:                 I mean that was page four. Justin:              Oh, he's flipping through the book right now. Alex:                 How about this thing at the last page that I just looked at. Justin:              Yeah. You see this UPC code on the back cover? Woo, did not see that coming. That's how you buy the book, they scan it. Alex:                 What were you going to say, Justin? Justin:              Ah, yes. I thought Pete was going to have a slight rebuttal. Pete:                No, I'm just enjoying how much you guys enjoy shooting holes in everything I'm trying to do. Justin:              Trying to do? Alex:                 Oh man. Justin:              What are you going to do? Pete:                I don't know, give my opinion, but apparently it's not good enough because it only is stuff that happens in the beginning. Alex:                 It's a very good opinion. It's a very good opinion. I'm just doing a classic comic book club La Zalben. Justin:              That's why they call him Alex La Zalben. I agree with Pete. There's a lot of fun of this book. I love this sort of … it feels like a side quest in a fantasy game or a fantasy series in a fun way. I could read a lot of this Death Metal stuff for maybe a long time. It's fun. [crosstalk 00:32:48]. Alex:                 It's surprising, right? Justin:              Yeah. Alex:                 Because it's silly. Pete, you did bring up the born on a Doomsday, [inaudible 00:32:56] who are also Doomsdays, it's the sort of thing where you get to this point you're like, “This is so stupid, but it works at the same time.” It's just mashing your toys together, that's all it is. But they're having such a good time with it. It's fun to read. Justin:              Aaron and Garney arm falls off, you put a Doomsday on. Alex:                 Exactly. All right. Let's move on to Seven Secrets number two from Boom! Studios written by Tom Taylor and art by Daniele di Nicuolo. We really like the first issue of this though. I think there's a little criticism from some of us about the end perhaps being a little confusing or not sure where it was going necessarily. But it is about a world where there's a secret society. They hold seven secrets. We're focusing on one character who's part of that, who is the son of two of the characters who hold two of those secrets. At least one of those characters dies in the last issue. And that there's a big villain who's trying to take them all down. We flash back this issue and get an origin. I thought not only was this issue great, but the cliffhanger was superb. One of the best that I've read in a really long time, the last sentence of the book, and made me even way more into this book than I was before. Pete:                Wow. I read that like last part and was like, “Oh man, that's more heartbreaking than we need. You didn't need to do that at the end.” But I agree, this is information that we needed and it's important. Moving forward I'm glad they kind of took a breath to give us this kind of flashback type of thing. Yeah, I'm really into this book now. This issue got me more hyped about it. Justin:              Yeah. Especially in an issue that felt like he was laying a lot of groundwork, it felt like sort of an exposition issue. A lot of like sort of drama in the King's court style drama. And then to end on that emotional, just build up to that last panel was really well done. Pete:                I can't even look at … I'm sorry. Alex:                 No. All I was going to say was that I'd be really fascinated to hear how Tom Taylor structured this, because it almost feels like you have this very Harry Potter sort of training section that potentially would come first. Then you go out to the inciting incident, which is the thing where the society gets messed up. And then you follow through from there, but he flipped it. He went from first issue, the second issue and he reversed the order of them and it works so well, it's very, very smart. Justin:              Yeah. The words I was trying to come up with earlier were palace intrigue. This issue is so much palace intrigue, and ending on a real strong emotional beat. Pete:                I was just going to say that I can't look at a gold little ducky without getting choked up anymore. Alex:                 Oh man, sad stuff. Let's move on to something that probably creeps you the fuck out, Pete, the Immortal Hulk number 37 from Marvel- Pete:                Oh, Jesus Christ. Alex:                 … written by Al Ewing Alan and art by Joe Bennett. The door is finally open. We finally know who the big villain of this book is. It's the leader of course. Pete:                Yeah, of course it is. Alex:                 Or maybe it is. There might be something behind that. But the leader is looking to manipulate the green door the way that the Hulk and other gamma radiated heroes have been resurrected constantly, hence the Immortal Hulk of the title. While the Hulk is outside fighting in the real world, the leader is inside this hellscape or whatever is going on there. He has taken over Rick Jones. He has taken over … who's the second one he's taken over? I don't remember. Oh, he's taken over the irradiated guy, whatever the irradiated guy from the early on the run. Pete:                Yeah, from the [crosstalk 00:36:57]. Alex:                 And there's nobody else that he's taken over as well that he hits at, we don't know who that is yet. But, oh God, I cannot say enough about how terrifying it is to read every issue of this book. Pete:                Yeah, it's too much, man. It's too much. It's gone too far. It's gone too far. Justin:              I love this book and the way, the sense of dread that's been building from issue one and it just keeps extending to end, not only with the writing, but the art, despite all of the body, just disaster that's happening on all these pages. You still get references too older Hulk artists. The last page feels like right out of the Hulk history, and so much of it, it feels just so big, every issue big and horrifying, just like I want everything to be. Alex:                 This is a very meta way of looking at it, but it is very exciting to be reading an all timer. You don't get that often when you're reading a book, but you read this book and you're like, “This is a Hulk run that people are going to talk about for decades.” This is going to be talked about in the same breath as Peter David's run, as the original run, as all these other classic runs of a Hulk and other characters. And I don't know how this is going to add up, I don't know where this could go. But being in the middle there between Al Ewing's writing and Joe Bennet's art, which is like Cronenberg-esque in exactly the right way. It's very exciting to read every issue of this book. Pete:                Yeah, 100%. Alex:                 Great. Thanks. Glad you agree, Pete. Just [inaudible 00:38:50], no thanks. Pete:                Well, I mean, I'm glad you guys are having fun. Alex:                 That's nice. Justin:              Pete's scared. Pete:                This is a horror book with one of my favorite characters, so you guys enjoy your time, I'll wait until we get Hulk. Justin:              Is there another book you could read where the Hulk does something like, I don't know, like smash. Pete:                No, I don't think there is. [crosstalk 00:39:13]. Alex:                 Dryad number five from Oni Press written by Kurtis Wiebe illustrated by Justin Osterling. I'll give a little pluggy plug here. Go check out our bonus episode where we talk to the team behind this book in the comic book club feed, it was a blast and a pleasure to talk to them about the last issue of the book, as well as the run. But Dryad number five, we have our main characters now in the city, they are battling folks, they are trying to figure out what's going on, the kids have no idea. There's a big twist as usual towards the end of this issue. What'd you think about this one? Justin:              This book continues to go its own way. You cannot predict the storytelling here and it's fully into sci-fi, big sci-fi, Blade Runner-esque, corporate intrigue. And did not see that coming, curious with some still fantasy elements popping through. But it's one of the few books I feel like we read where it's like, “I have no idea where we're headed.” Pete:                Yeah. It's very interesting. Each issue is kind of like its own thing, and what's great is you don't know what you're going to get when you pick up this book, but it continues to tell a story just somehow more creatively in different ways. It's impressive to kind of see this thing move forward. I continue to be impressed by the art and the storytelling. This one, we get a lot more action. And then some of the stuff that Zalben likes at the end, but like it's … Alex:                 What does that mean? Pete:                You know what I'm talking about, that hot tub shit at the end, got a little weird that you're into. Alex:                 What? No, come on, Pete. I mean, that was pretty hot. Justin:              I mean, I love a hot tub. I wish there was another book you were talking about [crosstalk 00:41:07]. Alex:                 You know what's best about that is the hot tub scene. The hot tub scene being cut between the guy who had his legs blasted off, I was like, “Fuck yeah. Give me more of that, inject that into my veins.” No, it was good, that was fine. That was a good Ted scene and fleshed out more about the world, but I'm way more into what's going on with the kids and what's happening at the end. Great, great stuff. Alex:                 Catwoman number 25 from DC Comics written by Ram V, an art by Fernando Blanco. This is a bunch of different things. This is tying into the Joker War. Almost an essential chapter of it, as we find out what Catwoman does with Bruce Wayne's money. But also setting up a new classic status quo for Catwoman that I thought was great. I like this book across the board. I had a little burp there at the end, I'm sorry. Justin:              How dare you. Pete:                Okay. I really love the amazing flashback sequences with the kind of tiger stuff that was almost like this orangest type painting kind of thing, that was really cool. Plus the way they kind of drew the action with Catwoman was really a lot of fun, where you're kind of on the same page, you see her kind of doing different moves. To me that's kind of like old school comic book style and I really enjoyed that. Justin:              We talked about this a little- Pete:                I also burped at the end, that was weird. Justin:              That is weird you guys, gas management, gas management bros. Alex:                 Justin has covered for you. Justin:              No, I am fully in charge. Pete:                Oh God. Justin:              I think we talked about this a little bit earlier when we were talking about the Batman books. But I want some resolution on the Batman Catwoman relationship, because it feels like we've been in this space because of whatever happened with changing up the creative teams when they did. We're in this place where it's like, wait, she's just moving his money around and sort of not hanging out, what's the deal? Want to know about their relationship. But aside from that sort of unrelated bother, this was an essential chapter I think. Seeing Catwoman doing this makes you understand the main story a lot more for the Joker War. Alex:                 Yeah, I agree. All right. Let's move into a little part of the show. And this is the end of the show here, which I like to call the Pete sandwich. And the reason I call it the Pete Sandwich is because we got a book Pete really wants to talk about, three books Pete does not want to talk about, and then a book Pete wants to talk about. Pete:                Yeah, sandwich. Alex:                 Pull back the curtain a little bit. But let's get to it. Justin:              And the best way to eat a sandwich is you start with the piece of bread that you really like, then you eat the middle, and then you get to the other piece of bread, which is the other thing you really like. Pete:                Bread's nice, man. Sometimes nice, fresh bread makes everything better. Justin:              You just mash the sandwich bread first into your face and chew your way up. Alex:                 Whenever I go to a deli, I'm like, “Hey, I'll have a Italian Hero. Then take the Salami and the pepperoni and the Capocollo, you throw that out, [inaudible 00:44:20] you throw that out.” Justin:              Capocollo, I love it. Alex:                 You get rid of it. [crosstalk 00:44:24]. Justin:              Just some slightly oily bread. Alex:                 [crosstalk 00:44:28], no, you put it out there and you throw it out. I don't like it. Oil and vinegar, you throw it out. Once & Future number 11 from Booms! Studios written by Kieron Gillen and illustrated by Dan Mora. Holy shit, the end of this issue is fucking insane, not to curse too much. But they have been fighting Grendel of the Beowulf myth, they took care of Beowulf. This issue, they fight, they take care of Grendel. You can kind of see where this is going. You know where this is going. But the way Dan Mora draws this is so horrific and so perfect. This issue is great. I like this series anyway, but this is one of my favorite issues in a while. Pete:                Yeah. This is really just kind of back to what started this thing and made us love it so much, just unbelievable action. This amazing grandmother in the heart of it. I can't, I mean, if you don't like this book, I don't know what to tell you. This to me is great comics, unbelievable art, unbelievable storytelling. The action and violence is mwah, chef's kiss, just fantastic. I'm having so much goddamn fun with this book. Justin:              Yeah. Shout-out to our interview with Kieron Gillen, where we talked about this book a lot. Because it really informs a lot of the process and it makes it so much richer to read this book, hearing him talk about it. Because you get to see in this issue the story that they're sort of caught up in and fighting catch up with them simultaneously. It feels like they've been sort of alongside the story or ahead of the story a little bit. And this last panel, last couple of panels or pages, you really see the story come up and be like, you're done, we got you here. And that's really satisfying to see on top of the fact that it's just a great action story and sequence and wildly bloody in a fun way. Alex:                 Yeah. So good. This is just great. Let's move on to the … sorry, I got a little sick there even thinking about a Capocollo of the stack. X-Men number 12 from Marvel Comics written by Jonathan Hickman and art by Leinil Francis Yu. In this issue- Pete:                What the fuck? What the fuck is going on? Justin:              Uh-oh. He's in [crosstalk 00:46:58]. Alex:                 This is a classic. Pete:                No, no, no, no, no, this, okay, all right, fine. You're going to have fuck island, you're going to … you can't keep adding crazier shit on top of crazier shit. Alex:                 No, man. This is classic- Pete:                You have to deal with it, you can't keep just fucking adding crazy shit. Justin:              Can't you? Pete:                How did Hickman say … how did he pitch [inaudible 00:47:22]. Okay guys, I'm going to change X-Men forever. And just when you think it can't get crazier, I'm going to keep adding crazier … I'm not going to deal with that, I'm just going to keep going to crazy town and then walk away. Alex:                 The reason I said this was the Capocollo is because it has the surprising, sliced peppercorns in the middle where you're like, “Whoa, where did that come from?” Justin:              Woo, spicy. Alex:                 Yeah, classic X-Men book. As we all know, Apocalypse originally came from the dimension of our Rocco separate Island next door to- Pete:                What the fuck. Alex:                 That has since had sex with and enjoyed with [inaudible 00:47:59]. His grandchildren have kept on his legacy. There is the opposite of apocalypse, the evil apocalypse, because as we all know, the apocalypse is good now. Justin:              Famously heroic. Pete:                What is happening? Alex:                 I don't know. Pete:                This doesn't make any sense. Alex:                 This is definitely like, it's funny to read this after the past couple of the issues where Jonathan Hickman was like, “I don't know, [inaudible 00:48:26] is killing shit out of the moon or whatever,” I don't know what's going on. This is fun. They're just killing some plants. We're having a good time, isn't this fun? Pete:                Is he throwing darts at a board? Alex:                 Yeah, this is fun [crosstalk 00:48:35]. He's like, “Did you forget that I'm Jonathan Hickman?” [crosstalk 00:48:43]. Justin:              I think I can shout out everyone's favorite panel from this issue, for everyone's favorite page, excuse me. The info page sort of two thirds the way through where we list the [inaudible 00:48:54]. And it's an infographic where we find out about the summoners from the school of [inaudible 00:49:01], this world that we just invented and arrived at, and how you can either be a shitty summoner, a decent summoner or a kick ass summoner. And can summon Pete, this [inaudible 00:49:12] is fun. You can summon our hoard of elementals, and up to three major [inaudible 00:49:17]. Alex:                 It is wild that at the course of one issue Jonathan Hickman is like, “Oh yeah, Apocalypse had a wife and also a evil opposite Apocalypse who is going to kick off his Ten of Swords type thing or whatever, because there's all these powerful swords. It's not big deal. Anyway, let's go into a hole, it's all good.” And then it picked up this random game that he introduced and that got away from in the last issue is insane. Justin:              Yeah. And he's like, “Oh, don't worry. In case you're of worry this isn't an X-men book focused on the heroic X-Men, don't worry because we got Banshee and Unus the Untouchable coming along for the ride.” Alex:                 Also they're all mutants and one of their powers is to never lose, which is crazy. Justin:              That's a hell of a thing to say. Alex:                 Yeah. I mean, this is saying a lot. This was the most Jonathan Hickman issue of X-Men so far. Justin:              I mean, it's a full on fantasy story at this point. That's why I think this issue is a real, is pointing us to what Ten of Swords is going to be, and it's going to be this. It's going to be epic grand scale battles with people and places that we don't know too much about and may never.” Alex:                 But that's okay. Well, all I'm going to say is, I've been enjoying this enough and this has been crazy enough that I'm willing to follow them down this rabbit hole into your insaneville that I don't understand. Justin:              100%. Alex:                 But I also think … Hold on. Pete, I do want to hear what you have to say, but the only thing that I want to say is you think back to nineties, two thousands, X-Men they were like, “Oh yeah, there's a mega level mutants. Oh yeah, now there's externals.” All of these things that we 20, 30 years down the road are like, yes, yes, that's part of canon and I get that and I understand that. That's what they're doing right now. That's what he is doing is he's adding in these insane details to the X-Men Mythos that decades down the road we're going to be like, “Yes, I remember that. That is Arakko. That's what happens there.” Justin:              Alex, what are you crazy? Immortal mutants that don't know they're immortal that's normal. Ten Swords, that's insane. Can you imagine Ten Swords? Alex:                 You're right. I'm sorry. That's too bad. I apologize. Pete:                I just want to start by saying I'm not willing to follow them into this crystal anus that they're walking into. All right. This is too insane. It's not an X-Men book. I don't know what the fuck's going on anymore. Justin:              I guess I'm changing your birthday plans, Pete, because it's very similar to that. Pete:                Okay. Well, I have no idea what the fuck is happening, who fuck is doing what. Cool. I'm glad people are having fun, but wake me when the X-Men show up. Alex:                 I don't usually like to talk about further episodes of The Stack, but next week we're going to be reading Dawn of X of Swords, Enter the Crystal Anus number one. And I hope you're going to read it, Pete. Justin:              I have a feeling you're going to love it. I feel bad because the Crystal Anus is on my favorite bars in Brooklyn and it closed because of COVID. Pete:                Oh, it's too bad. Alex:                 All right, let's move on to the … let's say salami of this particular Stack. Faithless number two, number four- Pete:                Here we go. Alex:                 … from a Boom! Studios written by Brian Azarello and art by Maria Llovet. I feel like we were a little down on the last issue of Faithless. Justin, I'm talking specifically to you because Pete doesn't want to talk about this at all. This issue I thought was very good. This is, Faith finally shows off her art. She goes on a tour of Turin I believe, with maybe a demon or a fallen angel or something like that. Very weird, very dark. What were you going to say? Justin:              I was going to say, I feel like what we've been talking about is it feels like this book has been spinning its wheels for a couple of issues where it's like, “We get it. She's an artist.” There's all these like dark clouds gathering around her with demonic intentions. But I think this issue, especially the back half for the back third, we get sort of what the book is about a little bit. And it's about her being this conduit through sex to connect with ghosts and sort of use them in her art. And that feels, knowing that is great, is helpful to maybe giving her a power in the story to guide it as opposed to just be this innocent washed up in all this chaos. Alex:                 Yeah. I mean it's interesting because it's kind of a battle for her soul type thing, right? They've been pretty clear about that, it's [inaudible 00:54:12] et cetera. But you have this master artist who is coming in, who is encouraging to go further in the darkness, versus she has this guy who comes out of the devil's door, but he's good in a way, he inspires her to be better. But it's fascinating, this is … Pete, you must've loved this issue, right? Justin:              The devil's door was actually the back entrance to the Crystal Anus and again it closed forever. Pete:                Yeah. I mean, what sucks is I thought we were going to kind of get away from all the madness a little bit and then it's like, “Oh, this is a nice date.” But then it's like, “Oh yeah, of course the dead person with an open head wound is going to still get some, because this is a fucking weird ass book.” Alex:                 It gives you hope though, right? If you ever [inaudible 00:55:03]. Pete:                Yeah. I had a little hope and then the douchebag showed up at the end again. Alex:                 No, I mean if you ever get a head wound, you might still be on the market. Pete:                Yeah, still bangable. Yeah, it's true. Just because you got an open head wound doesn't mean you still can't get some I guess is the moral- Justin:              That's the spirit. Alex:                 That's what it says on my Tinder profile. Justin:              Alex, you've been married for so long, you got to shut that Tinder profile down. Alex:                 I did actually not to veer into a true story. I don't think we're married yet, but we're definitely for like- Pete:                How the fuck. Alex:                 No, I had a Nerve profile and four years into dating my wife right before I proposed to her I was featured on nerve as a single. And I was like, “Oh shit, oh no.” Pete:                That's hilarious. Justin:              Bummer, metal pocket the ring for a couple of weeks. Alex:                 Yeah. I honestly went on only like three or four dates before I shut it down off of that. But yeah, then we got married. Justin:              That's a beautiful story and was a great toast at your wedding by the way. Alex:                 Thank you. All right. Let's move on to the serrano ham of The Stack. The Amazing Spider Man- Justin:              Oh, this is a high-Class sub. Alex:                 It's a good sub. It's a brooklyn style sub. The Amazing Spider-Man, Sins of Norman Osborn number one from Marvel Comics written by Nick Spencer and art by Federico Vicentini. This is another essential chapter of the storyline it feels like, that I don't understand why it's a one shot other than them trying to maybe hit the timing right for anniversary issues or something. But Spider-Man is trying to save Norman Osborn. The spider family is trying to decide whether to stop him or not from the Sin-Eater. I thought this was very good. I've been liking this storyline quite a bit. Justin:              I mean, I agree. I've been loving the Sin-Eater stuff, like such a departure from what Nick Spencer was doing before. This storyline is wild. There's so much happening here touching on a ton of continuity- Alex:                 So much stuff. Justin:              The fact that the Sin-Eater kills negative man, and then adapts his powers, it's like, oh, you have to know, you have to have been reading Spider-Man for a long time to know what the fuck is happening. Pete:                Yeah. Also it's just so much like stuff that you're like, oh, that could have been an ending, oh, that could have been an ending. And then the whole juggernaut thing is just such a couple panels that could have been such a huge thing. I was just really surprised at how much shit is jam packed in this issue and what the actual like oh shit reveal at the end is. There's just so much stuff packed in here, it's kind of surprising a little bit. Alex:                 Yeah. But it's a good issue, particularly if you've been reading Amazing Spider-Man, definitely pick this one up. Last one, back to the bread as we expected. Head Lopper number 13 from Image Comics story and art by Andrew Maclean. Pete, I got to say, there is no head lopping of this boo

On a special bonus episode of Comic Book Club, we’re chatting with the creative team behind Oni Press’ Dryad, Kurtis Wiebe and Justin Osterling. SUBSCRIBE ON RSS, ITUNES, ANDROID, SPOTIFY, STITCHER OR THE APP OF YOUR CHOICE. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER, AND FACEBOOK. SUPPORT OUR SHOWS ON PATREON. The post Comic Book Club Bonus: Kurtis Wiebe And Justin Osterling appeared first on Comic Book Club.

On a special bonus episode of Comic Book Club, we're chatting with the creative team behind Oni Press' Dryad, Kurtis Wiebe and Justin Osterling. SUBSCRIBE ON RSS, ITUNES, ANDROID, SPOTIFY, STITCHER OR THE APP OF YOUR CHOICE. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER, AND FACEBOOK. SUPPORT OUR SHOWS ON PATREON. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/comicbookclub See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your favorite questing party is back bringing to you the tales of your second favorite questing party via the wonders of the world wide web!  Join the Comic Dwarves as they dig in to Rat Queens vol. 1: Sass and Sorcery by Kurtis Wiebe and Roc Upchurch! Hosted by Tom Bevis, Michael Brown, Sean Corbin, and Joshua Shepherd. Music by Polynova. Sound Effects by Aaron Corbin. A Nonplussed Comics Podcast. Produced by Tom Bevis.

Comics Reviews: Flash 750 by Joshua Williamson, Rafa Sandoval, Stephen Segovia, Jordi Tarragona, Arif Prianto, Geoff Johns, Scott Kolins, Michael Atiyeh, Francis Manapul, Brian Buccellato, Marv Wolfman, Riley Rossmo, Ivan Plascencia, David Marquez, Alejandro Sanchez, Scott Lobdell, Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, Luis Guerrero Strange Adventures 1 by Tom King, Mitch Gerads, Doc Shaner Superman: Villains by Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, Jody Houser, Steve Lieber, Cully Hamner, Jim Mahfood, Michael Gaydos, Riley Rossmo, Scott Godliewski Oracle Code by Marieke Nijkamp, Manuel Preitano Rescue 2020 1 by Dana Schwartz, Jacen Burrows, Scott Hanna, Pete Pantazis Marvel 1 by Kurt Busiek, Alex Ross, Steve Darnall, Sajan Saini, Frank Espinosa, Steve Rude Spider-Man Noir 1 by  Margaret Stohl, Juan Ferreyra Strange Academy 1 by Skottie Young, Humberto Ramos, Edgar Delgado Mercy 1 by Mirka Andolfo Outer Darkness/Chew by John Layman, Afu Chan, Rob Guillory Mulan's Adventure Journal: The Palace of Secrets by Rhona Cleary, Agnese Innocente, Gaia Cardinali Argus 1 by Mark Bertolini, Darryl Knickrehm Billionaire Island 1 by Mark Russell, Steve Pugh, Chris Chuckry Cimmerian: Queen of the Black Coast 1 by Jean-David Morvan, Pierre Alary Dryad 1 by Kurtis Wiebe, Justin Osterling Hellfighter Quinn 1 by Jay Sandlin, Atagun, Maria Santaolalla Join the Future 1 by Zack Kaplan, Piotr Kowalski, Brad Simpson, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou King of Nowhere 1 by W. Maxwell Prince, Tyler Jenkins Twin Worlds 1 by Rami Al-ashqar, Jethro Morales Princess Princess Ever After by Katie O'Neill Additional Reviews: Death Bed, Batman thoughts, Onward News: White Knight imprint, Green Lantern Season 2 extended, Waititi Dahl Netflix, con cancellations Trailers: Connected Comics Countdown: Oracle Code by Marieke Nijkamp, Manuel Preitano Batman 90 by James Tynion IV, Jorge Jimenez, Morey Strange Academy 1 by Skottie Young, Humberto Ramos, Edgar Delgado Money Shot 5 by Tim Seeley, Sarah Beattie, Rebekah Isaacs, Russell Daredevil 19 by Chip Zdarsky, Marco Checcheto, Iacono Birthright 42 by Joshua Williamson, Andrei Bressan, Lucas Farmhand 14 by Rob Guillory, Taylor Wells Strange Adventures 1 by Skottie Young, Humberto Ramos, Edgar Delgado Mulan's Adventure Journal: The Palace of Secrets by Rhona Cleary, Agnese Innocente, Gaia Cardinali Doctor Strange: Surgeon Supreme 4 by Mark Waid, Kev Walker, Java Tartaglia, Antonio Fabela

Mercenaries, adventurers, a straight up mess. These are the 'Rat Queens', one of the many bands of warriors, mages and thieves that roam the world. The dwarven warrior Violet, the halfling thief Betty, the human cleric Dee, the elven mage Hannah, and the orc warrior Braga smite, bash and stab their way through all sorts of epic adventures in and around their hometown of Palisade. With a diverse cast both in and out of character, the official Rat Queens RPG can only be seen on Hyper RPG. RPG System - Dungeon World, a Powered by the Apocalypse system (Sage Kobold Productions): ► http://www.dungeon-world.com/ 'Rat Queens' is an ongoing comic book series created by Kurtis J Wiebe and published by Image Comics — Join our Patreon for as low as $1: ► https://patreon.com/hyperrpg Donate to us for free by testing apps on your mobile. Visit Rechaaarge for more details: ► https://rechaaarge.com/HyperRPG Grab yourself a pair of MeUndies and use the coupon code 'Hyper RPG' at checkout and get 15% off your first purchase or shop using our special link: ► https://meundies.com/hyperrpg — Subscribe to Hyper Rabbit Power Go here: ► https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRDP... Watch Rat Queens live Wednesdays at 7pm PT on Twitch: ► https://www.twitch.tv/hyperrpg Enjoying Rat Queens? You might like Bloodcurdling Tales of the Loop: ► https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAJE6... — GM Emily Rose Jacobson: https://twitter.com/frankly_emily PLAYERS Jessica Verdi (Hannah): https://twitter.com/jessicaverdi Laurie Jones (Violet): https://twitter.com/LaurieMichelleJ Michelle Nguyen (Betty): https://twitter.com/iamchubbybunny Riley Silverman (Braga): https://twitter.com/rileyjsilverman Aliza Pearl (Dee): https://twitter.com/AlizaPearl GARY Kurtis Wiebe (Gary): https://twitter.com/KurtisWiebe Listen to the Podcast or Search 'Hyper Rabbit Power Go - TTRPGs' on Your Favorite App iTunes: https://apple.co/2EcPyAr Simplecast: https://hyperrpg.simplecast.fm/ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2EfrUmY Follow Hyper RPG on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/hyper_rpg Instagram: https://instagram.com/hyperrpg Facebook: https://facebook.com/hyperrpg Discord: https://discord.gg/hyperrpg Amazon Merch: https://amzn.to/2low4MO Streamlabs Merch: https://streamlabs.com/hyperrpg/#/merch — Mailing Address Attn: Rat Queens Hyper RPG PMB 412 8309 Laurel Canyon Blvd. Sun Valley, CA 91352 — Hyper RPG is a gathering place for friends, centered around video and tabletop gaming, comic books, movies and more. We push the boundaries of collaborative storytelling and shared gaming experiences across the web and around the world!

Archie Meets Batman '66, Injustice vs Masters of the Universe, Darth Vader Annual 2, Life of Captain Marvel, Rat Queens: Neon Static, Aphrodite V, Euthanauts 1, Rise of the TMNT 0, Clankillers, The Mall, Thrilling Adventure Hour, Twelve Devil’s Dancing, More reviews! Trailers! SDCC News!   Reviews: Rise of the TMNT, Black Mirror: Black Museum, Fireman by Joe Hill   Trailers: Castle Rock Deadly Class Shazam Glass Discovery s2 Aquaman Young Justice Titans Fantastic Beasts Doctor Who Godzilla: King of the Monsters Disenchanted   Comics Details: Darth Vader Annual 2 by Chuck Wendig, Leonard Kirk, Scott Hanna, Walden Wong, Nolan Woodard Life of Captain Marvel 1 by Margaret Stohl, Carlos Pacheco, Marguerite Sauvage, Rafa Fonteriz, Marcio Menyz Euthanauts 1 by Tini Howard, Nick Robles Rise of the TMNT 0 by Matthew Manning, Chad Thomas Rat Queens: Neon Static by Kurtis Wiebe, Will Kirby Aphrodite V 1 by Bryan Hill, Jeffrey Spokes Injustice vs. Masters of the Universe 1 by Tim Seeley, Freddie Williams, Jeromy Colwell Clankillers 1 by Sean Lewis, Antonio Fuso, Stefano Simeone Archie Meets Batman 66 1 by Jeff Parker, Mike Moreci, Dan Parent, J Bone, Kelly Fitzpatrick Thrilling Adventure Hour 1 by Ben Acker, Ben Blacker, MJ Erickson Twelve Devils Dancing 1 by Erica Schultz, Dave Acosta, Andrew Covalt The Mall 1 by James Haick, Don Handfield, Rafael Loureiro, Diejo Lima   Comics Countdown: 10. Tony Stark: Iron Man 2 by Dan Slott, Valerio Schiti, Edgar Delgado 9. Thor 3 by Jason Aaron, Mike Del Mundo, Marco D’Alfonso 8. Weatherman 2 by Jode LeHeup, Nathan Fox, Dave Stewart 7. Brave and Bold: Batman and Wonder Woman 6 by Liam Sharp, Romulo Fajardo 6. Flavor 3 by Joe Keatinge, Wook Jin Clark, Tamra Bonvillain 5. Immortal Hulk 3 by Al Ewing, Joe Bennett, Garry Brown, Paul Hornschemeier, Leonardo Romero, Marguerite Sauvage, Ruy Jose, Paul Mounts 4. Batman 51 by Tom King, Lee Weeks, Bettie Breitweiser 3. Spider-Gwen 34 by Jason Latour, Robbi Rodriguez, Rico Renzi, Lauren Affe 2. The Mall 1 by James Haick, Don Handfield, Rafael Loureiro, Diejo Lima 1. Gideon Falls 5 by Jeff Lemire, Andrea Sorrentino, Dave Stewart  

Marvel Legacy, Generations: Spider-Man, Generations: Captain America, Batman: Murder Machine, Suicide Squad 26, Detective Comics 965, Action Comics 988, Wonder Woman 31, DC Superhero Girls, Rat Queens Special: Orc Dave, DuckTales 1, Fu Jitsu 1, Graveland 1, Adventure Finders, Inhumans television show, Star Trek: Discovery, Old Man Hawkeye, Lazarus to Amazon Prime, Keystone Comic Con, Wizard World Madison, The Room   Details: Marvel Legacy by Jason Aaron, Esad Ribic, many many others; Generations: Spider-Man by Brian Michael Bendis, Ramon Perez, Msassyk; Generations: Captain America by Nick Spencer, Paul Renaud, Laura Martin; Batman: Murder Machine by Frank Tieri, James Tynion IV, Riccardo Federici, Rain Beredo; Suicide Squad 26 by Rob Williams, Stjepan Sejic; Detective Comics 965 by James Tynion IV, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Adriano Lucas; Action Comics 988 by Dan Jurgens, Ryan Sook; Wonder Woman 31 by James Robinson, Carlo Pagulayan, Scott Hanna, Sean Parsons, Jason Paz, Romulo Fajardo; Rat Queens Special: Orc Dave by Kurtis Wiebe, Max Dunbar, Tamra Bonvillain; DuckTales 1 by Joe Caramagna, Luca Usai, Gianfranco Florio; Fu Jitsu 1 by Jai Nitz, Wes St. Claire; Graveland 1 by Massimo Rosi, Gabriel Ibarra Nunez; Adventure Finders 1 by Rod Espinosa   Comics Countdown 27 September 2017: 10. Archie 24 by Mark Waid, Audrey Mok, Kelly Diane Fitzpatrick 9. Spider-Gwen 24 by Jason Latour, Robbi Rodriguez, Rico Renzi 8. Batman/The Shadow 6 by Steve Orlando, Scott Snyder, Riley Rossmo, Ivan Plascencia 7. Lazarus X+66 3 by Neal Bailey, Greg Rucka, Justin Greenwood, Santiago Arcas 6. Thanos 11 by Jeff Lemire, German Peralta, Rachelle Rosenberg 5. Redneck 6 by Donny Cates, Lisandro Estherren, Dee Cunniffe 4. Mighty Thor 23 by Jason Aaron, Valerio Schiti, Rain Beredo 3. Detective Comics 965 by James Tynion IV, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Adriano Lucas 2. Adventure Finders 1 by Rod Espinosa 1. Kamandi Challenge 9 by Tom King, Kevin Eastman, Freddie Williams

In this explicit content version of the #NERDWatch podcast, join G Money, Todd, Alika and Phormat as they sit down and talk to Canada native and the author of the popular "Rat Queens" comic book series, Kurtis Wiebe.

Top 10 Feb sales, Superman 18, Savage Things 1, America 1, Totally Awesome Hulk 1.MU, Clone Conspiracy Omega, Spider-Man Homecoming Prelude, Royal City 1, Extremity 1, Rat Queens, Nailbiter 30, Animal Noir 1, Once & Future Queen 1, Brave Chef Brianna 1, Riverdale, Logan movie review, Deadpool 2 teaser, Guardians of the Galaxy 2 trailer, Alien Covenant trailer, Pirates of the Caribbean, Ducktales, Jeff Lemire and Old Man Logan, Vision Director's Cut, Make Mine Marvel, Legacy Numbering, Edge of Venomverse, DC/Looney Tunes creative teams. Details: Superman 18 by Pete Tomasi, Pat Gleason, Mick Gray; Savage Things 1 by Justin Jordan, Ibrahim Moustafa, Jordan Boyd; America 1 by Gabby Rivera, Joe Quinones, Joe Rivera, Paolo Rivera; Totally Awesome Hulk 1.MU by Bryan Hill, Ty Templeton, Mat Lopes; Clone Conspiracy Omega by Dan Slott, Christos Gage, Cory Smith, Justin Ponsor, Peter David, Mark Bagley, John Dell, Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger; Royal City 1 by Jeff Lemire; Extremity 1 by Daniel Warren Johnson, Michael Spicer; Rat Queens (2017) 1 by Kurtis Wiebe, Owen Gieni; Nailbiter 30 by Joshua Williamson, Mike Henderson, Adam Guzowski; Animal Noir 1 by Izar Lunacek, Nejc Juren; Once & Future Queen 1 by Adam Knave, DJ Kirkbride, Nick Brokenshire; Brave Chef Brianna 1 by Sam Sykes, Selina Espiritu, Sarah Stern 10 Feb 2017 Comics Countdown: 10. Batman 18 by Tom King, David Finch, Danny Miki, Jordie Bellaire 9. Brave Chef Brianna 1 by Sam Sykes, Selina Espiritu, Sarah Stern 8. Star Wars 29 by Jason Aaron, Salvador Larroca, Edgar Delgado 7. Nightwing 16 by Tim Seeley, Javier Fernandez 6. Extremity 1 by Daniel Warren Johnson, Michael Spicer 5. Giant Days 24 by John Allison, Max Sarin, Liz Fleming, Whitney Cogar 4. Moon Knight 12 by Jeff Lemire, Greg Smallwood, Jordie Bellaire 3. Midnighter and Apollo 6 by Steve Orlando, Fernando Blanco, Romulo Fajardo, John Rauch 2. Nailbiter 30 by Joshua Williamson, Mike Henderson, Adam Guzowski 1. Royal City 1 by Jeff Lemire

This week on The Comics Alternative podcast, those funky PhDs, Andy and Derek, discuss three recent titles revolving around the mercenary side of crime fighting. They begin with Jules Feiffer's Cousin Joseph (Liveright Publishing), the second in a planned trilogy of noir-tinged graphic novels. It is the follow up to 2014's Kill My Mother, a text that Feiffer discussed with the Two Guys in a previous interview. The events in Cousin Joseph predate those of the earlier book, making it a sort of prequel. In fact, many of the major players in Kill My Mother make appearances in this new work. Most notable are the characters Elsie and Annie, whose husband/father Sam becomes the central figure in the current narrative. Derek and Andy note the fact that Cousin Joseph is a more tightly constructed, and even a more ambitious, work than its predecessor, especially in its engagements with the sociopolitical matters of its setting. Next, the guys look at the first issue of a new series by Kurtis Wiebe and Mindy Lee. Bounty (Dark Horse Comics) is a futuristic adventure focusing on the exploits of two anticorporate criminal sisters who eventually become bounty hunters. Almost from the beginning, the guys compare this title to Wiebe's Rat Queens, but both Andy and Derek feel that the first issue in this new series lacks the humor and cohesion of the earlier comic. Indeed, there were parts of the story that were unclear -- some of it due to writing, and some because of the its visual perspectives -- and the exposition at the very beginning unintentionally compounded this confusion. Nonetheless, the premise shows promise, and Mindy Lee's art went a long way in carrying the narrative forward. Finally, the Two Guys wrap up with another first issue...sort of. The Paybacks #1, written by Donny Cates and Eliot Rahal, with art by Geoff Shaw, is part of Heavy Metal's new initiative to produce monthly ongoing series, but this isn't the first time we've seen this title. Last year Dark Horse published the series' first narrative arc, four issues recently collected in a trade, and now this recent manifestation picks up where the earlier one left off. Derek and Andy set a context by discussing the Dark Horse series and then segue into the new issue. The transition between publishers is seamless, with Cates and Rahal sustaining the humor and action of their high concept. But what really gets the guys' attention is Shaw's art, with its detail of character expression and more realistic flourishes. Andy and Derek comment that if The Paybacks is the kind of story we can expect coming out from Heavy Metal Comics, then we might just have a publishing endeavor similar to AfterShock on the horizon.

C2E2 news!, Civil War blues, International Iron Man 1, DC Excitement, X-Men Apocalypse, Cable/Deadpool review, Indiana Jones, 16 Mar Comics Countdown. Details: Blade by Tim Seeley is back! Now with Afua Richardson, Civil War II news (tie-ins, mini-series, the meaninglessness of death, Deadpool Graphic Novel by Rob Liefeld, Iron Man, Black Panther sales), DC exclusives (Jesus Merino, Steve Orlando, Doc Shaner), Gail Simone, Geoff Johns, International Iron Man by Bendis and Maleev, Cable and Deadpool by Fabian Nicieza, Patrick Zircher, Reilly Brown, Ron Lim, Skottie Young. Comics Countdown for 16 Mar 2016: 10. Low 12 by Rick Remender, Greg Tocchini. Dave McCaig 9. Spider-Woman 5 by Dennis Hopeless, Javier Rodriguez, Alvaro Lopez 8. Rat Queens 15 by Kurtis Wiebe, Tess Fowler, Tamra Bonvillain 7. Power Man and Iron Fist 2 by David Walker, Sanford Greene, Lee Loughridge 6. Uncanny Inhumans 6 by Charles Soule, Brandon Peterson, Java Tartaglia 5. Astro City 33 by Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, Pete Pantazis 4. Martian Manhunter 10 by Rob Williams, Eddy Barrows, Gabe Eltaeb 3. A & A: The Adventures of Archer & Armstrong 1 by Rafer Roberts, David LaFuente, Brian Reber 2. Clean Room 6 by Gail Simone, Jon Davis-Hunt, Quinton Winter 1. Batman and Robin Eternal 24 by Steve Orlando, Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Alvaro Martinez, Raul Fernandez, Gabe Eltaeb, John Kalisz

Hey Handsomites! Eric and Robbie are discussing Rat Queens this week! They talk about how it seems like it was a long time coming, how it subverts long time fantasy tropes, and the blend of great character with crass humor! They also review Ms. Marvel #18, Bitch Planet #5, and Head Lopper #1! Weekly Floppies […] The post 114 – Rat Queens Vol 1-2 by Kurtis Wiebe, Roc Upchurch, & Stjepan Sejic appeared first on Handsome Boys Comics Hour.

TheSparkAndTheArt.com/60 – Why do creatives feel the need to justify their creative work? We explore this and many other topics in today's chat with graphic designer and comics artist Ben Rankel.  **Links for this episode** Ben Rankel - http://benrankel.com/Archie - http://archiecomics.com/tag/fiona-staples/Saga - https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/sagaAngoulême International Comics Festival - http://www.bdangouleme.com/Ira Glass Speech - https://vimeo.com/85040589Sidney York - http://sidneyyork.com/Kurtis Wiebe - http://kurtiswiebe.com/ Alberta College of Art and Design - http://www.acad.ca/

Merri & Missy talk about Emerald City Comicon and interview Brooke A. Allen and Noelle Stevenson of Lumberjanes, and Kurtis Wiebe of Rat Queens. The post Episode 10 – Emerald City Comicon + Lumberjanes and Rat Queens Interviews appeared first on FAKE GEEK GIRLS.

Sam and JP talk with Kurtis Wiebe, writer of Rat Queens, Peter Panzerfaust, The Intrepids, and Green Wake. Hilarity, of course, ensues. Into music: "French Kiss" by Mrs. Howl http://mrshowl.bandcamp.com/ http://www.reverbnation.com/mrshowl

In this episode, we talk to Kurtis J. Wiebe, the writer of Rat Queens and Peter Panzerfaust.  We got to talk to him a couple of days before the birth of his daughter Willow.  Congrats, brother!

It’s another Bonus Episode! Our previous .NOW was so popular we’ve decided to try it again. Once again our topic work is Rat Queens, Vol. 1: Sass and Sorcery, by Kurtis Wiebe and Roc Upchurch. Rat Queens is a fantasy comic in the tradition of Dungeons and Dragons. It follows the adventures of the eponymous Rat Queens, an adventuring […]

It???s another Bonus Episode! Our previous .NOW was so popular we???ve decided to try??it again. Once again our topic work is??Rat Queens, Vol. 1: Sass and Sorcery, by Kurtis Wiebe and Roc Upchurch.??Rat Queens??is a fantasy comic in the tradition of Dungeons and Dragons. It follows the adventures of the eponymous Rat Queens, an adventuring [???]

  This week on View from the Gutters our topic work is Rat Queens, Vol. 1: Sass and Sorcery, by Kurtis Wiebe and Roc Upchurch. Rat Queens is a fantasy comic in the tradition of Dungeons and Dragons. It follows the adventures of the eponymous Rat Queens, an adventuring party composed of four women of various races and […]

?? This week on??View from the Gutters our topic work is??Rat Queens, Vol. 1: Sass and Sorcery, by Kurtis Wiebe and Roc Upchurch.??Rat Queens is a fantasy comic in the tradition of Dungeons and Dragons. It follows the adventures of the eponymous Rat Queens, an adventuring party composed of four women of various races and [???]

RPG Month continues! Roleplaying is both a game and an exercise in creativity. Those of us who roll the dice know, the imaginary action of a group of friends collaboratively adventuring brings was cooler action and bigger laughs than… well, any other medium really. So it’s only natural that some gamers would take the raw fun of their tabletop adventures to their other creative outlets. Enter: Rat Queens – a fantasy comic forged by the awesome fires of roleplaying featuring one of the coolest casts of ladies this side of Baldur’s Gate. In this episode Cap, Tony, Aaron, Chan talk with Kurtis Wiebe and Roc Upchurch the creative team behind Rat Queens – discuss their roleplaying pasts both in pen and paper and video games, the actual RPG moments that worked their way into the book, the Cowboy Bebop-esque game Kurtis built atop an obscure James Bond roleplaying system, and more! Also, we take on a requested Microsode topic from Fumanchuchu and discuss the roleplaying character creation process.For links and more info, head to the main episode page:https://nerdyshow.com/2014/03/episode-170-nerdy-show-comic-show-questing-with-the-rat-queens/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Slim sat down LIVE via satellite with Kurtis Wiebe!

Returning guest Kurtis Wiebe to talk about his new dark comedy action series published by Image Rat Queens. Kurtis talks about how the series came about and some of the influences involved in putting the story together. Also we talk about his hit comic Peter Panzerfaust now on its 3rd arc. If you are going to NYCC happening from Oct 10-13 you can see Kurtis Wiebe in Artist Alley in section Q10. You can also see us both at the podcast arena in the TaylorNetwork table You can also hear the show on Stitcher http://www.stitcher.com/ This podcast is sponsored by Friendly Neighborhood Comics http://friendlyneighborhoodcomics.com/ Discount Comic Book Services http://www.dcbservice.com/index.aspx Instock Trades http://www.instocktrades.com/ Join us on the forums at http://www.forumforgeeks.com http://thetaylornetwork.wordpress.com/ Leave us email by putting the show you are commenting on in the heading thetaylornetworkofpodcasts@gmail.com You can also join us on the Facebook group TaylorNetwork of podcasts Also we ask that if you have some time leave us a rating and or ITunes review because that helps us greatly to promote the show.

Escape with Peter Panzerfaust by Kurtis J. Wiebe and Tyler Jenkins Podcast: DownloadSubscribe: iTunes | Miro | RSS The Radio Free Echo Rift podcast is your twice weekly resource for comics, movies, TV, and book reviews.   This pirate pop-culture podcast is brought to you from deep beneath the city of Philadelphia!  We have thirty minutes to record each episode - if we were ever caught, we'd be atomized for sure! Timestamps 00:24 - Kurtis Wiebe and Tyler Jenkins Peter Panzerfaust.  Stop and go read Peter Panzerfaust Now and then come back 01:30 - Now that you are back:  Approaching Peter Panzerfaust, Overview and Mike's Big Revalation 06:05 - Crazy American Boy Called Peter Shows Up, Enamored with the story 10:25 - Peter Pan Meets Red Dawn set in World War II, Plausible if you are Brave Enough 14:22 - Living in Nevernever Land, Historical Context, Overwhelming Odds Against 20:27 - Ending on a Down but Hopeful Note, The Interviewer and The Present 23:38 - Don's Baseless and Crazy Theories about Peter's Identity, Something Clever is Going On 26:17 - Letter: Thoughts on All Ages at DC, Outro References Peter Panzerfaust Vol 1: The Great Escape is published by Image Comics and is also available on ComiXology Written by: Kurtis J. Wiebe Illustrated by: Tyler Jenkins Ask questions or share your feedback Leave us a voicemail 856.208.RIFT Email letters@echorift.com Tweet us @EchoRift Please connect with us Subscribe, rate, and review us on iTunes Follow @EchoRift on Twitter Follow Don Garvey on Twitter | Google+ Follow Mike Connelly on Twitter | Google+ Related Episodes Episode 007: Saga by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples Episode 038: Severed by Scott Snyder If you enjoy the Radio Free Echo Rift podcast, you will enjoy other Echo Rift Productions: Echo Rift Comics: Featuring Hurry the Rabbitoid Knight Kids on Comics Podcast: A fourth grader and his dad talk about comics Music for the Radio Free Echo Rift Podcast is provided by Home At Last, show them love by liking HAL on Facebook!

Emerald City Comicon 2013! On this episode, the TSP crew discusses Luke's insane run of luck, inconsiderate con-goers, and interview Peter Panzerfaust creator Kurtis Wiebe!

Emerald City Comicon 2013! On this episode, the TSP crew discusses Luke's insane run of luck, inconsiderate con-goers, and interview Peter Panzerfaust creator Kurtis Wiebe!

Another week, another podcast. This week Stephanie steps out, and we are joined by Rob to tackle the monumental task of trying to sculpt the perfect comic book event.  Whether you are looking for some comic book history, a breakdown of how to make character interactions more effective or even an original event idea, we've got it all for you! As per usual though, we also discuss our Books of the Week, which has more or less evolved into a talk about the books we've read in general (love, hate or somewhere in between). Some of the books we talk about this week include:  Young Avengers, Uncanny Avengers, FF, Uncanny X- Force and Justice League. We also answer your listener questions, weigh in on J.J. Abrams directing Star Wars, and debate the origins of the Rhino.  Make sure to check out last week's interviews with   Love and Capes creator Thomas Zahler and  Peter Panzerfaust creator, Kurtis Wiebe. Annnnnnnnnnd... we say it on the show, but just in case you missed it, the Talking Comics crew on Twitter are: Bobby: @ bobbyshortle Steve: @ dead_anchoress Stephanie: @ hellocookie And Bob's email is  bobreyer@talkingcomicbooks.com FYI: the crew have gone all superhero on the world, thanks to the wonderful  Hanie Mohd. Like them? Make sure to follow her and let us know what you think of our new superhero pictures.

We are back for another special issue of Talking Comics, and this time we have Peter Panzerfaust, Green Wake and Debris creator Kurtis Wiebe on the show. Bobby: @ bobbyshortle Steve: @ dead_anchoress Stephanie: @ hellocookie And Bob's email is  bobreyer@talkingcomicbooks.com FYI: the crew have gone all superhero on the world, thanks to the wonderful  Hanie Mohd. Like them? Make sure to follow her and let us know what you think of our new superhero pictures.

Another week, another podcast. This week we tackle one of our favourite topics: listener questions in a listener QUESTIONATHON! We got an almost overwhelming response from you all this time in just two short days. We can't thank you enough for all the love you give us and we try very hard to answer as many questions as possible. Always keep sending them in and if we can't answer them all on the show, we'll start answering them in a column. As per usual though, we also discuss our Books of the Week, which has more or less evolved into a talk about the books we've read in general (love, hate or somewhere in between). Some of the books we talk about this week include: Insurgent #1, Batgirl #16, Justice League Dark, Batman #16, Revival #6, Saga #9, X-Factor #250, Threshold #1, All New X-Men, Daredevil #22, Savage Wolverine, Todd the Ugliest Kid On Earth, The Legend of Luther Strode, Captain America #3 and Valiant Comics. Make sure to check in with us on Friday for an interview with Love and Capes creator Thomas Zahler and check back in again on Monday for an interview with return guest and Peter Panzerfaust creator, Kurtis Wiebe. Annnnnnnnnnd... we say it on the show, but just in case you missed it, the Talking Comics crew on Twitter are: Bobby: @ bobbyshortle Steve: @ dead_anchoress Stephanie: @ hellocookie And Bob's email is  bobreyer@talkingcomicbooks.com FYI: the crew have gone all superhero on the world, thanks to the wonderful  Hanie Mohd. Like them? Make sure to follow her and let us know what you think of our new superhero pictures.

Discussions with Decapitated Dan #124: Kurtis & RileyWith only 2 episodes of Discussions left, Dan is joined by creators Kurtis Wiebe and Riley Rossmo to talk about their upcoming projects and so much more.

In this episode we are joined by comic writer Kurtis Wiebe writer of the critically acclaimed Image books Green Wake,Intrepids and the current ongoing PETER PANZERFAUST. We talk about the ending of Green Wake and what went into the writing of PETER PANZERFAUST. This podcast is sponsored by Friendly Neighborhood Comics http://thetaylornetwork.wordpress.com/

Luke and Joel have a lengthy talk with Intrepids and Green Wake creator Kurtis Wiebe!

Luke and Joel have a lengthy talk with Intrepids and Green Wake creator Kurtis Wiebe!

Two hundred down and a lot more to come! This week, we cram a whole lot into our bicentennial episode, including Criminal: Last of the Innocent and Fatale by Brubaker and Phillips, Dennis Hopeless and Kevin Mellon's Lovestruck from Image, American Barbarian by Tom Scioli from AdHouse, the Gary Friedrich Marvel fallout, The Mask from John Arcudi and Doug Mahnke from Dark Horse, John Severin, Skinner: Every Man Is My Enemy from Gingko Press, Critical Hit, and ZeroFriends, Jonathan Ross and Tommy Lee Edwards' Turf from Image, Smoke Gignal #1 (Ben Marra, Michael DeForge, Bill Griffiths, Harvey Pekar, Tony Millionaire, Charles Burns, Sam Henderson, and more), Sleeper, Venom: Circle of Four, Peter Panzerfaust from Kurtis Wiebe and Tyler Jenkins, and a whole mess more!

This week Kurtis Wiebe and Tyler Jenkins offer a new take on the classic Peter Pan story, but it's gonna take much more than happy thoughts to see the Lost Boys through this one. Peter Panzerfaust ushers our boyish hero to the ruined landscape of WWII France. Whether you believe in fairies or just want a cracking good war comic, Wiebe and Jenkins serve up a thrilling and inventive adaptation you definitely don't want to miss! Peter Panzerfaust #1 Written by Kurtis Wiebe Art by Tyler Jenkins 34 pages / Full Color / $3.50 Image Comics Music: This is Why We Fight The Decemberists

It's a new year and a new Talking Comics episode! This week Stephanie, Bobby and Steve are joined by special guest  Green Wake  writer Kurtis Wiebe.  He talks his beginnings in the comic book industry, his inspirations for  Green Wake  and even touchs on his new book  Peter Panzerfaust. The gang also finds time to get into their books of the week and even ask Kurtis Wiebe some lister submit questions! All right enough text let's talk some comics! The Comic Book Podcast is brought to you by Talking Comics (www.talkingcomicbooks.com), a blog dedicated to covering the latest and greatest in comic book releases. The editorial staff is composed of Editor-in-Chief Bobby Shortle (Fanboy Remix, Doctor Whocast), Stephanie Cooke (Digital Dorm), Brad Jones (Fanboy Remix) and Steve Seigh (JoBlo.com contributor) who weekly dissect the releases and give you, the consumer, a simple Roman yay or nay regarding them. Our  Twitter handle is @TalkingComics and you can email us at info@talkingcomicbooks.com. Until next issue ... to be continued!

Yeah I know the title is a really lame pun, but I was having fun with it. This week I was joined by the very awesome Kurtis Wiebe, writer of Green Wake/the intrepids and much more! We talk about his inspirations, get an exclusive about a new book he's working on and even talk about his podcast. All this and much more in the latest Why I love Comics podcast!http://dailydead.com/exclusive-free-digital-version-of-green-wake-1/http://www.facebook.com/pages/Green-Wake/142819195775902?ref=ts&sk=wall#!/pages/Green-Wake/142819195775902?sk=wallhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Process/147353675342657 http://twitter.com/#!/kurtisjwiebeAs usual follow me on twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/EricRatcliffe) like the show on facebook (www.facebook.com/whyilovecomics) and check out my awesome webcomic (www.newcomicday.net) and don't forget to subscribe/write a review on itunes!Also check out the Kirby Krackle, official houseband of the podcast! (http://www.kirbykracklemusic.com/)And stop by our new home, www.theouthousers.comNext week...I'm joined by friend and jack of all trades Kelly Tindall!

We present the Image Comics panel from Fan Expo Canada 2011. Listen to Charles Soule, Dennis Hopeless, Viktor Kalvachev, Kurtis Wiebe, Jim Zubkavich, and Jonathan HIckman discuss their current and future projects with Image. (55:10)

Hokey smokes, it's a rare instance of an honest-to-gosh themed episode, this time taking a look at racism in comics with Night of the Living Dead Annual 2011 by Mike Wolfer from Avatar, BOOM's fantastic first issue of Planet of the Apes from Darly Gregory, Carlos Magno, and company, '68 by Mark Kidwell, Nat Jones, Tim Vigil, and Jay Fotos from Image Comics, and Ape Entertainment's Black Dynamite by Brian Ash, Jun Lofamia, and Michael Jai White! Plus, we have plenty of time left over to explore Strange Tales II, Dark Horse Presents #1 (featuring Paul Chadwick, Frank Miller, Neal Adams, Richard Corben, Carla Speed McNeil, Michael T. Gilbert, Howard Chaykin, and more), Finder, 28 Days Later, Pete Bagge's HATE Annual #9 from Fantagraphics, a pair of Image Comics' recent color-themed books in Green Wake #1 by Kurtis Wiebe and Riley Rossmo, and Blue Estate #1 from Viktor Kalvachev, Andrew Osborne, Robert Valley, Toby Cypress, and Nathan Fox, Archie's Sonic the Hedgehog, Free Comic Book Day 2011, Robert Kirkman and Jason Howard's Super Dinosaur #1, Tom Scioli, and a whole mess more!