Episodes

Witch Boy Zack and Shapeshifting Charlotte begin our discussion on the work on Lee Knox Ostertag, covering his three graphic novels in the Witch Boy Trilogy. Comics covered in this episode: – The Witch Boy – The Hidden Witch – The Midwinter Witch. Topics discussed: – Is there a difference in how representation should be handled in children’s media vs. media for adults? – Are these books more successful for aiming squarely at child/teen audiences than trying to be for all ages? – Why won’t...

Zack and Charlotte begin our discussion on the work on Lee Knox Ostertag, covering his online work, including his current work on Substack. Comics covered in this episode: – His online work, in order of how much we recommend reading it: Strong Female Protagonist, Darkest Night, How The Best Hunter In The Village Met Her Death, Lord of the Rings fan comics, Hourly Comics Topics discussed: – Why didn’t we include Strong Female Protagonist in the last series?! – By not providing any clear answ...

Zack and Charlotte complete our first miniseries on Superhero Subversions with a discussion of the Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips spy noir, Sleeper. We cover all 24 issues in the two volumes. Topics discussed: – If the stakes are felt, do plot details matter? – Is this a subversion, or just what superhero comics are now? – Don’t ask Charlotte about her Mission: Impossible opinions. Upcoming episodes in our Molly Knox Ostertag miniseries: – Her online work: Strong Female Protagonist, Darkest...

Zack, Charlotte, and special guest Dave Busting continue our first miniseries on Superhero Subversions with a discussion of the Alan Moore run of Miracleman (1982). We cover all the issues in the newly released Omnibus. Topics discussed: – Is Alan Moore critiquing superhero comics? Taking them very seriously? Mocking them? Or a combination or the three? – How groundbreaking was it for Moore to treat superheroes in this way? – Who let this Dave jabroni in the recording booth? Upcoming episod...

Zack, Charlotte, and special guest Kelly Kanayama continue our first miniseries on Superhero Subversions with a discussion of Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s The Boys (2006). Topics discussed: – What is Garth Ennis targeting with his anger in this comic? – How do you make edgy comedy land? – Is the Amazon series adaptation an improvement, or does it miss the point? Upcoming episodes in our Superhero Subversion miniseries: – Miracleman, 1982 – Sleeper, 2003 You can find Charlotte at twi...

Zack, Charlotte, and special guest Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou continue our first miniseries on Superhero Subversions with a discussion of Kieron Gillen and Caspar Wijngaard’s Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt (2019) Topics discussed: – Does Peter Cannon make a successful argument for fresh modes of comic creation? – How valuable is the legacy of Watchmen? – What kind of creative expression does a letterer bring to a comic? Please check out Panel X Panel! With no hyperbole, I think it is the best place f...

Zack and Charlotte (aka Zackita Wagner and Charlotte Leather) continue our first miniseries on Superhero Subversions with a discussion of Warren Ellis (https://www.somanyofus.com/) and John Cassaday’s Planetary. Topics discussed: – Is Planetary just a series of references to pop culture or does it have something to say about those stories? – Does it work as a series of one-off stories or as a complete tapestry? Both? Neither?! – Are Ka-Zar and Zabu…. lovers? Upcoming episodes in our Superhe...

Zack and Charlotte (aka Rors-Zach and Dr. Transhattan) kick off our first miniseries on Superhero Subversions with a discussion of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen. Topics discussed: – Is Watchmen really as good as its legacy suggests (yes, it is), or is it just nerds overvaluing a metatextual work (no, it isn’t)? – Is a personal sense of overwhelming anxiety and despair necessary to appreciate this comic?!? – How many ways can the 9 panel grid be utilized in one comic?! Upcoming episo...

Zack and Charlotte END their coverage of the Ultimate Marvel line of comics! Topics discussed include: – What kind of animal is a shallot? – Are fetishes in the DNA? – Does the Ultimate Universe end with a bang or a whimper? Comics covered in this episode: -Ultimate FF #1 – #6 -Ultimate Spider-Man #200 -Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man #1 – #12 -All-New Ultimates #1 – #12 Up Next Month: Nothing, it’s over! JK, we’re beginning a new pod: Extra Issues, which will be release on the Pat...

Zack and Charlotte continue their coverage of the Ultimate Marvel line of comics! Topics discussed include: – Does a robot need to be hot in order to love it? – Can the heart ever be mended (from almost being murdered by your super-villain boyfriend last week)? – Is Charlotte lying about wearing glasses? You decide! Comics covered in this episode: -Cataclysm Point One #0.1 -Cataclysm: Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1 -Cataclysm: Ultimate X-Men #1-3 -Cataclysm: The Ultimate’s Last Stand #1 ...

Charlotte and Zack continue their coverage of the Ultimate Marvel line of comics! Topics discussed include: – Did THIS COMIC invent the idea of sentient plants? – Charlotte finally PROVES that she can speak French. – Should the Ultimate Universe be ending now? Is a wrap-up now wise? Comics covered in this episode: -Ultimate Comics X-Men #23-33 -Ultimate Comics Iron Man #1-4 -Ultimate Comics Ultimates #25-30 -Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #23-28 Up Next for Episode Thirty-Three: -Cataclys...

Charlotte and Zack continue their coverage of the Ultimate Marvel line of comics! Topics discussed include: – What’s the point of the Ultimate line of Marvel if it’s as hard to get into as 616? – Double Uncle Ben’d! – HoXPoX is a cipher for discussing all mediocre comics. Comics covered in this episode: -Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #16.1 & #19-22 -Ultimate Comics X-Men #19-22 -Ultimate Comics Ultimates #19-24 -Ultimate Comics Wolverine #1-4 Up Next for Episode Thirty-Two: -Ultimate Com...

Charlotte and Zack continue their coverage of the Ultimate Marvel line of comics! Topics discussed include: – Should this event be LONGER? – Is this Zack’s most cancellable verbal slip-up? – Should the French be allowed to vote in US elections? Comics covered in this episode: -Ultimate Comics X-Men #14-18.1 -Ultimate Comics Ultimates #13-18.1 -Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #13-18 (minus 16.1) Check HERE for Divided We Fall / United We Stand Reading Order Up Next for Episode Thirty-One: -U...

Charlotte and Zack continue their coverage of the Ultimate Marvel line of comics! Topics discussed include: – What makes Miles more than just “New Peter Parker”? – How does Ultimate Comics X-Men deal with the Mutant Metaphor being removed? – How much is Spider-Men fan service, and does it matter if it’s good? Comics covered in this episode: -Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #7-12 -Ultimate Comics X-Men #1-13 -Spider-Men #1-5 Up Next for Episode Thirty: -Ultimate Comics X-Men #14-18.1 -Ultim...

Zack and Charlotte (and Dave, who blackmailed us into letting him be on the show again) continue their coverage of the Ultimate Marvel line of comics! Topics discussed include: – Whose podcast is this, anyway?! – How did Hickman make an Ultimate Hawkeye comic one of the best in the entire line? – Our perpetual desire to see Hickman run his own Ultimate U. Comics covered in this episode: -Ultimate Comics Hawkeye #1-4 -Ultimate Comics Ultimates #1-12 Up Next for Episode Twenty-Eight: -Ult...

Charlotte and Zack continue their coverage of the Ultimate Marvel line of comics! Topics discussed include: – How much should the extratextual spoilers of an event matter when reading a comic? – Thank you for creating Miles Morales, Brian… now leave! – Charlotte realizes Zack’s goldfish memory can be wielded against him. Comics covered in this episode: -Ultimate Comics Avengers vs. New Ultimates #1-2 -Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #156-157 -Ultimate Comics Avengers vs. New Ultimates #3-4 -...

Charlotte and Zack continue their coverage of the Ultimate Marvel line of comics! Topics discussed include: – Should Hickman be leading a new Ultimate Universe? – Does hype for events ruin stories? – Giant vampires and vampire Hulk? It’s cool! We’re only human! Comics covered in this episode: -Ultimate Comics Thor #1 – #4 -Ultimate Comics Avengers 3 #1 – #6 -Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #150 – #156 (old numbering is back) Up Next for Episode Twenty-Seven: Ultimate Comics Avengers vs. New...

Charlotte and Zack continue their coverage of the Ultimate Marvel line of comics! Topics discussed include: – What advantages does the smaller size of the Ultimate U bring? – Sue and Ben? Best FF couple confirmed? – No More Loeb Comics covered in this episode: -Ultimate Enemy #1-4 -Ultimate Mystery #1-4 -Ultimate Doom #1-4 -Ultimate Comics Captain America #1-4 -Ultimate Comics New Ultimates #1-5 Up Next for Episode Twenty-Six (01/01/22): -Ultimate Comics Thor #1 – #4 -Ultimate Comic...

Charlotte and Zack continue their coverage of the Ultimate Marvel line of comics! Topics discussed include: – Aunt May’s Home for Wayward Super Boys. – Mark Millar, please explain yourself. – Nick Fury is simply irresistible, no matter how many times he sleep with your mom. Comics covered in this episode: – Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #7 – #15 – Ultimate Comics Avengers 2 #1 – #6 Up Next for Episode Twenty-Five (6/01/22): – Ultimate Enemy #1-4 – Ultimate Mystery #1-4 – Ultimate Doom #1...

Zack and Charlotte continue their coverage of the Ultimate Marvel line of comics! Comics covered in this episode: Ultimate Comics X #1-5 Ultimate Comics Armor Wars #1-4 Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1-6 (2009) Ultimate Avengers #1-6 Up Next for Episode Twenty-Four (05/01/22): Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #7 – #15 Ultimate Comics Avengers 2 #1 – #6 You can find more Marvel Comics guides on Comic Book Herald at: mymarvelousyear.com https://www.comicbookherald.com/the-complete-marvel-reading-...

Zack, Charlotte, and guest STAR Dave, continue their coverage of the Ultimate Marvel line of comics! Comics covered in this episode: Ultimatum #1-5 Ultimate Spider-Man #129-133 Ultimate X-Men #98-100 Ultimate Fantastic Four #58-60 Up Next for Episode Twenty-Three (04/01/22): Ultimate Comics Armor Wars #1-4 Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1-6 Ultimate Comics Avengers #1-6 Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #7 – #15 You can find Ashley’s work at Bookish Realm on: https://twitter.com/bookishrealm h...

Zack and Charlotte continue their coverage of the Ultimate Marvel line of comics! Comics covered in this episode: Squadron Supreme #1-6 Ultimate X-Men #90-97 Ultimate Origins #1-5 Ultimate Hulk Annual #1 Ultimate X-Men/Fantastic Four Annual #1 Ultimate Fantastic Four/X-Men Annual #1 Up Next for Episode Twenty-Two (03/01/22): Ultimatum #1-5 Ultimate Spider-Man #129-133 Ultimate X-Men #98-100 Ultimate Fantastic Four #58-60 Ultimatum: Fantastic Four Requiem One-Shot #1 Ultimatum: X-Me...

Zack and Ashley continue their coverage of the Ultimate Marvel line of comics! Comics covered in this episode: Ultimate Fantastic Four #54-57 Ultimate Human #1-4 Ultimate Spider-Man #123-128 The Ultimates (v3) #1-5 Up Next for Episode Twenty-One (02/01/22): Squadron Supreme #1-6 Ultimate X-Men #90-97 Ultimate Origins #1-5 Ultimate Hulk Annual #1 Ultimate X-Men/Fantastic Four Annual #1 Ultimate Fantastic Four/X-Men Annual #1 You can find Ashley’s work at Bookish Realm on: https://tw...

Zack and Ashley continue their coverage of the Ultimate Marvel line of comics! Topics discussed include: * Should the mutant metaphor go deeper? * Did Mike Carey pull off his version of Thanos the second time around? * Kong is the coolest bro. Just a statement. Comics covered in this episode: – Ultimate X-Men #81-89 – Ultimate Fantastic Four #47-53 – Ultimate Spider-Man #118-122 – Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #3 Up Next for Episode Twenty (01/01/22): – Ultimate Fantastic Four #54-57 – ...