Deconstructing Comics artwork

Deconstructing Comics

369 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day ago - ★★★★★ - 28 ratings

A podcast about the craft of comics

Visual Arts Arts Leisure
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed

Episodes

#800 “Batman and the Outsiders” vol. 2 review

March 27, 2024 12:00 - 1 hour - 71.8 MB

Batman and the Outsiders was one of DC’s top sellers in the 1980s. This time, Tim is joined by John Trumbull to take a close look at the second volume of the series, which includes the reveal of Halo’s origin, exploration of Metamorpho’s, the 1984 L.A. Olympics, time travel, and more. Don’t forget the Mike … Continue reading #800 “Batman and the Outsiders” vol. 2 review

#799 “Berserk” v. 9 & 10 deep dive: Genre hopping

March 20, 2024 12:00 - 1 hour - 67.6 MB

Kentaro Miura’s Berserk can be confounding. Reading volumes 9 and 10 prompts us to ask “Just what genre IS this comic, anyway?” While it still has plenty of over-the-top action and violence, it also has gratuitous sex, comedy, and even some horror elements. And now we finally have hints toward why the “present” of volumes … Continue reading #799 “Berserk” v. 9 & 10 deep dive: Genre hopping

“Ant-Man and the Wasp” (2018)

March 13, 2024 12:00 - 41 minutes - 38.1 MB

After the gravitas of Avengers: Infinity War, which ended in a blaze of glory only for the villain, what did we want next? A fun, lighthearted romp of a movie. Right? No? Well, that’s what we got and this movie is certainly fun. But it doesn’t resolve a single thread from Infinity War. Mulele struggles … Continue reading “Ant-Man and the Wasp” (2018)

#241 “Dragon Ball” in depth

March 10, 2024 13:00 - 42 minutes - 38.9 MB

FLASHBACK! Though the highly influential manga series, and resulting TV show, are known for non-stop action and fighting, Dragon Ball started out as a comedy strip reminiscent of Akira Toriyama‘s early work, Dr. Slump! Viz’s English versions have gone through various levels of censorship over time to adjust to the low level of sexuality that … Continue reading #241 “Dragon Ball” in depth

#689 Priest’s “Black Panther”

March 06, 2024 13:00 - 1 hour - 56.2 MB

FLASHBACK! In 1998, under the “Marvel Knights” banner, Christopher Priest began the first ongoing Black Panther title in nearly two decades. Panther was a relatively unknown character to many Marvel readers at the time. With the aid of “Emperor of Useless White Boys” Everett K. Ross, and artists like Mark Texeira and Joe Jusko, Priest … Continue reading #689 Priest’s “Black Panther”

#798 “Delicious in Dungeon” yields a feast

February 28, 2024 13:00 - 56 minutes - 52.2 MB

Ryoko Kui’s Delicious in Dungeon pokes fun at fantasy games and cooking manga tropes, exploring what it would really be like to be a character in a fantasy game, arranging your life in ways that wouldn’t really make sense in the real world. This week, Kumar and Emmet do a deep dive on this consistently … Continue reading #798 “Delicious in Dungeon” yields a feast

Critiquing Comics #234: “Murky Water” and “Barking”

February 21, 2024 13:00 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MB

  Kel McDonald‘s Murky Water is about a paranormal investigation police unit looking into the death of a man from drowning – in his very dry living room. (Currently being Kickstarted!) Tim and Adam critique. Then, Jason joins Tim to review Lucy Sullivan‘s Barking, about dealing with depression in an inadequate mental health care system. … Continue reading Critiquing Comics #234: “Murky Water” and “Barking”

#797 Jack Kirby’s “2001: A Space Odyssey”

February 14, 2024 13:00 - 1 hour - 69 MB

Jack Kirby’s 1976 adaptation of 2001: A Space Odyssey is an odd combination of the Stanley Kubrick movie, the Arthur C. Clarke novel, and Kirby’s own research and dramatic inclinations, which sometimes were pretty out-of-step with the tone of the film! This week, Tim and Emmet discuss this out-of-print treasury edition comic, where it borrows … Continue reading #797 Jack Kirby’s “2001: A Space Odyssey”

#796 Stan Mack and “Real Life Funnies”

February 07, 2024 13:00 - 1 hour - 68.9 MB

If you read New York’s Village Voice newspaper between 1974 and 1995, you are probably familiar with Stan Mack‘s Real Life Funnies. If not, hold on to your hat! A forthcoming book from Fantagraphics collects many of the strips, all ripped from real life, and taking full advantage of the Voice‘s lack of content guardrails. … Continue reading #796 Stan Mack and “Real Life Funnies”

#479 Some of the greatest Superman stories (or not)

January 31, 2024 13:00 - 1 hour - 75.5 MB

FLASHBACK! There’s no doubt that Superman is one of the most significant characters in the history of American comics. He ended up setting the template for what would be the dominant genre in American comics after the Comics Code came into effect. Of course, the types of stories told in those comics, and their tone, … Continue reading #479 Some of the greatest Superman stories (or not)

#219 “Asterios Polyp”

January 24, 2024 13:00 - 1 hour - 66.6 MB

FLASHBACK! Reviews of Asterios Polyp blanket the Internet; why need we pile on? Well, for starters, to counteract all the reviewers who think that giving a story synoposis = explaining what the book’s about. That approach falls far short with Polyp, so Tim and Kumar are here to explain what they feel David Mazzucchelli’s masterwork … Continue reading #219 “Asterios Polyp”

#795 Jack Kirby’s “Capt. America and the Falcon” #198-200: Bicentennial Madness

January 17, 2024 13:00 - 1 hour - 70.1 MB

Cap and the Falcon have found the underground bunker of the aristocratic forces hoping to take over America on the Bicentennial, but the location of their secret weapon, the Mad Bomb, is still a mystery. What next? How about a love story? But wait a minute – this love story between Cap and a sick … Continue reading #795 Jack Kirby’s “Capt. America and the Falcon” #198-200: Bicentennial Madness

#794 “The Ballad of Halo Jones” – in color!

January 10, 2024 13:00 - 1 hour - 66.3 MB

To mark the recent passing of artist Ian Gibson, Kumar and Dana dive into a long-overdue discussion of his masterpiece with writer Alan Moore, The Ballad of Halo Jones. Halo Jones is an early work by Moore that was never completed, but it is rich, immersive, and fully developed at every turn, from the characters … Continue reading #794 “The Ballad of Halo Jones” – in color!

#793 “Berserk” v 7-8: The Battle for Doldrey

January 03, 2024 01:00 - 49 minutes - 56.7 MB

While Kentaro Miura’s Berserk is meant to feature the swordsman character Guts, in volumes 7 and 8 the focus is on Griffith and the progress made – at ANY cost – toward his dream of having his own kingdom, a machine in which Guts is just a major cog. Casca is the other major figure, … Continue reading #793 “Berserk” v 7-8: The Battle for Doldrey

“Avengers: Infinity War” (2018)

December 27, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 63.2 MB

Tim continues to catch up with the MCU! This film is awkward to review nearly two years after it came out, with Tim going through the speculation about how this story will play out in Avengers: End Game that those who are already caught up, including Mulele, already know the answers to. Listen to relive … Continue reading “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018)

#792 Jack Kirby’s “Capt. America and the Falcon” #195-197: “Kill-Derby”

December 20, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 64.3 MB

Cap and Falcon are trapped in an underground bunker where elites plot to destroy the Bicentennial celebrations and take away Americans’ freedoms. In Captain America and the Falcon 195-197, they participate in the “Kill-Derby” to retrieve Cap’s stolen shield break up the bad guys’ underground civilization. Tim and Emmet continue their look at Jack Kirby‘s … Continue reading #792 Jack Kirby’s “Capt. America and the Falcon” #195-197: “Kill-Derby”

#791 Daniel Clowes’ “Monica”

December 13, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 90.9 MB

Monica is Dan Clowes’s richest and most rewarding book in years, combining the surrealism of early works like Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron with the multi-genre anthology approach of his more recent books. What does it all mean though? Kumar and Dana try to come to an understanding of it, spoiling almost every … Continue reading #791 Daniel Clowes’ “Monica”

#790 “Social Fiction” by Chantal Montellier

December 06, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 59.3 MB

Chantal Montellier‘s Social Fiction, published by New York Review Comics with a translation by Geoffrey Brock, is a collection of comics fueled by political anger, hauntingly farsighted satire and attacks on consumer culture. Emmet and Kumar review the collection, which still feels vibrant and at the same time prophetic, given the original publications dates of … Continue reading #790 “Social Fiction” by Chantal Montellier

#789 Jack Kirby’s “Capt. America and the Falcon” #193-194: “Madbomb”

November 29, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 59.5 MB

When Jack Kirby returned to Marvel in 1975, the first series he worked on starred the character that was one of Kirby’s earliest claims to fame: Captain America, created in 1940 by Kirby and writer Joe Simon. Before Kirby returned, Cap’s book became Captain America and the Falcon. As Kirby begins his run, he deftly … Continue reading #789 Jack Kirby’s “Capt. America and the Falcon” #193-194: “Madbomb”

#291 “MONSTER” (Justifiable Homicide? pt 2)

November 22, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 57.7 MB

FLASHBACK! Planning a murder that you think will prevent future murders? That’s the premise — or, at least, one of the premises — of Monster, Naoki Urasawa’s 18-volume series. Set in Germany, the series focuses on the unintended consequences of Dr. Kenzo Tenma’s good deed; he saved the life of a boy who turned out … Continue reading #291 “MONSTER” (Justifiable Homicide? pt 2)

#290 “NEXUS” (Justifiable Homicide? pt 1)

November 15, 2023 13:00 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MB

FLASHBACK! We begin a two-review series on comics that ask hard questions about whether murder can ever be justified. This week, Mike Baron and Steve Rude’s Nexus. Beginning in the early ’80s, Baron’s philosophical writing and Rude’s increasingly polished art presented the story of a far future in which a man kills mass-murderers — not … Continue reading #290 “NEXUS” (Justifiable Homicide? pt 1)

#788 Alan Moore’s “1963”

November 08, 2023 13:00 - 46 minutes - 43 MB

In 1993, the Image revolution was underway, itself a result of the 1986 earthquake brought about by Alan Moore’s Watchmen and Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. Moore was on a mission to counteract the wave of “grim and gritty” comics he had inadvertently helped to start. This led to Moore’s 1963 series, a combination … Continue reading #788 Alan Moore’s “1963”

#462 Usagi Yojimbo

November 01, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 66.8 MB

FLASHBACK! Originating out of the same ’80s black-and-white/anthropomorphic boom that brought us the Ninja Turtles, Usagi Yojimbo is one of the few comics of that batch that are still going today. Stan Sakai’s work combines historical drama, understated violence, light comedy, and even some explanations of 17th century Japanese culture — and he can pack … Continue reading #462 Usagi Yojimbo

#787 Jack Kirby’s “OMAC”: The World That’s Going

October 25, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 71.3 MB

The run of Jack Kirby’s OMAC: One Man Army Corps was bright but short, lasting only through eight bi-monthly issues. This time Tim and Emmet discuss issues 5 through eight, covering a shocking, brilliant two-parter, another two-parter that brings the series to a crashing halt, and more evidence that Kirby was great at wild ideas, … Continue reading #787 Jack Kirby’s “OMAC”: The World That’s Going

#786 Jack Kirby’s “OMAC”: The World That’s Coming

October 18, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 56.2 MB

One of Kirby’s late efforts at DC was OMAC: One-Man Army Corps, which focuses on “the world that’s coming”: what miracles, and horrors, technology would bring. Of course, some of it seems ridiculous, but other parts seem prescient. Tim and Emmet discuss the book’s crazy Kirby concepts — or are they crazy? Brought to you … Continue reading #786 Jack Kirby’s “OMAC”: The World That’s Coming

“Black Panther” (2018)

October 11, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 56.5 MB

Paul of “To the Batpoles” joins Tim and Mulele to discuss 2018’s “Black Panther” film, trying to separate political filmmaking from good filmmaking, and having different experiences based on whether they went in knowing the comics, the comics AND the film’s marketing, or neither. Brought to you by: The Quarter-Bin podcast Our supporters on Patreon

#785 “Berserk”: The Prosaic Past

October 04, 2023 12:00 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MB

After covering the first four volumes of Kentaro Miura’s Berserk a few months back, Tim and Kumar decided to keep going. In volumes 5 and 6, the lengthy (volumes 3 to 14!) flashback to Guts’s origin story continues, but why does the flashback seem to exist in a magic-free world? In the early volumes, in … Continue reading #785 “Berserk”: The Prosaic Past

#784 Jack Kirby’s “Kamandi”: Wipeout

September 27, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 65.9 MB

There’s a new sheriff in town in post-Great Disaster Earth: Gerry Conway took over as writer in Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth issue 38. Jack Kirby stayed on as artist for issues 38-40 before leaving D.C. So while the interior art looks the same as always (aside from covers by Joe Kubert), everything feels … Continue reading #784 Jack Kirby’s “Kamandi”: Wipeout

#783 Jack Kirby’s “Kamandi” #35-37: Off the deep end

September 20, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 64.5 MB

Jack Kirby reaches the end of his writing run on Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth. After top-shelf stories about a Soviet spacecraft and an “eviction battle” in a resort hotel with crocs in the pool, Kirby’s swan song leaves something to be desired, with an … uncomfortable plot point, and myriad threads dangling. Tim … Continue reading #783 Jack Kirby’s “Kamandi” #35-37: Off the deep end

#782 Ninja Turtles: “Mutant Mayhem”

September 13, 2023 12:00 - 56 minutes - 51.9 MB

Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles first appeared in 1984 as a violent, gory homage to/parody of Frank Miller’s Daredevil, among other popular mainstream titles of the time (X-men, Teen Titans). The comic hit at the right time for Kumar, but for the younger Emmet, the 1987 TV cartoon was the business. … Continue reading #782 Ninja Turtles: “Mutant Mayhem”

#781 “The Hard Switch” and “Pet Peeves”

September 06, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 62.1 MB

This time we look once again at new books coming from British publisher Avery Hill Press. Owen D. Pomery’s The Hard Switch is a nice slice of indy sci-fi; Tim and Kumar review. Then, Emmet joins Tim to discuss Nicole Goux’s Pet Peeves: Emmet loves it, but Tim needs some convincing. Brought to you by: … Continue reading #781 “The Hard Switch” and “Pet Peeves”

#548 Jaime Hernandez interview

August 30, 2023 12:00 - 46 minutes - 42.9 MB

FLASHBACK! Love and Rockets continues to impress, and in this episode Koom asks creator Jaime Hernandez some burning questions. Hernandez talks about writing Maggie and Hopey, the dynamics of working on something with your brother, why he gravitates toward female characters, his influences and art style, and more. Also, Tim and Mulele discuss the current … Continue reading #548 Jaime Hernandez interview

#780 Jim Shooter interview

August 23, 2023 12:00 - 28 minutes - 26.5 MB

Jim Shooter was Marvel Editor-in-Chief from 1978 to 1987, the era of Frank Miller’s Daredevil, Chris Claremont’s X-men, Secret Wars (written by Shooter himself), the West Coast Avengers and more. This week he talks with Koom about his take on modern-day Marvel, the early days of Frank Miller and Ann Nocenti’s careers, why “Little Miss … Continue reading #780 Jim Shooter interview

#440 “The Love Bunglers”

August 16, 2023 12:00 - 46 minutes - 5 MB

FLASHBACK! Did you think Love & Rockets was over?! Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez continue to release new work about once a year, and in this episode Kumar and Matt sit down and discuss some of it, with particular attention paid to Jaime’s The Love Bunglers. (Spoiler warning!) Also: the tension between indy creators who want … Continue reading #440 “The Love Bunglers”

#305 “Love & Rockets”: Gilbert Hernandez

August 09, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 65 MB

FLASHBACK! In episode #300, we took a look at the sometimes wacky and cartoony Love & Rockets work of Jaime Hernandez. This week, Tim and Kumar are again joined by Tom Spurgeon to look at the somewhat darker, more violent and yet rather hard-to-pin-down work of Gilbert Hernandez in his stories of (or, sometimes merely … Continue reading #305 “Love & Rockets”: Gilbert Hernandez

#300 “Love & Rockets”: Jaime Hernandez

August 02, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 61.1 MB

FLASHBACK! The series Love & Rockets, featuring individual works by the Hernandez brothers, started in 1981 as a self-published magazine, but was quickly picked up by Fantagraphics. Over the last 30 years, the brothers’ work has continued to develop & astound. This week Tim and Kumar take a look at the Love & Rockets work … Continue reading #300 “Love & Rockets”: Jaime Hernandez

Critiquing Comics #233: “The World of Tomorrow” and “Prism Stalker”

July 26, 2023 12:00 - 56 minutes - 52.1 MB

In this edition, we rejoin The World of Tomorrow, a comic we discussed the first issue of five years ago! This is the one about an actor in, roughly, the 1950s, who stars in a space ranger TV show that’s on the verge of cancellation. Now writer Giles Clarke has sent us the second and … Continue reading Critiquing Comics #233: “The World of Tomorrow” and “Prism Stalker”

#779 Jack Kirby’s “Kamandi” #32-34: Big Action Issue(s)!

July 19, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 56.5 MB

No longer just a look at Earth AD, Kamandi issues 32 through 34 introduce us to an alien who’s literally a ball of energy! Dr. Canus finds a way to give the alien a human body – but just what form will the alien end up taking? And just how much can Jack Kirby overhype … Continue reading #779 Jack Kirby’s “Kamandi” #32-34: Big Action Issue(s)!

#778 K. Briggs’ “Macbeth”

July 12, 2023 12:00 - 47 minutes - 43.4 MB

Flush with dark and mysterious symbolism, K. Briggs‘ adaptation of Macbeth from Avery Hill publishing is a challenging and visually exciting piece of work. Kumar and Emmet discuss the comic’s approach to the classic Shakespearean play and how it compares to other adaptations, as well as its unique juxtaposition of the unexpurgated text of the … Continue reading #778 K. Briggs’ “Macbeth”

“Thor: Ragnarok” (2017)

July 05, 2023 12:00 - 50 minutes - 46.4 MB

“Tim Catches Up with the MCU” continues to roll as Tim and Mulele reach Thor: Ragnarok. It has perhaps the most humor of any MCU movie up to this point; is that a good thing? Also, Tim experiences the benefits of never paying attention to the marketing. (Originally published on Patreon November 23, 2019.) Brought … Continue reading “Thor: Ragnarok” (2017)

#777 Jack Kirby’s “Kamandi” #29-31: “Up, up, and away!”

June 28, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 62.3 MB

As we continue through Jack Kirby‘s 1970s issues of Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth, Tim and Emmet keep slowing down! In this episode, nearly 30 minutes go into discussing Kamandi’s encounter with Superman’s (inexplicably undamaged) costume, and so only three issues, 29 through 31, are examined, but what issues they are! Kirby also references … Continue reading #777 Jack Kirby’s “Kamandi” #29-31: “Up, up, and away!”

#776 Emily Carrington reveals “Our Little Secret”

June 21, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 69 MB

Openly discussing being sexually abused, particularly if it was during childhood, is not easy. Emily Carrington has stepped forward with her memoir of being abused as a teenager, Our Little Secret, in the hope that others in her position will be moved to get help. The book recently won the Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize. … Continue reading #776 Emily Carrington reveals “Our Little Secret”

#775 Rina Ayuyang draws (on) her Filipino heritage

June 14, 2023 12:00 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MB

Rina Ayuyang has called on her Filipino heritage in her graphic novels Blame This On the Boogie and, just out, The Man in the McIntosh Suit. This time, Adam talks with her about using historical photo reference, doing comics digitally vs paper, Lynda Barry’s influence on her work, and more. Brought to you by: Checkered … Continue reading #775 Rina Ayuyang draws (on) her Filipino heritage

Critiquing Comics #232: “Sons of Thunder” and “The Lamb”

June 07, 2023 12:00 - 39 minutes - 36.6 MB

Critiquing Comics is back, with discussions of two interesting comics from listeners. Stephen Grow sent us Sons of Thunder, a one-panel cartoon aimed at Christians and reflecting life in a small-town church, but likely with wider appeal. Then, Kristin Tipping (now going by “Tin Tipping”) returns with a creepy barnyard tale, The Lamb. Brought to … Continue reading Critiquing Comics #232: “Sons of Thunder” and “The Lamb”

#774 Jack Kirby’s “Kamandi” #24-28: Havin’ a look-see for some fight-fight

May 31, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 61.2 MB

While Kamandi‘s exorcism story in issue 24 leaves something to be desired, never mind that: the subsequent four issues, as discussed in this episode, deliver the kinds of interesting concepts we’ve come to expect, as Kamandi and Ben visit the Dominion of Devils, fight Sacker’s Co. and their environment-destroying activities, and find out what the … Continue reading #774 Jack Kirby’s “Kamandi” #24-28: Havin’ a look-see for some fight-fight

#773 Jack Kirby’s “Kamandi” #19-23: On to Monster Lake!

May 24, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 70.7 MB

In this segment of Jack Kirby’s Kamandi series, we visit a version of 1920s Chicago that seems to be drawing on, or prefiguring, various other pop culture stories, and then move on to Monster Lake, home of intelligent, talking — and sometimes romantically inclined! — dolphins and killer whales. Kirby’s war experience again figures in … Continue reading #773 Jack Kirby’s “Kamandi” #19-23: On to Monster Lake!

#772 Evan McGorray and a translation about being trans

May 17, 2023 12:00 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MB

Translation is a topic seldom covered on this show (Kumar has talked about it several times, most notably here). This time Emmet talks with French-to-English comics translator Evan McGorray about translating Catherine Castro and Quentin Zuttion’s Call Me Nathan, about a trans teen. Brought to you by: The Batgirl to Oracle podcast Our supporters on … Continue reading #772 Evan McGorray and a translation about being trans

“Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017)

May 10, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 61.9 MB

Spider-man is a longtime favorite of Tim’s, in terms of comics reading, but how does he feel about Spider-Man: Homecoming? Particularly in light of the fact that it’s the first live-action Spider-Man he’s watched since 1979… Mulele joins Tim to review the 2017 film. (Originally published on Patreon November 4, 2019.) Brought to you by: … Continue reading “Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017)

#771 Jose Villarrubia on restoring Richard Corben

May 03, 2023 12:00 - 1 hour - 57.1 MB

Colorist Jose Villarrubia had trouble getting work from Marvel because his style was “too artistic” — but then other creators started asking for him, and he’s colored many Marvel titles since then. He’s also done photo art for Alan Moore‘s Voice of the Fire and The Mirror of Love. This August, a new edition of Richard … Continue reading #771 Jose Villarrubia on restoring Richard Corben

#770 Jack Kirby’s “Kamandi” #11-18: Kliklak forever

April 26, 2023 12:00 - 59 minutes - 54.8 MB

This week we continue our look at Jack Kirby’s run on Kamandi, another of the DC properties he created. Tim and Emmet find that issues 11 through 18 include a giant insect, a violent horse race, another standout issue in the mode of issue 7’s King Kong story, a clue as to how the animals … Continue reading #770 Jack Kirby’s “Kamandi” #11-18: Kliklak forever

Books

Twitter Mentions

@deconcomics 6 Episodes
@trumbullcomic 2 Episodes
@loeepodcast 1 Episode