Comics Alternative

It’s a new year and a new visit to Collected Comics in Plano, TX! This month Derek swings by the shop to talk with Collected’s co-owner, Brent Erwin, and his store employees Shea Hennum and Freddy Ruiz. It’s a general comics talk, with the topics varying wildly. And things get weird at times. They begin by discussing the recent renovations of the shop’s interior, and that eventually leads to a conversation on future plans and Free Comic Book Day. After that, all bets are off. Freddy talks about graphic violence and steampunk overload, Shea focuses on gay porn comics and Batman’s nads, Derek gripes about the Disney corporation and Marvel’s money-grabbing gimmicks, and Brent voices his wariness of IDW, his recipe for superhero continuity, and his love of sugary breakfast cereals. Everyone has a fun time…and now you too can enjoy the nougaty goodness of their conversation!

In this week’s review episode of The Comics Alternative, Derek and Gene discuss two recent releases. They begin with Doctor Who: Prisoners of Time, the Complete Series (IDW Publishing), written by Scott and David Tipton and illustrated by a host of artists. First, they place the book within context, discussing last year’s 12-issue Prisoners of Times miniseries and the 50th anniversary of the BBC’s Doctor Who television show. Then they look at the book as a whole — after a brief comment or two about their own histories as Whovians – focusing on its narrative structure, its variety of stylistics takes on the Doctor, and the way its premise springs from an easily overlooked event in the BBC series that occurred with the ninth Doctor. The Two Guys also discuss briefly the history of the franchise in comics, pointing out that one of the great features in the Prisoners of Time miniseries, and retained in the book, is the various retrospectives on the Doctor Who comics.  If you’re a fan of the television series, or

On this episode of The Comics Alternative Interviews, the Two Guys with PhDs talk with Isabel Greenberg, the author of The Encyclopedia of Early Earth (Little, Brown and Company). Most of the conversation centers around Isabel’s debut book — the genesis of The Encyclopedia, its dominant theme of storytelling, its structure as a series of embedded narratives, the artist’s preference for black-and-white illustration, the many myths that inform Greenberg’s storyworld, its intended audiences, the humor that permeates the book, and the kind of critical responses it has been receiving — but Andy and Derek also ask the author about her history as a reader of comics, her time as an apprentice creator, and her plans for future stories. While The Encyclopedia of Early Earth has been garnering much critical praise — including its place on Derek and Andy’s “Best of 2013″ list — Isabel Greenberg is a fairly new name on this side of the pond. So the Two Guys talk with her about her history with the UK comics scene and the

This week on The Comics Alternative, Andy and Derek review three recent works. They begin with Darwyn Cooke’s Richard Stark’s Parker: Slayground, from IDW Publishing. This is the fourth of Cooke’s comics adaptation of the Parker crime/heist novels from acclaimed writer Donald Westlake (AKA, Richard Stark). The Two Guys compare Slayground to the three other works Cooke has previously released: The Hunter (2009), The Outfit (2010), and The Score (2012). They note that while they like this graphic novel, and find Cooke’s artwork (as always) truly outstanding, they nonetheless feel that the book is a little slim, especially when compared to the earlier works. At the same time, the book also includes a reprint of the 11-page story “The 7eventh,” originally appearing in Richard Stark’s Parker: The Martini Edition (2011). What with IDW’s recent announcement that they’re going to be publishing Westlake’s original Parker novels, illustrated by Darwyn Cooke, and the promise of another Cooke adaptation of one of those n

On this episode of The Comics Alternative Interviews, Andy and Derek speak with writer Fred Van Lente. They begin by asking him about his work on the recent Dark Horse title, Brain Boy — a revamp of the short-lived 1960s character — and how he translated the title for a contemporary audience. Van Lente also shares a bit of insight into his upcoming reboot of Magnus: Robot Fighter, part of Dynamite Entertainment’s new Gold Key line, as well as his plans for the new Action Presidents series. The Two Guys also talk with Fred about his run on Archer and Armstrong and the early humorous titles he created with Ryan Dunlavey, the comics that really put him on the map: Action Philosophers and The Comic Book History of Comics. They spend a lot of time focusing on Fred’s special sense of humor, his meticulous research, and his melding of abstract thoughts and tangible — and very entertaining — storytelling. All in all, Derek and Andy had a good time talking with the acclaimed author…and their conversation ended right w

The Two Guys with PhDs Talking about Comics are back for their first Previews episode of the new year. It being January, the guys begin by highlighting some of the titles that will a part of Free Comic Book Day in May. There are some great ones coming out from BOOM! Studios, Fantagraphics, Dark Horse Comics, and Drawn and Quarterly. Then they get to the nitty gritty of the episode, discussing upcoming titles such as Veil #1, Beasts of Burden: Hunters and Gatherers, and Murder Mysteries (Dark Horse); American Vampire: Second Cycle #1 and Jonah Hex: Shadows West (DC/Vertigo); Alice in Comicland and Mean Streets: A Crime Anthology (IDW Publishing); Stray Bullets #41, Stray Bullets: Killers #1, and Sovereign #1 (Image Comics); The Big Feminist But: Comics about Women (Alternative Comics); The Returning #1 and Beautiful Scars (BOOM! Studios/Archaia); Mangus: Robot Fighter #1 (Dynamite Entertainment); White Cube (Drawn and Quarterly); Henry Speaks for Himself,  Buddy Buys a Dump, and Young Romance 2: The Early Simo

On The Comics Alternative‘s first interview of 2014, Gene and Derek are joined by Brian Joines, the writer of the recent comic book series I.M.A.G.I.N.E. Agents (BOOM! Studios) and Krampus (Image Comics). They talk with Brian about how great 2013 was for him, the genesis of his new titles, his apparent fascination with the darker side of childhood, why devil-like holiday figures make good copy, his collaborations with Bachan and Dean Kotz, the hazards of self-publishing, and the sickeningly sweet and sinister connections between Steven Spielberg and sugar plum fairies. Brian points out, as well, that he’s not a defiler of childhood memories, and that kids should stay in school, not do drugs, and follow their creative imaginations.

Happy New Year, and welcome to another episode of The Comics Alternative! To start off 2014, Andy and Derek discuss six relatively recent digital comics: Tim Gibson’s Moth City, Chris Sheridan’s Motorcycle Samurai (Top Shelf), Joshua Hale Fialkov and Joe Infurnari’s The Bunker, Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey’s Action Presidents, Brian Winkeler and Robert Wilson IV’s Knuckleheads (Monkeybrain Comics), and Jeremy Holt and Chris Peterson’s Pulp.  They begin by focusing on the two titles that utilize the digital format the fullest, Moth City and Motorcycle Samurai, and how the authors use the technology to enhance their storytelling. Derek and Andy discuss the unique nature of these works and how much would be lost if these titles were offered in print form. From there they move on to The Bunker, Knuckleheads, and Action Presidents, appreciating how the creators use digital technology yet noting that these titles could easily be adapted into physical format without losing much of anything (and as we will see so

The Two Guys with PhDs (who talk about comics) like to end the year by highlighting their favorite titles of the past twelve months. These could be ongoing series, limited runs or miniseries, one-shots, trades, original graphic novels, webcomics, or archival collections. So for this week’s episode, Derek and Andy each choose their favorite ten comics from 2013 and then share that list with one another. They don’t necessarily rank them in any order — although Andy does reveal the #1 title on his list — and neither knows of the other’s ten favorites before they record the podcast. As such, the Guys not only have a great time discussing the year’s best comics, but also in discovering what each other feels is truly his favorite. There are a few overlaps between Andy and Derek’s choices, but even more significantly, there are some big surprises in each one’s list!

For this month’s on-location show, Derek heads back to Collected Comics in Plano, TX, to talk with Shea Hennum and other shop employees about the past year in comics. The conversation begins with a look at some of the highlights from 2013, the best titles to come out of the year, movies and television programs based on comics, and some of the most memorable publishing events — or just events, in general — in comics. Shea and Derek also discuss some of the trends they saw developing over the past twelve months, including the impressive output of such major creators as Paul Pope and Gilbert Hernandez. Without turning too negative, they also mention some of the disappointments or lackluster moments from 2013, but then they counterbalance that with their hopes for new things that will be coming out in 2014. This is the perfect show to set the stage for Andy and Derek’s much-anticipated end-of-the-year episode, where they will share what they consider to be the best titles in 2013.

This week the Two Guys with PhDs Talking about Comics take their annual look at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s The Best American Comics collection (including material published between September 1, 2011 and August 31, 2012), this year edited by Jeff Smith. They begin by noting that this volume is significant for several reasons, not the least of which is the fact that this is the last to be overseen by series editors Jessica Abel and Matt Madden. Andy and Derek marvel at the work the two have been doing since they began with the 2008 volume, and they wish Abel and Madden well in their future endeavors…and they look forward to seeing what the new series editor, Bill Kartalopoulos, will bring to the table. The guys highlight what they consider to be their favorite contributions to the 2013 volume, specifically commenting on the sheer number of entries that originally appeared in Dark Horse Presents. They also discuss the need for a book such as this to introduce readers to new material, the pros and cons of excerp

This week the Two Guys with PhDs Talking about Comics review three new titles, and boy, are they geared up! They begin by looking at the Hernandez brothers’ latest issue of Love and Rockets: New Stories (Fantagraphics). Focusing first on Jaime’s contributions, they comment on how his narratives have evolved after the “Love Bunglers” storyline from issues number 3 and 4 of New Stories. They’re particularly interested in Jaime’s deeper exploration of the family of Vivian Solis, AKA Frogmouth, especially as it relates to Tonta and the reappearance of Angel Rivera (last seen in the “Ti-Girls Adventures”). Next, Andy and Derek delve into Gilbert’s contribution to the latest New Stories, spending a good deal of time doing close readings of the multiple narrative levels at work: the current story of Dora “Killer” Rivera’s visit to Palomar, the flashbacks to her deceased aunt and great-grandmother, and the films surrounding her great-grandmother, Maria. Here, the Two Guys bring up Gilbert’s new graphic novel, Maria M

On this interview episode, Andy, Gene, and Derek talk with Zak Sally, the creator behind Like a Dog,  Recidivist, and Sammy the Mouse…a narrative that Derek calls “the Waiting for Godot of comics.” His second installment in the planned four-book Sammy the Mouse series just recently came out from Uncivilized Books, and the guys discuss with Zak the genesis of that project and his strategies for plotting the story. Zak also talks about his beginnings with zines in the 1990s;  music and his time with the band, Low; his efforts with La Mano, his own publishing arm (pun intended); his work on the upcoming fourth issue of Recidivist; the artistic limitations of Tumblr; and his experiences in Duluth and Minneapolis. Along the way, the conversation (de)evolves into a discussion of Battle of the Network Stars, Telly Savalas commercials for Duluth, and how the name “Dylan” is actually pronounced in Hibbing, Minnesota.

It’s time again for the Two Guys with PhDs to go through the monthly Previews catalog. This time around there are a number of noteworthy solicits to mention, including Fatima: The Blood Spinners, The White Suits #1, and Someplace Strange (from Dark Horse); The Royals #1 and Daytripper: Deluxe Edition (DC/Vertigo); Red Panda: The Mask of the Red Panda (IDW Publishing); The Fuse #1, The Revenger #1, and The Mercenary Sea #1 (Image Comics); Sanctuary (Slave Labor Graphics); A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (Bloomsbury); Turok: Dinosaur Hunter #1 (Dynamite Entertainment); Walt before Skeezix: 1919-1920 and the new printing of The Fixer (Drawn and Quarterly); Zero Hour and Other Stories, Insect Bath #1, and Cannon (Fantagraphics); The Bunker #1 (Oni Press); The Simon and Kirby Library: Horror (Titan Books); Tippy and the Night Parade (Toon Books); The Bojeffries Saga and Alone Forever (Top Shelf); and American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969 (TwoMorrows Publishing). Also in this episode: Andy discusses

On this special “point one” show, we present a recording of the Comics and Social Media Panel held at the Wizard World Austin Comic Con on November 22nd. Derek Royal and Shea Hennum were two of the discussants on that panel, along with John Mayo of The Comic Book Page podcast and Russell Latham of The Longbox of Doom podcast. The title of the panel was “Comics and Social Media: The How-To, the How-Much and the Why,” and during the session the four presenters took questions from the audience and shared their various experiences. Among the topics discussed were how to set up blogs and podcasts; the kinds of ways to use social media; how to reach an intended audience via Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr; strategies for contacting publishers and creators; what to expect in terms of set-up and maintenance costs; what kind of software and hardware is needed for your intended purposes; and why anyone would want to make all this effort just to share their opinions and insights on comics. There was a lot of information c

This being the week of Thanksgiving, Andy and Derek thought that they would use this week’s show to share what they are thankful for regarding comics. And one of the first things that they are thankful for is the company of Gene Kannenberg, Jr., who joins the guys to give his own comics-inspired thanks. Together, the Three Guys with PhDs Talking about Comics reveal their thankfulness for a variety of things, including some of the comics events they have attended this year, the creators they have had the good fortunate to meet and/or interview, the publishers who consistently put out the best material, the innovators who continue to push the boundaries of the medium, the writing styles that never fail to disappoint, and the series that offer some of the most significant archival works and with the best reproduction quality available. There are no turkeys here…only the most appetizing menu you can imagine. And Happy Hanukkah as well!

On this episode of The Comics Alternative Interviews Derek and Gene talk with Vivek Tiwary about his recently published The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story (Dark Horse Books). In their conversation, Vivek discusses the genesis of his book, his personal and professional interests in Brian Epstein, the challenges of being a first-time graphic novel writer, and his dogged efforts to accurately represent the life The Beatles’ manager. Gene and Derek also ask Vivek about working with artists Andrew C. Robinson and Kyle Baker, as well as information on plans to turn The Fifth Beatle into a movie. There’s a lot of information packed into this show, all part of an effort to bring renewed — and sorely needed — attention to the man who made The Beatles into a cultural phenomenon.

The Comics Alternative is back for its monthly on-location show at Collected Comics in Plano. Joining Derek on this episode is Collected employee and good friend of the show, Shea Hennum. This month there is no particular theme or specific topic of discussion, so the guys engage in general comics talk. Shea and Derek discuss the things that they’re reading, the titles that have been released over the past couple of weeks, and what to look forward to in the months to come. Shea is particularly excited about recent releases, and he waxes over the many titles that now make up his “to read” list. As always, it’s a fun time talking at Collected Comics in Plano, so come listen to the episode and experience the joy.

The Two Guys with PhDs (Talking about Comics) are back with another roundtable discussion, and this time the topic is licensed comics. Joining them again are their podcasting pals, John Mayo from The Comic Book Page and Chris Marshall from Collected Comics Library. Springing from Chris’s suggestion that they talk about licensed properties — and fostered by Andy’s uncanny fascination with ROM and The Micronauts — the four comics dudes cover a wide swath of pop culture history regarding the trans-media nature of certain properties. There’s a lot to talk about with this topic, and the guys try to get as much in as they can. Along the way they discuss comic-book manifestations of Star Trek, Star Wars, G. I. Joe, My Little Pony, Doctor Who, MacGyver, The Bionic Man, Doc Savage, The Spirit, The Monkees, various Disney properties, and personality-based comics such those published on The Beatles, Bob Hope, and Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis (one of Derek’s favorites). The four guys all highlight their favorite licensed

On this episode of The Comics Alternative Interviews, Gene and Derek talk with editor, archivist, comics historian, and pop cultural Renaissance Man, Craig Yoe. The interview gets off to a wild start with a discussion of  Secret Identity: The Fetish Art of Superman’s Co-Creator Joe Shuster, a book that Craig says helped to put him on the publishing map. From there they highlight several of Yoe’s more recent releases, including his Haunted Horror series, Jack Cole’s Deadly Horror, Strange World of Your Dreams, The Art of Archie: The Covers, and the Ditko Monsters books. The Two Guys also ask Craig about his time with Disney, Nickelodeon, and especially his close association with Jim Henson and his experiences working on the Muppets. One of the most moving parts of the interview, in fact, is when Craig discusses his last meeting with Henson, the day of the legend’s untimely death. But the overall tone of the conversation is upbeat. It’s a free-flowing conversation filled with humor, horror, and erotic reference