Jace and Manny along with Rocky from the COMIC BOOM! YouTube channel give their picks for the Best Comics of 2020. From their favorite new series, ongoing titles, mini-series, graphic novels and more! There are so many great books discussed, did any of your favorites make the list? They also talk about some of their favorite covers, cliffhangers and moments in comics from 2020. Part 1 of 2.
Jace chats with Tyler from the Imaginary Axis YouTube channel. It's a fun, educational and informative channel that teaches a ton about the world around you. Have you ever wondered how the science behind Superman's flight might really work? How about who the fastest Flash really is? Do you know how strong Spider-Man really is? This channel uses real science to try and answer all those questions and more. So join as we ask some questions of out own and find out how this channel got started and what it's all about.
Jace is joined by Nick, Dark Knight Nation and Comic Boom once again to dive into the Future State titles for week 4. The good new is this is the best week yet. Aquaman in particular was a real triumph. Every one of the guys praised it as the best issue of Future State yet. We also got a pretty solid issue of Dark Detective and THe Batman Superman and Suicide Squad issues weren't too bad. Listen for more spoiler-y details
Jace chats with comic creators Jemma Young and Chad Hardin about the Kickstarter campaign for the second issue of their Temerity series. From Chad's desires to have their ship the Temerity become a sci-fi icon, to Jemma's detailed character histories, it's clear that these two creators are passionate about this project. Plenty of talk about how they fell in love with comics and the craziness of the Harley Quinn ear and conventions also. The real takeaway here though is what a fun and cosmic story they are crafting which already has a loyal following. The Temerity community is growing daily, be sure you pledge listen and take advantage of that community to share your love of Temerity with your fellow fans!
Jace and Jay talk about a few of the comics that hit stands the week of February 3, 2021. It's a bit of a lighter week, but there are still tons of great books. Canto II #5 brings that volume of the clockwork knight to an end, but it sets everything up for the next volume starting in April. It's still one of the best books for kids out on the stands today! Inkblot continues to be a fun magical adventure with the cutest cat in comics getting into all kinds of mischief. We have a brand new world to explore in Deep Beyond and the first issue is intriguing but there are still so many questions about this world to be answered. Manbat wasn't bad, but the appearance of the Suicide Squad feels unnecessary. Tom Taylor and Darrick Robertson finishes off a perfect Constantine story. This is THE book to give to someone to introduce them to the depraved, crass and sometimes hilarious magical world of Constantine. Finally the guys both LOVED Maniac of New York. This book is absolutely incredible from the all too real narrative of a serial killer becoming an uncontrollable force of nature in New York City to the grimy, gritty and visceral Andrea Mutti art. No doubt our book of the week!
Jace breaks down three DC Comics titles. We explore the world of present day in which the Nazis won World War II. For years after the war the heroes of the Freedom Fighters were hunted and eventually killed, but now a new generation of heroes has emerged. They are taken up the name and fight of their fallen forebears and giving their all to bring about the return of Uncle Sam and achieve a final victory over the Third Reich. In the pages of Justice League #20 we get a look at a Utopian world, the world that Superman entered the sixth dimension to find, one where the Justice League found a way to defeat Perpetua and prevent the perversion of the universe she has been planning, but just as everything seems to be idyllic, we see some cracks start to show. What do Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl learn from their supposed future child? What does it say that Bruce Wayne is the one hero no longer present in the future timeline? And most importantly, just who is the future Superman and why has he trapped the original in a void without sunlight? Finally in Aquaman #45 Kelly Sue DeConnick continues to build upon the grand mythos she has created for the world Aquaman finds himself in following his apparent death. We learn that Callie's mother is far more than she seems and everything from Callie's being left behind to the poisoning of the waters surround the Village of Unknown Water has been part of a scheme by Namma to eventually bring about the destruction of the world. Luckily as the issue ends it appears Arthur may have more allies than he realized and they will be coming from an unlikely group.
Jace chats with YouTube creator Danny Malt about his early origins falling in love with comics and eventually that leading him to want to share that love by creating content on YouTube. We discuss the nuts and bolts of how Danny puts together episodes as well as some of the challenges and setbacks he has faced and overcome.
Jace and Jon-Paul dive head long into what may be the most important comic of the while Hickman era. House of X #2 gives is a look at Moira MacTagert in a way we've never seen before. Her mutant power of reincarnation, unrevealed before now, gives her a unique perspective on the human-mutant condition. Her many lives are spent in an orderly and scientific manner testing many different scenarios to allow mutants to survive or even thrive in a world dominated by normal humans. Which solution is correct? Will any of these plans work? What about her mysterious sixth life? Why is still hidden from us. There are many questions that we receive answers to but just as many that remain unknown.
Jace talks about the Oberon series from AfterShock. It's a fanciful adventure filled with fairies, goblins and magic, much like you would expect from a story mostly set in the World of the Fae. However, the themes explored go far beyond just your usual adventure story of this type. Ryan Parrot explores ideas of love, loyalty and truth in a very powerful way. This is the perfect type of story to share with children from about the age of 9 and older. It makes for a wonderful bedtime story and can spark some great conversations about this universal themes.
Jace chats with writer Ryan Parrot about the incredible AfterShock series Dead Day. It starts with such a simple question, what would you do if your loves ones got to come back from the dead for one night? From that simple question comes a world and story with limitless possibilities, from the ideas of righting wrongs to taking revenge to having a chance to say goodbye. It is such a huge idea because not only are there consequences for the dead, there are so many implications for the living. It could fundamentally change the moral contract of society. You know how much we love comics that make you think and Ryan has does that here in spades. All this and we haven't even mentioned the story that we are given in the context of this world, that highlights chances for revenge, what obligations the living might feel for those who've passed, the idea of coming back to see your legacy and finding a way to truly rest in peace.