Info

The Comic Source Podcast

The Comic Source is the title of a group of podcasts focusing on comic books. It includes The Comic Source Podcast, The Top Cow Chronology Project, Creator Interviews, Convention Coverage and so much more. Grab your headphones and join us today!
RSS Feed
The Comic Source Podcast
2024
March
February
January


2023
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2022
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2021
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
November
September
August
May
March


2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2015
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February


Categories

All Episodes
Archives
Categories
Now displaying: July, 2021
Jul 28, 2021

Jace chats with writer Tom Pinchuk about his current Zoop campaign for Remember Andy Xenon. A modern story that calls back to older comic stories with a sense of nostalgia, Remember Andy Xenon gets very meta at times. Tom has a lot of fun exploring who Andy is and how gaining powers at such a young age has impacted him. We've all dreamt of what we would do with super powers, but have you ever thought about having them taken away? It's clear that Andy didn't and if he ever gets another chance to have powers it might go much differently the second time around. Great story, fantastic art and rich backmatter make this an easy campaign to back.

Jul 28, 2021

Jace and Jay run down some of the titles they have read for the week of July 28, 2021. All of the reviews are spoiler-free. There are a ton of great books this week and Jace shouts out a few more titles you might want to be on the lookout for.

 

Amazing Fantasy #1 - A fantastical fantasy world that several Marvel heroes are transported to. We expect they will find each other and team up at some point, but how did they get there in the first place and why?

Writer/Artist - Kaare Andrews, Letterer - Joe Sabino

 

Amazing Spider-Man #71 - Sinister War kicks off, but we are missing the sinister. No Sinister Six, no Savage Six and no action really. It seems strange as Nick Spencer clearly needs all the space he can get to wrap up his story, but this one feels like a wasted issue. Maybe it's just poor pacing?

Writer - Nick Spencer, Artists - Federico Vicentini with Federico Sabbatino, Color Artist - Alex Sinclair, Letterer - Joe Caramagna

 

Phantom on the Scan #4 - A horror books that feels more like a suspense novel, we have several people on the run who were experimented on very early on in their lives. Now it seems those lives may be ending because one of the subjects of that experiment has decided to take out the rest. Can the others team up to find the answers in time?

Writer - Cullen Bunn, Artist - Mark Torres, Letter - Dave Sharpe

 

Daredevil #32 - An absolutely action-packed issue of Daredevil as we see Matt starting to show signs of coming out of the funk he has been in that lead him to become incarcerated. Also Elektra is hot on the trail of Bullseye but she may not like what she finds when she to him. What a great last page! Jay's Book of the Week

Writer - Chip Zdarsky, Penciller - Mike Hawthorne, Inker - Adriano Benedetto, Color Artist - Marcio Menyz, Letterer - Clayton Cowles

 

Made in Korea #3 - Jesse has quickly bonded with the parents who have adopted her, but the doctor who created her is out to do whatever he can to get Jesse back. Meanwhile, some of the kids at Jesse's school clearly have nefarious plans and have taken advantage to Jesse's naivete to use her in those plans. 

Writer - Jeremy Holt, Artist - George Schall, Letterer - Adam Wollet

 

Department of Truth #11 - The Bigfoot arc comes to a surprising end as Hawke does something that seems out of character. Plenty of emotion in this one as we are faced with the question of whether it only takes one person with an absolute iron clad belief in something to make it real.

Writer - James Tynion IV, Artist - Martin Simmonds, Letterer - Aditya Bidikar

 

Black Cat #8 - Just how does this story tie in with the Infinite Destinies storyline playing out in the Marvel Annuals? Does Black Cat know more about the Infinity Stones that she appears to? Tons of action in this one, but it all sets up more questions than answers

Writer - Jed MacKay, Artist - C.F. Villa, Color Artist - Brian Reber, Letterer - Ferrran Delgado

 

Fantastic Four #34 - The aftermath of Zora's betrayal has devastating effects for those attending the wedding. Ultimately it may be Johnny Storm who pas the highest price. Once again Doom appears to be pulling the strings from behind the scene and one has to wonder of Doom ever truly planned on getting married.

Writer - Dan Slott, Artist - R.B. Silva, Color Artist - Jesus Aburtov, Letterer - Joe Caramagna

 

Black Widow #9 - Black Widow continues to show why it was chosen as Best New Series by the Eisner's. Kelly Thompson gives us perfectly paced action, interspersed with wonderful banter between Natasha and Yelena. The supporting casts all get sufficient time to show us who they are and the art by is kinetic, slick and gorgeous.

Writer - Kelly Thompson, Artists - Elena Casagrande & Rafael De Latorre, Inkers - Elisabetta D'Amico. Color Artist - Jordie Bellaire, Letterer - Cory Petit

Jul 27, 2021

Jace and Rocky from Comic Boom! talk about 9 of the 18 titles DC is putting out for the week of July 27, 2021. That's right 18 titles! So many books they had to break this week up into two episodes. This is part two, so if you want the whole week's worth of books start with part 1!

 

Icon and Rocket Season One #1 - We get an updated origin for Icon and Rocket but they stay very faithful to the original iterations of the characters. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Despite not changing anything dramatically the comic and characters still manages to feel very fresh with relevant ideas of the social issues Icon may have been fighting thirty years ago, which are sadly still relevant today.

Writer - Reginald Hudlin, Penciller - Doug Braithwaite, Inkers - Scott Hanna & Andrew Currie, Color Artist - Brad Anderson, Letterer - Andworld Design

 

Static Season One #2 - Pushed to his limit Virgil is forced to use his powers in front of his parents to prevent his house from burning down. Gravely concerned about the welfare of their son, a disagreement on how best to deal with the situation has Virgil striking out on his own, ditching school and taking matters into his own hands to try and control his powers. He reaches out to Curtis Metcalf, the hero known as Hardware for help, but ultimately that help may be more trouble than it's worth.

Writer - Vita Ayala, Layouts - Chriscross, Finishes and Colors - Nikolas Draper-Ivey, Letterer - Andworld Design

 

Infinite Frontier #3 - All the plot thread from this epic, universe spanning story continue to move forward, but are they moving in the same direction? Rocky seems to think so but Jace has his doubts. It's definitely time for this story to start to come together as one narrative to give readers some idea of where the DC Universe is heading, The individual storylines are effective so far though, as we can't help but wonder what allows Roy Harper to wield a Black Lantern ring, we get a glimpse of where Darkseid has imprisoned Barry Allen while Alan Scott and Obsidian continue to look for Jade.

Writer - Joshua Williamson, Pencillers - Paul Pelletier, Jesus Merino, Tom Derenick & Xermanico, Inkers - Norm Rapmund, Raul Fernandez, Tom Derenick & Xermanico, Color Artist - Romulo Fajardo Jr, Letterer - Tom Napolitano

 

Teen Titans Academy #5 -  Have you ever wondered how the Bat Pack ended up at Teen Titans Academy? Well wonder no longer, we get the full story in their own words. In fact, we learnt hey are telling the story to Red X who in turn for this show of trust reveals his identity to the three young heroes although it remains a mystery to us. Whether or not the Bat Pack buys into what Red X is telling them about trusting the other adult heroes of the Academy remains to be seen.

Writer - Tim Sheridan, Artist - Steve Lieber, Color Artist - Dave Stewart, Letterer - Rob Leigh

 

Strange Adventures #11 - More revelations in this issue as we learn if Adam Strange was truly behind the deal that was made with the Pykkts that resulted in Aleea being imprisoned. The fall out for this may shatter the relationship of Adam and Alanna beyond repair, but was the price they paid worth it? When billions of lives are at stake does that outweigh the love of a parent? Big questions in this one leading to a big finale.

Writer - Tom King, Artists - Mitch Gerards & Doc Shaner, Letterer - Clayton Cowles

 

Wonder Woman #776 - Wonder Woman's quest to find Janus and stop her murderous rampage across the realm of the gods continues in the fairie land of Elfhame. Enchanted, magical and mystical it is just one more adventure for Diana as she attempts to continue on her ultimate quest to return to our earth. 

Writers - Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad & Jordie Bellaire, Artists - Jill Thompson, Becky Cloonan & Paulina Ganucheau, Color Artists - Jordie Bellaire & Kendall Goode, Letterer - Pat Brosseau & Becca Carey

 

The Other History of the DC Universe #5 - The incredible series which started out with a spotlight on Jefferson Pierce comes full circle with the story of his eldest daughter Anissa Pierce. Equally, emotional, powerful and poignant, the story itself is a perfect encapsulation of Anissa herself. Despite her living herself striving to not become her father, without her even seeing it herself, the similarities are far too many to be merely coincidence. The "other history" of the DC Universe in many ways is the history of the Pierce family themselves.

Writer - John Ridley, Artists - Giuseppe Camuncoli & Andrea Cucchi, Color Artist - Jose Villarubia, Letterer - Steve Wands

 

Wonder Woman Black & Gold #2 - We get some very interesting tales of Diana from a very, very diverse cross section of creators. Many of the stories focus on Wonder Woman's relationship to gods and that leaves Rocky wondering if gods are more important than mortals to Diana, It's a valid questions and one that has a clear answer based on these stories.

Writers - Mariko Tamaki, Che Grayson, Tillie Walden, Stephanie Williams & Rachel Smythe, Artists - Jamie McKelvie, Corin Howell, Tillie Walden, Ashley A. Woods & Rachel Smythe, Color Artist - Jordie Bellaire, Letterers - Simon Bowland, Wes Abbott & Becca Carey

 

Superman: Son of Kal-El - Jon Kent is on his own, but what does that truly mean? Who is he when he is not Superman's son? Does he even have an identity and how can he figure out how to fill his father's shoes when he doesn't even know who he is as a person or a hero? There are more questions than answers for Jon in this one, but that still doesn't excuse him asking Damian for advice!

Writer - Tom Taylor, Artist - John Timms, Color Artist - Gabe Eltaeb, Letterer - Becca Carey

 

Jul 27, 2021

Jace and Rocky from Comic Boom! talk about 9 of the 18 titles DC is putting out for the week of July 27, 2021. That's right 18 titles! So many books they had to break this week up into two episodes.

 

Action Comics #1033Superman gets more political than we have seen him in a long time as he tries to stop Atlantis and the surface world from going to war. Also there may be much more to Thao-la that meets the eye. Could she actually be working for Mongul?

Writer - Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Artist - Daniel Sampere, Color Artist - Adriano Lucas. Letterer - Dave Sharpe

 

Batman Secret Files: Huntress #1Helena survived the infection of parasites by Hue Vile, but has the sickness changed her forever? If so, can she use these new found abilities to turn the tables in Vile. Even if she does it may not be in time to save the hero we learn is infected in the cliffhanger ending.

Writer - Mariko Tamaki, Artist - David Lapham, Color Artist - Trish Mulvihill, Letterer - Rob Leigh

 

Detective Comics #1040 - Bruce Wayne turns himself into Gotham PD to clear his name While he is sitting behind bars he encounters someone in jail along with him who may, or may not know his secret identity. Meanwhile, the Penguin is definitely returning to his criminally malevolent roots as he attempts to once again prove to be a bigger threat to Batman than just a crooked casino owner. In the backup story we get an incredibly impactful Man-Bat story that feels very consequential.

Writers - Mariko Tamaki & Dan Watters, Artists - Dan Mora & Max Raynor, Color Artists - Jordie Bellaire  & Arif Priatno, Letterers - Aditya Bidikar & Rob Leigh

 

Checkmate #2 - As we jump around various times of the recent past, we try to piece together just what Leviathan's end game is. At the same time Lois Lane continues to search for clues to understand the cryptic message her father told her before he died.

Writer - Brian Michael Bendis, Artist - Alex Maleev, Color Artist - Dave Stewart, Letterer - Josh Reed

 

Batman Superman #20 - Auter.io continues his quest to create a perfect world and for him that means destroying the versions of Superman, Batman and Robin that are currently trying to thwart him. When all else falls, he chooses to splice the hellish world of the Demon with Superman's World of Tomorrow to allow the Demon Horde of the Apocalypse to tear Superman's world apart. Can the Man of Steel and his allies stop the horde in time?

Writer - Gene Luen Yang, Artist - Ivan Reis, Inker - Danny Miki, Color Artist - Sabine Rich, Letterer - Saida Temofonte

 

Harley Quinn #5 -  Harley manages to successfully infiltrate Hugo Strange's HQ to rescue her new sidekick Kevin, but it takes some bathroom hijinks for her plan to take off. Ultimately she may be successful, but has she actually just played into the plan Strange was hoping for all along?

Writer - Stephanie Phillips, Artist - Riley Rossmo, Color Artist - Ivan Plascencia, Letterer - Andworld Design

 

Batman Reptilian #2 - Batman is on the trail of the mysterious monster that is wreaking havoc on the Gotham underworld. He doesn't seem to concerned with the injuries that the criminals are suffering though. This is clearly a Bruce Wayne with a harder edge than we have seen before as he wonders what the monster may have in common with a great white shark.

Writer - Garth Ennis, Artist - Liam Sharp, Letterer - Rob Steen

 

Mister Miracle: The Source of Freedom #3 - Shilo Norman just starts to use his newfound powers and gain an understanding of what N'ver Free wants and where she comes from when disaster strikes. Norman is left broken and hurting, can his agent Vito with the help of Oberon get Shilo back in the fight?

Writer - Brandon Easton, Artist - Fico Ossio, Color Artist - Rico Renzi, Letterer - Rob Leigh

 

Robin #4 -  Damian spends some quality time with his grandfather, but are there lessons he can actually learn and talk to heart from Ra's Al Ghul? Meanwhile back on Lazarus island with the death of Ravager the Lazarus tournament is officially ready to get underway.

Writer - Joshua Williamson, Artist - Jorge Corona, Color Artist - Luis Guerrero, Letterer - Troy Peteri

Jul 21, 2021

Time Before Time #3 - In this issue the time-travel aspect of the story starts to take a bit of a backseat to the crime noir feel of the story with the politics of the rivalry between the Union and the Syndicate showing up big time. Tons of action & characterization makes this feel like a big chunk of story that helps to flesh out the events from previous issues. Also the art from Joe Palmer is pitch perfect in combining all the elements of sc-fi, crime noir & action.

Writers - Declan Shalvey & Rory McConville, Artist - Joe Palmer, Color Artist - Chris O'Halloran, Letterer - Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

 

Undiscovered Country #14 - As we get to the second book of the third arc of this vast story from two veteran writers, it occurs to us that the end game for this series has yet to be defined. Will it be the expedition successfully finding a cure for the global plague? Will it be the re-opening of the United States to the rest of the world? Is it more meta than that and just enough that Snyder & Soule are starting a conversation about what it means to be American and even more than that, what it means to be a human being on earth. So much to think about always with this thought-provoking series. This issue itself is an exploration of American culture & one of it's most identifiable creations, the comic book super-hero. All this is illustrated & colored beautifully which the linework and colors jumping off the page.

Writers - Scott Snyder & Charles Soule, Artist - Giuseppe Camuncoli & Leonardo Marcello Grassi, Color Artist - Matt Wilson, Letterer - Crank!

 

Alien #5 - Phillip Kennedy Johnson continues at what he does best, world-building. Taking the foundation of what we know about this world form the films, he gives us some great ideas in this issue that really provide tons of potential for more story. Also it gives such great context to the characters that Johnson has introduced us to in the series so far. You add in the action packed Salvador Larocca art that feels kinetic from cover to cover and you have an immensely enjoyable and compelling read.

Writer - Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Artist - Salvador Larocca, Color Artist - Guru-eFx, Letterer -  Clayton Cowles

 

Gamma Flight #2 - Building on the appearances of Gamma Flight from the pages of The Immortal Hulk this series continues to enrich the world Al Ewing has built with the Immortal Hulk. There likely wasn't room in the main series with only two issues left to give these characters their due and we love that they are getting their own series to finishing telling their story. Skaar showing up at the end of last issue leads to epic action in this second issue just as you would expect. What you might not expect is how relatable and fun Ewing & co-writer Crystal Frasier make the husband and wife of Titania and Absorbing Man. Also while this feels like a team book and that team only feels like they are getting closer and understanding each other better, the action is fun but it is the character dynamics that make this books good. When you add in the fantastic line work of Lan Medina and the bright Antonio Fabela colors it raising the series up to great.

Writers - Al Ewing & Crystal Frasier, Artist - Lan Medina, Color Artist - Antonio Fabela, Letterer - Joe Sabino

 

Captain Marvel #30 Carol Danvers has reached the end of her magic journey and it doesn't end quite the way you expect. In fact, Carol may be worse off and have more enemies than ever including the magic wielders of the Marvel Universe. It's an intriguing and foreboding conclusion to the story from writer Kelly Thompson and expertly illustrated and colored by Jacopo Camagni and Espen Grundetjern. The fallout form the main story leads directly into a bonus back-up story from writer/artist Jamie McKelvie with some wonderful moments between Captain Marvel and Ms. Marvel. One of Marvel best books month in and month out, it's no surprise that Kelly Thompson has kept the Captain Marvel title going longer than any previous run of the series.

Writers - Kelly Thompson & Jamie McKelvie, Artists - Jacopo Camgni & Jamie McKelvie, Color Artists - Espen Grundetjern & Jamie McKelvie, Letterer - Clayton Cowles

 

Home #4 - The latest issue of this series that started out feeling like a slice of life drama about family & immigration continues it's transformation into an action-packed story about a family with super powers. Also the series is an excellent representation of just how important family is in Latin cultures. When you add in the relevant politics you have the makings of a wonderful titles. Also the art is light-hearted and fun which helps the book from feeling heavy handed and balances out the series of the real-life issues being explored.

Writer - Julio Anta, Artist - Anna Wiesczcyk, Color Artist - Bryan Valenza, Letterer - Hassan Otsman-Elhaou

 

Moon Knight #1 This first issue of the new Moon Knight series feels like it is trying to build off the slick style and mysterious take on the hero from the Warren Ellis series a few years ago. Unfortunately the bigger story and scope of what it feels like writer Jed MacKay is building requires more dialogue and exposition and doesn't lend itself to the quieter tone of the series from Ellis. Also the fine linework from artist Alessandro Cappuccio lacks impact and doesn't help the emotional beats to land with strength they should. There are some interesting ideas here, so we will have to see if the second issue can build on them.

Writer - Jed MacKay, Artist - Alessandro Cappuccio, Color Artist - Rachelle Rosenberg, Letterer - Cory Petit

 

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #28 - We've come to expect great things from the current creative team on Spider-Man, but this issue felt a little off the mark. The classic Clone Saga, while much maligned at the time, still felt important and consequential. This three issue modern equivalent for Miles Morales lacks both of those elements which leaves us feeling, for the first time in the Saladin Ahmed run, like we may have read some stories that don't really matter. The Carmen Carnero art is still top notch and she conveys the cover to cover action very well. We will have to wait and see if any of the events from this arc have long lasting consequences that may have us re-evaluation this story in the future.

Writer - Saladin Ahmed, Artist - Carmen Carnero, Color Artist - David Curiel, Letterer - Cory Petit

 

Radiant Black #6 - Once again the creative team for Radiant Black has knocked it out of the park with the latest issue of the series. Throughout the entire series the team has managed to subvert expectations at every turn. In this issue we get the very tragic and emotional origin of Radiant Red which may have many readers who previously disliked her, doing a complete 180 degree turn. When you couple the narrative with the clean yet soft artwork of Dark LaFuente you are left with another perfect issue of this series.

Writers - Kyle Higgins & Cherish Chen, Artist - Darko LaFuente, Color Artist - Miguel Muerto, Letterer - Becca Carey, Editor & Designer - Michael Busuttil

 

Project Patron #4 - We have almost reached the climax of this incredible AfterShock series. Building on the motivations and interactions between a clandestine team of people who give up their very lives to protect this planet, Steve Orlando has introduced a malevolent villain that has enhanced the stakes immensely. This series truly shows Orlando's love of the medium as it feel like a modern take on so many classic superhero ideas. Also the art is feels so visceral that it adds to the incredible stakes that have been building throughout the narrative.

Writer - Steve Orlando, Artist - Patrick Piazzalunga, Color Artist - Carlos Lopez, Letterer - Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

 

Shadecraft #5  The end of the first arc feels both like a satisfying ending for the story so far and a set up for so much more to come. Unfortunately the creative team is so busy it may be a little bit before we get more of this story. We can't wait to have more though, because what started out as such an intimate feeling story really grew into something so much more while still retaining the feeling of how important family and relationships are. The potential for so much more of this world to be explored is here, so we certainly hope the series returns soon. The balance of the wonderful ending while giving us such a great foundation for more story is what made Jay choose this as his Book of the Week.

Writer - Joe Henderson, Artist - Lee Garbett, Color Artist - Antonio Fabela, Letterer - Simon Bowland

 

Silver City #3 - Here we have another title that has grown so much in scope since the first issue. Starting with the premise that the afterlife in many ways may be just as mundane as life on earth, the story has continued to build in layers. From the mysterious working of the afterlife, it's queen and the silver knights to the powers Ru may or not possess, we can't wait to keep reading and discover the answers. Meanwhile the Luca Merli art has been fantastic through out providing both incredible mood with his colors and fantastic design and emotion with his line work.

Writer - Olivia Cuartero-Briggs, Artist - Luca Merli, Letterer - Dave Sharpe

 

Syphon #1 - This new Top Cow series is off to a very strong start as we meet our protagonist who has just gained the ability to take the pain away from others who are suffering, He himself suffers from tremendous guilt he feels over a mistake from his past and thus may be particularly suited to wield these powers, but where do they come from? Also who is the mysterious benefactor who claims to want to educate and help him? Extremely compelling and well-paced with gorgeous art, we are very much looking forward to the next issue. So much so that Jace made this his co-Book of the Week.

Writers - Patrick Meaney & Mohsen Ashraf, Artist - Jeff Edwards, Color Artist - John Kalisz

 

M.O.M. - Mother of Madness - We get a huge and immersive chunk of story in this debut issue from an all-female creative team and what a start it is. Original ideas when it comes to powers, fantastic characterization that suits the cynical setting for the story that takes pace in a future society. That society feels like a natural extension of our own and where we are headed in terms of gender issues and social movements. When you add in the story elements where the protagonist breaks the fourth wall or flashes back to events from her past, it only adds to the experience. The artwork is also jam-packed with detail with great linework that often breaks the panels and leaps off the page. This is definitely a must-read and Jace's co-Book of the Week.

Writers - Emilia Clarke & Marguerite Bennett, Artist - Leila Leiz, Color Artist - Triona Farrell, Letterer - Haley Rose-Lyon

Jul 21, 2021

Jace chats with John Luzar & Jason Fleece about their Current Kickstarter campaign, Marguerite vs. The Occupation. 

 

The Story

Marguerite grew up in a house on the highest hill in the valley; she loved watching the world go by her window. She could see everything

Four years after her family fled the invading Nazi army, France is on the brink of liberation, and 17-year-old Marguerite darts stealthily through the woods she played in as child, eager to witness the moment her long-lost home becomes free once more.

Instead, she finds a German machine gun crew occupying the bombed-out remains of her bedroom, using the very vantage point that once brought her such joy and wonder to keep the advancing Allies at bay!

 

Jul 20, 2021

Jace and Rocky From Comic Boom! spotlight the DC titles for the week of July 20, 2021. We get the origin of Melinda Zucco in the pages of Nightwing #82 and talks about the problem with ret-cons. Rocky seems to really like the idea of Dick Grayson having a sister though especially because there seems to be more to her than we know. Blue & Gold #1 is a real highlight with the whole creative team giving their all to make this a spectacular issue. Shazam #1 expands on some of the story points we have seen for Billy Batson in the pages of Teen Titans Academy and also hints at some of the events of Future State. Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow reminds us of the trauma Supergirl has endured in her life and explains how she might connect so closely with Ruthye and the losses both of them have suffered from. Justice League #65 brings a shocking revelation that is sure to have people talking, but is it necessary and will it be remembered? Only time will tell. The back-up Justice League Dark story continues to outshine the main story though and both have great art. In the pages of Catwoman we finally get the long-anticipated fight between Selina and Father Valley, thought the outcome may surprise a lot of readers. Flash #772 feels in some ways like a return to normalcy in Rocky's eyes and he is all for it. Wally West fans have been waiting for this a long time as Wally is back and finally headlining the Flash book. Superman and the Authority is an intriguing start to the story and Grant Morrison shows that Manchester Black is in good hands, as the legendary comic scribe absolutely nails the characterization of the psychotic telekinetic. Finally in the pages of Superman Red & Blue #5 we get the single best issue of the series so far. Every story is good to great with a couple of the narratives award worthy. An absolute must-read.

Jul 14, 2021

Jace and Jay talk spoiler-free about some of the comics hitting shops the week of July 14, 2021. Bunny Mask #2 is the first book Jay read and it gives us plenty of momentum for the story as Bunny Mask shows up to haunt some people form her past, but those people have no answers to what or who Bunny mask is. We the readers are in the dark as well, plenty of events and character interaction, but what does it all mean? I guess we need to stay with the series to find out. Beyond the Breach #1 similarly drops us right in the middle of he action as a young woman and boy are thrown into the middle of an apparent other-worldly invasion by monstrous bugs. Action-packed from start to finish, we definitely have more questions that answers so we will be back for #2 to learn more. Sinister War #1 is an over-sized start to the series and once again Spider-Man finds himself overwhelmed by the events and villains in his life. It seems like this series is a way for writer Nick Spencer to try and tie up as many threads from his long run on Amazing Spider-Man and we may be going even further back to pull at a long established thread. Is Marvel going to undo the controversial One More Day storyline? Iron Man #10 sees Tony Stark return in a big way as he is stranded on a far off alien world, but is this where he is meant to be? Can he abandoned his mission to stop Korvac? Maybe this world is perfectly suited to help his desire to get back to basics and remember who Tony stark truly is. Silver Coin is a futuristic story that establishes an intriguing world in very few pages. we continue to think these stories tie together in more ways then it first appears and we hope that mean we can revisit this particular world again. A Man Among Ye #5 is the return of female pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read. We love the voice that writer Stephanie Phillips gives us as well as the interaction between all the strong female characters in this book. New artist Josh George is more than up to the task of giving us dynamic art also, great issue. Alien Aftermath is Marvel's second title set in the franchise of the Xenomorphs and it ties in very closely with the events and characters of the Aliens movie. tons of cool action & a new version of the Xenomorph makes this issue a fun read. Spider-Woman #13 is a great example of the balance between humor and action that Karla Pacheco is pulling off in this title. Jessica Drew has never been in better hands. Way of X and X-Corp are both great this week as we get a couple of set up issues that have ending that lead us to believe we have big action coming in the August issues of both books.

 

Jul 13, 2021

Jace and Rocky from Comic Boom! chat with writer Andy Schmidt about his current series for DC Comics, The Crime Syndicate. This new version of the classic Earth-3 denizens has been a hit with Rocky from the beginning, but Jace has struggled to find a way to relate. Can this chat with Andy give Jace some insight into what he may have missed. Plus Andy takes us through the original plans for the series and the challenges that came with a format change and reduction in issues. Of course we couldn't talk about the series without mentions the incredible art from Kieran McKeown. What is really interesting is how Kieran's artwork inspired and changed the story in subtle ways once Andy saw the designs of a few of the characters. This is a fun chat with tons of behind the scenes tidbits so we hope you will join us.

Jul 13, 2021

Jace and Rocky from Comic Boom! break down the DC books for the week of July 13, 2021. Batman Urban Legends starts off with arguably the most definitive Jason Todd story ever as we see the former Robin facing his inner-demons with gorgeous art from Eddy Barrows & Marcus To. The second story gives us our second look at Ryan Wilder in the DCU, but we haven't seen her in the costume yet. The Tim Drake story sparks a HUGE debate between Jace and Rocky about the future of Tim and whether the characterization we get in the story is accurate or not. The final Batman Urban Legends story finishes up the Grifter story with kinetic Ryan Benjamin art and a massive reveal that could have lasting effects for the DC Universe. A lot of people are going to be talking about this Grifter story, so we hope it doesn't get spoiled for you. Rorschach #10 lays out the case so far and adds some insights to let try to figure out the mystery for ourselves and the spectacular artwork really makes this one of the best issue so far. Justice League Last Ride #3 is another real highlight this week as Zdarsky gives us the awkwardness of a family dealing with loss in a pitch perfect way. Also the Miguel Mendonca art is perhaps the best single issue the artist has ever done, AMAZING! The latest issue of the Joker, #5 departs from the current storyline to give us a past story of the Joker and Gordon that adds a lot of context to their relationship. We also get some great Francesco Francavilla art that really adds to the moodiness of the story. Detective Comics #1039 shows us Hue Vile revealed and gives his origin as well, it feels a bit abrupt but maybe the next time we see Vile show up it may resolve his story and reflect back favorably on this one. Future State Gotham #3 is frustrating both from the sense the diminished quality of the art as well as the lack of momentum in the story which feels bogged down in tropes. Flash 2021 Annual #1 is yet another Wally West redemption story, the retcon that it applies to the Heroes in Crisis story sets off a volatile debate amongst the guys. One of them argues it is heartfelt while adding respect and weight to the death of Roy Harper. The other says that the way this story dismisses and diminishes Heroes in Crisis is blatantly disrespectful. Who do you think is on which side? And more importantly, who do you agree with? Wonder Woman #775 is another title the guys didn't see eye to eye on, the heavy ties to different mythologies are starting to pull the attention away from Wonder Woman herself for Rocky, while Jace things that it has yet to be determined where the story is going or how to grade it. Infinite Frontier #2 has some great moments, but we are still waiting for that one story beat that can start to pull all this disparate threads together. We do have hope though, because the individual moments have been intriguing. In the pages of Batman The Detective #4 we see a Bruce Wayne who may have lost a step. or has he? The characterization is a little inconsistent for Jace and he wonders of the story might be suffering because of it. Jace and Rocky also express their shock and sorrow regarding the passing of Robson Rocha and pass their condolences on to his family and friends. A tremendously talented artist who was taken far too soon, the loss for the industry is a big one. This is our biggest spotlight yet and there is a TON of fiery debate about his week's books.

Jul 9, 2021

Jace chats with legendary comic illustrator & instructor Bart Sears. From the early days of Brutes & Babes in Wizard magazine to Bart's most recent project on Zoop. The campaign is for a unique artbook focusing on Headshots and Bart shares his thoughts on why he likes drawing heads so much. The guys also talk about the unique challenges of drawing heads & how Bart keeps things fresh especially for characters that might not have a distinctive feature. The other aspect of the campaign that is discussed is the interactivity Bart is bringing to the project by letting he fans vote on which head shots to include and then offering those headshots as one of a kind tier rewards. There is mention of Bart's Heavy Metal strip that he works on with his wife as well. Lot of fun art talk in this one so talk a listen.

Jul 7, 2021

Jace and Jay talk about some of the books they have read already for the week of July 7, 2021. Post Americana #6 is cover to cover action and it feels like the end is near and the winner may be the last man standing! Amazing Spider-Man #70 is also very fast-paced but unfortunately it also feels a bit choppy. We can't help but wonder if the impending departure of Nick Spencer means he is having to accelerate his plans to try and finish off as many plot threads as possible and that may lead to a decline in quality. Deep Beyond is a book that continues to impress and we hope everyone is giving it a chance because it is epic Sci-Fi that keeps growing in scope & hasn't disappointed yet! Nocterra is another Image title that continually delivers. The best artwork of Tony Daniel's career along with amazing color work from Tomeu Morey brings the world Scott Snyder & Daniel have created to life in such a way that you can't help but care about these characters. Masterful job on all fronts. Children of the Atom #5 has a big reveal that really surprised us. What is not surprising is the authentic voices Vita Ayala is giving to these teenagers, fantastic and authentic, plus great art. Immortal Hulk only has 2 more issues after this week's #48 and we see some hints of where it might be headed. We just hope we get a full and satisfying conclusion rather than an ending that leaves lingering questions or doubts. The Good Asian #3 continues to be a perfect period piece with wonderful art and moody characters that inhabit a world that accurately reflects the pulp noir feel of Chinatown in the San Francisco of the 1920's. The fact that the plight of the Asian characters in the story is still relevant today is both poignant and revelatory. Clans of the Belari is a promising start for two first time comic writers from AfterShock. Set in a Sci-Fi world where clan designation and loyalty to that clan means everything, will we see the human spirit triumph? Commanders in Crisis #10 shows the heroism of the team in the face of incredible odds. They rise to the challenge just as you would expect them too. This title continues to be a love letter to comics and the giant summer events of our childhoods, so much fun! Amazing Spider-Man Annual #2 is the next chapter in the Infinite Destinies story and we get Spider-Man trying to connect with Star to stop her zany but somewhat homicidal mission to get revenge on those that mistreated her in high school. Spider-Man may be the perfect person to relate to Star, but she is probably incapable of listening. Jay's Book of the Week, Geiger #4, is as fast-paced as ever. Geoff Johns & Gary Frank seem determined to go at a breakneck pace to never let us catch our breaths as the action is coming fast & furious. Much like the character of Geiger himself, keep moving to keep the emotions at bay, but their masterful storytelling has the characterization coming through in the little moments as well as the action scenes. Jace's Book of the Week, Ordinary Gods #1, is a huge story of immortal 'gods' unknowingly trapped on earth. Kyle Higgins & artist Felipe Watanabe give us a perfect first issue here, expertly balancing the past with the present and allowing us time to connect with the protagonist while still giving plenty of historical context. Jace also gives a rundown on some other titles you may want to pick up this week.

Jul 6, 2021

Jace and rocky from Comic boom! talk about the DC books for the week of July 7, 2021 and it is a BIG week. There is a special batman Secret Files issue focusing on Duke Thomas and it has both the guys wanting to revisit some Duke stories and get a better handle on who he is as a character and see where he might be going. We get more reminders of Future State in Suicide Squad #5 as Earth 3 and the Crime Syndicate make an appearance. Batman #110 keeps the Magistrate story moving full-steam ahead, but where this issue shines is in the dynamic art and the interactions between Ghost-Maker, Harley and Batman. Swamp Thing #5 seems to take a detour from the main story that has been unfolding, but we would not be surprised to find this story connects to the main narrative more than it first appears. Also we have John McCrea art that feels so organic, great stuff. We are up to the penultimate issue of Crime Syndicate and Rocky is still loving it, while Jace still struggles to connect to the characters. More issues may have solved this, but with one issue to go we will have to wait and see. Green Lantern #4 shows John Stewarts capabilities as a fighter without his ring and we see Teen Lantern take matters into her own hands regarding the destruction of OA. This one felt a little light on plot progression, but had some gorgeous art. Batman Fortnite Zeropoint came to an end, but we didn't get everything wrapped up in a nice neat package. It is clear there is more to this story and we fully expect to hear there is a follow up series coming SOON! Justice League #64 starts a new arc as Bendis brings back Synmar Utopica from his Superman run, but it just isn't compelling and feels overwrought. It's the exact opposite in the Justice League back-up where everything seems so purposeful. The second issue of Wonder Girl was a bit of a mess, the first 3 pages felt promising and then between the strange characterization of Yara and the choppy pacing we just felt like the issue never came together. Crush and Lobo is still not rocky;s cup of tea, but Jace seems to be enjoying it. Maybe it is the fact that Jace has no previous exposure to Crush? Time will tell as next issue Crush and Lobo come face to face and that could change the whole dynamic of the series. Finally Nice House on the Lake #2 starts to build tension and drama after the bombshell events of #1. We expect this thriller to continue to ramp up the pace from this issue with really feels like the starting point of these characters and their psychological and inter-personal journey.

Jul 1, 2021

Jace chats with longtime comic writer Ron Marz about his current campaign on Zoop, Resolution. Along with fellow writer Andy Lanning with art by Rick Leonardi, Lanning & color artist Andrew Dalhouse, Ron is bringing his love of cosmic, epic storytelling to the new crowdfunding platform. The Green Lantern meets Unforgiven is the simplest way to describe the story and with the track record and experience of these creators we really expect something special. In addition to the collaboration that is bringing the story of Xaan Maddox, a legendary member of the outer-space corps of heroes known as The Resolute, to life, backers have the opportunity to get a portfolio featuring artwork from other stellar artist working in comics. From Paul Pelletier to Phil Jimenez to Liam Sharp and a whole lot more. This is a chance for this all-star lineup of creators to draw whatever comes to mind in the universe of Resolution. Be sure you go visit the campaign page to check out all the amazing artwork and rewards that are being offered and share the campaign on social media so every one who wants to join the campaign will have a chance.

1