Jace and Rocky chat about some of the independent comics for the week of November 27, 2024. tin Can Society continues to be absolutely excellent with some of the best and most realistic character work in comics currently. Hyde Street and Hornsby and Halo from Ghost Machine are both high quality and worthy of being picks of the week though they just got edged out. Star Trek: Defiant sets up more pieces for Lore War, coming next year while Grommets is heading towards it's series finale with plenty of emotion. Joun u as we talk about all these books and more. 

Jace and Rocky spotlight their favorite DC Comics titles for the week of November 27, 2024. The second issue of Absolute Wonder Woman builds upon the debut with the introduction of Steve Trevor and even bigger monsters. Justice League Unlimited launches with an incredbiel balance of huge scope and intimate moments. Detective Comics has Bruce turning to Superman for advice on whether to attempt to turn back the clock. Superman is confronted by Doomsday, but we get more questions that answers about the future version of the villain and a glimpse of Superman possible loving control is also very interesting for what it might mean. Finally, Best of the Best, Black Canary offeres incredible character work and art from the creative team while delving into very interesting themes of legacy and what it means to be family.

Jace welcomes Todd McFarlane back tot he show to talk about his return to writing duties on the regualre Spawn series. They also discuss the other series of the Spawn Universe and how todd works to keep things fresh and encourages creators working on his books to try new things and mine fresh ideas. Plenty of talk about art as well with Todd specifically calling out the excellent work of Brett Booth and Patric Reynolds on Spawn and Deadly Tales of Gunslinger Spawn respectively. Plus, Todd give a bit of an overview of the very broad strokes of where Spawn has been in his run, from not wanting his powers, to being off the table for awhile, to coming back having learned how to "play the game." Pick up issue #350 to get an idea of where Spawn is now and how what happens in that issue informs the big change we see in issue #360. There's tons to unpack in this one, so join us!

Jace chats with Jimmy Palmiottis and Patric Reynolds about the upcoming series Deadly Tales of the Gunslinger Spawn. The guys chat about how they were recruited for the project and how excited they were from the start. Also, we get some clues about the plan for the Gunslinger Spawn series in terms of tone and pacing. There is also lots of talk about Patric's art and how he is approaching the project visually. Look for the first issue December 18th in comic shops everywhere. 

Jace welcomes author Alex Segura back to the show to chat about Alter Ego. His latest novel, which he describes as a spiritual successor to Secret Identity, is a thriller set in the modern world of comics. Some familiar characters from Secret Identity are mentioned or even show up in some cases, but this is a standalone story. It's also notable that the commentary and viewpoints of the characters very accurately reflect the attitudes many creators have about the comic industry in real life. This authenticity, which was also present in Secret Identity and done equally as well. provides such a rich backdrop for the characters in the book and helps explain their motivations. Any long time comic reader will get a kick out of seeing some legendary creators and seminal comic book works being referenced. Check out the Amazon description of the book below and join us for the chat with Alex.

Annie Bustamante is a cultural force like none other: an acclaimed filmmaker, an author, a comic book artist known for one of the all time best superhero comics in recent memory. But she’s never been able to tackle her longtime favorite superhero, the Lethal Lynx. Only known to the most die-hard comics fans and long out of print, the rights were never available―until now.

But Annie is skeptical of who is making the offer: Bert Carlyle's father started Triumph Comics, and has long claimed ownership of the Lynx. When she starts getting anonymous messages urging her not to trust anyone, Annie’s inner alarms go off. Even worse? Carlyle wants to pair her with a disgraced filmmaker for a desperate media play.

Annie, who has been called a genius, a sell-out, a visionary, a hack, and everything else under the sun, is sick of the money grab. For the first time since she started reading a tattered copy of The Legendary Lynx #1 as a kid, she feels a pure, creative spark. The chance to tell a story her way. She's not about to let that go. Even if it means uncovering the dark truth about the character she loves.

Jace and Rocky chat about the DC Comics titles for the week of November 20, 2024. Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter reaches a new high in terms of story as the penultiamte issue drops. Catwoman is on the prowl internationally, but she has many enemies looking for her, how will she survive. In the pages of Titans, the Clock King has leveled up, but it may take a team up for him to best the heroes. Wonder Woman spends time bonding with her newborn daughter as the rest of the Wonder girls take the fight to the Sovereign in an unexpected way. Meanwhile, on the JLU Watchtower, Rene Montoya is coming to terms with her new role as head of security when a hero is brutally murdered. It will be up to Rene to solve the case. Plus tons more DC titles from the latest week of the All in era.

Jace and Rocky chat about some of their favorite independent titles for the week of November 20, 2024. We get the debut of the family-centric, fast-paced and incredibly fun Rocketfellers from Ghost Machine. Also from Ghost Machine this week, the latest issue shows that although Teriq Geiger may be the most mutated survivor of the Unknown War, he may also be the most human in many ways. Speaking of being human, The Power Fantasy has an incredbile issue showcase just how tragically human, and thus flawed, the superpowered beings are in this story. Department of Truth also explores the idea of being human, but from the perspective of the expecations we can all put on one another and how harmful that can be. Ice Cream explored the world and the inherrent horrors we are responsible for that we are sometimes to blinded to see, or perhaps it is because these horrors have become ubiquitous. Standstill continues to pump out the action, but the latest issue takes some time to develop character as well when we get some clues as to why Ryker may be on his rampage. Join us to learn all bout these titles and more.

Jace is joined by writer/colorist Lee Loughridge and artist Andrew Robinson to chat about Standstill. An action-packed story with a main character who may or may not be a complete psychopath. Ryker has the ability to manipulate time and the question he is asking is, "If you could stop time, what WOULDN'T you do?". For Ryker that answer may be, not much as he tears through many people on his quest. The question we have to ask as readers, is what he is on a quest for. With issue #4 we may be starting to get some clues to answer that question. Meanwhile, the scientist who created the tech are searching for a way to stop Ryker. When you add in incredible cinematic work from Andrew Robinson, you have an incredible book visually that hits very hard from a pacing and narrative standpoint. Speaking of visuals, the book is almost exclusive laid out with double page spreads which only amplifies that widescreen feel of the action. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!

Jace is joined by writer Thomas Krajewski to chat about his current series for Marvel, Marvel Zombies: Dawn of Decay. Thomas tells us about the origins of the project and the challenges of making a zombie story all age appropriate. The story itself features Groot and Hulk, two classic Marvel characters who are a bit of an odd couplewhen they team up to try and stop a zombie apocalypse. There's plenty of heart-felt moments and some relatable emotional beats as well, but the fun shines through on every page. 

Jace welcomes veteran cartoonist Bob Fingerman to the show. Bob is an internationally published and critically acclaimed cartoonist whose work has been in everything from Mad Magazine to Heavy Metal to Marvel Comics to DC Comics and so much more. He joins the show to discuss his originally graphic novel, Printopia. Set in the very New York City neighborhood Bob himseld used to live in, it is an eclectic collections of stories about various creators striving to put out their work on the printed page. The passion they have for their evdeavors has them frequented a local printshop where we are introduced to this zany cast of characters. Darla, a creative in her own right, works at the shop and provides us with a look into the world of these creative souls with sarcasm and wit worthy of the best satirical wit. Add in Bob's gorgeuos linework and a limited color palette that brings each vignette to life in veisceral fashion and you have a book that is both timeless and relevant. Join us to learn more from Bob himself.

Jace welcomes writer Maytal Zchut to the show to discuss Ghost Machine and her debut comic, It Happened On Hyde Street: Devour. Maytal talks about the reception for Devour and her reaction when she found oiut the first printing had sold out. She also discuss the creative environment at Ghost Machine and how the entire Ghost Machine family is fostering and environment that inspires everyone to do their best work. The conversation then pivots to the story of Devour itself, which deals with themes of self-doubt, body image, and most of all, the inner demons we all battle at teimes. It is an incredibly relatable story especially in terms of how the persasive self-doubt can be inadvertanely passed down through generations. 

Jace welcomes writers Jennifer Muro and Thomas Krajewski to the show. The co-creators and co-writers of Primer, they share their thoughts on authenticity in story. They talk about the importance of engaging young readers and their care when wrting about things that msy be challenging for young readers, like adoption. Also the gang chats about the incredible art of Gretel Lusky and what she brings to the project.

Jace chats with wrtier Ram V about his upcoming title for DC Comics, The New Gods. In the aftermath of the seeming death of Darkseid is it time for the New Gods to be replaced and usher in a new generation of Gods? Will Highfather allow this generation of gods to be swept aside? Has the first of a new generation of gods already been born on earth? So many questions are raised on the first issue of the epic story from Ram V. Following on the heels of the DC All In Special, Ram teases is that the New Gods title will be the place to find the answers, plus this story will explain how the Absolute Universe connects to the main universe ... eventually. In the meantime, expect a ton of action, plenty of family drama, as brother vs brother is teased in this first issue with Scott Free and Orion, seemingly destined to be on opposing sides as the action ramps up. When you add in the incredible interiors Evan Cagle is doing and you have, what feels like, a sure-fire hit.

Jace and Rocky chat about some of the independent titles for the week of November 13, 2024. String gives us a look inside the life of a young girl who can see attachments between those that have been intimate with each other or have or will murder someone, just as we as the readers are trying to decide if it is a gift or a curse, she sees a murder string connected to her! The second issue of The Big Burn continues the story of a professional crew trying to steal back their souls from the devil, but the heist may be over before it even gets started when the group is betrayed from within. The debut of Arcbound leans into some familiar science fiction tropes but it's full of action and fun with an infectious art style. Dark Empty Void ramps up both the mystery and the action, but the answers the team exploring the black hole are getting may not be the ones they want. Speaking of mysteries the detective duo in Huge Detective is discovering their mystery may go much deeper than expected, while the heist on the prison planet in Life has also hit a snag when that crew discovers just what has been done to the prisoners incarcerated there and the horror that comes with that discovery. Plus, the debut of G.I. Joe has a shocking final page that has to be seen to be believed. Join us as we talk about all these titles plus a whole lot more!

Jace and Rocky talk about an absolutely incredible week of DC Comics titles for November 13, 1024. Every title is awesome and the guys had a tough time picking their Books of the Week because everything was so good! Absolute Batman picks up right where #1 left off with tons of action and a reminder to leep movign forward it the face of adversity. Over in Black Lightning we get some of the aftermath of Absolute Power and it appears the Jefferson Pierce will be helping those with newfound or changed abilities and the person who needs his helps most may be much closer than he might hope. Gotham By Gaslight: The Kryptonian Age ends on a fantastic cliffhanger. we are just sad we will have to wait until next year to pick up the next part of the story. Batman: Dark Age comes to a conclusion in a surprising way which suits this very different take on Batman perfectly, while the character dynamic between Bruce and Damian is also explored in a different way in the pages of Batman and Robin. Superman continues to fight to get back to the present while being trapped in Krypton's past, but at least he is gaining a new perspective on his parents. In World War V, it feels more than ever like the world is winding down and if the remaining members of the human race and the vampired don't stop fighting soon, there may be nothing left to fight over. Finally, epic action, tons of characters and gorgeous artwork in Green Lantern continue to build to what feels like an immensely impactful cosmic story.

Jace welcomes Global Comix Founder & CEO Chris Carter to the show. Chris talks about the extensive work Global Comix has done behind the scenes to build an extensive catalog and ensure the user interface and reading experience is the best it can be. Chris also discusses the decision to use a subscription based model for GC and how the onbaording process when you create an account helps the system to make recommendations for titles you may enjoy. Plus, a walk through for how to publish your on comics on the platform and how they can be monetized. Join us for this look into the future of digital comics and how GC can be the modern day spinner rack for the comic industry.

Jace is joined by Chris Ryall from Syzygy Publishing to chat about the just released archival art book The Mighty Marvel Calendar Book: A Visual History. It's joins the previously published Origins of Marvel Comics by Stan Lee which is also a look bak in time at a specific period in Marvel Comics history, that itself was looking back on the earliest days of the Marvel Age of comics by reprinting the first appearance of iconic characters like Spider-Man, the Hulk, The Fantatic Four and more. Chris talks about the extras contained in this collection of calendars with never before seen unaltered artwork from legendary creators like Jack Kirby. It's a really fun trip down memory lane so be sure to listen in!

Jace chats with Steve McGarry and Luke McGarry about the Mullets collection. Steve created the strip back in 2003 with fellow cartoonist Rick Stromoski. The comic revolved around the characters Kevin and Scab, two dim-witted friends who shared a trailer and worked at a place called Mildew's Hardware Store, which was owned by Kevin's dad. The strip lasted for a little over a year, but had a cult following. For the first time the entire strip is beign collected, Plus, Luke McGarry creates a brand new Mullets story set in the present day that gives us an idea of what Kevin and Scab are up to now. Check out the campaign to see what options are available and join the campaign.

Jace welcomes Tom King and Ryan Sook to the show to chat about the upcoming Black Canary: Best of the Best. Tom talks about the birht of the project from conversations that are likely familiat to many comic fans, about who would beat who in a fight. Also, in his constant evolution as a writer where he is always searching for new ways to tell a story, he talks about the inherent challenges of having two competitors brawling but not speaking. He solves the problem in a unique way and tells us about that decision. The balance visually between the fight and emotiona relationship scenes was something that Ryan was very aware of and he talks about welcoming that challenge. Also for the first time in his career, he had the entire script for the series in hand before he ever started. This gave him the unique opportunity to visually pace the entire story in a way that isn't possible most of the time. Join us to hear all about the series and be sure to pick up issue #1 in comic shops November 27th. Final Order Cutoff for issue #2 is November 25th. 

Jace and Rocky talk about a few of the independent titles for the week of November 6, 2024. The search for clones who can turn into psychopaths at any moment continues in Skin Police, but we meet the clone rebellion who have a much better way to deal with clones "poping". Exit City is the final entry into the Underworld Universe at Mad Cave and it might be the most compelling yet as we are introduced to a pair of detectives with very different tactics in dealing with crime in this futuristic setting. We are told the line between cops and criminals in Exit City is razor thin, we can't wait to see how that plays out. Something is Killing the Children gets a #0 issue that sets the groundwork for the first few arcs of the series that introduced Erica Slaughter. Finally, Kill All Immortals continues it's action-packed run with a shockign cliffhanger that you have to read to believe. The betrayal, emotion and consequences in this book are second to none!

Jace and Rocky take a deep dive into Absolute Superman #1 with a page by page breakdown. The creative team does an incredible job with a Superman who is incredibly true to the core of the characters but everything else feels very fresh. The isolated feel of Kal-El is so different from what we are used to, but makes so much sense with the version of Krypton we see in the first issue. When you couple that with incredible line and color work, you end up with an amazing start to this story. Whether it's the caste society of Krypton or the echoes of that we see in the small mining encampments of Brazil this version of Kal-El is pulling from the earliest days of Superman fighting for those too weak to fight for themselves. An amazing first installment and worthy of the hero that started it all.

Jace and Rocky chat about the DC Comics for the week of November 6, 2024. Batgirl returns to headlining her own title in a new #1 with great action. JSA also has a strong debut issue with a huge cast all getting a chance to shine. There is a stunning final page in Batman, as well as a great cliffhange in Action Comics. Birds of Prey has, what is arguably it's best issue to date and Posion Ivy continues it's excellent run, as well. There are plenty of other great titles this week also, but our choice for Book of the Week is an easy one. Absolute Superman is a masterclass in storytelling from both a narrative and visual standpoint. This is not only the best book of the week, but perhaps of the year. What an incredbile entry into the Absolute Universe. Listen in to get out thoughts in all the DC books this week. 

Jace talks with writer Mark London and color artist David Baron about Exit City. This is the third and final title that fits into the Underworld Universe at Mad Cave Studios. The universe is so unique in that each title truly stands on it's own in terms of story and style, how they will come together remains to be seen. Exit City itself is part science fiction and part old school police procedural. We are introduced to Detectives McCormick and Miller who must work together to solve the mystery of a brutal accident, which may not be an accident at all. They come at the job from very different prospectives with very different methods, it will be interesting to see if they can get along, let alone work together.

Jace chats with Kami Garcia about her Teen Titans YA books and the upcoming addition to the series focusing on Starfire. Kami gives us her thoughts on the series overall and the origins of these more relatable versions of these beloved characters. She also talks about the relationships between the Titans, the idea of found family and the importance of readers seeing themselves in the heroes. Starfire is the final book focusing on a single character with the follow up bringing all the heroes together. Starfire is available everywhere beginning on November 5th.

Jace welcomes wrtier J.Holtham and cartoonist Micheal Lee Harris to the show to talk about their entry into the Horizon Experiment, Motherf*cking Monsters. The Horizon Experiement is a storytelling intiative that takes a familiar genre or storytelling trope and flips it on its head by swapping in diverse characters and ideas that fundementally change how the story unfolds. In this case, it is Evil Dead, but taking place at a college where a young black student is doing his best to fit in. J uses this setting to great effect bringing in ideas of black culture and relevent themes of race and self-identity. When you add in the kinetic art of Michael Lee, you have book that is full of energy and fun. Learn all about the series from the co-creators and pick it up when it hits comic shops.