Deconstructing Comics » Podcast

#360 Two Trippy Audio Comics

admin — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:00:48 +0000

Jim Woodring doing kids’ books!? That was apparently the thought behind Trosper, a 2001 release from Woodring that came with a Southwest Asia-influenced music CD by Bill Frisell. A baby elephant-like creature runs from things that go bump in the night. Maurice Sendak would be proud.

Going further back, Daniel Clowes’ early ’90s comedy/nightmare graphic novel Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron also has a musical soundtrack (sold separately), from Victor Banana. The book is a lesson in controlled chaos; the CD, a commentary on it. Tim and Kevin explore the audible and visual aspects of both these comics.

PLUS: Ritz Crackers! Jimmy Durante! The Brady Bunch! This one has it ALL! (including spoilers!)

#359 Two Kinds of Monsters

admin — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:00:12 +0000

What do you do when your town monster just doesn’t bring the scary? Hire someone to get the big red guy out of his funk. Rob Harrell breaks out of the funny pages with his first graphic novel, Monster on the Hill; Tim & Mulele review.

Meanwhile, much scarier monsters lurk in the background of Justin Randall’s Changing Ways, Book 2. Tim & Brandon take a look and compare with Book 1. The monsters are scary, but is the book?

#358 Carl Barks, “The Good Duck Artist”

admin — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 12:00:44 +0000

From 1942 to 1966, many of the Donald Duck comic books published by Dell Comics were written and drawn by Carl Barks. Like most comic book creators at the time, his name was unknown; the Duck comics were all credited to Walt Disney. Fans only knew that his work was by the GOOD duck artist. Barks created Scrooge McDuck and many of the other duck characters that are taken for granted as part of Disney canon today.

What made Barks the standout Duck artist? Were they meant to be satirical, or simply enjoyable stories? Tim, Kumar, and Tom Spurgeon discuss Barks’ work, particularly the Fantagraphics volume “Lost in the Andes.”

Comics Journal review of Lost in the Andes

#357 Expanding Comics’ Audience, pt 3: Newspaper strips

admin — Mon, 27 May 2013 12:00:09 +0000

Comics that you buy in comics shops or bookstores are facing enough business challenges, but how about newspaper comics? Their traditional delivery system is dying out, with many printed papers ceasing publication. The comic strip faces a number of challenges, but there are positive trends as well. How are Web comics and other new technology changing the game? This week, Tim talks newspaper(-style) strips with Tom Racine, host of the Tall Tale Radio podcast!

Stephan Pastis interview (gigaom.com)

#356 On Backgrounds

admin — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:02 +0000

Drawing backgrounds is seldom the most enjoyable part of drawing a comic. Many artists dislike it, and might try to give it short shrift. But it’s an important part of telling your story, so you’ve got to do it right. Tim and Mulele discuss some important points to keep in mind when drawing your backgrounds — and a few things to avoid.

Sean Gordon Murphy’s background tips

Drawinghowtodraw.com (beware of the popup ad!)

idrawdigital.com: backgrounds tutorial

Schweizercomics: tangents

The Mindgator: invisible Coke machine in last panel

#355 Give ‘em enough (Eu)rope: “Nemi” and “Blacksad”

admin — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:00:45 +0000

In more than seven years of doing this podcast, our coverage of European comics has been, um… underwhelming. This week, Tim tries to change that, discussing two European comics with European co-reviewers!

First, Nemi, the overzealous goth girl from Norway, whose eponymous strip by Lise Myhre has become popular in numerous European countries. Norwegian Line Olsson (of the Boston Comics Roundtable) joins Tim to discuss.

Then, the second Blacksad installment, “Arctic Nation”, by animators Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido. Is racism the point of this noirish “furry” tale, or is it just the framing device for something else? Eugenia Koumaki in Athens co-reviews with Tim.

#354 Expanding comics’ audience, pt 2: Manga

admin — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:00:52 +0000

The 2000s have been thought of as a “manga boom” in the US. Well, that’s true in comparison to the ’90s, but North American manga sales have never come close to the numbers in Japan. Sales of manga — and books in general — have dropped the past few years, but there are signs that the market has stabilized.

Deb Aoki, who writes about manga for About.com, joins us again this week to discuss the reasons why publishers hesitate to put out new manga titles, why Jmanga died and Manga Reborn’s business model is imperfect, and what bright spots there are for the future.

Critiquing Comics #046: “Madman of Magic”

admin — Thu, 02 May 2013 12:00:45 +0000

A maligned magician steps up in a time of crisis to become a hero! Tim and Mulele discuss Jason Love’s Kickstarter-funded Madman of Magic.

#353 Chinese history in comics form

admin — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:00:55 +0000

Electronic publishing has made it possible for anyone, anywhere in the world, to make their work available to millions of people. Chinese graphic designer and sometime comic creator Liu Jing is one of them. He’s using modern technology to put out his comics history of one of the world’s oldest civilizations: Understanding China through Comics. Tim talks to Jing about his book, as well as Chinese comics, copyright enforcement, censorship, and more.

(Thanks to MandMX.com for their help in getting in touch with Jing!)

#352 “Lulu”: Staging a classic on paper

admin — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:00:37 +0000

Many classics have been presented as comics, but Frank Wedekind’s “Lulu” plays have, as far as we know, not made it to the page until now; occasional Deconstructing Comics contributor John Roberson has recently released Book One of his adaptation. He talks to Tim about including the level of sexual frankness Wedekind may have intended, censorship, self-publishing, and more.

#351 Two Wolverine Milestones

admin — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:00:35 +0000

Yet again, Kumar and Dana go all nationalistic to discuss another Canadian icon: the best there is at what he does, th’ ol’ Canucklehead, Wolverine, bub. First on the chopping block is Wolverine (1982) by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, a comic which tries to not be paint-by-numbers, but ends up being little else. And, Barry Windsor-Smith’s Weapon X, which was apparently spawned from a universe in which neither paint nor numbers exist.

#350 “The Sixth Gun”

admin — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:00:11 +0000

If you haven’t read The Sixth Gun, by Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt, you may think it’s just a Western. Well, it’s a 19th-century western U.S. setting, but the crux of the story is less “High Noon” and more “Hellblazer”. Tim is joined by Eugenia to discuss this ongoing Oni Press series. We also take note of Brian Hurtt’s source of photo reference, Shorpy.com.

We’ll also hear about what Eugenia‘s doing lately, and this weekend’s Comicdom Con

#349 Expanding comics’ audience, pt 1

admin — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:00:22 +0000

Recently asked on our Facebook group: What would you do if you controlled Marvel and/or DC? This led to another question: How can comics, particularly in the US, gain a larger audience?

No one’s really sure of the answer to the second question, but its a good springboard for podcast discussion of comics evangelism and the state of the industry in general. What role will digital comics play? In the first installment of an occasional series, Tim bounces these questions off our friend Tom Spurgeon.

#348 Shotaro Ishinomori: Man or manga-making machine?

admin — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:00:21 +0000

Shotaro Ishinomori was a very prolific creator of manga, a number of which became staples of live-action children’s TV, such as the Power Rangers and Kamen Rider. Many of his series deal with the relationship between technology and humans, and this week Tim and guest reviewer Deb Aoki discuss two such series, Cyborg 009 and Kikaider — both recently released in English via Comixology.

Critiquing Comics #045: “Yuki vs. Panda”

Tim — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:00:37 +0000

A Japanese girl has an altercation with a panda cub at the zoo! That’s the setup for this Asia-themed, mangaesque comic. Fresh off its successful Indiegogo crowdfunding project, Yuki vs. Panda faces its next test: a critique by Tim and Mulele! Will it survive?!

#347 Deb Aoki: Manga geek extraordinaire

Tim — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:00:38 +0000

English-speaking manga fans are probably familiar with the name Deb Aoki. She covers Japanese comics for about.com, and is deeply into manga and anything remotely related to it. Deb made a manga geek pilgrimage to Japan recently, and Tim had a chance to sit down and talk with her about Japan, the changing manga culture in the US, and much more.

#151 “I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets!”

admin — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 12:00:57 +0000

FLASHBACK! Fletcher Hanks created some bizarre, sadistic superhero comics in 1939-1941. Tim and Kumar discuss the Hanks collection I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets!, edited by Paul Karasik.

Also: Comic Book Comics #2!

(Originally published October 27, 2008)

#346 Boston Comics Roundtable

admin — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:00:47 +0000

The Boston Comics Roundtable is a thriving group of creators who have weekly meetings and put out anthology books of their work, including Show & Tell; a Collection of Comics about Teaching & Learning; and The Greatest of All Time. This week Tim talks to anthology co-editor (and comics creator) Dan Mazur, who publishes the books through his own imprint, Ninth Art Press; Norwegian artist Line Olsson; and first-time comics writer (and former English teacher here in Japan) Ben DiMaggio.

#345 Annie Sullivan, Helen Keller, and the talent of Joseph Lambert

admin — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:00:09 +0000

You’ve probably heard of Helen Keller, one of the first (but not the first!) blind & deaf Americans to become educated. If so, then you probably also know the name Annie Sullivan – Helen’s teacher. Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller, by Joseph Lambert, is a graphic novel biography more of Annie than Helen, taking advantage of the comics medium to show symmetry in the lives and situations of the two women. It’s also pretty awesome.

Critiquing Comics #044: “Black Mountain Elementary”

admin — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 12:00:55 +0000

Three kids, regarded as troublemakers who’ll never amount to anything, are the stars of Roland Harrison‘s Black Mountain Elementary. Will a zombie apocalypse in the lunchroom allow them to redeem themselves? Tim and Mulele critique.

#344 It’s fun till someone loses an arm

admin — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:00:27 +0000

Occasionally our friend Dale Wilson in L.A. sends Mulele some comics he’s come across, and we like to talk about them on the show. This episode’s batch tends to lean violent…including two involuntary arm removals. Mulele and Tim comment on:

Ted McKeever’s Mondo #1
Jonathan Way$hak’s Toner #6
Austin Tinius and Robert Salinas’ Doctor Muscles #1
Terry M Baker’s Fat Guy Comics #APE (The comics shown on this site look somewhat better than the one we had in hand!)

#343 “Mauretania”: perplexing, fascinating stuff

admin — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 12:00:23 +0000

In Chris Reynolds’ “Mauretania” comics, characters bake interesting pies, delight in eerie shops, join trendy police forces, and report on events they will never remember. Stories drift from point to point like dreams. School starts and a kid on summer vacation somehow doesn’t notice. How can this be real? Real it may be, but it takes intuition, not rational thought, to take anything away from these books. Tim and Kumar ponder Adventures From Mauretania, The Dial and Other Stories, and the graphic novel Mauretania.

And if we haven’t sold you on these books, then read Seth’s fantastic essay on them!

#342 “Bloom County”: The Reagan era, illustrated!

admin — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:00:45 +0000

When you think of ’80s comics, Berke Breathed’s Bloom County is one that belongs in the pantheon with Watchmen and Dark Knight. It pushed many boundaries on the ever-conservative funnies page, from modern dating to issue advocacy, balancing cumudgeonliness with exuberance and hope. But how much of a hurdle are the pop culture references for modern readers? Is it still worth reading? Tim and Patrik dust off their memories and try to look at this classic strip with new eyes.

Critiquing Comics #043: “Order”

admin — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:00:18 +0000

If you’re into conspiracy-theory comics, “Order” sounds good on paper: a secret society covering up the existence of a gate to Hell near Denver. Unfortunately, Tim and Mulele find the Truthful Comics take on this concept comes up short. Listen and find out why.

Critiquing Comics #042: “Zombuu”

admin — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 12:00:53 +0000

The two main components of a comic are, of course, story and art. Your comic needs to be on point with both to work. This week’s comic totally brings one, and largely wings the other. We discuss Zombuu by Curtis “Artzuu” Hamilton.

Critiquing Comics #041: “Geek Girl”

admin — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 12:00:35 +0000

A sexy, geeky female superhero? The concept has possibilities, but Tim and Mulele find some problems with Sam Johnson’s Geek Girl…

#341 Catching Up with ComiXology

admin — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 12:00:55 +0000

Waaaay back in July 2010, Tim talked to David Steinberger of ComiXology about the emergence of digital comics. Since then, simultaneous release of digital with paper has become the norm. And, guess what – flying in the face of earlier fears of some in the industry, digital comics have actually helped, not hurt, the sales of paper comics. Tim talks to ComiXology co-founder John Roberts to find out why this is, and more.

Then we get the scoop on Mulele’s latest Web comic, a new version of Mindgator.

Critiquing Comics #040: “Back Office”

admin — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:48:08 +0000

We start the year off right with a critique of Irish creator Mark Egan’s comics statement about call centers, Back Office!

#340 “Cerebus”: It’s great! Should you read it?

admin — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 12:00:59 +0000

Dave Sim’s massive “Cerebus” series creates a dilemma for a comics reviewer. It contains some fantastic cartooning, hilarious scenes, and spot-on dialog. And yet… other parts feature highly misogynistic views and out-of-whack text-to-pictures ratios, both of which make it “hard to read” in different ways. Dana and Kumar re-read the second arc, “High Society,” and consider the good and the bad of the entire series, the mixing of satire and parody, and more.

#049 “Batman/Tarzan: Claws of the Catwoman” & figure-drawing class

admin — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 12:00:04 +0000

Tim & Brandon discuss “Batman/Tarzan: Claws of the Catwoman” by Ron Marz and Igor Kordey! Also: Brandon talks about an online figure-drawing class he took, and we different philosophies of how to become a versatile artist. Is it better to start with figure-drawing training, or is it better to figure out your style on your own? How important is it to have experience drawing “Bigfoot” funny comics? (originally published November 13, 2006)

Critiquing Comics #039: “With the Earth Above Us”

admin — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:00:41 +0000

Two astronauts battle their own ship’s computer. Sound familiar? No, it’s not 2001: A Space Odyssey, it’s Lee Milewski’s”With the Earth Above Us“. Not unlike Kubrick’s movie, this one strikes Tim and Mulele as being a bit hard to follow…

Critiquing Comics #038: “Bunnies in Space”

admin — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:00:08 +0000

This week, the work of Nick Dupree. At New York Comicon, Mulele had hoped to meet Nick but didn’t get the chance. Nonetheless, we took a look at his imaginative, unusual comic Bunnies in Space, and here’s our critique…

#339 “King-Cat”: The Mundane, Re-observed

admin — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 12:00:05 +0000

If you’re old enough to remember pre-Internet days (like us geezers who make this podcast), you remember how new comics creators used to get known. No Web comics, Tumbler, podcasts, etc. Like John Porcellino, they hit the “zine” scene, announcing themselves through Factsheet Five and getting placement in a few comics shops. Porcellino’s King-Cat, with its accounts of his pets, his dreams (the sleeping kind), amusing anecdotes, and occasional fiction, drew notice in the comics world for the way it eloquently fed the reader’s life back to him, making note of things the reader might have missed. Drawn & Quarterly is releasing selected King-Cat comics in hardcover; Tim, Kumar, and special guest Tom Spurgeon discuss the first collection, King-Cat Classix.

Critiquing Comics #037: “Monarch Monkey”

admin — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:00:06 +0000

This week, a collection of cut paper comics, each one better than the last. We critique Monarch Monkey and Other Stories, by Brad DeRocher, Dan Mazur, and Hyun Supul.

Critiquing Comics #036: “The Oswald Chronicles”

admin — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 12:00:57 +0000

A lushly-drawn, colorful fantasy tale of a powerful mouse. What could possibly go wrong? Well, our recording software, for one thing! Tim and Mulele brave technical difficulties to critique J.D. Calderon’s The Oswald Chronicles.

#338 Everything’s Archie!

admin — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 12:00:50 +0000

It’s been more than 70 years now since the debut of Archie comics, featuring (though not quite from the beginning) America’s favorite love triangle of Archie, Veronica, and Betty. Along with Jughead, Reggie, and the rest of the gang, these characters keep us coming back for more, changing with the times while still presenting an idealized America where drugs, booze, and sex seem not to exist. This week Tim talks with Archie ubercollector (and Coliseum of Comics Back Issue Manager) Jack Copley about what keeps Archie interesting, some of his favorite stories and creators, and “The Archie Room”!

Critiquing Comics #035: “Fashionable Nonsense”

admin — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 12:00:28 +0000

Benji Ratliffe sent us his four-year-old unpublished work Fashionable Nonsense for critique. It’s a somewhat supernatural tale with a Scott Pilgrim tone. He wrote the script and hired an artist. While it does indeed have some problems — with clarity of the story, as well as storytelling and inking — why not put it out anyway? Tim and Mulele extol the virtues of putting your work out, even if you’re not 100% satisfied with it.

Character sheets

Read pages 1-11

#057 Tokyo Comics Market

admin — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 12:00:24 +0000

FLASHBACK! On December 31, 2006, Tim visited the Tokyo Comic Market event, and gives his impressions. Also: A Mulele update, Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, and Brandon’s review of the movie Eragon! (Originally published January 8, 2007)

Photos below the jump (complete with admittedly goofy captions written in 2007)…

Tim Visits “Comic Market”

December 31, 2006

I attended Comic Market (Comiket for short) on its third and final day. This event is held twice a year at Tokyo International Exhibition Center, better known as Tokyo Big Sight (sic).

More about Comiket on Wikipedia

Tokyo Big Sight

Hi, Mom!

A mob scene
— tables set up by individual comics creators in one of the
arenas of Tokyo Big Sight (TBS). (Apologies for the lousy camera-phone
photography!)

At left,
the one comic I bought, “Winter Holidays.” At right, the
thick, heavy catalog for the event.

An all-too-typical page from the catalog, showing who was at each table and a sample of their work. Notice any certain theme here?

In another area of TBS, where trinkets, postcards, etc. are being sold by small-time exhibitors. After taking this shot, I was told not to take photos in this area. Oooh, illicit photo!

The only area where photography was officially allowed was the roof, where cosplayers posed for pictures.

Another mob scene… hard to avoid walking between cameras and their intended subjects!

OK, I’m in love now.

“BoBoBo-Bo Bo-Bobo” is one of my favorite Japanese cartoons — had to get a shot of this guy. His afro opened up and everything!

Another cutie…disappointly, though, think she was wearing a skin-colored leotard on her legs. A number of girls were.

If anyone knows what manga this guy is supposed to be from, please let me know!

OK, NOW I’m in love! The girl on the right has such an expressive face. Before
I took these shots I was watching her as her expressions changed. There
was just so much meaning there. It was exhilarating to watch.

Yes, I think the girl with pink hair to the left is a guy. There were a number of
guys dressed as female characters — not that there’s anything wrong with that…

Earth, Wind, and Fire? Here??

#337 Mulele, Jordan, and New York Comicon

admin — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:00:52 +0000

Mulele is back from New York Comicon! While he can’t talk about what might have transpired in terms of getting work (which is a whole lot better than saying “nothing happened”!), he has plenty to say about the experience of being there & his impressions of the comics industry, how his thoughts about it changed, and about New York, the city.

While at the con, he ran into Jordan Kotebue, creator of Hominids, who Tim met at Emerald City 2011. Tim calls him up this week to catch up on his progress, including how our own critique of Hominids changed his approach to the comic.

#336 “A Drunken Dream”

admin — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 12:00:59 +0000

Up until the late ’60s, Japanese girls’ comics were mainly done by men, and could often be formulaic and sappy. But then several female creators broke into the field and revolutionized the genre. One of them was Moto Hagio, whose stories (even when they had science fiction aspects to them) dwelt on not fitting in, losing what you love, and other themes that could be depressing, but were usually expressed in innovative and compelling ways. Little of her work is available in English, but Fantagraphics released an overview of her work, A Drunken Dream and Other Stories, two years ago. Tim and Kumar review.

#335 Teenage Love, Middle-age Lust

admin — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 12:00:04 +0000

An experiment with magic brings a mummy to life! And… wow, is he a hunk! Dan Jolley and our friend Natalie Nourigat bring us Wrapped Up in You!

John is 40, in his second marriage, and still dealing with the fallout from the first, especially where his daughters are concerned. With a baby and two cats, he’s dealing with a lot of, er, poop — both literally and figuratively. Will he keep it together, or is that cute singer going to tempt him to mess up his life more? It’s Joe Ollmann’s Mid-Life!

Tim and Brandon discuss both books this week.

#334 “Magic Knight Rayearth”

admin — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 12:00:35 +0000

In the early ’90s, girls’ comics in Japan took a superheroesque turn with the appearance of Sailor Moon. It was shortly followed by CLAMP’S Magic Knight Rayearth, featuring three 14-year-old girls in a world that reminded them of RPGs.

A few years later, Tokyo Pop and other US publishers took the risk of releasing girls’ comics stateside, with unexpected success. Yes, American girls WILL read comics!

Manga critic Shaenon Garrity joins Tim to talk about the ’90s evolution of shojo manga and its debut in the States, and the place of Magic Knight Rayearth part 1 in that mix.

Critiquing Comics #034: “Peony Trivet”

admin — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 12:00:44 +0000

Tim and Mulele check out the smooth, sexy Peony Trivet #1, by Ed Greene and Jeff Sims.

#333 “Louis Riel”

admin — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 12:00:05 +0000

If you’re not Canadian, this week’s topic may be a bit of a head-scratcher. Louis, uh, who now? To Canadians, though, including our own Kumar and Dana, Riel is a famous historical figure of the 19th century who led a rebellion against the Canadian government. His story is the subject of Chester Brown‘s recent graphic novel which, while complete with end notes, also takes Shakespearean liberties with the historical record. And what’s up with the weird placement of characters on the page? An accident? No… nothing in this book is an accident.

#332 The Rock and the Lock

admin — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:00:51 +0000

Remember David and Goliath? (Hint: Bible, 1 Samuel, ch 17!) The original story decidedly takes David’s side, but what’s Goliath’s story? Tom Gauld has recently released a graphic novel called Goliath, told from this alleged villain’s point of view. Tim and Mulele review. (Spoiler alert: Watch out for that rock!)

When we last touched base with Matt Silady, he was teaching at California College of the Arts, in the San Francisco Bay area. Well, he’s recently been involved in developing CCA’s new Master of Fine Arts in Comics, and has been appointed Chair of the program. Tim talks to Matt about developing the program, being locked in a jail cell for your art, and much more.

#331 The End of the Road for “Cul de Sac”

admin — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:00:45 +0000

As Richard Thompson’s strip Cul de Sac ends, Tom Spurgeon joins Tim to bid it a fond farewell. We discuss some favorite moments, compare it with other classic strips such as Peanuts, examine what Thompson (and any other relatively new creator of newspaper strips) has been up against as technology and economics team up against print media, and — Hey! Watch out for the UH-OH BABY!!

Critiquing Comics #033: “Minimal Comics”

admin — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:00:57 +0000

It’s very simply drawn; sometimes the topics are also simple, perhaps too simple. But other times, the simplicity of the art reveals more complex, nuanced takes on the world around us. We take a look at Minimal Comics and other work by Graeme McNee.

Critiquing Comics #032: “Strange Things”

admin — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:00:47 +0000

It’s kinda like The Twilight Zone, set in the ’80s! Tim and Mulele critique Strange Things by Bryan Christopher Moss.

Critiquing Comics #031: “Elbis”

admin — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 12:00:54 +0000

As regular listeners well know by now, our own Mulele’s graphic novel “Elbis” came out earlier this year (buy it here, or read online here). We’ve discussed the book’s genesis on several occasions, but not a detailed look of the book’s content. So this episode, Tim and Paul roll up their sleeves and give it a good ol’ fashioned (unbiased?!) critique!

Critiquing Comics #030: The Critiqued Speak!

admin — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 12:00:18 +0000

Tim and Mulele read mail from creators of comics recently critiqued on the show, as well as a couple of listener comments on Deconstructing Comics #328.

Critiquing Comics #029: Brian Mitchell’s matchbook-sized comics

admin — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 12:00:45 +0000

Back in April, Tim talked to Brian Mitchell about his matchbook-sized comics. Recently, he sent us some samples, so Tim and Mulele have read through them and are here with their thoughts.

Brian’s site, where you can order his comics

#330 “Doonesbury”: Polarizing and Unifying

admin — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 12:00:51 +0000

When Doonesbury started nearly 42 years ago, Garry Trudeau was a hot young property, the undergrad student cartoonist who spoke the language of “today’s youth”. Now age 64, Trudeau can hardly make that claim, but instead he can take credit for a monumental strip chronicling the lives of his many cast members and their lives growing old in the social and political environments of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Tim and Kumar assess the strip’s legacy, discuss Brian Walker’s Doonesbury and the Art of G. B. Trudeau, and review the past year’s worth of strips.

#329 “Flex Mentallo” and related issues

admin — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:00:36 +0000

Is Flex Mentallo just a superhero story or is it something far more? Does it speak only to comic book fans or can it say something for everyone? Is it about childhood, adulthood, drugs, loss, hope, despair, the comic book marketplace, pain, healing, or all of these at the same time? And do you have to be on acid to understand Grant Morrison, or does it just help? Writer Troy Belford and indie cartoonist John Linton Roberson go on and on about all of this, and it’s a bit beyond the usual. Have a listen to this special mega-length episode…IF YOU DARE.

John blogs about Flex

#328 “Shadowlaw” and finding a collaborator

admin — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 12:00:14 +0000

First up this week, an interview with Brandon Easton, creator of Shadowlaw and also writer of an episode of the new Thundercats series. Shadowlaw took well over a decade to come to fruition due to the nearly endless difficulties Easton had with finding a reliable artist. He shares his advice for finding a collaborator for your own project.

Our own Mulele had some problems as the hired artist for a couple of comics projects when he tried his luck in Los Angeles six years ago. The experience was a harrowing one — more so than we realized at the time. Mulele tells all, and also talks about his next career steps — including a trip to a convention!

Critiquing Comics #028: “Stymie”

admin — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 12:00:56 +0000

Our listener submission this time: Stymie, by James Hohenstein.

#327 Two Tales of the Near East

admin — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 12:00:44 +0000

Call it Orientalism, but Middle Eastern culture still carries a hint of romance in the Western imagination. This week, Tim and Brandon discuss two books in that vein:

Prince of Persia, by Jordan Mechner, AB Sina, LeUyen Pham and Alex Puvilland, coasts on notions of romance and intrigue in ancient Persia; meanwhile,

Habibi, by Craig Thompson, takes hold of Arabian Nights-type notions — as well as Islam — and uses them to express more universal themes.

G. Willow Wilson: Should Muslim readers steer clear?
Sean T. Collins: “This is not a book about Islam.”

#326 Three Views of San Diego Comicon

admin — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 12:00:05 +0000

This week, Tim talks to three guys who participated in San Diego Comicon earlier this month, to see what their objectives were for being there, how it went, and their advice to SDCC newbies.

Dale Wilson, who wrote up his experience at BuyIndieComics.com, on why he left “unfulfilled” in some ways, but enjoyed it in other ways;

Justin Hall, who we last talked to in March of last year, on promoting his Fantagraphics book “No Straight Lines” and Prism Comics, as well as the sideline indie comics gathering Trickster; and

Robert Roach, a veteran of San Diego tabling, on his Japanese influences, networking, and more.

Critiquing Comics #027: “Kuzimu”

admin — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:00:24 +0000

This week Tim and Mulele puzzle over “Kuzimu” by Brett Uren.

#325 Alan Moore’s “Swamp Thing”

admin — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 12:00:49 +0000

Due perhaps to the passage of time, poorly handled reprinting by DC, or some other reason, Alan Moore’s writing stint on “Swamp Thing” in the 1980s does not seem to get mentioned much today. Which is a shame, because it ranks with Moore’s best work. And the art by Stephen Bissette and John Totleben (and able fill-in artists) is worth the price of admission by itself, not to mention Tatjana Wood’s colors. Tim and Kumar had a blast reading the early issues of the run (#21-37) and are here to share the experience with you.

Critiquing Comics #026: “Super Haters” and our thoughts about critiquing

admin — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 12:00:04 +0000

Does “giving a critique” mean “stating an opinion”? Or, as some fans of a comic we discussed a few weeks ago imply, does it demand total objectivity? Is that even possible? And, by the way, what’s the difference between a critique and a review? Tim and Mulele discuss these questions before going on to critique Super Haters by Nick Marino and Justique Woolridge.

Critique vs. Review:

#324 The Dapper Men Have No Clothes

admin — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 12:00:44 +0000

Return of the Dapper Men, by Jim McCann and Janet Lee, is a great-looking book, all cloth binding and gold foil. It has an unusual feel for a comic, being a work of decoupage. And the story… um… iFanboy book of the month, you say? Eisner Award winner, you say? Um… Tim and Brandon just ain’t seeing it. Why is it so lauded?

Also, Tim is joined by Mulele and Paul to critique a small stack of mini-comics, sent in by our friend Dale Wilson:

The Idealistic Bowling Pin, by Jake Borowski and Evan Spears
Drawhard, by John Narcomey
Scared, by DCASTR and Josh Mihal
Dark Mouse, by Nathaniel Osollo
Hourly Comics, by Sheika Lugtu

Critiquing Comics #025: “Ugli Studios Presents” #1

admin — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 12:00:59 +0000

“Ugli Studios Presents” #1 gives us two stories: One about a cat (well, much more than a cat) who supports her “consort”, The Necromancer, in battle — “and my God, that artwork is epic!” — followed by a science fiction story with a twist ending. Tim and Mulele critique.

#322 Harvey Pekar’s “Cleveland”

admin — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 12:00:03 +0000

Harvey Pekar’s latest (posthumously published, but perhaps not his final work) is “Cleveland”, telling the story of Pekar’s hometown and his place in it. While perhaps lacking in some of Pekar’s strong points, it’s nonetheless a compelling read. Joseph Remnant’s art is by and large a great take on Pekar’s vision. Tim and Kumar discuss.

Comics Reporter interview with Joseph Remnant

#321 Exhibition and Inspiration: Katsuhiro Ootomo

admin — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 12:00:46 +0000

A retrospective exhibit of the art of Katsuhiro Ootomo was recently held in Tokyo. Ootomo‘s work Akira is what inspired Mulele to come to Japan and learn to draw manga, so the exhibit was a chance to soak up inspiration and reflect on his current state of affairs. Patrik W, also an Ootomo fan from way back, attended and enjoyed. For Tim, not an Ootomo reader, it was a chance to see what he’s been missing. Discussion ensues.

#320 The Nine Lives of “Elbis”

admin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:00:08 +0000

Over the years, Mulele has mentioned his Elbis project several times on the show. Created for Illustration Friday, developed for (but rejected by) Kodansha, the spiritual kittycat’s story has found a home on paper thanks to DWAP Productions. This week, Mulele explains how the project started and developed, and where he’s headed from here.

Buy “Elbis”

Then, we catch up with DWAP‘s Dale Wilson, about how he picked up Elbis, as well as his new site BuyIndieComics.com, and the state of indie comics in the States.

Critiquing Comics #024: “Dreamkeepers”

admin — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 12:00:28 +0000

Dreamkeepers is an epic teen-furry-fantasy-adventure comic, clearly influenced by anime and/or Disney. Those are both its strong and weak points. Tim and Mulele examine examine volume 1 (and a bit of volume 2) of this tale by David Lillie, Liz Thomas, and David Higgenbotham, and ask the question: how does one differentiate between unwarranted publisher meddling with one’s project, and useful advice that should be heeded? (Available on Graphicly, but the first volume can be read online for free!)

#319 “The Maxx”

admin — Mon, 28 May 2012 12:00:28 +0000

Even amidst the anything-goes craziness of the early Image years, Sam Kieth’s The Maxx was an outlier. While it included some superhero tropes, it wasn’t really a superhero book, nor was it like much of anything else on the market, then or now. While it definitely has its weaknesses, Kumar and Dana confirm this week that it was absolutely mind-blowing…and emotionally affecting.

#056 “Fables” v. 1 & “1001 Nights of Snowfall”

admin — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:00:43 +0000

FLASHBACK! Tim and Brandon discuss “Fables” vol 1 and the Fables graphic novel “1001 Nights of Snowfall”, along with a detour into ’90s Marvel! (Originally published January 1, 2007)

Critiquing Comics #023: “A Little World Made Cunningly”

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 12:00:14 +0000

If you’re looking for something new and different in comics, this week’s critiqued book definitely delivers: Scott D. Finch‘s “A Little World Made Cunningly” explores the author’s “fascination” with Gnosticism. Now, if we only understood it… Tim and Mulele discuss.

This book is available on Graphicly.com!

#199 Little Nemo

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:18 +0000

FLASHBACK! Repeatedly collected and published since it went into the public domain, Winsor McCay’s Little Nemo is perhaps the most celebrated comic strip of the early 20th century. Peter Maresca, whose Sunday Press republished all the Nemo strips at their original size a few years back, talks with Tim about what’s good and bad about the strip, and the influence it still has on modern comics. (Originally published September 28, 2009)

#194 Comics on the Screen: Dick Tracy and Sin City

admin — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:00:27 +0000

FLASHBACK! Many comics have been adapted to movies, but few have tried to reproduce the experience of actually reading a comic. These two did: Warren Beatty’s Dick Tracy, and Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s Sin City. Tim, Mulele, Paul, and newcomer Rod discuss. Also: Paul and Mulele give Miller’s The Spirit a quickie review. (Originally published August 24, 2009)

Critiquing Comics 022: “The Legend of Spacelord Mo Fo”

admin — Sat, 05 May 2012 12:00:44 +0000

While technically a comic, The Legend of Spacelord Mo Fo attempts to be a bit of a comics/animation hybrid — not a “motion comic”, but something like manually flipping through the frames of a movie. Does the technique succeed? Does the writing back it up? Tim and Mulele ponder.

#318 “Sky Doll”: Sex and Religion Mix!

admin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:00:23 +0000

Imagine a Disney movie with tons of cheesecake and commentary on how religion can be used to control a society. It would look an awful lot like Sky Doll, by Alessandro Barbucci and Barbara Canepa. Originally published by Soleil in France starting in 2000, it came out in English from Marvel in 2008. While there has been an anthology book and a sketchbook, the main series has apparently never been completed, but don’t let that dissuade you from reading this very compelling (not to mention gorgeously drawn) volume. Tim and Rashad explore.

Another take from Charley Parker

Critiquing Comics 021: “War Within” and “Zombie Headhunter”

admin — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:00:56 +0000

Critiquing Comics returns! Along with it, the work of Guy LeMay (“Z-Blade XX”) also returns, as he gives us a look at his more recent work. Listen to find out how Tim and Mulele evaluate “War Within” (written by Marcus Jones) and “Zombie Headhunter” (written by Guy and Tamey LeMay), both released under Guy’s Strong Guy Comics imprint!

#317 “Lost Girls”

admin — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:00:18 +0000

Alice from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Wendy from Peter Pan, and Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz meet in a hotel in Austria in 1913 and perform almost every sex act conceivable with each other, animals, objects, relatives, consenting and non-consenting minors, and numerous combinations thereof (it’s all just lines on paper, folks!) nearly non-stop for 240 pages. Close to 20 years in the making, Alan Moore and Melinda Gebbie’s Lost Girls is perhaps the most ambitious, lavish, and beautiful project of Moore’s career. And yet, does it all amount to mere slash fiction? Or, on the contrary, is it so intelligent that it sabotages its own pornographic objectives? Or is it, in fact, impervious to criticism? Kumar and Dana turn up their trenchcoat collars and slink into the grimy back room to discuss.

#316 Matthew Forsythe

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:00:40 +0000

It pays to advertise! In episode #311, Tim asked Matthew Forsythe to contact him for an interview, and Matthew responded! This week he tells us about his two books that are informed by Korean (and other) folktales, Ojingogo and Jinchalo; about his tools, influences, and developing a style; and much more.

#315 Catching up with Rashad and Jarrett

admin — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:00:32 +0000

It’s been a while since we caught up with Rashad Doucet (“My Dog is a Superhero”, “Nadia’s Jewelry Box”) and Jarrett Williams (“SuperPro K.O.”, “Lunar Boy”), two graduates of the Savannah College of Art and Design who have been on the podcast several times apiece. This time Tim takes them on together, and hilarity — not to mention some great conversation about building a comics career — ensues!

#314 Tiny Comics, Novel Manga, and Manga Translation for India

admin — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:00:15 +0000

Brian John Mitchell talks about his Kickstarter project to fund the making of his matchbook-sized comics. Two of these books involved a collaboration with Dave Sim!

“Rook Bartly” (US Air Force active duty member Jason) tells us about “Okashi na Futari”, the Japanese novel series whose author has hired him to draw a manga version of the story.

Then, Kumar returns to tell us about a couple of his recent manga translation projects, “Stupid Guy Goes to India” (which landed him an interview in the March 25 Mumbai Sunday Mid-Day, pg 38-39) and Osamu Tezuka’s “Adolf”.

All this, plus the announcement of the winning “what do you like about Deconstructing Comics” entry!

#313 Audio comics

admin — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:00:18 +0000

Over the years we’ve repeatedly looked at how other media adapt to comics, and vice-versa. This time around, Tim and Kevin look at the challenges of converting comics to audio, including Black & White Nexus #3 (1982) and Daredevil #1 (2011), plus some unofficial takes (including our own!) on Watchmen.

#312 Ryan Cecil Smith: The Interview

admin — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:00:48 +0000

A few weeks back on Critiquing Comics, we discussed the work of science-fiction creator Ryan Cecil Smith; we liked it so much, we decided to have him on the show! Kumar talks with him this week about his influences, producing and promoting his books, and more.

#046 “Doc Frankenstein” and burning questions

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:00:43 +0000

FLASHBACK! The Wachowski Brothers’ Doc Frankenstein #2 and further discussion of burning questions such as: Can single-panel cartoons be considered “comics”? Are comics “drawn” or “illustrated”? How does society — American and Japanese — perceive comics creators or comics readers? Tim and Brandon ponder. Originally published October 23, 2006.

#311 Hold your comic for ransom! Will readers pay?

admin — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 01:00:24 +0000

In the course of doing this podcast, we often find comics that we’d like to read more of, but seldom can because we have to move on to the next podcast topic, and there are only so many hours in a day. This week, Mulele & Tim thought they would revisit some previously reviewed Web comics and see how their creators had progressed. But, wait, hold the phone — what’s going on with Evil Diva? (original 2009 critique was rerun November 5, 2011) The work-for-hire Web comic abruptly changed its business model last summer. Are the site’s handlers killing the comic while trying to save it?

Also, Mulele revisits Dustin Harbin‘s site, with asides about Matthew Forsythe and boycotts of Marvel & DC.

#310 Takehiko Inoue’s “Slam Dunk” and “Vagabond”

admin — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:00:37 +0000

Takehiko Inoue’s Slam Dunk is easily mistaken for a serious sports manga. Pick it up, though, and you’ll find instead a hilarious ensemble comedy that just happens to involve basketball. Still, the series is credited with basketball’s 90s popularity in Japan, and led Inoue to create several other basketball-related series. But is oeuvre isn’t all hoops; he’s also the creator behind Vagabond, a sometimes-violent but intriguing take on the life of 17th-century historical figure Miyamoto Musashi. Tim and Kumar dig into both series.

#309 Understanding Israel through a Memoir

admin — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:00:07 +0000

The Israeli/Palestinian situation has been in the news for as long as any of us can remember, but how much do we really understand about it? Sarah Glidden, a secular Jew, went on a “Birthright Tour” expecting confirmation of all the negative things she believed about Israel, only to find that the reality was much more complex. Sarah talks to Tim about the experience and her next career steps, and Tim and Brandon review “How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less”, Sarah’s graphic novel/memoir of her Israel visit.

Sarah Glidden’s site

Festival International de la Bande Dessinée d’Angoulême

Critiquing Comics #020: Ryan Cecil Smith’s “SF”

admin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:00:50 +0000

Comedy and tragedy, the macabre and the mundane, dwell together comfortably in the pages of “SF” #1, from Ryan Cecil Smith! Tim, Mulele, and Kumar try to figure out what makes it tick.

#308 Not a Croc!

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:13 +0000

What do writing cool Heavy Metal songs and writing comics have in common? Nothing! Absolutely nothing! Put down that pen, and go back to your guitar where you belong, headbanger! Rob Zombie, Scott Ian, and Glenn Danzig all share a mutual passion for comics, and had brilliant artists at their disposal, so what went wrong? Blind love of 70s creature features? Sycophantic DC editors? An obsession with “croc-like creatures”?! Kumar and Dana attempt to wade through the muck…

#045 “99 Ways” and Character Design

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:00:35 +0000

FLASHBACK! Discussion of Matt Madden’s 99 Ways to Tell a Story and Tim’s character design process for the Boogie Knights! (Originally published October 16, 2006)

Boogie Knights sketches

The finished page

#307 Getting some Action (Comics)

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:00:18 +0000

If you’ve paid two seconds of attention to American comics recently, you probably know that DC “soft rebooted” its entire line, shipping fifty-two #1 issues last September. Since hyping the latest DC/Marvel news is not really our thing, we’ve been leaving that to other podcasts. But since Marvel zombie Tim, of his own free will, decided to pick up Grant Morrison’s Action Comics, and Kumar is a sometime Superman reader, we decided to present here our take on the first four issues.

Also, why reading comics on an iPhone is still a less-than-satisfactory experience; and, you too can be a DeconstructingComics.com columnist!

Critiquing Comics 019: “Black Snow” and “Electric 1937″

admin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:00:58 +0000

Tim and Mulele are back with two comics, submitted for critique by their creators:

Michael Balestreri & Alex Siquig have several comics at blacksnowcomic.com, all of them centering around a group of superheroes. We tap our feet on the non-existent floor, and invoke Chris Schweizer’s “Guide to Spotting Tangents.” (Chris appeared in Deconstructing Comics Episode 157!)

Michael Liggett’s “Electric 1937” is set in a fantastically imaginative alternate reality. The comic just needs to tell us about it a bit sooner.

#306 Fear Itself and other events that… happened

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:50 +0000

Crossover events have become ubiquitous fare from Marvel and DC, with smaller publishers recently jumping on the bandwagon. Lots of us complain about them, and yet, buying ironically is still buying. Tim is joined by John Roberson to discuss why the past year’s main events, Fear Itself and Flashpoint, were particularly unsatisfying, what makes a (relatively) good event series, and why we read these books in spite of “event fatigue”.

John’s Comic Art Commissions page

#305 Love & Rockets: Gilbert Hernandez

admin — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:00:34 +0000

In episode #300, we took a look at the sometimes wacky and cartoony Love & Rockets work of Jaime Hernandez. This week, Tim and Kumar are again joined by Tom Spurgeon to look at the somewhat darker, more violent and yet rather hard-to-pin-down work of Gilbert Hernandez in his stories of (or, sometimes merely tangentially related to) the isolated Mexican village of Palomar.

#155 Schulz and Peanuts, part 2

admin — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 12:00:59 +0000

FLASHBACK! Monte Schulz, son of Charles, claims to have been “horrified” by the David Michaelis bio of his father. Should he have been? (Originally published November 24, 2008)

#154 Schulz and Peanuts, part 1

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

FLASHBACK! Leading into our review of David Michaelis’ controversial Schulz biography, “Schulz and Peanuts,” Tim and Kumar talk about the strip itself, how it influenced what came after, and how, in politics and social issues, it took no sides — and all sides. (originally published November 17, 2008)

Critiquing Comics 018: “Windmills”

admin — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 12:00:58 +0000

A submission from the Philippines! Josel Nicolas sent us four issues of his Windmills series. While Tim and Mulele have some fairly harsh words for it, at the same time, we can see definite issue-to-issue improvement.

See sample pages of Windmills

Available as an e-book from Amazon or FlipReads.

Josel Nicolas on Tumblr

#076 “Houdini, the Handcuff King”

admin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:36 +0000

FLASHBACK! Tim and Brandon snack while examining Houdini: The Handcuff King and 24-hour Comics Day Highlights 2006! (Originally published May 21, 2007)

The Armadillo!

Critiquing Comics 017: Yang Young-Soon

admin — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 12:00:52 +0000

Mulele stumbled across a wacky, partially translated Korean comic. We’re not sure of the title (if it has one), but the creator’s name is Yang Young-Soon. Tim and Mulele discuss.

#203 Chris Bachalo clears things up

admin — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:00:21 +0000

FLASHBACK! Chris Bachlo’s art has long had a compelling style to it, and yet it was sometimes very difficult to decipher just what was happening on some of his pages. This was perhaps particularly pronounced in his work on Steam Punk with Joe Kelly, back at the turn of the millennium. But his recent work on such Marvel titles as Amazing Spider-Man and New Avengers has been completely clear and easy to understand. What did he change to clear things up? And, by the way — will Steam Punk ever be completed?! (Originally published October 26, 2009)

Critiquing Comics 016: “Sick”

admin — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 12:00:39 +0000

We’ve talked about Gabby Schultz’s (a.k.a. Ken Dahl’s) work before, when we discussed his books “Monsters” and “Welcome to the Dahl House”. He’s currently gradually publishing a comic on his Web site, called “Sick,” which moves from Gabby’s particularly hellish illness into his impressions of a seemingly hellish existence. Tim and Mulele discuss.

#150 Jenny Frison in the Windy City

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:00:41 +0000

FLASHBACK! Chicago artist Jenny Frison talks about her Web comic (with Len Kody) “Chicago 1968“, studying at the Joe Kubert school, the upcoming Windy City comicon, and more! (Originally published October 20, 2008)

Critiquing Comics 015: Time-Travelling

Tim — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:00:35 +0000

A short but mind-bending scientific/philosophical comic: “Time-Travelling” by Kevin Huizinga, who does some amazing things with the comics medium to make his points. We pull it up on the “What things do” site and discuss.