#503 “Concrete”

Concrete

Paul Chadwick’s Concrete first appeared in Dark Horse Presents #1 in 1986. While its hero is a human whose brain is transplanted to a huge stone body by aliens, the stories are otherwise very realistic and emotional, and often center on real-world problems. While the series had some success, and theoretically the next volume should still be on its way, Concrete does not seem to be so widely remembered.

This week, Kumar and Koom take a look at a couple of their favorite Concrete stories: Think Like a Mountain, which focuses on environmental issues; and The Human Dilemma, about overpopulation.

Critiquing Comics #093: “Trista and Holt”

Trista and HoltTrista and Holt is Andrez Bergen’s noir adaptation of the centuries-old love story of Tristan and Isolde. It’s also put together with “deliberately cut-up/dada/found objects.” Tim and Mulele take a look at issue #1 to see how well one comic can juggle all these influences.

(Note: Bergen has also done a prose version of this story)

#502 “One Punch Man”

One Punch ManOne Punch Man was originally a crudely-drawn Web comic by a guy calling himself “One”. But then the story, with art by slick manga artist Yusuke Murata, was picked up for publisher Shueisha’s Young Jump Web Comics website in 2012. It subsequently became an anime, and the manga is available in English from Viz.

This week, Tim and Kumar take a look, to discuss whether the story is really served by Murata’s typical manga art, and the good and bad points of the comic as it exists.

#501 The Billy Ireland Museum

The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum, on the campus of Ohio State University, houses the world’s largest collection of comic strip tear sheets and clippings, and also archives original art, manuscript materials, and other comics-related items. This week Caitlin McGurk, Associate Curator at the museum, talks to Tim about Milton Canniff’s connection to the museum, the challenges of art preservation, some highlights of the museum’s holdings, and more.

Critiquing Comics #092: Boy Zero

boyzeroA police detective sees a psychiatrist, because something is bothering him about the case he’s been working on. Something happened in the past among a group of kids. Murder? Well, we read a pretty good chunk of Charles Chester and Shiloh Penfield’s Boy Zero, and we don’t feel any closer to finding out. We discuss what went wrong for us.

#500 Stephen Bissette: Comics, Movies, and Creator Credits

Steve Bissette with Tim and PaulFive hundred episodes?! Where’d the time go? As has been typical of recent “landmark” episodes, a topic discussion is in order, this time among Tim, Paul, and famed artist, writer, and comics educator Stephen Bissette.

Steve talks about favorite film versions of comics; Mario Bava’s Diabolik; and what would have been a better way to make a Dick Tracy movie? How have certain films utilized “comics” language — even if they weren’t based on actual comics stories? What were some of our most traumatic moments in childhood TV viewing/comics reading?

Then we move on to the struggles that creators of Marvel and DC characters and storylines have had in getting proper credit for the film versions of their stories — especially focusing on Frank Miller and Daredevil. And, why do some fans have so much vitriol for Miller?