Podcast – Page 32 – Deconstructing Comics

#634 The End of “The Walking Dead”

The Walking Dead

Last July, with issue 193, Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard and company abruptly ended The Walking Dead. In this episode, Emmet is joined by Bobsy (of the podcasts Shadow Trap and Diane, and an occasional guest on Silence) to examine the series and how it ended. What is the deeper meaning of the series, and was that meaning put there intentionally, or subconsciously? How did the success of the Walking Dead TV show affect the comic? Should Kirkman have gone with his original idea for the ending?

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Critiquing Comics #163: “Read More Comix” and “Antfarm”

#633 “Eileen Gray: A House Under the Sun”

Eileen Gray

Eileen Gray: A House Under the Sun is a slim graphic novel by Charlotte Malterre-Barthes and Zosia Dzierzawska, about the titular famous Irish architect that most people have never heard of. Kumar and Emmet found it beautiful and intriguing; here’s their review.

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MCU update: Spidey in, or out?

MCU Spidey

It’s been a topic of discussion all week: Is Sony really refusing to let Marvel/Disney handle Spider-Man in the movies anymore? What looked like a shocking middle-finger to the mouse now looks to have been a case of negotiating via the media. Tim and Mulele discuss the latest, and also touch on the newly announced (at D23 day one) TV shows coming to Disney+.

The Deadline article that set off Twitter

Vox article on the Sony-Disney kerfuffle

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#632 Johnny O’Bryant’s Noir Caesar

Pro basketballer Johnny O’Bryant has long been a fan of manga. But he wanted to see manga-type stories showing people of other races, with characters he could more closely identify with. So he created comics publisher Noir Caesar and hired creators to make his vision happen. Tim and Mulele talk with Johnny about balancing his two careers, his story ideas, and what’s coming next. Then, we read some of the comics and find out what the fuss is about.

See the Primus 7 video trailer

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Critiquing Comics #162: “Monster Mashup”

Monster Mashup

Monster Mashup is a comics anthology in which public-domain characters meet classic monsters. Tim and Mulele review.

Also, a look at the announced (and rumored) content to come from the Marvel Cinematic Universe!

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#631 Goodbye, MAD!

MAD Magazine is ending! Much handwringing has occurred — mainly among people who probably haven’t read it in ages but fondly recall it from their childhoods. Tim, a MAD reader for most of the last 23 years, is joined by Kumar, and MAD contributor Joe Dator, to discuss what went wrong, and recollections and reminiscences of this highly influential magazine.

Tim’s letter to MAD (click to enlarge)
From MAD v. 2 #4, December 2018

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#630 A Celebration of “SHAZAM!”

Shazam 75 years

Captain Marvel — the one who shouts “Shazam!” to change from little boy to adult super hero — first appeared in Whiz Comics #2, dated February 1940, almost immediately prompting comparisons to Superman and outrage at DC. Yet the “Big Red Cheese” actually outsold Supes in the ’40s. Why has the most popular hero of the World War II era fallen on hard times since then? How has the character changed as DC, now owner of the character, has repeatedly struggled to reboot his world? Tim and Emmet have read the book Shazam! A Celebration of 75 years, and discuss the stories, the character, and the recent film.

CBR on “Captain Thunder” story

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Critiquing Comics #161: “Dog vs. Ultra-Dog” and “Chad in Amsterdam #3”

Dog vs Ultra-Dog + Chad in Amsterdam #3

In this episode, we discuss:

Dog vs. Ultra-Dog, by Troy Wilson and Clayton Hanmer. Where does it come down on the children’s book – children’s comic continuum?
Chad in Amsterdam #3 by Chad Bilyeu. The latest issue from one of our favorites.

Plus, some creepy movie CGI in “cute” films.

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#629 Mike Barr: My career with Batman

Mike Barr is perhaps best known for writing the late-’80s hit comic series Batman and the Outsiders. He also created Camelot 3000 and Katana, and wrote many other books for Marvel, DC, and other publishers.

On April 13, Mike Barr was a keynote speaker at the Bowling Green State University (Ohio) Batman in Popular Culture conference. Tim was there, and recorded the whole thing, including the Q&A session. So enjoy the insightful, sometimes hilarious, presentation in this episode.

Click the image to enlarge

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