#247 Sweden? Ninjas? You are Here!

Dr. McNinjaWe asked for mail from a listener in Sweden, and Gunnar listened! Tim and Kumar discuss his observations and questions.

Then, a look at the popular Web comic The Adventures of Dr. McNinja by Christopher Hastings. Comedy, bizarreness, and lots and lots of fighting. Does the fighting work as comedy?

Finally, a (spoiler-filled!) look back at Kyle Baker’s 1999 graphic novel You Are Here. Well, but wait a second — is this, strictly speaking, a comic?

#246 Examining Bendis

BendisBrian Michael Bendis has been the dominant writer at Marvel for a number of years now. While his books — including Ultimate Spider-man, New Avengers, Avengers, and event books like Seige — sell well, they have also generated a fair amount of controversy and just plain complaints. Some people like his work, others don’t. For Tim, there have been high points, but much of it is just kind of there. Is it just me, he wonders? Is Bendis actually a good writer and just doesn’t always appeal to me? Or are there identifiable inadequacies in his work? Tim calls on a Bendis fan — Savannah College of Art & Design student and graphic novelist Josh Smith — and a Bendis critic — Comics Waiting Room columnist Vincent Moore — to discuss the phenomenon that is Bendis.

#245 Can we still marvel at “Marvels”?

MarvelsThe 1994 release of Marvels took comics by storm. The four-issue miniseries established the places of both hyperrealistic painter Alex Ross and continuity maven Kurt Busiek in the industry. There’s still plenty here to make it a standout story 16 years later, but has some of the shine come off? And, is making a logical narrative out of a mainstream comic companies’ disparate series really doable? Tim and Kumar discuss.

Also, Patrik W resurfaces to talk with Tim about the upcoming American Comics Exhibition in Tokyo. Tim, Patrik, and 13 other artists will be displaying their work!

#244 Calvin & Hobbes

Calvin and HobbesFrom 1985 to 1995, Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes challenged newspaper readers with imaginative stories, beautiful art, philosophical discussions, and ROTFL gags. Watterson famously eschewed commercialism, not only in the strip, but in real life, approving no C&H tie-in products other than books of strips and a calendar or two. Tim and Kumar discuss this game-changing strip and how relevant it remains today.