#657 “Berlin”

Berlin

Jason Lutes’ Berlin shows us scenes from the lives of many characters in Berlin as the Weimar Republic disintegrated and the Nazis rose to power. Historical events (including the fallout of World War I) affect the characters while the characters continue trying to control their own lives, or each other’s, and they cross paths in ways that are sometimes easy to miss. And the art is detailed and spellbinding. Tim and Kumar dig into this 542-page masterwork, more than twenty years in the making.

Jason Lutes’ presentation

#551 R. Sikoryak


Robert Sikoryak is known for adopting the styles of various famous comics and mashing them up with classic literature, Donald Trump quotes, and even the iTunes user agreement. This week he talks with Koom how he chooses the specific pairings of comics titles and other content, why he didn’t want to do his book on Trump, what Kafka’s Metamorphosis and Schulz’s Peanuts have in common, getting inside the head of the creator whose work he’s parodying, and more.

#130 “Scott Pilgrim” and “Paul Has a Summer Job”

FLASHBACK!  Tim and Brandon review of two Canadian coming-of-age comics: The first three volumes of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s “Scott Pilgrim” series, and “Paul Has a Summer Job” by Michel Rabagliati.

Listen carefully, because later this month, Tim and Cassey will discuss the entire series, and Tim’s take on it has changed…

ALSO: Give today to the Deconstructing Comics pledge drive!

Originally published June 2, 2008

#423 Rutu Modan: Emotional depth, tight plots

Exit WoundsIsraeli graphic novelist Rutu Modan has won acclaim for her books Exit Wounds (2007) and The Property (2013), both of which are so tightly plotted, with a number of twists and turns, that Tim and Kumar find them difficult to review spoiler-free. What’s remarkable, though, is the emotional depth in books that are so plot-driven, as well as their social commentary on Israeli society, how violence there has become banal, and the popularity of Jewish tours of Polish sites of the Holocaust. With all this going for the books, we simply have to talk about them! (With few spoilers!)

#387 You’re All Just Jealous of our Grab Bag of Comics

jetpackTim and Mulele discuss more comics Dale sent us from L.A., including “Jingles are for Losers” by Jared Samms; “Dark Mouse” #6 and “A Mouse to Sea” from Nathanial Osollo and Evan Spears; “Start Your Day with a Smile” from Amanda Millar; “Deadeye” and “The Gifted” by Nathan Gooden and Damian Wassel; and Thi Bui‘s “Labor” and “Backwards”.

Also in this episode: science, religion, literature, and pop culture battle it out in Tom Gauld’s “You’re All Just Jealous of my Jetpack“!

#366 “Paying For It”

Paying For ItKumar and Dana get together — in the same room! — to discuss Paying For It, Chester Brown’s chronicle of his decision to punt “love relationships” and hire, er, escorts instead. What does the book have to say about relationships? Is love simply a social construct? Is Brown persuasive in his arguments for decriminalizing prostitution?

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

kingcatIf 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.

#335 Teenage Love, Middle-age Lust

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.

#333 “Louis Riel”

Louis Riel

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.

#316 Matthew Forsythe

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.