Content warning: suicidal ideation [15:41-15:53; 19:14-19:30; 23:05-23:12; 43:25-43:55] Our tale begins three episodes ago: "Molly Mendoza, comic artist and creator of Skip, come on our show!" Nat cried, and lo! Through time and space — Molly heard his plea... and replied! So in this special bonus episode, our hosts are whisked away to the neon desert dreamland of Breeze Hu's "A Night Ride to the Day." --- The conversation with Molly continues in the Comic Sans Aftershow, our Patreon-exclusive p...
Jun 26, 2025•1 hr 1 min
It's 2009. We're in Times Square. You take my picture. It comes out nice. The pizza was good. That was Chicago. Holes in the sidewalk. Summer on the train. I'm in Singapore now. Just a couple of weeks. Let's have lunch at that pizza place. No, it's my treat. The sun never sets. The rain never stops. Yan and Nat read "Roaming" by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki — they bring it home to us. 00:00 - Preamble 03:17 - Unhinged Yant: The Days are Just Packed 07:10 - Nat's Five Words 10:07 - Yan's Recap 13:16...
Mar 13, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Things come FULL CIRCLE as cartoonist and educator Beth Hetland makes her triumphant return to Comic Sans! In an episode full of TWISTS AND TURNS, Beth RUNS RINGS around our hosts as she attempts to BRING THEM AROUND on "Uzumaki" by Junji Ito. 00:00 - Preamble 05:47 - Beth 'Rant-land': Beautiful and Terrible as the Drawn 16:30 - Yan & Nat Open the Tub at the End of Chapter 1 22:55 - Yan & Nat's Five Words 24:19 - Nat Recaps Chapter 9 24:42 - Yan Recaps Chapter 13 30:31 - Discussion 58:26...
Feb 27, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Yan and Nat wander through the kaleidoscopic worlds of "Skip" by Molly Mendoza. --BZZT-- Hi, Scott here, producer on Comic Sans, seeking your help. It's usually my job to write these episode descriptions. And you may be wondering — why is today's so short? The answer to which is, because I'm lost for words on how to describe Skip. I really have no idea. So how about this — today, just listen to the episode. Or watch it on YouTube. In fact, just read the comic for yourself. And if you have any id...
Feb 13, 2025•44 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Content warning: misogyny, domestic abuse, suicide [26:54 - 34:02] When a guy in a Mercedes honked at him, Yan said nothing and biked away. Slung over his back was a messenger bag containing some clothes, a snack, and the omnibus edition of "Parker," written by Richard Stark and adapted into comics by Darwyn Cooke. The plan was clear: arrive at the studio by 10am. Greet Nat a very good morning. And then—with the persuasive power of a ten-pound tome—introduce Nat to one of the greatest crime comi...
Jan 30, 2025•57 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Content warning: suicide, suicidal ideation [16:29-17:53; 43:32-48:22; 52:44 - 53:40] After a long week in the recording studio, our hosts can't wait to join Matt and Allison Parent from Escape the Mojoverse for a relaxing staycation. Sunscreen — check! Swimming trunks — check! Unspeakable horrors lurking just out of sight — check! It's time for fun in the sun at "The Nice House on the Lake"! What could possibly go wrong? 00:00 - Welcome, Matt & Allison! 04:02 - Unhinged Par-rant: An Unbeara...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Today's match: Myle Yan Tay of Comics College versus Nathaniel Mah of Sans School! These bitter rivals face each other once again on the badminton courts of "Blue Box" by Kouji Miura to prove, once and for all… their love for each other?! 00:00 - Preamble 02:01 - Unhinged Yant: For the Love of the Game 13:30 - Nat's Five Words 14:30 - Yan's Recap 20:33 - Discussion of Chapter 43 26:14 - Discussion of Chapter 57 30:18 - Discussion of Chapter 153 36:28 - Yan's Final Questions In this episode, Nat ...
Jan 02, 2025•52 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Dear Yan, Here in the exotic, faraway lands of Singapore, there are whispers of a new episode of Comic Sans: one about colonialism, political intrigue — and vampires?! I do not know what to make of this news, and long for your advice, old friend. Come, let us venture down to "These Savage Shores" by Ram V, Sumit Kumar, Vittorio Astone, and Aditya Bidikar, and see for ourselves what creatures roam the night... Yours, Nat 00:00 - Preamble 02:43 - Unhinged Yant: Colonialism Sucks 08:36 - Nat's Five...
Dec 19, 2024•51 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Yabba-dabba-doo! Outside cave, history move forward. But Cave Man Yan and Cave Man Nat watching shadows of puppets on wall name "Flintstones" by Mark Russell, Steve Pugh, and Chris Chuckry. "Hey!" say Cave Man Nat. "Why we back in cave?!" "Because," say Cave Man Yan. "Although only shadow — perhaps puppet story teach deeper truth about world." "Nice," say Cave Man Nat. "Comic Sans Season 3 start now." 00:00 - Preamble 02:53 - Unhinged Yant: Satire in the Stone Age 12:46 - Nat's Five Words 14:13 ...
Dec 05, 2024•58 min•Season 3Ep. 1
MERCH ALERT: Buy the Comic Sans paneling journal here while stocks last! Quiet on set—it's the inaugural Comic Sans video episode! Time and tide wait for no man, especially not Yan and Nat as they read Richard McGuire's groundbreaking comic "Here." Then watch the tables finally turn on the boys as they sharpen their pencils and draw their very own comics. 00:00 - Preamble 03:52 - Unhinged Yant: A Tale of Two Houses 07:18 - Nat Recaps Here 13:28 - Discussion 28:24 - The Comic Sans Paneling Journa...
Nov 14, 2024•47 min
Yan makes a haunting appearance on the Halloween special of Escape the Mojoverse, an X-Men comics podcast where hosts Matt and Allison do fun and insightful deep dives into mutant lore. If you like Comic Sans, we think you'll love Escape the Mojoverse! Check them out wherever you get your podcasts. --- This week on a very spooky episode of Escape the Mojoverse, we talk about the monster that lurks in the basement with Kieron Gillen and Dan Panosian's X-Men Origins: Sabretooth #1 (2009)! Comic Sa...
Oct 31, 2024•1 hr 12 min
Comedy writer Jordan Morris brings Yan and Nat to the grindhouse with "X-Terminators" by Leah Williams and Carlos Gómez. Can Yan handle being the second-biggest X-Fan in the room? Can Nat name more than three X-Men? Enter the arena, fighters! The show is about to start... 00:00 - Welcome, Jordan! 09:30 - Jordan 'Mor-rant': Comic Fun-damentals 16:50 - Yan and Nat Recap X-Terminators 20:17 - Discussion 37:54 - Jordan's Final Questions In this episode, Yan and Nat read X-Terminators (2022) by Leah ...
Sep 12, 2024•48 min
Watch the extended edition of this episode with over 10 minutes of all-new content! IT'S A TRIPLE THREAT! Cartoonist and educator Beth Hetland storms into the ring, folks, taking Yan and Nat by surprise. And what's she got with her? She's—OH MY GOD! It's "Black Hole" by Charles Burns! She's taken over the comics half! Can Nat survive another horror comic? Will Yan finally get taken to school? This is going in the history books, folks! Give it up one more time for the people's champion, BETH... H...
Jul 04, 2024•1 hr 18 min
In this season finale, Yan brings things full circle with "Daredevil" by Brian Michael Bendis and David Mack. It's a rematch between "Nat Murdock" and the "Yan Without Fear" in this explosive episode! Say it with us now—Daredevil Sans! Daredevil Sans! Daredevil Sans! 00:00 - Preamble 02:05 - Unhinged Yant: Out of Order 13:32 - Nat Recaps Daredevil 19:02 - Discussion 58:00 - Yan's Final Questions In this episode, Nat reads most of the Daredevil: Wake Up arc by Brian Michael Bendis and David Mack ...
Apr 25, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Bear witness to the mythic rise and tragic fall of our two hosts as they read the comic book classic “Asterios Polyp” by David Mazzucchelli. 00:00 - Preamble 03:18 - Unhinged Yant: Style as Substance 12:21 - Nat Recaps Asterios Polyp 16:44 - Discussion 53:45 - Yan's Final Questions In this episode, Nat reads Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli — the first six chapters, or until the yellow image of a mosquito. Transcript and bibliography available here. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a...
Apr 11, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 7
In this heart-pounding installment of Comic Sans, can a plucky young Nat hold his own against TWO mangas in one episode? Perhaps if he taps into the power of his friends — and Yan — he can use his ultimate bloodline technique to reveal why he's reading both "Bleach" by Tite Kubo and "Jujutsu Kaisen" by Gege Akutami. 00:00 - Preamble 03:00 - Unhinged Yant: Two Shounen Walk Into a Bar 19:08 - Nat Recaps Bleach and Jujutsu Kaisen 21:12 - Discussion 44:59 - Yan's Final Questions In this episode, Nat...
Mar 28, 2024•57 min•Season 2Ep. 6
In this XXX-tra special episode, Yan and Nat enter the time-stopped, salaciously sparkly world of "Sex Criminals" by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky. Will Nat see the appeal of raunchy comedy in comics? Will any reputable brand want to sponsor this episode? Your guess is as good as ours! 00:00 - Preamble 02:46 - Unhinged Yant: C*medy in C*mics 15:17 - Nat Recaps Sex Criminals 24:00 - Discussion 46:28 - Yan's Final Questions In this episode, Nat reads Sex Criminals by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsk...
Mar 14, 2024•57 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Yan pays a midnight visit to Nat, haunting him with visions of "Gideon Falls" by Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino. Will Yan manage to sell Nat on the power of paneled frights, or will Nat have to mute the conversation to escape? 00:00 - Preamble 02:46 - Unhinged Yant: A Quiet Horror 23:19 - Nat Recaps Gideon Falls 28:20 - Discussion 46:10 - Yan's Final Questions In this episode, Nat reads Gideon Falls Issue #1 by Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino. Transcript and bibliography available here. If ...
Feb 29, 2024•57 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Yan and Nat take an evening stroll under a concerningly large moon, reading "This One Summer" by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki. Will Yan manage to explain the difference between a teenager and a young adult? Will Nat leave with an appreciation for the book’s bittersweet reflection on youth? Listen to find out. 00:00 - Preamble 01:11 - Yan Apologizes for His Oversight 04:24 - Unhinged Yant: Words Enough and Time 18:36 - Nat Recaps This One Summer 22:24 - Discussion 51:30 - Yan's Final Question...
Feb 15, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Yan drags an unwitting Nat into the wild and fantastical world of “Solo Leveling” by Chugong, Dubu, and h-goon. But will Nat learn to tell his isekais apart from his izakayas, or will he get Yan to join him in mourning his dearly departed vampire crab? 00:00 - Preamble 02:28 - Unhinged Yant: The Power of Fantasy 25:11 - Nat Recaps Solo Leveling 31:28 - Discussion 51:20 - Yan's Final Questions In this episode, Nat reads Solo Leveling across three mediums: Chapters 1, 11, and 17 of the 2018 manhwa...
Feb 01, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 2
In this Season 2 premiere, Yan corners Nat in a figurative back-alley with an unrelentingly obsessive quest. That’s right: Yan won’t rest until he’s done gushing about “Daredevil” by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee. Will Yan be able to give Nat a sliver of insight into his favorite character, or will Nat get carried away making car noises while reading a chase scene? 00:00 - Welcome back to Comic Sans! 02:35 - Unhinged Yant: Hell of a Good Time 30:23 - Nat Recaps Daredevil 33:51 - Discussion 52:50 - ...
Jan 18, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In this extra special Comic Sans bonus episode, Yan and Nat are forced to respond to a staggering accusation by The Signal Awards when they are nominated for "Best Buddy Podcast." After a moment's consideration, Yan is reminded of two thought-provoking stories from "Superman: Red & Blue." Will Yan be able to deliver a stunning meditation on what it means to be a "best buddy," or will Nat continuously interrupt him to beg for audiences to vote for Comic Sans before voting ends on October 5th?...
Oct 02, 2023•37 min
This Comic-Con season, Yan takes Nat on a journey through the history of Comic-Con to answer two surprisingly tricky questions: what is Comic-Con, and who is it really for anyway? 00:00 - Preamble 01:24 - Discussion 33:35 - Nat's Final Question In this episode, Yan listens to the podcast Comic-Con Begins on SiriusXM, created and directed by Mathew Klickstein. Transcript and bibliography available here. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a review, or follow us @comicsanspod on Twitter, Inst...
Jul 26, 2023•40 min
In this very special Comic Sans bonus episode, Yan and Nat return to the recording room to discuss the recent release of "Across the Spider-Verse." Yan reflects on the ways the film remixes and elevates its source material, while Nat unleashes one of the most controversial takes he's ever brought to the show. Will Yan survive? 00:00 - Preamble 01:54 - Discussion 38:46 - Yan’s Final Questions In this episode, Nat and Yan watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Transcript and bibliography avail...
Jul 05, 2023•45 min
In the Season 1 finale, Yan takes the longest transatlantic flight in the world to introduce Nat to one of his all-time favorite comics: Bryan Lee O'Malley's "Scott Pilgrim." Yan reflects on the role of passion in the creative process, while Nat is forced to answer a monumental question: has he learned anything at all about comics? 00:00 - Preamble 06:50 - Unhinged Yant: The Things You Love 16:38 - Nat Reads Scott Pilgrim 26:05 - Discussion 48:29 - Yan’s Final Questions 55:42 - Season Recap In t...
Apr 19, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Yan serves as Nat's guide through the wild and wondrous adventures of Mike Mignola's "Hellboy." Yan discusses the significance of creator-owned characters like the titular horned hero, while Nat is thoroughly alarmed by a monkey with a gun. 00:00 - Preamble 07:33 - Unhinged Yant: Making Your Monsters 31:48 - Nat Reads Hellboy 36:39 - Discussion, The Corpse 51:04 - Discussion, Pancakes 56:07 - Discussion, Box Full of Evil 1:05:43 - Yan’s Final Questions In this episode, Nat reads three stories fr...
Apr 12, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Yan drops Nat headfirst into an exciting new comic format with the webtoon "Lore Olympus" by Rachel Smythe. Yan discusses the ways in which it became an instant classic by playing into its vertical form, while Nat stares at it with sparkly-eyed awe. 00:00 - Preamble 05:49 - Unhinged Yant: The Vertical Drop 27:00 - Nat Reads Lore Olympus 33:16 - Discussion 54:27 - Yan’s Final Questions In this episode, Nat reads nine episodes of Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe — Episodes 1, 6, 7, 8, 18, 23, 25, 27,...
Apr 05, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Yan ropes Nat into a comic that changed superhero storytelling forever: "Watchmen" by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Yan discusses the ways in which the book has been both interpreted and misinterpreted, and Nat is utterly transfixed by a glowing blue man in the nude. 00:00 - Preamble 03:07 - Unhinged Yant: The Last Superheroes 27:22 - Nat Reads Watchmen 31:00 - Discussion, Issue #2 41:06 - Discussion, Issue #4 55:05 - Yan’s Final Questions In this episode, Nat reads two issues of Watchmen by Alan...
Mar 29, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Yan introduces Nat to a childhood-defining classic: "The Adventures of Tintin" by Hergé. Yan makes an argument for the series as a cultural snapshot of early-to-mid 20th century Belgium, while Nat is captivated by Snowy the Dog. 00:00 - Preamble 03:09 - Unhinged Yant: The Elegance of Simplicity 17:30 - Nat Reads Tintin In Tibet 20:24 - Discussion 41:31 - Yan’s Final Questions In this episode, Nat reads The Adventures of Tintin Album #20: Tintin in Tibet by Hergé. Transcript and bibliography avai...
Mar 22, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Yan brings Nat a modern classic: “The Sandman” by Neil Gaiman. While its Netflix and Audible adaptations are enjoying their time in the sun, Yan is determined to sell Nat on what made the original story work so well as a comic. 00:00 - Preamble 01:55 - Unhinged Yant: The 'Literary' Comic 17:03 - Nat Reads The Sandman 19:45 - Discussion 43:12 - Yan’s Final Questions In this episode, Nat reads two issues of The Sandman by Neil Gaiman — Issue #8: The Sound of Her Wings, and Issue #13: Men of Good F...
Mar 15, 2023•50 min•Season 1Ep. 3
