Talkin video games?!?! That's right! In this week's adaptation, we discuss the Arkham Asylum series and how close it ties to the comics! Do the games stay true to Batman? Does the Joker fit the bill? are the characters too OP? Find out that and more in this week's episode of Make Mine Paperback!
Welcome back, loyal listeners, to Make Mine Paperback! The discussion of superhero-inspired media continues! This week the hosts talk about songs that deal with superhero topics. The songs, which span several music genres, are Magneto and Titanium Man by Paul McCartney and Wings, Superman (It's Not Easy) by Five for Fighting, Batman and Robin by Snoop Dogg, and Ode to a Superhero by Weird Al. Although superheroes may often get their start in comic books, there are many forms of media that draw i...
We move on to another movie adaptation of a character we all know and love, Wade Wilson, AKA Deadpool! The Merc with a Mouth made his big screen debut in the X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie, but actor Ryan Reynolds wanted to do more with the character, and thus, the movie was born. What differences are accepted in the movie compared to the comic? Are creative liberties afforded to the movie writers given just how self-aware the character is in the comics? What did the movie do well, and what coul...
This month the gang put away the comics and fire up various forms of media with comic book adaptations! Our first character? Steven's choice a Mr. Bruce Wayne, AKA Batman and the Summer of 22 box office hit "The Batman". How well does this represent the character of Batman? What does it do with creative liberties that we like or dislike? Is it ok for movie writers to stray from the source material for their own creative purpose? Are all Batman movies equal, or do they bring something unique to t...
Thanks for tuning in to Make Mine Paperback! This week is the conclusion of the month-long discussion of It's Lonely At The Centre Of The Earth, written and drawn by Zoe Thorogood. The first week looked at the art, while the second week focused on how Thorogood used the art to deliver her message. The most recent week centered on the desired audience of Zoe Thorogood’s messaging. The final week will tie it all together by discussing the central theme of the novel: mental health struggles. To add...
Welcome back to Make Mine Paperwork, where the discussion on Zoe Thorogood’s masterpiece It’s Lonely At The Centre Of The Earth continues. This week picks up where last week’s conversation left off. The previous discussion focused on how this comic book reaches its audience compared to the techniques other comic book creators use. This episode will explore the message of the book, and the target audiences of that message. Although Zoe had a target audience in mind, it seems she has purposefully ...
Welcome back to another exciting discussion of It's Lonely At The Centre Of The Earth! MMP continues where they left off last week by comparing Zoe Thorogood’s masterpiece to other comics from other well-established comic book creators. The focus this week is on the techniques used by Thorogood to deliver the comic’s message. What makes this comic stand out is the masterful use of art to bring home the story’s themes. Whereas the majority of comic books tend to have more focus on the words to es...
A new year means a new theme for Make Mine Paperback! To start off January, the podcast is switching up the format by focusing on only one graphic novel for the month. It's Lonely At The Centre Of The Earth, written and drawn by Zoe Thorogood, is a masterpiece that needs more time than just one discussion to cover. Zoe Thorogood details six weeks of her life and the struggles she experiences while trying to make it as a comic book artist and author. The novel covers difficult, yet important, top...
Welcome back to the final discussion of Silver Age comics! This week, MMP explores Tales of Suspense #58, written by Stan Lee, with art by Don Heck and colors by Dick Ayers. Stan Lee proves yet again that he was ahead of his time in the world of comics. Although the story contains a typical Silver Age-style plot that fits into the confines of the comics code authority, it still does a good job of finding new ways to be creative. With humor and a generally light-hearted tone, this comic reminds u...
Welcome back to another exciting discussion of the Silver Age! This week we look at The Brave and the Bold #25 (1959), written by Bob Kanigher, with art by Ross Andru and colors by Mike Espositio. This particular issue of the Brave and the Bold introduces the Suicide Squad! Although the inaugural Squad does not feature any supervillains due to the strict rules of the Comics Code Authority, it does its best to live up to its name. Featuring a team of average servicemen, with no superpowers, the S...
Welcome back to the Silver Age of Comics! This week, MMP focuses on The Fantastic Four #1, from the legendary duo of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The introduction of the Comics Code Authority in 1954 did little to slow down the production of comic books. Instead, writers like Stan Lee were forced to take a different approach to their craft, which resulted in the superhero story archetype we know and love today. Equally impressive is Jack Kirby’s skill with drawing panels that show superhero action o...
Welcome back to another exciting edition of Make Mine Paperback! Moving on from Golden Age comics, the next logical step is to discuss the Silver Age. Serving as the bridge between the two eras is Showcase #4 (1956), written by Bob Kanigher and John Broome with art by Carmine Infantino and colors by Joe Kubert. Often regarded as the comic that heralded in the Silver Age, Bary Allen takes on the mantle of The Flash while giving a nod to his Golden Age counterpart, Jay Gerrick. Although the compan...
Welcome back to the final discussion of Golden Age comics! Join MMP as they discuss one of the most controversial comic books of the era, Tales from the Crypt #23. This particular issue collects four short stories, each written and drawn by a different person: Reflections of Death (Al Feldstein), Last Respects (Graham Ingels), Seance (Jack Davis), and Voodoo Death (Johnny Craig). Widely regarded as one of the most influential horror anthologies of all time, Tales from the Crypt has paved the way...
Welcome back to another lively discussion of Golden Age comics! This week, MMP looks at Startling Comics #49, written by Charles S. Strong with art from Alex Schomburg, Hal Sherman, and Ken Battefield. This particular comic is extra special since it contains four, unrelated stories. From Tygra the amazon woman to the classic, All-American Jefferson Jones, this issue offers something for everyone! Assuming you can interpret the ultra-hip slang. Startling Comics proves that not all comics need to ...
Listen in as MMP discusses another legendary golden age comic, Captain America #1-5 (1941), written and drawn by Joe Simon & Jack Kirby. The art and story were truly ahead of their time in this comic book. Even though it was drawn decades before computer generation, this comic proves it can match modern comics in quality of line work and action sequences. The story is equally impressive. At the time of publication, the U.S. was not involved in WW2, which makes it even more impressive that th...
Welcome back to another high-quality episode of Make Mine Paperback! It’s a new month, which means it is also a new theme! This month the focus is on the Golden Age of comics, which refers to the glut of American comics that were released between the years 1938-1956. Many heroes and villains that are still popular today were introduced during this time, including the iconic Superman! This episode will focus on the Superman portions of Action Comics #1 & 2 (1938) written by Jerry Siegel with ...
Welcome back to the world’s foremost experts on all things comics, and now Manga. Just kidding, but tune in this week as MMP brings in a special guest, David Fresh! The final discussion for Manga month will focus on Berserk, written and drawn by Kentaro Miura. This series is not for the faint of heart! Brutal violence and uncomfortable topics drive home the message that war is hell, especially in medieval Europe. With a “fresh” perspective on Manga, Fresh is able to expand the discussion on Mang...
Welcome to the high seas! This week’s manga selection, One Piece, takes the reader on a tour of pirate life. Written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece has become one of the most well-known manga series in the world. With its deep themes of family and friendship, while also showcasing child-like wonder it is easy to see why the series is as popular as it is. Follow along as we find out if Luffy has what it takes to become the Pirate King! Will Luffy find all the long-lost treasure? Or wi...
The month of Manga continues with a lively discussion of Fullmetal Alchemist chapters 1 & 2, written and drawn by Hiromu Arakawa. Arakawa creates a beautiful, steampunk setting to create a world where alchemy is a widely practiced science. This particular Manga may feel a little more familiar to American audiences, due in part to the successful anime series that were based on the books. Fullmetal Alchemist explores concepts well-known by Western cultures, such as the Catholic Religion, and f...
Welcome back to the show! Listen in as MMP starts off a new month with a new theme: manga! Taking a break from American comics, the focus this week is on Detective Conan Volume 1 File #1 and #2 written and illustrated by Gosho Aoyama. As the title suggests, the story revolves around a young detective as he solves case files. Besides exploring the comic itself, the gang also discusses the ways manga comics contrast with American comics. Listen in and see if you agree with the hosts' assessments. ...
The gang wraps up the cringy month of September with All Star Batman and Robin: The Boy Wonder (2005) #1 & 2 by Frank Miller with art by Jim Lee. Although this series comes from two heavyweights in the world of comics, not all stories can be great. In a twist on the traditional Batman and Dick Grayson relationship, the reader gets to experience a what if… scenario where Batman is no longer an angsty superhero. This Bruce Wayne is more of an antihero than outright hero. Regularly breaking his...
After a brief week hiatus, the podcast ups the ante on cringeworthy comics, or cringe-tastic if you prefer, with this week’s entry. Marville is truly a sight to behold. In a spectacularly poorly written comic, the president of Marvel, at the time Bill Jemas, attempts to take on the creative team at his own company. Jemas constructs an experiment to see if he can outsell Peter David and Ron Zimmerman by writing his own comic. Although the comic is billed as a parody of the industry, it is so poor...
The start of a new month means the start of a new theme for MMP. Departing from some of their favorite stories read during the summer, the hosts are going to talk about some truly cringeworthy comics! Up first is The Amazing Spider-Man - Sins Past by J. Michael Straczynski. In a story arc that can best be described as needlessly dramatic and shocking, these issues deserve their status as cringe-worthy due to the wild take on Spiderman and Gwen Stacy. In an inexplicable twist of past events, Gwen...
Join us this week as MMP finishes recapping some of the great comics the hosts have read during their summer vacation. Steven is up again this month with his selection, Mullet Cop: Rise of the Buffet Warrior (2021), written and illustrated by Tom Lintern. This offbeat comic about a mall security guard turned RoboCop with a mullet is indeed off the rails. Set in the apocalyptic future, where the only structures left are malls, we see our hero, Fred, try to rid the megamall of its gangs. Filled wi...
Welcome back to the world’s foremost Podcast on all things genie related! The fearless leaders of Make Mine Paperback continue to discuss the interesting comics they read over the summer. This week is Graham’s pick, Eight BIllion Genies #1-4 (2022), from the mind of Charles Soule. This fascinating comic illustrates a possible, although apocalyptic, scenario of what could happen to life on Earth if every human received a genie that granted only one wish. All people, from infant to elderly, get a ...
MMP continues to discuss the comics the hosts read while on summer vacation. This week, the discussion is on Alex’s pick, Captain America: Truth (2022). This incredible story by Robert Morales does not shy away from uncomfortable truths in American history. Although the story is fictional, the backdrop is real. The concept of the U.S army experimenting with eugenics on minority soldiers may be tough to believe, although it was a reality that is often swept under the rug. The cartoon style of art...
Welcome back listeners! After taking a few weeks to enjoy summer, MMP is back and ready to talk about what the hosts read during the hiatus! Starting off is Steven’s selection, Ice Cream Man! In this horror, oftentimes comedic, anthology series we get introduced to the mysterious, extraterrestrial ice cream man named Rick. In issue #11, MMP talks about Rick trapping the main character on reality TV. Although not plot heavy, the humor and deeper meanings present make this a fun read. Issue #13 is...
In the exciting conclusion to Pride Month, the gang talks about Cosmoknights by Hannah Templer. Set outside the Milky Way, in a galaxy where knights compete in battle to win the hand of princesses, the reader is taken on a high-fantasy space adventure through the experiences of Pan. Although the story appears to be simple, MMP reads between the lines to reveal the complex undertones that some may have missed. What appears to be a simple story about saving princesses from being forced into marria...
The fellas dive into The Prettiest Star and bring you a story about the strength to live as your true self and one alien princess disguised as a human boy is about to test her power. A vibrant story about gender identity, romance, and shining as bright as the stars. Taylor Barzelay has the perfect life... or do they? Find out as Taylor is faced with challenges, is introduced to a vibrant cast of characters who help her to discover WHO she really is. Jadzia Axelrod is fantastic, and with stunning...
MMP discusses America Chavez: Made in the USA #1-5 to continue the theme of powerful pride. Kalinda Vazquez takes the reader on a journey of self discovery while introducing us to America Chavez, an intriguing and relatively new character from Marvel. Although America has a lot of baggage, that does not make her any less relatable! Even those who do not have a lot in common with America will surely find something interesting about her. Instead of centering on a big baddie, the series focuses on ...
