Time Codes: 00:00:27 - Introduction 00:02:11 - Setup of Sumter Comic Arts Symposium 00:05:19 - Sophie Goldstein and Carl Antonowicz 00:54:35 - Jeremy Whitley 01:32:20 - Wrap up 01:34:13 - Contact us Our Man in Sumter As listeners of The Comics Alternative know, Andy oversees the annual Sumter Comic Arts Symposium every spring, and this year is no different. And this time, not only has he organized the entire event, but he also took time out of his duties to interview several of the creators who ...
Apr 03, 2017•1 hr 37 min
Time Codes: 00:00:27 - Introduction 00:02:10 - Setup of Dallas Fan Expo 00:03:54 - Robert Wilson IV 00:11:10 - Terry Moore 00:28:02 - Raechel Alexis Gasparac and Dusk Publishing 00:35:25 - Ed Brisson 00:44:49 - Joe Eisma 00:50:02 - Matt Hawkins 01:00:06 - Wrap up 01:02:51 - Contact us This past weekend Derek attended Dallas Fan Expo 2017, and there he was able to talk with several creators and publishers for the podcast. Some of his guests are individuals who have been on the podcast before -- e...
Apr 03, 2017•1 hr 6 min
Time Codes: 00:00:26 - Introduction 00:03:29 - Listener mail! 00:07:21 - Follow up on Revolutionary Girl Utena 00:08:40 - Ichi-F: A Worker's Graphic Memoir of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant 00:33:42 - Platinum End 01:10:43 - Wrap up 01:12:16 - Contact us This month on The Comics Alternative 's manga series, Shea and Derek check out two very different titles. They begin with Kazuto Tatsuta's Ichi-F: A Worker's Graphic Memoir of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant (Kodansha Comics). This is a 500...
Mar 31, 2017•1 hr 16 min
Time Codes: 00:00:25 - Introduction 00:02:44 - Setup of interview 00:03:37 - Interview with Kyle Starks 01:01:47 - Wrap up 01:02:54 - Contact us The Two Guys with PhDs are happy to have Kyle Starks back on the show. This time, they talk with him about his new Image Comics series Rock Candy Mountain , the first issue of which comes out next week. In their conversation, the guys ask Kyle about the genesis of this project, his collaboration with Chris Schweizer , the fascination with hobos, and his...
Mar 30, 2017•1 hr 8 min
This week Andy and Derek check out three recent titles for listeners with divergent, yet discerning, tastes. They begin with Leila Del Duca and Kit Seaton's Afar , an original graphic novel coming out next week from Image Comics. Both of the guys enjoyed the story, although Derek feels that the narration is unbalanced. It's almost as if the creators hadn't ultimately decided where to take their fantasy or which character's perspective they wanted to privilege. Andy feels that this "incompletenes...
Mar 29, 2017•1 hr 11 min
Andy and Derek are glad to have as their guest Josh Bayer. He is one of the creative minds behind Fantagrahic's new retro-superhero series, All Time Comics . This line kicked off in March with its first issue, All Time Comics: Crime Destroyer #1 , and in April they'll release All Time Comics: Bullwhip #1 , soon to be followed by issues devoted to other characters in its universe, Atlas and Blind Justice. Josh talks with the Two Guys about the genesis of this project and his collaboration with hi...
Mar 27, 2017•1 hr 29 min
On this month’s episode of the Comics Alternative ’s Young Readers series, Gwen and Paul discuss two new releases: Lorena Alvarez’s Nightlights from Nobrow Press, geared toward younger readers, and Thi Bui’s graphic novel The Best We Could Do , from Abrams ComicArts, an all-ages comic that will be of interest to our teen and adult listeners. They also had a chance to interview Thi Bui and include that segment at the end of the review portion of the show. Lorena Alvarez’s Nightlights , a beautifu...
Mar 24, 2017•1 hr 47 min
On this episode of the interview series, the Three Guys with PhDs -- Andy, Gene, and Derek -- talk with Brian Cremins about his new book from the University Press of Mississippi Captain Marvel and the Art of Nostalgia . During their conversation Brian discusses why he chose to focus specifically on the Big Red Cheese, what the comics meant to him growing up, and the superhero's links to nostalgia. As he points out, Captain Marvel isn't the most popular figure for critical or scholarly discussion...
Mar 23, 2017•1 hr 35 min
For this week's show, Andy and Derek look at two examples of life writing and one Dracula-infused alternate history. They begin with Paula Knight's The Facts of Life , one of the latest in the Pennsylvania State University Press' Graphic Medicine series. This is the story of Knight and her partner's attempts to get pregnant, but more significantly, it's a personal account of the contexts and societal expectations surrounding motherhood. After that they look at Sara Lautman's Black and White Diar...
Mar 22, 2017•1 hr 15 min
The Two Guys are pleased to have Peter Bagge back on The Comics Alternative . His new book Fire!! The Zora Neale Hurston Story comes out this week from Drawn and Quarterly. It is another in Bagge's recent series of historical and biographical comics, following his brief biography of Isabel Paterson (appearing in Reason in 2010), Woman Rebel: The Margaret Sanger Story (2013), and Founding Father Funnies (2016). In this interview, Derek talks with Peter about the genesis of this project, what brou...
Mar 20, 2017•1 hr 41 min
After a month's hiatus (due to unforeseen circumstances), the on-location episode is back! And for the March visit to Valhalla Games and Comics, the topic is completely open. On this recording Derek is joined my several of the shop regulars including Craig, Matt, and Tristan. Among the many topics they cover are the recent Justice League Vs. Suicide Squad miniseries; the latest (and one of the best) X-Men films, Logan ; the news surrounding the production of Star Trek : Discovery ; and lots of m...
Mar 17, 2017•1 hr 33 min
For the month of March, Edward and Derek look at two very different European titles. They begin with Dominique Goblet's Pretending Is Lying , released last month from New York Review Comics. This is a creator whom Edward has read in the original French, and so some of their conversation centers on matters of translation. But more significant is the guys' discussion of Goblet's handling of time and memory, as well as the book's expressive and experimental style. And, as Derek is keen to point out...
Mar 16, 2017•1 hr 21 min
This week's episode is an exploration of surrealism and fantasy, and one guaranteed to both fascinate and disturb you. It begins with a discussion of Max Andersson's The Excavation (Fantagraphics). As the Two Guys with PhDs point out, this is a book that has been years in the making, and parts of it had originally appeared in other outlets, including Andersson's short-lived Death and Candy series. Derek enjoyed this book, as he does other works by Andersson, although Andy was less charitable in ...
Mar 15, 2017•1 hr 19 min
For March, Sean and Derek check out three very different webcomics. They begin with Roger Langridge's The Great McGonagall , a biographical treatment of William "Topaz" McGonagall, known historically as the worst poet in the world. This is a very new webcomic, having begun in January 2017, and in it Langridge takes an already cartoonish figure and plays it up for even more humor. As the guys point out, the artist's style is perfect for this kind of send up. Next, Sean and Derek turn their attent...
Mar 13, 2017•1 hr 40 min
It's the first part of March, which means it must be time for the Two Guys with PhDs to look through the latest Previews catalog. Before they do that, though, they alert readers to this month's #trypod social media campaign and encourage listeners to share their love of The Comics Alternative by using that hashtag along with #try2guys . Next, they give a big THANK YOU to Kristin and Thomas at the Secret Stacks podcast for their recent shout-out . Then they get into the March Previews catalog, hi...
Mar 08, 2017•1 hr 56 min
Time Codes: 00:00:30 - Introduction 00:02:43 - Apologies 00:04:14 - Revolutionary Girl Utena Complete Deluxe Box Set 00:51:13 - Ghost in the Shell Deluxe Edition 01:21:23 - Wrap up 01:24:26 - Contact us On this episode of the manga series -- a few days later than expected -- Shea and Derek discuss two new deluxe editions of older titles. They begin with Revolutionary Girl Utena Complete Deluxe Box Set , soon to be released by VIZ Media. This is a different kind of shōjo, one that the guys don't ...
Mar 03, 2017•1 hr 28 min
Capturing the Spirit of The Spirit Every year for Will Eisner Week, always the first seven days in March, the Two Guys with PhDs like to do something special and Eisner-related for the podcast. This year is no different, and for the current episode Andy and Derek have decided to discuss the many uses of The Spirit since Will Eisner's passing on January 3, 2005. And there are a lot more manifestations of The Spirit than you might think. The guys compare and contrast the various uses of this semin...
Mar 01, 2017•1 hr 30 min
Time Codes: 00:00:27 - Introduction 00:02:28 - The Blubber report 00:10:51 - Scooter Girl 00:44:42 - My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Vol. 1 01:30:15 - Wrap up 01:31:35 - Contact us Mods and Monsters On this week's episode the Two Guys with PhDs Talking about Comics do deep dives into two recent, and very different, publications. They begin with Chynna Clugston Flores's Scooter Girl , just released from Image Comics. This is a brand new color edition of a six-issue black-and-white series originall...
Feb 22, 2017•1 hr 35 min
Time Codes: 00:00:30 - Introduction 00:03:17 - Checking in 00:08:31 - Charyn and Boucq's Little Tulip , Billy Budd, KGB , and The Magician's Wife 00:57:42 - Charyn and Loustal's The Boys of Sheriff Street 01:15:40 - Wrap up 01:17:02 - Contact us A Deep Charyn Dive This month on the Euro Comics series Edward and Derek look at four BD, all written by Jerome Charyn and all released by Dover Publications. First they discuss three collaborations with François Boucq: Little Tulip , Billy Budd, KGB , a...
Feb 17, 2017•1 hr 21 min
Time Codes: 00:30 - Introduction 02:43 - Patreon and podcast patrons! 07:03 - Untitled Ape's Epic Adventure 27:40 - Blood Blister #1 44:03 - The Belfry 56:22 - Wrap up 57:09 - Contact us Bark-Free This week the Two Guys with PhDs discuss three very different titles. They begin with Steven Tillotson's Untitled Ape's Epic Adventure (Avery Hill Publishing), a different kind of quest narrative that blends the anthropomorphic and the surreal. After that, they look at Phil Hester and Tony Harris's Blo...
Feb 15, 2017•1 hr 1 min
Time Codes: 00:00:27 - Introduction 00:03:03 - Setup of episode 00:03:50 - The Specialists 00:32:17 - Hominids 01:01:33 - Checking in with Jim McClain and Paul Schultz 01:16:16 - The Last Saturday 01:38:20 - Wrap up 01:39:52 - Contact us February Fun For the month of February, Sean and Derek look at three very different webcomics. They begin with Al Fukalek and Shawn Gustafson's The Specialists , an alternate history superhero narrative set in the mid-1940s, with an undefeated Germany flexing it...
Feb 13, 2017•1 hr 43 min
Hobos! It's that time of the month, and on this week's regular episode of the podcast, Andy and Derek take a look at the February Previews catalog. Before they do that, though, they update everyone on current comics news and podcast updates, as well as share listener mail. Then they get into the current Previews catalog, highlighting a variety of upcoming titles from both large and small publishers alike. Among the upcoming comics they discuss are offerings from: Dark Horse Comics - The Shaolin ...
Feb 08, 2017•1 hr 48 min
Time Codes: 00:00:24 - Introduction 00:02:26 - Setup of interview 00:04:01 - Interview with Karl Stevens 01:26:32 - Wrap up 01:28:02 - Contact us Diluted Horse Piss On this interview episode, Derek talks with Karl Steven about Penny , his current weekly/semiweekly strip appearing in The Village Voice . The two discuss this ongoing comic and its genesis, but they also talk about a variety of Karl's other works. Of particular focus are the series of strips he created for the Boston Phoenix between...
Feb 06, 2017•1 hr 31 min
Time Codes: 00:00:27 - Introduction 00:02:44 - We live in a political world 00:12:13 - Love Is Love 00:51:55 - Resist! 01:29:14 - Wrap up 01:30:20 - Contact us Mending Wall This week Andy and Derek get political, and they do so by discussing two recent socially conscious anthologies. They begin with Love Is Love , a collection of short strips and illustrations. This anthology, originated and with an afterword by Marc Andreyko, was released in December by IDW Publishing, and the proceeds from sal...
Feb 01, 2017•1 hr 34 min
Time Codes: 00:00:28 - Introduction 00:02:36 - Catching up for the new year 00:04:19 - Sunny 01:09:40 - Other works by Matsumoto 01:20:29 - Wrap up 01:22:06 - Contact us The Young Ones This month on the manga show, Shea and Derek discuss the recently completed, Sunny , as well as other works by Taiyo Matsumoto. Late last year VIZ Media published the six and final volume of Sunny , a series that began in December 2010 in the original Japanese (published in Monthly Ikki ), and has been coming out ...
Jan 30, 2017•1 hr 25 min
Time Codes: 00:00:25 - Introduction 00:02:19 - Setup of interview 00:03:17 - Interview with Miriam Libicki 01:01:17 - Wrap up 01:03:11 - Contact us Exposure Andy and Derek have the pleasure of talking with Miriam Libicki whose latest book, Toward a Hot Jew , was released late last year from Fantagraphics. This is a collection of various graphic essays that Miriam has written over the years, a style of writing she describes as a comics form of gonzo journalism. The guys talk with her about these ...
Jan 27, 2017•1 hr 6 min
Time Codes: 00:00:29 - Introduction 00:02:44 - The end of January already? 00:04:25 - Beowulf 00:43:42 - Canopy 00:59:17 - Shadows on the Grave #1 and #2 01:22:23 - Wrap up 01:23:12 - Contact us Hwæt! For this week's episode, Andy and Derek put on their English professor hats, and with a vengeance, when taking on the latest comics version of Beowulf (Image Comics), adapted by Santiago García and David Rubín. While this is not, by far, the only comics adaptation of this classic Old English poem, ...
Jan 25, 2017•1 hr 26 min
Time Codes: 00:00:24 - Introduction 00:02:38 - Setup of interview 00:04:00 - Interview with Joe Ollmann 01:21:27 - Wrap up 01:22:58 - Contact us Of Human Bondage On this interview episode, Andy and Derek talk with Doug Wright Award-winner Joe Ollmann, whose new book, The Abominable Mr. Seabrook , comes out this week from Drawn and Quarterly. Joe starts off by introducing William Seabrook and his writings, since this is a historical literary figure that most listeners have probably never heard of...
Jan 23, 2017•1 hr 26 min
Touch the Weird Love It's the beginning of a new year, and on this episode of the on-location series, Derek is back at Valhalla Games and Comics to talk with customers and employees about the comics they're looking forward to in the coming months. He's joined by a couple of the regulars, Craig and Nick, as well as employees Stephanie and Freddy. Among the titles folks are anticipating in 2017 are The Unstoppable Wasp , Highlander: The American Dream , Justice League of America , Planet of the Ap...
Jan 20, 2017•1 hr 6 min
Time Codes: 00:00:31 - Introduction 00:02:48 - We stand with John Lewis! 00:08:44 - Trump: The Complete Collection 00:58:22 - The Few #1 01:11:46 - Gumballs #1 01:25:12 - Wrap up 01:25:58 - Contact us This week the Two Guys with PhDs start off by getting political. While some listeners might not like it when Andy and Derek become polemical on the podcast, the guys just had to speak out about the brouhaha surrounding Congressman John Lewis's recent comments on Trump's illegitimacy. The Two Guys s...
Jan 18, 2017•1 hr 29 min
