We discuss Kate Beaton's award-winning smash DUCKS, Justin reveals he's a "Baseball Guy" and Mike loves The Mummy. Join our Patreon for bonus episodes! https://www.patreon.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/. If you're enjoying The Very Fine Comic Book Podcast, please take the time to Rate it [on Spotify], Rate+Review it [on Apple Podcasts], Follow/Subscribe, and tell a friend! Follow us on Instagram at @th...
Jul 03, 2025•1 hr 14 min
We discuss Ben Marra's hyper-violent and hyper sexual Terror Assaulter: O.M.W.O.T., discuss Marvel's TRANSFORMERS, Mike makes another summer vow, and Justin continues with his Spider-Man Clone Saga Summer. Join our Patreon for bonus episodes! https://www.patreon.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/. If you're enjoying The Very Fine Comic Book Podcast, please take the time to Rate it [on Spotify], Rate+Review it...
Jun 19, 2025•1 hr 9 min
We are loving ABSOLUTE MARTIAN MANHUNTER, so we decided to check out TWO of his mini-series: The J. M. DeMatteis scriped MARTIAN MANHUNTER and... Another one... That we'd rather not say. ---- Join our Patreon for bonus episodes! https://www.patreon.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/ If you're enjoying The Very Fine Comic Book Podcast, please take the time to Rate it [on Spotify], Rate+Review it [on Apple Podc...
Jun 13, 2025•54 min
The epic crossover they said was impossible! In 1996, both DC and Marvel Comics collaborated on a blockbuster summer event that saw the two universes clash and temporarily merge into one hybrid mashup -- the Amalgam Universe! THRILL to the exploits of The Dark Claw, Super-Soldier, Doctor Strangefate, X-Patrol, and more! --- Join our Patreon for bonus episodes! https://www.patreon.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/...
Jun 04, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 77
It's ADVENTURE TIME! We grab our friends [really just each other] and head to distant lands to enjoy the first few arcs of the Adventure Time comic book series, written by Canada's Own Ryan North! His entire 35-issue run is now available in the "Adventure Time Compendium Vol. 1" from Oni Press! Closing song "Pendleton Ward Is Talented Excellent" by Matt Farley AKA Papa Razzi and the Photogs, from the album "I Feel Compelled to Make Good Music Songs": https://open.spotify.com/album/4vYE6EYPdtAAOO...
Apr 23, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 76
Who is Jack Of Hearts?? I'll do you one better: WHY is Jack Of Hearts?!?? Jack's popped in and out of Marvel stories over the past few decades, but has never quite gotten the spotlight he's deserved -- UNTIL NOW. FINALLY, here it is, as teased way back in episode 1 -- a deep-dive into one of Mike's all-time favorite Marvel characters, Jack Hart AKA the Jack Of Hearts, as created by the legendary Bill Mantlo and Keith Giffen in the pages of "Deadly Hands Of Kung Fu", and most-recently appearing i...
Feb 25, 2025•1 hr 30 min•Season 1Ep. 75
𝘑𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘒𝘠𝘓𝘌 𝘏𝘐𝘎𝘎𝘐𝘕𝘚 & 𝘑𝘖𝘌 𝘊𝘓𝘈𝘙𝘒 (𝘙𝘈𝘋𝘐𝘈𝘕𝘛 𝘉𝘓𝘈𝘊𝘒) 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘓𝘓-𝘚𝘛𝘈𝘙 𝘊𝘈𝘚𝘛 𝘖𝘍 𝘈𝘙𝘛𝘐𝘚𝘛𝘚 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘚𝘐𝘟 𝘋𝘖𝘜𝘉𝘓𝘌-𝘓𝘌𝘕𝘎𝘛𝘏 𝘐𝘚𝘚𝘜𝘌𝘚 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦, 𝘫𝘰𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘫𝘢𝘻𝘻! DEEP CUTS was the final trade paperback that both Justin + Mike bought at the end the calendar year. Now available in a collected edition from Image Comics,...
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 74
Ho ho ho! In this year's very merry Christmas episode of The Very Fine Comic Book Podcast, we look at the Santa Claus origin story KLAUS by writer Grant Morrison and artist Dan Mora! Originally published as a 7-issue miniseries through BOOM Studios, Klaus later returned in four oversized one-shots titled "The Witch of Winter", "The Crisis in Xmasville", "The Crying Snowman", and "The Life and Times of Joe Christmas". The entire run is now collected in THE COMPLETE KLAUS Deluxe Edition hardcover!...
Dec 23, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 73
Mysteries, murder, and missing men abound in the fictional maritime community of Hobtown, Nova Scotia! Welcome to HOBTOWN MYSTERY STORIES VOLUME 1: THE CASE OF THE MISSING MEN by Kris Bertin & Alexander Forbes, available now from Oni Press in a newly-colored edition by Jason Fischer-Kouhi. Highly recommended for fans of Twin Peaks and Locke & Key, Mike in this episode called HMSv1 "the greatest new-to-me thing I've read all year." https://www.onipress.com/titles/project-one-f5w4d-233sh-b...
Dec 09, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 72
In this episode we brave the Xtremely graphic world of late-80s outlaw comic FAUST by Tim Vigil and David Quinn! ----- Join our Patreon for bonus episodes and content-requests! https://www.patreon.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/ and send us questions to potentially ...
Nov 28, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 71
it's Mike Mignola's HELLBOY! Happy Halloween, everybody! ----- Join our Patreon for bonus episodes and content-requests! https://www.patreon.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/ and send us questions to potentially read on-air via IG DM or via email at theveryfinecomicbookpo...
Oct 31, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 70
Before launching the Valiant Universe with the likes of Turok Dinosaur Hunter, Magnus Robot Fighter, Harbinger, and more, Jim Shooter's Valiant Comics published a handful of Nintendo-licensed comics in 1990-91 based on Mario, Zelda, Game Boy, and Captain N. Is there enough discussion-worthy content within those issues to justify/fill an 82-minute episode? Nope! -- but 1990s game nostalgia / game-adaptation discussions abound! This episode exists to celebrate one of Justin's other podcasts -- the...
Oct 24, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 69
He's the merc with the mouth, and makes piles of money for Disney Corp with every quip and quote and catchphrase! But, what IS a Deadpool?? WHY is a Deadpool??? We attempt to answer these world-shattering questions, and may never know the real answers. Also featuring a look at the deliriously wonky "Deadpool Kills" trilogy -- a "Killogy", if you will -- by one of Mike's favorite comic writers, Cullen Bunn! Find out more about his incredible body of work at https://www.cullenbunn.com/ (For a disc...
Sep 11, 2024•59 min•Season 1Ep. 68
In this episode we take a cruise to SPY ISLAND by way of writer Chelsea Cain, designer Lia Miternique, artist Elise McCall, and colorist Rachelle Rosenberg! This 1970s-y tiki-tinged colorsplosion of assassins, cryptids, and cocktails feels to us like a thematic followup to Cain's awesome MOCKINGBIRD series for Marvel, also discussed here! --- Join our Patreon for bonus episodes and content-requests! https://www.patreon.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/...
Aug 28, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 67
The Rocketeer blasted onto the scene in 1982, created by writer/artist Dave Stevens as an homage to pulp-serial heroes of the 1930s! Despite producing only a handful of issues of The Rocketeer's adventures, the character and Stevens' work were an inspiration to readers and peers alike, and led to the cult-classic 1991 film by director Joe Johnston. Dave Stevens passed-away in 2008 due to complications with leukemia, but his body of work lives on in THE ROCKETEER: THE COMPLETE ADVENTURES, availab...
Aug 09, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 66
Long after the demise of humankind, birds roam freely around the moon complete with fruitful trees, sophisticated fungal networks, and an enviable socialist order. Take flight to this post-apocalyptic bird utopia by Toronto's Michael DeForge, published by Drawn & Quarterly in 2022! https://www.michael-deforge.com/ https://drawnandquarterly.com/books/birds-maine/ CLOSING SONG: "I'm Like A Bird" by The Passionate & Objective Jokerfan, from the album "The People Love This Guy Because He Mak...
Jul 31, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 65
HOW have we not yet discussed Batman in the year and half of this podcast?!?? This era-defining story THE COURT OF OWLS from 2011 by writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo was a phenomenal benchmark for the character, creators, readers, and lore as a whole, delving into the history of Gotham itself and setting the stage for an incredible years-long run by the same creative team. As we asked in the episode - what's YOUR favorite standalone Batman arc that's NOT an origin-story? Let us know! ...
Jul 18, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 64
Originally published in 2014, the incredibly acclaimed THIS ONE SUMMER by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki is a coming of age story about two teenage friends, Rose and Windy, during a summer in a small beach town they both frequent with their families annually. Have a safe and happy summer, everyone! ARTICLE: "Using Graphic Novels in Education: This One Summer" by the CBLDF [Comic Book Legal Defense Fund] -- https://cbldf.org/2015/02/using-graphic-novels-in-education-this-one-summer/ --- Join ou...
Jul 12, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 63
In this episode, a spell is cast on us by WITCH HAT ATELIER [ とんがり帽子のアトリエ ], the magical manga series by Kamome Shirahama [ 白浜 鴎 ] published by Kodansha and currently up to 13 volumes as of this recording! In 2020, the series won the Harvey Award for the Best Manga category as well as the Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia. --- Join our Patreon for bonus episodes and content-requests! https://www.patreon.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/...
Jul 05, 2024•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 62
Justin's back from his trip to Japan with a massive pile of manga, many of which have never been translated/localized! --- Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes! https://www.patreon.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/ and send us questions to potentially read on-air via IG DM or via email at theveryfinecomic...
Jun 20, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 61
It's our annual oversized episode on TCAF, the Toronto Comic Arts Festival held every Spring at the Toronto Reference Library! https://www.torontocomics.com/ Remembering Joe Matt! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Matt https://www.tcj.com/remembering-joe-matt/ BLIND ALLEY and THE GULF by Adam DeSouza https://kumerish.com/ https://www.instagram.com/kumerish LON CHANEY SPEAKS by Pat Dorian https://www.patdorian.com/ https://www.instagram.com/patdorian/ DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW by Don Sparrow https://...
May 25, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Season 1Ep. 60
One of the very first DC Comics characters of the Golden Age, THE SANDMAN - aka Wesley Dodds - fought crime and injustice in 1930s New York City armed with nothing but his wits, a gasmask, and a gun that fired nonlethal sleeping gas. Decades later, the first issue of Neil Gaiman's legendary "Sandman" series would reintroduce the world to Wesley Dodds, now explaining that his motivations and equipment were inspired by Dream himself. The Sandman spinoff series SANDMAN MYSTERY THEATRE from DC's Ver...
May 09, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 59
They may be the most-mentioned yet never-spotlighted writer on The Very Fine Comic Book Podcast to date: Grant Morrison! Their graphic novel THE MYSTERY PLAY -- featuring painted art by Jon J Muth -- was published by Vertigo Comics in 1994, and featured a chilling theological twist on the classic UK smalltown murder-mystery trope. --- Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes! https://www.patreon.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/ Follow us on Insta...
May 01, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 58
Two comic creator legends of their respective eras collide in 1997's JUDGMENT DAY, written by Alan Moore, drawn by Rob Liefeld! Seemingly inspired by the then-recent trial of O. J. Simpson, "Judgment Day" tells the tale of a superhero-run investigation and trial for one of their own who's been accused of murdering a teammate -- featuring characters from Rob Liefeld's Awesome Comics and Image Comics imprints, as well as weaving in a genre-rich historical tapestry referencing all of comic book his...
Apr 11, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 57
On this April 1 episode of THE VERY FINE COMIC SNACK PODCAST! -- - a look at the Hostess fruit pies advertisements that appeared EVERYWHERE in Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Archie Comics, and other publishers throughout the 1970s & 1980s! - Dollarama brand Spider-man head lollipops! Open his head, and eat his brain! - Eternals PEZ! (it's lemon!) - Loblaws brand raspberry strudel! (it's overpriced!) Thanks for listening, and KEEP ON SNACKING! --- Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes! ...
Apr 01, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 56
sssssSOMEbody STOP me!!! Before being adapted into the hit 1994 Jim Carrey film, THE MASK was a comic series from Dark Horse Comics in which creators Doug Mahnke & John Arcudi masterfully blended hyperexaggerated cartoon zaniness with brutal ultraviolence. Covered in this episode are the first 13 issues / 3 miniseries by the original creative team, as collected in THE MASK OMNIBUS VOLUME 1! --- Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes! https://www.patreon.com/theveryfi...
Mar 28, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 55
Legendary manga artist Akira Toriyama passed away in March 2024, leaving behind an enduring legacy of work -- most notably his 42-volume magnum opus DRAGON BALL. Dragon Ball began in 1984 and spawned a still-ongoing saga and media empire, and is often regarded as the most influential manga and anime series of all time. In this episode, we'll rekindle our 1990s Dragon Ball / Dragon Ball Z memories, and discuss volumes 1 & 2 of the manga! Rest in peace, Akira Toriyama! "Thank you! — and good b...
Mar 21, 2024•58 min•Season 1Ep. 54
In 1984, Marvel Comics created a spinoff line of all-ages kid-targeted comics called STAR COMICS! Overseen by Tom DeFalco and Sid Jacobson, the Star Comics line lasted through 1988 and introduced the comic reading world to the original characters Misty, Planet Terry, Royal Roy, Top Dog, Wally The Wizard, and [most famously] Peter Porker: The Spectacular Spider-Ham! -- along with comics based on licensed IPs from cartoons and toy lines, including [deep breath...] Air Raiders, Animax, Care Bears, ...
Mar 13, 2024•1 hr 29 min•Season 1Ep. 53
As long-promised for our 52nd episode! -- What's a "Crisis"? What's a "multiverse"? What's a "52"? These words get thrown around a lot in DC Comics, as well as in off-page discussions of their lore, continuity, and publishing history. In this episode we'll attempt to give a basic Crisis 101 overview for the total newcomer, discussing the 1985 continuity-streamlining event "Crisis on Infinite Earths", and its 2005-06 sequels "Infinite Crisis" and "52"! Mike LOVES these stories, but -- unlike most...
Mar 07, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 52
Listener Adam Bishop sent us an absolutely wild assortment of VERY random comic books to discuss! Strap in and enjoy as we wax eloquent on Baywatch, Jesus, Faust, Back To The Future, Danzig, The Maxx, assorted eros comics, X-Men: The Animated Series: The Comic, The Time Machine: The Movie: The Comic, and more! This episode and format is perfect timing for us to finally launch our oft-requested PATREON, which is live now at https://www.patreon.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/...
Feb 28, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 51
