Episode 86 - Begin the Begin

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Three comics from September 2, 2015.

Show Notes:

This week’s theme is starting from scratch. We took two months off this summer, but we're back, and the show is back, and we have no idea if it’s going to be like riding a bike or like learning a new language. We picked three first issues just to hit the proverbial hammer even harder. And because nothing reminds Andrea of old times more than arguing with Aaron over gender roles and representation in the media, all three titles feature a diverse lineup of strong, complicated, vulnerable, messy, passionate female characters. You know, like actual people.

Plutona #1 16:53

Mockingbird #1 31:05

Toil & Trouble #1 46:53

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This Weeks Intro: R.E.M - Begin the Begin


This Weeks Outro: Van Morrison - Brand New Day


This Weeks Break Music: DJ Shadow - Preemptive Strike

Episode 85 - Suicide is Painless

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Two comics from June 24, 2015. 

And the return of The Couch with writer Brian Wood!

Show Notes:

This week’s theme is kill yourself. Seriously, that’s what Aaron texted when Andrea asked him. What a dick. Alternate title would be something like making a deal with the devil, kinda like the arrangement our co-hosts have.

Daredevil #16 10:50

Annihilator #6 20:40

The Couch - Brian Wood 32:10

This week on The Couch we welcome back Eisner-nominated writer, illustrator and graphic artist Brian Wood. We talked to him in Episode 26 last year. Since then, he’s been pretty prolific: wrapping up his creator-owned series The Massive, published by Dark Horse, debuting his new series Rebels with artist Andrea Mutti, also published by Dark Horse, and just last week, the first issue of Starve hit stores, drawn by Danijel Zezelj and published by Image Comics. Brian has also written X-Men and Moon Knight for Marvel and Star Wars and Conan for Dark Horse. His series Demo, with artist Becky Cloonan, was recently released in a collected edition by Vertigo.

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This Weeks Intro: Suicide is Painless (M.A.S.H Theme)


This Weeks Outro: Pop Evil - Deal With The Devil

Episode 84.1 - Have You Heard the News?

                                 
                                           Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Intro

News

Outro

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This Weeks Intro: The Rolling Stones-Yesterday's Papers


This Weeks Outro: The Kinks- Did You See His Name

Episode 84 - She's A Witch

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Two comics from June 10, 2015.

Show Notes:

This week’s theme is dark days, darker nights. Lady witches. Ladies hunting witches. Ladies hunting lady witches. It’s almost as if there’s an overwhelming historical precedent for associating women with witchcraft.

Harrow County #2 9:35

1602: Witch Hunter Angela #1 33:00

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This Weeks Intro: The Fuzztones - The Witch


This Weeks Outro: John Fogerty - Wicked Old Witch

Episode 83 - It's My Life

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Three (!!!) comics from June 3, 2015. 

Show Notes:

Guys, reality bites. It’s a common theme in media - it’s the driving force in so much storytelling, from musicals to movies to television to comics. And we talk about that a lot on the show. This week, we’re focusing in a little more closely on the the characters themselves, who, (to pull again from musical theater because Andrea writes these notes and so she make the rules) are characters waiting for life to begin. On the cusp of greatness, but not necessarily mean that in a positive way. Something’s coming. I don’t know what it is is but it is gonna be great. It’s gonna change lives. In one way or another.

The Wicked + The Divine #11 15:00

Action Comics #41 29:50

Airboy #1 41:40

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This Weeks Intro: Bon Jovi - It's My Life


This Weeks Outro: Frank Sinatra-That's life

Episode 82 - Break Down These Walls

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Two comics from May 6 and May 13, 2015. Plus a Second Opinion, featuring questions answered by a different listener each week, with Avi Chetlin.

Show Notes:
This week we’re talking about the realities we build for ourselves, and what happens when the walls come crashing down. Comics, video games, drugs, love. It’s all the same. Literally an opiate for the masses. Sometimes we work so hard to construct the world we want to believe is real, it’s all the more painful when the fantasy refuses to usurp real life permanently. And other times we’re so convinced by the illusion, that the reveal that it’s merely fantasy catches us entirely off guard.

Never Boy #3 20:00

Ms. Marvel #15 30:08

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This Weeks Intro: Melanie Fiona- Break Down These Walls


This Weeks Outro: Martika - Toy Soldiers

Episode 81 - It Takes Two (or More)

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Three comic books from April 29, 2015. Plus a Second Opinion, featuring questions answered by a different listener each week, with Ben Diederich. 

Show Notes:

This week we’re talking about Avengers and New Avengers, the current runs of which will go down in history as the best large scale comic event ever. With issues #44 and #33 respectively, we end three years of complex build up of multiple storylines and infinite characters all leading to Secret Wars.

And in contrast, we’re also going to talk about Alex + Ada #14, which is about as different from an event comic as you can get. Understated, emotional growth between primarily two characters. Aaron suggested the theme be “there can be only one”, a tongue in cheek reference to a single Earth left in Avengers. But Andrea countered with “it takes two”, or three or four or twenty-seven. There’s plenty of room for all kinds of comics. Let’s dive into these polar opposites and see what we see.

Avengers #44
New Avengers #33 13:35

Alex + Ada #14 36:12

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This Weeks Intro: Asher Roth - Last Man Standing


This Weeks Outro: Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock - It Takes Two

Episode 80 - Follow Your Arrow

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

One comic from April 22, 2015. Yup, you read that right: just one.

Show Notes:

Welcome to A Very Special Episode of Comics Therapy. This week we’re looking at some of the themes of identity brought up in All New X-Men, as well as their implications for representation in comics as a whole. We've never deliberately spent an entire show discussing a single book, but sometimes things happen in the world that we can’t ignore, and the existing plan goes out the window. Consider this our Isaac & Ishmael, hopefully with slightly less pretension, but with many of the same intentions.

All New X-Men #40 16:30

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This Weeks Intro: Mama Cass Elliot - Make Your Own Kind Of Music


This Weeks Outro: Kacey Musgraves - Follow Your Arrow

Episode 79 - All He Left Us Was Alone

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Two comics from April 8, 2015. Plus a Second Opinion, featuring questions answered by a different listener each week, with Roderick Ruth.

Show Notes:

This week we’re talking about the complex ties that bind us to our families, that drive us to the ends of the earth, galaxy, dimension, whatever. And how sometimes our memory of those once-close relationships is warped over the years we spend apart. Parent to child. Sibling to sibling. What we had isn’t always what we will have. But we keep on searching for it.

Birthright #6 25:02
Lies and deceit taint the opportunity to reclaim a lost family, which likely ceased to exist long ago. Plus: swords and axes and magic, which always makes reconciliation go more smoothly, right?

Saga #27 42:14

One family's emotional and physical separation is at the center of an epic war spanning across the galaxy. Not lying.

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This Weeks Intro: The Temptations - Papa Was A Rolling Stone


This Weeks Outro: Pearl Jam - Better Man:

Episode 78 - Erase Me, Replace Me: The Avi Episode

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Two books from March 18, 2015. Plus a Second Opinion, featuring questions answered by a different listener each week, with Aaron Meyers. Whaaaaaat? Yeah, you read that right, Aaron is doing a Second Opinion, which means Andrea's co-host is...her 9 year old son Avi. Truth.

Show Notes:

This week we’re talking about modern mythologies and the way comics today often lift classic character tropes from literature and repackage them for new audiences. Wait. Seriously, mommy? This is what you do with Aaron every week? Can’t we just talk about the comics?

Your intro and outro this week were also picked by Avi. And you have to admit, Aaron, that he did a really great job with the intro especially.

Chances are pretty good we'll be off next week, since both Andrea and Aaron will be in Seattle for Emerald City Comicon. See you there!

Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland #4 10:46

Peanuts #26 26:01

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This Weeks Intro: Ben Folds: Erase Me


This Weeks Outro: Dynamite: Taio Cruz:

Episode 77 - I'll Be Missing You

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Two comics from March 11, 2015. Plus a Second Opinion, featuring questions answered by a different listener each week, with Pete Buser.

Show Notes:

This week we’re talking about loss, and the hurt and sacrifice that comes after everything changes. Nothing lasts forever, and that sucks. Bodies grow old, career paths falter, relationships end. But still, we’re here. Gotta get busy living, or get busy dying.

Astro City #21 16:40
The end of one life, and the choice for a new one. Taking steps together or apart. Aaron sees growth, Andrea sees loss. Maybe the two go hand in hand?

Silver Surfer #10 32:05
Loss as an equalizer, but at what cost? With self sacrifice may come immeasurable loss for this pair, or it may be the glue that further binds them together.

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This Weeks Intro: Puff Daddy/Faith Evans/112 - I'll Be Missing You


This Weeks Outro: Styx - Come Sail Away:

Episode 76 - The Robots

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. JuA.I.st Analysis.

Two books from March 4, 2015. Plus a Second Opinion, featuring questions answered by a different listener each week, with John Littrel.

Show Notes:

This week’s theme is artificial intelligence, and how it’s rarely the smartest idea as it turns out. We’re talking about two books where the best robotic intentions turn out to be the worst for their human makers. Artificial intelligence is a hot topic these days, in the news and in comics. The singularity is upon us, kids. Don’t be scared.

Universe! #2 12:30

Descender #1 33:40

Also mentioned:

Alex + Ada

D4VE

The Names

Terminator

A.I.

Small Wonder (yupppp.)

Blade Runner

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This Weeks Intro: Kraftwerk - The Robots


This Weeks Outro: Tokyo Police Club - Citizens of Tomorrow:

Episode 75 - We(Mostly Aaron)'re Not Gonna Take It

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Two books from February 25, 2015.

Show Notes:

This week’s theme is eh, screw it. It was supposed to be superheroes and second base but then Aaron went and had a conniption on the internet so all bets are off.

Comics and criticism. Reviews and enthusiasts. And American Splendor. You're welcome.

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This Weeks Intro: Twisted Sister -- We're Not Gonna Take It


This Weeks Outro: Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star:

Episode 74 - Under My Thumb

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Two books from February 18, 2015. Plus a Second Opinion, featuring questions answered by a different listener each week, with Matt Roberts.

Show Notes:

This week’s theme is under the thumb of the man, or as we like to call it, just another week talking 'bout the patriarchy. Both books feature oppressive regimes targeting and eliminating undesirables that don’t fit into their precious worldview. Coincidentally, both leaders of those regimes are middle aged white men, drunk on the power of their own ignorance. Like Aaron.

The Multiversity: Mastermen #1 13:12

Bitch Planet #3 30:22

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This Weeks Intro: Rolling Stones - Under My Thumb:


This Weeks Outro: Lauryn Hill - I Get Out:

Episode 73.1 - One Is The Loneliest

Life. It gets in the way sometimes. Back to normal next week!

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This Weeks Intro: Aimee Mann - ONE:


This Weeks Outro: Eric Carmen - All By Myself:

Episode 73 - Rebel Girl

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Three books from February 4, 2015. Plus a Second Opinion, featuring questions answered by a different listener each week, with Mike Garvey.

Show Notes:

This week’s theme is girls behaving badly. We’re looking at two female characters doing traditionally male jobs - hired killer and secret agent - and discussing the trials and tribulations of being a member of the softer sex in that hard, hard world. Along the way, we’ll touch on classic gender roles in the home and office, and our perceptions of those expectations today. And just for fun, Marvel’s Agent Carter will be making an appearance in both of these conversations, since it not only fits thematically but is also another stunning example of midcentury misogyny. Basically we’re talking about women who can kick your ass and look great doing it.

Lady Killer #2 14:30

She really can have it all! The faithful husband, beautiful children, perfectly coifed hair and promising career. Let's hear it for domestic tranquility, everyone.

Velvet #9 33:37

So many layers of lies - and at the center, one of the most complex and compelling female characters being written today.

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This Weeks Intro: Bikini kill - Rebel Girl:


This Weeks Outro: Daryl Hall & John Oates - Maneater:

Episode 72 - We're Going In Circles

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Three books from January 29, 2015. Plus a Second Opinion, featuring questions answered by a different listener each week, with Cleon Soares.

Show Notes:

This week’s theme was going to be the very pithy “everything old is new again,” which was both a not-so-subtle call out to how lax we’ve been with our recording schedule, but also an acknowledgement that all three titles we’re discussing this week have been a long time coming. But after we read them, at least one of us (spoiler: Andrea) was left feeling really depressed. (Like, more so than usual.) Sure, we’ve been waiting for Danger Club for awhile. And High Crimes is always worth the wait. And even what is going on over there on the X-Men-slash-Avengers unity team has been building for quite some time. But did you notice how heavy they all were? Maybe it’s not that everything old is new again, maybe it’s that everything dies?! Let's discuss.

High Crimes #9 19:28

It's not about mountain climbing. It's about deciding whether you want to even live to try to do so.

Danger Club #6 27:39

Existential teenage heroes and a force greater than the gods that can destroy us all.

(Plus, since we're talking fatalistic philosophy, some more High Crimes action as a bonus.)

Uncanny Avengers #1 40:15

Starting over again. Again.

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This Weeks Intro: One Direction - Same Mistakes:


This Weeks Outro: They Might Be Giants - Everything Right Is Wrong Again:

Episode 71.1 - Con Missing

Life. It gets in the way sometimes. Back to normal next week!

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This Weeks Intro: Diana Ross - Missing You:


This Weeks Outro: Aaliyah - I Miss You:

Episode 71 - Cowboy, Baby

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Two books from January 14, 2015. Plus a Second Opinion, featuring questions answered by a different listener each week, with James Kaplan.

Show Notes:

This week’s theme is EPIC SPACE WESTERNS. What is our fascination with the wild west, and why does it work so well to translate it to the final frontier?

Copperhead #5 18:17
Space Western, a la Firefly

Star Wars #1 31:33

Space Samurai, a la The Hidden Fortress

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This Weeks Intro: Kid Rock - Cowboy:


This Weeks Outro: James Taylor - Sweet Baby James:

Episode 70 - Public Image

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

Up this week, Andrea talks about Image Expo. Aaron whines because he wasn't there. It'll knock your socks off.

The manga Andrea mentions is called Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer. The story and art are by Satoshi Mizukami.

We'll be back to our regular format of comics chatter, Second Opinions and The Couch next week.

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This Weeks Intro: Public Image Limited - Public Image:


This Weeks Outro: Jordan Pruitt - Outside Looking In:

Episode 69 - These Are The Days We Remember

Comics Therapy. No Reviews. Just Analysis.

It's our Second Annual Introspective Year In Review, with special guest (and honorary show mascot), Eisner-nominated writer Christopher Sebela. 

As an added bonus, and benefiting absolutely no one, we present our first episode of 2015 with quite possibly the worst audio quality of our entire podcasting careers. You're welcome!

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This Weeks Intro: 10,000 Maniacs - These Are Days:


This Weeks Outro: Revive - Blink: