Comics Syllabus

Thoughts on MOON KNIGHT! Digging into themes of the Lemire and Smallwood Marvel Comics run (2016) in light of the first episode of the Marvel Studios Disney+ show. Oh, mishaps! This week, the podcast was MEANT to cover the 2016 ”Moon Knight” run by Lemire and Smallwood (which we DO!) AND the graphic novel “Memories from Limon” by Edo Brenes… but mysterious forces struck (a power outage in Paul’s home studio) … only the first half of that promise was met. So “Memories from Limon” (NoBrow) will go on the list of UPCOMING TITLES to be discussed on future episodes of Comics Syllabus (visit us at comicssyllabus.substack.com ), along with these: The Reading List for Upcoming Reviews: “Squire” by Alfageeh and Shammas (HarperAlley/Quill Tree, 2022) “Cyclopedia Exotica” by Aminder Dhaliwal (Fantagraphics, 2021) “Walk Me to the Corner” by Anneli Furmark (Drawn + Quarterly, 2022) “Killadelphia” v1-3 by Rodney Barnes and Jason Shawn Alexander (Image) and Barnes’ Substack, Dark Ap

This week’s Comics Syllabus podcast: “Girl on Fire” (HarperAlley). Come meet Lolo Wright, a hero for all ages, crafted by singer-songwriter-superstar Alicia Keys, co-written by Andrew Weiner, and brought to comic life by Brittney Williams. Check out the Comics Syllabus Substack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this RSS feed. Paul’s on Twitter and Instagram @TwoPlai, and you can also email twoplai at gmail :)

This week’s Comics Syllabus podcast: “Wingbearer,” an incredible new middle grade graphic novel by Marjorie Liu and Teny Issakhanian from HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books. Then, Paul’s NON-SPOILER thoughts on “The Batman,” the small indie movie directed by Matt Reeves. Check out the Comics Syllabus Substack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this RSS feed. Paul’s on Twitter and Instagram @TwoPlai, and you can also email twoplai at gmail :)

“Borders,” a graphic novel with story by Thomas King and art by Natasha Donovan (Little, Brown, & Company, 2021), is the main topic of this brief episode of the Comics Syllabus podcast, recorded in conversation with Cohost Kid. Paul and Cohost Kid are actually on a family vacation, so pardon the poorer audio quality. But catch our convo as we also chat about two recently completed mini-series, “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” by Tom King and Bilquis Evely (DC) and “Fantastic Four: Life Story” by Mark Russell and Sean Isaakze (Marvel). (As we discuss “Borders,” we also mention the children’s book I Am an American: The Wong Kim Ark Story by Martha Brockenbrough and Grace Lim, even though I fail to remember the title.) Check out the Comics Syllabus Substack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/, on A

On this week’s Comics Syllabus pod, I make star-eyes emojis at the litany of New Comics at Substack, covered by Multiversity here and at the Comics Syllabus Substack here. And (at 52:55) we look a little deeper at “STARSIGNS” by Saladin Ahmed, Megan Levens, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Shawn Lee, and Heather Antos, available for free at Copper Bottle. First, a warning: I let slip a spoiler for The Book of Boba Fett at around 7:00-7:10, so if you’re trying to stay away from those, SORRY and BE FOREWARNED! Skip past that moment at 7:00 if you’re keeping ears pure for the Disney+ show’s surprises. Also, in the intro I tease some talk about “Fantastic Four” #14-19’s arc, “Point of Origin,” but I ran out of time. So we’ll save that for a future chat!  Check out the Comics Syllabus Substack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/,

Back from a winter break, we (eventually) dive into Kurt Busiek and Carlos Pacheco's return to "Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines" from Image Comics. First we touch bases with "Usagi Yojimbo," open The Book of Boba Fett, revisit "Shadow Hero," and then round the corner into the return to Busiek and Pacheco's storyworld of a fantasy-infused World War I. We also talk about recent runs of comics we're reading, like "Action Comics," "Amazing Spider-Man," Dash Shaw's "Discipline" from New York Review Books, and "Buckhead" by Shofo and George Kambadais (Boom!). Let's dig deep! Check out the Comics Syllabus Substack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, your favorite podcast app, or use this RSS feed. Paul’s on Twitter and I

Graphic Novel Review: “No One Else” (Fantagraphics) by R. Kikuo Johnson. PolyBagged (New Comics in Shops, Reviewed): “The Good Asian” #7 by Pichetschote and Tefengki (Image), “Made in Korea” #6 by Holt and Schall (Image), “The Me You Love in the Dark” #5 by Young and Corona (Image), “X-Men: Legends” #9 by Hama and Tan (Marvel), “Crush and Lobo” #7 by Tamaki and Nahuelpan (DC), “Devil’s Reign” #1 by Zdarsky and Chechetto (Marvel), “Fire Power” #18 by Kirkman and Samnee (Image), and “Amazing Spider-Man” #80.BEY by Ziglar and Fiorello (DC). Would you do us a HUGE favor and let us know on this Google Survey what you want to hear on the Comics Syllabus podcast? https://forms.gle/R5tJBDJuGgAPUC2y8 Check out the Comics Syllabus Substack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/, on&nb

Would you do us a HUGE favor and let us know on this Google Survey what you want to hear on the Comics Syllabus podcast? This week, Paul asks for your input through the survey above. You— YES YOU!— can shape the future of the Comics Syllabus podcast. We want this podcast to meet your interests. Let us know! Then, Paul walks through samplings of the segments to potentially expand in the future of the podcast, including: PolyBagged (New Comics in Shops): “Decorum” #8 (Image), “Mazebook” #3 (Dark Horse), “What’s the Furthest Place from Here” #1 (Image). Infinite Unlimited: on Marvel Unlimited— “Kang” #1, “Way of X” #5, “Trial of Magneto” #1; on DC Universe Infinite— “Icon and Rocket” #5, “Nightwing” #80, and “Wonder Girl” #1. Sunday Substack Comics Rack: “FISHFLIES” by Jeff Lemire serialized at jefflemire.substack.com Archival Revival: “Hawkeye” by Matt Fraction, David Aja, Annie Wu— and in issue 7, Steve Lieber and Jesse Hamm. Also Paul’s binds of “Superior Foes of Spider-M

Cohost Kid joins Paul again to talk about “Laid-Back Camp” by Afro (Yen Press) volumes 1-2. This charmingly low-key manga was an enjoyable read. But first, dad and kid talk about other recent comics reads for each of them, including the “Wings of Fire” series by Tui T. Sutherland and Mike Holmes (Graphix), the “Frazzled” series by Booki Vivant (HarperCollins), “¡¡Manu!!” by Kelly Fernandez (Graphix), “Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles” by Fermín Solís (Self-Made Hero), and “Welcome to the New World” by Jake Halpern and Michael Sloan (Metropolitan). And of course, we HAVE to check in with “It’s Jeff!” the Jeff the Landshark Infinity Comic by Kelly Thompson and Gurihiru on Marvel Unlimited. Because JEFF! Check out the Comics Syllabus SubStack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/ Find the weekly audio podcas

This week, Paul talks about “Asadora!” volumes 1-4 by Naoki Urasawa (Viz) and “Marshmallow & Jordan” by Alina Chau (First Second), two comics that have provided wonder and delight in hard times. (Those chats begin around 27:40 on the podcast.) But first, Paul talks about some comics he’s been teaching and reading, including “Secret Coders” by Gene Yang and Mike Holmes (First Second) and “Long Way Down” by Jason Reynolds and Danica Novgorodoff (Atheneum). From comic shops, Paul discusses “I Am Batman” by John Ridley and various artists (DC), “Shang-Chi” by Gene Yang and Dike Ruan (Marvel), “Compass” by Robert Mackenzie & Dave Walker and Justin Greenwood (Image), and a few others. And Paul also chats about some updates on Substack comics. Thanks for listening! Check out the Comics Syllabus SubStack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multivers

It’s JEFF! Jeff the Landshark. Kelly Thompson’s Marvel Unlimited Infinity Comic with artist team Gurihiru has won our hearts. And by “our,” we mean Comics Syllabus host Paul and his special guest, Cohost Kid! (That’s his daughter.) Today on the Comics Syllabus, we dive deep into the far reaches of Marvel history (2018!!!) to explore the origins of this irresistibly adorable character, his origins in the “West Coast Avengers” and “Deadpool” (also scripted by Thompson). Here’s Thompson’s Substack post detailing Jeff’s origins! Then, Cohost Kid and the Comics Syllabus talk about some comics that have also won our hearts lately, including “Yotsuba&,” “Wings of Fire,” “The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl,” “Ms. Marvel,” and Dad’s weird “Spider-Man” reading. We also chat about “Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3” and the Disney+ “What If?” series. Check out the Comics Syllabus SubStack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podcast, at comicssyllabus.substack.com Find the Comics Sylla

On this week's Comics PLEASE! (for Parents, Librarians, Educators, and Student Enthusiasts!), we look at “Ms. Marvel: Stretched This” (Marvel/Graphix) by Nadia Shammas and Nabi H. Ali, “Unearthed: A Jessica Cruz Story” (DC) by Lilliam Rivera and Steph C., and “BlancaFlor: The Hero with Secret Powers” (TOON) by Nadja Spiegelman and Sergio García Sánchez, three super cool comics for different audiences of younger readers. Then, in “Polybagged,” Paul talks about new comics he’s picked up recently, including “The Mighty Valkyries,” “Seven Secrets,” “I Am Batman,” “Nightwing,” “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow,” “The Death of Dr. Strange,” “Black Hammer: Visions,” “Robin,” “Adventureman,” and “The Amazing Spider-Man.” Comics! Finally, continuing on with Substack’s comics, including Jeff Lemire’s FISHFLIES, James Tynion IV, Michael Avon Oeming, and Aditya Bidikar’s BLUE BOOK, and Chip Zdarsky’s PUBLIC DOMAIN. Check out the Comics Syllabus SubStack, and find out how you can support Paul’s work on this podca

Apologies for the late post here. Some issues with podcast plugin! On this week's Comics Syllabus, Paul talks through thoughts on the first volume and complete run of "Y: The Last Man" as part of the first Comics Syllabus "Long Read" segment. Over the next few weeks, read along with us as we re-read the seminal Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra Vertigo comic from the early aughts, timed with the new FX/Hulu show. You can also read more about the Long Read at the Comics Syllabus Substack: https://comicssyllabus.substack.com/ Then, Paul offers a few thoughts on his experience of watching "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," catching the movie (and hopefully not COVID!) at a drive-in movie theater, and pondering his feelings on seeing Chinese-American culture represented... IN AN MCU MOVIE!  Finally, Paul talks about the comics that are starting to appear on Substacks for creators who have made the move to the newsletter platform making a big investment in comics. For subscribers, Jeff

On this week’s Comics Syllabus, some examination of “Shang-Chi”… but not the movie, since host Paul is still avoiding theaters. Pandemic! Delta! (For a good take on Marvel’s groundbreaking movie, check out Christopher Chiu-Tabet’s Multiversity review as well as All Over the Internet.) Instead, Paul shares thoughts on the recent Marvel series written by Gene Luen Yang and drawn by Dike Ruan and Philip Tan, including the five issue mini-series “Brothers and Sisters” and the first three issues of the current ongoing. Then, a brief “Polybagged” with mentions of comics that Paul’s recently been reading, including: “Jia and the Nian Monster” by Mike Richardson and Megan Huang (Dark Horse) “Amazing Fantasy” #1-2 by Kaare Andrews (Marvel) “Always Never” by Jordi Lafebre (Europe Comics) “Eve” #1-4 by Victor LaValle and Jo Mi-Gyeong (Boom!) “Superman: Son of Kal-El” #1-2 by Tom Taylor and John Timms with Gabe Eltaeb (DC) “Mouse Guard: Fall 1152” by David Peterson (Villard,

On this week's Comics Syllabus, we look into "Snow Angels," a Comixology Originals series by Jeff Lemire and Jock, now three issues into its second season. "Snow Angels" can be found here free for Comixology Unlimited or Amazon Prime subscribers.  Then, on our "Polybagged" segment about new comics in shops, Paul INADVERTENTLY figures out that he's completely Lemire-centric this week. Along with "Snow Angels," we look at:  "Ascender" #18 by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen (Image) "The Unbelievable Unteens" #1 by Jeff Lemire and Tyler Crook (Dark Horse)  and coming up soon, "Mazebook" #1 (Dark Horse, Sept 8) and "Primordial" #1 with Andrea Sorrentino (Image, Sept 15).  Let's admire this deft engineer of comics whose heft mirrors our life and years: Jeff Lemire!  Now, you can SHAPE THE FUTURE (of this podcast): What should Comics Syllabus do for our next "Long Read," where we make a reading schedule and discuss a longer series for a couple months? Our choices for y

Welcome to the Comics Syllabus, where on this week’s audio-only episode, we talk a bit about the sequel series to the celebrated “March” autobiography of John Lewis, “Run” volume 1, written by Lewis and Andrew Aydin, with art by L. Fury and Nate Powell. Then, some chatter about the “What If” comics on Marvel Unlimited compared to the MCU show on Disney Plus and the “Suicide Squad” comics on DC Universe Infinite. Let’s keep reading! Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/ Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/ For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RSS feed including video or watch the segments here at our podcast host Castos. For audio-only episodes

On this episode of Comics Syllabus, another installment of Comics PLEASE! (Parents, Librarians, Educators, and Student Enthusiasts). We are hyped about some new graphic novels for kids out this summer as we enter the Fall’s new school year: “The Mystery of the Meanest Teacher: A Johnny Constantine Graphic Novel” by Ryan North and Derek Charm (DC Kids) “Miles Morales: Shock Waves” by Justin A. Reynolds and Pablo Leon (Scholastic Graphix/Marvel) “Chibi Usagi: Attack of the Heebie Chibis” by Julie and Stan Sakai (IDW) “Fifth Quarter” by Mike Dawson (First Second) All four won us over and we talk about the virtues and potential audiences for these four cool new comics. Let’s dig deep! Find the Comics Syllabus at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/ Find the weekly audio podcast version of the Comics Syllabus on Sundays at its home at Multiversitycomics.com: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/tag/comics-syllabus/ For video segm

This week's Comics Syllabus is a review of "Adora and the Distance" by Marc Bernardin and Ariela Kristantina from Comixology Originals. And in Polybagged, we talk about "Bermuda," "Dark Blood," "Radiant Black," and "Save Yourself." We begin with "Adora and the Distance." Marc Bernardin writes and Ariella Kristantina draws this all-ages fantasy about Adora, a girl whose adventurous spirit, courageous heart, and generous soul lead her and a band of companions on a voyage that is more than meets the eye. From Comixology Originals, this is a graphic novel for parents and caregivers as well as kids. Both will find a familiar sort of fun, but the story is set in a surprise context that reverberates with significance. Then, on this week's "Polybagged," covering some new comics in shops last week (July 21, 2021), we talk about: "Bermuda" #1 by John Layman and Nick Bradshaw (IDW) "Dark Blood" #1 by LaToya Morgan and Walt Barna (Boom!), "Save Yourself" #2 by Bones Leopard and Kelly & Nichole Matthew

This week’s Comics Syllabus is a set of thoughts on the “Black Widow” movie from Marvel/Disney (SPOILERS aplenty!) with some reference to the comic book history of the character. But first, Paul opens with a correction/apology, as last week’s “Polybagged” misattributed the backmatter story in “Ordinary Gods” #1 to Kyle Higgins, when the author is the awesome Jana Tropper. (And I mention Reading with Pictures and an upcoming comics for educators conference: https://www.readingwithpictures.org/ ) Then we delve into “Black Widow,” and Paul shares some of his responses to the movie and connections to various “Black Widow” comics iterations of the character. Finally, a plea for feedback and some help getting the word out about Comics Syllabus during this experimental summertime period. For video segments, subscribe/follow the Comics Syllabus on Apple Podcasts or video-friendly podcast apps like Pocket Casts. You can try this RS

This week: Part 1 of Discussion about 2021’s Eisner Nominees, and covering new comics this week: “Karmen” #5, “Mamo” #1, “Ordinary Gods” #1, and “Wynd” #8. On this week’s Comics Syllabus, we start with “Polybagged,” (video episode here) covering some new comics in shops this week (July 7, 2021), talking about: “Karmen” #5 by Guillem March (Image), “Mamo” #1 by Sas Milledge (Boom!), “Ordinary Gods” #1 by Kyle Higgins and Felipe Watanabe (Image), and “Wynd” #8 by James Tynion IV (Boom!) with mentions of other titles. [CORRECTION: In my review of “Ordinary Gods” #1, I mistakenly attributed the backup prose story at the end, “Flip of a Coin,” to the comic’s writer, Kyle Higgins. In fact, the backup story was written by Jana Tropper. Apologies for the misattribution!] Then, we talk through about half the list of Eisner Nominations for 2021 (video episode here), including Best Continuing Series, Best Limited Series