This week on Collecting Issues, we're diving headfirst into the dense, brutal, and brilliant world of 20th Century Men, the six-issue epic from Deniz Camp, Stipan Morian, and Image Comics. It’s an alternate history where the Cold War got much, much hotter, fought with super-soldiers, giant mechs, and broken ideals in the mountains of Afghanistan.

WARNING: This is a full-spoiler discussion! We highly recommend you read 20th Century Men #1-6 before listening. Go on, get out of here! Scram! Taste the wilderness... and then come back for the listens.

Join us as we unpack this "impenetrable but so worth it" modern classic. We dissect Deniz Camp’s complex, non-linear narrative that jumps through time and perspectives, comparing his style to legends like Alan Moore, Warren Ellis, and Grant Morrison. We also explore Stipan Morian's stunningly varied—and sometimes jarring—artwork, from Frank Frazetta-esque battle scenes to surreal, Bill Plympton-inspired visuals.

Is this the best comic of 2025? Is it a spiritual successor to Watchmen? And after all the propaganda, war crimes, and failed utopias, we ask the eternal question: War, huh? What is it good for?

Tune in to hear our thoughts on:

• The Unholy Trinity: A deep dive into the core characters: the crumbling Soviet ideal of The Iron Star, the brutal American imperialism of President Goode, and the human cost embodied by Azra.
• Artistic Chaos: Why Stipan Morian's shifting art styles are both the comic's greatest strength and its most challenging feature.
• Deconstructing History: How the comic uses superheroes to explore the real-world horrors and myth-making of the Soviet-Afghan War.
• Legendary Influences: We discuss the heavy shades of Planetary, The Authority, and Watchmen that run through this series.
• The Best and Worst of Humanity: From the terrifying super-soldier Six Bill to the tragic journalist Kyril, we break down the unforgettable supporting cast.

If you love politically charged, artistically ambitious comics that challenge you at every turn, this is an episode you can't afford to miss.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction to 20th Century Men

00:49 Comic Book Spoilers Ahead!

02:46 The Complexity of War in Comics

12:07 Art and Storytelling in 20th Century Men

16:32 Character Analysis: Heroes and Anti-Heroes

27:37 The Symbolism of the Collected Man

33:56 Side Stories and Paradise

34:10 Azra's Practical Paradise

34:56 John Rambo's Disruption

35:04 Thomas Goode's American Supremacy

36:09 Time Jumps and Narrative Techniques

39:13 Art and Visuals in Comics

43:15 Character Perspectives and Artistic Styles

50:54 The Human Toll of War

55:41 Modern Political Crises and Myth Making

01:07:54 Spooky Season Recommendations

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