Classic Comics Cavalcade

Amir is a self-professed huge fan of Daniel Clowes, but he's never read David Boring before. Jason had read it before but was puzzled by the book. So this read was a revelation for both of them, as they revel in the complex plotline Clowes created and the artful way he delivered the story. The guys get intrigued by the book's mysteries and enigmas, its artful embrace of ambiguity, and its plain excellent storytelling.

This is the longest episode we've done so far, at 45 minutes, but we think it goes by in a flash.

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Somehow, despite the fact they both owned copies of the story, neither Jason nor Amir had ever read any of Moebius's classic western comic Lt. Blueberry. They rectify that error here, reading "The Iron Horse", and discover - no suprise - that these are incredible comics. 

Amir and Jason decided to take one more stop in their reading of Steve Gerber comics, so they decided to take a look at Howard the Duck #4 from 1976, a shockingly dark look at violence. It's a great comic and the guys spend 20 minutes discussing the complicated moral questions Gerber raises in this issue. Give it a listen and let us know what you think!

Amir loved the Tintin comics growing up, but Jason never read them. So Amir shares his passion for this classic series and sees Jason blown away by the artistry and plain fun of these volumes. Along the way the guys talk about great coloring, Herge's complicated lovelife, and unrequited monster love. It's a half hour of great listening.

This week Amir and Jason go a little outside our normal Classsic Comic Cavalcade topics, with a discussion of the comics work of the brilliant Carl Barks. Amir and Jason discuss the classic story "The Fabulous Philosopher's Stone", a thrilling story about a treasure hunt to find a rock than transmutes metal into gold. Appropriately, the guys find gold in the brilliant storytelling and amazing cleverness of Barks's story and the way Barks delivers it. This one is a fun 25 minute listen we think you'll enjoy.

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Spider-Man: Homecoming got extremely good reviews on its release, but Jason is full of complaints about it. Is he just being a contrary aspiring hipster or do his points make sense? Carlos tries to sort out Jason's take on the first Spider-Man movie in the MCU. What do you think of his take?

Amir and Jason wrapup their discussion of the brilliant Steve Gerber/Mary Skrenes/Jim Mooney comic Omega the Unknown with a look at the mysterious issue #10. The issue starts with a funeral, ends with a hero being shot down, and contains a slew of cryptic scenes in between. The guys try to make sense of the story and take guesses as to where the series would have gone if it hadn't been cancelled... and speculate if it was better off this way or if Gerber and Skrenes had been able to write their planned conclusion.

It's a pretty compelling 41-minute listen we think you'll enjoy.

Steve Gerber and Mary Skrenes are back on Omega the Unknown with issue 9, so it's a return to greatness. Their brilliant work spurs an interesting conversation by Jason and Amir, discussing children's wish fulfillment, the shallowness of comic book heroism, and the nature of vigilantism - among many other topics. It's a great listen which we're sure you'll enjoy.

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After loving James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy films (especially Book 2), Jason was really excited to watch Gunn's The Suicide Squad. Carlos was excited, too, but not holding his breath. And after watching this new movie, Carlos and Jason are... kind of conflicted. Kind of happy, laughing along, at the same time they're frustrated by the movie. It's an ambivalent 24 minute conversation that we think is good listening. Please let us know what you think.

Yeah, Carlos and Jason both spent the 30 bucks to watch Black Widow on Disney+. But they both agree the expense was worth it because they agree the movie is fun, with some clever character moments and people to root for. Way to go Disney/Marvel! Join us for 20 minutes of happy discussion!