Comics Deserve Better

The Crew is back to talk about the first volume of Stilwater which is about a town whose citizens can not die. The book is pretty creepy and everyone had fun reading and talking about it. The hosts then discuss intentional and unintentional gatekeeping among comics fans caused by strongly expressing negative opinions about comics, creators or genres that the particular fan expressing the opinion may not like.

Other items discussed this episode are "My Name Is..." by Iskander Salim (New Naratif); Bunny Mask by Paul Tobin, Andrea Mutti, and Taylor Esposito (AfterShock); and Made in Korea #1 by Jeremy Holt, George Schall, and Adam Wollet (Image).

"My Name Is..." can be found here. https://newnaratif.com/comics/my-name-is/

Comics Deserve Better is a weekly podcast hosted by Brian, Carrie and Darci which  covers the world of Independent Comics. For a list of episodes, socials and emails, and to request a topic for a future episode please visit comicsdeservebetter.wordpress.com.

(Episode Art by Ramon Perez)

This week the CDB Crew dives into the water and swims with the fantastic Graphic Novel, The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen. There is so much to talk about when it comes to this story that the Crew decided not to have an additional discussion. However, don't fret, there's a lot of discussion to be had in this episode. Bottom line, The Magic Fish is a MUST read. There is a quick content warning before we discuss some tragic events, but they are marked with a quick interruption by Carrie

The hosts also go through news real quick, talking about the tragic and sudden death of Kentaro Miura, Punderworld getting a collected edition, Mech Cadet Yu getting green lighted for an animated show, and the release date of the Trese adaptation on Netflix.

Other books talked about on this episode include Snow Angels #1-4 (Comixology) by Jeff Lemire, Jock, and Steve Wands; Willow vol. 1 (BOOM) by Mariko Tamai, Natacha Bustos and Eleonora Bruni; and The Girl from the Sea (Scholastic) by Molly Knox Ostertag

Comics Deserve Better is a weekly podcast hosted by Brian, Carrie and Darci which  covers the world of Independent Comics. For a list of episodes, socials and emails, and to request a topic for a future episode please visit comicsdeservebetter.wordpress.com.

(Episode art by Trung Le Nguyen)

The CDB Crew welcome special guest Richard Dupiton to discuss the first volume of the Harlem Renaissance period demon hunting series, Bitter Root including the wonderful character designs, story telling and much more to be found in this volume. Though he was very excited to talk about the entire series, Brian did a good job to not reveal any spoilers from the next volumes to the rest of the hosts including a moment that had filled his eyes with tears of joy.

The Crew then discuss what other independent comics they would like to see become tv shows or movies which results in Carrie telling everyone about the time she was awkward towards Terry Moore when she met him at a Convention.

Other books discussed this episode: Rangers of the Divide #1 by Megan Huang (Dark Horse), WWE: The New Day: Power of Positivity by Evan Narcisse, Austin Walker, and Daniel Bayliss (BOOM); Little Fox in the Forest by Stephanie Graegin; Red by Jed Alexander; Professional Crocodile by Giovanna Zoboli and Mariachiara Di Giorgio; and Marjorie Finnegan: Temporal Criminal #1 by Garth Ennis, Goran Suzuka and Miroslav Mrva (AWA: Upshot)

Richard can be found on all social media at @topcat360

Comics Deserve Better is a weekly podcast hosted by Brian, Carrie and Darci which  covers the world of Independent Comics. For a list of episodes, socials and emails, and to request a topic for a future episode please visit comicsdeservebetter.wordpress.com.

(Episode Art by David F. Walker, Chuck Brown, Sanford Greene, Rico Renzi and Clayton Cowles)

Hi All, the CBD Crew is back and this time Darci has brought a comic anthology exploring sound through comics to the table for us to discuss. All the contributors for this anthology are from Southern and Southeast Asia so it was a great way to broaden everyone's comic horizons. They talk about each entry but each host had a primary comic they wanted to feature. Brian had The Cat who Barks by Bryan Arfiandy, Carrie had Bonus Points by Benjamin Chee and Darci chose two with Hokken for Beginners by Nicolette Lee and On:Off by Xie Shi Min, Richard Phua, and Xiao Yan. The official Podcast Dog, Jonny, wanted to get in on this whole discussion of sound by providing very audible whines and toy squeaking in the background at points. 

For this week's Round Table, the group talks about why there is not as many non-English written books translated into English than there should and could be, aside from the main factor of money, of course. 

Other books discussed this week: Eve #1 (BOOM) by Victor LaValle, Jo Mi-Gyeong, Brittany Peer and AndWorld Design; Out and About #1-3 (Self Published) by Corinne Roberts, and the Medikidz Explain Epilepsy series.

Corinne Robert's website and store that includes Out and About can be found here: http://www.corinneroberts.net/.

Comics Deserve Better is a weekly podcast hosted by Brian, Carrie and Darci which  covers the world of Independent Comics. For a list of episodes, socials and emails, and to request a topic for a future episode please visit comicsdeservebetter.wordpress.com.

(Episode Artwork by: Charis Loke)

Brian and Carrie welcome special guest, Andrew Levins to talk about the recently released first two chapters of the sweet mayhem of Candy Flurry which can be found in Shonen Jump Magazine as well as digitally on their app. The group also discuss getting into Manga from Comics and vice-versa as well as some fun tangents into The Snyder Cut, The Beatles and a few other things. It's a fun conversation throughout that dives into many things.

Other books discussed in this issue are Helm Greycastle #1, Giraffes on Horseback Salad, and Remina. 

Levins can also be heard on the following podcasts: Serious Issues (https://seriousissues.tumblr.com/), All The Small Games (https://allthesmallgames.tumblr.com/), and Hey Fam...! (https://play.acast.com/s/hey-fam). His Mix-Tape Program and Podcast can be found at https://www.patreon.com/levdawg. Last but not least, Levin's first two volumes of his Nelson book series can be found at https://www.penguin.com.au/books/nelson-1-pumpkins-and-aliens-9781760893347 and https://www.penguin.com.au/books/nelson-2-broccoli-and-spies-9781760893392 . 

Comics Deserve Better is a weekly podcast hosted by Brian, Carrie and Darci which  covers the world of Independent Comics. For a list of episodes, socials and emails, and to request a topic for a future episode please visit comicsdeservebetter.wordpress.com.

(Episode artwork by Santa Mitarashi)

The CDB Crew are back (from the grave) to talk about Riverdale and the zombie apocalypse in Afterlife with Archie. They also discuss the literary works of Neil Gaiman, bring up The Magic Fish for the third episode in a row, and the awakenings of sexuality that the salmon ladder on Arrow may have caused some viewers to have. The hosts also discuss whether or not professional comics creators should reveal and/or be judged on their pasts as a fanfic writer. 

Other books covered this episode are At the Mountain Base, Djeliya, and The Many Deaths of Laila Starr.

For more info on IndigiPop X, go to https://www.indigipopx.com/?fbclid=IwAR1OiSleqLy6W51hvD97Uj406D9qJ6FdLmkgkHrPnVKaThPWGyWkYHrS5n8

Comics Deserve Better is a weekly podcast hosted by Brian, Carrie and Darci which  covers the world of Independent Comics. For a list of episodes, socials and emails, and to request a topic for a future episode please visit comicsdeservebetter.wordpress.com.

We are back for another jam packed episode. This week Siobhan Coombs from King's Comics and the Serious Issues Podcast joins the CDB Crew to talk about  two wonderful books from Shortbox Comics: Don't Go Without Me by Rosemary Valero-O'Connell and Homunculus by Joe Sparrow. The team also talk about how Conventions are and will probably be after the Pandemic as well as how inaccessible Ulysses by James Joyce is as a piece of literature. Other Comics discussed in this episode are Joe Sea-cret Agent, the new editions of Osamu Tezuka's comics Crime and Punishment and Storm Fairy, Understanding the Spectrum, and Umami: Starters,

The Serious Issues Podcast can be listened to here.

Click here for the King's Comics website.

Click here for more info on the Brazen Comics Festival

Understanding the Spectrum - A Comic Strip Explanation can be found here.

Ken Niimura's Umami can be purchased here

Comics Deserve Better is a weekly podcast hosted by Brian, Carrie and Darci which  covers the world of Independent Comics. For a list of episodes, socials and emails, and to request a topic for a future episode please visit comicsdeservebetter.wordpress.com.

(Episode Art by Rosemary Valero-O'Connell and Joe Sparrow)

We're back from vacation! This episode we introduce Carrie as our newest permanent member of the CDB Crew and also have on returning guest, Rebecca Hart! Not only this, but we also interview writer Tom Ward about his series available through Kickstarter, Merrick: The Sensational Elephant Man as well as other things like him hosting his own digital convention even before COVID made it necessary. 

Later, Rebecca, Carrie and Brian discuss whether or not independent comics do a better job than the Big Two when it comes to Representation. Also, stay tuned at the end because there may be an impromptu cameo made by Rebecca's cat. 

Other comics discussed in this episode are Beasts of Burden: Occupied Territory #1, Beneath the Dead Oak Tree and current Kickstarter Lampblack.

Click here for more Tom Ward and Merrick

Rebecca can also be heard on The DCAU Podcast and Into the Knight: The Moon Knight Podcast

The Kickstarter Campaign for Lampblack can be found here

Check out the Kondansha Comics Humble Bundle here

Comics Deserve Better is a weekly podcast hosted by Brian, Carrie and Darci which  covers the world of Independent Comics. For a list of episodes, socials and emails, and to request a topic for a future episode please visit comicsdeservebetter.wordpress.com.

(Episode artwork by Luke Parker)

For both the end of Sports Month and Season Three, Brian and Darci talk about the sports manga, Chihayafuru. They also dive into the competitive card game, Karuta, what is and what is not a sport, winning an Oscar, and much more. Also both of the hosts realize that a lot of books they spoke about this season are from the same genre and look to branch out in future episodes. There is a special segment for the end of season as well as a few reveals about the show for the next round. Other books discussed in this episode are Ultramega, Tatashe vol 1 and 2, Shadecraft and A Shot in the Arm! Big Ideas that Changed the World. 

Comics Deserve Better is a weekly podcast hosted by Brian and Darci which covers the world of Independent Comics. For a list of episodes, socials and emails, and to request a topic for a future episode please visit comicsdeservebetter.wordpress.com.

(Episode artwork by Yuki Suetsugu)

Welcome to Week three of our sports month where Darci and Brian talk about the romance sports manga-esque series Fence, which is about, you guessed it, putting up fences. Or maybe it's about selling stolen goods, Most likely, since it's sports month, it's about the sport of fencing. Other items discussed in this episode include an article about the forgotten West African artist Ibrahim Njoya, Orphan and the Five Beasts, Cats! Purrfect Strangers and Undone by Blood or The Other Side of Eden.

Comics Deserve Better is a weekly podcast hosted by Brian and Darci which covers the world of Independent Comics. For a list of episodes, socials and emails, and to request a topic for a future episode please visit comicsdeservebetter.wordpress.com.

(Episode artwork by Johanna the Mad)