Comics Deserve Better

In the penultimate episode of this season of Comics Deserve Better, Brian, Darci, and Logan talk about the re-release of the Scott Pilgrim beat 'em up and the Little Bird prequel. However, the main attraction is a lively chat about Michel Fiffe's ass-kicking Silver Age-Ditko-meets-Bronze-Age-Ostrander pastiche, Copra. Other comics mentioned, include On the Stump, Klaus Hargreeves' solo comic, Slaughterhouse-Five, Flower of the Deep Sleep, and Heavy #1.

Brian, Darci, and Logan court controversy yet again by discussing the news about the Keanu Reeves/BOOM! Studios KickStarter BRZKR as well as the announcement of the 4 Kids Walk Into the Bank film and the 2020 Ignatz Awards. But the main event of the episode is a discussion of Ryan O'Sullivan and Andrea Mutti's Vault Comics fantasy series Fearscape. Two of our hosts liked this book, but one was definitely drinking the haterade. You'll have to listen to the episode to find out who's who. Finally, other comics mentioned in this episode include Tartarus, Akagami no Shirayukihime, Grendel Kentucky, Ice Cream Man Presents: Quarantine Comix, Seance Tea Party, and Powers: The Best Ever.

(Episode art by Andrea Mutti)

In this episode of Comics Deserve Better, Brian, Darci, and Logan remember the life and work of actor Chadwick Boseman, discuss the racist behavior of cartoonist Noelle Stevenson on a She-Ra livestream, and preview the Harvey Awards. Then, they chat about the super fun alternate history comic Suffrajitsu: Mrs. Pankhurst's Amazons by Tony Wolf and Joao Vieira. Other comics mentioned on the show include Ghosted in LA, Winter Parting, Inkblot, Lonely Receiver, We Only Find Them When We're Dead, and the upcoming Department of Truth.

(Episode Art by Joao Vieira)

In a jam packed episode of Comics Deserve Better, Brian, Darci, and Logan discuss the latest indie comics news, including Valiant's move to L.A., Peter Milligan's new comic for Ahoy, and comics used as tools of democratic activism in Thailand. But the main topic of the podcast is the YA LGBTQ+ comic masterpiece Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me, and some of us get a little personal in chatting about this beautiful story of friendship, romance, growing up, and toxic relationships. Other comics mentioned on the show include Gideon Falls, Adler, and Mega Man: Fully Charged as well as the Source Point Press titles Bug Bites and Burning Tree.

(Episode art by Rosemary Valero O'Connell)

In this episode of Comics Deserve Better, Brian, Darci, and Logan discuss cartoonist Kate Leth's pattern of racism, transphobia, and fatphobia. Logan shares some of his personal experiences with Leth, and this is very much editorial and not news reporting. Next, they talk about some great indie comics like Undone by Blood, Helena Rose, "Checking Out" from Medium, and the Manga Classics series as well as upcoming titles like Black Mask Studios' The Last Song #3 and The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott.  Finally, his week's "Main Course" is Matt Kindt and Matt Smith's fantasy series Folklords, which leads to a hearty debate among the hosts and many Tolkien references.

(Episode art by Jeff Smith)

In this episode of Comics Deserve Better, Brian, Darci, and Logan gush over the first arc of Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen's 2015 space opera comic, Descender. Stay tuned for chatter about small robots, big robots, and great watercolor art. Other comics mentioned on the show, include Robert Kirkman and Chris Samnee's blockbuster Fire Power, self-published darlings Post and Stella vs. the Tinder Box, Tom Taylor and Daniele Di Nicuolo's Seven Secrets, Evan Dahm's Harrowing of Hell, and more.

(Episode art by Dustin Nguyen)

In this week's Comic Deserve Better, Brian, Darci, and Logan discuss Fábio Moon, Gabriel Bá', and Dave Stewart's life and death masterpiece, Daytripper, and get emotional and occasionally personal while breaking down the craft of this great title. They also chat about a plethora of recent indie releases ranging from Singaporean newspaper comics about Covid-19 and self-published comics about going to movie theaters (Remember those!) to Vault Comics' Finger Guns, Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips' Pulp, and the manga, Yona of the Dawn. There's something for everyone in this episode!

(Episode art by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá.)

In the second episode of Comics Deserve Better, Brian, Darci, and Logan react to the 2020 Eisners and discuss the 2017 Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez comic, The Old Guard. Or what Logan likes to call "Blackwater, but queer". 

Other books talked about on the show include the webcomics Fangs by Sarah Andersen, Gunnerkrigg Court by Tom Siddell, and Clover and Nugget by Phil Sheldon as well as Scout Comics' Yasmeen #1 and Tales from the Pandemic by Mario Candelaria and a bunch of awesome artists.

Follow Comics Deserve Better on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1dkJYWKU5OUdfaQXcDJKgr?si=jm7h47wyTvOVNr6ZenAdog

Follow Brian: https://twitter.com/Braijin2814

Follow Darci: https://twitter.com/books_serial

Follow Logan: https://twitter.com/MidnighterBae

(Episode art by Michael Lark)

In the inaugural episode of Comics Deserve Better, indie comics fans Brian, Logan (Graphic Policy), and Darci (Books and Serial) introduce themselves and discuss the graphic memoir The American Dream?: A Journey on Route 66 Discovering Dinosaur Statues, Muffler Men, and the Perfect Breakfast Burrito by Shing Yin Khor. It's a surprisingly optimistic story about a non-binary Malaysian-American cartoonist and their dog Bug's journey down Route 66 from California to Chicago.

As well as this comic, we also discuss the implications of the relationship between Dynamite Entertainment and Comicsgate as well several other indie comics like Heathen (Vault), Adventureman (Image), Now (Salmon), Canto and the Clockwork Fairies (IDW), Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics (Ten Speed), and the free comics platform, Graphite.

Follow the podcast: https://twitter.com/CdbPod

Follow Brian: https://twitter.com/Braijin2814

Follow Darci: https://twitter.com/books_serial

Follow Logan: https://twitter.com/midnighterbae