Mike, Nick, and Kait discuss Dr. Werthless by Harold Schechter and Eric Powell. They discuss some content warnings, the creative choices of the book, and how Fredric Wertham’s complicated legacy may have impacted his crusade against comics. This was the pick by the finishers of the 2025 Reading Challenge! 

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Start
00:58:45 - Wrap

Producer: Kait Lamphere
Prooflistener: Paul Jaissle
Editor: Zander Riggs

Music provided by Infinity Shred. Find them on Bandcamp.

IRCB Avatars by @ICELEVEL

IRCB Logo by Kyle Rose

Support us on Patreon to get access to our Patreon-only series: IRCB Movie Club, Saga of Saga, Giant Days of Our Lives, A Better Batmobile, and more! patreon.com/ircbpodcast

Buy a copy of our anniversary zine Totally Not A Cult: https://ircbpodcast.com/shop/p/totally-not-a-cult-zine-1

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @ircbpodcast
Instagram: @ircbpodcast
Discord: discordapp.com/invite/E8JUB9s
Reddit: ireadcomicbooks.reddit.com
IRCB Goodreads
Merch: ircbpodcast.com/shop

Zander returns to the podcast after a 400 episode hiatus and joins Mike as they break all the rules! A deep dive into the lore and the myth of what makes IRCB run for 500 episodes and some big announcements! 

Links:

• https://ircbpodcast.com/500-episodes-of-i-read-comic-books-by-the-numbers

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics
00:02:13 - Helen of Wyndhorn #1-3
00:06:31 - Our Soot Stained Heart #1-2
00:14:10 - Star Wars: Darth Maul – Black, White & Red
00:17:34 - Skin Police Vol. 1
00:19:22 - Discord Picks
00:20:24 - Space Usagi: Death and Honor
00:26:17 - Batman & Robin Year One
00:30:49 - IRCB Spotlight ft. Zander
00:52:03 - Listener Questions
01:27:07 - BIG NEWS
01:29:51 - IRCB Data Points
01:41:32 - Wrap

Producer: Kait Lamphere
Prooflistener: Danny Martinez
Editor: Zander Riggs

Music provided by Infinity Shred. Find them on Bandcamp.

IRCB Avatars by @ICELEVEL

IRCB Logo by Kyle Rose

Support us on Patreon to get access to our Patreon-only series: IRCB Movie Club, Saga of Saga, Giant Days of Our Lives, A Better Batmobile, and more! patreon.com/ircbpodcast

Buy a copy of our anniversary zine Totally Not A Cult: https://ircbpodcast.com/shop/p/totally-not-a-cult-zine-1

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @ircbpodcast
Instagram: @ircbpodcast
Discord: discordapp.com/invite/E8JUB9s
Reddit: ireadcomicbooks.reddit.com
IRCB Goodreads
Merch: ircbpodcast.com/shop

This week, Mike, Paloma, and Paul discuss some of their latest bargain bin picks in an episode commissioned by one of the show’s listeners, Avocado Kenobi, aka Shane. 

Links:

• https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/92bfe182-4dc9-47ae-ad55-0ecf18ccdba2
• https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/25314-ircb-s-2026-reading-challenge
• https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/profile/eckospider/lists/145084/i-read-comic-books-podcast-2026-reading-challenge

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics
00:03:39 - What If #37 The Beast and The Thing Continued to Mutate?
00:11:47 - Eddie Brock: Carnage #1
00:19:06 - 1963 #1-6
00:28:44 - Marvel Team Up #96 Spider-Man and Howard the Duck
00:36:44 - Am I Actually The Strongest? Vol 1
00:49:06 - Discord Picks
00:49:36 - DROME
00:50:40 - Orange: The Complete Collection 1
00:53:44 - Tokyo Alien Bros VOL 03
00:58:10 - Wrap

Producer: Mike Rapin & Kait Lamphere
Prooflistener: Nick White
Editor: Zander Riggs

Music provided by Infinity Shred. Find them on Bandcamp.

IRCB Avatars by @ICELEVEL

IRCB Logo by Kyle Rose

Support us on Patreon to get access to our Patreon-only series: IRCB Movie Club, Saga of Saga, Giant Days of Our Lives, A Better Batmobile, and more! patreon.com/ircbpodcast

Buy a copy of our anniversary zine Totally Not A Cult: https://ircbpodcast.com/shop/p/totally-not-a-cult-zine-1

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @ircbpodcast
Instagram: @ircbpodcast
Discord: discordapp.com/invite/E8JUB9s
Reddit: ireadcomicbooks.reddit.com
IRCB Goodreads
Merch: ircbpodcast.com/shop

Danny and Nick usher in the new year by talking about the books they started 2026 reading, the comics on top of their pile and also by giving their comics New Years Resolutions!

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics
• 00:00:49 - Eerie Archives - Volume 3
• 00:25:26 - Cheetah & Chesire Rob the Justice League 1-6
• 00:35:12 - Discord Picks
• 00:35:51 - The Twilight Zone #3
• 00:45:04 - Green Arrow Vol. 4: Fresh Water Kills
• 00:48:40 - Comic Resolutions and Best of 2025
• 00:53:59 - Wrap

Producer: Mike Rapin & Daniel Martinez
Prooflistener: Zach McCrary
Editor: Zander Riggs

Music provided by Infinity Shred. Find them on Bandcamp.

IRCB Avatars by @ICELEVEL

IRCB Logo by Kyle Rose

Support us on Patreon to get access to our Patreon-only series: IRCB Movie Club, Saga of Saga, Giant Days of Our Lives, A Better Batmobile, and more! patreon.com/ircbpodcast

Buy a copy of our anniversary zine Totally Not A Cult: https://ircbpodcast.com/shop/p/totally-not-a-cult-zine-1

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @ircbpodcast
Instagram: @ircbpodcast
Discord: discordapp.com/invite/E8JUB9s
Reddit: ireadcomicbooks.reddit.com
IRCB Goodreads
Merch: ircbpodcast.com/shop

Paul, Zach, and Brian round out 2025 by talking about the Goodreads Theme of the Month: comics released in 2025! They discuss Precious Rubbish, Assorted Crisis Events, and Spectrum. 

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics
• 00:01:47 - Spectrum
• 00:09:44 - Assorted Crisis Events Vol. 1
• 00:17:16 - Precious Rubbish
• 00:28:59 - Final shout outs of 2025/Wrap

Music provided by Infinity Shred. Find them on Bandcamp.

IRCB Avatars by @ICELEVEL

IRCB Logo by Kyle Rose

Producer: Kait Lamphere
Prooflistener: Kait Lamphere
Editor: Zander Riggs

Music provided by Infinity Shred. Find them on Bandcamp.

IRCB Avatars by @ICELEVEL

IRCB Logo by Kyle Rose

Support us on Patreon to get access to our Patreon-only series: IRCB Movie Club, Saga of Saga, Giant Days of Our Lives, A Better Batmobile, and more! patreon.com/ircbpodcast

Buy a copy of our anniversary zine Totally Not A Cult: https://ircbpodcast.com/shop/p/totally-not-a-cult-zine-1

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @ircbpodcast
Instagram: @ircbpodcast
Discord: discordapp.com/invite/E8JUB9s
Reddit: ireadcomicbooks.reddit.com
IRCB Goodreads
Merch: ircbpodcast.com/shop

Mike, Kait, and Nick take a journey through a smattering of Winter Holiday and Christmas themed comic books all the way from “classic” super hero fair, an anthology book with a mixed reception, and even a book that is a little more somber and sad but keeps it local.

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics
• 00:01:38 - The Quarry
• 00:10:44 - Hellboy: A Christmas Underground
• 00:22:44 - Dread the Halls
• 00:34:35 - Discord Picks
• 00:35:00 - American Caper #2
• 00:47:07 - All-Star Superman
• 00:51:14 - Batman / Deadpool
• 00:54:19 - Wrap

Music provided by Infinity Shred. Find them on Bandcamp.

IRCB Avatars by @ICELEVEL

IRCB Logo by Kyle Rose

Producer: Mike Rapin
Prooflistener: Danny Martinez
Editor: Zander Riggs

Music provided by Infinity Shred. Find them on Bandcamp.

IRCB Avatars by @ICELEVEL

IRCB Logo by Kyle Rose

Support us on Patreon to get access to our Patreon-only series: IRCB Movie Club, Saga of Saga, Giant Days of Our Lives, A Better Batmobile, and more! patreon.com/ircbpodcast

Buy a copy of our anniversary zine Totally Not A Cult: https://ircbpodcast.com/shop/p/totally-not-a-cult-zine-1

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @ircbpodcast
Instagram: @ircbpodcast
Discord: discordapp.com/invite/E8JUB9s
Reddit: ireadcomicbooks.reddit.com
IRCB Goodreads
Merch: ircbpodcast.com/shop

Mike is joined by Danny and Zach to "reflect" on the New 52 over a decade later. What were the highs? The lows? The Geoff Johns and Jeff Lemires of it all?

Links

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIWA3qOq4h0
• https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/chrisbaldie
• https://chrisbaldie.gumroad.com/l/EkoKx

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics
• 00:01:48 - Forever Evil
• 00:16:09 - New 52 Green Arrow Volume 4: The Kill Machine and Volume 5: The Outsiders War (#17-#31)
• 00:26:13 - Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #1-9
• 00:49:28 - Discord Picks
• 00:50:18 - Absolute Comics
• 00:53:25 - Space Captain: Captain of Space
• 00:55:24 - The New Space Age #1
• 00:00:00 - Wrap

Music provided by Infinity Shred. Find them on Bandcamp.

IRCB Avatars by @ICELEVEL

IRCB Logo by Kyle Rose

Producer: Mike Rapin
Prooflistener: Paul Jaissle
Editor: Zander Riggs

Music provided by Infinity Shred. Find them on Bandcamp.

IRCB Avatars by @ICELEVEL

IRCB Logo by Kyle Rose

Support us on Patreon to get access to our Patreon-only series: IRCB Movie Club, Saga of Saga, Giant Days of Our Lives, A Better Batmobile, and more! patreon.com/ircbpodcast

Buy a copy of our anniversary zine Totally Not A Cult: https://ircbpodcast.com/shop/p/totally-not-a-cult-zine-1

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @ircbpodcast
Instagram: @ircbpodcast
Discord: discordapp.com/invite/E8JUB9s
Reddit: ireadcomicbooks.reddit.com
IRCB Goodreads
Merch: ircbpodcast.com/shop

Mike, Nick, and Kait sat down to talk about comics and boy howdy did no one get mad or upset about anything.

Some links from the episode:

• https://karlkerschl.com/death-transit-tanager/
• https://www.connorcomics.com/work#/gashgash/

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics
• 00:01:40 - EC Outlaw Showdown #1
• 00:15:40 - Trickster: Native American Tales, A Graphic Collection
• 00:25:45 - Death Transit Tanager #1-3
• 00:31:25 - Discord Picks
• 00:32:21 - Tokyo These Days Vol. 2
• 00:36:04 - Demon Summoner Gash Gash
• 00:39:57 - Miss Truesdale and the Rise of Man #1
• 00:46:32 - Wrap

Music provided by Infinity Shred. Find them on Bandcamp.

IRCB Avatars by @ICELEVEL

IRCB Logo by Kyle Rose

Producer: Mike Rapin
Prooflistener: Zach McCrary
Editor: Zander Riggs

Music provided by Infinity Shred. Find them on Bandcamp.

IRCB Avatars by @ICELEVEL

IRCB Logo by Kyle Rose

Support us on Patreon to get access to our Patreon-only series: IRCB Movie Club, Saga of Saga, Giant Days of Our Lives, A Better Batmobile, and more! patreon.com/ircbpodcast

Buy a copy of our anniversary zine Totally Not A Cult: https://ircbpodcast.com/shop/p/totally-not-a-cult-zine-1

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @ircbpodcast
Instagram: @ircbpodcast
Discord: discordapp.com/invite/E8JUB9s
Reddit: ireadcomicbooks.reddit.com
IRCB Goodreads
Merch: ircbpodcast.com/shop

Kara, Nick, and Zach dig into comics around the Apocalypse. It's really bright and cheery and exactly what you need this time of year!

Note: In this episode's discussion, Grant Morrison is mentioned and incorrect pronouns were used to discuss the author. We apologize for this error and will work to correct this mistake in the future.

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics
• 00:01:15 - The Last American (Zach
• 00:10:26 - Lazarus (I know, we talked about this last week. We love this book.)
• 00:13:38 - The Last American (Nick)
• 00:26:34 - The Scooby Apocalypse Vol. 1
• 00:35:10 - Dust to Dust #7
• 00:45:01 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Godzilla #1
• 00:50:41 - Gargoyles x Fantastic Four #1
• 00:54:44 - Wrap

Music provided by Infinity Shred. Find them on Bandcamp.

IRCB Avatars by @ICELEVEL

IRCB Logo by Kyle Rose

Producer: Mike Rapin
Prooflistener: Brian Murray
Editor: Zander Riggs

Music provided by Infinity Shred. Find them on Bandcamp.

IRCB Avatars by @ICELEVEL

IRCB Logo by Kyle Rose

Support us on Patreon to get access to our Patreon-only series: IRCB Movie Club, Saga of Saga, Giant Days of Our Lives, A Better Batmobile, and more! patreon.com/ircbpodcast

Buy a copy of our anniversary zine Totally Not A Cult: https://ircbpodcast.com/shop/p/totally-not-a-cult-zine-1

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @ircbpodcast
Instagram: @ircbpodcast
Discord: discordapp.com/invite/E8JUB9s
Reddit: ireadcomicbooks.reddit.com
IRCB Goodreads
Merch: ircbpodcast.com/shop

Paul, Kait, and Danny sat down to discuss comics recommended by their Local Comic Book Shops (and Librarians!)--part of our Goodreads Theme of the Month.

Check out our Goodreads Theme of the Month thread here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/23264561-november-2025-botm-recommended-by-your-lcs-or-library

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics
• 00:01:32 - Loving, Ohio
• 00:07:05 - Absolute Martian Manhunter Vol. 1
• 00:15:42 - Paul’s Trip to LA
• 00:19:07 - Shout outs to our Goodreads!
• 00:19:30 - Little White Duck: A Childhood in China
• 00:25:18 - Libraries and IN, bay-bee!
• 00:26:23 - Universal Monsters: The Invisible Man #4
• 00:31:33 - Lazarus The Third Collection
• 00:36:38 - Discord Picks
• 00:37:02 - Ice Cream Man vol. 3: Hopscotch Melange
• 00:40:04 - Wrap

Music provided by Infinity Shred. Find them on Bandcamp.

IRCB Avatars by @ICELEVEL

IRCB Logo by Kyle Rose

Producer: Mike Rapin
Prooflistener: Nick White
Editor: Zander Riggs

Music provided by Infinity Shred. Find them on Bandcamp.

IRCB Avatars by @ICELEVEL

IRCB Logo by Kyle Rose

Support us on Patreon to get access to our Patreon-only series: IRCB Movie Club, Saga of Saga, Giant Days of Our Lives, A Better Batmobile, and more! patreon.com/ircbpodcast

Buy a copy of our anniversary zine Totally Not A Cult: https://ircbpodcast.com/shop/p/totally-not-a-cult-zine-1

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @ircbpodcast
Instagram: @ircbpodcast
Discord: discordapp.com/invite/E8JUB9s
Reddit: ireadcomicbooks.reddit.com
IRCB Goodreads
Merch: ircbpodcast.com/shop