Make Mine Paperback Podcast

Talkin video games?!?!

Welcome back, loyal listeners, to Make Mine Paperback! The discussion of superhero-inspired media continues! This week the hosts talk about songs that deal with superhero topics. The songs, which span several music genres, are Magneto and Titanium Man by Paul McCartney and Wings, Superman (It's Not Easy) by Five for Fighting, Batman and Robin by Snoop Dogg, and Ode to a Superhero by Weird Al. Although superheroes may often get their start in comic books, there are many forms of media that draw inspiration from superheroes. Some songs, such as Magneto and Titanium Man as well as Ode to a Superhero, are about telling the stories of a superhero adventure. Others, Superman (It's Not Easy) and Batman and Robin explore how it feels to be a superhero. Listen in to find out what the podcast thinks about superhero-themed songs!

We move on to another movie adaptation of a character we all know and love, Wade Wilson, AKA Deadpool! The Merc with a Mouth made his big screen debut in the X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie, but actor Ryan Reynolds wanted to do more with the character, and thus, the movie was born. What differences are accepted in the movie compared to the comic? Are creative liberties afforded to the movie writers given just how self-aware the character is in the comics? What did the movie do well, and what could have been different? Find out all of this and MORE in this week's episode of Make Mine Paperback!

This month the gang put away the comics and fire up various forms of media with comic book adaptations! Our first character? Steven's choice a Mr. Bruce Wayne, AKA Batman and the Summer of 22 box office hit "The Batman". How well does this represent the character of Batman? What does it do with creative liberties that we like or dislike? Is it ok for movie writers to stray from the source material for their own creative purpose? Are all Batman movies equal, or do they bring something unique to the table and it's okay if different fans enjoy different movies?

Thanks for tuning in to Make Mine Paperback! This week is the conclusion of the month-long discussion of It's Lonely At The Centre Of The Earth, written and drawn by Zoe Thorogood. The first week looked at the art, while the second week focused on how Thorogood used the art to deliver her message. The most recent week centered on the desired audience of Zoe Thorogood’s messaging. The final week will tie it all together by discussing the central theme of the novel: mental health struggles. To add legitimacy to the conversation the podcast brings on special guest Danille Giles, who works as a licensed counselor dealing with mental health issues. Does this comic book do a good job of addressing mental health struggles? What is the proper role of a mental health professional? Find out how MMP and Danielle feel about these questions and more, as this week deals with a topic that should be more commonly discussed.

Welcome back to Make Mine Paperwork, where the discussion on Zoe Thorogood’s masterpiece It’s Lonely At The Centre Of The Earth continues. This week picks up where last week’s conversation left off. The previous discussion focused on how this comic book reaches its audience compared to the techniques other comic book creators use. This episode will explore the message of the book, and the target audiences of that message. Although Zoe had a target audience in mind, it seems she has purposefully left the message open-ended to appeal to the largest audience possible. This allows the reader to interpret it in a way that makes sense to them, instead of the classic advice people get when experiencing mental health struggles. Find out what the hosts think about the target audience in this week’s edition of Make Mine Paperback! 

Welcome back to another exciting discussion of It's Lonely At The Centre Of The Earth! MMP continues where they left off last week by comparing Zoe Thorogood’s masterpiece to other comics from other well-established comic book creators. The focus this week is on the techniques used by Thorogood to deliver the comic’s message. What makes this comic stand out is the masterful use of art to bring home the story’s themes. Whereas the majority of comic books tend to have more focus on the words to establish a narrative, this novel breaks that trend by putting art front and center. The art combined with the presentation creates a truly unique reading experience. By presenting this as a biography, the emotions being presented are rawer than if the comic had been written as a work of fiction. Although not a superhero-based comic, It’s Lonely At The Centre Of The Earth is a must-read for any comic book fan who wants to see the genre get pushed in new and exciting ways.

A new year means a new theme for Make Mine Paperback! To start off January, the podcast is switching up the format by focusing on only one graphic novel for the month. It's Lonely At The Centre Of The Earth, written and drawn by Zoe Thorogood, is a masterpiece that needs more time than just one discussion to cover. Zoe Thorogood details six weeks of her life and the struggles she experiences while trying to make it as a comic book artist and author. The novel covers difficult, yet important, topics such as mental health issues. Some readers may have trouble with the content. The first week will be dedicated to discussing the art and design of the novel. Zoe breaks the mold of traditional comic book art by creating an experience that breaks all the standard practices of the industry. Incorporating real-life pictures with inconsistent panel use creates a graphic novel where the art is more important and thought-provoking than the words. Zoe Thorogood expertly uses art to tell a story that many readers may find disturbing, yet relatable. Listen in as MMP takes time to analyze a truly great novel of the last year!

Welcome back to the final discussion of Silver Age comics! This week, MMP explores Tales of Suspense #58, written by Stan Lee, with art by Don Heck and colors by Dick Ayers. Stan Lee proves yet again that he was ahead of his time in the world of comics. Although the story contains a typical Silver Age-style plot that fits into the confines of the comics code authority, it still does a good job of finding new ways to be creative. With humor and a generally light-hearted tone, this comic reminds us that reading a comic can still be fun while also making important commentary. The artwork may not quite be up to the level of Jack Kirby, but Don Heck and Dick Ayers’s contributions cannot go overlooked. Listen in, as the gang discusses the Silver Age one last time. Find out what Iron Man and Captain America are fighting about this time!

Welcome back to another exciting discussion of the Silver Age! This week we look at The Brave and the Bold #25 (1959), written by Bob Kanigher, with art by Ross Andru and colors by Mike Espositio. This particular issue of the Brave and the Bold introduces the Suicide Squad! Although the inaugural Squad does not feature any supervillains due to the strict rules of the Comics Code Authority, it does its best to live up to its name. Featuring a team of average servicemen, with no superpowers, the Suicide Squad attempts dangerous missions to alleviate their surprisingly similar surviror’s guilt. Sent on a series of deadly missions, with almost no chance of survival, the fan-favorite Rick Flag leads his team to stop the threats facing Earth. Will the Squad be able to stop the Red Wave of Communism? Or will the space monster destroy the city? Find out how all these questions are related and more by tuning in to this week's episode of Make Mine Paperback!