Matt and Cale Read Comics

Have you finished "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” on Disney+ and now you’re looking for more Captain America? "Truth: Red, White & Black" exposes the secret history of the Marvel Universe and Isaiah Bradley: the FIRST Captain America!

Our guest this week is cosplayer Chris Carthern, known as @CosplaysbyShinobi on Instagram. Chris makes it a point to cosplay as people of colour because representation (or the lack thereof) is a very important issue in the world and he wants to see more people of colour represented in entertainment. His cosplay characters include Black Panther, Nightcrawler, A-Train from “The Boys” and the Sam Wilson Captain America.

Chris also produces high-quality, award-winning independent social justice movies at MysteryDinnerStudios.com and is also a two-time author. He joins us to discuss the role of black characters like Isaiah Bradley and Sam Wilson in Marvel Comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

We will return in two weeks for a very special episode featuring Matt’s often-mentioned wife, Emma Smith who will be discussing the first graphic novel she ever read: “Clumsy” by Jeffrey Brown.

You can follow us on Instagram @mattandcalereadcomics, on Facebook @mattandcalereadcomics and on Twitter @mattandcaleread.

Longer ago, in a galaxy even further away…

You may THINK you know Star Wars inside and out, but this is the version you were NEVER meant to see! Meet Annikin Starkiller, son of Jedi Bendu warrior Kane Starkiller and sworn protector of Princess Leia of Aquilae. In his mission to protect Leia and become the “Lord Protector of Aquilae,” Annikin is joined by his mentor, Luke Skywalker and pilot Han Solo, a tall reptilian alien known for hunting Wookies on their home planet of Yavin.

Writer J. W. Rinzler and artist Mike Mayhew adapt George Lucas’ rough draft screenplay for “Star Wars: A New Hope.” It’s a fascinating look at the creative process behind one of the biggest film series of all time!

Joining our two comics aficionados for this special “May the Fourth” episode is Joe Turk, Cale’s long time friend and MASSIVE Star Wars fan and collector. Joe geeks out with us about one of our favourite fictional universes and shares his (controversial?) take on Ewoks and what Star Wars means to him.

We will return in two weeks to discuss “Truth: Red, White and Black,” a Marvel comic that looks at the secret history of Captain America’s Super Soldier Serum and asks difficult questions about the role of black Americans in World War II (in the Marvel Universe AND the real world). This book also ties into “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” on Disney+. We will be joined by long-time comics fan and world-renowned cosplayer Chris Carthern.

Comics writer John Lees ("Sink," "Hotell," "Mountainhead") joins our two comics aficionados to discuss one of his favourite graphic novels of all time: the truly unique "Daytripper" by Brazilian twin cartoonists Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá.

"Daytripper," published by Vertigo comics in 2010, bounces around the life Brás de Oliva Domingos, an obituary writer. Each issue/chapter jumps forwards and backwards in time, examining different key moments in Brás' life. It's a celebration of love, family, friendship, life and death.  

Our guest, John Lees, is a Glasgow-based writer mostly known for his terrifying horror comics. He has created "Mountainhead" for IDW, "Sink" for Comixtribe and "Hotell" for AWA Comics. He also teamed up with artist Nick Pitarra to produce a story for "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe" (Issue 6). 

You can see more of John's work online at JohnLeesComics.com, find him on Instagram @johnlees927, on Twitter at @johnlees927 and you can support him on Patreon at Patreon.com/johnlees. You can also subscribe to his weekly newsletter at Deep-Ender.JohnLeesComics.com to see what he does next!

You can follow us online @mattandcalereadcomics on Instagram & Facebook and @mattcaleread on Twitter.

Don't forget that we have created a very special "Witch Creek Road" episode that is available EXCLUSIVELY to supporters of the "Witch Creek Road" Kickstarter. 

We will be back in two weeks with "JLA: Earth 2" by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely! 

"Wanda Vision" has just finished its run on Disney+, so our two comics aficionados take a deep-dive into Marvel's "The Vision" series by Tom King and Gabriel Hernandez Walta. In this graphic novel, long-time Avenger The Vision (literally) builds himself a synthezoid family and moves to the suburbs. The Visions want nothing more than to be "normal," but when outside forces threaten their picturesque life, is there anything more normal than the desire to protect your family at any cost? 

While Matt and Cale agree that King's writing is powerful and Walta's hand crafted art style is a perfect fit for the story, they do disagree on the ending. Listen to see who you agree with. Is this ending too tidy or is it a tragic fatalistic ending? 

This episode concludes with Matt and Cale making connections to the "Wanda Vision" TV show and sharing their opinions on the series and the nature of serialized TV in the age of binge watching. 

Follow us online @mattandcalereadcomics on Instagram and Facebook or @mattandcaleread on Twitter.

Canadian cartoonist Ryan Howe joins our two comics aficionados to read the origin of Harley Quinn, Joker's girlfriend first introduced in the 1990s "Batman: The Animated Series." Ryan, Matt and Cale are all huge fans of this standalone graphic novel and the groundbreaking "Animated Series," which many still site as the definitive version of Batman. 

This book, scripted by Paul Dini with art by Bruce Timm, was the first time fans were told the origin of Harley Quinn, who was once the Joker's psychiatrist in Arkham Asylum before she became his partner-in-crime. Dini and Timm are top talent creators and true collaborators. 

During the episode, our guest, Ryan Howe, discusses his own collaborations with comics writers like Mark Allard-Will ("The Burning Black") and Alex de Campi ("Bad Karma"). Ryan is best known for his adventure webcomic "Daisy Blackwood: Pilot for Hire" and can be found online at DaisyBlackwood.com, on Twitter @ryan_howe, on Facebook @ryanhoweart and on Patreon.com/ryanhowe. Read "Bad Karma" at PanelSyndicate.com/comics/badkarma. 

Follow us online @mattandcalereadcomics on Instagram and Facebook or @mattandcaleread on Twitter.

Looking for more romance comics? Check out Matt's autobiographical "You're Stuck With Me Now," the true story of how he met his Scottish wife, Emma. You can buy a copy at SmithvsSmith.com/store/yourestuckwithmenow. 

Canadian cartoonist Elaine M Will joins our two comics aficionados to discuss Craig Thompson’s autobiographical “Blankets.” The graphic novel is a coming of age story, following Thompson from childhood through first love (and heartbreak) to adulthood. Along the way, he wrestles with his faith and devotion to his art. It’s a deeply personal and affecting book.

Our guest, Elaine M Will, shares how “Blankets” influenced her own work, especially in her coming of age breakthrough graphic novel, “Look Straight Ahead.” Elaine has also adapted and illustrated the graphic novel “Dustship Glory” and was the colourist for “The Burning Black,” written by our former guest (and Elaine’s husband), Mark Allard-Will.

You can find more of Elaine’s work online on Twitter (@ElaineMWill), Instagram (@Elaine.M.Will) and Patreon.com/cuckoosnestpress.

Follow us online @mattandcalereadcomics on Instagram and Facebook or @mattandcaleread on Twitter.

In the SECOND half of our first-ever two-part episode, our two comic aficionados dive deep into Frank Miller's "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns." In the first part of the episode, we hear listeners discuss the legacy of the graphic novel, but now Matt and Cale take a closer look at Miller's writing, art and characterization. 

We examine Batman's post-retirement choices, and his relationships with Robin, Superman and the Joker.

Follow us online @mattandcalereadcomics on Instagram and Facebook or @mattandcaleread on Twitter.

In our first-ever two-part episode, our two comic aficionados read Frank Miller's groundbreaking "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns."

Originally published in 1986, "The Dark Knight Returns' is often credited alongside Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' "Watchmen" (see our first episode) with redefining and reinvigorating superheroes and the comics medium as a whole. Miller delves into the psyche of Batman/Bruce Wayne while pushing the craft of comics to new heights. 

After ten years of retirement, and older, grittier Bruce Wayne returns as Batman to face threats old and new in Gotham City. Commissioner Gordon faces retirement. The Joker has long been comatose. The teenage Mutant gang terrorizes the city and Superman is a government lackey. But Batman (and his new female Robin) will not rest until the streets of Gotham are free of crime. 

To help make sense of the book's impact, we asked listeners to send in voice notes sharing their connections and observations. In this half of Episode 10, we listen to these voice notes and comment. Next week, Matt and Cale return to dive deep into Frank Miller's writing and drawing choices. 

Follow us online @mattandcalereadcomics on Instagram and Facebook or @mattandcaleread on Twitter.