This week, we're joined by the amazing Becky Cloonan, to talk about her work in comics, going from drawing to writing comics, audiences and critics reacting to writers versus artists, the difficulties of monthly comics, and future merchandise ideas.

This week, Leslie and Sloane read 4 single current monthly issues from four different publishers to read. We go in blind and review Marvel Legacy Doctor Strange #384 (Marvel), Fence #3 (Boom Box), Rumble #2 (Image), Doom Patrol #9 (DC.) We round out the podcast with Shade the Changing Girl.

This week, we talk with Emily Carroll (Through the Woods, Speak: The Graphic Novel) about her affinity for horror and decadence, and her love for all things horror. Talking points: childhood dreams/nightmares, teen fashion research, interpreting comics.

In this episode, Sloane and Leslie talk about their personal philosophies with regard to character design and developing characters. We talk about our first original characters, teen roleplaying, developing stories and characters simultaneously, and our take on the importance of character design. We also answer questions from Twitter!

Sloane and Leslie talk about one of their favorite manga, Yukito Kishiro's Battle Angel Alita/GUNNM. This episode features spoilers for Battle Angel Alita and Battle Angel Alita: Last Order, but we also get very in-depth as to why it's such an important title for both of us, and how science fiction can tap into feelings about what it means to have consciousness. Talking points: localization of manga in the '90s, cyborg autonomy, robots with feelings.

The first deluxe edition volume of Battle Angel Alita is out through Kodansha Comics.

In the last episode of the year, Sloane and Leslie talk about their favorite movies, television, and comics of the year. Features spoilers for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. We end with our thoughts about the past year and our hopes for 2018. To all our listeners, we hope you have a safe and happy start to the new year.

We chatted with our friend David Murray of Seibei and Telegraph Art & Comics about starting a gallery and comic shop with his wife, Kate. David offers a different perspective from our own as a retailer and provides some valuable insight for creators and fans of comics.

Today we have a mini episode where we talk about the controversy with Marvel’s EIC, C.B. Cebulski. We have a discussion about cultural appropriation, what diversity really means for the comics industry, and some non-white creators you can support.

In this episode, we talk about our personal histories with making art, Sloane’s life as a child prodigy, and our first drawing tablets. We also answer questions from Twitter about our favorite materials, basic Clip Studio Paint pointers, and our recommendations for white out. Talking points: making art out of trash, oekaki boards, whether or not comic paper is better than regular bristol board.