Storied Arcs

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"Does abandoning society- humanity- for science make you a sociopath? Was I better than the other because I could still ask such a question? Should I even ask such a question?"

This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex come to the end (question mark?) of Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra's The Manhattan Projects that isn't actually the end, with Volume 5: The Cold War (issues #20-25). They start with Hickman's letter at the end of issue #25, in which he lays out his and Pitarra's plan for the future of the book, and dissect how influences their views on this volume. Does this volume still work as an ending to the first phase of the comic if the next phase barely makes it out of the gate? With those thoughts in mind, the guys take a look at all of the story lines laid out in this volume and speculate some on what kinds of books we could have gotten out of them. Along the way, the address yet another depiction of the Kennedy Assassination in a book they've covered here and perhaps the greatest interpretation of LBJ ever put on page.

We wrap things up for real on The Manhattan Projects next week with Volume 6: The Sun Beyond the Stars (issues #1-4 of The Manhattan Projects: The Sun Beyond the Stars), the one and only (as of now) follow up series in the previously announced new anthology format. Find it wherever you get your comics and join us back here to see where this crazy ride ends!

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"But I think it's time for something new- truly radical thoughts. To ze underbelly of what we call science- into ze abyss and out towards ze unknown."

Mike and Alex are back to dive deep into The Manhattan Projects Volume 4: The Four Disciplines (issues #16-20) by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra. The guys discuss how this volume feels like the closing of the first chapter of this story (aka Oppenheimer) and the beginning of the next (aka Einstein), even though that's not exactly what's happening with the comic. They talk about the narrative risks Hickman and Pitarra take in this volume and what those risks communicate about where they think the story might be headed. How does knowing that the comic effectively "ends" next volume effect how we look at the choices the creators made here? And is that hindsight totally fair?

The Manhattan Projects both ends and don't end with the next volume, and if that's confusing, we'll explain next week. Grab Volume 5: The Cold War (issues #21-25) wherever you get your comics and join us back here again to make sense of it all!

Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs

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"It seems, in winning, that we have become afflicted with ze malady called responsibility."

This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex continue their exploration into The Manhattan Projects by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra with Volume 3: Building (issues #11-15). The guys discuss the escalation in the absurdity of the book (compliment) and how Hickman and Pitarra are managing an anthology-esque story across an on-going comic. Then they dive deep into Jordie Bellaire's colors, with specific attention paid to how those colors are utilized as storytelling hacks for the reader.

This comic only continues to get wilder and weirder, and we'll be back next week to jump into The Manhattan Projects Volume 4: The Four Disciplines (issues #16-20). Find it wherever you get your comics and join us then!

Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs

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"Wait... so we now have unlimited funding to try and discover how to do things we've already discovered how to do."

This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex continue their trip through the alternate history of Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra's The Manhattan Projects with Volume 2: They Rule (issues #6-10) from Image Comics. The guys examine the anthology-like nature of the narrative, and discuss how expanding the cast of characters and scope of the story hits differently with this book (and why that's a feature, not a bug). They also breakdown Ryan Browne's turn as guest artist for issue #10 and how Jordie Bellaire's consistency on colors helps sell the story. Finally, they give some love to the cover design work done by Jonathan Hickman, which is both subtle and obvious at the same time.

This book's only getting weirder from here, so pick up The Manhattan Projects Volume 3: Building (issues #11-15) wherever you get your comics and we'll you see you back here next week!

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"Most people cannot tell ze difference between a genius and just ze highly intelligent."

Kicking off this new season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex crack open Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra's The Manhattan Projects from Image Comics with Volume 1: Science Bad (issues #1-5). The guys start with a broad look at how wild this comic is right out the gate, from Hickman's writing to Pitarra's art, and how it immediately sets the tone for what you're about to read. Then they discuss the level at which the book does and does not intersect and interact with known history, and how reading it post-Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer has a radical influence on how you receive the material (in a good way, mostly). Finally, the guys discuss where they think a story like this can go, given the anthology-like nature of the comic and the apparent lack (as of now) of a main narrative through line.

The book only gets crazier from here, so go pick up The Manhattan Projects Volume 2: They Rule (issues #6-10) wherever you get your comics and join us here again next week to dive into all of the madness!

Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs

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On this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are exploring the limits of science and morality as they get ready to cover The Manhattan Projects by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra from Image Comics. The guys previously covered writer Jonathan Hickman with his book The Nightly News and letterer Rus Wooten when they discussed Extremity, so in this episode, they take a look at artist Nick Pitarra and main series colorist Jordie Bellaire (who they somehow haven't covered before), as well as the other artist and colorists who contributed to the book throughout its run. Then they give a spoiler-free pitch for the comic, which asks the question- what if the minds what developed the atomic bomb were actually brought together to do something sinister. You know, besides develop the atomic bomb.

We kick things off with The Manhattan Projects Volume 1: Science Bad (issues #1-5), so pick it up wherever you get your comics and join us back here again next week!

Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs

• Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!
• Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs
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This week, Mike and Alex are stoked to be joined by the writer and co-creator of Skyward and Shadecraft, Joe Henderson! They start with Joe's comic book origin story (shout out, Darkhawk) and chat about how he went from film and television writing to dipping his toes into comic writing. Joe talks about his collaboration with artist Lee Garbett on Skyward and Shadecraft (and The Big Burn from DSTLRY), what makes Lee so great, and why he keeps going back to him for his comic projects. Then they dive into Skyward and Shadecraft, discussing the similar themes and ideas presented in both books, and Joe addresses some of the nitpicks the guys brought up in their episodes (spoiler alert- Joe is responsible for the error into the Skyward solicitation). Finally, they cover what Joe is working on presently in his day job (aka the Energon Universe animated series) and what the future might hold for adapting both Skyward and Shadecraft. It was awesome to chop it up with Joe about comics and we can't thank him enough for offering up his time!

You can follow Joe on Instagram and Bluesky.

Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs

• Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!
• Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs
• Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.
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"So you're saying, to use it, I need to control my negative emotions? You know I'm a teenager, right?"

This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex make a quick U-turn and return to the creative team of Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett to discuss their follow up book to Skyward, Shadecraft (issues #1-5) from Image Comics. The guys parse through their thoughts on this gone-too-soon story and discuss what does and doesn't work for them in this limited run of issues. They also examine some of the parallel themes that exist in both Shadecraft and Skyward and look at how the Henderson and Garbett approach the traditional "young person coming of age and finding their place in the world" narrative. Finally, the guys lament what could have been for this comic had it been able to continue while also celebrating the work we did get.

Skyward and Shadecraft are two books that are in conversation with each other, and next week, we pleased to share our exclusive interview with the writer of both, Joe Henderson!

Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs

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On this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are calling audible and running it back with a book from a creative team they just recently covered- Shadecraft by Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett from Image Comics. Why the turnaround? Truth be told, when they covered this team's previous book, Skyward, they considered tacking Shadecraft onto the end, but ultimately decided against it. Then, writer Joe Henderson listened the Skyward discussions and reached out, so they took that as a sign to dive into Shadecraft as well. Since they've already covered the entire creative team, including colorist Antonio Fabela and letterer Simon Bowland (check that out here), this episode's just a quick, spoiler-free intro to Shadecraft.

Shadecraft is painfully just a single volume, so go find Volume 1 (issues #1-5) wherever you get your comics and join us for our deep dive next week. And stay tuned the following week, when we'll have an exclusive interview with writer Joe Henderson!

Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs

• Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!
• Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs
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"Three kids out to change the world with three chords and the truth. That's all it was ever about really, wasn't it"

This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex dive into the finale of Home Sick Pilots by Dan Watters and Caspar Wijngaard with Volume 3: Three Chords and the End of the World (issues #11-15). The guys start at the end and discuss the twist/reveal of the book and break down why it felt like the "right" ending for the story. Then they continue their exploration of the book's commentary, and possible rebuke, of the early 90s Gen X slacker mindset, and examine what the comic, created by two non-Americans, has to say about the idea of America itself. Finally, the guys throw out some possible follow up story ideas if Watters and Wijngaard ever decide to return to this story.

We hoped you enjoyed this little trip back into the 90s. We'll be back next week to kick off our next discussion into another great comic!

Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs

• Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!
• Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs
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• Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com

Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!