Storied Arcs

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"Some symbols become more real than what they stand for. Like they're part of a truth that's beyond the regular kind of truth."

In this episode, Mike and Alex are back to discuss The Unwritten Volumes 3 and 4 (issues 13-24), where we finally start to get some clarity as to what exactly is going on. Not so much on the why, though, and the guys talk about how that ambiguity this far into a comic series plays for the reader. They also chat about all of the literary influences the comics is pulling from, from Herman Melville's Moby Dick to the highest form of literary achievement, the Choose Your Own Adventure series [side note- if you haven't already, I highly suggest you track down a physical copy of issue 17; it greatly enhances the reading experience.]. We're ready to journey into the fiction unconsciousness with you just as soon as we figure out what kind of vampire you are. Hopefully it's a Wilson Taylor vampire and not one that sparkles.

Nothing beyond the story from the first 4 volumes is spoiled in this episode, as is our rule. Go find The Unwritten Volumes 5 and 6 for next week and we'll be back then for another deep-dive discussion.

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"Stories are the only thing worth dying for."

Welcome to The Unwritten and the magical world of Tommy Taylor, who is definitely not a total ripoff of that other orphan boy-turned-wizard savior you're probably thinking of. In this first episode, Mike and Alex discuss Volumes 1 and 2 (issues 1-12) of Mike Carey and Peter Gross' examination of stories and storytelling and our relationship to them, both in the power they have over us and the power we give to them. They dive deep into the storytelling mechanics of the comic and Alex spends an inordinate amount of time talking about lettering (which is super important in comics and too often overlooked; show some respect!). They also talk about how a book can be so very clear to the reader as that what's it's doing and yet remain utterly confusing as the what is happening. But stick with it; it all makes sense in the end.

As per usual for these longer series, we won't be spoiling anything in this episode beyond what is presented in the first two volumes (Mike was only about halfway through the series at the time of recording so he couldn't spoil much even if he wanted to). Then go pick up The Unwritten Volumes 3 and 4 and join us here next week as we continue to fall deeper into this meta-fiction rabbit hole.

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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Welcome to the most ambitious season of Stories Arcs to date!

In this zero episode, Mike and Alex discuss the comics history of creators Mike Carey and Peter Gross and provide an introduction to their sprawling meta-fiction tale, The Unwritten. The guys touch on Carey and Gross' collaboration outside of The Unwritten, such as the Sandman spin-off Lucifer and The Highest House, as well as their other comics work, both at the Big Two publishers and creator-owned independent books. Then they sell you on why you should pick up The Unwritten and journey into the world of Tommy (or is it Tom?) Taylor. If you like stories about stories, storytelling, and the power of stories both fictional and non, The Unwritten is the book for you.

Given the length of the this series, we're going to covering things a little differently this season. Each episode will cover TWO trade collections at a time, for a total of 6 discussions. The plan is as follows: Volumes 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, 7 and 8, 9 and the original graphic novel "Tommy Taylor and the Ship That Sank Twice," and then 10 and 11 (published in single issue format as The Unwritten: Apocalypse).

It's a lot to read and a lot to discuss so find The Unwritten at your local comic shop or public library and join us back here next week as we dive into Volumes 1 and 2!

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

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"If you believe in nothing, how can you accomplish anything."

In this one-shot episode, Mike and Alex dive right into The Nightly News from Image Comics, superstar writer Jonathan Hickman's first-ever published comic work. They talk about how Hickman being the sole credited creator on the book effects the presentation of the story on the page, including how some storytelling elements that would persist throughout his career are present in this comic right from the jump. Then they dig into how a book written in 2006 could feel so prescient that it could easily be mistaken for a book written in 2023 (the heavy plot reliance on the existence of cassette tapes and the lack of smart phones and social media kinda gives it away, though). Is it amazing that a creator could so fully grasp the world around them that they could synthesize a story that would remain relevant and timeless? Or is just that our world continues to have the same problems over and over again so when in doubt, assume the worst and you'll probably be right? I'd say tune in at 11 for more but I don't think anyone watches the news anymore.

Thanks for joining us for another episode! We're done with the one-shot discussions for a little while as we get ready to jump into a new multi-volume book starting next week. See you then!

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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Mike and Alex have another one-shot deep dive lined up for discussion but before they do, they have a chat about the creative team behind that comic, The Nightly News from Image Comics- writer Jonathan Hickman, artist Jonathan Hickman, colorist Jonathan Hickman, letterer Jonathan Hickm... okay you get the idea. He did everything on this book and it was his first published comic work all the way back in 2006! The guys give a brief overview of Hickman's illustrious comics career to date and discuss how this early work shows signs of both the massive talent to come and the mistakes of a rookie creator. Then as always, they pitch you on why you should read The Nightly News and why the topics and ideas it tackles might be more relevant now than they were when it was originally published

Go find The Nightly News from Image Comics at your local comic shop or public library and join us next week for another one-shot discussion episode!

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.
• Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com

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"Repeat a lie often enough, it takes on the illusion of truth."

In this one-shot episode, Mike and Alex dig deep into The Seeds by Ann Nocenti and David Aja from Berger Books. They break down the myriad of themes presented in the book (and there are a lot of them) and explore how effectively each one was managed and presented. Is this comic an ecological commentary on humanity's relationship with the natural world? Is it mocking our over-reliance on and addiction to technology? Is it a story about star-crossed lovers looking for acceptance and belonging? Or is it about ethics in end-of-the-world journalism? Listen in to hear the guys gush over all things David Aja and find out why the answer to all of those questions is "yes."

Thanks for joining us for another special one-shot episode! We'll be back next week with another great book. See you then!

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.
• Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com

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In this episode, Mike and Alex take a look at the creative team behind their next one-shot deep dive, The Seeds. They discuss the influential career of Karen Berger and the name-brand power she brought to Dark Horse with her Berger Books imprint, as well as the the works of legendary writer/editor Ann Nocenti and artist extraordinaire David Aja. Then they pitch you on why The Seeds is some advanced-level reading and why it it was worthy of discussion on the show.

Go find The Seeds from Berger Books at your local comic shop or public library and join us next week for another one-shot discussion episode!

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.
• 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!

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You'll find all kinds of goodies in this oversized holiday episode which we've dubbed an "annual." In true comic fashion, we ran out of stories to cover by a week so we've compiled an annual edition. Alex and Mike talk about the books they'd like to cover for 2023 as well as shine a light on the book selection process.

Each podcaster provides a list of books that they'd like to cover as well as books they love but don't fit the podcast. Those books are broken into a few buckets and so is this episode.  For a full list of books mentioned be sure to check out this episode's show notes on our website www.storiedarcs.com.

2:05 Books we'd like to cover, but not enough meat on the bone

27:30 Books we'd like to cover, but they're ongoing/unfinished

50:40 Books we'd like to cover, but they're Marvel/DC

1:14:35 Books we'd like to cover, but we've already discussed the creators

1:28:45 Books we'd like to discuss, but we'd only get one episode out of them

2:02:10 Books Mike would like to discuss, but they're manga

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

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"And I suppose this has been the problem from the very start. The fundamental crack in civilization that has always set us against each other- mistaking productivity for value."

In the final episode of Season 5 of Stories Arcs, Mike and Alex leap into the not-so-distant future to chat about Mark Russell and Mike Deodato, Jr.'s Eisner-award winning Not All Robots Volume 1 (issues 1-5). They dive deep into the idea of resentment and misplaced blame and discuss how the premise of the comic allows Russell and Deodato to pointedly address the issues they are satirizing (toxic masculinity, what about-ism, etc.). The guys also reflect back on the topics and ideas presented in The Flintstones and connect the modern Stone Age family to the Walters family of 2056 and their government-assigned robot, Razorball. 

That puts a bow on anther season of Storied Arcs! We'll be back soon to dive deep into another great comic. See you then!

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.
• Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com

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"If civilization is going to last, if it's going to amount to anything more than must a place to watch TV and get cheap snake meat, it will only be because we've learned to do one thing... To care for people who mean nothing to us."

In this episode, Mike and Alex continue their discussion of The Flintstones and focus in on the main theme of Volume 2 (issues 7-12): does humanity deserve to exist? Are we even worthy of our place in the universe? Russell and Pugh lay out plenty of strikes against us in this volume- classism and the increasing wealth gap, the religious industrial complex, the military industrial complex, gentrification, pretentious art critics, etc.- but they also offer us some hope. Things might be bad now but maybe, just maybe, we can turn things around and make a better life for all of us by just having a little faith in one another. We learned that from a bowling ball and and vacuum cleaner.

While this is the end of our time in Bedrock, we aren't finished with the Mark Russell Extended Comic Universe (the MRECU?). Join us next week as we jump into the future with Mark Russell and Mike Deodato, Jr.'s Not All Robots. Find it wherever you get your comic books!

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.
• 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!