Storied Arcs

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For this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex will be tackling the critically-acclaimed, multi-dimensional police procedural comic Top 10 (issues #1-12 of the original series only) from America's Best Comics (aka Wildstorm aka DC) by Alan Moore, Gene Ha, and Zander Cannon. They start with some background on America's Best Comics and use that to track the publication history of Top 10 and its subsequent spinoffs and sequels through the years. Then the guys attempt to (briefly) cover the comics history of writer Alan Moore (he's Alan Moore, folks), along with the works of artists Gene Ha and Zander Cannon, and letterer Todd Klein. To close, they give a short, spoiler-free synopsis for the book and talk a little bit on why they picked it for the show.

For our purposes, we'll just be focusing on the original Top 10 comic from 1999 to 2001 (issues #1-12) and breaking our discussion across two trade collections as they were originally published- issues #1-7 first and then issues #8-12 to close. We understand that the most likely way of reading Top 10 at the moment is either the 2015 single-trade collection published under the Vertigo banner or the 2023 compendium containing all of the Top 10 series, spinoffs, and specials, but the single issues are out there to be discovered as well. However you find it, go read Top 10 Volume 1 (issues #1-7) and join us back here next week to jump right into the discussion!

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This week, Mike and Alex have the good fortune to be joined by another incredible member of the Deep Cuts team, all the way from Italy, artist Helena Masellis! Helena starts by describing the comic scene she was exposed to growing up in Brazil, from both the US and Asia, and how that influenced a whole generation of Brazilian artists. They also discuss into the importance of having diverse voices from all different backgrounds contributing to comics and how the widening of the talent-pool net has led to better stories. Then they dig into Deep Cuts issue #2, Helena's issue, and go deep into things- from her process as an artist to working with colorist Igor Monti to all of the Wizard of Oz references peppered throughout the issue. Helena also describes how the scripts she received from Kyle Higgins and Joe Clark gave her the freedom to express the story in the way she felt was best, and explains why, despite having never been to Chicago before, the 1920s jazz era was already perfectly suited for her to draw. We can't thank Helena enough for being so generous with her time (especially with the time difference) and we can't wait to get our hands on the the four(!!!) different books she's working on currently (well, three, I guess, for those of us in the US).

You can follow Helena on Instagram and Bluesky, and you keep track of all her work on her Linktree.

Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs

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• Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs
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In this week's episode, Mike and Alex are elated to be joined by Joe Clark, one of the co-writers/creators of Deep Cuts! Joe starts off by giving his origin story, both in comics and in music, and tells us how the meeting of those two things in high school led him to befriending Kyle Higgins, this co-writer/creator on this project. Then the guys go deep into Deep Cuts, discussing where the idea came from, how Joe got involved, and what the process was like working (and juggling) with six completely different artists. He addresses the delays that occurred during publication and how that had a chain effect on the remaining issues at the time, and touches on how important it was for continuity to have one colorist and one letterer for the entire run. From there, Joe essentially takes us issue by issue, praising the work of the artist each time, and providing fascinating additional historical context and real-world comps for the characters, situation, and environments depicted throughout the series. He also peels back the second, third, and sometimes fourth layers built into every issue, shining a light on some of the hidden and less-obvious things they put to page. Maybe have a notepad at the ready when you listen; Joe names of a ton of jazz musicians from across the eras that you're definitely going to want to remember to check out later.

You can follow Joe at his website as well as on Instagram, Bluesky, and whatever we're calling Twitter right now. There are also direct links to his Spotify and Apple Music pages.

You can listen to "I'm Just Here For The Music," Gail Geldstein's song from Deep Cuts issue #2, on YouTube.

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• 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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"Jazz, America's music, was born from a combination of uptown and downtown, of high art and low places. Now, it combines the free, the electronic, the spiritual, the revolutionary, the ancient, the immediate."

In this week's discussion, Mike and Alex jump right into Deep Cuts by co-writers Kyle Higgins and Joe Clark and a stable of brilliant artists from Image Comics. In a break from the usual, the guys (mostly-ish) go through the book issue to issue, touching on the era of jazz each issue covers and highlighting each issue's artist (shout out Danilo Beyruth, Helena Marsellis, Diego Greco, Ramon Perez, Juni Ba, and Toby Cypress). They go deep into the use of color throughout the comic and marvel at colorist Igor Monti's work, bridging themes and ideas across six very different art styles. Finally, the guys look at all the ways this anthology weaves itself into one story and discuss why for this particular book, acknowledging those connections within the structure story was important to the overall meaning of the comic.

We hope this comic encourages some of you to take a deeper dive into one or more eras of jazz, as Deeps Cuts, despite the title, can only really scratch the surface. We have another special episode coming your way soon, so stay tuned and we'll see you back here 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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For this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex dive into the beautiful chaos that is jazz as they get ready to discuss Deep Cuts from Image Comics by co-writers Kyle Higgins and Joe Clark along with a litany of incredible artists. A different artist is brought in for each of the 6 double-sized issues of this anthology miniseries: Danilo Beyruth, Helena Masellis, Diego Greco, Ramon Perez, Juni Ba, and Toby Cypress. The guys run through the notable credits of the entire creative team, including colorist Igor Monti and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (who seems like has lettered every book they've covered this year). Finally, they give a quick synopsis of the Deep Cuts and give a little preview as to what drew them to the comic and why it's worthy of discussion.

This comics is a story about jazz, which in turn in is, a lot of ways, the story of America in the 20th Century, so go find Deep Cuts (issues #1-6) wherever you get your comics and join us again next week to dive into it!

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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This week, Mike and Alex are super stoked to be joined by Matthew Erman, one of the co-writers/creators of Golgotha Motor Mountain! Matthew first gives his comic origin story before diving head first into the entire publishing saga (and that might be an understatement) of Golgotha Motor Mountain. He covers where the initial idea for the comic came from and how the creative team eventually came together, then discusses in detail how changes at the publisher level at IDW trickled down and had a major impact on their final product. It's a candid look at an unfortunate reality that's ever too present in the comics industry. Along the way, they praise the incredible work that Robbi Rodriguez, Marissa Louise, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou did throughout the comic, and Matthew touches on how each one brought their absolute best to the project. Matthew was wonderful with his time and candor, and the guys did their best not to get too hyper-local Ohio about things. But at the end, Matthew reveals the one thing in the book that still bothers him, that one is extremely hyper-local Ohio. Sorry, not sorry.

You can follow Matthew at his website as well as on Instagram and Bluesky. There are also direct links to his IndieBound shop and Hoopla author page.

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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"Grief is the ether-like fumes of memory evaporating into nothingness. But from nothing, things can appear. From the void and blackness, magic can arrive."

In this one-shot episode, Mike and Alex travel to the backwoods of Kentucky to discuss Golgotha Motor Mountain by Matthew Erman, Lonnie Nadler, and Robbi Rodriguez from IDW Publishing. They guys break down the larger extended metaphor played out through the story and try and drill down on why stories about these communities seem to be having a moment right now. Then they turn their attention to the story construction and presentation, praising the art and letter work, and working through why they found the comic compelling and interesting despite not really connecting with any of the characters. Finally, the guys look at the ending and try and process what it means if in order to get the thing you want, you end up burning down everything you left behind.

We hope you enjoyed this wild, grotesque, southern-fried horror story, and stay tuned next week for what we hope to be a special episode. After that, join us here again next week to dive 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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In this new season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are diving into a one-shot discussion about Golgotha Motor Mountain from IDW Publishing by Matthew Erman, Lonnie Nadler, and Robbi Rodriguez. They first give a little history about IDW (a publisher they somehow haven't covered properly before), then give a rundown of the full creative team behind the book, including co-writers Matthew Erman and Lonnie Nadler, artist Robbi Rodriguez, colorist Mariss Louise, and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, plus back-up story artist Nikola Cizmesija. Then they dip a toe into the comic itself, giving a brief synopsis (Kentucky fried Cthulu, anyone?) and a little tease as to why they wanted to cover it on the show.

Get ready for the space-dust infused body horror adventure in the rural hills of Kentucky and then grab Golgotha Motor Mountain (issues #1-4) wherever you get you comics and join in the discussion 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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"Can’t paint on a smile and expect it to work, ya know?” 

This week, Mike and Alex break down the mind-bendy conclusion to Christopher Cantwell and I.N.J. Culbard's Everything from Dark Horse Comics and Berger Books with Volume 2: Black Friday. The guys jump right into the end and discuss how the ultimate reveal for the explanation of the store did or didn't work for them, and how the final story beats retroactively effect their thoughts on the opening handful of issues. They also touch on how while this generally feels like the ending that the creators always intended for, the delivery felt truncated, and then they ruminate on what a longer series run might have done to the vibes of the comics. Finally, the guys try and get their heads around the overall themes presented in the book, and ask the deep question- now that you're done with Everything, what do you do with Now?

We hope you enjoyed this season of the show and diving into a trippy book like Everything. We'll be back next week to start another deep dive 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

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"I just... I just want to be happy. Or at least... happy with being sad."

Welcome to Everything! Mike and Alex are ready to start a new season of Storied Arcs by wandering the aisles of Everything Volume 1: Grand Opening (issues #6-10) from Dark Horse Comics and Berger Books by Christopher Cantwell and I.N.J. Culbard. The guys start the conversation by considering Cantwell's television history and how those storytelling influences, from something like, say, Twin Peaks (RIP David Lynch), are apparent in Everything. They also discuss how the slow-burn pacing of the story effects the reader, for both good and ill, and why they think this volume benefits from at least two readings. From there, they break down what they think the reader is supposed to take away from the mysteries presented in the story thus far and which character(s) they're supposed to be connecting with and investing in. A lot of weird stuff happens here, all in the name of capitalism.

The series wraps up next week, so grab Everything Volume 2: Black Friday (would-be issues #6-10 if those single issues had ever actually been published) wherever you get your comics and join us here again to close out the story!

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!