The Comic Source Podcast

Jace chats with writer Kyle Higgins about his upcoming series Ordinary Gods. Releasing from Image Comics on July 7th, Kyle describes it as The highlander meets the Matrix, but it is really so much more than that. A 40 pg first issue for the regular cover price gives us a big chunk of story in the debut issue to start building out the world and story of the immortal beings who form the backbone of the narrative. That is only the start though as we learn there is a civil war between these 'gods' and some have been imprisoned on earth where they have been re-incarnating over thousands of years again and again. With incredible artwork from Filipe Watanabe, this series has the potential to explore so many times in human history while at the same time telling a fantasy influenced tale about the world these beings come from. Kyle also mentions feeling obligated to take "big swings" with his current creator owned projects and how much fun he is having subverting expectations for readers. It is a fun chat so join us and be sure to let your retailer know that you want a copy of issue #1 of Ordinary Gods.

Jace takes a spoiler-free look at some of the titles hitting comic shops the week of June 23, 2021. Spawn's Universe from Todd McFarlane and company is the start of something incredibly big. Better grab a copy because this is a book that people may look back on in 20 years and say it all started here! Stray Dogs comes to an end with #5 and it is just as poignant, emotional and impactful as each and every issue of the series has been. Amazing Spider-Man #69 brings on Ed Brisson as co-writer and we wonder how long he will be around because this issue is really solid. Action from cover to cover and so many storylines! Fantastic Four Life Story works very well if you look at it as a What If story because so much of this version of the FF's history is completely different from the team and family we know, but that's ok because it is very compelling. Captain Marvel #29 is a wonderful character issue for Carol where she shows so much self-awareness. Perfect example of how much Kelly Thompson understands who Carol is. Plus we get incredible line work and a gorgeous cover. Gamma Flight #1 ties into the Immortal Hulk storyline and we are glad because the story of these characters may not fit into the pages of the Immortal Hulk book, but it is a story worth reading. Lan Medina handles the art and it looks great. Heroes Return finishes up the Heroes reborn event, but we are left feeling a bit like this one may be forgotten quickly. It was all a bit predictable and while at times it was fun, it's impact is questionable. Nuclear Family #5 finishes this series up in a way that fits the feel of the series overall. All your questions may not be answered and you are left to ponder the implications. Just like some of the best episodes of the Twilight Zone not everything is wrapped up in a nice, neat package. Way of X #3 has Nightcrawler more confused than ever when it comes to the answers he seeks about finding a way to stem the spiritual malaise he feels is spreading on the island of Krakoa. Kurt has always been a character whose faith has been strong, but what may matter most here is that Kurt believe in himself. We have not one but two Books of the Week this time out, both have surprising twists in the narrative that we were not expecting based on the previous issues. Shadecraft #4 show us we may not be getting the family drama we expected, but may be getting a much more action-packed one. Lee Garbett & Antonio Fabela are at the height of their artistic powers as well. In Blue Flame #2 a huge event happens within the first two pages that will have a huge impact on the dual narrative going forward and we wonder how Sam may view it. Will he begin to believe that perhaps humanity is not worth saving? All this, plus Jace gives a rundown on some other titles you may want to be on the lookout for.

Jace and Rocky from Comic Boom! chat about the DC books for the week of June 22, 2021. In the pages of Justice League #63 Naomi officially joins the the league while in the back up Justice League Dark story, we meet a new potential female member of that team. Detective Comics #1038 has a big brawl between Batman & Roland Worth with what we expect is the Magistrate pulling the strings, while the back-up shows that the Penguin may want to return to some former glory. Checkmate #1 brings back all the familiar players from the previous Leviathan events, but can Mark Shaw truly maintain control of all the intelligence assets of the DC Universe? Wonder Woman Black & Gold #1 has some truly astounding art with some great stories that provide wonderful insight into who Diana is. We get more Wonder Woman in #774 as Diana finds the gods of Olympus have been killed, but she is not about to let them remain in the Graveyard of the Gods without trying to rescue them. Harley Quinn #4 shows Harley bouncing back from the events of #3 and choosing to bring the fight to Hugo Strange and rescue her new sidekick Kevin. Mister Miracle #2 continues this excellent series as Shilo Norman's identity may be compromised and the fallout from that may be tremendous. How will he deal with this possible disaster while being attacked by N'ver Free, who claims to be the true child of Scott & Barda? Teen Titans Academy #4 is a Bat Pack investigation into the identity of Red X, but are the kids on the right track? Superman #32 finishes up the series as Superman and Jon are able to rescue the Thakkramites from the Shadowbreed. On the heels of that rescue it's clear the Kal-El is very proud of his son. Robin #3 shows us the first interaction between Damian and Connor Hawke, but it is the surprise guest appearance at the end of the issue that may be even more important. Action Comics #1032 reveals that the suspected Kryptonians imprisoned on War World may be a group that fled Krypton thousands of years before the planet exploded. One thing is for sure, whether these prisoners are Kryptonian or not, Superman will not let them remain enslaved. Batman Superman #19 gives us some really fun version of Superman Batman and Robin in different time periods. Each of the era's is illustrated by a different artist and it really helps to bring the comic to life. This comic is so much fun, we hate that it is ended with #22. Batman Reptilian has amazing art that brings to life this great version of Batman who has a little more of an edge than readers of the conventional version of the Caped Crusader may be used to. Infinite Frontier #1 has some interesting threads but it isn't 100% clear yet how things may all fit together, but the Psycho Pirate and last page reveal were favorite moments for the guys.

For the first time Joshua Dysart is discussing Odinn's Eye. Jace chats with writer Joshua Dysart about this upcoming project for Bad Idea. Set far back in a time even before most recorded history, Odinn's Eye tells the tale of a young girl who is beset by visions. Visions she believe are a message from Odinn himself that send her and her compatriots on an epic quest. Josh has been inspired by everything from classic fantasy to Sergio Leone westerns in crafting this story. He also mentions his desire to create a large story that feels grand in scope while exploring themes of belief and faith and how those beliefs can impact the real world. Incredible artwork from Tomas Giorello brings it to life, be sure you have pre-ordered so you don't miss it.

Jace and Jay chat spoiler-free about some of the comics hitting shops the week of June 16, 2021. Heroes Reborn reaches the last issue, but it isn't' the end of the story and if the last page is any indication, we have a massive battle coming in Heroes Return #1. Much like a lot of the other Heroes Reborn Tie-Ins Weapon X & Final Flight #1 really adds to the tapestry of the Heroes Reborn universe, this time in a very heartbreaking way. Home #3 really flips the series on its head, previous issues had a lot of relationship dynamics with a little action, here we get the action dialed up to ten! Seven Swords #1 from AfterShock seems like another big hit from the publisher, whether you are a huge fan of the Three Musketeers or only know them in passing this period tale expanding on their mythos is a must-read with incredible art. Alien #4 once again is cover to cover action, we are really impressed how the creative team manages to pack such a fast-paced, action-packed story into a single issue and make it feel like such a big chunk of story. X-Corp #2 is a technically wonderful comic, but we still aren't sure how it's tone fits in with the rest of the X-Universe. Fantastic Four #33 lives up to the classic wedding issue of Fantastic Four issues of the past. An FF wedding issue is always going to be over the top and this one is no exception and leaves us with an awesome cliffhanger. Time Before Time #2 gives us a very interesting and fresh take on a time travel story and it's one that may have it's roots in crime noir. I guess we will have to keep reading to find out. Radiant Black #5 picks right up where #4 left off, but once again, just when you think you know where the story is going, the creative team subverts our expectations once again. This is a very impressive book. Silver Coin #3 is brutal and horrifying just as the entire series has been so far and we can't wait to see if this seemingly disparate tales are going to all tie together at some point. Captain America Annual #1 continues the Infinite Destinies storyline that runs through all the Marvel Annuals this summer. We get the return of Overtime, who we last saw in the pages of Wolverine and the Infinity Watch, but will his plans for redemption lead to even worse consequences? The Clone Sage of Miles Morales continues and the stakes have never been higher for out hero. We can't help but wonder when tragedy may strike Miles and if he may then carry around the guilt of that much like Peter Parker does. Planet-Sized X-Men #1 lives up to the name with the mutants undertaking an incredible misson. Will they succeed and if so what might the fall out be, not only for the X-Men corner of the Marvel Universe, but for the whole of that universe. Stillwater #8 gives us the origin of the sheriff and pull us deeper into her motivations and loyalties towards the town. Finally Silver City #2 starts to build up both action and mystery as we settle into the the cynical afterlife that is Silver City. After a pitch perfect introduction to this world and characters, the creative team wastes no time in ramping up the narrative. Plus Jace gives a rundown on some other books you might want to be on the lookout for when you hit your comic shop this week.

Jace and Rocky from Comic Boom! take a look at the DC Pride Special from DC Comics this month. This issue celebrates the many characters & creators of DC Comics who are proud members of the LGBTQ+ community. DC has had a long history of inclusivenes in their stories and this anthology is a perfect example. While the guys may have not liked every story, what cannot be denied is the postive tone and spirit of the issue. Plus there are a ton of great characters featured in this issue with spectacular art. Both Jace and Rocky look forward to learning more about these characters that we hope to see much more of in the future.

Jace and Rock from Comic Boom break down the DC Comics issue for the week of June 15, 2021. Jace gives his nod for best of the week to Catwoman #32 as we see several characters try to answer the question of who Selina Kyle is. Rocky's favorite is Nightwing #81 as we get a huge bombshell about the Grayson family. The question is, can we believe it to actually be true? Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow #1 is simple in it's concept but nuanced in the way it will explore who Kara is and test her heroism in ways she may not be ready for. Static: Season One #1 goes over much of the same ground from the original Static series nearly 30 years ago, which shows just how groundbreaking that series was as much of it's concepts translate to today. The creative team this time around give the book a very modern feel both in scripting and art which makes for an excellent read. Batman Fortnite Zeropoint feels like it may be lasting just a bit too long, but the final issue coming next week will be the decider on that. Flash #773 teases possible redemption for Wally, but we haven't gotten there yet and is it even necessary? Finally Superman Red& Blue offers a few good stories but ends up inconsistent overall.

Jace chats with comic creator Tim Seeley about his AfterShock title Dark Red. Hugely inspired from classic 1980's horror, this title tells the story of a vampire but in much different context that you may have seen before. Looking at Vampires as an analogue for the have and have nots, this is an incredible relevant story with tons of action and humor. Plus Tim even got to draw on some inspiration from the stories his grandfather used to tell him about his World War experiences. Join in as the guys breakdown this incredible series.

Jace chats with Jonathan Thompson about his current Kickstarter campaign for his project A Game of Doubles. The story of twin brothers who have led very different lives and how the grass always seems greener. Jonathan and artist Ryan Tavarez have not only concocted an interesting story, they have two different endings for the project. You can choose to buy one book and get one of the endings or grab the flip book version to have both. There is also a director's cut with both versions as well as tons of process notes and back matter to get a closer look at how these creators put the project together. A project like this with a story that works on multiple levels is very much worth exploring, so go check out the campaign and join in to help bring this project to life.

Jace and Jay give a rundown on some of the books they have read for the week of June 9, 2021 spoiler-free. Maniac of New York concludes, but it is only the end of the first story arc. There is more Harry coming! Bunny Mask is an incredibly engaging and intriguing story that will pull you right in. Geiger fills on more of the the backstory of our main character, plus it shows us that Geiger may be one of those people who need to bed needed. Babyteeth continues to be fantastic in its return. The story has always balanced he action with incredible relationship drama and that hasn't changed. Ant may not have been worth the wait, we will let you decide, but knowing Erik Larson is brining her back is welcome news. The Good Asian is a good read! Perfectly period noir with accurately depicted racial strife that is all too relatable, great book! Finally Jace also lets you know what other books are out this week you may want to be on the lookout for.