The Comic Source Podcast

Jace chatted with Joe Henderson a little while ago about his new series Shadecraft, but now we have an even more in-depth conversation delving into some of the story specifics. We get into family dynamics, as well as the relationship between Zadie and her brother, plus a whole lot more. So be sure you read Shadecraft #1 and then join us for this detailed conversation.

Jace is joined by veteran comic creator Karl Kesel to chat about his current Kickstarter campaign for the second issue of Impossible Jones. Great art by David Hahn and an intriguing main character make this a wonderful series to jump on board. Karl also talks about his love for the crowdfunding platform and how much he enjoys interacting with the fan community he has built around his creator owned work.

Jace and Rocky from Comic Boom chat about the new DC Comics Round Robin initiative where fans get to vote on the series they want to see. Also the guys give their picks for each of the brackets and discuss why they are making the picks they make. There are so many great potential series with characters both very well known and obscure, that the mix of possible titles is very intriguing, The guys also discuss why DC may be doing this polls and how it might be a way to gauge interest and guarantee sales.

Jace chats with Kickstarter veteran & writer Frank Martin about his latest campaign, The Last Homicide. Frank mixes a lot of ideas from the classic detective story as well as drawing on the golden age of Hollywood and the pulp detective stories that are now considered classics to craft his version of the hard-boiled murder mystery. Set in a moody and corrupt city with menacing mob bosses & cops on the take, this story has all the makings of an instant classic. Be sure to check out the campaign when it launches on April 6th.

Jace dives into some of he books he read for the week of March 31, 2021. Shadecraft brings back the Eisner-nominated Skyward creative team to tell a new story abut a strong, young female protagonist, but this time the story has a bit of a darker feel. Stephanie Phillips continues to show her mastery of the comic book medium as the second issue of her Nuclear Family series hits stands. It perfectly captures the menace and foreboding of the Cold War, while giving us an empathetic point of view character and great Tony Shasteen art work. Department of truth #7 and Crossover #5 both continue those excellent series but aren't the best issues we've had of the respective series so far. We are hoping that the slight dip in pace will only serve to allow the climaxes of the current arcs to hit that much harder. Jace also gives a rundown on some other books you might want to be on the lookout for.

It's a brand new era of the X-Men! House of X and Powers of X have led to this, but now that the Mutant Island nation of Krakoa exists, what is the day to say life of the X-Men like? The foundation of a mutant society has been forged and the time has come to be sure that every mutant out there has a chance to participate. Also, what about Orchis? Has that shadowy anti-mutant, human-first organization been permanently crippled by the destruction of the Mother Mold or do they still pose a threat to mutants everywhere? All this, plus we get a glimpse of the Summer House, a Krakoan habitat placed on the moon as a refuge for Scott, Alex & Gabriel Summers and their various significant others & family. Join Jace & Jon-Paul as they examine this over-sized first issue.

Jace and Rocky tackle another week of DC comics! Most of the books the guys talk about aren't necessarily in the 'main' Dc continuity, but all the rest sort of stand on their own. Is this the reason the books seem to be sort of average this week? Maybe, maybe not, but The Other History of the DC Universe stands on its own as another spectacular issue of the John Ridley series that the guys have been really enjoying. Also we get sort of an epilogue of Future State as the third issue of Superman vs Imperious Lex hits comic shops. The Flash brings up a lot of question and the Jace and Rocky aren't necessarily in agreement on the quality of the issue, while Strange Adventures & Batman/Catwoman both written by Tom King may need to wrap up before we know the true quality of the stories. All this & a lot more so join us for the fun!

Jace takes a close look at Shadow Doctor #1. Set in the years just after the Great Depression this incredible AfterShock book recounts the true life story of an African-American man trying to find work as a doctor after completing medical school. At a time when not only racism but crime was running rampant in the Chicagoland area you can imagine how his efforts where met with scorn and futility. This issue is perfectly paced & the character acting in the art as well as the emotion is well-suited for a story that becomes more compelling as it unfolds.

Jace checks out Supergirl #29 as we finally get some answers to the role Rogol Zaar had in the destruction of Krypton. The Circle's beginnings are explored as we see their early motivations begin to be corrupted by the power they begin to be wield. We also see how Kara herself comes to overcome her own desire for revenge by learning the shortcomings of the Circle and understanding how their noble intentions went wrong.

Jace dives into Supergirl #28 as the Clone Wars storyline comes to a close. Kara is finally face to face with the clones of her that Harry Hokum has created, but they aren't quite what either Kara or Hokum himself expects them to be. It's a delicate balance for Kara as her anger at seeing the horrors that Hokum has created, and the underlying rage for Rogol Zaar's actions that sent her to space in the first place, are at odds with the compassion she feels both for the refugees of the Vegan war and these mindless clones. Andreyko does a great job of showcasing this inherent dichotomy that exists within Kara and the art is top notch as well. There's plenty more in the issue from Gandelo's plans to the reunion of Kara, Krypto and Z'dar also, so be sure to listen in.