The Omnibus: A Comics Podcast

In this episode, Phillip and Eric return to the timely Image Comic series, The Department of Truth by James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds. Three more volumes have been published from where the duo left out last year, so they dissect the series' examination of institutional power, its unexpected twists and character revelations, and Eric tries to spread the gospel of Dr. Yakub and the white devil race.

In this episode, Phillip and Eric watch the much underrated Blue Beetle movie directed by Angel Nanuel Soto and starring Xolo Maridueña. They gush about the movie, discuss their experiences with the Jaime Reyes version of the character from the comics, and Eric makes sure to give Phil lots of shit for not watching this movie in theaters.

In this episode, to give some extra time for the next reading, Phillip and Eric are back at it with revisting the CW Arrowverse, this time on the Arrow episode, "Suicide Squad." They discuss how Diggle is the best character on the show, their wishlist of Suicide Squad characters, and compare Mass Effect playthroughs.

In this episode recorded over Presidents' Day Weekend, Phillip and Eric celebrate the American presidency by talking the Image comic Killadelphia by Rodney Barnes and Jason Shawn Alexander, a comic where John Adams became a vampire! They talk about the vampire tropes the comic avoids and the tropes it leans into, its blending of the vampire genre with political commentary and marginalized groups in America, and Eric educates Phillip on how the Delaware crossing is not the same thing as crossing the Rubicon.

In this episode, Phillip and Eric mixes things up with a rewatch commentary on the Flash episode, "Rogue Air." Because they ran out of time to do the reading, so why not have some fun?

In this episode, Phillip and Eric tackle the legendary Alan Moore run of the DC comic series Saga of the Swamp Thing. They talk about its literary yet weird reimaging of Swamp Thing, its sophisticated page designs, and Eric fires Phillip from his role as Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (and Belonging?) Officer.

In this episode, Phillip and Eric tackle the first volume of the fantasy anthropomorphic mice series, Mouse Guard by David Petersen. They break down its detailed, print-making influenced illustrations, the elegant simplicity of its panel layouts, and its extensive worldbuilding centered around being as small as a mouse. Plus, Eric makes Phillip talk about Magic: the Gathering again!

In this episode, Phillip and Eric look back on the DC Comics modern classic, the new 52 run of Wonder Woman byBrian Azarello and Cliff Chiang. They discuss its then-controversial changes to established lore and backstory to Diana and the Amazons, Cliff Chiang's sublime design, and Eric and Phil discuss some DC movie memes on Twitter.

In this episode, Phillip and Eric are talking the creator-owned apolitical but political thriller comic Scarlet by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev. They discuss how a middle-aged white guy from suburban Ohio created a comic in 2010 that eerily resembled the protests and anti-establishment sentiment in the decade to follow, its trademark Bendis thumbprint of heavy dialogue, and Phillip gives an impromptu review of the movie It Ends With Us starring Blake Lively.

If you want to see the comic we're talking about, check out our annotations on Substack!

Phillip and Eric end 2024 by talking the genre-bending manga series Dandadan by Yukinobu Tatsu! They discuss its quirky blend of sci-fi/fantasy shonen action with romantic comedy, its cast of nuanced characters that defy genre archetypes, and whether Phil believe in ghosts or aliens are more likely than Eric finding true love over the internet.