The TradeWaiters

What’s in a name? Does a name really matter? The book we read this episode is named “Monster” by Naoki Urasawa. Nina Matsumoto (if that’s her real name) joins Jam and Jon to talk about the first volume of this series from Japan’s master of suspense, and we get into deep discussions about good and evil, identity, choice, and whether or not comics characters should have their mouths open when they talk. You know, the important stuff.

Music by Sleuth.

Our next episode will continue our look at Naoki Urasawa’s "Monster" with volume 2.

Renowned horror cartoonist Junji Ito has a cat life now. His auto-bio graphic novel "Junji Ito’s Cat Diary: Yon & Mu" is this episode’s book, and Jam, Jon, and Jeff are joined by Nina Matsumoto to talk about the book, the artist, and what it’s like to live with cats.

Music by Sleuth

Nina joins us again for our next episode on "Monster" Vol. 1 by Naoki Urasawa.

Spirals: they make ya think! Nina Matsumoto joins Jam, Jeff, and Jon for a spiral into the mind of Junji Ito, reknowned horror cartoonist. His "Uzumaki (Spiral into Horror)" is an obsessive, surreal story about a town cursed by the spiral. We’ll dive right in, get tangled up, and hopefully make it out again at the end.

Music by Sleuth.

Nina joins us again for our next episode on "Junji Ito’s Cat Diary: Yon and Mu."

We continue our journey through Jason Lutes’ "Berlin: City of Smoke" and "Berlin: City of Light." Now that the series is complete, our panelists have read all the way to the bitter end. There is no other way for the Weimar Republic to end. Join us as we check in on how the characters from the first book have fared as we head towards Hitler’s “demon ex machina.”

Music by Sleuth.

For our next episode we will be joined by special guest Nina Matsumoto as we read "Uzumaki" by Junji Ito.

Looking for advice on how to survive 2019? "Berlin: City of Stones" by Jason Lutes may or may not be of any help, but it is a standout work of comics-making brilliance. Jeff, Jam, and Jon travel back in time to Jason Lutes’ window on Weimar Germany in 1928 and watch as everything starts to fall apart. This is episode one of a two episode journey through the "Berlin" comics series.

Music by Sleuth

Our next episode will be on "Berlin: City of Smoke" and "Berlin: City of Light" by Jason Lutes.

It's Twenty-Nine-Zine! The TradeWaiters went to a bunch of Canadian conventions this year and brought back their favourite indie gems to share. In this episode we talk about:

"Doors" by the Donut Collective

"Giant's Well" by Scott A. Ford

"When I Arrived at the Castle" by Emily Carroll

"Conseal Don't Feel" by Ciil

"Counting Sheep" by Rhael McGregor

"Sobek" by James Stokoe

"Hey, I Don't Mean to Be Condescending or Anything, But We're Friends, You Don't Need to Be Afraid of Me" by Victor Martins

"Lamp Comic" by Gil Goletski

"Called Into Being: A Celebration of Frankenstein" edited by Megan Purdy

"Ghost Lookers" by Christian Haruki Lett

"Recharge!" by Christine

"Once Upon a Time" by Chhaya Nara

"Aurora Borealice" by Joan Steacy

"Meat and Bone" by Kat Verhooven

and many more.

There’s soil and gloom in the black death. Jess, Jon, Jeff, and Jam read "Laid Waste" by Julia Gfrorer, a tragedy set during the plague. We talk about the end of the world and what it’s like to live through it (or not).

Music by Sleuth.

Our next episode will be our 2019 TCAF/VanCAF roundtable.

Join us on a road trip (through masculinity). "Come Prima" by Alfred is a story about two estranged brothers dealing with death, war, shame, and their own frailty. Jam, Jeff, and Jess finally get a chance to read some more bande dessinee, and it leads to a whole lot of big discussions.

Music by Sleuth.

Our next episode will be "Laid Waste" by Julia Gfrorer.

Is Calvin a reflection on the inner child? This is one of many questions raised as we read "The Calvin and Hobbes Tenth Anniversary Book" by Bill Watterson. Calvin and Hobbes are a big part of comics past and present. We reflect on the nostalgia, the history, and the craft of one of the greatest newspaper comics of all times.

Music by Sleuth.

Our next episode will be on "Come Prima" by Alfred.

There are two mysteries in this book, and we solve them both. Jam, Jon, and Jeff read "Batwoman: Elegy" by Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III, and it sparked a lot of good discussion. We talk about reasons to be a superhero, how to write in an extended universe, and the gulf between art and script. Join us as we solve the mystery of who Alice is, and why this book is structured the way it is.

Music by Sleuth.

Our next episode will be on "The Calvin and Hobbes Tenth Anniversary Book" by Bill Watterson.