Unpacking the Shelf

Unpacking the Shelf

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Unpacking the Shelf episodes

  • Episode 50 - Masterfully Masterless

    Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex.

    For our special 50th episode we are joined by once more by Jake, co-manager of Fantom Comics, as we unpack the Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo.

    In other news:

    • Jake has been reading Griz Grobus, which you can read on Webtoon and buy from Image Comics (1:24:46)
    • Alex is still thinking about Furiosa, and so went back to rewatch the original Mad Max (1:28:24)
    • Adam witnessed Pokemon GO Fest 2024 in New York (1:32:04)

      • You can find us on Twitter (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wendeego⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AlexTheLup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), Adam's writing on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Crunchyroll News⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Comics Beat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ANIWIRE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and Alex's creative work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sandcomic.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

      Intro & Outro track: A.T.M. (Alien Time Machine) by Atum.

      1 hr 44 min
    • Episode 49 - Sinisterly Bespoken Visual Poetry

      Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex.

      Please join us as we explore the works of Bulgilhan Press, a small publisher making new and self-indulgent comics. Comics we talk about:

      • Faster by Jesse Lonergan;
      • Threshold by R.R. Gladnick;
      • Stray by Molly Mendoza;
      • Die Horny by Rebecca Mock;
      • Far Distant by A Liang Chan

        • We also, briefly mention the recently funded Kickstarter for their 2024 publication season, consisting of The King's Warrior by Huahua Zhu and A Night Ride to the Day by Breeze Hu.

        In other news:

        • Adam has watched and written a piece about the anime Yatagarasu⁠⁠⁠ (1:20:03)
        • Alex has been playing Shin Megami Tensei V (not Vengeance), because he bought the DLC for that game on the Switch ages ago... (1:27:55)

          • You can find us on Twitter (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wendeego⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AlexTheLup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), Adam's writing on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Crunchyroll News⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Comics Beat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ANIWIRE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and Alex's creative work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sandcomic.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

          Intro & Outro track: A.T.M. (Alien Time Machine) by Atum.

          1 hr 48 min
        • Episode 48 - Hekki Allmo

          Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex.

          Please join us as we delve into our experiences with ⁠⁠1000xRESIST⁠⁠, a narrative focused adventure game with much to say about Hong Kong, immigrant experiences, and trauma.

          In other news:

          • Alex has gotten lost playing Against the Storm, a city builder like few others⁠ (1:53:16)
          • Alex has also been reading a ton of Delicious In Dungeon, now that the first season of the anime as wrapped up (1:26:19)
          • Adam has been watching another Japanese drama, Soredemo, ikite yuku (Still, life goes on) (1:30:42)

            • You can find us on Twitter (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wendeego⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AlexTheLup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), Adam's writing on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Crunchyroll News⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Comics Beat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ANIWIRE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and Alex's creative work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sandcomic.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

            Intro & Outro track: A.T.M. (Alien Time Machine) by Atum.

            2 hr 22 min
          • Episode 47 - Struck by Starstruck

            Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex.

            Please join us as delve into Elaine Lee and Michael Kaluta's Starstruck, a blast from the 80s that might be more familiar to our audience thanks to the Dimension 20 campaign set in that universe.

            In other news:

            • Adam has finished playing 1000xRESIST, and has thoughts, as well as suggested further reading in the form of kastlepls's cohost post, and his own writing on Aniwire (1:22:21)
            • Adam has also finished watching X-Men '97 (1:26:19)
            • Finally, Alex doesn't have much to share this week, but has some thoughts about his own work, and even how it ties into Starstruck (1:30:42)

              • You can find us on Twitter (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wendeego⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AlexTheLup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), Adam's writing on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Crunchyroll News⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Comics Beat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ANIWIRE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and Alex's creative work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sandcomic.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

              Intro & Outro track: A.T.M. (Alien Time Machine) by Atum.

              1 hr 38 min
            • Episode 46 - A Tokusatsu (Ultraman) Smorgasbord

              Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex.

              Please join us as we watch some Ultraman, and discuss tokusatsu in general! Specifically, the following episodes:

              1. Ultraman: Blazar (2023-2024), episode 1 "First Wave"
              2. Ultraman: Tiga (1996-1997), episode 16 "The Revived Demon" ("The Monster Slayer Returns")
              3. Ultraseven (1967-1968), episode 8 "The Marked Town"

                4. Along the way, Alex has gone deeper and watched the first episodes of Tiga & Ultraseven, as well as the first episodes of Ultra Q (1966), Ultraman (1966-1967), and Gridman the Hyper Agent (1993-1994).

                In other news:

                • Alex is still reading Dr. Slump, and finds it hilarious (1:11:15)
                • Adam has been playing 1000xRESIST (1:16:28)
                • Also, Alex made a fool of himself in front of Sid Meier (no, seriously) (1:28:48)

                  • You can find us on Twitter (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wendeego⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AlexTheLup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), Adam's writing on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Crunchyroll News⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Comics Beat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ANIWIRE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and Alex's creative work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sandcomic.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

                  Intro & Outro track: A.T.M. (Alien Time Machine) by Atum.

                  1 hr 38 min
                • Episode 45 - Slumping It Out With Toriyama

                  Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex.

                  Please join us as we celebrate the works of Akira Toriyama by going back in time, slipping you might say, to the manga that started it all, Dr. Slump.

                  In other news:

                  • Alex is replaying Final Fantasy VII: Remake, in order to get ready for Rebirth, and the experience is a little rougher the second time through (1:03:38)
                  • Adam has gone and watched the original Planet of the Apes (1968), and we chat about our experience with the series of movies, as well as the Rod Serling connection to the Twilight Zone. (1:16:42)

                    • You can find us on Twitter (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wendeego⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AlexTheLup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), Adam's writing on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Crunchyroll News⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Comics Beat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ANIWIRE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and Alex's creative work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sandcomic.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

                    Intro & Outro track: A.T.M. (Alien Time Machine) by Atum.

                    1 hr 28 min
                  • Episode 44 - Lost In The Dungeon With Shiren

                    Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex.

                    Please join us as we return to video games and talk about the sixth game in the Shiren series, itself a spinoff of the Mystery Dungeon series, Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island.

                    In other news:

                    • Alex has finished a bunch of games, notably Midnight Suns and is happy it finishes strong. Also, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is amazing, and we talk about how we should do a Metal Gear Solid episode sometime. (1:25:55)
                    • Adam is playing the new SaGa game (SaGa: Emerald Beyond), but more importantly has watched his first Johnnie To movie, specifically Exiled. (1:32:36)

                      • You can find us on Twitter (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wendeego⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AlexTheLup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), Adam's writing on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Crunchyroll News⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Comics Beat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ANIWIRE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and Alex's creative work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sandcomic.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

                      Intro & Outro track: A.T.M. (Alien Time Machine) by Atum.

                      1 hr 46 min
                    • Episode 43 - Matsumoto These Days

                      Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex.

                      This episode we welcome back Jake, co-manager of Fantom comics, as we discuss the works of Taiyō Matsumoto with a particular focus on the recently released (here in the west) first volume of Tokyo These Days.

                      In other news:

                      • Jake has been reading Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai (1:02:45)
                      • Alex has been chugging through his playthrough of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim and it's really good (1:04:15)
                      • Adam has been reading a very long mystery thriller novel, Lady Joker by Kaoru Takamura (1:06:32)

                        • You can find us on Twitter (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wendeego⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AlexTheLup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), Adam's writing on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Crunchyroll News⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Comics Beat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ANIWIRE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and Alex's creative work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sandcomic.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

                        Intro & Outro track: A.T.M. (Alien Time Machine) by Atum.

                        1 hr 21 min
                      • Episode 42 - I Can't Believe It's Not Vertigo pt. 2

                        Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex.

                        Please join us as we chat about the second comic that we think follow in the footsteps of Vertigo comics of old, specifically the latest Flash run by Simon Spurrier & Mike Deodato.

                        Plus brief conversations about Alex stalling on his playthrough of Midnight Suns and starting 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim instead (1:07:42), and Adam watching the 2003 adaptation of Shiroi Kyotō, or The White Tower in English (1:18:08).

                        You can find us on Twitter (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wendeego⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AlexTheLup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), Adam's writing on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Crunchyroll News⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Comics Beat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ANIWIRE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and Alex's creative work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sandcomic.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

                        Intro & Outro track: A.T.M. (Alien Time Machine) by Atum.

                        1 hr 33 min
                      • Episode 41 - I Can't Believe It's Not Vertigo pt. 1

                        Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex.

                        Please join us as we chat about the first of two comics that we think follow in the footsteps of Vertigo comics of old, specifically 20th Century Men by Deniz Camp & Stipan Morian.

                        Plus brief conversations about the new TV shows doing old things Shogun and Avatar: The Last Airbender.

                        You can find us on Twitter (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@wendeego⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AlexTheLup⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), Adam's writing on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Crunchyroll News⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Comics Beat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ANIWIRE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and Alex's creative work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sandcomic.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

                        Intro & Outro track: A.T.M. (Alien Time Machine) by Atum.

                        1 hr 25 min

                      About Unpacking the Shelf

                      From the publisher's feed

                      A gaming, comics & pop culture podcast by Adam & Alex.