Waiting on the Trade

By Patrick Fitzgerald-Fleck and Matt LedgerArts Books Leisure Visual Arts Hobbies

Waiting on the Trade episodes

September 15A Garden of Spheres
It is always refreshing to find a fantasy comic that feels as original and imaginative as stories of that genre should be. Linnea Sterte’s A Garden of Spheres is certainly one of those fantasy comics, which is why we were excited guest host Callum Smith chose to discuss it with us.
Check out this episode to hear our thoughts on A Garden of Spheres’ worldbuilding, little moments, narrative “structure” (or lack thereof), and more!
Want More Thoughts on Linnea Sterte and A Garden of Spheres?
If you want more discussion of Linnea Sterte and/or A Garden of Spheres, check out:
This interview with Sterte from The Comics Journal, which we referenced a couple times.
My review of Sterte’s A Frog in the Fall (and Later On).
If You Liked A Garden of Spheres, Check These Out
If you liked A Garden of Spheres, we think you might also like:
Scavengers Reign.
Rare Flavours.
World Heist.
New to the show? Waiting on the Trade is a comics book club podcast, run by two gents who don’t have time for monthly comics. If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can email us at [email protected].
You can also find us on:
Apple Podcasts.
Spotify.
YouTube.
As always, thanks for listening!
Waiting on the Trade is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://mattreadscomics.com/
1 hr 24 min
August 02Absolute Batman Vol. 1
It’s the absolute perfect time to talk about the first volume of recent Eisner winner Absolute Batman. Guest host Tyler Marifke joins us to talk about Absolute Batman Vol. 1, from writer Scott Snyder, artist Nick Dragotta, colorist Frank Martin, and letterer Clayton Cowles.
Will Waiting on the Trade join the throng of readers who have fallen in love with this new beefy Bat-boy? Or will Pat’s notorious hatred for superheroes persist into the Absolute Universe?
Want More Thoughts on Absolute Batman?
If you want more discussion of Absolute Batman and the Absolute Universe, check out these posts:
The Glorious Spectacle of Absolute Batman: Abomination.
Why Did Ultimate Marvel and Absolute DC Succeed? It’s the Vibes.
If You Liked Absolute Batman, Check These Out
If you liked Absolute Batman, we think you might also like:
Dandadan.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Return to New York.
Batman: The Long Halloween.
New to the show? Waiting on the Trade is a comics book club podcast, run by two gents who don’t have time for monthly comics. If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can email us at [email protected].
You can also find us on:
Apple Podcasts.
Spotify.
YouTube.
As always, thanks for listening!
Waiting on the Trade is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://mattreadscomics.com/
1 hr 30 min
June 07The Magic Fish
In this episode of Waiting on the Trade, guest host Kathryn Prince joins us to discuss Trung Le Nguyen’s The Magic Fish.
Explanations, Observations, and Links of Note
As Kat said, The Magic Fish has found itself on many banned books lists, for reasons that make zero sense. A Texas list, for example, wanted to ban books that might “make students feel discomfort.” Sometimes, words fail me.
Anyway, here’s an explainer about The Streisand Effect. For no particular reason.
And you can catch that “banned-but-we’re-doing-it-anyway” Watertown performance of “A Mother of A Revolution!” here.
It’s Poiret, btw.
If you’d like to learn more about the caudal peduncle, click here to view its entry in the American Fisheries Society’s Fishionary.
Watch Romeo + Juliet if you haven’t! It’s so over-the-top good! And it’s Harold Perrineau who plays Mercutio.
Follow-Up Recommendations
If you liked The Magic Fish, we think you might also like:
Angelica and the Bear Prince.
The Prince and the Dressmaker.
Plain Jane and the Mermaid.
New to the show? Waiting on the Trade is a comics book club podcast, run by two gents who don’t have time for monthly comics. If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can email us at [email protected].
You can also find us on:
Apple Podcasts.
Spotify.
YouTube.
As always, thanks for listening!
Waiting on the Trade is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://mattreadscomics.com/
56 min
May 03Witch Hat Atelier Vol. 1
In this episode of Waiting on the Trade, we discuss the first volume of Witch Hat Atelier, the magical manga series by Kamome Shirahama.
Explanations, Observations, and Links of Note
If you want to read more of my thoughts on Witch Hat Atelier, I’ve written about both Volume One and Volume Four previously.
Here is that beautifully-laid-out double-page spread from pages 182 and 183 that Pat and I gushed about.
Possible spoilers here, but I wanted to see if anyone had made a good argument for Coco being a “chosen one.” It seems like “no,” if this Reddit thread is indicative.
Follow-Up Recommendations
If you liked Witch Hat Atelier, we think you might also like:
Delicious in Dungeon.
Kaya.
New to the show? Waiting on the Trade is a comics book club podcast, run by two gents who don’t have time for monthly comics. If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can email us at [email protected].
You can also find us on:
Apple Podcasts.
Spotify.
YouTube.
As always, thanks for listening!
Waiting on the Trade is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://mattreadscomics.com/
1 hr 20 min
April 05Fantastic Four Vol. 1 (2026)
In this episode of Waiting on the Trade, guest host Tyler Marifke joins us to discuss the second first volume of writer Ryan North’s Fantastic Four, which features art by penciler/inker Humberto Ramos, inker Victor Olazaba, colorist Edgar Delgado, and letterers Travis Lanham and Joe Caramagna.
Explanations, Observations, and Links of Note
Much of what you need to know about this volume, and Marvel’s increasingly erratic relaunches, can be summed up by the fact that Marvel’s own website doesn’t know which volume of Fantastic Four is the most recent.
Click this link to see Pat’s semi-distressing comparison of Ramos and co.’s Sue Richards vs. Alicia Masters vs. Felicia Hardy. At least Alicia has shorter hair?
Follow-Up Recommendations
If you liked this volume of Fantastic Four, we think you might also like:
Mark Waid, Mike Wieringo, and co.’s Fantastic Four.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Grootfall.
Matt Fraction, David Aja, and co.’s Hawkeye.
New to the show? Waiting on the Trade is a comics book club podcast, run by two gents who don’t have time for monthly comics. If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can email us at [email protected].
You can also find us on:
Apple Podcasts.
Spotify.
YouTube.
As always, thanks for listening!
Waiting on the Trade is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://mattreadscomics.com/
1 hr 50 min
March 01East of West Vol. 1
In this episode of Waiting on the Trade, guest host Simon Payne joins us to discuss the first volume of Jonathan Hickman, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin, and Rus Wooton’s East of West.
Explanations, Observations, and Links of Note
The East of West Compendium really is a good deal! So if our discussion got you hyped to read this series, I’d certainly recommend springing for that massive tome. (The only problem is that massive volumes like that can be awkward to hold and read.)
There’s a world in which I went through this list of 2010s Image Comics and noted which series have finished and which haven’t. But ultimately, that thought bores me, and I don’t feel like calling any of them out specifically. Regardless, 2010s Image Comics was a great slate of comics, even if some didn’t stick the landing.
Follow-Up Recommendations
If you liked East of West, we think you might also like:
Pulp.
Search and Destroy.
Jupiter’s Legacy.
New to the show? Waiting on the Trade is a comics book club podcast, run by two gents who don’t have time for monthly comics. If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can email us at [email protected].
You can also find us on:
Apple Podcasts.
Spotify.
YouTube.
As always, thanks for listening!
Waiting on the Trade is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://mattreadscomics.com/
59 min
February 01Schlock Mercenary: Longshoreman of the Apocalypse
In this episode of Waiting on the Trade, guest host Jonathan Gurney joins us to discuss Longshoreman of the Apocalypse, the tenth volume of long-running webcomic Schlock Mercenary.
Explanations, Observations, and Links of Note
I got curious about StumbleUpon, so I searched up some additional information on it. Sadly (but as expected), it is now defunct.
Pat (rightfully) cut my mention of it from the episode, but I need y’all to know how wild Garfield’s Pet Force is. To make up for my selfishness, I will also link to Hungry (aka “I’m Sorry, Jon”), which Jono mentioned during that cut discussion.
I was tempted but ultimately decided not to list out every webcomic we mentioned in this episode. Partially because the list would have been quite long and unwieldy, partially out of laziness. You have the internet! You can find them!
Jono briefly mentioned Dead Internet Theory, and if you haven’t engaged with that yet, it is an interesting idea to think about as you wander the internet.
Follow-Up Recommendations
If you liked Schlock Mercenary, we think you might also like:
Bad Machinery.
Terry Pratchett’s Ankh-Morpork City Watch series.
Lavender Jack.
New to the show? Waiting on the Trade is a comics book club podcast, run by two gents who don’t have time for monthly comics. If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can email us at [email protected].
You can also find us on:
Apple Podcasts.
Spotify.
YouTube.
As always, thanks for listening!
Waiting on the Trade is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://mattreadscomics.com/
0 min
January 04Lucas Wars
In this episode of Waiting on the Trade, guest host Kathryn Prince joins us to discuss Lucas Wars.
Explanations, Observations, and Links of Note
Pat sent a picture of his original VHS copy of Return of the Jedi, and yup, that thing looks like it has been well-loved.
Meanwhile, my first contact with the original Star Wars trilogy was the 1997 Special Edition – which makes me a heathen to my wife.
How in the world do you think adding the “NOOOO!” from Revenge of the Sith to this scene makes it better? How?!
But at the same time, Lucas is not the first creator to revisit and rework earlier work.
Follow-Up Recommendations
If you liked Lucas Wars, we think you might also like:
“SEAGULLS! (Stop It Now)”.
Andor.
Star Wars: Darth Vader.
New to the show? Waiting on the Trade is a comics book club podcast, run by two gents who don’t have time for monthly comics. If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can email us at [email protected].
You can also find us on:
Apple Podcasts.
Spotify.
YouTube.
As always, thanks for listening!
Waiting on the Trade is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://mattreadscomics.com/
0 min
December 07, 2025Dandadan Vol. 9
In this episode of Waiting on the Trade, guest hosts Suzanne and Simon Payne join us to discuss Dandadan Vol. 9.
Explanations, Observations, and Links of Note
I subscribed to the Shonen Jump app to catch up to volume nine here, and I have really enjoyed having access to the full Jump library. If you’ve been on the fence about subscribing, I recommend it. (And may be writing more about the app in the future.)
Technically, by the definition given here, Dandadan is a harem manga. But I don’t think it comes off as one while reading it, and Dandadan isn’t listed on that page. Reddit also thinks Dandadan is not a harem series, so there’s that.
I saw the Nara Daibutsu (the largest bronze Buddha statue in Japan) during my vacation in Japan this year. It’s big, but dwarfed by the Ushiku Daibutsu. You can see pictures of both here.
Follow-Up Recommendations
If you liked this volume of Dandadan, we think you might also like:
Spy x Family.
Chainsaw Man.
Mob Psycho 100.
Absolute Batman.
New to the show? Waiting on the Trade is a comics book club podcast, run by two gents who don’t have time for monthly comics. If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can email us at [email protected].
You can also find us on:
Apple Podcasts.
Spotify.
YouTube.
As always, thanks for listening!
Waiting on the Trade is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://mattreadscomics.com/
1 hr 2 min
November 02, 2025Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees
In this episode of Waiting on the Trade, we discuss Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, a cozy-but-grisly anthropomorphic thriller from writer/artist Patrick Horvath and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.
Explanations, Observations, and Links of Note
IMO, this image of a police dog with a police dog very neatly sums up the weird, blurry dichotomy of anthropmorphic animals and real animals in Beneath the Trees. I’m glad we ultimately landed on “it doesn’t make sense, but it’s interesting, so that’s fine!”
The Beneath the Trees sequel is actually six issues long and still ongoing as of this episode’s release. It looks quite intriguing, and I’d be surprised if we didn’t give it a read.
Follow-Up Recommendations
If you liked Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, we think you might also like:
My Boyfriend Is a Bear.
Mindhunter.
New to the show? Waiting on the Trade is a comics book club podcast, run by two gents who don’t have time for monthly comics. If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can email us at [email protected].
You can also find us on:
Apple Podcasts.
Spotify.
YouTube.
As always, thanks for listening!
Waiting on the Trade is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://mattreadscomics.com/
43 min

About Waiting on the Trade

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Waiting on the Trade is a comics book club for people who can't keep up with monthly comics. Join Pat, Matt, and each month's guest host as they discuss some of their favorite trade paperbacks and graphic novels.

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Waiting on the Trade

Waiting on the Trade episodes

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