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We pick up another Young Animal book for our Best of 2017 series by reading "Doom Patrol: Brick by Brick" by Gerard Way. In this unraveling story, young paramedic Casey Brinke discovers her origin story while assembling the Doom Patrol once more. We talk about the wild ride this comic brings you on, the loose feeling and tone it gives, and the incredible art that delivers through and through. Throughout the book, though, we ask just how much an author can reasonably expect of their reader. Plus, we talk about Subnautica and Dragonball Super up top to start the show.

To hear past episodes, go to www.WelcometoComics.com. Support the show today and check out bonus content over at www.patreon.com/WelcometoComics.

Next time: “'Everyone's a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn, Too: A Book' by Jomny Sun" by Jonny Sun

We pick up "The Best We Could Do" by artist-author Thi Bui to continue our Best of 2017 series. This book chronicles the journey of Bui's family and their immigration from Vietnam to the US. We talk about the incredible richness of this story in how it captures character, context, and suspense. Bui's retelling of her family story works on almost every level as we fawn all over this book. Plus, we talk about Magic, Movies, and Frank Miller.

To hear past episodes, go to www.WelcometoComics.com. Support the show today and check out bonus content over at www.patreon.com/WelcometoComics.

Next time: "Doom Patrol: Brick By Brick” by Gerard Way

Our Best of 2017 series gets weird this week as we read "Shade, The Changing Girl: Earth Girl Made Easy" by Cecil Castellucci. In this Young Animal imprint, Meta-native Loma Shade uses the madness coat to possess a braindead teenage girl's body in an attempt to explore Earth culture. We talk about the role of the protagonist, exploring one's own empathy, and the ways characters come to terms with their own guilts. And this art is just great, too. Plus, we talk about MTG Grand Prix Santa Clara and tabletop gaming.

To hear past episodes, go to www.WelcometoComics.com. Support the show today and check out bonus content over at www.patreon.com/WelcometoComics.

Next time: “The Best We Could Do” by Thi Bui

Our "Best of 2017" series kicks off with what just might be the unanimous best comic of the year, "My Favorite Thing Is Monsters" by Emil Ferris. This comic, written from the point of view of a small horror-loving girl in 60's Chicago, was on every website's list of the best comics of the year. We delve into the incredible character work, the masterful artwork, and all the twists and turns of this tome of a book.

To hear past episodes, go to www.WelcometoComics.com. Support the show today and check out bonus content over at www.patreon.com/WelcometoComics.

Next time: “Shade, the Changing Girl: Earth Girl Made Easy” by Cecil Castellucci

We pick up another new character this week as we read "Silk: The Life and Times of Cindy Moon" by Robbie Thompson. This Spider-verse event follow-up goes in-depth on Cindy Moon's life after being rescued from her underground bunker. The premise is very cape-comics, but the result is a solid comic. We talk about the marriage of art and narration, the likability of Cindy Moon as a character, and why this doesn't feel like a hard place to get into a new character, even with the convoluted origin. Plus, Andy shops for dollhouse furniture and David doesn't want to hear your TLJ opinion.

To hear past episodes, go to www.WelcometoComics.com. Support the show today and check out bonus content over at www.patreon.com/WelcometoComics.

Next time: “My Favorite Thing Is Monsters" by Emil Ferris

This week we pick up Ron Marz's "Voodoo: What Lies Beneath." One of the first wave of New 52 launch titles, this book was supposed to herald a new character story into the DC Universe. Instead, we got an alien stripper in a story that keeps falling flat. We talk about that stripper "origin story" stuff, the comic's mixed messages, and the surprisingly good art. Why are we even reading a WildCATs hero in our "new heroes" series? Plus, David is a bad person.

To hear past episodes, go to www.WelcometoComics.com. Support the show today and check out bonus content over at www.patreon.com/WelcometoComics.

Next time: “Silk: The Life and Times of Cindy Moon" by Robbie Thompson

We're back after our long winter break to give you an episode on "Fathom, Vol. 1" by Michael Turner to kick off our series on comics with new superheroes. In Fathom, a young woman named Aspen gains superpowers and becomes embroiled in a war between those above and those below. We have a great time talking about this comic, from the incredible art that made Michael Turner a juggernaut in the 90's all the way to those dangling plot points. Plus, we talk about Thor: Ragnarok, the MCU, and Disney's role in nerddom in 2018.

To hear past episodes, go to www.WelcometoComics.com. Support the show today and check out bonus content over at www.patreon.com/WelcometoComics.

Next time: "Voodoo: What Lies Beneath" by Ron Marz

We wrap up our little sci-fi series by reading "Judge Dredd: America" by John Wagner. In the dystopian future, justice is absolute and morality gets more than a little warped. We talk about the strong anti-fascist themes in British comics from this era, the blurred moral boundaries of Dredd's America, and the on-point art. Plus, there's some spoiler-free Punisher, Justice League, and Laureline & That Sweaty Boy talk up front.

To hear past episodes, go to www.WelcometoComics.com. Support the show today and check out bonus content over at www.patreon.com/WelcometoComics.

Next time: “Fathom, Vol. 1" by Michael Turner

We pick up a classic sci-fi series by reading "The City of Shifting Waters" by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mezieres, the first volume of Valerian and Laureline. In this time-travel comic, spacio-temporal agents Valerian and Laureline use one gangster from the past to stop a gangster from the future in a destroyed US landscape. We talk about the unexpected lack of sexist, discuss the Luc Besson movie, and try to sort out what about this comic feels "European," if anything. Plus, we talk about Thor: Ragnarok a bit!

To hear past episodes, go to www.WelcometoComics.com. Support the show today and check out bonus content over at www.patreon.com/WelcometoComics.

Next time: “Judge Dredd: America" by John Wagner

We're back with a random sci-fi series that we're kicking off with "Star Wars: Tag & Bink Were Here" by Kevin Rubio. This parody takes the "background character" schtick to the extreme by inserting two bumbling buddies into the shadows of almost every major event of the movie franchise. We talk about how these kinds of characters add depth to an already rich universe, share our favorite gags, and gush over the over-the-top face work. Plus, David says he likes Destiny 2.

To hear past episodes, go to www.WelcometoComics.com. Support the show today and check out bonus content over at www.patreon.com/WelcometoComics.

Next time: "The City of Shifting Waters" by Jean-Claude Mézières and? Pierre Christin