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Welcome to Storied Arcs! A read-along deep dive into comics, one story arc at a time...<br><br>In each episode, we will discuss one story arc, typically in the form of a trade paperback, for a completed comic series. In general, we will be avoiding ongoing or continuing series so that we can discuss a work in its entirety.&nbsp;<br><br>We’ll also be avoiding the “big two” (Marvel and DC.) While we love those comics, there are plenty of podcasts covering characters like Batman, Superman, Spiderman, and so on. Instead, we’re excited to explore some of the great creator-owned stories. We’ll deep dive into the story while evaluating the prose, art, and all the easter eggs we can find.&nbsp;<br><br>Learn more at www.storiedarcs.com</p>
"You Just pretend to be people's friends. You don't have feelings. I didn't start the campaign, but I wish I could thank whoever did. You deserve this."
Mike and Alex are here to kick off a new season of Stories Arcs by diving into the action-comedy-romance-question mark comic Crowded Volume 1: Soft Apocalypse (issues #1-6) from Image Comics by writer Christopher Sebela and artists Ro Stein and Ted Brandt. The guys jump right in and talk about how the book builds its slightly-skewed version of our world through the various apps and websites utilized by the characters, and discuss the various layers of satire and commentary they present. Then they look at how Crowded works as a tried-and-true buddy cop/odd couple story and try and break down why the trope continues to work so well (and lament why it isn't used more). Finally, they praise the entire art presentation, from the lush colors by Triona Farrell to the distinctive lettering by Cardinal Rae. This is a fun kickoff to a very fun story.
The discussion continues next week as we dive into Crowded Volume 2: Glitter Dystopia (issues #7-12), so go find it wherever you get your comics and come be a part of it!
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On this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are backing the campaign for Crowded from Image Comics by writer Christopher Sebela and the art team of Ro Stein and Ted Brandt. The guys start with a quick synopsis for the comic (crowded funded assassinations, anyone?), their histories reading it (don't judge a comic solely by its cover), and why they're interested in discussing it (over-the-top action mixed with sharp social commentary). Then they give an overview of the full creative team behind Crowded, including Sebela, Stein and Brandt, colorist Triona Farrell, and letterer Cardinal Rae (who we originally discussed a few seasons back during our intro to Eat The Rich/Know Your Station, which you can find here). No spoilers for the comic here, just a tease of what's to come.
If you look up Crowded on any comic app, you'll see that it ran for twelve issues and there are three trade paperback collections. This, however, doesn't tell the full publication story. Issues #1-12 are collected in trade volumes 1 and 2, and then trade volume 3 was published as a single-volume nearly two years after issue #12 was released. So if you're searching for single issues (a pursuit much encouraged by the hosts of this podcast), know that you'll still need that final trade to complete the story.
Crowded is a super fun, kinda outrageous comic, and we can't wait to dig into it with everyone. So go find Crowded Volume 1: Soft Apocalypse (issues #1-6) wherever you get your comics and join us here next week to kick off the discussion!
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"And when it comes down to it, really, time is all we have. And it doesn't matter how long you live if you're not spending it the way you want."
This week, Mike and Alex are here to wrap up their discussion of Time Before Time from Image Comics with Volumes 5 and 6 (issues #25-29 and #6, #12, #18, and #24). They start at the end (of the narrative, at least) and discuss how the story concludes, how it works for each of them as an ending, and whether the actual end of the story is issue #28 or #29. Then they dive into the one-shot stories that make up Volume 6 and examine them from all angles, from how those issues read and fit into the overall narrative when presented at the end of said narrative to if any of those stories would have been better served being more integrated into the main narrative. It's not easy to end a story, and with these one-shot issues collected at the end, Time Before Time presents an interesting discussion point in the single issue reading vs. trade reading debate. We're not going to tell you one way is better than another; we just want people to read as many comics however they can.
That brings another season of Storied Arcs to a close. We hope you enjoyed our look into Time Before Time, and be sure to join us again next week as we get ready to do it all again with another great comic!
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"I really thought things were going to be better when we came back here. Maybe the world's just cruel no matter what time you're in, though."
Mike and Alex are here to continue their trip through time and space with Image Comics' Time Before Time, this week examining Volumes 3 and 4 (issues #13-17 and #19-23). They guys discuss the introduction of a new character who gets his own two-issue mini-arc and how it meshes (or maybe doesn't) into the main narrative. Then they dive deep into the story, debating what parts are working for them and what parts feel a little extraneous, and try and work through how the "closed loop" presentation of time travel is being utilized and presented in the comic. Finally, they tip a hat to some of the subtle differences in page and panel layout seen in these volumes that come with the addition of guest artists into the series.
There's only one trade volume left of the main story, but two trade volumes left of the comic, and we're eager to discuss the how/what/why of it all. So pick up Time Before Time Volumes 5 and 6 (issues #25-29, and #6, #12, #18, and #24) wherever you get your comics and join us next week to finish out the discussion!
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"Well, let me put it this way... if the past could be changed, do you really think the world would be like this?"
It's been a while since Mike and Alex have tackled time travel (you have to go all the way back to the very first book they covered, Paper Girls), and it felt overdue in returning to the concept. So inn this season of Storied Arcs, they're diving into Image Comics' Time Before Time from Declan Shalvey, Rory McConville, and Joe Palmer with the first two trade paperback volumes (issues #1-5 and #7-11). The guys do their best to break down the various time jumps while not losing track of what the "present" time of the book is. They also examine the world that's being created for the reader, from the rules that govern their version of time travel (closed loop system, technology doesn't travel, etc.) to trying to decipher why the future is so bad, you'd indenture yourself to a crime syndicate just to escape it. And before they wrap up their discussion, they highlight some of their standout storytelling elements, from the artwork to the coloring to the letters.
The end of Volume 2 really sets the story in motion, perhaps more so than the end of Volume 1, so we're ready to dive right into our next discussion. Find Time Before Time Volumes 3 and 4 (issues #13-17 and #19-23) wherever you get your comics and we'll you see you back here next week!
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Welcome to another season of Storied Arcs! This go-round, Mike and Alex are ready to tackle time travel paradoxes head on as they dive into Time Before Time from Image Comics from Declan Shalvey, Rory McConville, and Joe Palmer. The guys start by giving a run down of the full creative team behind this book (to start, at least; a roster of guest artists come into the series after issue #11, and we'll talk about them when we get to those issues), including colorist Chris O'Halloran and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, before talking a bit about why they chose this book, what drew them to it in the first place, and a little tease to get you into the story.
Time Before Time ran for 29 issues, and has been collected into 6 trade paperbacks. We'll be covering the story two trade paperbacks at a time; we feel it flows better that way. But if you're reading in single issue, be aware that every 6th issue (#6, #12, 18, and #24) is a stand-alone one-shot story, and those issues have been collected separately to comprise Volume 6. So in accordance with the trades, we'll skip over those issues as we go and cover them all at once at the end of the story.
The time travel logic can get tricky, so give yourself time (and space) to read Time Before Time Volumes 1 and 2 (issues #1-5 and #7-11) wherever you get your comics and join us back here next week and be part of the discussion!
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In honor of Halloween, Mike and Alex are delighted to chat all things horror comics with special guest and comics connoisseur Rosie Knight, co-host of X-Ray Vision! They start with a big picture look at horror as a genre and why it has such lasting appeal in comics, and also discuss their own history consuming horror stories. The trio then each give their top three horror comics recommendations for folks to check out (plus many, many sidebars and honorable mentions) to keep Spooky Season going year-round.
You can follow Rosie on Instagram and at her website, and track all of her work online on Authory. You can purchase Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp, Rosie and Oliver Ono's middle grade OGN, here or at your local comic shop.
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This week, Mike and Alex are incredibly excited to be joined by the creators of Revival, Tim Seeley and Mike Norton. They start by discussing the origin of Revival (it helps when you work in the same studio) and how it evolved to incorporate multiple different genres, all working under the umbrella of "rural noir." Tim and Mike then dive into on how and where they feel Revival fits in (or doesn't) with some of the other zombie/vampire/monster/horror stories that were becoming increasingly popular at the time, and what they did as an intentional zags away from what they saw as traditional horror comics. They guys also discuss the cover art of Jenny Frison and its importance to the series, the sometimes uncomfortable prescience of Revival, and how they might approach the same subject matter differently if they were to tackle it today versus a dozen years ago. Finally, Tim and Mike say what they can about the upcoming Revival TV adaption on Syfy that, at the time of this recording, is currently in production and speak on the comic's journey to get to this point.
You can follow Tim at his website as well as on Twitter, Instagram, and Bluesky.
You can follow Mike at his website as well as on Instagram and Bluesky.
You can follow their studio at Four Star Studios.
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"But after Revival Day, we all went back to being within reach of the scythe. It made us remember how little time we get together. It made us honest. It made us human."
This week, Mike and Alex warp up their discussion of Tim Seeley and Mike Norton's rural noir, Revival, as they dive deep into Deluxe Volume 4 (issues #36-47). The guys start at the end and break down the comic's final moments, looking at what does and doesn't work for them from both a story (aka "what happens") and plot (aka "how it happens") standpoint. They also discuss the relative happiness of the ending (in which Mike has one specific exception with) and what they think the final coda page means, if it's supposed to be mean anything at all.
We hope you've enjoyed our deep dive look into Revival. But wait, there's more! Next week on the feed, we're super excited to present an exclusive interview with Revival co-creators Tim Seeley and Mike Norton. The chat covers all aspects of Revival, from its origin to its presentation and storytelling to the upcoming TV adaptation of Syfy. You don't want to miss it!
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"Or, Martha Cypress... maybe, our paths crossing again is meant to redeem us both. Maybe this moment defines what we do with our gifts."
Mike and Alex are continuing their deep dive into Tim Seeley and Mike Norton's rural noir Revival from Image Comics, this week breaking down Deluxe Volume 3 (issues #24-35). They start by looking at the some of the big reveals given in these issues, from both narrative and character standpoints, and discuss how those reveals were handled and deployed within the story. The guys also revisit the idea of Seeley and Norton continually ratcheting up the tension in the town and how that culminates in a literal explosion, only to then find a way to ratchet up the tension even more in the aftermath. Finally, Mike and Alex both take aim at some visual motifs that start to become more prevalent in this volume, namely water and red thread.
We're in the home stretch now and we don't want to spoil the ending, so go find Revival Deluxe Volume 4 (issues 36-47) wherever you get your comics and join us here again next week for the epic conclusion!
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Amanda is a wife. A mother. A blogger. A Christian.
A charming, beautiful, bubbly, young woman who lives life to the fullest.
But Amanda is dying, with a secret she doesn’t want anyone to know.
She starts a blog detailing her cancer journey, and becomes an inspiration, touching and
captivating her local community as well as followers all over the world.
Until one day investigative producer Nancy gets an anonymous tip telling her to look at Amanda’s
blog, setting Nancy on an unimaginable road to uncover Amanda’s secret.
Award winning journalist Charlie Webster explores this unbelievable and bizarre, but
all-too-real tale, of a woman from San Jose, California whose secret ripped a family apart and
left a community in shock.
Scamanda is the true story of a woman whose own words held the key to her secret.
New episodes every Monday.
Follow Scamanda on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Amanda’s blog posts are read by actor Kendall Horn.
