Category: The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast

The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast

The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast Vol XII

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Brat Pack & The King Hell Heroica by Rick Veitch

Diabolu Frank, Illegal Machine, and Mr. Fixit go back to the Dark Age of deconstructionist super-heroics under the pen of Roarin’ Rick Veitch, specifically his incendiary work Bratpack from 1990, with a side of 1992’s The Maximortal, both published by Tundra (& Kitchen Sink Press.) Then Frank has a solo rant at the end where he summarizes 1985’s Epic series The One (which almost certainly influenced Watchmen), before tearing into Don Simpson’s 1990 Bizarre Heroes one shot & 2023’s X-Amount of Comics: 1963 (WhenElse?!) Annual from Fantagraphics.

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Episode Gallery

On Barry Blair, Founder of Aircel Comics by Don Unger

Swamp Thing #88 script & partial art at 20th Century Danny Boy

The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast, 1980s, 1990s, 2020s, Alan Moore, Comic Books, Fantagraphics, IDW, Marshal Law, Rick Veitch, Don Simpson, The One, Bratpack, The Maximortal, Epic Comics, Tundra, Kitchen Sink Press

The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast

The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast Vol XI

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The Warped Saga of Starslayer & GrimJack

Diabolu Frank, Illegal Machine, and (a little bit of) Fry-Hole take you on a winding journey through the early history of the direct sales market, specific to the initial competitive independent publishers Pacific, Capitol, and First Comics. All this is specifically with regard to how that relates to the Organic Theater Company stage play Warp by Stuart Gordon and Lenny Kleinfeld (as “Bury St. Edmund,”) and its comics adaptation by Peter B. Gillis, Frank Brunner, Jerry Bingham, Mike Gustovich, Howard Chaykin, George Freeman, Marc Silvestri, and others; Mike Grell’s Starslayer: The Log of the Jolly Roger, as continued by Lenin Delsol and others; and the early Grimjack back-up strips by John Ostrander & Timothy Truman.

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Episode Gallery

Warp! Gallery I

Warp! Gallery II

The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast, 1970s, 1980s, Capital Comics, Comic Books, DC Implosion, Dreadstar, Howard Chaykin, Jim Starlin, Mike Gustovich, Neal Adams, Pacific Comics, The Warlord

The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast

The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast Vol X

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The Price

Book Two of The Metamorphosis Odyssey


Diabolu Frank, Illegal Machine, and Mr. Fixit return to “The Metamorphosis Odyssey,” Jim Starlin’s sci-fi/fantasy, as it transitions from a series of fully painted special edition graphic novels into a comic book series. First up is 1981’s The Price, which introduces the saga’s “wizard,” Syzygy Darklock. Originally published in a black & white magazine format as Eclipse Graphic Album Series #5, it was colorized for the comics format Dreadstar Annual #1. Next comes Summer 1982’s Marvel Graphic Novel #3, the first chapter in the series actually called Dreadstar, the title of the ongoing series and the more famous branding for the odyssey overall. Finally, a story threaded through the December 1982 issue of the anthology magazine Epic Illustrated, where the fourth member of the developing rebel band is (unintentionally) introduced. We also continue to compare the various editions and formats across the epic’s many publishers.

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The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast, James P. Starlin, Dreadstar, Comic Books, 1980s,

The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast

The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast Vol IX

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Dropping the Black Hammer on a Cavalcade of Crappy Comics

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A capsule review buffet, mostly served by Frank. Reaching back to 2017 in a discussion originally earmark for Vol. III, we talk The Coldest City (Atomic Blonde Edition) by Antony Johnston & Sam Hart, Horizon Volume 1 by Brandon Thomas & Juan Gedeon; Renato Jones: The One% Season One by Kaare Kyle Andrews; Throwaways by Caitlin Kittredge & Steven Sanders, ROM Vol. 1: Earthfall & Vol. 2: Reinforcements by Chris Ryall, Christos N. Gage, David Messina, and Paolo Villanelli; G.I. Joe: COBRA by Christos N. Gage, Mike Costa, & Antonio Fuso; Coyotes, Vol. 1 by Sean Lewis & Caitlin Yarsky; Rockstars Volume 1: Nativity in Blacklight by Joe Harris & Megan Hutchison; Royal City Volume 1: Next of Kin by Jeff Lemire; Black Hammer by Jeff Lemire & Dean Ormston; Dark Ark by Cullen Bunn & Juan Doe; Seven to Eternity, Vol. 1: The God of Whispers by Rick Remender & Jerome Opeña; Curse Words Volume 1: The Devil’s Deal by Charles Soule & Ryan Browne; Harrow County by Cullen Bunn & Tyler Crook; Courtney Crumrin: The Night Things by Ted Naifeh; The Manara Library Volume One: Indian Summer and Other Stories by Milo Manara with Hugo Pratt; Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang, and Caliber Presents: Volume 1 (2016).

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Comic Books, Image Comics, The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast, Dark Horse, IDW, Rom Spaceknight, Black Hammer, Oni Press, Caliber Comics, Aftershock Comics,

The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast

The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast Vol VIII

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Deathmatch

Frank and José go deep into the vaults for more of our earliest unreleased recordings, dating back to 2015, with the 2012-2013 Boom! Studios maxi-series Deathmatch by Paul Jenkins & Carlos Magno. Then, Frank goes solo to talk Paul Grist’s 2011 Image Comics series Mudman, Dark Horse’s 2014 Tomb Raider reboot with Gail Simone & Nicolás Daniel Selma, and the late life Vertigo title Coffin Hill by Caitlin Kittredge and Inaki Miranda. Given the amount of corporate-owned IP, clearly the format of the show was still being sorted out. Afterwards, Frank has managed to outlast the actual “Swords of Cerebus” reprint series by entering his second “telephone book” collection, High Society, starting with #26-29 (1981.) Mac is present but mostly passive for this, another reason why we sat on the material for nearly eight years.

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1980s, 2010s, Cerebus, Comic Books, Dave Sim, Image Comics, The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse, Deathmatch, Mudman, Coffin Hill, Vertigo, Tomb Raider, Gail Simone, Paul Grist, Paul Jenkins, Carlos Magno

The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast

The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast Vol VII

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Saga Compendium

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Nearly three years since our last episode, and a thoroughly unforgivable nigh on seven years since the original recording, Diabolu Frank and special guest Token Fire Guy discuss the first thirty issues (or initial five trade paperbacks) of Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples’ sci-fi/fantasy series Saga. For perspective, this talk took place in October of 2015, the same month Paper Girls launched, a series that concluded four years later, had a television series adaptation delayed by COVID, before finally being filmed and the first season released since we hit the stop button on this thing. It’s even about half a year out from the tenth anniversary of Saga itself. Though indefensible, Frank did try to edit this episode several times over the years, initially overwhelmed by perfectionist leanings and a complicated narrative scheme that didn’t work out across a three hour recording, and then had that computer permanently crash, requiring recovery and re-editing. As the episode progresses, you’ll hear that fussiness go right out the window. Barack Hussein Obama was still the President of the United States of America and Hillary his heir apparent. It’s a podcast. It’s a time machine. And now… Saga.

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2010s, Saga, Comic Books, The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast

The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast

The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast Vol VI

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Scalped by the Undying Swords of Cerebus


As we pass through our fifth year of podcasting, we present our sixth functionally annual episode of The Under Guides is the form of a reflective Judas. The Irredeemable Shag of The Fire & Water Podcasting discusses his frustration with DC & Marvel Comics, prompting Frank to offer some independent publishing alternatives (plus unavoidable Firestorm talk.) Then Joe Fixit reviews the DC/Vertigo series Scalped, Frank brings up a slew of zombie titles, and Mac pleads with us not to spoil Walking Dead seasons long passed. On the back end is coverage of the final stories presented in Dave Sims’ first “telephone book” 25-issue collection of the groundbreaking Cerebus.

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The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast

The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast Vol V

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The Metamorphosis Odyssey by James P. Starlin


Diabolu Frank and Illegal Machine look at the early years of Epic Illustrated, Marvel Comics’ bid at a Heavy Metal style mainstream newsstand anthology magazine. Launched with a Spring 1980 cover date, the magazine featured an unwieldy mix of creator-owned “indie” work, Robert E. Howard/Michael Moorcock fantasy adaptations, and corporate super-hero stuff like Silver Surfer saddle-stitched with a mix of thin glossy and heavy matte paper stocks (like Playboy back in the day.) More to the point, the boys focus on “The Metamorphosis Odyssey,” Jim Starlin’s sci-fi/fantasy, serialized across fourteen chapters and nine issues. Space pharaoh Aknaton spends millennia setting up a doomsday gambit to halt the onslaught of the Zygoteans across the Milky Wat galaxy before gathering his players and seeking to blow the Infinity Horn. You can also read the story in Slave Labor Graphics’ (dismal) 2000 collection or Dynamite Entertainment’s supreme hardcover, the best presentation available in print. This story introduced Vanth Dreadstar, lethal protagonist of a long running ongoing series published by more houses than most any other character in comics. Afterwards, Frank has another longish “Swords of Cerebus” installment, looking at issues #18-21 of Dave Sims iconic indy. Finally, your mail on the Alterna Comics episode, featuring some of their talent.

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Rolled Spine Podcasts are on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, ShoutEngine and the Internet Archive.

The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast

The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast Vol IV

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Alterna Comics Spinner Rack


Illegal Machine, Mister Joe Fixit and Diabolu Frank return to deeper dive independent comics podcasting after an over two year hiatus with a tweaked format and an accelerated release schedule (which could very well be an annual and still count, though.) Adopting something more like a magazine format, the boys turn a virtual spinner rack of “floppy” titles from the publisher Alterna Comics, who are “Bringing Back Newsprint Comics” of the sort we grew up on at the very inviting cover price of a dollar to a buck-fifty for often full color original work. We choose individual issues or runs of the titles Amazing Age, The Chair, Croak, Doppelganger, Mother Russia, & Scrimshaw, Trespasser, & The Wicked Righteous to mixed but hopefully entertaining results. Afterwards, Frank has another brief scrape with “Swords of Cerebus,” looking at issues #13-18 of Dave Sims iconic indy. Finally, we look at your ancient mail, which looks and smells like old newsprint by this point.

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The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast

The Under Guides Graphic Novel Podcast Vol III

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Prison Pit of the Earth-Pig




The Ill Mac, Mister Joe Fixit and Diabolu Frank return after nearly five months with black & whitesploitation! Fantagraphics Books represent at 0:38 with Johnny Ryan’s Prison Pit, an adults-only sci-fi gorehound wrestling original graphic novel series, currently at five volumes with an animated adaptation of the first. Then at 22:17, Frank offers a second installment of our “Swords of Cerebus” ongoing feature, a look at the seminal Canadian barbarian aardvark self-published series that published 300 regular issues between 1977-2004, taken six at a time. Discussing the encroaching craziness of once-revered creator Dave Sim with Mac leads us to a tangent at 28:54 tracing the similar trajectory of Frank Miller from Sin City to Dark Knight Strikes Again, All-Star Batman, Holy Terror and the upcoming The Master Race. 34:29 brings a theme song to our mail segment, which is so heavy with shop talk between Joe & Frank that it takes up most of the back half of the hour.

It is within your power to join the conversation with our hosts:

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