Episode 37 – Tintin in Tibet by Herge/George Remi

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After a long hiatus, the Phoenix Comics Podcast returns for what will likely be our last episode in this format for a while. We’re working on another comics related podcast project, and we’ll let you know more about that when it gets rolling. For now, enjoy our musings and stories about Tintin in Tibet, and looking at creator rights from that lens.

We talk about some specific pages, page 42 when they first see the yeti.

Snowy’s battle with his internal demon.

Tharkey, Captain Haddock, and Tintin’s changing expressions as they encounter the Yeti.

And Page 35, the panorama shot. This is a fairly common device in comics, although often times it’s a fixed shot with people moving across it. In this case it’s the perspective that creates the panorama, effectively communicating the expansiveness of the environment.

Episode 36 – Pietrolino by Alejandro Jodorowsky and Olivier G. Boiscommun

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Jeff and I delve into another comic with Jodorowsky’s name on the spine. We discuss collaboration and what writer and artist bring to the finished product (specifically from theatre), adaptation, along with our usual diversions along the way.

We talk quite a bit about Blacksad when we’re talking similar books. The art in Blacksad is phenomenal, you can check out some images here.

I’ll post an image of page 86-87 that we talk about at some length when I get a chance, specifically Pietrolinos facial expressions.

We ention Fashion Beast and Anna Mercury as well, two fine Avatar titles.

Episode 35 – Book Club – Rex Mundi by Arvid Nelson, Eric J, and Juan Ferreyra

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On this episode Jeff and Russell talk about Rex Mundi, the alternate history detective thriller… with a bit of political intrigue thrown in for good measure. It’s ambitious, but we have a few bones to pick with the material, as usual. Check out the official website for previews and more!

The interview Jeff talks about between Kevin Smith and Stan Lee is called “Stan Lee’s Mutants, Monsters & Marvels”

Here’s a great interview with Alex de Campi about her Ashes project.

We talked about Flight of Angels on an unreleased episode. That’s a link to the Amazon page. It’s neat stuff, especially because you get to see how writers effect art (not much!).

Episode 34 – Book Club – Starstruck by Elaine Lee, Michael Kaluta, Lee Moyer, and Charles Vess

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On this Episode me and Jeff talk about Starstruck, Elaine Lee and Michael Kaluta’s long running Science Fiction epic. I’ll put some images up when I get a chance!

 

Episode 33 – Book Club – Warriors Three by Bill Willingham and Neil Edwards

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Jeff and Russell talk about Warriors Three by Bill Willingham and Neil Edwards, a four issue miniseries that was originally published in 2010 and collected in Warriors Three: Dog Day Afternoon. We also briefly discuss art lineages, the cult of Bill Willingham, and how this particular book fits into the idea of comics as literature.

I mention Proposition Player, which was previously available as a single volume but is now collected in Bill Willingham’s Bad Doings and Big Ideas Hardcover. You can visit Neil Edwards Blog here.

When we talk about the Woody Allen character beating up Fandril at the end of issue two, here’s the image I was thinking of.

Image of the bomb, right out of Kirby.

AIM Yellow Space Suits

Train splash page

Hanging splash page

Episode 32 – Book Club – Revolver by Matt Kindt

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Jeff and Russell talk about Revolver by Matt Kindt, a slice-of-life science fiction story published by the Vertigo arm of DC Comics.

We talk about the splash page on “page 12” which is actually page 7 of the story pages. Note the handy page numbers written out as a newspaper ticker tape.

We also discuss the political cartoon in the eponymous fictional newspaper, and here it is for reference.

Episode 31 – Book Club – A Drifting Life by Yoshihiro Tatsumi

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Me and Jeff talk about A Drifting Life, an 800 plus page autobiographical Manga tome by Yoshihiro Tatsumi, published by Drawn and Quarterly. We also talk about historical context and how that fits in with the idea of relevance.

For a few samples of the artwork, check out the preview available on Drawn and Quarterly.

Episode 30 – Book Club – Hawkeye 1-5 by Matt Fraction, David Aja, and Javier Pulido

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Jeff and Russell talk about the first five issues of the newest incarnation of Marvel’s Hawkeye, written by Matt Fraction with art by David Aja and Javier Pulido. We talk a bit about covers and how much control creators have over “B-list” vs. “A-list” characters, as well as other diversions.

I did want to mention that we are horribly butchering the pronunciation of “Aja” It should be something like A-ha… not Aya, but oh well. Hopefully you will forgive us. Maybe Jeff thought he was Scandinavian…

We again mention Do the Gods Wear Capes. If you haven’t read it I highly recommend you do so.

Before we get to some images I just want to mention that starting now I will be trying to post updates every two weeks. I was crazy busy the last couple months and wasn’t able to edit anything, hopefully things have settled down enough so that I can keep to a somewhat reduced schedule. This will probably not matter to most of you, but if there is anyone who is “caught up” for now you will be waiting a little longer for new episodes to go up.

I mention I really like the cover for Issue 2:

The “Really?” scene, Issue 3 page 12:

KGlass! Issue 5 Page 13:

Issue 3, page 17:

The “technical term” that I couldn’t think of for comic book symbols denoting profanity is gralix (or gralixes). The term was created by Mort Walker and you can read more about that (and more crazy words for comic book “shorthand”) here.

All images copyright Marvel Comics. First, second, and fourth images art by David Aja, third image art by Javier Pulido. Scripts by Matt Fraction, colours by Matt Hollingsworth.

Episode 29 – Book Club – Parker: the Hunter

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On this episode we talk about Parker the Hunter by Darwyn Cooke, published by IDW. Our conversation meanders into a more general discussion about character, celebrity, and morality.

Jeff mentions Parker’s face on page 103.

Episode 28 – Book Club – Superman Earth One

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Me and Jeff talk about Superman Earth One by J. Michael Straczynski and Shane Davis. Our assessment of this particular work is quite harsh, our final judgement is that you probably shouldn’t go out of your way to read it. We talk about why this book didn’t work for us and the conditions that allowed this book to not only be published but to even be quite popular.

We mention It’s a Bird by Steven T. Seagle, art by  Teddy Kristiansen. It’s worth a look if you get a chance.

I decided to cut about five minutes that we spend talking about the “definitive” Superman story. If you’re interested in listening to those five extra minutes, click here!

This was the one example of copy pasting that we found. It does make some sense in context and isn’t completely blatant, obviously he did have to create the background.

Holy crap, it’s an evil mime blowing Superman away with his chest or something!

I’m not exactly sure, but I feel like Superman’s proportions aren’t quite human… I guess he is an alien.

The flash doesn’t really help, but the lighting just seems weird here.

All images by Shane Davis, written by J. Michael Straczynski, copyright and published by DC Comics.