The Comics Alternative
A weekly podcast focusing on the world of alternative, independent, and primarily non-superhero comics. (There's nothing wrong with superhero comics. We just want to do something different.) New podcast episodes become available every Wednesday and include reviews of graphic novels and current ongoing series, discussions of upcoming comics, examinations of collected editions, in-depth analyses of a variety of comics texts, and spotlights on various creators and publishers. The Comics Alternative also produces "special feature" programs, such as shows specifically dedicated to creator interviews, webcomics, on-location events, and special non-weekly themes and topics.
Episodes
January 23, 2019 • 96 mins
Time Codes:
00:00:32 - Introduction
00:03:38 - Now#5
01:02:20 - Criminal #1
01:20:01 - Scratcher #1-3
01:33:04 - Wrap up
01:34:32 - Contact us
On this episode of the podcast Sterg and Derek look at three exciting titles. They begin with Now#5, the latest in Fantagraphics' outstanding comics anthology series. As the guys point out, they're dedicated to discussing every issue of Nowthat is released, and this one is ch...
Mark as Played
January 9, 2019 • 120 mins
Time Codes:
00:00:32 - Introduction
00:03:07 - Listener correspondence!
00:09:07 - The Unknown Anti-War Comics
00:53:57 - Love and Rockets IV#6
01:29:53 - LaGuardia #1 & #2
01:55:39 - Wrap up
01:57:53 - Contact us
On this episode, Sterg and Derek discuss three recent titles that run the gamut from sci-fi to political to slice-of-life (or what the Two Guys prefer to call verite dessinée). They begin with the latest...
Mark as Played
January 7, 2019 • 85 mins
Time Codes:
00:00:25 - Introduction
00:02:20 - Setup of interview
00:03:54 - Interview with Keith Dallas and Jason Sacks
01:22:12 - Wrap up
01:22:52 - Contact us
On this, the second show in The Comics Alternative's new Critical Takes series, Derek has back on the podcast Keith Dallas, coauthor of the new book, American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1990s. Listeners might remember that he talked with Keith, along with John...
Mark as Played
January 2, 2019 • 167 mins
It's the first episode of the new year, and for the January Previewsshow the Two Guys decide to try something different: invite a third person to join them in discussing the current Previewscatalog. This week Sterg and Derek are joined by Troy-Jeffrey Allen who works with community outreach at PREVIEWSworld. And given Troy's association with Diamond Distributors and the ins and outs of their monthly catalog, he's able to provide in...
Mark as Played
January 1, 2019 • 141 mins
Time Codes:
00:00:29 - Introduction
00:02:38 - Setup of interview
00:07:14 - Interview with Craig Yoe
02:16:37 - Wrap up
02:18:05 - Contact us
It's a new year, so that must mean that it's time for the annual Happy New Yoe show! On this, The Comics Alternative's very first episode of 2019, Derek talks with Craig Yoe about what he's been up to lately. They spend much of the time talking about the year in review for Yoe B...
Mark as Played
December 31, 2018 • 101 mins
Time Codes:
00:00:27 - Introduction
00:02:42 - Manga plans for the new year
00:08:52 - Frankenstein: Junji Ito Story Collection
00:54:47 - Dementia 21
01:37:25 - Wrap up
01:39:20 - Contact us
On this manga episode, their last of 2018, Shea and Derek look at two recent works of manga that are actually quite similar in a number of ways. They begin with Frankenstein: Junji Ito Story Collection(VIZ Media). This isn't the...
Mark as Played
December 28, 2018 • 74 mins
Time Codes:
00:00:24 – Introduction
00:03:11 – Getting caught up!
00:04:05 – McCay
00:34:54 – Bear’s Tooth
01:10:58 – Wrap up
01:12:04 – Contact us
For their December Euro Comics show, Pascal and Derek discuss two recent French titles in translation. They begin with Thierry Smolderen and Jean-Philippe Bramanti's McCay (Titan Comics), a surreal narrative surrounding the life of comics legend Windsor McCay. But this wo...
Mark as Played
December 23, 2018 • 83 mins
Time Codes:
00:01:18 – Introduction
00:04:22 – It’s the holiday season!
00:06:25 – Snow Daze
00:29:20 – Snow by Night
00:58:06 – Overwatch: Reflections
01:19:11 – Wrap up
01:21:14 – Contact us
On this webcomics episode, the last of 2018, Sean and Derek get into the holiday spirit. They discuss three titles that concern Christmas or the winter season (i.e., has the word "snow" in the title). They begin with Leonardo...
Mark as Played
December 21, 2018 • 80 mins
Mike and Derek are back at Heroes Aren't Hard to Findin Charlotte, NC, for their December show. It's been a couple of months since their last visit to the shop -- this past fall was difficult for everyone -- but the guys are excited to sit down among customers and talk comics. And this being the end of 2018, they thought they'd discuss the year in review, the highlights, the news, and the notable titles that defined 2018. Among oth...
Mark as Played
December 20, 2018 • 79 mins
Time Codes:
00:01:17 - Introduction
00:02:59 - Setup of interview
00:05:14 - Interview with Jon Morris
01:15:03 - Wrap up
01:17:05 - Contact us
Jon Morris is back, once again, on The Comics Alternative, to share his research and sense of humor. His latest book The League of Regrettable Sidekicks (Quirk Books) is the follow up to his previous two works, The League of Regrettable Superheroes and The Legion of Regrettable...
Mark as Played
December 19, 2018 • 105 mins
Time Codes:
00:01:23 - Introduction
00:03:26 - Live streaming again...and some context
00:06:25 - The Best American Comics 2018
01:39:33 - Wrap up
01:41:03 - Contact us
As they always do, the Two Guys with PhDs use their penultimate show of the year to discuss the current volume of The Best American Comics. this year guest edited by Phoebe Gloeckner. Earlier in the week they released their interview with Bill Kartalopo...
Mark as Played
December 17, 2018 • 77 mins
Time Codes:
00:01:16 - Introduction
00:03:27 - Setup of interview
00:06:18 - Interview with Bill Kartalopoulos
01:13:04 - Wrap up
01:14:09 - Contact us
As the Two Guys like to do every year, they are back talking again with Bill Kartalopoulos about the latest volume of The Best American Comics (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). This year the guest editor is Phoebe Gloeckner, perhaps best known for The Diary of a Teenage G...
Mark as Played
December 14, 2018 • 95 mins
Time Codes:
00:01:21 - Introduction
00:03:12 - Setup of interview
00:04:32 - Interview with Tom Hart
01:32:14 - Wrap up
01:33:38 - Contact us
On this interview episode, Sterg and Derek are excited to have Tom Hart back to discuss his new book, The Art of the Graphic Memoir: Tell Your Story, Change Your Life(St. Martin's Griffin). Tom was on the podcast not quite three years agoto discuss his new memoir at the time Rosa...
Mark as Played
December 12, 2018 • 103 mins
Time Codes:
00:01:32 - Introduction
00:03:42 - Our first-ever live streaming recording
00:07:13 - Thank you to new Patreon backers!
00:09:33 - Che: A Revolutionary Life
00:47:02 - The Lodger #1 & #2
01:11:39 - Die #1
01:34:22 - Wrap up
01:38:05 - Contact us
This is a very special episode of The Comics Alternative, in that it's the guys' very first live recording. That's right, Sterg and Derek decided to record thi...
Mark as Played
December 11, 2018 • 78 mins
Time Codes:
00:01:15 - Introduction
00:03:32 - Setup of interview
00:04:53 - Interview with Noah Van Sciver
01:15:14 - Wrap up
01:16:39 - Contact us
The Two Guys with PhDs are very happy to have back on the podcast Noah Van Sciver. He was first on the show back in March 2015, and a lot of things have changed with him since the guys last talked with Noah (and not just his growing of a mustache). Most significantly, his ...
Mark as Played
December 10, 2018 • 86 mins
Time Codes:
00:01:23 - Introduction
00:04:25 - Better late than never
00:05:54 - Piero
00:40:32 - The First Man
01:23:26 - Wrap up
01:24:39 - Contact us
Pascal and Derek are back with the latest Euro Comics episode...the very late November show. They begin with Edmond Baudoin's Piero(New York Review Comics). This is a fascinating and moving memoir -- or better yet, a series of remembrances -- from Baudoin and his rel...
Mark as Played
December 7, 2018 • 78 mins
Time Codes:
00:01:26 - Introduction
00:03:27 - Late again
00:05:13 - Sailor Moon Eternal Editions, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2
00:46:09 - Mob Psycho 100, Vol. 1
01:14:53 - Wrap up
01:16:01 - Contact us
On this episode of The Comics Alternative/s manga series -- the November show, albeit a little late -- Shea and Derek take a look at two series that give us a varied understanding of the medium. They begin with the first two vol...
Mark as Played
December 6, 2018 • 80 mins
Time Codes:
00:01:15 - Introduction
00:03:15 - Setup of interview
00:05:06 - Interview with Conor Stechschulte
01:15:57 - Wrap up
01:17:44 - Contact us
On this episode of The Comics Alternative's interview series, the Two Guys have the pleasure of talking with Conor Stechschulte. The third volumeof his ongoing series, GenerousBosom (Breakdown Press), was released in the spring, and Sterg and Derek have an enlightening ...
Mark as Played
December 5, 2018 • 174 mins
It's the first of a new month, and that must mean that the Two Guys with PhDs Talking about Comics will be looking at the latest Previews catalog. This is a rather long episode -- going for almost three hours -- so you get your money's worth! But what makes this show extra special is that it's the 300th episode of The Comics Alternative's weekly review show. As Derek points out, there are over twice as many episodes of the podcast ...
Mark as Played
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