#841 Ken Krimstein on Einstein, Kafka, and comics in general
Release Date: 05/21/2025
#851 Jack Kirby’s “Cap and Falcon” 212-213: "I love you, baby!"
Deconstructing Comics
Captain America and the Falcon #212 concludes the Arnim Zola/Red Skull storyline in somewhat perfunctory fashion, and gives a living castle with big teeth much less P.R. than it deserved! In #213 we meet the strange and underutilized assassin the Night Flyer! (Underwhelming name? Must've been named by Jack Kirby!) Tim and Emmet discuss both issues in this episode. Brought to you by:
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Critiquing Comics #245: "Joe Mallard" 4-6 and "Dream Machine"
Deconstructing Comics
, a favorite of Tim and Jason's from a year ago, is back! Creator Asante Amani has sent us issues 4-6 of this crime series. Did it go over with us as well as the first two issues did? Ky Lawrence has created a trippy graphic novel about survivor's guilt. In , our protagonist dreams he can sacrifice himself to bring his cancer victim twin back to life. Tim and Adam critique. Brought to you by:
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#850 "Fantastic Four: First Steps" (2025): Did it live up to the hype?
Deconstructing Comics
We've been building up to it for months with our reviews of previous Fantastic Four movies. Now it's here, the FF's debut in the MCU, Fantastic Four: First Steps. How well did it scratch that FF itch? Kumar and Jordan once again join Tim to review the film, and discuss how it stacks up against the others (including the unreleased 1994 version). Brought to you by:
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#849 "Almost Sunset": Wahab Algarmi on growing up Muslim in America
Deconstructing Comics
This week, Koom interviews Wahab Algarmi, author of Almost Sunset, a graphic novel about a Muslim American boy’s search for balance between his family traditions and the demands of life in Middle School. Koom and Wahab discuss their international family backgrounds as well as the merits or demerits of 1990s Image comics! Brought to you by:
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#848 "More Weight": Ben Wickey talks Salem witch trials
Deconstructing Comics
Ben Wickey has created a graphic novel, More Weight: A Salem Story, that gives us a very deep dive into the Salem witch trials: why they happened, who was to blame, and how the city has dealt with their legacy. This week Koom gets the scoop on what inspired Ben, why his art style seems to vary depending on what point in the past he's writing about, and more. on Amazon.com Brought to you by:
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"Spider-Man 3" (2007)
Deconstructing Comics
The film is bloated, it's busy, it showcases numerous failures at human communication, and doesn't hit some points it needs to. And yet, Spider-Man 3 screenwriter Alvin Sargent managed to weave together the many plotlines thrust on him to make a script with a message - although not necessarily the one director Sam Raimi had in mind. Tim and Mulele examine Raimi's final Spider-Man film. (Originally published on Patreon May 23, 2020.) Brought to you by:
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"Spider-Man 2" (2004)
Deconstructing Comics
To this day, Spider-man 2 is considered one of the best superhero movies. How does it stand up to Tim's first viewing, after watching all the MCU movies that came after? What does Mulele notice about the look of the film that's a little annoying? How is Spider-fan Tim feeling about the portrayal of Peter Parker in these movies? These points and more! (Originally published on Patreon April 25, 2020.) Brought to you by:
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"Spider-Man" (2002)
Deconstructing Comics
Tim and Mulele begin reviewing the Sony (pre-MCU) Spider-man movies with a look at 2002's Spider-man, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Tobey Maguire. After watching all the MCU movies, how does this film feel different? How was it affected by 9/11? And more. (Originally published on Patreon April 11, 2020) Brought to you by:
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Critiquing Comics #244: "God Summoner" and "The Keluarga Cable Ship Company"
Deconstructing Comics
This week, a look at two great new comics submitted by their creators: , by and , is a story in the fantasy genre. Tim and Jason thought "Meh" until they actually read it! This is a well-written story with beautiful black and white art. , by , gives us a father and son with communication problems, and a ship that lays down undersea cable through which, well, communication flows. Or doesn’t flow. But what makes the book stand out is its very unusual format that shows great thought and planning on the author’s part. Tim and Adam critique. Brought to you by:
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#780 Jim Shooter interview
Deconstructing Comics
FLASHBACK! Jim Shooter, who was Marvel Editor-in-Chief from 1978 to 1987, passed away on June 30. He wrote a number of comics published by Marvel (including the original Secret Wars series) and by a number of other companies. Two years ago, Koom interviewed Shooter to find out what he thought about Marvel in its current incarnation, get his recollections of Frank Miller and Ann Nocenti’s respective starts in the comics industry, hear his theory that the nursery rhyme "Little Miss Muffet" can be a tool to teach good writing, and more. We re-present the interview this week in observance...
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Ken Krimstein's Einstein in Kafkaland: How Albert Fell Down the Rabbit Hole and Came up with the Universe builds on the fact that these two stars of the early 20th century were part of the same friend group at one point and builds it up into what NPR described as “Alice in Wonderland meets The Lives of the Poets meets Krazy Kat.” This week Emmet talks with Ken about the book, the two historical figures featured in it, and the nature of comics itself.
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