Critiquing Comics #245: "Joe Mallard" 4-6 and "Dream Machine"
Release Date: 09/10/2025
#864 Black Panther Debuts
Deconstructing Comics
Sixty years ago, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby presided over the debut of the Black Panther in Fantastic Four #52. The story presents the expectations of the average American for stories about Africa (Jungles! Natives! Africa is a country, right?) and defies those expectations by showing a rich, technologically advanced African nation. This time, Tim and Emmet discuss the Panther's debut. Brought to you by:
info_outline
#863 Jimmy Gownley interview
Deconstructing Comics
Jimmy Gownley is the award-winning creator of Amelia Rules, Tanner Rocks, The Dumbest Idea Ever, and more, as well as a co-host of the podcast. This time, he talks with Tim about why the earliest stuff sells the best (never mind how much his art has improved since then), ergonomics, , and, of course, Peanuts! Brought to you by:
info_outline
#627 Walt Simonson's "Thor"
Deconstructing Comics
FLASHBACK! One of the most acclaimed Marvel runs of the 1980s was by Walt Simonson on The Mighty Thor. He began writing and drawing it with #337, continued through to #367 (with a quick break in the middle), then gave up art duties but continued writing through #382. This run set aside Dr. Don Blake, focused on mythical threats rather than earthly ones, and injected some humor into what had sometimes been a fairly dry, dour book. Tim and Kumar look back to assess this important run. (Originally published June 26, 2019.) Brought to you by:
info_outline
Critiquing Comics #247: "Lovers Quarrel" and "Digital Bardos" #2
Deconstructing Comics
A love triangle. One member feels jilted and goes off the deep end. A gun is involved. Tim and Adam talk about the thriller Lovers Quarrel by Rob Capili, Ikos Karimlan, and Joy Mateo. Meanwhile, Digital Bardos has returned! Hippie "digital god" Darren is selling the people on a technology that puts their minds in endless bliss while their bodies are used for slave labor. It's all the rage, but Darren's own son isn't digging the scene. Tim and Jason discuss the new installment of King Klaus's series. Brought to you by:
info_outline
#862 "Poor Helpless Comics"
Deconstructing Comics
Ed Subitzky did a lot of cartooning for National Lampoon back in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Much of his work revolves around comics done under certain conditions or showing a certain situation ("Fortune-Telling Comics" "Dull Comics" "Poor Reception Comics"). Neither Kumar nor Tim were familiar with his work until picking up the collection Poor Helpless Comics! The cartoons (and more) of Ed Subitzky, but now that they've read it, this episode features their thoughts. Brought to you by:
info_outline
#861 Jack Kirby's Captain America: Cap vs Magneto!
Deconstructing Comics
While it seems a bit odd to see Captain America fighting Magneto, they do have something in common: Jack Kirby had a hand in creating both! The battle takes place in Captain America Annual #4, from 1977; the story is titled "The Great Mutant Massacre" -- but no, not that one. It's an X-men - adjacent story with some very Kirbyesque bizarre concepts. Tim and Emmet discuss, and also look back at the experience of reading all this 1970s Jack Kirby-penned Cap. Brought to you by:
info_outline
#372 “Binky Brown Meets the Holy Virgin Mary”: Painful Personal Memoir as Wacky Comedy!
Deconstructing Comics
FLASHBACK! Autobiographical comics are par for the course, but in 1972, Justin Green broke ground for the genre when he published Binky Brown Meets the Holy Virgin Mary. Some of that broken ground hasn’t been trod since; how many autobiographical comics about a battle with mental illness have you seen done as wacky parody comics? Lightning-quick pace, phalluses everywhere, and a helpful instructional arrow pointed at a bunch of bananas? It’s unlike any autobio comic before or since, and your take on the subject matter may greatly depend on your upbringing. Tim and Kumar examine....
info_outline
#860 Chris Ryall on "Daredevil: Born Again"
Deconstructing Comics
Daredevil: Born Again, by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli, is one of those comics stories that continues to attract attention decades after it was published. Chris Ryall, co-founder and current publisher at Image imprint Syzygy Publishing, is the author of a new book on that story. He talks with Koom in this episode about the arc's religious symbolism, Ben Urich as the story's magic ingredient, and more. Mazzucchelli art for Marvel Fanfare #40 (Oct 1988) cover, as seen on Koom's wall Coppola loan application Chris: Koom: Brought to you by:
info_outline
#859 Jason Shiga: Choosing his own path
Deconstructing Comics
Jason Shiga is creator of the four-volume series Demon as well as many interactive comics. This week, Koom interviews Jason about his page layout strategy, his connections to Adrian Tomine, the pros and cons of comics where the reader gets a choice of paths through the story, his intriguing new project, and more. Jason: Koom: Brought to you by:
info_outline
#858 Celebrating 20 years by reviewing a 20-year-old film ("Superman Returns")
Deconstructing Comics
Our first episode was released on December 5, 2005. After 20 years of changes in focus, format, and personnel, as well as Tim self-teaching audio editing, this time we look back at some of what's changed. Also: In our first episode, Tim, Brandon, and Mulele discussed ; this time, Tim, Kumar, and Emmet review the film! Episodes mentioned: Brought to you by:
info_outline
Joe Mallard, 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 Dream Machine, our protagonist dreams he can sacrifice himself to bring his cancer victim twin back to life. Tim and Adam critique.
Brought to you by: