Author: -J.

Venture Bros. S6: Something Happened on the Day He Died

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We interrupt your regularly scheduled -J. & Steph Talk About Comics for this important public service announcement:

Season 6 of the Venture Bros. starts this Sunday.

[Steph: It is very important. Interrupt away!]

Oh, okay, then. Let’s get a subhead in here and get this started.

All This and New York City, Too

It seems like only yesterday that Alex and I chatted about the new fifth season of the Venture Bros. for the Recorder. “Yesterday” could also be 20 months ago — time becomes dilated and loses meaning in the years between new Venture seasons. Regardless of when we last gathered to gab about Team Venture, the new season descends this weekend, and it takes the series in directions unexpected and unexplored. [Read more…]

The J&STAC Holiday Gift Guide

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-J. Michael Bestul is a writer for the Addison Recorder. Stephanie Ruehl is an artist who works in a comic book shop. They’re married and have a lot of discussions about comic books and graphic novels. Combine all that into a biweekly feature and you get “J. & Steph Talk About Comics.”

If there’s someone on your holiday shopping list who like comics, or books, or art here’s a list of our favorite comic book recommendations, most of which Steph has already shoved in peoples faces and shouted READ THIS! [Read more…]

J&STAC: Re-envisioned

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-J. Michael Bestul is a writer for the Addison Recorder. Stephanie Ruehl is an artist who works in a comic book shop. They’re married and have a lot of discussions about comic books and graphic novels. Combine all that into a biweekly feature and you get “J. & Steph Talk About Comics.”

Modern comics are a medium of iconography and archetypes, whether reinforcing or re-inventing them (or re-booting them, or cashing in on them…). The Bat-symbol carries worlds of meaning to countless fans, but which version of the symbol? Is your Iron Man the Tony Stark of Kirby & Lee, Fraction & Bendis, or Robert Downey, Jr.? What’s your opinion of the last Superman flick? Do you have a think-piece on all the differences between Jessica Jones in the comics and on Netflix?

While we have thoughts on those questions, we decided it would be more fun to focus on the re-imaginings, re-interpretations, and re-envisionings that piqued our interest over the years. [Read more…]

J&STAC: Even More #1s?

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-J. Michael Bestul is a writer for the Addison Recorder. Stephanie Ruehl is an artist who works in a comic book shop. They’re married and have a lot of discussions about comic books and graphic novels. Combine all that into a biweekly feature and you get “J. & Steph Talk About Comics.”

Steph: The last few months have a been a veritable smorgasbord of new titles. After weeks of bringing home dozens of number 1’s, it’s becoming difficult to keep up. Here’s a quick list of some of the most recent.

-J.: Before we get to the few new #1 issues that didn’t inspire a hearty “meh,” let’s talk about the sheer volume of #1 issues that have hit the shelves recently. It’s ridiculous. [Read more…]

J&STAC: the Sandman: Overture

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-J. Michael Bestul is a writer for the Addison Recorder. Stephanie Ruehl is an artist who works in a comic book shop. They’re married and have a lot of discussions about comic books and graphic novels. Combine all that into a biweekly feature and you get “J. & Steph Talk About Comics.”

Today is the release of the deluxe edition of the collected volume of the Sandman: Overture. The Sandman comics were an influential and formative part of creating the duo of -J. and Steph, so it was only fitting that they discuss the final Sandman story, which is also the first.

Official-cover-promo-Vertigothe Sandman: Overture

words by Neil Gaiman, art by J.H. Williams III and Dave Stewart, published by Vertigo 

Synopsis: it’s the story of what happened just before the sweeping saga that is the Sandman, where we discover why Dream was galaxies away and dressed for battle.  [Read more…]

J&STAC: Talking Cap (and Other New #1s)

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-J. Michael Bestul is a writer for the Addison Recorder. Stephanie Ruehl is an artist who works in a comic book shop. They’re married and have a lot of discussions about comic books and graphic novels. Combine all that into a biweekly feature and you get “J. & Steph Talk About Comics.”

It’s a very Marvel J&STAC this week, with a special appearance by Image. We normally don’t do back-to-back new #1 reviews, but there are a lot of them, one of which got a lot of media attention. You can probably guess which one based on this tweet from Kurt Busiek:

Let’s start with Cap, shall we? [Read more…]

J&STAC: A Whole Slew of New #1s

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-J. Michael Bestul is a writer for the Addison Recorder. Stephanie Ruehl is an artist who works in a comic book shop. They’re married and have a lot of discussions about comic books and graphic novels. Combine all that into a biweekly feature and you get “J. & Steph Talk About Comics.”

Steph: So many new number ones are out today, you guys. So. Many.

-J.: Let’s get to it, then.

cover art by Chip Zdarsky

cover art by Chip Zdarsky

Jughead #1

words by Chip Zdarsky, art by Erica Henderson, published by Archie Comics

Synopsis: A new principal has come to Riverdale High, making changes to school policy and — much to the burger-loving Jughead’s dismay — school lunches. 

Steph: So after reading, and loving, the re-launch of Archie recently, I figured I’d love Jughead just as much. I was right.

–J.: I was surprised how much I enjoyed the Archie re-launch. It’s not my style of book, but I absolutely loved the art and words. I particularly loved the portrayal of Jughead, and was looking forward to his standalone series. It exceeded my expectations. It was a perfect introduction to a new series. [Read more…]

J&STAC: Daydreaming

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-J. Michael Bestul is a writer for the Addison Recorder. Stephanie Ruehl is an artist who works in a comic book shop. They’re married and have a lot of discussions about comic books and graphic novels. Combine all that into a biweekly feature and you get “J. & Steph Talk About Comics.”

What impossible combination would you like to see on your favorite series?

There were two events that inspired us to daydream and discuss this. The first was the latest One Shot podcast episode, wherein Rat Queens author Kurtis J. Wiebe played a session of 13th Age. As J&STAC readers know, Rat Queens is probably our favorite ongoing title, and they may have guessed that 13th Age is one of -J.’s favorite RPG systems. Hearing the two combined on a Chicago-based podcast of unrivaled quality only made it sweeter.

But wait — Tuesday would not be outdone by its predecessor in the week. That’s because Marvel announced yesterday that Ta-Nehisi Coates would be writing a new Black Panter series.

We repeat: TA-NEHISI COATES WILL BE WRITING A BLACK PANTHER SERIES. That’s one of those perfect mash-ups that you dream up excitedly after a few drinks, but figure it’s too awesome an idea to actually happen.

In that vein, we’ve each come up with a “too-crazy-to-actually-happen” list of writers and artists we’d love to see on some of our favorite titles. [Read more…]

J&STAC: Labor Day-bor Quick Hits

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-J. Michael Bestul is a writer for the Addison Recorder. Stephanie Ruehl is an artist who works in a comic book shop. They’re married and have a lot of discussions about comic books and graphic novels. Combine all that into a biweekly feature and you get “J. & Steph Talk About Comics.”

We’ve had limited free time the last couple weeks, but we still wanted to highlight some of the new series that caught our eye while we were traveling to one state or another. To that end, we’ve each picked a pair of new titles to check out — starting with a warrior and his traveling companion (a severed head).

Head Lopper #1 (of 4)

Lopper01words, art, colors by Andrew Maclean, colors by Mike Spicer, published by Image

Synopsis: A mighty warrior known as the Head Lopper is hired to slay a giant seamonster. Unbeknownst to him, plots are being hatched against him. 

Steph: I surprisingly enjoyed this. The story is full of action, and even though the titular character doesn’t say much and is a hardened warrior, I found him likable and endearing. The relationship he has with the severed head of Agatha the Blue Witch (whom he carries around in a sack) is what will keep me reading. [Read more…]

J&STAC: the End-of-Summer #1s

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-J. Michael Bestul is a writer for the Addison Recorder. Stephanie Ruehl is an artist who works in a comic book shop. They’re married and have a lot of discussions about comic books and graphic novels. Combine all that into a biweekly feature and you get “J. & Steph Talk About Comics.”

As the summer winds down, we find a plethora of new mini-series, new additions to cult mini-series, mini-series based on cartoons, or video games, and squirrels. Lots of squirrels. But we start with a new story in a new medium from one of our favorite animated mini-series:

Over the Garden Wall #1 (of 4)

words by Pat McHale, art by Jim Campbell, published by KaBOOM!

otgwSynopsis: We return for another misadventure with Wirt, Greg, Beatrice, and Greg’s frog as they try to make their way back home.

-J.: Woo-hoo! A new Over the Garden Wall story, now in comic book form! BUT WAIT. When does this story take place? The animated series this is based upon is such a beloved and perfectly-contained story, how can there be more?! BUT WAIT AGAIN. Wirt and Greg spent so much time in the cartoon wandering through the unknown, looking for a way home, that there’s plenty of room for a few “untold tales.” Hooray!

Steph: …

-J.: I call that, “How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love this Comic.”

Steph: Over the Garden Wall is one of my favorite things.  The cleverness and fun of the writing, I cannot recommend this animated mini-series more. If you haven’t seen it, go watch it now. Seriously.  [Read more…]