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What happens when a Justice League pastiche decides the only way to save the world is to run it? On this episode of Collecting Issues, the monthly comic book club podcast, Ben and Michael read Squadron Supreme #1–12 (Marvel Comics, 1985) by Mark Gruenwald, Bob Hall and John Beatty. Hyperion, Power Princess, Nighthawk, Doctor Spectrum, the Whizzer and the rest of the Squadron Supreme wake up in a world wrecked by alien mind control, and their solution is the Utopia Program: disarm the population, fix hunger, cure death and, eventually, rewire criminals' brains with Tom Thumb's behaviour-modification tech. What could go wrong? We get into the Squadron's origins as Marvel's answer to DC's Justice League, the grim secret lives of its heroes, the B-Mod debate that splits the team, Golden Archer's horrifying abuse of Lark, the bizarre Hyperion doppelgänger subplot, Nuke and Doctor Spectrum's fatal fight, and the brutal final showdown. We also ask whether this is an accidental first draft of the postmodern superhero comic, and how it stacks up against Watchmen, Kingdom Come and Identity Crisis. Plus: eighties comic book dialogue, a whole lot of recap panels, and the famous story of Mark Gruenwald's ashes being mixed into the ink of the Squadron Supreme trade paperback. Spoiler warning: this is a book club, not a review. Read the comic first, then come back. Next up: Fault Lines, an eerie, Twilight Zone-style sci-fi anthology of three stories from Irish creator Robert Cullen. Chapters 00:00 Intro & Spoiler Warning 04:24 What Is Squadron Supreme? 31:27 Secret Lives & Character Backstories 38:57 The B-Mod Debate 42:57 Golden Archer & Lark 50:54 Hyperion's Doppelgänger 58:34 The Civil War Showdown 01:11:46 Outro & Next Episode Find us Join the Discord and read along Read Our Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Tiktok Watch us on Youtube Tags / keywords Squadron Supreme, Mark Gruenwald, Bob Hall, Marvel Comics, Hyperion, Power Princess, Nighthawk, Justice League, Watchmen, Kingdom Come, Identity Crisis, Bronze Age comics, superhero deconstruction, comic book podcast, comic book club, graphic novel review, Irish podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when the man who can escape anything cannot escape himself? In this remastered archive episode, first recorded in 2019 and reissued with new context and commentary, Mick and Ben dig into Mister Miracle (2017-2018) by Tom King and Mitch Gerads, the Eisner Award winning 12 issue series from DC Comics. The episode covers: Jack Kirby's Fourth World and why the New Gods were born out of Kirby's experience as an army field artist in World War IIDarkseid as inevitability rather than brawler, the Anti-Life Equation as a proof that free will does not exist, and how "Darkseid Is" moves from a Grant Morrison and Howard Porter phrase in Rock of Ages into a formal storytelling deviceScott Free and Big Barda as one of the most realistic relationships in superhero comics, and how nature versus nurture plays out for two people raised on ApokolipsDepression, PTSD and the "stand / standing" mantra, plus the recurring shower motif and the comic's critique of push-through-it adviceMitch Gerads' art, the post-eighties nine-panel grid, and a rendition of Apokolips inspired by burning oil wells in IraqGranny Goodness, Lightray, Orion, Highfather, Funky Flashman and the Stan Lee parody nobody quite agreed onIs any of it real? Metron, the offer to return to continuity, and that final "will not be continued" panel Plus a disagreement about whether Tom King can write an ending, and recommendations if you liked this one: The Vision, God Country, Invincible. Timely too, with Mister Miracle newly announced as its own DC Animated series. (No relation to Michael's friend Tom King, who does jujitsu.) Follow the Podcast: Join the Discord and read along Read Our Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Tiktok Watch us on Youtube Tags / keywords Mister Miracle, Tom King, Mitch Gerads, Scott Free, Big Barda, Darkseid, New Gods, Fourth World, Jack Kirby, DC Comics, Anti-Life Equation, Granny Goodness, Apokolips, New Genesis, comic book podcast, comic book review, nine panel grid, Eisner Award, depression in comics, Collecting Issues 00:00 Archive Episode Setup 01:28 Premise and Darkseid Context 02:45 Tom King Not Your Friend 04:03 Kirby Fourth World Basics 05:41 War and Anti Life Origins 09:19 Scott and Barda Home Life 10:19 Unreliable Reality Question 11:44 Humanizing Gods and Morality 17:22 Nature Versus Nurture Trauma 18:49 Mitch Gerads Art Breakdown 20:47 Continuity Constraints Critique 22:17 Shock Deaths No Stakes 22:30 Tom King No Consequences 23:42 End Of Fourth World 24:17 Messy Structure Endings 25:01 Darkseid Is Device 26:49 Inevitable Darkseid Dread 29:10 Funky Flashman Critique 30:30 Depression PTSD Themes 31:17 Stand And Shower Metaphors 34:05 Choice Happy Ending 36:23 Symbolism Silver Age Love 37:50 Stakes Alternate Reality 38:35 What Else To Read 41:24 Final Thoughts And Outro 42:04 Reissue And Animated News Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Collecting Issues is a monthly comic book book club. We have read the thing, you have read the thing, and there are spoilers all the way down. This month Ben and Michael take on Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, collecting issues 1 to 8 of the 2021 DC Comics series by Tom King, Bilquis Evely, and Matheus Lopes. King has been open that the pitch was True Grit in space, a mentor and mentee bound together by revenge, and the book delivers exactly that: Ruthye, a farm girl whose father is murdered by the mercenary Krem of the Yellow Hills, hires the most dangerous gun in the galaxy, and the most dangerous gun in the galaxy turns out to be Kara Zor-El. What we argue about: Whether the morality holds. The inciting incident is one dead father and one poisoned dog, but by the midpoint Krem has been implicated in a galaxy's worth of genocide. Does the personal revenge story survive that escalation, or does the scale swallow it?The Norman Rockwell segregation planet, and whether a comic can plausibly frame selling out your neighbours as the truest evil in a story this full of atrocity.Ruthye as unreliable narrator. She writes like a Victorian novelist, talks like a Western, and behaves like an Arthurian knight. She also does not witness the two biggest set pieces in the book, which raises the question of what we are actually looking at when Supergirl fights a space dragon.Comet the Super-Horse, first appearing in 1962, who is not a horse but a centaur named Byron, cursed by a wizard, gifted telepathy by Circe, and later beaming half-naked dream visions at a teenage Kara. Tom King brings him back and kills him off. We have questions. The Art: Bilquis Evely and Matheus Lopes, and why this book does not work without them. Evely designs a costume that sidesteps the miniskirt exploitation that has defined the character since Action Comics #252 in 1959, and she renders alien worlds that feel genuinely alien rather than Guardians of the Galaxy shorthand. If you only credit the story to Tom King, you are missing the comic. We close on James Gunn's Supergirl film with Milly Alcock, why "Woman of Tomorrow" got stripped from the title, and what the adaptation loses when it turns Krem from an ordinary man into a Hellraiser reject with plot armour. Next month: Squadron Supreme (1985), issues 1 to 12. Old-school Marvel madness. Next Month's Book: We are shamelessly riding the cinematic hype train! In preparation for the upcoming movie, we’ll be reading Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s incredible Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Read our Absolute Green Arrow Essay Follow the Podcast: Join the Discord and read along Read Our Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Tiktok Watch us on Youtube Time Stamps: 00:00 Welcome to Collecting Issues 00:36 Spoilers and Banter 02:54 Tom King and Continuity 04:27 True Grit in Space 09:09 Meet Ruthye and Krem 10:48 Revenge Versus Responsibility 15:01 Racism Town and Rockwell Vibes 17:30 Krem and the Brigands Escalate 22:37 Supergirl History and Redesign 27:56 Tom King MacGuffins 32:34 Meta Finale and Ruthye Narration 34:59 Ruthye’s Unreliable View 36:58 Capturing Krem at Last 37:55 Temptation on the Beach 41:23 Comet’s Bizarre Backstory 46:28 Dog Lie and Moral Mess 51:24 Art That Elevates It 58:45 Final Verdicts and Themes 01:04:04 Movie Adaptation Changes 01:07:36 Wrap Up and Next Read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Collecting Issues, your monthly comic book book club! This month, Mick and Ben are strapping in (and trying not to burst out of identical tight t-shirts) to review Assorted Crisis Events, Volume 1, collecting issues #1-5 of the hit 2025 Image Comics series. Created by the powerhouse team of Deniz Camp (20th Century Men, Absolute Martian Manhunter) and artist Eric Zawadzki, with breathdtaking colours by Jordie Bellaire, this book asks the ultimate question: What happens when timeline-shattering multiversal events happen to ordinary, everyday people instead of A-list superheroes? It’s The Twilight Zone meets Black Mirror, but deeply grounded in the grim, weird, and human reality of 2026. In This Episode We Break Down:Issue #1: Apocalypse Now – We follow Ashley Cargill through a chronally displaced city where reality is stranger than fiction, blending pop-culture commentary with an impending nightmare around every corner.Issue #2: Slaughterhouse Nine to Five – A devastating, visceral look at the immigrant experience, generational trauma, veganism... and velociraptors. Plus, we rave over Eric Zawadzki's savant-level panel layouts.Issue #3: Crisis on Hearth 2 – A brilliant Crisis on Infinite Earths homage that serves as an unflinching metaphor for displacement, immigration, and how quickly society fractures when doppelgangers move into town.Issue #4: Time Flies – Mikey has made some terrible choices (like some really terrible choices), but is he just an adrenaline-junkie leaping through time, or is this a tragic look at regret and impulse decisions?Issue #5: Strange Loops – The world-building issue (kind of)! We meet Anna, a woman who survives a 60-second time loop that lasted 30 million years. We trace the Easter eggs, time-loop tropes, and finally start piecing together the overarching mystery of the jetpack hobo. Next Month's Book: We are shamelessly riding the cinematic hype train! In preparation for the upcoming movie, we’ll be reading Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s incredible Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Listen to the Absolute Martian Manhunter Episode Listen to our 20th Century Men Episode Follow the Podcast: Join the Discord and read along Read Our Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Tiktok Watch us on Youtube Time Stamps: 0:00 Intro 00:32 Spoiler Warning Banter 02:02 Multiverse Fatigue Explained 03:32 What This Series Is 04:33 Deniz Camp Track Record 06:40 Anthology Shared World 09:49 Personal Crisis Metaphor 15:46 Issue One Breakdown 21:37 Art Layout Praise 31:43 Issue Two Slaughterhouse 35:10 Gore Vegan Subtext 37:19 Panel Layout Color Work 42:20 Crocodile Trauma Origins 43:43 Blood Fear and Family Cycles 46:33 Crisis on Hearth Two 48:00 Doppelgangers and Displacement 53:06 Chaos Camp and Panel Mirrors 56:33 Time Flies Bad Choices 59:40 Unreliable Narrator Debate 01:05:02 Strange Loops Worldbuilding 01:11:08 Medium Tricks and Rereads 01:12:07 Final Thoughts and Next Read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Michael and Benjamin are wading deep into the gutters of Marvel’s latest Spider-man reboot to discuss Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) Volume 1 (Issues 1-6) and Volume 2: The News (Issues 7-12) by Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checchetto, and David Messina. Is this 2024 reimagining a light snack or a massive epic? We look at everything from Peter Parker’s 35-year-old power fantasy to Harry Osborn’s consistently dreadful decision-making skills. no matter how old he is. Spider-Man might not be a dweeby 16-year-old anymore, but the classic Parker luck. and the looming threat of the Sinister Six, is still alive and well. Spoilers ahead for all 12 issues! Episode Highlights: The 35-Year-Old Power Fantasy: How Hickman shifted the target demographic from tween nerds to millennials dealing with mid-life crises. Peter has the supermodel wife, the great kids, and a steady job; so why does he still feel like he's destined for more?A World Without Aunt May: Exploring the fascinating alternate timeline where Ben Parker lives to start a his own newspaper with a surprisingly not-terrible J. Jonah Jameson.The Iron Man Ex Machina: Breaking down the "Picotech" (or McGuffin-tech) suit gifted by Tony Stark and how this tech-heavy, adult Spider-Man differs from the analogue, web-fluid-mixing teenager we all know.Accidentally Creating Venom: Why giving your advanced super-suit a sentient AI personality so you have someone to talk to is a fundamentally terrible idea.The Dinner Party of Doom: Reviewing the bizarrely brilliant, non-superheroic issue dedicated entirely to the social anxiety of Peter, Mary Jane, Harry, and Gwen Stacy awkwardly navigating a double date.The Not-Sinister Six: Analysing the shadowy cabal running the five boroughs, featuring Kingpin, Mr. Negative, Mole Man, Mysterio, Kraven, and Black Cat.Harry Osborn’s Daddy Issues: Why programming Norman Osborn's voice (we all heard Willem Dafoe) into the Green Goblin suit is the single worst decision Harry makes in the entire run. Coming Up Next Month May is a month of many comics! Make sure to subscribe and tune in next time as the lads cover: Assorted Crisis Events (Volume 1) by Deniz Camp: Our main read for May, featuring an alternate timeline, timey-wimey chaos anthology! Enjoyed the episode? Give us a subscribe on YouTube, follow us on Spotify (where you can now watch the video version!), and check out our newly remastered archive episodes, including our deep dive into Kraven's Last Hunt, linked down below! Follow the Podcast: Join the Discord and read along Read Our Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Tiktok Watch us on Youtube Time Stamps: 00:00 Ultimate Spider-Man Setup 01:02 Book Club Rules 05:47 Why Spider-Man Works 08:31 Adult Power Fantasy 15:36 This New Ultimate World 19:32 Iron Man Box Origin 23:17 Learning Spider-Man Late 27:16 Costumes and Tech Debate 31:12 Bullseye and Kingpin 32:52 Awkward Dinner Party 36:31 Ensemble Shift 37:51 Stormwatch Vibes 40:00 Podcast Plug Break 41:37 Zeitgeist Retelling 42:23 Paul Saga Detour 43:11 Volume Two Tech 45:18 Oscorp And Otto 46:25 AI Voices Venom 49:41 Sinister Six Setup 52:52 Ultimates Tie In 53:33 Christmas Venom Twist 58:42 Power Responsibility Bingo 01:00:36 Final Thoughts Highlights 01:04:16 Next Reads And Archives Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Note: This is a classic archive episode from the vault, originally broadcast back in the ill-fated year of 2019!Welcome back to Collecting Issues, ladies and gentlemen! This week, Mick and Ben are looking into an absolute titan of comic book history: Marvel’s The Dark Phoenix Saga (collecting Uncanny X-Men #129-137), first published in the bloody 1980s by the legendary creative team of Chris Claremont and John Byrne. Join us as we tackle a comic run that is somehow marginally older than both of us and infinitely more packed with leather corsets than we remembered. We’re digging deep into the cosmic epic that has been adapted by almost every X-Men cartoon and movie timeline (with wildly varying degrees of success). In this episode, we cover: The Big Bait-and-Switch: Why does a legendary "cosmic" space saga spend three-quarters of its time messing around with the Hellfire Club in New York fetish wear?The Claremont Aesthetic: We break down the sheer amount of psychosexual tension, BDSM aesthetics, mind-control weirdness, and female subjugation. It's an '80s trope fest featuring "frail, unstable female minds," plus a whole lot of shirtless, hairy Wolverine and a suspiciously "thick" Sebastian Shaw.The Birth of Modern Wolverine: We pinpoint the exact, legendary sewer panel that transformed Wolverine from a grumpy 24-year-old kid into the definitive, scrappy, badass mutant we know and love today.Creative Explosions & Hokey Dialogue: From Banshee's questionable Irish catchphrases to Colossus screaming about Lenin's ghost, we look past the dated tropes to appreciate the absolute sheer volume of character building and world-defining concepts introduced in just eight issues. Whether you're here for the definitive tragic tale of Jean Grey, the introduction of Kitty Pryde and Dazzler, or just to watch Cyclops stumble around in a gimp hood, this is a veritable smorgasbord of juicy X-Men goodness. Follow the Podcast: Join the Discord and read along Read Our Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Tiktok Watch us on Youtube Time Stamps: 00:00 Archive Episode Setup 00:32 Dark Phoenix Overview 01:50 Adaptations and Legacy 04:20 Plot Kicks Off Muir Island 05:24 Wyngarde and Hellfire Club 07:49 Hellfire Battles and Big Twist 09:58 Claremont Kinks and Controversy 14:30 Young X Men and Early Wolverine 17:54 Modern Wolverine Born 19:10 Trade Extras And Covers 20:02 Dialogue And Stereotypes 20:58 Low Powered Early X Men 22:22 Cyclops Melodrama Era 23:06 Why This Run Matters 26:21 Hickman Era Comparisons 28:43 Dark Phoenix In Space 30:29 Byrne Art And Origins 31:51 Recommendations And Wrap Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Collecting Issues, the monthly comic book club! This month, Michael and Ben are stepping away from the usual superhero capers to explore an absolute titan of the indie comic world: Jeff Smith’s Bone Vol. 1: Out from Boneville (collecting issues #1-6). What starts as a seemingly harmless, 1950s Saturday-morning cartoon romp starring three weird little cousins; Fone Bone, Phoncible P. Bone, and Smiley Bone, quickly plummets off a cliff into a sweeping, Lord of the Rings-style dark fantasy epic. Is it a kids' comic? Is it an adult fantasy? We’re breaking down the incredible bait-and-switch that made this 1,300-page saga a generational masterpiece. (Warning: Major spoilers ahead! Go read the comic, hop in the Discord, and then come back and listen!) In This Episode, We Discuss:The Saturday Morning Illusion: How Jeff Smith uses influences like Peanuts, Pogo, and Harvey Comics to lull you into a false sense of security before unleashing the Rat Creatures.Character Deep-Dives: We break down Fone Bone's "Ishmael" energy, Grandma Ben's Popeye-esque tank build, the Jack Kirby-inspired Great Red Dragon, and why Phoney Bone is the absolute worst (think Scrooge McDuck with zero redeeming qualities).The Indie Publishing Miracle: The fascinating, against-all-odds publishing history of Bone. Learn how Jeff Smith refused to compromise his vision, survived the 1990s comic speculator crash, got a massive unexpected bump from Neil Gaiman, and accidentally revolutionized the collected graphic novel format before dominating the Scholastic book fair market.The Tonal Cataclysm: Analysing the exact panels where the art and story shift from goofy cartoon hijinks to sinister, high-stakes fantasy.Next Month on Collecting Issues:Get your single issues ready we are returning to our superhero roots to tackle Jonathan Hickman’s triumphant return to Marvel with Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 1! Matttt's Video Essay on Bone Follow the Podcast: Join the Discord and read along Read Our Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Tiktok Watch us on Youtube Time Stamps:00:00 Welcome and Spoiler Warning 01:35 Kids Comic or Not 03:02 What Is Bone 04:24 Cartoon Style Influences 05:56 Jeff Smith Origins 08:23 How the Comic Reads 11:20 Tone Shift Teased 13:17 Meet the Bone Cousins 14:51 Old Strip Inspirations 19:00 Rat Creatures and Danger 21:27 Time Jumps and Seasons 23:16 Dragon and Thorn Reveal 26:13 Publishing History Begins 28:53 Indie Breakthrough Moment 32:29 Neil Gaiman Boost 34:17 90s Speculator Context 35:04 Speculator Boom Memories 35:46 Bone Goes Graphic Novel 37:27 Wizard Magazine Feud 38:42 Market Crash Fallout 39:27 Scholastic Saves Bone 43:40 Dark Fantasy Turn 45:45 Worldbuilding And War Hints 49:37 Phoney Bone Scams 50:59 Star Mark Confusion 53:38 Why Bone Works 57:14 Favorite Moments Talk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Collecting Issues, the monthly comic book club where we assume you’ve done the reading (and we will judge you if you haven't). This week, Mick and Ben dive into the beautiful, mind-bending melange that is DC's runaway 2025 hit: Absolute Martian Manhunter Volume 1 (Issues #1-6). Written by Deniz Camp (20th Century Men) and illustrated by the masterful Javier Rodriguez (Zatana: Bring Down the House), this modern masterpiece takes everyone's favourite green shapeshifter and strips away any trace of humanity, leaning heavily into his pure, unabashed alienness. From Darkseid's hobo bindle full of malice to fourth-dimensional telepathic smoke, we are breaking down everything that makes this comic a massive, psychedelic triumph. In this episode, we discuss: The DC All-In Universe: How Darkseid separated from main continuity to create a gritty alternate universe where classic heroes are stripped of their greatest advantages.A New Take on John Jones: Exploring John as an emotionally avoidant, chain-smoking FBI stochastic agent who finds himself bonded with a bizarre, non-linear alien entity.The Mimetics of "Bad Ideas": We tackle the philosophical core of the comic: viral thoughts, "Bad Idea Zero," and whether the world can really be boiled down to just good and bad ideas.Mind-Blowing Comic Art: Javier Rodriguez puts on an absolute masterclass. We talk about synaesthesia-inspired telepathy, fourth-wall-breaking page layouts, and physical "hold-to-the-light" gimmicks that elevate the medium.Echoes of Comic Legends: How this run perfectly blends the bizarre 1955 Silver Age origins of Martian Manhunter with the abstract, conceptual mind-fights of Grant Morrison’s The Invisibles and Doom Patrol. Next Month's Book: Get ready for a trip to the Valley! We will be reading the absolute, seminal 90s classic Bone by Jeff Smith. Grab your copies and get reading! Read our Martian Manhunter essay! Follow the Podcast: Join the Discord and read along Read Our Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Tiktok Watch us on Youtube Time Stamps: 00:00 Meet Martian Manhunter 00:56 Welcome to the Book Club 02:36 DC All In Explained 04:15 Darkseid’s Twisted Universe 07:01 The New Hook for J’onn 08:20 Leaning Into Alienness 12:31 Big Art Energy 15:21 Story Themes and Bad Ideas 20:11 What Is a Meme Really 22:10 Bad Idea Zero Darkseid 26:21 FBI Agent as a Trope 29:15 Telepathy as Smoke Visuals 32:13 Ideas Over Superheroics 35:00 Johnny Thunderbolt Lore 35:31 Silver Age Origin Story 37:28 Powers And Weakness 39:01 Retcons And White Martians 41:21 Psychedelic Morrison Vibes 42:52 Ideas As Combat 44:18 Javier Rodriguez Spotlight 46:28 Mind Fights And Metaphors 49:32 Comics As A Medium 51:44 Family Rage Metaphor 54:20 Politics And Moral Absolutes 01:02:10 Best Scene Little Damascus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Beauty (Image Comics) vs. FX’s Adaptation: Ozempic, Body Horror, and Ryan Murphy What if an STD could make you the most perfect version of yourself? This week on Collecting Issues, Benjamin and Michael read The Beauty (Vol. 1, Issues #1-6), the 2016 hit by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley. We compare the original "buddy cop" police procedural comic against the new 2026 FX on Hulu adaptation produced by Ryan Murphy. From the eerily prescient social commentary on modern beauty standards (GLP-1s, Ozempic face) to the explosive consequences of the virus, we break down why this story hits harder in a post-COVID world. In This Episode We Discuss:The Elevator Pitch: Imagine a sexually transmitted disease that guarantees physical perfection for two years—before you spontaneously combust.Comic vs. TV: How the comic functions as a tight "90-minute action movie" versus the sprawling, body-horror-heavy miniseries.Cultural Prescience: Reading a 2016 comic in 2026; how The Beauty predicted the toxic positivity and division of modern weight-loss culture.The Ryan Murphy Treatment: A look at the FX adaptation’s star-studded cast (Evan Peters, Ashton Kutcher, Rebecca Hall) and the controversial decision to use "recasting" as a plot device.Character Deep Dive: Why Detectives Vaughn and Foster work as grounded leads, and why the villainous Carves feels like a comic book archetype dropped into a gritty drama.Coming Up Next:We are reading Absolute Martian Manhunter Vol. 1 by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodriguez. Join us as we explore this dark, conspiratorial reimagining of J'onn J'onzz in the new DC "All In" universe. Follow the Podcast: Join the Discord and read along Read Our Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Tiktok Watch us on Youtube If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps more than you know! Time Stamps: 00:00 Welcome to Collecting Issues + why we're covering The Beauty (and the FX show) 01:53 Spoiler warning & how to follow along (read Vol. 1, watch eps 1–2) 03:04 The elevator pitch: an STD that makes you beautiful 04:37 Worldbuilding: 800 days, stigma, and the ‘burn from the inside’ twist 09:26 Who made this? Jeremy Haun & Jason A. Hurley origin story 11:16 Publishing & rights: Image, Ignition Press, and the FX tie-in reprint 14:07 Why Vol. 1 feels like a tight ‘movie’ + anthology series after issue #6 17:41 Pre-COVID vs post-COVID reading: stigma, Ozempic parallels, and ‘earned’ beauty 28:54 Meet the cast: Vaughn & Foster, the Beauty Task Force, and the conspiracy setup 30:55 Stock characters done well? Buddy-cop structure, Caris the hitman, and what works/doesn’t 34:59 Caris the Masked Henchman: Grounded World vs Over-the-Top Villainy 36:24 Best Scenes & Twists: The Celebrity Spokesperson Hit and Foster’s Mirror Reveal 38:49 Consequences Escalate: Collateral Damage and the Air-Traffic Controller Disaster 39:19 Art That Serves the Story: Same-Face Syndrome, Visual Clarity, and Comic Fundamentals 40:43 Covers, Character Design & Horror: Mannequin Imagery and ‘Non-Beauty’ Markers 43:48 The Cure Ending: Body Horror, Consent, and the Ethics of Forcing a ‘Solution’ 48:26 Cathartic Payoff: Vaughn Takes Down Caris (and Why Characters Act Smart) 50:37 Netflix/FX Adaptation Talk: Ryan Murphy, Casting, and How the Show Changes the Premise 01:04:36 Final Verdict & Wrap-Up: Comic vs Series, Where to Comment, and Next Book Club Pick Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"It was a different time." That seems to be the motto for this month’s episode of Collecting Issues. Join Michael and Benjamin as they crack open the briefcase on 100 Bullets: First Shot, Last Call. Published in 1999 by Vertigo Comics, this multi-Eisner and Harvey Award-winning series by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso was hailed as a gritty crime revolution. But does it hold up in 2026? We dive deep into the first two story arcs, discussing the intriguing "John Wick-style" premise: If you were given a gun, 100 untraceable bullets, and proof of who ruined your life, would you take revenge? In this episode, we discuss: The Premise: Agent Graves and his devil’s bargain.The Art of Eduardo Risso: Noir shadows, distinct silhouettes, and the "Risso Grin."A Product of the 90s: Why the dialogue, racial depictions, and female anatomy feel like a time capsule of "grim and gritty" 90s media (comparisons to Sin City and Pulp Fiction included).The Story Arcs: Dizzy Cordova’s return to the streets and the Black Mirror-esque tragedy of Lee Dolan.The Verdict: Is the overarching conspiracy enough to keep us reading despite the "cringe" factor?Next Month’s Read: We are cleansing the palette with Absolute Martian Manhunter Vol. 1 by Deniz Camp & Javier Rodríguez and diving into the source material for Ryan Murphy’s The Beauty. Follow the Podcast: Join the Discord and read along Read Our Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Tiktok Watch us on Youtube If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps more than you know! Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction to Jim Steranko's Influence 00:54 Welcome to Collecting Issues 01:47 Trigger Warnings and Spoilers Ahead 03:01 The Eisner Awards and 100 Bullets 03:58 Personal Context and 90s Comic Culture 07:37 The Neo-Noir Influence 13:10 Exploring the Anthology Format 19:53 Eduardo Risso's Distinctive Art Style 28:54 The Intriguing Premise of 100 Bullets 32:18 Exploring Narrative Tropes in '100 Bullets' 32:49 Dizzy Cordova's Tragic Story 34:35 Agent Graves and the Devil's Bargain 35:28 Critique of Eduardo Rizzo's Art and Dialogue 36:33 Dizzy's Return and Family Dynamics 37:11 Setting and Cultural Depictions 43:38 Moral Dilemmas and Storytelling Mechanics 46:00 Introduction to Meghan Dietrich 48:09 Lee Dolan's Downfall 57:22 Comparisons to Sin City 59:00 Final Thoughts and Future Reads Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Collecting Issues, your monthly comic book club! To close out 2025, we are wading deep into the bog of Irish Myth to discuss Tuatha, the stunning one-shot from Irish creator Gavin Fullerton, published by IDW Comics. If Samurai Jack and Hellboy had a baby and sent it on a grim quest across a war-torn ancient Ireland, it would look like this. In this episode, Michael and Benjamin break down this largely silent visual masterpiece. We explore how Fullerton strips away the "Leprechaun Museum" version of folklore to reveal the gritty, bloody roots of Celtic legend. Join us as we decode the hidden mythological references scattered throughout the book; from the Brown Bull of Cooley to the Dagda, and discuss why this might be the best visual storytelling of the year. In this episode, we cover: Visual Storytelling: How Gavin Fullerton uses silent narrative and cinematic paneling to tell a story of grief and duty.Mythology Decoded: We identify the cameos from Irish Legend, including Queen Maeve, Cú Chulainn (maybe?), The Dagda, and Balor of the Evil Eye.The Vibe: Why this feels like "Dark Souls" meets an apocalyptic end to the Age of Myth.That Dog: Emotional damage and the fate of the protagonist's wolfhound.2026 Reading Schedule: We’ve announced our lineup for the first half of 2026! Get your copies ready: Jan: 100 Bullets, Vol. 1 by Brian Azzarello & Eduardo RissoFeb: Absolute Martian Manhunter, Vol. 1 by Deniz Camp & Javier RodríguezMar: Bone, Vol. 1 by Jeff SmithApr: Ultimate Spider-Man by Jonathan HickmanMay: Assorted Crisis Events by Deniz CamJun: Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King & Bilquis EverlyJoin the Club: We want to hear your thoughts on Tuatha! Did you spot the references to the Red Hand of Ulster? Did you catch the flashback? Join the Discord and read along Read Our Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Tiktok Watch us on Youtube If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps more than you know! Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction to Irish Mythology 00:37 Comic Book Club Overview 02:24 Engage with Us: Join the Discussion 05:22 Deep Dive into Tuatha Comic 07:49 Exploring Irish Mythological References 12:35 The Protagonist's Grim Mission 16:04 Mythical Encounters and Symbolism 29:34 The River Bandits and the Giant Deer 35:04 Irish Mythology and the Gay Bullock 36:09 Action-Packed Battle Scene 37:11 Encounter with WWE Superstar Finn Balor 38:04 The Forgotten God DDA 39:36 A Journey Through Irish Mythology 41:56 The Tragic Death of the Loyal Hound 44:37 A Vigil and a Journey Continues 50:15 Blood Magic and Mythical Struggles 55:48 The Island and the Final Resting Place 57:28 Reflections on Grief and Myth 01:00:25 Upcoming Comic Book Club Reads Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Collecting Issues, the monthly comic book book club! This week, Michael and Benjamin are heading to the Midwest to tackle a modern critical darling: Local Man (Issues #1-13 & #25). Published by Image Comics, Local Man is the 2023 creation of Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash, Grayson) and Tony Fleecs (Stray Dogs). It’s a genre-bending mix of rural noir and 90s superhero pastiche that asks the question: What happens when an "Extreme" era hero gets cancelled and has to move back into his parents' basement? (Spoiler: His parents are very disappointed). Join us as we determine if this book is a deconstruction of the industry or just a chaotic ride. Ben realises "Local Man" is actually a derogatory term for someone who parks on a curb, while Michael tries to figure out if Crossjack is the Hawkeye of the Midwest or just an absolute arsehole. We discuss: Why the first arc feels like The Boys meets Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye—if Hawkeye was a glory-hound who slept with everyone’s wives.The Dual Art Styles: Breaking down the genius flip-flop between Tony Fleecs’ grounded, photo-referenced reality and Tim Seeley’s Rob Liefeld-esque 90s flashbacks (no feet allowed!).The "Image" History Lesson: How the book serves as a love letter (and a tombstone) to the 1992 founding of Image Comics, referencing WildC.A.T.s, Gen13, and the "pouch era."The Inga Problem: The twisty villain arc that left us asking: Is she a Lex Luthor mastermind or just a messy ex?The Verdict: Why we believe Volume 1 is a masterpiece that belongs on your shelf, but why the "cosmic shenanigans" of Arcs 2 & 3 gave the lads "comic book blue balls." Follow the Podcast: Join the Discord and read along Read Our Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Tiktok Watch us on Youtube Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction to Collecting Issues 00:28 Comic Book Confusion and Local Legends 03:16 Elevator Pitch and Creative Team 05:16 Tim Seeley and Tony Fleecs' Background 16:28 Image Comics and the 90s Influence 20:43 Cross Jack's Return and Character Dynamics 28:44 Villains and Plot Twists 37:26 Inga's Character and Comic's Weaknesses 38:01 Corporate Superheroes and Inga's Role 38:26 Tim Sealey's Influence and Comic Tropes 38:58 Second Arc: Horror and Cult Elements 39:22 Cross Jack's Powers and Fourth Wall Breaking 40:28 Inga's Villainy and Characterisation Issues 43:01 Third Arc: Fetishes and Dream Narratives 43:46 Neon's Confrontation with Inga 45:36 Seascape's Mythical Origins 47:44 Faceless Hoard and Comic Book Tropes 52:33 Comic's Rushed Conclusion and Missed Opportunities 54:08 Tim Sealey's Style and Comic's Inconsistencies 01:02:46 Final Thoughts and Recommendations Next Comic: Tuatha, a new digital release from IDW involving Irish myth and horror by Gavin Fullerton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Halloween, listeners! This month on Collecting Issues, the monthly comic book book club, Michael and Benjamin skirt the rules to cover an anthology: Come Find Me: An Autumnal Offering. This 2024 one-shot is published by the new, creator-owned DSTLRY Comics. It's an... interesting business model of limited digital runs and resellable digital rights. (Wait, did we just buy an NFT? Is this the blockchain?) Curated by horror maestro Becky Cloonan, Come Find Me is a collection of six chilling mini-stories steeped in folk and medieval horror. Join us as we apply "useful frameworks" (much to Michael's disgust) to break down every tale in this unnerving collection from a lineup of incredible female and non-binary creators. We discuss: "Devil's Trill" (Hamlet Machine): A sexy, weird, and wordless Faustian pact that sets a spectacular gothic tone."Portorium" (Becky Cloonan): A classic tale of grave robbery, Roman gods (hello, Orcus), and why you should never steal from the dead."Down by the Water" (Molly Mendoza): A beautiful, abstract, and unsettling story of gossip, grief, and... frog spawn?"Coal &Clover" (Vanessa R. Del Rey): A straightforward folk horror revenge story set in a brutal American company town. Don't make deals with the Fae!"La Chéta" (Celine Loup): The one that left us scratching our heads. A sketchy, Alpine tale of a sexy widow and... well, we're still not sure."Warmth of the Hunt" (E.M. Carroll): An absolute banger to finish the anthology. A stunning, timeless depiction of the Wild Hunt with tattoo-worthy art.Which stories gave us "oozing dread" and which one was less fright and more...? Follow the Podcast: Join the Discord and read along Read Our Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Tiktok Watch us on Youtube Next Comic:Local Man, a deconstruction of the Big Guns and Pouch era of 90's comics by Tim Seeley and Tony Fleecs Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction to 'Come Find Me' 01:33 Overview of DSTLRY Comics 04:01 Exploring the Anthology's Themes 04:53 Spotlight on Becky Cloonan 09:03 Diving into 'Devil's Trill' 21:32 Analysis of 'Portorium' 32:04 Molly Mendoza's 'Down by the Water' 36:20 Unraveling the Mystery of the Drowned Lover 38:33 The Grim Trysts and Henry's Dark Secrets 39:54 The Frog Spawn Mystery and Henry's Duality 44:17 Medieval Horror and the Tale of Coal & Clover 44:37 The Dark Art of Vanessa Del Ray 48:57 The Folkloric Influence in Horror Comics 01:04:17 The Wild Hunt and the Art of EM Carroll 01:10:32 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Reads Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Collecting Issues, the comic book book club where this month we're pulling a rabbit out of a hat and diving into Zatanna: Bring Down the House! Join us as we review issues #1-5 of the 2025 DC Black Label series by the incredible team of Mariko Tamaki, Javier Rodriguez, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Is this spooky, Halloween-adjacent tale a true horror comic or more "spider decoration spooky"? We break down this visually stunning "Year One" style origin story for DC's premier magician. From its unique narrative approach to its mastery of the female gaze, we explore how this comic redefines Zatanna for a new generation. Plus, we have to talk about that impossibly clean, muscular, and croissant-eating John Constantine. Tune in for a breezy, fun, and pop-art-infused discussion that's part comic review, part art appreciation, and part therapy session for our hosts' confused sexualities. In This Episode, We Discuss:The Art of Magic: A deep dive into Javier Rodriguez's spectacular, psychedelic, and masterful visuals. We explore his innovative panel layouts, mastery of colour (including that CMYK flashback style!), and pin-up aesthetic.A Millennial Magician: How Mariko Tamaki's writing transforms Zatanna into a relatable millennial hero grappling with imposter syndrome, parental legacy, and finding her own power.Narrative Tropes & Themes: We tackle the "Chosen One" narrative, the mystery of Zatara's dark past, and whether the story holds up to the incredible artwork.For the Female Gaze?: An exploration of how the comic flips the script on Zatanna's traditionally fetishised character design, creating a powerful and sexy story from a distinctly female perspective.That Constantine Cameo: Was John Constantine's appearance necessary, or did he just show up to ruin a perfectly good lesbian romance? We have thoughts. Follow the Podcast: Join the Discord and read along Read Our Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Tiktok Watch us on Youtube Next Comic:Get ready for Spooktober! We're reading "Come Find Me," an all-female descent into folk horror curated by Becky Cloonan, from the new publisher DSTLLRY. Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction to Collecting Issues 00:51 Halloween Vibes and Spooky Stories 02:46 Zatanna's Origin and Elevator Pitch 06:51 The Creative Team Behind Zatanna 08:38 Art and Visuals of Zatanna 17:38 Narrative Tropes and Themes 32:27 Zatara's Journey and Characterisation 33:08 Millennial Themes and Imposter Syndrome 33:42 Favourite Sequences and Dialogue 35:20 Zatanna's Struggles and Power Fantasy 37:49 The Phantom Stranger and Magic Councils 42:31 Art Style and Visual Storytelling 51:04 Magic Battles and Demon Designs 58:38 Final Thoughts and Recommendations Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Collecting Issues, we're diving headfirst into the dense, brutal, and brilliant world of 20th Century Men, the six-issue epic from Deniz Camp, Stipan Morian, and Image Comics. It’s an alternate history where the Cold War got much, much hotter, fought with super-soldiers, giant mechs, and broken ideals in the mountains of Afghanistan. WARNING: This is a full-spoiler discussion! We highly recommend you read 20th Century Men #1-6 before listening. Go on, get out of here! Scram! Taste the wilderness... and then come back for the listens. Join us as we unpack this "impenetrable but so worth it" modern classic. We dissect Deniz Camp’s complex, non-linear narrative that jumps through time and perspectives, comparing his style to legends like Alan Moore, Warren Ellis, and Grant Morrison. We also explore Stipan Morian's stunningly varied—and sometimes jarring—artwork, from Frank Frazetta-esque battle scenes to surreal, Bill Plympton-inspired visuals. Is this the best comic of 2025? Is it a spiritual successor to Watchmen? And after all the propaganda, war crimes, and failed utopias, we ask the eternal question: War, huh? What is it good for? Tune in to hear our thoughts on: The Unholy Trinity: A deep dive into the core characters: the crumbling Soviet ideal of The Iron Star, the brutal American imperialism of President Goode, and the human cost embodied by Azra.Artistic Chaos: Why Stipan Morian's shifting art styles are both the comic's greatest strength and its most challenging feature.Deconstructing History: How the comic uses superheroes to explore the real-world horrors and myth-making of the Soviet-Afghan War.Legendary Influences: We discuss the heavy shades of Planetary, The Authority, and Watchmen that run through this series.The Best and Worst of Humanity: From the terrifying super-soldier Six Bill to the tragic journalist Kyril, we break down the unforgettable supporting cast.If you love politically charged, artistically ambitious comics that challenge you at every turn, this is an episode you can't afford to miss. Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction to 20th Century Men 00:49 Comic Book Spoilers Ahead! 02:46 The Complexity of War in Comics 12:07 Art and Storytelling in 20th Century Men 16:32 Character Analysis: Heroes and Anti-Heroes 27:37 The Symbolism of the Collected Man 33:56 Side Stories and Paradise 34:10 Azra's Practical Paradise 34:56 John Rambo's Disruption 35:04 Thomas Goode's American Supremacy 36:09 Time Jumps and Narrative Techniques 39:13 Art and Visuals in Comics 43:15 Character Perspectives and Artistic Styles 50:54 The Human Toll of War 55:41 Modern Political Crises and Myth Making 01:07:54 Spooky Season Recommendations Follow the Podcast: Join the Discord and read along Read Our Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Tiktok Watch us on Youtube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.