Image Comics has two great books already knee-deep in their respective sci-fi/political story arcs. Invisible Republic (Hardman, Bechko, Boyd) and We Stand On Guard (Vaughan, Skroce) are two of the best books available today. Each in their unique ways present some very conceptual and provocative commentary on politics. Invisible Republic examines the role of a Che Guevara-type leader of a revolution who disappeared from society after his regime was overthrown. We Stand On Guard depicts freedom-fighters in a future Canada ruled by a militaristic and resource-hungry United States.

To the brilliant collection of Image Comics, a new book has debuted upon the comic book landscape much like a crazy new GOP candidate on the debate stage. Citizen Jack (Humphries, Patterson) delves into the seedy underbelly of U.S. politics and perhaps tries to address the question: “Must politicians make a pact with the Devil in order to succeed?” Sam Humphries (writer) and Tommy Patterson (artist) introduce us to Jack Northworthy, a down-on-his-luck former high school hockey star who enjoyed a brief stint as mayor of his small town. His big-time dreams have yet to fade in spite of his sole source of income being his snow removal service. The mayor of his small town has no compassionate ear for his troubles, either, as the new mayor is his ex-wife who’d really like for Jack to make an alimony payment. Jack is not without an ally, however, as a disembodied voice reminds him special plans are in the works to help him not simply become mayor, but become President of the United States of America!

Fox News is in for a rude awakening if they believe comic book creators are simply going to throw their hands up and surrender: “Oh, you’re right, Tucker. We give. No more politics in comics.” I’m sure the media is going to be skewered in this fascinating new book, as the smartest pundit in the room isn’t a person but a dolphin named, “Cricket.” Of course, the news show hosts have no interest in listening to Cricket be rational or offer any sane bits of lucid commentary or analysis. Readers interested in biting satire dipped in Lovecraftian horror should enjoy this new Image comic for mature audiences.

On November 14th, 2015 we had the pleasure of talking to New York Times bestselling artist of The Game of Thrones comic Tommy Patterson. Tommy stopped by G’s Comics in Murray, KY., to sign limited edition variants of Citizen Jack and have a long chat with us. If you’d care to listen to our podcast and our talk with the uber-talented Tommy Patterson, well then, here you go:

I thought Crossed (Avatar) was epically gratuitous. I thought Crossed was mesmerizingly gratuitous and then Derek gave us Webwitch (Boundless). Crossed is fantastically drawn yet perverse and gritty. Webwitch is fantastically drawn, perverse, and pretty. And no less mesmerizing but in a completely different and highly erotic style. We talk about this, wondering how Derek is going to get this book past his censor, i.e. his wife. She is a very chill, cool woman but everyone has their line.

My stack of meager comics this week pales in comparison to Derek’s massive monolith of graphic literature. The naughtiest book I have is the new Black Magick #1 (Image). I thought the opening scenes of the witches coven was pretty risqué. Webwitch makes Black Magick look like a Lifetime movie.

Some other cool things happened this week. Attack on Titan is simply creepy; giant lobotomized human wandering around with stupid grins climbing over walls or bashing them down in order to eat regular-sized humans. The Japanese have brilliant imaginations. The international trailer for the live-action Attack on Titan Part 11 was released this week. Looks awesome.

Fox News Channel “Fox and Friends” became sudden critical experts of the comic book genre, especially the Steve Rogers Captain America and Sam Wilson/The Falcon canon. If you haven’t heard the news, Sam Wilson/Captain America is un-American. In the eyes of Fox News “Fox and Friends,” the Sons of the Serpent is a Conservative special interest group composed of good, wholesome, freedom-loving and Constitution-adoring folk merely helping border control agents police the remote sections of the U.S.-Mexican border. Captain America, clearly a Constitution-hating Liberal clinging to notions of Socialism takes offense to the brutal methods of the Sons of the Serpent and sets about to deliver a systematic ass-whooping. Sam’s engagement with the Sons of the Serpent is interrupted by the arrival of Steve Rogers and S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers. Sam is upset, thinking he is about to be taken into custody, when really the redneck morons are the one’s who need to be arrested. Sam assumed too much, as Steve joined him in breaking down the Sons of the Serpent and figuring out who is responsible for outfitting these characters with high-tech weapons.

Lots of controversy has arisen from Fox News “Fox and Friends” over the matter. Controversy and press surrounding the story arc is good for comics, regardless of how one might feel. Here is an excerpt:

And, now the podcast

Some fine new books hit the racks October 21st, 2015. Gail Simone, famous for her run as writer for Birds of Prey, BatGirl, and one of my personal favorites, Wonder Woman, branches off into the macabre with her adult/mature comic, Clean Room. The story involves an investigative reporter, Chloe Pierce, trying to determine why her fiance killed himself. Evidence suggests a book written by the reclusive head of a self-help media conglomerate may have played some role. Ms. Pierce makes her mission to uncover the suspicious nature of her boyfriend’s death and what role this self-help leader played. This is another attempt by DC Comics to revive the Vertigo label, creating stories for adults.

Another interesting book from DC Comics is the new Martian Manhunter #5. I read issue #1 and #2; I’m going to let the issues accumulate for a few months. This new story arc by Rob Williams is unlike many other story arcs of MM I’ve read. The art by Eddy Burrows brings a new depth and a sense of darkness to the character I’ve not seen in many years.

This week, a new Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer was released. Not only do we get a sense of the awakening of the Force, but also of a bunch of homophobic and racist Star Wars fans upset by the overwhelming and unexpected diversity present in their universe. Their ridiculous animosity vented at Disney over inclusion of more women, Black people, and homosexual characters flies in the face of the ludicrous alien diversity Lucas assembled in his Star Wars Universe. Not even rational arguments.

Here is the Japanese trailer; includes a few interesting gems not in the U.S. edition.

And now, the podcast

In this show, we talk a little bit about “We Stand On Guard,” plus “Copperhead,” “Aliens & Vamperella,” and other stuff we like about this week’s new comics.

For those of you who enjoy large monster (kaiju) movies, we offer the brilliant Gamera 2015 extended trailer:

For those of you who would like to see Ultron in an episode of “The Office,” or would like to see Robert California as the next supervillian in a future Avengers movie, the clip below is just for you.

Support your local comic book retailer. They are the heart and soul of Nerddom.

Tagged: Brian Vaughan, Canada, comic book reviews, Gamera, Image Comics, Kaiju, Marvel, Saga, Ultron, We Stand On Guard ]]> https://comicshopstories.com/2015/10/12/podcast-17-the-united-states-invades-canada-edition/feed/ 0 Garrick Crump, Derek Leslie, and Michael Busby yes Casting during the regular store hours of a comic book shop in Murray, KY., we discuss the various and sundry topics associated with the comic book milieu including the trials and tribulations of being a small business owner, and a comic book retailer, to boot. Casting during the regular store hours of a comic book… wpid-20151002_143905.jpg Constant Geographer we-stand-on-guard-map https://comicshopstories.com/2015/10/11/podcast-16-support-your-local-comic-shop-edition/ https://comicshopstories.com/2015/10/11/podcast-16-support-your-local-comic-shop-edition/#respond Mon, 12 Oct 2015 04:37:22 +0000 http://comicshopstories.com/?p=881 Lots of good comics arrived for racks this week. G referees Derek and I as I lament not having picked up Tokyo Ghost #1 while Derek tries to not rub it in my face too much.

Support your local comic book shop. It’s like church for nerds and geeks.

Wait. We never say that. Maybe we should. Most times people are perusing the racks, back issues, and merchandise while we record. What we usually say is,

“Live, from G’s Comics, in Murray, Kentucky.” We do record live…(?)…during regular business hours. Today, G has to step away to work his groove on some customers.

Today, we review the www.experienceanomaly.com/ftl app for Android and iOS which is a nice augmentation of the Image-Shadowline title, “Faster Than Light.” Not really a game, and not really a movie, more of an “experience.” Make sure you touch the screen if you get the Image comic and download the app. Stuff happens. I can envision a day when comic books and app games collide. We aren’t that far away; the mashup may have already happened.

Heineken is our unofficial sponsor. In fact, we paid them so I guess we sponsored them during our podcast. How does that happen? Oh, well, there is a liquor store next door.

G and Derek review Planet Hulk-larious. According to G, the book is mildly funny.

Derek is taken with his new Vamperella title. I think it has Deadpool as a guest. Yes, I’m sure Deadpool is the reason.

And then we talk about some other topics, gaming, EVEOnline, WoW, MUDs (remember those?)

Thanks for listening!

Maybe we could should have a Star Wars holiday season, you know, like Lent, or Ramadan, tied to the lunar cycle. We could call it, “Yodannukah,” maybe.

“Liberal Force Friday Edition” from Comic Shop Stories 2015 by Comic Shop Stories. Released: 2015. Track 14. Genre: Comic Book Podcast.

We talk a little about San Diego, as Busby has a journey to the seaside city coming up within a few hours. He never gets to go to San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC); he always seems to make the trip the week before or the week after the end of all of the hullabaloo. And, that may be a good thing. Large numbers of people startle Busby. The last thing people want to deal with is a startled Busby.

In any event, here is the show!

Yet, this is precisely what happened.

A very close, intimate, almost symbiotic relationship exists between comic books and soap operas, especially soap operas from the 1970s and 1980s where characters killed in one season rise from the dead the next season in the form of a long-lost identical twin sibling, who was abandoned at an impressionable young age on a desert island, raised by toucans and a very tolerate family of marmosets, seeking to make a life for themselves in the quaint community of Salem, U.S.A., a community renown for making BBQs out of a variety of mammals, including but not limited to, people.

Welcome to podcast 012, a podcast we call, Days of Our Future Past Lives.

In today’s podcast we break down our fresh titles for May 20th. Derek and G debate the finer points of Avengers: Age of Ultron, during which G has to stop and help some folks purchase some comics. We get a surprise visit from neighbor Terry, owner of Maya’s Music. And Derek shares a novel find, er…a novel, actually, “Ready Player One,” by Ernest Cline. Steven Spielberg is set to direct a movie adaptation right after he finishes “The BFG,” a movie based on Roald Dahls childrens novel.