Peter Bagge's Hate Part 2 with Whit Taylor

 

The Runs Podcast Season 2 Finale!  We're closing out strong, with another deep dive into Peter Bagge's Indy comics canonical series, Hate, with Whit Taylor (Fizzle, Dead Air, The Nib), who is one of my very favorite people to dish comics with.  We get into the nuts and bolts of this series, which really arrives at its fully-formed self in these issues.  Great character development, compelling stories, and unique and expertly crafted cartooning is present in each issue.  We also discuss some of the aspects of the series that are more difficult to talk about, as what was controversial in the 90's may be unacceptable for some audiences today.  Does it hold up?  Listen and find out! 

Thanks so much to everyone who listened to this season!  Drop me a line if you want me to do another one.  

Here's a link to The Runs Comics Podcast on iTunes.  And here's the link to the show on Spotify. Be sure to subscribe, rate and review! 

And here's a link if you'd like the stream the episode.  

Hama and Wagner's Nth Man with Zack Soto

 

Nth Man: The Ultimate Ninja is a series that I never gave a chance as a kid, and it would have stayed that way if Zack Soto (The Secret Voice, Power Button. Study Group) hadn't chosen it for this episode.  This series is an early 90's deep cut, featuring World War 3, a Stevan Seagal-esque American Ninja, and some rather overt parallels to Akira. Was I pleasantly surprised, or is this another episode where I complain about the run the entire time?  Either way, Soto declares this to be Larry Hama's masterpiece, and this episode could be the start of an online campaign to finally have this series collected in a nicely bound book.  You heard it here first!   

Here's a link to The Runs Comics Podcast on iTunes.  And here's the link to the show on Spotify. Be sure to subscribe, rate and review! 

And here's a link if you'd like the stream the episode.  

  

Jhonen Vasquez's Squee with Julia Gfrörer

 

This episode isn't sponsored by Hot Topic, but it might as well be.  Brilliant cartoonist Julia Gfrörer (Laid Waste, Black is the Color) comes by to talk about a formative run for her, Jhonon Vasquez's tremendously popular goth comic, Squee.  If you don't like the episodes where I talk about how crappy I think the run is, you should probably skip this one.  Otherwise, put on your Jnco pants, crank up some Rasputina, and indulge in this gleefully sullen episode.  

Here's a link to The Runs Comics Podcast on iTunes.  And here's the link to the show on Spotify. Be sure to subscribe, rate and review! 

And here's a link if you'd like the stream the episode.  

Jack Kirby's Fourth World with Jason Levian

 

It was not my intention for this podcast to be so focused on 70's Kirby, but I can't say I mind it, either.  Jason Levian, owner of Floating World Comics, sits down with me to talk about the first few issues of each of the four series that form the Fourth World, an ahead-of-it-time epic by one of comics all-time great storytellers. It exists at the epicenter of genius and madness, and you'll love hearing Jason's take on it.  

Here's a link to The Runs Comics Podcast on iTunes.  And here's the link to the show on Spotify. Be sure to subscribe, rate and review! 

And here's a link if you'd like the stream the episode.  

Slott and Allred's Silver Surfer with Ben Dewey

 

I met Ben Dewey (Autumnlands, Beasts of Burden, Namor, Vampirella, The Tragedy Series, etc. etc.) about 20 years ago when we worked together on a Roller Derby comic.  He's been one of those guys in comics that I'm always happy to chat with when I get a chance ever since.  He picked Dan Slott and Mike Allred's Silver Surfer run to discuss.  Mike Allred is one of the greats and Dan Slott... well, he's fine, too.  Find out why Ben picked this run, and hear him compare drawing comics to being a musician in more ways than one. 

Here's a link to The Runs Comics Podcast on iTunes.  And here's the link to the show on Spotify. Be sure to subscribe, rate and review! 

And here's a link if you'd like the stream the episode.  

Strakzynski and Romita Jr.'s Amazing Spider-Man with Mark Ginocchio

 

Mark Ginocchio, co-host of the Amazing Spider-Talk Podcast, comes by this week to talk about... Spider-Man.  But not just any Spider-Man! This is one of the most divisive runs in Spider-Man History, as evidenced by Mark declaring that it's the run that made him a Spider-Man lifer and me dumping all over it.  In a very unintuitive-for-the-internet approach, things never get heated, we just each present our opposing point of views of praise and scorn for this love-it-or-hate it run.  I will, however, apologize in advance to all of Mark's regular listeners for being such a negative Nancy.   

Here's a link to The Runs Comics Podcast on iTunes.  And here's the link to the show on Spotify. Be sure to subscribe, rate and review! 

And here's a link if you'd like the stream the episode.  

McDuffie and Bright's Icon with Ronell Whitaker

 

This week's guest is comics educator Ronell Whitaker, who chose Icon as the run to discuss.  Icon was the flagship title of the Milestone line, which may have been the only new comics universe worth following of all the many that launched in the early 90's.  Ronell is the first guest that I'd never spoken with before recording but I found him to be very interesting and easy to talk to.  I'm really glad he proposed that we read this series because it's definitely a hidden gem of the 90's and there are lots of interesting elements within it to get into.  Just as a tip of the iceberg, it may be the only superhero comic in which one of the main heroes is shown buying a home pregnancy test.  

Here's a link to The Runs Comics Podcast on iTunes.  And here's the link to the show on Spotify. Be sure to subscribe, rate and review! 

And here's a link if you'd like the stream the episode.  

The Mutant Massacre with Zayd Dohrn

 

This week's guest recently won the DuPont Columbia University Award for audio and visual journalism for his podcast, Mother Country Radicals, and now he's here to talk with me about The Mutant Massacre.  Zayd Dohrn is an accomplishment playwright, film and tv writer, and a low key comic book nerd.  This episode marks the first time that a crossover event is discussed instead of a single title. Find out why The Mutant Massacre had such an impact on Zayd in his youth and hear my spiel about why crossover events ruined mainstream comics.  All this, plus an issue of Ann Nocenti's Daredevil!  

Here's a link to The Runs Comics Podcast on iTunes.  And here's the link to the show on Spotify. Be sure to subscribe, rate and review! 

And here's a link if you'd like the stream the episode.  

Kyoko Okazaki's Pink with Xena Lopez

 Up-and-coming comics superstar Xena Lopez comes on the show this week to talk about a series I'd never heard of, Pink by Kyoko Okazaki.  We talk about manga, memoir, sex work and working at the library.   

Here's a link to The Runs Comics Podcast on iTunes.  And here's the link to the show on Spotify. Be sure to subscribe, rate and review! 

And here's a link if you'd like the stream the episode.  

Dan Clowes' Eightball with Peter Bagge

 

One of the greatest living cartoonists, Peter Bagge (Hate, Yeah!, Weirdo) comes on the show this week to talk about an early run by another one of the greatest living cartoonists, Dan Clowes.  This is one of those episodes where I couldn't really believe that I got to have this conversation.  Listen in to learn how one all-time-great cartoonist's work inspired another all-time-great cartoonist.  Plus, some stuff about what it's like to teach college students these days.  And a really exciting update about Hate comics!!! 

Here's a link to The Runs Comics Podcast on iTunes.  And here's the link to the show on Spotify. Be sure to subscribe, rate and review! 

And here's a link if you'd like the stream the episode.  

Steve Gerber and Co.'s Howard the Duck with Diana Schutz

 

In this episode, comics hall-of-famer Diana Schutz comes by to talk about quintessential 70's Marvel series Howard the Duck.  Did you have to be there at the time?  Or do you at least have to be high to enjoy this run?  Either way, I'm sure you'll enjoy this trip down memory lane with one of comics most important editorial voices. 

Here's a link to The Runs Comics Podcast on iTunes.  And here's the link to the show on Spotify. Be sure to subscribe, rate and review! 

And here's a link if you'd like the stream the episode.  

John Byrne's Fantastic Four Part 2 with Alex Robinson

 

In the premier episode of Season 2, Alex Robinson (Box Office Poison, Star Wars Minute) returns to continue our deep dive into John Byrne's legendary Fantastic Four run.  Does it hold up?  How is it if you've never read it before.  It's got Galactus in it... isn't that enough?  Listen and find out! 

Here's a link to The Runs Comics Podcast on iTunes.  And here's the link to the show on Spotify. Be sure to subscribe, rate and review! 

And here's a link if you'd like the stream the episode.  

The Runs Season 2 Introduction

 

Welcome to The Runs Season 2!  This first episode is just a brief introduction in which Ryan checks in with you, the beloved viewer, and sets up the next 12 weekly episodes.  Some great guests are on their way, along with some great runs, some decent runs, and some pretty crappy runs.  Here's hoping you'll listen in each week as they are discussed!

Here's a link to The Runs Comics Podcast on iTunes.  And here's the link to the show on Spotify. Be sure to subscribe, rate and review! 

If you'd like to hear another season of The Runs, say so in a review!  And/or send me an email! 

And here's a link if you'd like the stream the episode.  

Jack Kirby's Omac with Dean Haspiel

 

For this podcast's Season Finale, Dean Haspiel (The Red Hook, American Splendor, Cuba: My Revolution) and I discuss Jack Kirby's O.M.A.C. One Man Army Corps.  A highlight of this podcast for me has been being prompted to read a bunch of DC comics that Kirby made in the 70's, and this is no exception.  We discuss the finer points of the series, the ten-million-ideas-per-page approach it takes, the unusual choice of inkers, how abruptly the whole thing ends upon cancelation, and the very direct influence this series had on Dean's work.  All this plus Dean tells us how to draw the Thing.  

Here's a link to The Runs Comics Podcast on iTunes.  And here's the link to the show on Spotify. Be sure to subscribe, rate and review! 

If you'd like to hear another season of The Runs, say so in a review!  And/or send me an email! 

And here's a link if you'd like the stream the episode.  

Junji Ito's Uzumaki with Joelle Jones

 

Superstar comics artist Joelle Jones (Batman, Catwoman, Lady Killer) comes by this week to talk about Junji Ito's celebrated horror Manga, Uzumaki.  Are spirals really scary, or just ridiculous?  Or are the ridiculous parts what makes this comic so scary?  Or would it all just be totally ridiculous if Junji Ito wasn't so good at drawing?  Find out as we examine lives lost to pottery, snake mating rituals and hairstyles. 

Here's a link to The Runs Comics Podcast on iTunes.  And here's the link to the show on Spotify. Be sure to subscribe, rate and review! 

And here's a link if you'd like the stream the episode.