HOW have we not yet discussed Batman in the year and half of this podcast?!?? This era-defining story THE COURT OF OWLS from 2011 by writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo was a phenomenal benchmark for the character, creators, readers, and lore as a whole, delving into the history of Gotham itself and setting the stage for an incredible years…

Originally published in 2014, the incredibly acclaimed THIS ONE SUMMER by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki is a coming of age story about two teenage friends, Rose and Windy, during a summer in a small beach town they both frequent with their families annually. Have a safe and happy summer, everyone! ARTICLE: "Using Graphic Novels in Education: Thi…

In this episode, a spell is cast on us by WITCH HAT ATELIER [ とんがり帽子のアトリエ ], the magical manga series by Kamome Shirahama [ 白浜 鴎 ] published by Kodansha and currently up to 13 volumes as of this recording! In 2020, the series won the Harvey Award for the Best Manga category as well as the Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material…

Justin's back from his trip to Japan with a massive pile of manga, many of which have never been translated/localized! --- Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.c…

It's our annual oversized episode on TCAF, the Toronto Comic Arts Festival held every Spring at the Toronto Reference Library! https://www.torontocomics.com/ Remembering Joe Matt! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Matt https://www.tcj.com/remembering-joe-matt/ BLIND ALLEY and THE GULF by Adam DeSouza https://kumerish.com/ https://www.instagram.com/…

One of the very first DC Comics characters of the Golden Age, THE SANDMAN - aka Wesley Dodds - fought crime and injustice in 1930s New York City armed with nothing but his wits, a gasmask, and a gun that fired nonlethal sleeping gas. Decades later, the first issue of Neil Gaiman's legendary "Sandman" series would reintroduce the world to Wesley Dod…

They may be the most-mentioned yet never-spotlighted writer on The Very Fine Comic Book Podcast to date: Grant Morrison! Their graphic novel THE MYSTERY PLAY -- featuring painted art by Jon J Muth -- was published by Vertigo Comics in 1994, and featured a chilling theological twist on the classic UK smalltown murder-mystery trope. --- Join our Patr…

Two comic creator legends of their respective eras collide in 1997's JUDGMENT DAY, written by Alan Moore, drawn by Rob Liefeld! Seemingly inspired by the then-recent trial of O. J. Simpson, "Judgment Day" tells the tale of a superhero-run investigation and trial for one of their own who's been accused of murdering a teammate -- featuring characters…

On this April 1 episode of THE VERY FINE COMIC SNACK PODCAST! -- - a look at the Hostess fruit pies advertisements that appeared EVERYWHERE in Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Archie Comics, and other publishers throughout the 1970s & 1980s! - Dollarama brand Spider-man head lollipops! Open his head, and eat his brain! - Eternals PEZ! (it's lemon!) - Lobl…

sssssSOMEbody STOP me!!! Before being adapted into the hit 1994 Jim Carrey film, THE MASK was a comic series from Dark Horse Comics in which creators Doug Mahnke & John Arcudi masterfully blended hyperexaggerated cartoon zaniness with brutal ultraviolence. Covered in this episode are the first 13 issues / 3 miniseries by the original creative team,…

Legendary manga artist Akira Toriyama passed away in March 2024, leaving behind an enduring legacy of work -- most notably his 42-volume magnum opus DRAGON BALL. Dragon Ball began in 1984 and spawned a still-ongoing saga and media empire, and is often regarded as the most influential manga and anime series of all time. In this episode, we'll rekind…

In 1984, Marvel Comics created a spinoff line of all-ages kid-targeted comics called STAR COMICS! Overseen by Tom DeFalco and Sid Jacobson, the Star Comics line lasted through 1988 and introduced the comic reading world to the original characters Misty, Planet Terry, Royal Roy, Top Dog, Wally The Wizard, and [most famously] Peter Porker: The Specta…

As long-promised for our 52nd episode! -- What's a "Crisis"? What's a "multiverse"? What's a "52"? These words get thrown around a lot in DC Comics, as well as in off-page discussions of their lore, continuity, and publishing history. In this episode we'll attempt to give a basic Crisis 101 overview for the total newcomer, discussing the 1985 conti…

Listener Adam Bishop sent us an absolutely wild assortment of VERY random comic books to discuss! Strap in and enjoy as we wax eloquent on Baywatch, Jesus, Faust, Back To The Future, Danzig, The Maxx, assorted eros comics, X-Men: The Animated Series: The Comic, The Time Machine: The Movie: The Comic, and more! This episode and format is perfect tim…

SKREEONK!!! It's our monstrous 50th episode! What better way to celebrate than with the Big G himself - GODZILLA!!! Many publishers have put out Godzilla comics over the years, including a Marvel Comics series in the 1970s, and a longrunning line from IDW Publishing since 2010. In this episode, we'll be taking a look at the Godzilla titles publishe…

<3 <3 <3 Happy Valentine's Day! <3 <3 <3 Joan Peterson discovers she is trapped in an endless, terrifying cycle of "romance" -- and every time she falls in love, she’s torn from her world and thrust into another tear-soaked tale! It's the tropes and trappings of the 1940s-50s "romance comics" boom with a scifi/supernatural twist in LOVE EVERLASTING…

Guardian! Shaman! Snowbird! Puck! Northstar! Aurora! Sasquatch! Marrina! Together they are ALPHA FLIGHT, Canada's premiere superhero team! Originally appearing in an issue of Chris Claremont's Uncanny X-Men, these avengers of the great white north eventually got their own Marvel Comics series in 1983 which was written+drawn by John Byrne for the fi…

During a cold World War II winter, a handful of soldiers find themselves enlisted into a theological battle against fallen angels in THE LIGHT BRIGADE by Peter Tomasi & Peter Snejbjerg! How has this action-packed miniseries NOT become a movie yet??? Get on that, Hollywood!!! Closing song: "Between Two Wars" by The Big Heist, from the album Tightrop…

Do you love... golllllddddd? So do the protagonists of Satoru Noda's manga series GOLDEN KAMUY, a gold rush tale set in the early 1900s in Japan's northern region of Hokkaido, in the aftermath of the Russo-Japanese War. This epic and thoroughly-researched manga just wrapped up in 2022, and is also currently airing as an anime series on Crunchyroll,…

Happy new year! What are some good beginner comics / graphic novels for someone new to the medium? -- it's a question we get asked frequently by friends and colleagues since starting this very fine comic book podcast. In this episode, we go through an assortment of popular and critically-acclaimed modern favourites which should be very/perpetually …

This is not a joke. This is not a drill. We are literally reviewing the actual "OFFICIAL COMIC BOOK OF CHRISTMAS", as self-declared, or perhaps ordained by a governing body of the holiday. What is it??? You'll have to hear the episode to find out, as we unwrap this festive gift for YOU, dear listener! Happy holidays, everyone!!! Thank you for spend…

Our monthlong celebration of Xmas-themed comics continues with a tribute episode to the late great writer/illustrator Keith Giffen, who passed away in October 2023 at the too-young age of 70. Keith's career touched every corner of superhero comicdom, most notably the longrunning Justice League International series he co-created with J. M. DeMatteis…

Santa Claus is coming to town! Our monthlong celebration of Xmas-themed comics kicks off with THE GREAT TREASURY OF CHRISTMAS COMIC BOOK STORIES, featuring a smorgasbord of golden age holiday tales brought together in a gorgeously festive hardcover, edited by Craig Yoe and published by Yoe Books + IDW in 2010. Featuring art and stories by John Stan…

Well, we've officially peaked early. Because THE PEOPLE DEMANDED IT, here at last is the official definitive final word on Jim Davis' GARFIELD vs George Gately & Peter Gallagher's HEATHCLIFF. We have spoken. --- Follow us on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and send us questions to potentially read o…

News Strip November continues! KRAZY KAT (also known as KRAZY & IGNATZ in some reprints and compilations) was an American newspaper comic strip by George Herriman which ran from 1913 to 1944. In this episode, we'll dive into the history of the character and their creator, through the lens of the compilation "The George Herriman Library: Krazy & Ign…

One of the very best comics running right now is Adam de Souza's ongoing BLIND ALLEY, following the escapades of a group of kids growing up in the titular neighbourhood of Blind Alley! PEANUTS-style humour, a lovable dog on a quest with a Yokai, poignant ruminations, and a cute vampire! It's available in two physical collected editions (so far) and…

In this very special wedding-themed episode, we take a look at: Superman: The Wedding Album (1996) Fantastic Four Annual #3 (1965) Amazing Spider-Man #131 (1974) and... Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21 (1987) - in which Peter Parker finally weds Mary Jane Watson, forever! <3 --- Follow us on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/theveryfinecomicb…

Happy Halloween! Our shocktober horror coverage comes to a close with a two-part episode covering all 23 issues of The Simpsons' TREEHOUSE OF HORROR anthology from Bongo Comics, which was released every October from 1995-2017 and featured a wide variety of writers and artists terrifying Springfield's favorite family in a spooky smorgasbord of style…

Happy Halloween! Our shocktober horror coverage comes to a close with a two-part episode covering all 23 issues of The Simpsons' TREEHOUSE OF HORROR anthology from Bongo Comics, which was released every October from 1995-2017 and featured a wide variety of writers and artists terrifying Springfield's favorite family in a spooky smorgasbord of style…

"𝐼𝑡'𝑠 𝐻𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑛𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑒𝑛-𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟-𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑀𝑜𝑛𝑎 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑐𝑘 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑠𝑜 𝑚𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ. 𝑆ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑔𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝐻𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑𝑛'𝑡 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑒, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑎 𝑔𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑖𝑛 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑚 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦, 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑤𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑔. 𝑆ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑑𝑑 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑠 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓 𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑎𝑣𝑒 ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑖…

It's a zombie jamboree! Twenty years ago in October 2003, Robert Kirkman's "The Walking Dead" comic [and eventual cross-media IP] kicked off a zombie-mania which has arguably oversaturated the genre for decades to come. We hop into the time machine to discuss a pair of older black&white indie zombie comics -- 1986's DEADWORLD from Arrow Comics, and…

Shocktober is here! Our first spooOOooky reading of the month is Emily Carroll's THROUGH THE WOODS -- her first nightmare-inducing printed collection of short horror tales, which was published in 2014 after a few years of Emily creating (and continuing to create!) horror webcomics which often use the medium of reading-on-the-internet in very clever…

The paranormal investigator known as DYLAN DOG was created by Tiziano Sclavi in 1986 and has had over 400 magazine-sized comic issues published in his native Italy, very few of which have ever been officially translated into English. Can this very episode change that??? We hope so, as Dylan Dog is awesome. Find and read some of his spooky adventure…

THE BLACK HOLE! The ambitious 1979 live-action space-horror film was unlike anything Walt Disney Productions had put to screen before, and spawned a number of different tie-ins, including not one but two comic adaptations! -- a newspaper comic by Jack Kirby, and an ongoing monthly series from Gold Key Comics which expanded the story beyond the movi…

Body horror meets the teen melodrama of pulp romance comics in Charles Burns' BLACK HOLE, in which a mysterious body-mutating STD affecting only teenagers surfaces in the 1970s. --- Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/theveryfinecomicbookpodcast/ and send us questions to potentially read on-air via IG DM or via email at theveryfinec…

In the early 1990s, Peter Parker ventured to the great white north of Canada in these five one-shots produced by Marvel Comics in conjunction with the Toronto-based Community Programs Group. Spider-Man visited Winnipeg, Fredericton, Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal in mildly-educational stories framed around substance-abuse awareness and bike-safety,…

When Kevin Eastman & Peter Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles become one of the most successful cartoons / toy lines / brands of the late 1980s, the creators' own Mirage Studios decided to put out a cartoon-inspired spinoff comic targeted at a more all-ages audience than the original gritty black & white series was. The monthly TEENAGE MUTANT NIN…

Everyone knows Robert Oppenheimer did NOT have an evil twin brother who murdered him, ate his brain, stole his identity, and took his place in the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos. What THIS comic presupposes is... maybe he did? Years before Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" hit the big screen, writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Nick Pitarra detaile…

They're the Oscars of the comic scene -- the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards! In this episode, we run through / share thoughts on this year's nominees and winners, the list of which can be read in full here: https://www.thepopverse.com/eisner-awards-comic-award-will-industry-2023-nominees-winners-graphic-n…

In 1992, Don Rosa set out to chronicle the backstory of Uncle Scrooge, as originally detailed by breadcrumbs scattered throughout the many earlier stories by Scrooge's legendary creator Carl Barks. The end result was the twelve-chapter "The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck", considered since then to be the definitive canonical history of the charac…

Long before serving as the villain in James Gunn's "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3", the High Evolutionary was the chief antagonist in one of Marvel's biggest crossovers to date -- THE EVOLUTIONARY WAR event, which ran through all Marvel Comics Annuals in the Summer 1988 (including the confirmed-canonical ALF Annual #1). We take a look at all 12 ch…

Years before being adapted into the hit 1997 film of the same name, THE MEN IN BLACK was originally an independent 6-issue comic series written by Lowell Cunningham and illustrated by Sandy Carruthers, published by Aircel Comics in 1990-91! Also discussed in this episode: - Mike loves issue #1 of "Superman: The Last Days Of Lex Luthor" by Mark Waid…

Right before "Watchmen" in the mid-1980s, legendary comic writer Alan Moore wrote an assortment of incredibly-enduring Superman stories for DC Comics. In this episode we discuss Moore's "For The Man Who Has Everything" and "Whatever Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow?"

A reporter travels to the Amazon Jungle to investigate a missing worker and sabotage at a logging site in "The Amazon" by writer Steven T. Seagle and artist Tim Sale! Originally published as a three-issue miniseries by Comico in 1989, "The Amazon" has since been re-collected in a new hardcover edition from Dark Horse Comics. "Welcome to the Jungle"…

On a remote island in the South Pacific lies Zander Cannon's KAIJUMAX, a maximum security prison for giant monsters! This senpai-tacular series is available in 6 six-issue TPBs from Oni Press! -- https://onipress.com/collections/kaijumax "Going to Prison!" by The Very Nice Interesting Singer Man, from the album "Stuff That Happens" -- https://open.…

FLASH! AHH-ahhhhhhh! Barry Allen wakes up in a changed timeline and is the only one who can set things right in FLASHPOINT, the 2011 DC Comics miniseries by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert! This iconic story was the basis for the 2013 DC animated feature "THE FLASHPOINT PARADOX" as well as the 2023 live-action "THE FLASH" film.…

In this episode, we dive into/across/beyond the SPIDER-VERSE to discuss the original 2014 Marvel Comics miniseries spearheaded by Spider-Man writer Dan Slott!

In this episode, we raise to a glass to sweet revenge and join the ranks of Michel Fiffe's wildly inventive Suicide Squad homage, COPRA!

We take a trip to the Dakotaverse to rave about MILESTONE COMICS, the legendary African-American creator-owned comic line founded in 1993 by Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis and Derek T. Dingle -- and we discuss the publisher's first four ongoing titles, HARDWARE, ICON, STATIC, and BLOOD SYNDICATE.…

In this episode, we set (metaphorical) sail for LOST AT SEA, the first graphic novel by Bryan Lee O'Malley of "Scott Pilgrim" fame!