Zero Episode

Comics Rot Your Brain!

For ZERO EPISODE, the show’s debut, Steven and Chris sit down and gab about the genesis of this podcast, how the team was formed, and the CRYB! mission.
COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions). In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Chris Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) & Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age.
SHOW NOTES:

1:05 - The “Why?” behind this show
5:02 - Experimentation in mainstream comics in the ‘80s, specifically Jenette Kahn’s extraordinary, game-changing reign as Publisher of DC Comics
6:44 - Our thoughts on why the ‘80s were such a halcyon period to read American comics and the importance of examining the more obscure titles from that era
9:10 - DC’s much lamented horror anthology, WASTELAND, and other comics that leave a lasting mark on their audiences, regardless of commercial success
10:56 - Paul Chadwick’s CONCRETE from Dark Horse Comics and other once-acclaimed works that somehow slipped between the cracks of our collective memory
12:05 - Marvel, Ron Perelman, HEROES REBORN, and the birth of the modern comics mainstream as IP farm, first and foremost
13:37 - Epic Comics, EPIC ILLUSTRATED, DREADSTAR, ALIEN LEGION, GROO THE WANDERER, AKIRA
16:00 - SKREEMER, VIGILANTE, GRENDEL, and our raison d'être. Also: Chris’ love of big French words and the types of comics that inspired us
17:59 - MR. MONSTER and revisiting the indie comics of our youth to see how well they hold up (spoiler: still dope)
19:43 - The list of comic books we want to cover: SCOUT, HAWKWORLD, AZTEC ACE, BROUGHT TO LIGHT, COYOTE, BWS’ STORYTELLER, WISE SON: THE WHITE WOLF, THE LIGHT & DARKNESS WAR, MARS, AMERICAN FLAGG!, THE SHADOW (Mike Kaluta, Howard Chaykin, Andy Helfer, Bill Sienkiewicz, Marshall Rogers, Baker)
23:10 - The pre-Vertigo era, Vertigo, AMERICAN CENTURY by Chaykin, Tischman, and Laming; BLACK KISS and the transgressive works of Howard Chaykin
28:00 - Tim Vigil and David Quinn’s FAUST: “If you’re not offending somebody with your work, you’re not doing it right.”
29:52 - The difference between mainstream comics then and now — the devolution of American genre comics. IP management versus creative stewardship — the work of Steve Englehart, Cary Bates and Carmine Infantino’s insane TRIAL OF THE FLASH, Ann Nocenti, JRJR, and Al Williamson’s DAREDEVIL. Today, Marvel and DC Comics feel like product; back then, at their best, they were zany expressions of quirky creators who were given actual creative freedom.
33:15 - THE MIGHTY THOR, BETA RAY BILL, and the brilliant Walt Simonson
35:56 - “Do you remember when First was publishing LONE WOLF & CUB?” reflections on the early days of US manga comics translation — MAI THE PSYCHIC GIR

Drop us a line!

+ Check out our YouTube channel to get a look at some of the fantastic art featured in our episodes. Visit ComicsRotYourBrain.com to sign up for our newsletter, Letter Column. You can also find us wherever you stream your favorite podcasts.
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+ For even more cool shit, read Chris's Substack (cinema, comics, and culture) - THIN ICE
©2024 Comics Rot Your Brain!
#dccomics #vertigocomics #alanmoore #comicbooks #new #content #80scomics #explained #indiecomics #scificomics #marvelcomics #horrorstories #spaceopera #scifi

Chapters

1. Why we're doing this show (00:01:05)

2. Experimentation in mainstream comics in the 80s, specifically Jenette Kahn’s extraordinary, game-changing reign as Publisher of DC Comics (00:05:02)

3. Why the 80s were such a halcyon period to read comics and how the more obscure books from that era must be reckoned with today — again, why this show exists! (00:06:44)

4. DC’s much lamented horror anthology, WASTELAND, and other comics that leave a lasting mark on their audience, regardless of commercial success. (00:09:10)

5. Paul Chadwick’s Concrete from Dark Horse Comics, and once acclaimed works that somehow slip between the cracks of modern collective memory. (00:10:56)

6. Marvel, Ron Perelman, Heroes Reborn, and the birth of the modern comics mainstream as IP farm, first and foremost. (00:12:05)

7. Epic Comics, Epic Illustrated, Dreadstar, Alien Legion, Groo the Wanderer, Akira. (00:13:37)

8. Skreemer, Vigilante, Grendel, and our Raison d'être. Also: Chris’ love of big French words and the types of comics that inspired us (00:16:00)

9. Mr. Monster and revisiting the indie comics of our youth to see how well they hold up (spoiler: still dope); why these works deserve to be reckoned with — the magnificent Trevor Von Eeden, Pete Milligan, etc. (00:17:59)

10. The list of comic books we want to cover - Scout, Hawkworld, Aztec Ace, Brought to Light, Coyote, BWS’ Storyteller, Wise Son: the White Wolf, the Light & Darkness War, Mars, American Flagg, The Shadow (Mike Kaluta, Howard Chaykin, Andy Helfer, Bill Sienki (00:19:43)

11. The pre-Vertigo era, Vertigo, American Century by Chaykin, Tischman, and Laming; Black Kiss and the transgressive works of Howard Chaykin. (00:23:10)

12. Tim Vigil and David Quinn’s Faust: “If you’re not offending somebody with your work, you’re not doing it right.” (00:28:00)

13. The difference between mainstream comics then and now — the devolution of American genre comics. IP management versus creative stewardship (00:29:52)

14. Illustrating the preceding point, Chris discusses The Mighty Thor, Beta Ray Bill, and the brilliant Walt Simonson. (00:33:15)

15. “Do you remember when First was publishing Lone Wolf & Cub?” reflections on the early days of US manga comics translation — Mai the Psychic Girl and the Legend of Kamui, Eclipse Comics, etc. (00:35:56)

16. Why we feel deeply committed to the cause of this show: remembering and celebrating iconoclastic comics. Reckoning with great old comics and WHY IT MATTERS. (00:38:30)

17. Our idiosyncratic definition of “The Bronze Age.” (00:43:53)