In Sequence - Comics & Manga for Everyone

Just in time for Halloween, Robin and Scout read Maw, written by Jude Ellison S. Doyle and illustrated by A.L. Kaplan; a comic about becoming something fantastically monstrous to get back at the everyday monsters lurking among us. Our conversation goes deep on feminism, misogyny, violence against women, and the ways this story does and doesn't deliver on its feminist horror label. Turns out the true terror of the season might've been gender essentialism all along.

• (00:00) - “Maw” by Jude Ellison S. Doyle & A.L. Kaplan
• (00:26) - Front Matter
• (00:41) - Content Warnings
• (01:18) - Spoiler-Free Summary
• (01:54) - Familiarity and Impressions
• (06:30) - Pigeonholed Stories About Women
• (09:21) - Art!
• (12:03) - Spoiler Summary
• (14:33) - The early issues
• (18:15) - “The girl cult” & TERF Island
• (29:24) - The limits of this book’s view on misogyny
• (49:44) - The body horror stuff
• (55:38) - Further Reading

Further Reading

• Trainwreck: The Women We Love to Hate, Mock, and Fear . . . and Why
• Dead Blondes and Bad Mothers: Monstrosity, Patriarchy, and the Fear of Female Power
• The Neighbors
• Ms. 45, Jennifer’s Body, Raw, Under the Skin

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:
Scout
Robin

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

Today "The Panelists" discuss The Summer Hikaru Died, a queer coming-of-age horror manga. "We" discuss themes of queerness as contagion, Mokumokuren's digital art process, and horrifying moments of tenderness that we can't look away from.

You'res̵̼̟̰̭̲̬̽̇͠ṫ̴̳̲̯̘͙͉̟̣̟̆i̴̡̡̧̧̧̧͙̝̣͉̯̱̰͕͋̾͊̒̀͂͑̿̀̅̚̕͝͝l̶͙͍͚̝̘̠̺̦͇̺̋͂̾͒͑̑̀̇͌̎̏̚͝l̶͕̦̠̞͙̈́͋̑͊̿͛͒̎̈́ ̷̧̤̖̳̼̫̝̻̜̖͚̲̫͇̓̑̈́̑̋̈́̔̆́͋̔͠ͅr̸̙̻͋͗̂͘e̴̥̳͓̜̫̣͊͜͜ả̶̳̥̞̉͋̐̓̌̽̍̕͜͝ḑ̸̢̭̮͓͓̺̣͙̭͔̥͊̑̋̉̀̀ị̶͍̓̾̇̌̿͂̄n̴̼͉͔͓̤͂̽͂͊͜g̴̨̦̲̍? You should go. There's ņ̴̯̳̘̗̲̺̓͗̓͑̄̈́̋̆̓͌̒́o̷̧͇̦̩̪͖̰͈̰͉̎t̸͓̬̼̳͓͇̩̮̭̺̥̀̎͐̅̌͠h̵̡͕̝̜̠͔̟̦̻̯̋̇̓̿̾̿̿̈͝ͅȉ̴̘̼͕͍̱̜̓̄́̓̈̆̄͗̒͐͘n̷̨̩̮͔̲̪̳̽̿͒̓̈́̾̈́̏͘͠g̶͈̈́̔ ̷̧̨̨̢̧͇̯͚̣̞̐͂͌̓̑͒̎̋̇̎̓͝ę̸̨̛̳̤̮͓̻̗̻̥̣̰̮́̉̒͊̓͒̎̚͜͝l̶͎̟̦͍͉̟̣͈̮̩͗͒̇͊͘ͅͅs̷͚͐͐̇e̴̠̜͗ ̴̡̡̛͎̯̩̗̻̺͖͍̟̖͉̃̇̈́̒͜͝ͅf̴̣̔̎̀͗̋̏̐̂͝ǫ̸͙͇̬̗̠̯̭̭͍͗̔̀̉̐̔̀̐ͅŗ̴͖̬̼͉̹̫̻͕̺͔̱͂̎͆̕ ̷̢̯̟͓̲̪͋̉̀̈͊̀̀̾̐̌̀̊͝ͅỵ̸̥͇̎̔͒̈̌̂͂̀͒̀̉͊͝o̵̲͕̯̪̥̹̗̗̮̼̦̬͇̙̓̎̉͑͐̚͝͝͝u̵̧̦̻̟̎̇̈́͛͑̃̀̚͠ ̵̰͍̇́h̴̢̘̑̒̅͋͐̚̕e̷̡̛͉͈͍̖̹͐̓̆̀̉̇̀́̒̓̑̅͠ř̸̛̤͖̾́́̀̽́̏͝͠e̶̗̠̳̠̦͇̐̀̆̌͌̇̽̌̿͆͠. Do you feel that? It feels like r̶̛̯͚̦͙̠͕̩̠̭̣̾̎̈́́͊̂̈́͐͆̀̚a̷̢̟̺̖̲͖͍͓͍̽̒͗́̂̑̏͘ẃ̴̗͇̠͍͔̪̹̺̣̬̝͋̏͝ ̸̡̫͒̌̄͋͆̃͠c̸̺̻̹̭̝̳̲̥̬͍͖͕̀͗h̵͉͉͎͋i̸͍̠͈͈̬͇̠̯̖̰͈̤̱̬͉̓̈́̽́̅̉͒̊c̶̺̮̈́̿͂̈́̚k̵̫̬͖̱̗͍͎̜̗͂̂͊͑̀͘̕͝ḝ̴͔̱̫̼̘̳̥̆͌̒͂̎̒͒̈͛͆͠͝n̵̮̳̺͕̤̓.

• (00:00) - “The Summer Hikaru Died” by Mokumokuren
• (00:36) - Front Matter
• (00:44) - Non-Spoiler Summary
• (01:23) - Impressions
• (14:08) - The horror of this art
• (23:29) - Mokumokuren’s privacy
• (25:48) - Master + Master
• (29:02) - How adults are drawn
• (32:17) - SPOILER ZONE
• (32:54) - The reveal is so fast
• (35:13) - Queerness as contagion
• (40:13) - CW: Homophobia
• (41:01) - The locker room scene
• (43:16) - The moment in the classroom
• (47:15) - Wtf is up with everyone else?
• (50:22) - The anime
• (51:54) - Is it a BL?
• (59:32) - The joke comics
• (01:00:07) - Swamp Man
• (01:00:52) - Further Reading

Further Reading

• The manga is ending with Chapter 51 on October 20th. Looks like it will be about 10 volumes.
• The Summer Hikaru Died on Netflix
• Mokumokuren’s other work is largely one-shots and Doujinshi that I had a hard time finding. Look for titles like “Period” and “Classmate Who Will Do Anything For you”
• Uzumaki by Junji Ito
• Your Hand From the Other Side by Wata Rainy & Kajii Fuku

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:
Scout
Matt
Robin

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

Today the Panelists discuss a book that is more of a collection of Instagram posts than a narrative. We discuss our love for Mackesy’s finished but unfinished-looking art and our mixed opinions on the words and narrative in this book. And at the end, there is a reveal that changes everything.

• (00:00) - “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” by Charlie Mackesy
• (01:03) - Front Matter
• (01:59) - Impressions
• (08:14) - Kids don’t talk like this
• (08:54) - The art style
• (13:19) - The Structure
• (19:19) - Metatextuality
• (21:42) - Further Reading

Further Reading

• The animated adaptation and the documentary on Apple TV+
• A continuation titled Always Remember: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, the Horse and the Storm was released in 2025, if you want more of this!
• Apparently other Macksesy art might just Be Around You. He’s done political cartoons, a lot of art for charity work, and a lot of art for public spaces, especially in London.
• The Arrival by Shaun Tan

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:
Scout
Matt

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

The Panelists are back with episode 2 of our Fullmetal Alchemist readthrough. In these volumes, we learn so much about how the world of Fullmetal Alchemist works behind the scenes, the darkest plans of our villains, the atrocities committed by our heroes, and which characters make for the best horny fanart.

We spoil volumes 1-9 in this episode. Check out our episode on those volumes here!

• (00:00) - “Fullmetal Alchemist” by Hiromu Arakawa
• (02:33) - Spoiler-free summary
• (03:21) - Impressions vs last time
• (07:59) - Spoiler Zone
• (11:52) - Spoilery Summary
• (15:13) - Matt was late on his reading
• (15:45) - The Pride Reveal
• (17:30) - There’s a lot of war crimes going on here
• (30:25) - The openness of the big bads
• (35:14) - Brotherhood differences
• (37:35) - Arakawa loves big boobs
• (38:33) - Some FMA ships
• (41:42) - The chess pieces
• (43:38) - Scout’s favorite Elric brothers moments
• (47:55) - BIG ENVY
• (53:56) - 2003 differences
• (55:36) - Al’s body
• (56:13) - Hughes!
• (57:02) - Greedling
• (01:01:24) - Sloth’s transmutation circle
• (01:07:15) - Arakawa’s planning
• (01:09:22) - The human sacrifices
• (01:12:33) - Winry and Scar
• (01:22:12) - Dr. Knox
• (01:26:29) - Listener Questions
• (01:31:51) - Further Reading

Further Reading

• You can find more of Hiromu Arakawa’s work in her completed series Silver Spoon and ongoing series Daemons of the Shadow Realm (second of which has recently begun airing its anime adaptation!)
• If you find yourself thinking “man, these fight scenes are pretty cool, I wonder what they’d look like if someone animated the hell out of them,” Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood can be found on many streaming services
• If you find yourself thinking “wow, I’m really enjoying how this shonen adventure story is also about the horrors of war and government corruption”, I would recommend Hunter x Hunter by Yoshihiro Togashi

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:
Scout
Matt

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

Come along with the panelists as we venture back to the mythical, long-ago land of 2012. Cape comics are on the show once more with Marvel's Hawkeye, as written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by a large team of artists (David Aja chief among them). The story of oft-ignored Avenger Clint Barton and his protege Kate Bishop takes us coast-to-coast and through half a dozen different art styles, but at the heart of it lies the question...Just how far can the lone wolf archetype actually get you?

• (00:00) - “Hawkeye” by Matt Fraction & David Aja
• (00:20) - Front Matter
• (01:19) - Non-spoiler summary
• (01:46) - Impressions
• (04:49) - Structure & time
• (06:40) - Art!
• (14:08) - Do you need to know the characters?
• (20:44) - Understanding this comic
• (24:29) - Some soul-searching
• (31:58) - SPOILER ZONE
• (32:46) - Bro
• (34:18) - The humor
• (39:01) - The women in Clint’s life
• (42:58) - Some great paneling
• (46:55) - The LA stuff
• (52:29) - RIP Encounter Restaurant
• (52:58) - The gay couple
• (55:18) - Madame Masque’s design
• (56:43) - When Clint loses his hearing
• (59:26) - Pizza is my business
• (01:06:59) - Issue 10
• (01:08:26) - Kate’s shirt
• (01:09:23) - Kate’s car
• (01:10:22) - The color script
• (01:14:27) - The last 2 pages
• (01:19:10) - Further reading

Further Reading

- Matt Fraction’s “Batman”
- David Aja’s “Immortal Iron Fist”
- Mark Waid’s “Daredevil”
- Jimmy Corrigan the smartest kid on earth - Chris Ware
- Gillen and McKelvie’s “Young Avengers”

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:
Scout
Matt
Robin

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

Today the Panelists discuss the young adult horror novel Hello Sunshine by Keezy Young. This one's got everything you could want. Secret gay boyfriends. 60's fashion and art inspiration. An amateur murder investigation. Demons. And a cute dog.

Content Warning: self-harm, suicide, murder, mental illness, psychosis, and homophobia

• (00:00) - “Hello Sunshine” by Keezy Young
• (00:35) - Front Matter
• (01:09) - Content Warnings
• (01:27) - Impressions
• (04:12) - The pace of the book
• (07:16) - Noah ❤️
• (09:00) - Jamie
• (10:20) - Sky
• (10:34) - Izzy
• (12:41) - Keezy’s art
• (13:36) - Color scripting
• (15:31) - Faces!
• (17:16) - Fashion Corner
• (19:51) - SPOILER ZONE
• (20:44) - Mrs. Danner is innocent!
• (21:29) - Sky getting told off by her mom
• (22:39) - Horror & Mental Health
• (31:33) - A personal experience of psychosis
• (34:02) - This story works best as a comic
• (36:35) - This book is scary!
• (40:11) - Madame Rainbow is [REDACTED]
• (44:14) - Informative but not Didactic
• (46:12) - Noah and Alex in the field of flowers
• (48:16) - Trans rep
• (52:11) - Speech patterns of the kids
• (52:58) - Read the Afterword
• (54:34) - Further Reading

Further Reading

- Just Going For a Walk by Keezy Young

- Sunflowers by Keezy Young

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:
Scout
Matt
Robin

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

Today the panelists discuss Scott McCloud's classic, Understanding Comics, a book that purports to be a lecture but in many cases comes off as a manifesto. We discuss Scott's messy definition of the medium, his genuinely good insights, and also his strong creative biases.

This book is impossible to spoil so there is no spoiler section.

• (00:00) - "Understanding Comics" by Scott McCloud
• (03:18) - Front Matter
• (05:22) - Impressions
• (10:18) - We’ve moved past this
• (13:10) - The mechanics of comics
• (20:20) - Part lecture, part manifesto
• (22:15) - Another opinionated textbook
• (33:15) - The definition of comics
• (41:11) - This about video games
• (42:41) - Scout has a callout
• (46:34) - Dude predicted emoji
• (47:36) - Great iconography
• (49:29) - A short biography
• (50:58) - Gutters!
• (53:23) - Pacing
• (55:27) - Public discussion
• (59:49) - Further Reading

Further Reading

- Reinventing Comics by Scott McCloud
- Making Comics by Scott McCloud
- Comics and Sequential Art by Will Eisner
- The Comic Book History of Comics by Fred Van Lente & Ryan Dunlavey
- Inventing Comics (from Comics Journal #234, June 2001) by Dylan Horrocks

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:
Scout
Matt
Robin

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

The panelists discuss "Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou", an incredibly slow-paced slice-of-life about a robot named Alpha living in a world deeply shaped by climate change. Despite that dark-sounding premise, the book is very calm and beautiful to look at, dealing mostly with the mundanity of Alpha's every day as she learns about the world around her. Also the persimmons are huge!

• (00:00) - "Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou" by Hitoshi Ashinano
• (01:02) - Front Matter
• (03:43) - Our experience
• (05:47) - Impressions
• (12:15) - Art!
• (17:40) - A question from stevefm
• (24:36) - Spoilers! (If you can spoil this manga)
• (25:55) - How the world gets bigger
• (27:55) - A unique coming of age story
• (30:23) - Time and memory
• (38:24) - Kokone
• (44:46) - Androids connection with machines
• (48:44) - What are spot blacks?
• (51:42) - They’re so gay
• (51:56) - The cryptids as androids
• (58:58) - Alpha’s quirks
• (01:01:00) - Translation and dialect
• (01:03:35) - Where we left off
• (01:08:30) - Big persimmons!
• (01:10:25) - Further Reading

Further Reading

• Nothing else by Ashinano has an official English translation ¯\(ツ)/¯
• Two YKK OVAs (not streaming anywhere but not hard to find)
• Thematically similar:

• Super Cub
• Apocalypse Hotel (anime)

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:
Scout
Matt
Robin

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

Today, the panelists discuss "Run Away With Me, Girl" by Battan. We're back with another yuri manga! Robin, Scout, Jillian, and Matt talk about the unique aspects of Midori's and Moko's relationship, the gendered tropes of yuri vs yaoi, the strange incel arc of the manga's antagonist, and the joy of seeing a story about the child of queer parents.

Content Warning: Domestic abuse

• (00:00) - “Run Away With Me, Girl” by Battan
• (00:38) - Front Matter
• (01:29) - Impressions
• (04:46) - Midori & Momo
• (06:25) - Art thoughts
• (09:14) - Fashion Corner
• (09:55) - Yuri vs Yaoi Gender Tropes
• (10:53) - SPOILER ZONE
• (10:56) - CW: Domestic violence
• (11:16) - Spoilery summary
• (12:35) - Dude SUCKS
• (19:53) - The girlcel
• (21:48) - Tazune’s incel arc
• (25:31) - This is just how things are
• (26:58) - Using the medium well
• (27:59) - Why are they acting like she’s married?!
• (30:14) - Momo
• (32:30) - Momo’s mom & homophobia
• (33:53) - The hostel owner
• (36:43) - The time skip
• (44:28) - Final thoughts
• (44:39) - Further Reading

Further Reading

- And Then There Were No Heroines by Battan
- The Golden Fly by Battan
- Secondhand Sisters by Battan
- Fatale Game by Battan

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:
Scout
Matt
Robin

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

Today, Scout and Matt discuss KOH-BOKU, famous for foreign readers introducing its creator to the phrase "Old Man Yaoi." They discuss the success and failures of tropes, representations of aging in manga, and the strange gender dynamics going on in this book.

• (00:00) - "KOH-BOKU" by Sonoo Michiru
• (00:46) - Front Matter
• (01:54) - Plot Summary
• (02:22) - Old man yaoi!
• (03:28) - This is bare bones yaoi
• (04:38) - “Old man yaoi”?
• (06:09) - Michiru’s first manga
• (06:55) - The “tropes”
• (14:22) - Matt says 1 good thing
• (16:13) - The art
• (19:44) - Scout likes the ambiguity
• (23:01) - SPOILER ZONE
• (28:11) - The gender of it all
• (31:37) - Go read Love in the Palm of His Hand!
• (32:44) - A couple great moments
• (38:42) - Intersubjectivity
• (42:26) - Further Reading

Further Reading

• Sonoo Michiru has a lot of oneshots that focus on similar demographics and topics - she loves some guys who have jobs and want to kiss.
• Love in the Palm of his Hand is the other yaoi manga we’ve covered on In Sequence and I stand by that being a real good example of the genre.
• Black Blood by Hayate Kuku
• Wet Sand by Doyak
• Lover Boy by ZEC
• SHWD: Special Hazardous Waste Disposal by sono N

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:
Scout
Matt

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

What does it take to tell a wordless story? Today, the panelists explore that question as Jillian guides Matt and Scout through the fantastical immigrant story of The Arrival by Shaun Tan. Together, we muse on the power of reaching out and sharing our stories to bring us closer together, even when we feel worlds apart. (And also, discuss the immutable staying power of a weird little guy.)

• (00:00) - “The Arrival” by Shaun Tan
• (00:21) - Front Matter
• (01:52) - Our experience with The Arrival
• (04:17) - Zero words!
• (08:35) - The antique photo style
• (10:29) - Dark gutters!
• (12:13) - SPOILER ZONE
• (12:44) - Symmetry
• (14:35) - The creature
• (15:19) - Not the real world but very real
• (18:12) - Kinship with the main character
• (19:50) - Moments that stuck with us
• (27:16) - The final page
• (32:07) - Familiars
• (38:02) - Studying this book
• (42:51) - Further reading

Further Reading

• Tan has written and illustrated several other books, with his other most notable being “The Lost Thing”
• Tan’s essay on the picture book: https://www.shauntan.net/esssay-picture-books-who-for
• Daytripper by Fabio Moon & Gabriel Ba
• Nonfiction graphic novels about the experience of immigrants and refugees are a genre all in their own - there’s a lot out there for you to take your pick from! Here’s a brief list curated by the Chicago Public Library: https://chipublib.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/display/298488099/1717973901

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:
Scout
Matt

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

Today the Panelists discuss what makes autobiography good, marvel at the eccentricity of this book's art, and learn the value of good criticism. Never forget to eat your vegetables and pull some weeds.

• (00:00) - “It's Lonely At The Centre of The Earth” by Zoe Thorogood
• (00:20) - Front Matter
• (01:06) - Content Warnings
• (01:22) - Zoe Thorogood
• (02:41) - Impressions
• (08:53) - Structure (or lack of it)
• (10:51) - Starting the comic over
• (12:01) - Exhilarating Art
• (20:33) - Spoiler Zone
• (22:03) - Art spoilers
• (24:45) - Self-criticism
• (27:23) - The monologue makes it better
• (32:23) - Sorry you’re relatable, Zoe
• (35:52) - The catboy
• (40:36) - VRChat
• (42:21) - The potato story
• (43:41) - Criticism is good
• (44:30) - Further reading

Further Reading

- The impending blindness of Billie Scott, Avery Hill Publishing, 2020
- Creepshow Vol.2 #3 (OF 5), Image Comics, 2023
- Hack Slash: Back To School, Image Comics, 2023–2024
- "Harley Quinn and the Seven Sidekicks" in Harley Quinn: Black+White+Redder #4, DC Comics, 2023
- "For James" in Ice Cream Man #43, Image Comics, 2025
- Spinning by Tillie Walden

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:
Scout
Robin

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

Today, it's just vibes. Your Panelists discuss Hirayasumi, the sliciest slice-of-life manga to ever exist. This vacation of a read hits on burnout and what it means to be an artist, both favorite topics for the show. But it primarily is the story of Hiroto and his cousin, Natsumi, living in a home left to Hiroto by a woman he called "Granny."

• (00:00) - “Hirayasumi” by Keigo Shinzo
• (01:54) - A vibe check
• (06:20) - Narration vs using space
• (11:05) - There IS conflict between characters
• (12:40) - Natsumi stands out
• (13:23) - Fashion Corner!
• (14:56) - Natsumi & Akari
• (15:33) - SPOILER ZONE
• (15:50) - Yuri spinoff?
• (18:15) - So…Hideki?
• (22:26) - Hiroto’s passivity
• (26:16) - Tachibana
• (29:27) - Is the author a serial killer?
• (30:35) - We love Granny
• (35:23) - How Granny shapes Hiroto’s life
• (39:03) - Art! 🖼️
• (43:23) - Hiroto’s acting
• (44:55) - Natsumi becoming a mangaka
• (46:42) - Further Reading

Further Reading

- Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You by Jinushi
- Skip to Loafer by Misaki Takamatsu
- Tokyo Alien Bros. by Keigo Shinzo
- Sakura Quest anime
- Yuru Camp/Laid-Back Campanime

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:
Scout
Matt
Robin

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

Today, Scout pulls her fellow panelists through the gate of truth to discuss volumes 1-9 of Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa. In this, the first of three episodes we'll be doing on FMA this year, we share our varied personal histories with the series, become acquainted with the cast and their early adventures, and answer some listener questions.

How is a culture shaped by the technology it cultivates? How much of yourself will you sacrifice for the sake of your aspirations? And what is milk REALLY doing for your growth, anyway?!

• (00:00) - Fullmetla Alchemist Vol. 1-9 by Hiromu Arakawa
• (02:31) - Front Matter
• (05:10) - Spoiler-free plot summary
• (06:27) - Histories and impressions
• (13:21) - Shonen adventure manga
• (20:15) - Additional FMA thoughts
• (23:39) - A very specific art thing
• (25:52) - Arakawa's consistency
• (28:41) - Dipping a toe into translation
• (31:04) - SPOILER ZONE
• (31:07) - Summaries of the volumes
• (34:11) - Wild how much stuff is in these volumes
• (40:28) - The thing that's been done
• (43:05) - The characterization
• (46:00) - Where will the ending go?
• (48:05) - Things Matt remembered
• (49:13) - That Moment.
• (52:01) - Robin's Hater Zone
• (53:40) - Dude the drawings
• (54:47) - How the story deals with disability
• (01:01:22) - Rush Valley
• (01:05:47) - Winry Rockbell :) (and emotional (AND literal) labor)
• (01:10:47) - The gag panels
• (01:11:51) - Letting things chill
• (01:13:42) - The death that shaped a generation of weebs
• (01:16:09) - Izumi and Sig
• (01:18:42) - The month on the island
• (01:20:41) - Greed and the chimera
• (01:26:08) - The Door of Truth
• (01:27:30) - Good panels
• (01:30:33) - Roy Mustang stonks
• (01:31:39) - Bradley
• (01:33:06) - Armstrong too good too nice
• (01:33:50) - Listener questions!
• (01:34:03) - State alchemist names and powers
• (01:36:31) - Philosopher's Stone grift
• (01:37:49) - How many times does Ed get called liddol
• (01:39:05) - Favorite homunculus
• (01:41:20) - Running gag?
• (01:43:42) - Thank you for questions!!!!
• (01:44:00) - Further reading
• (01:46:32) - Back Matter

Further Reading

- A more recent way to read Fullmetal Alchemist is with the 3-in-1 omnibus editions
- You could read Fullmetal Alchemist on Webtoon but maybe don't
- Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, the manga-accurate anime
- The 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist anime
- Silver Spoon by Hiromu Arakawa
- Deamons of the Shadow Realm by Hiromu Arakawa

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:
Scout
Matt
Robin

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

Crime Alley. The Dark Knight. Gotham. Yes, yes. It's all very dour. But not anymore. Now it's VERTICAL, and the whole gang is here! We've got bats and robins pouring out of every window of this mansion, and every single one of 'em has feelings.

Batman: Wayne Family Adventures is a slice of life Batfam book that is native to the vertical, scrolling webcomic platform, Webtoon. It's actually possible this is the most read Batman comic, ever.

• (00:00) - "Batman: Wayne Family Adventures" Season 1 by CRC Payne
• (00:46) - Front Matter
• (03:33) - What is Webtoon?
• (10:45) - History with the Batfam
• (17:35) - Impressions
• (20:34) - Print vs. Online
• (26:52) - The Look(tm)
• (31:35) - SPOILER ZONE
• (31:37) - Favorite Batfam members
• (39:41) - Callbacks and references
• (45:37) - Jason Todd
• (50:31) - Duke
• (53:28) - Family drama
• (56:15) - Silly things
• (59:18) - Further Reading
• (01:05:27) - Back Matter

Further Reading

- Our first episode on Nightwing: Leaping Into the Light!
- 52 Pickup from Alex Jaffe, Gita Jackson, and Aftermath
- DC's 52 (Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Mark Waid, and Greg Rucka)
- Gotham Central by Ed Brubaker, Greg Rucka, and Michael Lark
- Batwoman: Elegy by Greg Rucka and JH Williams III
- Greg Rucka's new Batwoman run
- Wiccan: Witches' Road by Wyatt Kennedy, Andy Pereira, and Lucas Werneck
- Super Sons by Peter Tomasi, Jorge Jimenez, and Allison Borges
- Batman and Son by Grant Morrison and others
- Robin: Son of Batman by Patrick Gleason
- Batgirl by Kelley Puckett, Scott Peterson, Robert Campanella, and Damion Scott
- The Teen Titans cartoon and Batman: The Animated Series

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:
Matt

Scout

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

Today, Robin guides Jillian and Scout through the fuzzy and merciless landscape of Mouse Guard by David Petersen. Come along with us on an adventure in woodland politics. Did you know the mice have swords now? It says so right here, on this leaf-paper scroll I retrieved from the backpack of a messenger beetle.

• (00:00) - “Mouse Guard” by David Petersen
• (00:26) - Front Matter
• (01:58) - Impressions
• (03:44) - On fonts
• (07:05) - How the art evolves
• (12:02) - These creatures’ culture
• (14:34) - Final pre-spoiler thoughts
• (18:35) - SPOILER ZONE
• (20:48) - Volume 1
• (35:09) - Volume 2
• (52:30) - Volume 3
• (01:01:30) - Further Reading
• (01:03:56) - Back Matter

Further Reading

- The Mouse Guard TTRPG
- Redwall by Brian Jacques
- Paws & Clause, a Warrior Cats podcast

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:
Robin

Scout

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

Persepolis is a graphic novel memoir following Marjane Satrapi’s childhood in Iran during the Islamic Revolution -how her life and beliefs were affected by the political upheavel, and her eventual adolescence in Austria. Satrapi’s memoir covers the good, bad, and ugly of her life and those around her, and focuses deeply on the complexities of politics and belief.

Note: This episode was recorded before the attacks on Iran by the US and Israel. You will not hear us discuss these events, but Persepolis has only become more relevant in the weeks between recording and release.

If you'd like to help the people of Iran, it can be difficult to help given US sanctions. But here are a couple organizations that provide help to the people of Iran.

The Red Cross - https://www.icrc.org/en/where-we-work/iran
Norwegian Refugee Council - https://support.nrc.no/middle-east/

• (00:00) - A statement
• (03:55) - Front Matter
• (04:39) - This is a real person’s life
• (09:10) - This is almost too relevant
• (15:35) - This book is funny!
• (18:46) - The art style
• (22:36) - The film
• (25:11) - The Austria stuff is fine
• (26:08) - SPOILERS
• (26:44) - The Marx comic book
• (31:25) - The Key
• (34:35) - Girl be careful!
• (36:49) - Ads for the communist manifesto
• (37:25) - I’d never share that in my memoir
• (41:48) - Uncle Anoosh
• (46:10) - Aldi mentioned
• (48:03) - The oppression of the mind
• (52:46) - Parallel final pages
• (57:06) - Final thoughts
• (57:34) - Further Reading

Further Reading

- #IceOutComics on Bluesky
- Maus by Art Spiegelman
- March by John Lewis, Andrew Adin, Nate Powell
- Marx for Beginners by RIUS

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:

Matt

Scout

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

Friend of the show Bluzo joins the panel to talk about Blue Period, volumes 1-6, by Tsubasa Yamaguchi. In our first long read of the year, we delve deep on the complicated ordeal of pursuing an art career, and the mortifying ordeal of being known. Oh and also rampant transphobia.

• (00:00) - “Blue Period” by Tsubasa Yamaguchi
• (01:05) - Front Matter
• (03:37) - Impressions
• (07:01) - It’s a sports manga
• (15:15) - It’s pretty didactic
• (20:49) - Real art in the manga
• (22:36) - That’s the stuff
• (25:47) - Accessibility
• (27:10) - Shouts out to the artist crediting
• (28:18) - SPOILERS
• (28:22) - Yuka-chan
• (43:23) - Better storytelling as it progresses
• (45:32) - More on Yuka-chan
• (49:49) - Making pastries with my boys
• (54:52) - This boy is masking HARD
• (57:45) - Hey. Scout is in this book.
• (01:03:27) - Love to not be a teenager anymore
• (01:03:46) - More Yotasuke
• (01:05:03) - Hashida
• (01:08:36) - The teachers!
• (01:11:48) - TUA complicates things!
• (01:13:45) - Mori
• (01:15:24) - I don’t “get“ art
• (01:16:38) - What is talent?
• (01:24:55) - Questions from Amet!
• (01:32:33) - Further Reading

Further Reading

- The Blue Period live-action movie
- She and Her Cat adapted by Tsubasa Yamaguchi
- Nude Model and Other Stories by Tsubasa Yamaguchi
- Look Back by Tatsuki Fujimoto
- Goodbye Eri by Tatsuki Fujimoto
- Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist's Journey by Akiko Higashimura

Read Anniversary by Elle Shivers!

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:
Bluzo

Matt
Robin

Scout

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

Today, your panelists wonder: what does it look like to tell a story about prejudice but divorced from real-world analogues? What does it mean to tie concepts of hunger and desire together inexorably? Just how much money is cow bathwater going for these days? And wait, is that-? Oh my god, it's Legoshi, my close personal friend Legoshi!

• (00:00) - “Beast Complex” by Paru Itagaki
• (00:43) - Front Matter
• (03:47) - Plot Overview
• (04:42) - Short stories
• (05:48) - The world of Beast Compkex vs Zootopia
• (14:14) - How the book improves over time
• (16:24) - What is doujinshi again?
• (17:48) - Is the mangaka a nepo baby?
• (19:26) - “Devouring”
• (25:45) - SPOILERS!
• (25:48) - Our top 3s
• (31:06) - The Tiger and the Alpaca
• (34:05) - The Pig and the Peacock
• (36:13) - ERROR ⚠️
• (43:17) - The Wolf and the Rabbit
• (54:02) - The Chipmunk and the (Mountain Hare)
• (01:01:08) - Relationships vs Events
• (01:03:39) - The Shiba Inu and the Shiba Inu
• (01:08:28) - The Alligator and the Cow
• (01:14:47) - The Wolf and the Seal
• (01:20:11) - Some of the stories that don’t work
• (01:26:29) - Final thoughts
• (01:27:37) - Further Reading
• (01:32:33) - Back Matter

Further Reading
- Beastars by Paru Itagaki
- Sanda by Paru Itagaki
- Taika's Reason by Paru Itagaki
- Dungeon Meshi (aka Delicious in Dungeon) by Ryoko Kui
- I Will Survive by Borba (aka the Zootopia abortion comic)

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:

Matt

Scout

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

Today your panelists talk Frontier, a French graphic novel written and illustrated by the artist of Citizen Sleeper and Citizen Sleeper 2! Join us as we discuss hope among dystopia and how pacing can let down an otherwise incredible story.

You can purchase Frontier in English here.

• (00:00) - “Frontier” by Guillaume Singelin
• (00:42) - Front Matter
• (03:26) - Impressions
• (05:34) - Guillaume’s art style
• (08:05) - Chibi violence
• (11:37) - The density of Frontier’s space
• (15:13) - Singelin’s Rescue card
• (16:16) - Unfamiliar familiarity
• (17:42) - Little nubbin feet
• (20:23) - Variation in line weight
• (23:37) - Spoiler section!
• (23:48) - Similarities to Citizen Sleeper
• (27:59) - Finding meaning or a way out
• (36:08) - The opening structure of this book
• (37:43) - Pacing problems
• (38:13) - GOKU!
• (41:09) - More on pacing
• (44:04) - Hopeful science fiction
• (46:20) - How Camina is let down by utopian naivete
• (53:04) - Even more on pacing
• (54:09) - Our favorite characters
• (56:02) - Ji-soo’s retirement
• (56:54) - Favorite panels and pages
• (01:04:00) - Camina, trans icon
• (01:04:14) - A quote that is too real
• (01:05:05) - How this book was made
• (01:05:56) - Further Reading
• (01:07:31) - Back Matter

Further Reading
- Citizen Sleeper
- PTSD by Guillaume Singelin
- Shin Zero by Label 619

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:

Matt
Robin

Scout

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.