Join married couple Brad and Lisa as they explore the various dynamics of comic book relationships throughout pop culture and publishing history.
Episodes
Thursday Apr 07, 2022
Thursday Apr 07, 2022
In this week's episode, we offer a warning. The Bone Orchard Mythos from Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino represents a layer of dread not previously explored by the creators. The new shared universe from Image Comics is the first time Lemire and Sorrentino have fully plunged themselves into the horror genre.
Oh, you thought Gideon Falls was creepy? Sure, it got under your skin, but as you'll hear in our conversation with Lemire and Sorrentino, The Bone Orchard Mythos finds the collaborators daring to unleash a horror experience unlike anything else they've committed.
Your first chance to dive into The Bone Orchard Mythos arrives on May 7th, Free Comic Book Day, when Lemire and Sorrentino unveil their Prelude single issue. The next chapter, the original graphic novel The Passageway, lands in comic book shops on June 15th and in bookstores on June 21st. Next, they'll drop their Ten Thousand Black Feathers mini-series in September. And that's just the beginning.
Be sure to stay updated with Jeff Lemire by visiting his Twitter HERE, his Instagram HERE, and his Substack HERE. Track Andrea Sorrentino via his Twitter HERE and his Instagram HERE.
Other Relevant Links to this Week's Episode:
- Cherish Chen on Radiant Red
- Rantz Hoseley on Little Earthquakes
- Michael Tanner and François Vigneault on Orcs in Space
- Lisa chats with Jadzia Axelrod and Jess Taylor about Galaxy
- Marko and Alana Saga Session #7
And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.
Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators.
Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.
Tuesday Mar 29, 2022
Tuesday Mar 29, 2022
When you think Saga, you think of "fun-filled" adventures, right? Oh, and tears. So many, many tears. Welcome to our penultimate episode discussing the heroically heartbreaking relationship between Marko & Alana. No other comic book couple has preoccupied as much space on our podcast as this one, and as we approach their end, we prepare to embrace our own grief as well as theirs.
Helping us grapple with sorrow is author Helen Russell and her book, "How to Be Sad: The Key to a Happier Life: Everything I've Learned About Getting Happier, by Being Sad, Better." Ignoring sadness is not only impossible, the attempt to do so is detrimental to our health. Marko, Alana, and Helen are here to lend aid.
Issues Covered in this Episode: Saga # 43 - 48, collected in trade paperback Volume 8. They were written by Brian K. Vaughan, fully illustrated by Fiona Staples, and lettered by Fonografiks. Image Comics originally published the issues between May 2017 and October 2017.
If you require catchup on our Saga series, please listen to our previous episodes discussing Marko & Alana:
Other relevant links discussed this week:
- BKV Brings Saga Out West for 'Fun-Filled' Arc
- Thanos & Death & Brene Brown
- Bustle's "Why The Miscarriage in Saga is so Revolutionary"
And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.
Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators.
Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
Breaking News! Chris Samnee and Laura Samnee join us in the love nest to discuss their new all-ages comic book series, Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters. Yeah, we're just as surprised about their appearance here as you are, but we're mostly beyond excited to have our first creative couples session with those responsible for one of our favorite comics on the stands.
Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters is a lovingly warm adventure tale set in a world of titanic beasts. With their dad missing, Rainbow and Jonna scour the land, stumbling into one danger after another. Thankfully, the littlest sister packs quite a punch.
In this week's episode, we chat with the Samnees about why this series demanded collaboration. We celebrate how Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters represents a true family project, inspired by their daughters and Chris Samnee's intense fear of birds. Yeah, we get into it.
We're honored to have Chris and Laura on Comic Book Couples Counseling, and you should feel honored too. This episode is the very first podcast Laura Samnee has ever recorded. We hope we haven't scared her off the format forever, but we think it's the start of some tremendous podcast potential.
Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters Volume 1 is currently available from Oni Press. Volume 2 will appear on comic book shelves on April 6th, and issue #9 will arrive in shops on April 20th.
The comic is written by Chris Samnee and Laura Samnee, featuring art by Chris Samnee, colors by Matthew Wilson, and letters by Crank! We do not give away too many spoilers beyond the premise, so venture within safely if you're new to this world. After this conversation, we're confident that you'll be as addicted to Jonna as much as we are, demanding at least a seventy-five issue run.
Be sure to continue this conversation with Chris Samnee via his Twitter and Instagram. You can also give Laura's one Instagram photo a Like by clicking HERE.
If you'd like to listen to the Ghost Cage #1 Interview with Nick Dragotta and Caleb Goellner referenced in the outro, you can do so by clicking HERE.
And here are the relevant Saga Marko & Alana links:
Finally, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.
Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators.
Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.
Sunday Mar 13, 2022
Sunday Mar 13, 2022
In Saga, Marko & Alana cannot escape sadness. Rather than running, they lean into it, and by sharing their sorrow, they gain strength. Any Star Trek V: The Final Frontier fans out there? Sybok knew what was up.
We race toward Saga's halfway point and the tragic cliffhanger ending to end all tragic cliffhanger endings, which is really saying something when discussing Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples' sci-fi romance masterpiece.
As we did the last episode, we consulted Helen Russell's "How to Be Sad: The Key to a Happier Life: Everything I've Learned About Getting Happier, by Being Sad, Better." If she can help us embrace our sadness, maybe she can help Marko & Alana through their tumultuous journey.
Issued Covered in this Episode: Saga # 31 - 42, collected in trade paperback Vols. 6 & 7. They were written by Brian K. Vaughan, fully illustrated by Fiona Staples, and lettered by Fonografiks. Image Comics originally published the issues between November 2015 and January 2017.
Previous CBCC Saga Episodes:
Other Relevant Links:
- Christian Holub's Entertainment Weekly Interview w/Vaughan & Staples
- Depression Textline (US): Text HOME to 741741
Be sure to follow the podcast on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.
Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators.
Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.
Sunday Feb 27, 2022
Sunday Feb 27, 2022
Saga is back! And if Saga is back, then we better get back to investigating Marko & Alana's tumultuous, universe-threatening romance. After we finished Saga Volume 4 on the podcast two years ago, we took a break, waiting for Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples to get back into the business of publishing rad comics. It took a little longer than we expected, but the single issues are flowing again, and it's time for us to catch up.
Knowing how challenging Saga can be on our emotions, we thought the best way to approach Marko & Alana this time around was through Helen Russell's self-help book, "How to Be Sad: The Key to a Happier Life: Everything I've Learned About Getting Happier, by Being Sad, Better." Sadness is not something to fight but embrace. Marko, Alana, and Helen will help us realize this natural human experience.
Issued Covered in this Episode: Saga # 25 - 30, which were collected in trade paperback Vol. 5. Written by Brian K. Vaughan, fully illustrated by Fiona Staples, and lettered by Fonografiks. The issues were originally published by Image Comics between February 2015 and July 2015.
Previous CBCC Saga Episodes:
Relevant Helen Russell Links:
- Depression Textline (US): Text HOME to 741741
- Just How Bad Negative Affect Is For YOur Health Depends on Culture
- Don't Worry, Be Sad! On Cognitive, Motivational, and Interpersonal Benefits on Negative Mood
CBCC Guest Appearances:
- Talkin' Sex Criminals w/The Comics Collective
- Talkin' us w/WMQ&A
- Talkin' Best Comic Book Couples w/The Oblivion Bar
- Talkin' Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy w/Missing Frames
Lisa's YA Free Period Column:
Support the Must Love Dragons Kickstarter
And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.
Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators.
Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.
Friday Feb 18, 2022
Friday Feb 18, 2022
Battle! Action! To hear Garth Ennis explain it, these two British publications are responsible for the comic book landscape we're all living in today. Without their influence, the Briitish invasion would never have occurred in the states - no Watchmen, no Sandman, no Preacher. No, thank you.
This week, Garth Ennis joins us to discuss his upcoming Battle Action Special as well as his Hawk the Slayer sequel (wait, what? Yes!) from 2000 AD. From there, we gain a better understanding of how Garth Ennis became the writer we know him to be, and we delve into his philosophies around war fiction and how they fed his interpretation of Frank Castle, Marvel's The Punisher.
The Battle Action Special will hit comic shops in June and everywhere else in September. Hawk the Slayer #1 hits the UK in April and the US in May. You can learn more by visiting the 2000AD website.
Other Relevant Links:
And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.
Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators.
Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.
Friday Feb 04, 2022
Friday Feb 04, 2022
Oh, Muffin Fluffer! Skottie Young joins us for a deep dive discussion about his creative process, his obsession with relationship stories, and what we can expect when I Hate Fairyland returns in July. Right now, we're witnessing a significant moment in his creative evolution. With books like Strange Academy and The Me You Love in the Dark, Skottie plunges into himself and pulls out relatable turmoil for all of us to consume. In the process, we all become better people.
Teaming up with fellow creators like Dean Rankine, Fábio Moon, and Gabriel Bá, Skottie Young is building toward I Hate Fairyland's return with his Stupid Fresh Mess Substack release, The Unbelievable, Unfortunately Mostly Unreadable and Nearly Unpublishable Untold Tales of I Hate Fairyland. By inviting others to his party, he solidifies his world as one of the greats.
After listening to the episode, you can continue the conversation through his website, his Instagram account, and Twitter feed. And you can subscribe to his Substack by clicking HERE.
Our next Couples Session begins next episode when we return to SAGA by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples. We'll be covering trade paperback volumes 5 - 9. Make sure you catch up on our previous SAGA conversations:
And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.
Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators.
Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.
Friday Jan 28, 2022
Friday Jan 28, 2022
Five years since the first 5 Worlds published, comic creator Mark Siegel joins us to discuss the final graphic novel chapter, The Emerald Gate. These stories represent more than the epic quest they depict; they're a creative collision resulting from five artistic talents aligning in harmonious imagination. Like the characters within 5 Worlds, these collaborators were changed by the journey, and we were giddy to chat with Siegel about the impact his characters and their creation had on him and his partners.
As we've discussed recently on the show, we've connected deeply with many all-ages and young adult comics, and 5 Worlds is no different. This saga follows three adventurers as they jump planets, racing to unite sentient life across the universe before dark forces consume everything. You will find yourself within its pages.
5 Worlds: The Emerald Gate is now available from Random House Books. It's written by Mark Siegel and Alexis Siegel, and illustrated by Xanthe Bouma, Boya Sun, and Matt Rockefeller.
Be sure to follow Mark Siegle on Twitter and on Instagram. Keep up to date on his projects by visiting his website.
Other Relevant Links:
And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.
Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators.
Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.
Thursday Jan 20, 2022
Thursday Jan 20, 2022
This week, comic creators Rob Williams and Warwick Johnson-Cadwell join us to discuss their new contributions to The Mignolaverse, The Sword of Hyperborea and Falconspeare. They're both incredible comics, totally different from each other, but they absolutely belong together within Mike Mignola's apocalyptic landscape.
The Mignolaverse commands a very special corner within the Love Nest. Mike Mignola's Hellboy comics were the first comics Brad ever put into Lisa's hands. It was an insane, and maybe foolish, risk - what if she didn't love them? Thankfully, she said yes...they are the greatest comics ever, and their relationship continued.
It was only a matter of time before these stories were celebrated on Comic Book Couples Counseling, and we're thrilled to have this party with Rob Williams and Warwick Johnson-Cadwell in attendance. And we get the impression that they're just as thrilled to be celebrating Mike Mignola as we are.
The Sword of Hyperborea is out now from Dark Horse Comics, and Falconspeare will hit shelves on 1/25. While you wait, however, what don't you nab Johnson-Cadwell's Mr. Higgins Comes Home and Our Encounters With Evil.
If you need further convincing, read Lisa's glowing Falconspeare review over on Comics Bookcase.
And, don't forget to check out our previous conversation with Rob Williams, talking about Judge Dredd: End of Days.
Be sure to find Rob on Twitter HERE, Instagram HERE, and visit his official website HERE. And you can do the same thing for Warwick Johnson-Cadwell by smashing follow on his Twitter HERE and Instagram HERE.
And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.
Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators.
Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.
Thursday Jan 13, 2022
Thursday Jan 13, 2022
Here it is—The Best Comics of 2021 (Part Two). As far as comics were concerned, the year was simply too marvelous. We had to stretch the celebration across two episodes.
If you haven't already listened to The Best Comics of 2021 (Part One), you can find it by clicking HERE.
As with that previous episode, we invited numerous friends onto the show to help us with this party. We are humbled by their enthusiasm and their generosity. It's an honor to have them partake; please seek them out via the links below and share their good work often.
Award Category Timestamps:
- Best Cat Comic - 8:29
- Best Food Comic - 10:29
- Best Ongoing Series - 25:18
- Best Original Graphic Novel - 35:30
- Best Single Issue - 40:28
- Best Limited Series - 48:25
- Writer of the Year - 56:30
- Artist of the Year - 1:13:02
- Best Basketball Comic - 1:17:13
- Discovery of the Year - 1:19:02
Episode Cameos:
- Erin (@GirlsTalkComic1) from Girls Talk Comics
- Christian Holub (@cmholub) from Entertainment Weekly
- Connor Goldsmith (@CerebroCast) from Cerebro
- Chris Arrant (@chrisarrant) from Newsarama
- Kat Calamia (@ComicUno) from Comic Uno
- Dallas (@dallas_comics), Carol Anne Talks Comics! (@AnneComics), & Lexi Taylor (@lexilou_comics) from The Comics Collective
- Zack Quaintance (@ComicsBookcase) from Comics Bookcase
- Nathan Simmons (@whatastorynate) from AIPT
Other Relevant Links:
- Best Comics of 2021 by the Comics Bookcase Staff, including Lisa
- Film School Rejects' The 15 Best Comic Books of 2021 by Brad
- Best Comics of 2021 by The Comics Collective
- Filmspotting's Top 10 Films of 2021
And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.
Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators.
Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.