Join married couple Brad and Lisa as they explore the various dynamics of comic book relationships throughout pop culture and publishing history.
Episodes
Tuesday Jan 11, 2022
Tuesday Jan 11, 2022
Sorting through The Best Comics of 2021 was no easy task. In an utterly bugnuts year, the medium produced numerous brilliant works. Putting our heads together, we created thirteen categories (that are very CBCC) and split them over two EPIC episodes. Welcome to Part One, the Thunderdome.
With 2021 being a banger year for comic books, we invited some friends onto the show to name their favorites. You will hear some familiar titles, but we believe you'll also encounter several discoveries. And while you're putting these comics on your to-read pile, why don't you also add these brilliant podcasters and journalists to your regular comic book consumption list.
Our hope is that these two episodes will get your new year off to a joyous start. Below you'll find timestamps for each category as well as links to these fabulous guests and their websites. Seek them out and give them some words of affirmation.
Timestamps:
- Best Digital Release - 12:15
- Best Biographical Comic - 19:34
- Best All-Ages Comic - 29:31
- Best Young Adult Comic - 36:59
- Best First Issue - 50:20
Episode Cameos:
- David Brooke (@Nosocialize) from AIPT
- Guido (@GuiAlexSan) & Rob (@RobertRibar) from Dear Watchers
- Dan Gvozden (@SupSpiderTalk) from Amazing Spider-Talk
- Jessika (@Jessikawitha) & Mike (@vansau) from Ten Cent Takes
- Sara Century (@saracentury) & S.E. Fleenor (@se_fleenor) from Bitches on Comics
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
STAY TUNED FOR THE BEST COMICS OF 2021, PART TWO...
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 Dec 30, 2021
Thursday Dec 30, 2021
We say goodbye to 2021 with our final conversation on The Second Life of Doctor Mirage. Carmen and Hwen are GOALS; they're a high-functioning power couple that work best when they rely on each other's exceptional skills. We need more comic book couples like this one, friends. We have more to learn from them than they do from us.
And we can certainly learn more from them than we can this week's "Love Ecccchhhhhspert." Lisa is still raging against the machine in this episode. Just sit back and enjoy the boiling contempt.
Issues discussed this week: The Second Life of Doctor Mirage #10 - 18, published by Valiant Comics between September 1994 and May 1995. They’re written by Bob Layton and Jim Perham, penciled by Bernard Chang, Jordi Ensign, and Yancy Labatt, inked by Ken Branch, colored by Todd Britton, Andrew Covalt, Eric Hope, Shree Boyd, Chrysoula Artemis-Gomez, John Cebollero, Knob Row, and Mark Csaszar, and lettered by Rob Johnson, Adam Niedzwiecki, Bethanne Niedz, and Santiago Vazquez.
Listen to our previous Doctor Mirage Episodes:
- The Deathmate Crossover Event with the Ten Cent Takes podcast
- The Second Life of Doctor Mirage (Part One)
Further Reading:
- Best Comics of 2021 by the Comics Bookcase staff (including Lisa)
- Film School Rejects' The 15 Best Comic Books of 2021 by Brad
- Brad's Interview with Warren Ellis
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 Dec 12, 2021
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
The Second Life of Doctor Mirage presents a rare commodity in comics, a functioning romantic couple. Carmen and Hwen are two butt-kicking parapsychologists with unique abilities that complement each other. They've experienced a lot of weirdness in their relationship, and it has prepared them for the ultimate paranormal trip - when Hwen becomes an incorporeal specter!
In this week's episode, we examine one of the most underrated couples in comics and discover heaps of inspiration for ourselves. Yes, we consult a love "expert" as usual, and they provide some surprising challenges.
Don't forget to check out our guest-spot on the Ten Cent Takes podcast, where we discuss the Image Comics/Valiant Comics crossover event, Deathmate. It's a strange dip into the 90s comics scene and provides plenty of historical context for our Doctor Mirage conversation.
Issues discussed this week: The Second Life of Doctor Mirage #1 - 9, published by Valiant Comics between November 1993 and August 1994. The comics are written by Bob Layton and Jim Perham (co-writing on #8), penciled by Bernard Chang and Mike Leeke (only on #8), inked by Ken Branch, colored by Maurice Fontenot and Mark Csaszar, and lettered by Rob Johnson, Joe Abelo, and Santiago Vazquez.
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.
Friday Dec 03, 2021
Friday Dec 03, 2021
Worlds collide as Image Comics and Valiant Comics smash their ugly bits and produce DEATHMATE, the most epic crossover event in comics? Perhaps! This week, we join the Ten Cent Takes podcast to discuss this mondo bizarro mini-series that dared to shake the industry in the early nineties.
And the best bit? At the center of Deathmate is a catastrophic love affair between WildC.A.T.S.' Void and Solar: Man of the Atom. This means we get to throw The Five Love Langues into the mix in an effort to make a little more sense of this beautiful madness.
After you listen to this insane deep dive, make sure to jump on over to the Ten Cent Takes podcast and smash that subscribe button. Also, be sure to follow them on Twitter and Instagram. You'll want these rad folks in your lives.
Follow our 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.
Wednesday Nov 24, 2021
Wednesday Nov 24, 2021
We welcome Scott Snyder onto the show to discuss his EPIC collaboration with ComiXology as well as numerous other projects and philosophies. And, yes, we talk Batman.
Snyder has written some of our all-time favorite comic books, from The Court of Owls to American Vampire to Nocterra. If he writes a book, we buy that book. We would be thrilled to chat with him about any number of those titles, but we've caught him at an incredible turning point in his career, and dammit, we were super lucky to do so.
His three most recent comics (We Have Demons, Clear, and Night of the Ghoul) represent an incredible surge in imagination and optimism. Snyder is not only betting on himself and his partners; he's betting on you and the industry's future. Scott Snyder is a beacon of hope/faith, and it was a joy to discuss how this positive attitude pulsates through these gnarly genre mash-ups.
Make sure you jump on over to the Best Jackett Press website, where you can get the details on the eight ComiXology Originals. You can also track him down on Twitter HERE, Instagram HERE, and subscribe to his Substack HERE.
Catch up with CBCC by listening to our latest Session with Black Canary and Green Arrow.
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.
Thursday Nov 18, 2021
Thursday Nov 18, 2021
Till Death Do They Part! When it comes to Green Arrow and Black Canary - that's been there, done that. They don't let a corpse get in the way of their romance. After years of hot, steaming action and betrayal, Oliver Queen and Dinah Lance finally tie the knot. In response, every hero and villain turn out for the festivities, and a terrible and most upsetting tragedy occurs when the smoke clears.
We close out our conversation on DC Comics' sexiest couple by covering their nuptials and the 14-issue Green Arrow/Black Canary series that proceeds it. Helping us sort through the romantic turmoil is love expert Megan Lundgren and her self-help guide The Relationship Book for New Couples: Proven Strategies to Nurture Your Connection and Build a Long-Lasting Bond.
Issues discussed this week: Green Arrow/Black Canary Wedding Special #1 and Green Arrow/Black Canary issues 1 - 14 published by DC Comics between November 2007 and January 2009. The comics are written by Judd Winick, illustrated by Amanda Conner, Cliff Chiang, Mike Norton, André Coelho, Wayne Faucher, and Rodney Ramos, Colored by Paul Mounts, Patricia Mulvihill, and David Baron, and Lettered by Ken Lopez, Pat Brosseau, Travis Lanham, Jared K. Fletcher, Steve Wands, and Sal Cipriano.
Don't forget to join our Green Arrow/Black Canary conversation from the beginning with Sessions 71 and 72:
- CBCC 71: Denny O'Neil's Justice League of America
- CBCC 72: Mike Grell's The Longbow Hunters
- CBCC 74: Kevin Smith & Phil Hester's Quiver
Also referenced in this Episode:
- Brad's "Everyone Fails in Avengers: Endgame" article for Film School Rejects
- The Ten Cent Takes Podcast
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.
Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
Let's talk science fiction. And let's talk about it with Mark Waid. Wait, what? Oh yes, this episode is a very special and wild Creator Corner conversation. We sit down with the Humanoids Publisher (and writer behind Kingdom Come, Justice League: The Tower of Babel, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Black Widow - AHHHHHHH! So Many!) to discuss their new graphic novel adventure, The History of Science Fiction.
Waid considers this comic by Xavier Dollo and Djibril Morissette-Phan "the crown jewel" produced in his time as Humanoids Publisher. Why? Well, we get into it. The comic is no dusty text; it's an exciting exploration of this beautiful genre that was once considered pop culture trash. Dollo and Morissette-Phan dig into its history, making the many sci-fi creators and their creations characters within their narrative, and it's a stunning achievement.
The History of Science Fiction also serves as this beautiful excuse to talk with Waid about the genre itself. The influences it has had on him and where he considers his own work rests within it. This discussion is a new favorite (it seems like we say that every other week), and we think you'll grab a lot from it. And, yes, we do talk about Taika Waititi taking on The Incal.
The History of Science Fiction will publish on November 23rd. Pre-order your copy at your favorite comic shop, or click HERE. Mark Waid can be found on Twitter HERE, on Instagram HERE, and on his website HERE.
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 other interviews with comic book creators, including Jeffrey Brown discussing his new Batman and Robin and Howard OGN.
Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.
Saturday Oct 30, 2021
Saturday Oct 30, 2021
Author Douglas Wolk is no mere mortal. He's done what few, if any, have dared to do. Wolk read every Marvel superhero comic, all 27,000+, and compiled what he learned from this massive endeavor into his own epic tome, All of the Marvels. His book is a must-read for all comic book maniacs, and it was an absolute honor to chat with him about this grand experiment and discuss the life lessons he's learned as a result.
For many, comics appear as an impenetrable mountain. Where do you begin? Who's this character? What's this a reference toward? Wolk reveals that there is no good place to start and that embracing the not-knowing is where the true joy of the endeavor resides. Not only that, but when you read enough superhero comics, your notions of good and bad start to blur. What was once seen as dreadful becomes essential twenty years down the road. And even horrible comics contain tasty morsels.
All of the Marvels is now available wherever fine books or comics are sold. But if you need a little extra help to put a copy in your hand, you can order the book HERE.
You can find Douglas Wolk on Twitter HERE, and on Instagram HERE, and you can keep up to date on his work by visiting his Website HERE. Also, Wolk hosts the podcast Voice of Latveria, which you can find by clicking HERE.
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.
Tuesday Oct 26, 2021
Tuesday Oct 26, 2021
After two years, we returned to the Baltimore Comic-Con and it was everything we needed it to be. We saw some friends, we met new friends. We bought some old comics, we bought some new comics. And, yeah, we stood in some lines, but as you should know, we love lines!
Not only that, we were able to meet up with comic book creators Kat Calamia and Phil Falco and talk to them in person, having just spoken to them via Zencastr, about their new Kickstarter project, Slice of Life!
In this week's episode, you'll be able to hear that conversation in full, as well as a rundown of our experience at our first-ever pandemic comic-con. Was it weird? Yeah. Was it weirder than any other con experience? Not really. We answer your questions and consider our comic-con future. And yes, there will be a comic-con future, and we're stoked about it.
Make sure you visit Kat Calamia and Phil Falco's Kickstarter page for Slice of Life. We've already backed the project (gotta get that Yuriko plush doll)! You can also find Kat on Twitter HERE and Instagram HERE. You can find Phil on Twitter HERE and Instagram HERE.
To stay up to date on all things Baltimore Comic-Con, hit up their website HERE. It's truly one of the best COMIC BOOK conventions around.
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.
Monday Oct 18, 2021
Monday Oct 18, 2021
With Green Arrow: Quiver, Kevin Smith and Phil Hester resurrect the Emerald Archer in a fantastical fashion, forcing Oliver Queen and Dinah Lance to stare directly into the abyss that is their relationship. This epic comic book series goes a long way in celebrating everything we love and love-to-loathe about these two characters, and it makes for one of our best couple sessions so far.
Helping us sort through the romantic turmoil is love expert Megan Lundgren and her self-help guide Relationship Book for New Couples: Proven Strategies to Nurture Your Connection and Build a Long-Lasting Bond.
Don't forget to join our Green Arrow/Black Canary conversation from the beginning with Sessions 71 and 72:
Also, don't forget to listen to our interview with Kevin Smith's cohort Jason Mewes, recorded during the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con.
Issues discussed this week: Green Arrow volume 3 issues 1 - 15, published by DC Comics between February 2001 and July 2002. They were written by Kevin Smith, penciled by Phil Hester, inked by Ande Parks, colored by Guy Major and James Sinclair, lettered by Sean Konot, and feature covers by Matt Wagner.
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.