Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast

CBCC 66: Reed & Sue - The Fantastic Four Wedding

The biggest event in Fantastic Four history is also the biggest event in Marvel History - the Wedding of Reed Richards & Sue Storm. Nearly every hero in Marvel Comics appears, and thanks to Doctor Doom and his emotion-manipulator, the same thing can be said for the villains. But on this week's episode, we're not discussing Fantastic Four Annual No. 3 - no, we're digging into Fantastic Four: The Wedding Anniversary Special.

This comic is an exceptional and essential read for Reed & Sue fans. The happy couple are confronted by every version of themselves throughout their timeline. In one book, we get to see them happy, sad, mad, rad, and most importantly, together. We're also using Gretchen Rubin's The Four Tendencies as our relationship guide, helping us figure out why these two are so compatible. Or not?

If you missed out on part one of our Reed & Sue chat, be sure to catch up on The Fantastic Four's original first six issues and our conversation by clicking HERE.

The issue covered in this episode: "Fantastic Four: The Wedding Special" Volume 1, No. 1, written by Karl Kesel, penciled by Drew Johnson, inked by Kesel, Drew Geraci, & Andrew Hennessy, colored by Morry Hollowell, and lettered by Dave Lanphear. Cover by Gene Ha.

Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.

SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.

Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Creator Corner: Tony Cliff & Jordan Morris on Bubble

The apocalypse need not be scary when you've got your Scooby gang nearby. Bubble, the new graphic novel from First Second Books began its life as a narrative podcast and now thrives within the four-color form thanks to creator Jordan Morris, his co-writer Sarah Morgan, artist Tony Cliff, and colorist Natalie Riess. The comic is a whip-smart and hilarious spin through a dystopian future where the gig economy has run amuck. Microbrewery hipsters are bad enough but toss in a few rampaging imps and their hops-hot-takes don't taste as sour as they once did.

 

We're downright giddy to have both Tony Cliff and Jordan Morris on this show this week. We chat about the adaptation process, but more importantly, we get into the relationships of these characters. And yeah, we force Jordan and Tony to partake in one of our relationship quizzes. And they bring their Cosmo game hard.

 

If you want to hear an extended cut of this interview, join our Patreon community by clicking HERE. There, Jordan and Tony discuss what they've been watching, and name their OTP comic book couples.

 

Bubble hits bookstores on July 13th. If you're like us, you're already buying all the First Second releases, but if you need a link for more info on where to score your copy, click HERE. You can track down Jordan via his Twitter feed HERE or his new Instagram account HERE. For all things Tony Cliff, visit his website HERE.

 

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.

 

Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

CBCC 65: Reed & Sue - The Fantastic Four

The Fantastic Four! The World's Greatest Comic Magazine! And are Reed Richards and Sue Storm the world's greatest comic book couple? Well, we'll just have to see about that. But, it is definitely true that we've wanted to cover these two cosmic crusaders for quite some time, and we're incredibly excited to bring them into session with this week's episode.

The Marvel Comics Universe begins with these first six issues. It's not only comic book history; it's pop culture history. Every comic book fan should put their eyes upon these stories, and don't worry; these comics are not your veggies. It's all dessert, baby!

To help us understand Reed and Sue's romance, we're returning to Gretchen  Rubin and using her book, "The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How To Make Your Life Better (and Other People's Lives Better, Too). If you want to decipher your own Tendency, you can do so by taking Rubin's quiz HERE.

Issues covered in this episode: "The Fantastic Four" Vol. 1 issues 1 - 6 penciled & plotted by Jack Kirby, written by Stan Lee, inked by George Klein, Christopher Rule, Sol Brodsky, Joe Sinnott, & Dick Ayers, colored by Stan Goldberg, and lettered by Artie Simek & John Duffy.

Listen to our FREE Patreon episode celebrating Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer by clicking HERE.

Join our Patreon & listen to Brad take The Four Tendencies quiz for the first time by clicking HERE.

Listen to our interview with Jack Kirby biographer Tom Scioli by clicking HERE.

Listen to our interview with Stan Lee biographer Abraham Riesman by clicking HERE.

Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.

Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Creator Corner: Alex de Campi on Full Tilt Boogie

Buckle up! Alex de Campi jumps into our Creator Corner to discuss her galactic gig economy magnum opus, Full Tilt Boogie! The writer behind Dracula Motherf**ker, Bad Girls, and Archie vs. Predator (1 & 2) puts her spin on the sci-fi found family, and while you'll recognize a few of the trappings, we promise that you've never experienced a tale quite like this one. How many times do we utter the word "masterpiece" during this episode? Quite a few. 

While we were reading Full Tilt Boogie, we were both overcome with "the tingles." This comic is special, and we expect it to blow up into something even grander. De Campi is already hard at work with her collaborator Eduardo Ocaña on the Full Tilt Boogie follow-up. We need it now. But first, you have to buy this comic. Full Tilt Boogie is set for release in the States on May 11th from 2000 AD.

You can find Alex de Campi on Twitter HERE and Instagram HERE. You can also tack her work through her website by clicking HERE.

Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson@sidewalksiren.

Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Creator Corner: Karl Stevens on Penny: A Graphic Memoir

Give us all the cat comics! We dig them and we crave them; they’re our catnip. That’s why we were incredibly excited to learn about the new feline adventure memoir Penny by graphic novelist and painter Karl Stevens. The comic hits shelves this May the 4th from Chronicle Books, and we’re encouraging all our listeners to snatch it up.

As you will hear in this conversation, Stevens looks into the mind of his adorable house cat and discovers a mind on fire. Penny may be imprisoned within her apartment walls, but there’s no containing her imagination. The world around her is a confusing and wondrous realm, and through her, we attempt some kind of understanding for our own place in it.

Stevens explains how this comic came to be and where it’s going from here. Yes, you’ve just met Penny, but hopefully, you won’t be rid of her for quite some time. Penny, like the best comic book characters, can potentially explore numerous genres and ideas, and with one sequel already in progress, we’re demanding many more to come.

Find Penny: A Graphic Memoir wherever fine comics are sold, and learn more by clicking HERE. You can find Karl Stevens on Twitter HERE, and on Instagram HERE.

Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.

SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.

Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Creator Corner: Rob Williams on Judge Dredd - End of Days

Judge Dredd, the top lawman of Mega-City One, is a fascist. He's a walking nightmare and a total badass. The 2000 AD icon is both the hero and the villain of his story. Navigating that balance is tremendously tricky, and it was an absolute pleasure to have writer Rob Williams on the show to discuss how he lives within this delicious, repulsive, and intoxicating mindscape.

Williams' latest Dredd tale, End of Days, sees Dredd facing off against the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Honestly, when Revelation is raining upon your head, would you rather have anyone else backing you up? Probably not.

We chat with Williams about how he approaches every Judge Dredd tale, and how the character might relate to a certain wannabe Captain America plaguing Disney+ these days *cough cough* - John Walker!

Whether you're new to Judge Dredd or not, you will not want to miss this conversation. If you are new to 2000 AD, End of Days is an excellent place to start, and you can learn more and order your copy HERE.

You can find Rob Williams on Twitter HERE and Instagram HERE.

Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.

SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.

Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

 

CBCC 64: Sam & Bucky - Falcon and Winter Soldier

Friendship is Magic! Well, not always. Sometimes it takes a lot of work. In this week's episode, we observe the complicated relationship between two Captain Americas, Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes as seen in the Marvel Comics mini-series, Falcon and Winter Soldier.

To help us hug it out, we're using Dr. Mariso G. Franco's "How to Make Friends As An Adult" (which you can read by clicking HERE). Her article offers several key tips to keep a friendship alive, and they may also help you in a few other areas in your life as well.

Issues covered in this episode: "Falcon and Winter Soldier: Cut Off One Head," issues 1 - 5, written by Derek Landy, illustrated by Federico Vincentini, colored by Matt Milla, and lettered by Joe Caramagna.

If you cannot get enough of the Sam & Bucky conversation, consider joining our Patreon, where we're currently breaking down The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Disney+ series episode by episode. Learn more HERE.

Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.

Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

CBCC 63: James Howlett & Hercules - X-Treme X-Men

We're back with the X-Treme X-Men, but this ain't the universe you remember. On Earth 12025, James Howlett (who you may know as Wolverine) fell hard for Hercules, and their love conquered dragons. As X-Treme X-Men members, they aid Dazzler in the hunt for the many evil Charles Xaviers that plague the multiverse.

Howlett and Hercules conclude our most recent X-Couple series, providing a joyous discussion that challenges our latest love experts who co-authored "The Normal Bar." Is it possible to see yourself through the eyes of your lover? We think so. We hope so.

Issues covered in this episode: "X-Treme X-Men" Volume 2, issues 6 - 11. Written by Greg Pak, penciled by Stephen Segovia, Raul Valdes, André Araújo, and Paco Diax. Inked by Dennis Crisostomo, Lorenzo Ruggiero, and Walden Wong. Colored by Jessica Kholinne, Ifansyah Noor, Sotocolor, Dan Brown, and Rachelle Rosenberg. Lettered by VC's Joe Sabino. Cover art by Kalman Andrasofszky and Stephanie Hans.

Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.

SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.

Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

CBCC Bonus Episode: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

Talking The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on our Patreon was too much damn fun. We had to share this episode with the rest of you. If you dig what we're doing here, consider supporting the pod by joining our Patreon. Later this week, we'll be back with our regularly scheduled show.

We rant and rave about the first episode for our latest Comically Reel, discuss what the future might hold, and answer your Slack questions/observations.

But first, Brad must apologize to Lisa via a 16 minute SXSW conversation. This episode was a lot of fun to record, maybe even our favorite Comically Reel ep so far. We think you'll have a good time as well.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier poster art by Salvador Anguiano.

Of course, be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.

SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.

Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Creator Corner: Kevin Konrad Hanna on Drawing Monsters

Mike Mignola forever altered our relationship with comics. We don't think we're alone in that matter. Clearly not--all one needs to do is look at the recent success of the "Drawing Monsters" Kickstarter. People love Mignola, and more importantly, they want to know more about him.

 

We return to the Creator Corner with documentarian Kevin Konrad Hanna, discussing why he and his co-director Jim Demonakos were compelled to put Mignola's saga on screen and why Kickstarter was the only means to make it happen. Full disclosure: we've already backed this film. The second we saw it hit Twitter, we were all over it. This film's success might mean more comic book documentaries of this nature, and the world needs more comic book documentaries.

 

Make sure to visit the "Drawing Monsters" Kickstarter page HERE. And you can find the doc on Twitter HERE. You can also track down Kevin on Twitter HERE, and Instagram HERE. If you want to keep that Drawing Monsters mania going, find Jim Demonakos on Twitter HERE, and Instagram HERE.

 

Of course, be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.

 

Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.