Join married couple Brad and Lisa as they explore the various dynamics of comic book relationships throughout pop culture and publishing history.
Episodes
Sunday Apr 14, 2019
Sunday Apr 14, 2019
With "Avengers: Endgame" on the horizon, Brad & Lisa wanted to celebrate the epic conclusion to the current phase of the MCU by digging into the romantic plight of The Mad Titan. We've covered a few troubled relationships in the past, but few have been as troubling or downright horrific as the coupling between Thanos and Mistress Death. Covering such an unhealthy alliance presents new challenges for the show, but thankfully we have Brene Brown's "Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead" to wade through the emotional horror.
We kick off our April couple with the origin series "Thanos Rising" by Jason Aaron and Simone Bianchi. These five issues are a dark True Crime take on the universe's most feared villain and his obsessive courtship with the personification of Death. Your understanding of Thanos & Death will be forever changed, and it radically alters your understanding of "The Infinity Gauntlet."
Follow the podcast @CBCCPodcast or email us at cbccpodcast@gmail.com. You can follow the hosts @MouthDork and @sidewalksiren.
Sunday Apr 07, 2019
Sunday Apr 07, 2019
In the deepest reaches of space, young love blossoms and fades. Told via two distinct timelines, we explore the relationship between Mia & Grace as they discover their feelings for each other and are denied a proper ending by outside forces beyond their control. "On a Sunbeam" is an epic blend of science-fiction and fantasy that recalls Studio Ghibli as much as it does Ridley Scott's "Alien." Creator Tillie Walden has no desire to explain her universe or her characters; she simply drops you into the environment and expects the reader to catch up.
Brad & Lisa close out their month of exploring love beyond the heteronormative with another brilliant publication from First Second Books, and they wrap up their conversation surrounding Dr. Stan Tatkin's "Wired for Dating." They celebrate the joys of quiet love and discuss the art of fighting. Arguments will happen, so it's best to come to each conflict with empathy.
As always, follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @CBCCPodcast and follow hosts Brad & Lisa @MouthDork & @sidewalksiren.
Monday Mar 25, 2019
Monday Mar 25, 2019
Partners. Teammates. Lovers. On this week's episode, Brad & Lisa return to the world of superhero punch-ups with the DC Comics mini-series "Midnighter and Apollo." When one is murdered, he awakens in hell. While he battles his own personal demon, the other fights tooth and nail to gain entry to the underworld so he can rescue his love from the very real flames of damnation. No angel or demon or death will keep these two apart.
Written by Steve Orlando and illustrated by Fernando Blanco, in many ways "Midnighter and Apollo" is a rather typical superhero adventure. Yet, these two unique personalities break through the basic fisticuffs. The CBCC Dorks continue to explore relationships this month using Dr. Stan Tatkin's "Wired for Dating" and discover how we should all rely on our partners as deeply as Midnighter & Apollo.
Follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and follow the hosts @MouthDork and @Sidewalksiren.
Monday Mar 18, 2019
Monday Mar 18, 2019
We've all been there - the fog of infatuation. How do we know when love is true or just lustful and new? Especially at the start of our sexual maturation? We discuss the science of new love in our latest episode and we use Tee Franklin & Jenn St-Onge's beautifully refreshing "Bingo Love" for our conversational framework.
In the early 1960s, everyone expects Hazel & Mari to behave in a certain way and love a certain person. Familial and societal pressures often get the better of us, but that doesn't mean we have to deny our true selves forever. Sometimes we get a second chance. "Bingo Love" is about embracing that moment when it presents itself.
As always, you can follow the podcast on Twitter @CBCCPodcast and you can follow our co-hosts Brad & Lisa at @MouthDork & @Sidewalksiren.
Monday Mar 11, 2019
Monday Mar 11, 2019
This month we’re exploring romances beyond the heteronormative and we’re applying Stan Tatkin’s "Wired for Dating" to their relationship woes. We’re kicking it off with Ari and Hector from the new graphic novel from First Second Books, "Bloom" by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau.
Brad & Lisa look into the budding romance of Ari & Hector and ask the big questions, "Do relationships require hard work?" "Do we have to love ourselves before someone can love us?" "Is being happy enough of a 5-year plan?" With the help of Dr. Tatkin, we observe Ari stumble his way into a "secure-and-functioning" relationship.
As always, don't forget to follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @CBCCPodcast. If you're feeling a little extra stalker-y track down the whereabouts of our hosts @MouthDork and @sidewalksiren.
Sunday Mar 03, 2019
Sunday Mar 03, 2019
The magical day has finally arrived for Bruce Wayne & Selina Kyle - they are to be joined in wedded bliss by writer Tom King and every artist under the DC Umbrella. Everyone is coming out for this big event! Are Batman & Catwoman meant to be together forever, or are these two creatures of the night destined for spinsterhood?
On our final episode discussing the relationship between The Bat & The Cat, Brad & Lisa will answer that question using "He's Just Not That Into You" as their relationship guide. Ah, and neither guru is of the same mind on this one. We're sorry to say goodbye to Gotham City, but this has been one of our favorite couples on the series so far. Lots to unpack with these two, folks.
Saturday Feb 23, 2019
Saturday Feb 23, 2019
"Mr. Unknown is Dead!" Bruce Wayne & Selina Kyle travel to Japan to recruit the pulp adventurer Mr. Unknown into the new "Batman Incorporated" crimefighting organization. Unfortunately, the devilish Lord Death Man has already struck and killed the hero. What will happen to Wayne's global security task force now!?!?
This week, Brad & Lisa continue to use "He's Just Not That Into You" to discuss the overt flirtations of Catwoman and how Batman wants none of it. Grant Morrison has big plans for Bat-continuity, but with master cheesecake illustrator Yanick Paquette on pencil duties, the sensational Scottish scribe simply wants to have fun with these slinky, sexy characters. And the more tentacles to fend off the better!
Sunday Feb 17, 2019
Sunday Feb 17, 2019
"Batman was never funny!" So says Frank Miller. Sorry, Adam West. This week, Brad & Lisa excavate one of the most celebrated comic books in pop culture history - "Batman: Year One," written by Miller, illustrated by David Mazzucchelli, and colored by Richmond Lewis. Here we see the first encounter between Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle in and out of the costumes, and running parallel to their romance is the deteriorating marriage of Detective Jim Gordon and Barbara Gordon.
As they did last week, Brad & Lisa use Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo's "He's Just Not That Into You" as their relationship guide. Golly gee, are there a whole mess of folks who are not "into" each other in this classic comic. Run, Barbara, run.
Saturday Feb 09, 2019
Saturday Feb 09, 2019
February feels like the perfect month to root around in one of the most twisted and dysfunctional relationships in comics - Bruce Wayne & Selina Kyle a.k.a. Batman & Catwoman. We love seeing them together, and we hate seeing them together. To kick this month's relationship series off, we're diving deep into a "not-so-classic" issue of "The Brave and The Bold" - #197, in which the Batman & Catwoman of Earth-2 battle the terrifying formula of The Scarecrow and find love in the process. In all honesty, we loved this single issue!
To aid in our conversation surrounding Bruce & Selina, Brad & Lisa are using the bestselling relationship book "He's Just Not That Into You" by Greg Behrendt & Liz Tuccillo. After several months of questionable guides, we may have found a few tolerable gurus to lead us through the dark alleys of Gotham City.
Sunday Feb 03, 2019
Sunday Feb 03, 2019
This week Brad & Lisa are reporting to you live from Park City, Utah as they attend the Sundance Film Festival 2019. While this is not their usual comic book relationship talk, they did find a few films that CBCC listeners will definitely want to put on their radar. Without going into spoilers, Brad & Lisa discuss the Australian horror comedy "Little Monsters" as well as the beautifully melancholic "The Last Black Man in San Fransisco." What exactly makes these films necessary watches for comic book readers? Tune in and find out.
Also, Brad & Lisa may have found the perfect relationship guru as they discuss the documentary "Ask Dr. Ruth." Finally, a self-help guide that doesn't skeeze them out in the slightest. What a relief.
Next week, Brad & Lisa will fully return to the world of comic books as they launch their series on Batman & Catwoman. Stay tuned, true believers.