Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast

CBCC 8: Marko & Alana - Saga Vol. 4

We close out our first month of the year with "Saga Vol. 4," which might represent a split between Marko & Alana, but certainly not the end. We look into how this volume deviates significantly from the vibe previously established by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples in the first three arcs, and how the time-jump between the last issue and the first issue of this storyline radically expands the possibilities of the series. There are several banger confrontations in this week's book, and it drags us into some tough conversations. Will Lisa want to keep pressing with these characters after reaching such an emotionally catastrophic moment that climaxes this particular story?

Let us not forget about "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus." Yikes. We're still struggling to bring that relationship metaphor into the worlds of Marko & Alana, and we may be more than a little happy to say goodbye to Mr. John Gray. Finally, we reveal at the end of the episode who our next Comic Book Couple will be, and we think they will bring out the animal in all of us.

 

CBCC 7: Marko & Alana - Saga Vol. 3

What's that old cliche? Never meet your heroes. Well, in the pivotal third volume of "Saga" from Image Comics, Marko & Alana flee to Quietus in an effort to encounter the brilliant mind that birthed the novel that originally bonded their hearts. D. Oswald Heist is everything and nothing like his dust jacket promised. This brief and bizarre relationship will not only steer their lives, but that of their daughter, their stowaway companions, and their nefarious pursuers.

Our third episode on the romantic struggle of Marko & Alana may very well be our most personal discussion yet. Hosts Brad & Lisa open up about their own disagreements and their most epic battles they've waged in their first ten years of marriage. And yes, they are still struggling to adopt the words of John Gray and the awkward metaphors of "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus." More importantly, though, they are finding great empathy in the science-fiction adventures of Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples and are excited to continue their venture into one of today's most popular comics.

CBCC 6: Marko & Alana - Saga Vol. 2

"Please. Keep reading." Indeed. In the second volume of Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples' "Saga" we finally learn how our lovebirds first met, and the source of their bonding. While Marko & Alana bicker in the face of a surprise visit from the in-laws, our trusty narrator also reveals all the raunchy secrets no child should know about their parents' coupling. Also, we can't forget that Marko's Ex is hot on their trail along with Prince Robot IV, The Will, and Lying Cat.

Brad & Lisa are still determined to apply the awkward teachings of "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" to the proceedings, but their struggle is real. What primary emotional needs do Marko & Alana crave? Should we care? Also, Brad has a cold and he's a big baby. "FARD!"

CBCC 5: Marko & Alana - Saga Vol. 1

"This is how an idea becomes real..." For the last seven years, "Saga" by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples has held the attention of all comic book fans with discernible tastes. This sweeping science-fiction fantasy romance is an epic that truly lives up to its many labels. Marko & Alana are two soldiers from opposite sides of a galactic war who get lost in each other's eyes and a beautiful baby girl is the result. "Saga" Vol. 1 is brutal, witty, profane, romantic as hell, and it's only just beginning.

Brad & Lisa are launching the new year with a 4-week long discussion on everyone's favorite sci-fi Romeo & Juliette. To assist in their conversation, they will apply John Gray's infamous "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" to analyze Marko & Alana's differing approaches to sudden conflict, child rearing in the apocalypse, and love in the time of intergalactic chaos. "It was heaven. For a while anyway..."

CBCC Bonus Episode 1: Scott Free & Big Barda - Mister Miracle

"Is he a master of spectacular trickery -- or is he something more? -- You will have to decide when you confront the strangest, most incredible hero to ever appear in comics!" Brad & Lisa close out 2018 with a special bonus episode focusing on one of the year's best comic books - Mister Miracle by Tom King and Mitch Gerads. This limited series was the talk of the town this past year, and for good reason.

We meet heroes Scott Free and Big Barda at a crossroads in their lives, and we cry and cheer with them as they wage war against the powers of New Genesis and Apokolips. King and Gerads use one of the most underrated power couples in comics to tell a deeply personal story that is less about continuity and meta commentary (although there is plenty of that to be found here) and more about the everyday battles we wage to find ourselves in the eyes of our partners. Darkseid is...

CBCC 4: Scott & Jean - New X-Men

Beware! Team Scemma!! The Charles Xavier Institute is in total chaos. Professor X is still reeling from the psychic invasion of Cassandra Nova. The island nation of Genosha has been obliterated. Magneto is dead. Emma Frost joins the school as a bustin' loose teacher, but her real motives appear to be the total annihilation of Scott Summers and Jean Grey. The Phoenix Force is unleashed!

For their final episode dissecting the king and queen of The Uncanny X-Men, Brad and Lisa go out with a bang thanks to Grant Morrison's epic and oh-so controversial second volume of New X-Men. Cyclops and Phoenix have survived nearly forty years of emotionally devastating continuity, but they've never faced a menace quite like this Scottish comic book scribe. Is this a satisfying conclusion to their Five Love Languages breakdown of Scott and Jean, or will they be craving a sequel series for the distraught couple?

Also, learn which romance Brad and Lisa will be tackling in their next session of The Comic Book Couples Counseling podcast!

CBCC 3: Scott & Jean - The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix

Past and future collide in "The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix" written by Scott Lobdell and illustrated by Gene Ha. Just as their honeymoon is about to kick off, Jean Grey and Scott Summers are propelled 2,000 years into the future so that they can raise their techno-virus poisoned son, Nathan Christopher Charles Summers a.k.a. Baby Cable! As if that wasn't hard enough, the newlyweds must also contend with Apocalypse and Stryfe, Cable's bratty, evil decoy clone.

Hosts Brad and Lisa are happy to put the relationship bickering of "The Dark Phoenix Saga" and "X-Factor" behind them, but they still manage to dig into the conflict of Scott and Jean's contrasting parenting styles. Using "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman as a guide, Brad and Lisa analyze how Scott's hands-off approach to parenting puts his true love in a tough spot, dealing with their pre-pubescent, mutant offspring. We think Scott put it best when he said, "I'd say we had a fairly productive honeymoon." Yuck, yuck, dad jokes.

CBCC 2: Scott & Jean - X-Factor

One Triumphant Return, One Diabolical Debut! In the second episode of the Comic Book Couples Counseling podcast, Brad & Lisa jump from "The Dark Phoenix Saga" to the first, official X-Men spin-off series "X-Factor." Six years have passed since the death of Jean Grey, and suddenly she's back to wreak havoc in the heart of Scott Summers. Oh, and you can't forget that Scott has married another women and they have a sweet, baby boy that will one-day grow up into the X-Force badass and general thorn in Deadpool's side, Cable.

Using Gary Chapman's "The Five Love Languages," Brad & Lisa attempt to work through the myriad hiccups that present themselves in the first six issues of "X-Factor." The real question is whether or not Brad will remain a virulent supporter of Cyclops after this episode because, boy on boy, does the supposed mutant leader act like quite the jerk. Maybe Marvel Girl should ditch this guy and get with Wolverine?

CBCC 1: Scott & Jean - The Dark Phoenix Saga

Face front, true believers. You are now in session with the Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast. Every episode married couple Brad and Lisa Gullickson will dig into the relationship of a famous comic book pair, analyze their behavior, and attempt to resolve any issues they may be facing. Each month will focus on a different couple, and to kick things off Brad and Lisa are exploring the king and queen of the Uncanny X-Men: Scott Summers and Jean Grey a.k.a. Cyclops and Marvel Girl.

In episode one, Brad and Lisa (with the aid of Gary Chapman's rather questionable "The Five Love Languages") explore one of the most famous story arcs in comic book history, "The Dark Phoenix Saga" written by Chris Claremont and illustrated by John Byrne. Is this a tragic tale of a stunted romance, or just a simple galactic melodrama in which Jean should ditch the zero and get with the Wolverine? After all, he is the best there is at what he does. Tune in and find out.