Send us a Text Message.And now for something completely different (that isn't actually that different at all).Back in fall of 2023 at the Cincinnati Comic Expo, Mike got to chatting with writer Lydia Sherrer, author of the Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus series aka The Lily Singer Adventures. While not specifically comic-focused, Lydia has a passion for storytelling and world building, so we decided to have her on the show to discuss all things story creation. That interview will run on May 16th, after we've wrapped up our current season of Storied Arcs, and this episode is just meant to be a primer to the world of Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus. We don't go into any spoilers about the book series in our chat with Lydia (because we'd like for you to go read the books), but we wanted to at least give you an idea of the kinds of stories they are.  Storytelling is storytelling, but it with prose or sequential art, and that's what we want to celebrate here.Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a Text Message.Welcome to a very special bonus episode of Storied Arcs! This week, Mike and Alex are ecstatic to bring you a conversation they had with writer Lydia Sherrer, the author of the Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus series aka The Lily Singer Adventures! They get into everything here, from how Lydia built and planned her book series from the start to some specific storytelling choices she made in her books (but all done so in a non-spoilery way). We really go deep into the world building and story creation aspects of the series, in ways that we think will be interesting and insightful to fans of all stories. And if you like what you hear, we definitely recommend checking out the Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus series. You can follow all of Lydia's works at the links below:Lydia's Website: https://www.lydiasherrer.com/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lydiasherrer/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lydiasherrer/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lydiasherrerauthor/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/757417044407402Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15009385.Lydia_SherrerWebsite-Formerly-Known-As-Twitter: https://twitter.com/LydiaSherrerThanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a Text Message.For the new season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex strap on their jetpacks and soar into the sky as they get ready to discuss Ex Machina by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris, originally published by DC under the Wildstorm imprint beginning in 2004 before moving over to the Vertigo imprint and then eventually to the Black Label imprint. The guys start off by giving the CliffsNotes of the CliffsNotes about the history of Wildstorm, from its founding as a studio by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi as part of the creation of Image Comics in 1992 to its sale to DC Comics in 1998-1999, and how all of that affects where the book ends up when imprints get shuttered and shifted. Then they give you some background on the creative team behind the book, mainly focusing on artist Tony Harris, inkers Tom Feister and Jim Clark, and colorist JD Mettler (we covered writer Brian K. Vaughan and letterer Jared Fletcher way back in the very first episode of this show while previewing Paper Girls). The guys also give a spoiler-free preview of Ex Machina, including a content warning for some things presented in the comic that were meant to be provocative 20 years ago and remain provocative today, but perhaps for different reasons now. All the more to discuss when we dive deep into the story.There are many ways to find and read Ex Machina (the series is 50 issues plus 4 specials), and we've decided to use the Deluxe Editions as our guide. The issue breakdown is as such:Deluxe Edition Volume 1: issues #1-11Deluxe Edition Volume 2: issues #12-20, specials #1-2Deluxe Edition Volume 3: issues #21-29, special #3Deluxe Edition Volume 4: issues #30-40Deluxe Edition Volume 5: issues #41-50, special #4We can't to get into our discussion, so go read Ex Machina Deluxe Edition Volume 1 (issues #1-11) and join us back here next week!Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a Text Message."Everyone was scared back then, and when folks are scared, they want to be surrounded by heroes. But real heroes are just a fiction we create. They don't exist outside of comic books."Welcome to the new season of Storied Arcs, where Mike and Alex are diving deep into Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris' Ex Machina, originally published by DC Wildstorm. They guys start by discussing first issues and how BKV may be the best first issue writer in comics before going into how the ending of Ex Machina's first issue completely reorients the reader's perception of what kind of story they're reading. They also examine how the comic has aged over the past 20 years, looking at what the perspectives of both the creators and the readers would have been at the time (the immediate aftermath and wake of 9/11) versus what they might be to approach a book like this today.  And finally, Alex goes to the mattresses to defend his professional colleagues over a single line in a panel that you the reader/listener probably gave zero second thoughts to. Apologies in advance.The discussion continues next week with Ex Machina Deluxe Edition Volume 2 (issues #12-20 plus the Ex Machina Specials #1 and #2), so find that volume wherever you get your comics and join us back here again!Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a Text Message."I don't know when I went from hero to villain in this town, but it sure as s*** happened fast."In this week's episode of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex tackle Ex Machina Deluxe Volume 2 (issues #12-29 plus Specials #1-2) from Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. The guys jump right into the various storylines presented in this volume and discuss how they do or do not fit with the flow of the comic. They also look at some of the weightier political issues addressed in this volume, with specific focus on the language of the time and the state of society in this county post-9/11 (again, it ages poorly but that seems to be kind of the point). They guys also ask the big question everyone is thinking about- are we sure Mitchell Hundred is even a good mayor?Next week's discussion will focus on Ex Machina Deluxe Volume 3 (issues #21-29 plus Special #3), so go find it wherever you get your comics and we'll see you back here then!Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a Text Message."If the city gets too comfortable in the belief I'm going to personally fix everything, they'll stop striving to solve problems on their own."In this week's episode, Mike and Alex are here to discuss Ex Machina Deluxe Volume 3 (issues #21-29 plus Special #3) from Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. The guys dive into how the use of flashbacks is (or isn't) working at this point in the comic and whether their reaction to them as a narrative device is affected by the condensed reading of a collected edition. They also explore the internal tension that exists within the book between telling a political story and telling a superhero story, and how this volume of issues manages to balance that near perfectly. Finally, the guys use the stand-alone issue on Bradbury's backstory as a springboard to have a chat about character development for everyone in the comic not named Mitchell Hundred.We've passed the halfway point in the story with just two deluxe volumes left, so go find Ex Machina Deluxe Volume 4 (issues 30-40) wherever you get your comics and join us back here again next week for our penultimate discussion!Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a Text Message.Welcome to a new season of Storied Arcs! For this outing, Mike and Alex will be diving into their (and perhaps last, question mark?) series from AfterShock Comics, Bylines in Blood (issues #1-4) by Erica Schultz, Van Jensen, and Aneke. They start by pitching you on why they love this comic, including the way it balances multi-genre storytelling and the dynamic art and color that jumps off the page. Then, they do their best to give a brief overview of AfterShock as a publisher, from their start in 2015 to their current in-limbo state as they work their through bankruptcy proceedings. Finally, the guys get you acquainted with the creative team behind this book by running through the comic work of Erica Schultz, Van Jensen, and Aneke (we covered letterer Cardinal Rae in our intro episode to Eat The Rich and Know Your Station). In the process, Mike discovers a new life goal job achievement.We can't wait to dive deep into this comic, so go read Bylines in Blood (issues #1-4) wherever you get your comics and join just back here next week and be a part of the discussion!Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a Text Message."Reality is, there is no truth. Everyone's got their own perspective. No one gets to be the arbiter of that. The only thing you can do is make your own truth."On this episode of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are ready to fight for the truth as they dive deep into Bylines in Blood by Erica Schultz, Van Jensen, and Aneke from AfterShock Comics. They discuss how the comic balances several different genres across the story, and how having co-writers on the book, Erica Schultz and Van Jensen, may have helped that feel seamless in enhancing the reading experience. The guys also talk about how the story does (or perhaps does not) work as specific mystery thriller, and whether or not that really matters in the grand scheme of the comic. Finally, they praise the artwork of Aneke, particularly her use of color throughout the book.We hoped you enjoyed this comic from a publisher you may not have read much from (and, depending on how the chips fall, you may or may not read much more from in the future). But we're not down with this story yet! Next week, we're very pleased to be joined by co-writer Erica Schultz for an exclusive interview. We talk about her career in comics, including all the projects she has on her plate right now and coming in the near future, and get a chance to dive a little deeper into the making of Bylines in Blood. Hope you join us for that next week!Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a Text Message.This week, Mike and Alex are pleased to be joined by writer and letterer Erica Schultz, one of the co-creators of Bylines in Blood. They start by covering the origins of Bylines in Blood, how Erica got hooked up with both Van Jensen and Aneke to create this comic, and what the experience was like working with a co-writer in shaping and scripting the story. They then dive a little deeper into the book, exploring its genre-hopping nature and discussing some of the specific storytelling choices and decisions that were made along the way. To close out, they touch on some of Erica’s other comics work, specifically the books she’s written for Marvel and her entry into the extended Spawn Universe with Rat City, before getting several teases of what else she has coming out soon. You can stay up-to-date with everything Erica has going on at her website and by following her on Twitter, Instagram, and Bluesky.Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a Text Message.For this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are diving head first into the crazy world of assassins and hitmen with Kyle Starks and Erica Henderson's Assassin Nation from Image Comics. They guys discuss a little about what drew them to this book and then give some background on both Starks and Henderson and the other comic work you might know them from. Then they give a spoiler-free pitch for Assassin Nation and tell you why they think you should pick up this comic (hint- it's funny and absurd and hyper-violent but in a funny and absurd way).Go find Assassin Nation Vol. 1 Number One with a Bullet (issues #1-5)  wherever you get you comics. And don't worry; it's titled "Vol. 1" because all Image collections are titled "Vol. 1" even if the story is just one collection, like Assassin Nation. This is also one comic where if you can find the single issues, we actually recommend you read it that way. The single issues have recap/title pages that are not included in the collected trade that are not necessary to the story, but serve as a fun visual gag that enhances the story. Worth checking out in our opinion, if you're able. But either way, single issue or trade, join us back here next week for our discussion of Assassin Nation!Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a Text Message."So, what's the best way to stay safe from a hitman? Hire a bunch of better hitmen."Mike and Alex are here for another season of Storied Arcs, and this week they're discussing Kyle Starks and Erica Henderson's Assassin Nation (issues #1-5) from Image Comics. The guys jump right into things, looking at this story through the lens of the kinds of stories it was clearing influenced by, from the action-comedy movies of the 80s and 90s to more modern tales of hitmen and assassins like John Wick (and there's a lot of John Wick talk, tbh). They talk about the humor laced throughout the comic and how the specific traits of Kyle Starks' writing and Erica Henderson's art mesh together to make the humor work. They guys also touch on how effective the "mystery" of the story is delivered and whether or not that really matters with a book like this when so much of selling point is vibes. These are characters you want to hang out with. Assuming they aren't trying to kill you.We hoped you enjoyed reading and discussing Assassin Nation, and we're very pleased to announce that next week on the feed, we have an exclusive interview with writer Kyle Starks! We covered a vast range of topics and got some behind-the-scenes insight into the making of Assassin Nation. We had a blast chatting with Kyle and can't wait to share it with you!Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a Text Message.This week, Mike and Alex are super excited to be joined by Kyle Starks, the writer of their most recent discussion, Assassin Nation, along with so many other great comics. They cover a wide range of topics, including how Kyle got started working in comics (and why that might be Matt Fraction's fault) and how he was able to find his niche in the industry. They also go into why that specific niche (comedy and humor) is so hard to do well in comics these days and how Kyle manages to infuse his books with both. Jumping into Assassin Nation, the guys talk with Kyle about working with Erica Henderson, how this book came along right as both of them were starting to make their names, what the creative process was like for the book, and how the editorial process for it maybe wasn't the smoothest. Finally, we get a some teases as to what projects Kyle has coming down the line soon. You can stay up-to-date with everything Kyle has going on at his website and by joining his Patreon. You can also follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Bluesky. Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a Text Message.Welcome to another season of Storied Arc! For this installment, Mike and Alex are going about as indie comic as they can get as they get ready to discuss Breathers by Justin Madson. They guys get you familiar with cartoonist Justin Madson, someone they understand is probably not that well known, if at all, by most comic readers, even the most dedicated ones, as well as some of his work, including Carbon and Tin Man. Then they preview Breathers, Madson's story about a dystopian future where a virus in the air is lethal and everyone has to wear masks just to survive. Oh, aid we mention this comic was originally conceived by Madson back in 2006 and was first self-published as a completed work back in 2011? The guys discuss Breathers' circuitous publication history, from self-published to It's Alive! to Dark Horse, and try to convince you as to why you should read a book about the COVID-19 pandemic that isn't at all about the COVID-19 pandemic.We're assuming that the complete edition of Breather published by Dark Horse in October of 2023 is the only way folks will be able to read this comic. It's 9 issues worth of material (about 440 pages), which is a lot to cover in one discussion, and it doesn't have a clear mid-point that could serve as a convenient break. So what we're doing for this book instead is having one long discussion, broken up into two parts. We'll be talking about the book in totality across both weeks of the discussion, so be sure to have read all of Breathers before you start to listen.You can learn more about Justin Madson at his website and purchase his books directly from his shop. Get Breathers there, from local shop, or from the public library and join us back here next week for Part 1 of our discussion!Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a Text Message."Show me an idea that's not a little bit dangerous, and I'll show you a bad idea."Welcome to Part 1 of our discussion of Breathers from cartoonist Justin Madson! In the first part of this extra-long deep dive, Mike and Alex start by taking a look at Madson's storytelling approach and style, touching on the short story cycle-ness of the mini-stories presented in the comic and on his distinctive visual style. Then the guys examine the interlocking nature of the small cast of characters at the center of this story and how the way Madson weaves those stories together to create a full realized world in this one small town is the book's real strength.There is a lot more to talk about with this comic, so please join us next week for Part 2 of our discussion of Breathers!Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a Text Message."Nothing's really all that different, is it? I mean, sure, we don't have to wear our breathers anymore, but we still have our scars. No amount of vaccines is ever gonna change that."Mike and Alex are back in the world of Justin Madson's Breathers with Part 2 of the extra-long discussion. As they being to wrap things up, the guys take a step back and consider all of the meta-textual aspects that come with reading a book like Breathers in a post-2020 world. All the things you specifically think about when you read this book are all the exact same things everyone thinks about when they read this book, and that's kinda crazy. It's unavoidable and universal at this point, and Mike and Alex do the best they can to try and figure what it means for a story to have to carry so much weight that just didn't exist when it was first created.We really hope you enjoyed diving into a truly independent comic, and we hope to cover more books like this in the future. Until then, though, we appreciate your support and can't wait to jump into our next great comic!Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a Text Message.In this special episode, Mike and Alex were fortunate to chat with cartoonist Justin Madson, the creative force behind Breathers. They discuss Justin's origin in comics, and how and why he began writing and drawing his own stories. Then they dive into Breathers, from its initial conception back in 2007 to its eerie prescience in 2024. Justin talked about how the story and the world of Breathers came together and how he navigated weaving together his various character threads into a cohesive story. He also commented on how it felt/feels to see the real world become more like his story and how that meta-context affects how readers receive it. We touch on his experience working with It's Alive! to publish Breathers, and chat briefly about his YA graphic novel, Tin Man, including his influences and motivations for writing that story. Finally, we get a little tease of things Justin is working on for the future (like Breathers sequel?!?). You can follow Justin's work at his website and purchase his books and prints directly from his shop. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a Text Message.For the next season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are once again revisiting the work of one of their favorite creators. This time, it's writer Ed Brubaker as the guys get ready break down Velvet, the noir spy thriller from Image Comics by Brubaker and comics legend Steve Epting. First, they give an intro to the book and tease a little bit about why they wanted to discuss it (and they talk a lot about James Bond, which actually does make sense once you know what Velvet is about). They they put artist Steve Epting in the spotlight (along with letterer Chris Eliopoulos) and take a look at his long and storied career, in particular his work with Ed Brubaker. [Note, we covered Ed Brubaker and colorist Elizabeth Breitweiser back when we discussed Kill Of Be Killed; check it out if you haven't already.] We're starting next week with Velvet Vol. 1: Before The Living End (issues #1-5), so go read it wherever you get you comics and join us back here for the discussion!Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a Text Message."A group of highly-trained spies and killers. And she'd played each of us... with ease. That was when I realized just how dangerous Velvet Templeton actually was."Welcome to another season of Storied Arcs! Mike and Alex are here to plunge head first into the world of espionage and intrigue as they break down Velvet Volume 1 Before the Living End (issues #1-5) by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting from Image Comics. The guys start by examining how the concept for Velvet fit into the wider pop culture zeitgeist surrounding spy fiction and "reboot" culture in the mid-2010s, and discuss how Brubaker and Epting's clear love and appreciation for the classic spy stories they grew up on shines through in their story. Then they eventually get to talking about the comic, mainly highlighting the incredible colors by Elizabeth Breitweiser and the unique storytelling devices the team employs that only work in sequential art. Alex also bad-mouths baccarat, because it's a silly game that seemingly only exists to be played by shady people in spy stories. No real person plays baccarat.The conversation continues next week with Velvet Volume 2 The Secret Lives of Dead Men (issues #6-10), so pick it up wherever you get your comics and join us back here again for anther deep dive!Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a Text Message."All these weeks on the run, I've just been angry... self-righteous. And it's so stupid... I know... but I'd actually forgotten to be afraid."Mike and Alex are back on the hunt for the most dangerous woman in the world as they jump into Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting's Velvet Volume 2 The Secret Lives of Dead Men (issues #6-10). They start by examining Steve Epting's incredible covers and look at how their throwback, pulpy nature is perfect for the series. Then the guys discuss how Velvet's competency and ability as a spy is presented throughout the story, both through the eyes of her pursuers and her own self critique, and how that informs and reinforces the world that Brubaker and Epting are depicting.  Lastly, there's some lettering talk (because Alex loves him some lettering talk), as the guys highlight the work Chris Eliopoulos is doing in this arc.The story reaches its thrilling conclusion (question mark?) in the next arc, so go read Velvet Volume 3 The Man Who Stole The World  (issues #11-15) wherever you get your comics and join us back here again to dive deep into the finale!Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a Text Message."And if I learned anything from Damian Lake's betrayal, it's that every move I make from now on has to be two moves. So I'm not just sneaking back to the U.S.; I'm lighting a signal fire."The adventures of Velvet Templeton come to a close in Velvet Volume 2 The Man Who Stole The World (issues #11-15) and Mike and Alex are here to wrap up the series. The guys start by diving deep into the decision by Brubaker and Epting to tie their story so specifically to actual historical events (apparently everyone was at the Watergate Hotel that night) and how choices like do or don't affect their enjoyment of a story. Then they look at some of final espionage story tropes Velvet deploys, like fake deaths and double-double crosses, before lamenting the lack of any further stories in this universe.  While we wish there were more Velvet stories out there, we hope you enjoyed diving into this comic with us. We'll be back again soon to kick off another season of Stories Arcs!Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!