Send us a textFor this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex will be dipping back into the world of horror as they get ready to discuss the "farm noir" zombie (question mark?) story Revival by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton from Image Comics. As usual, the guys start off by talking about what drew them to this book and how they came initially read it, given that neither particularly trend to horror. Then they go through some of the comics history of its creators, Tim Seeley and Mike Norton, as well as series regular cover artist Jenny Frison. Finally, the guys wrap up with a spoiler free tease for the comic to get you into the story (mostly spoiler free, that is; Mike drops a minor spoiler for issue #1, but he was reading Image's official description of the series compendium, so whose fault is it really?).There are several ways to find and read Revival (including the aforementioned compendium, which is scheduled for release September 25, 2024), and like with similar length comics we're covered before, we will be using the Deluxe Editions as our discussion breaks. The issues breakdown as follows:Deluxe Edition Volume 1: issues #1-11 + Free Comic Book Day 2012 storyDeluxe Edition Volume 2: issues #12-23 + Chew/Revival #1Deluxe Edition Volume 3: issues #24-35Deluxe Edition Volume 4: issues #36-47[Each Deluxe Edition is also two trade paperbacks combined.]We can't to jump into this story, so go read Revival Deluxe Edition Volume 1 (issues #1-11 + FCBD 2012 story) wherever you get your comics and join us back here next week to kick off 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 textWelcome to a new season of Storied Arcs! This time around, Mike and Alex will be driving deep into Romulus (issues #1-4) by Bryan Edward Hill and Nelson Blake II from Image Comics. Never heard of it, you say? Not surprised. Neither Mike or Alex have ever met another person who's read this book other than each other. In fact, this book was a topic of discussion the first time the guys had a conversation at the comic shop, thus one could argue that without it, there would be no Storied Arcs. But it's more than that. It's a book that had a lot of promise in its setup that never got a chance to live up to its potential, be it great or terrible, because it was canceled after four issues when there were clearly more stories to be had. And that possibility of "what if?" head canon is what the guys are interested in exploring. So after running through the comic resumes of creators Bryan Edward Hill and Nelson Blake II, Mike and Alex will try and sell you on why you should read a comic with zero conclusion and no hope of every being continued (it's not as bleak as it sounds; this is fun book, even if it's ultimately just an prologue for would have come later).So next week, it's a one-shot discussion of Romulus Vol. 1 (issues #1-4), the only volume of Romulus there is or ever will be, which should hopefully be available wherever you get your comics. Find it, read it, and join us back here next week to break it all down.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"They are the history behind the history. The hands that turn the world. We are their beasts. Their reckoning."Here at Storied Arcs, we like to celebrate completed runs and stories of independent, creator-owned comics. Sometimes, that means a book wraps up after 24 or 30 or 54 issues because that's what the story required. And sometimes, that means a book is canceled after its first arc because that's just how it goes. Romulus (issues #1-4) by Bryan Edward Hill and Nelson Blake II from Image comics is one of the latter, but that doesn't mean there aren't things to enjoy and celebrate about it. Mike and Alex dive deep into this short-lived comic that is ultimately little more than a really good pilot episode for a TV series that wasn't picked up, discussing everything from the panel layouts to coloring choices to the character designs. They also let their story-pilled brains run free with pitches for the hypothetical next issues and arcs that will never be but they can't help to consider because the world presented in Romulus had so much potential. It's a bummer when a book gets canceled before it really has a chance to do the things it wants to do, but that's comics. They'll break your heart.Thanks as always for listening and following along! We'll be back next week, ready to dive deep into another great comic (one with an ending this time, hopefully)!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 textAnd 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 textFor the next season of Stored Arcs, Mike and Alex are jumping back into the world of androids and A.I. as they dive into Alex + Ada by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn from Image Comics. The guys talk about what drew them to this book (and why it maybe took a little longer for them to start reading it than some other books) and give a little, lightly spoiled, tease as to what it's all about. Then as usual, they give a rundown of the creative team's other comic credits, hitting some of the other places where you might find Luna and Vaughn's work. We'll be starting off with Alex + Ada Volume 1 (issues #1-5) next week so find it wherever you get your comics (the Complete Collection Deluxe Edition is probably the most readily available) and join us back here again to kick off 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"It's complicated, what makes a person. I think... part of it is experiences- whether you seek them out or they come to you- and your reactions to them."In this new season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex jump back into the world of robots and androids and artificial intelligence as they begin their deep dive into Sarah Vaughn and Jonathan Luna's sci-fi love story, Alex + Ada Volume 1 (issues #1-5) from Image Comics. They discuss what they find different about this specific AI/robot story that sets it aside from some of the other, more well-established takes on the topic, and what landed for them in this opening story arc. They also debate some of things that may have worked less well for them, like the pacing of the story, before taking a look at perhaps the most divisive part of the comic, Luna's artwork (spoiler alert- taste in artwork is totally subjective and completely dependent on the person viewing it; crazy, I know).Thanks for joining us for the start of our discussion of Alex + Ada. The conversation continues next week as we dive into Volume 2 (issues #6-10) so go read it wherever you get your comics and we'll see you 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"Technology will always advance. But we need to be careful as we advance that we have humans always at the center of our best interests."Mike and Alex are back to dive into right into Alex + Ada Volume 2 (issues #6-10) from Sarah Vaughn and Jonathan Luna. The guys discuss how much they enjoyed this story arc versus the opening one and what they thought was improved between the two (hint- it has something to do with one of the title characters actually becoming a character). They also dive deeper into the larger theme of AI sentience and how it's exploration in the comic reflects onto our real-life society.The final story arc for Alex + Ada awaits so go read Volume 3 (issues #11-15) wherever you get your comics and join us back here next week for our concluding 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"I... I want purpose. To contribute. I want to be accepted by society... live in a world I don't have to hide in... make choices without being in constant fear of them destroying me or the ones I care about."Mike and Alex are here to dive deep into the final arc of Alex + Ada (issues #11-15) and they do so by hitting on what they think may be the secret theme of the whole book. Artificial intelligence is used in stories for all manner of metaphors, and the guys have honed in on one they really like for this comic and go deep in exploring it. Then as usual, they talk about the ending; less so about what happens and more so about how Vaughn and Luna got there. Whether you think the final panels are happy or sad (or something in between), the guys break down how satisfying and earned it was (or wasn't; could go either way).We hoped you enjoyed this look into a perhaps lesser-known indie comic. Stay tuned next week for the start of a brand new season of Storied Arcs that will take us away from the prime directive, but one that we're very excited to dive into. See you 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 textAnd now for something (not entirely) completely different.For this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are taking a detour away from creator-owned, independent comics and stepping into the caped and cowled world of mainstream, Big Two (that's Marvel and DC) superhero comics. But with a twist. The through line of the season isn't a character or title, but creators, writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale (RIP), and the guys will be examining four of this dynamic duos more revered and celebrated works. Those books are (in the order in which we plan to cover them):Batman: The Long Halloween (issues #1-13)Superman For All Seasons (issues #1-4)Daredevil: Yellow (issues #1-6)Spider-Man: Blue (issues #1-6)In this zero episode, the guys discuss their history with the team of Loeb and Sale and how they first came to read their books (hint: it involves Batman). They also give a quick rundown of Loeb and Sale's comic history, both separately and together, as well as a brief tease as to why they picked the four comics that they did.We're super excited for this next round of episodes and hope you will be, too. Batman: The Long Halloween is a hefty book to get through, so go find it wherever you get your comics and we'll see you back here next week to dive right in!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"I made a promise to my parents that I would rid the city of the evil that took their lives. No matter what that evil looks like or becomes. I believe someday I will make good on that promise. I have to. I believe in Batman."In this very special (and very long) episode, Mike and Alex are pleased to welcome their good friend Drew (aka the person we're pretty sure is responsible for getting Mike into comics in the first place) to the show to discuss the first entry in their Jeph Loeb and Tim sale deep dive, Batman: The Long Halloween (issues #1-13). They start by getting a little backstory on Drew's history with both Loeb and Sale and The Long Halloween, and then jump right into discussing the comic. They break down Sale's iconic and unique art style and character design, and how combined with the use of color and shadow (and the lack of color) by colorist Gregory Wright, it created a storytelling atmosphere that so many Batman creators have chased in the years since. The trio also breakdown the mystery whodunit aspect of the story and delve into how Loeb's storytelling style holds up to multiple re-reads of this comic. in general, it's a love-fest for one of the best Batman stories every told, one that's been evergreen on the store shelves for the past 25+ years and will continue to be as long as there are comics to be sold.Next up, we go from Gotham City to Smallville and Metropolis as we pick up our next Loeb and Sale collaboration, Superman For All Season (issues #1-4). A beloved Superman story, go find it wherever you read your comics and join the conversation with us next week as we dive into it!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"Folks tend to call him 'The Man of Steel' nowadays. I guess that he's the most famous person in the world... not that he was ever interested in being famous in the first place."Welcome to another week of the Storied Arcs podcast as Mike and Alex continue their look into the works of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, this time diving in Superman For All Seasons (issues #1-4), Loeb and Sale's retelling of the earliest years of the Man of Steel. The guys discuss how they feel this comic captures the essence of Superman and try and parse out why that essence has been so hard to translate on to the big screen (small screen, less of a problem, though). They also talk about some of the differences in presentation between For All Seasons and the book they covered last week, Batman: The Long Halloween, such as the warmer color palette and story narration. What follows is an examination into the core of who Batman and Superman are as characters (as they see them) and how those cores are expertly reflected in these two stories from Loeb and Sale. This is the Superman story to give to someone who says they don't "get" Superman.Next week, we're jumping across the proverbial publishing street as Loeb and Sale begin their Color Series over at Marvel with Daredevil: Yellow (issues #1-6). This one might be a little harder to track down (in a physical copy, at least) because it hasn't been reprinted as much, but we're confident it's out there to be found. Go read it and join us back here again next week to break it all down!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"I had promised my dad I would never ben an 'uneducated pug' like him. He wanted me to be a lawyer and I made good on that. But it wasn't enough. I had seen how the law- which I still steadfastly believed in- wasn't always the same as justice."Mike and Alex are back diving deep into the selected works of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, this week moving over to Marvel Comics for Daredevil: Yellow (issues #1-6). They guys open with their personal reading history for Daredevil, one of the few characters Mike has read more of than Alex, before discussing how they feel this book works, or maybe doesn't, as an introduction to the world of Matt Murdock. They also break down some of their favorite panels and pages in the comic as a way to highlight the evocative storytelling of Loeb, Sale, and the entire creative team (and Alex gets to talk about one of his favorite gimmicks in comics, the De Luca Effect). The guys close by trying to decide whether or not Daredevil: Yellow can work as a compelling story for a reader who has zero prior knowledge of Daredevil as character, and whether or not that's even the point of the book.We down to the final week of our Loeb/Sale examination, and we're closing out with the second book in the Marvel Color Series, Spider-Man: Blue (issues #1-6). This one should be more readily available than Daredevil: Yellow, so go find it wherever you get your comics and join us back here again 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"I guess when you look at the way my life turned out so far, it's about the only way you can look at it. Good after bad. Kind of amazing."In the final installment of Storied Arc's look into the selected works by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, Mike and Alex swing into Spider-Man: Blue (issues #1-6), the second book in the Loeb-Sale Marvel Colors Quadrilogy (which is totally a word). The guys again start with their personal histories with the character of Spider-Man, before jumping right into the book. Mike had a lukewarm reaction to it back when he first read it (he's higher on it now), and Alex feels it's one of the best Spider-Man stories every told, so they unpack those viewpoints and try and work through where and what the divide is. They also discuss how Blue would work as someone's first Spider-Man story, and why it might not be as successful as a introduction as some of the other Loeb and Sale collaborations we've discussed on the show. We really hoped you've enjoyed this little detour into the world of Big Two Superhero Comics over the past handful of weeks. There's always a chance we'll do it again sometime, too, because as far as we're concerned, good stories are good stories, regardless of who publishes them. But in the meantime, we will be here next week to dive back into the familiar waters of independent, creator-owned comics. See you 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 textWelcome 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 textFor 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"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"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"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"The 'Great Machine' was nothing but a burdened White paternalist who thought he could swoop down out of the heavens to save the helpless people of the ghetto."We're into the home stretch as this week, Mike and Alex dive right into Ex Machina Deluxe Volume 4 (issues #30-40) by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. The guys work their way through the two major story arcs in this volume and discuss why those arcs worked for them and how they rank those stories in the overall run thus far. Then they take a look at the one-shot, stand alone stories contained in this run of issues and break down why those worked less well for them. Finally, guys close by breaking down the most meta of meta issues, Ex Machina #40.There's just one collection left to discuss in this season of Stories Arcs, so find Ex Machina Deluxe Volume 5 (issues #41-50 plus Special #4) wherever you get your comics and join us back here again next week to close out another 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"He's always got some eminently pragmatic blanket solution for a world that's complex and irrational and... and human."We've come to the end of another season of Storied Arcs, but before we move on, we have to discuss the final part of Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris' political-slash-superhero tale, Ex Machina Deluxe Volume 5 (issues 41-50 plus Special #4). Mike and Alex dive deep into what they did and didn't like about the end of the series, and why they thought some parts (the political machinations) may have worked better than others (the origin of Hundred's powers). They also break down the literal final pages of the story and try and parse what they think they mean, if anything. Finally, the guys also speculate some more on what a hypothetical real-time follow-up series could look like, as well as the movie adaptation starring Oscar Isaac that is totally a thing that's still happening.We hope you enjoyed our look into a slightly less renowned, but no less important, work from one of the biggest names in comics currently. Thanks as always for following along and we'll see you here next week to jump into another 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!