Wait, What? Ep. 109: Delightful

Two panels from Avengers #1. Captain America sounds kinda bitchy here, doesn't he?

Happy holidays!  Ho ho ho!  Uhh.... Gather Ye Rosebuds While You May!

(Man, I gotta outsource the holiday sections of these entries to Graeme or something.  I am really bad at this!)

Anyway, behind the jump...Show Notes!

0:00-7:13:  Welcome!  We start things bright and cheerful by talking about the possible coming apocalypse.  Are we welcoming you to next-to-last Wait, What? ever? (We're not.) (Or are we?)  (But, really, we're not.) But Graeme's thesis is that 2012 was such a shitty year, it's easy to believe that even the end of the world would be preferable to it continuing. True for you?

Also, because this is the first of two eps. wherein we answer your questions, let's see if this approach makes for a nice, clear set of shownotes or not:

7:13-10:21:  Answered first, since it's been lingering!  From T.:  "Okay, I asked this earlier, but can you recite the Four or so stock Bendis characters or voices that you mentioned two podcasts ago, and can you provide examples? I think the only one you got to was the “smart guy” character/voice." Here is part one of our answer with All-New X-Men #3 discussed as well.

10:21-21:01: But because we are us, we go on to discuss Avengers #1 by Jonathan Hickman and Jerome Opena instead. I'm really tempted to spoil the joke team in this one because I thought it was pretty funny, but I'll let you find it out for yourself.

21:01-25:51:  And then, because we are conscientious types, we go back to talking about the four basic Bendis voices, and the voices he can't seem to quite catch.

25:51-27:10: Whew!  Our first question answered!  Then, because of of some weird connection problems on Graeme's problems, we move right to...

27:10-27:32:  MUSICAL INTERLUDE THE FIRST

27:32-46:16:  We are back to talk about a topic we promised to discuss last time--how the Internet turned thought into a widget.  Hopefully, this is more than just a standard INTERNET WAAH WAAH WAAH discussion. Among things mentioned: Steampunk, the collapse of the porn industry, zombie hordes, etc.

46:16-1:03:03:  Twitter Question #1: from @adampknave: Redo MarvelNOW: "Cast your 2 X-Men & 2 Avenger books + what creative teams? BONUS: Justify a D-Man series".

1:03:03-1:03:26:  MUSICAL INTERLUDE THE SECOND

1:03:26-1:08:43: Twitter Question #2 from @adampknave: "What sandwiches and pies are you both looking forward to in 2013?"  If you are in the Bay Area, I highly recommend you order the Cran-Apple Pie from these guys  before the end of December….

1:08:43-1:10:40: Twitter Question #3 from @Twyst: "What would Wolverine get as gifts for each of the Avengers?"

1:10:40-1:20:38: Twitter Question #4 from @davepress:"what do you think Karen Berger will do next? You'll probably get into this anyway."

1:20:38-1:21:09: Twitter Question #5 from @davepress:"also what writing project are you working on Jeff? (I don't care about you, Graeme. Kidding!)"

1:21:09-1:22:14:Twitter Question #6 from CandyAppleAlly: "Does Marvel hate Scarlet Witch fans more than DC hates Stephanie Brown fans or vice-versa?"

1:22:14-1:25:44: Twitter Question #7 from @zhalfim: "what comics this year did you like that you never ever expected to like?"

1:25:44-1:28:01: Twitter Question #8 from @zhalfim: "(you don't have to answer both either/or is cool) what is the most memorable thing said in this year's run of podcasts?"

1:28:01-1:33:46: Web Question #1 from Dr. Timebomb:  "With Karen Berger leaving DC I’ve thought about the major changes DC has gone through recently. It was only a few years ago that in addition to the DC Universe and Vertigo you had Humanoids, CMX, Minx, and, on the web, Zuda. DC overall seemed to be servicing all aspects of the industry. Variety was a value.  Why didn’t it work? Is it a matter of readers not showing up, therefore these initiatives not making enough beans for the bean counters? Is it impatience/short-sightedness on the part of the publishers? Which side shoulders the blame, and is it more than just one side?"

1:33:46-1:44:48:  Web Question #2 from Faur:  "Do you think the role of the artist, artwork, and his or her visual storytelling are given the appropriate amount of consideration in online comics criticism, particularly in criticism of mainstream comics? Follow-up question: Do you think artists are given appropriate credit for a comic’s commercial success?"  Our answer incorporates more discussion of Avengers #1.

1:44:48-1:45:34:Web Question #3(a) from Alan Smith:  "Q. Why are you guys so negative on Mark Miller and Jim Shooter? (not trolling I’m new to comics)."  Cue the link to Marvel Comics: The Untold Story.

1:45:34-1:50:46:Web Question #3(b) from Alan Smith: "Q. (to Jeff re Marvel boycott) Why are you OK with buying/using Apple products to read comics when that company has arguably a far worse attitude to labour relations/creator rights/worker rights than Marvel?"

1:50:46-1:56:05:  Web Question #4 from Dan Coyle:  "Q: What do you think victory is for Steve Wacker?" On a related note, Amazing Spider-Man #799 is discussed. On a related, related note, even after reminding himself repeatedly, Jeff still refers to issue #799 as issue #699.  Denial!

1:56:05-FINI: Time is called, after Jeff's last-ditch attempt to run the ball out of bounds fails. Holiday wishes are made, theme music is played.

Whew, I know, right?  It's like the type of cliffhanger you might see at the end of an Adam West Batman episode!  If it took us two hours to answer thirteen questions and we can only record one more episode where we have to answer thirty-plus questions then how are we going to.... <insert headsplode here>

(Nah, it'll all work out, I'm sure.)

Anyhoo: maybe you've already come across this episode on iTunes.  Or maybe you haven't and you just want to listen to it here?? Either way, it is waiting for you below:

Wait, What? Ep. 109: Delightful

And join us here next week for our epic wrap-up just in time for the holiday break!  Hope you enjoy, etc., etc.

Wait, What? Ep. 106: You Are Number Six.

At Graeme's Behest: the cover to Colder #1

Yeah, that's a pleasant way to get your Tuesday rolling, eh?

Anyhoo, very truncated version of things this time around, I'm afraid but after the jump...show notes!

So yeah, I've got a trip that I'll be on for a few days which means I'm trying to write this AND pack AND panic AND forget the one thing I'm not going to remember until I've been the road for two hours.  But am I letting any of that get in the way of bringing you this podcast?  I say thee: nay!  (Though, verily, I shall admit to assing it by half...)

Oh, and I got a big upgrade on the recording end of things but unfortunately it may be why there's a bit of crackle in the opening of the podcast.  Sorry about that--I hope to have that figured out by next episode...

0:00-41:19:  Greetings!  The small talk is eensy-sized this time around as we get right into the topic of the news that day--the pending cancellation of Hellblazer at Vertigo and the launch of Constantine over at the DCU. Graeme brings the facts; Jeff brings the wild conspiratorial speculation.  (Also, Jeff was a little behind the curve this week, so feel free to create a quick & easy drinking game where you take a drink every time Graeme informs him of something of which he was unaware. You will be feeling no pain in absolutely no time at all.)  Is Vertigo effed in the ay?  Maybe. Is that as bad for the marketplace as it would've been ten years ago?  Maybe not.  Somewhat tangentially related: whatever happened to the NuMarvel generation of creators? Why does Aardvark Books in San Francisco have the used graphic novel section that it does?  And other questions lead us into…

41:19-41:54: Intermission 1!

41:54-1:08:21:  For an early birthday present, Jeff picked up a digital subscription to 2000AD and Graeme has been keeping up with it lately, and so much discussion ensues over issues #1806-1808. Spoilers ahoy (especially for #1808). Want to hear us talk Judge Dredd by Al Ewing and Henry Flint; ABC Warriors by Pat Mills and Clint Langley; Brass Sun by Ian Edgington and I.N.J. Culbard; Low Life by Rob Williams and D'Israeli; and The Simping Detective by Simon Spurrier and Simon Coleby?  Then this is the thirty-seven minutes for you! ( Oh, and if you've never seen the original Prisoner--spoilers! at 1:00:36-1:01:36.)

1:08:21-1:11:19: Then, at the very tail end of things, Graeme discusses Action Comics #14 by Grant Morrison, Sholly Fisch, Rags Morales and Chris Sprouse.  Because he just couldn't bring himself to wait until after...

1:11:19-1:11:42:  Intermission 2!

1:11:42-end:  Since Graeme has been to the store (and Jeff hasn't), he leads with reviews, in alphabetical order, no less, of Colder by Paul Tobin and Juan Ferreyra; Earth 2 #6 by James Robinson and Nicola Scott; Iron Man #1 by Kieron Gillen and Greg Land (and also AvX: Consequences); Stumptown v2 #3 by Greg Rucka and Matthew Southworth; Willow Wonderland #1 by Jeff Parker and Brian Ching; and, outside of alphabetical order (and our natural laws of time, space, and arguably taste), the X-Men: Iceman hardcover collecting the miniseries by J.M. DeMatteis and Alan Kupperberg from 1984.

Jeff, by contrast, is utterly flummoxed by the digital comic Batman: Li'l Gotham by Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs and happily shares the flum with everyone.  And while we're on the flum tip, Jeff also explains his preparations for reading Marvel comics in a legit non-piratey way as well as his first current Marvel comic in a long time: Captain America #19 by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting.  Also, the book that really knocked him off his chair: the third issue of Ethan Rilly's Pope Hats:  a stunningly strong piece of cartooning and storytelling that is completely worth your time and cash.

[Stealth bonus #1: we also talk about Sean Howe's amazing Marvel Comics: The Untold Story a bit more toward the end.]

[Stealth bonus #2:  Rather than edit out that bit about my Skype pic, here it is in it's teeny-tiny glory:]

[Stealth bonus #3:  You'll know it when you hear it…]

Again, apologies the show notes are so sparse this time around.  To make up for it, I put this up into the ether a little early so you may have already seen the podcast already on iTunes.  But if not,  you are certainly encouraged to have at it below:

Wait, What? Ep. 106: You Are Number Six.

As always, we hope you enjoy and thank you for listening!

Wait, What? Ep. 100: Year Zero

(One of my favorite hundredth issue covers, by Joe Staton and Dick Giordano for DC Comics)

I don't know why, but for a moment there... I was very afraid this episode wouldn't end up existing?  I think because, you know, you say something is a thing, as opposed to just being business as usual, and the next thing you know there's a certain nimbus of expectation around it, even if only to yourself?  Sometimes it  seems like that kind of nimbus makes the best kind of target for capricious fate...

Anyway, enough of that "and then he tore his eyes out in the fifth act!" musing, join us behind the jump for show notes and celebratory waffles, yes?

0:00-8:24: Graeme brings a message to piss Jeff off...from the future!  What can it be? Hint: Before Watchmen is involved.  Laughs are had and the distance between qualified and unqualified is considered.

8:24-20:54: And on a related note--time for some red-hot sexy DC New 52 Issue #0 talk.  Batman, Inc. #0, Batwoman #0, Wonder Woman #0, Supergirl #0, Justice League #0, Earth 2 #0, and OMAC and DC Universe Presents #0.  Warning: Graeme has read 38 of these by now.  I mean that's...wow.

20:54-46:59: ASM is being cancelled!? Jughead is going on hiatus?! (A reference to) cats and dogs living together under the same roof?! What the hell is happening?

Also, Graeme has the chance to have some quality time with the listeners. Also also, in the coming attractions end of thing, we discuss how Bendis' X-Men is shaping up, in light of Avengers Vs. X-Men #11. Additionally, we run down Professor X's CV. If you want to guys remembering off the top of their heads the names of Hank McCoy and Bobby Drake's old girlfriends, this is where you want to be.

46:59-54:59: Mattotti and Zentner's The Crackle of the Frost.  We actually talk about it, finally!

54:59-1:13:33: And from there, Jeff and Graeme go on to discuss Jennifer Blood, as conceived by Garth Ennis and executed by Al Ewing.

1:13:33-1:22:51: And from one crime book to another, we also talk about Stumptown issue 2.1 by Greg Rucka and Matthew Southworth. With special guest appearances by John Updike and J.D. Salinger!

1:22:51-1:30:24: And from there we got to Dave Stevens' The Rocketeer?  I think it says something great about the current state of the comics marketplace that we can talk about three different type of pulp stories that are still a long ways away from superhero books.  Also, it's Graeme's turn to take a powder while Jeff gets to talk directly with the listeners.

1:30:24-2:16:04: Phone calls! From listeners!  We have them, and they are awesome.  Many thanks to Voodoo Ben, Alex, Robert G., Sean Witzke, J.L. Blair (whose call did not survive the round-the-world treatment, sadly and whom I initially misidentify, to boot) and Derek (or Garrett?).  Though most of the calls are just well-wishes, we do tackle a suggested topic--Jim Starlin at Marvel in the '70s, '80s and '90s--at some length, as per Alex's request.  Who says this isn't the Golden Age for Whatnauts?

2:16:04-2:26:31: Jeff, whose attention span is crushed, all but leaps in mid-answer from talking about Hank Pym to discussing Bloodshot.  Graeme, for his part, has been catching up on old issues of Milestone Shadow Cabinet issues. Add 'em all together and you get...Chaykin's Black Kiss 2 #2?  Not really, but we end up talking about that as well as well as the pretty brilliant (non-comix, though there's a chart or two) book by Jarett Kobek, If You Won't Read, Then Why Should I Write?

2:26:31-end: And then, because it wouldn't be a Wait, What? podcast without goofy technical difficulties, Graeme turns into the Lord of the Flies again, a clear sign to sign off. (Although we also manage to praise Bandette #2, Double Barrel, the xckd strip Click & Drag, and Dustin Harbin's Boxes before we're done).  At one point, I'm laughing while Graeme is talking, and it just sounds like there should be the sounds of a building burning down and maybe some backmasked electric guitars...which is maybe the most fitting way to celebrate our hundredth episode?  Lord only knows what we'll sound like by episode 150....

Anyway, you should be able to find it on iTunes (although there's now that whole bullshit separate app for Podcasts, can you believe it?) as well as your RSS feeder of choice.  Alternately, you can take a swing at the audio pinata below:

Wait, What? Ep. 100: Year Zero

And then next week...Ep. 101?  (Man, I gotta go fan myself on the divan at the thought of it!) In any event, whether this is your first time listening to Wait, What? or your one hundredth, we hope you enjoy and thank you for listening!