Truth, Beauty, Comics

Prince Valiant’s First Love

The young Prince Valiant has left the swamps where he explored as a boy and has ventured out into the wider world. He will meet with brave knights, powerful sorcerers, and, most frightening of all, a beautiful young woman! Along the way he’ll encounter adventure and tragedy as his horizons expand across England and beyond. Levi and Felix will chat about all this on today's episode.
As in the previous episode, we'll be reading from Volume 1 of the Fantagraphics Collection which covers the years 1937-1938 of the strip.

Prince Valiant with Jordan Holt

Universally acclaimed as the most stunningly gorgeous adventure comic strip of all time, Prince Valiant ran for 35 years under the virtuoso pen of its creator, Hal Foster. It tells the story of a young prince and his adventures in King Arthur's England and beyond.
Today we're joined by illustrator and author, Jordan Holt to discuss the beginnings of the medieval adventurer Val as found in Volume 1 of the Fantagraphics Collection which covers the years 1937-1938 of the strip.
 
 

Jeff Smith's Bone: Out from Boneville #3

Today we cover the final three issues in the first volume of Jeff Smith's Bone, Out from Boneville. Our cast of characters is complete as Phoney and Fone are reunited with Smiley and we meet Lucius Down, the owner of Barralhaven Tavern--while on the borders of the forest a sinister hooded figure has taken an interest in Phoney Bone, "The One who Bears the Star".
We're reading from the One Volume, Black and White edition.

Jeff Smith's Bone: Out from Boneville #2

Today we cover the second two issues in Jeff Smith's Bone. We're introduced to Thorn, Grandma Ben, and Phoney Bone returns to be a butt-head.
We're reading from the One Volume, Black and White edition.

Jeff Smith's Bone: Out from Boneville #1

Today on the podcast we discuss a favorite: Jeff Smith's Bone. In this episode we look at the first issue of what has been called, "the best all-ages graphic novel yet published". 
We're reading from the One Volume, Black and White edition.

Jonathan Hickman's Fantastic Four

For our last Fantastic Four podcast we jump forward fifty years to a modern run of the comic, specifically Jonathan Hickman's widely respected time with the characters. We're specifically discussing the "Solve Everything" arc, beginning in issue #570 and illustrated by Dale Eaglesham.
 
We're reading from Fantastic Four, the Complete Collection Vol 1 by Jonathan Hickman.

Fantastic Four: Galactus Trilogy

Today we discuss, the comic arc hailed as "The Pinnacle of the Silver Age", The Galactus Trilogy by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, where we meet classic characters like the Silver Surfer for the first time. The Fantastic Four and Marvel Comic dip their toe into cosmic horror and make comics history. But is this comic worthy of its high reputation? Felix and Levi give the definitive answer on Truth, Beauty, Comics.
The Galactus Trilogy is available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Four-Epic-Collection-Galactus/dp/130295041X/

Fantastic Four: Dr. Doom and Namor by Kirby and Lee

On today's episode Felix and Levi look at the first appearance of the iconic villains: Dr. Doom and Namor, the Sub-Mariner. What makes a good antagonist and what explains the staying power of these two?
Watch the podcast on Youtube: https://youtu.be/4kkcCAEcwjA