Welcome to Collecting Issues, the monthly comic book club podcast! Each month, we choose a single graphic novel and invite you, our community, to read along with us. We want you to share your thoughts, theories, and favourite moments on our Discord, and join the conversation.
At the end of each month, we record an episode full of comic-loving fun, discussing the story, art, and everything in between.
Whether you're a seasoned collector or new to comics, Collecting Issues is the perfect place to explore great reads and connect with fellow fans. Let's celebrate the world of comics together
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to Collecting Issues, the monthly comic book club podcast! Each month, we choose a single graphic novel and invite you, our community, to read along with us. We want you to share your thoughts, theories, and favourite moments on our Discord, and join the conversation.
At the end of each month, we record an episode full of comic-loving fun, discussing the story, art, and everything in between.
Whether you're a seasoned collector or new to comics, Collecting Issues is the perfect place to explore great reads and connect with fellow fans. Let's celebrate the world of comics together
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Collecting Issues, we're diving headfirst into the dense, brutal, and brilliant world of 20th Century Men, the six-issue epic from Deniz Camp, Stipan Morian, and Image Comics. It’s an alternate history where the Cold War got much, much hotter, fought with super-soldiers, giant mechs, and broken ideals in the mountains of Afghanistan.
WARNING: This is a full-spoiler discussion! We highly recommend you read 20th Century Men #1-6 before listening. Go on, get out of here! Scram! Taste the wilderness... and then come back for the listens.
Join us as we unpack this "impenetrable but so worth it" modern classic. We dissect Deniz Camp’s complex, non-linear narrative that jumps through time and perspectives, comparing his style to legends like Alan Moore, Warren Ellis, and Grant Morrison. We also explore Stipan Morian's stunningly varied—and sometimes jarring—artwork, from Frank Frazetta-esque battle scenes to surreal, Bill Plympton-inspired visuals.
Is this the best comic of 2025? Is it a spiritual successor to Watchmen? And after all the propaganda, war crimes, and failed utopias, we ask the eternal question: War, huh? What is it good for?
Tune in to hear our thoughts on:
If you love politically charged, artistically ambitious comics that challenge you at every turn, this is an episode you can't afford to miss.
Time Stamps:
00:00 Introduction to 20th Century Men
00:49 Comic Book Spoilers Ahead!
02:46 The Complexity of War in Comics
12:07 Art and Storytelling in 20th Century Men
16:32 Character Analysis: Heroes and Anti-Heroes
27:37 The Symbolism of the Collected Man
33:56 Side Stories and Paradise
34:10 Azra's Practical Paradise
34:56 John Rambo's Disruption
35:04 Thomas Goode's American Supremacy
36:09 Time Jumps and Narrative Techniques
39:13 Art and Visuals in Comics
43:15 Character Perspectives and Artistic Styles
50:54 The Human Toll of War
55:41 Modern Political Crises and Myth Making
01:07:54 Spooky Season Recommendations
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Join the Discord and read along
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
