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Deconstructing Comics

Tim

100 episodes

4 days ago

Deconstructing Comics is a podcast about the craft of comics. Tim, Kumar, Emmet, and guest reviewers discuss a variety of comics (both recent work and classics) and present interviews with a variety of comics creators -- mainstream, indy, and even international! And in our occasional "Critiquing Comics" episodes, We'll even critique YOUR comic!

Whether you’ve got a comic going and you’re trying to promote it, or you haven’t even started yet and need some help getting rolling, we hope you’ll come here for inspiration and tips. And there’s plenty of interest for the casual comic book or graphic novel fan, as well!

"Tim is probably the hardest working podcaster in the community. He's an insightful and articulate comic reviewer and somebody I always enjoy talking to." -- Jason McNamara, writer, "The Rattler"

“Some of the best interviews I’ve ever heard! You guys review the type of comics I love and that’s really hard to find. So thanks for unique and knowledgeable.” -- Jack Wallace, Disposable Fiction Comics

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All content for Deconstructing Comics is the property of Tim and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Deconstructing Comics is a podcast about the craft of comics. Tim, Kumar, Emmet, and guest reviewers discuss a variety of comics (both recent work and classics) and present interviews with a variety of comics creators -- mainstream, indy, and even international! And in our occasional "Critiquing Comics" episodes, We'll even critique YOUR comic!

Whether you’ve got a comic going and you’re trying to promote it, or you haven’t even started yet and need some help getting rolling, we hope you’ll come here for inspiration and tips. And there’s plenty of interest for the casual comic book or graphic novel fan, as well!

"Tim is probably the hardest working podcaster in the community. He's an insightful and articulate comic reviewer and somebody I always enjoy talking to." -- Jason McNamara, writer, "The Rattler"

“Some of the best interviews I’ve ever heard! You guys review the type of comics I love and that’s really hard to find. So thanks for unique and knowledgeable.” -- Jack Wallace, Disposable Fiction Comics

Show more...

Episodes (20/100)

Deconstructing Comics

#358 Carl Barks, “The Good Duck Artist”

From 1942 to 1966, many of the Donald Duck comic books published by Dell Comics were written and drawn by Carl Barks. Like most comic book creators at the time, his name was unknown; the Duck comics were all credited to Walt Disney. Fans only knew that his work was by the GOOD duck artist. Barks created Scrooge McDuck and many of the other duck characters that are taken for granted as part of Disney canon today.
What made Barks the standout Duck artist? Were they meant to be satirical, or simply enjoyable stories? Tim, Kumar, and Tom Spurgeon discuss Barks’ work, particularly the Fantagraphics volume Lost in the Andes. (Originally published June 3, 2013.)
Comics Journal review of Lost in the Andes
Brought to you by:

* Our supporters on Patreon

3 days ago

1 hour 3 minutes 20 seconds

Deconstructing Comics

#851 Jack Kirby’s “Cap and Falcon” 212-213: “I love you, baby!”

Captain America and the Falcon #212 concludes the Arnim Zola/Red Skull storyline in somewhat perfunctory fashion, and gives a living castle with big teeth much less P.R. than it deserved! In #213 we meet the strange and underutilized assassin the Night Flyer! (Underwhelming name? Must’ve been named by Jack Kirby!) Tim and Emmet discuss both issues in this episode.
Brought to you by:

* The Quick and the Dad
* Our supporters on Patreon

1 week ago

1 hour 1 minute 40 seconds

Deconstructing Comics

Critiquing Comics #245: “Joe Mallard” 4-6 and “Dream Machine”

Joe Mallard, a favorite of Tim and Jason’s from a year ago, is back! Creator Asante Amani has sent us issues 4-6 of this crime series. Did it go over with us as well as the first two issues did?
Ky Lawrence has created a trippy graphic novel about survivor’s guilt. In Dream Machine, our protagonist dreams he can sacrifice himself to bring his cancer victim twin back to life. Tim and Adam critique.
Brought to you by:

* Our supporters on Patreon

2 weeks ago

43 minutes 27 seconds

Deconstructing Comics

#850 “Fantastic Four: First Steps” (2025): Did it live up to the hype?

We’ve been building up to it for months with our reviews of previous Fantastic Four movies. Now it’s here, the FF’s debut in the MCU, Fantastic Four: First Steps. How well did it scratch that FF itch? Kumar and Jordan once again join Tim to review the film, and discuss how it stacks up against the others (including the unreleased 1994 version).
One idea about what “Subzero Intel” might mean
Brought to you by:

* Full Manga Alchemists
* Our supporters on Patreon

3 weeks ago

1 hour 21 minutes 19 seconds

Deconstructing Comics

#849 “Almost Sunset”: Wahab Algarmi on growing up Muslim in America

This week, Koom interviews Wahab Algarmi, author of Almost Sunset, a graphic novel about a Muslim American boy’s search for balance between his family traditions and the demands of life in Middle School. Koom and Wahab discuss their international family backgrounds as well as the merits or demerits of 1990s Image comics!
Almost Sunset on Amazon
Brought to you by:

* The Quick and the Dad
* Our supporters on Patreon

1 month ago

1 hour 14 minutes 14 seconds

Deconstructing Comics

#848 “More Weight”: Ben Wickey talks Salem witch trials

Ben Wickey has created a graphic novel, More Weight: A Salem Story, that gives us a very deep dive into the Salem witch trials: why they happened, who was to blame, and how the city has dealt with their legacy. This week Koom gets the scoop on what inspired Ben, why his art style seems to vary depending on what point in the past he’s writing about, and more.
More Weight: A Salem Story on Amazon.com
Brought to you by:

* Checkered Past podcast
* Our supporters on Patreon

1 month ago

1 hour 27 minutes 35 seconds

Deconstructing Comics

“Spider-Man 3” (2007)

The film is bloated, it’s busy, it showcases numerous failures at human communication, and doesn’t hit some points it needs to. And yet, Spider-Man 3 screenwriter Alvin Sargent managed to weave together the many plotlines thrust on him to make a script with a message – although not necessarily the one director Sam Raimi had in mind. Tim and Mulele examine Raimi’s final Spider-Man film. (Originally published on Patreon May 23, 2020.)
Brought to you by:

* Our supporters on Patreon

1 month ago

46 minutes 44 seconds

Deconstructing Comics

“Spider-Man 2” (2004)

To this day, Spider-man 2 is considered one of the best superhero movies. How does it stand up to Tim’s first viewing, after watching all the MCU movies that came after? What does Mulele notice about the look of the film that’s a little annoying? How is Spider-fan Tim feeling about the portrayal of Peter Parker in these movies? These points and more! (Originally published on Patreon April 25, 2020.)
Brought to you by:

* Our supporters on Patreon

1 month ago

46 minutes 53 seconds

Deconstructing Comics

“Spider-Man” (2002)

Tim and Mulele begin reviewing the Sony (pre-MCU) Spider-man movies with a look at 2002’s Spider-man, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Tobey Maguire. After watching all the MCU movies, how does this film feel different? How was it affected by 9/11? And more. (Originally published on Patreon April 11, 2020)
Brought to you by:

* Our supporters on Patreon

1 month ago

51 minutes 46 seconds

Deconstructing Comics

Critiquing Comics #244: “God Summoner” and “The Keluarga Cable Ship Company”

This week, a look at two great new comics submitted by their creators:
God Summoner, by Dio Zogaris and Manos Laouvardos, is a story in the fantasy genre. Tim and Jason thought “Meh” until they actually read it! This is a well-written story with beautiful black and white art.
The Keluarga Cable Ship Company, by Mereida Fajardo, gives us a father and son with communication problems, and a ship that lays down undersea cable through which, well, communication flows. Or doesn’t flow. But what makes the book stand out is its very unusual format that shows great thought and planning on the author’s part. Tim and Adam critique.
LD Comics Fair
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The Quarter-Bin podcast
Our supporters on Patreon

2 months ago

53 minutes 42 seconds

Deconstructing Comics

#780 Jim Shooter interview

FLASHBACK! Jim Shooter, who was Marvel Editor-in-Chief from 1978 to 1987, passed away on June 30. He wrote a number of comics published by Marvel (including the original Secret Wars series) and by a number of other companies. Two years ago, Koom interviewed Shooter to find out what he thought about Marvel in its current incarnation, get his recollections of Frank Miller and Ann Nocenti’s respective starts in the comics industry, hear his theory that the nursery rhyme “Little Miss Muffet” can be a tool to teach good writing, and more. We re-present the interview this week in observance of his passing. (Originally published August 23, 2023.)
Brought to you by:

* Our supporters on Patreon

2 months ago

29 minutes 26 seconds

Deconstructing Comics

#847 “Angel and the Ape”: Forgotten, but not gone

In the 1960s, both Marvel and DC tried publishing humor books, often in a style reminiscent of MAD Magazine. One of these was DC’s Angel and the Ape, about a beautiful young woman and a comics-artist gorilla who run a detective agency. While it only survived for 7 issues (with two title changes!) in 1968-69, somehow it got a Phil Foglio reboot in 1991, and showed up again as a Vertigo book in 2001, co-written by Howard Chaykin and David Tischman. While it’s hard to explain the existence of these revivals, comparing the three versions gives us an appreciation of the changes in the US comics industry over 35 years. Tim and Kumar discuss.
Brought to you by:

* Worst Collection Ever podcast
* Our supporters on Patreon

2 months ago

53 minutes 33 seconds

Deconstructing Comics

#846 Pow! Crack! Breaking down comics sound effects

POW! ZAP! Comics may not be for kids anymore, but they still have sound effects! Our own Patrick Ijima-Washburn noticed that Japanese editions of American comics left the sound effects untranslated, and decided to put together a book on how common English sound effects should be translated. Life being what it is, it took well over a decade, but the book is finally out digitally, in both Japanese and English! This time Patrick joins Tim to talk about the genesis of the book, some sound effects trivia (what comic strip first used “ZZZZ” for snoring? Who originated adding “ker-“ to the beginning of a sound effect?), and take a quiz from Tim: if quoted a sound effect from an actual Marvel comic, can he guess what action it’s supposed to represent?
Brought to you by:

* Who’s Who podcast
* Our supporters on Patreon

2 months ago

44 minutes 14 seconds

Deconstructing Comics

#845 Jack Kirby’s “Cap and Falcon” 209-211: An Uncle Sam Person

While the last three issues of Captain America and the Falcon we looked at were rather underwhelming, issues 209 to 211 give us all the kooky science fiction and Kirby Crackle we could want! The appearance of Arnim Zola, in his first face-off with Cap, has revitalized the story. But Falcon seems shunted off to the side, and what the heck happened to Anna Maria’s personality?? Tim and Emmet discuss these three issues.
Brought to you by:

* Full Manga Alchemists
* Our supporters on Patreon

3 months ago

1 hour 20 minutes 28 seconds

Deconstructing Comics

#844 The Fantastic Four on Film: “Fant4stic” (2015) pt 2: WTF does Doom want??

We conclude our look at 2015’s Fant4stic, directed by Josh Trank. Trank’s behavior on the set (and on Twitter) have been nothing but bad for his career, and studio meddling was nothing but bad for a film that wasn’t a good take on the FF, but might have at least been a better film if Trank had been left alone. As it was, we’re left with yet another FF movie that’s short on explanations of Dr. Doom’s objectives.
Videos drawn on for this episode:

* Does the “Trank Cut” of Fantastic Four (2015) Exist? (Frame by Frame)
* Fant4stic Four (2015) — One X-cruciating Scene | Anatomy Of A Failure (Filmento)
* FANTASTIC FOUR (2015) BREAKDOWN! WTF Really Happened With This Movie? (New Rockstars)
* Inside Josh Trank’s Director’s Cut of Fantastic Four (Bullets & Blockbusters)

Brought to you by:

* The Quick and the Dad
* Our supporters on Patreon

3 months ago

1 hour 10 minutes 55 seconds

Deconstructing Comics

#843 The Fantastic Four on Film: “Fant4stic” (2015) pt 1

Should a director re-interpret a property when nobody wanted it re-interpreted? 2015’s Fant4stic, directed by Josh Trank, turns getting superpowers into an exercise in body horror. Much of its inspiration comes from Bendis and Millar’s very straightfaced Ultimate Fantastic Four comics, Trank threw in a liberal helping of The Fly and Scanners. Tim, Kumar, and Jordan (in another crossover with the Comic Book Movie Oblivion podcast) look at the first appearance of the Negative Zone in Fantastic Four #51 by Lee and Kirby, and at Ultimate Fantastic Four v. 1, before beginning a look at the film itself.
Brought to you by:

* Checkered Past podcast
* Our supporters on Patreon

3 months ago

1 hour 18 minutes 3 seconds

Deconstructing Comics

#842 Struggling with Kit Anderson’s “Second Shift”

After the (connected) short stories of Safer Places, Kit Anderson‘s new book is a full-on graphic novel called Second Shift (again from Avery Hill) which has gotten some breathlessly positive reviews from writers who give the impression they totally understand it. At Deconstructing Comics, our reviews tend to be more nuanced. What did we think of it? I’m joined by Loyala Marymount University professor Juan Mah y Busch to examine this book, and we’re not afraid to say we found it difficult to understand!
Brought to you by:

The Quarter-Bin podcast
Our supporters on Patreon

3 months ago

1 hour 23 minutes 12 seconds

Deconstructing Comics

#633 “Eileen Gray: A House Under the Sun”

FLASHBACK! Eileen Gray: A House Under the Sun is a slim graphic novel by Charlotte Malterre-Barthes and Zosia Dzierzawska, about the titular famous Irish architect that most people have never heard of. Kumar and Emmet found it beautiful and intriguing; here’s their review. (Originally published August 28, 2019.) This episode includes a new intro from Emmet, referring to the recent film about Gray.
Brought to you by:

* Worst Collection Ever podcast
* Our supporters on Patreon

4 months ago

1 hour 53 seconds

Deconstructing Comics

#841 Ken Krimstein on Einstein, Kafka, and comics in general

Ken Krimstein‘s Einstein in Kafkaland: How Albert Fell Down the Rabbit Hole and Came up with the Universe builds on the fact that these two stars of the early 20th century were part of the same friend group at one point and builds it up into what NPR described as “Alice in Wonderland meets The Lives of the Poets meets Krazy Kat.” This week Emmet talks with Ken about the book, the two historical figures featured in it, and the nature of comics itself.
Brought to you by:

* Who’s Who podcast
* Our supporters on Patreon

4 months ago

1 hour 3 minutes 21 seconds

Deconstructing Comics

#840 Joe Sacco’s books on the Middle East

Joe Sacco has been covering the Israel-Palestine conflict in varying forms since 1991: first in Palestine, then in Footnotes in Gaza, and most recently in War on Gaza. It’s too much for Kumar and Dana to contain in their heads all at once, both in terms of information and emotion, especially for poor Kumar, who struggles to form complete sentences through the entire episode. And it was a herculean task for Joe Sacco, too, as he confesses right on the page, but the end result is monumental.

Never Again and Again
by Joe Sacco and Art Spiegelman, from The New York Review (Feb 27, 2025)

Brought to you by:

* Full Manga Alchemists
* Our supporters on Patreon

4 months ago

1 hour 25 minutes 40 seconds