New Books Network Amber A'Lee Frost et. al, "Year Zero #1: A Chapo Trap House Anthology" (Bad Egg, 2025)
Oct 14, 2025
Will Menaker, co-founder of Chapo Trap House, and Chris Wade, podcast producer and filmmaker, dive into the vibrant world of 'Year Zero #1.' They discuss the creative freedom comics offer for storytelling across genres like horror and sci-fi. The duo unveils the 'dirtbag left' ethos, a DIY media approach that challenges traditional discourse. They also share insights into their anthology contributions, including a labor-history horror by Amber A'Lee Frost and a Lovecraftian tale by Will, blending political commentary with imaginative narratives.
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A Marxist Teacher Shaped Historical Thinking
- Early Marxist teaching gave Chris Wade a durable heuristic for historical causation.
- He says dialectical materialism shaped his intuitive method for linking past and present.
What 'Dirtbag Left' Captures
- 'Dirtbag Left' names a DIY left that rejects traditional media credentialing.
- Will Menaker says it signals brazen dismissal of polite media norms and platform gatekeeping.
How The Project Began
- Bad Egg approached the Chapo team after a mutual contact introduced them to a publisher bringing online creators into comics.
- Chris Wade says that opportunity and the medium's flexibility launched the Year Zero project.
