Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast

With the recent Sandman trailer drop, the world seems re-energized regarding all things Dream King. We are here for it. In fact, we've been reading Neil Gaiman's epic series one issue at a time/one week at a time for more than a year now and recording our thoughts through our Patreon feed. Our Sleepwalking Through Sandman episodes are some of our favorite conversations that we've had in the Love Nest, made all the better by our Patrons providing context and history every week. When we initially launched the show, we plopped the first episode into our main feed, and we thought it was time to give our regular audience another preview. This Sandman #17 episode was initially recorded several months ago, but we think it's one of our best Sandman conversations. We hope you agree with us. As first-time Sandman readers, we're deeply fascinated with Morpheus' romantic relationships. You'll hear how we're struggling to comprehend his behavior toward Nada, and how this deep dive into his relationship with Calliope re-contextualizes the Dream King's actions. We hope you enjoy this chat. Longtime CBCC listeners may have some inkling of what we sound like when we're in full-sweatpants mode, but newcomers could be a little shocked. We can get real dang silly, friends. Enjoy! And please let us know what you think of this podcast series. Sandman #17 was published by DC Comics with a cover date of July 1990. It's written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Kelley Jones & Malcolm Jones III, lettered by Todd Klein, colored by Robbie Busch(Original) and  Daniel Vozzo (Re-Color), assistant edited by Tom Peyer, edited by Karen Berger, and features a cover by Dave McKean. Created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, and Mike Dringenberg. Relevant links to this week's conversation: Our Patreon Page Our First Sleepwalking Through Sandman Episode Our Conversation with Chris Condon about That Texas Blood Our Conversation with Christian Ward about Blood Stained Teeth The Best Comics of 2021 Be sure to follow the podcast on Facebook, on Instagram, and Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Artist Jason Loo wanted to make a vampire comic and get away from superheroes. Chip Zdarsky said, "Sure, but what if the vampires were hiding in plain sight as superheroes? And what if...uh...a whole bunch of other weird stuff was involved?" The All-Nighter from ComiXology Originals is a wild comic where every issue drops another bomb that is somehow wilder than the last. This week, Jason Loo and Chip Zdarsky join us in the Love Nest to explain why hats upon hats are a good thing, no matter what Matt Fraction says. Zdarsky and Loo discuss their latest collaboration, detailing how their vampire story swerved into something with stranger moral implications. Bloodlust, immortality, and fandom can be problematic, but um, that third hat...and the fourth hat these two creators plopped on top, oh boy, the implications suggested by The All-Nighter are beyond catastrophic. And we love them. Paired with our recent conversation with Christian Ward about Blood Stained Teeth, our chat with Chip Zdarsky and Jason Loo truly exemplifies why the vampire sub-genre maintains its bite. The undead always have more to give of themselves.  You can still technically find Chip Zdarsky on Twitter and Instagram, but if you're looking for some proper interaction, consider joining his Substack. For the cost of two coffees a month, he will accept your praise or vile. He also has a nifty website. Jason Loo can be found on Twitter and Instagram, but his TikTok is really where it's at these days. Get on it asap. Most importantly, go grab The All-Nighter trade paperback from Dark Horse Comics, and download issue #6 from ComiXology. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts. SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Aliens and monsters and slashers, oh my! Kyle Starks didn't want to play with any one creature feature, so he threw them all into I Hate This Place. His new kitchen sink horror comic made in collaboration with Artyom Topilin, Lee Loughridge, and Pat Brosseau is a wild, far-out terror experience that feels unlike any other project he's put out before while also remaining true to his distinct oddball voice. Kyle Starks has wanted to tell this tale for a while, and I Hate This Place's first issue reads with an electric urgency. The story follows Gabby and Trudy as they venture into the wilderness, where Gabby's aunt has left them a ranch to watch over. But, something else watches over the ranch as well. Maybe several other something elses, actually. None good. We were thrilled to have Starks back in our love nest, giving us all the gory details regarding I Hate This Place's creative origin and why the comic comes in two titular flavors: I Hate or F*CK This. We also get into how those two titles truly do offer two separate thematic tastes. And, yes, which you desire says a lot about you. I Hate This Place #1 is currently available from Skybound Entertainment/Image Comics, and ready for purchase at your local comic shop. Issue #2 drops on June 22nd. Be sure to stay up to date on all things Kyle Starks by following him on Twitter HERE, on Instagram HERE, and by visiting his Website HERE. Other Relevant Links to this Week's Episode: Our Kyle Starks Old Head Interview And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts. SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

On the show this week, we welcome Stan Sakai and the creative force behind the new Netflix series Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles. Yeah, we can hardly believe it, either. After decades of anticipation, Miyamoto Usagi, the classic comic book character, finally has his own show. Kinda. But don't let that "kinda" worry you. It's all good. Adaptation is a scary concept when you love something as much as we love Usagi Yojimbo. Stan Sakai's comic is legendary. Few have ever dabbled in his world. The idea that showrunners Candie Langdale and Doug Langdale were able to play with his rabbit ronin makes us jittery. However, having watched the ten Samurai Rabbit episodes currently available, we can breathe a massive relief. This cartoon is good. Real good. And a big reason behind why the show works so well is how it circumvents fannish nitpicks by jumping into Miyamoto Usagi's future, following his brash, teenage descendant Yuichi Usagi instead. Samurai Rabbit skews a little younger than the comics, but it's not totally absent of corpses or stakes. Also, the series cleverly challenges Miyamoto's legacy through Yuichi's idolization. In this episode, we first chat with Stan Sakai and art director Khang Le about the thematic and artistic twists this series pulls from the Usagi Yojimbo comic book. We then chat with Candie Langdale and Doug Landale about their anxiety in adapting such a precious franchise. And, um, we might get some hints about how Samurai Rabbit encourages Stan Sakai's desire to see other creators play with his toys. Relevant Links to this Week's Episode: Lisa's Comics Bookcase interview with Jadzia Axelrod & Jess Taylor Our Conversation with Chris Samnee & Laura Samnee CBCC 54: Miyamoto & Tomoe - Grasscutter CBCC 55: Miyamoto & Tomoe - The Mother of Mountains CBCC 56: Miyamoto & Tomoe - Tomoe's Story CBCC 57: Miyamoto & Tomoe - Senso Be sure to stay updated on all things Stan Sakai by visiting his Twitter HERE, his Instagram HERE, and his Website HERE. You can follow Candie Langdale and Doug Langdale on their Twitter HERE, their Instagram HERE, and their Website HERE. You can follow Khang Le on his Instagram HERE and his Website HERE. Oh! And don't forget to watch Samurai Rabbit, produced by Gaumont Animation, now streaming on Netflix. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts. SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

We owe our imagination to Jeff Smith. His masterpiece, Bone, shaped our inner lives, molding our philosophies as much as our creativity. It's a work so profound it's nearly impossible to consider that any future work could ever live up to its brilliance. But then we read Tuki: Fight for Fire and Tuki: Fight for Family. We now welcome these comics into our hearts, beating side by side with the Bone cousins.  Two million BCE. Multiple human species existed alongside each other. We live and breathe as a result of their struggle and collaboration. For many years, Jeff Smith percolated on this unique moment in time, and Tuki is the result. Like Bone, it's a quest saga sitting atop an ever-growing mythology. The title character reluctantly surrounds himself with individuals in desperate need of companionship despite their fear and weary judgment of each other. Tuki is a comic speaking to our moment as much as it underscores our evolutionarily catastrophic history. You will recognize the hardship in its pages. You'll also recognize the hope. We were more than delighted to chat with Jeff Smith about Tuki and why this narrative has haunted him for so long. We were damn giddy. We discuss Smith's obsessions, his process, his audience, and more. We celebrate where comic readers are today, where they were yesterday, and where they'll be tomorrow. Our conversation is an epic one. We know you'll enjoy it. Relevant Links to this Week's Episode: Jeff Smith's Netflix Cartoon Our Interview with Chris Samnee & Laura Samnee Our Final Marko & Alana Saga Episode Four Color Fantasies' Charity Auction to Support the Literacy Volunteers of Winchester Jeff Smith's ComicsXF Interview Be sure to stay updated on all things Jeff Smith by visiting his Twitter HERE, his Instagram HERE, and his Website HERE. You can purchase Tuki: Fight for Fire wherever fine comics are sold, or you can click HERE. Tuki: Fight for Family arrives on shelves in early July. You can pre-order a copy HERE. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts. SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Goodbye, Marko & Alana. We're not ready. No other comic book couple has occupied as much space on our podcast as these two. Therefore, it's not terribly surprising that our final conversation discussing their epic romance is our BIGGEST EPISODE EVER! You probably remember where you were when you first read Saga #54. And you probably remember exactly how its last few pages made you feel. Saga Volume 9 is a tough storyline to process, and we've had years to do it. We trudge through the comic, practically page-by-page, emotion-by-emotion. The conversation was...a lot, but also incredibly cathartic. Thankfully, helping us grapple with sorrow is author Helen Russell and her book, "How to Be Sad: The Key to a Happier Life: Everything I've Learned About Getting Happier, by Being Sad, Better." We can't fight sadness, and it's not good or bad. It's merely essential to our human experience. Embrace it. Issues Covered in this Episode: Saga # 49 - 54, collected in trade paperback Volume 9. They were written by Brian K. Vaughan, fully illustrated by Fiona Staples, and lettered by Fonografiks. Image Comics originally published the issues between February 2018 and July 2018. If you require catchup on our Saga series, please listen to our previous episodes discussing Marko & Alana:  Saga Volume 1 Saga Volume 2 Saga Volume 3 Saga Volume 4 Saga Volume 5 Saga Volumes 6 & 7 Saga Volume 8 Other relevant links discussed this week: The Saga #54 Reaction Twitter Thread "Why Saga #54 Hurts So Bad" by Zack Quaintance Grieving with Martian Manhunter Lisa on Capes on the Couch And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts. SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

In this week's episode, we offer a warning. The Bone Orchard Mythos from Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino represents a layer of dread not previously explored by the creators. The new shared universe from Image Comics is the first time Lemire and Sorrentino have fully plunged themselves into the horror genre.  Oh, you thought Gideon Falls was creepy? Sure, it got under your skin, but as you'll hear in our conversation with Lemire and Sorrentino, The Bone Orchard Mythos finds the collaborators daring to unleash a horror experience unlike anything else they've committed. Your first chance to dive into The Bone Orchard Mythos arrives on May 7th, Free Comic Book Day, when Lemire and Sorrentino unveil their Prelude single issue. The next chapter, the original graphic novel The Passageway, lands in comic book shops on June 15th and in bookstores on June 21st. Next, they'll drop their Ten Thousand Black Feathers mini-series in September. And that's just the beginning. Be sure to stay updated with Jeff Lemire by visiting his Twitter HERE, his Instagram HERE, and his Substack HERE. Track Andrea Sorrentino via his Twitter HERE and his Instagram HERE. Other Relevant Links to this Week's Episode: Cherish Chen on Radiant Red Rantz Hoseley on Little Earthquakes Michael Tanner and François Vigneault on Orcs in Space Lisa chats with Jadzia Axelrod and Jess Taylor about Galaxy Marko and Alana Saga Session #7 And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts. SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

When you think Saga, you think of "fun-filled" adventures, right? Oh, and tears. So many, many tears. Welcome to our penultimate episode discussing the heroically heartbreaking relationship between Marko & Alana. No other comic book couple has preoccupied as much space on our podcast as this one, and as we approach their end, we prepare to embrace our own grief as well as theirs. Helping us grapple with sorrow is author Helen Russell and her book, "How to Be Sad: The Key to a Happier Life: Everything I've Learned About Getting Happier, by Being Sad, Better." Ignoring sadness is not only impossible, the attempt to do so is detrimental to our health. Marko, Alana, and Helen are here to lend aid. Issues Covered in this Episode: Saga # 43 - 48, collected in trade paperback Volume 8. They were written by Brian K. Vaughan, fully illustrated by Fiona Staples, and lettered by Fonografiks. Image Comics originally published the issues between May 2017 and October 2017. If you require catchup on our Saga series, please listen to our previous episodes discussing Marko & Alana:  Saga Volume 1 Saga Volume 2 Saga Volume 3 Saga Volume 4 Saga Volume 5 Saga Volumes 6 & 7 Other relevant links discussed this week: BKV Brings Saga Out West for 'Fun-Filled' Arc Thanos & Death & Brene Brown Bustle's "Why The Miscarriage in Saga is so Revolutionary" And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts. SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Breaking News! Chris Samnee and Laura Samnee join us in the love nest to discuss their new all-ages comic book series, Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters. Yeah, we're just as surprised about their appearance here as you are, but we're mostly beyond excited to have our first creative couples session with those responsible for one of our favorite comics on the stands. Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters is a lovingly warm adventure tale set in a world of titanic beasts. With their dad missing, Rainbow and Jonna scour the land, stumbling into one danger after another. Thankfully, the littlest sister packs quite a punch. In this week's episode, we chat with the Samnees about why this series demanded collaboration. We celebrate how Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters represents a true family project, inspired by their daughters and Chris Samnee's intense fear of birds. Yeah, we get into it. We're honored to have Chris and Laura on Comic Book Couples Counseling, and you should feel honored too. This episode is the very first podcast Laura Samnee has ever recorded. We hope we haven't scared her off the format forever, but we think it's the start of some tremendous podcast potential. Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters Volume 1 is currently available from Oni Press. Volume 2 will appear on comic book shelves on April 6th, and issue #9 will arrive in shops on April 20th. The comic is written by Chris Samnee and Laura Samnee, featuring art by Chris Samnee, colors by Matthew Wilson, and letters by Crank! We do not give away too many spoilers beyond the premise, so venture within safely if you're new to this world. After this conversation, we're confident that you'll be as addicted to Jonna as much as we are, demanding at least a seventy-five issue run. Be sure to continue this conversation with Chris Samnee via his Twitter and Instagram. You can also give Laura's one Instagram photo a Like by clicking HERE. If you'd like to listen to the Ghost Cage #1 Interview with Nick Dragotta and Caleb Goellner referenced in the outro, you can do so by clicking HERE. And here are the relevant Saga Marko & Alana links:  Saga Volume 1 Saga Volume 2 Saga Volume 3 Saga Volume 4 Saga Volume 5 Saga Volumes 6 & 7 Finally, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts. SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

In Saga, Marko & Alana cannot escape sadness. Rather than running, they lean into it, and by sharing their sorrow, they gain strength. Any Star Trek V: The Final Frontier fans out there? Sybok knew what was up. We race toward Saga's halfway point and the tragic cliffhanger ending to end all tragic cliffhanger endings, which is really saying something when discussing Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples' sci-fi romance masterpiece. As we did the last episode, we consulted Helen Russell's "How to Be Sad: The Key to a Happier Life: Everything I've Learned About Getting Happier, by Being Sad, Better." If she can help us embrace our sadness, maybe she can help Marko & Alana through their tumultuous journey. Issued Covered in this Episode: Saga # 31 - 42, collected in trade paperback Vols. 6 & 7. They were written by Brian K. Vaughan, fully illustrated by Fiona Staples, and lettered by Fonografiks. Image Comics originally published the issues between November 2015 and January  2017. Previous CBCC Saga Episodes:  Saga Volume 1 Saga Volume 2 Saga Volume 3 Saga Volume 4 Saga Volume 5 Other Relevant Links: Christian Holub's Entertainment Weekly Interview w/Vaughan & Staples Depression Textline (US): Text HOME to 741741 Be sure to follow the podcast on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts. SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.