Matt and Cale Read Comics

Rising Canadian cartoonist superstar Julien Pilon (currently under contract with Comic House) joins our two comics aficionados to talk about this 1989 graphic novel where a turn of the century Batman goes up against the infamous Jack the Ripper!  Set in 1989, this story sees a young Bruce Wayne don the Batman cowl for the first time after returning from his overseas studies and training. But Batman is not the only creature skulking around Gotham...!  Written by Brian Augustyn with art by Mike Mignola and P. Craig Russell, this is a fascinating take on Batman and is the first of DC's Elseworlds' stories which reimagine our favourite characters in new settings. The three of us are huge Batman fans and huge Mignola fans (be sure to check out our second episode on "Bram Stoker's Dracula"), and dive deep into the nature of collaboration in comics.  Julien and Matt have collaborated on two short stories ("The Last Woman on Earth: The Path I Follow" published in Issue 3 of "Monsterella" by "Hangman Comics" and "Haunt'd: Second Story/Up All Night" published by Frisson Comics and Hangman Comics) and are working together on a graphic novel. For anyone who is interested in writing for an artist, the end of the episode will be a real treat as Julien explains how a writer can give their artist the freedom to elevate a script.  And this episode brings our first season to a close! Matt and Cale have been working on this podcast for an entire year and we both need to take some time off to recharge and focus on other projects. We plan to return in January, 2022, so please stay subscribed and make sure you tell your friends about this podcast! There's never been a better time for a new listener to binge all of our previous episodes! You can keep in touch with us during the hiatus on Instagram and Facebook @mattandcalereadcomics and on Twitter @mattandcaleread and find all of our episodes on MattandCale.com. See you in January! 

Our two comics aficionados tackle the first volume (issues 1-5) of the Vertigo series, “Y: The Last Man” before the TV adaptation premiers of FX and Hulu! Co-created by writer Brian K. Vaughn and penciler Pia Guerra (with inks by Jose Marzan Jr.), this 60-issue series took place in a world where a virus wipes out every creature on Earth with a Y chromosome except for amateur escape artist Yorick Brown and his helper monkey, Ampersand. Yorick teams up with the secretive Agent 355 and geneticist Dr. Leslie Mann to uncover the cause of the virus and hopefully save the human race! We specifically only discuss events that take place during the first trade paperback, so there will be no spoilers for anyone who hasn’t completed this series, but we think once you read this first volume, you’ll want to read the rest! We will be back in two weeks to celebrate September’s Batman Day with our episode focusing on “Batman: Gotham by Gaslight” by Brian Augustyn, Mike Mignola and P. Craig Russell. You can follow us @mattandcalereadcomics on Instagram and Facebook or @mattandcaleread on Twitter.

Matt and Cale are joined by Tyler Echols (one of Matt’s OTHER best friends) to discuss the Dynamite Comics reboot of “Green Hornet.” Based on the un-produced screenplay by filmmaker Kevin Smith, this graphic novel was adapted by Phil Hester with pencil art by Jonathan Lau and fully painted covers by Alex Ross. Originally created for the radio in 1936, the Green Hornet and Kato were a dynamic duo of masked crime fighters three years before Batman first appeared! The character has appeared in comics, feature films (starring Seth Rogen and Jay Chou) and a short-lived TV series in the 1960s where the characters teamed up with Adam West and Burt Ward’s Batman and Robin! This TV series was also the first major American role for Bruce Lee as Kato! There are a few dated elements, but Matt, Cale and Tyler all truly enjoyed this very cinematic graphic novel! All three are big fans of Kevin Smith, but give Smith props for stepping outside of his comfort zone to create something that doesn’t feel like anything from his View Askewniverse! We will be back in two weeks for our episode on the first volume (collecting the first five issues) of “Y: The Last Man” by Brian K Vaughn and Pia Guerra. You can follow us @mattandcalereadcomics on Instagram and Facebook or @mattandcaleread on Twitter. Listen and subscribe on: Apple Podcasts Anchor Spotify Castbox Google Podcasts Overcast Radio Public and more!

In this special episode, Matt looks at the first chapter of his full-length graphic novel, "You're Stuck With Me Now: A (True) Love Story."  "You're Stuck With Me Now" is an autobiographical book detailing how Matt met his Scottish wife, Emma, while they were both teaching in Kuwait, how he proposed and how she tricked him into getting two cats.  Matt will discuss his intentions for certain pages and inspirations behind specific panels, giving an in-depth look into his creative process. If you HAVEN'T read "You're Stuck With Me Now," you can get the first chapter for FREE from Matt's website: SmithvsSmith.com and you the entire book is on sale (in both digital and print) right now from SmithvsSmith.com/store.  You can see more of Matt's work online on Instagram and Facebook @smithvssmithcomics and on Twitter @smithvssmith. Cale will be back to join Matt for a regular episode next week where our two comics aficionados read "Green Hornet" by Kevin Smith, Phil Hester and Jonathan Lau.  You can follow us online on Instagram and Facebook @MattandCaleReadComics and on Twitter @MattandCaleRead. 

Cale's high school best friend, Jake, joins us to discuss "Daredevil: Yellow" by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. This 2002 graphic novel takes us back to Daredevil's origin and a time when he wore a yellow costume instead of the red tights we are familiar with. Tim Sale's retro, expressionistic art perfectly compliments Jeph Loeb's wistful script and they are joined by Richard Starkings on letters and Matt Hollingsworth on colours.  Ol' Horn Head is a favourite character of Matt, Cale and Jake, and we all share what makes Matt Murdock so special to each of us during our discussion.  Next week we will have a special episode as Matt releases a creator commentary for the first chapter of his graphic novel, "You're Stuck With Me Now." This is the true story of how Matt met his wife, Emma, who joined us for our episode on Jeffrey Brown's "Clumsy." You can get a copy of "You're Stuck With Me Now" in print and digital form on Matt's website: SmithvsSmith.com and you can get a free copy of the first chapter to read along with Matt's commentary now!  We will be back the following week for our episode on "Green Hornet" by Kevin Smith, Phil Hester and Jonathan Lau.  You can follow us @mattandcalereadcomics on Instagram and Facebook or @mattandcaleread on Twitter.

Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli rewind the clock with this epic retelling of the Dark Knight’s origin! After redefining Batman with his groundbreaking “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns” (which we covered in a two-part episode), Frank Miller was tasked with introducing new readers to Batman. Miller re-teams with David Mazzucchelli, his collaborator on “Daredevil: Born Again” (another book we covered on this podcast) and Mazzucchelli’s moody, luscious inks are a perfect match for Miller’s noir-ish story. They are joined by Mazzucchelli’s wife, Richmond Lewis, as the colourist and Todd Klein as the letterer. This is one of our favourite Batman stories and one of our favourite graphic novels of all time. This book has been a huge influence on the character and comics as a medium, inspiring other creators to take a more thoughtful, serious approach to their own stories. Influences can also be seen in almost every film adaptation of Batman from Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy to “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.” We will be back in two weeks for another wonderful collaboration: Daredevil: Yellow by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. In the meantime, you can follow us @mattandcalereadcomics on Instagram and Facebook or @mattandcaleread on Twitter.

Jeepers! We're back with part TWO of our deep dive into Bongo Comics' "Radioactive Man" series. In the 1990s, at the height of "The Simpsons'" popularity, Bongo Comics decided to bring Bart Simpson's favourite superhero, Radioactive Man, to life! The series was written by Steve Vance (who also did layouts), with finished art by Bill Morrison and co-plotting/colours by Cindy Vance.  Each issue jumps around in the fictional history of Radioactive Man and in this episode we examine the last four issues:  #216 (from 1972), #412 (from 1980), #679 (from 1986) and #1,000 (from 1995). Each issue is PACKED with homages to/parodies of superhero comics, background jokes and references to "The Simpsons." There's so much thought and care put into each and every panel. This is one of Matt's all-time favourite series, but at the start of our first episode, Cale wasn't as excited about the book. Will Matt's enthusiasm lead to more appreciation from Cale? You'll have to listen to find out!  We will be back in two weeks for "Batman: Year One" by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli. A re-telling of Batman's origin, this graphic novel is set in the same universe as Miller's "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns" (make sure you listen to our 10th episode) and re-teams him with his "Daredevil: Born Again" collaborator (so make sure you listen to our 8th episode as well)! We've been posting a ton of images on social media, celebrating all of the classic comics that have influenced "Radioactive Man." You can follow us @mattandcalereadcomics on Instagram and Facebook or @mattandcaleread on Twitter.

Our comic aficionados celebrate 20 episodes with a deep dive into one of Matt's (and Bart Simpson's) favourite comic: "Radioactive Man"!  A spin-off of "The Simpsons," this six-part limited series was published from 1993 to 1994 by Bongo Comics. Radioactive Man is a love letter/parody/deconstruction/celebration of superhero comics, jumping between time periods from issue to issue. And in classic "Simpsons" style, it's hilarious! We had so much to say about this series (by Steve & Cindy Vance and Bill Morrison) that this is our second ever two-part episode!  In part one, we will discuss the characters and the first two issues in depth (Issue #1 from 1952 and Issue #88 from 1962). Bongo Comics is now defunct and the series is out of print, so why not make a trip to your local comic book store and explore the back issues?  Join us in two weeks for the second part of this episode, where we discuss the remaining four issues (Issue #216 from 1972, Issue 412 from 1980, Issue #679 from 1986 and Issue #1,000 from 1995).  You can follow us @mattandcalereadcomics on Instagram and Facebook or @mattandcaleread on Twitter.

Matt's wife, Emma, joins our comics aficionados to discuss the first graphic novel she ever read: "Clumsy" by Jeffrey Brown! "Clumsy" is Brown's first graphic novel, an autobiographical diary-style comic about a year-long long-distance relationship. Brown's writing is brutally honest and revealing and his art style is messy and immediate. It's almost as if he is bleeding on to the page. All three of us found plenty to relate to amongst the book's many vignettes as Brown is deeply candid about his love life.  Emma had never read a graphic novel before dating Matt, but now she is his muse and star of his autobiographical "Smith vs Smith" series. Fans of Jeffrey Brown's work will also enjoy Matt's graphic novel, "You're Stuck With Me Now," the true story of how he and Emma met while teaching in Kuwait, how Matt proposed, and how Emma tricked Matt into living with two cats. You can grab a copy of the book online at SmithvsSmith.com/store and see more of Matt's comics about Emma on Instagram @smithvssmithcomics.  You can follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @mattandcalereadomics and on Twitter @mattandcaleread. We will be back in two weeks for the first of a special two-part episode on one of Matt's favourite childhood comics: "Radioactive Man," a spin off of Bongo Comics' "The Simpsons Comics"!

Have you finished "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” on Disney+ and now you’re looking for more Captain America? "Truth: Red, White & Black" exposes the secret history of the Marvel Universe and Isaiah Bradley: the FIRST Captain America! During World War II, Isaiah is one of 300 African American soldiers experimented on by the US Army in an attempt to create the super soldier serum that would produce Steve Rogers. This seven-issue limited series was written by Robert Morales with art by Kyle Baker and introduces Isaiah, who is a supporting character in the Disney+ show. Our guest this week is cosplayer Chris Carthern, known as @CosplaysbyShinobi on Instagram. Chris makes it a point to cosplay as people of colour because representation (or the lack thereof) is a very important issue in the world and he wants to see more people of colour represented in entertainment. His cosplay characters include Black Panther, Nightcrawler, A-Train from “The Boys” and the Sam Wilson Captain America. Chris also produces high-quality, award-winning independent social justice movies at MysteryDinnerStudios.com and is also a two-time author. He joins us to discuss the role of black characters like Isaiah Bradley and Sam Wilson in Marvel Comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We will return in two weeks for a very special episode featuring Matt’s often-mentioned wife, Emma Smith who will be discussing the first graphic novel she ever read: “Clumsy” by Jeffrey Brown. You can follow us on Instagram @mattandcalereadcomics, on Facebook @mattandcalereadcomics and on Twitter @mattandcaleread.

Longer ago, in a galaxy even further away… You may THINK you know Star Wars inside and out, but this is the version you were NEVER meant to see! Meet Annikin Starkiller, son of Jedi Bendu warrior Kane Starkiller and sworn protector of Princess Leia of Aquilae. In his mission to protect Leia and become the “Lord Protector of Aquilae,” Annikin is joined by his mentor, Luke Skywalker and pilot Han Solo, a tall reptilian alien known for hunting Wookies on their home planet of Yavin. Writer J. W. Rinzler and artist Mike Mayhew adapt George Lucas’ rough draft screenplay for “Star Wars: A New Hope.” It’s a fascinating look at the creative process behind one of the biggest film series of all time! Joining our two comics aficionados for this special “May the Fourth” episode is Joe Turk, Cale’s long time friend and MASSIVE Star Wars fan and collector. Joe geeks out with us about one of our favourite fictional universes and shares his (controversial?) take on Ewoks and what Star Wars means to him. We will return in two weeks to discuss “Truth: Red, White and Black,” a Marvel comic that looks at the secret history of Captain America’s Super Soldier Serum and asks difficult questions about the role of black Americans in World War II (in the Marvel Universe AND the real world). This book also ties into “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” on Disney+. We will be joined by long-time comics fan and world-renowned cosplayer Chris Carthern.

Brian Michael Bendis is one of the greatest comic book writers of our generation. He is the creator of Miles Morales, the Ultimate Spider-Man, Jessica Jones and he has written for the Avengers, the X-Men and Superman. Before he was a critical and commercial darling, he created independent crime comics like Goldfish and Fortune and Glory: A True Hollywood Comic Book Story is Bendis' memoir of trying to adapt Goldfish into a feature film script and the pitfalls and roadblocks he encountered along the way. It's a fascinating and often hilarious look behind the scenes of Hollywood.  This episode our two comics aficionados are joined by special guest Ed Moline. Ed is one of Matt's best friends from high school and is currently a Development Producer working in London. Ed shares his experience working on scripted and unscripted shows, as well as his work with the television development arm of Beano Studios, adapting well-loved classic British comic book characters.  During the episode, Ed relates his own experiences of pitching projects and relates just how true this "True Hollywood Comic Book Story" is! You can follow us on Instagram @mattandcalereadcomics, on Facebook @mattandcalereadcomics and on Twitter @mattandcaleread. We will be back in two weeks with special Star Wars/May the 4th episode looking at The Star Wars, a comic adaptation of George Lucas' rough draft for the original Star Wars film!

Podcasts collide! The hosts of "The Earth 2 Podcast," Peter Watson and David Steel, join Matt and Cale to discuss the graphic novel, "JLA: Earth 2" by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely.  Published in 2000 by DC Comics, "Earth 2" tells the tale of the Crime Syndicate of America. Ultraman, Owlman and Superwoman rule the planet with iron fists. When twisted, mirror image versions of the CSA arrive their perfect global corruption is threatened. Will the Crime Syndicate be able to defeat the lawful and righteous Justice League of America? Or will Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman disrupt the Crime Syndicate's world?  This is the second collaboration we've examined between Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (be sure to listen to our episode on "We3") and the third book we've discussed that was written by Grant Morrison (don't forget to check out our episode on "Batman: Arkham Asylum"). In this episode we make connections to the United States' war on terror and the rise of decompressed wide-screen storytelling in comics.  Our guests, Peter and David, bring their encyclopedic knowledge of the DC Golden Age multiverse (something they explore every episode in their own podcast, "The Earth 2 Podcast"). And as proud Glaswegians, they share their tales of personal encounters with both Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely on the streets of Glasgow.  Listen, follow and check out the social media for "The Earth 2 Podcast" here: https://linktr.ee/theearth2podcast. The show is available for FREE on Apple Podcasts, Pod Bean and more! You can also find "The Earth 2 Podcast" on Facebook @TheEarth2Podcast.  And you can follow us on Instagram @mattandcalereadcomics, on Facebook @mattandcalereadcomics and on Twitter @mattandcaleread. We will be back in two weeks with our episode on Brian Michael Bendis' "Fortune and Glory"!

Comics writer John Lees ("Sink," "Hotell," "Mountainhead") joins our two comics aficionados to discuss one of his favourite graphic novels of all time: the truly unique "Daytripper" by Brazilian twin cartoonists Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá. "Daytripper," published by Vertigo comics in 2010, bounces around the life Brás de Oliva Domingos, an obituary writer. Each issue/chapter jumps forwards and backwards in time, examining different key moments in Brás' life. It's a celebration of love, family, friendship, life and death.   Our guest, John Lees, is a Glasgow-based writer mostly known for his terrifying horror comics. He has created "Mountainhead" for IDW, "Sink" for Comixtribe and "Hotell" for AWA Comics. He also teamed up with artist Nick Pitarra to produce a story for "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe" (Issue 6).  You can see more of John's work online at JohnLeesComics.com, find him on Instagram @johnlees927, on Twitter at @johnlees927 and you can support him on Patreon at Patreon.com/johnlees. You can also subscribe to his weekly newsletter at Deep-Ender.JohnLeesComics.com to see what he does next! You can follow us online @mattandcalereadcomics on Instagram & Facebook and @mattcaleread on Twitter. Don't forget that we have created a very special "Witch Creek Road" episode that is available EXCLUSIVELY to supporters of the "Witch Creek Road" Kickstarter.  We will be back in two weeks with "JLA: Earth 2" by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely! 

"Wanda Vision" has just finished its run on Disney+, so our two comics aficionados take a deep-dive into Marvel's "The Vision" series by Tom King and Gabriel Hernandez Walta. In this graphic novel, long-time Avenger The Vision (literally) builds himself a synthezoid family and moves to the suburbs. The Visions want nothing more than to be "normal," but when outside forces threaten their picturesque life, is there anything more normal than the desire to protect your family at any cost?  While Matt and Cale agree that King's writing is powerful and Walta's hand crafted art style is a perfect fit for the story, they do disagree on the ending. Listen to see who you agree with. Is this ending too tidy or is it a tragic fatalistic ending?  This episode concludes with Matt and Cale making connections to the "Wanda Vision" TV show and sharing their opinions on the series and the nature of serialized TV in the age of binge watching.  Follow us online @mattandcalereadcomics on Instagram and Facebook or @mattandcaleread on Twitter.

Canadian cartoonist Ryan Howe joins our two comics aficionados to read the origin of Harley Quinn, Joker's girlfriend first introduced in the 1990s "Batman: The Animated Series." Ryan, Matt and Cale are all huge fans of this standalone graphic novel and the groundbreaking "Animated Series," which many still site as the definitive version of Batman.  This book, scripted by Paul Dini with art by Bruce Timm, was the first time fans were told the origin of Harley Quinn, who was once the Joker's psychiatrist in Arkham Asylum before she became his partner-in-crime. Dini and Timm are top talent creators and true collaborators.  During the episode, our guest, Ryan Howe, discusses his own collaborations with comics writers like Mark Allard-Will ("The Burning Black") and Alex de Campi ("Bad Karma"). Ryan is best known for his adventure webcomic "Daisy Blackwood: Pilot for Hire" and can be found online at DaisyBlackwood.com, on Twitter @ryan_howe, on Facebook @ryanhoweart and on Patreon.com/ryanhowe. Read "Bad Karma" at PanelSyndicate.com/comics/badkarma.  Follow us online @mattandcalereadcomics on Instagram and Facebook or @mattandcaleread on Twitter. Looking for more romance comics? Check out Matt's autobiographical "You're Stuck With Me Now," the true story of how he met his Scottish wife, Emma. You can buy a copy at SmithvsSmith.com/store/yourestuckwithmenow. 

Canadian cartoonist Elaine M Will joins our two comics aficionados to discuss Craig Thompson’s autobiographical “Blankets.” The graphic novel is a coming of age story, following Thompson from childhood through first love (and heartbreak) to adulthood. Along the way, he wrestles with his faith and devotion to his art. It’s a deeply personal and affecting book. Our guest, Elaine M Will, shares how “Blankets” influenced her own work, especially in her coming of age breakthrough graphic novel, “Look Straight Ahead.” Elaine has also adapted and illustrated the graphic novel “Dustship Glory” and was the colourist for “The Burning Black,” written by our former guest (and Elaine’s husband), Mark Allard-Will. You can find more of Elaine’s work online on Twitter (@ElaineMWill), Instagram (@Elaine.M.Will) and Patreon.com/cuckoosnestpress. Follow us online @mattandcalereadcomics on Instagram and Facebook or @mattandcaleread on Twitter.

In the SECOND half of our first-ever two-part episode, our two comic aficionados dive deep into Frank Miller's "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns." In the first part of the episode, we hear listeners discuss the legacy of the graphic novel, but now Matt and Cale take a closer look at Miller's writing, art and characterization.  We examine Batman's post-retirement choices, and his relationships with Robin, Superman and the Joker. Follow us online @mattandcalereadcomics on Instagram and Facebook or @mattandcaleread on Twitter.

In our first-ever two-part episode, our two comic aficionados read Frank Miller's groundbreaking "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns." Originally published in 1986, "The Dark Knight Returns' is often credited alongside Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' "Watchmen" (see our first episode) with redefining and reinvigorating superheroes and the comics medium as a whole. Miller delves into the psyche of Batman/Bruce Wayne while pushing the craft of comics to new heights.  After ten years of retirement, and older, grittier Bruce Wayne returns as Batman to face threats old and new in Gotham City. Commissioner Gordon faces retirement. The Joker has long been comatose. The teenage Mutant gang terrorizes the city and Superman is a government lackey. But Batman (and his new female Robin) will not rest until the streets of Gotham are free of crime.  To help make sense of the book's impact, we asked listeners to send in voice notes sharing their connections and observations. In this half of Episode 10, we listen to these voice notes and comment. Next week, Matt and Cale return to dive deep into Frank Miller's writing and drawing choices.  Follow us online @mattandcalereadcomics on Instagram and Facebook or @mattandcaleread on Twitter.

In this episode, our two comic aficionados read "30 Days of Night" by Steve Niles with art by Ben Templesmith. To get some insight into what it is really like to live that far north, they are joined by Dan Summers; a resident of Ulukhaktok in Northern Canada. Ulukhaktok is as close to the North Pole as the real Barrow (Utqiagvik), Alaska from the story.  In the original three issue mini series published in 2002, Eben Oleman and his wife Stella make up the entire police force of Barrow. An evil group of vampires descend upon the town after hearing that the town suffers from 30 days of nightfall; allowing them to feed without the burden of sleep. As the townspeople are slaughtered, an ancient vampire named Vicente arrives to keep the knowledge of vampires a secret. He ultimately settles to kill the entire town, resulting in Eben injecting himself with vampire blood to become a creature of the night himself.  If you'd like to contribute a voice note, please reach out by following us @mattandcalereadcomics on Instagram and Facebook or @mattandcaleread on Twitter.