Reggie's Comics Stories ep. 9 - Terry Gilliam on Harvey Kurtzman

Hey folks! In this episode of Reggie's Comics Stories, I read an essay written by Terry Gilliam, alumnus of Monty Python's Flying Circus, about comics and humor legend Harvey Kurtzman, whom he worked for at Help! magazine during the 1960s! It originally appeared in the UK newspaper The Telegraph on July 10, 2009. Since this episode is a little short, I included an excerpt of an interview between Gilliam and VICE magazine from around the same time...in which he reiterates a lot of the same stuff. I hope you enjoy this look at how comics creators' influence can ripple out to influence some amazing people!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 126 - Spider-Man 2099 #1 (1992)

Greetings, futurists! In this episode, Alchemax janitors Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) head thirty-five years into the past...in order to rocket 107 years into the future when they read Marvel Comics' Spider-Man 2099 #1, written by Peter David and pencilled by Rick Leonardi in 1992! After some creator biographies and an explanation of how this concept came to be, our duo delve into every page of this landmark issue, lending their guttural growls and burps along the way. After a break, the pair return to finish off the creators' info and tell what happened to Marvel's 2099 line after this issue. And they wrap up with a look at some other comic book stories and properties that exist in the future––for that is where you and I would like to spend the rest of our lives! You don't want to miss it!

Chris is on Infinite Earths, Episode 9: Green Lanterns: Darkest Nights (2017)

This wasn't the episode you were supposed to be hearing today.

It was after randomly reading and reviewing this arc, that I began to question my "analytical integrity" when it comes to how I cover comics over at the personal blog.  This two-parter calls back to some pre-Flashpoint continuity... and I'm  not sure if that changed the way I "received" it... so much so, that I'm going to spend the better part of an hour raspily rambling about it!

Expect tangents about the continuity, numbered review scores, and USENET!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 125 - Black Hammer #1 (2016) + Jeff Lemire speaks!

Greetings, citizens of Spiral City! In this episode, embittered heroes Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) dip their toes into a brand-new superhero universe when they read Black Hammer #1 by Jeff Lemire and Dean Ormston, published by Dark Horse Comics in 2016! After the necessary biographical information, our inter-dimensonal phase-shifters go through the entire issue, lending their voices to the proceedings. Then, after some thoughts on the issue and wrapping up Jeff Lemire's bio, we hear from Jeff himself! He talks all about how he got into comics, when he came up with the idea for Black Hammer, and lets us in on what's coming down the line. This episode is more fun than you can have without being trapped in the body of a nine year-old, you don't want to miss it!

Reggie's Comics Stories ep. 8 - Walt Kelly's Pogo and the Power of Satire

Howdy, chilluns! In this episode of Reggie's Comics Stories, the titular narrator talks about Walt Kelly, creator of the comic strip Pogo, and muses on the efficacy of the satire and parody employed within the strip! This podcast contains some talk about current events...on the comics internet at least. And the person talking may espouse his opinions a time or two during the episode. If this might annoy you, steer clear of the episode! Everyone else, you don't wanna miss it!

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 124 - Justice League of America #219-220: Crisis in the Thunderbolt Dimension! (1983)

Say you folks like comic books? In this episode, multiversal transit cops Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) look at what has been considered a "retcon done right" when they read issues #219 and #220 of Justice League of America from 1983, written by Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway (with an assist by Marv Wolfman) and drawn by Chuck Patton! After some biographical information about the creators involved (except for Marv...we've gone over him at length before), our alternate Earth investigators look at the character Black Canary and what came before these issues, which will serve as a new status quo for the character for years to come! After a break, our pair finish up the bios and talk about what constitutes a retcon, and what makes some acceptable while others are abhorred. They conclude the episode by explaining what Black Canary's been up to since learning this new origin. It's enough to make you stand up and belt out a Canary Cry, you don't want to miss it!

Chris is on Infinite Earths, Episode 8: Young Justice #1 (1998)

Heyyy, look at us being all relevant and with the times!

On the very day Young Justice (vol.3) #1 is hitting the shelves, Chris (@acecomics) discusses the original Young Justice #1, by Peter David and Todd Nauck!  After positing a question to the folks about one's potential inability to "go home again" and fully-appreciate books of a certain era the way we used to, we synopsize and review the issue itself.

following the review, Chris takes advantage of this being the first episode of 2019 by reflecting on the "2018 Year in Cosmic Treadmill", and shares his Top Five episodes from 2018... that you might've slept on.

Cosmic Treadmill ep. 123 - My Hero Academia vol. 1 (2015)

Hello, brave heroes! In this episode, quirkless wonders Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) look at a popular manga series, created and produced by Kōhei Horikoshi: My Hero Academia vol. 1, released in North America in 2015! After a brief look at the budding creator Horikoshi, they dive right into the first six chapters of this weekly Shonen manga, compounding their usual embarrassment by mangling every Japanese name they encounter. After an international music break, our heroic hopefuls return to look at the phenomenon that is My Hero Academia, and talk about some other comic book-based schools...some which do not produce heroes as efficiently as U.A. High. Plus: correspondence with Jeremiah! The episode is sure to be Plus Ultra, don't miss it!

Reggie's Comics Stories ep. 7 - Eisner/Miller

Hey, comics enthusiasts! In this episode, Reggie (@reggiereggie) reads selections from Dark Horse Books' 2002 publication Eisner/Miller, consisting of a longform interview between Will Eisner and Frank Miller, conducted by Charles Brownstein. It's a cool talk between two industry veterans, spanning all aspects of the medium and craft--if you like what you hear, go check it out from your local library!