Comics Syllabus: Ahead in 2018 with Matt Lune; Golden Kamuy by Satoru Noda; the Syllabus Returns

Welcome to the Comics Syllabus podcast, where we read widely and we dig deep. Your host Paul, a literacy researcher and English teacher, introduces curious readers to a range of current and classic comics, and then engages in closer discussion and analysis of particular comics works.

[audio: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/384343820-twoplai-18-01-1-ahead-in-2018-with-matt-lune-golden-kamuy-by-satoru-noda-the-syllabus-returns.mp3]

Or download the podcast episode here.

First, (at 0:00) the renewed schedule, format, and mission of the Comics Syllabus podcast… and an apology for the weeks we’ve been gone.

Then, in the General Ed segment (at 8:20 ), a look ahead at comics we’re anticipating in 2018 with Matt Lune. Matt’s the host of the “That’s the Issue!” podcast, the Comics Syllabus’s new partner podcast on alternating weeks. You can check out the rest of the conversation between Matt and Paul about the year ahead on next Tuesday’s “That’s the Issue!”

This week’s Close Read (at 56:00 ) is “Golden Kamuy” by Satoru Noda (Viz), a seinen manga series set at the turn of the 20th Century about the Immortal Sugimoto, a veteran of the Russo-Japanese war, and Asirpa, a girl whose Ainu (a Japanese indigenous culture) expertise with the wild forest setting helps the two protagonists in a hidden-treasure chase against dangerous criminals. Images to go with Paul’s discussion are below.

On the Syllabus segment (at 1:35:00 ), Paul introduces his Reading Schedule, an invitation (or an assignment, if you like), to find something to read along with Paul and join the discussion. This month, we apply the reviewer’s questions from Ann Hornaday’s Talking Pictures (Basic Books) — what are the creators trying to accomplish? did they? and was it worth trying? — to the effort to “read widely” this year. On the Syllabus this month:

Manga (Mondays): “A Silent Voice” by Yoshitoki Oima (Kodansha) and “Battle Angel Alita” by Yukito Kishiro (Kodansha).

Alt TPB (Tuesdays): “Crosswind” by Cat Staggs and Gail Simone (Image); next: “Eternity” by Matt Kindt and Trevor Hairsine (Valiant)

World/BD (Wednesdays): “Largo Winch” v1 by Phillipe Francq and Jean van Hamme (Cinebook); next: “Valentine” v1 by Vanyda (Europe Comics)

Throwback (Thursdays): “Strangers in Paradise” by Terry Moore (Abstract Studios), volumes 1-2; next: “Miss Fury: The Best of the 1940s” by Tarpe Mills, edited by Trina Robbins (IDW Library of American Comics)

Family (Fridays): “I Am Alfonso Jones” by Tony Medina, Stacey Robinson, John Jennings (Lee and Low); next: “Science Comics: Flying Machines” by Alison Wilgus and Molly Brooks First Second)

Superheroes (Saturdays): “Action Comics” by Dan Jurgens and artists (DC); next: “Black Panther” by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Brian Stelfreeze and other artists (Marvel)

Sequential/Small Press (Sundays): “The Green Hand and Other Stories” by Nicole Claveloux (NYRC); next: “Psychology” by Danny Oppenheimer and Grady Klein (Norton)