Welcome to the Comics Syllabus podcast, where we read widely and we dig deep. Your host Paul, a literacy researcher and English teacher, sometimes partnering with comics critics, creators, and scholars and sometimes solo on the mic, 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/345098905-twoplai-017-untold-legend-of-batman-by-len-wein-jim-aparo-john-byrne-plus-pull-call.mp3]Or download the podcast episode here.
On this week’s Comics Syllabus podcast, an ultra-long-solo-droning of Paul talking comics! First, in a General Ed segment change-up, we start with the “Discussion Section,” (at 4:54 ) where Paul tackles listener Mike McQuillian’s question of how he learns to talk about comics art! He makes reference to a Multiversity piece by Mike Romeo: http://www.multiversitycomics.com/longform/a-guide-to-discussing-comic-art/ as well as to various sources where this amateur critic has learned to be a fraction less amateurish in discussing art in comics.
Then, (at 28:55 ) in a new segment called “The Pull Call,” Paul runs through comics he’s read recently and discusses how the visual work in each contributes to their thematic and narrative potency. He tackles the following titles with reference to some of their visuals:
“Aquaman” #28 (DC, preview pages at http://graphicpolicy.com/2017/09/21/preview-aquaman-28/#jp-carousel-393043 )
“Year Long Summer” (Ignatz-nominated creator Kelly Bastow sells at https://www.etsy.com/listing/480148749/year-long-summer?ref=shop_home_feat_1)
“Secret Weapons” #4 (Valiant, preview pages at http://www.multiversitycomics.com/previews/secret-weapons-4/ )
“HiFi Fight Club” #2 (Boom! Studios, preview pages at http://graphicpolicy.com/2017/09/23/preview-hi-fi-fight-club-2-4/#jp-carousel-393604 )
(At 1:02:52 ) For the Close Read, Paul takes us into “The Untold Legend of the Batman,” a 1980 three-issue mini-series written by Len Wein, with art by Jim Aparo and John Byrne, colored by Glynis Wein, and lettered by John Costanza. Part-nostalgia trip, part-dialogue with listener Johnny, part-examination of Batman’s psychology, Paul walks through this re-telling of Batman’s origin story by a legendary creative team at the height of their powers. Images from that description are at the bottom of this page.
(Note: Apologies that we recorded and prepared this episode before tragic and grievous violence in Las Vegas, so it goes unmentioned. Our deepest condolences to victims, family, and friends.)
Subscribe and follow the Comics Syllabus podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Soundcloud, or copy this RSS feed to your podcatcher: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:235183739/sounds.rss or you can find archives for this podcast (previously named “Study Comics with Paul”) here: http://studycomics.club/
Join the discussion on the Comics Syllabus Facebook page: http://facebook.com/ComicsSyllabus or Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwoPlai or leave your comments here on the showpage.
Thanks for listening!
All images from “Untold Legend of Batman” (DC, 1980) written by Len Wein, colored by Glynis Wein, lettered by John Costanza, and penciled (#1) by John Byrne and (#2 and #3) by Jim Aparo and inked by Jim Aparo
“You’ve Got Mail”
“Bat Brutality”
“Batrobin, meet Dick Tracy”
“Overflowing with Memories”