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Storied Arcs

Welcome to Storied Arcs! A read-along deep dive into comics, one story arc at a time...

In each episode, we will discuss one story arc, typically in the form of a trade paperback, for a completed comic series. In general, we will be avoiding ongoing or continuing series so that we can discuss a work in its entirety.

We’ll also be avoiding the “big two” (Marvel and DC.) While we love those comics, there are plenty of podcasts covering characters like Batman, Superman, Spiderman, and so on. Instead, we’re excited to explore some of the great creator-owned stories. We’ll deep dive into the story while evaluating the prose, art, and all the easter eggs we can find.

Learn more at www.storiedarcs.com

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S54 · E3
Thursday · 1 hr 27 min
Con & On by Paul Cornell and Marika Cresta
Send us Fan Mail "What we do is all that's important. In the end, any life, any culture, any convention-- it's just people." On this episode of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex take a trip through the history of comic conventions as they crack open Con & On by Paul Cornell and Marika Cresta from Ahoy Comics. The guys dive right into the book's depiction of cons past and break down how the creative team has chosen to show the evolution of conventions through the eyes of all the people you're likely to see at a show. They discuss how their own con experiences map onto the experiences shown throughout the comic, and attempt to drill down on what the creators are trying to say, if anything, about comics, the comic book industry, convention culture, or the idea of conventions themselves. Fandom Month takes a hard left turn next week as we transition into a more focused story about fandom, Parasocial (it's an OGN) from Image Comics. Find it wherever you get your books and we'll see you back here next week! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review! Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X. Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
S54 · E2
August 27 · 1 hr 32 min
The Long Con by Dylan Meconis, Ben Coleman, and EA Denich
Send us Fan Mail "I love the smell of Con in the morning. It smells like... better than it will in the afternoon." Welcome to Fandom Month! To kick things off, Mike and Alex are diving into The Long Con by Dylan Meconis, Ben Coleman, and EA Denich from Oni Press. The guys can't help but bring their own convention experiences to the table while discussing this book, and they found a lot of fun and joy in seeing some of those micro moments reflected back to them in silly and absurd ways throughout the comic. They chat about how some of the deeper flaws that exist in fandoms are mined and explored here, and what that says about fandoms in general that something so specific can apply across the board. The guys also break down how it reads in 2026 to have an A.I. entity at the center of your story, and how that does or doesn't age well. The convention madness continue next week with our second entry in Fandom Month, Con & On (issues #1-5) from Ahoy Comics. Find it wherever you get your comics and join us back here again to be a part of the discussion! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review! Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X. Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
S54 · E1
August 20 · 1 hr 6 min
Intro to Fandom Month: The Long Con, Con & On, Parasocial, Rogues' Gallery, and their creative teams
Send us Fan Mail On this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are diving back into a theme month, this time covering a topic that hits fairly close to home: Fandom. Conventions, meet ups, interactions with creators and celebrities- comics love taking meta looks in the mirror, and nowhere is that more prevalent than when there's a comic about fans, creatives, fandom, and conventions. For this month, we have four very different comics that all approach the idea of fandom from very different angles: -The Long Con by Dylan Meconis, Ben Coleman, and EA Denich from Oni Press -Con & On by Paul Cornell and Marika Cresta from Ahoy Comics -Parasocial by Alex de Campi and Erica Henderson from Image Comics -Rogues' Gallery by Hannah Rose May, Declan Shalvey, and Justin Mason from Image Comics We've covered a few of these creators in the past, but most of them are new to us, as are publishers Oni Press and Ahoy. We'll touch briefly on each creative team in this episode as well as give a quick synopsis of each book and a little explainer as to how we think it fits into our overall theme. We're starting off next week with The Long Con (issues #1-10) from Oni Press. The entire series is 10 issues/2 TPBs, but we're gonna cover it all in one go. So find it wherever you get you comics and join us back here again to kick off Fandom Month! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review! Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X. Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
S53 · E7
August 13 · 1 hr 4 min
The Manhattan Projects Vol. 6: The Sun Beyond The Stars
Send us Fan Mail "It's space. There are, like, a billion ways for the universe to screw us." On this week's Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex reach the actual end of Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra's The Manhattan Projects with Volume 6: The Sun Beyond the Stars (issues #1-4 of The Manhattan Projects: The Sun Beyond the Stars). The guys dig into how they should view this final volume of the comic in relation to the main story, as it serves as an accidental stand-alone coda and a vision for what we could have gotten down line. Then they discuss why they think this storyline was the first one Hickman and Pitarra wanted to explore post-main series, and if it's any sort of commentary on the preceding 25 issues. Finally, the guys share some thoughts about the (as of yet) unrealized other potential Manhattan Projects miniseries and the kinds of things they would have liked to have seen for them (it's never to late, Hickman and Pitarra!). This wraps up another season of Storied Arcs. We'll be back next week to intro our next comic and kick off the discussion! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review! Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X. Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
S53 · E6
August 6 · 1 hr 23 min
The Manhattan Projects Vol. 5: The Cold War
Send us Fan Mail "Does abandoning society- humanity- for science make you a sociopath? Was I better than the other because I could still ask such a question? Should I even ask such a question?" This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex come to the end (question mark?) of Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra's The Manhattan Projects that isn't actually the end, with Volume 5: The Cold War (issues #20-25). They start with Hickman's letter at the end of issue #25, in which he lays out his and Pitarra's plan for the future of the book, and dissect how influences their views on this volume. Does this volume still work as an ending to the first phase of the comic if the next phase barely makes it out of the gate? With those thoughts in mind, the guys take a look at all of the story lines laid out in this volume and speculate some on what kinds of books we could have gotten out of them. Along the way, the address yet another depiction of the Kennedy Assassination in a book they've covered here and perhaps the greatest interpretation of LBJ ever put on page. We wrap things up for real on The Manhattan Projects next week with Volume 6: The Sun Beyond the Stars (issues #1-4 of The Manhattan Projects: The Sun Beyond the Stars), the one and only (as of now) follow up series in the previously announced new anthology format. Find it wherever you get your comics and join us back here to see where this crazy ride ends! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review! Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X. Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
S53 · E5
July 30 · 1 hr 5 min
The Manhattan Projects Vol. 4: The Four Disciplines
Send us Fan Mail "But I think it's time for something new- truly radical thoughts. To ze underbelly of what we call science- into ze abyss and out towards ze unknown." Mike and Alex are back to dive deep into The Manhattan Projects Volume 4: The Four Disciplines (issues #16-20) by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra. The guys discuss how this volume feels like the closing of the first chapter of this story (aka Oppenheimer) and the beginning of the next (aka Einstein), even though that's not exactly what's happening with the comic. They talk about the narrative risks Hickman and Pitarra take in this volume and what those risks communicate about where they think the story might be headed. How does knowing that the comic effectively "ends" next volume effect how we look at the choices the creators made here? And is that hindsight totally fair? The Manhattan Projects both ends and don't end with the next volume, and if that's confusing, we'll explain next week. Grab Volume 5: The Cold War (issues #21-25) wherever you get your comics and join us back here again to make sense of it all! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review! Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X. Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
S53 · E4
July 23 · 1 hr 1 min
The Manhattan Projects Volume 3: Building
Send us Fan Mail "It seems, in winning, that we have become afflicted with ze malady called responsibility." This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex continue their exploration into The Manhattan Projects by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra with Volume 3: Building (issues #11-15). The guys discuss the escalation in the absurdity of the book (compliment) and how Hickman and Pitarra are managing an anthology-esque story across an on-going comic. Then they dive deep into Jordie Bellaire's colors, with specific attention paid to how those colors are utilized as storytelling hacks for the reader. This comic only continues to get wilder and weirder, and we'll be back next week to jump into The Manhattan Projects Volume 4: The Four Disciplines (issues #16-20). Find it wherever you get your comics and join us then! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review! Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X. Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
S53 · E3
July 16 · 1 hr 16 min
The Manhattan Projects Volume 2: They Rule
Send us Fan Mail "Wait... so we now have unlimited funding to try and discover how to do things we've already discovered how to do." This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex continue their trip through the alternate history of Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra's The Manhattan Projects with Volume 2: They Rule (issues #6-10) from Image Comics. The guys examine the anthology-like nature of the narrative, and discuss how expanding the cast of characters and scope of the story hits differently with this book (and why that's a feature, not a bug). They also breakdown Ryan Browne's turn as guest artist for issue #10 and how Jordie Bellaire's consistency on colors helps sell the story. Finally, they give some love to the cover design work done by Jonathan Hickman, which is both subtle and obvious at the same time. This book's only getting weirder from here, so pick up The Manhattan Projects Volume 3: Building (issues #11-15) wherever you get your comics and we'll you see you back here next week! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review! Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X. Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
S53 · E2
July 9 · 1 hr 26 min
The Manhattan Projects Volume 1: Science Bad
Send us Fan Mail "Most people cannot tell ze difference between a genius and just ze highly intelligent." Kicking off this new season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex crack open Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra's The Manhattan Projects from Image Comics with Volume 1: Science Bad (issues #1-5). The guys start with a broad look at how wild this comic is right out the gate, from Hickman's writing to Pitarra's art, and how it immediately sets the tone for what you're about to read. Then they discuss the level at which the book does and does not intersect and interact with known history, and how reading it post-Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer has a radical influence on how you receive the material (in a good way, mostly). Finally, the guys discuss where they think a story like this can go, given the anthology-like nature of the comic and the apparent lack (as of now) of a main narrative through line. The book only gets crazier from here, so go pick up The Manhattan Projects Volume 2: They Rule (issues #6-10) wherever you get your comics and join us here again next week to dive into all of the madness! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review! Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X. Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
S53 · E1
July 2 · 37 min
Intro to The Manhattan Projects & Creator Spotlight: Nick Pitarra and Jordie Belaire
Send us Fan Mail On this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are exploring the limits of science and morality as they get ready to cover The Manhattan Projects by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra from Image Comics. The guys previously covered writer Jonathan Hickman with his book The Nightly News and letterer Rus Wooten when they discussed Extremity, so in this episode, they take a look at artist Nick Pitarra and main series colorist Jordie Bellaire (who they somehow haven't covered before), as well as the other artist and colorists who contributed to the book throughout its run. Then they give a spoiler-free pitch for the comic, which asks the question- what if the minds what developed the atomic bomb were actually brought together to do something sinister. You know, besides develop the atomic bomb. We kick things off with The Manhattan Projects Volume 1: Science Bad (issues #1-5), so pick it up wherever you get your comics and join us back here again next week! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review! Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X. Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
S52 · E3
June 25 · 1 hr 25 min
Creator Interview: Joe Henderson
Send us Fan Mail This week, Mike and Alex are stoked to be joined by the writer and co-creator of Skyward and Shadecraft, Joe Henderson! They start with Joe's comic book origin story (shout out, Darkhawk) and chat about how he went from film and television writing to dipping his toes into comic writing. Joe talks about his collaboration with artist Lee Garbett on Skyward and Shadecraft (and The Big Burn from DSTLRY), what makes Lee so great, and why he keeps going back to him for his comic projects. Then they dive into Skyward and Shadecraft, discussing the similar themes and ideas presented in both books, and Joe addresses some of the nitpicks the guys brought up in their episodes (spoiler alert- Joe is responsible for the error into the Skyward solicitation). Finally, they cover what Joe is working on presently in his day job (aka the Energon Universe animated series) and what the future might hold for adapting both Skyward and Shadecraft. It was awesome to chop it up with Joe about comics and we can't thank him enough for offering up his time! You can follow Joe on Instagram and Bluesky. Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review! Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X. Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
S52 · E2
June 18 · 1 hr 9 min
Shadecraft
Send us Fan Mail "So you're saying, to use it, I need to control my negative emotions? You know I'm a teenager, right?" This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex make a quick U-turn and return to the creative team of Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett to discuss their follow up book to Skyward, Shadecraft (issues #1-5) from Image Comics. The guys parse through their thoughts on this gone-too-soon story and discuss what does and doesn't work for them in this limited run of issues. They also examine some of the parallel themes that exist in both Shadecraft and Skyward and look at how the Henderson and Garbett approach the traditional "young person coming of age and finding their place in the world" narrative. Finally, the guys lament what could have been for this comic had it been able to continue while also celebrating the work we did get. Skyward and Shadecraft are two books that are in conversation with each other, and next week, we pleased to share our exclusive interview with the writer of both, Joe Henderson! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review! Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X. Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
S52 · E1
June 11 · 10 min
Intro to Shadecraft
Send us Fan Mail On this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are calling audible and running it back with a book from a creative team they just recently covered- Shadecraft by Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett from Image Comics. Why the turnaround? Truth be told, when they covered this team's previous book, Skyward, they considered tacking Shadecraft onto the end, but ultimately decided against it. Then, writer Joe Henderson listened the Skyward discussions and reached out, so they took that as a sign to dive into Shadecraft as well. Since they've already covered the entire creative team, including colorist Antonio Fabela and letterer Simon Bowland (check that out here), this episode's just a quick, spoiler-free intro to Shadecraft. Shadecraft is painfully just a single volume, so go find Volume 1 (issues #1-5) wherever you get your comics and join us for our deep dive next week. And stay tuned the following week, when we'll have an exclusive interview with writer Joe Henderson! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review! Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X. Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
S51 · E4
June 4 · 1 hr 17 min
Home Sick Pilots Volume 3: Three Chords and the End of the World
Send us Fan Mail "Three kids out to change the world with three chords and the truth. That's all it was ever about really, wasn't it" This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex dive into the finale of Home Sick Pilots by Dan Watters and Caspar Wijngaard with Volume 3: Three Chords and the End of the World (issues #11-15). The guys start at the end and discuss the twist/reveal of the book and break down why it felt like the "right" ending for the story. Then they continue their exploration of the book's commentary, and possible rebuke, of the early 90s Gen X slacker mindset, and examine what the comic, created by two non-Americans, has to say about the idea of America itself. Finally, the guys throw out some possible follow up story ideas if Watters and Wijngaard ever decide to return to this story. We hoped you enjoyed this little trip back into the 90s. We'll be back next week to kick off our next discussion into another great comic! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review! Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X. Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
S51 · E3
May 28 · 1 hr 16 min
Home Sick Pilots Volume 02: I Wanna Be A Walking Weapon
Send us Fan Mail "But there's a bunch of us, we sing about these things. We scream about them. We go on marches and all that stuff. And because we care, does that mean that it's our responsibility?" This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex continue their journey back into the 90s with Home Sick Pilots Volume 2: I Wanna Be A Walking Weapon (issues #6-10) by Dan Watters and Caspar Wijngaard. The guys dive right in and break down some of the the larger themes they've been picking up in the story, especially in this volume, from an exploration of trauma to a critique of the the Idea of America to a pointed commentary on Gen X. They also discuss how these themes mesh together as Watters and Wijngaard hop between genres as they tell their story. It feels like it shouldn't work and yet it reads seamlessly. The story wraps up next week, so go find Home Sick Pilots Volume 3: Three Chords and the End of the World (issues #11-15) and we'll see you back here for the grand finale! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review! Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X. Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
S51 · E2
May 21 · 1 hr 6 min
Home Sick Pilots Volume 01: Teenage Haunts
Send us Fan Mail "There are corridors between us. All of us. All those things we leave unsaid. All those things that we assume of each other- about each other. Sometimes it feels like all the tragedies of being human exist in those lonely spaces." Welcome to another season of Storied Arcs! This time out, Mike and Alex journey back to the mid-90s for Dan Watters and Casper Wijngaard's Home Sick Pilots Volume 1: Teenage Haunts (issues #1-5) from Image Comics. The guys dive right into the book, discussing the POV of the narration and how that effects the reader's interpretation of the story, and the wonder of Casper Wijngaard's art and use of color. They also dig into the 90s nostalgia of it all, examine what genre this comic is, and come to terms with the "Power Rangers meets The Shining" line from the official solicitation. Finally, the guys speculate a little on the many different directions the story could continue down heading into the next volume. The 90s flashbacks continue next week as we get into Home Sick Pilots Volume 2: I Wanna Be A Walking Weapon (issues #6-10), so find it wherever you get your comics and join us for the discussion! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review! Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X. Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
S51 · E1
May 14 · 44 min
Intro to Home Sick Pilots & Creator Spotlight: Dan Watters, Caspar Wijngaard, and Aditya Bidikar
Send us Fan Mail On this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex travel back into the 90s to discuss Home Sick Pilots by Dan Watters and Caspar Wijngaard from Image Comics! The guys start with a quick rundown of the creative team, including letterer Aditya Bidikar, before giving a quick synopsis of the book and what they are looking for in the story. Power Rangers meets The Shining? Sure, why not. We kick things off next week with Volume 1: Teenage Haunts (issues #1-5) so pick it up wherever you get your comics and join us back here to dive into it all! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review! Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X. Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
S50 · E4
May 7 · 1 hr 3 min
Skyward Volume 03: Fix the World
Send us Fan Mail "There is no fixing the world, Lucas. It was broken then, and it's broken now. You just have to make the best of it." This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex wrap up their discussion of Skyward by Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett with Volume 3: Fix the World (issues #11-15). The guys start with their thoughts on the letters both Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett included at the end of the trade and on how the story concluded. They dive deep into how they felt the story may have pivoted from initial conception to final execution, and how that does or doesn't work for the reader on a storytelling level. Then the guys break down what the story arc title "Fix the World" might really mean for a story arc in which the world isn't exactly fixed in the way it was implied it might be, and why that different interpretation might not be a bad thing. Finally, they give their last thoughts on the book and, if the story were to continue, what direction they'd like to see it go. And they also broach the most important unanswered question of the comic- what are sports like now? We hope you enjoyed this deep dive look into Skyward. We'll be back next week to kick off our next discussion into another great comic! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review! Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X. Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
S50 · E3
April 30 · 51 min
Skyward Volume 02: Here There Be Dragonfiles
Send us Fan Mail "Then, I went to the streets. Saw how the rich live. What it must feel like to be... safe. I don't think I ever realized that was an option. Feeling 'safe'." Mike and Alex are back this week to continue their journey through Image Comics' Skyward from Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett with Volume 3: Here There Be Dragonflies (issues #6-10). The guys discuss some of their (minor) hang-ups with the book, and try and analyze why they are compelled by the story but at the same time find something missing from it. Then they break down the twists and turns of this arc and praise how these issues handle the pacing of the story and the reveal of information. We finish our discussion next week with Skyward Volume 3: Fix the World (issues #11-15), so go find it wherever you get your comics and we'll see you back here then! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review! Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X. Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!
S50 · E2
April 23 · 1 hr 2 min
Skyward Volume 01: My Low-G Life
Send us Fan Mail "Haven't you figured it out by now? People down here are crazy. Anything to pretend the world hasn't changed. That includes forcing a kid who doesn't need his legs into a wheelchair." Welcome to a new season of Storied Arcs! This week, Mike and Alex take to the skies to dive into Skyward Volume 1: My Low-G Life (issues #1-5) by Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett from Image Comics. The guys start by chatting about the efficiency of the world building presented in this book and how the creators immediately set the stakes for both the readers and the characters. Then they break down some of societal themes and commentary explored by the comic, looking back to when it was first published, and discuss how prescient a book like this can look when life ends up imitating art but only the bad parts. Finally, the praise Lee Garbett's character work and Antonia Fabela's colors and how their art helps sell and reinforce the low-g world depicted in the comic. The discussion continues next week with Skyward Volume 2: Here There Be Dragonflies (issues #6-10) so find it wherever you get your comics and join us back here again to break it all down! [Apologies for Alex's audio quality on this episode; his mic clearly decided to only sporadically work properly this recording.] Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review! Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcs Or specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X. Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

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