Storied Arcs

"Role-playing games are conversations in quotations marks, letting you talk about true things with a little distance, as a fantasy. But for all of that, they're still conversations. And you should listen to what you are telling the game and what the game is telling you." We've reached the center of DIE and Mike and Alex are here to break it all down as they discuss Volume 4 Bleed (issues #16-20). They reflect on the end of the game and the end of the story and explore how each character's journey wrapped up in the finale. They also dive deep into the meaning of it all- of DIE, of role-playing games, of storytelling, and of life (maybe). It's an incredible end for a spectacular comic book. As always, thank you so much for joining up on this season of Storied Arcs. We'll be back next week, ready to jump head first into another great comic! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs @StoriedArcs@StoriedArcswww.storiedarcs.com

"I'm presuming that's a reference I don't remember because I grew up and actually got a life." In this episode, Mike and Alex delve deep into DIE Volume 3 The Great Game (issues #11-15) as all the answers of DIE are finally revealed. Or are they? We see how all the pieces fit together, from the Brontë sibling's wooden soldiers to the dice that brought our Paragons to DIE in the first place, but there's still some timey-wimey stuff going on. A LOT of timey-wimey stuff. Things that happen in the future that cause events in the past to have already occurred; time loops are apparently a recurring topic for is. It's like we're trapped in a repeating cycle of events or something. We're almost at the end so there's no way we'd spoil the finale now. So go read the epic conclusion in DIE Volume 4 Bleed wherever you get your comics and join us back here next week to wrap up another season of Storied Arcs! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs @StoriedArcs@StoriedArcswww.storiedarcs.com

"'What is Twitter?' 'It's a place devoid of any sentient life, entirely hostile to humanity. A lot like here, really.'" Welcome back to DIE! In this episode, Mike and Alex breakdown Volume 2 Split The Party (issues #6-10) from Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans. They dive deep into the mechanics of the game, what the rules are and how they govern the players, and why that's so important to establish for Gillen and Hans. They also continue the discussion on self-identification and how that manifests through role-playing games. There's also the One Big Issue to cover, so I hope you're up to speed with the Brontë sibling's juvenilia. No spoilers in this episode for anything to come down the line in the comic so if you're reading along, listen freely. And when you're done, go read DIE Volume 3 The Great Game wherever you get your comics and join us back here next week for another great discussion! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs @StoriedArcs@StoriedArcswww.storiedarcs.com

"While our peers back on Earth were doing their A-levels, we were trapped here. The world of Die taught us different lessons. I was the Dictator. I learned how to tell stories." In this episode, Mike and Alex roll for damage as they enter the world of DIE from Keiron Gillen and Stephanie Hans, published by Image Comics. They dive right into Volume 1 Fantasy Heartbreaker (issues #1-5) to discuss the players of the game and how the line between fantasy role-playing and real life gets blurred when the characters are forced to return to the game. They also touch on the various historical and literary references featured in this first volume, from JRR Tolkien to the Bronte siblings to Prussian Army war games. All very normal things to encounter in a fantasy game. As usual, we don't spoil anything about the comic beyond what's shown in this volume, so if you're reading along with the show, you should be safe. But keep on reading because we'll be right back here next week to continue our deep-dive discussion into DIE with Volume 2 Split the Party. Go read it wherever you find comics. Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs @StoriedArcs@StoriedArcswww.storiedarcs.com

Mike and Alex are back with another zero episode to get ready for the next season of Storied Arcs, DIE from Image Comics. As always, the guys first focus on the creators of the comic, Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans, before giving you a preview of why you should read the book. They review Gillen's vast resume of Marvel and creator-owned comics, as well as Hans' relatively few entries (as an interior artist, that is; her work as a cover artist is extensive and flawless), but discuss how what interior work Hans had done, specifically with Gillen, suited the style we see represented in DIE. Gillen once described DIE as "goth Jumanji" which is simultaneously too flippant and dismissive of what the comic is and also describes it perfectly. It's an immersive fantasy adventure that never forgets the real cost stories like these can have. Don't worry if you're not a tabletop RPG gamer, it's not a requirement for reading this book. Trust me; neither Mike or Alex play or played D&D or other such games and they still find the comic very enjoyable. So go out and read DIE Volume 1: Fantasy Heartbreaker (issues #1-5) wherever you can find it and join us back here next week for the start of another season of Storied Arcs! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs @StoriedArcs@StoriedArcswww.storiedarcs.com

"Humans are like a bucket with a hole in it. You try to fill it up with happiness, but you can't. It runs out as fast as you pour it in, so you're always trying to find ways to get more. Every wish we grant is the same wish. I wish I had enough." In this one-shot episode, Mike and Alex jump into Charles Soule and Ryan Browne's recently concluded hit, Eight Billion Genies (issues #1-8)! They discuss the structure of the storytelling, the mechanics of the wishes, and the note-perfect ending (well, almost note-perfect, if you're Mike). They also talk about how they would use their one wish and what that wish might be, potentially revealing buried character flaws along the way. But that's what this comic does; it forces you to ask yourself "what would I wish for?" and then deal with that your answer is. Who needs therapy when you can just read a comic book? We hope you enjoyed diving into a recent release comic like this one, and definitely recommended pick up the deluxe hardcover collection that's scheduled to be released later in 2023 (or that's already available, depending on when you're listening to this). We'll be back next week for the start of another season of Stories Arcs. See you then! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs @StoriedArcs@StoriedArcswww.storiedarcs.com

In this zero episode for the newest season of Stories Arcs, Mike and Alex discuss the creative team behind the recent Image Comics hit Eight Billion Genies, Charles Soule and Ryan Brown! They chat about the previous comic work published by the pair (with a fair amount of talk about Soule's Star Wars work, which is a must-read for any Star Wars fan), including their first comic team-up, Curse Words. Then as always, they preview Eight Billion Genies and pitch you on why you should go pick it up. This is an unusual choice for us because a)the comic just finished its run and b)doesn't have a collected edition out yet. But fear not! Issues should be available at your local comic shop (good luck getting a 1st printing, though) and they are definitely available from your local library through apps like Hoopla. And since Amazon Studios has already optioned the rights to it, I guess you could get through comiXology as well. Anyway you do it, go read Eight Billion Genies and join us back here next week for another great deep-dive one-shot discussion! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs @StoriedArcs@StoriedArcswww.storiedarcs.com

" I bet you're loving this. Hmm? The team at its best. It's just like old times. Best funeral ever!" In this special bonus episode of Storied Arcs, Alex flies solo as he discusses (with himself) Netflix's adaption of The Umbrella Academy. He touches on what he thinks makes for a good comic book adaptation before diving in on what he thinks The Umbrella Academy show does well. Then he speculates on how the show could potentially influence the hypothetical Volume 4 of the comic that is definitely a thing that will be released someday. Definitely. Mike's sitting this one out as he hasn't watched the Netflix show yet so everyone make sure he doesn't listen so he doesn't get spoiled. Until then, we'll be back next week with our regularly-scheduled discussions as we dive deep into another great comic! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs @StoriedArcs@StoriedArcswww.storiedarcs.com

"While I fully support revenge, now is not the time." In this week's episode, Mike and Alex take a look at Volume 3 of The Umbrella Academy, the final (for now) volume of Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba's comic from Dark Horse (The Umbrella Academy: Hotel Oblivion issues #1-7). They dive deep into what does and does not work for this in volume and how the long layoff between story arcs may have contributed. They also discuss the future of the comic speculate on what direction it could go with the as-announced-but-not-yet-real Umbrella Academy Volume 4 (please, Way and Ba, don't make us wait as long as we did between Volumes 2 and 3). Thank you so much again for listening to another season of Storied Arcs! As mentioned before, if you enjoyed this crazy world created by Way and Ba, we recommend you check out The Umbrella Academy show on Netflix as a companion to the book. It's a lot of fun and just might hint at some future things to come in the comic. We'll see you back here again soon for our next deep dive discussion! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs @StoriedArcs@StoriedArcswww.storiedarcs.com

"But this one's something special. He's an idea. And what you can't take down with bullets... you have to take down with words. That's why I needed her." Welcome back to another episode of Storied Arcs! This week, Mike and Alex travel back to Dallas 1963 to discuss Volume 2 of Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba's The Umbrella Academy (The Umbrella Academy: Dallas issues #1-6). They once again talk about time travel (seems to be an underlying running theme for the show) and examine how its depiction here differs from some of the other books they've covered. They also go out of their way to praise every member of the creative team, all of whom do exception work on these issues. I heard a rumor that you'll dig this one. Again, this episode does not cover anything beyond what's in this volume, nor does it breech the topic of the Netflix adaptation, so you're safe from any potential spoilers there. That said, if you haven't checked out the Netflix show, it's highly recommended. It's delightfully weird and different enough from the source that there really aren't any spoils there anyway. Besides that, go out and find The Umbrella Academy Volume 3 Hotel Oblivion and meet us here next week as we wrap up our discussion for this season! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs @StoriedArcs@StoriedArcswww.storiedarcs.com

"Lacking in finesse, but... adequate. Can I interest you in destroying the world" In this week's episode, Mike and Alex jump right into their discussion of Volume 1 of Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba's The Umbrella Academy (The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite issues #1-6). They pick up a couple of threads from last week's zero episode and examine how Gerard Way's solid and efficient character work quickly changed their opinion of him as a writer and how the Umbrella Academy falls in line with other "alternative" superhero books, like a Black Hammer or Astro City. They also go in on Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring," as one normally does. Hold on to your seats. As per usual, this episode does not spoil anything beyond what's in this volume. And specific to this book, there is also no in-depth discussion of the Netflix adaptation and any potential spoilers that may exist there. So you should be good either way. In the meantime, go pick up The Umbrella Academy Volume 2 Dallas wherever you get your comics and join us back here next week for another deep dig discussion! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs @StoriedArcs@StoriedArcswww.storiedarcs.com

Welcome to another season of Stories Arcs! In this zero episode, Mike and Alex take a look at Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba, the creators behind the Dark Horse comic The Umbrella Academy. They discuss how Gerard Way's previous day job (being an internationally-famous rock star) may have colored they opinion of the book before ever reading it and how those preconceived notions were quickly proven false. They also praise the work of Gabriel Ba and Greatest Comic Colorist of All Time(tm) Dave Stewart, who really make the comic sing. If you only know The Umbrella Academy from the Netflix adaptation, now's the perfect time to dive into the original story. Hit up your local comic shop or public library for The Umbrella Academy: The Apocalypse Suite and join us back here next week to jump right into the discussion! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs @StoriedArcs@StoriedArcswww.storiedarcs.com

"Do you still cling to such binary oppositions? Do you believe everything must be wholly real or wholly imagined?" In the Season 8 finale of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex talk about the apocalypse, aka The Unwritten Volumes 10 and 11 (issues 1-12 of The Unwritten: Apocalypse). How does it all end? What does it all mean? Does the ultimate payoff feel satisfying and earned? Can we still not read the actual Tommy Taylor books? The guys discuss it all and then some before bidding farewell to the world of The Unwritten. This concludes the most ambitious season of Storied Arcs to date. We hope you enjoyed this deep dive and we'll see you back here next week to start another journey into another great comic! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs @StoriedArcs@StoriedArcswww.storiedarcs.com

"They're Fables from another place, another world. Stories told by stories made up by the stories to whom we are only stories." In this penultimate episode of Season 8 of Stories Arcs, Mike and Alex dive head-first into the world of Fables and the crossover that isn't really a crossover in The Unwritten Volume 9 (issues 50-54) and the original graphic novel The Unwritten: Tommy Taylor and the Ship That Sank Twice. Alex does his best to concisely explain all of Fables for those who have never read it and Mike counters by claiming that it's not completely necessary to follow The Unwritten Fables (and he's right). The guys talk about the extra level of meta these two volumes share, from Tom falling into the story of another Vertigo comic to the dual stories of Wilson creating Tom/Tommy and the first book in the Tommy Taylor series, and discuss how the timing of these sojourns work (or don't) in the overall story delivery of the comic. Next week, we wrap up this season of Stories Arcs with Volumes 10 and 11 of The Unwritten aka The Unwritten: Apocalypse #1-12. Don't know why they had to go and give the book a new title and new #1, but in the end, it's all the same story. Go out and read the final volumes and join us here again to discuss how it all ends. Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs @StoriedArcs@StoriedArcswww.storiedarcs.com

"But in the end-- without story-- without the ability to step sideways from fact into hypothesis-- human life is untenable." In this episode, Mike and Alex discuss how everything finally comes together in The Unwritten Volumes 7 and 8 (issues 36-49). Random details and story beats that have been sprinkled throughout the entire run thus far all begin to converge here, whether that's in Brisbane, Australia or in the land of the dead (or in a story about the land of the dead; it's unclear). What happens to the world if we don't have stories? Where do we turn to to guidance and what is there to believe in if not the stories we tell ourselves every day? It takes going to Hell/Hades/wherever to find out, but we're up for the journey. Just don't look back on your way up the steps. Things get a little weird next week, as we'll be covering The Unwritten Volume 9 and the OGN The Unwritten: Tommy Taylor & The Ship That Sank Twice. We don't spoil anything beyond what we've covered through each episode, but as a heads up, Volume 9 is a quasi-crossover with another Vertigo title, Fables! You don't have to have read Fables to follow along in the story (Alex has; Mike hasn't), but if you want to check it out, it's really not that much: 157 issues (and counting), one of them being the length of a full trade paperback, a handful of one-shots, a half dozen or so spinoff series running anywhere from 6 to 50 issues, prose novels and short stories, video games adaptations- okay, maybe it is a bit of commitment. But if you're enjoying The Unwritten, Fables is a great companion piece. A second cousin in the genre of meta-fiction stories about stories. Go read Volume 9 and the OGN (and maybe all of Fables, who knows) for next week and we'll be back right here to dive deep into all of it! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs @StoriedArcs@StoriedArcswww.storiedarcs.com

"No honest man need fear cartoons." In this episode, Mike and Alex get ready for war as they delve deeper into the world of The Unwritten with Volumes 5 and 6 (issues 25-35 plus 31.5-35.5). Finally, approximately halfway through the run, it feels like the story is on solid ground and it's clear to both the reader (and the characters) what is going on, why it's happening, and what Tom/Tommy's role in it is. So why does it also feel like it could have been the end of the story? The guys get into all that, plus they discuss Tommy Taylor Version 1.0 aka The Tinker (which makes them just want to read "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay" again) as well as the secret origin of both Pullman and the Cabal. And why is Madame Rausch still hanging around the story? As usual, we don't discuss anything about the story beyond what's presented in the first 6 volumes. Go out and read The Unwritten Volumes 7 and 8 and join us again next week as we continue our deep-dive discussion. Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs @StoriedArcs@StoriedArcswww.storiedarcs.com

"Some symbols become more real than what they stand for. Like they're part of a truth that's beyond the regular kind of truth." In this episode, Mike and Alex are back to discuss The Unwritten Volumes 3 and 4 (issues 13-24), where we finally start to get some clarity as to what exactly is going on. Not so much on the why, though, and the guys talk about how that ambiguity this far into a comic series plays for the reader. They also chat about all of the literary influences the comics is pulling from, from Herman Melville's Moby Dick to the highest form of literary achievement, the Choose Your Own Adventure series [side note- if you haven't already, I highly suggest you track down a physical copy of issue 17; it greatly enhances the reading experience.]. We're ready to journey into the fiction unconsciousness with you just as soon as we figure out what kind of vampire you are. Hopefully it's a Wilson Taylor vampire and not one that sparkles. Nothing beyond the story from the first 4 volumes is spoiled in this episode, as is our rule. Go find The Unwritten Volumes 5 and 6 for next week and we'll be back then for another deep-dive discussion. Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs @StoriedArcs@StoriedArcswww.storiedarcs.com

"Stories are the only thing worth dying for." Welcome to The Unwritten and the magical world of Tommy Taylor, who is definitely not a total ripoff of that other orphan boy-turned-wizard savior you're probably thinking of. In this first episode, Mike and Alex discuss Volumes 1 and 2 (issues 1-12) of Mike Carey and Peter Gross' examination of stories and storytelling and our relationship to them, both in the power they have over us and the power we give to them. They dive deep into the storytelling mechanics of the comic and Alex spends an inordinate amount of time talking about lettering (which is super important in comics and too often overlooked; show some respect!). They also talk about how a book can be so very clear to the reader as that what's it's doing and yet remain utterly confusing as the what is happening. But stick with it; it all makes sense in the end. As per usual for these longer series, we won't be spoiling anything in this episode beyond what is presented in the first two volumes (Mike was only about halfway through the series at the time of recording so he couldn't spoil much even if he wanted to). Then go pick up The Unwritten Volumes 3 and 4 and join us here next week as we continue to fall deeper into this meta-fiction rabbit hole. Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs @StoriedArcs@StoriedArcswww.storiedarcs.com

Welcome to the most ambitious season of Stories Arcs to date! In this zero episode, Mike and Alex discuss the comics history of creators Mike Carey and Peter Gross and provide an introduction to their sprawling meta-fiction tale, The Unwritten. The guys touch on Carey and Gross' collaboration outside of The Unwritten, such as the Sandman spin-off Lucifer and The Highest House, as well as their other comics work, both at the Big Two publishers and creator-owned independent books. Then they sell you on why you should pick up The Unwritten and journey into the world of Tommy (or is it Tom?) Taylor. If you like stories about stories, storytelling, and the power of stories both fictional and non, The Unwritten is the book for you. Given the length of the this series, we're going to covering things a little differently this season. Each episode will cover TWO trade collections at a time, for a total of 6 discussions. The plan is as follows: Volumes 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, 7 and 8, 9 and the original graphic novel "Tommy Taylor and the Ship That Sank Twice," and then 10 and 11 (published in single issue format as The Unwritten: Apocalypse). It's a lot to read and a lot to discuss so find The Unwritten at your local comic shop or public library and join us back here next week as we dive into Volumes 1 and 2! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs @StoriedArcs@StoriedArcswww.storiedarcs.com

"If you believe in nothing, how can you accomplish anything." In this one-shot episode, Mike and Alex dive right into The Nightly News from Image Comics, superstar writer Jonathan Hickman's first-ever published comic work. They talk about how Hickman being the sole credited creator on the book effects the presentation of the story on the page, including how some storytelling elements that would persist throughout his career are present in this comic right from the jump. Then they dig into how a book written in 2006 could feel so prescient that it could easily be mistaken for a book written in 2023 (the heavy plot reliance on the existence of cassette tapes and the lack of smart phones and social media kinda gives it away, though). Is it amazing that a creator could so fully grasp the world around them that they could synthesize a story that would remain relevant and timeless? Or is just that our world continues to have the same problems over and over again so when in doubt, assume the worst and you'll probably be right? I'd say tune in at 11 for more but I don't think anyone watches the news anymore. Thanks for joining us for another episode! We're done with the one-shot discussions for a little while as we get ready to jump into a new multi-volume book starting next week. See you then! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs @StoriedArcs@StoriedArcswww.storiedarcs.com