Storied Arcs

Send us Fan Mail On this season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex lifting off with Image Comics' Skyward by Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett. They guys start with a spoiler-free pitch on the book and chat about how they came to the comic and what to expect from the story. Then they dive into the creative team, including writer Joe Henderson (another TV-writer-turned-comic-writer), artist Lee Garbett, colorist Antonia Fabela, and letterer Simon Bowland. The discussion kicks off next week with Skyward Volume 1: My Low-G Life (issues #1-5) so pick it up wherever you get your comics and join us back here again to jump right in! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsBlueSkyInstagramFacebookThreadsTwitter/Xwww.storiedarcs.comSubscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us Fan Mail This week, Mike and Alex are proud to share an exclusive interview with Matthew Roberts, artist of Manifest Destiny, recorded live at the Lexington Comic & Toy Convention on March 28, 2026. We sat at his table in Artist Alley and chatted all things Manifest Destiny, including how he got attached to the project, working with writer Chris Dingess, the amount of research that went into the book, and some of the themes and ideas they were looking to explore with the comic. Finally, Matthew gives a pitch for his new comic, Corpse Knight, with writer (and The Conjuring Universe filmmaker) Michael Chaves and colorist Rico Renzi, coming soon from Image Comics (issue #1 due out on April 22, 2026). Matthew was so generous with his time and we can't thank him enough for speaking with us. You can find all of the places to follow Matthew Roberts collected here, including his Instagram. Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsBlueSkyInstagramFacebookThreadsTwitter/Xwww.storiedarcs.comSubscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us Fan Mail Mike and Alex are back with another bonus episode to recap their trip down to the Lexington Comic & Toy Convention. The guys chat about what they saw, who they talked to, and what convention swag they came home with. They also discuss the news that there will be second Lexington Comic & Toy Convention this year. The fall version of LexCon is scheduled for September 4-6, 2026, and who knows, maybe we'll have another preview/recap special for that show as well. For more info on the show and to stay updated on announced guests, keep an eye on the LexCon website. Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsBlueSkyInstagramFacebookThreadsTwitter/Xwww.storiedarcs.comSubscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us Fan Mail "This place will always be of monsters." This week, Mike and Alex wrap up their discussion of Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts' Manifest Destiny from Image Comics with Volumes 7 and 8 (issues #37-48). The guys discuss the end of the Corps of Discovery and the final encounter at the Pacific Ocean and what they think the books says, if anything, about the expedition. They break down the ending pages and admire how the book managed to weave itself back in line with known historical facts, even adding some additional context to perhaps how and why certain characters met the fate they did. Finally, the guys look back on their journey with this comic and how it ultimately ranks in their minds. We've reached the end of our discussions but we're not quite finished with Manifest Destiny. Stay tuned next week for an exclusive interview with artist Matthew Roberts which we recorded live at the Lexington Comic and Toy Convention. It's a great chat with on the creative minds behind this comic, and we hope you enjoy it! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsBlueSkyInstagramFacebookThreadsTwitter/Xwww.storiedarcs.comSubscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us Fan Mail "If we have learned nothing on this journey, it is the fact that we know nothing. What the next danger will be, or where it will come from." Mike and Alex are back this week to continue their trek through Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts' Manifest Destiny from Image Comics with Volumes 5 and 6 (issues #26-35). They dive right into how the book followed up on the major revelations shown in Volume 4, and how the creators kept the tension and conflict present as they continued to deliver their version of the "monster of the week" story. The guys then discussed how the shifting viewpoints of the journal writings worked for them as a narrative device. Finally, they note the story elements that have them the most intrigued going into the final issues of the book. We wrap up our expedition next week with our final deep dive into the story, so go find Manifest Destiny Volumes 7 and 8 (issues #37-48) wherever you get your comics and join up back here again for the anchor leg discussion! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsBlueSkyInstagramFacebookThreadsTwitter/Xwww.storiedarcs.comSubscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us Fan Mail Mike and Alex hop on the mic to discuss a preview of one of their favorite comic events of the year: Lexington Comic & Toy Convention in Lexington, KY. It approaches this weekend. Listen to this episode to hear a little history of our experience with the event and what we're really looking forward to this year. Additionally, if you're within a few hundred miles then consider making the drive. Tickets are available: https://www.lexingtoncomiccon.com/ Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsBlueSkyInstagramFacebookThreadsTwitter/Xwww.storiedarcs.comSubscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us Fan Mail "There is vast land out there, but it is deadly. And we can't destroy that danger. Only Navath, Keeper of the Realms, can. But we must pay. Make a sacrifice." This week, Mike and Alex continue their journey west with Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts' Manifest Destiny Volumes 3 and 4 (issues #13-24) from Image Comics. The guys discuss the narrative swings these volumes take, from jumping back and forth through time to tweaking the established story format, and break down what elements of those swings do and don't work for them. They also dive into the darker turn the book takes in these issues and why they felt it was important that happened. Finally, they throw out some overarching theories (pun intended) on the nature of the structures depicted in the book, and how they might relate to the arch we know exists in our world. We've hit the halfway point of the book but there's still plenty of ground to cover, so pick up Manifest Destiny Volumes 5 and 6 (issues #25-36) wherever you get your comics and join us here again next week to dive into it all! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsBlueSkyInstagramFacebookThreadsTwitter/Xwww.storiedarcs.comSubscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send a text "Men are braced for action. Surely we will encounter the creatures spoken of by President Jefferson when he wisely commissioned this mission." Welcome to the latest season of Storied Arcs! This week, Mike and Alex begin their trek westward with the Corps of Discovery as they dive into Manifest Destiny Volumes 1 and 2 (issues #1-12) by Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts from Image Comics. The guys start with an overview of their thoughts, sharing what their expectations were heading into this story and how those changed and/or shifted once they started reading. Then they examine the story through the lens of the known historical record of Lewis and Clark and discuss when events in the book map onto events in real life and why the creators might have chosen those points to sync up when they did. Finally, they touch on the vibrancy of the art and colors in the comic and some of the visual flourishes they enjoyed in these issues. The expedition continues next week as we make our way further into the unknown, so pick up Manifest Destiny Volumes 3 and 4 (issues #13-24) wherever you get your comics and join us back here again to break it all down! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsBlueSkyInstagramFacebookThreadsTwitter/Xwww.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send a text For the next season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex will heading into the western frontier as they tackle Manifest Destiny by Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts from Image Comics/Skybound. They guys give a spoiler-free pitch for the comic (aside from the parts of the book that intersect with known history) and chat a bit about some of their expectations going into the story. Then they give the comics background on the creative team of Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts, as well as colorist Owen Gieni and letter Pat Brosseau. The plan is to cover this book two trade collections at a time, so go find Manifest Destiny Volumes 1 and 2 (issues #1-12) wherever you get your comics, and join us back here next week to break it all down! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsBlueSkyInstagramFacebookThreadsTwitter/Xwww.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send a text Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsBlueSkyInstagramFacebookThreadsTwitter/Xwww.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send a text "Charlie's just a moth who figured out how to get closer to the flame. But Maya, and people like her, they did him one better... they figured out how to be the flame, instead." This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex continue their look into the seedy underbelly of Golden Age Hollywood as depicted in Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips' The Fade Out Volume 2: Act Two (issues #5-8) from Image comics. The guys start by discussing how this volume subverts some of the expected narrative beats one might anticipate from this type of noir story, from who is leading the investigation into the death that was the inciting incident to the entire story, to how important (or not) that investigation even is to the overall story. They also discuss the comic leaving Charlie's perspective more and following other characters, and how that additional information for the reader both rounds out the world and raises more questions as to what exactly is going on. The mystery wraps up next week with The Fade Out Volume 3: Act Three (issues #9-12), so find it wherever you get your comics and join us back here again then! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsBlueSkyInstagramFacebookThreadsTwitter/Xwww.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send a text "Whatever it was inside that made him a writer had been stolen over there. Now he was just empty. And every word he typed felt like a waste, and not enough at the same time." This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex start their deep dive into Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips' The Fade Out from Image Comics with Volume 1: Act One (issues #1-4). The guys discuss how the post-WWII Hollywood setting is the perfect fit for Brubaker and Phillips' neo-noir leanings, and how the story weaves real world events and circumstances (and sometimes people) from history into its story. Then they take a look at the narrative construction presented in the comic and break down how effective it is in building up the mystery that's at the heart of the book. Finally, they heap praise on Sean Phillips and the collaboration with Elizabeth Breitweiser for the phenomenal artwork through the comic. The mystery trail continues as we get into The Fade Out Volume 2: Act Two (issues #5-8), so find it wherever you get your comics and we'll you see you back here again next week! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsBlueSkyInstagramFacebookThreadsTwitter/Xwww.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a text For the next season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex are returning to the noir-tinged world of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips with their 2014 book from Image Comics, The Fade Out. The guys covered Brubaker and Phillips (and colorist Elizabeth Breitweiser) back when they discussed Kill or Be Killed (check that out if you haven't already), so first they give a brief update on some of the work the pair have published in the interim, then they give a spoiler-free intro to The Fade Out. They talk about why they decided on this story being the next Brubaker/Phillips joint they covered on the show and what their history with the book is. The Fade Out is the kind of comic that if Brubaker and Phillips hadn't done it, they would be constantly asked why they hadn't done a comic like The Fade Out. We can't wait to dive into this one, so go find The Fade Out Volume 1: Act One (issues #1-4) wherever you get your comics and join us back here again next week to kick of the discussion! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsBlueSkyInstagramFacebookThreadsTwitter/Xwww.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a text "But Gus failed and is forgotten now, and I fear I am forgotten as well. Maybe someday trees will also spring from my joints and moss will crawl over my skin." Mike and Alex are closing out Lonely Sci-Fi Month with Andrew MacLean's OGN ApocalyptiGirl: An Aria for the End Times from Dark Horse Comics. The guys touch on how they came to find this book, and how it slots into their overall theme. They discuss how this book is effectively the inverse situation of the books they've covered thus far (isolated on a place versus isolated on a trip to a place), and how twist in perspective alters how we view the actions and choices of our main character(s). They guys also work through some narrative nitpicks they have, and praise MacLean's art style and coloring. Finally, they put a bow on Lonely Sci-Fi Month and wrap things up with a long lens view back on all four of the great comics they've touched on this month. We hope you enjoyed kicking off another year of Storied Arcs with another theme month! We'll be back next week with an intro to another great comic. See you then! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsBlueSkyInstagramFacebookThreadsTwitter/Xwww.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a text "All these years lost, and I've never felt more alone." This week on Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex continue Lonely Sci-Fi month with Gone (issues #1-3) by artist/writer Jock from DSTLRY! The guys start with some nitpicks and notes about the story and on Jock as a writer, before transitioning into discussing Jock as an artist, where the guys have nothing but praise. They examine the themes of isolation presented in the comic, from the physical to the economical to the temporal, and explore how it fits into their larger theme of Lonely Sci-Fi on multiple levels. Finally, the guys start threading some through lines through the first three books they've covered this month in anticipation of the final entry next week. And that final book is ApocalyptiGirl by Andrew MacLean. It's an OGN with a recent re-issue in 2020, which should hopefully make it easier to find. Once you do, join us back here next week as we close out Lonely Sci-Fi month! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsBlueSkyInstagramFacebookThreadsTwitter/Xwww.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a text "It could be that our collective fate will be the same as this book. May that's all any of us are... a letter to the Universe no one will ever read." Welcome back to Lonely Sci-Fi month! This week, Mike and Alex are tackling Mark Russell and Roberto Meli's Traveling To Mars (issues #1-11) from Ablaze Comics. The guys start by looking at this book in relation to Mark Russell's other comics (such as The Flintstones and Not All Robots, just to name a couple) and examine how this comic may be the ultimate Mark Russell Comic(tm), where all of the satire and social commentary from all of his stories find a place here. They discuss how the epistolary-like narrative structure and presentation is an ideal format for the story they are trying to tell, and how Roberto Meli's art captures the mood and sense of the isolation being experienced Roy, our main character. Finally, the guys step back a bit and view the comic through their lens of Lonely Sci-Fi and reflect on how it takes a very common science fiction prompt and flips it on its head to tell a completely different kind of story. We continue with Lonely Sci-Fi month next week when we'll be diving into Gone (issues #1-3) by artist/writer Jock from DSTLRY. Find it wherever you get your comics and we'll see you back here again next week! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsBlueSkyInstagramFacebookThreadsTwitter/Xwww.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a text "After that, things started to change. We started to change. And so did Val. If only I knew then what I know now, maybe I could have saved her." Mike and Alex are starting Lonely Sci-Fi month with a look at Sentient (issues #1-6) by Jeff Lemire and Gabriel Hernandez Walta from TKO Studios. The guys chat about how and when they first found this book, and how their perspective on in has shifted between then and now. Then they dive deep into the science fiction idea of A.I. (as depicted in the book) versus the junk crap that's marketed to us right now as A.I., and discuss what kind of impact that has when revisiting a story centered around artificial intelligence. The guys also examine how Sentient fits into their theme of "lonely sci-fi" and how it depicts different forms of isolation and loneliness throughout the story. Finally, they wrap their discussion by praising the work of Gabriel Hernandez Walta and his talents as a storyteller when paired with Jeff Lemire. Lonely Sci-Fi month continues next week with Traveling to Mars (issues #1-11) by Mark Russell and Roberto Meli, so find it wherever you get your comics and join in the discussion! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsBlueSkyInstagramFacebookThreadsTwitter/Xwww.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a text Welcome to a new year and new season of Storied Arcs! In what may be turning into an annual tradition, Mike and Alex are once again starting off the calendar with a theme month- Lonely Sci-Fi. Alone in space. Stranded on a planet. It's a prevalent trope in science fiction and we're excited to examine it from an assortment of angles using these comics as a lens: -Sentient by Jeff Lemire and Gabriel Hernandez Walta from TKO Studios -Traveling to Mars by Mark Russell and Roberto Meli from Ablaze -Gone by Jock from DSTLRY ApocalyptiGirl by Andrew MacLean from Dark Horse Comics We've covered a few of these creators on the show previously (looking at your, Jeff Lemire and Mark Russell), but we still want to highlight the various creative teams (and some new publishers). So in this episode, we do just that, plus give a little synopsis of each book and touch briefly on how we think it fits into our overall theme. We're starting next week with Sentient (issues #1-6) from TKO Studios. Go find it wherever you get your comics (which might be a little different for this book, given TKO's publication strategy, which we talk about a bit here), and join us here again as we talk about being alone together. Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsBlueSkyInstagramFacebookThreadsTwitter/Xwww.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a text "There will be times in the future, my daughter, when you will question everything you are. Hearing your name spoken over will help when everything falls away." Mike and Alex are here to finish up their look at Daniel Warren Johnson's Extremity from Image Comics with Volume 2 Warrior (issues #7-12). They kick things off with a deep look at the (possible) religious parallels that seem to infuse the back half of the story, and discuss how even if those parallels are unintended or go unnoticed by the reader, the message of the book is still clear. The guys also examine the ending (because endings are hard) and chat about how of all the potential ways the story could have wrapped up, what was presented was absolutely the most fitting. Finally, they have larger discussion about art styles and spotlighting new and upcoming creators, even ones that aren't quite as new and upcoming as DWJ. We hoped you enjoyed this look at an early book that helped put a creator on the map! We'll be back next week (and next year!) to dive into another great comic! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsBlueSkyInstagramFacebookThreadsTwitter/Xwww.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

Send us a text "But no matter what the fight... no matter who lives or dies... I won't kill my own brother." This week on the Storied Arcs podcast, Mike and Alex kick off their deep dive of Daniel Warren Johnson's Extremity from Image Comics with Volume 1 Artist (issues #1-6). The guys start by discussing the world building (or lack there of) that DWJ provides in this book, and how what is and isn't explained on the page effects how the reader relates to the story. They explore some of the themes presented in the book, such as loss, grief, and revenge, and how those ideas are often present in Johnson's creator owned work. Finally, the guys look at DWJ's art style and note some of the visual flares showcased in this comic that will become recurring motifs in this comic career, and how colorist Mike Spicer works seamlessly with the art to evoke the emotion expressed on the page. This miniseries wraps up next week, so go find Extremity Volume 2 Warrior (issues #7-12) wherever you get your comics and join us back here again to break it all down! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsBlueSkyInstagramFacebookThreadsTwitter/Xwww.storiedarcs.com Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!