Comics Closet

18 - Zine Zone!

This episode, Betty and Alex chat about zines, from their history to making them, with a few recs along the way. Next time: Absolutes #2! Media Mentioned: Listener Feedback The Machine is Broken by Jared Sarnie (avail. May 26th) Introduction to Zines * Stolen Sharpie Revolution: a DIY Resource for Zines and Zine Culture by Alex Wrekk * Make a Zine!: Start Your Own Underground Publishing Revolution by Joe Biel * Betty’s Books Community Zine Vol. 5: Dig In! (avail. May 2nd) * Common Sense by Thomas Paine History of Zines * Fire!! A Quarterly Devoted to the Younger Negro Artists * https://www.blackmodernism.com/mags.html [https://www.blackmodernism.com/mags.html] * The Comet by the Science Correspondence Club * Vice Versa by Lisa Ben * ONE Magazine by One, Inc. * Forgotten Pages: Black Literary Magazines in the 1920s by Abby Ann Arthur Johnson and Ronald M. Johnson * Science Fiction Fandom by Joseph L. Sanders * “The Reign of the Superman” from Science Fiction: The Advance Guard of Future Civilization #3 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster * Action Comics #1 Personal Experience with Zines * “Dada Little Magazines – A Precursor to Zines” by Robyn Chapman for The Schulz Library Blog * A Pocket Guide to Natal Astrology: Birth Chart Basics by Maia Sky * Nontoxic Housecleaning by Raleigh Briggs * How to Organize Inclusive Events and Conferences by Dr. Alex D. Ketchum * Recharge, Process, Connect: An After-Abortion Care Guide by Ashley Hartman Annis * Is it Hot in Here? An Introduction to Perimenopause by Ashley Hartman Annis * Additional zines by Ashley Hartman Annis * Rec Room: Recipes and Memories by Sara Hagstrom * Latin Cherokee: A Delicious Walking Tour by Cleonique Hilsaca * Mini Sketchbook Companion by Cleonique Hilsaca * Survivor (TV Series) The BBs Zine Section * Albo! By Kruttika Susarla * Dan Zettwoch * Shreyas R. Krishnan * Sophia Malone and Melon Press * How to Report ICE and Help Keep Our Neighbors Safe: St. Louis Metro Area Edition by Megan Piontkowski * Alain McAlister What We’re Reading * Breasts and Eggs by Meiko Kawakami * Absolute Batman Vol. 2: Abomination by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta * All the Cameras in My Room by Michael DeForge * Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe * Star Wars: Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown * Chi’s Sweet France by Konami Kanata and Catherine Bouvier * A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin Next Episode * Absolute Flash Vol. 1: Of Two Worlds by Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles * Absolute Martian Manhunter Vol. 1: Martian Vision by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez * Absolute Green Lantern Vol. 1: Without Fear by Al Ewing and Jahnoy Lindsay

17 - Spring Hype!

This episode, Betty and Alex discuss their most anticipated releases dropping in the Spring and early Summer. Next time: Zines! Media Mentioned: Listener Submissions Someday Perfect by Kat Schneider (available April 21) Martyr Loser King by Saul Williams and Morgan Sorne (available April 28) Mary Pain by Lola Lorente (English version available May 12) Upcoming Books The Court Charade by Flore Vesco and Kerascoët (available March 31) Charity and Sylvia by Tillie Walden (available June 16) Batman: Dark Patterns by Dan Watters and Hayden Sherman (available March 31) Cocoon by Machiko Kyō (available June 16) Closing Act by Chris W. Kim (available April 28) Lovers of the Empire by Yudori (available June 23) Honorable Mentions Our Sunny Days Vol. 1 by Jeong Seokchan The Vanishing Man by J. Marshall Smith and Katherine Lam (available soon) Punk’n Heads by Dave Baker and Nicole Goux (available April 7) Fish and Water by Gengoroh Tagame (available June 23) Magica by Yuzuko Hoshimi Delay: A Comics Anthology edited by Charis Loke and Paolo Chikiamco (available April 28) I’m No Angel Vol. 1 by Ai Yazawa (available June 2) Ongoing Series Cat Companions Maruru and Hachi Vol. 6 by Yuri Sonoda (available April 28) Let’s Make Cocktails! By Sarah Becan (available April 7) Witch Hat Atelier Vol. 14 by Kamome Shirahama Hirayasumi Vol. 9 by Keigo Shinso (available May 19) Other Books Mentioned Beauty by Hubert and Kerascoët Beautiful Darkness by Fabien Vehlmann and Kerascoët Washington’s Gay General by Josh Trujillo and Levi Hastings Do Admit: The Mitford Sisters and Me by Mimi Pond Absolute Wonder Woman by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster Raging Clouds by Yudori Forest Hills Bootleg Society by Dave Baker and Nicole Goux My Brother’s Husband by Gengoroh Tagame Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama Let’s Make Ramen! By Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan Let’s Make Bread! By Ken Forkish and Sarah Becan Let’s Make Dumplings! By Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan What We’re Reading Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë Wuthering Heights (2026 film) To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf Batman and Robin: Year One by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee Black Arms to Hold You Up: A History of Black Resistance by Ben Passmore Fanfiction (unspecified) Rocketship-Grawlicks Sandwich ARIRANG by BTS

16 - Awesome Absolutes Part 1: The Trinity

This month, Betty and Alex discuss the first three installments in DC's smash-hit Absolute series: Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman! Our dynamic duo will be covering the subsequent three releases in a later episode. Next time: Spring Hype! Media Mentioned: Introduction * Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta * Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Last Amazon by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman * Absolute Superman Vol. 1: Last Dust of Krypton by Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval Backgrounds with DC * Justice League (TV Series) * Justice League Unlimited * Teen Titans (TV Series) * Young Justice (TV Series) * The Dark Knight trilogy (films) * Nightwing: Leaping Into the Light by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo * Batman: Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli * Young Justice (1998 comic book run) * Batman & Robin: Year One by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee * Batman: Under the Hood by Judd Winick and Doug Mahnke * Super Friends (TV Series) * Superman for All Seasons by Jeff Loeb and Tim Sale About the AU * DC All-In Special by Scott Snyder, Joshua Williamson, Wes Craig, and Daniel Sampere * Absolute Flash Vol. 1: Of Two Worlds by Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles * Absolute Martian Manhunter Vol. 1: Martian Vision by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez * Absolute Green Lantern Vol. 1: Without Fear by Al Ewing and Jahnoy Lindsay * Superman (2025 Film) Favorites * Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 2: As My Mothers Made Me by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman * Absolute Superman Vol. 2: Last Dust of Krypton by Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval Upcoming AU * Absolute Green Arrow by Pornsak Pichetshote and Rafael Albuquerque (TBR) * Absolute Catwoman by Scott Snyder, Che Grayson, and Bengal (TBR) Currently Reading * Ginseng Roots by Craig Thompson * Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe (editor’s note: it’s pronounced FREE-ren :) ) * Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë * Young Justice (1998 comic book run) * Beloved by Toni Morrison The Sandwich * Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf * Natalie Andrewson’s risograph prints * Testament by J. Marshall Smith * Valentine’s Zine by Betty Bayer :)

15 - Reflections and Resolutions

Betty and Alex dig into their faves of 2025, and their reading resolutions for 2026! Media Mentioned: Tracking * Storygraph * Reading List Non-Comics * The Lord of the Rings series by J. R. R. Tolkein  * Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson * Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Quartet * Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel Cutest of the Year * Cat Companions Maruru and Hachi by Yuri Sonoda * Chi’s Sweet Home by Konami Kanata  * Cat & Cat Adventures by Susie Yi Favorite Indie/Small Press Title * Testament by J. Marshall Smith * Pushing Buttons! A Futuristic Workplace Kerfuffle by Ursula Blix Favorite Kids Comic * Miss Cat series by Jean-Luc Fromental and Joëlle Jolivet  * Magda, Intergalactic Chef Volume 1: The Big Tournament by Nicolas Wouters and Mathilde van Gheluwe * Creaky Acres by Calista Brill and Nilah Magruder Favorite Book Club Read * Cannon by Lee Lai * Stone Fruit by Lee Lai * Uzumaki by Junji Ito Favorite YA Book * Flip by Ngozi Ukazu * All Princesses Die Before Dawn by Quentin Zuttion Favorite New Manga Series * Medalist by Tsurumaikada * Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama * Ping Pong by Taiyo Matsumoto * My Love Mix-Up! by Wataru Hinekure and Aruko * Hirayasumi by Keigo Shinzo * Maison Ikkoku by Rumiko Takahashi Favorite Marvel/DC and Trade Comics * Absolute Superman by Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval * Absolute Batman by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta * Absolute Wonder Woman by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman * Absolute Martian Manhunter by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez * Absolute Green Lantern by Al Ewing and Jahnoy Lindsay * Absolute Flash by Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles * Minor Arcana by Jeff Lemire * Robin & Batman: Jason Todd by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen Favorite Overall * The Corus Wave by Karenza Sparks * Do Admit: The Mitford Sisters and Me by Mimi Pond  Biggest Surprise * Raging Clouds by Yudori Year-End Lists * Peow Studio Publishing * Gosh! Comics * Farewell, Daisy: Jun Mayuzuki Story Collection by Jun Mayuzuki * Feeding Ghosts by Tessa Hulls * Maus by Art Spiegelman Wish We’d Read * Feeding Ghosts by Tessa Hulls * Black Arms to Hold You Up: A History of Black Resistance by Ben Passmore * The One and Future Riot by Joe Sacco * Palestine by Joe Sacco * Safe Area Goražde: The War in Eastern Bosnia 1992-1995 by Joe Sacco * Ginseng Roots by Craig Thompson * Stop!! Hibari-kun! by Hisashi Eguchi * More Weight: A Salem Story by Ben Wickey * Drome by Jesse Lonergan Currently Reading * Do Admit: The Mitford Sisters and Me by Mimi Pond  * Absolute Wonder Woman by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman * Neighborhood Story #4 by Ai Yazawa * Testament by J. Marshall Smith * Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë * The Will of the Many by James Islington Rocket Ship-Grawlix Sandwich * Moomin by Tove Jansson * The Lord of the Rings film series Next Time: DC’s Absolute series

14 - Fall Hype

Betty and Alex dig into their anticipated releases coming out this Fall! Some have dropped already, and some are yet to come, but either way, our girls can't wait to read them. Intro & outro music by Cullen Curth. Media Mentioned: * THE CORUS WAVE by Karenza Sparks  * FLIP by Ngozi Ukazu * ANGELICA AND THE BEAR PRINCE by Trung Le Nguyen * DO ADMIT: THE MITFORD SISTERS AND ME by Mimi Pond * BLACK ARMS TO HOLD YOU UP: A HISTORY OF BLACK RESISTANCE by Ben Passmore * WITCHCRAFT by Sole Otero * LOVE BULLET, VOL. 1 by inee * SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES by Anaïs Flogny * ROBIN & BATMAN: JASON TODD by Jeff Lemire & Dustin Nguyen * ART OF WITCH HAT ATELIER by Kamome Shirahama * ART OF RUMIKO TAKAHASHI: COLORS 1978-2024 by Rumiko Takahashi * ABSOLUTE FLASH: VOL. 1 by Jeff Lemire; art by Nick Robles * ABSOLUTE MARTIAN MANHUNTER VOL. 1: MARTIAN VISION by Deniz Camp & Javier Rodriguez  * ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN VOL. 1: WITHOUT FEAR by Al Ewing & Jahnoy Lindsay * ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN VOL. 1: LAST DUST OF KRYPTON * ABSOLUTE BATMAN VOL. 1: THE ZOO * ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN VOL. 1: THE LAST AMAZON  * DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY THEORY VOL. 1 by Mayo Tsurukame * WET SAND VOL. 2 by Doyak * FAIRY CAT VOL. 2 by Hisa Takano * CAT COMPANIONS VOL. 5 by Yuri Sonoda * MORE WEIGHT: A SALEM STORY by Ben Wickey * PHYSICS FOR CATS by Tom Gauld