Category Archives: Podcast

Episode 2: Mr Jim Steranko

Eli finally lets Rocko loose on one of his favorite subjects: Jim Steranko. Join our hosts as they chat and explore the work and impact on one of the most influential, oft imitated but never duplicated artists of all time.

Download from iTunes, or one of the below.

Episode 1: Jack ‘King’ Kirby

Eli and Rocko have circled around the topic of King Kirby more than a few times on previous episodes. This time, they zero in directly on the man who more than any other has defined the superhero genre.

What does his work mean to them? Find out in the debut episode of Season 2. We’re going Back To The Comics.

Download from iTunes, or one of the below.

Free Comic Book Day Special Edition!

We’re back! Just in time for Free Comic Book Day, Rocko and Eli attempt to narrow down which books to jostle for from your local comicbook shop on May the 3rd.

There is also a good deal of Star Wars talk in time for May the 4th, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier gets some high-fives.

Download from iTunes, or one of the below.

Season 1: It’s a wrap

When we conceived the idea of the Back To The Comics podcast, we set ourselves up for short-term success by committing to an initial series of six episodes (a proof-of-concept, if you will). And we made it! Season One is in the can, and in your ears.

It was always with the promise of a second season if people dug what we did, so now we’re off planning Season Two. Let us know what you’d like us to riff on, here, on Facebook or Twitter, and spread the word wherever you can (rate us on iTunes and Stitcher Radio please!). 

Here’s how Season One shaped up:

Episode 1: Back To The Comics

The movies are all fine and good, but what about the source material? It’s time to celebrate a unique art form based on its own merits and go Back To The Comics. Rocko and Eli are here to discuss just why and how much they matter. Listen.

Episode 2: Creators Over Characters

Comic books don’t just magically arrive fully formed every Wednesday down at your local shop. Rocko and Eli explain just how much the makers of the thing define the way the thing is made, as they make a case for Creators Over Characters. Listen.

Episode 3: DC Comics

Home of the best-known comic characters of the 20th century, things seem to have gone sideways at DC Comics in the 21st. Rocko and Eli reminisce, and then go in-depth on what’s happening at DC, and just what’s gone wrong for them under editor-in-chief, Dan Didio. Listen.

Episode 4: Marvel Comics

Although it’s become best known as a movie studio, Marvel Entertainment used to be known as Marvel Comics Group. Even though those panelled-paged pamphlets are now just the smallest runts of a litter of cash cows generating huge revenue, all intellectual property goes Back To The Comics. Rocko and Eli look back over the years of the Stan and Jack House Of Ideas all the way to now, and explore how Marvel Comics continue to innovate today thanks to creators like Fraction and Aja. Listen.

Episode 5: Independent Comics

In the shadow of the “Big Two”, a garden grows, and that’s where some very resiliently powerful work resides. Rocko and Eli explore how the superhero genre came to dominate the form, and just what goes on in that legendary “Indie Comics Scene.” Listen.

Episode 6: Comic Conventions

Comic Convention season is in full swing, and all around the world, fans of all media are packing them out. Is it good or bad for the culture of comics? Rocko and Eli have a thing or three to say about it, here on the final show of the first season. Listen.

Download the whole season from iTunes.

Episode 6: Comic Conventions

Comic Convention season is in full swing, and all around the world, fans of all media are packing them out. Is it good or bad for the culture of comics? Rocko and Eli have a thing or three to say about it, here on the final show of the first season.

Download from iTunes, or one of the below.

Episode 5: Independent Comics

In the shadow of the “Big Two”, a garden grows, and that’s where some very resiliently powerful work resides. Rocko and Eli explore how the superhero genre came to dominate the form, and just what goes on in that legendary “Indie Comics Scene.”

Download from iTunes, or one of the below.

Episode 4: Marvel Comics

Although it’s become best known as a movie studio, Marvel Entertainment used to be known as Marvel Comics Group. Even though those panelled-paged pamphlets are now just the smallest runts of a litter of cash cows generating huge revenue, all intellectual property goes Back To The Comics. Rocko and Eli look back over the years of the Stan and Jack House Of Ideas all the way to now, and explore how Marvel Comics continue to innovate today thanks to creators like Fraction and Aja.

Download from iTunes, or one of the below.

Episode 3: DC Comics

Home of the best-known comic characters of the 20th century, things seem to have gone sideways at DC Comics in the 21st. Rocko and Eli reminisce, and then go in-depth on what’s happening at DC, and just what’s gone wrong for them under editor-in-chief, Dan Didio.

Download from iTunes, or one of the below.

Episode 2: Creators Over Characters

Comic books don’t just magically arrive fully formed every Wednesday down at your local shop. Rocko and Eli explain just how much the makers of the thing define the way the thing is made, as they make a case for Creators Over Characters.

Download from iTunes, or one of the below.

Episode 1: Back To The Comics

The movies are all fine and good, but what about the source material? It’s time to celebrate a unique art form based on its own merits and go Back To The Comics. Rocko and Eli are here to discuss just why and how much they matter.

Download from iTunes, or one of the below.