Comic Book Breakdown

Gully, daughter of the missing hero Aramus, has fled into the night after her home was attack by werewolves. So begins her quest to find her father, but thankfully, she won't adventure alone. Meet the war golem Calibretto, the magical Knolan, the reluctant swordsman Garrison, and the roguish Red Monika as I breakdown Battle Chasers #1 and 2.

There was no comic artist whose work I loved more than Joe Mad's when I first started buying comics. When he launched Battle Chasers in 1998, my fantasy-loving-heart was about ready to explode - but will the same be true 22 years later? Join me as I breakdown Joe Mad's journey through Uncanny X-Men, the founding of Cliffhanger Comics, and the Battle Chasers Prelude.

A listener suggestion! Before he was a solo mercenary, Maverick was part of Team X - a covert operations unit made up of himself, Sabretooth and Wolverine. And at some point in their past, Marvel's Team X met up with Wildstorm Comic's Team 7. This was too fun of a match-up to miss, so join me as I breakdown Team X/Team 7, the graphic novel. 

Maverick's journey to a solo book took three years of publishing and it's finally come to a close. But I've got 12 whole issues to talk about and wrap up, the fates of Maverick and Chris Bradley to cover, AND my own pitch for how some small changes could've upped the stakes in the final arc. Join me as I explore the legacy of Maverick.

Maverick has to escape a dungeon, face Sickle and Omega Red again AND stop Ivan the Terrible from accomplishing his plan in the final two issues of his ongoing series. Join me as I break down Maverick issues 11 and 12.

Maverick's hunt for answers leads him into battle with the assassin called the Confessor. Then, Maverick finds himself in the clutches of Ivan the Terrible once more - and Ivan has some mean plans for the mercenary. Join me as I breakdown issues 9 and 10 of Maverick. 

Maverick's ally, Elena, has wanted Sabretooth dead ever since he murdered her mother - with her still in the womb. In Maverick #7, she and Maverick finally face down the vicious killer, but no one walks away from the fight unscathed. In #8, the survivors visit the Johnson household to lick their wounds and turn towards the future.

Thank you thank you thank you so much, for a year of listening to me talk about comic books. Yeah. A whole year already.

Elena has been planning to kill Maverick's old Team X teammate, Sabretooth, since she first appeared. As that battle approaches, a divide appears between her and Maverick, forcing him into a fight with the Blob in issue five. Maverick must then follow Elena's trail as she walks right into Sabretooth's trap in issue six of Maverick.

A brainwashed Maverick heads to Canada to assassinate a witness, but finds Alpha Flight standing in his way in issue three. Vindicator and Puck are the only things standing between Maverick and revenge. Then, in issue four, Maverick must team up with Wolverine to save a young mutant from the bigoted Friends of Humanity. Join me as I break down Maverick # 3 and 4.

Maverick's ongoing series begins! Crimelord Ivan the Terrible has sent his henchmen, Hammer and Sickle, to retrieve Maverick. But the Legacy Virus might kill him before they even get to the door. Join me as I break down Maverick issues one and two.

Maverick's struggle against the deadly Legacy Virus leads him to Chris Bradley, a young mutant struggling with his powers, his own deadly infection, and the general hatred of humanity. But what can Maverick give this young mutant that the X-Men Iceman and Wolverine cannot? Join me as I break down X-Men Unlimited issue 15, our final stop on the road to Maverick's ongoing series.

While the Legacy Virus kills him slowly, Maverick's past hunts him. The villainous Omega Red stalks Maverick's steps, while the alluring Elena Ivanova wants his help killing Sabretooth. Join me as I break down 1997's Maverick one-shot on our road to his ongoing series.

The mysterious Maverick is going to be taking center stage at Breakdown - but first, we need to lay down the groundwork for his ongoing series. Maverick ran with Wolverine and Sabretooth in his days a government operative - but why is he hunting Wolverine now? We return to the '90s so that I can breakdown Wolverine 87 and X-Men Unlimited 8.

Marvel Boy has escaped the clutches of Dr. Midas - but finds himself in the hands of his daughter, the Exterminatrix. Can she be trusted to have his back as Midas unleashes a monster to kill them both - or will Midas get his hands on cosmic power? Join me as I break down Marvel Boy issues 5 and 6 and bring this book to a close.

Author Grant Morrison and artist J.G. Jones have introduced us to Marvel Boy - where do we go from here? First, Marvel Boy must face Hexus, the living corporation! And in the aftermath of that battle, Marvel Boy is hunted down by Dr. Midas and the Exterminatrix. Join me as I continue to break down Marvel Boy issues 3 and 4.

Grant Morrison is an author that I typically don't like - but I stumbled across his six-issue Marvel Boy series in the dollar bins and had to check it out. Join me as I breakdown the introduction of Noh-varr in Marvel Boy issues 1 and 2.

When Efrain and I sat down to discuss his love of Havok and the character's upcoming appearance in Marvel's Hellions, we had no idea what to expect. Then, about a week after the recording, Marvel released a description of the first issue - prompting me to revisit the topic. So enjoy a short bonus episode where Efrain and I talk about Hellions' solicitation and what it might mean for Havok. 

I continue my discussion with fellow comic fan Efrain Hernandez, exploring some theories about Marvel's upcoming Hellions book. We also talk about his favorite character, the X-Men's Havok, and what draws Efrain to him.

Fans are the lifeblood of the comic book industry - but their role in the world of comics is often underplayed or cursed. This episode, I speak with Efrain Hernandez, a fellow comic book fan, to talk about the industry, what comics he loves, and what keeps him buying.