Loki is many things: god, trickster, brother, son, villain, even hero. Now he wants to add one more title to the list: President of the United States! That's right, the God of Lies wants to be ruler of the free world! But is this just another scheme? One fact is certain: With Loki's winning smile and silver tongue on the campaign trail, this electi…

We finished up horror month with the horror manga legend, Junji Ito. We came to the conclusion that Shiver is the scariest book we've review to date. An arm peppered with tiny holes dangles from a sick girl’s window… After an idol hangs herself, balloons bearing the faces of their destined victims appear in the sky… An amateur film crew hires an ex…

Four years ago, a masked slasher began stalking the streets of New York City. Maniac Harry is inhuman, unkillable and unstoppable. Which is why the authorities' solution has been to ignore him, and let New Yorkers adapt to a world where death can strike at any moment. When Maniac Harry starts killing his way through the subway system, trauma-haunte…

KISS is on top of the world and rocking faces until the night disciples of The Destroyer show up and the band disappears. Now, with the KISS tour canceled, a young Ash misses one of the most important events of his life that will change his destiny. Now the Chosen One has to get back on the right path and join the KISS ARMY OF DARKNESS! News 1:27 K…

What happens to the World’s Finest if the world ends? With death spreading across the planet, who will live and who will turn in this apocalyptic tale of heroism, sacrifice, and annihilation? Fighting time, each other, and all of humanity, Earth’s greatest heroes must rally together for what may very well be their last chance to save the world from…

A new Venom for a new era! Flash Thompson is Spider-Man's biggest fan. That hero worship inspired him to enlist in the Army, where he became a decorated veteran and war hero. And though he lost his legs, Flash never lost his dignity - or his desire to serve. Now, the government has offered him a chance to be a hero once again - to don the alien sym…

This week we visit Hellboy's classic Appalachian horror adventure that inspired the new movie! Hellboy helps a young man who sold his soul to the terrifying Crooked Man in Mignola and Richard Corben's original series and the inspiration for the new film. In the sequel by Mignola and Zach Howard, Hellboy confronts the folk legend again when someone-…

Transformers One is coming out and we decided to brush up on the recent comics. Optimus Prime was supposed to have led the Autobots to victory. Instead, the fate of Cybertron is unknown, and his allies have crash-landed far from home, alongside their enemies — the Decepticons. As these titanic forces renew their war on Earth, one thing is immediate…

The Penguin, the king of Gotham City’s criminal underworld, has died and is contentedly living in Metropolis in a not so well-deserved retirement. With his children fighting over his vast criminal empire, the once great crime boss is cooking dinners for his girlfriend and buying expensive suits, until the U.S. government enlists the Penguin as thei…

Those guys are the worst. Once upon a time, Eric and Woody Henderson were inseparable. Adopted brothers. Best friends. Brilliant minds. Years later, they are estranged siblings, petty rivals, and washed-up failures. But when their father's murder leads them into the throes of a life-altering scientific accident, Eric and Woody will find themselves …

When James O’Barr poured the pain and anguish of a personal tragedy into the drawings that comprise The Crow, his intensely cathartic story of Eric—who returns from the dead to avenge his and his fiancée’s murder at the hands of a street gang—resonated with readers around the world. The illustrated tale that became the thrilling and spectacular sil…

In anticipation for Alien: Romulus we read two stories from the franchise. In Aliens: Genocide, Humans have just pulled themselves out of the ruins caused by the Alien infestation of Earth. The last thing anyone wants to see is more Aliens, right? So why is billionaire Daniel Grant leading an expedition to the Alien homeworld? And in Aliens: Labyri…

The controversial prequels to the best-selling graphic novel of all-time. DC Comics has assembled the greatest creators in the industry to further paint the world of Watchmen, with this volume starring two of the most polarizing anti-heroes ever, Comedian and Rorschach. In Rorschach, Azzarello again teams with superstar artist Lee Bermejo to illust…

New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman joins a murderer’s row of superstar artists to lend his unique touch to the Batman mythos! Spotlighting the story “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?” from Batman #686 and Detective Comics #853, in which Gaiman joins artist Andy Kubert and inker Scott Williams for a story that shines a new light o…

In anticipation for Deadpool & Wolverine we read a book we think inspired it, Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe. What if everything you thought was funny about Deadpool was actually just disturbing? What if he decided to kill everyone and everything that makes up the Marvel Universe? What if he actually pulled it off? Would that be FUN for you? Th…

For our last week of reviewing Eisner Nominees we reviewed, Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons. In the 1500s, before humanity had successfully traveled the entire globe, it was believed that monsters ruled the oceans just beyond the horizon. "Here there be dragons..." was written on maps to denote the areas people dared not go. That is, until Sir Fran…

Continuing our Eisner Nomination reviews, we've read Local Man by Tim Seeley and Tony Fleecs. Once the star recruit of the media sensation super-team, Third Gen, Jack Xaver had it all. But when controversy sends Crossjack crawling back to his mom and dad's basement in the Midwest Jack struggles to fit into a world he left far behind. And then the b…

Billy Batson has the powers of the gods, but Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury never gave the Wizard Shazam their permission! Now the disgruntled gods engage in a six-way fight to turn the World’s Mightiest Mortal into the World’s Mightiest Puppet! As the gods’ meddling threatens the entire world, an unlikely team of heroes rise…

Task Force X is put against their deadliest target yet—The Joker! This DC Black Label series pits Red Hood, Harley Quinn, Firefly, and more of DC's most villainous criminals against The Joker! When Task Force X's Amanda Waller sets her sights on Batman's greatest foe, she enlists the Dark Knight's former partner Jason Todd to track down the Clown P…

A dark tale of five friends setting off in the middle of the night to shoot a short film on a forbidden rock near their small coastal town the summer before they all go their separate ways. But they're not really there to shoot a film. One of them has lied. And that lie will change everything. News 1:31 The Cull 11:34 Back Matter Matters 51:21 The …

A century before the events of Game of Thrones, a squire named Dunk picks up the sword and shield of his dead master and enters a tournament to begin his career as a knight. But "Ser Duncan" has much to learn about this world of knights and nobles, and as he attempts to find a sponsor who will allow him to enter the tournament, he makes friends and…

In darkness there lurks Kaiju - terrifying and unfathomable monsters. Between Kaiju and the rest of us stands the United Science Patrol! But who are these enigmatic defenders, and how do they perform their miracles? Shin Hayata and Kiki Fuji have spent half a lifetime trying to find out - and their quest is about to drive them toward a decades-old …

You know him...you love him...now, join him for his biggest caper as master of charm Lando Calrissian gets his very own comic book! Before he joined the rebellion, before he ran Cloud City, Lando made his way in the galaxy getting by on some swindles, some swagger, and a smile. Lobot at his side, Lando has a plan to steal a very valuable ship...but…

In anticipation for The Garfield Movie, we read a collection of the fat cat's return to comics! Garfield and the gang have returned to comics in a big way, and this delicious package brings the fun home to you & your family. We also discuss Garfield's place in pop culture and other media we've been consuming. News 4:39 Garfield 17:25 Back Matter Ma…

Almost the entire galaxy’s defenders have been blown through a black hole, including the Silver Surfer! But the story doesn’t end there… In order to fight back the oblivion, Surfer will have to fight to save his own soul and not lose himself to the void. Follow the Sentinel of the Spaceways on a journey that will change him forever! News 00:53 Silv…

When Taylor goes missing, Cornelius investigates and discovers an ancient ring, unlike anything he has ever seen. As its power echoes through the stars, the Guardians of the Universe must reveal to their Lanterns a secret they had hoped would remain buried. With the Green Lantern Corps, led by Hal Jordan, racing to get to the source of this power b…

This week we were recommended Minor Threats by Patton Oswalt, Jordan Blum, and Scott Hepburn. It's hard out there for a supervillain. Not the world conquerors, chaos engines, or arch-nemeses . . . but the little guys. The ones who put on uniforms, knock over jewelry stores, and get tied to poles. And things are about to get worse. This graphic crim…

In anticipation for the new Netflix series, we read Dead Boy Detectives! Characters from the pages of The Sandman, Edwin Paine (died 1916) and Charles Rowland (died 1990) will take on any and all mysteries—including their own untimely deaths! The dead boys head back to St. Hilarions, where bullying headmasters continue to rule the school. But when …

The darkly twisted story of a young man forced to kill bad people, and how he struggles to keep his secret as it slowly begins to ruin his life and the lives of his friends and loved ones. Both a thriller and a deconstruction of vigilantism, this comic is unlike anything this award-winning team has done before. News 1:14 Kill or Be Killed 18:03 Bac…

It's one of the most controversial stories Marvel has ever produced! When friends May and Mary take on a summer job after high school, they meet brothers Ben and Richard--and summer lovin' ensues! Prepare for sand, sun, high drama and infidelity! News 00:44 Trouble 15:51 Back Matter Matters 51:48 The Pull-List 55:50 Linktr.ee/tradewaiters Follow Us…

Superboy and Robin make their super-hero duo debut in SUPER SONS! These stories take them on a collision course with Lex Luthor and introduce Kid Amazo, a villain whose ascension parallels the boys' own understanding of their powers—except he believes it's his right to rule every being on the planet! News 00:53 Super Sons 10:38 Back Matter Matters …

We drink it. We love it. But how much do we really know about beer? Starting from around 7000 BC, beer has emerged as a major element driving humankind’s development, a role it has continued to play through today’s craft brewing explosion. The first-ever nonfiction graphic novel focused on this most favored beverage, you can follow along from the v…

Where do you go when you die? Not heaven or hell; somewhere else. Somewhere you have to fight to survive. Somewhere the people from the past are waiting for you—the good and the bad. News 1:24 Reborn 10:54 Back Matter Matters 59:37 The Pull-List 1:04:10 Linktr.ee/tradewaiters Follow Us!Trade Waiters által

Scandalous gossip, wild parties, and forbidden love—witness what the gods do after dark in this stylish and contemporary reimagining of one of mythology’s most well-known stories from creator Rachel Smythe. Smythe’s original Eisner-nominated web-comic brings the Greek Pantheon into the modern age with this sharply perceptive and romantic graphic no…

Can't get enough Dune? Well you're in luck because New York Times best-selling novelists Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, alongside Dev Pramanik , adapt their acclaimed prequel to the groundbreaking Dune in comic book form for the first time, perfect for longtime fans and new readers alike. This book transports readers to the far future on the …

As a podcast there are some comics we've had yet to review even after 200 episodes. One of those being an Iron Man book. Tony Stark - Iron Man, billionaire industrialist and director of S.H.I.E.L.D. - faces the most overwhelming challenge of his life. Ezekiel Stane, the son of Tony's late business rival and archenemy Obadiah, has set his sights, hi…

This week we review the newest comic, Mosely, from one of our favorite creators Rob Guillory. In the hyper-technological world of the later 21st century, Mosely is a bitter old janitor on a mission from a higher power—to unleash holy Hell upon the “too big to fail” Tech Gods. Can one man bring down the corporate powers who’ve used their vast influe…

In anticipation for the new live-action Netflix adaptation we read, Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise. This is a new tale that follows the animated series finale. Aang and friends must join together once again as the four nations' tenuous peace is threatened by an impasse between Fire Lord Zuko and Earth King Kuei! As the world heads toward …

An often-overlooked genre in comics are romance comics. They're not quite as frequent as your superhero books but hold an important place in the industry. For this year's Valentine's Day episode, we review Love Everlasting. Joan Peterson discovers that she is trapped in an endless, terrifying cycle of "romance"—a problem to be solved, a man to marr…

As a short and sweet treat, we review The Left Bank Gang to change things up from our milestone episode. 2007 Eisner Award-winner: set in 1920s Paris, this is a deliciously inventive re-imagining of the great literary figures of the period (Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Pound, and Joyce) as graphic novelists... and perpetrators of a thrilling, double-cros…

We did it everyone! Another milestone for the Trade Waiters pod and no signs of slowing down. Thank you to everyone who has supported us and kept us going by checking us out. For our 200th episode read another huge collection of a weekly comic that ran for a year, totaling 1200 pages! After INFINITE CRISIS, the DC Universe had its most eventful yea…

In preparation for our 200th episode, DC's 52, we read the comic event that sets it up, Infinite Crisis. Surrounded by their most fearsome enemies, the world's greatest heroes are divided within and without. DC's icons face their most dire hour. What happens next will destroy friendships and lives, dictating the direction of the universe for the ne…

In excitement for the new Disney+ series, Echo, we reviewed the trade that includes her first appearance! She is Echo. Though seemingly kindred souls, their secret identities are very much at odds. Maya seeks out her father's killer, a man that Kingpin says is Daredevil. Can Matt Murdock clear his name before his new love becomes his executioner? N…

This week we review Nathan's Christmas gift to Daniel, Kroma by Lorenzo De Felici. Imprisoned in a tower within the walls of Pale City, Kroma lives her days out in darkness, believing she is the most evil thing on Earth. However, where her people see a monster, the mysterious orphan Zet sees a human. But if either of them is to survive the city’s s…

The first of our Trade Waiters gifts is The New World. The United States of America-after the Second Civil War. Two lovers meet. One: a straight-edge vegan hacker anarchist boy with a penchant for messing with the State. The other: a chaotic, hedonistic cop with a reality TV show and a license to kill. This really shouldn't happen-and yet, somehow,…

Happy Holidays everyone! It's our favorite time of year where we get to review a Christmas comic! The writers behind the hit series Deadpool present the sad, funny, and true story of Santa Claus after the apocalypse. After tragedy strikes the North Pole, Santa turns his back on humanity and gives up on Christmas. Even though the world has been comp…

In excitement for the new movie Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom we read a book we suspect it took inspiration from. After being dethroned by his own people and sent into exile, Aquaman discovers a conspiracy in his kingdom, in this tale presented for the first time in hardcover. Rather than reclaim his birthright, he becomes a hero, but even Aquaman c…

This week we read Amazing X-Men for Nathan's birthday comic! A book he read early on that he thought we should revisit. Ever since Nightcrawler's death in X-MEN MESSIAH COMPLEX, the X-Men have been without their heart and soul. After learning that their friend may not be gone after all, it's up to WOLVERINE, STORM, BEAST, ICEMAN, NORTHSTAR and FIRE…

This week we review the French bandes dessinée that Daniel brought back from his travels, A Man's Skin. Bianca is eighteen and her marriage to Giovanni has been arranged. She’s only seen him once but would like to get to know her husband before they’re wed. Her grandmother offers to let Bianca stay with her, to teach her about life and men a bit. B…

Happy Thanksgiving! And what better way to celebrate this family holiday than to read about Marvel's first family? It’s the start of a new era for the Fantastic Four...and they’re already in a ton of trouble. Something has gone terribly wrong in New York! Can the FF find their way back together and somehow rebuild their lives? News 1:14 Fantastic F…