Webcomics: Reviews of<i>The Specialists</i>,<i>Hominids</i>, and<i>The Last Saturday</i> - a podcast by Stergios Botzakis & Derek Royal
from 2017-02-13T18:00
Time Codes:
- 00:00:27 - Introduction
- 00:03:03 - Setup of episode
- 00:03:50 - The Specialists
- 00:32:17 - Hominids
- 01:01:33 - Checking in with Jim McClain and Paul Schultz
- 01:16:16 - The Last Saturday
- 01:38:20 - Wrap up
- 01:39:52 - Contact us
February Fun
For the month of February, Sean and Derek look at three very different webcomics. They begin with Al Fukalek and Shawn Gustafson's The Specialists, an alternate history superhero narrative set in the mid-1940s, with an undefeated Germany flexing its might with its own team of superpowered individuals, Die Übermenschen. The United States fights back with The Specialists, a diverse collection of heroes that is, at times, more propaganda than powered.
Next, the guys look at what is arguably the highlight of this month's episode, Jordan Kotzebue's Hominids. This fantasy adventure is set in world populated by varied creatures, the central of which are a race of jungle dwellers. This is a tale with complex moral undertones, but whose message isn't overbearing or preachy. Plus, Kotzebue's art is outstanding.
After a brief check-in with Jim McClain and Paul Schultz -- their Poe and the Mysteriads was launched just last month -- Sean and Derek turn to the last webcomic of the month. Chris Ware's The Last Saturday appeared in The Guardian during the last half of 2014 and into September 2015, and the guys discuss the ways in which Ware employs the webcomic format. In fact, they both feel that this story never really utilizes the unique qualities of the platform. We could get the same effect in print. Still, this is an engaging narrative whose topic and style should be familiar to any Chris Ware fan.
Check out the books by creators discussed on this episode:
Further episodes of The Comics Alternative
Further podcasts by Stergios Botzakis & Derek Royal
Website of Stergios Botzakis & Derek Royal