This is the first part of a two-parter on "Thunderbolts Volume 1: Justice, Like Lightning," by such people as Kurt Busiek, Mark Bagley, Sal Buscema, Peter David, Mike Deodato Jr., and Steve Epting. We brave the Marvel Universe in the mid 90s to ask important questions like, what happens when a gang of super-villains switches sides? Are nazis real? …

This week Jam, Jeff, and JD read "The Jellyfish" by Boum. This BD fresh out of Montreal publisher Pow Pow follows Odette, a character whose vision is being increasingly obscured by a swarm of jellyfish. It’s a story with a lot of depth and heart, and some great cartooning. We’ll talk about the book, and about the bridge Pow Pow seems to be working …

For this week’s episode we read "My Aunt Is a Monster" by Reimena Yee, whose unique and thoughtful approach to cartooning gave us lots to talk about, from panel transitions to world-building to colouring. This is a unique book and a welcome addition to the YA graphic novel canon.Music by Sleuth.Our next episode will be on "The Jellyfish" by Boum…

Join Jam, Jeff, and JD for another episode of the TradeWaiters. This time we read "Roaming" by Canadian paragons of cartooning Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki. It’s a story of three young women visiting New York and discovering themselves, and in true Tamaki fashion, pushes the medium of comics to its limits. We’ll discuss our own adventures, the …

For today’s episode we look at the winners of the Cartoonist Co-op 2024 Mini-Comic Awards: "Fancies" by Alex Cara, "Marrow A.K.A. Rodney’s Law" by Sloane Hong, "Crossed Signals" by Narrenstrich, "Bottom’s Up!" by Barbara Benas, and "The Bird Daughters" by Madeline McGrane. We’ll talk about the unique magic of minicomics, turning dreams into comics,…

The TradeWaiters are back and ready to join the Nancy Renaissance! We read the first print collection of "Nancy" by Olivia Jaimes, and weigh in on the new artist who has taken over an ancient but venerated comic strip. Spoiler: Olivia Jaimes is lit, and you’re wrong if you think otherwise. We discuss the fraught circumstances of rebooting legacy ne…

After much delay, we can finally bring you episode 101 of the TradeWaiters. This time we’re putting ourselves on the spot, and talking about our hopes and fears for the present and future state of comics. This is a continuation of our discussion from last episode on Scott McCloud’s "Reinventing Comics," and we are once again joined by Kathleen Gros…

It’s episode 100! Special guest Kathleen Gros rejoins the TradeWaiters to help us celebrate our anniversary, and we read Scott McCloud’s "Reinventing Comics." This book made bold predictions of what the future of comics could be. More than twenty years later, we revisit Scott’s ideas to see where they’ve been prescient, where they’ve changed the la…

For this episode our intrepid TradeWaiters read "Dragman" by Steven Appleby. This hefty graphic novel cloaks a story about gender identity, predatory capitalism, and being true to yourself in a brightly-coloured superhero costume and sends it out to patrol the streets of London. Join us and listen in as we go TRANSatlantic.Music by SleuthOur next b…

Today the Tradewaiters got lost in a fantasy manga with the first two volumes of "Witch Hat Atelier" by Kamome Shirahama. We’ll break down what’s great about this comic, a few things that are maybe not as great, but mostly have a good time reading a book about kids who learn magic, and the magic makes sense.Music by Sleuth.Our next book will be "Dr…

For this episode we read the first two volumes of "Barefoot Gen," Keiji Nakazawa's semi-autobiographical account of surviving the bombing of Hiroshima when he was six years old. "Barefoot Gen" is the best book about the worst thing. Be prepared for it to be super traumatic, but no other book is doing what this one does.Music by SleuthFor a complete…

The TradeWaiters return like the rising sun to bring you "All-Star Superman" by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. This limited series turned trade paperback takes us deeper into DC lore than we’ve ever gone before, and we bring you back tales of the unimaginable, opining on pacing, and the magic of character body language. If you ever wanted to kno…

"Sparks" artist Nina Matsumoto joins our panelists to talk about "The Batman Adventures: Mad Love" by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm. This was the first appearance of Harley Quinn in a comic and the origin story of one of DC’s most iconic characters today. We talk about the behind the scenes story of Harley Quinn’s creation, the mainstream comics debut o…

Are you ready for a tale of tragedy and unrequited love (probably)? Come, sit down, and gather round as we read "Descending Stories" by Haruko Kumota. This series is “manga on hard-mode,” and is our first introduction to the Japanese art of rakugo, or “falling stories.” Join us as we struggle to grasp the key ideas of an art form none of us have an…

This week we read "Space Boy" by Stephen McCranie. Discussion (and spoilers) for the episode will cover either volumes 1 and 2 of the tankobon-sized graphic novels, or up to episode 32 of the Webtoon. We’ll spend half of the episode talking about the Webtoon format, and then get into this soft scifi story about a girl from space (also there is a bo…

This week we read "The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist" by Adrian Tomine, diving deep into the most negative parts of one cartoonist’s psyche. We talk about the important place of “sad old man” comics in comics history, mumblecore, lonely book signings, and how cilantro salad is cringe (but only metaphorically). Also how important format…

Jam, Jeff, and JD return to Alberta for the rest of Kate Beaton's "Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands." We still have lots to talk about as Kate survives her own journey of being metaphorically trapped in a tailings pond. We'll talk about resource extraction, Canadian history, late capitalism, misogyny, and (be warned) sexual assault.Music by Sleuth…

Today’s episode takes Jam, Jeff, and JD to northern Alberta with Kate Beaton’s "Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands." Kate is better known for her comics making jokes about history, but "Ducks" IS history. This first-hand account of the time Kate spent working in, and surviving, the oil industry will likely be a primary source for readers for years t…

This week Jam, Jeff, and JD read and talk about "Mare Internum" by Der-Shing Helmer. This is a character-driven sci-fi webcomic turned graphic novel that goes to some dark places in the belly of Mars. We’ll talk about dying climates, extraterrestrials, and our panelists’ complete lack of pioneer spirit. Be aware that this book travels deep into dep…

This year our panelists returned to their first convention in a very long time, VanCAF 2022, and walked away with some books worth sharing. We discuss "Prince of Cats" by Ronald Wimberly, "Mmm Syrup" and "Prayer of the Ninth House" by Tajliya Jamal, "Swim Team" by Johnnie Christmas, "Science Ghost" by Christian Haruki Lett, "You Can’t Get There fro…

This week Jam, Jeff, and JD read "Yotsuba&!" by Kiyohiko Azuma, for a breath of fresh air and a story with the lowest stakes imaginable. We get into reliving childhood, the importance of a good translator, top tier comedic pacing, and ask who this comic is actually supposed to be for (Is it us? Is it made for us three?) We’re not going to ignore so…

The TradeWaiters return with part two of "The Golden Age" by Roxanne Moreil and Cyril Pedrosa. Hannah Myers rejoins us after our long absence, and we check in on how Tilda is doing in her war to reclaim the throne of Antrevers. It turns out, she’s not doing great! Join us as we talk about what’s in the magic box, what’s in a revolution, and the imp…

This is part two of "Hawkeye" by Matt Fraction, David Aja, and Annie Wu, which is included in the trade paperbacks "Hawkeye: LA Woman" and "Hawkeye: Rio Bravo," or else the second half of "Hawkeye: The Saga of Barton and Bishop." It’s also by Matt Hollingsworth, Javier Pulido, Francesco Francavilla, and Chris Eliopoulis. We finally get a chance to …

This episode covers "Hawkeye" by Matt Fraction and David Aja. It’s part one of two, and is equivalent to either the trade paperbacks "Hawkeye: My Life Is a Weapon" and "Hawkeye: Little Hits," or else the first half of "Hawkeye: The Saga of Barton and Bishop." It’s also by Matt Hollingsworth, Javier Pulido, Francesco Francavilla, Steve Lieber, Alan …

For today’s episode Jeff, Jam, and JD are joined by cartoonist Miriam Libicki and her daughter Mered for a discussion about "Stargazing" by Jen Wang. This slice-of-life story about two girls dealing with life issues big and small gives us lots to talk about, and according to Mered, should be required reading for 99% of the population. So go find a …

It’s finally time for the third and fourth volumes of "Death Note" by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata! We finally get to see Light and L become the best of fake friends, and we get to meet Misa, the third pillar of our triumvirate of sociopathic twenty-year-olds. Join Jam, JD, and Jeff as we also discuss social masking, “yes, and” writing, and how m…

For today’s episode we read "Paying the Land," comics journalist Joe Sacco’s book about the Dene people, resource extraction in the Northwest Territories, the legacy of Canadian colonialism, and residential schools. It’s a big book with a lot to say on some weighty issues, but we also find time to discuss journalism as an institution, the convenien…

The TradeWaiters are joined by Hannah Myers to read volume one of "The Golden Age" by Roxanne Moreil and Cyril Pedrosa. This medieval adventure from France isn’t all that it seems. We talk about colour, innovating ways to show motion through time, our favourite absent meals, and why you should support your local peasant revolt.Music by Sleuth.Our n…

For today’s episode Jam, Jeff, and JD read "The Magic Fish" by Trung Le Nguyen, a story about love, growing up, immigration, and identity framed by three fairy tales. This is a work with a lot of depth and a lot of heart, and we hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we have. Along the way we’ll also discuss cats, telling stories through colour, and being…

It’s time to jump back to the early 2000s. We read the first two volumes of Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata’s "Death Note" and can let you in on the gritty details. Listen in and you can also hear about Sherlock Holmes’ descendants, the importance of having the right stationary, and the indelicate details of the Japanese legal system.Music by Sleuth…

Wizz! Bang! Pow! This comic is definitely not for kids. No seriously, skip this episode if you do not want “adult” content. This is "Sex Criminals" by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky, the comic that asks the question, what would you do if could stop time when you orgasm? What would make you want to rob a bank? What would you do if the sex police cau…

Special guest Kathleen Jacques joins Jeff, Jam, and JD for a spooky read-through of Emily Carroll’s breakout short story collection "Through the Woods." Emily is a master of the medium, and her book sparks conversations about how to do horror in the comics medium, web versus print comics, fairy tales, picture books, and more.Music by Sleuth.Our nex…

The TradeWaiters are back from another (probably pandemic-related) hiatus. For this episode, Jam, Jeff, and JD read "Meal" by Blue Delliquanti with Soleil Ho. Have you ever eaten a bug? Like, on purpose? Would you like to? "Meal" is more than just a great case for entomophagy (i.e. bug eating), cuisine with deep cultural roots in many parts of the …

This week, or maybe six weeks ago, we read the "Slaughterhouse-Five" graphic novel adaptation by Kurt Vonnegut, Ryan North, and Albert Monteys. This may be the perfect book to read during a pandemic when time seems unstuck. But never mind the sales-pitch, because if you listen to this episode you’ve always listened to this episode. Detours include …

It’s been too long since we last read a book by Mariko Tamaki, so join Jeff, Jam, and JD for "Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me" by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell. It’s a high school drama about the multiple endings of a romance, as well as friendship, queerness, and life in general. You won’t be disappointed (except in Laura Dean).…

In today’s episode Jeff, Jam, and Jon jump back into the epic world of Landfall and Reef with "Saga" volumes 2 & 3 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples. We go looking for themes, talk about writers writing writers, and learn more about the many characters the story boasts.Music by SleuthOur next episode will be on "Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up Wit…

The wait is over! TradeWaiters Jon, Jeff, and Jam are back with a two-parter on "Saga" by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Stapes. This episode will cover Volume 1 (which is the first six chapters). Listen in as we revisit a tale as old as time, about a horned prisoner of war from a planet of magic and a winged soldier from a vast space empire falling in…

We recorded this episode only a few months ago, and yet anything before quarantine began feels like a lifetime ago. Anyways, this is "Drifting Dragons" volumes 1 and 2 by Taku Kuwabara. Faith Erin Hicks joins us again for a deep dive into a manga about hunting, killing, and eating dragons. We also get lost on detours about analogy, cartoonist envy,…

VanCAF 2020 was held online, due to the world being in its current state, and so the TradeWaiters panel we pitched them became an online event as well. I present to you "Reading Deeply," on how to get the most out of your comics reading experience.The audio quality on this one isn't great, sorry. Some of us (me) didn't think to get high quality mic…

Have you ever wondered how to eat a suit of armour? Special guest Faith Erin Hicks joins Jam, Jeff, and Jon to find out as we read the first two volumes of "Delicious in Dungeon" by Ryoko Kui. This cross-genre comedy adventure about eating all the monsters in a fantasy campaign dungeon will give you answers to questions you didn’t even know you had…

Door The TradeWaiters

Door The TradeWaiters

Door The TradeWaiters

Spirals: they make ya think! Nina Matsumoto joins Jam, Jeff, and Jon for a spiral into the mind of Junji Ito, reknowned horror cartoonist. His "Uzumaki (Spiral into Horror)" is an obsessive, surreal story about a town cursed by the spiral. We’ll dive right in, get tangled up, and hopefully make it out again at the end.Music by Sleuth.Nina joins us …

We continue our journey through Jason Lutes’ "Berlin: City of Smoke" and "Berlin: City of Light." Now that the series is complete, our panelists have read all the way to the bitter end. There is no other way for the Weimar Republic to end. Join us as we check in on how the characters from the first book have fared as we head towards Hitler’s “demon…

Looking for advice on how to survive 2019? "Berlin: City of Stones" by Jason Lutes may or may not be of any help, but it is a standout work of comics-making brilliance. Jeff, Jam, and Jon travel back in time to Jason Lutes’ window on Weimar Germany in 1928 and watch as everything starts to fall apart. This is episode one of a two episode journey th…

It's Twenty-Nine-Zine! The TradeWaiters went to a bunch of Canadian conventions this year and brought back their favourite indie gems to share. In this episode we talk about:"Doors" by the Donut Collective"Giant's Well" by Scott A. Ford"When I Arrived at the Castle" by Emily Carroll"Conseal Don't Feel" by Ciil"Counting Sheep" by Rhael McGregor"Sobe…

There’s soil and gloom in the black death. Jess, Jon, Jeff, and Jam read "Laid Waste" by Julia Gfrorer, a tragedy set during the plague. We talk about the end of the world and what it’s like to live through it (or not).Music by Sleuth.Our next episode will be our 2019 TCAF/VanCAF roundtable.Door The TradeWaiters

Join us on a road trip (through masculinity). "Come Prima" by Alfred is a story about two estranged brothers dealing with death, war, shame, and their own frailty. Jam, Jeff, and Jess finally get a chance to read some more bande dessinee, and it leads to a whole lot of big discussions.Music by Sleuth.Our next episode will be "Laid Waste" by Julia G…

Is Calvin a reflection on the inner child? This is one of many questions raised as we read "The Calvin and Hobbes Tenth Anniversary Book" by Bill Watterson. Calvin and Hobbes are a big part of comics past and present. We reflect on the nostalgia, the history, and the craft of one of the greatest newspaper comics of all times. Music by Sleuth.Our ne…