Transcending Comics

Jadzia Axelrod (Galaxy: The Prettiest Star, Hawkgirl, DC Book of Pride)

Join us this week for a conversation with an absolute icon in the world of queer superheroes, Jadzia Axelrod! Creator of one of the most prominent trans superhero comics, Galaxy: The Prettiest Star, as well as the latest Hawkgirl miniseries from DC Comics!

Our conversation isn't just about her comics though, we also get into Jadzia's colorful backstory and her dabblings with circus performance, puppeteering, and costume design! We also discuss her long history with podcasting, going all the way back to 2005, and how that influenced the way she would later write comics. 

From Folklore to Futuristic Fantasy with Kel McDonald

In this special episode of Transcending Comics, we warmly welcome renowned writer and artist, Kel McDonald, to discuss their adventures in the vibrant world of web comics and traditional print comics. Listeners of the show may recognize Kel from print comics like Buffy - The High School Years, Misfits of Avalon, and Adventure Time, or their long running web comics like The City Between, You Are the Chosen One, and Sorcery 101.

We also dive into Kel's unique fascination with folklore and werewolves, as we discuss their Kickstarter campaign for their latest comic, Murky Water - a futuristic urban fantasy story from their popular series, The City Between.

Join us as we delve into the techniques behind creating multi-dimensional characters while considering today's dynamic political climate, narratives that inspire, and the charm and complexities of web comics. This episode is a treasure trove for comic enthusiasts seeking a deeper understanding of the stories behind their favorite series.

Please support Kel's latest Kickstarter for Murky Water at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1495959227/murky-water

Let's Talk About Loki - feat. Charlotte Fierro (My Marvelous Year)

This week on Transcending Comics, we're joined by comic book scholar Charlotte Fierro! We dive into Loki's recent and increasingly queer character development in popular stories like Marvel's 'Loki, Agent of Asgard,' 'Young Avengers,' And 'Loki: Season 2.' We delve into the specifics of Loki's deviation from the stereotype of a villain, their relationship with ego death, and their steps into the realms of queer resonance and evolving gender fluidity.

As a bonus, we reminisce over another beloved mythological character – Percy Jackson! With a nostalgic discussion of one of our favorite book series and its on-screen adaptation. Join us for a discussion about mythology, fiction, and continuity in the ever-evolving Marvel Universe.

Emma Grove (The Third Person): An Exploration of Art, Mental Health, and Identity

In the latest episode of Transcending Comics, join us as we delve into the world of Emma Grove, acclaimed author and artist of the graphic novel memoir, 'The Third Person'. Learn about Emma's journey through navigating the mental health care system during her transition, her inspirations, writing process, and upcoming projects. 

Maria Ingrande Mora (Ranger Academy, The Immeasurable Depth of You)

We're joined by Maria Ingrande Mora (Fragile Remedy, The Immeasurable Depth of You) to discuss their comic writing debut with Ranger Academy!

Maria tells us about making the leap from writing YA novels to the world of comics, and the challenges that come with switching mediums. We also learn a bit about their love of fan fiction and transformative works, as well as their history with the Power Rangers franchise.

Note: This episode was previously posted on the Giant Sized Violence feed.

Charlie Jane Anders (New Mutants) on Switching Mediums!

Today we're joined by an award winning novelist and podcaster, and a newcomer to the world of writing comics, Charlie Jane Anders!

She's the writer of Marvel's most recent New Mutants run, and the co-creator of Escapade, a transgender superhero! Charlie Jane is most well known for her sci-fi novels like All the Birds in the Sky, Even Greater Mistakes, and The Unstoppable Trilogy. Podcast fans may know her from her Hugo Award winning show, Our Opinions Are Correct!

In this episode, we get into the difficulties of switching writing mediums between novels, TV, and comics, and the challenges of joining an ongoing series in the middle of a run. We also discuss the origins of one of Marvel's most prominent new transgender heroes, and what makes her stand out among other trans characters.

Silver Sprocket Rules Ok! (Part 2, feat. Kyle Daileda)

We're back for part 2 of our Silver Sprocket series, and today we're joined by the team's publicist, Kyle Daileda!
Kyle shares their insight from years of working as a comics professional, both in the realm of publishing and event organizing for comic fairs. We also hear a bit about their favorite books of the year, the manga that inspired them growing up, and some Silver Sprocket selections to look forward to next year!

Silver Sprocket Rules Ok! (Part 1)

Silver Sprocket's publishing team joins us for our first ever panel interview discussion! These folks have helped bring to life almost half the books we've covered on this show so far, and they had plenty of delightful insights to share about their work running a queer comics imprint!

For part 1, we're joined by Avi Ehrlich (Company owner), Josh PM (General Manager), Carina Taylor (Production Designer), and Ari Yarwood (Managing Editor).

Stay tuned for our upcoming part 2, where I'll be interviewing Silver Sprocket's publicist, Kyle Daileda!