thewednesdayclubrecs

[thewednesdayclubrecs]

Update note

Quick note to let (all five of) you know I'm working to catch up and will soon, now that finals week is over and junk like that. Excelsior!

[thewednesdayclubrecs]

Episode 2: “We Are Legion”

"Is there going to be a place where we list all the comics we talk about?" Well, I’ll be doing my level best for you all. These are the titles mentioned by Amy, Taliesin, or Matt over the course of this episode of the Wednesday Club.

Physical comics: You may have a comic book store near you! Comic Shop Locator Hater Free Wednesdays Your local library may have a selection of physical comics as well. Ask your local librarian (many of us are nerds in disguise!)

Digital comics: Comixology and Comixology Unlimited Each publisher may have comics online for sale, including Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse, and more. Again, your local library! Many are part of services such as Hoopla, where you can borrow and read digital comics.

A note on this episode: I’m extremely grateful to these three for tackling this question of mental health in comics, and highlight a few resources.  - If you have no fucking clue where to begin looking for help (and you’re in the US): Mental Health America.  - If you’re in crisis mode and need to talk, mental health hotlines are great. - If you don’t feel like calling: Crisis Chat If you have further resources to add to this, please let me know!

On to the comics!

From last week’s episode Legion: Wikipedia; IMDB; airing on FX; streaming on Hulu, Amazon

X-Men Legacy (2012) volume 2: Wikia; Comixology; Marvel

Moon Knight - Current run, written by Lemire: Comixology; Marvel - Warren Ellis: Comixology; Marvel - Bendis' LA run: Comixology; Marvel

Doom Patrol - specifically Crazy Jane - Grant Morrison's run: Wikipedia; Comixology

Comics

New Mutants #26: Wikia; Comixology

X-Men Volume 2 (1990s): Mentioned last week #46 and #47, with the X-Babies on the run from Mojo’s hunters.

X-Men Legacy (2012) volume 2: Wikia; Comixology; Marvel

Winter Soldier retcon: The big retcon they’re talking about begins with Captain America Vol 5 #1: Wikia; The first omnibus of this run on Comixology.  - There have also been several other big retcons of Cap over the years. We’re promised an episode on this later.

X-Men Legacy (2012) Vol 2 #15: Wikia; Comixology -where Legion confronts his mother (turns out Matt was right about this!)

Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s X-Men: Comixology collection (hard to read, according to them) Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s Fantastic Four: Comixology collection (much easier to read, even though it’s the same guys).

Crazy Jane First Appearance: Doom Patrol Vol 2 #19: Wikia; Comixology "nightmare-inducing" - Taliesin - #63 on Comixology: End of Morrison’s run; Cover with Crazy Jane in the rocking chair (The Doom Patrol covers get beautifully weird after about issue #23 and I’m kind of in love with them.)

Alias - Marvel Max (origin of Jessica Jones): Wikipedia; Comixology - Netflix and the comic version are very different, dealing with different traumas. 

Green Lanterns #15: I believe this is the issue: Comixology - Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz as two new GLs - Jessica has anxiety, and there’s a literal anxiety spiral

Shade the Changing Girl - Comixology - original was a 1970s character Shade the Changing Man, reinvented in the ‘90s as Rac Shade

Cassandra Cain/Batgirl: she was non-verbal for many years, but James Tynion doesn't want to apply specific labels because of history of specific traumatic abuse with Cassie.

Tom King's Vision: Wikia; Comixology

Kate Bishop: Young Avengers: Comixology - Intro as character Young Avengers Special #1: Wikia; Marvel; Comixology - hero origin story Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye: Wikia; Comixology

Sandman: Wikipedia; Comixology

Old Man Logan (2016-): Wikia; Comixology (I assume they’re talking about the latest run anyway.) - PTSD and masculinity issues

Watchmen: Wikipedia; Comixology

Storm and claustrophobia LifeDeath: Wikia; Comixology - trying to recuperate at Forge's house without powers; identity issues Uncanny X-Men #146: Wikia; Comixology - When captured by Doom, Storm’s claustrophobia causes her powers to lash out at the whole world.

"We never lose our demons, we only learn to live above them" - The Ancient One

Mental Health Professionals X-Factor vol 3 #13: Wikia; Comixology - Doc Samson talking to the X-Factor team in his capacity as a psychiatrist (Not sure what Speedball talking to the Thunderbolts thing they mean) Evil Therapist Karla Sofen aka Moonstone

Ultimates Thor #1: Wikia; Comixology - As a human, worked as a psychiatric nurse until he has a breakdown (Not sure which Miles Morales issues they’re discussing) Avengers Disassembled: Wikia; Comixology Secret War: Wikia; Comixology - Note that this is a different event than Secret Wars. Or Secret Wars II. Because Marvel  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Moon Knight 2010-2012 #1 cover shown: Wikia; Comixology - Current run, written by Lemire: Comixology; Marvel - Warren Ellis: Comixology; Marvel - Bendis' LA run: Comixology; Marvel

Deadpool vs Carnage: Wikia; Comixology - The Punisher, by Garth Ennis: for the violence: There seem to be at least three separate runs of Ennis on Punisher, starting with this Uncanny X-Force: Wikia; Comixology Spider-Man/Deadpool: Wikia; Comixology

X-Factor, the original team: Wikia; Comixology X-Factor, led by Havok: Wikia; Comixology (beginning with #71) X-Factor Investigations: Wikia; Comixology X-Factor: Madrox: Wikia, Comixology

X-Men Forever: Wikia; Comixology  or X-Factor Forever: Wikia; Comixology

Red Hood and the Outlaws: Wikia; Comixology

Robot Robin from DC One Million: Wikia; 

Invincible Iron Man #500.1: Wikia; Comixology - Tony Stark attends an AA meeting

Books that got our presenters through a dark time Matt - Doctor Strange: Wikia; Comixology - more that this is the character he identifies with than anything else Amy - books she likes; Sandman: Wikipedia; Comixology is very dark, but about finding hope in darkness Taliesin - (not sure what he means by the Max?); Ultimate Spider-Man (I think he means the 2000-2009 run?) for something lighter and fun

Not strictly comics: Legion: Wikipedia; IMDB; airing on FX; streaming on Hulu, Amazon Taliesin says he’s going to rewatch Pink Floyd and Dark Side of the Moon? One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (the institution in Legion (tv) is very reminiscent of the one in this movie). Arkham - Gotham episode (cartoonishly bad, according to them). Royal Tennenabaums and reconciliation Jay and Miles X-plain the X-Men - I can personally back this up, I started listening to it after ECCC this year because of the Wednesday Club, ngl.  Comic Book Girl 19:  Epic History X-Men Volume 1, The 60s Era Yes, And... in improv Critical Role: Episode 1: episodes 1-16 as watching someone (Taliesin) being on the wrong meds and working out which ones were right. "The Beast in Me" - Johnny Cash - Taliesin’s Hulk song Dr. Andrea Letamendi/Arkhamasylumdoc - podcast the Arkham Sessions  "The Clock King" episode

Remember: "Take strength where you can, take hope where you can, and never be worried about asking for help."

Next Week The Image Comics Revolution - Image Comics - The Image Revolution (documentary about the birth of Image comics): IMDB, trailer; Streaming on Youtube, Amazon, and elsewhere. - If your library has Hoopla, Hoopla has all of the Image comics, including Bitch Planet, ODY-C

[thewednesdayclubrecs]

Episode 1: “Origins”

The Giant Sized Wednesday Club! This first episode ran extra long, and included a lot of comics mentioned.

These are the titles mentioned by Taleisin, Amy, or Matt over the course of the first episode of the Wednesday Club. If people are interested in another post with further reading on the topics, creators, and characters mentioned this episode, I can create that as well, if there is demand for it.

Physical comics: You may have a comic book store near you! Comic Shop Locator Hater Free Wednesdays Your local library may have a selection of physical comics as well. Ask your local librarian (many of us are nerds in disguise!)

Digital comics: Comixology and Comixology Unlimited Each publisher may have comics online for sale, including Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse, and more. Again, your local library! Many are part of services such as Hoopla, where you can borrow and read digital comics.

On to the comics!

Matt's origins: Giant Size X-Men #1, 1975: Wikia; Comixology

Amy's origins: Asterix   Archie Comics X-Men Volume 2 (1990s): Note, I believe Amy says 36 and 37 here, but I believe the comics she’s talking about are #46 and #47, with the X-Babies on the run from Mojo’s hunters. Generation X #5 Wikia; Comixology Webcomics: Kate Beaton’s Hark! A Vagrant, Ryan North’s Dinosaur Comics (he’s now writing Squirrel Girl, for one), (Note: There's a third whose name I didnt quite get here, David something? If someone caught that, let me know)

Taliesin's origins: (someone please, please illustrate Taliesin's weird mental images of the X-Men wow) V for Vendetta Wasteland (DC pre-Vertigo): Wikipedia; Comixology Vampirella Wikipedia; Comixology The Alice Cooper The Last Temptation, written by Neil Gaiman: based off this album; Comixology Sandman: Wikipedia; Comixology Jack Kirby’s Avengers

Fables: Wikipedia; Comixology

Rumiko Takahashi - Maison Ikkoku - Inuyasha   - Ranma 1/2 - Urusei Yatsura - Rumic World horror shorts (hungry ghost) Tragically, outside of the big three (Maison Ikkoku, Inuyasha and Ranma 1/2), these are harder to find digitally (legally) than they should be by all rights. Your library may have them from the manga boom back in the day though.

Strangers in Paradise: Wikipedia; Comixology

America Chavez’s solo title

Cheung’s Young Avengers run: Comixology The Gillen/McKelvie Team Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie have done a ton of comics together, including Young Avengers and others mentioned below.

She-hulk: Alternate-dimensional tourism from Dimension A (the A-Holes): Wikia; Comixology

Patsy Walker: Hellcat: Wikia; Comixology

The Boys: Wikipedia; Comixology (BTW some SERIOUS content/trigger warnings here. For real. I’m including this because they did.)

What comics changed you? Taleisin: The Invisibles: Wikipedia; Comixology Jack Kirby’s New Gods; Jimmy Olsen Adventures Sandman’s Death: High cost of Living: Wikipedia; Comixology Promethea Whatever Happened to the man of Tomorrow?: Wikipedia; Comixology (V for Vendetta again)

Amy: Fun Home: Wikipedia; Comixology (also a musical)

Chat: Legion from X-Men (and mental health stuff--more on this next week) Marvel Zombies: Wikipedia; Comixology (.....if this changed your life...)

Alias - Marvel Max (origin of Jessica Jones): Wikipedia; Comixology

Generation X (mentioned above): Comixology - According to Amy: "pretty good for, like, 20 issues, and then... a book I still dearly love for 50 more issues" - "like the New Mutants of the 90s"

Claremont's X-Men run: Wikipedia - As per the three of them: this run’s not timeless, they’re not exactly “recommending” it yet. They're going to curate some issues for us later on, bless them. Stayed tuned for those links.

LGBT+ in comics - North Star reveal of the 90s: Aplha Flight #106: Wikia; Comixology (We’ll talk more about this when we get to the specific episode)

Rocket Raccoon's origin on the Mignola run: I believe this is the run they’re talking about.

Show and Share: Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #68 "The Helmet of Hate": Comics Vine (Wasn’t able to find a digital issue of this...)

Anti-drug issue of Spider-man: The Amazing Spider-Man #96 (Comics Vine). Printed without the CCA stamp on the front.

Kamandi the Last Boy on Earth: Wikipedia; Comixology

Warlock #11 "The Strange Death of Adam Warlock": Comic Vine; Comixology

Generation-X (signed by Lobdell) #2 with Penance on the cover: Wikia; Comixology

The New Mutants #1: Wikia; Comixology - "the Generation X of the 80s" - characters were introduced in a standalone story/graphic novel: Wikia; Comixology

Uncanny X-Men #201 "Who Will Lead them?": Wikia; Comixology - battle for leadership between Storm and Cyclops

X-Men Jim Lee alternate covers #1 "A Legend Reborn": Wikia; Comixology; All four variant covers in one image

X-Men Vol. 2 #4 First appearance of omega red: Wikia; (Having trouble finding this on Comixology...)

Excalibur #71 with Dark Phoenix, Fatal Attractions finale with Nightcrawler foil: Wikia; Comixology - this and Maximum Carnage were Matt's first big collected works as a kid

Uncanny X-Men #139 "Welcome to the X-Men Kitty Pryde... Hope you survive the experience!": Wikia; Comixology - Uncanny X-Men #129, Introduction of Kitty Pryde: Wikia; Comixology

The Wicked and the Divine: Wikipedia; Image Comics - "none more goth"

If you like Saga: Wikipedia; Image Comics - Y the Last Man: Wikipedia; Vertigo Comics

- Runaways: Wikipedia; Comixology -- and then Brian K Vaughn traded series with Joss Whedon

Avengers Arena: Wikipedia; Wikia; Comixology - according to Taleisin, this book has more impact if you know the characters more, so maybe this is part of the advanced class in recommendations

New Teen Titans - Not sure which series is meant here?

DC Bombshells: Wikipedia; DC Comics

Tom King's Vision: Wikia; Comixology

Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan): Wikia; Comixology (vol 3); continued in vol 4

Iron Heart - Riri Williams (current Iron Man): Wikia; Comixology

Image Comics: Website; Wikipedia - Early Image is noooot so much Amy's jam The Walking Dead: Wikipedia; Comixology Savage Dragon: Wikipedia; Comixology Sam and Twitch: Wikipedia; Comixology

Faith: Valiant’s site; Comixology Star Wars: Rogue One (run-up was announced, but never happened... perhaps what was meant was the run up to The Force Awakens?) - “Star Wars comics got good”--They moved from Dark Horse to Marvel recently - Note: there are quite a few Star Wars series being published by Marvel at the moment. (In this contributor’s opinion, some are better than others...)

Not strictly comics: X-Men (’90s animated series): Wikipedia; IMDB; Sailor Moon (the 90s dub, aw yeah); Wikipedia Superman (1978): Wikipedia; IMDB Batman the Animated Series: Wikipedia; IMDB Tom Stoppard's Arcadia: Wikipedia; Powell’s Comics In Focus: Chris Claremont’s X-Men: Wikipedia; it appears that this is no longer available on Vimeo... The LARPosal On Youtube "cardio and pie" - which we should all apparently try a slice of cheddar cheese on? Battle Royale: Wikipedia; IMDB The Supergirl Show on CW: Wikipedia; IMDB The Tick: The 1994 series, and the 2001 series The Image Revolution (documentary about the birth of Image comics): IMDB, trailer; Streaming on Youtube, Amazon, and elsewhere. Pogs. Just. Pogs. God I remember Pogs. Where Taleisin's handle comes from: Executive Transvetite

Stores mentioned: Hi De Ho Comics (store) LA Golden Apple (store) LA Torpedo Comic (store) Las Vegas Box Lunch House of Secrets (store) Burbank, CA (where Amy works)

Next week Mental Health and Comics Legion: Wikipedia; IMDB; airing on FX; streaming on Hulu, Amazon

X-Men Legacy (2012) volume 2: Wikia; Comixology; Marvel

Moon Knight - Current run, written by Lemire: Comixology; Marvel - Warren Ellis: Comixology; Marvel - Bendis' LA run: Comixology; Marvel

Doom Patrol - specifically Crazy Jane - Grant Morrison's run (which Taliesin says is psychotropic, take that as you will): Wikipedia; Comixology - Just pointing out that Taliesin gave a content warning for this, so.

Note: mentions may or may not be recommendations. My personal recommendations sometimes differ, but that’s not the point of this post. And remember: it’s ok to not have read everything--or anything!

If I missed anything, please let me know! Episode #2 will be up.... soon?