Episode 273: Reviews of Bizarre Romance, The Ballad of Sang #1, and Gideon Falls #1

Time Codes: 00:00:32 - Introduction 00:03:42 - More listener mail! 00:11:43 - Bizarre Romance 00:54:10 - The Ballad of Sang #1 01:07:47 - Gideon Falls #1 01:29:11 - Wrap up 01:30:19 - Contact us On this week's review episode, Gene and Derek discuss three recent, and very different, titles. They begin with Bizarre Romance (Abrams ComicArt), an unusual "graphic novel" written by Audrey Niffenegger and with art from Eddie Campbell. The various stories that compose this collection are both comics and prose-centric pieces, and all of the selections have something to do with relationships in an off-kilter manner. Next, they look at Ed Brisson and Alessandro Micelli's The Ballad of Sang #1 (Oni Press). Inspired by 1970s and 1980s kung fu and action films, this first issue in the series introduces us to a young mute street fighter who becomes a fugitive and must fend for himself. Finally, Gene and Derek wrap up with the latest comic from Jeff Lemire, Gideon Falls #1. With art by Lemire's stalwart collaborator, Andrea Sorrentino -- they had previously worked together on Green Arrow and Old Man Logan -- this is a dark and moody narrative that points to what will become a fascinating monthly series. As Lemire writes in the brief essay that closes out this first issue, Gideon Falls is the realization of a couple of story ideas that the writer has contemplated since his days as a film student. Also, as the Two Guys share during their "listener mail" segment, English professor and dedicated listener Meghan Sweeney has set up a GoFundMe campaign that aspires, in the aftermath of the Parkland massacre, to get copies of John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell's March trilogy into the hands of teens who might not otherwise have access to them. Please go fund this idea, and help spread the word!