Comics Syllabus

paul lai
  • 4.8 (20)
  • Arts
  • Updated Weekly

A comics and graphic novels appreciation podcast, where literacy educator Paul Lai (@twoplai) reads widely and digs deep in search of the socio-cultural, literary, and artistic significance of comic books, including superhero media, graphic novels, all-ages comics, and comic shop single issues. For comics fans, teachers, librarians and parents, and young readers alike. comicssyllabus.substack.com

  1. 12/08/2025

    Infinite Unlimited 12.07.2025. Aaron for the Win! Abso-Supes, Turtles, and Miles ahead...

    From DC Universe Infinite, Paul catches up with Gotham Academy: First Year, DCKO: Knightfight, Harley and Ivy, and Absolute Superman. From Marvel Unlimited, Paul checks out some Imperial War minis, Jeff the Land Shark, Runaways, the Mortal Thor, and Miles Morales Spider-Man. Who will win this week’s contest of DC and Marvel champions?? Also, Paul reacts to the IDW Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot’s first year, now on GlobalComix. Subscribe and find video episodes at comicssyllabus.substack.com and find @TwoPlai on social media. Let’s keep reading! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit comicssyllabus.substack.com

    Infinite Unlimited 12.07.2025. Aaron for the Win! Abso-Supes, Turtles, and Miles ahead...

  2. 11/30/2025

    Infinite Unlimited 11.30.2025. What makes eXceptional X-Men? And DC KOs again...

    Summary In this episode of Infinite Unlimited, Paul Lai (twoplai at BlueSky and Insta) returns to discuss the latest comic book releases from Marvel Unlimited and DC Universe Infinite Ultra. From MU, we dive into notable titles such as Black Cat, Spider Gwen, and most of all, Exceptional X-Men #12 by Eve Ewing and Federica Mancin. On DC Universe Infinite, we glance same-day DC KO #2 and the special 2025 anthology issue of Superman: Red and Blue. Super issues include Batman and Robin: Year One #12 and Absolute Batman Annual #1. The episode wraps up with a comparison of Marvel and DC's offerings this week and a mention of GlobalComix carrying (most of) Void Rivals. Subscribe and find us at comicssyllabus.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit comicssyllabus.substack.com

    Infinite Unlimited 11.30.2025. What makes eXceptional X-Men? And DC KOs again...

  3. 10/09/2022

    Comics Syllabus 4TKI: STRANGE ACADEMY!

    On this week’s Comics Syllabus for Kids, Teens, and In-Betweens, Teacher Dad and Cohost Kid matriculate in “Strange Academy,” the 18-issue (with more to come!) Marvel series written by Skottie Young and drawn by Humberto Ramos and Edgar Delgado. Listen to find out what makes this is great comic for young readers, who our favorite characters (or “Brorsons”) are, and why we loved the series! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit comicssyllabus.substack.com

  4. 09/25/2022

    EVERYDAY HERO MACHINE BOY Creators Irma Kniivila and Tri Vuong interviewed!

    On this week’s Comics Syllabus, we’re proud to share this interview with Irma Kniivila and Tri Vuong, the creators of the new EVERYDAY HERO MACHINE BOY (Image Comics)! We’re totally in love with this action-packed, hilarious, heart-warming comic about an alien robot, Machine Boy, who finds identity, love, and friendship among earthlings like Grandma Karate, Mr. Hound, and a charming (and nefarious?!?) boyband known as “Orphan Universe”! It’s hands-down one of the best comics I’ve read this year. The wildly fun graphic novel is the brainchild of collaborators Vuong and Kniivila. We bring you the full conversation with them about Machine Boy’s origins, their influences, and how these two cartoonists and studio mates reined in their creative chaos to make this magical book. Irma and Tri are wonderful and inspiring to listen to! Some of our conversation was printed at our home at Multiversitycomics.com but we’re pleased to present the whole enchilada (or maybe… bowl of spaghetti?) here at the Comics Syllabus podcast. Check out “Everday Hero Machine Boy” from Image/Skybound, and you can also find Tri Vuong on the super-fun Lego Ninja Garmadon (Image) and Irma Kniivila’s very lovable Year of the Dog. Let’s dig deep! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit comicssyllabus.substack.com

  5. 09/11/2022

    Captain Marvel! by Kelly Thompson and Carmen Carnero and other artists

    This week on Comics Syllabus 4 Kids, Teens, and In-Betweens, Teacher Dad and Cohost Kid chat about the “Captain Marvel” current run written by Kelly Thompson with art by the likes of Carmen Carnero, Lee Garbett, Takeshi Miyakawa, and various others. We also chat about “It’s Jeff!” the Landshark, Central Park on Apple TV, and some of the MCU announcements from D23. Here we gooooooooo…. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit comicssyllabus.substack.com

    Captain Marvel! by Kelly Thompson and Carmen Carnero and other artists

  6. 08/27/2022

    She-Hulk... the show AND the current comic!

    On this episode of Comics Syllabus for Kids, Teens, and Big Green Machines… SHE-HULK! Teacher Dad and Cohost Kid chat about the MCU TV show She-Hulk: Attorney-at-Law (after episode 1) and the current “She-Hulk” run from Marvel Comics written by Rainbow Rowell, with art by Rogé Antônio and Luca Maresca. Super cool comics run! We talk Jack of Hearts, Titania fights, and much more! Thanks for tuning in to the Comics Syllabus for Kids, Teens, and In-betweens! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit comicssyllabus.substack.com

  7. 08/14/2022

    SQUIRREL GIRL Novels by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale and INVISIBLE by Christina Diaz Gonzalez & Gabriela Epstein

    On this very first REAL REAL episode of Comics Syllabus for Kids, Teens, and In-Betweens… We kick things off with SQUIRREL GIRL: SQUIRREL MEETS WORLD and SQUIRREL GIRL: 2 FUZZY, 2 FURIOUS (Marvel/Disney/Hyperion) by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, two novels featuring the pre-comics background story of Doreen Green. Listen to Cohost Kid and Teacher Dad go nuts over these fun adaptations into prose of our favorite Marvel character (#SquirrelGirlBoopsTheMCU). Then, we uncover INVISIBLE, an awesome new graphic novel from author Christina Diaz Gonzalez and creator Gabriela Epstein (Scholastic/Graphix), a very cool new young readers graphic novel about friendship, community, and diversity. A group of Latine/Latinx/Latino/a students at a middle school are thrown into community service at the school cafeteria, when they find a chance to help neighbors in need… and find out a lot about each other. Super cool graphic novel for all ages, and we dig into our “YAYS!” and our “meh…s” about INVISIBLE. Thanks for listening! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit comicssyllabus.substack.com

  8. 08/14/2022

    Announcement: Cohost Kid Joins as Regular Cohost with Teacher Dad

    ANNOUNCEMENT! For a loooong time, Paul (aka “Teacher Dad”) has been hosting the Comics Syllabus podcast mostly solo, reading widely and digging deep into comics and graphic novels. …But NOW, the day has come for COHOST KID to join EVERY EPISODE OF “Comics Syllabus for Kids, Teens, and In-Betweens.” This is our special announcement pod. (Sorry for the re-duplication— this audio is also attached to the Comics Syllabus main feed podcast combined with audio of the first INFINITE UNLIMITED episode of this era! But if you’re only subscribing to the new Comics Syllabus 4 Kids, Teens, and Inbetweens -only feed here, this will be the first episode that appears.) Every other week, Teacher Dad and Cohost Kid will brave the wide world of graphic novels and comics for all ages, wherever our curiosity and optimism take us. Join us! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit comicssyllabus.substack.com

    Announcement: Cohost Kid Joins as Regular Cohost with Teacher Dad
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4.8
out of 5
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About

A comics and graphic novels appreciation podcast, where literacy educator Paul Lai (@twoplai) reads widely and digs deep in search of the socio-cultural, literary, and artistic significance of comic books, including superhero media, graphic novels, all-ages comics, and comic shop single issues. For comics fans, teachers, librarians and parents, and young readers alike. comicssyllabus.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    paul lai
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2025
  • Episodes
    206
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © paul lai
  • Show Website
    Comics Syllabus