Comics Rot Your Brain!

Steven Bagatourian & Christopher Derrick

COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions). In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Chris Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) & Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) discuss favorite books, runs, and creators.The Bronze Age is — for us —  the greatest era in comics history. This time period was defined by a weird rift in the fabric of spacetime that allowed an industry in flux to reimagine what was possible. We all remember the eye-popping results: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, WATCHMEN, CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, LOVE & ROCKETS, MAUS, etc.…But what of the lesser-known gems of this era: THRILLER, GRIMJACK, NEXUS, CONCRETE, MR. MONSTER, SCOUT, STRAY TOASTERS, and so many others!? These comics and their creators blazed radical new trails that changed the course of comics forever but often are left out of today’s discourse.COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! exists to celebrate and reckon with the extraordinary legacy of 1980s American comics — all of it.Join us!   

  1. The X-Men Comic That Changed Everything: LifeDeath

    12/07/2025

    The X-Men Comic That Changed Everything: LifeDeath

    Uncanny X-Men #186 — “LifeDeath” — remains one of the boldest creative swings in Marvel history. Instead of battles and villains, Chris Claremont and Barry Windsor-Smith deliver a quiet, emotionally devastating story about identity, trauma, and the cost of rebuilding yourself after everything is taken away. COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions). In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) and Christopher Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age. In this video, Chris examines why LifeDeath is such a groundbreaking moment in the X-Men's long, fabled canon — from Storm’s loss of her powers, to Forge’s haunted past, to the painterly visual language Windsor-Smith used to redefine what superhero comics could look like in the 1980s. If you love the X-Men, Storm, Forge, Claremont’s writing, Windsor-Smith’s art, or deep-dive comics analysis, this issue is essential, and its legacy still echoes today. #XMen #MarvelComics #comichistory Drop us a line! Support the show + Check out our YouTube channel to get a look at some of the fantastic art featured in our episodes. Visit ComicsRotYourBrain.com to sign up for our newsletter, Letter Column. You can also find us wherever you stream your favorite podcasts. + We appreciate your support of the show via Patreon: ComicsRotYourBrain + For even more cool shit, read Chris's Substack (cinema, comics, and culture) - THIN ICE ©2024 Comics Rot Your Brain! #comicbooks #comics #graphicnovel

    1h 5m
  2. Before The Terminator came Marvel's KILLER CYBORB | Captain America - The Deathlok Saga

    10/19/2025

    Before The Terminator came Marvel's KILLER CYBORB | Captain America - The Deathlok Saga

    See how this run reframes Cap’s identity through the lens of a cyborg from the future. The Deathlok Saga | CAPTAIN AMERICA #286 – 288 (DeMatteis & Zeck). In this first episode of CRYB!  Season 3, Chris dives into one of Marvel’s most haunting time-travel/identity stories.  He examines how J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck transform a sci-fi popcorn thriller into a meditation on what makes a hero human. COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions). In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) and Christopher Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age. 👉 Like, comment with your theories about Deathlok, and subscribe for more episodes! Support Our Patreon -   / comicsrotyourbrain  Drop us a line! Support the show + Check out our YouTube channel to get a look at some of the fantastic art featured in our episodes. Visit ComicsRotYourBrain.com to sign up for our newsletter, Letter Column. You can also find us wherever you stream your favorite podcasts. + We appreciate your support of the show via Patreon: ComicsRotYourBrain + For even more cool shit, read Chris's Substack (cinema, comics, and culture) - THIN ICE ©2024 Comics Rot Your Brain! #comicbooks #comics #graphicnovel

    1h 3m
  3. The Most Influential Superhero You've Never Heard Of | Milligan & McCarthy's PARADAX!

    09/06/2025

    The Most Influential Superhero You've Never Heard Of | Milligan & McCarthy's PARADAX!

    https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxONuw60a0sJXul6nw7-lmlyjgB-lkn5C&si=KOQWYJLqYpDi04O2 In this solo episode, Steven excavates the tomb of the ‘80s most obscure proto-influencer/superhero, the weirdo wonder himself, that achingly irreverent NYC hipster super dude… PARADAX! (STRANGE DAYS #1 - 3, Eclipse Comics, 1984). COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions). In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) and Christopher Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age. Support Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/ComicsRotYourBrain The Most Influential Superhero You've Never Heard Of | Milligan & McCarthy's PARADAX! 🎙️ Show Notes ✨ #comics #comicbooks #bronzeagecomics Drop us a line! Support the show + Check out our YouTube channel to get a look at some of the fantastic art featured in our episodes. Visit ComicsRotYourBrain.com to sign up for our newsletter, Letter Column. You can also find us wherever you stream your favorite podcasts. + We appreciate your support of the show via Patreon: ComicsRotYourBrain + For even more cool shit, read Chris's Substack (cinema, comics, and culture) - THIN ICE ©2024 Comics Rot Your Brain! #comicbooks #comics #graphicnovel

    1h 32m
  4. ALIEN LEGION (Epic Comics, 1984) Footsloggers, Soldiers Of Fortune, Priests, Poets, Killers And Cads

    07/26/2025

    ALIEN LEGION (Epic Comics, 1984) Footsloggers, Soldiers Of Fortune, Priests, Poets, Killers And Cads

    COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions). In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Chris Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) and Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age of comics. Steven and Chris enlist in Epic Comics' ALIEN LEGION (1984), created by Carl Potts, Alan Zelenetz, and Frank Cirocco. Later issues are drawn by Larry Stroman and Randy Emberlin. SHOW NOTES  00:00 - Opening pitch OO:52 - Theme song 01:06 - Intro to the remarkable ALIEN LEGION 12:10 - How the floppies differ from the collected trade editions, in regard to THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE-style entries provided for the main legionnaires 14:26 - Issue One, "Survival of the Fittest!" Zelenetz and Cirocco’s specific way of approaching this sprawling space opera 28:15 - Issues Two: "Blind Trust!" 40:26 - Allusions to LOST — Did that classic TV series draw inspiration for its “bottle episodes” and their solo character flashback structures from ALIEN LEGION? 51:53 - Torqa Dun & Jugger Grimrod as sketchy legionnaires in the Wolverine and Punisher mold 59:55 - A detour into the challenges of creator-owned comics 1:18:00 - Issue Three, "Last Gamble!” and its Back-up Story 01:31:07 - Era of post-decompressed storytelling and Frank Cirocco’s exquisitely-designed cover art 01:36:27 - Issue Four: "The Killing Zone!” - the big Torie Montroc’s solo issue 01:57:55 - Issue 6: “Operation Nerve Center!” - The character of alien soldier, Dirge, and his all-too-human battle with an addiction to a performance-enhancing drug 01:41:24 - The use of thought balloons as an essential window into the deepest vulnerabilities of our traumatized cosmic battalion. “Soldiers in this insane crucible of battle.”  02:06:28 - Impostor syndrome in ALIEN LEGION -- the neurotic, inadequate, deeply insecure messes who are our main players, along with the increasingly expansive cast of characters in this world 02:25:18 - Issue 12: “Hollow Harvest!” The arrival of the great Larry Stroman brings a distinctly new visual flair to the book and some awesomely stylized hair! 02:43:21 - Issue 13: “Moonlilies for Cora Cora!” = FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON 03:07:22 - Issue 14: “Reprise!” - the devastating next chapter 03:19:51 - Issue 15: “The Official Death of Jugger Grimrod!” The title says it all. 03:34:11 - Issue 16: “Demons!” - Intro of Tamara, the first woman legionnaire 03:48:25 - Travis Charest & Larry Stroman both drawing DARKSTARS for DC! Discussion of Charest’s early work -- WILDCATS w/ Alan Moore and METABARONS 03:59:30 - You can tell every genre of story as a war story. 04:00:45 - ALIEN LEGION as the ultimate, hyper-compressed metaphor for life. “We’re all in the Drop us a line! Support the show + Check out our YouTube channel to get a look at some of the fantastic art featured in our episodes. Visit ComicsRotYourBrain.com to sign up for our newsletter, Letter Column. You can also find us wherever you stream your favorite podcasts. + We appreciate your support of the show via Patreon: ComicsRotYourBrain + For even more cool shit, read Chris's Substack (cinema, comics, and culture) - THIN ICE ©2024 Comics Rot Your Brain! #comicbooks #comics #graphicnovel

    4h 3m
  5. LOST FORGOTTEN What’s The Deal With Frank Miller’s First Solo ELEKTRA Story

    07/13/2025

    LOST FORGOTTEN What’s The Deal With Frank Miller’s First Solo ELEKTRA Story

    https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxONuw60a0sJXul6nw7-lmlyjgB-lkn5C&si=KOQWYJLqYpDi04O2 In a solo episode, Chris looks at Frank Miller's first published Elektra solo adventure, working for an on-the-run Nazi, in a story called "Cobra" that appeared in BIZARRE ADVENTURES #28 (Marvel Comics, 1981), a black-and-white anthology comics magazine. COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions). In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) and Christopher Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age. Support Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/ComicsRotYourBrain 🎙️ Show Notes ✨ 00:00 - Intro - where and when this 14-page story appeared 01:09 - Theme song 04:34 - Read-thru of “Cobra” 20:11 - Miller's masterful use of Duotone 44:10 - Miller as a controversial creator  #comics #comicbooks #frankmiller #elektra #bronzeagecomics Drop us a line! Support the show + Check out our YouTube channel to get a look at some of the fantastic art featured in our episodes. Visit ComicsRotYourBrain.com to sign up for our newsletter, Letter Column. You can also find us wherever you stream your favorite podcasts. + We appreciate your support of the show via Patreon: ComicsRotYourBrain + For even more cool shit, read Chris's Substack (cinema, comics, and culture) - THIN ICE ©2024 Comics Rot Your Brain! #comicbooks #comics #graphicnovel

    47 min
  6. REJECTED By The Comics Code! Alan Moore & Kevin O’Neil’s Infamous GREEN LANTERN

    06/30/2025

    REJECTED By The Comics Code! Alan Moore & Kevin O’Neil’s Infamous GREEN LANTERN

    In a solo episode, Steven descends into a “corpse world” in the furthest reaches of the galaxy to examine the infamous GREEN LANTERN CORP story, “Tygers” (GREEN LANTERN CORP Annual #2, DC Comics, 1986), otherwise known as “The Last Temptation of Abin Sur.” Brace yourself for a disturbing ride! COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions). In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) and Christopher Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age. You can see art from this controversial comic here on YouTube. Support Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/ComicsRotYourBrain Drop us a line! Support the show + Check out our YouTube channel to get a look at some of the fantastic art featured in our episodes. Visit ComicsRotYourBrain.com to sign up for our newsletter, Letter Column. You can also find us wherever you stream your favorite podcasts. + We appreciate your support of the show via Patreon: ComicsRotYourBrain + For even more cool shit, read Chris's Substack (cinema, comics, and culture) - THIN ICE ©2024 Comics Rot Your Brain! #comicbooks #comics #graphicnovel

    41 min
  7. Aliens Transplant MAN’S BRAIN Into MONSTER'S BODY!

    05/17/2025

    Aliens Transplant MAN’S BRAIN Into MONSTER'S BODY!

    Steven & Chris explore the rocky emotional terrain winding through the first four issues of Paul Chadwick’s imposingly granite-bodied softie, the brooding giant who is CONCRETE (Dark Horse Comics, 1987). COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions). In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) and Christopher Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age. Support Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/ComicsRotYourBrain #comics #comicbooks #graphicnovel #bronzeagecomics Drop us a line! Support the show + Check out our YouTube channel to get a look at some of the fantastic art featured in our episodes. Visit ComicsRotYourBrain.com to sign up for our newsletter, Letter Column. You can also find us wherever you stream your favorite podcasts. + We appreciate your support of the show via Patreon: ComicsRotYourBrain + For even more cool shit, read Chris's Substack (cinema, comics, and culture) - THIN ICE ©2024 Comics Rot Your Brain! #comicbooks #comics #graphicnovel

    4h 10m
  8. CRYB! Interview: LADRÖNN (Final Incal, Sons of El Topo, Metal Hurlant, Cable, The Inhumans)

    04/23/2025

    CRYB! Interview: LADRÖNN (Final Incal, Sons of El Topo, Metal Hurlant, Cable, The Inhumans)

    Steven and Chris sit down with legendary Mexican comic book artist, Jose Ladrönn, for a lively discussion about his influences, his work with Alejandro Jodorosky on the FINAL INCAL and SONS OF EL TOPO, plus a whole host of indispensable advice.   COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions). In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) and Christopher Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age. Support Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/ComicsRotYourBrain Comics Rot Your Brain © 2025 Drop us a line! Support the show + Check out our YouTube channel to get a look at some of the fantastic art featured in our episodes. Visit ComicsRotYourBrain.com to sign up for our newsletter, Letter Column. You can also find us wherever you stream your favorite podcasts. + We appreciate your support of the show via Patreon: ComicsRotYourBrain + For even more cool shit, read Chris's Substack (cinema, comics, and culture) - THIN ICE ©2024 Comics Rot Your Brain! #comicbooks #comics #graphicnovel

    2h 18m
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COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comics (plus a few notable exceptions). In this weekly podcast, screenwriters Chris Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) & Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) discuss favorite books, runs, and creators.The Bronze Age is — for us —  the greatest era in comics history. This time period was defined by a weird rift in the fabric of spacetime that allowed an industry in flux to reimagine what was possible. We all remember the eye-popping results: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, WATCHMEN, CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, LOVE & ROCKETS, MAUS, etc.…But what of the lesser-known gems of this era: THRILLER, GRIMJACK, NEXUS, CONCRETE, MR. MONSTER, SCOUT, STRAY TOASTERS, and so many others!? These comics and their creators blazed radical new trails that changed the course of comics forever but often are left out of today’s discourse.COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! exists to celebrate and reckon with the extraordinary legacy of 1980s American comics — all of it.Join us!   

Information

  • Creator
    Steven Bagatourian & Christopher Derrick
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Comics Rot Your Brain!
  • Show Website
    Comics Rot Your Brain!