Page Chewing

Steve

Page Chewing is where books, comics, and conversations collide. From in-depth chats with authors and artists to lively discussions with fellow readers, we explore the craft of storytelling, the worlds we love, and the ideas that stay with us long after the last page.

  1. 1d ago

    150 Episodes of Comics, Trombones & Picks of the Week | Panel Chewing #150

    Panel Chewing has officially reached 150 episodes! We kick off this milestone episode with a question for comic collectors and readers: does the physical format of a comic matter? From standard issues and oversized magazine format books to tiny Lone Wolf and Cub editions, we talk about size, paper quality, price, collecting headaches and whether publishers like DSTLRY are using larger formats as a gimmick, or genuinely giving readers something better. Then we realize something pretty important: this is episode 150. So we take a moment to thank everyone who's listened, watched and joined us along the way. This week's reviews include: Absolute Batman #24 Conan: Tides of the Tyrant King #1 Killer Influences #3 Black Tower: The Raven Conspiracy #2 Regicide #2 Solomon Kane: The Lion Errant #3 Terabytes #10 Black Star #3 The Eye Collector #4 Then it's time for our Picks of the Week. Jarrod chooses A Mischief of Magpies #2, a surprisingly emotional portal fantasy from Simon Spurrier and Matías Bergara that digs into loneliness, trauma and the uncertain line between fantasy and reality. Steve goes with Babs: The Long Road South #5 by Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows, as the series continues mercilessly poking fun at fantasy conventions and especially poor Samwise Gamgee. Finally, our Lone Wolf and Cub group read continues with Volume 18: Twilight of the Kurokuwa. This volume leads us into some surprisingly complicated questions about Ogami Itto. Does he have any moral obligation to help people suffering around him? Is his claim that he walks the road of demons enough to absolve him of that responsibility? And just how important is Daigoro in keeping his father connected to his humanity? We eventually realize that Daigoro may be something even more important: He's Ogami's lifeline. Thanks to everyone who helped us reach 150 episodes of Panel Chewing. Here's to whatever we end up reading, and tromboning, next. Page Chewing Blog Page Chewing Forum Support Page Chewing on Patreon Affiliate Links that support the show: Audible Standard Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4z1iKns Audible Standard Monthly Membership: https://amzn.to/3S6vadd Kindle Unlimited Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4wqkYdD Amazon Prime Free Trial: https://amzn.to/3UptxI9 Join Captivate.fm Send a message via SpeakPipe

    150 Episodes of Comics, Trombones & Picks of the Week | Panel Chewing #150
  2. 1d ago

    My Top 10 Grimdark & Dark Fantasy Books

    What are my favorite grimdark and dark fantasy books? This isn't quite the usual list. I'm counting down ten of the books and series that have stuck with me the most—from lesser-known indie fantasy to some familiar names that longtime Page Chewing listeners probably won't be surprised to see near the top. We get into brutal worlds, morally complicated characters, dark humor, grief, violence, philosophy, unforgettable endings, and the books that have affected me enough that I literally needed to put them down and walk away for a while. The list includes Obsidian Awakening, The Rift Cycle, The Hellborn King, Empires of Dust, The Winter Road, The Scroungers, Gunmetal Gods, Ash and Sand, Manifest Delusions and The Second Apocalypse, plus one honorable mention that longtime listeners may remember from my older lists. These aren't necessarily the ten "best" grimdark books ever written. They're the ones that have meant the most to me. What's on your list? Books and series discussed include (Amazon Affiliate Links): • Obsidian Awakening — Sienna Frost https://link.amazon/B0gz9gyrt • The Rift Cycle — Halo Scot https://link.amazon/B06EKTHuz • The Hellborn King — Christopher G. Brenning https://link.amazon/B0appWmMy • Empires of Dust — Anna Smith Spark https://link.amazon/B05D0Uxfh • The Winter Road — Adrian Selby https://link.amazon/B07PHpikK • The Scroungers — Thomas J. Devens https://link.amazon/B02IzPtk9 • Gunmetal Gods — Zamil Akhtar https://link.amazon/B0crYuL4Z • Ash and Sand — Richard Nell https://link.amazon/B07fNvleB • Manifest Delusions — Michael R. Fletcher https://link.amazon/B0iUbz9tX • The Second Apocalypse — R. Scott Bakker https://link.amazon/B0cYuIhxt Page Chewing Blog Page Chewing Forum Support Page Chewing on Patreon Affiliate Links that support the show: Audible Standard Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4z1iKns Audible Standard Monthly Membership: https://amzn.to/3S6vadd Kindle Unlimited Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4wqkYdD Amazon Prime Free Trial: https://amzn.to/3UptxI9 Join Captivate.fm Send a message via SpeakPipe

  3. 6d ago

    You Don’t Read Comics? Here Are 10 Great Places to Start

    Think comic books are all superheroes, capes, and decades of confusing continuity? There’s a lot more to the medium than that. In this episode, Steve shares 10 comics he’d recommend to someone who says, “I don’t read comics—where do I start?” This isn’t a ranking of the greatest comics ever written. Instead, these are approachable recommendations covering fantasy, crime, science fiction, comedy, superheroes, and several very different flavors of horror. The recommendations include (Amazon Affiliate links): • The Sacrificers by Rick Remender & Max Fiumara Think comic books are all superheroes, capes, and decades of confusing continuity? There’s a lot more to the medium than that. In this episode, Steve shares 10 comics he’d recommend to someone who says, “I don’t read comics—where do I start?” This isn’t a ranking of the greatest comics ever written. Instead, these are approachable recommendations covering fantasy, crime, science fiction, comedy, superheroes, and several very different flavors of horror. The recommendations include: • The Sacrificers by Rick Remender & Max Fiumara Think comic books are all superheroes, capes, and decades of confusing continuity? There’s a lot more to the medium than that. In this episode, Steve shares 10 comics he’d recommend to someone who says, “I don’t read comics—where do I start?” This isn’t a ranking of the greatest comics ever written. Instead, these are approachable recommendations covering fantasy, crime, science fiction, comedy, superheroes, and several very different flavors of horror. The recommendations include: • The Sacrificers by Rick Remender & Max Fiumara https://link.amazon/B03Y866kK • Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees by Patrick Horvath https://link.amazon/B0chreKuc • Assorted Crisis Events by Deniz Camp & Eric Zawadzki https://link.amazon/B03m4VzFI • Where the Body Was by Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips https://link.amazon/B0g3b8ySs • Babs by Garth Ennis & Jacen Burrows https://link.amazon/B0043qbFX • Stray Bullets by David Lapham https://link.amazon/B093itu1n • Invincible by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker & Ryan Ottley https://link.amazon/B03TvFVDV • Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons https://link.amazon/B07tucQpR • Into the Unbeing by Zac Thompson & Hayden Sherman https://link.amazon/B0gBWfqHQ • Crossed by Garth Ennis & Jacen Burrows https://link.amazon/B0dQpdW0S Whether you already love crime novels, dark fantasy, weird science fiction, extreme horror—or maybe you actually do want superheroes—there should be something here to help you find your way into comics. And if you’re already a comic reader: what ONE comic would you hand to someone who says they don’t read comics? Page Chewing Blog Page Chewing Forum Support Page Chewing on Patreon Affiliate Links that support the show: Audible Standard Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4z1iKns Audible Standard Monthly Membership: https://amzn.to/3S6vadd Kindle Unlimited Free Trial: https://amzn.to/4wqkYdD Amazon Prime Free Trial: https://amzn.to/3UptxI9 Join Captivate.fm Send a message via SpeakPipe

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Page Chewing is where books, comics, and conversations collide. From in-depth chats with authors and artists to lively discussions with fellow readers, we explore the craft of storytelling, the worlds we love, and the ideas that stay with us long after the last page.