Storied Arcs

Storied Arcs

Welcome to Storied Arcs! A read-along deep dive into comics, one story arc at a time...In each episode, we will discuss one story arc, typically in the form of a trade paperback, for a completed comic series. In general, we will be avoiding ongoing or continuing series so that we can discuss a work in its entirety. We’ll also be avoiding the “big two” (Marvel and DC.) While we love those comics, there are plenty of podcasts covering characters like Batman, Superman, Spiderman, and so on. Instead, we’re excited to explore some of the great creator-owned stories. We’ll deep dive into the story while evaluating the prose, art, and all the easter eggs we can find. Learn more at www.storiedarcs.com

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  1. Intro to Manifest Destiny & Creator Spotlight: Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts

    EPISODE 1

    Intro to Manifest Destiny & Creator Spotlight: Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts

    Send us Fan Mail For the next season of Storied Arcs, Mike and Alex will heading into the western frontier as they tackle Manifest Destiny by Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts from Image Comics/Skybound. They guys give a spoiler-free pitch for the comic (aside from the parts of the book that intersect with known history) and chat a bit about some of their expectations going into the story. Then they give the comics background on the creative team of Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts, as well as colorist Owen Gieni and letter Pat Brosseau.  The plan is to cover this book two trade collections at a time, so go find Manifest Destiny Volumes 1 and 2 (issues #1-12) wherever you get your comics, and join us back here next week to break it all down! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsOr specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.comSubscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

    38 min
  2. Manifest Destiny Volumes 01 & 02

    EPISODE 2

    Manifest Destiny Volumes 01 & 02

    Send us Fan Mail "Men are braced for action. Surely we will encounter the creatures spoken of by President Jefferson when he wisely commissioned this mission." Welcome to the latest season of Storied Arcs! This week, Mike and Alex begin their trek westward with the Corps of Discovery as they dive into Manifest Destiny Volumes 1 and 2 (issues #1-12) by Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts from Image Comics. The guys start with an overview of their thoughts, sharing what their expectations were heading into this story and how those changed and/or shifted once they started reading. Then they examine the story through the lens of the known historical record of Lewis and Clark and discuss when events in the book map onto events in real life and why the creators might have chosen those points to sync up when they did. Finally, they touch on the vibrancy of the art and colors in the comic and some of the visual flourishes they enjoyed in these issues. The expedition continues next week as we make our way further into the unknown, so pick up Manifest Destiny Volumes 3 and 4 (issues #13-24) wherever you get your comics and join us back here again to break it all down! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsOr specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.comSubscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

    1h 12m
  3. Manifest Destiny Volumes 03 & 04

    EPISODE 3

    Manifest Destiny Volumes 03 & 04

    Send us Fan Mail "There is vast land out there, but it is deadly. And we can't destroy that danger. Only Navath, Keeper of the Realms, can. But we must pay. Make a sacrifice." This week, Mike and Alex continue their journey west with Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts' Manifest Destiny Volumes 3 and 4 (issues #13-24) from Image Comics. The guys discuss the narrative swings these volumes take, from jumping back and forth through time to tweaking the established story format, and break down what elements of those swings do and don't work for them. They also dive into the darker turn the book takes in these issues and why they felt it was important that happened. Finally, they throw out some overarching theories (pun intended) on the nature of the structures depicted in the book, and how they might relate to the arch we know exists in our world. We've hit the halfway point of the book but there's still plenty of ground to cover, so pick up Manifest Destiny Volumes 5 and 6 (issues #25-36) wherever you get your comics and join us here again next week to dive into it all! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsOr specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.comSubscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

    1h 9m
  4. Manifest Destiny Volumes 05 & 06

    EPISODE 4

    Manifest Destiny Volumes 05 & 06

    Send us Fan Mail "If we have learned nothing on this journey, it is the fact that we know nothing. What the next danger will be, or where it will come from." Mike and Alex are back this week to continue their trek through Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts' Manifest Destiny from Image Comics with Volumes 5 and 6 (issues #26-35). They dive right into how the book followed up on the major revelations shown in Volume 4, and how the creators kept the tension and conflict present as they continued to deliver their version of the "monster of the week" story. The guys then discussed how the shifting viewpoints of the journal writings worked for them as a narrative device. Finally, they note the story elements that have them the most intrigued going into the final issues of the book. We wrap up our expedition next week with our final deep dive into the story, so go find Manifest Destiny Volumes 7 and 8 (issues #37-48) wherever you get your comics and join up back here again for the anchor leg discussion! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsOr specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.comSubscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

    1h 7m
  5. Manifest Destiny Volumes 07 & 08

    EPISODE 5

    Manifest Destiny Volumes 07 & 08

    Send us Fan Mail "This place will always be of monsters." This week, Mike and Alex wrap up their discussion of Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts' Manifest Destiny from Image Comics with Volumes 7 and 8 (issues #37-48). The guys discuss the end of the Corps of Discovery and the final encounter at the Pacific Ocean and what they think the books says, if anything, about the expedition. They break down the ending pages and admire how the book managed to weave itself back in line with known historical facts, even adding some additional context to perhaps how and why certain characters met the fate they did. Finally, the guys look back on their journey with this comic and how it ultimately ranks in their minds. We've reached the end of our discussions but we're not quite finished with Manifest Destiny. Stay tuned next week for an exclusive interview with artist Matthew Roberts which we recorded live at the Lexington Comic and Toy Convention. It's a great chat with on the creative minds behind this comic, and we hope you enjoy it! Thanks for listening to Storied Arcs Find us on your favorite podcast platform and leave a 5-star review!Find all links here: https://linktr.ee/storiedarcsOr specifically, find us on BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Twitter/X.Learn more about our hosts, the show, or where to find us at www.storiedarcs.comSubscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Google Podcast, or anywhere else fine podcasts are found!

    1h 25m
See All Season 49 (5)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to Storied Arcs! A read-along deep dive into comics, one story arc at a time...In each episode, we will discuss one story arc, typically in the form of a trade paperback, for a completed comic series. In general, we will be avoiding ongoing or continuing series so that we can discuss a work in its entirety. We’ll also be avoiding the “big two” (Marvel and DC.) While we love those comics, there are plenty of podcasts covering characters like Batman, Superman, Spiderman, and so on. Instead, we’re excited to explore some of the great creator-owned stories. We’ll deep dive into the story while evaluating the prose, art, and all the easter eggs we can find. Learn more at www.storiedarcs.com

Information

  • Creator
    Storied Arcs
  • Episodes
    205
  • Seasons
    48
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Storied Arcs
  • Show Website
    Storied Arcs