jeff smith

by

Listen to ‘Gobbledygeek’ Episode 293, “Bone: Coda”

bonecoda

Gobbledygeek episode 293, “Bone: Coda,” is available for listening or download right here and on iTunes here.

Are you in the mood to Bone? I hope so, because Paul and Arlo are returning to the world of Jeff Smith’s cartoonish epic, which they explored in last year’s Four-Color Flashback series, to discuss the newly released 25th anniversary book Bone: Coda. The new adventure included in the volume is described as a “completely superfluous” addition to the saga of the Bone cousins–Fone, Phoney, and Smiley–which proves that there is indeed truth in advertising. The story picks up right where Smith’s magnum opus left off in 2004, but it’s merely a cute little one-off. The boys debate the merits of such an inconsequential return while discussing the other two-thirds of the book, which consist of Smith’s memoir-esque piece “A Moveable Pizza Party” and Stephen Weiner’s A Bone Companion (what, they couldn’t get Hy Bender?). Plus, Paul spent his summer vacation reading 131 comic books and Arlo describes Akron’s diverse grilled cheese climate.

Next: Jeff Bridges poet Donora Hillard returns to the show to talk about whatever she damn well pleases.

(Show notes for “Bone: Coda.”)

by

Listen to ‘Gobbledygeek’ Episode 260, “Bone: Vol. IX – Crown of Horns”

bone9

Gobbledygeek episode 260, “Bone: Vol. IX – Crown of Horns,” is available for listening or download right here and on iTunes here.

When the world was new, and dreams had not yet receded from the waking day…Paul and AJ had begun reading Jeff Smith’s cartoonish magnum opus Bone. Well, it hasn’t been quite that long, but the boys have been analyzing Bone all year long for 2015’s Four-Color Flashback series, and their journey has finally come to an end. After admitting frustration with the endless infodumps and constant mythological revelations in the latter half of the series, they have a lot of hopes for Vol. IX: Crown of Horns. Does Smith deliver on these hopes? Does the series work better when viewed on a macro level? Does the ending fit with what has come before? Should you recommend Bone to friends looking to get into comics? My tinglin’ scalp says the answers are all here.

Next: for our final episode this year, So Let’s Get to the Point‘s Kenn Edwards, The Deli Counter of Justice co-editor Eric Sipple, and Star Wars fanatic Andrew Allen join Paul and AJ for a discussion of the obscure arthouse film Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens.

(Show notes for “Bone: Vol. IX – Crown of Horns.”)

by

Listen to ‘Gobbledygeek’ Episode 256, “Bone: Vol. VIII – Treasure Hunters (feat. Greg Sahadachny)”

bone8

Art from ‘Bone: Vol. VIII – Treasure Hunters’ by Jeff Smith and Steve Hamaker.

Gobbledygeek episode 256, “Bone: Vol VIII – Treasure Hunters (feat. Greg Sahadachny),” is available for listening or download right here, and on iTunes here.

Penultimate installments are tricky. They need to deliver on longstanding character arcs and plot threads while at the same time ensuring everything is in place for the finale just so. As tricky a balance as the one between life and death, one might say. Is it possible that Paul, AJ, and The Debatable Podcast‘s Greg Sahadachny manage that balance with the penultimate installment of their Four-Color Flashback series discussing Jeff Smith’s Bone better than Smith himself does with Vol. VIII: Treasure Hunters? Maybe so. The boys discuss their weariness of the series’ ever-expanding mythology and continuous infodumps, while debating whether or not anything of note actually occurs in this volume. They try and say some kind things, too. Plus, even more boning with a discussion of the Kurt Russell Western Bone Tomahawk.

Next: Paul and AJ throw a belated celebration for the 25th anniversary of Sam Raimi’s first superhero film, Darkman.

(Show notes for “Bone: Vol. VIII – Treasure Hunters.”)

by

Listen to ‘Gobbledygeek’ Episode 249, “Bone: Vol. VII – Ghost Circles (feat. Greg Sahadachny)”

bone7

Art from ‘Bone: Vol. VII – Ghost Circles’ by Jeff Smith and Steve Hamaker.

Gobbledygeek episode 249, “Bone: Vol. VII – Ghost Circles (feat. Greg Sahadachny),” is available for listening or download right here, and on iTunes here.

Great darkness falls across our podcast. May Paul, AJ, and Greg Sahadachny of The Debatable Podcast and All the Pieces Matter be equal to the burden as they continue their year-long Four-Color Flashback series on Jeff Smith’s Bone. This time, the gang turns to Vol. VII: Ghost Circles; if they thought everything happened last volume, even more everything happens this volume. Which begs the question: how much is too much? How many mythology infodumps before the series threatens to crumble beneath their weight? The gang discusses how the extensive exposition fits into Smith’s otherwise impeccable structure, how this cute lil’ comedy is handling its transition to dramatic fantasy epic, and–oh yes–the return of young Bartleby.

Next: it’s that time of year, ghouls and boils. Gobbledyween 2015 kicks off with a return appearance by Greg to discuss John Carpenter’s cult classic They Live.

(Show notes for “Bone: Vol. VII – Ghost Circles.”)

by

Listen to ‘Gobbledygeek’ Episode 245, “Bone: Vol. VI – Old Man’s Cave (feat. Greg Sahadachny)”

bone6

Art from ‘Bone: Vol. VI – Old Man’s Cave’ by Jeff Smith and Steve Hamaker.

Gobbledygeek episode 245, “Bone: Vol. VI – Old Man’s Cave (feat. Greg Sahadachny),” is available for listening or download right here, and on iTunes here.

Paul, AJ, and special guest Greg Sahadachny of The Debatable Podcast are each a small concentrated bit of dream carried along in the currents of Jeff Smith’s Bone, which they return to once more in another Four-Color Flashback installment. This time, the gang enters Vol. VI: Old Man’s Cave, in which…well, in which everything happens. Questions that have hung over the series from the first volume are finally answered, new wrinkles in the established mythology are revealed, and the main narrative appears to reach its climax. And yet three volumes remain on our journey. Plus, Paul discusses the documentary The Wolfpack, while AJ and Greg appear to resolve their feud before they get around to yelling at each other over Turbo Kid.

Next: oh God, it’s Jason Tabrys.

(Show notes for “Bone: Vol. VI – Old Man’s Cave.”)

by

Listen to ‘Gobbledygeek’ Episode 240, “Bone: Vol. V – Rock Jaw: Master of the Eastern Border (feat. Greg Sahadachny)”

bone5

Gobbledygeek episode 240, “Bone: Vol. V – Rock Jaw: Master of the Eastern Border (feat. Greg Sahadachny),” is available for listening or download right here, and on iTunes here.

Power is the only thing of substance in this world. Well, that and Jeff Smith’s Bone, which Greg Sahadachny of The Debatable Podcast joins Paul and AJ to discuss once more. This time, the gang scales the cliffs of Vol. V: Rock Jaw – Master of the Eastern Border. It’s an imposing title for such a straightforward volume, not to mention the shortest of the series thus far. Yet the boys find plenty to talk about, including the introduction of new character Roque Ja, a smooth-talking feline whose name no one can pronounce; the moving tale of Smiley and Bartleby the rat creature cub; and whether or not Smith gets away with the dreamlike narrative.

Next: Paul and AJ face the music with a new Geek Challenge. AJ must listen to Floodland by Sisters of Mercy, while Paul has to give John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band a spin.

(Show notes for “Bone: Vol. V – Rock Jaw: Master of the Eastern Border.”)

by

Listen to ‘Gobbledygeek’ Episode 236, “Bone: Vol. IV – The Dragonslayer (feat. Greg Sahadachny)”

bone4

Gobbledygeek episode 236, “Bone: Vol. IV – The Dragonslayer (feat. Greg Sahadachny),” is available for listening or download right here, and on iTunes here.

We got th’ gitchy feelin’, which can only mean one thing…it’s time for another Four-Color Flashback installment exploring the world of Jeff Smith’s Bone. Once again, Greg Sahadachny of The Debatable Podcast and All the Pieces Matter joins Paul and AJ to discuss Bone: Vol IV – The Dragonslayer. The series now has both feet in the “epic fantasy” realm, so the gang discusses how the expository infodumps work, how Smith maintains his sense of humor amid the darkness, Phoney’s major heel turn, and whether or not you should be reading this thing in color or black-and-white.

Next: while Paul and AJ are gone fishin’, they’ve discovered a “lost” Miyazaki Month episode! They’ll discuss the only two Miyazaki features they didn’t get to in April, 1979’s The Castle of Cagliostro and 2008’s Ponyo.

(Show notes for “Bone: Vol. IV – The Dragonslayer.”)

by

Listen to ‘Gobbledygeek’ Episode 230, “Bone: Vol. III – Eyes of the Storm (feat. Greg Sahadachny)”

bone3

Gobbledygeek episode 230, “Bone: Vol. III – Eyes of the Storm (feat. Greg Sahadachny),” is available for listening or download right here, and on iTunes here.

With Miyazaki Month behind us and Ultron vanquished, Paul and AJ return to the world of Jeff Smith’s Bone. Greg Sahadachny of The Debatable Podcast and All the Pieces Matter joins the boys for another Four-Color Flashback, this time taking a look at Bone: Vol. III – Eyes of the Storm, wherein things get serious. Smith still crams in plenty of jokes and moments of perfect comedic timing, but the book’s heart isn’t as light as it perhaps once was. The boys discuss this new heaviness, how it meshes with the series’ humor, the volume’s mythological infodump, and the many ways in which Smith’s art recalls the best of animation.

Next: Don Draper may be gone, but one man is still mad. Paul and AJ dig into the Mad Max series and its new installment, Fury Road.

(Show notes for “Bone: Vol. III – Eyes of the Storm.”)

by

Listen to ‘Gobbledygeek’ Episode 222, “Bone: Vol. II – The Great Cow Race (feat. Greg Sahadachny)”

Art from 'Bone' by Jeff Smith.

Art from ‘Bone’ by Jeff Smith.

Gobbledygeek episode 222, “Bone: Vol. II – The Great Cow Race (feat. Greg Sahadachny),” is available for listening or download right here, and on iTunes here.

Paul and AJ’s Four-Color Flashback journey through Jeff Smith’s Bone continues with the return appearance of The Debatable Podcast‘s Greg Sahadachny. This time they’re taking a look at Vol. II: The Great Cow Race, which follows the first by being just as funny (maybe even funnier) while teasing a deeper, darker mythology. The gang discusses the way Smith conveys so much expression with just a few lines, his fleet-footed storytelling abilities, how he constructs his jokes, and that whole cow race thing. Plus, what does “overrated” mean and which stand-up comics fall under the definition? The boys have answers!

Next: our month-long celebration of Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki kicks off as Eric Sipple stops by to discuss Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Princess Mononoke.

(Show notes for “Bone: Vol. II – The Great Cow Race.”)

by

Listen to ‘Gobbledygeek’ Episode 220, “Bone: Vol. I – Out from Boneville”

Bone-1

Art from ‘Bone’ by Jeff Smith.

Gobbledygeek episode 220, “Bone: Vol. I – Out from Boneville,” is available for listening or download right here, and on iTunes here.

After spending 2014 weaving their way through the many different stories of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman, Paul and AJ have settled on something which appears much simpler for this year’s Four-Color Flashback: Jeff Smith’s Bone. Appearances can be deceiving, though. The boys have heard tell that Smith’s cartoony magnum opus, taking obvious inspiration from Walt Kelly and Carl Barks’ comic strips, grows into a complex, sprawling epic. And even in Vol. I: Out from Boneville, wherein Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone find themselves in a strange new land, there are inklings of the high fantasy to come. Plus, the boys discuss friend of the show Kenn Edwards’ short film The Joke, attempt to break down Tina Fey and Robert Carlock’s new Netflix show Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and prepare to enter the Age of Ultron with a new trailer.

Next: Eric Sipple stops by to chat. This won’t end well.

(Show notes for “Bone: Vol. I – Out from Boneville.”)