This week we’re joined by @cbccpodcast.bsky.social to help Allison figure out what to read now that she’s more familiar with comics. Later, we discuss The Stacks season 2 of which is OUT NOW! It’s comic book creators nerding out about their favorite books Links in the show notes! #comicsky

Make sure you check out The Stacks over on the @cbccpodcast.bsky.social YouTube page! This week’s episode with Jim Rugg is delightful and informative and everything you want. #comicsky

The ABCs of comics I think YOU should read: 🧵 Read through, and then quote-repost any letter with a book that starts with that letter that YOU think people should read!!! ❤️

My favorite detail about Angel’s massive bedroom in his massive Colorado chalet* is that he and Candy Southern sleep under what appears to be a painting of…Warren. *(the Aerie from Defenders, X-Factor, Uncanny X-Force, and random X-Men comics)

Make sure you check out The Stacks over on the @cbccpodcast.bsky.social YouTube page! This week’s episode with Jim Rugg is delightful and informative and everything you want. #comicsky

Loved this piece from @cbccpodcast.bsky.social on their series The Stacks over at @comicsbeat.bsky.social www.comicsbeat.com/exclusive-wh...

THEYRE REALLY GOOD EPISODES

A is for Avengers Academy (2024) by @meakoopa.bsky.social @carolaborelli.bsky.social @bailierosenlund.bsky.social and @pablomcollar.bsky.social (and more) one of the most joyous and heartwarming comics ever. We’ve made 4 episodes on it for a reason!

B is for Batman Dark Patterns by @danpgwatters.bsky.social and @cleanlined.bsky.social my favorite comic of 2025. A true masterpiece of grime and detective work. Could make someone love Batman. The fact that Sherman did this AND Absolute Wonder Woman in the same year is unreal.

C is for Catwoman by Joëlle Jones A murderers row of great writers and artists would take over this series, but I adore Jones’ Selina both in style and characterization. Catwoman has never been cooler.

D is for Dazzler (vol 1) by Tom DeFalco, John Romita Jr.(and many others) A pure camp and utterly full of joy and heart. You can’t read this and not fall in love with Alison Blaire

E is Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles by Mark Russell and Mike Feehan. Mark is one of the funniest writers in comics but here it is his sharp wit and clear understanding of American history that creates one of the most unique books of his career. Hilarious and heartbreaking art

F is for The Flintstones by Mark Russell and @stevepugh.bsky.social (Mark is on this list three times) The Flintstones is a magic trick. Using sitcom tropes to smuggle in a story of what civilization costs (violence and conformity) and Steve Pugh—one of my favorite artists, is in top form here.

G is for G.I. Joe by Larry Hama and Herb Trimpe (and many others) are you a fan of action comics? Then you owe it to yourself to read one of the greatest series of pure imagination and action ever made. Like, at least read issue 21!

H is for Home by the Rotting Sea by @claystorks.bsky.social an open wound of a book that for me as a non-binary native person felt like it was birthed from and for my soul. If you only read one of these let it be THIS!

I is for I Hate Fairyland by @skottieyoung.bsky.social Anarchic and weird like Tex Avery dropped acid. There really isn’t anything like it on the shelf.

J is for Justice Warriors by @mattbors.bsky.social and Ben Clarkson maybe the meanest book on this list and far more prescient than you’d want a book about two insane monster cops to be. Somehow still fun in the face of our modern horrors.

K is for To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee snd Fred Fordham. Fordham writes and illustrates the adaptation of one of the most important American novels and there is a sadness and moodiness only comics can bring out. Harper Lee’s words are genius, but Fordham’s adaptation is additive.

L is for Local Man by @tonyfleecs.bsky.social and @hackintimseeley.bsky.social “Down and out and back with his parents” is a story I can’t help but love but add in a Youngbloods/X-Force aesthetic and a gritty rural noir and you have one of the greatest cape comics of the last decade.

M is for Moon Knight by @jedmackay.bsky.social and Alessandro Cappuccio A book about community staring a character who has historically been THE loner of the Marvel universe (which has always irked me as someone who is mentally ill, community is the only way things get better) what a banger.

N is for New X-Men by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely This one seems self evident, but it should probably be said that this is a masterpiece beginning to end.

O is for One World Under Doom by @ryannorth.ca and RB Silva it would feel cheap to not put at least one line wide crossover and this one is great. It also serves the purpose of getting Ryan’s Fantastic Four on this list. A truly great Doom comic.

P is for The Power Fantasy by @kierongillen.bsky.social and @casparw.bsky.social It feels silly to tell people to read this, but if you AREN’T? Get on that. It begins and you think “What if Immortal X-Men was a creator owned book” but it becomes so much more.

Q is for Queen Kodiak by Christopher Greenslate and Riccardo Faccini a weird one, but so very sweet. A kaiju story that still retains a sort of Magical Realism. Comfort food in the best way.

R is for revival by @hackintimseeley.bsky.social and Mike Norton The way someone’s earlier work is sometimes harsher and imperfect is made a positive here as this zombie-ish neo-noir is one of Tim’s most brutal and bleed. A truly great time.

S is for Sabretooth Special by @fabiannicieza.bsky.social and Gary Frank. Lots of great Sabretooth books, especially in the last 5 years, but Sabretooth Special does a really cool thing where in its closing moments this monstrous character shares just a glimpse of his brokenness and pathos. So good.

Traveling to Mars by @manruss.bsky.social and Roberto Meli Mark is one of our greatest living satirists, that wit is on display here. What could be a topical story is instead a mediation on grief, life wasted, sickness and inertia. It’s the greatest graphic novel I’ve ever read. Required reading.

U is for Ultimate X-Men by @peachmomoko.bsky.social the odd book out in the Marvel Ultimate line and all the better for it. No Marvel comic has ever been this singular. Great Gen z/alpha angst towards a world that hates all of us, not just mutants. I’ll read anything Peach writes or draws forever.

V is for The Visitor How and Why he Stayed by Mike Mignola, Chris Roberson and Paul Grist. What if The Watcher was actually interesting? Also if he was supposed to assassinate… ghost rider? The analogy is lost, but this is a ton of fun. One of the most satisfying little side streets of brpd/Hellboy

W is for Wolverine by @benjaminpercy.bsky.social et al. Perhaps sacrilegious, but Percy’s Wolverine is one of the best ever. If you’re a Krakoan fan and you skipped it, lucky you one if the best books of that era waits for you. Introduces Solem and has one of my favorite pages of Wolverine (below)

X is for X-Factor investigations by Peter David et al. There are things about this book that have not aged well, but that truly is the fun of this pulpy messy detective story that never takes its foot off the gas. A must read for any X-Fan.

Y is for Young Avengers by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie has any book ever made comic gutters more frightening? It’s fun. It’s gay. It’s great! Like, go read it right now. I might after this!

Z is for Zatanna Bring down the House by Mariko Tamaki and Javier Rodriguez. Oh did Mariko Tamaki and Javier Rodriguez make a cool fucking comic book? I’m shocked. Baffled. Stunned even.

Books I wish I could find space for, but love a lot: New Mutants vol 1, Feral (my favorite comic publishing), Galaxy the Prettiest Star, Absolute Wonder Woman, Jem and the Holograms, Cable and Deadpool, All Star Superman. And like tons more. This was hard!

The ABCs of comics I think YOU should read: 🧵 Read through, and then quote-repost any letter with a book that starts with that letter that YOU think people should read!!! ❤️

The ABCs of comics I think YOU should read: 🧵 Read through, and then quote-repost any letter with a book that starts with that letter that YOU think people should read!!! ❤️

Yup. That scene gets how you love your sibling but can be really frustrated by them simultaneously, as you see them repeating patterns that they've been caught in for years. And how you don't really SAY any of that, but it's under the surface

Cyclops kicked ass but my favorite scene is a quiet one between Alex and Scott. That Scott feels the need to apologize and the clear frustration from Alex that his older brother blames himself for things he CLEARLY couldn’t control is so good. Such efficient emotionality. Great stuff. #xspoilers

If you’re a fan of the character it is of course must buy—do it in the second print (perhaps we get it sent to a THIRD?). Tons of fun sometimes brutal and always inventive action. I hope @alexpaknadel.bsky.social and @rogeantonio.bsky.social are immensely proud and can’t wait for issue 2! #xspoilers

Cyclops kicked ass but my favorite scene is a quiet one between Alex and Scott. That Scott feels the need to apologize and the clear frustration from Alex that his older brother blames himself for things he CLEARLY couldn’t control is so good. Such efficient emotionality. Great stuff. #xspoilers

Recorded tonight with @mojoversepod.bsky.social Great convo, I hope you’ll tune in on Feb 20 to hear it! (Don’t worry I’ll remind ya)

OCD symptoms are stupid because what do you mean I have compulsively un-downloaded and redownloaded Twitter so many times today my phone died.

“G is for…” Galaxy: The Prettiest Star by Jadzia Axelrod and Vash Taylor A perfect superhero origin, and a perfect depiction of the trans experience, it is not just one of the most original and sensational DC comics of the decade but easily one of the most important to me, personally, ever

OCD symptoms are stupid because what do you mean I have compulsively un-downloaded and redownloaded Twitter so many times today my phone died.

xmen comics should have a mutant boy band, where all of the band members are openly mutants and they each have a different mutation

And/or fanfic Or do I gotta do everything myself 😤

Is there a comic about black tom and juggernaut meeting? 👀

Go check out #inthestacks Season 2! This season starts with Jim Rugg and it’s a real good time. If you like the Criterion Closet and Comics, oh boy do @cbccpodcast.bsky.social have two great tastes that taste great together! #comicsky