Ryan Carey joins me this week for an in-depth discussion of Nick Drnaso’s latest comic Sabrina. We started off the conversation on a totally unrelated matter and discussed the recent reporting on former CIA operative turned Batman writer, Tom King. We then shifted back Sabrina and the way it captures the bleak reality that so many of us find ourselves enmeshed in. Ryan and I discuss the books plot which revolves around the murder of a young woman named Sabrina, how two friends Teddy and Calvin deal with it, and the role that conspiracy theory plays throughout. We discussed the themes of isolation and intimacy within the conspiracy culture portrayed by Drnaso. Ryan and I also talked about how the book breaks so many literary norms including the concept of “Chekhov’s gun.” We explored the two male characters Teddy and Calvin, breaking down how both of them are essentially unlikable man children wallowing in their own self loathing. We finished off the conversation by looking at some of the broader issues raised in the book. Ryan also talked about the increased popularity of independent comics that encapsulate the bleak reality in the age of Trump.
Ryan Carey joins me once again to explore the strange world of comic books. We begin by looking at freelance comic writer Nick Spencer and his Nazi Captain America story-line. Ryan gives us an overview of Spencer’s reboot which has Captain America as a secret Nazi working for the evil “Hydra” since the very beginning, the Nazi’s winning the war, and good old Cap bringing about the Fourth Reich. Ryan and I talk about Marvel’s marketing of this new Captain America with Hyrda logo’s on all sorts of merchandise. We also touch on the alt-right’s embrace of this new Nazi Captain America. We look at neo-nazi’s wearing Hyrda tee shirt’s at the Charlottesville’s protests, and Andrew Anglin’s positive review of Nick Spencer’s Captain America. Ryan and I then move onto the strange and failed political career of Spencer in Cincinnati. We talk about Spencer’s run for city council and his racist political platform which sought to drive out black owned businesses. We touch on his desire for 200 more cops in order to clean up the streets from the “drug dealers, thugs, and prostitutes.” Ryan and I talk about Spencer’s bogus accusations that black owned radio stations and clubs were encouraging shootings through out the city. We also discuss his claims that a cabal of drug dealers and prostitutes were targeting him for assassination.
In the second hour Ryan and I address the insane complaints about Marvel comics being some sort of propaganda arm of social justice warriors. We juxtapose this with people like Nick Spencer. Later Ryan and I talk about the proposed partnership between Marvel and Northrup Grumman. Ryan explains how this all fell apart at NY ComicCon after fan push back. We explore this proposed crossover with the Avengers and N.G.E.N. (Northrup Grumman Elite Nexus) which would have been a free all ages comic. The comic would have even included full page adds and recruitment information for Northrup Grumman. Ryan and also discuss the long relationship between Marvel and Pentagon. We finish off by musing about the boring and predictable nature off the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and where it may be headed.
Writer and comic book reviewer Ryan Carey joins me for an in depth discussion of the comic industry and its relationship with the CIA. We begin by looking at the early days of comic books and their first forays into politics during WWII. Ryan talks about the overt left leaning politics of the original Superman comics and how this evolved into a nationalistic pro-US series during WWII. Next we move onto ex-CIA agent Tom King who’s charmed life has led him to the pinnacle of comics, writing the latest Batman comics. Ryan explains how King went from being a clandestine office in Iraq and Afghanistan to moving quickly up the ladder within the industry. We talk about King’s earlier work such as Omega Men and Vision and how shades of his past bled through with the writing. Ryan also talks about The Sheriff of Babylon which is loosely based on his own experiences inside Iraq. Ryan also points out the bizarre circumstances surrounding Kings career and how he continued to move up despite poor comics sales.
Later we discuss the significance and influence that Batman has with the comics industry and why it is so important. Ryan and I talk about why the CIA would gravitate to Batman and seek to influence it and its message. Ryan explains how several of King’s story-lines fit into the narrative the CIA is constantly putting out. We also talk about how the latest Batman comics have Bruce Wayne working indirectly for a shadowy arm of the government. Ryan and I also touch on the fact that CIA asset Ben Affleck is the latest actor to portray Batman and how this couldn’t just be a coincidence.
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