🎙 SHOW NOTES Chris and Steven testify before you all, spilling their guts on how DC Comics’ OG Superheroes were laid low by the spectre of McCarthyism in “The Red Scare” era of post-WWII USA. This is their battle to rise again in THE GOLDEN AGE (1993), written by James Robinson, drawn by Paul Smith, colored by Richard Ory, and lettered by John Costanza. Will our motley gang of “dirty commies!” triumph in this Elseworlds tale? Featuring OG Hawkman, OG Green Lantern, OG Starman, OG Flash, OG Sandman, Robotman, OG version of The Atom, Hourman, Liberty Bell, The Tarantula, etc. ⏱ TIMESTAMPS 02:01 - Introducing the creative team, explaning the concept behind DC Comics’ Elseworlds stories, and summarizing THE GOLDEN AGE 10:03 - Hot take alert! Chris makes the bold claim that THE GOLDEN AGE is “as good or better than WATCHMEN” …and, in fact, HE likes GA better! 39:44 - Richard Ory’s exquisite coloring in THE GOLDEN AGE - how the heck did he do it? Chris has the scoop, straight from the horse’s mouth - a CRYB! exclusive 43:27 - Paul Smith’s artistic influences, plus what exactly is his peak period? 57:35 - The rarely used literary device of “Second Person Narration,” deployed expertly by James Robinson here in THE GOLDEN AGE 1:04:10 - The art and design for Paul Smith’s classic covers 1:12:21 - THE GOLDEN AGE’s surprisingly disturbing hallucinatory imagery - rats, eagles, and folks’ faces being chewed off! 1:16:18 - Chris declares that when it comes to being a wordsmith, the Tarantula ain’t no Fitzgerald; we read some of the prose aloud, just to be sure 1:26:00 - Circling back on the comparison to Moore & Gibbons’ WATCHMEN with a detour through Lindelof/HBO’s WATCHMEN, expanding into a discussion of the built-in dramatic weight afforded one when telling stories with iconic characters 1:44:36 - The ability to make extreme choices in storytelling with non-mainstream characters, evolving into some ruminations on DC Comics’ Elseworlds line 1:49:43 - The “Eisners Situation” with THE GOLDEN AGE 1:57:24 - Rob Liefeld, Youngblood, Image Comics, Neal Adams, creators’ rights, and big personalities with big dreams 2:07:26 - Terminal City, Dean Motter, Michael Lark, Mister X, Vortex Comics 2:27:00 - More gushing about the amazing art of Paul Smith COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comic books (plus a few notable exceptions) in a weekly podcast format. Screenwriters Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) and Chris Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age.
Great episode, guys! Can’t help thinking the worthy almost follow-up to The Golden Age was The New Frontier. Wish DC would have done more smart nostalgia books like those moving forward.
Yeah, The New Frontier totally feels like the “spiritual sequel” to The Golden Age, if not the official one. Darwyn Cooke was so amazing. And I, too, love these nuanced, nostalgia-tinged looks at DC’s past. So glad you dug the episode… Thanks for commenting! - Steven
@@rameybutler-hm7nx Yeah, I agree with you - I really enjoyed the JSA and related characters when they had more of a fun vibe - in my mind, they should always be drawn by Mike Parobeck or someone with a similarly sunny style. - Steven
Hey, this is such a rad channel! What about EGYPT (Milligan, Dillon) and THE EXTREMIST (Milligan, McKeever)? (Also loved your SKREEMER episode, so I know you guys are fans of Milligan.) Thanks, fellas!
Chris and I were just talking about this yesterday! The answer is, “Yes,” we are going to be doing a deep dive into Keith Giffen’s controversial “FIVE YEARS LATER” reboot of the Legion. It will likely happen in the next few months. Stay tuned, and let us know what else you’d like to hear! - Steven
I know you guys have touched on it but I feel you have unique experience to comment on this. Would you ever do a video specifically about the unique advantages or tools available in the comic medium, or why a writer would chose it as their format instead of a screenplay or fiction? Especially as an aesthetic and visual medium. It gets talked about but I haven’t seen it succinctly in one place. Like what makes Watchmen a commentary on the from itself and not just a supreme example of the craft?
@@ComicsRotYourBrain Yeh but I guess the point would be if maybe you guys were able to put that into context with examples. McCloud is amazing but it’s a little dry. Especially as the 80s feels like the period when mainstream/big two comics start taking itself seriously. For lack of a better term. Also this book is amazing. Can’t wait to read it and the new frontier episode whenever that comes. Love that book.
Hey Sophia, Thanks for the thoughtful comment and intriguing idea for an episode! Yes, that is definitely something that we would consider doing as both Chris and I do feel strongly that comic books afford unique strengths over any other medium for storytelling. The one that occurs to me first and foremost is simply a larger degree of freedom from interference with your creative vision because the price point involved in producing and distributing the material is so much vastly cheaper. In terms of unique aesthetic strengths, I believe there is an intimacy with the reader of the comic book medium that is primary and similar to the relationship one has to a novel; however, with comics, particularly comics from the ‘80s, there is the organic and “hand drawn” quality to the artwork and the lettering that I believe confers greater emotional connection with the material on a primal, human-to-human basis (which is even more needed in the world of today than ever before, of course). This is part of the reason that it drives me insane that modern comics have gone further and further away from this hand drawn and hand lettered connection to the audience, because I feel that comics have been essentially giving away all of their strengths in a sad bid to be more like other mediums (film and TV) or to simply be produced more efficiently (a terrible reason). Anyway, those are some initial thoughts, but we will definitely discuss this topic more at length on the show, either in its own episode, or perhaps folded into the discussion of one of our upcoming comics. Thank you again for the great comment! - Steven
You guys should read(if you haven't already read it) "THE WAR OF ART" by Steven Pressfield, particularly the chapter entitled "RESISSTANCE AND FUNDAMENTALISM". Totally depicts the bipolarization of conservativism and progressivism
@@byronschexnayder875 Ooh, that’s really interesting. I’ve actually had that book for like 20 years because one of my friends got it for me, but I haven’t read it yet. One day! - Steven
![일상 속 기분 좋음 [Proto disco meme]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/DwmEIaZ7XGQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![ตีสิบเดย์ [FULL] | เปิดใจ "อาจารย์ เบียร์ ฅนตื่นธรรม" นักสนทนาธรรมสายดุดัน!](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vqaBI_mnoDk/mqdefault.jpg)
🎙 SHOW NOTES
Chris and Steven testify before you all, spilling their guts on how DC Comics’ OG Superheroes were laid low by the spectre of McCarthyism in “The Red Scare” era of post-WWII USA. This is their battle to rise again in THE GOLDEN AGE (1993), written by James Robinson, drawn by Paul Smith, colored by Richard Ory, and lettered by John Costanza. Will our motley gang of “dirty commies!” triumph in this Elseworlds tale? Featuring OG Hawkman, OG Green Lantern, OG Starman, OG Flash, OG Sandman, Robotman, OG version of The Atom, Hourman, Liberty Bell, The Tarantula, etc.
⏱ TIMESTAMPS
02:01 - Introducing the creative team, explaning the concept behind DC Comics’ Elseworlds stories, and summarizing THE GOLDEN AGE
10:03 - Hot take alert! Chris makes the bold claim that THE GOLDEN AGE is “as good or better than WATCHMEN” …and, in fact, HE likes GA better!
39:44 - Richard Ory’s exquisite coloring in THE GOLDEN AGE - how the heck did he do it? Chris has the scoop, straight from the horse’s mouth - a CRYB! exclusive
43:27 - Paul Smith’s artistic influences, plus what exactly is his peak period?
57:35 - The rarely used literary device of “Second Person Narration,” deployed expertly by James Robinson here in THE GOLDEN AGE
1:04:10 - The art and design for Paul Smith’s classic covers
1:12:21 - THE GOLDEN AGE’s surprisingly disturbing hallucinatory imagery - rats, eagles, and folks’ faces being chewed off!
1:16:18 - Chris declares that when it comes to being a wordsmith, the Tarantula ain’t no Fitzgerald; we read some of the prose aloud, just to be sure
1:26:00 - Circling back on the comparison to Moore & Gibbons’ WATCHMEN with a detour through Lindelof/HBO’s WATCHMEN, expanding into a discussion of the built-in dramatic weight afforded one when telling stories with iconic characters
1:44:36 - The ability to make extreme choices in storytelling with non-mainstream characters, evolving into some ruminations on DC Comics’ Elseworlds line
1:49:43 - The “Eisners Situation” with THE GOLDEN AGE
1:57:24 - Rob Liefeld, Youngblood, Image Comics, Neal Adams, creators’ rights, and big personalities with big dreams
2:07:26 - Terminal City, Dean Motter, Michael Lark, Mister X, Vortex Comics
2:27:00 - More gushing about the amazing art of Paul Smith
COMICS ROT YOUR BRAIN! is a deep dive into ‘80s comic books (plus a few notable exceptions) in a weekly podcast format. Screenwriters Steven Bagatourian (AMERICAN GUN) and Chris Derrick (STAR TREK: PICARD) discuss their favorite books, runs, and creators from the Bronze Age.
Great episode, guys! Can’t help thinking the worthy almost follow-up to The Golden Age was The New Frontier. Wish DC would have done more smart nostalgia books like those moving forward.
Yeah, The New Frontier totally feels like the “spiritual sequel” to The Golden Age, if not the official one. Darwyn Cooke was so amazing. And I, too, love these nuanced, nostalgia-tinged looks at DC’s past. So glad you dug the episode… Thanks for commenting!
- Steven
The Darwyn Cooke series? We’ve talked about. It might be in Season 2, maybe Season 3
- Chris
AWESOME REVIEW CHRIS AND STEVENI'M ACTUALLY REWATCHING ALL THESE EPISODES BECAUSE THEY ARE JUST THAT GOOD LISTENING TO YOU GUYS
@@byronschexnayder875 Awww, thanks so much! That’s awesome to hear - glad they hold up to repeat viewing!
- Steven
I loved all the earth-2 books, but i hate how all realistic and gritty they became. I like the fun era.
@@rameybutler-hm7nx Yeah, I agree with you - I really enjoyed the JSA and related characters when they had more of a fun vibe - in my mind, they should always be drawn by Mike Parobeck or someone with a similarly sunny style.
- Steven
Hey, this is such a rad channel! What about EGYPT (Milligan, Dillon) and THE EXTREMIST (Milligan, McKeever)? (Also loved your SKREEMER episode, so I know you guys are fans of Milligan.) Thanks, fellas!
Thank you for listening! EGYPT is one of my favorite early Vertigo comics. We’ll put it on the list! - Chris
I will happily review nothing but Peter Milligan comics on this show every week. :)
- Steven
Are you going to make a video about "Legion of Super-Heroes, Five Years Later" in the future?
Chris and I were just talking about this yesterday! The answer is, “Yes,” we are going to be doing a deep dive into Keith Giffen’s controversial “FIVE YEARS LATER” reboot of the Legion. It will likely happen in the next few months. Stay tuned, and let us know what else you’d like to hear!
- Steven
Strong possibility! Very strong possibility.
- Chris
🗯 COMICS TRIVIA
❓Who’s that “Tin Man”-looking dude in THE GOLDEN AGE, and what’s his secret identity?
I know you guys have touched on it but I feel you have unique experience to comment on this. Would you ever do a video specifically about the unique advantages or tools available in the comic medium, or why a writer would chose it as their format instead of a screenplay or fiction? Especially as an aesthetic and visual medium. It gets talked about but I haven’t seen it succinctly in one place. Like what makes Watchmen a commentary on the from itself and not just a supreme example of the craft?
That’s an interesting idea. Something akin to a video essay compressing Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics as it relates to telling a story? - Chris
@@ComicsRotYourBrain Yeh but I guess the point would be if maybe you guys were able to put that into context with examples. McCloud is amazing but it’s a little dry. Especially as the 80s feels like the period when mainstream/big two comics start taking itself seriously. For lack of a better term.
Also this book is amazing. Can’t wait to read it and the new frontier episode whenever that comes. Love that book.
Hey Sophia,
Thanks for the thoughtful comment and intriguing idea for an episode! Yes, that is definitely something that we would consider doing as both Chris and I do feel strongly that comic books afford unique strengths over any other medium for storytelling.
The one that occurs to me first and foremost is simply a larger degree of freedom from interference with your creative vision because the price point involved in producing and distributing the material is so much vastly cheaper.
In terms of unique aesthetic strengths, I believe there is an intimacy with the reader of the comic book medium that is primary and similar to the relationship one has to a novel; however, with comics, particularly comics from the ‘80s, there is the organic and “hand drawn” quality to the artwork and the lettering that I believe confers greater emotional connection with the material on a primal, human-to-human basis (which is even more needed in the world of today than ever before, of course).
This is part of the reason that it drives me insane that modern comics have gone further and further away from this hand drawn and hand lettered connection to the audience, because I feel that comics have been essentially giving away all of their strengths in a sad bid to be more like other mediums (film and TV) or to simply be produced more efficiently (a terrible reason).
Anyway, those are some initial thoughts, but we will definitely discuss this topic more at length on the show, either in its own episode, or perhaps folded into the discussion of one of our upcoming comics. Thank you again for the great comment!
- Steven
You guys should read(if you haven't already read it) "THE WAR OF ART" by Steven Pressfield, particularly the chapter entitled "RESISSTANCE AND FUNDAMENTALISM". Totally depicts the bipolarization of conservativism and progressivism
@@byronschexnayder875 Ooh, that’s really interesting. I’ve actually had that book for like 20 years because one of my friends got it for me, but I haven’t read it yet. One day!
- Steven
I’ve read Pressfield’s book; it’s compelling and a must-read for creatives. - Chris
@ComicsRotYourBrain I think it's a must read for anyone that suffers being a human being🤩😎🤪(did you see what I did there🍥?)
@@byronschexnayder875 😂😂