Episode 4

On the Rise and Rise of Graphic Novels, Risque YA, and Awesome Wine/Book Pairings

This episode features filmmaker, writer and comics artist Ho Che Anderson and PW Comics editor and More to Come podcast host Calvin Reid talking about the explosive growth of comics and graphic novels during the lockdown. Diane Terrana shares her opinion of how much is too much in YA works, and finally, wine expert, author and host of Unreserved Wine Talk, Natalie MacLean pairs wine and books with Sam Hiyate.

This week’s panel is special, because I don’t often get to geek out about comics. When I was a kid I loved comics so much I remembering getting my first part-time job delivering newspapers just so I could go to the Silver Snail every week and get the monthly updates on Fantastic Four, X-Men, Avengers — all of them. I even remember buying Master of Kung Fu, especially with Michael Golden covers, now a movie this fall—Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

And then from comics, and SFF, I went straight to studying English literature. And reading (occasionally watching) Shakespeare, which brought me into a different space and aesthetics than comics. But then of course, as an adult, I embraced RAW, where Art Spiegelman premiered Maus, eventually winning that special Pulitzer.

Then, as an agent, I had the great joy to work with brilliant artists like Ho Che Anderson and with Mariko and Jillian Tamaki on their amazing early works—SKIM and This One Summer. And while I’m looking for the next great graphic novel to pitch, I’m getting a lot of nostalgia watching Deadpool, Guardians of The Galaxy, Black Widow, and Black Panther.

If you like our podcast, please review it — we’re still new and growing, and your reviews will bring use new listeners. Thank you for listening!

— Sam

Follow us on your favourite channel: Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, etc.