I Read Comic Books

Zach, Paloma, and Kait talk about josei manga, April’s Theme of the Month for the 2026 IRCB Reading Challenge. They discuss what makes josei different than shojo manga, share some great recommendations, and gush over Princess Jellyfish. This episode originally aired on Patreon in April 2026 . Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics 00:03:26 - Nodame Cantabile 00:10:38 - Takahashi From the...

Mike, Nick, and Brian each discuss a comic from the 2026 Eisner nominees for the IRCB Reading Challenge, Nick’s Apple TV+ subscription, and what influence the Eisners has on their reading habits. Check out the 2026 IRCB Reading Challenge: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/23718934-2026-reading-challenge---discussion-thread Story Graph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges...

Mike and Danny are joined by Zack Kaplan to talk comics they've been reading, Zack's bravery(?), color use in comics, Mike's obsession with conspiracy comics, and more (including some of Zack's upcoming comics!) Follow Zack online: https://www.instagram.com/zackkaps/ https://bsky.app/profile/zackkaps.bsky.social https://zackkaplan.com/ Preorder The Smart Division at your Local Comic Shop! https://...

Mike and Nick welcome author Julio Anta to the show to talk about his upcoming series Beast of Borikén as well as what they’ve been reading lately. Topics discussed include the chupacabra, kaiju promotional material, Blink 182, and much, much more. Buy Beast of Borikén #1 on JULY 1ST at your Local Comic Shop ( https://findyourcomic.store/ ) wherever digital comics are available! Follow Julio onlin...

Mike and Paul are joined by Henry Barajas and Rachel Merrill to talk comics--old manga, Judge Dredd, and web comic/animator cool guy Alex Krokus--but more importantly: Henry and Rachel's latest comic Death To Pachuco from Image Comics! Find Death To Pachuco at your local comic shop ( https://findyourcomic.store/ ) or wherever digital Image Comics are sold! Read Gil Thorp right now! https://www.goc...

This year, Fantagraphics celebrates 50 years of publishing and Mike, Kara, and Brian dig comics from the publisher as part of May's Reading Challenge Theme of the Month! Join the IRCB Reading Challenge on Goodreads or on Storygraph: https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/25314-ircb-s-2026-reading-challenge https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/92bfe182-4dc9-47ae-ad55-0ecf18ccdba2 Timestam...

Mike, Kait, and Zach discuss comics they’ve read recently. The books include over-the-top ‘80s absurdity (Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre), a video game adaptation (Zelda Twilight Princess), and the worst guy you know (End of Life). They also reveal what awaits them at the top of their respective piles! Preorder Santos Sisters Vol. 2 from Fantagraphics! Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week...

Mike and Brian are joined by long time friend of the show, Gabe Cheng, to talk about Gabe's latest Kickstarter - This Seems Normal #2! Gabe experiences Assorted Crisis Events, Mike brings up a comic you probably can't buy, and everyone loves Absolute Wonder Woman! Support THIS SEEMS NORMAL on Kickstarter! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gabechengcomics/this-seems-normal-1-2-the-adventure-begi...

This week: Paul, Kara, and Paloma! Where else could you go to hear all about anthropomorphic dairy products, forgotten 90s Elseworlds Batman books, fairy-like hippopotamuses going on adventures, and Swamp Thing being present for the Crucifixion? Literally nowhere else but I Read Comic Books! Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics 00:00:58 - Batman Thrillkiller #1 (1997) 00:13:26 - Moomin...

Matt Rosenberg joins Mike and Danny to discuss Batwoman, Daredevil, The Smell of Starving Boys, and other comic books. They share some of their favorite artists and talk about the giant Abe Lincoln in Matt’s robot comic, If Destruction Be Our Lot.  Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics 00:02:39 - The Smell of Starving Boys 00:09:16 - Daredevil: Yellow 00:18:12 - Batwoman #1-2 00:28:18 -...

Danny, Zach, and Paul are joined by Kyle Starks! They discuss Kyle’s comic Wrestle Heist, storytelling in real-world wrestling, and their favorite wrestling events.  Timestamps: 00:00 Start 01:17 Kyle's recent projects 08:00 Wrestle Heist 22:50 other wrestling comics 25:50 wrestling theater and lifestyle 36:45 Wrestlemania 57:50 CM Punk 01:04:45 Kyle's favorites wrestling shows 01:19:50 wrap Produ...

Paul, Danny, and Kate discuss Superman, Batman, Star Wars, and a man-made spooky lake disaster.  Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics 00:00:56 - The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur 00:14:25 - Star Wars: Legacy of Vader Vol. 2 00:21:47 - Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum 00:29:51 - Mixed Feelings 00:32:27 - GI Joe #21 00:34:08 - Gotham City Year One 00:39:31 - Discord Picks 00:39:46 - Batman...

Kait, Nick, and Danny ride the waves of emotions as they talk photographers in war torn countries, godlike superheroes, peppy pirate shonen manga, and a book about a space trucker by Post Malone! Plus so much more! Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics 00:00:46 - Death of the Silver Surfer 00:15:33 - The Photographer 00:29:28 - High Strangeness #3-5 00:44:25 - The Twilight Zone #6 00:52...

Kara, Kate, and Brian discuss magical girls and "trash boys" in comic books, from classic characters to recent releases. They consider if horses are accessories and if the 90's are a trash boy. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics 00:41:28 - Wrap Producer : Kait Lamphere & Danny Martinez Prooflistener : Kait Lamphere Editor : Zander Riggs Music provided by Infinity Shred . Find them on...

Paul, Nick, and René discuss the IRCB Reading Challenge Theme of the Month, “OWN VOICES.” They discover interesting reads by stepping out of their usual reading habits and find cool comics at the local library. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics 00:01:42 - Djeliya: A West African Fantasy Epic 00:13:47 - Helm Greycastle Vol 1 00:23:44 - Surviving The City Vol 1 00:36:12 - Jojo’s Bizar...

Paul and Danny talk to friends of the show Dave Baker and Nicole Goux! They discuss reading comic books in other languages, if pizza is pie, and Dave and Nicole’s new book Punk’n Heads.  Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics 00:02:29 - Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories—Grievous 00:09:31 - My Body Unspooling 00:14:44 - Song About Green 00:22:58 - Bleeding Hearts #1 00:29:55 - Sunday O. Schra...

Zach hosts for the first time! He, Kara, and Kate discuss what comic they would take to a desert island and if it can double as a weapon.  Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics 00:01:23 - Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn/Red Rackham's Treasure 00:13:38 - Bone Omnibus 00:21:05 - East of West End Times Compendium 00:28:06 - Descender Omnibus 00:33:59 - Discord Island Picks 00:35:51 - New...

Paul and Zach welcome Nick Goode back to the show to discuss what they’ve been reading lately. They also talk about Nick’s comic Sussex, a WWII espionage thriller that explores mental health and depression. Chapter 3 and 4 of Sussex are currently looking for support on Kickstarter!  Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics 00:02:10 - Endeavour #1 00:07:34 - Altamont 00:15:23 - Outer Lands...

A joyful dive into comics all over the genre spectrum! Kait, Danny and Nick talk dystopian soldier science fiction, classic movie monsters, slice-of life, Fish-out-of-water stories, Predator in a Mortal Kombat style fight club, and the pure joy of a book filled with cheese puns!  Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics 00:00:39 - Universal Monsters: The Phantom of the Opera #1 00:10:30 -...

Paul, Kait, and Danny discuss some of their favorite “feel good” comics for the Reading Challenge Theme of the Month. They touch on newspaper classics, a film comic, and a newer release! Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics 00:01:51 - Youth Group 00:09:52 - My Neighbor Totoro 00:20:09 - Nancy 00:33:17 - Carnet de Voyage 00:37:20 - Universal Monsters: The Phantom of the Opera #1 00:41:5...

Mike, Nick, and Brian discuss Heavenly Delusion, Marian Heretic, and Absolute Batman. This is Mike’s last episode for a few months while he and his wife Kelly have a baby!  Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics 00:01:00 - Cruel Universe II #1-3 00:19:26 - Heavenly Delusion vol. 1-3 00:32:21 - Marian Heretic #1-3 00:40:00 - Discord Picks 00:40:58 - Absolute Batman vol. 2 00:46:13 - The C...

Mike, Kate, and Zach discuss comics they’ve been reading and what’s next on their to-read pile. Along the way they talk about the joys of public transportation, ‘90s anime, and pitch an episode of Street Sharks! Links: https://www.dexerto.com/anime/japan-loses-38-billion-from-anime-manga-and-game-piracy-3310886/ Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics 00:01:14 - It Killed Everyone But Me...

Mike, Nick, and Kait discuss Dr. Werthless by Harold Schechter and Eric Powell. They discuss some content warnings, the creative choices of the book, and how Fredric Wertham’s complicated legacy may have impacted his crusade against comics. This was the pick by the finishers of the 2025 Reading Challenge!  Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Start 00:58:45 - Wrap Producer : Kait Lamphere Prooflistener : Paul J...

Zander returns to the podcast after a 400 episode hiatus and joins Mike as they break all the rules! A deep dive into the lore and the myth of what makes IRCB run for 500 episodes and some big announcements!  Links: https://ircbpodcast.com/500-episodes-of-i-read-comic-books-by-the-numbers Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Start/Last Week in Comics 00:02:13 - Helen of Wyndhorn #1-3 00:06:31 - Our Soot Stained...

This week, Mike, Paloma, and Paul discuss some of their latest bargain bin picks in an episode commissioned by one of the show’s listeners, Avocado Kenobi, aka Shane.  Links : https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/92bfe182-4dc9-47ae-ad55-0ecf18ccdba2 https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/25314-ircb-s-2026-reading-challenge https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/profile/eckospider/lists/145084/i-...