Unpacking the Shelf

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. It's back to the comic mines in this episode, specifically another one of DC's Absolute books, and the one that likely splits the venn diagram of critical & fan acclaim. That's right, it's Absolute Wonder Woman by Kelly Thompson & Hayden Sherman . In other news: (1:08:56) - Adam was just in New York, and while up there visi...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. It's time we read another book! This time Adam has made Alex (completely twisted his arm, in fact) to read the works of Shirley Jackson . Specifically, we talk about The Lottery , The Haunting of Hill House , and We Have Always Lived in the Castle . We also make allusions to other short stories by her, all of which were collected in the Librar...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. We are back with the second episode in our Legend of Kamui series, covering the second omnibus volume in Shirato Sanpei 's epic! If you missed out on the first episode, please go back and listen to our 65th episode - "The Legend of Class Struggle." In other news: (1:07:58) - Adam has watched the first two episodes of Pluribus , the n...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. In this episode Alex make's Adam watch Alien: Earth , and the results are mixed. We chat about our different views of the Alien franchise, as well as differing opinions on Noah Hawley 's new tv show. In other news: (1:38:28) - Adam has played 50+ hours of Fantasy Maiden Wars , and has also interviewed the translation team for the game (plu...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. In this episode we welcome our friend Wendy Xu , bestselling, award-nominated Brooklyn-based illustrator & comics artist to chat about (not comics) but Hollow Knight: Silksong . What can we say, she's the biggest Silksong fan we know! In other news (1:49:00): Wendy has been reading Kōji Suzuki's Ring novels. Adam has also been doing sp...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. In this episode we take ⁠ Octopus Pie ⁠ by Meredith Gran off the shelf. Yes, it's another webcomic from that defining era! In other news: (0:59:44) - Adam went to see One Battle After Another (2025) . (1:21:50) - Alex has also finally started playing Silksong , so we chat about that for a bit. And if you have any questions or comments for us,...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. In this episode we take Dogsred by Satoru Noda off the shelf. Noda is of course best know for Golden Kamuy , so our conversation naturally compares the two, as well as his first take on this story, Supinamarada . In other news: (0:59:44) - Adam has been playing Hollow Knight: Silksong . (1:21:50) - Alex finished reading all of Bandette (for now)....

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. In this episode we talk about the summer's hit movie (or song/s) Kpop Demon Hunters . In other news: (1:15:20) - Adam went to Anime NYC , and has some highlights to share. (1:21:50) - Alex has been watching Alien: Earth , and that's sent him down an Alien rabbit hole. And if you have any questions or comments for us, you can reach us at ⁠⁠...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. This episode Alex has finally gotten Adam to read Bandette by Paul Tobin & Colleen Coover. Specifically the first two volumes, and who knows maybe we'll come back with a second episode later tackling the next three volumes. In other news we both went to Otakon and talk about some of our highlights! (1:06:48) And if you have any questions o...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. It's time for us to try something new! With the American Manga Awards coming up, we decided to do something highlighting them. Specifically the Best New Manga category, which we each rank, and then select our very own winner! Here are the nominees for Best New Manga, and also the order in which we discuss them: Hikaru in the Light! Vol. 1 by M...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. In this episode we return to Deniz Camp and follow his work to both Marvel & DC, as we discuss his work on The Ultimates as well Absolute Martian Manhunter . In other news: (1:30:42) - Adam has been playing an RPG Maker game called Master of the Wind . (1:46:09) - Alex finished reading all of the Trigun manga (including Maximum ). And if you h...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. For our 75th episode we welcome ⁠ Kyrie Page ⁠ , host/editor at ⁠ Scanline Media ⁠ , back for a thorough discussion of the first season of Thunderbolt Fantasy ! In other news: (1:59:08) - Adam has watched Jaws ! (2:13:28) - Kyrie has snapped out of a gaming funk by playing Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising . (2:26:11) - Alex has (finally) started re...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. We're back to talking comics, and specifically comics originating in the webcomic space, with John Allison 's Giant Days . In other news: Adam been reading the works of Italian cartoonist, Zerocalcare , specifically Kobane Calling ⁠ . ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (1:08:32) Alex is still knee deep in Xenoblade Chronicles X ⁠⁠⁠ . (1:18:46) Lastly, you should go li...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. Enjoy an episode a week early, because Alex will be at TCAF next weekend, and then sadly a three week break before our next one. It's time we talked about yet another Xenoblade game, the recently remastered Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition . In other news: Adam finished reading A/S/L by Jeanne Thornton . ⁠⁠⁠ (1:56:30) Alex has been w...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. We're a little late in taking this one off the shelf, but good things are worth waiting for! It's time we talked about Kate Beaton and Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands (2022), which has just been released in paperback ! In other news: Adam is still deep in the Fire Emblem ROM hack scene, and has been playing The Hag In White ⁠ . (58:44) A...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. This episode is late because Alex is back to playing video games (a specific game to be revealed in a later episode), and this is both great and clearly a problem. Anyway, this time we talk about Raina Telgemeier's Smile , which somehow both of us had not read yet (despite living through the 2010s). In other news: Adam has been playing The Hun...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. We're back to talk about Glacier Bay Books ! Specifically we chat about And the Strange and Funky Happenings One Day by Natsujikei Miyazaki ⁠ (4:36) and To The Sea by Mukoubi Aoi ⁠ (33:17). In other news: Alex wanted to talk about the Nintendo Switch 2 being announced. (1:15:46) Adam has been playing Shinsetsu Mahou Shoujo , a Japanese freewar...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. It's time we talked about DC's Black Label . What it has become in the wake of Vertigo's shuttering, and the ways it has carried on some of that tradition. Specifically we chat about Zatanna: Bring Down The House by Mariko Tamaki & Javier Rodriguez (13:52) and The Boy Wonder by Juni Ba (33:17). In other news: In honor of our 69th e...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. This time we return to Fire Emblem , at least sort of! It's time for Alex to play his first (ever) ROM hack, The Morrow's Golden Country ! In other news: Alex has not been playing Civilization VII , and that is perhaps indicative on its own. (1:39:51) Adam has been playing Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate . (1:45:16) You can find Adam on Bluesk...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. This time we welcome Kyrie Page , host/editor at Scanline Media , to chat about Power Rangers & Super Sentai . We do so specifically by focusing on three episodes, first episode 13 ("High Noon Dogfight") of Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger , and second its adaptation in episodes 11 & 12 of Power Rangers S.P.D. ("Shadow"). What results is conversa...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. This time we're taking on a timely new release in Gundam GquuuuuuX: Beginning , which is ostensibly the first three episodes of the new Gundam show releasing this April. In other news: Alex has watched The Substance , which is apparently an Oscar nominee ⁠ . (1:06:11) Adam has also watched an Oscar nominee (we did not plan this!), Nickel Boys...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. Once more we go back in time to the early days of manga, this time with the first volume of Legend of Kamui by Shirato Sanpei , which was recently released in English by Drawn & Quarterly. In other news: Adam can finally talk about the game he's been playing, which is called Urban Myth Dissolution Center . (1:11:18) Alex has fallen into th...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. This episode we go back in time to the 90s to talk about Gargoyles ! We cover the first season, comprised of 13 episodes, and cover everything from nostalgia, to how the show has aged, and even it's many connections to Star Trek! In other news: Adam has been playing a game he cannot talk about, so instead talks about a Korean webtoon series he...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. We're back, and talking comics! With Death of Copra by Michel Fiffe on the horizon, it was time for us to go back and chat about the first two volumes (rounds) of Copra ! In other news: Alex spent the end of 2024 catching up on all kinds of stuff including Tokyo These Days , which might have made the top 3 list had he read it earlier, but more...

Unpacking the Shelf is a podcast by Adam and Alex. Just as the first season of Dandadan the anime has concluded, it's time to talk about the manga instead. We of course reference the anime as well, but our focus is primarily on the manga, and why it also deserves your attention. In other news: Adam has been exploring the wonderful world of Fire Emblem rom hacks, particularly those revolving around...