Page Chewing

This week on Panel Chewing , Steve and Jarrod tackle another packed week of comics, discussing everything from superhero slugfests and creator-owned horror to indie standouts and long-awaited returns. Along the way they share their thoughts on Absolute Superman , Assorted Crisis Events , White Boat , Fury of the Firestorm , King Spawn , Odin , Fear of Death , Star Crossed , American Caper , and mo...

In this episode, Steve sits down with Seth Panitch, author, playwright, actor, director, and educator to discuss his debut novel, Antique , and the lifelong creative journey that led him to writing fiction. Drawing on decades of experience in theater, performance, and teaching, Seth shares how storytelling has shaped every stage of his life. The conversation explores the lasting influence of Shake...

Our spoiler-filled reread of The Second Apocalypse continues with Part III: The Harlot from The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker . This section places Esmenet at the center of the story, revealing both the cruelty of Earwa and the remarkable resilience that makes her one of the series' most compelling characters. Looking back with the knowledge of all seven books, these chapters are f...

In this episode of Page Burners , we continue our journey through The Bonehunters with a full discussion of Chapters 8–10 , where Steven Erikson expands the series' mythology while setting major events into motion. This week we dive into Paran's evolving role as Master of the Deck and explore what these chapters reveal about ascendants, gods, and the nature of power in the Malazan world. We also e...

What does it take to build an epic fantasy world that feels real? On this episode of Beyond the Page , Steve sits down with fantasy author Robert Riley , whose debut novel Blood of Tomorrow launches a sweeping new series years in the making. Robert discusses creating believable worlds without overwhelming readers, why history and leadership shape every aspect of his storytelling, and how his caree...

In this episode, Steve sits down with Richard Spegal , author of the Eternal Knights series, to discuss writing mature dark fantasy, creating believable characters, and why the best stories are driven by people, not plot. Richard shares how his military service, personal experiences, and lifelong love of speculative fiction have shaped his writing. Rather than following familiar genre formulas, he...

This week on Panel Chewing , we kick things off by discussing one of the biggest stories in comics: Marvel Comics' decision to relocate its publishing division from New York to Burbank, California. Is this simply a cost-cutting move, or does it signal a major shift in the future of comic publishing? We share our thoughts on what it could mean for creators, comic shops, and the industry as a whole....

In this episode, Steve sits down with Fernando Alessandri, author, psychologist, filmmaker, comedian, and creative thinker whose work blends humor with surprising insight into human nature. The conversation begins with Fernando's novel Agent Bigglesby: Not Dead Yet , a comedy imagining what happens when an aging super spy refuses to retire, but quickly expands into an engaging discussion about cre...

This week on the Weekly Update, I share some exciting milestones for Page Chewing. The podcast has officially reached Captivate's monetization threshold, memberships are now available, and I've been booked with author interviews all the way into October. I also talk about why I'm restarting Carpentry and the Elven Forest , the next stage of our The Second Apocalypse spoiler-filled reread, upcoming...

The spoiler-filled reread of The Second Apocalypse continues as we tackle Part II: The Emperor from The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker . This section shifts the focus from Achamian to the political chaos surrounding Emperor Xerius III, introducing one of fantasy's most entertainingly paranoid rulers while laying even more pieces on Bakker's enormous chessboard. On a reread, it's rem...

Welcome back to Beyond the Page , the Page Chewing interview series where we explore the stories behind the storytellers. In this episode, Steve sits down with horror author Alex Grass , whose latest collection, Infernal Tramps: Tales of Weird Terror , embraces cosmic horror, body horror, and the wonderfully strange corners of speculative fiction. The conversation begins with horror but quickly ex...

Welcome back to Beyond the Page , the Page Chewing interview series where we go beyond the stories and explore the people who create them. In this episode, Steve sits down with John David, author of the award winning thriller The Bystander , longtime public relations and crisis communication consultant, nonfiction author, and corporate ghostwriter. Drawing on decades of experience in communication...

In this episode, Steve sits down with Angela Page, author, playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker, and president of the South Florida chapter of the Women's National Book Association. Angela shares the remarkable true story that inspired her latest novel, Enrico G. , based on her great-grandfather's extraordinary life in Italy and New York during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The conversati...

Warning: This discussion contains major spoilers for all seven books of The Second Apocalypse , including events from The Unholy Consult . If this is your first journey through the series, we strongly recommend reading the novels before listening. In this episode, Sean and I dive into Part I: The Sorcerer , revisiting the opening chapters with the benefit of knowing where the story ultimately lead...

In this episode of Page Burners , we tackle one of the most celebrated chapters in The Bonehunters, Chapter 7, and explore why so many readers consider it one of Steven Erikson's finest achievements. Our discussion dives into the harrowing events at Y'Ghatan, where survival depends as much on courage and compassion as it does on strength. We examine the chapter's unforgettable character moments, f...

In the second episode of Beyond the Page , Steve sits down with author Jared Maxwell to discuss his crime noir novel, Code of Vengeance , and the real-world experiences that helped shape its story. Drawing from a career in the military and law enforcement, Jared shares how those experiences influenced his writing while explaining why he believes the best stories are built on complex characters rat...

This week on Panel Chewing , Steve and Jarrod review another stack of new comics, discussing standout releases, surprising disappointments, and the books that earned a spot on this week's Pick of the Week . The conversation includes thoughts on Absolute Martian Manhunter , Absolute Superman , The Hab , Powers 25 , Odin , Ezra Cain: Mysteries of the Peril Brutal Dark , American Caper , The Punisher...

Welcome to the very first episode of Beyond the Page , the Page Chewing interview series where we sit down with authors, creators, and storytellers to explore the ideas and passions behind their work. For our inaugural episode, Steve is joined by fantasy author T.J. Cooper , author of A Shadows Vendetta: A Bond of Silver Book One . Together they discuss: Writing classic epic fantasy in today's pub...

This week on the Page Chewing Weekly Update, I share what I've been reading, what I've been watching, and what's happening behind the scenes at the podcast. We talk about our ongoing reread of The Darkness That Comes Before , why revisiting The Second Apocalypse has been more challenging than I expected, and why I've learned to embrace reading at my own pace instead of racing through books. I also...

In this spoiler-filled reread episode, we return to the prologue of The Darkness That Comes Before and discover just how much of The Second Apocalypse is hidden in plain sight. We unpack the founding of the Dûnyain, Kellhus's first steps beyond Ishuäl, the mystery of Moënghus, the shadow of the First Apocalypse, and the early hints of the Consult, the No-God, and the Nonmen. Along the way we debat...

Apologies for the muddled audio in this episode, hardware issue. This week on Panel Chewing , Steve and Jarrod work through a mixed stack of new comics, from standout indie releases to a few disappointing superhero books. Along the way they discuss Absolute Superman , Absolute Green Arrow , Tarzan Beyond , King Spawn , Firestorm , Gru: The Prophecy , American Caper (Pick of the Week), Astral Quant...

This week on the Page Chewing Weekly Update , I share one of my biggest surprises of the year as The Bonehunters delivers what may be my favorite chapter in the series so far, without diving into spoilers. I also talk about revisiting The Darkness That Comes Before , why rereading continues to reveal new layers, and my thoughts on Lone Wolf and Cub and Carpentry in the Elven Forest . Beyond the bo...

This week on Panel Chewing's Pick of the Week , Steve and Jarrod dive into the latest comics they've been reading and tackle some of the biggest headlines in comic book news. We discuss Marvel's newly announced Midnight Universe , debate the future of the Ultimate line, question whether the world really needs more Spawn books, and share our thoughts on DC's expanding Next Level initiative. Then it...

This week on Page Chewing, I'm talking about the books currently on my nightstand and a question every reader eventually faces: why do we reread books we've already finished? I share my ongoing rereads of The Bonehunters and The Darkness That Comes Before, discuss why some stories become comfort reads while others are one-and-done experiences, and explore how our relationship with books changes as...

The march continues as Page Burners dives into Chapters 5 and 6 of The Bonehunters , and Steven Erikson wastes no time raising new questions while deepening old mysteries. This week we discuss the ever-enigmatic Adjunct Tavore and what her soldiers do—and don’t—know about her plans. We explore themes of civilization, slavery, and torture, unpack the unsettling philosophy of truth at any cost, and...