ppcp's Podcast

Episode Ten - Zoe's Blues

ppcpodcast@gmail.com — Thu, 15 May 2008 05:30:00 GMT

Zoe's Blues
Issues # 1-3 (of four)
Story by Carla Rodriguez
Illustrations by Rosa Colon

Price: $3.00 per issue
Email: sodapopcomics@hotmail.com
Comicspace
Myspace

I first heard about this comic through the I Read Comics podcast. I'm always interested in indie superheroe comics, so I wrote to Rosa and Carla asking if I could buy copies of Zoe's Blues. In a few weeks, I had review copies of all three issues waiting for me in my mailbox. (Thank you Rosa and Carla!)

Each issue is printed in color on nice, semi-glossy paper and side-stapled. For the production quality alone this comics is worth $3.00, but the story and images support this worth. There is an interesting juxtaposition between the flowing, pencil drawn characters and the precise, thick lines of the settings. A pencil-shaded Zoe moves in a world of bright colors and patterned backgrounds. The first time I read Zoe's Blues, I was thinking, I don't know if you can do this and make the comic work. But by the third issue, I was digging it. This is sometimes the way I feel in my day to day life. The people I know are real and vibrant. But the mundane furniture of my life - the desks and tables - are replicable images. I've moved across the country with two suitcases, but the furniture I have in my new apartment could just as easily have been with me in Alabama. The images in Zoe's Blues could have been done in completely one realm or the other, but I like the slight discord. It makes me ask the comic questions, and interact with the text.

The story is fun and engaging. Zoe has superpowers (ice!) that she has not quite mastered yet. She wants to go to college, but her parents want her to join their superhero team. Zoe struggles with writing a college application essay and crushes on the cute waiter at the cafe where she goes to take a break from her family. The first two issues set up the world and the minor elements of discord within the family, but in issue three the plot picks up the pace and the villain Speed Demon (who briefly made an entrance in issue two) takes control of Zoe's story.

Issues one and two have great character development. Flashbacks to Zoe's childhood are interwoven smoothly with the current family events. There are several lovely scenes of interaction between young Zoe and her parents. The most moving of these occur when Zoe's optimism is thwarted by her uncontrolled powers.

But issue three is my favorite so far. Speed Demon arranges a chat with Zoe, and in addition to being an incredibly cute Speed Demon he also precipitates the kind of witty dialogue that will make you smile as you read. It starts with Zoe and Speed Demon's first conversation together. Zoe asks, "What gave you the bright idea that I would help you?" and Speed Demon, looking flustered, answers "Well, because you look like a reasonable human being, and..." then in an inset close-up of Speed Demon's face "I know stuff." :). Yes! Smile. :). These are the geeky heart-warmers that make the third issue of Zoe's Blues extra cool and make me wish for a plush version Speed Demon with whom I can have similarly shyly incoherent conversations.

Speed Demon divulges the story of Zoe's parents and then makes her an offer she will hopefully refuse. As Zoe listens to Speed Demon's story, her parents search for her. Zoe's younger brother, Tommy, sits on the floor beside his sister's bed and worries. The character depictions are very realistic in this issue, and the two art styles interact on a new level. When Zoe's parents fly out of the house to search for their missing daughter, their curvy, pencil outlines move away from the angular lines of the house in a brief but powerful image of movement and intent.

I have not read the fourth issue of Zoe's Blues yet, but if issues one through three indicate the progression to the fourth, then it is likely to be a great comic.

Zoe's Blues is definitely a comic to check out. Rodriguez and Colon have created an inspiring art style, a cast of believable characters, and a female protagonist with superhero powers and a hip outfit. I enjoyed reading the issues, and hope that Zoe will return someday for a graphic novel length adventure.

Winter Superland Update!

Sat, 17 Nov 2007 23:59:00 GMT

Dear listeners of the Phantom Power Comics Podcast:

Hello Phantom Friends! We apologize for ppcp's long hiatus. The Phantom Power team has moved across the country (and then some) to pursue higher (and colder) education in America's last frontier!

We've brought along all of the review copies we've received. Our suitcases are full of great comics and zines to talk about on the show. If you've recently mailed a review copy, it should still reach the team via Postal Service forwarding. If you need to contact us via snail mail, the new address is:

Phantom Power Comics Podcast
c/o Jenni Moody
895 University Ave, Apt 1
Fairbanks, AK 99709

We'll post a short audio update soon, with some proper episodes soon to follow! Already recorded interviews living in our old hard drive still need to make their way north before we'll be able to post them. If you have any suggestions or questions, please hit the forum or send us some email.

Thanks to everyone for supporting the show!

Girl-Wonder Podcast is Auditioning Hosts

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 21:34:00 GMT

Check out the original post for the full details. This looks like a great opportunity to get into comics podcasting, so if you like to talk about comics send them an audition!

Four Color Heroines is currently looking for two other people to fill host positions. Four Color Heroines will be a four-person podcast (three regular hosts including myself and one guest) and primarily will focus is women in the sequential art medium, though other elements may at certain points be brought up.

Those interested will need a microphone, the program Skype and Pamela Pro or an equivalent VoIP phone recorder that can record in stereo. Pamela Pro can be downloaded on a 30-day trial basis, so for the audition period you will only need to download it once.

What I'll need in your host application:
- A brief paragraph talking about yourself, your experience, and anything else you feel might be relevant.
- A minimum three-minute recording of you talking about a topic of your choice.

Please PM (preferred) or e-mail hannahdame@girl-wonder.org with your application. Applications must be in by June 24, 2007.

Buffy Giveaway Winners!

Thu, 31 May 2007 06:47:00 GMT

Fresh from the bunny hat:

Paul and Gary Small, Jr. are the winners of the Buffy Giveaway from SiliCon 2007 and Phantom Power. Congratulations!

Each will receive Buffy Issue #1, a 32" x 22" poster, and a 17" x 11" poster.

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway!

WisCon 31 Schedule

Fri, 18 May 2007 05:43:00 GMT

Team Phantom Power will be attending WisCon 31: the world's leading feminist science fiction convention. The convention will take place May 25-28, 2007 in Madison, Wisconsin.

And I'm going to be on some panels!

Sarcasm and Superheroics: Feminism in the Mainstream Comics Industry.

Saturday, 4:00-5:15 p.m.

2006 was declared the year of Women in Comics. Alison Bechdel's "Fun Home" was one of Time's 10 Best Books, best-selling authors Jodi Picoult and Tamora Pierce were signed up to write for DC and Marvel, and DC announced a new "Minx" line for girls. However, 2006 was also a year of increased feminist activism in mainstream comics. New websites "When Fangirls Attack" and "Girl-Wonder.org" collected and encouraged feminist debate on issues of diversity and sexism in comics, and there seemed to be plenty to talk about. Moreover, the Occasional Superheroine confessional memoir recounted a disturbing tale of abuse and misogyny within the superhero industry that was reflected on the pages of its comics. What has improved in the comics industry? What is yet to be done? What challenges are posed by the industry's peculiar institutional structure? How can women break into the comics mainstream? How can we critique it? And what comics can you buy for your kids?

M: Karen Elizabeth Healey, Charlie Anders, Rachel Sharon Edidin, Catherine Lundoff, Jenni Moody

The X-Women

Sunday, 1:00-2:15 p.m.

The X-Men comics are well-loved and have a disproportionately high number of female fans (and strong female characters). X-Men: The Final Stand was nonetheless widely interpreted as quite sexist (out of control sexual women must be destroyed for the good of the world, etc.). Did the problems originate in the adaptation to film, or the source material, i.e., the comics themselves? What attracts women to the X-Men story no matter what format it's told in?

M: Rachel Sharon Edidin, Charlie Anders, Jennifer Dunne, Karen Elizabeth Healey, Jenni Moody

Fun Home

Sunday, 4:00-5:15 p.m.

Time magazine named Alison Bechdel's graphic novel "Fun Home" as its top book of the year, and it spent a good chunk of 2006 on the NYT best-seller list. Bechdel is an artist/writer best known for her syndicated comic strip "Dykes To Watch Out For". It's pretty rare for (a) autobiography, (b) lesbianism, or (c) a graphic novel to be at the top of ANY critical list of best books of the year; hitting the trifecta is unprecedented. Which of these 3 aspects is most surprising? Does this bode well for the future?

M: Rachel Sharon Edidin, Janet Lafler, Jenni Moody, JJ Pionke, Vicki Rosenzweig

If you're going to be at WisCon 31, please say hi!

Episode Nine

Thu, 10 May 2007 07:50:00 GMT

Phantom Power Comics Podcast, Episode 9

Manhunter continues! Audio from the 2007 New York Comic Con provided by David Arroyo of the Comic Makers Podcast. Thank you David!
Bitch Magazine talks about feminism in comics
the Final Taxi Podcast remembers Arnold Drake
Buffy, Issue #1 Giveaway!!

Linda Linda Linda
The Man Who Doesn't Take Off His Clothes vol.1 & 2, by Narise Konohara & Yuki Shimizu
Less Fun Comics No. 1, by Joe Annabi and Nick Sedillos
Farmer's Daughter, vol. 1 and E-ROT: An Exploration of the Erotic, October 2006 Edited by Christine M. Baese (To order a copy of these zines, mail $1.00 for each zine to: Christine M. Baese, P.O. Box 624, Northville, MI, 48167.)
Zine World: A Reader's Guide to the Underground Press #24

Man Who Doesn't v.1		Man Who Doesn't v.2		Less Fun Comics, No.1

Farmer's Daughter		E-ROT		Zine World

The Phantom Power Comics Podcast is supported by the 2006 Women Comics Podcasters Grant from the Lincoln Heights Literary Society.

Thanks to David Arroyo of the Comic Makers Podcast for the fantastic audio from the 2007 New York Comic Con DCU panel.

Thanks to Ginger Mayerson of the LHLS for providing review copies of Linda Linda Linda and The Man Who Doesn't Take Off His Clothes, vol. 1 & 2 .

Thanks to Joe Annabi for providing a review copy of Less Fun Comics, No.1.
Thanks to Christine M. Baese for providing review copies of Farmer's Daughter, vol. 1 and E-ROT: An Exploration of the erotic, vol. 1.

Thanks to Zine World for providing a review copy of Zine World: A Reader's Guide to the Underground Press, No.24.

Play Now

Subscribe to PPCP

Comments, questions, suggestions, or anything else?
Contact me: ppcpodcast@gmail.com

All music was provided by the Podsafe Music Network. Artists whose music appeared in Episode 9 include:

Broadcast Debut
Rainer Maria
Rilo Kiley
Railer
New Telepathic Friends
Karmellas Game
Starlight Mints

A Special Message from the Phantom Bunny

Tue, 3 Apr 2007 06:15:00 GMT

Dear listeners of the Phantom Power Comics Podcast:

As you know, Easter is this Sunday. And at Easter time many people suddenly love bunnies! While love of bunnies is wonderful, buying bunnies for children as part of their Easter baskets can end in sadness. Bunnies without super powers cannot feed themselves, find new homes, dodge automobiles or fend for themselves against predators.

Many people who love bunnies may not have the time or money to care for them as pets. If you or a child you know would like to have a bunny in your home, try a stuffed bunny first and talk to someone who lives with a bunny companion to find out what it is like.

If you don't know anyone who has adopted a bunny, here are some bunny resources:

Fat Rabbit Farm
The Bunny Bunch S.P.C.R.
House Rabbit Society
Rabbit References: Care & Feeding Tips

Podcamp Atlanta 2007 Unconference Report

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 04:54:00 GMT

The Phantom Power team had a great time attending Podcamp Atlanta 2007! We gave out tons of goodie bags filled with magnets, buttons, and candy, and attended many sessions about podcasting. The best part, though, was meeting the awesome people who listen to the show! It was great to meet and hang out with Dr. Ginger Campbell of the Brain Science podcast, Ron Nastie of the Final Taxi podcast, and Sam Chupp of the Bear's Grove & Dragonkin podcasts.

Listen to podcasts of the sessions.

View the Phantom Power Podcamp Atlanta 2007 Flickr set.

View the Podcamp Atlanta 2007 Flickr photo pool.

Dr. Ginger Campbell of the Brain Science podcast and Phantom Bunny. See more in the PPCP Podcamp Atlanta 2007 Flickr photo set.

Episode Eight - Interview with Jim Mahfood

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 03:45:00 GMT

Independent comics legend Jim Mahfood talks about live art, music, and his new mini-comic Ask For Janice.

Jim Mahfood's Official Website

Jim Mahfood's Myspace Page

Order the Ask For Janice mini-comic

See Jim Mahfood in San Jose, California October 5-7 at SiliCon 2007.

Many thanks to Douggary Grant of SiliCon 2007 for being so cool.

Many thanks to Mike Cross for the wonderful recording support. Without him this interview would not have been possible.

Play Now

Subscribe to PPCP

Discuss this episode in the forums:

All music was provided by the Podsafe Music Network. Artists whose music appeared in Episode 8 include:

Meshes
The Blood Brothers

Manhunter Continues!

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 05:28:00 GMT

At the 2007 New York Comic Con, Bob Wayne announced that Manhunter will continue as an ongoing series.

Thank you Dan Didio and Bob Wayne and Paul Levitz for not cancelling one of my very favorite superhero comics. Thank you for keeping Manunter on the shelves and a smile on my face.

Thank you Marc Andreyko for writing a wonderful character. Thank you for giving her intelligence and humanity.

Thank you Javier Pina, Jesus Saiz, Brad Walker, Diego Olmos, Fernando Blanco, Jimmy Palmiotti, Bob Petrecca, Steve Buccellato, Phil Balsman, Jared K. Fletcher, Pat Brosseau, Robin Riggs, Jae Lee, Jose Villarrubia, Jung Chung, Rob Leigh, Nick J. Napolitano, and Travis Lanham for making this a beautiful comic and giving Manhunter her full body uniform.

Thank you to everyone who has worked on this wonderful comic and to everyone who reads it.

Manhunter.com

NYCC, DAY 2: DCU:, A BETTER TOMORROW - TODAY!

Tune in to the next episode of the Phantom Power Comics Podcast to hear DC's announcement at NYCC!

Episode Seven

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 20:04:00 GMT

Phantom Power Comics Podcast, Episode 7

Mentionables:

Including reviews of:

Books With Pictures (alt) #1, by Sina Grace
Comic vol.1, by Ha Sihyun
Wonderland: Children of the Future Age vol.1, by Derek Watson and Kit Wallis
Whatcha Mean, What's a Zine? by Mark Todd and Esther Pearl Watson
Diamond in the Rough #7, by Caroline Tigeress

Books With Pictures		Comic v.1		Wonderland v.1

Whatcha Mean		Diamond in the Rough		Feb. Previews

The Phantom Power Comics Podcast is supported by the 2006 Women Comics Podcasters Grant from the Lincoln Heights Literary Society.

Thanks to Caroline Tigeress for providing a review copy of Diamond in the Rough.

Thanks to Jim Manchester for writing in with information about Convention Confessional.

Play Now

Subscribe to PPCP

Comments, questions, suggestions, or anything else?
Contact me: ppcpodcast@gmail.com

All music was provided by the Podsafe Music Network. Artists whose music appeared in Episode 7 include:

Broadcast Debut
Adam McIntyre
The Buffali
The Comas
Celebrity Pilots
Starlight Mints

February Issue of Sequential Tart

Mon, 5 Feb 2007 06:34:00 GMT

Woot! The February 2007 issue of Sequential Tart is up.

Check it out!

I wrote the article Secret Origins of a Fangirl - Made in Japan. If you look around, you can also find out my favorite romantic movie, and what I think makes a book sexy.

Happy Reading :)

Episode Six

Sat, 27 Jan 2007 05:30:00 GMT

Phantom Power Comics Podcast, Episode 6

Mentionables:

Silicon 2007 announcements!

Josh Hale Fialkov

Jonathan Fesmire

Tara McPherson in Bust Magazine
Heroes returns with Christopher Eccleston

Including reviews of:

To the Mouth of the Source: Comic Vignettes Based on the Lyrics of Miss Joanna Newsome by Mister Grant Reynolds
Manhunter: Street Justice vol. 1, collects issues #1-5 by Marc Andreyko
Manhunter: Trial by Fire vol. 2, collects issues #6-14 by Marc Andreyko
32 Stories: The Complete Optic Nerve Mini-Comics by Adrian Tomine
Phoenix Lust: Rebirth by Mike Laico

To the Mouth of the Source		Manhunter v.1		Manhunter v.2


	32 Stories		Phoenix Lust

The Phantom Power Comics Podcast is supported by the 2006 Women Comics Podcasters Grant from the Lincoln Heights Literary Society.

Thanks to Mike Laico of Dark Phoenix Studios for providing a review copy of Phoenix Lust.

FREE MAGNETS!
Send me an email with your snail mail address if you'd like to receive free Phantom Power Comics Podcast magnets or fliers for you or your local comic store: ppcpodcast@gmail.com

Play Now

Subscribe to PPCP

Comments, questions, suggestions, or anything else?
Contact me: ppcpodcast@gmail.com

Comics or zines to review may be sent to:

Phantom Power Comics Podcast c/o Jenni Moody
P.O. Box 19454
Birmingham, AL 35219

All music was provided by the Podsafe Music Network. Artists whose music appeared in Episode 6 include:

Broadcast Debut
Joanna Newsome
All-Girl Summer Fun Band
Audrey Come Lately
AM/FM
Starlight Mints

Silicon 2007

Sun, 14 Jan 2007 06:42:00 GMT

The Phantom Power Comics Podcast is excited to announce that we have been invited to participate in Silicon 2007! On October 5-7, the Phantom Bunny, Mike and I will travel to San Jose, California to cover the experience of this super-cool convention. Silicon is a non-profit convention whose proceeds benefit the Diabetes Society. Guests will include Dame Darcy, Molly Kiely and Jim Mahfood. Silicon is sure to be a great convention!

Read the announcement on the Silicon 2007 blog.

Keep up with all of the latest updates with the Silicon blog.

Read about last year's convention and keep an eye open for the new website at the official Silicon website .

Phantom Bunny models SiliCon buttons in the PPCP Silicon 2007 Flickr photo set.

Episode Five

Sun, 31 Dec 2006 19:40:00 GMT

Phantom Power Comics Podcast, Episode 5

Mentionables:

Heroes
Indie Spinner Rack
-- Interview with Renee French

Greta's Book Reviews

The Final Taxi Podcast
-- Remembrances of David Cockrum and Martin Nodell
Collected Comics Library celebrates Episode 100
Women's Work: An online collective of female artists launches

Including reviews of:

Passion vols. 1-3 by Shinobu Gotoh and Shoko Takaku
The Surrogates by Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele
Mattie and Dodie by Eleanor Davis

Passion vol. 1-3

The Surrogates		Mattie and Dodie

The Phantom Power Comics Podcast is supported by the 2006 Women Comics Podcasters Grant from the Lincoln Heights Literary Society.

Thanks to Ginger Mayerson of the LHLS for providing review copies of Passion and The Surrogates.

FREE MAGNETS!
Send me an email with your snail mail address if you'd like to receive free Phantom Power Comics Podcast magnets or fliers for you or your local comic store: ppcpodcast@gmail.com

Play Now

Subscribe to PPCP

Comments, questions, suggestions, or anything else?
Contact me: ppcpodcast@gmail.com

Comics or zines to review may be sent to:

Phantom Power Comics Podcast c/o Jenni Moody
P.O. Box 19454
Birmingham, AL 35219

All music was provided by the Podsafe Music Network. Artists whose music appeared in Episode 5 include:

Broadcast Debut
Causeway
Bill deRome
The Collectors
Starlight Mints

PodCamp Atlanta 2007

Mon, 4 Dec 2006 19:02:00 GMT

This March 16-18, I will be at the Atlanta PodCamp. The PodCamp is an unconference, which is very similar to a conference but without set guidelines of who can conduct a seminar. Anyone who has something to say can hold a seminar; you don't have to have 100 episodes posted or have won an award. I think it will be a great opportunity to learn and to meet other podcasters.

If you don't live in the Southeast, you can find a PodCamp in your region.

Episode 5 coming soon!

Episode 4

Sat, 25 Nov 2006 05:39:00 GMT

Phantom Power Comics Podcast, Episode 4

Small Press Expo Madness!

SPX 2006

Phantom Bunny drives to Bethesda, Maryland
(picture links to PPCP flickr)

Including reviews of:

SPX: The Small Press Expo 2006
See-Saw by Sara Edward-Corbett
The Beast Mother by Eleanor Davis
Attack of the Tadpole Fanclub by Colleen AF Venable
Gilded Lilies by Jillian Tamaki
Finder: Talisman by Carla Speed McNeil

Click on a thumbnail for a larger view:

See-Saw

The Beast Mother

Attack of the Tadpole Fanclub

Guilded Lilies

Finder: Talisman

Donate money to Lea Hernandez via her paypal account: divalea@gmail.com

FREE MAGNETS!
Send me an email with your snail mail address if you'd like to receive a free Phantom Power Comics Podcast magnet:

Play Now

Subscribe to PPCP

Comments, questions, or suggestions?
Contact me: ppcpodcast@gmail.com

All music was provided by the Podsafe Music Network. Artists whose music appeared in Episode 4 include:

Broadcast Debut

Bagheera

A Pageants End

Audrey Come Lately

Starlight Mints

Women Comics Podcasters Grant Recipient

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 05:38:00 GMT

The Phantom Power Comics Podcast is now the proud recipient of the first ever Women Comics Podcasters Grant. This grant is supported by the Journal of the Lincoln Heights Literary Society.

Before I read the post on When Fangirls Attack about the WCP grant, I had never heard of podcasting. I am extremely grateful to the Journal of the LHLS and Ginger Mayerson for promoting the concept of a comics podcast. I really enjoy talking about comics, and will aspire to live up to the high standards set by the pioneer in this field, Lene Taylor of the I Read Comics podcast.

Thank you so much to everyone who has listened to the show!

Episode Three

Sun, 12 Nov 2006 18:27:00 GMT

Phantom Power Comics Podcast, Episode 3

The First Voltron Spectacular

Including reviews of:

The Voltron Blue Lion (Set One) DVD Boxed Set
Voltron, Defender of the Universe Comics, Series 1 by Dan Jolley

Voltron sans Pidge

Donate money to Lea Hernandez via her paypal account: divalea@gmail.com

FREE MAGNETS!
Send me an email with your snail mail address if you'd like to receive a free Phantom Power Comics Podcast magnet: ppcpodcast@gmail.com

Play Now

Subscribe to PPCP

Comments, questions, or suggestions?
Contact me: ppcpodcast@gmail.com

Episode Two

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 15:36:00 GMT

Phantom Power Comics Podcast, Episode 2

Including reviews of:

DragonCon 2006
Astonishing X-Men TPB vol. 1 and 2 - Joss Whedon and John Cassaday
Battlestar Galactica #0, #1 - Greg Pak and Nigel Raynor
Castle Waiting #1 - Linda Medley
Wyrms #1 - Orson Scott Card, Jake Black, and Renato Arlem
the Women of Marvel Poster Book

Donate money to Lea Hernandez via her paypal account: divalea@gmail.com
Check out Studiolo: the art of Linda Medley...
Apply to be a writer for Sequential Tart!

Play Now

Subscribe to PPCP

Comments, questions, or suggestions?
Contact me: ppcpodcast@gmail.com

All music was provided by the Podsafe Music Network. Artists whose music appeared in Episode 2 include:

Broadcast Debut
Conconquidore Truidore
Dan Sehane
Darcy Fray
Starlight Mints

Episode One!

Sun, 10 Sep 2006 03:06:00 GMT

The beginning of the Phantom Power Comics Podcast!

Including reviews of:

No. 5 by Taiyo Matsumoto

No Pink Ponies by Remy Mokhtar

Play Now

Subscribe to PPCP

Comments, questions, or suggestions?
Contact me: ppcpodcast@gmail.com