Because Comics

Jay and Mike are back, and they're gonna power through their colds and deliver an episode! They recommend the new Marvel comics "Scarlet Witch" and "Patsy Walker, aka Hellcat," and then Mike brings us back to "Secret Origins" #36, where we learn just how good Hal Jordan was at keeping his Green Lantern identity a secret... then, we play "Super-Mundane," and ask which heroes would be the best and worst wingman / wingwoman!   Pull List:  Jay: "Scarlet Witch" (Marvel Comics), written by James Robinson, art by Vanessa R. Del Rey.  Mike: "Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat!" (Marvel Comics), written by Kate Leth, art by Brittney Williams.    Main Segment:  "Secret Origins" #36, "Green Lantern" (DC Comics), scripted and plotted by James Owsley, plot assisted by Robert Greenberger, penciled by M.D. Brig.    Game: "Super-Mundane - Best / Worst Wingman / Wingwoman?"   Listen to full episodes at PartialArc.com  Email us at becausecomics@gmail.com, and find us on Twitter at @partialarc  Read Mike's columns every Tuesday and

We're bringing the year to a close with "Vision" and "Giant Days," and then we recap a comic best forgot, the "Uncanny X-Men" comic that ruined Nightcrawler. That's right, guys. We're going to talk about "The Draco." Because we are apparently gluttons for punishment. Then, we bring it home with one last game of "Would You Rather," and decide definitively if we'd rather live in Marvel's New York City, or in Marvel's Hell's Kitchen. We'll see you in 2016!   Pull List:  Jay: "Vision" (Marvel), written by Tom King, art by Gabriel Hernandez Walta.  Mike: "Giant Days" (Boom! Box), written by John Allison, art by Lissa Treiman.    Main Segment:  "Uncanny X-Men" #428-434 - "The Draco" (Marvel), written by Chuck Austen, art by Sean Phillips, Phillip Tan, and Takeshi Miyazawa.    Game: "Would You Rather... Live in Marvel's New York City, or Marvel's Hell's Kitchen?"    Listen to full episodes at PartialArc.com  Email us at becausecomics@gmail.com, and find us on Twitter at @partialarc  Read Mike's columns every Tue

It's the most wonderful time of the year once again, and Jay and Mike suggest you treat yourself by reading "Martian Manhunter" and "Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur." Then, we go WAY back to the early days of Wonder Woman, and check out a special Christmas adventure from "Sensation Comics" #14! Spoiler alert: The entire plot hinges on Princess Diana talking to a tree. Finally, we play "Super-Mundane," and ask which superhero would make the best and worst librarian?   Pull List:  Jay: "Martian Manhunter" (DC Comics), written by Rob Williams, pencils by Eddy Barrows, inks by Eber Ferreira.  Mike: "Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur" (Marvel), written by Brandon Montclare and Amy Reeder, art by Natacha Bustos.    Main Segment:  "Sensation Comics" #14 - "Wonder Woman: The Story of Fir Balsam" (DC Comics), written by William Moulton Marston, art by H. G. Peter.    Game: "Super-Mundane - Best / Worst Librarian?"   Listen to full episodes at PartialArc.com  Email us at becausecomics@gmail.com, and find us on Twitter at @par

Mike and Jay recommend you read "Plutona" and "Art Ops," but let's face it, we know why you're here. There's a "Star Wars" movie on the horizon, so in honor of "Episode VII - The Force Awakens," Mike takes us back to the earliest Star Wars comics, when Marvel retold "The Magnificent Seven" but with Han Solo. Trust me, it gets much weirder than you think. Then, we play "Would You Rather," and find out if we'd prefer a loveless relationship with a superhero... or a passionate relationship with a supervillain?   Pull List:  Jay: "Plutona" (Image), written by Jeff Lemire and Emi Lenox, art by Jordie Bellaire and Emi Lenox.  Mike: "Art Ops" (Vertigo), written by Shaun Simon, art by Mike Allred.    Main Segment:  "Star Wars" #8-10 - "Eight Against a World!" (Marvel), written by Roy Thomas, art by Howard Chaykin, inks by Tom Palmer.    Game: "Would You Rather... be in a loveless relationship with a superhero, or a passionate relationship with a supervillain?"   Listen to full episodes at PartialArc.com  Email us at

It's almost Thanksgiving, and Jay and Mike are busting out the cranberry sauce and yams! We talk about the comics we're thankful for - "Klaus" and the new "Archie" reboot - and then Mike recaps "The Vision and the Scarlet Witch" #6, where we prove that Magneto makes an absolutely terrible dinner guest. Finally, we play "Super-Mundane," and discuss which superheroes would be the best, and worst, at hosting Thanksgiving dinner.Pull List: Jay: "Klaus" (BOOM! Studios), written by Grant Morrison, art by Dan Mora. Mike: "Archie" (Archie Comics), written by Mark Waid, art by Fiona Staples. Main Segment: "The Vision and the Scarlet Witch" #6, "No Strings Attached!" (Marvel Comics), written by Steve Englehart, pencils by Richard Howell, inks by Frank Springer. Game: "Super-Mundane - Best / Worst at Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner?"You can check out Mike on the Real Women of Gaming Twitch event, "Cards Against Sobriety," this Saturday, November 20th, 8pm EST / 5pm PST. Tune in at twitch.tv/realwomenofgamingListen to full e

Jay and Mike recommend the perfect just-after-Halloween comics, "Paper Girls" and "Scooby-Doo Team-Up." Then, in honor of the new season, Mike brings us back to an issue of "The Flash," where Wally West is faced with a challenge that really only he could deal with. Finally, we play "Would You Rather," and decide whether we'd rather be a member of the X-Men, or the Green Lantern Corps...   Pull List:  Jay: "Paper Girls" (Image Comics), written by Brian K. Vaughn, art by Cliff Chiang and Matt Wilson.  Mike: "Scooby-Doo Team-Up" (DC Comics), written by Sholly Fisch, art by Dario Brizuela (issues 13-16 by Scott Jeralds).    Main Segment:  "The Flash" #30 - "Dancing In The Dark" (DC Comics), written by William Messner-Loebs, pencils by Greg Larocque, inks by Larry Mahlstedt.    Game: "Would You Rather... Be a Member of the X-Men, or the Green Lantern Corps?"   Listen to full episodes at PartialArc.com  Email us at becausecomics@gmail.com, and find us on Twitter at @partialarc  Read Mike's columns every Tuesday an

It's Halloween again, and after Jay and Mike suggest you read some not-so-spooky comics, "Doctor Strange" and "Star Wars," we return to those lovable world eaters and their horrifying shenanigans in "Marvel Zombies 2!" Then in the game segment, we play "Super-Mundane," and ask which superheroes would make the best and worst street performers!   Pull List:  Jay: "Doctor Strange" (Marvel), written by Jason Aaron, art by Chris Bachalo.  Mike: "Star Wars" (Marvel), written by Jason Aaron, art by John Cassaday and Stuart Immonen.    Main Segment:  "Marvel Zombies 2" (Marvel), written by Robert Kirkman, art by June Chung and Sean Phillips.    Game: "Super-Mundane - Best / Worst Street Performer?"   Listen to full episodes at PartialArc.com  Email us at becausecomics@gmail.com, and find us on Twitter at @partialarc  Read Mike's columns every Tuesday and Thursday at PartialArc.com, and follow him on Twitter at @supergeekmike

Our Halloween creep begins! Jay and Mike recommend "Welcome Back" and "Power Up," and then Mike takes us back to the early days of horror comics with EC Comics' "Tales from the Crypt!" Then we play "Would You Rather," and decide whether we'd like to take on the Justice League or the Avengers.Pull List: Jay: "Welcome Back" (BOOM! Studios), written by Christopher Sebela, art by Jonathan Brandon Sawyer. Mike: "Power Up" (BOOM! Studios), written by Kate Leth, art by Matt Cummings. Main Segment: "Tales from the Crypt" (EC Comics), by Al Feldstein (inker, penciler, writer), Graham Ingels (inker, penciler), Jack Kamen (inker, penciler), Johnny Craig (cover, inker, penciler). Game: "Would You Rather... As a supervillain, fight the Justice League, or the Avengers?"Listen to full episodes at PartialArc.comEmail us at becausecomics@gmail.com, and find us on Twitter at @partialarc Read Mike's columns every Tuesday and Thursday at PartialArc.com, and follow him on Twitter at @supergeekmike

It's another Bizarro episode! Mike and Jay recommend "Diesel" and "Hank Johnson, Agent of Hydra," and then Jay takes on Mike's traditional role, and guides us through the timey-wimey nonsense that is "The Return of Bruce Wayne!" Finally, we play "Super-Mundane," and Mike gets to ask, who would be the best (and worst) Dungeon Master?   Pull List:  Jay: "Hank Johnson, Agent of Hydra" (Marvel), written by David Mandel, art by Michael Walsh.  Mike: "Tyson Hesse's Diesel" (BOOM Studios), written and drawn by Tyson Hesse.    Main Segment:  "The Return of Bruce Wayne" (DC Comics), written by Grant Morrison, art by Lee Garbett, Frazier Irving, Georges Jeanty, Yanick Paquette, Pere Perez, Ryan Sook, and Chris Sprouse.    Game: "Super-Mundane - Best / Worst Dungeon Master?"    Listen to full episodes at PartialArc.com  Email us at becausecomics@gmail.com, and find us on Twitter at @partialarc  Read Mike's columns every Tuesday and Thursday at PartialArc.com, and follow him on Twitter at @supergeekmike

Jay thinks you should read the new "Lando" comic (because of course you should), and Mike thinks you should read the "All-New Hawkeye" comic (no, it's not the Matt Fraction comic, but we promise it's also a great series). Then we get to the main segment - a silver age story called "Superman's New Power"... and it turns out, this is by far the WEIRDEST comic we have ever discussed on the show. Also, we ring out the episode by trying out a brand new game - "Would You Rather?" Today, we ask who you would rather hench for... Lex Luthor, or Thanos?   Pull List:  Jay: "Lando" (Marvel Comics), written by Charles Soule, art by Alex Maleev.  Mike: "All-New Hawkeye" (Marvel Comics), written by Jeff Lemire, art by Ramon Perez.    Main Segment:  "Superman" #125 - "Superman's New Power!" (DC Comics), written by Jerry Coleman, pencils by Wayne Boring, inks by Stan Kaye.    Game: "Would You Rather... Hench for Lex Luthor, or Thanos?"    Listen to full episodes at PartialArc.com  Email us at becausecomics@gmail.com, and fin

Jay and Mike recommend you catch up with "Daredevil" before it wraps up next week, and while you're at it, start reading the new "Black Canary" series. Then, Mike shares a time when Salem - Sabrina the Teenage Witch's talking cat who, by the way, has a VERY sketchy origin story - turned the world of Archie upside down with some magical meddling! Finally, we play "Super-Mundane," and ask what heroes would be the best and worst travel agents? The best might surprise you! (The worst probably won't.)    Pull List: Jay: "Daredevil" (Marvel Comics), written by Mark Waid, art by Chris Samnee. The final issue, #18, comes out September 2nd.  Mike: "Black Canary" (DC Comics), written by Brendan Fletcher, art by Annie Wu.    Main Segment:  "Archie" #636 - "The Great Switcheroo!" (Archie Comics), written by Tania Del Rio, pencilled by Gisele, inks by Rich Koslowski.    Game: "Super-Mundane - Best / Worst Travel Agent?"   Listen to full episodes at PartialArc.com  Email us at becausecomics@gmail.com, and find us on Twitt

Jay and Mike make a case for you to read "East of West" and "Kaijumax," though those comics pretty much sell themselves. Then, in light of the recent buzz over Jared Leto's Joker in "Suicide Squad," Mike takes us back to the days when the Clown Prince of Crime first got his murderin' groove back, with "The Joker's Five-Way Revenge!" Then we close out with a game of "Who Am I," and Jay pulls out some obscure clues to try to stump Mike. Does it work? Listen and find out!Pull List: Jay: "East of West" (Image Comics), written by Jonathan Hickman, art by Nick Dragotta. Mike: "Kaijumax" (Oni Press), written by / art by Zander Cannon. Main Segment: "Batman" #251 - "The Joker's Five-Way Revenge!" (DC Comics), written by Dennis O'Neil, art by Neal Adams. Game: "Who Am I?"Listen to full episodes at PartialArc.com Email us at becausecomics@gmail.com, and find us on Twitter at @partialarc Read Mike's columns every Tuesday and Thursday at PartialArc.com, and follow him on Twitter at @supergeekmike

Jay recommends "Batman" again (this time it's different) and Mike recommends "Jem and the Holograms," and then, in honor of the new film reboot, Mike takes us back to the early days of "Fantastic Four," and the first appearance of Doctor Doom! Turns out, one of the greatest supervillains of all time has gone pretty much unchanged for the past 50 years. Finally, we play "Super-Mundane," and ask which heroes would be the best - and worst - at helping you move? Pull List: Jay: "Batman" (DC Comics), written by Scott Snyder, art by Greg Capullo. The "Superheavy" storyline begins with issue #41.Mike: "Jem and the Holograms" (IDW), written by Kelly Thompson, art by Sophie Campbell and Amy Mebberson. Main Segment: "Fantastic Four" #5 - "The Prisoners of Doctor Doom!" (Marvel Comics), written by Stan Lee, art by Jack Kirby. Game: "Super-Mundane - Best / Worst at Helping You Move?"Listen to full episodes at PartialArc.com Email us at becausecomics@gmail.com, and find us on Twitter at @partialarc Read Mike's columns eve

Jay and Mike take you to the future with their pull list suggestions, "Prez" and "Ivar, Timewalker." Then, in honor of the new Marvel Studios film, Mike takes us back to the past, to Scott Lang's first appearance as Ant-Man in the pages of "Marvel Premiere." Then we ring out the episode with a game of "Who Am I," and Mike is stumped until he isn't... and really, isn't that just how life is for all of us?    Pull List:  Jay: "Prez" (DC Comics), written by Mark Russell, art by Ben Caldwell.  Mike: "Ivar, Timewalker" (Valiant Comics), written by Fred Van Lente, art by Clayton Henry (with others).    Main Segment:  "Marvel Premiere" #47-48 - "To Steal An Ant-Man!" (Marvel Comics), written by David Michelinie, art by John Byrne and Bob Layton.    Game: "Who Am I?"   Listen to full episodes at PartialArc.com  Email us at becausecomics@gmail.com, and find us on Twitter at @partialarc  Read Mike's columns every Tuesday and Thursday at PartialArc.com, and follow him on Twitter at @supergeekmike

Jay and Mike recommend two VERY different science-fiction comics, "Injection" and "Kaptara." Then, in light of the new film "Terminator: Genesys" hitting theaters this week, Mike takes us back to an even more timey-wimey comic, "Robocop vs. The Terminator." Then we close out the episode with a game segment, "Super-Mundane," and ask which heroes would be the best and worst Wedding Planner? We don't mind telling you, this one really stumped us!   Pull List:  Jay: "Injection" (Image Comics), written by Warren Ellis, art by Declan Shalvey & Jordie Bellaire.  Mike: "Kaptara" (Image Comics), written by Chip Zdarsky, art by Kagan McLeod.    Main Segment:  "Robocop vs. the Terminator" (Dark Horse Comics), written by Frank Miller, art by Walt Simonson.    Game: "Super-Mundane - Best / Worst Wedding Planner?"   Listen to full episodes at PartialArc.com  Email us at becausecomics@gmail.com, and find us on Twitter at @partialarc  Read Mike's columns every Tuesday and Thursday at PartialArc.com, and follow him on Twi

Jay and Mike recommend two miniseries ending this month, "Ei8ht" and "Princess Leia." Then, Mike takes us back to a classic Batman comic, "A Death in the Family"... and it turns out it was much weirder and more political than any of us were expecting. Finally, for today's game segment, we play "Who Am I," and Mike gets an assist from another comics podcast... see, kids? Podcasts are full of useful information!    Pull List:  Jay: "Ei8ht" (Dark Horse Comics), written by Rafael Albuquerque & Mike Johnson, art by Rafael Albuquerque.  Mike: "Princess Leia" (Marvel Comics), written by Mark Waid, art by Terry Dodson.    Main Segment:  "Batman" #426-429, "A Death in the Family" (DC Comics), written by Jim Starlin, pencils by Jim Aparo, inks by Mike DeCarlo, covers by Mike Mignola.    Game: "Who Am I?"    Listen to full episodes at PartialArc.com  Email us at becausecomics@gmail.com, and find us on Twitter at @partialarc  Read Mike's columns every Tuesday and Thursday at PartialArc.com, and follow him on Twitter

Jay and Mike recommend "D4VE" and "Shutter," and then we dive into "Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen" #53, and his most famous transformation - that time he turned into a giant turtle man! And then we play "Super-Mundane," and ask which hero would make the best - and the worst - dogwalker?   Pull List:  Jay: "D4VE" (Monkeybrain), written by Ryan Ferrier, art by Valentin Ramon.  Mike: "Shutter" (Image), written by Joe Keatinge, art by Leila del Duca.    Main Segment:  "Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen" #53, "The Giant Turtle-Man!" Written by Jack Schiff, art by Curt Swan and John Forte.    Game: "Super-Mundane - The Best and Worst Dogwalker?"   Listen to full episodes at PartialArc.com.  Email us at becausecomics@gmail.com, and find us on Twitter at @partialarc  Read Mike's "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" recaps ever Tuesday at PartialArc.com, and follow him on Twitter at @supergeekmike

Jay and Mike recommend brutal action with "Archie vs. Predator" and brutal crime drama with "The Kitchen," and then, to celebrate the new Marvel / Netflix series, Mike takes us back to "Daredevil" #7, when Matt Murdock first got his red costume, and battled - and defended - the Sub-Mariner! And finally, for today's game of "Who Am I," Jay and Mike tap into the collective unconscious and achieve a psychic connection, because everything in this episode is all connected... don't believe us? Listen to the episode and see! Pull List:  Jay: "Archie vs. Predator" (Archie), written by Alex de Campi, art by Fernando Ruiz and John Workman.  Mike: "The Kitchen" (Vertigo), written by Ollie Masters, art by Ming Doyle.  Main Segment:  "Daredevil" #7, "In Mortal Combat with the Sub-Mariner!" Written by Stan Lee, art by Wally Wood.  Game: "Who Am I?" Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter Email us any questions at becausecomics@gmail.com Find more from Mike at supergeekmike.com, or on Twitter as @supergeekmike

For the past year, Jay and Mike have brought you their conversations about comics - but sometimes the conversation wanders a bit off the beaten path... in honor of the podcast's anniversary, we bring you some of their outtakes and ramblings, which were not heard in the past 26 episodes!   Thank you so much for listening for the past year!   Listen to full episodes at www.PartialArc.com.  Email us at becausecomics@gmail.com, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/partialarc, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @partialarc 

It's our very special one-year anniversary! Jay and Mike flash back to how the podcast began, and talk about the comics that first got them into comics, "The Return of Superman" and "Ultimate Spider-Man." Which is funny, because then for the main segment, Mike invites us all to the Battle of the Century - "Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man!" And folks, it's a doozy. Then we bring it home with a game of "Super-Mundane," and ask who would be the best waiter - and who would be the worst?   Pull List - the comics that got us into comics:  Jay: "The Return of Superman" (DC), written by Dan Jurgens, Karl Kesel, Roger Stern, Louise Simonson, and Gerard Jones; art by Tom Grummett, Jackson Guice, Jon Bogdanove, and Mark Bright.  Mike: "Ultimate Spider-Man" (Marvel), written by Brian Michael Bendis, art by Mark Bagley.    Main Segment:  "Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man", presented by Carmine Infantino and Stan Lee, written by Gerry Conway, drawn by Ross Andru.    Game: "Super-Mundane - Best / worst waiter?"    L