Best Comic Book Beginners Podcasts (2025)

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Ep. 29 - Guess the Book from Comically Simplified Descriptions (Happy Anniversary BARS) 36:51

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6d ago36:51

36:51

Greetings fair listeners! This episode we bring you something of a challenge; a game, if you will. The rules are simple: take a book we've read and discussed, give a hilariously bare-bones description of the plot, and see if the other person can guess which book. Come join us, and feel free to play along! Leave us a review if you enjoyed hanging ou…

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Requested Reads IV - The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab 39:39

1M ago39:39

39:39

Here we go again with yet another one of V.E. Schwab's brilliant novels! This month we got a request for The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and once again, you lovely listeners did not disappoint. Join us as we discuss deals with dark gods, various forms of isolation, and unbreakable hope within this heart-achingly beautiful story! Leave us a revie…

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Ep. 28 - Pride Readathon Recap: From Crime-Solving Drag Queens to Sapphic Sea Monsters 1:00:12

2M ago1:00:12

1:00:12

Hello hello! To close out this year's pride month, we bring you our thoughts, feelings, and musings (with a special addition, thanks Michelle) on this month's readathon! This time around, we cover everything from crime-solving drag queens to teenaged grim reapers to sapphic sea monsters, and we ~cannot~ wait to share. Come hang out! And once again,…

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Ep. 27 - Anno-Trending: A Court of Books & Babes 1:13:23

2M ago1:13:23

1:13:23

Well dear listeners, we've finally done it. We read A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. As much as we tried to resist it, the Maasverse has dragged us in... and we may have dragged a friend in for a buddy read with us. This episode goes over the characters, the whimsy, the romance, and the thematic depth (or lack thereof) of the one, the …

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Ep. 26 - For Those Here, Queer, and Reading: Books to Binge for Pride Month (And Beyond) 1:07:59

2M ago1:07:59

1:07:59

Happy Pride Month everyone!! This month we bring you an episode entirely dedicated to highlighting LGBTQIA+ stories, authors, and representation as we discuss some of our favorite and/or recent queer reads! Hannah did a book binge this year to celebrate, so snuggle up with a snack and join us as we go over the most bingeable options! (This episode …

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Requested Reads III - Graceling by Kristin Cashore 34:04

3M ago34:04

34:04

Hear ye, hear ye! The newest Badly Annotated requested read has arrived! One of our lovely listeners absolutely knocked it out of the park suggesting Graceling by Kristin Cashore. This book pulled us into a vivid world of lush landscapes, political intrigue, mysterious adventure, and a little bit of a romance. We loved every minute of it! Trust us,…

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Ep. 25 - A Trip Down Nostalgia Lane: Badly Annotated Children's Books 1:05:50

3M ago1:05:50

1:05:50

Greetings and salutations, dear friends! This episode is specially dedicated to Jess' beloved nephew Joe, who just turned 1 this week! In honor of such a momentous occasion, we bring you our recommendations for children's books! From picture books to middle grade novels, we go through all of our childhood favorites so join us as we take a wander do…

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Ep. 24 - Badly Annotated Beginners: Where to Start in a New Genre 1:14:59

3M ago1:14:59

1:14:59

Hello faithful listeners! Quick question for you: Have you ever looked at someone else's favorite genre and thought "Hmm.. I wonder what's going on over there," but had no idea where to start? If so, fear not! For this week we bring you a conveniently compiled list of books that we think make for great starting points in some of our favorite genres…

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Ep. 23 - A Most Enlightening Game of Bookish Would You Rather 59:11

4M ago59:11

59:11

Would you rather be gifted a lifetime's worth of books or a lifetime just to read books? Would you rather give up rereads or only be able to reread for the rest of your life? Join us in pondering these questions and more this week during our game of Bookish Would You Rather! Leave us a review if you enjoyed hanging out with us! Socials & Such: Inst…

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Requested Reads II - The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom 39:25

5M ago39:25

39:25

Greetings fair listeners! We've got another requested read for you. This time we delve into the realm of music, art, fame, and turbulent romance with The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom. This book speaks to everything from found family and true love to greatness and unimaginable grief to music history and humanity, all narrated by Mu…

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Supercommunicators | 1. How to Talk to Anyone 32:22

5M ago32:22

32:22

Why are some people able to talk with just about anyone—about almost anything? One answer may lie in the questions we ask—and how deeply we ask them. Stick with us here… In this episode, host Charles Duhigg examines why deep questions are so powerful and how to ask them in everyday life. He talks to Nick Epley, psychology professor at the Universit…

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Supercommunicators | 2. How to Communicate Without Words 28:37

5M ago28:37

28:37

Why is it that we can tell someone “I’m totally fine!” and they instantly know we’re not? Gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice, and other subtle nonverbal cues play a huge role in how we connect with one another. In this episode, host Charles Duhigg explores how we communicate without words, including a deep dive into the visual and tonal cu…

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Bonus: A Recent Reads Chat Over Tea 37:14

6M ago37:14

37:14

Dearest listeners, in lieu of a requested reads episode this past month please accept this bonus episode! This evening is simple: a nice chat over tea between friends about our most recent reads (sorry about the raptors). Bring your hot beverage of choice and come join in! Leave us a review if you enjoyed hanging out with us! Socials & Such: Instag…

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Ep. 22 - The Galentine's Guide to Unhinged Romance ft. Smuts After Dark 1:34:01

6M ago1:34:01

1:34:01

Happy (belated) Galentine's Day everyone! We are very excited to bring you this episode with something of an announcement: WE HAVE FRIENDS!! That's right, this week we are joined by the lovely ladies from the Smuts After Dark podcast, Chey and Jill, to discuss our most fun and unhinged romance book recommendations! It's going to be a longer one, so…

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Ep. 21 - Genre Swap: Academically Unethical Gods vs. the Velvet Blue Man Group 1:04:07

6M ago1:04:07

1:04:07

Come one, come all! It's another genre swap! This time we both jumped headfirst into science fiction, except we went in ~very~ different directions with our picks. Hannah followed two rather arrogant and powerful "heroes" in their philosophical battle between good and evil. Meanwhile, Jess spent some time on a faraway ice planet with 7 foot tall bl…

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Requested Reads I - The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman 36:08

7M ago36:08

36:08

Hello and welcome to the first ~official~ Badly Annotated Requested Reads bonus episode! This month we take a close look at The Yellow Wallpaper, a short story originally published in 1892. This harrowing tale has a multitude of layers that definitely left us guessing. Who is the woman in the wall? Is she a ghost? Is she merely a figment of our nar…

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Ep. 20 - Classics To Be: Books We'll Still be Hearing About at 80 53:39

7M ago53:39

53:39

Hello and welcome back to the Badly Annotated Readers Society! We've looked at classics. We've looked at gothic literature. We've analyzed poetry through the ages, and now we present to you our list of books that we think will become the next classics!! From contemporary slice of life to nostalgic children's horror to lyrical climate fiction, these…

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Ep. 19 - New Year, New Books: Reflections & Resolutions We May or May Not Stick To 1:07:15

7M ago1:07:15

1:07:15

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Welcome to the first episode of 2025 here at the Badly Annotated Readers Society! We're so happy you're joining us as we look back at 2024, and forward to 2025. First, we reflect on our reading from stats to ratings to our winners of the BARS Awards of 2024. Then, we share our reading goals and book-et lists for 2025!! As usual, g…

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Ep. 18 - Bookish Gifts for the Reader in Your Life (Last Minute Holiday Ideas) 1:07:35

8M ago1:07:35

1:07:35

Calling all last minute holiday shoppers! This week we bring you a list of easy to find, mostly affordable, and absolutely wonderful bookish gift ideas for the reader in your life. Are these just our Christmas wish lists? Maybe. But we are readers, so we would know what readers like! If you're organized and all of your shopping is already done, the…

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Requested Reads Soft Launch - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman 34:22

8M ago34:22

34:22

What is this? A ~bonus~ episode? That's right. Here is the first of what will hopefully become a series in the new year where we read and review books requested by you, our lovely listeners! This episode is all about A Man Called Ove. We laughed, we cried, and we absolutely fell in love with this story of grief, community, and healing. Come join us…

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Ep. 17 - Sharing the Holiday Cheer: Beloved Bookish Creators 1:58:58

8M ago1:58:58

1:58:58

Happy Holidays!! This episode is all about sharing our love for the bookish community online as we go over some of our most beloved bookish creators! From bookstagramers to podcasts to book shops, we're here to highlight the best and brightest, and maybe even introduce you to some new favorite book besties. Grab a snack and buckle in, this is a lon…

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Ep. 16 - Genre Swap: Bunny x Bride 59:38

9M ago59:38

59:38

Hello hello! This week we're back with another genre swap! This time, Hannah dove into the realm of weird magical realism with a sorority cult, while Jess got her first taste of monster romance with a side of political intrigue. We laughed, we cringed, we swooned, and we're here to tell you all about it. Have a seat, join us! Books Discussed: Bunny…

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Ep. 15 - One Star Reviews of Five Star Reads 1:07:29

9M ago1:07:29

1:07:29

Hey, it's you again! Welcome back, dear listener. This week, we bring you a series of handpicked artisan one star reviews of some of our favorite reads! While we disagree wholeheartedly with these reviews, we can appreciate the wit and the gall of these reviewers. Come along with us! Just remember that this is all in good fun, and everyone is entit…

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Ep. 14 - Pass the Aux: Literary Playlists 57:53

9M ago57:53

57:53

Welcome back to the Badly Annotated Readers Society! This week we're looking at a different medium... MUSIC! We chose six books and we have specially curated playlists for each that we think match the book in some way. Whether it be lyrics that feel like our favorite characters, melodies that suit the mood of the story, or just an alignment of gene…

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Ep. 13 - From Sardonic Name Dropping to Floral Identities: Poetry Across Centuries 1:15:08

9M ago1:15:08

1:15:08

Hello hello! We've got something a little different for you this week. We're looking at poetry! This episode covers everything from 17th century satire to 21st century sonnets and we're thrilled to share it with you all, our dear listeners. These poems span different genres, themes, historical periods, and more, so grab a snack and a cozy blanket, …

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Ep. 12 - Spooky Season Readathon Recap: Demon Cats, Corporate Witches & Haunted Homes, Oh My! 1:04:44

10M ago1:04:44

1:04:44

Hear ye, hear ye! The final installment of the Badly Annotated Spooky Season Extravaganza is here! To end off the month of October, we bring you a Halloween special. This week's episode contains all of our thoughts, feelings, musings, and more (shoutout Michelle, iykyk) about our picks for this month's spooky readathon! We both got out of our comfo…

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Ep. 11 - Let's Get Gothic: The Ghosts of Spooky Past 1:07:00

10M ago1:07:00

1:07:00

This week, in the third installment of the widely beloved Badly Annotated Spooky Season Extravaganza, we bring you a visit from the ghosts of spooky past. From the works of Edgar Allan Poe to Oscar Wilde, from slightly sapphic vampires to capitalist goblin curses, join us as we discuss our favorite gothic classics! Books: The Tell-Tale Heart by Edg…

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Ep. 10 - Our Favorite Fall Fiction with a Sprinkle of Spooky TBRs 1:02:55

10M ago1:02:55

1:02:55

Look! It's the second installment of the Badly Annotated Spooky Season Extravaganza! Join us in our continued celebration of spooky season as we walk you through all of our favorite fall reads, as well as some new ones we're hoping to get through this year. Grab a latte, get cozy, and let us know if any of our recommendations catch your interest! L…

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Ep. 9 - If You Like This Then Try That: Spooky Cinema Edition 1:05:32

11M ago1:05:32

1:05:32

Now presenting... *drum roll* ... the Badly Annotated Spooky Season Extravaganza! Come one, come all to the first official episode of spooky season here at the Badly Annotated Readers Society. This week, we bring to you a fun twist on the "If you liked this, then try that" trend in the online book community. Unsure of what to read this spooky seaso…

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Ep. 8 - Genre Swap: Intergalactic Fem Badassery or Royal Mafia Romantasy 1:00:53

11M ago1:00:53

1:00:53

Dearest listeners, today we at the Badly Annotated Readers Society bring you a crossover episode for the ages. We have swapped genres! Jess strong-armed Hannah into one of her favorite wonderfully strange sci-fi books, while Hannah made Jess read a young adult romantasy (romance/fantasy). We were both definitely out of our comfort zones and in for …

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Ep. 7 - Adding Books to Your TBR Based on Out of Context Quotes (1hr) 51:47

11M ago51:47

51:47

Welcome back to the Badly Annotated Readers Society for episode 7! You've all seen the tiktoks, the reels, the YouTube videos convincing you to read bookworm's favorites via out-of-context quotes, and so we are here to provide the full hour version of your top bookish trend to add oh so many more to your TBR! Come laugh, get confused, and most impo…

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A Working Farewell and What We’ve Learned 45:09

12M ago45:09

45:09

This week, hosts June Thomas, Isaac Butler, and Ronald Young Jr. reflect on the best tips, tools, and words of wisdom from the past four years of Working. They bid farewell to the show, to the listeners, and discuss the lessons that stuck with them and changed the way they work. They also save time at the end to reply to some heartwarming listener …

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Ep. 6 - Jane Eyre: The Great Debate 54:11

12M ago54:11

54:11

Come one, come all to the great debate you have all been anticipating since episode one, where Hannah and Jess discuss Jane Eyre! Is she the feminist icon of 1847? Or is she the original 'Pick Me' girlie? Come find out! We can't wait to have you! Leave us a review if you enjoyed hanging out with us! Socials & Such: Instagram: @badlyannotatedpod Han…

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Working Overtime: Saying Goodbye 18:35

12M ago18:35

18:35

On this, the final episode of Working Overtime, hosts Ronald Young Jr. and June Thomas share some last bits of advice on how best to leave a job! Ronald has been let go, quit jobs, and switched gears in every possible way. June has moved across countries and allowed turning points in her life to be catalysts for moving on from certain work. Both of…

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An Artist’s Guide to ADHD and Getting Stuff Done 49:36

12M ago49:36

49:36

This week, host Ronald Young Jr. talks to Andy J. Pizza, an illustrator and creator of children’s books who’s also the host of the Creative Pep Talk podcast. In the interview, Andy explains what it’s like to be a working artist with ADHD, and he shares some strategies that have helped him channel his attention, accomplish tasks, and evolve in his c…

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Ep. 5 - Extremely Outlandish, Shockingly Unhinged, and Strange: Silly Sci-Fi Summaries 1:08:59

12M ago1:08:59

1:08:59

Hello hello and welcome to episode 5 of the Badly Annotated Readers Society where this week we talk outlandish, we talk unhinged, and we talk STRANGE SCI-FIs. Jess recaps some for her recent science fiction reads to Hannah, who cannot believe the bizarre-ness of the tales Jess thrives on. If you don't want spoilers, this week is not for you and we'…

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How a Big Band Leader and Composer Wrangles All the Moving Parts 52:02

12M ago52:02

52:02

This week, host Isaac Butler talks to composer and bandleader Darcy James Argue, who fronts the 18-piece big band jazz group Secret Society. In the interview, Darcy talks about the thought processes that go into his compositions, like how his interest in mathematician Alan Turning inspired a track on the group’s most recent album Dynamic Maximum Te…

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Working Overtime: Transitioning From One Project to the Next 22:22

1y ago22:22

22:22

On this week's episode of Working Overtime, hosts Ronald Young Jr. and June Thomas get into the weeds on in-between time and pivoting from one job to the next. June is at the tail end of the promotional tour of her book, while Ronald is gearing up for a new season of his podcast Weight For It. How do you take the final steps of wrapping up one proj…

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The Founder of a Life-Changing Writers’ Retreat 40:49

1y ago40:49

40:49

This week, host June Thomas talks to author and poet Judith Barrington about her knack for memoir writing and about a retreat called Flight of the Mind that she ran with her partner for 17 years. In the interview, they discuss what makes good memoir writing, what Flight of the Mind meant to women writers, and how to get the most out of writing retr…

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Ep. 4 - Feral for Fictional Angst & Chaos 54:17

1y ago54:17

54:17

Greetings, fair and faithful listeners! This week's episode is all about tropes. Specifically, Hannah takes Jess through a mildly long-winded but very educational list of all of her favorite fiction tropes such as enemies to lovers, grumpy x sunshine, the one bed trope, and more! So grab your favorite lil snack and settle in with us for a cozy and …

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Smart Money Podcast: How to Navigate Income Swings in a Creative Career 31:05

1y ago31:05

31:05

It's an off-week for Working Overtime, so we're presenting a special bonus episode from the Smart Money podcast! Smart Money features real-world advice to help people make better decisions about their money. In today's episode, a jazz saxophonist talks about navigating the financial ups and downs of a career in the arts. If you like this episode, a…

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Ep. 3 - Who Are We? ft. Questionably Relatable Characters 59:37

1y ago59:37

59:37

We are diving into episode three this week by exploring characters that we're not quite sure should be considered relatable, but here we are identifying with them anyways! The Badly Annotated Readers Society ladies are here to yap about kings' guards, college cults, powerful women, and learning to take care of themselves! CW: This episode contains …

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How a TV Writer Keeps the Ideas Coming 46:07

1y ago46:07

46:07

This week, host Ronald Young Jr. talks to Mike Gauyo, a TV writer and creator whose credits include the beloved series Insecure and Ginny and Georgia. In the interview, Mike shares his process for thinking of new ideas for shows, refining those ideas over time, and pitching them to industry gatekeepers. He also talks about being from an immigrant f…

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Working Overtime: Surviving the Book Release Process 30:40

1y ago30:40

30:40

June Thomas recently published her book A Place of Our Own: Six Places That Shaped Queer Women’s Culture, and on this episode of Working Overtime co-host Isaac Butler asks her what went into the release and its promo-campaign. The weeks leading up to a release can be long and exhaustive, with questionnaires, blurb requests, and audiobook recordings…

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How a Stand Up Comedian’s Sense of Humor Evolves 50:41

1y ago50:41

50:41

This week, host Isaac Butler talks to Dina Hashem, a stand-up comedian and writer for The Daily Show whose recent special is called Dark Little Whispers. In the interview, Dina discusses her reliance on inspiration rather than a formal writing process, her experiences in comedy roast battles, and the fact that her standards for good comedy keep get…

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Ep. 2 - The Ultimate Reading List for Goblins, Nymphs & Other Ethereal Babes 1:02:04

1y ago1:02:04

1:02:04

Welcome to episode 2 of the Badly Annotated Readers Society! We have scrounged deep into our reading histories and are excited to present to you the best of the best (in our most humble opinions)! Listen in for our favorite fantasies, nightmares, and everything in between as we go over the books that left an impression, stuck out to us for one reas…

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Writing the Two-Author Novel 50:27

1y ago50:27

50:27

Host June Thomas speaks with authors Rachel Dodes and Lauren Mechling about their new novel, The Memo and their collaborative writing process. The pandemic took its toll on everyone, but for Mechling and Dodes, it became a time to collaborate via a Google Doc. They spewed ideas and paragraphs onto the same page, editing each other’s output in real …

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Ep. 1 - Reading: To Think or Not to Think 54:26

1y ago54:26

54:26

Welcome to the Badly Annotated Readers Society! You are now an official member of this cozy, chaotic, literary club. Join us in this introductory episode where we discuss who we are as readers, our reading practices, our favorite annotation techniques, and more. Jess mainly reads to really get herself thinking, while I, Hannah, generally prefer rea…

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Working Overtime: Revisiting Your Resolutions 25:05

1y ago25:05

25:05

It's halfway through the year, and hosts June Thomas and Isaac Butler are putting themselves back under the microscope to see which of their New Year's resolutions they’ve stuck with and which they’ve let peter out. June still wants to work more sustainably, and Isaac comes clean about his lapsed French studies. They get into routines that have tru…

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A Newspaper Comic That Shows a Changing America 50:29

1y ago50:29

50:29

This week, host Ronald Young Jr. talks to Darrin Bell, creator of the syndicated newspaper comic strip Candorville. In the interview, Darrin explains how hard it was to get Candorville picked up for syndication and how all newspaper comics artists face an up-hill battle to get published. He also talks about his routine for creating new strips every…