We made this podcast to be newbie-friendly, queer-friendly, marginalized gender-friendly, and hopefully plain ol’ friendly. In that spirit, we’ve pulled together these curated lists on various topics we cover on our podcast. From how to start with comics to discussions on gender and sexuality, we’ve gathered our favorite recurring topics and the episodes where we get into them in one place for your listening ease.

How to start with comics

If you’re new here or just want to know how to diversify your pull list, these are the episodes to get your motor running.

Episodes featuring the X-Men

The X-Men are so queer the jokes practically write themselves.

• Episode 10.0: The X-Men are just hella gay, or how did you first learn about superheroes? (Comic of the Week: DC’s Bombshells)

• Episode 13.0: Having an ongoing terrible time for decades, or is X-Factor the worst? (Comic of the Week: A-Force)

• Episode 17.0: What’s a miwacle? A very special holiday episode about “Have Yourself a Morlock Little Christmas”

• Episode 25.0: Beards for Beards, Part II of the crossover episode about underutilized women from comics with The Good. The Bad. The Basic. podcast and hosts Alex and Em

• Episode 34.0: The longevity of grief, or how can you handle character deaths well? (Comic of the Week: O Human Star)

• Episode 49.0: Pain is used to justify a lot, or who are some of your favorite redeemed villains? (Comic of the Week: The Wilds)

Episodes featuring Poison Ivy

We love this redheaded eco-feminist and we’ve got the eps to prove it.

• Episode 21.0: Hello? Marvel, DC: Can you hear us? Or, if you could get the keys to any character who would it be?

• Episode 24.0: We know the truth, Part I of the crossover episode about underutilized women from comics with The Good. The Bad. The Basic. podcast and hosts Alex and Em

• Episode 36.0: They’re both into plants, or have Poison Ivy and Swamp Thing ever met? (Comic of the Week: Red Sonja and Vampirella meet Betty and Veronica)

• Episode 37.0: Did you read the comic? An interview with Amy Chu, writer of Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death, Red Sonja, Green Hornet, and so much more

• Episode 41.5: The genesis of so much, an interview with Leah McKendrick and Mariah Owen, creators of the 2020 Poison Ivy fan film Pamela and Ivy

Interviews about comics criticism

Comics criticism is a particular animal. We talked to industry pros about what criticism is and how better to engage with it.

• Episode 16.0: Teenage Edgelord, an interview with Samantha Puc (Comic of the Week: Superman’s Christmas Adventure 1940)

• Episode 48.0: No such thing as perfect, a WWAC (Women Write About Comics) roundtable on comics criticism

• Episode 51.0: The gayest thing I’ve ever seen, an interview with Ayoola Solarin, editor, essayist, PA, nerd and all around amazing human

Interviews with queer comics creators

We love talking to comics creators about their craft, their passion, and why being queer is the best.

• Episode 12.0: This is why aliens haven’t visited us, an interview with Stephanie Williams, Parenthood Activate and But What If, Though? creator and writer. We discuss being a creative and starting your own projects, and what exactly Captain America was doing during the Civil Rights movement.

• Episode 26.0: Putting on tin foil hats, an interview with Stephanie Williams, Parenthood Activate and But What If, Though? creator and writer. We discuss blaxploitation films, comics, and Black sisterhood or the lack thereof.

• Episode 28.0: Cat pics and the creative process, an interview with Ben Kahn, writer of Gryffen: Galaxy’s Most Wanted, Shaman, and Heavenly Blues

• Episode 40.0: Tell queer stories, an interview with Anthony Oliveira, War of the Realms writer

• Episode 41.0: These people matter! an interview with MariNaomi, indie comic veteran and creator of the Life on Earth series

• Episode 43.0: The energy of all comics, an interview with Gabby Rivera, author of Marvel’s America, Juliet Takes a Breath, and b.b. free

• Episode 45.0: I do many things, an interview with Danny Lore, writer of Quarter Killer, Queen of Bad Dreams, James Bond, and more

• Episode 47.0: That would be impolitic, an interview with Judith Slays, aka Emma Veronique Houxbois, drag star and trans sexuality educator

Gender and sexuality in comics and pop culture

While pretty much all of our episodes touch on gender and sexuality in some manner or another, these are the episodes we recommend starting with:

• Episode 3.0: Way too many refrigerated women, or what is this comic even referencing? (Comic of the Week: Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur)

• Episode 11.0: The stories we’re left with, or what’s the deal with Bury Your Gays? (Comic of the Week: Abbott)

• Episode 13.0: Having an ongoing terrible time for decades, or is X-Factor the worst? (Comic of the Week: A-Force) Note: We answer two questions in this episode and though they’re both queer to some extent, the second question is about queer comics publishers.

• Episode 22.0: Playing footsie naked, or who were some of the first queer characters in comics? (Comic of the Week: The Pervert) Note: Sara also tells us the story of Rachel Summers in this episode, so the whole thing is pretty damn queer.

• Episode 23.0: A lot of goo going on, an interview with Paige S. Allen (Comic of the Week: Bingo Love)

• Episode 27.0: I will go down with this Ship, or what’s the history of shipping? (Comic of the Week: Vines N Roses, Issue 1)

• Episode 30.0: I’m not against sexy ladies, or what do you think of the new Bad Girl comics? (Comic of the Week: Angela: Asgard’s Assassin)

• Episode 33.0: This imperfect world full of horrible content, or what are some great female superheroes who aren’t hyper-sexualized? (Comic of the Week: Love Letters to Jane’s World)

• Episode 35.0: A big effing queer party, or can we get an episode about animated series? (Comic of the Week: Butch Heroes)

• Episode 44.0: Break down the binary, or what is the key to writing bi characters? (Comic of the Week: Ironheart 2018)

• Episode 50.0: There’s always weird stuff, or what’s the deal with Tigra? (Comic of the Week: Bury the Lede)

2020 Pride Extravaganza

We celebrated Pride 2020 indoors given the pandemic. So, we pulled together an incredible slate of interviews and bonus episodes for our listeners.

• Episode 40.0: Tell queer stories, an interview with Anthony Oliveira, War of the Realms writer.

• Episode 41.0: These people matter! an interview with MariNaomi, indie comic veteran and creator of the Life on Earth series.

• Episode 41.5: The genesis of so much, an interview with Leah McKendrick and Mariah Owen, creators of the 2020 Poison Ivy fan film Pamela and Ivy.

• BONUS: Every part is really good, a review of The Young Avengers (available for free on our Patreon)

• Episode 42.0: I agree that I’m right, an interview with Chingy Nea about sex workers in comics

• BONUS: A source of power, a review of queer comics anthologies We’re Still Here, Gay Genius, Love is Love, and Rainbow Reflections (available for free on our Patreon)

• Episode 43.0: The energy of all comics, an interview with Gabby Rivera, author of Marvel’s America, Juliet Takes a Breath, and b.b. free

• Episode 47.0: That would be impolitic, an interview with Judith Slays, aka Emma Veronique Houxbois, drag star and trans sexuality educator