Today the Panelists discuss what makes autobiography good, marvel at the eccentricity of this book's art, and learn the value of good criticism. Never forget to eat your vegetables and pull some weeds.

• (00:00) - “It's Lonely At The Centre of The Earth” by Zoe Thorogood
• (00:20) - Front Matter
• (01:06) - Content Warnings
• (01:22) - Zoe Thorogood
• (02:41) - Impressions
• (08:53) - Structure (or lack of it)
• (10:51) - Starting the comic over
• (12:01) - Exhilarating Art
• (20:33) - Spoiler Zone
• (22:03) - Art spoilers
• (24:45) - Self-criticism
• (27:23) - The monologue makes it better
• (32:23) - Sorry you’re relatable, Zoe
• (35:52) - The catboy
• (40:36) - VRChat
• (42:21) - The potato story
• (43:41) - Criticism is good
• (44:30) - Further reading

- The impending blindness of Billie Scott, Avery Hill Publishing, 2020
- Creepshow Vol.2 #3 (OF 5), Image Comics, 2023
- Hack Slash: Back To School, Image Comics, 2023–2024
- "Harley Quinn and the Seven Sidekicks" in Harley Quinn: Black+White+Redder #4, DC Comics, 2023
- "For James" in Ice Cream Man #43, Image Comics, 2025
- Spinning by Tillie Walden

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:
Scout
Robin

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

Today, it's just vibes. Your Panelists discuss Hirayasumi, the sliciest slice-of-life manga to ever exist. This vacation of a read hits on burnout and what it means to be an artist, both favorite topics for the show. But it primarily is the story of Hiroto and his cousin, Natsumi, living in a home left to Hiroto by a woman he called "Granny."

• (00:00) - “Hirayasumi” by Keigo Shinzo
• (01:54) - A vibe check
• (06:20) - Narration vs using space
• (11:05) - There IS conflict between characters
• (12:40) - Natsumi stands out
• (13:23) - Fashion Corner!
• (14:56) - Natsumi & Akari
• (15:33) - SPOILER ZONE
• (15:50) - Yuri spinoff?
• (18:15) - So…Hideki?
• (22:26) - Hiroto’s passivity
• (26:16) - Tachibana
• (29:27) - Is the author a serial killer?
• (30:35) - We love Granny
• (35:23) - How Granny shapes Hiroto’s life
• (39:03) - Art! 🖼️
• (43:23) - Hiroto’s acting
• (44:55) - Natsumi becoming a mangaka
• (46:42) - Further Reading

- Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You by Jinushi
- Skip to Loafer by Misaki Takamatsu
- Tokyo Alien Bros. by Keigo Shinzo
- Sakura Quest anime
- Yuru Camp/Laid-Back Camp anime

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:
Scout
Matt
Robin

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.

Today, Scout pulls her fellow panelists through the gate of truth to discuss volumes 1-9 of Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa. In this, the first of three episodes we'll be doing on FMA this year, we share our varied personal histories with the series, become acquainted with the cast and their early adventures, and answer some listener questions.

How is a culture shaped by the technology it cultivates? How much of yourself will you sacrifice for the sake of your aspirations? And what is milk REALLY doing for your growth, anyway?!

• (00:00) - Fullmetla Alchemist Vol. 1-9 by Hiromu Arakawa
• (02:31) - Front Matter
• (05:10) - Spoiler-free plot summary
• (06:27) - Histories and impressions
• (13:21) - Shonen adventure manga
• (20:15) - Additional FMA thoughts
• (23:39) - A very specific art thing
• (25:52) - Arakawa's consistency
• (28:41) - Dipping a toe into translation
• (31:04) - SPOILER ZONE
• (31:07) - Summaries of the volumes
• (34:11) - Wild how much stuff is in these volumes
• (40:28) - The thing that's been done
• (43:05) - The characterization
• (46:00) - Where will the ending go?
• (48:05) - Things Matt remembered
• (49:13) - That Moment.
• (52:01) - Robin's Hater Zone
• (53:40) - Dude the drawings
• (54:47) - How the story deals with disability
• (01:01:22) - Rush Valley
• (01:05:47) - Winry Rockbell :) (and emotional (AND literal) labor)
• (01:10:47) - The gag panels
• (01:11:51) - Letting things chill
• (01:13:42) - The death that shaped a generation of weebs
• (01:16:09) - Izumi and Sig
• (01:18:42) - The month on the island
• (01:20:41) - Greed and the chimera
• (01:26:08) - The Door of Truth
• (01:27:30) - Good panels
• (01:30:33) - Roy Mustang stonks
• (01:31:39) - Bradley
• (01:33:06) - Armstrong too good too nice
• (01:33:50) - Listener questions!
• (01:34:03) - State alchemist names and powers
• (01:36:31) - Philosopher's Stone grift
• (01:37:49) - How many times does Ed get called liddol
• (01:39:05) - Favorite homunculus
• (01:41:20) - Running gag?
• (01:43:42) - Thank you for questions!!!!
• (01:44:00) - Further reading
• (01:46:32) - Back Matter

- A more recent way to read Fullmetal Alchemist is with the 3-in-1 omnibus editions
- You could read Fullmetal Alchemist on Webtoon but maybe don't
- Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, the manga-accurate anime
- The 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist anime
- Silver Spoon by Hiromu Arakawa
- Deamons of the Shadow Realm by Hiromu Arakawa

A comics podcast for everyone, proud to be a part of The Worst Garbage network.

Find us on Bluesky or Tumblr.

This week’s panelists can be found at:
Scout
Matt
Robin

Jillian

Editing this week by AJ Fillari.
Cover art by Scout Wilkinson.
Intro/Outro music by Boqeh.