Articles by Elana Levin
X-Men ‘97: Season 2 part 2 with Ethan Gould
X-Men ‘97: Season 2 part 2 with Ethan Gould “Danger says I learned this programming from watching YOU, Professor! I learned it from watching you!” Ethan Gould—artist and RPG designer—returns to cover the X-Men ’97 season 2 episodes 6-10. We discuss the later half of this season of the Disney+ animated series, featuring: messy Southern Gothic, flying buttresses calling X-Factor “race traitors”, The World’s Most Powerful Speak-And-Spell and of course, dinosaurs and 90s aesthetics.
X-Men ‘97: Season 2 episodes 1-5 with Ethan Gould
X-Men ‘97: Season 2 episodes 1-5 with Ethan Gould “Speaking of sexual Tyrannosaurus, the tension between Wolverine and Sabretooth could be cut with a knife,” – artist and game designer Ethan Gould returns to talk about X-Men ‘97 Season 2 episodes 1-5, now on Disney+. Don’t be a time-tossed mutant, when it comes to X-Men and art history, whether it’s Art Deco Egypotomania or 1980s action horror movies we’ve got you covered. Ethan Gould is a New York artist and writer.
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord with Prof. Holly Schaeffer-Raymond - Graphic Policy
Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord with Prof. Holly Schaeffer-Raymond “To what extent can you throw a person away?” – Dr. Holly Schaeffer-Raymond on Darth Maul. Maul – Shadow Lord, the latest Star Wars animated series on Disney+ is stunning. It hits topics like raising kids amidst fascism, cycles of abuse, and it’s even got Weird Little Guys. Resident Star Wars expert Holly Schaeffer-Raymond returns to the podcast. She’s a writer and professor at Temple University.
Daredevil Born Again Season 2 with cartoonist and organizer John Leavitt
Daredevil Born Again Season 2 with cartoonist and organizer John Leavitt “ It’s not so much that Mayor Fisk is like [Former NYC Mayor] Eric Adams, it’s that Eric Adams is a comic book character,” — John Leavitt is a writer and cartoonist who works with the DSA Upper-Manhattan Bronx chapter and a published Marvel author with Strange Tales Volume One.
Marvel's Wonder Man with Filmmaker Brandon Wilson
Marvel’s Wonder Man with Filmmaker Brandon Wilson Marvel Disney’s recent TV series is about a struggling actor and I have the perfect guest to discuss it with me: filmmaker, life-long Los Angelino, and Marvel comics fan Brandon Wilson. Wonder Man is delightful and we’ve got a lot say about the show’s portrayals of LA, Simon Wilson’s existence as a Black Haitian-American actor, the prison industrial complex, queer readings and more.
Graphic Policy Radio: X-Men and the MLK Legacy Roundtable
Graphic Policy Radio: X-Men and the MLK Legacy Roundtable One of our most listened to episodes of Graphic Policy Radio discussed the X-Men and their use as an allegory of the civil rights, it covered the series throughout its many incarnations and writers. The discussion also veered into the depiction of minorities in “comic” entertainment and Marvel’s continuity. In honor of MLK Day, we present that podcast discussion.
Peacemaker Season 2 with Arturo Garcia, journalist and wrestling fan
Peacemaker Season 2 with Arturo Garcia, journalist and wrestling fan The Real fantasy of Peacemaker is getting your friends to agree to listen to your favorite bands—and them like them. Journalist Arturo Garcia joins me for season 2 of James Gunn‘s HBO series Peacemaker staring John Cena. The first 15 minutes of this episode are spoiler free.
Superman: Supermensch. Winning the Disney boycott & more
Superman: Supermensch. Winning the Disney boycott & more The need for solidarity with Palestinians and Jewish Americans reconning with the historical myths we’ve been fed–– James Gunn’s new Superman movie really went there and did it superbly. Who better to process it with than Rafael Shimoff and Shoshana Brown, the hosts of Beyond the Pale, radio’s home for NY’s Jewish left! But first an update from Project Fulcrum, Get Free’s Star Wars fan organizing campaign striking a blow against censorship.
Why fandom organizing is a powerful strategy for movement building
In the original “Star Wars” movie, Princess Leia receives the Death Star plans thanks to the sacrifices of fellow rebels like Cassian Andor. Unsurprisingly, when Disney+ premiered a prequel series about Andor in 2022, its showrunners focused on the triumphs and sacrifices of everyday people and leaders like the eponymous character, as they spark the early rebellion against the Empire.
Murderbot: A Premium Quality Queer Anti-Capitalist Violent Work-Space Comedy
Murderbot: A Premium Quality Queer Anti-Capitalist Violent Work-Space Comedy Murderbot is a queer space opera with a sense of humor and a bone to pick with corporate power. You can stream it on Apple TV Join myself and Sarah Daniel Rasher, who co-hosts our Deep Space Nine podcast, for a look at the new TV series based on a series of novelas by Martha Wells. The first 13 minutes of our show are fully spoiler-free.
Daredevil Born Again: Cuomo is Kingpin (& we can defeat him)
Daredevil Born Again: Cuomo is Kingpin (& we can defeat him) Daredevil returns to tangle with Mayor Fisk, a villain with shocking parallels to Andrew Cuomo: the real life disgraced former Governor of NY who is now running to be Mayor of NYC! Our real election ends June 24 and New Yorkers need a better outcome than the election in the Disney+ TV Series. I’m joined by Janos Martin, a former candidate for Manhattan District Attorney and an expert on criminal justice reform.
Andor Finale: Political lessons from Star Wars and history
Andor Finale: Political lessons from Star Wars and history “No one can do this alone” Cassian Andor Season 2 That’s why we’ve got Project Fulcrum, where Star Wars fans are uniting with movement organizers to connect the stories on screen with the real history and theory of antifascist movements.
Andor season 2 & Anti-Fascist Movements in Star Wars & Our World (so far)
Andor season 2 & Anti-Fascist Movements in Star Wars & Our World (so far) “The Empire cannot win. You’ll never feel right unless you are doing what you can to stop them.” Andor season 2. Bridging the gap between Star Wars’ Andor and the real life history and theory of antifascist movements, organizer Anthony Vidal Torres from the Get Free movement and critic Klaudia Amenábar join me to cover the first two arcs of Andor season 2.
James Gunn's Creature Commandos with journalist Nicholas Slayton
James Gunn’s Creature Commandos with journalist Nicholas Slayton “Do you think this Eric Frankenstein is into crypto?” “This Frankenstein probably invented crypto” “Frank-coin?” National security journalist Nicholas Slayton joins me to talk about James Gunn‘s DC animated series for HBO, Creature Commandoes. We’ve got gothic horror, geopolitics and an impressive soundtrack.
X-Men X-Over with Referential’s Dr. Khaliden Nas
Graphic Policy believes in journalistic integrity and transparency. We will disclose when a product has been given for free for review and/or when no cost has been incurred to the staff so that you may be able to make a fully informed decision as to the opinions provided. When a product has been provided for free you will see disclosure at the bottom of the article. When such a disclosure does not exist, you can assume that the items have been purchased for review. - The Management
Spencer Ackerman on Writing Iron Man
Is Tony Stark a comrade? Spencer Ackerman, award winning national security journalist and author of the book “Reign of Terror: How the 9/11 Era Destabilized America and Produced Trump”, brings his knowledge of geopolitics, corporate power, and deep Iron Man lore to writing the new Iron Man series. This podcast is for folks new to the character as well as long time fans.
Graphic Policy Radio: X-Men and the MLK Legacy Roundtable
Graphic Policy Radio: X-Men and the MLK Legacy Roundtable One of our most listened to episodes of Graphic Policy Radio discussed the X-Men and their use as an allegory of the civil rights, it covered the series throughout its many incarnations and writers. The discussion also veered into the depiction of minorities in “comic” entertainment and Marvel’s continuity. In honor of MLK Day, we present that podcast discussion.
Star Trek Lower Decks: The Final Season
Follow GP Radio on Libsyn “I love that Star Trek continues to change and adapt. And that includes an animated comedy show,” John Arminio. Film critic and lifelong Trekkie John Arminio joins me to say farewell to Lower Decks, the animated Star Trek series we’ve grown to love. We open with a spoiler-free conversation about how this show won us over. You’ll have plenty of warning before we enter a full spoilers, in depth conversation about the series’ final season.
Batman: Caped Crusader with Leslie Lee III of Struggle Session
“Batman spends more time fighting the cops than helping them” – Leslie Lee III “The most corrupt Gotham Police Department of any Batman media” — Me…and I am here for that! Animated Batman is some of the best Batman. Does this new series from legends like Paul Dini, Ed Brubaker, and Greg Rucka deliver? Leslie Lee III of the leftist culture podcast Sruggle Session returns to talk about Batman Caped Crusader‘s aesthetics, politics and reinventions. Looking for ways to volunteer this election?
"A Chinese James Bond" The Manchurian with writer Pornsak Pichetshote
“less about, China versus America.. what he really believes is the power of community”. Award winning co-creator of The Good Asian, sak Pichetshote returns to talk about his visonary new project for Image Comics: a series of five one-shot comic books titled The Horizon Experiment. Each has a unique creative team inventing an original protagonist from a marginalized background set in genres such as horror or espionage, or inspired by icons like Indiana Jones or John Constantine.
Join Heroes4Harris this Sunday
This Sunday, join forces with the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), a slew of SURPRISE celebrity guests known for playing heroes on screen, and tens of thousands of superfans across the country for a star-studded Heroes For Harris pre-debate livestream event! The event takes place Sunday at 4pm Eastern! If you’ve lived to see the day that democracy heroes Adam Schiff and Alexander Vindman talk with Inigo Montoya from the Princess Bride (Mandy Patinkin) about why Kamala Harris must defeat real-life villain...
Kieron Gillen: X-Men Forever and The Power Fantasy
Kieron Gillen: X-Men Forever and The Power Fantasy “The philosophy that leads to AI is the same philosophy as 19th Century imperialism and colonialism,” Kieron Gillen. Writer Kieron Gillen returns to reflect on the end of his time contributing to the X-Men’s First Krakoan Age and the start of The Power Fantasy, his new series with Caspar Wijngaard for Image Comics.
Alex Ross and Steve Darnall talk Uncle Sam: Special Election Edition
“Alex Ross’ work is really like outstanding community theater” – Steve Darnall and Alex Ross join me to talk about the rerelease of their groundbreaking policital graphic novel, Uncle Sam as well as Alex’s Fantastic Four: Full Circle. “Timed for this year’s election, UNCLE SAM by Steve Darnall and Alex Ross makes its return after nearly a decade of being out of print.
Hazel Newlevant: "Becoming Who We Are" and Protecting Each Other
“I really want to protect my ability to keep making my gay little comics. That’s the important thing to me.”- Cartoonist Hazel Newlevant makes art that shows us how to protect our future and understand our past. Whether its their new anthology Becoming Who We Are: Real Stories About Growing Up Trans or their free zine, What’s Up With Covid and How to Protect Yourself 2024 Edition (featuring advanced safety tips!) their work combines personal narative, diligent research, and charming art.
Cars on Multiple Earths
I was a young teen the first time I heard Gary Numan's hit song "Cars." The best friend of my penpal/zinester friend had made her a beautifully constructed mix tape of 80's New Wave. She loved it so much she sent a copy of it to me. The mix was my gateway to appreciating synth-led music. I'd previously found synths corny because I associated them with the overplayed, overproduced pop music I'd thoroughly rejected as a solidly counter-culture teen. But Gary Numan was different.
X-Men '97 Finale: Magneto and Xavier's Meet Cute in the Mind Palace
“Mr. Sinister is obsessed with genetic purity and then this disaster bi bowling league shows up and stomps his ass,” – Artist and Art Director Ethan Gould joins us to talk about the finale arc of Disney‘s X-Men ’97 animated series. Episodes: Bright Eyes – Tolerance Is Extinction. We go deep on Bastian and Operation Zero Tolerance in the animated series and comics.
X-Men ’97 Episodes 3-6: Non-passing Mutants ACT Up
Discover more from Graphic Policy Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive. Continue reading
Star Wars the Bad Batch 3 & Tales of the Empire: Get animated with Holly Raymond
Star Wars the Bad Batch 3 & Tales of the Empire: Get animated with Holly Raymond Space dads, space witches, and redemption arcs abound in the final season of Star Wars: The Bad Batch and in the Tales of the Empire animated miniseries.
The Venture Bros. Remastered: Season 6 Episodes 5 & 6: Of Tanks & Warhol
This is an audio remastered version of an episode of The Venture Bros podcast originally recorded in 2016. One way we’re memorializing my late friend and co-host Steven Attewell is by improving the audio quality of the earliest episodes of our podcast. Here’s a favorite episode with new improved sound. * * * * * * Season 6 of theVenture Brothers: “Tanks for Nothing” and “It Happening One Night.” Your hosts, Elana Levin and Steven Attewell, Phd.
It’s Dick Tracy! With Writer Alex Segura
Award winning mystery writer Alex Segura is co-launching hardboiled 1930’s detective Dick Tracy’s latest incarnation. We discuss Chester Gould’s iconic comic detective from Dick Tracy’s roots in the funny pages, the character’s surprising sci-fi twists to Segura’s new comic book series. We even touch on Warren Beatty’s underrated 1990 movie adaptation that featured Steven Sondheim musical numbers and Madonna! How is Dick Tracy like Riverdale? What are our dreams of a James Ellroy-verse?
A Memorial for Steven Attewell Phd, The Maester of Fandom
Discover more from Graphic Policy Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive. Continue reading
Steven Attewell; The Maester of Fandom
There are people in fandoms whose critical work on a topic is so well known and respected that everyone else in the fandom reads them and eagerly awaits their take on it. People defer to them for insight into the media that they love. I was a fan of Steven Attewell’s writing before we met in person. I found his blog Race for the Iron Throne when I first began reading A Song of Ice and Fire and searched for what smart people on the Left had to say about it. I think we connected on his Tumblr.
X-Men ’97 Premiere! Getting Animated with Steven Attewell Phd.
“Do not make me let you down” – Magneto From Henry Gyrich and the Great Replacement Theory to anti-mutant medical discrimination here’s our conversation about the debut of the new X-Men ’97 animated TV series. Steven Attewell brings a historian’s perspective to X-Men ’97 — the exciting revival of the animated X-Men show of our youth. We do a deep dive into the show’s impressive politics and significant design choices.
Deep Space Dive, a Star Trek DS9 Podcast: Necessary Evil
Film Noir has been a cultural touchstone for nearly a century, and Deep Space Nine revels in it in season 2 episode 8. In “Necessary Evil” we flashback to Odo and Kira’s very uncute meet-cute during the Occupation. Join us as we discuss Sarah Daniel Rasher’s favourite DS9 episode, unpacking all of its references and allusions while tackling some of its hard hitting substance.
Jude Doyle on The Neighbors, his new horror comic series
“Everything you’re doing is a perfectly logical way to save your own life” Horror author and cultural critic Jude Ellison S. Doyle returns to the podcast to talk about his new comic book series, The Neighbors with art by Letizia Cadonici and Alessandro Santoro. A queer family moves to a small town in this tale of folk horror published by BOOM! Studios. The comic is rich with Celtic mythology. It wrestles with heartbreaking realities we face today —especially for trans and disabled readers.
Deep Space Dive: A Star Trek Deep Space Nine pod: Jadzia Axelrod on Jadzia Dax
Jadzia Dax is a woman in science, a member of a structurally gender fluid species, and a batleth swinging badass. She has one of the best coming out as trans scenes. She’s lived many lives and she’s the emotional glue that holds the crew together. Dax is a beloved Star Trek Deep Space Nine character and she shares a name (and more) with a fantastic writer who joins as our guest: Jadzia Axelrod is the GLAAD award nominated comics writer of Galaxy: The Prettiest Star and Hawkgirl for DC Comics.
Our Flag Means Death Season 2: Queer Pirates Return
Who lives to tell the tale of our favorite queer pirate romance/comedy? OFMD returned for a second (and final?) season on HBO Max. Linda Codega, journalist (and sailor!) joins me to discuss: What’s up with Blackbeard tourism IRL? Is Buttons a sea druid? Can we make Calypso’s Birthday the new queer Halloween? The pirate polycule? Why we really need season 3! Linda H. Codega is an award-winning entertainment journalist who has written about science fiction and fantasy media for over five years.
Listen to Deep Space Dive on demand!
Graphic Policy believes in journalistic integrity and transparency. We will disclose when a product has been given for free for review and/or when no cost has been incurred to the staff so that you may be able to make a fully informed decision as to the opinions provided. When a product has been provided for free you will see disclosure at the bottom of the article. When such a disclosure does not exist, you can assume that the items have been purchased for review. - The Management
Spencer Ackerman: Amanda Waller's Kissinger-Sized Victory in Waller Vs Wildstorm
“Power doesn’t shatter on impact with journalism,” – Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist Spencer Ackerman. Ackerman returns to talk about the thrilling conclusion of his DC comics debut, Waller Vs. Wildstorm, the role of journalism in social movements, blogging antiwar protests, why Tim Drake is the best Robin, and share some of his favorite Wildstorm comics. For a spoiler-free introduction to the Waller Vs. Wildstorm miniseries, listen to our conversation back in March.
The Chromatic Fantasy: Trans Love, The Devils, and Mel Brooks with comics artist H.A.
“like a medieval manuscript full of demon sex…’ but also written by an anime Mel Brooks.” – H.A‘s stunning graphic novel is all this and more. H.A joins me to talk about his debut graphic novel, The Chromatic Fantasy available from Silver Sprocket Press. About the book: Jules is a trans man trapped in his life as a nun. The devil that the convent guards against offers him a deal to escape: an illicit tryst and lifelong possession.
'Our Flag Means Death' Took Queering History to New Depths in Season 2 Original
When the writers room for the second season of Our Flag Means Death met for the first time, coproducer Zayre Ferrer looked at the Zoom screen and had a realization: They were working on a show with four nonbinary writers of color. It was a first for them—by a longshot.
'Our Flag Means Death' Took Queering History to New Depths in Season 2
Tech News Tube is a real time news feed of the latest technology news headlines.Follow all of the top tech sites in one place, on the web or your mobile device.
Erica Henderson and Alex de Campi on Parasocial, their new graphic novel
Graphic Policy believes in journalistic integrity and transparency. We will disclose when a product has been given for free for review and/or when no cost has been incurred to the staff so that you may be able to make a fully informed decision as to the opinions provided. When a product has been provided for free you will see disclosure at the bottom of the article. When such a disclosure does not exist, you can assume that the items have been purchased for review. - The Management
X-Men: The Fall of X with Spencer Ackerman and Kaetun Khlynne
Krakoa will never not exist. Will never not be an aspiration and an option. — Spencer Ackerman And do I have some news for Sebastian Shaw about civil forfeiture. — Kaetun Khlynne A journalist and a physicist join me to talk about The Fall of X, the 2023 summer X-Men comics event about the fall of Krakoa, the mutant homeland. The first part of the episode is spoiler free. We are very clear when we go on to spoilers.
All Tomorrow's Parties: A Velvet Underground Graphic Novel by Koren Shadmi
The Velvet Underground didn’t sell many records at first but everyone who bought one went out and started a band*– and now YOU can read a graphic novel about the Velvets! I interview cartoonist Koren Shadmi about his new graphic novel, All Tomorrow’s Parties: The Velvet Underground Story. His book is about the formation and dissolution of one of our favorite bands, and one of the most important rock bands of all time.
The Venture Bros. Show Series Finale: Radiant Is the Blood of the Baboon Heart
Pop culture and history experts and Historian host a close watch of the Venture Bros series finale, “Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart.” We’ll guide you through its numerous references and themes– from NYC geography to 60’s B movies to 80s New Wave music… so much 80s synthpop…. in this series finale! This is the 20th anniversary of the Venture Bros show and our seventh year doing a Venture Bros podcast.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse with a comics writer & movement organizers
“many singular people who feel alone, but together are at least feeling alone together” – Felicia T. Perez, Narrative Strategist and Zoe Tunnell, the co-creator of the comic Blade Maidens and join me to discuss the latest animated Spider-Man movie, featuring Miles Morales, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Diverse spidersonas, migrant roots, ‘have you considered not being a cop?’, and why Spider Punk doesn’t listen to the Sex Pistols. Check out Felicia T.
The Cartoonist Cooperative: Cartoonists of the World, Unite!
The Cartoonist Cooperative: Cartoonists of the World, Unite! #ComicsBrokeMe but organizing is the answer! The comics industry harms the artists, writers and editors who make the art we love. Building collective power is the strategy powerful enough to win. The Cartoonist Cooperative is a new vehicle for doing just that! I’m joined by one of this new organization’s founding members, Joan Zahra Dark, to talk about the organization’s goals and how readers can support it.
Justice Warriors with cartoonists Matt Bors and Ben Clarkson
Possibly the most political comic on the stands, Justice Warriors is a brutal, hilarious and ornately drawn new satirical comic about policing, power and AI in the dystopian Bubble City. Join series co-creators Ben Clarkson and Matt Bors as we talk about their first trade paperback published by Ahoy Comics. Matt Bors is a cartoonist, writer, editor, and the founder of The Nib.
Star Wars The Bad Batch: An Animated Dirty Dozen of Space Dads
Star Wars newest animated series is both fascinating and frustrating. Dig into the Bad Batch’s big questions with guest Dr. Holly Schaeffer-Raymond. The Bad Batch reflects on the rise of fascism, biology as destiny and social programing. This episode’s first 20 minutes are spoiler-free to help you decide if you want to watch. Then join us for: What the show has to say about about workers’ rights. Is Rhea Pearlman’s Cid a Yoda? Why Omega is a good kid character. Can 3D animation be good, actually?
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Elana
Contact Elana, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack