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Back in 1966, a little science fiction show boldly went where no television series had gone before. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Star Trek: The Original Series, we assembled a pod dedicated to the show that changed TV with its swashbuckling adventure, big ideas, and thoughtful morality tales.
We discuss the initial vision for the series and the unforgettable cast who brought it to life — including William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols, and the rest of that legendary bridge crew. Along the way, we revisit our favorite episodes like “Amok Time” and “The Enemy Within,” and explore why these stories still hold up.
We also shout-out parodies and homages to Trek like Galaxy Quest, Free Enterprise, and the chilling Black Mirror episode “USS Callister.”
So grab your communicator, set phasers to fun, and join us as we celebrate sixty years of Star Trek: The Original Series!
Special guest host: Warren Drummond (Los Angeles-based storyboard artist and author of “A Hard Day’s Work.”) Special featured guests: RobinTreks, Harley M, and Thomas N. Perkins.
@robintreks@maddydax94@tnperkins4@warrendrummond
NEW EPISODE! (Available on sidebarforever. com, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts)
It was bound to happen eventually, right?
As longtime cinephiles (and, sure, a little snobby about it), we finally turn our attention to the state of modern movies and TV. On this episode, we dive into what today’s film and streaming landscape gets right—and where it leaves us scratchin’ our heads.
There’s a lot to love: the convenience of firing up a movie at home without tracking down a physical copy, and shorter streaming seasons with storylines that actually pay off. But not everything gets a pass. The success of a crowd-pleasing, throwback film like Project Hail Mary comes with a demanding two and a half hour runtime. And how did we end up in a world where every cast feels like a superhero reunion? (“Wait… is that Killmonger and Electro starring in a courtroom drama with Captain Marvel?”)
Along the way, we ask some bigger questions. How has second screening changed the way we engage with movies and TV—and even how they’re made? Are filmmakers and showrunners now compensating for a distracted, at-home audience? And would ambitious, big-budget shows like Severance and The Last of Us even exist without the rise of streaming platforms?
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When Frank Miller wrote and drew The Dark Knight Returns in 1986, he didn’t just reimagine Batman—he detonated the character and rebuilt him inside a grim, dystopian Gotham City. This installment of our “1986: A Landmark Year in Comics” series revisits Miller’s bold reinvention of Gotham’s protector.
On the pod, we recount the buzz in the mid-’80s when Miller took on one of DC Comics’ flagship characters, the editorial freedom he was given with TDKR, and the immediate fan and critical reaction to the story. We also debate the controversy surrounding inker Klaus Janson’s work on the book, as well as the endless array of TDKR homages (and rip-offs) seen over the years—including the recent Absolute Batman.
And we tackle the big question: Is The Dark Knight Returns the greatest Batman story ever told… or just the most influential?
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In this installment of our series on groundbreaking releases from 1986, we’re spotlighting Maus, Art Spiegelman’s landmark graphic novel about his father, Vladek, a Polish Jew and Holocaust survivor.
Written and illustrated by Spiegelman, Maus moves between Vladek’s harrowing wartime experiences and the complicated relationship between father and son decades later. Through the now-famous device of portraying different groups as animals—Jews as mice, Germans as cats—Spiegelman creates a layered story about trauma, memory, and survival.
On this episode, we dig into Spiegelman’s background in underground comics, his exploration of survivor’s guilt woven throughout Maus, and his warts-and-all portrayal of, not only his dad, but himself in the story.
We also discuss the critical reception that helped elevate Maus beyond the comics world. In 1992, Maus became the first graphic novel ever awarded a Pulitzer Prize. Nearly forty years later, it stands as one of the most powerful works the medium has ever produced.
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What happens when superhero comics get weird—like, really weird? On this episode of “Unsung Ink,” we explore the world of Sam Kieth, a creator who bent anatomy, tone, and storytelling into something wholly his own.
We dig into Kieth’s early days in comics, from his inking work on Mage with Matt Wagner to his memorable contributions to The Sandman alongside Neil Gaiman. From there, we discuss his underrated run on Marvel Comics Presents with Peter David—work that helped define his elastic, expressive style.
Of course, no conversation about Kieth is complete without diving into his creator-owned projects, including The Maxx, Zero Girl, and Four Women—books that blended psychological depth and surrealism in ways that still feel ahead of their time.
Following his passing on March 15 at the age of 63, we take a moment to reflect on Sam Kieth’s legacy—a true original, and a voice in comics that can’t be replicated.
Rest in peace.
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HEY SIDEBAR FAM! Your host Dwight Clark has released a soundtrack album for his burgeoning creator-owned world. ‘The Trials of Iridian’ contains a combination of dark electronica and evocative spoken word. It’s so cool to see Dwight’s vision come alive as he has diligently worked on this for the past couple of years.
Check it out here: /album/the-omi-com-broadcasts-vol-i-trials-of-iridian.
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This Black History Month, we’re giving flowers to the Black writers and artists who helped define comics as we know it. From Matt Baker and Billy Graham, to Denys Cowan and Christopher Priest, to Stephanie Williams and Khary Randolph, we follow a creative throughline across generations. We also highlight pioneering cartoonists like Jay Jackson and Jackie Ormes—the first African American woman cartoonist.
(Swipe for photo gallery)
1. George Herriman
2. Krazy Kat and Ignatz by George Herriman
3. Illustration by E. Simms Campbell
4. Jackie Ormes
5. Torchy by Jackie Ormes
6. Murray’s advertisement by Jay Jackson, 1945
7. All Negro Comics #1, 1947; created and edited by Orrin C. Evans
8. Wee Pals by Morrie Turner
9. Super Soul Comix #1, 1972; written and drawn by Richard Eugene ‘Grass’ Green
10. Jungle Action #17 by Billy Graham
11. Star Trek by Jerome Moore
12. Black Enterprise November 1994 featuring Milestone founders Denys Cowan, Dwayne McDuffie and Derek Dingle
13. Hardware by Denys Cowan
14. Bitter Root by David Walker, Chuck Brown and Sanford Greene
15. Nubia by Khary Randolph
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Since the 1980s, mainstream comics has had more than its fair share of superstar creators. But for every Chris Claremont and John Byrne, there have been hundreds of writers and artists quietly doing good work month after month. On this episode, we’re celebrating those “blue-collar” creators—the ones who may not have been treated like stars, but wrote and drew good-ass comics.
We champion Silver Age talents like Gardner Fox, Curt Swan, and Jim Aparo, whose contributions helped define entire eras, before moving into more modern-day workhorses—Mark Bagley, Norm Breyfogle, Lee Weeks and more—who kept the trains runnin’ and the stories comin’.
Along the way, we ask: how did the rise of organized fandom affect a creator’s overall popularity? What’s the difference between a blue-collar creator and a hack? And why are inkers, colorists, and letterers almost always relegated to blue-collar status?
The recent passing of Sal Buscema brought this topic into sharp focus for us. Sal spent decades doing essential work for Marvel, often without the same spotlight his brother John received. This episode is, in part, a tribute to him—and to all the creators who showed up, did the work, and helped build the comics industry we love.
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We’re starting off the New Year racing against the clock with movies that unfold over the course of a single day—or night. From sunup-to-sundown classics like Dog Day Afternoon, to 24-hour pressure cookers such as Sinners, to noir thrillers that take place fully at night like Panic Room, we break down how filmmakers make limited time feel limitless. We also discuss comedies that utilize this format—Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Hangover, as well as action films, including Judgment Night and Collateral.
Along the way, we ask why audiences are particularly drawn to stories about “surviving the night,” how screenwriters raise the stakes with only hours to work with, and whether some genres pull off the “all in one day or one night” trick better than others.
NEW EPISODE! (Available on sidebarforever.com, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts)
This week, we’re talking about those moments in film, television, and comics when everything shifted. From The Matrix redefining action movies, to Netflix establishing binge culture, to Neal Adams reshaping comic book art—we break down the creative breakthroughs that changed the game forever.
We also discuss game changers in modern music and art like rise of music videos in the 80s, the use of sampling and autotune, and the impact of illustrator Frank Frazetta on generations of young painters.
Finally, we look at so-called negative game changers: the Comic Book Speculator Boom, the slow death of physical media, and how streaming reshaped (and maybe even hurt) how we experience TV, film and music.
