We've got another awesome interview to share with you! We're delighted to be joined by David Brothers to discuss his awesome career journey from comics blogger to manga editor at Viz Media! David details his early blogging days at 4thletter, his duties as Brand Manager at Image, and what it's like to edit series like JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and We Never Learn!  We also talk to David about his thoughts on representation in comics, the future of digital comics, and his philosophy on comics criticism. Plus we answer a ton of listener Q&As, discussing the best moments of Vagabond, why So I'm a Spider, So What? is so good, how to use the word "affected" correctly, and a whole lot more!

PODCAST BREAKDOWN:

00:00 - Intro

David Brothers Interview:

02:33 - Introducing David Brothers
03:17 - David’s Blogging Days
11:15 - David’s Comic Book Origin Story
14:23 - David and Akira
22:58 - The Interiority of Characters
29:11 - David’s Approach to Comics Criticism
33:15 - David’s Stint in Games Journalism
35:41 - David’s Essays for Comics Alliance & Defending Frank Miller’s All-Star Batman & Robin
42:21 - David’s Experiences as an Editor on Image Books
52:49 - David’s Tips on How to Run a Successful Panel
1:04:49 - David’s Transition from Image to Viz
1:10:26 - What It’s Like Being the Editor of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
1:19:04 - Preserving the Author’s Original Intent in Adaptation
1:31:01 - What Makes We Never Learn Stand Out As a Rom-com?
1:36:56 - Why Shonen Jump Manga Resonates with Readers Young and Old
1:55:05 - Critically Engaging with Art and Negative Reviews
2:01:41 - Searching For Diversity and Representation in Manga
2:13:10 - The Future of Digital Comics
2:19:42 - David’s Favorite Manga

Q&As:

2:27:37 - “What Are the Most Memorable Vagabond Moments?”
2:30:33 - “Do You Still Read Manga For Fun Now That It’s Become Your Career?”
2:32:21 - “Has the Transition From Journalism to Editing Affected How You Engage with Comics?”
2:39:45 - “Did Dafne Use “Affected” Correctly in Her Previous Question?”
2:40:43 - “How Do You Stay Motivated and Overcome Obstacles?”
2:44:30 - “Why is So I’m a Spider, So What? So Good?”
2:46:18 - “Could We Possibly See More Fonts Used in JoJo’s in the Future?”
2:51:02 - “Can You Tell Us More About the Viz Originals Line?”
2:55:37 - “What Aspects of the Business Side of Comics Are Overlooked?”
2:56:54 - “What Piece of Advice Has Helped You Through Your Comics Career Journey?”
3:02:46 - “What Resources Do You Recommend to Those Starting Out Being Critics?”
3:05:30 - “What’s Your Favorite Verse?”
3:10:26 - “Has Your Experience With Different Art Forms Enhanced Your Appreciation for Different Mediums?”
3:14:45 - David’s Upcoming Work & Where You Can Find Him

Community Shout-Outs:

3:17:45 - Wensleydale Cheddar’s Weekly Manga Recap Intro Animation & ne0;lation review
3:19:45 - Anime Feminist’s Feminist-Friendly Anime Recommendations
3:21:23 - “Get In The Robot, Shinji” by Zac Bertschy

3:25:16 - Wrap-Up

Enjoy the show, and follow us on twitter at @manga_mavericks, on tumblr at mangamavericks.tumblr.com, and on Youtube! You can also follow the hosts on Twitter at @sniperking323 and @lumranmayasha. If you’d like to help support the show financially you can pledge to our Patreon and receive some awesome rewards like our Patreon-exclusive Bonus pods! If one-time donations are more your speed you can donate to Colton’s Ko-fi here and LumRanmaYasha’s Ko-fi here, and if you want to support LumRanmaYasha’s art and other projects you can donate to their personal Patreon. Don’t forget to also like and subscribe to us on Youtube and iTunes and leave us reviews to help us curate the show and create better content!