Episode 126 – Ye Gads! It’s ... The Bradleys!

<p><strong>Explicit Warning!</strong> This episode contains strong language and is recommended for mature listeners.</p> <p>For the last episode of 2020, we segue seamlessly from Bucky Barnes to another iconic comics antihero, Buddy Bradley, with a discussion of five stories featuring the Bradley clan from Peter Bagge’s 1980s anthology Neat Stuff, published by Fantagraphics Books!</p> <p>Specifically, we dive deep into “Rock ‘n’ Roll Refugee,” “Mom Power,” “Sneakin’ a Peek at Babs Bradley’s Secret Diary,” “Hippy House,” and “Merry F—king Christmas.” (A sixth story that was announced last episode, “You’re Not the Boss of Me,” was cut for time.)</p> <p>In these stories and others, Bagge presents a typical ’80s suburban family in all its dysfunctional glory, laying the groundwork for the likes of Married ... With Children and The Simpsons.</p> <p>But Bagge balances the caustic family dynamics with faithful depictions of the teenage experience and explorations of such issues as religion and the plight of the working suburban mom, employing a wonderfully expressive and exaggerated cartooning style influenced by MAD Magazine and Looney Tunes shorts, among others.</p> <p>Will Buddy ever stop being such an a—hole? And will the Bradleys be invited into that nuclear family known as ... The Comics Canon?</p> <p><strong>In This Episode:</strong></p> <ul> <li>The provenance of Duran Duran’s “A View to a Kill”</li> <li>Kevin’s Uncle Ben moment</li> <li>The best-ever description of Boone’s Farm</li> <li>All in the Family</li> <li>The Complete Hate</li> <li>Our Eltingville Club episode</li> <li>Peter Bagge’s recent graphic novel biographies</li> <li>Peepshow: The Cartoon Diary of Joe Matt</li> </ul> <p>Join us in two weeks as we begin 2021 with one of the best-reviewed comics of 2020: Superman Smashes the Klan!</p> <p>Until then:<br /> <a href="https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-comics-canon" target= "_blank" rel="noopener">Impress your friends with our Comics Canon merchandise</a>!<br /> <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/