Radio Free Krypton

Here we are, friends, the end. As Krypton explodes, we say our farewells to old co-hosts, esteemed guests, and good friends. Originally broadcast by CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. Produced by Jacob Dubé and Justin Chandler.

Montreal's François Vigneault is the author of "Titan," a sci-fi epic about a strike that deals with themes of poverty, exploitation and solidarity. He's also the artist on the very different sci-fi comic "Orcs in Space."  François tells Justin and Jacob about the inspiration for "Titan," the colour and flavour he added to the world, and the correct way to pronounce "Montreal."  Stay tuned at the end for a special announcement.  RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. This episode was produced by Justin Chandler.

This week, hosts Justin and Jacob talk to Ramón Perez, an award-winning comic creator and the managing director of the Royal Academy of Illustration and Design, or RAID, a Toronto-based artist collective and one of the pillars of the city's comics community. We talk about making comics in a collaborative space, RAID's upcoming books, and what it's like having a life-sized Boba Fett statue as a roommate. RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. This episode was produced by Jacob Dubé.

Toronto comics creator Jason Loo is back on RFK to tell Justin and Jacob all about his comics glow-up. Since the last time he was on, Jason's greatly expanded his comics repetoire, working on the Eisner-award-winning "Afterlift,"  the new book "The All-Nighter," and more. He tells RFK how his glow-up started, what he values when creating characters and settings, and about working with a good editor/friend.  RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. This episode was produced by Justin Chandler. 

This week, hosts Jacob and Justin discuss The Adventures of Sgoobidoo, a new book from Quebec's Pow Pow Press and a funny take on old Archie digests and detective stories. With the help of some insight from the author, Cathon (who isn't on the show but has graciously remotely answered our questions), we discuss absurdity, old Archie comics advertisements, and the importance of setting in storytelling. Originally broadcast on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. Produced by Jacob Dubé.

This week we dip into the RFK archives and replay our 2019 interview with Gord Hill, activist and author of "Antifa: The Comic Book," and "The 500 Years of Resistance Comic Book," which was recently updated and republished.   Hill, a member of the Kwakwaka'wakw nation, joined the show from the west coast, telling Justin and then-co-host Mitchell about  researching and retelling histories. They also discussed the use of comic art by activists and the power of Jack Kirby panels. RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. This episode was originally produced by Mitchell Thompson, with updates by Justin Chandler. 

In this throwback from 2018, hosts Justin and Jacob interview two creators from the "Shout Out" comics anthology. The editor, Andrew Wheeler, and one of the writers, Anthony Oliveira, discuss queer representation in genre fiction, why it matters and why it's so damn hard to get a queer character in a mainstream comic. RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. This episode was produced by Justin Chandler.

In this episode from 2018, Toronto rapper More or Les tells RFK why he loves the comic "Hawkeye: My Life as a Weapon" — the book that inspired the new Disney+ show.  Listen for insight on the private life of the arrow-slinging superhero, and how to make a lower-stakes story work.  RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. This episode was originally produced by Jacob Dubé. The rebroadcast was produced by Justin Chandler. 

2021 marked another year of RFK at home, but hosts Justin and Jacob take a look back at their favourite moments, comics, and episodes of the year. We talk about Trese, Dying for Attention, and how we're not making any predictions for 2022. Thanks to all our listeners and supporters for hanging with us for another year! Originally broadcast on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. Produced by Jacob Dubé.

Montreal artist Stanley Wany wrote the stories that make up his new book, Helem, while in a hallucinatory state due to insomnia.  The mostly wordless, panel-less narrative is full of symbols and haunting collages. Stanley tells Justin and Jacob what it was like to create a comic from his subconscious, and about crafting a narrative that's wide open to interpretation.  RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. This episode was produced by Justin Chandler.  To those of you celebrating: Merry Christmas! And to all: Stay safe this holiday season. 

This week, hosts Justin and Jacob speak to Erika Chung, a PhD candidate at X University and York University conducting a study on racialized women and their experiences in comic book fandoms. We talk about her research, harassment and gatekeeping in the community, and why some choose not to join it at all. Originally broadcast on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. Produced by Jacob Dubé.

The CJRU fall fund drive is on! From Nov. 14 to 20, RFK's host station, CJRU 1280AM, is raising funds to develop and implement a mentorship program. Justin and Jacob discuss the initiative and talk about the impact of community radio.  They also reminisce about the magic of the radio station and play parts of two raucous episodes: their first live show in 2016, featuring superhero dating ideas for Justin, and RFK's D&D extravaganza starring two Toronto comics creators.   Learn more about the campaign and donate to receive rockin' rewards at: https://store.cjru.ca/ RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. This episode was produced by Justin Chandler. 

From Nov. 14 to 20, CJRU 1280AM is raising funds to develop and implement the Your Story Here mentorship program that will launch in the Spring of 2022. Justin and Jacob will have more to tell you on Thursday, but here's what you need to know for now. Learn more at: https://store.cjru.ca/

The younger generations have grown up in a world where smartphones and the internet have always existed, but how has that affected us? This week, hosts Justin and Jacob speak with Brigitte Archambault, a multi-disciplinary artist and creator of the new comic The Shiatsung Project, about a woman trapped in a strange compound, with only a mysterious artificial intelligence named Shiatsung to take care of her. We talk about the prominence of AI, portraying sexuality in comics, and how she independently created the book in a break between her other works. Originally broadcast on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. Produced by Jacob Dubé.

Halifax cartoonist Susan MacLeod tells Justin and Jacob about her comic book memoir, "Dying for Attention," which details the nine years she spent guiding her mother through the long-term care system.  High rates of death in Canadian long-term care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic led to renewed attention on systemic issues within these institutions. Susan's book covers these issues alongside themes of communication, honesty and navigating familial relationships.  RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. This episode was produced by Justin Chandler. 

It's October, so we're getting spooky again. This week, hosts Justin and Jacob talk to friend of the show Allison O'Toole and comic creators Tess Eneli Reid and Joy San about Shades of Fear, a new horror anthology now up on Kickstarter co-edited by Allison and  Ashanti Fortson. We talk about the anthology, how to use colour in a horror story, and why comics might be one of the best mediums for horror. Listen, if you dare.   Originally broadcast on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. Produced by Jacob Dubé.

Justin and Jacob talk to Becka — a Kitchener, Ont., comic creator crowd-funding the re-release of her body horror webcomic — about writing suspsense, drawing inspiration from cosplay and wearing comfortable shoes.   Becka's book "Gehenna: Death Valley," tells the story of a group of young people who enter a mysterious cave and find some terrible things waiting for them. Radio Free Krypton airs first on CJRU 180 AM in Toronto. This episode was produced by Justin Chandler. 

In November 2019, Winnipeg cartoonist Kaj Hasselriis joined Justin and Jacob to discuss "Politikids,"  his kid-friendly comic about four of Canada's then-federal-party leaders.  While two of those leaders have changed, Canadians are headed to the polls Sept. 20 meaning it's once again time to think about politics and make it accessible and interesting to people of all ages.  In this re-broadcast of our 2019 intereview with Kaj, we ask: How should one talk to children about politics and do they even care? RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. This episode was originally produced by Mitchell Thompson with updates from Justin Chandler. 

If you were creating whole new forms of life, where would you begin? On RFK today, hosts Justin and Jacob ask that question to Megan Huang and Stephanie Cooke, whose recently crowd-funded comic, Life: Beauty, Wonder,  Danger is coming out through Toronto Comix Press. We talk about building vibrant creatures and worlds and the struggles (and advantages) of writing a silent comic. This episode was originally broadcast on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. Produced by Jacob Dubé.  

The world is still on fire, and scientists tell us there's less and less time to take action to stop the worst effects. So for this week, we're bringing back our 2019 interview with artist and writer Sherwin Tija, author of "Plummet". Tija channeled a sense of hopelessness when making "Plummet," a new comic in which a woman wakes up to find herself falling, with no end in sight.     Sherwin tells Jacob about the emotions behind the story, which was inspired in part by the September 11 attacks. They also discuss the technical work that went into drawing a book where everything is falling.     This interview was recorded in November 2019. RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. This episode was produced by Jacob Dubé.