Comics Closet

About Comics Closet

Comics Closet is a book discussion podcast focused solely on graphic lit! Betty Bayer and Alex Arata of the STL-based shop Betty's Books bring you discussions, reviews, and more--all about comics, graphic novels, and manga.

Publisher

Betty's Books

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Aug 2024

Latest episode

5 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

21 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Oct 2026

   21 - SPX Debrief!

   Betty and Alex are back to chat about their most recent con visit: Small Press Expo! Books, buds, and Bethesda--let's rock. SPX (Sep 2026) Media & People Mentioned: Biggest Starstruck Moment Tradd Moore Doctor Strange: Fall Sunrise by Tradd Moore When I Am Alone by Tradd Moore and “Katie” (Creepshow Vol. 4 #5, Image Comics) Silver Surfer: Black by Donny Cates and Tradd Moore Lisa Hanawalt BoJack Horseman (TV Series) Tuca & Bertie (TV Series) Coyote Doggirl by Lisa Hanawalt I Can’t Stop Thinking About Horses and Sex by Lisa Hanawalt (available October 20th) Julia Wertz Kate Beaton Sarah Glidden Demetri Martin (comedian) Biggest Surprise Ben Passmore Negativity Interlude #1 Testament by J. Marshall Smith The Ephemerata: Shaping the Exquisite Nature of Grief by Carol Tyler Camraderie Whisper of the Heart (Studio Ghibli film) Witch Hat Atelier (anime) Best Purchases Tarot Set by A ee mi Katamari Damacy (Video Game Franchise) Pokey by Grayson Bear Nancy by Caroline Cash Ernie Bushmiller Hazel #1 & 2 by Lucy Kagan and Cottonbook Press Knapsack Magazine Vol. 1: Cassette by Lucky Pocket Press Knapsack Magazine Vol. 2: Butter by Lucky Pocket Press Sara Hagstrom Steph Bulante April Malig Inspirational/Motivating Moments Chick tracts by Jack Chick and Chick Publications Carol Tyler Lee Lai Michael DeForge Best Overall Moment Hazel Newlevant Mar Julia Sunmi Dan Nott Mili St. John Jared Sarnie The Machine is Broken by Jared Sarnie Sanika Phawde Wedding Juice and Other Melodramas by Sanika Phawde And Up, They Sprung by Mili St. John Garden of Spheres by Linnea Sterte Daryl Seitchik Robin Ha Almost American Girl by Robin Ha The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha Cook Korean! By Robin Ha Instant Noodles and Beyond by Robin Ha Ben Passmore Black Arms to Hold You Up by Ben Passmore Gemma Correll Nicole Goux Dave Baker Halloween Boy Vol. 1 by Dave Baker Honorable Mentions The Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb What We’re Reading The Secret History by Donna Tartt Milk White Steed by Michael D. Kennedy The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman I Can’t Stop Thinking About Horses and Sex by Lisa Hanawalt (available October 20th) Moomin (Book 1) by Tove Jansson The Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb Rocketship-Grawlix Sandwich Halloweentown (film) Hocus Pocus (film) A Tribute to Jennifer Relish by Lucy Knisley Judy Blume

2. 

   31 Jul 2026

   20 - Summer Reading!

   Betty and Alex dig into all things Summer Reading--best genres, reading challenges, and their own seasonal reading philosophies. Plus, of course, lots of book recs. Media Mentioned: Summer Reading Memories Harry Potter series by She Who Must Not Be Named Life of Pi by Yann Martel Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer The Magicians trilogy by Lev Grossman Favorite Summer Reads All Princesses Die Before Dawn by Quentin Zuttion The Neapolitan Quartet by Elena Ferrante What Makes a Great Summer Comic Read? Maison Ikkoku by Rumiko Takahashi Hirayasumi by Keigo Shinzo Rare Flavours by Ram V and Filipe Andrade This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki The Lord of the Rings series by J. R. R. Tolkien The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien Dracula by Bram Stoker Cat Companions: Maruru and Hachi by Yuri Sonoda John Grisham books Wise Blood by Flannery O’Connor Beloved by Toni Morrison Harrow County by Cullen Bunn and Tyler Crook Medalist by Tsurumaikada Dogsred by Satoru Noda Nancy for All Seasons by Ernie Bushmiller The Apothecary Diaries by Hyūganatsu, Itsuki Nanao, and Nekokurage The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides Beach Reads Beach Read by Emily Henry Moomin series by Tove Jansson Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe Everything in Color by Stephanie Stalvey Absolute Batman Vol. 2: Abomination by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta Love Bullet by inee Neighborhood Story by Ai Yazawa Flash Point by Imai Arata Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe Delicious in Dungeon by Ryoko Kui BL Metamorphosis by Kaori Tsurutani Summer Reading Challenges Jersey Shore Holy Lacrimony by Michael DeForge All the Cameras in My Room by Michael DeForge Love Bullet by inee Cat Companions: Maruru and Hachi Vol. 6 by Yuri Sonoda Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 2 by Kelly Thompson and Hayden ShermanSupergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Evely Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Identical by Leah Hayes (avail. September 15) Birdseye Bristoe by Dan Zettwoch Nancy Wears Hats by Ernie Bushmiller Masks by Margaret Rae, Brian Nathanson, and Beck Kubrick Pastimes by Pascal Girard Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama What We’re Reading Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Nancy Wears Hats by Ernie Bushmiller Charity and Sylvia by Tillie Walden The Odyssey by Homer (Emily Wilson translation) The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel by Homer and Gareth Hinds The Apothecary Diaries by Hyūganatsu, Itsuki Nanao, and Nekokurage And the Strange and Funky Happenings One Day by Natsujikei Miyazaki Stages of Rot by Linnea Sterte Superman vs. Meshi by Satoshi Miyagawa and Kai Kitago Love Bullet by inee The Sandwich and Next Time Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

3. 

   23 Jun 2026

   19 - TCAF Debrief!

   Forgive us for the hiatus! We're back, better than ever, and chatting about our recent trip to the Toronto Comics Arts Festival. New books, new friends, and a new city, all in one visit--how lucky are we?! Media Mentioned Expectations Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF) St. Louis Independent Comics Expo (SLICE) J. Marshall Smith (aka Jonathan) Sarah Becan Meggie Ramm Kat Schneider Someday Perfect by Kat Schneider Biggest Starstruck Moment All the Cameras in My Room by Michael DeForge Lee Lai Tillie Walden Charity and Sylvia by Tillie Walden Adam de Souza Biggest Surprise Pascal Girard Pastimes by Pascal Girard Rebecca and Lucie in the Case of the Missing Neighbor by Pascal Girard Glacier Bay Books Cookie Puno Biggest Obstacle The Lack Of: Jeff Lemire, Ben Clanton, PEOW2 Best Purchase Flash Point by Imai Arata The New Girl by Cassandra Calin Bug Scouts by Mike Lowery (Betty accidentally said Bug Boys- also a great series by Laura Knetzger!) Batcat by Meggie Ramm Pace of Play by Vincent Lau Most Invigorating/Inspiring Moment Cannon by Lee Lai Charity and Sylvia by Tillie Walden Stone Fruit by Lee Lai And the Strange and Funky Happenings One Day by Natsujikei Miyazaki Akari by Marco Kohinata Best Overall Moment Twilight J. Marshall Smith Peggy, Francine, and Tom of Drawn & Quarterly Someday Perfect by Kat Schneider Additional Shoutouts The New Girl by Cassandra Calin The Confessional by Paige Hender Lindsey Cheng Dates a White Boy!!! by Asia Miller Ami Moon and the Galactic Peacekeepers by Frances Lee The Gulf by Adam DeSouza Belle of the Ball by Mari Costa Avery and the Fairy Circle by Rowan Kingsbury The Woodchipper by Joe Ollmann Meggie Ramm Sarah Becan Liz from Street Noise Books Gina from Avery Hill Publishing Alexander from Fieldmouse Press Faith Erin Hicks The Future Zach from Bulgilhan Press What We’re Reading Butter by Asako Yuzuki Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain Absolute Green Arrow #1 by Pornsak Pichetshote and Rafael Albuquerque Not Ready for Real Life by Ding Pao-Yen The Odyssey by Homer (2017 Emily Wilson translation) The Odyssey (2026 film) Pastimes by Pascal Girard Charity and Sylvia by Tillie Walden The Sandwich Comics University Steenz Lou Beishir

Who has been a guest on Comics Closet

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Ruth Reichel
• Mariah-Rose Marie
• Jen Forkish
• Sarah Becan
• Robin Ha

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

11 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 25 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

29

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Comics Closet