The Brave and the Boys Book Club
The Brave and the Backlog is a long form comic book podcast where we finally read the stuff that has been sitting on our shelves for way too long. Each episo...
Episodes

Wednesday Dec 10, 2025
ARMORED: The Horror Fantasy Classic Your Whole Family Can Read
Wednesday Dec 10, 2025
Wednesday Dec 10, 2025
Click here to subscribe for more awesome content from us!!! https://bit.ly/TBATBYOUTUBECheck out Panel Bound Comics: https://bit.ly/TBATBOPBBuying 1 to 3 books? Save $2 with our code BraveboysBuying 4 or more books together? Save 5% with our code BraveboyssitThank you for watching, and until the next time, keep reading and stay brave!Connect with us on social media:Our Discord: https://discord.gg/ju6JcKM4zJOur Instagram: https://bit.ly/TBATBInstagramToday we are talking about ARMORED from Clover Press, a horror fantasy that feels like haunted castles, magic armor, and grief counseling all wrapped into a middle grade adventure.We start spoiler free, talking about what the book is, who it is for, and why it works for both kids and adults. Then we jump into full spoilers and break down the armor, the ghosts, the family drama, and where this series could go next.Spoiler free until 12:29Full spoilers start at 12:2900:00 Cold open in the castle00:24 Welcome to the Book Club01:05 What is Armored02:08 Quick vibe check and genre03:10 Who this book is for (age range)04:12 How scary does it get05:20 The creative team and format06:18 Art style and colors07:22 Comparing it to other books08:30 How we all read it (digital vs physical)09:15 Favorite non spoiler moments10:05 Themes of grief and found family11:10 Is it good for new comic readers12:00 Giveaway and where to buy it!!! SPOILERS START HERE !!!12:29 Opening tragedy and town history13:45 Andy’s adoption and the Collins family15:02 Finding the armor16:18 Meeting Sir William17:40 First big armor test18:55 The Bible of the Dead20:12 Weird things in the town21:30 Zombie Miles scene22:48 School under the spell24:00 Family moments that hit hardest25:16 Ash monsters and action beats26:40 That nightmare mirror sequence28:05 Who sent the email29:30 The real villain talk31:10 What the armor means for Andy33:05 Favorite character moments35:22 Hopes for a sequel or volume two37:00 Final ratings and closing thoughts38:40 Panel Bound sale and discount codes40:05 Next Book Club pick tease

Tuesday Dec 09, 2025
Rook Exodus: Fight or Flight
Tuesday Dec 09, 2025
Tuesday Dec 09, 2025
“The birds scream as they see them approaching from the east. Fly away. Fly away now. But I push back. It is time to fight.”
Welcome to the first episode of Brave and the Book Club. I am Jake from The Brave and the Boys and I am joined by my buddy Mark as we finally pull Rook Exodus off the shelf and talk about it like it has been sitting in our heads for months.
We break down what Ghost Machine is, give a spoiler free pitch for Rook Exodus, then dive into full spoilers to talk about Rook as a survivor, his fear of being left behind, the fight or flight theme, and the moment he finally trusts the birds and chooses both. We also dig into Jason Fabok’s art, Brad Anderson’s colors, the giant animal Wardens, and why this story hits harder in an oversized format.
If you want to read along or grab Rook Exodus and other Ghost Machine books, you can support the show by ordering through Panel Bound Comics. Tell us in the comments which animal would bond with you as a Warden and why.
Click here to subscribe for more awesome content from us!!! https://bit.ly/TBATBYOUTUBE
Check out Panel Bound Comics: https://bit.ly/TBATBOPB
Buying 1 to 3 books? Save $2 with our code Braveboys
Buying 4 or more books together? Save 5% with our code Braveboyssit
Thank you for watching, and until the next time, keep reading and stay brave!
Connect with us on social media:
Our Discord: https://discord.gg/ju6JcKM4zJ
Our Instagram: https://bit.ly/TBATBInstagram
00:00 Cold open and fight or flight quote
00:35 What is Brave and the Backlog and how the show works
02:00 Who and what Ghost Machine is plus where Rook Exodus fits
04:30 Spoiler free pitch for Rook Exodus
07:30 Full spoilers begin Rook as runner and reluctant hero
12:00 Rook’s past, control issues, and fear of abandonment
18:00 Wardens, helmets, and the world of Exodus as a dying planet
24:00 Ursa, Swine, Direwolf and the pressure that forces Rook to change
30:00 Birds, Poe, and the moment fight and flight finally meet
35:00 Art talk Jason Fabok’s designs and Brad Anderson’s colors
41:00 How this arc lands, what we want from volume two
46:00 Reading order ideas, what to read next, and tease for episode two

Tuesday Dec 09, 2025
Absolute Batman Vol. 1 Why This BRUTAL NEW Batman is Worth The Hype
Tuesday Dec 09, 2025
Tuesday Dec 09, 2025
Click here to subscribe for more awesome content from us!!! https://bit.ly/TBATBYOUTUBECheck out Panel Bound Comics: https://bit.ly/TBATBOPBBuying 1 to 3 books? Save $2 with our code BraveboysBuying 4 or more books together? Save 5% with our code BraveboyssitThank you for watching, and until the next time, keep reading and stay brave!Connect with us on social media:Our Discord: https://discord.gg/ju6JcKM4zJOur Instagram: https://bit.ly/TBATBInstagramAbsolute Batman Vol. 1 gives you a Batman who feels mean, messy, and brutal in a way we almost never see from Bruce. He is broke, working in construction, driving a dump truck version of the Batmobile, and trying to hold Gotham together while Black Mask and the Party Animals turn the city into a war zone. In this video we walk through the entire first arc, full spoilers, and ask the big question: is this new Batman worth the hype.This is also the first episode of The Brave and the Backlog, a new series where we finally pull books off our own shelves and give them a full deep dive instead of a quick overview. Each episode is one book, so we can talk about how the story is built, what it is trying to say, and where it fits on your Batman shelf.In this one we break down how Absolute Batman rewrites Bruce’s origin, what changes when Bruce is blue collar and broke, and how Alfred, Gordon, and Martha Wayne are all remixed. We talk about Black Mask’s plan, the Party Animals, the way Gotham is laid out like a bomb, and how the art and paneling sell the action. We also look at how it reads issue by issue compared to sitting down with the Absolute edition.Huge thank you to Panel Bound Comics for supporting the channel. You can grab Absolute Batman Vol. 1 and a stack of other DC Absolute editions from them and use code BRAVEBOYS at checkout for a discount on your order.We are also doing a gift card giveaway tied to this video. To enter, drop a comment with your favorite moment, idea, or character beat from Absolute Batman Vol. 1. We will pick a winner before the next Brave and the Backlog episode and announce it there. If you like longer breakdowns like this, subscribe so you do not miss the next backlog pick. Stay brave.Chapters00:00:00 Brutal new Batman and what this video is00:01:18 Why Absolute Batman Vol. 1 was the first backlog pick00:03:10 Creative team, art, and why the book feels tight00:07:03 Big picture setup before full spoilers00:08:24 Bruce’s childhood friends as his future rogues gallery00:09:52 Blue collar Bruce and his new origin story00:11:35 Flashbacks at the zoo and a different Wayne family tragedy00:12:50 Gadgets, the bat suit, and how weaponized this Batman is00:13:55 Gordon as mayor, Martha Wayne alive, and Alfred the spy00:16:10 Black Mask, the Party Animals, and Gotham under pressure00:18:20 Training, city planning, and the dump truck Batmobile00:23:00 Why this never feels like a standard origin story00:24:58 Money, morals, and Batman burning the payout00:30:00 The yacht assault, brutality, and Alfred’s choice00:31:40 Teases for Joker, Bane, and the mystery of Ark In00:36:20 Comparing Absolute Batman to Absolute Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter00:39:50 Do you need to read anything before Absolute Batman00:42:10 Why this works for new and veteran Batman readers00:44:00 Final thoughts, rankings, and what is next for The Brave and the Backlog





