Page Chewing

Crossed has earned its reputation as one of the most disturbing horror comic franchises ever published. But is there more to these stories than extreme violence and shocking imagery?

After reading every Crossed comic, I'm counting down my five favorite stories from the franchise and exploring what makes them stand out.

From Alan Moore's Crossed +100 and Garth Ennis' Of the World and Its Becoming to Simon Spurrier's El Mongo de Aus and Wish You Were Here, I'm looking at the storytelling, character development, dark humor, and moral questions that make these comics memorable.

...

Is joining a major publisher the best path forward for independent comic creators, or does it mean giving up some of the creative freedom that makes indie comics special?

This week on Panel Chewing, Steve and Jarrod discuss White Ash Comics joining IDW as a new imprint and what the move could mean for independent publishing, distribution, and the future of creator-owned comics.

Then it's time for our weekly reviews! Steve returns to Absolute Batman and finds himself pleasantly surprised, while Jarrod praises Detective Comics and explores a disappointing trip back to the 1980s with...

What happens when ancient mythology, forgotten history, and personal experience come together through fantasy?

In this episode of Beyond the Page, Steve welcomes independent author Som Phin, whose writing draws on Cambodian history, Khmer mythology, and Southeast Asian folklore.

Som shares how growing up without seeing much Cambodian representation in the fantasy books she loved inspired her to begin telling her own stories. We discuss the challenges of incorporating cultural traditions into fiction, balancing historical accuracy with creative freedom, and introducing unfamiliar mythology without overwhelming readers with explanations.

Our conversation explores Cambodian legends...

Some of the best fantasy books are the ones that don't get nearly enough attention.

In this episode of Page Chewing, I'm sharing 10 underrated fantasy books, plus a bonus recommendation I couldn't leave out.

I focused on books with fewer than 10,000 Goodreads reviews, including independent fantasy, grimdark, epic fantasy, cozy adventures, and mythology-inspired stories.

We'll discuss Aching God by Mike Shel, The Truth of Crowns by Carl D. Albert, River of Thieves by Clayton W. Snyder, Weird Gods by Susana Imaginário, The Winter Road by Adrian Selby, Kings of Paradise by Richard N...

Is the explosive popularity of romantasy helping fantasy as a whole, or are publishers focusing too heavily on a handful of bestselling authors?

This week, I discuss Sarah J. Maas, Rebecca Yarros, BookTok, and the challenges facing lesser-known fantasy authors.

I also share my first impressions of Gene Wolfe's Shadow & Claw, explain why I'm considering continuing The Book of the New Sun into December, and talk about finally picking up Glen Cook's The Black Company.

After finishing R. Scott Bakker's The Thousandfold Thought, I'm looking forward to returning to The Judging Eye. Plus...

The Slog continues with Chapters 13–15 of R. Scott Bakker's The Thousandfold Thought!

Steve, Shawn, and Shobz return to Eärwa as the Holy War reaches Shimeh and Kellhus finally confronts Moënghus.

We discuss the revelation surrounding Simas, the Scarlet Spires in battle, Cnaiür's relationship with Achamian, and the unsettling possibility that even the Dûnyain cannot escape forces beyond their understanding.

But the biggest question is whether Kellhus has ever truly controlled his own destiny. If his choices were anticipated by his father, and supernatural forces are now influencing events, what does f...

We're beginning our November read-along of Gene Wolfe's Shadow & Claw with Chapters 1–16 of The Shadow of the Torturer.

In this first installment, we explore Severian's mysterious upbringing in the torturers' guild, his complicated relationship with Thecla, and the unsettling questions surrounding his banishment.

Can Severian be trusted as our narrator? How much does he really understand about the world around him? And what are we supposed to make of the strange science fiction elements appearing beneath the novel's medieval atmosphere?

Join us every Friday as we work through Shadow & Claw, share theories, and un...

It was a rough week for comics! Some promising series failed to deliver, a few books are getting dropped from the pull list, and we're left wondering how long you should stick with a comic before calling it quits.

This week on Panel Chewing, Steve and Jarrod work through another stack of new releases, including Absolute Green Arrow #6, Conan: Tides of the Tyrant King #2, Filthy Lambs #1, The Fury of the Firestorm #7, Black Star #4, The Forever Home #2, and more.

Despite the disappointments, two comics manage to save the week!

Our Picks of the Week:<...

Why do we sometimes find ourselves rooting for the villains in fantasy stories?

In this episode of Beyond the Page, Steve welcomes award-winning fantasy author Robert A. Walker to discuss his Legends of Baylon trilogy, a character-driven fantasy thriller blending revenge, mystery, romance, and darker elements of fantasy.

Robert shares how his fascination with castles, Tolkien, Dune, and classic thrillers helped shape his approach to storytelling. We explore why his first attempt at writing a novel didn't work, how building an entirely new fantasy world transformed the series, and why he believes memorable characters matter...

Are publishers taking enough chances on challenging and unconventional books? Or are readers becoming too comfortable with familiar stories?

This week on Page Chewing, I explore whether major publishers are playing it too safe, why readers should support experimental fiction, and how social media and annual reading goals can turn a relaxing hobby into an unnecessary competition.

I also share my final thoughts on Tender Is the Flesh and Pet Sematary, discuss my reread of R. Scott Bakker's The Thousandfold Thought, and prepare for November's Shadow & Claw read-along by Gene Wolfe.

Plus, I...

The Slog continues with Chapters 9–12 of R. Scott Bakker's The Thousandfold Thought!

Steve, Shawn, and Shobz return to Eärwa to discuss Kellhus's increasingly ruthless decisions, Cnaiür's deteriorating mental state, and the terrifying implications of the Consult's motivations.

Can cruelty be justified if it saves lives? Is Cnaiür's madness connected to something supernatural? And what does salvation actually mean in a world where damnation seems almost inevitable?

We also explore Achamian's conversations with Kellhus, Esmenet's growing influence, the nature of sorcery, and connections to the later books in The Second Apocalypse.

...

What if Stephen King's Pet Sematary had ended completely differently?

For this special Halloween episode of Page Chewing, I'm joined by Caroline Bicks, author of Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King, to explore the original manuscripts behind one of King's darkest and most unforgettable novels.

Caroline shares her remarkable experience gaining access to Stephen King's archives, including an unexpected phone call from King himself and the discoveries she made while examining his early drafts.

During our conversation, we discuss:

We've reached the conclusion of Stephen King's Pet Sematary!

After spending October reading the novel for the first time, I'm sharing my reactions to the ending, revisiting my predictions, and discussing why this might be one of the most emotionally devastating Stephen King books I've read.

In this final installment of the Page Chewing read-along, we explore the consequences of Louis Creed's decisions, the terrifying events surrounding the burial ground, and the unanswered questions about the Wendigo and the supernatural forces influencing the characters.

I'm also revisiting some of my predictions from earlier...

What do crime novels get wrong about real police work?

In this episode of Beyond the Page, Steve welcomes author and law enforcement professional R. L. Carpentier III to discuss his Overlook trilogy, beginning with Our Lady of the Overlook, and how nearly two decades working in law enforcement have influenced his approach to writing realistic police procedurals.

Carpentier explains the details that immediately reveal when a crime writer hasn't experienced police work firsthand, from terminology and investigative procedures to the unrealistic responsibilities sometimes given to rookie officers.

We explore how he creates...

A dark fantasy comic surprises both of us, Marvel makes changes to its digital comics strategy, and we finally have a week without trombones!

This week on Panel Chewing, Steve and Jarrod discuss Marvel's partnership with Webtoon, the value of digital comic subscriptions, and whether services like Libby and Hoopla offer readers a better alternative.

We review Fire and Ice: Dark Wolf #4, Shift #1, Hammerhead #1, Cruel Kingdom Vol. 2 #2, Ice Cream Man: Chocolate Vanilla Twist #1, The Omega Book #3, Regicide #3, and City of Demons #5.

For our Pick of the Week, we both choose The Karman Blade #2...

We're nearing the conclusion of Stephen King's Pet Sematary, and the atmosphere is becoming increasingly terrifying.

In Chapters 55–57, the supernatural elements surrounding the burial ground become more prominent, raising new questions about the forces influencing Louis Creed and the other characters.

This time, I'm discussing the Wendigo, the disturbing imagery surrounding the burial ground, and whether Louis is acting entirely out of grief or being influenced by something beyond his control.

We also explore the novel's recurring themes of mortality, desperation, and humanity's desire to control things that may be beyond our understanding.

s social media actually helping authors sell books, or is it taking valuable time away from writing?

In this episode of Beyond the Page, Steve welcomes author, entrepreneur, and publishing professional Jodi Cowles, co-founder of Blue Hat Pub & Print and Well Told Studio, for a candid conversation about the challenges of writing, publishing, and finding readers in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

With more than 25 years of writing experience across multiple genres, Jodi has witnessed enormous changes in the publishing industry. She shares how independent publishing has opened opportunities for writers while making book discovery and...

What are the best horror comics and manga I've ever read?

In this episode of Page Chewing, I'm counting down my personal top 10 horror comics and manga, featuring everything from psychological terror and extreme survival horror to cosmic nightmares and unforgettable body horror.

Some of these stories have stayed with me for more than a decade. Others feature artwork so disturbing that it's impossible to forget.

We'll explore why Scott Snyder's Severed has one of my favorite comic book endings, why The Walking Dead is worth reading even if you've given up on...

The Pet Sematary read-along continues with Chapters 51–54, and Stephen King takes us through one of the most heartbreaking sequences of the novel.

Louis Creed's determination to retrieve Gage and bring him to the burial ground forces us to confront the devastating effects of grief and the lengths someone might go to escape unbearable emotional pain.

This time, I'm discussing King's remarkable ability to build tension through Louis's exhausting journey, the possibility that supernatural forces are influencing his decisions, and the increasingly mysterious intentions of the burial ground.

I'm also questioning something that hasn't re...

Is fantasy becoming too complicated? Are enormous series and excessive worldbuilding discouraging readers? And why is horror experiencing such strong sales compared with fantasy?

This week on Page Chewing, I'm exploring these questions and sharing my thoughts on whether fantasy could benefit from more standalone novels, shorter stories, and less emphasis on elaborate worldbuilding.

I'm also wrapping up my first reading of Stephen King's Pet Sematary. What initially left me somewhat disappointed has become one of my favorite King reading experiences as I've had more time to reflect on the story.

Our special...

The Slog continues!

We're back with Chapters 5–8 of R. Scott Bakker's The Thousandfold Thought, the final installment of The Prince of Nothing trilogy.

This week, Steve, Shobz, and Shawn explore some of the most psychologically fascinating developments in the series as Cnaiür continues his descent into madness, Kellhus becomes increasingly mysterious, and the consequences of manipulation begin to reveal themselves.

Cnaiür has always been one of Bakker's most complicated characters. But as his memories, emotions, and identity become increasingly fractured, we're left wondering how much of his behavior is truly his own...

The tension continues to build in Stephen King's Pet Sematary as Louis Creed moves closer to making a decision that could change everything.

In Chapters 46–50, we follow Louis's increasingly desperate efforts to reach Gage's body, while Rachel races back toward Ludlow and Jud prepares to intervene.

This section showcases King's ability to build suspense through small obstacles, detailed descriptions, and the thoughts of a character overwhelmed by grief.

We also explore how grief drives the characters in different directions, whether Louis is being influenced by something beyond his own desperation, and whether anyone ca...

Grief is pushing Louis Creed toward a decision that could change everything.

In Chapters 41–45 of Stephen King's Pet Sematary, Louis sends Rachel and Ellie to Chicago while becoming increasingly consumed by the possibility of bringing Gage back from the dead.

We explore King's use of Louis's internal thoughts, the desperation driving his decisions, and the questions he doesn't seem willing to confront about what resurrection might actually mean.

Meanwhile, Ellie begins receiving warnings through dreams involving Victor Pascow, raising new questions about why she's being contacted instead of Louis.

Can Jud st...

This week on Panel Chewing #152, we're talking about disappointing comics, surprising discoveries, Halloween horror, and two outstanding Picks of the Week.

We open with a conversation about the health of the comic book industry. Are comics thriving, or are the big superhero titles hiding problems facing smaller independent publishers?

Then we jump into this week's reading.

Steve finally reaches his breaking point with Absolute Superman #24. Despite enjoying the early issues, the series has lost the qualities that initially made it interesting. Is it time to move on?

Jarrod has a similar...

After a few days of battling a cold, I'm back with another Page Chewing weekly update!

This week I'm announcing our November featured read-along: Shadow & Claw by Gene Wolfe. We'll be taking a slower approach with weekly Friday discussions and a special guest conversation at the end of the month.

I'm also sharing my changing opinion of Stephen King as I continue reading Pet Sematary, discussing why Tender Is the Flesh has been such a disturbing experience, and revisiting R. Scott Bakker's The Thousandfold Thought as part of our full-spoiler Second Apocalypse reread.

...

In this episode of Beyond the Page, Steve welcomes author, Army veteran, and podcast host Danno E. Cabeza to discuss his upcoming novel, The Return of Doctor Necropolis, a superhero crime-noir story about a brilliant but deeply flawed supervillain.

Danno shares how an experimental writing project unexpectedly became a novel that took nearly ten years to complete. We explore what makes morally questionable protagonists compelling, the relationship between identity and personal responsibility, and why readers can sympathize with characters who repeatedly make terrible decisions.

We also discuss the challenges of returning to a manuscript after...

Everything changes in Chapters 36–40 of Stephen King's Pet Sematary.

We've reached Part Two, and the story takes a devastating turn that I absolutely did not see coming. After the quiet, happy moments at the end of Part One, Stephen King delivers one of the most jarring developments of the novel so far.

In this episode, I discuss Gage's sudden death, the different ways Louis, Rachel, and Ellie process grief, and the enormous emotional pressure placed on Louis as everyone looks to him for strength when he needs support himself.

We also learn more ab...

The Slog continues as our full-series reread enters the final book of The Prince of Nothing trilogy: R. Scott Bakker’s The Thousandfold Thought.

This week we're discussing Chapters 1–4, and after the battles and brutality of The Warrior Prophet, Bakker immediately shifts the focus back toward philosophy, character, belief, and the increasingly complicated consequences of Kellhus’s rise.

At the center of the discussion is Achamian. He knows what Kellhus is capable of, he's increasingly troubled by what he sees happening around him, and when he finally contacts the Mandate about Kellhus, their response isn't quite...

We've reached the end of Part One of Stephen King's Pet Sematary, and Chapters 31–35 bring some of the most emotionally difficult moments of the read-along so far.

Norma's death forces Jud to confront the loss of his wife of sixty years, while Rachel finally reveals the disturbing circumstances surrounding her sister Zelda's death. Her story raises new questions about grief, guilt, and why death has always been such a difficult subject for her.

Meanwhile, Church continues to behave strangely, and I'm beginning to question whether he's a danger to the Creed family or whether there's so...

Something is very wrong with Church.

In Chapters 21–25 of Stephen King's Pet Sematary, the mystery surrounding the burial ground deepens as Church returns from the dead—but something about him has changed.

This time, I'm discussing Jud's increasingly suspicious behavior, the strange atmosphere surrounding the burial ground, and the consequences of disrupting the natural cycle of life and death.

I'm also beginning to question whether Jud and Norma have a much deeper connection to the cemetery than we've been told.

Join me for another installment of the Page Chewing Pet Sematary read...

What happens when a simple fantasy story written for your children grows into an interconnected multiverse spanning thousands of years?

In this episode of Beyond the Page, Steve welcomes author and retired Air Force veteran Terrence Rotering to discuss his ambitious Chronicle Series, an expanding collection of books blending epic fantasy, science fiction, military action, and Christian-inspired spiritual warfare.

Terrence shares how his writing journey began with stories for his sons and eventually evolved into a universe featuring seven interconnected worlds, time travel, wormholes, dragons, artificial intelligence, and a cosmic struggle between good and evil.<...

This week on Panel Chewing #151, Steve and Jarrod kick things off with a conversation about the rising value of Green Lantern #87, the Lanterns television series, and the difficult balancing act of adapting beloved comic book characters for new audiences.

Then it's time to dig into this week's comics!

Steve returns to Absolute Superman #23, a series he desperately wants to love but can't seem to quit. Jarrod explores another Conan adaptation with The Cimmerian: Xuthal of the Dusk #1, and both of us try to make sense of the surprising direction taken by The Seasons: Hammerfist #2.

In Chapters 21–25 of Stephen King's Pet Sematary, the mystery surrounding the burial ground deepens as Church returns from the dead, but something about him has changed.

This time, I'm discussing Jud's increasingly suspicious behavior, the strange atmosphere surrounding the burial ground, and the consequences of disrupting the natural cycle of life and death.

I'm also beginning to question whether Jud and Norma have a much deeper connection to the cemetery than we've been told.

Join me for another installment of the Page Chewing Pet Sematary read-along as we continue tracking our observations, questions, an...

What happens when a simple fantasy story written for your children grows into an interconnected multiverse spanning thousands of years?

In this episode of Beyond the Page, Steve welcomes author and retired Air Force veteran Terrence Rotering to discuss his ambitious Chronicle Series, an expanding collection of books blending epic fantasy, science fiction, military action, and Christian-inspired spiritual warfare.

Terrence shares how his writing journey began with stories for his sons and eventually evolved into a universe featuring seven interconnected worlds, time travel, wormholes, dragons, artificial intelligence, and a cosmic struggle between good and evil.<...

The Pet Sematary read-along continues with Chapters 16–20, and things are becoming increasingly unsettling.

Victor Pascow returns with a terrifying warning for Louis Creed, raising even more questions about what's happening in Ludlow and the mysterious Pet Sematary. Was Louis really dreaming? What does Pascow know? And what lies beyond the cemetery?

We also discuss Norma's health scare, Louis settling into his new life, and Stephen King's continuing exploration of mortality, grief, and the cycle of life and death.

As always, I'm reading Pet Sematary for the first time, completely spoiler-free, and using our si...

It's another weekly update from Page Chewing! This week I'm checking in on my progress through The Bonehunters, discussing the challenges of reading Malazan, and sharing why Tender Is the Flesh has become one of the most genuinely unsettling books I've encountered.

I'm also continuing my reread of R. Scott Bakker's The Second Apocalypse, exploring Stephen King's Pet Sematary, and enjoying the unexpected journey of Lone Wolf and Cub.

Beyond the books, I'm talking about upcoming Page Chewing videos, interviews, and the future of our read-along format.

I close with a memorable quote...

After months of reading, Page Burners dives into Chapter 22 and an explosive finale that brings storylines stretching across the Malazan series crashing together in Malaz City.

Erikson has spent an entire book moving pieces across the board.

Now they've arrived in Malaz City.

Join us for our full-spoiler discussion of Chapter 22 and the finale of The Bonehunters as we try to make sense of what just happened and what it means for the future of the Malazan Empire.

The Deck has been dealt. The Fourteenth has come home. The Empire will...

The Pet Sematary read-along continues with Chapters 11–15, and it feels like we've reached the moment when Stephen King's nightmare truly begins.

This is a relatively short section, but a major event involving Victor Pascow dramatically increases the creepiness and raises some big questions. Why does Victor know Louis's name? What exactly is wrong with the Pet Sematary? What does Jud know? And how much does the town itself understand about what's happening?

We also continue tracking the recurring ideas of death, grief, birth and the cycle of life while watching how those subjects affect Louis, Ra...

This week on the Friday Conversation, I'm joined by Jose from Fantasy Talks Live and author Alex French for an open discussion about genre burnout and whether fantasy is particularly susceptible to it.

We talk about massive series, thousand page books, taking breaks from our favorite genres, and why we inevitably seem to come back to fantasy anyway.

Along the way, the conversation expands into standalone fantasy novels, unfinished series, overly complicated worldbuilding and magic systems, science fiction, authors jumping between genres, and whether fantasy writers need to earn the right to ask readers to...

In this episode of Beyond the Page, Steve sits down with poet and author Andrea W. LeDew to discuss Polemics, a collection that grew from years of blogging, poetry, essays, and reflections on contemporary American life.

Andrea talks about her path from studying English and practicing law to homeschooling, blogging, and eventually publishing her work. We explore writing as a way of processing difficult subjects, using satire and metaphor in poetry, and the challenge of creating work about current events that can still resonate years later.

Andrea also shares stories from living in Germany during...