Episode Details

Angélique Roché’s upcoming graphic novel First Freedom arrives February 10 and tells the powerful story of Dr. Opal Lee and the decades-long fight to establish Juneteenth as a national holiday. Ahead of our full written feature next week, we’re sharing something special.

It’s a candid, wide-ranging conversation that explores the creative and emotional core of First Freedom, offering early insight into the themes, challenges, and storytelling choices behind one of the year’s most meaningful graphic novels.

Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon! 

NEWS

1. 'Spider-Man/Superman' #1 expands with shock creative reveals and legendary backup stories
2. New 10-part 'Doomquest' announced with Dr. Doom reshaping history
3. Marvel just revealed Doom’s ultimate weapon — and it sparks Armageddon in May 2026
4. Spider-Man teams with celebrity chef José Andrés in Marvel’s wildest food-fueled crossover yet
5. DC launches massive Absolute Universe reprint wave as demand continues to surge
6. Kelly Thompson reveals Absolute Suicide Squad designs and new villain details
7. Dynamite releases 'ThunderCats X SilverHawks' checklist and character designs
8. Oni Press levels up with major Penguin Random House deal ahead of big 2026 launches
9. Jason Pearson’s legendary 'Body Bags' returns in massive Artist’s Edition fans won’t want to miss

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Uncanny X-Men (2024) #23 (Gail Simone, David Marquez)
2. The Nice House by the Sea (2024) #7 (James Tynion IV, Alvaro Martinez Bueno)

Chris:​​

1. Knight City #1 (Matt Kindt, David Lapham)
2. Thundarr the Barbarian #1 (Jason Aaron, Kewber Baal)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: Knight City #1 (Matt Kindt, David Lapham) EMAILED!

Dave: Wolverine #15 (Saladin Ahmed, Mike Henderson)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Chris: Jar Jar #1 (For Real)
• Dave: Barbarian Behind Bars #1 (Elliott Kalan  Andrea Mutti)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: Black Cat #7 (Adam Hughes Virgin Cover)
• Chris: Marc Spector: Moon Knight #1 (Baldemar Rivas Variant)

Interview: Angelique Roche Interview (First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth out February 10

1. This is the first-ever graphic novel dedicated to the history and origin of Juneteenth. When you first realized the scope of that responsibility, what felt most important to get right from the very beginning?
2. You’v