This week on We Love Comics, award-winning cartoonist Ethan Young joins us to dig into Dave Cooper's Ripple: A Predilection for Tina, a strange, unsettling, unforgettable story of an artist, his model, and an obsession that turns into something far more dangerous. We break down what makes Cooper's book so hypnotic and so uncomfortable, then widen the lens to the books and films of the same ilk: stories of desire, fixation, and exploration of taboos & fantasies. What makes this kind of work so great... or so dangerous?

Ethan also talks about his own path: how he broke into comics by self-publishing his work, the firsthand feedback and professional he got from the legendary Jim Lee, and how learning to accept criticism has helped make him the creative force he is today.

Ethan is the creator of Nanjing: The Burning City, winner of the 2016 Reuben Award for Best Graphic Novel and an Eisner and Harvey nominee. His other books include The Dragon Path, Space Bear, Life Between Panels, and The Battles of Bridget Lee. He's a prolific cover artist for DC, Marvel, Image, IDW, Dark Horse, and more. He's also a character designer on Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man for Marvel Studios, and his creator-owned action-horror series Demon Run is currently sold on his website

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussion of sexual content, obsession, controlling and possessive relationships, and psychological manipulation. It also includes discussion of Lolita, a novel involving child sexual abuse. These works are examined critically. Listener discretion is advised; intended for adult audiences.

Want to go deeper? Kyle has compiled links to the information and material he discovered while preparing for this episode. Check the links below and keep reading!

About — ethan young

Dave Graphics – The Artwork of Dave CooperWizard #61: Dave Cooper – Palmer’s Picks – Suckle Crumple RippleDave Cooper | du9, l'autre bande dessinée

The Antick Musings of G.B.H. Hornswoggler, Gent.: Ripple: A Predilection for Tina by Dave Cooper