Jess Pollard


The TradeWaiters 50: Live at VanCAF 2018: “How to Hook Your Friends on Comics”

Anyone can be a comics reader. That’s an oft-repeated theme on the TradeWaiters. And it became the guiding mantra of our first-ever LIVE episode, recorded at this year’s VanCAF. On “How to Hook Your Friends on Comics,” Jon, Jeff, Jam, and Jess will share four books that YOU can use […]


The TradeWaiters 49: “The Witch Boy” by Molly Knox Ostertag

Get down with the magical commune. This episode Jon, Jess, Jeff, Jam, and Kaye read The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag, and it was a universal favourite. The Witch Boy is a middle grade graphic novel about magic, gender roles, and defeating dragons. Our panelists also reveal their cat-sonas […]


The TradeWaiters 48: “The Prince and the Dressmaker” by Jen Wang

Listen in as Jon, Jess, Jeff, Jam, and Kaye read The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang. This book is a stunning piece of cartooning and an instant classic. It’s a fairytale-esque historical drama about a genderfluid prince and his fashion designer slash muse slash confidante. TradeWaiters episodes have […]


The TradeWaiters 45: “Castle Waiting” Vol. 2 by Linda Medley

In today’s episode our panelists finish out the extant volumes of Linda Medley’s Castle Waiting with volume two. This volume answers questions about the Doctor, Simon’s father, and Jain’s childhood. We also discuss the most important parts of history, fairy tale endings, where we hope the series will go next, […]


The TradeWaiters 44: “Castle Waiting” Vol. 1 by Linda Medley

After much delay, we can finally bring you the first of our two episode series on Linda Medley’s Castle Waiting. The whole team reunites to do a close reading of this indy darling, which takes some familiar fairy tales in new directions. We’ll talk about story structure, sense of place, […]


The TradeWaiters 43: “I Killed Adolf Hitler” by Jason

Happy 2018, time travelers. In this episode of the TradeWaiters, Jess, Jam, Jeff, and Jon read I Killed Adolf Hitler by the Norwegian cartoonist Jason. It’s a short episode for a short book, but it’s a book that isn’t quite what it seems. Have a listen and see for yourself. […]


The TradeWaiters 42: Holiday Giftisode 2017

Our TradeWaiters haven’t read a NEW comic this week, but we do have a bunch of OLD comics we’d like to talk about that might be new to you. If you’re looking for a comic to give away this holiday season, or a comic to give to yourself, Jess, Jon, […]


The TradeWaiters 39: “Scott Pilgrim” vol. 5 & 6 by Bryan Lee O’Malley

At last we’ve reached the end of our Scott Pilgrimage. Join Jess, Jam, Jeff, Jon, and Kgros as we finish off Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim with volumes 5 and 6. In this episode we talk about character arcs, throwaway plot twists, background artists, and More Kim Pine. If you’ve […]


The TradeWaiters 38: “Scott Pilgrim” vol. 3 & 4 by Bryan Lee O’Malley

And now, we continue our “Scott Pilgrimage” through volumes three and four of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim. In this episode we go even deeper into the themes, scenes, and subspace highway dreams of a twenty-something slacker who’s not very good at playing the bass. We talk about evil exes, […]