Comics publisher Fantagraphics is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It began as “The Comics Journal” – one of the first magazines that reviewed comics with a critics eye. At the time, it took an adversarial role against the big players in the comic industry: DC and Marvel. It tried to push comics into the realm of art instead of idle time waster for kids. And then it grew into so much more.

Guest:

Gary Groth, co-founder and president of Fantagraphics

Relevant Links: 

KUOW: Seattle comics publisher Fantagraphics celebrates 50th anniversary

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Comics publisher <a href="https://www.fantagraphics.com/">Fantagraphics</a> is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It began as &ldquo;The Comics Journal&rdquo; &ndash; one of the first magazines that reviewed comics with a critics eye. At the time, it took an adversarial role against the big players in the comic industry: DC and Marvel. It tried to push comics into the realm of art instead of idle time waster for kids. And then it grew into so much more.
Guest:
Gary Groth, co-founder and president of Fantagraphics
Relevant Links:&nbsp;
KUOW: <a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/seattle-comics-publisher-fantagraphics-celebrates-50th-anniversary">Seattle comics publisher Fantagraphics celebrates 50th anniversary</a>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Fantagraphics co-founder and president Gary Groth spoke with Soundside about the 50th anniversary of the publisher

Fantagraphics wanted comics to be treated as art. It changed the publishing industry.

How much soccer have you been watching these days?

For millions of American soccer fans (and probably billions elsewhere), the World Cup has already been memorable: Cabo Verde advancing against the odds, Messi setting records, the U.S. team displaying some world-class offensive magic. In fact ALL of the host countries’ teams – USA, Canada and Mexico – have made it to the knockout rounds.

Seattle has played host to four matches so far, and things seem to have gone smoothly here. That’s despite all the anxiety in the lead up, over things like crowds and security. 

Now, are we at the point where we might be able to say it’s kind of fun to be a host city? 

Other parts of Washington have been playing host as well, including Spokane: the official tournament base camp for the Egyptian national team, with the team training at Gonzaga University’s Luger Field.

GUEST:Mitchell Roland

RELATED LINK:
World Cup 2026 - Special coverage at The Spokesman-Review

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

How much soccer have you been watching these days?
For millions of American soccer fans (and probably billions elsewhere), the World Cup has already been memorable: Cabo Verde advancing against the odds, Messi setting records, the U.S. team displaying some world-class offensive magic. In fact ALL of the host countries&rsquo; teams &ndash; USA, Canada and Mexico &ndash; have made it to the knockout rounds.
Seattle has played&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattle-shines-as-world-cup-host-after-4-remarkable-matches-so-far/">host to four matches so far</a>, and things seem to have gone smoothly here. That&rsquo;s despite all the anxiety in the lead up, over things like crowds and security.&nbsp;
Now, are we at the point where we might be able to say it&rsquo;s kind of fun to be a host city?&nbsp;
Other parts of Washington have been playing host as well, including&nbsp;Spokane: the official tournament base camp for the Egyptian national team, with the team training at Gonzaga University&rsquo;s Luger Field.
GUEST: <a href="https://www.spokesman.com/staff/mitchell-roland/">Mitchell Roland</a>
RELATED LINK:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.spokesman.com/sections/world-cup-2026/">World Cup 2026 - Special coverage at The Spokesman-Review</a> </li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

An Egyptian soccer god walks among the people of Spokane, as the city hosts Team Egypt for the World Cup.

From Egypt to... Spokane? How the World Cup is building bonds that go beyond the soccer pitch

The 21st Century Road to Housing Act, is kind of like a Washington D.C. unicorn, because it passed on a bipartisan basis. Both Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D) and Rep. Dan Newhouse R) were part of strong majorities supporting the legislation. 

The bill is a collection of measures focusing on the supply side of the housing equation: things that might make it easier for prospective owners to buy a home and for potential home builders to start constructing.

But President Trump hasn't signed it, even though it's on his desk. We talk about why not, and what the bill could mean for the Evergreen State. 

Guest
Heidi Groover, real estate reporter, The Seattle Times

Related Links
What we know about the big housing bill Trump is refusing to sign - The Seattle Times



Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

The 21st Century Road to Housing Act, is kind of like a Washington D.C. unicorn, because it passed on a bipartisan basis. Both Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D) and Rep. Dan Newhouse R) were part of strong majorities supporting the legislation.&nbsp; The bill is a collection of measures focusing on the supply side of the housing equation: things that might make it easier for prospective owners to buy a home and for potential home builders to start constructing. But <a href="https://abcnews.com/Politics/yawn-trump-downplays-bipartisan-landmark-housing-bill/story?id=134323115">President Trump hasn't signed it</a>, even though it's on his desk. We talk about why not, and what the bill could mean for the Evergreen State. Guest <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/author/heidi-groover/">Heidi Groover</a>, real estate reporter, The Seattle Times Related Links <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/what-we-know-about-the-big-housing-bill-trump-is-refusing-to-sign/">What we know about the big housing bill Trump is refusing to sign</a> - The Seattle Times 
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

 President Trump loves a bill signing ceremony. So why did he cancel one for a federal housing bill passed last week?

What the bipartisan housing bill might do for WA and why it's not law — yet

Hiking can be hard. So can trail running. Even harder than both of those? Performing a rescue in the woods. 

That’s why Seattle Mountain Rescue is using exoskeleton legs, under the brand name Hypershell, that you can wear on your legs to basically...  help you move. 

The hope is that these mechanical legs will help the volunteer rescue team navigate rough terrain and steep inclines to quickly get to people on the trail. 

We drove out to North Bend to see exactly how this gear works. 

Guest: Wes Cooper, an Emerging Technologies Director at Seattle Mountain Rescue. 

Related links: 
Seattle Mountain Rescue deploys exoskeletons as second team in U.S. to use the tech | KING 5
I Hiked Using Robot Legs in the Grand Canyon. I Didn’t Even Need My Cane | CNET
I Hiked a Mountain Wearing $2,000 Robotic Legs. It Was a Walk in the Park. - WSJ

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Hiking can be hard. So can trail running. Even harder than both of those? Performing a rescue in the woods.&nbsp;
That&rsquo;s why Seattle Mountain Rescue is using exoskeleton legs, under the brand name Hypershell, that you can wear on your legs to basically... <a href="https://www.cnet.com/health/fitness/hiked-using-robot-legs-grand-canyon-didnt-even-need-my-cane/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us">&nbsp;help you move</a>.&nbsp;
The hope is that these mechanical legs will help the volunteer rescue team navigate rough terrain and steep inclines to quickly get to people on the trail.&nbsp;
We drove out to North Bend to see exactly how this gear works.&nbsp;
Guest: Wes Cooper, an Emerging Technologies Director at Seattle Mountain Rescue.&nbsp;
Related links:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle-mountain-rescue-deploys-exoskeletons-second-team-in-us-use-the-tech/281-80153332-116e-497f-95b3-41a990ea2072">Seattle Mountain Rescue deploys exoskeletons as second team in U.S. to use the tech | KING 5</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.cnet.com/health/fitness/hiked-using-robot-legs-grand-canyon-didnt-even-need-my-cane/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us">I Hiked Using Robot Legs in the Grand Canyon. I Didn&rsquo;t Even Need My Cane | CNET</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/personal-tech/robot-legs-hypershell-x-ultra-tested-e8a254e2">I Hiked a Mountain Wearing $2,000 Robotic Legs. It Was a Walk in the Park. - WSJ</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

We went to North Bend to test out the Hypershell, which this organization is using for search and rescue missions on hiking trails.

Fantagraphics wanted comics to be treated as art. It changed the publishing industry.

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