ICHI! and Crumple Explained: Why Kyle Lawrence Wrote These Stories

Author and YouTuber Kyle Lawrence joins Two Geeks Talking to unpack how he thinks about story across prose, comics, manga, and film, and why “tricking” the reader is really about guiding them through an emotional experience you’ve already mapped out. He digs into the making of ICHI! Number One Baseball Robot and Crumple, the craft challenges of having “too much freedom” in prose, and the specific feedback that actually moved the needle on his writing. We also get into the origin of his King Rex Comics YouTube channel  @hailkingrex  , why knowing comics history (including the unsung creators) deepens your love of the medium, and how he navigates metrics, and self‑promotion without shouting into the void. If you write, read, or obsess over stories in any format, this episode is a masterclass in staying curious while still finishing the work.