Podcasts about idw publishing

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! NEWSMarvel's 'Ultimate Endgame' Blind Bags went from collectible to straight-up lottery ticketScott Snyder reveals Jonah Hex on the way:But now to have it be like a load bearing book at DC, or a book that generates excitement and money for them in a way that allows us more creative latitude on other books, the things that it's engendered for Next Level—I can't wait for you to see these books. I mean, all of them are really creator forward. They're real big swings, Lobo and Deathstroke. They're big over the top epic books. Batwoman, real, real great swing by Greg Rucka and Dani. Zatanna really levels Zatanna up. Firestorm and Shadow of the Bat. I mean, there are just so many good ones. There really are. Legion of Superheroes and Jonah Hex and there's just a ton coming that we can't wait for you to see. And they're all passion projects. And a lot of that is born out of you guys supporting things that are riskier, that are different, that hopefully feel yours. And it's the best time I've ever had in superhero comics. I'm so, so grateful to you guys and so proud of what we're able to do right now at DC. So first, let me start this end of year thing by just saying thank you.Our Top Books of the Week:Dave:Punisher: Red Band #4 (Ben Percy, Julius Ohta)Escape #5 (Rick Remender, Daniel Acuna)Coplan:​​Ultimate Endgame #1 (Deniz Camp, Jonas Scharf)Lost Fantasy #6 (Curt Pires, Maxi Dallo)Standout KAPOW moment of the week:Coplan: Ultimate Endgame #1 (Deniz Camp, Jonas Scharf)Dave: Ultimate Endgame #1 (Deniz Camp, Jonas Scharf)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKCoplan: Toxic Avenger Comics #6 (Matt Bors, Fred Harper)Dave: X-Men #23 (Jed MacKay, Tony Daniel)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: The Amazing Spider-Man #19 (Sara Pichelli Variant)Coplan: Twilight Zone #3 (James Stokoe Main)Interview: Andrew Joustra - Tales of TMNT #4 (out Mar 18, 2026, FOC Feb 9th)Recently he wrote the theatrical animated short Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Chrome Alone 2 - Lost in New Jersey for Paramount and is currently writing the Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book series for IDW Publishing.Andrew has dwelled in the sewer for a while now, having been the script & recording coordinator for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and currently working as the script supervisor for its sequel.1. Andrew's comics debutAndrew, Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4 marks your comic-writing debut and kicks off a three-issue arc. What did it feel like to finally see your name on a TMNT comic page after working in animation for so long?2. Transition from screen to pageYou've worked as Script Coordinator and Script Manager on Mutant Mayhem and its sequel—what muscles did you have to retrain (or unlearn) when shifting from screenwriting to writing comics?3. Working with Louie JoyceCan you talk about collaborating with Louie Joyce on this arc? How did your scripts leave room for visual storytelling, especially with action and emotion?4. Fugitoid's debut in TalesThis arc introduces Fugitoid into the Tales of the TMNT universe. What made him the right character to bring into this specific corner of TMNT, and what excites you most about using him in this format?5. Anti-AI themes and “Chrome Alone 2”Andrew, you recently wrote the animated short Chrome Alone 2, which has a clear anti-AI message. Without getting into anything off-limits, how important is it for you to sneak big ideas and values into genre storytelling?6. Franchise stewardshipWhat's exciting about Tales of the TMNT specifically as a space for experimentation and tone shifts within the brand?7. Entry point for new readersFor readers who might be jumping into Tales of the TMNT for the first time, what do you think makes this arc—between your voice, Louie's art, and Fugitoid's arrival—a great onboarding point?8. Fun / silly closer: Last one: If the Turtles were brutally honest, which one would give the worst notes on your script—and why would it definitely be Michelangelo?

Welcome back, friend. Our end-of-the-year celebration concludes with The Stampies: Best Comics of 2025 (Part Two). If you missed the Part One party, click here, and discover the comics we considered the saddest of 2025, the most stylish, the most genre-bendy, etc, etc. For this week's second half award show ceremony, we're tackling the more traditional categories of Best Limited Series, Best Ongoing, Best Original Graphic Novel, and more. We wrap it all up by anointing the Jesse Tapia II Champ Stamp in honor of our dear departed friend, and announce how we'll be kicking off 2026 next week. As was the case in our first half, The Stampies: Best Comics of 2025 (Part Two) features several guest-stars from folks across the industry. Each and every one of these cool cats is worth your attention, and we encourage you to follow their work and their socials listed below. This year produced too many dang great comics, but thankfully, these creatives helped us break beyond our limited perspective, and you benefit with even more titles to add to your ever-expanding to-read pile. The Best Comics of 2025 Part One Guest-Stars: Gregg Katzman (Bluesky), IDW Publishing's Senior Publicity Manager. Owen (Bluesky), Owen Likes Comics. Tyler Crook (Bluesky), The Lonesome Hunters, Out of Alcatraz, etc. Avery Kaplan (Bluesky), The Beat, Star Trek, TCJ, etc. BJ Kicks (Bluesky), Comics Are Dope. David Brooke (Bluesky), Owner, Writer, Host at AIPT. Chris Condon (Bluesky), That Texas Blood, Green Arrow, Ultimate Wolverine, etc. Chris Piers (Bluesky), Host of ComicTropes. Christian Ward (Bluesky), Batman: City of Madness, Event Horizon: Dark Descent, Two-Face, etc. This Week's Sponsors GlobalComix is the all-in-one digital comics platform offering unlimited reading of thousands of titles from top publishers, indie creators, across comics, manga, and toons. With GlobalComix Gold, members unlock access to more than 100,000 books and genres - superheroes, horror, sci-fi, manga, fantasy, romance, and more. Right now, GlobalComix is running a special Holiday Gold promotion: when you sign up for a year of GlobalComix Gold for $69, you'll get a bonus premium comics bundle from Dark Horse, DC, Kodansha, and Marvel - included for free. This bundle is valued at $67, making the annual plan essentially pay for itself with the bonus alone. How to Redeem: Use the link https://globalcomix.com/holiday-bundle-2025 to sign up. The offer is live now and available for a limited time (through January 4, 2026). Once subscribed, the bonus bundle will be added to your GlobalComix library. Are you ready to face the future? Look no further than 2000 AD – it's the Galaxy's Greatest Comic! Every week 2000 AD brings the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and more! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD, and it'll arrive at your mailbox every week, and your first issue is free. You'll also receive the HUNDRED PAGE 2000 AD Christmas Special this December at no extra cost! Or, subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe' now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! This Winter, from IDW Publishing, the Heroes in a Half-Shell take on the King of the Monsters! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Godzilla #1 crashes into comic shops on November 12th. Written by Godzilla Kei-Sei Scribe Tim Seeley and illustrated by the brilliant Turtle artist behind the Nightwatcher series, as well as the Stranger Things/TMNT crossover, Fero Pe, this new series finally brings two of our favorite franchises together. How can this reptilian miracle be?  Long before the organization was corrupted by Shredder, the Foot Clan's original purpose was to save Japan from Kaiju! Now, in the present day, Godzilla and its fellow monsters have reappeared. Not only is the Foot not prepared to stop them…it would seem Shredder himself is behind the attacks! The Turtles are always crossing over into rad nerd realms, but this one might be the king crossover of them all.  The Best Comics of 2025 Part One Category Timestamps: Intro (New Year's Intentions) - 2:52 Global Comix Gold Bundle - 12:23 Best Sleeper Superhero Story - 19:16 - WINNER (TIE): Supergirl: Universe End and Two-Face: Trial Separation (DC Comics) Best Anthology - 30:45 - WINNER: Monkey Meat: The Summer Batch (Image Comics) Best Adaptation - 37:47 - WINNER: Dracula Book II: The Brides (Dark Horse Comics) Best Memoir - 44:26 - WINNER: The Ephemerata (Fantagraphics) Most Engaged Comic - 53:28 - WINNER: Black Arms to Hold You Up (Pantheon) Best Limited Series - 1:02:23 - WINNER: Spectrum (Mad Cave Studios) Best Ongoing Series - 1:13:18 - WINNER: Absolute Batman (DC Comics) Best Original Graphic Novel - 1:24:38 - WINNER: Drome (23rd St. Books) Cartoonist of the Year - 1:31:38 - WINNER: Patrick Horvath (Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring) Jesse Tapia II Champ Stamp - 1:37:27 - WINNER: Randy Clute (Our Day) Lisa's Pick - 1:42:52 - WINNER: The Confessional (Silver Sprocket) Brad's Pick - 1:45:40 - WINNER: More Weight (Top Shelf Productions) Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Issue #734 - THE TC BEST OF 2025, Part Three: Return of the First FamilyDownload Directly From iTunesNOW on SPOTIFY!Hip hip... NEW YEAR! Well, not yet--as long as it's still 2025, we still have some BEST OF 2025 to share with all of you! This week, John and Bob share all of their favorite things from the past year, including John's undying passion for GI Joe and Bob's FANTASTIC year.The Comic Book Podcast is brought to you by Talking Comics (talkingcomicbooks.wordpress.com). The podcast is hosted by Steve Seigh, Bob Reyer, Joey Braccino, Aaron Amos, John Burkle, and Bronwyn Kelly-Seigh who weekly dissect everything comics-related, from breaking news to new releases. Our Instagram handle is @TalkingComicsPodcast and you can email us at [podcast@talkingcomicbooks.com].

Joining us today is one of the artists of 2016's Alien: Defiance with writer Brian Wood and more recently, one creative part of the prequel comic series to Paul W.S. Anderson's 1997 cult classic Event Horizon: Dark Descent with writer Christian Ward at IDW Publishing.It is our pleasure to welcome Tristan Jones onto The Oblivion Bar Podcast!---Thank you Oni Press & Endless Comics, Cards & Games for sponsoring The Oblivion Bar PodcastFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTokFollow us on BlueSkyConsider supporting us over on PatreonThank you DreamKid for our Oblivion Bar musicThank you KXD Studios for our Oblivion Bar art

Talking Comics Podcast: Issue #733 - THE TC BEST OF 2025, Part Two: The Hive Strikes BackDownload Directly From iTunesNOW on SPOTIFY!'Twas the night before Christmas, and the BEST OF 2025 TC Episodes keep rolling on! This week, Joey and Bronwyn take us through their 2025 highlights, including Joey's desperate search for redemption in the X-men comics and Bronwyn's Top 5 Webtoons of the year.The Comic Book Podcast is brought to you by Talking Comics (talkingcomicbooks.wordpress.com). The podcast is hosted by Steve Seigh, Bob Reyer, Joey Braccino, Aaron Amos, John Burkle, and Bronwyn Kelly-Seigh who weekly dissect everything comics-related, from breaking news to new releases. Our Instagram handle is @TalkingComicsPodcast and you can email us at [podcast@talkingcomicbooks.com].

Friends, let's celebrate. We've made it through another year, and no matter how you felt about the world outside your local comic book shop, you certainly read some great comics. Welcome to our annual award show, The Stampies: Best Comics of 2025. Part One. Every year is a good year for comics. You just have to go out and read them. That's the secret. We try not to imprison ourselves with characters, genres, publishers, or even our preferred tastes. As long as you're only interested in good comics, you'll find them if you read enough, and the brilliant thing about 2025 is that we read a lot, and found so many great comics, but we still didn't read enough to read all the great comics. Thankfully, we sent out the Comic Book Couples Counseling distress call, and a bunch of our friends from across the industry answered. Peppered throughout our Stampies ceremony are our podcaster, journalist, publicist, and creator friends, each offering their favorite comics from 2025. See a list of them below, and make sure you support their work and follow them on socials. As we do every year, we select our favorite comics and then create the Stampies around them. This two-part episode reflects our weird, collective tastes as a couple. Listeners will recognize several of the titles, but hopefully, we've thrown in several surprises, too. You can also find the award categories and (SPOILERS) winners below, listed alongside their timestamps in case you want to hop around or revisit later. For the first time ever, we've created physical Stampy Awards to be delivered to the creators. We're only able to do this thanks to our new sponsor, Global Comix. The all-in-one digital comics platform is currently offfering a great comics bundle when you sign up for their Global Comix Gold program. Make sure you give them a click (more details below), then start browsing their incredible digital comics library. The Best Comics of 2025 Part One Guest-Stars: Lance (Bluesky) and Jeremy (Bluesky) of Comic Book Keepers. Eamon Winkle (Instagram): The Principles of Necromancy, Geiger, etc. Jenna Anderson (Bluesky) of Phase Hero and Go Read Some Comics. Chris Hacker (Bluesky) and Aaron Knowles (BlueSky) of The Oblivion Bar Podcast. Ollie Kaplan (Bluesky) of Comics Beat, Prism Comics, etc. Barbra Dillon (Bluesky): Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Fanbase Press. David Harper (Bluesky) of SKTCHD and Off Panel. Patrick Horvath (Bluesky): Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees. Badr Milligan (Bluesky) of The Short Box Podcast. This Week's Sponsors GlobalComix is the all-in-one digital comics platform offering unlimited reading of thousands of titles from top publishers, indie creators, across comics, manga, and toons. With GlobalComix Gold, members unlock access to more than 100,000 books and genres - superheroes, horror, sci-fi, manga, fantasy, romance, and more. Right now, GlobalComix is running a special Holiday Gold promotion: when you sign up for a year of GlobalComix Gold for $69, you'll get a bonus premium comics bundle from Dark Horse, DC, Kodansha, and Marvel - included for free. This bundle is valued at $67, making the annual plan essentially pay for itself with the bonus alone. How to Redeem: Use the link https://globalcomix.com/holiday-bundle-2025 to sign up. The offer is live now and available for a limited time (through January 4, 2026). Once subscribed, the bonus bundle will be added to your GlobalComix library. This Winter, from IDW Publishing, the Heroes in a Half-Shell take on the King of the Monsters! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Godzilla #1 crashes into comic shops on November 12th. Written by Godzilla Kei-Sei Scribe Tim Seeley and illustrated by the brilliant Turtle artist behind the Nightwatcher series, as well as the Stranger Things/TMNT crossover, Fero Pe, this new series finally brings two of our favorite franchises together. How can this reptilian miracle be?  Long before the organization was corrupted by Shredder, the Foot Clan's original purpose was to save Japan from Kaiju! Now, in the present day, Godzilla and its fellow monsters have reappeared. Not only is the Foot not prepared to stop them…it would seem Shredder himself is behind the attacks! The Turtles are always crossing over into rad nerd realms, but this one might be the king crossover of them all.  Are you ready to face the future? Look no further than 2000 AD – it's the Galaxy's Greatest Comic! Every week 2000 AD brings the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and more! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD, and it'll arrive at your mailbox every week, and your first issue is free. You'll also receive the HUNDRED PAGE 2000 AD Christmas Special this December at no extra cost! Or, subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe' now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! The Best Comics of 2025 Part One Category Timestamps: Intro (The Year that Was) - 3:51 Global Comix Gold Bundle - 14:04 The Style is the Substance Award - 22:15 - WINNER: News from the Fallout (Image Comics) Best Genre Mashup - 30:38 - WINNER: Absolute Martian Manhunter (DC Comics) Saddest Comic of the Year - 40:00 - WINNER: Everything Dead and Dying (Image Comics) Best All-Ages Comic - 49:29 - WINNER: The Cartoonists Club (Scholastic) Best Young Adult Comic - 55:17 - WINNER: Clementine Book Three (Skybound/Image Comics) Best Nonfiction Comic - 1:06:23 - WINNER: "Dr. Werthless" (Dark Horse Comics) Best Crime Comic - 1:17:49 - WINNER: Out of Alcatraz (Oni Press) Best Short Story - 1:27:40 - WINNER: "Untitled" from Absolute Batman Annual #1 (DC Comics) Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Issue #732 - THE TC BEST OF 2025, Part One: A New Kind of HeroDownload Directly From iTunesNOW on SPOTIFY!It's the most wonderful time of the year! The gang's all here for the annual BEST OF 2025 conversations! For the next few weeks, your favorite TC co-hosts will share their favorite comics, movies, TV shows, and other comics-adjacent media from what was, quite frankly, a really rough year for some folks on the show. But there's always something to find joy in, and we're here to share those things with you all at home.This week, Steve and Aaron take us through their 2025 highlights, including Steve's love for THUNDERBOLTS* and Aaron's obsession with Beyond the Gates.The Comic Book Podcast is brought to you by Talking Comics (talkingcomicbooks.wordpress.com). The podcast is hosted by Steve Seigh, Bob Reyer, Joey Braccino, Aaron Amos, John Burkle, and Bronwyn Kelly-Seigh who weekly dissect everything comics-related, from breaking news to new releases. Our Instagram handle is @TalkingComicsPodcast and you can email us at [podcast@talkingcomicbooks.com].

With the release of Absolute Batman #15 and the big reveal of Absolute Joker, we're excited to welcome artist Jockonto the show for the first time. We would consider this comic an event even without the gnarly origin story at its center. This is also a big reunion for the artist and his writer collaborator, Scott Snyder. They've been delivering killer Batman comics since The Black Mirror, and have already re-invented the Joker concept in The Batman Who Laughs. However, the Absolute Universe allows them to swing for the fences in a way that the main continuity never could. And, as you'll hear, this required a little recalibration from Jock. Thankfully, Jock grew up consuming some of the most radical comics on the planet, 2000 AD. These Mega-City One stories, often featuring the iconic Judge Dredd, shaped Jock's imagination and taught him the unique power of a visual narrative. They also revealed why we must never be too enamored of the characters and stories we adore. Conformity is abhorrent. Toys are meant to be broken because that's the direct result of good, continuous, serious play. If you keep them precious on the shelf, they get dusty and stiff. To understand characters like Batman and Judge Dredd, we must constantly redefine them, whittling them down to their defining characteristics. We discuss with Jock how he had to recalibrate his idea of Batman and Joker before taking on Absolute Batman #15. We talk about his new 2000 AD release, The Art of Judge Dredd by Jock. We examine how 2000 AD continues to influence his work, including Absolute Joker, and how he crafts certain two-page spreads in this comic. Absolute Batman #15 is out now from DC Comics. It's written by Scott Snyder, illustrated by Jock, colored by Frank Martin, and lettered by Clayton Cowles. You can continue this conversation with Jock by following him on Blue Skyand Instagram. This Week's Sponsors Are you ready to face the future? Look no further than 2000 AD – it's the Galaxy's Greatest Comic! Every week 2000 AD brings the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and more! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD, and it'll arrive at your mailbox every week, and your first issue is free. You'll also receive the HUNDRED PAGE 2000 AD Christmas Special this December at no extra cost! Or, subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe' now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! This Winter, from IDW Publishing, the Heroes in a Half-Shell take on the King of the Monsters! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Godzilla #1 crashes into comic shops on November 12th. Written by Godzilla Kei-Sei Scribe Tim Seeley and illustrated by the brilliant Turtle artist behind the Nightwatcher series, as well as the Stranger Things/TMNT crossover, Fero Pe, this new series finally brings two of our favorite franchises together. How can this reptilian miracle be?  Long before the organization was corrupted by Shredder, the Foot Clan's original purpose was to save Japan from Kaiju! Now, in the present day, Godzilla and its fellow monsters have reappeared. Not only is the Foot not prepared to stop them…it would seem Shredder himself is behind the attacks! The Turtles are always crossing over into rad nerd realms, but this one might be the king crossover of them all.  Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Previously on CBCC: Daniel Warren Johnson on Absolute Batman Annual Previously on CBCC: Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta on Absolute Batman Comic Book Film Club: 30 Days of Night at the Alamo Drafthouse Winchester on 12/14 Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Sorry to inform you, friends, but it's December already. The gift-giving season is here, and with it, if you're at all like us, a month filled with tremendous anxiety. We may love putting together a Comic Book Holiday Gift Guide, but we stress profusely over the actual process of selecting and distributing gifts to our friends and family. Thankfully, just in time, we spoke with Mutts cartoonist Patrick McDonnell about his latest book, The Gift of Everything, which truly helped us center ourselves during a tumultuous moment. Patrick McDonnell is one of our great living cartoonists. For more than thirty years, he has put everything of himself into his comic strip Mutts. It's where he goes to understand the world around him, using characters like Mooch and Earl to contextualize what's happening outside his panels and inside his very being. Reading his work, you get the impression that he's figured something out that you have not, but is that actually the case? We get to the heart of everything in today's conversation. The Gift of Everything is out now from Little, Brown and Company. It's a spiritual sequel to McDonnell's The Gift of Nothing, which was published twenty years ago. It tells the desperate story of Mooch searching for the perfect gift for his pal Earl, and discovering exactly that, but not in the manner he expected. Follow Mutts on Instagram, and sign up for the Daily Mutts strip HERE. This Week's Sponsors Are you ready to face the future? Look no further than 2000 AD – it's the Galaxy's Greatest Comic! Every week 2000 AD brings the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and more! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD, and it'll arrive at your mailbox every week, and your first issue is free. You'll also receive the HUNDRED PAGE 2000 AD Christmas Special this December at no extra cost! Or, subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe' now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! This Winter, from IDW Publishing, the Heroes in a Half-Shell take on the King of the Monsters! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Godzilla #1 crashes into comic shops on November 12th. Written by Godzilla Kei-Sei Scribe Tim Seeley and illustrated by the brilliant Turtle artist behind the Nightwatcher series, as well as the Stranger Things/TMNT crossover, Fero Pe, this new series finally brings two of our favorite franchises together. How can this reptilian miracle be?  Long before the organization was corrupted by Shredder, the Foot Clan's original purpose was to save Japan from Kaiju! Now, in the present day, Godzilla and its fellow monsters have reappeared. Not only is the Foot not prepared to stop them…it would seem Shredder himself is behind the attacks! The Turtles are always crossing over into rad nerd realms, but this one might be the king crossover of them all.  Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics A CBCC Tribute to Lisa's Father Previously on CBCC: Patrick McDonnell on Guard Dog Watch Patrick McDonnell Inducted into the Harvey Hall of Fame Comic Book Film Club: 30 Days of Night at the Alamo Drafthouse Winchester on 12/14 Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

There are big swings, and then there are huge swings. Writer Adam Rose and artist Magenta King go for the fences with Huge Detective, a genre mashup mystery where giants roam the Earth and wind up dead like any other sacks of meat. The series was recently collected in a pretty trade paperback from Titan Comics, and it immediately had us craving sequels and sidequels. Where's our Gyant/Bean romance? We're ready for it. We met Adam Rose earlier this year at San Diego Comic-Con, and bonded quickly over our love for the eighties cartoon series M.A.S.K. After a few minutes of chatting, we knew we wanted to get him on the show, and after a few months of wrangling our schedules, we finally made it happen. Unfortunately, we did not spend the entire time discussing how Matt Trakker is currently running through the panels of Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly's G.I. Joe comic. Next time, next time. In this episode, we discuss Adam Rose's love for fantasy and detective fiction. And we force him to choose his preferred genre. Our conversation explores the massive sandbox they've created in Huge Detective and the numerous other genres they could possibly explore in future comics. We make our case for romance. We consider Dollsville, too. Huge Detective issues one through five are now available in trade paperback from Titan Comics. They're written by Adam Rose, illustrated by Magenta King, colored by King and Minimone, and lettered by DC Hopkins. To continue this conversation, follow Adam Rose on Blue Sky and Instagram. This Week's Sponsors Are you ready to face the future? Look no further than 2000 AD – it's the Galaxy's Greatest Comic! Every week 2000 AD brings the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and more! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD, and it'll arrive at your mailbox every week, and your first issue is free. You'll also receive the HUNDRED PAGE 2000 AD Christmas Special this December at no extra cost! Or, subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe' now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! This November, Event Horizon: Dark Descent, the terrifying comic book prequel series to the classic, 90s, hellraising sci-fi film, reaches its epic third issue, and if you always wanted to know the gory details about exactly what went down when the Event Horizon crew were transported to hell, this is the issue you cannot miss. From writer Christian Ward and artist Tristan Jones, Event Horizon: Dark Descent #3 lands in comic book shops on November 12th courtesy of IDW Publishing, with a killer cover by Jeffrey Alan Love and a variant cover by Chris Burnham. "The dead have appeared to me — and there is something else loose upon the ship. If you can hear me, it may be too late for you. LIBERA TE TUTEMET EX INFERIS!" Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics A CBCC Tribute to Lisa's Father Previously on CBCC: Grant Morrison on Batman/Deadpool Live at New York Comic Con: The Massive Comic Book Podcast Crossover Comic Book Film Club: 30 Days of Night at the Alamo Drafthouse Winchester on 12/14 Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Toward the end of our last conversation with Grant Morrison, they mentioned how they would soon be returning to comics, writing a new Batman story. We were ecstatic to hear, but we could not have possibly imagined that the new Batman story would actually be a DC/Marvel Comics crossover featuring the Hollywood darling Deadpool. Even better, it's a reunion between Morrison and his Klaus collaborator, Dan Mora, which also features numerous backup stories by other rad creators, including Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Joshua Williamson, Hayden Sherman, Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo, Amanda Conner, G. Willow Wilson, and Denys Cowan. The comic is possibly the most surprising book of the year, but not as surprising as Morrison's willingness to return to the show for an in-depth discussion all about it. You're in for another treat, friends. Our Grant Morrison Batman/Deadpool conversation is full-spoilers. You must read the comic before pressing play. If you read the book quickly, as our Brad did the first time, you'll probably miss a great deal. The comic is crammed with Easter eggs and winks, many of which we eventually caught, and a few others we did not until Grant Morrison pointed them out to us. Dan Mora and Grant Morrison's Batman/Deadpool is very different from Greg Capullo and Zeb Wells' Deadpool/Batman, which Marvel ran point on a few weeks ago. It's a fun adventure, but it's also a story commenting on comics, crossovers, and the writer/reader's relationship with the fourth wall. Initially, the team-up between Batman and Deadpool felt a little cynical, and/or capitalistic - and it's still that! However, given Grant Morrison's relationship with Animal Man and smashing the fourth wall, Deadpool is kind of the perfect character for them. Batman/Deadpool also allows Grant Morrison to right a wrong that occurred in the pages of...well, read the comic first, will ya? Dear listeners, welcome to Grant Morrisoin's Revenge! We get into it with The Writer, discussing their initial idea for the crossover, their evolving relationship with the fourth wall, and what they hope for future DC and Marvel crossovers. Batman/Deadpool #1 is out now from DC Comics. “The Cosmic Kiss Caper” is written by Grant Morrison, illustrated by Dan Mora, colored by Alejandro Sánchez, and lettered by Todd Klein. If you wish to continue this conversation with Morrison, follow them on their Website, Substack, Instagram, and Bluesky. This Week's Sponsors This November, Event Horizon: Dark Descent, the terrifying comic book prequel series to the classic, 90s, hellraising sci-fi film, reaches its epic third issue, and if you always wanted to know the gory details about exactly what went down when the Event Horizon crew were transported to hell, this is the issue you cannot miss. From writer Christian Ward and artist Tristan Jones, Event Horizon: Dark Descent #3 lands in comic book shops on November 12th courtesy of IDW Publishing, with a killer cover by Jeffrey Alan Love and a variant cover by Chris Burnham. "The dead have appeared to me — and there is something else loose upon the ship. If you can hear me, it may be too late for you. LIBERA TE TUTEMET EX INFERIS!" Are you ready to face the future? Look no further than 2000 AD – it's the Galaxy's Greatest Comic! Every week 2000 AD brings the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and more! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD, and it'll arrive at your mailbox every week, and your first issue is free. You'll also receive the HUNDRED PAGE 2000 AD Christmas Special this December at no extra cost! Or, subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe' now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Previously on CBCC: Grant Morrison on All-Star Superman Live at New York Comic Con: The Massive Comic Book Podcast Crossover Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

A podcast doesn't last without the support of its friends. We're beyond grateful to fellow comic book maniacs like Badr Milligan of The Short Box, Chris Hacker and Aaron Knowles of The Oblivion Bar, and David Harper of Off Panel. Hopefully, you already subscribe to these shows, and if not, after this week's episode, you will. In October, we assembled in the Javits Center basement during New York Comic Con in an effort to share our four unique vibes with a single crowd. Weeks later, you can now experience the MaCoBoPoCro Event (or, Massive Comic Book Podcast Crossover Event). And, guess what? If video is your thing, you can actually watch the event on the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube page. This Week's Sponsors This November, Event Horizon: Dark Descent, the terrifying comic book prequel series to the classic, 90s, hellraising sci-fi film, reaches its epic third issue, and if you always wanted to know the gory details about exactly what went down when the Event Horizon crew were transported to hell, this is the issue you cannot miss. From writer Christian Ward and artist Tristan Jones, Event Horizon: Dark Descent #3 lands in comic book shops on November 12th courtesy of IDW Publishing, with a killer cover by Jeffrey Alan Love and a variant cover by Chris Burnham. "The dead have appeared to me — and there is something else loose upon the ship. If you can hear me, it may be too late for you. LIBERA TE TUTEMET EX INFERIS!" Are you ready to face the future? Look no further than 2000 AD – it's the Galaxy's Greatest Comic! Every week 2000 AD brings the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and more! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD, and it'll arrive at your mailbox every week, and your first issue is free. You'll also receive the HUNDRED PAGE 2000 AD Christmas Special this December at no extra cost! Or, subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe' now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics CBCC at NYCC: Michael Walsh and Tristan Jones CBCC at NYCC: Alex Firer and Fred C. Stressing CBCC at NYCC: The Doughboys CBCC at NYCC Watch The Harvey Awards on Popverse Comic Book Film Club 11/16 at 5 PM EST: The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp at the Winchester Alamo Drafthouse, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Every October, New York Comic Con (NYCC) rolls around. Normally, they don't acknowledge their proximity to the spooky season, but this year, as crowds reached pre-pandemic sizes, they embraced Halloween. Cosplay took on a more deliciously grisly vibe, and we found ourselves feeling more ghoulish than usual, too. The conversations we sought ventured into bloodier tales of both good and bad natures. Michael Walsh joined us in the Tiny Onion booth to explain the game design that birthed Exquisite Corpses, and how such play was influenced by his recent stint on Frankenstein. We met artist Tristan Jones upstairs in the infamous “Butter Corner,” where the IDW Publishing booth found itself this year. We discussed his collaboration with Christian Ward on the utterly surprising Event Horizon: Dark Descent series, and how he finally delivered what the movie only hinted at back in the nineties. Exquisite Corpses Volume 1 is now available from Tiny Onion and Image Comics. Event Horizon: Dark Descent issues 1-2 are now available from IDW Publishing. Issue 3 arrives in comic book shops everywhere on November 12th. Follow Michael Walsh on Blue Sky and Instagram. Follow Tristan Jones on Blue Sky and Instagram. This Week's Sponsors This November, Event Horizon: Dark Descent, the terrifying comic book prequel series to the classic, 90s, hellraising sci-fi film, reaches its epic third issue, and if you always wanted to know the gory details about exactly what went down when the Event Horizon crew were transported to hell, this is the issue you cannot miss. From writer Christian Ward and artist Tristan Jones, Event Horizon: Dark Descent #3 lands in comic book shops on November 12th courtesy of IDW Publishing, with a killer cover by Jeffrey Alan Love and a variant cover by Chris Burnham. "The dead have appeared to me — and there is something else loose upon the ship. If you can hear me, it may be too late for you. LIBERA TE TUTEMET EX INFERIS!" Are you ready to face the future? Look no further than 2000 AD – it's the Galaxy's Greatest Comic! Every week 2000 AD brings the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and more! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD, and it'll arrive at your mailbox every week, and your first issue is free. You'll also receive the HUNDRED PAGE 2000 AD Christmas Special this December at no extra cost! Or, subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe' now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Previously on CBCC: Christian Ward on Event Horizon: Dark Descent The Comics Crossover Event with The Short Box, Oblivion Bar, Off Panel, and CBCC Watch The Harvey Awards on Popverse Comic Book Film Club 11/16 at 5PM EST: The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp at the Winchester Alamo Drafthouse, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

There's zero doubt, Absolute Batman Annual #1 will be one of the year's most talked-about comics. Featuring three stories by Daniel Warren Johnson, Mike Spicer, James Harren, Dave Stewart, Meredith McClaren, and Clayton Cowles, this hefty comic centers on the early Absolute Universe adventures of Bruce Wayne, revealing how that chonky Batmobile came to be, and just how Black Mask's party animals first encountered the Dark Knight. We read the comic a couple of weeks back, and the instant we flipped that last page, we were compelled to get Daniel Warren Johnson into a Zoom room. Thankfully, he obliged. Johnson's untitled story makes up the bulk of the Absolute Batman Annual. It propels Absolute Batman against a white supremacist horde, showcasing some of the most brutal action from the ongoing series so far, while doing so in a way that questions that violence's effectiveness. As Daniel Warren Johnson has showcased in other comics like Murder Falcon, Do a Powerbomb!, and his recent run on Transformers, badass, jaw-dropping visuals are only half his might as a creator. DWJ breaks hearts as often as he breaks bones. “It's in my blood and it's boiling, and I have to get it out.” In an exclusive conversation with Comic Book Couples Counseling, Johnson explains how his tale in the Absolute Batman Annual came to pass. We discuss his reluctance to contribute to the world so expertly crafted by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta, and how one single image eventually caused him to put everything he had into this character and universe. Daniel Warren Johnson tells us why supplying only compelling, catastrophic action isn't enough for him as a storyteller. He requires more than an exclamation point to climax his stories. He needs a question. Absolute Batman Annual is now available from DC Comics. Make sure you're following Daniel Warren Johnson on Blue Sky, Instagram, and his Website. This Week's Sponsors Judge Dredd Megazine turns thirty-five years old this October, and it'll be celebrating with a very special issue perfect for first-time readers! Featuring the return of the critically acclaimed series Dreadnoughts and Megalopolis, this 100-page issue is a brilliant way to jump into the crazy world of 2000 AD. You'll also find incredible new stories featuring Judge Dredd, Judge Anderson, and much more inside! Get a print subscription to the Megazine and it'll arrive through your American mailbox every month – or get a combi subscription and receive 2000 AD each week as well! If you subscribe digitally, you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe' now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Launching this October, it's the latest entry in IDW Publishing's Kei-Sei line of Godzilla comics: Starship Godzilla, a cosmic adventure. It's written by award-winning scribe Chris Gooch (of In Utero fame) and illustrated by inventive artist Oliver Ono (I mean, come on, did you read their Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp? Insta-Classic). The Kai-Sei Era is the only ongoing Godzilla story of its kind, crafted for comics readers who have never bought a Godzilla book and Godzilla fans who have never read a comic. Starship Godzilla #1 is out now wherever rad comic books are sold. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Previously On CBCC: Daniel Warren Johnson Live at Now or Never Comics Previously On CBCC: Daniel Warren Johnson and Riley Rossmo on The Moon is Following Us Previously On CBCC: Daniel Warren Johnson on Transformers Previously On CBCC: Daniel Warren Johnson on Do a Powerbomb! Previously On CBCC: Daniel Warren Johnson on Beta Ray Bill Previously On CBCC: Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta on Absolute Batman The Comics Crossover Event with The Short Box, Oblivion Bar, Off Panel, and CBCC Watch The Harvey Awards on Popverse Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Two short interviews in one episode, both recorded at New York Comic Con:First up, is a conversation with Aub Driver (Head of Marketing, IDW Publishing) and Gregg Katzman (Sr. Publicity Manager, IDW Publishing) about the state of IDW, what goes into marketing comics, the creative teams on the publisher, and they share a preview into what IDW has planned for the futureThe second interview is a NYCC Day 2 recap featuring my wife, Blythe (Everything is Logistics), and Chris Hacker (The Oblivion Bar). We discuss our favorite moments from the convention, and what NYCC is like for a first timer.LINKS: Buy merch from the official Short Box Merch Store: HEREJoin our Patreon Community, and get access to bonus episodes, free comics, and other rewards! Try a FREE 7-day trial: HERETake your comic shopping experience to the limit, by shopping online at Gotham City Limit!The Schiller Kessler Group  We read Fan Mail, send us some! Proudly sponsored by Gotham City Limit!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showREACH OUT!

We all crave a good meal. The challenge is savoring it once it's placed before you. Kelley Jones and Matt Wagner have wickedly, and delightfully, discovered a way to make Bram Stoker's Dracula not one good dish, but three...and possibly four and five. For the last several years, they've transformed the classic vampire novel into a feast impossible to gobble down in one sitting. By taking throwaway sentences in the book and building two graphic novels out of them (Dracula Book I: The Impaler, Dracula Book II: The Brides), they've miraculously extended their love affair with Vlad, and ours in the process as well. Now, with Dracula Book III: The Count, which only has a week left on Kickstarter, Jones and Kelley properly excavate Bram Stoker's book. This third entry tackles the iconic plot, but only from Count Dracula's perspective. We all know this story from Jonathan Harker, Mina, and Van Helsing's point of view, but how did the vicious beast at the center of their fear experience the whole endeavor? No more letters. Only the Count's singular, hungry howl of self. We've read and watched many Dracula adaptations, but none as exhaustive and creative as this. As a result, this week's podcast had to match Jones and Wagner's studious passion. All together, we dig deep into their previous entry, Dracula Book II: The Brides. We discuss how, in chaining themselves to Dracula's perspective, they create unparalleled empathy for the monster and his godless pursuits. Is there danger in that? Again, Dracula: The Count only has seven days left on its Kickstarter campaign. Please visit the crowdfunding project by clicking HERE. You can continue the conversation with Kelley Jones by visiting his Instagram. You can follow Matt Wagner on Blue Sky and Instagram. This Week's Sponsors Launching this October, it's the latest entry in IDW Publishing's Kei-Sei line of Godzilla comics: Starship Godzilla, a cosmic adventure. It's written by award-winning scribe Chris Gooch (of In Utero fame) and illustrated by inventive artist Oliver Ono (I mean, come on, did you read their Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp? Insta-Classic). The Kai-Sei Era is the only ongoing Godzilla story of its kind, crafted for comics readers who have never bought a Godzilla book and Godzilla fans who have never read a comic. Starship Godzilla #1 is out now wherever rad comic books are sold. Judge Dredd Megazine turns thirty-five years old this October, and it'll be celebrating with a very special issue perfect for first-time readers! Featuring the return of the critically acclaimed series Dreadnoughts and Megalopolis, this 100-page issue is a brilliant way to jump into the crazy world of 2000 AD. You'll also find incredible new stories featuring Judge Dredd, Judge Anderson, and much more inside! Get a print subscription to the Megazine and it'll arrive through your American mailbox every month – or get a combi subscription and receive 2000 AD each week as well! If you subscribe digitally, you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe' now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Previously on CBCC: Kelley Jones and Matt Wagner on Dracula Book 1: The Impaler Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Watch The Harvey Awards on Popverse NYCC 2025 Patreon Dispatch: Michael Walsh on Exquisite Corpses Grab Your Tickets for Addams Family Values on 10/26 at the Alamo Drafthouse Winchester, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Transplanting the Doughboys from one medium to another demands collaborators with a firm grasp on both worlds. Podcasters Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger know their realm, but require a few comic book maniacs to hurl them confidently into the sequential playground. Enter writer Alex Firer and artist Fred C. Stressing (also, colorist Meg Casey). Not only did Firer and Stresing grow up stewing in comics, but they've spent the last several years working together on the Rick and Morty books from Oni Press. They bring with them a strong passion for Harvey Kurtzman, Grant Morrison, and Krazy Kat. They're equally pickled in Doughboys lore, and after a little back and forth with Mitch and Wiger, could decipher the podcast into the epic quest called Doughboys: The Comic Book - Mitch and Wiger Chew America - Crisis on Infinite Girths. Last week, we spoke with Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger about how they found their way into a comic book, and this week, we're speaking with Alex Firer and Fred C. Stresing about how they helped make that wild fantasy a reality. Also, as a result of hosting the Harvey Awards at New York Comic Con last weekend, we're stewing in Harvey Kurtzman's world ourselves, and his influence is easily identified in the Doughboys Comic Book. It's a joy to discuss madcap comedy, especially the funny book variety, with these two. Make sure you're following the Doughboys on your favorite podcast app, or just click here. Follow Alex Firer on Blue Sky and Instagram. Follow Fred C. Stresing on Blue Sky and Instagram. You can purchase Doughboys: The Comic Book - Mitch and Wiger Chew America - Crisis on Infinite Girths on BeOurKids.com. This Week's Sponsors Judge Dredd Megazine turns thirty-five years old this October, and it'll be celebrating with a very special issue perfect for first-time readers! Featuring the return of the critically acclaimed series Dreadnoughts and Megalopolis, this 100-page issue is a brilliant way to jump into the crazy world of 2000 AD. You'll also find incredible new stories featuring Judge Dredd, Judge Anderson, and much more inside! Get a print subscription to the Megazine and it'll arrive through your American mailbox every month – or get a combi subscription and receive 2000 AD each week as well! If you subscribe digitally, you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe' now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Launching this October, it's the latest entry in IDW Publishing's Kei-Sei line of Godzilla comics: Starship Godzilla, a cosmic adventure. It's written by award-winning scribe Chris Gooch (of In Utero fame) and illustrated by inventive artist Oliver Ono (I mean, come on, did you read their Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp? Insta-Classic). The Kai-Sei Era is the only ongoing Godzilla story of its kind, crafted for comics readers who have never bought a Godzilla book and Godzilla fans who have never read a comic. Starship Godzilla #1 is out now wherever rad comic books are sold. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Watch The Harvey Awards on Popverse NYCC 2025 Patreon Dispatch: Michael Walsh on Exquisite Corpses Grab Your Tickets for Addams Family Values on 10/26 at the Alamo Drafthouse Winchester, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

The podcast crossover event no one was expecting is here. The Doughboys, Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger, arrive on Comic Book Couples Counseling ready to examine their feelings and suss out why they've propelled their podcast life into comic book form. Collaborating with writer Alex Firer, artist Fred C. Stresing, and colorist Meg Casey, Mitch and Wiger boil down their obsession with fast food and chain restaurants into a delicious four-color stew. It's a six-issue series called Doughboys: The Comic Book - Mitch and Wiger Chew America - Crisis on Infinite Girths. Everything you need to know about the vibe is right there in the title. The book is comic book-y, and a Where's Waldoquest for Wednesday warriors, as well as longtime fans of the podcast. You can nab the first issue here. For ten years, Mitch and Wiger have met weekly to battle it out over Red Lobster, Steak n Shake, and Taco Bell, usually inviting fellow comedy maniacs like Jon Gabrus or Lauren Lapkus to weigh in. The Doughboys comic book operates in a similar fashion, but cranks everything to eleven. Demonic and heavenly forces are at play here, friends. We return from New York Comic Con with the perfect episode. We discuss with Mitch and Wiger what drew them to comics, what they've learned about themselves while spending years talking about food, and how insignificant you can feel when sitting in a football stadium or the New York Javits Center. Make sure you're following the Doughboys on your favorite podcast app, or just click here. You can also follow them on Blue Sky and Instagram. This Week's Sponsors Launching this October, it's the latest entry in IDW Publishing's Kei-Sei line of Godzilla comics: Starship Godzilla, a cosmic adventure. It's written by award-winning scribe Chris Gooch (of In Utero fame) and illustrated by inventive artist Oliver Ono (I mean, come on, did you read their Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp? Insta-Classic). The Kai-Sei Era is the only ongoing Godzilla story of its kind, crafted for comics readers who have never bought a Godzilla book and Godzilla fans who have never read a comic. Starship Godzilla #1 is out now wherever rad comic books are sold. Judge Dredd Megazine turns thirty-five years old this October, and it'll be celebrating with a very special issue perfect for first-time readers! Featuring the return of the critically acclaimed series Dreadnoughts and Megalopolis, this 100-page issue is a brilliant way to jump into the crazy world of 2000 AD. You'll also find incredible new stories featuring Judge Dredd, Judge Anderson, and much more inside! Get a print subscription to the Megazine and it'll arrive through your American mailbox every month – or get a combi subscription and receive 2000 AD each week as well! If you subscribe digitally, you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe' now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Chris Condon in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Brad and Lisa Gullickson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Sanford Greene in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Philip Kennedy Johnson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Steve Anderson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics David Brothers and Chip Zdarsky in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Benjamin Percy in the Stacks at Third Eye Comics Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Weeks ago, we told you to keep an eye glued to the Macabre Valley #1 Kickstarter from writer Zack Quaintance and artist Anna Readman. Now, you have only one week left to back the project and secure yourself a copy of this fiendishly fun comic. Based on Quaintance's own experiences reporting along the American/Mexican border, Macabre Valley tells a viciously recognizable story, energized by Anna Readman's gnarly creature designs and trippy sequential storytelling. You can even support the project knowing you'll receive your comic soon, as Macabre Valley has surpassed its funding goal spectacularly. To celebrate and encourage last-minute stragglers, we're thrilled to have Zack Quaintance back on the podcast this week to discuss the werewolf priest at Macabre Valley's center, and he's even joined this time by his talented collaborator Anna Readman (making her podcast debut, no less). We discuss what makes the best werewolves and how both creators relate to the real-life horror that surrounds the fantastical horror throughout Macabre Valley. The conversation considers uniforms, from the lawful to the hirsute, and the influence they have on those who wear them. Finally, it leaves the listener imagining a wild, wonderful alternate reality where Cormac McCarthy wrote for EC Comics. Again, Macabre Valley #1 is currently seeking funding via Kickstarter. It's written by Zack Quaintance, illustrated by Anna Readman, colored by Brad Simpson, and lettered by Becca Carey. Please follow Zack Quaintance on Blue Skyand Instagram, and follow Anna Readman on her Website and Instagram. This Week's Sponsors Judge Dredd Megazine turns thirty-five years old this October, and it'll be celebrating with a very special issue perfect for first-time readers! Featuring the return of the critically acclaimed series Dreadnoughts and Megalopolis, this 100-page issue is a brilliant way to jump into the crazy world of 2000 AD. You'll also find incredible new stories featuring Judge Dredd, Judge Anderson, and much more inside! Get a print subscription to the Megazine and it'll arrive through your American mailbox every month – or get a combi subscription and receive 2000 AD each week as well! If you subscribe digitally, you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe' now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Launching this October, it's the latest entry in IDW Publishing's Kei-Sei line of Godzilla comics: Starship Godzilla, a cosmic adventure. It's written by award-winning scribe Chris Gooch (of In Utero fame) and illustrated by inventive artist Oliver Ono (I mean, come on, did you read their Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp? Insta-Classic). The Kai-Sei Era is the only ongoing Godzilla story of its kind, crafted for comics readers who have never bought a Godzilla book and Godzilla fans who have never read a comic. Starship Godzilla #1 is out now wherever rad comic books are sold. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Zack Quaintance on The Death of Comics Bookcase Watch The Harvey Awards 2024 via Popverse Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

When Francis Ford Coppola shoots you an email asking you to transform his new movie into a comic book, you say yes and worry about the details later. Chris Ryall got the email. Once he got over the shock ot it, he immediately knew who to contact next: Comic Book Couples Counseling regular, Jacob Phillips. They couldn't have possibly understood what an undertaking they were committing to during those early days, but nearly five years later, they have the Megalopolisgraphic novel in their hands. It's something special. As you'll hear on this week's podcast, Francis Ford Coppola wanted Ryall and Phillips to make the comic their own. If that meant chopping up the script or fabricating the designs, so be it. Jacob Phillips approaches the likenesses the way he would any corporate comic character. If he were on Batman, he'd do his version of Batman. So, he'd apply the same logic to Adam Driver. The actor is the design, but the pencils and inks belong to Phillips. The magic is in how the movie and the comic, crafted independently of each other, aligned so well together. Chatting with Ryall and Phillips allowed us to celebrate both artistic mediums. We discuss the challenges of translating cinematic ideas onto panels, the need for repertoire stories, and the hope within Francis Ford Coppola's humanism. Before all that, however, we also discuss the new documentary, Shopping for Superman. Directed by Wes Eastin, the film travels across America, from one comic book shop to another. It's a must-watch for every comic book reader, as it honors the industry while contemplating where it's all going in the wake of Diamond Comic Distributors' destruction. Megalopolis, the comic, is published by Abrams ComicArts and arrives in shops on October 7th. Make sure you're following Chris Ryall on his Substack, Instagram, and Blue Sky. Also, follow Jacob Phillips on Instagram and Blue Sky. This Week's Sponsors Launching this October, it's the latest entry in IDW Publishing's Kei-Sei line of Godzilla comics: Starship Godzilla, a cosmic adventure. It's written by award-winning scribe Chris Gooch (of In Utero fame) and illustrated by inventive artist Oliver Ono (I mean, come on, did you read their Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp? Insta-Classic). The Kai-Sei Era is the only ongoing Godzilla story of its kind, crafted for comics readers who have never bought a Godzilla book and Godzilla fans who have never read a comic. Starship Godzilla #1 is out now wherever rad comic books are sold. Judge Dredd Megazine turns thirty-five years old this October, and it'll be celebrating with a very special issue perfect for first-time readers! Featuring the return of the critically acclaimed series Dreadnoughts and Megalopolis, this 100-page issue is a brilliant way to jump into the crazy world of 2000 AD. You'll also find incredible new stories featuring Judge Dredd, Judge Anderson, and much more inside! Get a print subscription to the Megazine and it'll arrive through your American mailbox every month – or get a combi subscription and receive 2000 AD each week as well! If you subscribe digitally, you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe' now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Chris Condon in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Brad and Lisa Gullickson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Sanford Greene in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Philip Kennedy Johnson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Steve Anderson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics David Brothers and Chip Zdarsky in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Benjamin Percy in the Stacks at Third Eye Comics Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

“Godzilla takes on his greatest foes yet—Jay Gatsby, Sherlock Holmes, and the Time Machinist—in this graphic novel mash-up by Tom Scioli from IDW Publishing!” Pretty weird huh? Yeah, we think so too, but in the best way.

Want to listen to this episode ad-free? Visit our Patreon! Welcome true believers to X-Men Horoscopes where each week our host Lodro Rinzler is in conversation with a special guest to discuss the X-Men issue that aligns with a significant month and year from their life and what that issue reveals about their future. With us this week is one of the artists on the current X-Men title, Netho Diaz! We talk about his career trajectory in becoming a comic book artist and the intense pressure of creating 18 titles a year for this incredible run. Also in this episode: Getting involved in comics during the Age of Apocalypse Lodro has to somehow explain Bishop's future Cyclops is the good looking one Bishop loves shopping How Lodro's family history begins in Passaic, NJ What an answering machine is The dregs of humanity hang out at the Waldorf Astoria  All this and a deep dive into how extreme the 90s truly were. What does any of this mean for Netho's future? Tune in to find out! Netho Diaz is an artist whose art can currently be found in the pages of the Marvel Comics flagship title X-MEN, where he has been splitting art duties with Ryan Stegman! Recent Marvel credits also include the critically acclaimed mini-series Daredevil: Black Armor and stints on Predator, Legion of X and Thunderbolts.  Netho's previous professional credits include the Twilight Imperium graphic novel (CMON) and extended runs on various GI Joe projects for IDW Publishing, as well as Dungeons and Dragons (IDW), Halo (Dark Horse), Aquaman and Justice League (DC Comics). More of Lodro Rinzler's work can be found here and here and you can follow the podcast on Instagram at xmenpanelsdaily where we post X-Men comic panels...daily. Have a question or comment for a future episode? Reach out at xmenhoroscopes.com. Want to listen to these episodes early/ad-free and get your own X-Men Horoscope read/an awesome t-shirt? Check out our brand-new patreon! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Not again! Chip Kidd and Michael Cho are the latest comic book creators to find their way, literally, into comics. The Avengers in the Veracity Trap, published as part of the Marvel Arts imprint of Abrams ComicArts, propels the titular superheroes from their dimension into ours, revealing that Kidd and Cho control their free will. The oversized original graphic novel is a stunning-looking comic, thanks to Michael Cho making magic with sequentials, taking a short break from his usual stellar cover work. What is it about comics? Read enough of them, and suddenly you want to be in them. The medium invites invasion, calling folks like Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Grant Morrison, Brian Michael Bendis, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and others to throw themselves upon the panels. Maybe it's because, as children, we wrap this flatland universe around us like a blanket. It's comfy and protective. It's where we want to go when the third dimension reveals itself as too damn physical with our soft little bodies. Chip Kidd joins the podcast this week to discuss how he once again wormed his way into comic book panels (yeah, this is not his first offense. See also, Batman: Death by Design and Alex Ross's Marvelocity). We discuss how "The Veracity Trap" has become a valuable concept for us personally as we struggle with the strings that direct our movements these days. As usual, the conversation gets philosophical, breaking down free will and the troubled waters between artist and audience. The Avengers in the Veracity Trap is now available wherever rad comics are sold. Make sure you follow Chip Kidd on Instagram. This Week's Sponsors Looking for sci-fi comics that go further than you've ever been before? Then you need  2000 AD – it's the Galaxy's Greatest Comic! Whether you're a new or returning reader, September is the perfect time to try out 2000 AD, with the launch of 2000 AD issue 2450 -- a jump-on issue with a fresh start for every story! Featuring a terrifying new Judge Dredd story by Rob Williams and Henry Flint, the issue also has a major new Rogue Trooper story from the team of Alex de Campi and Neil Edwards! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD and it'll arrive through your letterbox every week, and your first issue is free. Or, subscribe digitally and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! For thirty years, Street Sharks has remained a fan-favorite franchise, but the fearless Bolton Brothers have been cruelly absent from comic book shops. Until now. This September, IDW Publishing launches a brand new five-issue Street Sharks mini-series from writer Stephanie Williams and artist Ariel Medel. The new series celebrates the JAW-SOME characters you already love while exploring new depths to their souls and universe. So, get ready to return to the chaotic streets of Fission City as Ripster, Jab, Streex, and Big Slammu fight to protect their home against twisted experiments gone wrong, including muscle-bound mutant lobsters, ruthless squids, and deranged scientists. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Chip Kidd's Jurassic Park TED Talk Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Don't forget to grab your tickets for our September 28th Alamo Drafthouse Winchester screening of Event Horizon, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

This week we're checking out an awesome Star Trek Comic from IDW Publishing, it's Star Trek Issue 400! This issue is a love letter to fans and highlights fan-favorite eras across various Star Trek series. It's a collection of short stories, each from a different writer and artist. You'll be reminded of moments you loved from the shows and movies and you'll learn new behind the scenes information that strengthen stories you know and possibly already love.  We hope you enjoy this review! If you'd like to unlock bonus episodes from Talking Back every month, then check out our page on Patreon! Check out Tim's Youtube Channel Demo Dash! You can also support Talking Back by sending us a Coffee at Buy Us a Coffee!  Please consider leaving a 5 star rating and review on Apple Podcasts! This helps make our Podcast easier for listeners to find.  Feel free to drop us a line on Social Media at Instagram, and Facebook. Or drop us an email us at talkbackpod@gmail.com. This podcast is part of the BFOP Network 

Every few months, the discourse turns to comics journalism. What is it? What's its value? Does it even exist anymore? Of course, if you read SKTCHD or listen to Off Panel every week, these questions are easy to answer. For years, David Harper has been our go-to source for what's happening within the comics industry, and due to recent events in his own life, he's upped his game and committed to comics journalism in a fashion he previously has not. Can the industry sustain him? That all depends on us. This week, we chat with David Harper about his total immersion into SKTCHD/Off Panel. We confront him about his pivot to video, the state of comics journalism, and how he ignores the recurring Chicken Little screams of “The sky is falling.” It's not all so dire, though. We also discuss his ideal comic book shop and the books he's absolutely loving in 2025. Stories and storytellers are vital to human existence, but for various, always frustrating, reasons, we must continually be reminded of this. You, dear listener, are already fighting the good fight, but how do we get others to join us? Share, baby, share. Below you'll find links not only to David Harper's good work, but also to the good work of others working within the field of comics journalism. Give them your clicks, give them your eyes, and maybe, just maybe, if you can afford to do so, give them your dollars. Support Comics Journalism Subscribe to SKTCHD Become an Off Panel Patron Become a Patron of The Beat Become an AIPT Patron Get Your Copy of The Comics Courier Support a Journalist on his Journey to Creator Become a Comic Book Couples Counseling Patron This Week's Sponsors Looking for sci-fi comics that go further than you've ever been before? Then you need  2000 AD – it's the Galaxy's Greatest Comic! Whether you're a new or returning reader, September is the perfect time to try out 2000 AD, with the launch of 2000 AD issue 2450 -- a jump-on issue with a fresh start for every story! Featuring a terrifying new Judge Dredd story by Rob Williams and Henry Flint, the issue also has a major new Rogue Trooper story from the team of Alex de Campi and Neil Edwards! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD and it'll arrive through your letterbox every week, and your first issue is free. Or, subscribe digitally and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! For thirty years, Street Sharks has remained a fan-favorite franchise, but the fearless Bolton Brothers have been cruelly absent from comic book shops. Until now. This September, IDW Publishing launches a brand new five-issue Street Sharks mini-series from writer Stephanie Williams and artist Ariel Medel. The new series celebrates the JAW-SOME characters you already love while exploring new depths to their souls and universe. So, get ready to return to the chaotic streets of Fission City as Ripster, Jab, Streex, and Big Slammu fight to protect their home against twisted experiments gone wrong, including muscle-bound mutant lobsters, ruthless squids, and deranged scientists. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the CBCC YouTube Channel and Prepare for The Stacks Zack Quaintance on The Death of Comics Bookcase Tiffany Babb on The Comics Courier Chip Zdarksy on Zdarksy Comic News Brad and Lisa Guest-Star on Off Panel Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Don't forget to grab your tickets for our September 28th Alamo Drafthouse Winchester screening of Event Horizon, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

On this episode: Ian Flynn will never live this down... Support the show on Patreon and Ko-Fi! NEW! Shop the BumbleKast Ko-fi Shop for stickers and prints!Find all previous questions on the Q&A Master List! Show Information DISCLAIMER: The BumbleKast is for entertainment purposes only. The hosts' comments and opinions, and those of their guests, are wholly their own and do not represent that of any other entity. Content is provided as-is with no guarantees of accuracy or timeliness. Your hosts: Ian "BumbleKing" Flynn - Writer of Sonic the Hedgehog videogames for SEGA, Sonic comics for IDW Publishing, former head writer of Mega Man for Archie Comics, contributor to the Sonic Series lore initiative since 2021, Narrative Director for Aether Studios' Rivals franchise, written for Archie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and more Kyle "KyleJCrb" Crouse - Founder & Administrator of the KNGI Network, and host of the Nitro Game Injection video game music podcast Subscribe and listen on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora and YouTube Music RSS Feed for podcast apps and readers Check out BumbleKing Comics and the KNGI Network Like BumbleKast and KNGI on Facebook Follow @BumbleKast, @IanFlynnBKC and @KyleJCrb on Twitter Get some BumbleGear at the BumbleStore Original music in this episode composed by Ken "coda" Snyder, used with permission – Check out his music on BandcampRemixed intro by Tee Lopes - Check out his website Want to have your product promoted on the show? Check out the Patreon site to find out how! Want to ask us a question? Ask at: Twitter at @BumbleKast Email contact [at] bumblekast [dot] com YouTube comments

Toward the end of this week's episode, Jesse Lonergan says, “With Drome, it feels like I've done...something.” Since he arrived on the scene, the cartoonist has bashed upon the medium, seeing if he'd be the one to break comics. The art form didn't shatter; it became stronger under Lonergan's pressure. Books like Hedra, Faster, Planet Paradise, and Man's Best electrified readers, showcasing what could only be done in comics. Now, in Drome, Jesse Lonergan whales harder upon the medium than he ever has before, and the result is a smashing celebration of comics and creation. Jesse Lonergan has done...something. He is not the artist who started Drome. We are not the readers we were before the first page. A quick flip through Drome and you'll witness a civilization with champions of order raging against champions of chaos. The visuals recall Jack Kirby and Robert E. Howard. Gods watch their toys in their sandbox. Violence everywhere because life is a violent act. It's the best-looking, sword-and-sandal fantasy adventure you can find at your local comic shop. To begin and end your conversation about Drome with its plot is a catastrophic mistake. With Jesse Lonergan, process is the theme. The color story matters. Form is the point. So, let's get real damn nerdy about it. On this week's episode, we excitedly welcome back Jesse Lonergan and, together, tear our way through one of the year's best comic books. We discuss the first images that eventually became Drome. We talk about the CMYK color model. We embarrassingly reveal the names we gave his characters, and celebrate those other artists, such as Geoff Darrow and Matt Lesniewski, who seem to give everything they have to comics. Drome is now available from 23rd St Books. Make sure you follow Jesse Lonergan on Blue Sky, Instagram, Patreon, and his Website. This Week's Sponsors Looking for sci-fi comics that go further than you've ever been before? Then you need  2000 AD – it's the Galaxy's Greatest Comic! Whether you're a new or returning reader, September is the perfect time to try out 2000 AD, with the launch of 2000 AD issue 2450 -- a jump-on issue with a fresh start for every story! Featuring a terrifying new Judge Dredd story by Rob Williams and Henry Flint, the issue also has a major new Rogue Trooper story from the team of Alex de Campi and Neil Edwards! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD and it'll arrive through your letterbox every week, and your first issue is free. Or, subscribe digitally and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! For thirty years, Street Sharks has remained a fan-favorite franchise, but the fearless Bolton Brothers have been cruelly absent from comic book shops. Until now. This September, IDW Publishing launches a brand new five-issue Street Sharks mini-series from writer Stephanie Williams and artist Ariel Medel. The new series celebrates the JAW-SOME characters you already love while exploring new depths to their souls and universe. So, get ready to return to the chaotic streets of Fission City as Ripster, Jab, Streex, and Big Slammu fight to protect their home against twisted experiments gone wrong, including muscle-bound mutant lobsters, ruthless squids, and deranged scientists. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the CBCC YouTube Channel and Prepare for The Stacks Chris Condon in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Brad and Lisa Gullickson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Sanford Greene in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Philip Kennedy Johnson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Steve Anderson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics David Brothers and Chip Zdarsky in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Benjamin Percy in the Stacks at Third Eye Comics Join Comic Book Club in Person Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Don't forget to grab your tickets for our September 28th Alamo Drafthouse Winchester screening of Event Horizon, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

“Do you see?” We never imagined discussing an Event Horizon comic on the podcast, but the moment the notion was floated, we were enthralled. The original 1997 movie, directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, struck a chord back in the day, but it was also a movie that was obviously jumbled about and fumbled in the editing room. And since the story relied on the device of a spaceship lost in a black hole/literal hell for decades, it so easily allows for prequel expansion. All that's required are the perfect creators to expand the material. Maybe even mend some of it. Christian Ward and Tristan Jones are the perfect creators for Event Horizon. If you've read their work, especially Ward's time on Batman: City of Madness and Jones' time on Aliens, you're probably already subscribed to the new prequel series from IDW Publishing. Event Horizon: Dark Descent tells the story of the original starship crew who ignited the Gravity Drive, popped into the space between spaces, and found their damnation in the abyss. It's always a pleasure to have Christian Ward on the podcast, but this week, that's especially true because we're all geeking out about the original movie, discussing how it influences all of his work, and why prequels are a damn good narrative delivery system. Yes, we talk about trauma and therapy, but also demons and personifying hell in the most joyful comic booky fashion. Event Horizon: Dark Descent is the best book you didn't expect in 2025. Let's all go to hell together. Event Horizon: Dark Descent is written by Christian Ward, illustrated by Tristan Jones, colored by Pip Martin, and lettered by Alex Ray. Variant Covers by Jeffrey Alan Love. Issue 1 is now available from IDW Publishing, and FOC for Issue 2 is Today (9/1/25). Call your shop and get subbed. Also, continue this conversation with Christian Ward by visiting his Website and following him on Blue Sky and Instagram. This Week's Sponsors Looking for sci-fi comics that go further than you've ever been before? Then you need  2000 AD – it's the Galaxy's Greatest Comic! Whether you're a new or returning reader, September is the perfect time to try out 2000 AD, with the launch of 2000 AD issue 2450 -- a jump-on issue with a fresh start for every story! Featuring a terrifying new Judge Dredd story by Rob Williams and Henry Flint, the issue also has a major new Rogue Trooper story from the team of Alex de Campi and Neil Edwards! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD and it'll arrive through your letterbox every week, and your first issue is free. Or, subscribe digitally and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! For thirty years, Street Sharks has remained a fan-favorite franchise, but the fearless Bolton Brothers have been cruelly absent from comic book shops. Until now. This September, IDW Publishing launches a brand new five-issue Street Sharks mini-series from writer Stephanie Williams and artist Ariel Medel. The new series celebrates the JAW-SOME characters you already love while exploring new depths to their souls and universe. So, get ready to return to the chaotic streets of Fission City as Ripster, Jab, Streex, and Big Slammu fight to protect their home against twisted experiments gone wrong, including muscle-bound mutant lobsters, ruthless squids, and deranged scientists. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the CBCC YouTube Channel and Prepare for The Stacks Chris Condon in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Brad and Lisa Gullickson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Sanford Greene in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Philip Kennedy Johnson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Steve Anderson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics David Brothers and Chip Zdarsky in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Benjamin Percy in the Stacks at Third Eye Comics Join Comic Book Club in Person Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Don't forget to grab your tickets for our September 28th Alamo Drafthouse Winchester screening of Event Horizon, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Early on in Tillie Walden's Clementine: Book Three, which represents the concluding chapter in her The Walking Dead trilogy, an expectant mother grabs our hero's arm and gasps through the pain, “It'll never end.” She's so right, and we should all take those words to heart. Pain is never done with you. Run if you care to, but the worst life has to offer will always find you. The trick is acknowledging your relationship with it and fortifying yourself as a means of surviving until you don't. Pain never ends. You will. Find your community and love them while you can. We've adored Tillie Walden's comics for quite some time. One of our earliest episodes was a deep dive exploration of her exceptional science fiction teen romance, On a Sunbeam. Her work is deeply personal, and Clementine: Book Three is no exception, with the narrative extending from recent events in her life. In today's podcast, we dig into the Clementine trilogy with Tillie Walden. We discuss how she finds herself in Clementine and how Clementine may find herself in Tillie. We talk about The Walking Dead franchise, how Clementine evolves from the Telltale game, and why horror is the most emotionally honest genre. Clementine: Book Three is written, drawn, and lettered by Tillie Walden. Grey Tones by Cliff Rathburn. All three books are now available from Skybound Entertainment and Image Comics. Follow Tillie Walden through her website and Instagram. This Week's Sponsors We're sponsored by 2000 AD, the greatest comic you're not reading! Within its pages is a whole universe of characters, from Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog to Rogue Trooper, Shakara, Halo Jones, and the poor sods slogging across the Cursed Earth in The Helltrekkers. Get a print subscription at your door every week - and the first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, get free back issues, and download DRM-free copies of each issue for just $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible monthly comics for less than $10. Do you want in on the biggest secret in comics today? IDW Publishing's Godzilla line of books is comics' greatest secret weapon. They're constantly snagging rockstar creators like James Stokoe, Tom Scioli, Andrew MacLean, Louie Joyce, Jake Smith, Eric Powell, Rosie Knight, and Oliver Ono to unleash their talents on cinema's most significant kaiju universe. And this July, IDW is taking their Godzilla books to the next level by introducing the Kei-Sei era. This new shared universe line begins with Godzilla #1 by Tim Seeley and Nikola Čižmešija. There's a new Godzilla design, a mess load of Kaiju antagonists…and protagonists - plus, superpowered human characters. Thanks to IDW Publishing, it's a good time to be a fan of the Big G and quality comics. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the CBCC YouTube Channel and Prepare for The Stacks Chris Condon in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Brad and Lisa Gullickson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Sanford Greene in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Philip Kennedy Johnson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Steve Anderson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics David Brothers and Chip Zdarsky in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Benjamin Percy in the Stacks at Third Eye Comics Join Comic Book Club in Person Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Toward the end of our conversation with Matt Fraction, he mentions how his upcoming Batman book with Jorge Jiménez represents where his Hawkeye series would have gone if he and David Aja had continued. What does that mean, exactly? It's complicated, and you'll just have to listen to this week's podcast to fully understand. And that's what we call in the biz, a big ol' tease. Our chat with Matt Fraction concludes our San Diego Comic-Con International coverage, and we're so frickin' excited that we get to do so with this writer and this creation. As longtime listeners know, Batman is one of our boys, and the character has never been in as many good hands as he is right now at DC. Beyond this new Batman relaunch with Fraction and Jiménez, we have stellar titles in Absolute Batman, Batman and Robin, Batman and Robin: Year One, Batman: Dark Patterns, and probably a half dozen books we're forgetting about at this moment. Batman, created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, first appeared in Detective Comics #27, published on March 30th, 1939. The character's longevity makes him indestructible. He won't break, no matter what Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez do to him. This comes with tremendous freedom, allowing Fraction and Jiménez to throw everything of themselves into the character, and their longevity on the line will ultimately be determined by us, the readers. Having read the first two issues in the new series, we can happily report that Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez's take on the character is very much our jam, and rather unique from the other excellent flavors you can find on the stand every month. Their Batman operates in a semi-one-and-done structure, embracing the medium of comics while still satisfying those who crave long-haul storytelling. Mostly, it's a fun as hell ride that looks slick. These are superhero comics that are not afraid to be superhero comics. They're damn proud of it, in fact. However, before we dive into all the Batman talk with Matt Fraction, we must regale you with our recent comic shop road trip to Richmond and Virginia Beach, Virginia. We did it, gang. We've already completed our mission to visit fifty comic book shops in fifty-two weeks. We've learned a lot from this experiment, and we need to discuss both the wonderful and not-so-wonderful aspects we've observed in these stores. Strap in for some serious retail talk. Batman #1 is written by Matt Fraction, illustrated by Jorge Jiménez, colored by Tomeu Morey, lettered by Clayton Cowles, and published by DC. The first issue arrives in comic book shops on September 3rd. Our SDCC Coverage: Eric Powell and Harold Schechter on "Dr. Werthless" Alex Segura on Star Wars Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing on Thunderbolts Learn Oni Press SDCC Battle Plans Chip Zdarsky on Zdarsky Comic News Daniel Warren Johnson Live at Now Or Never Comics Gene Luen Yang and Andrew Joustra on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles This Week's Sponsors We're sponsored by 2000 AD, the greatest comic you're not reading! Within its pages is a whole universe of characters, from Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog to Rogue Trooper, Shakara, Halo Jones, and the poor sods slogging across the Cursed Earth in The Helltrekkers. Get a print subscription at your door every week - and the first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, get free back issues, and download DRM-free copies of each issue for just $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible monthly comics for less than $10. Do you want in on the biggest secret in comics today? IDW Publishing's Godzilla line of books is comics' greatest secret weapon. They're constantly snagging rockstar creators like James Stokoe, Tom Scioli, Andrew MacLean, Louie Joyce, Jake Smith, Eric Powell, Rosie Knight, and Oliver Ono to unleash their talents on cinema's most significant kaiju universe. And this July, IDW is taking their Godzilla books to the next level by introducing the Kei-Sei era. This new shared universe line begins with Godzilla #1 by Tim Seeley and Nikola Čižmešija. There's a new Godzilla design, a mess load of Kaiju antagonists…and protagonists - plus, superpowered human characters. Thanks to IDW Publishing, it's a good time to be a fan of the Big G and quality comics. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the CBCC YouTube Channel and Prepare for The Stacks Brad and Lisa Gullickson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Sanford Greene in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Philip Kennedy Johnson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Steve Anderson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics David Brothers and Chip Zdarsky in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Benjamin Percy in the Stacks at Third Eye Comics Join Comic Book Club in Person Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Don't forget to grab your tickets for our August 23rd Alamo Drafthouse Winchester screening of Lone Wolf and Cub: Babycart on the River Styx, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Alan Robert has built a rare career that bridges two creative worlds. As bassist and songwriter for the long-running band Life of Agony, and as the artist behind acclaimed comics and coloring books, he's carved a path that shows how music and visual art can coexist in one life.Alan Robert's Early Path: From Comic Dreams to Life of AgonyRobert first set out to be a comic book artist. While studying at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, he imagined himself drawing for Marvel or DC. Music came later, almost by accident, when he picked up a guitar in college. By the time he graduated, he faced a choice: join his newly signed band Life of Agony full-time or pursue a career in comics. With Roadrunner Records offering the chance to tour, he chose music, assuming it would be temporary. More than three decades later, the band is still going strong.Returning to Art: Alan Robert's Graphic Novels and ComicsEven as Life of Agony gained momentum, Robert never let go of his love for drawing. On breaks from touring, he began writing and illustrating his own graphic novels, keeping one foot in each creative lane. His artistic side took on new life when he created a series of horror-themed coloring books. The Beauty of Horror series, in particular, struck a chord with fans around the world, blending intricate line work with playful, macabre themes.The Beauty of Horror and Alan Robert's Creative UniverseRobert has continued to expand that universe in unexpected ways. His spoofs of classic album covers, like “Goodbye Camp Crystal Lake,” show the humor and crossover appeal at the core of his work. His original character Ghouliana, has become a fan favorite, inspiring cosplay, collectibles, and even action figures. Meanwhile, his collaborations on officially licensed projects have allowed him to revisit the movie monsters and icons that first sparked his imagination.What's Next for Alan Robert: New Coloring Books and BeyondRobert credits much of his success to seizing opportunities and staying open to new outlets for creativity. From pitching stories to IDW Publishing to signing record deals that trusted his instincts, he's always leaned into what felt right in the moment. His latest project, Ghouliana's Sanctuary for Monsters, blends the format of a coloring book with a storybook narrative, further pushing the boundaries of what his art can be.Whether on stage with Life of Agony or at the drawing table, Alan Robert continues to find ways to keep both of his passions alive. His career is proof that you don't have to choose between music and art — with persistence, you can make room for both.

The great thing about the zombie sub-genre is that every time you think it's played out, a new creative team arrives to inject some fresh life into it. Everything Dead and Dying, the new Image Comics series by Tate Brombal and Jacob Phillips, imagines the last living farmer on the planet, sitting satisfied on his homestead, surrounded by his dead and rotting loved ones. The corpses he once called friends and family are trapped in the routine of their last living day, performing mundane tasks such as delivering the mail and receiving a bedtime story. If he squints hard enough, the farmer, Jack Chandler, can soldier on as if each new day is as good as the old ones were. Everything Dead and Dying is a deliciously, satisfyingly sad zombie story, and like the best entries in this sub-genre, it has a lot on its mind and heart. The first issue is easily one of our favorites of the year, and demands attention from those already fond of walkers or those who'd rather avoid them. Brombal and Phillips have constructed a perfect zombie gateway comic. Having recently visited the Monroeville Mall in Pittsburgh, the site where George R. Romero shot the classic Dawn of the Dead, we were eager to chat with Tate Brombal and Jacob Phillips about what drew them to this particular story engine. What do the undead offer us as metaphors, especially in a culture so near its own global catastrophe? On this week's podcast, we discuss their connection to zombies, why they previously never considered contributing to the sub-genre, and how Jacob Phillips built an entire town from scratch. Final Order Cutoff for Everything Dead and Dying#1 is Today (8/11), so call your comic book shop asap so you won't miss out on reading this story when it arrives on September 3rd. Make sure you're following Tate Brombal on Blue Sky and Instagram, as well as Jacob Phillips on Blue Sky and Instagram. This Week's Sponsors We're sponsored by 2000 AD, the greatest comic you're not reading! Within its pages is a whole universe of characters, from Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog to Rogue Trooper, Shakara, Halo Jones, and the poor sods slogging across the Cursed Earth in The Helltrekkers. Get a print subscription at your door every week - and the first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, get free back issues, and download DRM-free copies of each issue for just $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible monthly comics for less than $10. Do you want in on the biggest secret in comics today? IDW Publishing's Godzilla line of books is comics' greatest secret weapon. They're constantly snagging rockstar creators like James Stokoe, Tom Scioli, Andrew MacLean, Louie Joyce, Jake Smith, Eric Powell, Rosie Knight, and Oliver Ono to unleash their talents on cinema's most significant kaiju universe. And this July, IDW is taking their Godzilla books to the next level by introducing the Kei-Sei era. This new shared universe line begins with Godzilla #1 by Tim Seeley and Nikola Čižmešija. There's a new Godzilla design, a mess load of Kaiju antagonists…and protagonists - plus, superpowered human characters. Thanks to IDW Publishing, it's a good time to be a fan of the Big G and quality comics. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the CBCC YouTube Channel and Prepare for The Stacks Brad and Lisa Gullickson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Sanford Greene in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Philip Kennedy Johnson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Steve Anderson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics David Brothers and Chip Zdarsky in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Benjamin Percy in the Stacks at Third Eye Comics Join Comic Book Club in Person Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

For the past year, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise has been as exciting and essential as DC's Absolute Universe or Skybound's Energon Universe. Writer Jason Aaron and artist Juan Ferreyra have built an unmissable monthly comic, not to forget the numerous other splinter titles and crossover minis. Shortly before San Diego Comic-Con International, The Hollywood Reporter announced Aaron and Ferreyra's departure, and we were a little heartbroken. Their time on the book was too brief, but if they must go, the news that cartoonist extraordinaire Gene Luen Yang and lifelong Turtle maniac Freddie E. Williams II eased the pain some. One of our missions for this year's San Diego Comic-Con was to return with more news regarding the TMNT baton pass between Aaron and Ferreyra and Yang and Williams. After moderating IDW Publishing's “The New Era of Turtle Power” panel, we retreated to the Hilton Bayfront, where we had a lengthy conversation with Gene Luen Yang about his passion for the Turtles and how he would apply it to the series, starting with issue thirteen. Also discussed at San Diego Comic-Con, Andrew Joustra, the script coordinator for the animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, will write an arc for the newly announced Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, bringing the iconic Fugitoid character to the latest iteration of the TMNT universe. As passionate fans of Fugitoid ourselves, we had to trap Joustra in a media room for a deep dive into his take on the character and why he put so much of himself into the troubled fugitive android. Today, you get two podcasts for the price of one. With Gene Luen Yang, we discuss where we find the Turtles when his story begins, how they've grown throughout the Jason Aaron and Juan Ferreyra run, and why a certain new antagonist was necessary for his story. With Andrew Joustra, we explore the Fugitoid concept, his relationship with the Turtles through the various franchise incarnations, and why this story is so deeply personal. Be sure to follow Gene Luen Yang on his website, Blue Sky, Instagram, and TikTok. Also, follow Andrew Joustra on his website, Blue Sky, and Instagram. Our SDCC Coverage: Eric Powell and Harold Schechter on "Dr. Werthless" Alex Segura on Star Wars Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing on Thunderbolts Learn Oni Press SDCC Battle Plans Chip Zdarsky on Zdarsky Comic News Daniel Warren Johnson Live at Now Or Never Comics This Week's Sponsors We're sponsored by 2000 AD, the greatest comic you're not reading! Within its pages is a whole universe of characters, from Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog to Rogue Trooper, Shakara, Halo Jones, and the poor sods slogging across the Cursed Earth in The Helltrekkers. Get a print subscription at your door every week - and the first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, get free back issues, and download DRM-free copies of each issue for just $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible monthly comics for less than $10. Do you want in on the biggest secret in comics today? IDW Publishing's Godzilla line of books is comics' greatest secret weapon. They're constantly snagging rockstar creators like James Stokoe, Tom Scioli, Andrew MacLean, Louie Joyce, Jake Smith, Eric Powell, Rosie Knight, and Oliver Ono to unleash their talents on cinema's most significant kaiju universe. And this July, IDW is taking their Godzilla books to the next level by introducing the Kei-Sei era. This new shared universe line begins with Godzilla #1 by Tim Seeley and Nikola Čižmešija. There's a new Godzilla design, a mess load of Kaiju antagonists…and protagonists - plus, superpowered human characters. Thanks to IDW Publishing, it's a good time to be a fan of the Big G and quality comics. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the CBCC YouTube Channel and Prepare for The Stacks Brad and Lisa Gullickson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Sanford Greene in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Philip Kennedy Johnson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Steve Anderson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics David Brothers and Chip Zdarsky in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Benjamin Percy in the Stacks at Third Eye Comics Join Comic Book Club in Person Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

As reported by The Beat, the Eisner-winning comics journalism website (hell yeah), Comic Book Couples Counselingkinda kicked off San Diego Comic-Con International this year with our Live Podcast Recording at Now or Never Comics in Downtown San Diego. On Tuesday, July 22nd, we invited superstar cartoonist Daniel Warren Johnson to chat with us after a signing at the shop. With The Moon Is Following Us recently concluded, his final issues of Transformerson their way, and the Kickstarter launch of his behemoth art book, we had a lot to discuss with DWJ. Today's episode presents the audio from our discussion in full, complete with questions from the audience, and a serious discussion of where The Moon Is Following Us took its readers, without spoiling the narrative for those who have not finished the comic. We also explore Daniel Warren Johnson's relationship with comic book shops and comic conventions. What is his ideal store? Is San Diego different from the many other comic conventions across this country? While our conversation with Daniel Warren Johnson may have launched Comic-Con for us, it represents the conclusion of our SDCC coverage. Please hit those links below to experience pop culture's greatest gathering as we bring numerous other creator interviews to your ears. Make sure you're following Daniel Warren Johnson on Blue Sky, Instagram, and his Website. Our SDCC Coverage: Eric Powell and Harold Schechter on "Dr. Werthless" Alex Segura on Star Wars Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing on Thunderbolts Learn Oni Press SDCC Battle Plans Chip Zdarsky on Zdarsky Comic News This Week's Sponsors We're sponsored by 2000 AD, the greatest comic you're not reading! Within its pages is a whole universe of characters, from Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog to Rogue Trooper, Shakara, Halo Jones, and the poor sods slogging across the Cursed Earth in The Helltrekkers. Get a print subscription at your door every week - and the first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, get free back issues, and download DRM-free copies of each issue for just $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible monthly comics for less than $10. This July, IDW Publishing's Eisner-nominated cozy horror hit series returns in Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1. Superstar Cartoonist Patrick Horvath's delightfully twisted tale about an anthropomorphic serial killer bear is returning to comic shops for a new story that is guaranteed to shock readers. Return to the seemingly idealistic suburban town of Woodbrook as Samantha, the bloodlusting brown bear, got away with her crimes and is now the town's one and only serial killer. Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1 is out now from IDW Publishing. This July, one of the greatest creator-owned comic series of all time begins a powerful new chapter! From Oni Press, return to the Eisner-nominated world of The Sixth Gun as creators Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt reunite for The Sixth Gun: Battle for the Six #1 – an extra-sized comics' event told across three prestige format issues. The Sixth Gun is about to be Reborn anew - as it has been countless times across the centuries. This time, however, a brigade of familiar fighters is ready and waiting to challenge a secret cabal. The Sixth Gun: Battle for the Six #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on July 23rd. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the CBCC YouTube Channel and Prepare for The Stacks Philip Kennedy Johnson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Steve Anderson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics David Brothers and Chip Zdarsky in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Benjamin Percy in the Stacks at Third Eye Comics Join Comic Book Club in Person Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Should Chip Zdarsky's promotional magazine, Zdarsky Comic News, win an Eisner at this weekend's San Diego Comic-Con International ceremony? We brought the question to him directly, and as you'll hear, he rejected the whole notion of a nomination extremely quickly. Zdarsky is having a ball working on his free periodical every month. He puts tremendous time, energy, and thought into each issue. Still, as far as the category of Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism is concerned, he wants someone else to take home the statue, and “knows” that someone else will take home the statue. We shall see the results very soon. Zdarsky Comic News began as a lark, as most things with Chip Zdarsky do. He turned his back on social media, adamantly believing it served no positive purpose, especially when it came to promoting his comics. Zdarksy Comic News' primary mission was to inform folks in comic shops about what he was working on and give them a little chuckle in the process. Since the first issue, however, Zdarsky Comic News has become its own unique monster. The cartoonist is slowly building a staff around himself, and it's time to decide whether or not to kill the beast or let it grow into something larger and more significant. Through advertising, Zdarsky Comic News pays for itself, but it might need a little more to become the next Comics Journal, or its evil stepbrother. Shortly before the 2025 Eisner Awards, we spoke with Chip Zdarsky about his free pamphlet, and that's all we talked about, which seemed to surprise him. If you want more Captain America talk or Public Domain conversation, you'll have to go somewhere else. We were only interested in Chip Zdarsky's mad side-hustle and what he thinks about the current state of comic book journalism. You can find Zdarsky Comic News at your local comic book shop, and you should also consider subscribing to Chip Zdarsky's Substack. Our SDCC Coverage: Eric Powell and Harold Schechter on "Dr. Werthless" Alex Segura on Star Wars Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing on Thunderbolts Learn Oni Press SDCC Battle Plans This Week's Sponsors We're sponsored by 2000 AD, the greatest comic you're not reading! Within its pages is a whole universe of characters, from Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog to Rogue Trooper, Shakara, Halo Jones, and the poor sods slogging across the Cursed Earth in The Helltrekkers. Get a print subscription at your door every week - and the first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, get free back issues, and download DRM-free copies of each issue for just $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible monthly comics for less than $10. Do you want in on the biggest secret in comics today? IDW Publishing's Godzilla line of books is comics' greatest secret weapon. They're constantly snagging rockstar creators like James Stokoe, Tom Scioli, Andrew MacLean, Louie Joyce, Jake Smith, Eric Powell, Rosie Knight, and Oliver Ono to unleash their talents on cinema's most significant kaiju universe. And this July, IDW is taking their Godzilla books to the next level by introducing the Kei-Sei era. This new shared universe line begins with Godzilla #1 by Tim Seeley and Nikola Čižmešija. There's a new Godzilla design, a mess load of Kaiju antagonists…and protagonists - plus, superpowered human characters. Thanks to IDW Publishing, it's a good time to be a fan of the Big G and quality comics. In stores this June, Oni Press proudly presents a science fiction icon's unlikely return to existence in Benjamin #1 - a new, prestige format limited series from Philip K. Dick Award winner Ben H. Winters and artist Leomacs. Do you remember the work of acclaimed novelist Benjamin J. Carp? Across more than 44 novels and hundreds of short stories, Carp established himself as a counterculture revolutionary. He died in 1982, after years of Southern Californian excess finally claimed his life...until 2025...when Benjamin Carp awakens, alive, in a burned-out motel room on the fringes of Los Angeles. Explore the metatextual nexus between existence and oblivion, past and future, genius and madness, this June in Benjamin #1 – only from Oni Press. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the CBCC YouTube Channel and Prepare for The Stacks Philip Kennedy Johnson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Steve Anderson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics David Brothers and Chip Zdarsky in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Benjamin Percy in the Stacks at Third Eye Comics Join Comic Book Club in Person Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

You don't need to be told this: San Diego Comic-Con International is a comic convention unlike any other in the world. As yearly attendees, it's our favorite time of the year at our favorite place on the planet, but what does such a colossal gathering of geekdoms truly mean for a publisher, and how can a company raise its voice above a million other competing screams? We presented these questions to Oni Press Publisher and President Hunter Gorinson, as well as Editor-in-Chief Sierra Hahn. Somehow, they're madly in love with SDCC, and we're eager to share with you the Oni Press 2025 Comic-Con battle plan. From their words, you can form your path to conquering Comic-Con. This year marks the third anniversary of Hunter Gorinson and Sierra Hahn's time at Oni Press. You've undoubtedly noticed, they've been extremely productive. Beyond recent partnerships with EC and the NacelleVerse, they've recently announced dealings with Elijah Wood, Daniel Noah, and Josh C. Waller's SpectreVision. High Strangeness is a five-part experiment in sequential storytelling, featuring firsthand accounts of real paranormal encounters, guided by creators such as Chris Condon, Christopher Cantwell, Christian Ward, Dave Chisholm, Zac Thompson, and Cecil Castellucci. Say no more, we're in. We also discuss the recently announced Crownsville from Rodney Barnes and Elia Bonetti. This supernatural twist on true-life horror is precisely what you want from the co-creator of Killadelphia, and it's guaranteed to stir profound emotions in any contemporary reader. Hunter Gorinson and Sierra Hahn are very excited for folks to discover what Barnes and Bonetti are brewing with this one. Most importantly, our conversation puts you on the showfloor at San Diego Comic-Con as a publisher. The stakes are as high as the excitement that runs down every aisle. Whether you want to attend SDCC as a guest or a creator, our chat with Gorinson and Hahn will get you strategizing your own Comic-Con mission statement. Make sure you're following Oni Press on their Website, Blue Sky, and Instagram. Our SDCC Coverage: Eric Powell and Harold Schechter on "Dr. Werthless" Alex Segura on Star Wars Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing on Thunderbolts This Week's Sponsors We're sponsored by 2000 AD, the greatest comic you're not reading! Within its pages is a whole universe of characters, from Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog to Rogue Trooper, Shakara, Halo Jones, and the poor sods slogging across the Cursed Earth in The Helltrekkers. Get a print subscription at your door every week - and the first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, get free back issues, and download DRM-free copies of each issue for just $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible monthly comics for less than $10. This July, IDW Publishing's Eisner-nominated cozy horror hit series returns in Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1. Superstar Cartoonist Patrick Horvath's delightfully twisted tale about an anthropomorphic serial killer bear is returning to comic shops for a new story that is guaranteed to shock readers. Return to the seemingly idealistic suburban town of Woodbrook as Samantha, the bloodlusting brown bear, got away with her crimes and is now the town's one and only serial killer. Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1 is out now from IDW Publishing. This July, one of the greatest creator-owned comic series of all time begins a powerful new chapter! From Oni Press, return to the Eisner-nominated world of The Sixth Gun as creators Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt reunite for The Sixth Gun: Battle for the Six #1 – an extra-sized comics' event told across three prestige format issues. The Sixth Gun is about to be Reborn anew - as it has been countless times across the centuries. This time, however, a brigade of familiar fighters is ready and waiting to challenge a secret cabal. The Sixth Gun: Battle for the Six #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on July 23rd. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the CBCC YouTube Channel and Prepare for The Stacks Philip Kennedy Johnson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Steve Anderson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics David Brothers and Chip Zdarsky in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Benjamin Percy in the Stacks at Third Eye Comics Join Comic Book Club in Person Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

On this special bonus edition of Strange New Pod, Julian and Girafe are thrilled to be joined by the writing duo behind Star Trek Voyager: Homecoming, the upcoming IDW comic series hitting shelves this fall! Please welcome Susan and Tilly Bridges!We dive into the long-awaited return story of the Voyager crew and the aftermath of their journey through the Delta Quadrant. Why was now the perfect time to tell this story? What can fans expect when the crew return to Earth? We also explore the golden age of Star Trek comics, how much creative freedom the Bridges have been given to craft this crucial chapter, and why pre-orders matter more than ever. Plus, we chat about their amazing work on Star Trek Adventures, their role as sensitivity consultants for Star Trek: Prodigy Season Two, and Tilly's powerful weekly essays, Tilly's Trans Tuesdays.

If you've read comics from the Hivemind, aka Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, then you know their specialty. Everyone goes to therapy! Whether you're Peter Quill, Bucky Barnes, or Brad and Lisa Gullickson, if you're in a Hivemind comic, or reading a Hivemind comic, you're entering some kind of therapeutic discussion. Kelly and Lanzing put their characters on the couch, asking them some tough questions and listening to their answers. The results are always compelling, especially if we examine their recent run on Marvel's Thunderbolts. Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing recently finished their time on Thunderbolts, wrapping up their even larger Bucky Barnes story, with Doomstrike, out now as a five-issue series. As part of our San Diego Comic-Con Internationalcoverage, happening all week long on Comic Book Couples Counseling, we put the Hivemind in session with our particular brand of armchair psychology. The result, we hope, is an engaging, thorough exploration of who Bucky Barnes was, is, and will be. Not to mention all the other beautiful “heroes” brooding their way through the Thunderbolts team. We discuss their original plan for Bucky Barnes and how that evolved throughout Thunderbolts and the One World Under Doom event. We consider how Bucky's time as The Revolution parallels Captain America's time as Nomad, and why the character needed to become a cause rather than simply existing as a fist...or a trigger finger. It's a heavy conversation at times, but also one packed with joy and excitement. Just like their Thunderbolts comic. Thunderbolts: Doomstrike issues one through five are now available from Marvel Comics. They're written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, illustrated by Tommaso Biachi, colored by Yen Nitro, and lettered by Joe Sabino. Make sure you're following Collin Kelly on Blue Sky and Instagram, and Jackson Lanzing on Blue Sky and Instagram. Our SDCC Coverage: Eric Powell and Harold Schechter on "Dr. Werthless" Alex Segura on Star Wars This Week's Sponsors We're sponsored by 2000 AD, the greatest comic you're not reading! Within its pages is a whole universe of characters, from Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog to Rogue Trooper, Shakara, Halo Jones, and the poor sods slogging across the Cursed Earth in The Helltrekkers. Get a print subscription at your door every week - and the first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, get free back issues, and download DRM-free copies of each issue for just $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible monthly comics for less than $10. Do you want in on the biggest secret in comics today? IDW Publishing's Godzilla line of books is comics' greatest secret weapon. They're constantly snagging rockstar creators like James Stokoe, Tom Scioli, Andrew MacLean, Louie Joyce, Jake Smith, Eric Powell, Rosie Knight, and Oliver Ono to unleash their talents on cinema's most significant kaiju universe. And this July, IDW is taking their Godzilla books to the next level by introducing the Kei-Sei era. This new shared universe line begins with Godzilla #1 by Tim Seeley and Nikola Čižmešija. There's a new Godzilla design, a mess load of Kaiju antagonists…and protagonists - plus, superpowered human characters. Thanks to IDW Publishing, it's a good time to be a fan of the Big G and quality comics. In stores this June, Oni Press proudly presents a science fiction icon's unlikely return to existence in Benjamin #1 - a new, prestige format limited series from Philip K. Dick Award winner Ben H. Winters and artist Leomacs. Do you remember the work of acclaimed novelist Benjamin J. Carp? Across more than 44 novels and hundreds of short stories, Carp established himself as a counterculture revolutionary. He died in 1982, after years of Southern Californian excess finally claimed his life...until 2025...when Benjamin Carp awakens, alive, in a burned-out motel room on the fringes of Los Angeles. Explore the metatextual nexus between existence and oblivion, past and future, genius and madness, this June in Benjamin #1 – only from Oni Press. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the CBCC YouTube Channel and Prepare for The Stacks Philip Kennedy Johnson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Steve Anderson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics David Brothers and Chip Zdarsky in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Benjamin Percy in the Stacks at Third Eye Comics Join Comic Book Club in Person Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Today, we begin our mission to bring San Diego Comic-Con International to you. That means four episodes in your podcast feed this week! First up is writer Alex Segura. He's been handed the keys to the Star Wars kingdom, working on the new Marvel Comics ongoing series alongside artist Phil Noto and letterer Clayton Cowles. The new series fills the gaps between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. The New Republic just slayed the Empire. Now what? We chat with Alex Segura about his Star Wars origin, the responsibility of steering the ship during such a critical moment within the canon, and how he'll test Luke Skywalker when he's seemingly at his Jedi Knight peak. Some writers would throw all their childhood toys into the sandbox with a project like this one, but Segura is cautious not to stuff the story with wish-fulfillment. His Star Wars is a carefully considered narrative, beautifully realized by two top-tier collaborators. As you'll also hear, a franchise like Star Wars can be overwhelming for the audience as well. How do you push the envelope for diehard readers while not alienating potential new fans of the series? What's that line in Hamilton? War is the easy part; governing is the hard part. Star Wars is rolling out monthly from Marvel Comics. Make sure you keep up to date with everything Alex Segura has going on by following his Blue Sky, Instagram, and Substack. This Week's Sponsors We're sponsored by 2000 AD, the greatest comic you're not reading! Within its pages is a whole universe of characters, from Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog to Rogue Trooper, Shakara, Halo Jones, and the poor sods slogging across the Cursed Earth in The Helltrekkers. Get a print subscription at your door every week - and the first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, get free back issues, and download DRM-free copies of each issue for just $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible monthly comics for less than $10. This July, IDW Publishing's Eisner-nominated cozy horror hit series returns in Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1. Superstar Cartoonist Patrick Horvath's delightfully twisted tale about an anthropomorphic serial killer bear is returning to comic shops for a new story that is guaranteed to shock readers. Return to the seemingly idealistic suburban town of Woodbrook as Samantha, the bloodlusting brown bear, got away with her crimes and is now the town's one and only serial killer. Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1 is out now from IDW Publishing. This July, one of the greatest creator-owned comic series of all time begins a powerful new chapter! From Oni Press, return to the Eisner-nominated world of The Sixth Gun as creators Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt reunite for The Sixth Gun: Battle for the Six #1 – an extra-sized comics' event told across three prestige format issues. The Sixth Gun is about to be Reborn anew - as it has been countless times across the centuries. This time, however, a brigade of familiar fighters is ready and waiting to challenge a secret cabal. The Sixth Gun: Battle for the Six #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on July 23rd. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the CBCC YouTube Channel and Prepare for The Stacks Steve Anderson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics David Brothers and Chip Zdarsky in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Benjamin Percy in the Stacks at Third Eye Comics Join Comic Book Club in Person CBCC's Comic Shop Road Trip Patreon Exclusive: Saga of the Swamp Thing Book Club Support Your Local Comic Shop Free Patreon Series Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

If you're a comic book reader like we are, around the same time you learn about Batman and Robin, you're introduced to the medium's scariest boogeyman, Dr. Fredric Wertham. The publication of his Seduction of the Innocent in 1954 thrust Wertham into the popular consciousness, sparking hysteria and moral panic, hindering the medium's growth, and significantly harming the artists who worked within it. We assumed that Harold Schechter and Eric Powell's latest true crime collaboration would roast Wertham viciously, but Dr. Werthless is far too good a work to be an attack. Schechter and Powell reveal a much more complicated character, one who devoted years of his life to the Civil Rights movement and experienced tremendous horror while working with some of this nation's most notorious human monsters. Eric Powell, the creator of The Goon, knows a thing or two about this art form and how it can stir an intense reaction from “concerned citizens.” The era in which Wertham's book dominated boob tube conversation does not feel too far away from 2025, as politicians charge against graphic novels and libraries. The concerns around what stories can be told and who should be telling them indicate their power to influence and broaden our perspectives beyond the tiny universe within our eyeline. The desire to police narratives stems from fear and a need to control. If someone tells you not to read a book or watch a movie, you must read that book and watch that movie. As you'll hear, we had a wonderful time chatting with Harold Schechter and Eric Powell about Dr. Werthless. We discuss comic books' greatest boogeyman and all the complexities that brought him to write Seduction of the Innocent. We dig into this medium's power, the artists who were hurt by Werthem's attack, and how it all relates to what we're seeing around us today. Also, we may argue about what is and is not a comic book. Fun stuff! Dr. Werthless is now available as a hardcover from Dark Horse Comics. You can find more information on the comic by visiting Powell's site or Schecter's site. You can find Eric Powell on Bluesky and Instagram, and Harold Schechter on Facebook HERE. This Week's Sponsors We're sponsored by 2000 AD, the greatest comic you're not reading! Within its pages is a whole universe of characters, from Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog to Rogue Trooper, Shakara, Halo Jones, and the poor sods slogging across the Cursed Earth in The Helltrekkers. Get a print subscription at your door every week - and the first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, get free back issues, and download DRM-free copies of each issue for just $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible monthly comics for less than $10. Do you want in on the biggest secret in comics today? IDW Publishing's Godzilla line of books is comics' greatest secret weapon. They're constantly snagging rockstar creators like James Stokoe, Tom Scioli, Andrew MacLean, Louie Joyce, Jake Smith, Eric Powell, Rosie Knight, and Oliver Ono to unleash their talents on cinema's most significant kaiju universe. And this July, IDW is taking their Godzilla books to the next level by introducing the Kei-Sei era. This new shared universe line begins with Godzilla #1 by Tim Seeley and Nikola Čižmešija. There's a new Godzilla design, a mess load of Kaiju antagonists…and protagonists - plus, superpowered human characters. Thanks to IDW Publishing, it's a good time to be a fan of the Big G and quality comics. In stores this June, Oni Press proudly presents a science fiction icon's unlikely return to existence in Benjamin #1 - a new, prestige format limited series from Philip K. Dick Award winner Ben H. Winters and artist Leomacs. Do you remember the work of acclaimed novelist Benjamin J. Carp? Across more than 44 novels and hundreds of short stories, Carp established himself as a counterculture revolutionary. He died in 1982, after years of Southern Californian excess finally claimed his life...until 2025...when Benjamin Carp awakens, alive, in a burned-out motel room on the fringes of Los Angeles. Explore the metatextual nexus between existence and oblivion, past and future, genius and madness, this June in Benjamin #1 – only from Oni Press. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the CBCC YouTube Channel and Prepare for The Stacks Steve Anderson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics David Brothers and Chip Zdarsky in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Benjamin Percy in the Stacks at Third Eye Comics Join Comic Book Club in Person CBCC's Comic Shop Road Trip Patreon Exclusive: Saga of the Swamp Thing Book Club Support Your Local Comic Shop Free Patreon Series Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

The Professor Frenzy Show Episode 366 Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees Rite Of Spring #1  from IDW Publishing  |  Writer(s):Patrick Horvath  |  Artist(s):Patrick Horvath  |  $4.99 Blood Type #2 (EC Comics) from Oni Press  |  Writer(s):Corinna Bechko  | Artist(s):Andrea Sorrentino  |  $4.99 Hello Darkness #12  from BOOM! Studios  |  Writer(s):Robert Hack  | Artist(s):Chris Shehan  |  $5.99 Uncanny Valley #10 from BOOM! Studios (W) Tony Fleecs (A) Dave Wachter $4.99  FML #5 from Dark Horse Comics (A) Kelly Sue DeConnick (A) David Lopez $4.99 Archie Meets Jay & Silent Bob #1 (one shot) from Archie Comics/Secret Stash Press (W) Kevin Smith (A) Fernando Ruiz and Rich Koslowski $7.99 Don't Forget Your Briefcase #1 from Mad Cave Studios  (W) Eliot Rahal (A) Phillip Sevy  $4.99  I Hate Fairyland Vol 2 #42  from Image  |  Writer(s):Skottie Young  | Artist(s):Derek Laufman  Jean Francois Beaulieu  Nate Piekos  |  $3.99 Conan The Barbarian Vol 5 #22  from Titan Comics  |  Writer(s):Jim Zub  | Artist(s):Fernando Dagnino  |  $3.99 Savage Sword Of Conan Vol 2 #9  from Titan Comics  |  Writer(s):Patrick Zircher  |  Artist(s):Patrick Zircher  |  $6.99 Transformers #22 from Image Comics (W) Daniel Warren Johnson (A) Jorge Corona $3.99  The Unchosen #1 from Image Comics (W/A) David Marquez $3.99  The Future is ****** #3 from Rekcah Comics (W) Fred Van Lente (A) Mario D'alessandro $4.04   Solomon Kane #4 from Titan Comics (W/A) Patch Zircher $4.99  This Week's Best Comic Books G.I. Joe #9 from Image Comics  (W) Joshua Williamson (A) Andrea Milana, Lee Loughridge $3.99  Blood and Thunder #3 from Image Comics (W) Benito Cereno  (A) E.J. Su $3.99  Los Monstruos #3  from Dark Horse  |  Writer(s):James Robinson  | Artist(s):Jesus Merino  |  $4.99 Dread The Hall H #1 (One Shot)  from Image  |  Writer(s):Chris Ryall Jordan Hart  |  Artist(s):Nelson Daniel   Piotr Kowalski   Jimmy Kucaj   Chris Anderson  |  $6.99 Ghost Pepper #1  from Image  |  Writer(s):Ludo Lullabi  |  Artist(s):Ludo Lullabi   Adriano Lucas  |  $4.99 I Was A Fashion School Serial Killer #4  from Image  |  Writer(s):DougWagner  |  Artist(s):Daniel Hillyard  |  $3.99 Phantom Road #14 from Image  |  Writer(s):Jeff Lemire  |  Artist(s):Gabriel  Hernandez Walta   Jordie Bellaire  |  $3.99 This Ends Tonight #1  from Image  |  Writer(s):Gerry Duggan  |  Artist(s):Jae Lee  |  $4.99 Catacomb Of Torment #1 (EC Comics) from Oni Press  |  Writer(s):John Acrudi  Marguerite Bennett  Matt Kindt  |  Artist(s):Patrick Piazzalungo  David Lapham  Dan McDaid  |  $4.99 Post Malones Big Rig #1  from Vault Comics  |  Writer(s):Adrian Wassel  Post Malone  |  Artist(s):Nathan Gooden  |  $6.99 Nostalgia MAD magazine #180, cover dated Jan. ‘76, cover priced 50 cents - “Jaw'd”  - a movie parody; (W) Larry Siegel (A) Mort Drucker  This week's that guy that was in that show is  Dick O'Neil Today our Frenzy Faves is a favorite Twilight Zone episode Death Ship, Season 4 Episode 6, Original air date February 7, 1963

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!NEWSMarvel reveals the new Age of Apocalypse, and 1 mutant is now in chargeMarvel unleashes the ‘Violent Era' of Ghost Rider this October in Spirits of ViolenceHulk returns to Sakaar this October in a special anniversary one-shotMarvel unleashes 'Black, White & Blood and Guts' Halloween 2025Marvel unveils final 'Imperial War' one-shot starring cosmic dream teamJack Kirby honored with “Jack Kirby Way” on NYC's Lower East SideDC takes over San Diego Comic-Con 2025 with panels, retro vibes, and first-ever collabsSkybound reveals SDCC 2025 panels and moreTed Raimi joins ‘Creepshow Vol. 4' #2 comic for Halloween, and it's creepy AFYour devotion will be tested again: 'Cult of the Lamb' comic returns in October 2025G.I. Joe's loudest adventure yet rocks comic shops this October 2025June sales figures are in!Our Top Books of the WeekDave:Superman Treasury 2025: Hero for All #1 (Dan Jurgens, Bruno Redondo)Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1 (Patrick Horvath)Alex:​​Predator: Black, White, & Blood #1 (Joe Kelly, Alvaro Lopez, etc)The UnChosen #1 (David Marquez)Standout KAPOW moment of the week:Alex: Uncanny X-Men #17Dave: The Unchosen #1 (David Marquez)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKAlex: Absolute Flash #5 (Lemire, AL Kaplan), Marvel Knights: The World To Come #2 (Christopher Priest, Joe Quesada)Dave: Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe #1 (Gerry Duggan, Javier Garron)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: Detective Comics #1099 (Jae Lee)Alex: Ultimate X-Men #17 (Nic Klein variant)Interview: Christian Ward (Event Horizon: Dark Descent #1 out August 20 - Artist: Tristan Jones):What drew you to Event Horizon as a storyteller? Was there a particular theme or visual that made you say, “Yes, I need to write this”?How closely did you work with the original film's team or studio? Were there any specific mandates or was the universe yours to expand freely?You've described this as taking “big gory swings.” What kind of boundaries were you hoping to push with this prequel that the film only hinted at?Tristan Jones' art and Pip Martin's colors amplify the discomfort and dread on every page. How did your collaboration with them shape the tone and feel of the book?The crew in Dark Descent each seems to be running from something. How did you approach building characters whose inner demons might mirror the horrors they'll face externally?Paimon, the eyeless King of Hell, is a new addition. How did you land on this particular figure as the face of evil? What does he bring thematically to the world of Event Horizon?The first issue builds such thick atmosphere and creeping dread. What's the key to sustaining that across a miniseries without letting the horror peak too early?[Fun/silly question] Let's say you're stuck aboard the Event Horizon with one other comic book character of your choosing. Who would it be and why?FOC July 14

Not too long ago, the United States Government confirmed the existence of UFOs, but we had too much going on to care at the time. Maybe we needed more concrete evidence. What if ET arrived on our doorstep? But he was already dead? That's the premise of Alienated, the new Comixology Original written, colored, and lettered by Taki Soma, with art by John Broglia and covers by Michael Avon Oeming. Alienated begins with one of our great mysteries solved, but done so in a horrifying, unsatisfying way. Alien arrival on Earth shakes society's core, spreading panic and existential dread...until people get distracted and move on to the next day's news cycle. There's only one problem: a single Alien survives, and it's on one disconnected family to keep them breathing. We're ecstatic to have creative couple Taki Soma and Michael Avon Oeming on the podcast this week. We discuss how storytelling impacts every element of their relationship, their fascination with UFO mythology, and how Taki Soma's graphic novel memoir Sleeping While Standing impacted her method of creating fiction. The first four Alienated issues are out now, and the fifth issue will arrive on August 5th. Please follow Taki Soma on Blue Sky and Instagram, and follow Michael Avon Oeming on Blue Sky, Instagram, and his Website. This Week's Sponsor We're sponsored by 2000 AD, the greatest comic you're not reading! Within its pages is a whole universe of characters, from Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog to Rogue Trooper, Shakara, Halo Jones, and the poor sods slogging across the Cursed Earth in The Helltrekkers. Get a print subscription at your door every week - and the first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, get free back issues, and download DRM-free copies of each issue for just $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible monthly comics for less than $10. This July, IDW Publishing's Eisner-nominated cozy horror hit series returns in Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1. Superstar Cartoonist Patrick Horvath's delightfully twisted tale about an anthropomorphic serial killer bear is returning to comic shops for a new story that is guaranteed to shock readers. Return to the seemingly idealistic suburban town of Woodbrook as Samantha, the bloodlusting brown bear, got away with her crimes and is now the town's one and only serial killer. Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1 is out now from IDW Publishing. This July, one of the greatest creator-owned comic series of all time begins a powerful new chapter! From Oni Press, return to the Eisner-nominated world of The Sixth Gun as creators Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt reunite for The Sixth Gun: Battle for the Six #1 – an extra-sized comics' event told across three prestige format issues. The Sixth Gun is about to be Reborn anew - as it has been countless times across the centuries. This time, however, a brigade of familiar fighters is ready and waiting to challenge a secret cabal. The Sixth Gun: Battle for the Six #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on July 23rd. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the CBCC YouTube Channel and Prepare for The Stacks David Brothers and Chip Zdarsky in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Benjamin Percy in the Stacks at Third Eye Comics Join Comic Book Club in Person CBCC's Comic Shop Road Trip Patreon Exclusive: Saga of the Swamp Thing Book Club Support Your Local Comic Shop Free Patreon Series Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

In this week's episode Chris and Mike talk about the first three episodes of Ironheart, the completion of The Batman Part 2's script, and some amazing comics news. The guys discuss some new announcements from comic publishers Image Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, IDW Publishing, and more. Also this week joining the show is none other than the Hivemind, Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly, to talk about some upcoming creator owned titles, the conclusion of their X-Men and Bucky Barnes runs, and the continuation of their Star Trek comics.https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/star-trek-last-star-ship-captain-kirk-1236293199/Hivemind's Socials X - @HivemindActual Instagram - @HivemindActual BlueSky - @hivemindactual.bsky.socialComics we discuss in this episode:Justice League Unlimited #8Absolute Martian Manhunter #4JSA #8Absolute Superman #8Batman/Superman: World's Finest #40New Gods #7Godzilla vs. Avengers #1Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #2Absolute Batman #9Geiger #15Action Comics #1087Aquaman #6Huck: Big Bad World #2New History of the DC Universe #1Superman #27Absolute Wonder Woman #9Hyde Street #7Megaman: Timelines #1DC x Sonic the Hedgehog #4Ultimate Spider-Man #18Superior Avengers #3Undiscovered Country #31Bug Wars #5Aliens vs. Avengers #4West Coast Avengers #8Star Wars #2The Ultimates #13The Faraway #2The Last Elf Vol. 1Get your Fortress Comics merchandise with the link belowhttps://www.teepublic.com/user/fortress-comicsFortressofComicNews.comhttps://chriscomicscorner.substack.com/YouTube.com/FortressComicsFind Chris: https://bio.site/chrisrundtMike twitter @fortressrickerMike's Comic Bone Graft:https://globalcomix.com/c/bentbox-shorts/chapters/en/4/1Patreon.com/FortressComicshttps://www.tiktok.com/@chriscomicscornerThanks for Listening!#marvel #marvelcomics #mcu #dccomics #comicbooks #comicnews #podcast #indiecomics #batman

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!NEWSRobert Kirkman and Dan Mora take the wheel on Transformers with issue #25Lee Bermejo kicks off 25 'Amazing Visions' variant cover series ending with #1000Marvel fleshes out 'Marvel Zombies: Red Band' due out September 2025Marvel's ultimate universe explodes in October 2025, and the Maker is backVault unveils ATHANASIA, a haunting superhero graphic novel from Daniel Kraus and DaniWerewolves clash with Vikings in Image Comics' new horror series 'Viking Moon'New series 'Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' launches October 2025Our Top Books of the WeekDave:Tramps of the Apocalypse #1 (Alice Darrow)Absolute Martian Manhunter #4 (Deniz Camp, Javier Rodriguez)Chris:​​News from the Fallout #1 (Chris Condon, Jeffrey Alan Love)Feral #14 (Tony Fleecs, Tone Rodriguez, and Trish Forstner)Standout KAPOW moment of the week:Chris: Green Arrow #25 - Chris Condon, MontosDave: Ultimate Spider-Man #18 (Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checchetto)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKChris: Gehenna: Naked Aggression #1 (Patrick Kindlon, Maurizio Rosenzweig)Dave: Captain America #1 (Chip Zdarsky, Valerio Schiti)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave:  Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time #4 (Davide Paratore)Chris: Godzilla vs. Thor #1 (Aaron Kuder Main Cover)Interview: Ethan Parker and Griffin Sheridan, covering their upcoming Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone #1, Blink and You'll Miss It #1, and Bring on the Bad Guys: Green Goblin (July 02, 2025) - June 30thLet's start with Bring on the Bad Guys: Green Goblin — Norman Osborn is such a rich, terrifying character. What part of his history were you most excited to dig into, and what makes your take on the Goblin stand out?Norman's been a villain, a businessman, a politician, and sometimes even a twisted version of a hero. How do you approach writing a character who's constantly shifting between personas?Your Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone series introduces a walled-off wasteland, kaiju lore, and the myth of a half-man, half-kaiju survivor. How did you approach building suspense and worldbuilding in this isolated, almost post-apocalyptic setting?Writing Godzilla means balancing spectacle with humanity. What's your approach to telling grounded stories in the shadow of kaiju-level destruction?Now onto Blink and You'll Miss It — the tone and premise feel so personal and unique. How did this story come together, and what inspired you to tell a love story with a sci-fi twist?There's a big emotional core in Blink and You'll Miss It, but also some wild time-manipulation ideas. How did you balance the heart with the high-concept hook?You're juggling three very different projects — a Marvel villain origin, a giant monster epic, and a bittersweet romantic mini. How do you shift your mindset between such wildly different tones and genres?All three books deal with identity in some form — Norman's fractured psyche, a couple navigating time, and characters caught between humanity and monsters. Is that a theme you're consciously exploring across your work, or something that just naturally emerges?Fun one to wrap things up: If the Green Goblin got his own kaiju-sized glider and showed up in the Godzilla universe… how long would he last, and which monster would absolutely wreck him first?

Joining us today are two of the spearheading creatives behind the upcoming Kai-Sei Era, which launches an all-new Godzilla-centered shared universe at IDW Publishing.One is the editor of the entire Kai-Sei communique and the fan-favorite IDW hit Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees from good-friend-of-the-show Patrick Horvath.The other is the Eisner Award-nominated writer of the aforementioned Godzilla #1 with artist Nikola Čižmešija, as well as fan favorite series' like Hack/Slash, Local Man, Revival & Money Shot. He is also headlining the upcoming Masters of the Universe miniseries: The Sword of Flaw with Dark Horse Comics in the Fall.It is our pleasure to welcome Tim Seeley & Jake Williams onto The Oblivion Bar Podcast!---Thank you Oni Press & Endless Comics, Cards & Games for sponsoring The Oblivion Bar PodcastFollow us on InstagramFollow us on ThreadsFollow us on BlueSkyLike us on FacebookConsider supporting us over on PatreonThank you DreamKid for our Oblivion Bar musicThank you KXD Studios for our Oblivion Bar art

It's always a sunny day when Patrick Horvath wanders into our Love Nest. Two years after his first appearance on the podcast, he's back with another first issue, and this time, it's the sequel to the comic that made him a sensation. Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring takes us back to Woodbrook, years after the events of the original series, where Sam the Bear nearly lost control and many furry citizens lost their lives. Sequels are scary. We crave them desperately, but too often, they leave us full of regret and not satisfaction. With our hands on our bellies, we grumble, frustrated at how we fooled ourselves into a second taste, knowing it could never be as delicious as the first. Patrick Horvath wickedly understands sour sequelitis and subverts its toxicity through revelation. Danny the Duck, the first victim we saw Sam take in Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, haunts every panel of Rite of Spring #1. His sister, Monica, takes center stage, as does her tremendous grief, which threatens to annihilate the person she was and the person she could have been. We didn't know it at the time, but Danny's death would slowly drill Monica toward Sam, and we both fear and delight at their eventual confrontation. In this episode, we ask Patrick Horvath why he couldn't stay away from Woodbrook. We discuss the function of the time jump between the first series and its new sequel, Monica's prominence in Rite of Spring #1, Danny the Duck's vengeance, and the beauty of childhood cliches. Final Order Cutoff (FOC) for Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1 is Monday, June 2nd. The first issue will arrive in shops from IDW Publishing on July 9th. Continue this conversation with Patrick Horvath by following him on Bluesky, Instagram, and his Website. This Week's Sponsor We're sponsored by 2000 AD, the greatest comic you're not reading! Within its pages is a whole universe of characters, from Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog to Rogue Trooper, Shakara, Halo Jones, and the poor sods slogging across the Cursed Earth in The Helltrekkers. Get a print subscription at your door every week - and the first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, get free back issues, and download DRM-free copies of each issue for just $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible monthly comics for less than $10. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: The Ultimate Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees Spoiler-Filled Episode Patrick Horvath at NYCC 2024 Our First Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees Episode CBCC's Comic Shop Road Trip Patreon Exclusive: Saga of the Swamp Thing Book Club Support Your Local Comic Shop Free Patreon Series Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

We return to the world of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles viewed through the lens of IDW Publishing! We review Battle Beast #1 from Skybound Entertainment, and Amadeus Cho is 20 years old at Marvel Comics! Show your thanks to Major Spoilers for this episode by becoming a Major Spoilers Patron at http://patreon.com/MajorSpoilers. It will help ensure the Major Spoilers Podcast continues far into the future! Join our Discord server and chat with fellow Spoilerites! (https://discord.gg/jWF9BbF) REVIEWS STEPHEN INVINCIBLE UNIVERSE: BATTLE BEAST #1 Writer: Robert Kirkman Artist: Ryan Ottley Publisher: Skybound Entertainment Cover Price: $3.99 Release Date: May 14, 2025 Cursed with an unquenchable thirst for violence, BATTLE BEAST searches the universe for the one warrior mightier than him-and a glorious death, his only reward. But even in a universe of mighty Viltrumites like Invincible and Omni-Man, it seems that no one may be able to stop the galaxy's deadliest warrior...unless he does the unthinkable. Superstars ROBERT KIRKMAN and RYAN OTTLEY present the most demanded INVINCIBLE story of all time, revealing the secret story of Battle Beast that's perfect for any long-time fan (no spoilers!) and new readers alike. [rating:4/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/4iUQnOA MATTHEW AMADEUS CHO 20TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL Writer: Greg Pak Artist: Crees Lee/Takeshi Miyazawa/Jethro Morales Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $5.99 Release Date: May 7, 2025 THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMADEUS CHO'S FIRST APPEARANCE! A TRIO OF STORIES WRITTEN BY GREG PAK EXPLORING THRILLING, MOVING AND NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN MOMENTS FROM DIFFERENT STAGES IN AMADEUS' WILD CAREER! • First, join AMADEUS, HERCULES and THE RENEGADES on the eve of WORLD WAR HULK in a story drawn by Amadeus Cho co-creator Takeshi Miyazawa! • Then return to the era of the TOTALLY AWESOME HULK as Amadeus and his sister MADDY CHO discover a long-hidden secret that might just break your heart. • And finally, Amadeus in his BRAWN era tackles a shocking new threat - and emerges in a whole new form? [rating:5/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/43fYBLk DISCUSSION TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE IDW COLLECTION VOLUME 2 Writer: Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, Mateus Santolouco, Erick Burnham Artist: Andy Kuhn Publisher: IDW Publishing Release Date: March 29, 2016 Presenting the complete TMNT stories in recommended reading order, including one-shots, crossovers, and event series. Everything a beginner could need, everything a diehard could want. The forces of good and evil marshal on multiple fronts. The Turtles have a new mission, but Shredder's ambitions could put an end to it before it even begins. Meanwhile, General Krang unveils his master plan, which puts the Turtles into direct confrontation with one of their mightiest enemies. Plus, delve into the history of the original founder of the Foot Clan! Collects issues #13–20 of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ongoing series, the Casey Jones, April, Fugitoid, Krang, and Baxter Stockman Micro-Series issues, and the Secret History of the Foot Clan mini-series. You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/4miKOfV CLOSE Contact us at podcast@majorspoilers.com A big Thank You goes out to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports this show. We really appreciate you taking the time to listen to our ramblings each week. Tell your friends!

We return to the world of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles viewed through the lens of IDW Publishing! We review Battle Beast #1 from Skybound Entertainment, and Amadeus Cho is 20 years old at Marvel Comics! Show your thanks to Major Spoilers for this episode by becoming a Major Spoilers Patron at http://patreon.com/MajorSpoilers. It will help ensure the Major Spoilers Podcast continues far into the future! Join our Discord server and chat with fellow Spoilerites! (https://discord.gg/jWF9BbF) REVIEWS STEPHEN INVINCIBLE UNIVERSE: BATTLE BEAST #1 Writer: Robert Kirkman Artist: Ryan Ottley Publisher: Skybound Entertainment Cover Price: $3.99 Release Date: May 14, 2025 Cursed with an unquenchable thirst for violence, BATTLE BEAST searches the universe for the one warrior mightier than him-and a glorious death, his only reward. But even in a universe of mighty Viltrumites like Invincible and Omni-Man, it seems that no one may be able to stop the galaxy's deadliest warrior...unless he does the unthinkable. Superstars ROBERT KIRKMAN and RYAN OTTLEY present the most demanded INVINCIBLE story of all time, revealing the secret story of Battle Beast that's perfect for any long-time fan (no spoilers!) and new readers alike. [rating:4/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/4iUQnOA MATTHEW AMADEUS CHO 20TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL Writer: Greg Pak Artist: Crees Lee/Takeshi Miyazawa/Jethro Morales Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $5.99 Release Date: May 7, 2025 THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMADEUS CHO'S FIRST APPEARANCE! A TRIO OF STORIES WRITTEN BY GREG PAK EXPLORING THRILLING, MOVING AND NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN MOMENTS FROM DIFFERENT STAGES IN AMADEUS' WILD CAREER! • First, join AMADEUS, HERCULES and THE RENEGADES on the eve of WORLD WAR HULK in a story drawn by Amadeus Cho co-creator Takeshi Miyazawa! • Then return to the era of the TOTALLY AWESOME HULK as Amadeus and his sister MADDY CHO discover a long-hidden secret that might just break your heart. • And finally, Amadeus in his BRAWN era tackles a shocking new threat - and emerges in a whole new form? [rating:5/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/43fYBLk DISCUSSION TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE IDW COLLECTION VOLUME 2 Writer: Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, Mateus Santolouco, Erick Burnham Artist: Andy Kuhn Publisher: IDW Publishing Release Date: March 29, 2016 Presenting the complete TMNT stories in recommended reading order, including one-shots, crossovers, and event series. Everything a beginner could need, everything a diehard could want. The forces of good and evil marshal on multiple fronts. The Turtles have a new mission, but Shredder's ambitions could put an end to it before it even begins. Meanwhile, General Krang unveils his master plan, which puts the Turtles into direct confrontation with one of their mightiest enemies. Plus, delve into the history of the original founder of the Foot Clan! Collects issues #13–20 of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ongoing series, the Casey Jones, April, Fugitoid, Krang, and Baxter Stockman Micro-Series issues, and the Secret History of the Foot Clan mini-series. You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/4miKOfV CLOSE Contact us at podcast@majorspoilers.com Call the Major Spoilers Hotline at (785) 727-1939. A big Thank You goes out to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports this show. We really appreciate you taking the time to listen to our ramblings each week. Tell your friends!

We return to the world of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles viewed through the lens of IDW Publishing! We review Battle Beast #1 from Skybound Entertainment, and Amadeus Cho is 20 years old at Marvel Comics! Show your thanks to Major Spoilers for this episode by becoming a Major Spoilers Patron at http://patreon.com/MajorSpoilers. It will help ensure the Major Spoilers Podcast continues far into the future! Join our Discord server and chat with fellow Spoilerites! (https://discord.gg/jWF9BbF) REVIEWS STEPHEN INVINCIBLE UNIVERSE: BATTLE BEAST #1 Writer: Robert Kirkman Artist: Ryan Ottley Publisher: Skybound Entertainment Cover Price: $3.99 Release Date: May 14, 2025 Cursed with an unquenchable thirst for violence, BATTLE BEAST searches the universe for the one warrior mightier than him-and a glorious death, his only reward. But even in a universe of mighty Viltrumites like Invincible and Omni-Man, it seems that no one may be able to stop the galaxy's deadliest warrior...unless he does the unthinkable. Superstars ROBERT KIRKMAN and RYAN OTTLEY present the most demanded INVINCIBLE story of all time, revealing the secret story of Battle Beast that's perfect for any long-time fan (no spoilers!) and new readers alike. [rating:4/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/4iUQnOA MATTHEW AMADEUS CHO 20TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL Writer: Greg Pak Artist: Crees Lee/Takeshi Miyazawa/Jethro Morales Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $5.99 Release Date: May 7, 2025 THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMADEUS CHO'S FIRST APPEARANCE! A TRIO OF STORIES WRITTEN BY GREG PAK EXPLORING THRILLING, MOVING AND NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN MOMENTS FROM DIFFERENT STAGES IN AMADEUS' WILD CAREER! • First, join AMADEUS, HERCULES and THE RENEGADES on the eve of WORLD WAR HULK in a story drawn by Amadeus Cho co-creator Takeshi Miyazawa! • Then return to the era of the TOTALLY AWESOME HULK as Amadeus and his sister MADDY CHO discover a long-hidden secret that might just break your heart. • And finally, Amadeus in his BRAWN era tackles a shocking new threat - and emerges in a whole new form? [rating:5/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/43fYBLk DISCUSSION TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE IDW COLLECTION VOLUME 2 Writer: Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, Mateus Santolouco, Erick Burnham Artist: Andy Kuhn Publisher: IDW Publishing Release Date: March 29, 2016 Presenting the complete TMNT stories in recommended reading order, including one-shots, crossovers, and event series. Everything a beginner could need, everything a diehard could want. The forces of good and evil marshal on multiple fronts. The Turtles have a new mission, but Shredder's ambitions could put an end to it before it even begins. Meanwhile, General Krang unveils his master plan, which puts the Turtles into direct confrontation with one of their mightiest enemies. Plus, delve into the history of the original founder of the Foot Clan! Collects issues #13–20 of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ongoing series, the Casey Jones, April, Fugitoid, Krang, and Baxter Stockman Micro-Series issues, and the Secret History of the Foot Clan mini-series. You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/4miKOfV CLOSE Contact us at podcast@majorspoilers.com A big Thank You goes out to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports this show. We really appreciate you taking the time to listen to our ramblings each week. Tell your friends!