Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast

This is your first warning. Go no further until you’ve read Absolute Green Arrow #6 by Pornsak Pichetshote and Rafael Albuquerque. The issue hit stands last week, and we’re desperate to discuss all its gnarly reveals with the writer. As you heard when the creators were last on the show, co-host Lisa was confident she knew The Longbow Killer’s identity. It’s time to confess; put it all out there. When Absolute Green Arrow launched several months ago, the plan was for a hearty six issues. Then, the sales came in, and a twelve-issue extension was deemed more than desirable. The story’s first arc exposed the killer stalking the streets but spawned numerous new questions. It’s time to pose those to Pornsak Pichetshote while also mulling over the tricky, painfully relevant themes at the story’s core. What problems are solved when billionaires are hunted? This week on the podcast, we’re sharing our wacky predictions, admitting fault, and savoring the delights that Pornsak Pichetshote and Rafael Albuquerque delivered with Absolute Green Arrow’s breakout storyline. We discuss how Absolute Green Arrow parallels Pichetshote’s other new horror series, Exquisite Corpses: Lone Gunman, which arrives in comic book shops next Wednesday. Hear an artist understand his world (our world) by making comics. Absolute Green Arrow issues one through six are out now from DC Comics. They’re written by Pornsak Pichetshote, illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque, colored by Marcelo Maiolo, and lettered by Jeff Powell. Make sure you're following Pornsak Pichetshote on Bluesky and Instagram. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Listen AD-Free! Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Previously on CBCC: Pornsak Pichetshote and Rafael Albuquerque on Absolute Green Arrow Previously on CBCC: Tony Fleecs on The Princess Murders Subscribe to the CBCC Newsletter Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. 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's Sponsors This winter, rising star George Northy and Eisner Award–nominated artist Caitlin Yarsky invite you, dear listener, to a distant castle to behold a meticulously crafted, first-of-its-kind comics murder mystery starring the greatest man-made monster of all. Decades after his creation, the creature once known as Frankenstein’s Monster has reinvented himself as Europe’s most formidable mind. After years underground, his scars have faded, and his genius-level intellect has tamed his hulking nature, revealing an extraordinary talent for solving the world’s most inexplicable mysteries. Today, he is Prometheus Graft: Gentleman Detective, expert investigator, and something still not quite entirely human. From the ashes of Frankenstein’s past, witness the birth of a new legendary detective – only in Prometheus Graft: The Slayings at Death’s End #1 from Oni Press – on sale December 9th! We’re cutting the Law down to size! As Judge Dredd celebrates fifty years of publication in 2027, now is the time to read his stories from the beginning. Judge Dredd: The Compact Crimes begins in January 2027 - a new series of compact comics featuring the Lawman of the Future. Collecting his original stories right from the start, this is the perfect way to try out Judge Dredd for the first time. Printed in compact size, each volume is filled with the sharp satire, keen wit, and all-out action Dredd is known for. Each volume cos

This week, Dan Slott joins us for a giant-sized conversation about The Spectacular Spider-Man. Thanks to a little MCU synergy, Slott finds himself back in his early days, writing Spider-Man during his “Brand New Day” era. He’s dancing between the raindrops, attempting to fill out a previous Spider-Man epoch while hopefully expanding current continuity. Sounds like quite the magic trick. Five months ago, The Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day was a five-issue miniseries. Today, it’s an ongoing series, moving beyond Brand New Day, pushing into the Big Time era, and maybe soon The Superior Spider-Man? Not so fast. We get into it. But seriously, with Dan Slott revisiting stories from nearly twenty years ago in The Spectacular Spider-Man, how will he reckon with his most iconic storyline? If he wants to bring this new Spectacular Spider-Man into modern continuity, he'll have to address Doc Ock, right? And in reflecting on Superior Spider-Man, Dan Slott reminisces about that catastrophic launch and the controversy that followed. Whatever the case, Slott is throwing everything into this new monthly book. He's going "hog wild." The Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day issues 1 - 5 were written by Dan Slott, illustrated by Marcus To, colored by Alex Sinclair, lettered by VC’s Joe Caramagna, with Tell-All pages by Marcos Martín and Munsta Vicente, and published by Marvel Comics. The Spectacular Spider-Man #7 arrives in shops on 11/25 (FOC is Monday 10/19). Follow Dan Slott on BlueSky and Instagram. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Listen AD-Free! Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Previously on CBCC: Alex Ross and Sal Abbinanti on Marvel Dimensions Previously on CBCC: Dan Slott on Silver Surfer Subscribe to the CBCC Newsletter Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. 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's Sponsors This winter, rising star George Northy and Eisner Award–nominated artist Caitlin Yarsky invite you, dear listener, to a distant castle to behold a meticulously crafted, first-of-its-kind comics murder mystery starring the greatest man-made monster of all. Decades after his creation, the creature once known as Frankenstein’s Monster has reinvented himself as Europe’s most formidable mind. After years underground, his scars have faded, and his genius-level intellect has tamed his hulking nature, revealing an extraordinary talent for solving the world’s most inexplicable mysteries. Today, he is Prometheus Graft: Gentleman Detective, expert investigator, and something still not quite entirely human. From the ashes of Frankenstein’s past, witness the birth of a new legendary detective – only in Prometheus Graft: The Slayings at Death’s End #1 from Oni Press – on sale December 9th! We’re cutting the Law down to size! As Judge Dredd celebrates fifty years of publication in 2027, now is the time to read his stories from the beginning. Judge Dredd: The Compact Crimes begins in January 2027 - a new series of compact comics featuring the Lawman of the Future. Collecting his original stories right from the start, this is the perfect way to try out Judge Dredd for the first time. Printed in compact size, each volume is filled with the sharp satire, keen wit, and all-out action Dredd is known for. Each volume costs only $12.99, with a new volume releasing every month in 2027 – so you can keep your Law

Yup, it’s Halloween season, and Matt Wagner and Kelley Jones are back on the podcast talking Dracula. At three years running, with a practical guarantee that they’ll be back this time next year, we’re turning their guest appearances into a legit Comic Book Couples Counseling tradition. And we’re so incredibly happy at the notion. After their last three books, we were sure, but with Dracula: The Undead promising to go where no other Bram Stoker sequel has gone before, we’re positively raving - Matt Wagner and Kelley Jones are making the best comics of their lives together. They’re chasing their curiosity, springing off the classic novel, filling in the bits we’ve never seen before, and discovering a blistering, brilliant burst of relevant horror. To put it in the simplest terms, these are some of our favorite comics being made today and absolutely our favorite adaptation of the Bram Stoker book. Book 1: The Impaler, Book 2: The Brides, Book 3: The Count. These searing works explore human monstrosity through our greatest literary boogeyman, refusing to venerate Dracula and exposing him as the gluttonous, rageful, grotesque figure he worked so damn hard to become. He’s not your idol; he’s your monster. Don’t ever forget it. It’s a joy to have Matt Wagner and Kelley Jones back on the podcast. We dig into their third book and how it fleshes out Dracula’s character by filling in the blank spaces of Bram Stoker’s novel. We discuss where they’re going with The Undead, picking up the final moments of the original text and moving toward a Dracula who seems even more horrendous than already depicted. Will Kelley Jones draw “actual evil” in this fourth chapter? They seem to think so. Dracula Book 3: The Count arrives in paperback from Dark Horse Comics on October 20th. Dracula Book 4: The Undead is currently seeking funding via Kickstarter. Visit the page, back the book, and catch up on the other three comics in hardcover if you haven't already. Dracula Books 1-4 are written by Matt Wagner, illustrated by Kelley Jones, colored by Jose Villarrubia, and lettered by Rob Leigh. You can continue the conversation with Kelley Jones on Instagram. You can follow Matt Wagner on Blue Sky and Instagram. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Listen AD-Free! Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Previously on CBCC: Matt Wagner and Kelley Jones on Dracula: The Brides Previously on CBCC: Matt Wagner and Kelley Jones on Dracula: The Impaler Subscribe to the CBCC Newsletter Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. 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's Sponsors This winter, rising star George Northy and Eisner Award–nominated artist Caitlin Yarsky invite you, dear listener, to a distant castle to behold a meticulously crafted, first-of-its-kind comics murder mystery starring the greatest man-made monster of all. Decades after his creation, the creature once known as Frankenstein’s Monster has reinvented himself as Europe’s most formidable mind. After years underground, his scars have faded, and his genius-level intellect has tamed his hulking nature, revealing an extraordinary talent for solving the world’s most inexplicable mysteries. Today, he is Prometheus Graft: Gentleman Detective, expert investigator, and something still not quite entirely human. From the ashes of Frankenstein’s past, witness the birth of a new legendary d

What’s in a title? This week, Kyle Starks takes us to school, detailing the best way to hook a reader and use your following to do it. Louise Sprouse Stole My Heart (And I Have Two Hours to Get It Back) is live on Kickstarter. As of this writing, you have eight days to back this book and grab yourself a cute little desk calendar in the process. The comic is the third from Kyle Starks, following Karate Prom and Wrestle Heist, which his followers named. They supplied the inspiration, and the challenge was living up to it. Having read all three, we believe Starks has never failed, and we’re excited to learn he’s doing it again right now on his Patreon. Louise Sprouse Stole My Heart (And I Have Two Hours to Get It Back) is another hitman tale from Starks, but it’s his most romantic, and certainly his most gory. This darling is black, white, and bloody, but accomplished in the most endearing, relatable fashion. Whenever Starks is behind the pen, the resulting story delivers on the “awwwwws” as well as the giggles. We swoon for Starks. Returning to the podcast for the second time this year, Starks chats with us about the importance of a title, building a community, and making your comics physical. Also, don’t waste your time drawing characters that don’t matter. Follow Kyle Starks on BlueSky, Instagram, and his Website. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Listen AD-Free! Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Previously on CBCC: Kyle Starks and Chris Schweizer Live at HeroesCon. Previously on CBCC: Scott Snyder Celebrates 15 Years of The Court of Owls The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art: Extended Patreon Review Subscribe to the CBCC Newsletter Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. 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's Sponsors The Cryptid Hacker Force is a team of Cryptid Hackers who are responsible for covering up Cryptid Sightings. They are based in Scotland because the world's biggest camera hog is the Loch Ness Monster, and whenever someone gets a photo of her, the team has to go into action to blur photos and delete Instagram posts. This is a lovingly irreverent take on Cryptids in the mode of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Issue #1 was entirely self-funded and has been a huge hit for Green Archer Comics, and today, they’re Kickstarting issue #2 to reach a wider audience (but don't worry, you can still grab issue #1 if you missed it). Cryptid Hacker Force is written by brothers Allan and Benn Liska, illustrated by Kieran Squires, with a main cover by our friend and fave, Sarah Myer, of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Saturday Morning Adventures. Click here to back the Kickstarter! In the bloodstained tradition of Afterlife With Archie, something wicked this way comes to Riverdale in an infernal new ongoing series from multiple Eisner Award nominee Patrick Horvath and Russ Manning Award winner Tyler Crook. They say that every small town has a secret. Well, in the case of Riverdale, it’s one heck of a humdinger… An ancient order of cultists has infiltrated the town, and they need a human sacrifice to bring their century-old plan to fruition. Their target? Hometown football champion and all-around good guy Archie Andrews. Unstuck from time and space. Bound to a terrible curse. Late for school. Face the fire when Archie in Hell #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on November 4th. Art fans, character-d

We want everyone who needs this comic to find this comic. Pig Wife astonished us both, but our first encounter with it rocked us so hard we needed weeks to process it. After that, Pig Wife took root, and we’ve carried the comic ever since, processing much of our daily lives through its lens. Lisa read it first, early in the year. As she turned through its pages, the temperature around her seemed to increase. The book affected her chemistry, challenged her perspective, morphing with her as she morphed around it. Brad read Pig Wifesecond, and we’ve talked about little else until this week, when cartoonist Abbey Luck joined us on the podcast for a comprehensive discussion. Published by Top Shelf Productions, Pig Wife recounts the tale of Mary, a young girl dragged to a remote mining town by her mother and stepdad. Living in dead aunt Pearl’s house triggers a familial confrontation that sends Mary through a trapdoor, leading to an abandoned gold mine. There, she meets those who live below, and nothing will ever be the same again. We discuss Pig Wife’s origins with Abbey Luck, who she initially imagined her audience to be, and how her relationship with surrealism captured a profound honesty about people. Pig Wife is a lot, and may not be for every reader, but for those who connect with it, as we did, they will mark Pig Wife as one of the year’s best books, and maybe one of the best books of the twenty-first century. Pig Wife is out now in paperback. It’s written by Abbey Luck with art by Luck and Ruka Bravo. Make sure you’re following Luck on Instagram. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art: Extended Patreon Review Subscribe to the CBCC Newsletter IDW Superlatives: Brad vs. Chris Hacker Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. 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's Sponsors The Cryptid Hacker Force is a team of Cryptid Hackers who are responsible for covering up Cryptid Sightings. They are based in Scotland because the world's biggest camera hog is the Loch Ness Monster, and whenever someone gets a photo of her, the team has to go into action to blur photos and delete Instagram posts. This is a lovingly irreverent take on Cryptids in the mode of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Issue #1 was entirely self-funded and has been a huge hit for Green Archer Comics, and today, they’re Kickstarting issue #2 to reach a wider audience (but don't worry, you can still grab issue #1 if you missed it). Cryptid Hacker Force is written by brothers Allan and Benn Liska, illustrated by Kieran Squires, with a main cover by our friend and fave, Sarah Myer, of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Saturday Morning Adventures. Click here to back the Kickstarter! Art fans, character-design lovers, and anyone who appreciates anime-influenced illustration, you’re going to want to check this out. Reminiscent: Zeronis Art is a new art book celebrating the work of acclaimed character and concept artist Paul “Zeronis” Kwon! The book is now live on Kickstarter from Clover Press. Whether you know his work from League of Legends or you’re discovering his art for the first time, Reminiscent offers a look at years of incredible artwork and the evolution of Zeronis’s unmistakable style. This 152-page deluxe hardcover book collects character concepts, portraits, original designs, an