Let's Talk Comics

Rob Liefeld returns to Let's Talk Comics for a high octane chat about the return of AVENGELYNE, with artist Daniel Mainé. Rob explains why this was the right moment to reintroduce the fallen angel, how the new series explores faith, power and humanity, and why he wanted its violence and subject matter to push into firmly R-rated territory. He also shares the latest on AVENGELYNE's developing film adaptation and explains the story behind the book's polybagged NSFW cover. Rob also covers YOUNGBLOOD's return, the creation of BADROCK with Seth Damoose, the approaching 35th anniversary of Image Comics and the new generation of creators building their biggest work through creator-owned comics. It's always a fun ride when Rob joins the show, so buckle up and enjoy!

Gary Frank joins the show to celebrate the upcoming GEIGER #25 and discuss how one creator-owned project helped grow into Ghost Machine. Gary takes us back to his early days at Marvel UK, how he landed The Incredible Hulk, and the beginning of his almost 20 year working relationship with Geoff Johns. He also reveals the light-bulb moment that made him want to step away from exclusive contracts and create something he could truly call his own. The conversation digs into the creation and visual design of Geiger, how Ghost Machine came together, working with colorist Brad Anderson, and the surreal experience of seeing his characters become toys and merchandise. Gary also shares his evolving philosophy on comic-book storytelling and why clarity and immersion now matter more to him than creating a flashy individual page. Plus, we look ahead to GEIGER #25, the upcoming "Radioactive Revolution" storyline, and the very different dynamic between Tariq Geiger and Simon Pure.

This week on Let's Talk Comics, writer and filmmaker Che Grayson joins the show to talk about putting one of EXQUISITE CORPSES' most intriguing killers directly into the spotlight, FOX MASK KILLER. Che talks about discovering comics while attending film school, finding a home in comics, breaking into the industry through BITCH PLANET: TRIPLE FEATURE, and how creator-owned comics offered the creative freedom they had been searching for. The two also cover how Che became part of the Corpse Crew, developing the first season of EXQUISITE CORPSES through a collaborative writers' room, and the moment Che realized there was a much larger story waiting beneath Fox Mask Killer's mask. EXQUISITE CORPSES: FOX MASK KILLER is a new five-issue miniseries with artist Adam Gorham, colorist Jordie Bellaire, and letterer Becca Carey that combines the action and mythology of JOHN WICK and KILL BILL with a dark Southern Gothic story. The series asks, can a legendary assassin get the one thing she may never be allowed to have? A way out. Che discusses writing the killer without turning her into a hero, building action around character, and so much more. Plus if you're wondering if you can read FOX MASK KILLER without having read EXQUISITE CORPSES. The answer is yes, and Che tells you why.

Recorded live at San Diego Comic-Con, Jim Viscardi sits down with Doug Wagner, Michael Walsh, Tyler Boss, Curt Pires, and Jonathan Ball to talk about the all the fun projects they have coming out and their thoughts on being a creator in the industry. The panel digs into YUMI 00EX, EXQUISITE CORPSES, RASCAL RANDY, FIREBORN, LOST FANTASY, and THE EYE COLLECTOR. The creators also discuss the rise of horror comics, designing memorable monsters, building connected worlds, and how TikTok, YouTube, retailers, and online communities are changing the way readers discover new books. Plus, some fun new teases and the panel answers fan questions!

Recorded live at San Diego Comic-Con, Jim Viscardi brings together Skottie Young, Daniel Warren Johnson, Ian Bertram, Caspar Wijngaard, Sanford Greene, and Sean Gordon Murphy for a wide-ranging conversation about making comics and developing an unmistakable artistic voice. The panel also offers discussions on I HATE FAIRYLAND, CHAINKATA, THE KARMAN BLADE, THE POWER FANTASY, BITTER ROOT BLACK AND WHITE, and THE LAST DRIVER. The artists discuss the work that shaped them, the difference between studying an influence and simply swiping from it, and how their lives away from the drawing board have changed the way they work. They also dig into character and creature design, balancing detail with clear storytelling, and why your style may really be a collection of all the mistakes you made while trying to draw like somebody else. If you're a creative, this episode is for you.

This week on Let's Talk Comics, Iman Vellani joins the show to talk about her Image Comics debut, CHACHU, hitting shops everywhere August 5th. Iman has never been shy about how much she loves comics and now she is taking that love and putting it into her first creator-owned series. CHACHU was born from a whole lot of notes-app chicken scratch into something deeply personal. The series is a deeply personal coming-of-age noir, where as she went along writing it, realized how much introspection was happening at the same time. She goes in depth about the differences about approaching her work in film vs. what it takes to put a comic script together while also getting to know your collaborators (Marianna Ignazzi & Jordie Bellaire). She also gets honest about imposter syndrome, finding her own voice outside of Ms. Marvel and why she wanted the responsibility and risk of owning the story herself. Lots to take from this episode, so we hope you enjoy!

On this episode of Let's Talk Comics, Jim Viscardi sits down with artist Seth Damoose to talk about his upcoming Image Comics series Badrock, created alongside legendary Youngblood creator Rob Liefeld. Seth is no stranger to Image Comics, having worked on Xenoholics with Joshua Williamson back in 2011, and now in 2026 he makes a return! How Seth and Rob came to working together is one heluva story. Basically, Seth took the concept of "Inktober" and put a Rob Liefeld twist on it with "Robtober." Seth would draw one Liefeld character a day in the month of October and it caught Liefeld's attention which ultimately led to drawing one of the most iconic characters in the Youngblood universe. We of course dive into breaking into comics, learning from rejection, manga influences, storytelling versus illustration, and what makes Badrock such a unique character to bring to life. We also discuss the emotional core behind the new series, the freedom of working Marvel-style scripts from Rob, classic comic cover homages, hidden Easter eggs, and why Badrock might be the perfect character for Seth's kinetic art style. Lots to learn in this one (especially if you're curious about zipatone). Don't miss it, and make sure to preorder BADROCK #1 from your local comic shop.

Jonathan Ball and GMB Chomichuk join the show to dive deep into their upcoming Image Comics series THE EYE COLLECTOR. THE EYE COLLECTOR is a surreal cosmic horror story that has artist GMB Comichuk bending perspective and writer Jonathan Ball's storytelling in a way you haven't seen in comics in a while. This is a story that sat with Jonathan for a while (decades even!) and the path to where it is now, why every issue was designed to feel different, and how the two creators kept pushing each other to make the book stranger, scarier, and more ambitious with every chapter will make you immediately put this on your pull list. The group also dives into what it takes to create an iconic horror monster and why it's harder than it looks. Then we get into the nitty gritty, everything from horror pacing to page layouts, color theory, and everything in between. This is a book where the monster can literally reach across panels and manipulate the reader's point of view. Want to know how? You're just going to have to listen to find out. You know the deal, if you like what you've heard, leave a review on APPLE PODCASTS, or a rating on SPOTIFY Help us get the good comic book message out to the masses. The Eye Collector #1 hits comic shops June 24 from Image Comics.

Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips are back, and so is That Texas Blood. This episode of Let's Talk Comics kicks off a new format where we bring the full creative team on to break down one project from top to bottom. First up is the return of one of Image's best crime series with That Texas Blood #21. Hell is coming to Allison Ranch and we get into the nitty gritty right off the bat. Everything from what it took to revisit Ambrose County to why this arc is the biggest one yet. Chris and Jacob have been at this one for a while so they're finally excited to invite fans on the wild ride that is this critically acclaimed series. That Texas Blood #21 starts with a bit of a time jump, set against the backdrop of the Iraq War and Chris explains why that plays a key role in the story they're telling. Then Jacob breaks down the challenge of bringing a new level of action to the page without losing the grounded, lived-in feel the series is known for. That Texas Blood #21 is everything you'd expect from the team and then some! If you've been waiting for it to come back, this is the perfect place to jump in.

MATT ROSENBERG returns to Let's Talk Comics to talk about his new Image Comics series IF DESTRUCTION BE OUR LOT. This one is a post-human story set in a world that didn't end…it just kept going without us, with robots (lots of robots). And at the center of it all is an animatronic Abraham Lincoln trying to figure out why any of it matters. We get into where the idea came from and how it evolved from a weird visual into something much more personal. This book was built a little differently compared to Rosenberg's other work (like WE'RE TAKING EVERYONE DOWN WITH US) and is a book that's been quietly in the works for years. Matt breaks down building a world of robots still going through the motions, centering the story on the animatronic Abraham Lincoln, and how themes like isolation, connection, and identity started to shape the series. We also get into why this is the kind of story that only really works in the creator-owned space. Then we shift gears to SPAWN, where Rosenberg is stepping into the limelight not only writing the main book, SPAWN, but KING SPAWN too. He talks about finding his version of Spawn, building a new status quo, and what it means to take on one of Image Comics' most iconic characters. It's a fun one for sure.

Lorenzo De Felici joins Let's Talk Comics to talk about his new series Red Roots and why it represents a major shift in how he approaches storytelling. We dig into how keeping up a DeviantArt page got Robert Kirkman's attention (which then led to work on Oblivion Song) and what he learned from the grind of monthly comics. Lorenzo took that experience and applied it to his first Image series Kroma, where he reshaped his instincts as both an artist and writer. Lorenzo breaks down his process, from building stories without scripts to designing characters that feel unexpected, and why Red Roots is him pushing into darker, more uncomfortable territory. If you're a creator looking to create comics, this conversation is for you. Lorenzo's key? Figuring out how to make the kind of comics you actually want to read, and then making them.

Geoff Johns joins Let's Talk Comics to talk about building Ghost Machine from the ground up and what it means to commit to long-form, creator-owned storytelling. We dive into how Geiger, Redcoat, Rook: Exodus, and Hyde Street were developed, why each universe has its own lane, and what changes when creators control the future of their characters. Geoff also shares craft lessons that still guide his work and explains why having real endings in mind changes everything. It's a great look at how modern comics are built and why the long game still matters.

This week on Let's Talk Comics, writer Doug Wagner joins the show for an in-depth conversation about crime storytelling and how creative discipline leads him to some of his best work The conversation digs into Wagner's work on Narco, his latest crime/horror series that blends drops it's main character in the middle of a murder mystery while dealing with....you guessed it, narcolepsy. Doug talks about what draws him to darker stories, and how he approaches writing crime in a way that feels grounded and purposeful rather than exploitative. From there, Doug also talks about his expansive Materials Universe, including Plastic, Vinyl, and Plush, and how each project helped shape his voice as a writer. He also gets into some deep process talk, explaining how his process has evolved over time, the importance of consistency, and the realities of sustaining momentum in a constantly shifting industry. This is one you cannot miss.