Let's Talk Comics

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.

Charlie Adlard joins the show for a must listen episode with one of the greatest to ever do it. We get into how he broke into the industry and why building relationships and networking matter just as much to breaking in as the work itself. From there, we of course dig into the sixteen year stint he did on The Walking Dead, how his style evolved once he got on the book, how he maintained that pace, and what it was like working alongside Robert Kirkman. Then we shift into what comes next. Charlie talks about life after The Walking Dead, why he doesn't like to slow down, and how he approaches each new project differently, from Heretic to Altamont to his latest Image Comics series, Of the Earth. Of The Earth is Charlie's triumphant return to single issue storytelling in a neo-noir-tinged eco-horror with writers Chris Condon & Andrew Ehrich. In Of The Earth, Tabitha 'Tabby' Black flees a sordid life for her quiet hometown of Solitude, Texas and the comfort of her Gramma's home where she was raised. Only home isn't what it once was.... and neither is Gramma. We also get into process, building tension on the page, inking vs penciling, and why he treats comics like a film playing in his head while he works. It's a fun one you don't want to miss.

Aditya Bidikar joins Let's Talk Comics to talk about going from one of the most in-demand letterers in comics to stepping out as a writer with his new Image Comics series In Your Skin. We get into how he broke into the industry and why lettering matters more than people think. It's the piece of comics that controls how a page is read, and Aditya walks through how that actually works. Then we dig into In Your Skin. What started as a look at fandom turned into something much darker. It's a body horror story about obsession and identity, and it doesn't pull its punches. Aditya also talks about building the book, working with artist SOM, and what it means to finally put something out that feels completely his. Buckle up.

Tony Fleecs accomplishes one of his personal goals, having his very own episode of Let's Talk Comics! This week, Tony and Jim talk about how his career has developed over the last few years. Everything from working with Ponies, what it took to launch his own books, and how that had led to where he is today is all discussed in a no holds barred conversation only he can have. The two cover how Local Man came together emotionally, how Stray Dogs found its audience and why he's in it for the long haul with Feral. Speaking of Feral, issue 21 is a major moment for Tony and the team. Not only is it a silent issue, but he's doing something for the first time that ONLY he can do. The next era of Feral begins here, and you're going to want to hear all about it. Buckle in folks, it's a great ride.

Patrick Kindlon joins Let's Talk Comics to talk about the craft behind his work, from breaking in through indie comics to building books like Frontiersman, Gehenna, and now Tigress Island. In this episode, Patrick digs into failing early, writing full scripts while leaving room for collaboration, building stories from character first, and learning how to survive criticism in a very public industry. We also dive into Tigress Island, his latest Image Comics thriller, a tense, pulpy escape story brought to life with gorgeous art by EPHK. If you care about the nuts and bolts of making comics and getting better with every book, this one's for you.

This week on Let's Talk Comics, I'm joined by Andrew MacLean, the creator behind Head Lopper and one of the most distinctive voices in modern comics. We talk about Andrew's journey into comics, how his art and storytelling voice developed, and what it takes to sustain a creator-owned career over the long haul. Andrew breaks down his approach to visual storytelling, world-building, and why clarity and momentum matter just as much as big action moments. We also dig into his new series Death Fight Forever, an all-new action comedy about super-thief bruiser brothers Crash and Bash Biggle, inter-dimensional crime lords, and the choices that can change everything. Andrew talks about the origins of the book, working with Alexis Ziritt, and why this project let him cut loose in a whole new way.

This episode of Let's Talk Comics is a little different. Instead of a single guest, Jim Viscardi looks back at a year of conversations with some of the most influential creators in comics and the lessons those conversations revealed. From Marjorie Liu on never stopping your creative momentum, to Will Maxwell Prince and Deniz Camp on vulnerability and risk, to Sanford Greene on finding your own path into comics, this episode explores what success can look like in comics. Jim also reflects on conversations with Robert Kirkman, Rob Liefeld, and Marc Silvestri, breaking down why owning your work changes how creators approach risk, failure, and longevity. The episode wraps with listener Q&A, comic recommendations, and a look ahead at why 2026 may be one of the most exciting years yet for creator-owned comics. Whether you are a reader, creator, retailer, or someone thinking about breaking into comics, this episode is about why comics thrive when creators take chances.

W. Maxwell Prince (Ice Cream Man) and Deniz Camp (Assorted Crisis Events), two of the most inventive writers in comics today, sit down for a conversation about friendship, craft, and the chaos of creativity. It's NOT the epsiode of Let's Talk Comics you were expecting, but absolutely need to listen to. They talk about breaking into comics, surviving rejection, writing through vulnerability, and how structure can become meaning in storytelling. Prince reveals how Ice Cream Man: The Mortal Coil evolved from a deck of cards into an existential experiment, while Camp digs into how Assorted Crisis Events turns superhero storytelling inside out. It's a rare, funny, and heartfelt talk about empathy, experimentation, and the joy of making weird comics for readers who want to feel something real.

In this episode of Let's Talk Comics, we sit down Tyler Kirkham to talk about his path from small-town Utah to the Top Cow bullpen, breaking into comics right out of high school, and leveling up into a powerhouse career with DC and Marvel. Tyler opens up about the pivotal moments that shaped him, how he rebuilt his creative process after burnout, and what inspired him to go all-in on Final Boss, his high-octane, video game-fueled project at Image Comics.

On this episode of Let's Talk Comics, I sit down with the one and only Jordie Bellaire, winner of all the awards, colorist of some of the most talked about books of the last decade, and the writer who set the world on fire with Redlands. We dig into her early Image Comics days on books like Pretty Deadly and Nowhere Men, talk about what it takes to keep leveling up, and break down how she made the leap from coloring to writing. And of course, we get into Exquisite Corpses. This one has all the laughs and is full of deep insight and plenty of process.

Frank Barbiere first turned heads at Image Comics with Five Ghosts, and now he's back with his most ambitious series yet, The Author Immortal. We dive into Frank's path from breaking in at Image to making the jump into video games, how those experiences shaped his writing today, and why this new metafictional fantasy is the story he's been building toward for years.

Legendary comic book artist David Finch joins Let's Talk Comics to talk about his long-awaited new project with Robert Kirkman, Skinbreaker. We dig into how the project came together, what it's like building a brand-new world from the ground up, and the challenges (and rewards) of working in an oversized format. David also shares stories from his early days at Top Cow, his evolution through Marvel and DC, lessons from working with other writers, and how discipline has fueled his decades-long career. If you're excited for FInch's next big chapter with Skinbreaker, this is a must-listen episode! More information on SKINBREAKER: https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/comics-icons-robert-kirkman-david-finch-announce-new-action-series-skinbreaker What is SKINBREAKER: Enor has led his tribe for many seasons, but his time as Chieftan is coming to an end. He wields the mighty SKINBREAKER, but at his age, he can barely lift it. Will Enor's reluctant heir, Anok, take over before their world falls to ruin? As a bloody power struggle begins, an even bigger threat lurks in the darkness beyond their village.