Word Balloon Comics Podcast

Today we're looking at the 2020 graphic novel- Voting Is Your Superpower, a fascinating collection of political comics assembled by comics historian and publisher Craig Yoe.The book takes us on a journey through decades of American comic book history, from the pioneering work of Little Nemo's Winsor McCay to the Silver Age, with examples from publishers like Harvey and Marvel.These are comics that weren't necessarily meant to be sold on newsstands. Many were distributed free, with a specific mission: encouraging Americans to exercise their right to vote.It's an intriguing look at the intersection of comics, politics, and American history, and a reminder that the funny pages and comic books have often had something serious to say.Joining us for the conversation are two extraordinary, award-winning cartoonists who contributed to the collection with new works: Sanford Greene, the acclaimed DC and Marvel artist and co-creator of Image's Bitter Root, and Emil Ferris, the brilliant writer and artist behind My Favorite Thing Is Monsters.We'll explore this unusual corner of comics history, the artists who contributed to it, and the power of cartooning to communicate ideas beyond simple entertainment.

In this Scene Missing panel, we dive deep into the 1972 made-for-TV movie Gargoyles .A cult classic that helped define the early wave of ’70s creature features. Joining the discussion are Gabriel Hardman, Jeff Parker, Ian Brill, and Allison Baker, each bringing their sharp insight into the film’s production, themes, and its influence on modern genre storytelling.The panel explores the film’s eerie desert setting and its surprising critical success, including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Makeup that launched the career of Stan Winston, who went on to create the iconic creatures of Aliens and Predator. We spotlight the performances of Cornel Wilde as anthropologist Mercer Boley, Jennifer Salt (Sisters, Soap) as his daughter Diana, and Bernie Casey as the noble Gargoyle leader . It's one of television’s earliest sympathetic monster roles. We also examine the creative team behind the movie: director Bill L. Norton, later known for Cisco Pike and Law & Order, and writer-producers Steve and Elinor Karpf, who blended mythology, horror, and social reflection into an unexpectedly thoughtful TV thriller.

Steve Niles is back, and he's bringing along one of his most enduring creations, supernatural private eye Cal McDonald.Best known for 30 Days of Night, The October Faction, and Criminal Macabre,tNow Cal returns in Cal McDonald: Plague of Evil and Other Stories, a new 216-page hardcover collection from Clover Press, featuring ten brand-new prose adventures. The book also features illustrations from an impressive lineup of artists, including Liam Sharp, Francesco Francavilla, Alison Sampson, and Damien Worm, with a painted cover by Joe Jusko and a foreword by David Dastmalchian.Steve and I discuss the origins of Cal McDonald, his evolution from prose fiction to comics, his undead partner Mo'Lock, and why Steve keeps coming back to this wonderfully messed-up detective.We'll also talk about the new stories, the Kickstarter campaign that brought them together, and Steve's lifelong affection for horror, crime fiction, and the monsters that inhabit both.

Here' my 2022 indepth chat with horror host Rich Koz, from Me-TV. We're talking about the two-part Svengoolie comic anthology from Frank Miller Presents, which brings tsven nd his unique brand of spooky comedy to the printed page.Rich takes us behind the scenes of the project's creation, discussing the writers and artists involved and how Svengoolie's personality and humor translate from television to comics.We also look back at the history of the character, from the original Svengoolie, Jerry G. Bishop, to Rich's own decades-long run as Chicago's favorite horror host and his eventual rise to national television fame.And, of course, we share our mutual love of classic television, old horror movies, comic books, and collecting the pop culture treasures we grew up with.It's a fun conversation about horror, humor, nostalgia, and the enduring appeal of a character who has entertained generations of viewers.

Plus Digger, The Diplomat and other reviews

More Trek talk, the virtues of Kenneth Branagh as a director, Doctor who obsevations and RMB talks about his new star trek book of essays and kickstarter campaign

RMB talks about his new book and kickstarter campaign . Plus we review the first 2 eps of Vision Quest SNW the Trek News From NYCC and more

Wes Craig is one of the most distinctive visual storytellers working in comics today. His dynamic layouts and inventive storytelling helped define Deadly Class, the acclaimed Image Comics series he co-created with writer Rick Remender, which also made the leap to television.Now Wes is taking on one of the biggest icons in comics with Superman: The Stranger, a six-issue DC Black Label series that he's both writing and drawing. It's a return to the Man of Steel's roots in 1938, with a young, brash Superman fighting corruption and injustice in a Depression-era Metropolis. We discuss his love for the original Siegel and Shuster Superman, the influence of the Fleischer cartoons, and what makes that early version of the character surprisingly relevant today.We also look back at his collaboration with Remender on Deadly Class and dive into Kaya, his creator-owned fantasy adventure from Image Comics, which has given Wes the freedom to build an entire world on his own terms.

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Monstrous Books is revititaizing the Universal film Crossovers, in Comic Book Form. James Aqulilone and JK Woodward Discuss, plus JK's Kickstarter on his series Behemoth

Mike has a new Kickstarter about a new Superhero Group The Company of Enhanced BeingsThe prose short-story adventures of a cadre of young space superheroes in a science fictional future!We discuss the kickstarter campaign, his ideas for the book, and of course reflect on his career writing Star Trek novels, including his crossover novel of The Next Generation Crew meeting up with The X-Men Of Marvel.

we explore the controversies surrounding HBO's Lanterns and the aborted 2026 Doctor Who BBC Xmas special

The Boulet Brothers are celebrating a major milestone as The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula turns 10 years old. Now heading into its seventh season, the series returns October 23rd on Shudder, continuing its singular mix of drag, horror, glamour, and the grotesque that has made it a cult phenomenon.But this conversation goes well beyond Dragula. Dracmorda and Swanthula are also lifelong comic-book fans, and we spend a lot of time digging into that side of their fandom. The characters, creators, horror comics, superheroes, and visual storytelling that helped shape their imaginations. We talk about the crossover between comics, horror, drag, and pop culture, along with what they’ve got planned as Dragula enters its second decade.