PW Comics World: More To Come

Calvin interviews cartoonist Jeff Smith, acclaimed author of ‘Bone’ and ‘RASL’, about his new graphic novel series ‘Tuki: Book One Fight For Fire’, and ‘Book Two Fight For Family’, a rollicking two-book adventure tale set at the beginnings of prehistoric human life. Smith talks about the development of Tuki online, self-publishing the book series in print via his Cartoon Books publishing program, and the launch of his “Dawn of Man” national book tour in March.

Heidi talks with New Zealand cartoonist K. O'Neill about their new middle grade fairy tale graphic novel 'The Moth Keeper'; O'Neill's working process; their approach to storytelling; the New Zealand comics scene; and developing a career as a graphic novelist.

The ComicsPRO annual retailers conference; ICv2 manga week news from Viz’s Kevin Hamric and Yen Press’ Mark DeVera; anime streaming news on Sentai/HiDive as well as Crunchyroll’s fight with voice actors; the new Image union ratifies contract; Kevin Feige talks MCU Phase 5; Boom Kickstarter raises $1.1 million; Scott Adams canceled; and TikTok examines Son of Kal-El sales. Plus Emerald City Comic Con with Heidi!

The return of Calvin and Hobbes legend Bill Watterson to comics; intrigue and fatigue in the MCU and sales in the DCU; the GNCRT's latest Best Graphic Novels lists; and the demise of Catapult magazine.

Calvin interviews Latinx comics writer Henry Barajas, author of 'La Voz De M.A.Y.O. Tata Rambo' (with artist by J. Gonzo), the graphic biography of his great-grandfather Ramon Jaurique, and writer of the syndicated comic strip 'Gil Thorp' with artist Rod Whigham.

DC Studio’s plan to launch a new slate of DC Universe TV and film projects; Netflix’s dubious use of AI to produce anime; Riad Satouf, the new winner of the Angoulême festival’s Grand Prix; graphic novel winners at the ALA’s Youth Media Awards; layoffs at Comixology, and Kodansha halts its simulpub program on Crunchyroll and Azuki.

Robert Kirkman, writer/creator of 'The Walking Dead' and the imaginative and diverse superhero universe of 'Invincible', discusses Invincible’s 20th anniversary; creating the series with artists Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley, his love of superhero comics, the Invincible animation series; and the release of Invincible hardcover and trade paperback reprint collections to celebrate the anniversary.

A look back on ten of the biggest comics news events of 2022: among them a surge in book censorship and library challenges, the full-on return of live events and festivals, explosive growth in manga sales, Book sales and supply chain disruptions, troubles at Oni-Lion Forge and other indies; webtoon comics growing, unions at Image and Seven Seas; and PW@150.

More To Come’s Stargazing segment features Calvin and PW graphic novel reviews editor Meg Lemke discussing graphic novel and nonfiction in the 2022 PW Holiday Gift Guide; among them the Filipino urban fantasy 'After Lambana' by Eliza Victoria and Mervin Malonzo, a new edition of Shirow Massamune’s sci-fi manga 'Ghost in the Shell'; 'Milestone Compendium One', a 1,300 page collection of the original stories of the Black superhero universe; and 'The Keeper' by Kelcey Ervick, about soccer, women and Title

A spike in comics industry business turmoil, including troubles at at Aftershock, AMC Publishing, Dead Reckoning, Heavy Metal, and Valiant; the NFT markets renege on resale royalties; a breakdown of the popularity of mobile webcomics and the decline of manga; and changes at DC Studios announced by James Gunn

Calvin interviews writers Joe Illidge, Milo Stone, and Shawn Martinbrough, the creative team behind ‘Judge Kim and the Kids’ Court’ (and artist Christopher Jordan, who is not on the podcast ), which is part of the Ready to Read Graphics series for young readers. They discuss the first book in the series, 'The Case of the Missing Bicycles', and other comics projects,

Hunter Gorinson’s new job leading Oni-Lion Forge; celebrating the life of Aline Kominsky-Crumb (1948-2022); a recap of AnimeNYC 2022; Peter David is recovering from a stroke; and indie comics news, including AWA, IDW, Kodansha/Disney, and Avery Hill Publishing.

Art Spiegelman receives the National Book Award for Distinguished Contribution to American Letter; a new initiative at DC; the MCU’s rejection of fan writers; a crackdown on Pixiv; comics business briefs; and hail a new blockbuster sequel, ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.’

More To Come’s Stargazing segment features Calvin and PW graphic novel reviews editor Meg Lemke discussing two new graphic novels: ‘Men I Trust’ by Tommi Parrish, a stylishly drawn examination of a budding and messy friendship between two troubled women, and ‘Giantess’ by J.C. Deveney and Nuria Tamarit, an alluring feminist fairytale about the life of a giant 60-foot redhead heroine and her search for an equitable society.

Penguin Random House / Simon & Schuster publishing mega-merger blocked by the courts; James Gunn appointed to head DC Studios; Heidi’s coverage of the Diamond Retailer Summit at the Baltimore Comic Con; and a salute to the graphic novels and comic creators chosen for PW’s annual Best Books list for 2022.

From New York Comic Con 2022, Heidi talks with graphic novelist Joelle Jones ('Lady Killer') and Gabby Luu, Head of Story at Tapas Media webcomics; while Calvin interviews comics creator Tim Fielder ('Infinitum'); then Heidi has a discussion with Frederick L. Jones publisher of Saturday AM and Mel Schiut, Marketing Manager at The Quarto Group, about this line of original manga.

Heidi talks with cartoonists Jeffrey Brown ('Darth Vader & Son', 'A Total Waste of Space Time'); Jennifer Hayden ('The Story of My Tits'); Tommi Parish ('Men I Trust'); Julian Lytle ('Ants', and consultant on WB's 'Naomi'); and Laura Lee Gullidge 'The Dark Matter of Mona Starr') about their work, their experiences at SPX 2022 and what kept them going during the pandemic.

Executive changes at indie publishers Scout, Mad Cave, Aftershock, and Z2 Comics; and New York Comic Con 2022: ICv2’s Insider Talks, the Harvey Awards, 200K attendance, and the ascendance of manga, anime, and Asian pop in North American popular culture.

Interviews from the floor of New York Comic Con 2022 with Sandy King Carpenter, Sofia Warren, Brian Volk Weiss, Alex Segura, David Mack, Franco, Tom King, Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey

Heidi talks with Funko founder Michael Becker about toys and the future of Funko, and gabs with Fabrice Sapolsky about his new imprint FairSquare Comics; while Calvin interviews novelist Stephen Graham Jones about his new IDW series, Earthdivers: Kill Columbus, a Native American time travel plot to go back in history, kill Columbus, and stop the coming genocide of indigenous people.