Word Balloon Comics Podcast

Van Jensen joins Word Balloon for a wide-ranging conversation about genre, adaptation, and why the best stories don’t play it safe. We dig into God Fall, Van’s epic, faith-shaking fantasy novel series that’s now being developed as a television project by Ron Howard and Imagine. Van breaks down what drew Hollywood to the property, how the story’s mix of theology, rebellion, and cosmic war translates to the screen, and what he hopes survives the adaptation intact.From there, we zoom out on Van’s knack for genre splicing—stories that take familiar frameworks and twist them into something sharper and stranger. That includes his IDW comic Godzilla: Heist, which turns the King of the Monsters into the centerpiece of a crime caper, and his take on Pinocchio, which leans far closer to the original, darker fairy tale than the softened Disney version most people know. It’s a conversation about respecting myth, bending expectations, and trusting readers—and viewers—to follow bold ideas wherever they lead.

Today on the show, I’m joined by one of the most influential visual storytellers in modern comics, Charlie Adlard. Best known as the co-architect of The Walking Dead, Charlie helped redefine what long-form horror could look like on the page, grounding the apocalypse in raw humanity, brutal choices, and unforgettable imagery that fueled a global phenomenon across comics, television, and pop culture.Now Charlie is turning the page with a powerful new graphic novel, Altamont, a deeply personal and atmospheric work that strips everything down to essentials: memory, loss, place, and the quiet weight of time. Altamont was the location for the infamous tragic 1969 concert that claimed the life of a fan, by the hands of a security person. We’ll talk about the origins of Altamont,and how it reflects where he is creatively today. We’ll also look back at The Walking Dead itself: how lightning struck, why it connected so deeply with readers, what surprised him most about its rise, and how he views the legacy of the serie

School is in sessio with new characters and old Disco folk. What did our crew members think?

Brad Meltzer is back talking comics and his amazing novels. You ever hold a book in your hand and feel like the world just flipped on its axis? That’s what happens when Brad drops a thriller. And today? We’ve get the lowdown on The Viper — the latest, pulse-pounding, turn-every-page thriller that just hit bookstores and is already getting the kind of buzz most authors only dream about. It's a bizzare case for Nola Brown, High stakes. Deep conspiracies. Characters you swear are real. That’s classic Meltzer — smart, sharp, unrelenting — and The Viper delivers in spades.But if you think that’s big… wait for this. Brad Meltzer is stepping into an entirely new arena. A crossover that nobody saw coming — a collision of icons that will shake the comics world to its core. He’s writing Spider-Man/Superman — yes, Spider-Man and Superman — in an unprecedented crossover event for Marvel, dropping mid-April. Two universes. Two legends. One story. And Brad is the architect. So buckle up, because whether you’re here for the

Today we’re dialing it up with one of the most provocative, inventive voices in comics: Tom King. We’re breaking down all the big news around Tom’s upcoming DC slate — including the Mister Miracle animated project that’s turning heads with its bold reimagining of Scott Free, and the fresh twists he’s bringing to Lanterns that are already reshaping the mythos of the emotional spectrum. Yep, we’re talking what it means for the future of the DCU, what fans can expect, and why these books matter beyond just explosions and capes.But we’re not stopping there. Later in the show: Archie Movie Roundup — we’re diving into what’s next for Archie on the big screen, how the classic juggernaut’s Hollywood evolution is playing out, and what it means for the Riverdale universe and beyond. We’ll also take a hard look back at classic movies that shaped storytelling — old favorites, hidden gems, and the films that keep influencing creators today.Plus: The usual deep dive into craft, comics philosophy, life lessons from panels a

It's a new King's speech with writer Tom King We open with breaking ground on the big screen. Tom King talks about the upcoming Supergirl movie and how his Eisner-winning comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow became the creative DNA for the film. In Trinity, Tom breaks down the core idea behind the series—using time travel not as a gimmick, but as a way to finally let Wonder Woman’s daughter Lizzie truly know her father. Through fractured timelines and lived-in moments, Lizzie comes to understand Steve Trevor not as a legend or a memory, but as a man. It’s personal, it’s intfilm, imate, and it reframes the Trinity legacy in a way that sticks. We also widen the lens and talk Wonder Woman herself—what she represents now, what she’s always represented, and why writing her requires a different emotional frequency than almost any other character in comics. And yes—we go there. Tom is candid about his lingering regret in the Bat-corner of the DC Universe: Alfred Pennyworth is still gone, and Tom reflects on the weight

This special episode commemorates the 60th anniversary of the groundbreaking ABC television series Batman, the pop-culture lightning bolt that turned comic books into primetime spectacle and permanently rewired how superheroes could be portrayed on screen. I share a couple of professional and personal encounters with "The Bright Knight" But, at the heart of the episode is a rare 2016 interview with the late, great Adam West, recorded not long before his passing. West reflects candidly on stepping into the cape and cowl, navigating the razor-thin line between sincerity and satire, and why playing Batman seriously—even when the world was laughing—was the key to the show’s success. He discusses:How the series embraced comic-book logic without mocking itThe cultural shockwave of Batmania in the 1960sThe unexpected responsibility of becoming Batman to generations of fansWhy the role followed him for life—and why he ultimately embraced that legacyThis episode isn’t just a celebration of a TV show. It’s a tribute to

Word Balloon Book Club brings together John Siuntres, Patreon supporters, and members of Brian Michael Bendis’s Discord for an in-depth, no-nonsense discussion of The Hunter, the hard-boiled graphic novel adaptation by Darwyn Cooke.The conversation digs into Cooke’s razor-sharp storytelling, his mastery of mid-century crime aesthetics, and how The Hunter distills the brutal, minimalist spirit of classic pulp fiction into pure visual momentum. We break down Cooke’s page design, color choices, and economy of dialogue, while also talking about why Parker remains such an enduring anti-hero and how this book stands apart from more traditional crime comics.It’s a smart, passionate discussion fueled by creators, longtime readers, and serious fans.Equal parts literary analysis, comics craft talk, and shared enthusiasm for one of the great graphic novels of the 21st century. Exactly what a book club should be: focused, informed, and fun.

set sail with its maiden voyage, and we’re not easing into calm waters. In this debut episode, John Siuntres and Franco dive headfirst into Season One, Episode One of The Love Boat, the episode that launched a TV institution and defined late-’70s comfort viewing for decades to come. Joining them as this week’s guest passenger is Margaret Larkin from The Radio Girl Podcast, bringing sharp insight,  and zero tolerance for shallow nostalgia. Together, the crew breaks down:The episode’s multiple guest-star storylines and how the rotating-romance format was established right out of the gateWho these guest stars really were beyond their Love Boat appearances—career highs, unexpected turns, and pop-culture contextBehind-the-scenes facts, network strategy, and why this show worked when it absolutely shouldn’t haveWhat holds up, what’s already dated, and what still weirdly worksThis isn’t a breezy recap. It’s a smart, funny, occasionally skeptical re-watch that treats The Love Boat as both a time capsule and a televis

Today On Word Balloon Scene Missing takes a deep dive into Otto Preminger’s Anatomy of a Murder, the landmark courtroom drama that shattered Hollywood taboos and rewrote how adult themes could be portrayed on screen.Joining me is Chicago radio legend Dan McNeil, known to generations of listeners from WSCR and WMVP, bringing his sharp perspective and cultural memory to the conversation. We break down why Anatomy of a Murder was so controversial in 1950.From its frank sexual dialogue and moral ambiguity to Duke Ellington’s groundbreaking jazz score, and why it still feels modern today. McNeil and I examine James Stewart’s career-defining performance, George C. Scott’s volcanic debut, and Preminger’s fearless refusal to spoon-feed the audience easy answers. This isn’t just a film-school autopsy. It’s a conversation about censorship, masculinity, truth versus storytelling, and how a supposedly “old” movie still punches harder than most modern courtroom dramas. Smart, opinionated, and unapologetically adult.

Tim Seeley joins met talk about many current projects includng Deadpool, Godzilla, He-Man, X-Factor Psylocke Ninja, and the status of his SyFy TV Show Revival, 

On this episode, I’m joined by writer Chris Roberson for a wide-ranging conversation about Star Trek past, present, and occasionally frustrating. Chris discusses his Star Trek novella and his ambitious IDW Comics crossover teaming up the original series crew with the Legion of Super-Heroes, blending two classic sci-fi universes with big ideas and deep-cut continuity.From there, the conversation expands to cover every era of Trek, as we compare notes on what’s worked, what hasn’t, and why the franchise continues to inspire such passionate debate. Along the way, I vent some long-simmering frustrations with Kurtzman-era Trek, while Chris offers thoughtful context from the perspective of a writer who’s actually played in the sandbox. It’s a candid, nerdy, and occasionally cathartic discussion about the state of Star Trek, its legacy, and what fans still hope it can boldly be.

Today a discussion of one of the father's of pulp hero fiction. Edgar Rice Burroughs , honoring the legendary creator of Tarzan, John Carter of Mars, Carson of Venus, and a galaxy of other characters who helped define adventure and imaginative storytelling for generations of readers.. ERB was a pioneer in creator ownership of his heroes, and made a masswive media bltz in film radio and comics. In this extended conversation, we explore Burroughs’ impact on comics, film, and popular culture, and why his work still resonates with fans around the world. Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and let’s dive into the remarkable legacy of Edgar Rice Burroughs.”

Welcome back to Word Balloon! Today, we’re diving deep into the Star Trek universe with one of its most accomplished storytellers — David Mack. You know his work from the Deep Space Nine episodes “Starship Down” and “It’s Only a Paper Moon”, two fan-favorite installments that captured the show’s emotional depth and moral complexity.Since then, Mack’s become one of Star Trek’s defining novelists — the author behind landmark books like Destiny, Vanguard, and Control, and now, the brand-new Strange New Worlds novel, Ring Of Fire. We’ll talk about how David approaches writing for different eras of Trek, what it’s like balancing the optimism of Strange New Worlds with the grittier tone of his earlier work, and how he helped expand Star Trek’s literary canon into something as rich and compelling as the shows themselves.Plus, we’ll get into his latest creative venture — co-writing the Star Trek: Khan audio drama, exploring the rise and legacy of one of the franchise’s most fascinating villains. It’s a fascinating lo

A look back with Art Baltazar Franco Scoot McMahon and Me 

Powers. Black Hammer Minor Threats, and more. Dark Horse Comics editor Daniel Chabon joins the show for an in-depth conversation about shaping creator-driven comics in today’s industry. Daniel breaks down the editor’s role behind the scenes, from developing pitches and guiding visual storytelling to balancing creator vision with long-term publishing strategy.We talk about Dark Horse’s approach to original series, working with both established voices and emerging talent, and how the publisher continues to evolve in a changing comics landscape. Daniel also shares insights into collaboration, deadlines, and what makes a project stand out when it lands on an editor’s desk.

In this episode, we sit down with one of the defining writers of modern Marvel to talk about what’s next, what still matters, and what didn’t quite land. Paul discusses his two new Marvel series coming in 2026, including his long-awaited return to The Sentry, launching this March. We dig into why this new Sentry story feels necessary now, how it builds on the psychological core that made the character unforgettable, and what Paul wants to explore that he couldn’t before.We also get an exclusive look at Captain Marvel: Dark Star, a story that reaches back into Carol Danvers’ Ms. Marvel era to investigate an unsolved crime that has lingered in the shadows for decades. Paul breaks down why revisiting that moment matters—and how reframing the past can change how we understand Carol today.The conversation turns reflective as we revisit Paul’s Marvel Knights era, including his landmark run on Inhumans—what that period at Marvel felt like from the inside, the creative freedom it allowed, and why those stories contin

Live from Terrificon, this panel reunites Ralph Macchio, Ann Nocenti, and John Romita Jr. to revisit one of Daredevil’s most memorable creative periods. Ralph sets the stage with behind-the-scenes stories of the handoff from writer Denny O’Neil to Frank Miller, and ultimately to Ann Nocenti, charting the evolution of the Man Without Fear through shifting creative visions.Ann and John share how the grit, danger, and energy of New York City’s real nightlife shaped their take on Matt Murdock’s world, infusing it with street-level authenticity and vivid, flawed characters like Typhoid Mary and Shotgun. The conversation takes a wild detour as the trio recalls their “freaky” trip to Paris representing Marvel — a surreal adventure filled with culture shock, unexpected encounters, and a dash of chaos. It’s a lively mix of comics history, personal anecdotes, and the creative alchemy that kept Daredevil swinging high.