Word Balloon Comics Podcast

It's my version of the mailbag page at the back of old comic books. In this on-camera AMA with my Patreon supporters and live chat audience, we dug into every corner of geek and sports culture:Boxing: The big focus was on the much-anticipated Canelo vs. Crawford bout, with breakdowns of styles, stakes, and legacy.Comics: We spanned the decades — from the Silver Age of the 1960s through today’s modern runs, talking creators, characters, and the shifts in storytelling across generations.Television: Plenty of love for sci-fi and genre TV — Star Trek, Babylon 5, classic reruns, and today’s wave of streaming shows.Film: We reflected on the passing of the legendary Robert Redford, looked ahead at some of the biggest upcoming releases, and revisited the old-school geek movies that set the stage for today’s pop culture landscape.It was a lively back-and-forth with fans driving the discussion, mixing history, commentary, and plenty of fun tangents — the perfect example of what happens when the Word Balloon community g

Few modern writers have embraced sword-and-sorcery with the same passion and craftsmanship as Jim Zub, whose work on Conan the Barbarian for Titan Comics has been nothing short of a masterclass in honoring Robert E. Howard’s legendary creation while pushing the stories into bold new territory. Zub’s tales balance the grit and savagery fans demand with a keen sense of pacing and character that feels both timeless and fresh.With next month’s Conan the Barbarian #25, he delivers a special, self-contained story—an epic one-book adventure that promises to showcase everything readers love about the Cimmerian warrior in a single, unforgettable issue. It’s the perfect jumping-on point for new fans and a rich reward for long-time readers.Jim and I had some technicla issues on youtube, so we'll do part 2 later this week

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Pinky and the Brain, the beloved Animaniacs spin-off that gave the world two of animation’s most unlikely lab partners.At the heart of the series’ enduring charm is the voice of Rob Paulsen, the endlessly versatile actor who brought the dim-witted yet lovable Pinky to life with his unforgettable “Narf!” catchphrase. But Pinky is only one jewel in Paulsen’s long career behind the microphone.From his heroic turns as Raphael (and later Donatello) in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, to the wisecracking wit of Yakko Warner in Animaniacs, Paulsen’s voice has become an essential part of the soundtrack to multiple generations’ childhoods. In this interview, he reflects on the legacy of Pinky and the Brain, shares stories from his many other iconic roles, and reminds us why, after decades in the booth, he remains one of animation’s most beloved and prolific performers.

In this second half of our conversation, Sterling dives deeper into his run on Supergirl alongside artist Jamal Igle. He shares behind-the-scenes stories about crafting Kara’s voice, working hand-in-glove with Igle to re-define her place in the DC Universe, and why their collaboration remains one of the character’s most beloved eras.Sterling opens up about the challenges of balancing editorial direction with his and Jamal’s creative instincts, and how they fought to give Kara her own identity separate from Superman. From comics, we shift back to television as Sterling talks about his time writing for The Flash on The CW.He expands on his contributions to the ambitious Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, explaining the difficulties of squeezing the vast scope of Marv Wolfman and George Pérez’s 1985 comic series into a handful of TV hours. Sterling reveals which classic comic beats he tried to sneak into the script.Sterling also discusses his most recent creative venture: filmmaking. His short film Just the Ja

In this first installment of my conversation with comics and TV writer Sterling Gates, we dive into his celebrated run on Supergirl with Jamal Igle . Sterling talks about how his stories are finding new life in print—starting with the reissue of his Bizarro Supergirl arc, and continuing next year with his contributions to the New Krypton saga omnibus, co-written alongside James Robinson and Greg Rucka. We also look at the various actors who've played the woman of tomorrow, including Gates's work consulting on the Flash film's alternate earth Supergirl.Sterling also reflects on how he first broke into writing Supergirl and later The Flash for the CW, bringing his comic book sensibilities into live-action storytelling.We look back at the ambitious Crisis on Infinite Earths TV crossover, where Sterling played a key role in guiding actor John Wesley Shipp through an emotional moment—reprisal of his 1990s Barry Allen Flash and the character’s poignant final scene. This episode captures Sterling’s unique perspectiv

Comics writer Mark Russell joins me for a wide-ranging conversation about his brand-new Mad Cave series spotlighting Racer X from Speed Racer. This isn’t just high-octane racing—it’s a crime-noir thriller that digs deep into the ex-racer’s mysterious past and explores how he became the legendary masked driver. Mark shares how he blended the danger of the track with the grit of noir storytelling to reimagine one of anime’s most iconic characters.We also preview his upcoming collaboration with Mike and Laura Allred on Wonder Woman Golden Age, where Russell puts his spin on Diana’s earliest stories through a 1985 crisis alternate earth  lens, paired with the Allreds’ unmistakable pop-art visuals.Along the way, Mark and I revisit highlights from his past work: the biting satire of his AHOY comedy comics (Second Coming, My Bad, Billionaire Island), his sharp reinterpretations of Hanna-Barbera icons (The Flintstones, Snagglepuss Chronicles), and his heartfelt take on DC’s Wonder Twins. Plus, he teases a bold new sc

In this candid second half of our talk, Greg Rucka opens up about why he walked away from DC Comics during earlier eras, and how those frustrations with co-writers and editors caused him to have serious personal issues and leave in digust to focus on creator owned projects.But it’s not all doom and gloom — Greg is genuinely excited about his latest DC work, the upcoming Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League, with his usual collaborator Nicola Scott. Greg makes it clear how much better the current editorial regime feels, compared to the past.We also dive into Greg’s prose side, where he’s just finished a brand-new Atticus Kodiak novel ready to hit publishers, and he teases the possibility of new Queen & Country stories on the horizon. He addresses the current state of the book market. On top of that,Greg shares fresh updates on Lazarus, his long-running Image Comics series with Michael Lark, and reflects on how that world continues to devolve. It’s a mix of hard truths, exciting projects, and the kin

We also address possible sequels to the old guard his thoughts on Superman and The Marvels films, a return to novel riting and more. The DC talk is coming in part 2 

Enemy Mine, and 4 other Trek episodes seemed very similar. 

3 new titles including a kickstarter from Franco featuring luchadores, an indiana jones style flyboy and... a ninja kaiju ? 

In the second half of my conversation with Matt Fraction, we shift gears to talk about his ever-evolving writing process, from Batman to his Eisner-winning work on Jimmy Olsen and other standout projects from across his career.Fraction digs into how his approach to storytelling has changed over the years, balancing structure with spontaneity, and what keeps him inspired as both a writer and a fan.We also dive into today’s movie and TV landscape—what’s working, what isn’t, and how the comics medium continues to shape (and sometimes outshine) its Hollywood adaptations.To wrap things up, Matt and I swap some of our favorite cult film recommendations—deep cuts and offbeat classics that deserve a spotlight. It’s a wide-ranging, candid discussion that blends comics craft, pop culture commentary, and cinephile passion.

In this exclusive conversation, Matt Fraction joins me to discuss the launch of Batman #1 and the beginning of his ambitious new run at DC Comics. Fraction pulls no punches as he talks about his bold reinterpretation of Gotham City and its darkest corners.We dig into his surprising new take on Killer Croc, explore the emotional fallout of Batman’s ongoing struggle without Alfred, and break down the striking redesign of Gotham as a city under siege.Fraction also teases the shocking status quo shift for Jim Gordon—demoted to beat cop—and how Vandal Savage has twisted his way into control of both the Gotham Police and the city itself.This is the start of what promises to be a sweeping, character-driven saga that redefines the Dark Knight’s world from the ground up.

In this episode, I talk with writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson about his latest projects across Marvel and DC. We start with his run on The Incredible Hulk, exploring the dark, horror-driven arc that leads directly into the upcoming title change, Infernal Hulk.From there, we turn to Adventures of Superman: Book of El #1, which continues the epic saga Johnson began in Warworld, bringing Superman’s story into bold new territory.Finally, we preview next week’s release of Batman and Robin #25, featuring a new Penguin story and the debut of Gotham’s latest street-level menace — a mysterious new foe known only as The Quiet Man. It’s a deep dive into character, mythology, and the art of reshaping icons with one of today’s most ambitious superhero writers.

In this episode, I sit down with comic book writer Eric Palicki to talk about his latest Kickstarter project — a new edition of his horror-adventure Atlantis Isn’t Built for Tourists. Now reimagined as a digest-sized graphic novel, the collection includes the original story plus two brand-new tales expanding the world.We also take a look back at Eric’s earlier creations, including Black’s Myth for Ahoy Comics, a sharp supernatural noir, and No Angel, his collaboration with his sister, actress Adrianne Palicki. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about horror, mythology, family, and the craft of building lasting indie comics.

In this 2006 conversation, bestselling author Brad Meltzer joins me fresh off the release of his political thriller The Book of Fate, which hit #1 on the New York Times list. We talk about how the novel’s mix of Washington intrigue, secret histories, and high-stakes drama reflects his passion for blending real-world politics with page-turning suspense.On the comics side, Meltzer dives into his acclaimed runs at DC. He discusses his relaunch of Green Arrow, where he re-established Oliver Queen as a gritty, street-level hero, and shares insights into his landmark miniseries Identity Crisis — exploring the emotional cost of heroism and the risks of reshaping icons. We also preview his then-upcoming Justice League of America run, including the Red Tornado storyline that re-examines the soul and humanity of one of DC’s most underrated characters.It’s a portrait of Brad Meltzer at a pivotal moment — redefining superheroes in comics while simultaneously cementing himself as one of the top thriller writers in prose.

After Denny O'Neill's passing in 2020 , I spoke with one of his comic book protoges Greg Rucka who discussed Denny's influences on his writing and on the whole DC line. 

From 2014, my only in depth interview with Peter, who discusses an upcoming seminar he did for the comics experience online school on writing. We talk about his Star Trek books, but also his Marvel work on Hulk Spider-Man and X-Factor 

Tilly and Susan Bridgess join me to discuss the new IDW Star Trek Voyager Mini Series that starts minutes after the final VOY episode. What happens next? 

we know the folk stories about Jim Shooter. SEcret Wars, The Black Spider-man costume, tough editor, writing Superboy/Legion Of Superherpes stores at 14, but who was Jim Shooter, the man?at terrificon's shooter tribute panel we assembled friends of Jim, to go beyond the legends to get some insight from the guys who worked with Shooter , and hung out with him socially Alex Saviuk (Spider-Man) Al Milrom (Marvel Fanfare) Brett Breeding (Superman) and Walter Simonson (Thor)