Speech Bubble

Rebecca Diem is a co-organizer of Comic Shop Ladies Night, a pop-up after hours social just for the ladies, held at a rotating list of comic shops across Toronto. She’s also the author of a series of popular, self-published steampunk adventure novellas titled Tales of Captain Duke. After running through the early influences and inspirations that got her into comics and writing, which range from Archie and Saved by the Bell to Neil Gaiman and the Sunday Funnies, her grandma sent her, we get into the process behind and inspiration for Captain Duke. This episode will also give listeners a very layered explanation as to what steampunk actually is. Here we explore its role in reclaiming progressive ideas in a romanticized past and how some with disabilities adopt the aesthetic for empowerment. Then we move on to Comic Shop Ladies Night and dispel the notion that comics were ever or always a male-dominated fandom. This episode is sponsored by Hairy Tarantula. rebeccadiem.com @kthnxbex - Twitter @kthnxbex - In

As Wonder Woman hits theaters this week, we present a woman who champions and embodies many of her best qualities as a great admirer of the character. Stephany Lein grew up as a child whose circumstances forced her to be almost completely self-sufficient, independent and strong in the face of familial adversity. She now passes on many of the lessons she learned and the coping mechanisms she had to the children who read her independent all ages comics work. There’s Strays, which is about a girl who finds the love of a dog after being kicked out of the house when she comes out to her parents. Then there’s Shelly, her upcoming project about a rebellious preteen girl who confronts heavy issues like bullying and a friend’s death from leukemia. As Stephany says, “Kids can handle it. We shouldn’t baby them.” This episode is brought to you by Hairy Tarantula. @jupejuperocket Stephany's Instagram Stephany's website Altered States Comics (Stephany's the artist in residence) Shelly Patreon Stephany's Deviant Art

Even though he’s written horror comics and Batman: Legends Of The Dark Knight, J. Torres is known best for all ages Comics like Batman: Brave and the Bold, Teen Titans Go! and his current project The Mighty Zodiac. He has also written many Degrassi comics so he has more than a few Drake stories. In this conversation we drill down on why more kids are into comics than ever before, what DC and Marvel can do to attract new readers while keeping their diehard fans and what it took for this former ESL teacher to break into comics and live his childhood dream. Then we geek out even harder, learning why J thinks Cyborg doesn’t belong in the Justice League and that you should always be able to hug a superhero. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at Hairy Tarantula in Toronto, Ontario Canada for their 25th anniversary. @jtorrescomics J. Torres DC Comics profile page Jtorrescomics.com J. Torres' Facebook fan page J Torres' Instagram Episode Sponsor: Hairy Tarantula

Ally comes to Speech Bubble while her Kickstarter for volume 3 of her long-running webcomic Chirault is in full swing. Chirault is a high fantasy adventure akin to comic book fantasy classics like Elfquest and Bone. The comic stars Teeko, a girl hit with a wayward shrinking spell who enlists the help of a demon hunter named Kiran. As the two go on a quest to find a cure for Teeko, they uncover a vast conspiracy tied to Kiran’s past. Ally discusses the genesis of Chirault, her role as a member of the SpiderForest Webcomic Collective and her latest contribution to the Toronto Comics Anthology Volume 4. Ally's Comixology Ally's Website Chirault Webcomic Ally’s Patreon @Varethane Ally’s Tumblr Episode Sponsor: Hairy Tarantula

Before he was comic industry iconoclast Chip Zdarsky, artist on Sex Criminals and writer on Kaptara, Jughead, Star-Lord, Howard the Duck and Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man (coming: June 2017), he was Barrie, Ontario’s Steve Murray. Growing up as a lonely geek with amazingly supportive parents, including a mother who let him and his brother make fun of his father at will, he would eventually become a cartoonist and humour journalist for The National Post newspaper. Then, an opportunity to watch Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau beat someone up in a boxing match, somehow led to his collaboration with Matt Fraction on Sex Criminals and the rest, as they say, is history … This episode was recorded in front of a live audience on location at Hairy Tarantula in Toronto, Ontario, Canada for their 25th anniversary celebration. @Zdarsky Chip’s Tumblr Zdarsco Inc. Zdarscon @senatormurray Steve Murray’s National Post archive The Applebee’s Exchange Episode Sponsor: Hairy Tarantula

On the last day of his Kickstarter for Heroes of Homeroom C, First Hero creator Anthony Ruttgaizer takes aspiring comic creators school. He explains why some creators need a reality check when it comes to their skill level and how being unable to receive such honest feedback from the professionals who know is detrimental to their success. He also explains why the history, legacy and structure of DC and Marvel will always hinder their ability to produce anything authentically diverse. We also touch on his pro wrestling career, why he started his own comic company, Aristocrats Comics and what it feels like to fail at one Kickstarter campaign only to come back and build another one. This episode is sponsored by Hairy Tarantula. AristocratsCmx Aristocrats Comics Heroes of Homeroom C First Hero Anthony’s Website

Marvin Law’s first few years as a comic fan were pretty traumatic. As a single digit age kid, he watched Batman beat Superman to a pulp in Dark Knight Returns, his favourite character, The Flash, died in Crisis on Infinite Earths and he read Watchmen way too early. Meanwhile, his father who trained in Wing Chung Kung Fu under Ip Man at the same time as Bruce Lee, exposed him to Hong Kong comics. All of it influenced Marvin’s later career as a comic artist. Somewhat of a local legend in the Toronto comic book scene as a script doctor. He once mentored artist Adrian Alphona (Ms. Marvel) on how to layout the first few issues of the critically-acclaimed Runaways as the editor-in-chief of the now defunct Bright Anvil Studios. These days he is drawing self-published indie comics like Kronk the Neanderthal with writer Phil McClorey and now Zip Kramer. Thanks to a special in-studio appearance from Zip writer Sam Noir, the two discuss the genesis of the project, which is now looking for funding on Kickstarter until Ma

Shawn Daley came to comics through the unlikely path of music. As an audio intern at a recording studio, he was exposed to his boss’s comic book collection. While powering through classics like Chester Brown’s Louis Riel, Watchmen and The Walking Dead, he quickly became inspired to create his own comics. Enter TerraQuill, a continent Daley created where his ongoing webcomic of the same name takes place. Completely self-taught, he learned everything he knows about comics making TerraQuill Collected – a collection of short stories all taking place in the TerraQuill universe. Meanwhile, he never completely abandoned music, but these days he composes chiptune soundtracks for 8-bit independent video game projects. Now, he occupies a unique space, as a bridge between Toronto’s large indie comic and indie gaming communities. This episode sponsored by Hairy Tarantula. @ShawnDaley Shawn’s website Shawn’s Chiptunes TerraQuill Samurai Grandpa

Danny Zabbal was living a largely directionless life until getting the sh— beat out of him, while defending the honour of the girl he was dating inadvertently awakened his true potential. There’s nothing quite like getting punched in the face to make you reevaluate your priorities, so he broke up with the girl, moved to Toronto and met his wife who would eventually become the inspiration for the main character for his comic series Life, Death and Sorcery. Published by and edited by past Speech Bubble guest Allison O’Toole, the critically-acclaimed series follows a teenager who becomes the steward of a magic power at the centre of a conflict between two families of sorcerers that spans across time, space and alternate realities. This episode is sponsored by Hairy Tarantula. Danny Zabbal Chapterhouse Comics Danny Zabbal’s Instagram Life, Death and Sorcery on Comixology Episode Sponsor: Hairy Tarantula

Scott Sawyer is the writer and artist behind North – an independent comic chronicling the adventures of Canada’s newest superhero team. Think of North as the Justice League if the Justice League were made in Canada and on their first adventure together, they found themselves dangling from the CN Tower. Scott explains why he decided to take unrelated characters he doodled in a sketchbook years ago and use them to turn the typical first issue of any team book – the recruitment – on its head. Then, we talk about his failed pilot for a Canadian superhero show, Split City, starring The Kid’s in the Hall’s Scott Thompson and Geri Hall from This Hour Has 22 Minutes. Plus, if you’ve often wondered why historically there has been more bad than good on Canadian television, Scott may have some answers for you. This episode is sponsored by Hairy Tarantula. Join Speech Bubble from 2-3pm on location at Hairy T (6979 Yonge Street Toronto, ON.) April 7-9, 2017 to celebrate Hairy Tarantula’s 25th anniversary as we record our

Ron Kasman is the man behind The Tower of the Comic Book Freaks, a graphic novel and coming of age story of friends who travel from Toronto to a New York City in 1971 for a comic convention and how the events at that convention change their lives. Though the story is fictional, it mimics many of Kasman’s experiences as a comic fan in the 1970s. Ron actually played an integral part in Toronto’s budding comic scene. His first comic shop was Canada’s first comic shop, “Captain George” Henderson’s Memory Lane Books on Markham Street. He also helped organize Cosmicon, what was likely Toronto’s first comic convention, at York University where he watched legendary artist Neal Adams drop acid for the one and only time in his life. If that weren’t enough, Ron served as a reference model for comic artists and worked professionally as a letterer for DC Comics. This episode is sponsored by Hairy Tarantula. Ron Kasman’s Tumblr blog Cosmicon 1972-1975: A Tell-all Expose by Ron Kasman The Tower of the Comic Book Freaks

Eisner award-winning comic artist and de-facto patriarch of Toronto’s Raid Studio Ramon Perez (Nova, Hawkeye, Spider-Man: Learn to Crawl) comes by to tell us what it’s like to be called an overnight sensation when you’ve been toiling in the industry for years. Thanks to the awards and accolades for his graphic masterpiece Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand, he has now drawn many Marvel icons like Hawkeye, Spider-Man, Nova, Wolverine and the X-Men. He might be in demand like never before, but you’ll hear he has always been uncompromising with his artistic vision, even as a non-name up-and-comer working on his own projects, Butternut Squash and Kukuburi. This episode is sponsored by Hairy Tarantula. @theramonperez ramonperez.com Instagram RAID! Studio Episode Sponser: Hairy Tarantula.

With the live-action version of Beauty and the Beast opening Friday (March 17, 2017) there’s no better time to talk to Megan Kearney (The Secret Loves of Geek Girls). She’s a comic writer, artist and animator who is currently producing her own Beauty and the Beast the Comic Series web comic, but hers is not the Disney version. She tells us how the original fairytale is much more about Belle’s journey, while the Disney version focuses much more on the Beast’s character and why her webcomic tries to give equal time to both. We also discuss the evolution of fairy tales in general, her love of manga and how being the manager of Toronto’s basically made her career. This episode is sponsored by Hairy Tarantula. @SpookyMeggie Megan’s Website The Secret Loves of Geek Girls Beauty and the Beast the Comic Series Comic Book Embassy Once Upon a Winter Wood (Megan’s animated short film) Episode Sponsor: Hairy Tarantula  

If you live in Toronto, you know him as the popular DJ on 102.1 The Edge. But his comic book geek cred is strongest as the writer behind the scifi epic, The Fourth Planet published quarterly by Chapterhouse Comics. He’ll tell us how the idea had its roots in his love of paleo-cultural anthropology (the origins of culture) and how Marvel’s Infinity Gauntlet changed his life. Meanwhile, we discuss why the endless crossover events and relaunches are ruining comics, how Fred got his start in radio and why he entered the ring with his own podcast Issue Zero. This episode is sponsored by Hairy Tarantula. @Fearless_Fred Issue Zero The Fourth Planet 102.1 The Edge Episode Sponsor: Hairy Tarantula

Speech Bubble: Comics on Comics: K Trevor Wilson Aaron faces off with the Mountain Man…er…Man Mountain of comedy for this second episode of the Comics on Comics series. Our host gets tips on performing the perfect Letterkenny dialect from Squirrely Dan himself before the two explore the reasons behind K Trev’s love of The Incredible Hulk and Professional Wrestling. Oh, and we also learn that the best way to book a stand-up comedy spot on Jimmy Kimmel Live is by bumping into Jimmy in the men’s room. @KTrevorWilson K Trevor Wilson’s IMDB profile Letterkenny’s Best of Squirrely Dan Buy K Trevor Wilson’s comedy album SexCop FirePenis K Trevor Wilson’s performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live Episode Sponsored by Hairy Tarantula

A backpacking trip through Amsterdam had Daniel Brodie wondering if he was really in control of his body and that led to Morgan’s Organs – his comic that takes a look at the various characters controlling the organs of a college student named Morgan. Touted as Pixar’s Inside Out for grown ups, Morgan’s Organs was meant to be an animated TV show, but is now a comic funding its second issue through Kickstarter as of this recording’s release. Brodie talks about the projects transformation and the deeper meanings that underlie its sophomoric humour. This episode sponsored by Hairy Tarantula — join them for week two of their bye-buy sale at their 354 Yonge St. location from Feb. 17th to 23rd, 2017. Morgan’s Organs Facebook Instagram Episode Sponsored by Hairy Tarantula

With U.S. President Donald Trump writing executive orders outlining his intent to build a wall along the Mexican border and banning all travelers from a number of muslim countries in recent weeks, there seems no better time to talk about migrant detention. It’s under that backdrop that Tings Chak, the writer and artist behind a new graphic novel called Undocumented: The Architecture of Migrant Detention, comes to Speech Bubble. Published by our friends at Ad Astra Comix, Undocumented analyzes how architecture and design are used to reinforce the agenda of the state. Tings explains how she got involved with migrant detention, her own experience with racism as an immigrant herself and why a comic was the best medium to bring attention to this issue. In so doing, she deconstructs the myths of Canadian multiculturalism and puts in fine relief that inhumane policies in regards to immigration are just as prevalent in this country as they are in the U.S., even with Justin Trudeau at the helm. Undocumented.ca Ad A

The co-creators and co-writers behind Songs for the Dead – a new indie comic about a young female necromancer who goes on an adventure to rescue a boy from her village – stop by to relay what it was like making and publishing their first real comic book. From how their romantic relationship plays into their professional one to the real stresses and fears behind business incorporation and copyright protection, these two bare it all. It’s a must listen for anyone who wants to get into the business of making comic books. www.songsforthedead.com www.comixology.com Twitter: @songscomic Episode Sponsor: Hairy Tarantula

Independent comic book artist Shane Heron (Black Hole Hunters Club, Monstrosity) always had a huge talent for drawing, but didn’t actually make his first comic until his mid-twenties. Despite the relatively late start, he made up for it with gusto, collaborating with past Speech Bubble guest Ricky Lima on a 24-hour comic that would eventually become the alien bounty hunters adventure Black Hole Hunters Club. He even created a comic with the host of this very podcast. Now he’s working on a new book of his own called Morris – a post-apocalyptic western featuring a sheriff with more than a passing resemblance to actor Wilford Brimley. Shane Heron Art @YoungShaney Instagram

Leon Emmett, the iconoclast owner of Toronto’s Hairy Tarantula Comics & Games, comes to the Never Sleeps Network Studios at a crossroads: his original store at 354 Yonge St. will be closing at the end of the month after 22 years. Don’t worry, its second location at Yonge and Steeles will remain, but the closure of the downtown store also means Leon needs to find a place to live, since he lives in the apartment above it. As our newly-crowned founding sponsor, he looks back to the beginning of the Hairy Tarantula story and explains why hes having more and more Abe Simpson moments as the comic business evolves. Episode Sponsor: HairyTarantula Twitter: @HairyTarantula