Word Balloon Comics Podcast

Big news out of Marvel Comics today: Stephen Wacker has been named the company's new Editor-in-Chief. Given all the executive changes Marvel has gone through in recent years, it's encouraging to see someone with deep comic book experience taking the reins of the publishing line.Wacker's résumé extends well beyond editing comics. In addition to overseeing some of Marvel's biggest publishing initiatives, he also served as Vice President of Marvel Animation and later as Vice President of Marvel New Media, helping guide projects like the Marvel Audio Universe on SiriusXM, including Wolverine and other serialized Marvel audio dramas.To celebrate the news, we're going back to this 2012 Word Balloon conversation with Stephen. It's a fascinating snapshot of Marvel during one of its most creative periods. We talk about the birth of Spider-Man's Brand New Day era, Dan Slott's early run on Amazing Spider-Man, Greg Rucka's Punisher, and Mark Waid's acclaimed Daredevil. Stephen also gets into the weeds on major crossover events like Spider-Island, Shadowland, and DC's The New 52, while pulling back the curtain on Marvel's creator retreats and the collaborative process behind building the Marvel Universe.Ok, yes, this conversation is now more than a decade old, but I think it still provides a valuable window into how Steve Wacker thinks about comics—how he approaches storytelling, editorial decisions, and working with creators. Until I have the chance to sit down with him again, this interview answers a lot of the questions newer readers may have about the philosophy and instincts of the man now leading Marvel Comics. Enjoy this 2012 conversation with Marvel's new Editor-in-Chief, Stephen Wacker.

Of course we discus Russ working ion the boys with Garth Ennis, and other war comics, but did you now he pencilled the first Batman story about the venom drug? Did you also know he learned storytelling on the job from Joe Orlando Carmine Infantino, and a few other masters?Not to mention his Disney animation career on some of their biggest films.Listen, and find out. 

Chris si back to promote a new kickstarter coming in August about Joe Unknown, the adventures of a comic book horror host after hours ( Think a cross between the look of Kolchak The Night Stalker, in the role of The Crypt Keeper Of EC Comics) But then we discuss a lot of his acedemic comic book historian work  dispelling rumors and long held myths, like how and why kryptonite was created for the Superman radio show and more. 

we discuss the first 4 eps of the new season plus other comics tv film and more

Some great Rodney Barne Word Balloon segments presenting a wide-ranging conversation that spans comics, television, and film history. We kick things off with his chilling Blacula graphic novel, a fresh take on one of blaxploitation's most enduring horror icons, before diving back into the world of his acclaimed vampire epic Killadelphia, one of the most original independent comic series of the last several years.Along the way, Rodney and I celebrate the legacy of blaxploitation cinema,its cultural impact, unforgettable characters, and the way those films continue to influence storytellers today.We also spend time looking back at Rodney's work as a writer and producer on HBO's Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. Despite strong critical praise and passionate fans, the series was cut short after two seasons, with HBO citing a combination of relatively low viewership and its exceptionally high production costs. It's a reminder that, in today's television landscape, even acclaimed genre and franchise programming can be vulnerable if the audience doesn't reach the necessary scale, a reality that Star Trek fans, can certainly appreciate.

Tuesday, I guested on the Splash Pages Podcast, where they interviewed me about podcasting, but also we talked about favorite convention moments, and the 2 DC Marvel Spider-Man Superman crossover specials 

Neil Sabatino joins Word Balloon to talk about Open Caskets, a darkly funny and deeply surreal graphic novel created with his longtime collaborator Shaun Simon. Set around a support group where society's misfits, outcasts, and oddballs share stories that feel like lost episodes of The Twilight Zone, Open Caskets blends unsettling horror, offbeat humor, and emotional honesty into a world that evokes Charles Addams by way of Tim Burton. Neil discusses bringing these strange characters to life, reuniting with Shaun after years of creative collaboration that began in New Jersey's indie music scene, and how the pair transformed their shared sensibilities into one of the year's most distinctive graphic novels.

Asrar talks about his X-men work his Supergirl run during the new 52, Conan runs and his current image series Bug Wars with Jason Aaron. 

Fred and Luca discuss their blend of Vampires and Pirates That debuts Wednesday from BOOM! Studios . We also play a couple rounds of trivia with Crystal Skillman joining us. Fred and Crystal Also promote the return of their play King Kirby, to the New York Stage in August.

Supergirl, Disclosure Day, Masters Of The Universe. Good studio films but not clicking at the box office. We examine why, and talk about other tv and films we've seen lately 

The Origins Of Comic-Con With Mathew Klickstein and SDCC CoOriginator Roger Freedman. Roger was one of the original teenagers who help started the show, and Mathew has been documenting the history of the con in Fantagraphics See You At San Diego, and the podcast series Comic Con Begins. You'll hear great stories. 

It's a casual hang out with Franco, who's promoting a new YA Sci-Fi Kickstarter for a graphic novel with Jason May 

Co-Author Of Daytripper Fabio Moon personally takes us through the book . Brian Bendis and I lead the discussion with the league of Word Balloon listeners and the Bendis discord. We also talk about how he and his brother Gabriel Ba broke into comics, plus talk of past rojects like Cassanova and Two Brothers. 

Tomm discusses his new Kickstarter campaign for a delux edition of the action horror epic Undying Love , and the return of his and Jonathan Hickman's The Black Monday Murders. 

I give a short spoiler free review of the Supergirl film. Plu Paul and I revisit his runs on Supergirl comics and he discusses 2 new novellas . The 1940s pulp hero The Blank, and a set fo Supernatural Mystery stoires A Clockwork God 

Gabriel Hardman returns to Word Balloon with a packed lineup of projects that showcase why he's one of comics' best writer-artists.We kick things off with the finale of Arcadia, DC Black Label's acclaimed team-up featuring Batman, Green Arrow, and The Question, as Gabriel discusses bringing the mystery to its conclusion.From there, we shift to the world of G.I. Joe with his dialogue-free Silent Missions one-shot, Crimson Guard, where Hardman tells an intense espionage story through nothing but visuals, a perfect showcase for his cinematic storytelling.Then it's over to The Twilight Zone from IDW, as Gabriel breaks down issue #8, a standalone tale that's both a loving tribute to Roger Corman and a celebration of the wonderfully scrappy giant-monster movies of the 1950s.Finally, we look ahead to his newest adventure with longtime collaborator Dean Kotz: The Rocketeer: Infiltrator. The four-issue series sends Cliff Secord and Betty undercover on the set of a German film production in 1944, blending pulp action, wartime intrigue, espionage, and classic Hollywood glamour in true Rocketeer fashion.

For more than four decades, Ralph Macchio has been one of the guiding hands behind some of Marvel Comics' greatest stories. Rising from an editorial assistant to Editor Emeritus, Ralph helped shape generations of readers' experiences, overseeing everything from The Avengers, Daredevil, and Spider-Man to Marvel's acclaimed line of graphic novels and collected editions. Along the way, he worked with legendary creators including Frank Miller, Walt Simonson, John Byrne, Roger Stern, Mark Gruenwald, and countless others.Today, Ralph joins us to look back on his remarkable career. We'll talk about breaking into Marvel in the Bronze Age, the evolution of the Marvel Bullpen, the creators and characters that defined his tenure, preserving Marvel history through its collected editions, and the lessons he learned from spending a lifetime helping tell some of comics' greatest stories.

On this episode of Word Balloon Scene Missing, we're taking a deep dive into one of the most haunting films of the Cold War era, Stanley Kramer's 1959 masterpiece On the Beach.Joining me are Gabriel Hardman, Ian Brill, and  Jeff Parker as we revisit this unforgettable adaptation of Nevil Shute's novel.Starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, and Anthony Perkins, On the Beach imagines humanity's final days after a global nuclear war, as the last survivors in Australia await the inevitable arrival of deadly radioactive fallout. More than 65 years later, its themes of fear, hope, denial, and human dignity remain as powerful as ever.We discuss Stanley Kramer's restrained direction, the remarkable performances, the film's lingering emotional impact, and why this somber science-fiction drama still feels unsettlingly relevant. 

Henry Barajas  (Gil Thorp Comic Strip) has two new comic stories coming in August under the Good Trouble Lable. We discuss them with GT Publisher Andrew Ayden (March)  and Editor Lauren Sankovich (Ultimate Spider-Man) .We discuss Huelga which documents the plight of migrants and underprivilaged hispanics in 1960s california, and Islands In The Sky about the real stories of the Smoky Mountain peopele. Good Trouble works with communities to provide educational entertainment to raise awareness about social issues. 

Shelly Bond has a new anthology bieng kickstarted called subCulture which looks at trends of fashion comics music at the club scenes through the decades. with creators like Peter Milligan and The Hernanez Brothers, with a bunch of today's indie creatives 

Plus Racer X and a kickstarter for a new sci-fi book The Forgotten Divine 

Mark is back ro talk about JLU, Superboy in Acrtion Comics, and World's Finest. Plus 3 days left for his and Barry Kitson's EMPIRE crowd funder.He also previews Batman and Robin Dynamic Dous with Chris Samnee a Batman Superman Weird Al team up, and clears up his viral video comment about the quality of new comics being made today vs old comics of the past. 

Frank has a new autobiography coming out. We discuss highlights of his seminal career, 

We continue our Love Boat  Re-watch podcast.Our guest passenger Chris Giarusso joins us to discuss Charro's debut as recurring character April Lopez , the stowaway, who lept into our hearts for 9 future episodes.Plus, Bill Bixby pre-Hulk in a weird attempt at a dramatic story, and the first king of variety tv Milton Berle as a Practical Joker who never knows when to quit. 

From 2020 Alex discusses his UNSEEN art book featuring crossovers that were proposed but didn't happen Star Wars and The DC Universe, Star Trek Vs Star Wars, and many more.We also talk about his MARVEL anthology series festuring stories by fols like Sal Abinanti Steve Darnall and Alan Weiss. 

Steve Niles has spent decades redefining horror comics, from 30 Days of Night and Criminal Macabre to a long list of stories that brought genuine scares back to the medium. Today, Steve returns to Word Balloon to talk about two exciting new projects that showcase both sides of his storytelling talents.First, we discuss Heartbreak Manor, his new graphic novel with artist Damien Worm, currently seeking support through crowdfunding. We'll talk about the origins of the project, the unique blend of horror and emotion at its core, and why Damien's atmospheric artwork makes him the perfect collaborator for the story.We also look ahead to a new prose collection featuring one of Steve's signature creations, supernatural detective Cal McDonald. For years, Cal has battled monsters, demons, and the darkest corners of the paranormal world in comics and prose alike. Steve shares what's in store for the latest collection and why he continues to be drawn back to the troubled investigator and his haunted world.

Welcome to Word Balloon Playhouse: Western Edition. Where through the magic of audio editing, I get to act with some of my favorite film stars in a short scene. Today we present Stacked Deck, starring Vincent Price. Price plays a smooth-talking gambler who arrives in town with a winning smile, a quick wit, and a reputation that makes honest men nervous. But when the stakes rise and tempers flare, the question becomes whether he's simply the luckiest card player in the territory,or if he's got a little more up his sleeve than a hidden ace.

Along with the obvious detail about her Absoulute Wonder Woman run, Kelly previews her Buffy Angel cooks coming for Dynamite, a new Jeff Summer Special in July, and a lot about soap operas

Maggin has rleased his 3rd superman universe novel Lex Corp, a first person narritive of Luthor telling his own story. Now He also is reading the book chapet by chapter as a free weekly podcast. You can also hera him read his ast Son Of Krypton and Miracle Monday books as well. 

 Artist Jacob Edgar has a cartoony style that evokes the work Bruce Timm. We talk about his worl with Bendis on The Ones for Dark Horse and The Rocketeer : The Island With John Layman for IDW 

Jimmy Palmiotti has worn just about every hat in comics, artist, writer, editor, publisher, and creator, but today we're focusing on some of the stories that have defined his career and some exciting new work hitting shelves right now.Jimmy joins us to talk about his latest return to Marvel's hardest-edged vigilante in the new Punisher miniseries with artist Dan Panosian. We'll discuss Frank Castle's latest mission, the collaboration with Dan, and what makes the Punisher such a compelling character decades after his debut. We'll also dive into Jimmy's Daredevil/Punisher crossover series, bringing together two heroes whose ideas of justice couldn't be more different.Then we'll look back at one of Jimmy's most celebrated runs, his long partnership with Justin Gray on Jonah Hex and All-Star Western. From weird western adventures and horror stories to the streets of Gotham in the Old West, those books helped redefine what a western comic could be and remain fan favorites to this day.And we'll wrap up with Denver, the acclaimed creator-owned graphic novel from Jimmy and Justin Gray that's now back in print through Mad Cave Studios. We'll talk about revisiting the book, why its themes still resonate, and what it means to see a new generation of readers discover the story.

Tim Sheridan is back with a tie-in MOTU Dark Horse Mini series 

One of the cornerstone creators on The Simpsons and Co-Creator Of The Critic Mike Reiss is back !He has a new travel book Bad Trips which is collection of his Substack essays about his trips to some of the scariest ports of call. From Iran and Iraq to The Ill Fated Titanic Submarine Tours. He scares us with tales of ABBA , the best food in the worst country, lots of Simpson and Johnny Carson TV writing tales, and more. 

For nearly three decades, Comic Book Resources was one of the most influential destinations in comics journalism. What began as a fan-driven website in the mid-1990s grew into a daily stop for comic book news, creator interviews, reviews, industry rumors, and commentary, helping shape the way fans followed the business and culture of comics online.Today we're talking with the man who started it all, Jonah Weiland. We'll go back to the early days of the internet, when comics fandom was finding its voice online, and discuss how CBR evolved from a labor of love into one of the most recognized comic book media brands in the world. We'll talk about the site's groundbreaking columns, its relationships with publishers and creators, the challenges of covering an ever-changing industry, and what it was like building a digital comics community long before social media existed.But Jonah's story doesn't end with CBR. He also spent time at DC Comics working in publicity, giving him a unique perspective from both sides of the comics media landscape. We'll discuss that chapter of his career, what he learned promoting some of the industry's biggest projects, and how the business of comics has changed over the years.These days Jonah has turned his attention to the stage as an actor and playwright. We'll talk about his creative journey beyond comics and his latest play, Coffee Date, currently being performed at the Hollywood Fringe Festival.

Brothers Tim and Steve discuss their coffeetable book The Art Of He-Man and The Masters Of The Universe from Dark Horse. From toy to tv series to horrible 80s film and the subsequent revivals. We pour over the strange history of the franchise.We will review the film this Wed night on WB Live  

Some brief thoughts on he actor's passing From Buffy's Giles  To Merlin's Uther Pendragon, To Rupert Manion on Ted Lasso, you could always count on a compelling performance 

Tony Fleecs and artist Andy Price have shown a very different side of their My Little Pony output crafting a tight one shot disturbing Twilight Zone for IDW call the Taxidermist 

Brian Hurtt on Fort Psycho with Matt Kindt for Oni, we also chat about his long tiemcollaborations with Cullen Bunn on The Sixth Gun and The Damned. Plus we look back at his work with Steve Gerber on Hard Time, Gerber's last story 

Today on Word Balloon, we're catching up with one of comics' most distinctive visual storytellers, Rod Reis.Rod is taking on a huge creative challenge with DC's new Elseworlds Supergirl series, serving as the complete artistic force behind the book. Writing the visual language, designing the worlds, drawing, painting, and bringing every page to life. The series imagines a dramatically different destiny for Krypton's last children. In this reality, Kara Zor-El and baby Kal-El share the same escape rocket from Krypton, launching them into a sprawling science-fiction adventure that takes the Superman mythology into entirely new territory.One of the most striking aspects of the book is Rod's reimagining of Krypton itself. From the architecture and technology to the appearance and culture of its people, he's creating a version of the doomed world unlike anything we've seen before.We'll also look back at Rod's acclaimed work on New Mutants and the X-Men line, where his painted style brought a dreamlike and often unsettling atmosphere to the mutant corner of the Marvel Universe. And we'll talk about his remarkable career journey. From breaking into American comics as a colorist, collaborating with some of the industry's top artists, to evolving into one of comics' most accomplished full-spectrum creators whose work is instantly recognizable on sight.

Today on Word Balloon, we're talking with one of comics' most versatile storytellers, Tony Fleecs.Tony first grabbed readers' attention with his creator-owned work, helping redefine horror comics with the Image hit Stray Dogs, the chilling tale that mixed Disney-style visuals with a dark serial killer story. He followed that with Feral, another unsettling animal-centered horror series that's been turning heads and proving he has a real talent for finding fresh angles in the genre.But Tony's talents go well beyond creator-owned comics. He's also brought his storytelling skills to some of the biggest characters in comics, including a current run writing Deathstroke for DC Comics, tackling one of the publisher's most dangerous and morally complex antiheroes.

Leo DaVinci is a YA adventure romp with a little dose of history as Hamilton depicts the great artist and inventor as a teen prodigy entering Florence and iscovering goverment conspiracies and action adventure. 

Hilary and Chris Barnard join us to talk about recent 3-D projects , but no glasses needed to enjoy this convesation, where we cover the history of 3-D comcs and film.They adapted the 3-d film Robot Monster for a new German pblication, Chris also worked on the restoration of a 1950s Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis film,"Money from Home" coming soon on BluRay from Kino Lober.We also talk about Hilary's Doctor Droom versus the1950s  Marvel/Atlas Monsters story for the recent Marvel miniseries . Droom was the original template  for Doctor Strange, and in the mdern era they changed him to Doctor Druid. Plus Barta's take on a Weird Al Yankovic song, in comic  book form. 

Chris revisits The Civil War era with a new 5 issue mini series Civil War Unmasked. It features untold stories form that era. We also talk about Chris's work in the original mini series, plu Union Jack, Batlleworld, Avengers Academy , and his love for Hank Pym.We also talk about the new Spider Noir series from Amazon, and Chris's work on the Netflix Daredevil TV series. 

Jeremy Adams Aquaman is the most exciting version of the character in many years. He's taking big comedic swings with Hal Jordan and Kyle Rayner in Green Lantern. Both books have tremendous supporting players as sickkicks and vilians. We also get into the animated adaptation of Batman Knightfall which introduced Bane and Azreal in the early 90s for a signinficant chapter of the Bat Mythos. . Adams is writing the first film, and the flick gets it's premire next month at an animation festival in France. 

Howard Chaykin is back for a casual chat that includes detais of his Zorro run at Dynamite with Jorge Fornes,but mostly we go through obsevations on his brief stint at Atlas Seaboard creating The Scorpion, then going to Marvel with Dominick Forutne. plus toughts on film tv and books .You'll also hear some shocking accounts of his time at National Lampoon Magazine. Strong Language advisory 

From Feb, Barth talks about  Babs from Ahoy Comics, his savage sword-and-sorcery riff that weaponizes absurdity, blood, and pitch-black humor to skewer genre clichés while still delivering the kind of brutal action Ennis fans crave. It’s funny, ferocious, and very deliberately unserious, until it suddenly isn’t.From there, we shift gears into war stories, both old and new. Ennis talks about his long-running love affair with Johnny Red, the WWI and WWII aerial combat hero he’s revived through graphic novels with a historian’s respect and a storyteller’s bite. We also break down Battle Action, the modern revival of the classic British war anthology, and why those stripped-down, morally thorny combat tales still matter.Finally, Garth looks ahead to what’s coming next, teasing new projects and directions slated for 2026, proof that he’s nowhere near done challenging readers, genres, or expectations.