The Corner Box

This episode, things get spicy fast as Kickstarter loyalty gets tested. David lays out a frustration that hits a nerve: paying more, waiting longer, and watching cheaper versions hit shelves first. From there, the guys pivot into creator mode—John’s secretly drawing comics again, Chase is juggling screenplays, and everyone’s got projects they can’t quite talk about (yet). Frank Miller creeps back into the conversation, setting up what might be a full-on deep dive in a future episode. And just when you think it’s under control… The Fly shows up, lights his ass, and still doesn’t save the day. Captions“Less yuck more yums, dude. Let’s go.” — Chase pushing back on fake positivity culture“It’s an insult to the audience.” — David on identical Kickstarter books hitting stores cheaper and sooner“He lights his ass… and it still doesn’t work.” — John describing The Fly’s most effective move“She saves the day. Twice. The Fly does nothing.” — John breaking down the most useless superhero everSplash Page[03:15] – Kickstarter Betrayal: David breaks down the frustration of paying more for less[06:58] – Retail Before Backers: The moment that crosses the line for everyone[10:34] – Barber Returns to the Board: John reveals he’s drawing comics again[13:05] – Moebius High-Wire Act: The chaos and brilliance of making it up as you go[19:42] – Enter The Fly: A superhero who might be completely useless[23:13] – One Page Masterpiece: The most insane splash-page monologue ever written[01:05:18] – The Anti-Spider-Man: Why The Fly might be the most charming failure in comicsSupport the Corner BoxDavid Hedgecock (https://funtimego.com) - The Corner Box Co-HostJohn Barber (https://www.pugworldwide.com) - The Corner Box Co-HostThe Corner Box (https://www.thecornerbox.club) - Official WebsiteDive Deeper Into the Back Issue BinFrank Miller (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Miller_(comics)) - Central to the episode’s ongoing reading obsession and future deep dive teaseDavid Mazzucchelli (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Mazzucchelli) - Referenced in discussion of Daredevil and Batman: Year OneMoebius / Jean Giraud (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moebius_(comics)) - Cited as inspiration for improvisational storytellingPaul Pope (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Pope) - Referenced for speed and stylistic experimentationJonathan Maberry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Maberry) - Writer on recent project David and Chase worked onPaul Pelletier (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Pelletier) - Artist collaborator on recent miniseriesWalt Simonson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Simonson) - Mentioned in Savage Sword of Conan discussionJohn Buscema (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Buscema) - Featured artist in Conan materialRobert Loren Fleming (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Loren_Fleming) - Writer of the over-the-top Nightmare monologueMarat Mychaels (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marat_Mychaels) - Artist behind Nightmare and Extreme Studios workRob Liefeld (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Liefeld) - Referenced in Extreme Studios and Archie revival attemptsJerry Siegel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Siegel) - Creator appearing in Archie digest reprintsJack Kirby (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Kirby) - Identified in early Shield story artworkWally Wood (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wally_Wood) - Featured artist in Archie digestTom DeFalco (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_DeFalco) - Credited with accidentally inventing his own Greek myth

Things gets weird when David decides he’s one of the cool kids now and starts reading the hot books everyone’s chasing. Join David and John as they get into D’orc, Tigress Island, White Sky, and Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre, weighing which books have real legs and which ones are riding the heat wave. There’s a sharp little debate about speculation, blind bags, first printings, and whether indie launches are a better kind of market chase. The guys also detour through One Piece work ethic, public domain Batman schemes, Skottie Young’s artistic family tree, and Lobo jokes that may or may not land. By the end, the Corner Box may have accidentally created a new recurring feature: Wired or Tired.Captions“Yeah, it’s like we’re editors and we know what a deadline means.” — David on never missing a weekly episode“Once Batman hits public domain, it’s anybody’s game.” — David on the weird future of superhero ownership“I’m unquestionably more into new indie number ones than I am maybe [for a] Robert Downey Jr. drawn Iron Man on my Daredevil comic.” — John on hot indie books versus blind-bag gimmicks“Whatever gets good comics, I can live with a lot of the other stuff.” — David on speculation helping readers find strong books“A novel, John, is a comic book but there’s no pictures.” — David explaining a novel with maximum disrespect“It’s just goofy Lobo shit.” — John giving the cleanest possible Lobo review“The title is exactly what it is.” — David on Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre delivering the promised insanitySplash Page[00:00] – Deadline Warriors: David and John kick things off by bragging, accurately, that The Corner Box still hasn’t missed a week.[00:55] – The Oda Machine: One Piece sends the guys into manga production envy and the mystery of how weekly comics even happen.[02:35] – Public Domain Batman Schemes: David lays out his future plan for using Superman and Batman without putting the names on the cover.[06:45] – The Cool Kids Read Comics: David admits the show is getting popular, so naturally he had to start reading the hot books.[08:06] – Speculation With a Pulse: John argues that hot indie number ones are a healthier trend than blind bags and gimmick covers.[11:22] – D’orc Gets Graded: David gives the batch a rock-solid B and calls D’orc a fun, art-forward fantasy comedy still finding its quest.[21:49] – Tigress Island Takes the Crown: John and David both land on Tigress Island as the strongest book of the bunch.[28:58] – Cocaine Hippo Chaos: Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre arrives with cult-movie energy, social commentary, and exactly the level of madness promised.Support the Corner BoxDavid Hedgecock (https://linktr.ee/funtimego) - The Corner Box Co-HostJohn Barber (https://www.pugworldwide.com) - The Corner Box Co-HostThe Corner Box (https://www.thecornerbox.club) - Official WebsiteDive Deeper Into the Back Issue BinEiichiro Oda (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiichiro_Oda) - Creator of One Piece, brought up as the impossible weekly-comics workhorse.David Harper (https://sktchd.com) - Comics journalist behind SKTCHD, mentioned for his thoughts on which comics may still exist 50 years from now.Brett Bean (https://brettbean.substack.com) - Creator of D’orc, discussed for bringing Skottie Young-flavored fantasy comedy energy to Image.Skottie Young (https://www.skottieyoung.com) - Artist and writer whose influence becomes a whole side quest in the D’orc discussion.Jorge Corona

David admits that his comic collecting is a full-blown lifestyle problem, complete with eBay piles, office deliveries, and one gloriously baffling Rob Liefeld ashcan. John and David then bounce from a weirdly amazing 1972 fanzine packed with future legends to Marvel Knights: The World to Come, a book that asks for patience before it finally starts paying off. From there, it’s straight into Groo territory, where the art still rules, the coloring looks sharp as hell, and one impossible boat-sinking moment throws the whole universe slightly off its axis. Along the way, there’s talk of Al Milgrom, Jim Starlin, Christopher Priest, Joe Quesada, and Sergio Aragonés. Then the mood turns when the guys issue a call to arms regarding a massive $1 million art heist from Mark Evanier’s collection.Captions“We’re not popular… but we’re headed in that direction.” - David“We’re getting less not popular.” - John"Everything is there by the time you get to the end, but your tolerance for getting to the end is really dependent on your level of buy-in in the beginning." - John"These pieces of original art are history, and they need to be treated with respect." - David"I don’t think either one of those influenced the other one in terms of the name." - John Barber (on D'rok vs. D'orc)Splash Page[00:01] – Vacation Mailbox of Doom: David returns from Hawaii to a mountain of comic packages.[02:06] – Ashcan School: David breaks down what ashcans are and why they matter.[09:18] – The Lost Fanzine Files: John cracks open a strange 1972 comic called Title.[18:13] – Future Wakanda, Rough Start: David digs into Marvel Knights: The World to Come.[31:56] – Groo Rules Are Meant to Break?: A new Groo mini sparks one very specific continuity crisis.[37:11] – Missing Masterpieces: The guys react to Mark Evanier’s stolen original art.[41:03] – Less Not Popular: The episode closes with a very Corner Box way to celebrate growth.Support the Corner BoxDavid Hedgecock - The Corner Box Co-HostJohn Barber - The Corner Box Co-HostThe Corner Box - Official WebsiteDive Deeper Into the Back Issue BinRob Liefeld (https://robliefeldcreations.com/)Al Milgrom (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Milgrom)Jim Starlin (https://www.instagram.com/jimstarlin/)Tom Orzechowski (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Orzechowski)Christopher Priest (https://www.christopherpriest.com/)Joe Quesada (https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Joe_Quesada) Sergio Aragonés (https://www.sergioaragones.com/)Mark Evanier (https://www.newsfromme.com/)Acrobats (https://imagecomics.com/creators/rob-liefeld)Title #1 (https://www.comics.org/issue/253965/)Groo the Wanderer (https://www.darkhorse.com/Search/Groo)

David survives a once-in-a-century storm in Hawaii, and it’s back to business as John and David break down the creative DNA of comics — including the return of the “Top 10 Hottest Artists” list! From a Silver Age deep dive into Don Heck and the surprisingly bold Avengers #32, to the wild discovery of a pre-Fantastic Four appearance of Ben Grimm as a WWII flying ace, it’s equal parts nostalgia, disbelief, and appreciation. Add in John’s latest indie finds and you’ve got a packed, can’t-miss episode.Super Kaiju Rock and Roller Derby Fun Time Go will be launching soon.Visit get.funtimego.com for more details.Captions"Don Heck is the guy who should have sued Harlan Ellison and Gary Groth." — John Barber“If anybody ever says that Stan Lee and Marvel weren't forward-thinking and aggressively progressive... they're wrong." — David Hedgecock"Nick Dragotta on Absolute Batman continues to dominate." — David HedgecockSplash Page[00:01:25] – Storming the Set: David reports on the Hawaii tropical storm that wrecked the Jurassic Park sets.[00:03:22] – “What John and David Read This Week”: John and David recap this week’s reads.[00:04:15] – Avengers Time Capsule: David hits issue #32 and finds modern relevance[00:13:05] – The Leatherneck Raiders: John discusses Captain Savage #7 and the bizarre visual of soldiers on surfboards.[00:18:45] – The Thing’s Flight School: Discussing Ben Grimm’s history as a World War II air ace.[00:25:35] – The Grading Shift: News on CBCS shutting down and the differences in signature verification.[00:28:20] – The Hottest Artists: David dishes out this month’s Top 10 Hottest Artists.[00:33:45] – The One to Watch: David spotlights Pye Parr and the upcoming M.A.S.K. comic from Skybound.[00:44:20] – The Absolute Champion: LISTEN IN TO FIND OUT WHO takes the number one spot on the Hottest Artists list.Support the Corner BoxDavid Hedgecock (https://linktr.ee/funtimego) - TCB Co-HostJohn Barber (https://www.pugworldwide.com) - TCB Co-HostThe Corner Box (https://www.thecornerbox.club) - Official WebsiteDive Deeper Into the Back Issue BinDon Heck (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Heck) - Silver Age Marvel artist known for Avengers and Iron Man.Stephen McArdle (Vendetta Holy Vindicator) - Creator of Vendetta: The Holy Vindicator and Crowbar 9.Ken Landgraf (https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Ken_Landgraf) - Veteran artist who provided a new pinup for the Crowbar 9 revival.Archie Goodwin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archie_Goodwin_(comics) - Legendary writer/editor mentioned for his work on Captain Savage.

A new segment hits The Corner Box this week as John and David roll out “Here’s What We Read This Week!” John dives into Alien: Salvation, arguing that Mike Mignola and Kevin Nowlan teaming up is just plain unfair, while David revisits Dark Knight Returns and DK2, wondering if Frank Miller’s chaos is actually the point — and loving it either way. Along the way: DSTLRY’s return, Ditko Artist’s Editions, Jae Lee redrawing on the fly, and a heartfelt, funny tribute to the late Sam Kieth — celebrating the weird, wild creators who make comics unforgettable.Captions"Don't die and keep doing the thing." — John Barber"Nobody draws like Mignola. That means nobody inks like Mignola." — John Barber"I would love to be the fly on the wall in Frank Miller's head to find out what that was all about." — David Hedgecock“The whole piece feels like this crazy outsider art.” — David Hedgecock“We’ll miss you, Sam.” — John BarberSplash Page[01:58] – A Short Box Smorgasbord: The guys decide to go loose and talk about what’s actually on their reading piles.[04:25] – Horror in Space: A deep look at the "murderer's row" creative team behind Alien: Salvation.[11:15] – The Miller Aesthetic: David breaks down why Dark Knight 2 is a "weird commercial outsider art piece."[18:55] – The Ditko Blueprint: Discussion on the upcoming Amazing Spider-Man Artist’s Edition and Peter Parker’s "schlubby" roots.[22:08] – The Perfectionist Grind: John shares stories of Jae Lee redrawing pages while the printer was waiting.[26:12] – Remembering Sam Kieth: A tribute to the unique genius of the creator of The Maxx and his unconventional career.[33:05] – The FedEx Masterpiece: The legendary story of Sam Kieth drawing a final page on the inside of a shipping box.Support the Corner BoxDavid Hedgecock (https://linktr.ee/funtimego) - The Corner Box Co-HostJohn Barber (https://www.pugworldwide.com) - The Corner Box Co-HostThe Corner Box (https://www.thecornerbox.club) - Official WebsiteDive Deeper Into the Back Issue BinMike Mignola (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Mignola) - Legendary artist of Hellboy and Alien: Salvation.Kevin Nowlan (Kevin Nowlan) - Master inker known for his work with Mignola and Quesada.Frank Miller (https://frankmillerink.com/) - Creator of The Dark Knight Returns and Sin City.Scott Dunbier (https://twitter.com/sdunbier)

Guest Dave Baker stops by the show as David and John dig into the industry shake-up following Mike Richardson’s exit from Dark Horse and ask: is the “one guy” publisher era over? The conversation hits the rise of indie collectives and webtoons, then Dave’s new OGN, Punk’n Heads, and wraps with a deep-cut dive into Stephen R. Bissette’s Tyrant. Also, the zen of marathon tattoo sessions.Captions"You don't sell to Embracer and then be like, 'everything's gonna be exactly like it was.'" — Dave Baker"Comics is always reliant on one guy doing the right thing. All these companies are always one dude." — Dave Baker"These are people that are getting into this to maximize the value of IP, not to make things." — John Barber"You look at those pages and they are the monastic, obsessive, maniacal renderings of like a crazy person." — Dave Baker"Jack Kirby by way of a Tijuana Bible style is just so rad." — Dave Baker"Most cartoonists are doomed to a life of anonymity and crushing poverty." — Dave Baker Splash Page[00:03:40] – The Dark Horse Clearing: Discussing the departure of Mike Richardson and the "synergistic" corporate speak that followed.[00:08:37] – The Changing of the Guard: Why the next CEO probably won't greenlight meticulous Richard Corben collections.[00:10:41] – DC's Creative Oxygen: How the "All In" initiative is attracting readers by letting creators breathe.[00:13:08] – Peow Studio and the 80s Manga Vibe: Spotlighting the small publishers making noise in the indie sphere.[00:21:23] – The Ken Landgraf Mystery: Discovering the 1970s journeyman who drew the first solo Wolverine story.[00:26:31] – The Return of the Tyrant: Stephen R. Bissette’s T-Rex masterpiece hits Kickstarter[26:47] – The Tyrant Returns: Discussing the ambitious $200,000 Kickstarter for Steven R. Bissette’s dinosaur masterwork.[32:12] – The Punk Rock Creative Grind: Dave Baker shares the seven-year journey and eight drafts behind Punk'n Heads.Support the Corner BoxDavid Hedgecock (https://funtimego.com)John Barber (https://www.pugworldwide.com)The Corner Box (https://www.thecornerbox.club) - Official WebsiteDive Deeper Into the Back Issue BinDave Baker (Dave Baker) - Writer of Punk'n Heads and Halloween Boy.Nicole Goux (https://www.nicolegoux.com) - Artist and co-creator of Punk'n Heads.Mike Richardson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Richardson_(publisher) - Founder of Dark Horse Comics.Steven R. Bissette (https://srbissette.com) - Legendary artist of Swamp Thing and creator of Tyrant.Ken Landgraf (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Landgraf) - Cult classic cartoonist and creator of New York City Outlaws.Alexis Ziritt (Alexis Ziritt) - Artist on Space Riders and Night Hunt

John breaks down the final chapter of a decades-long war that makes the Avengers Civil War look like a playground spat. That’s right! We are back in the archives to wrap up the "Anything Goes" saga, tracking the fallout of the most infamous punch in science fiction history and a legal feud that just wouldn't die.The  RecapJohn digs deeper into the rabbit hole to close the book on Michael Fleisher, Gary Groth, and the legendary Harlan Ellison. The story shifts from the courtroom to the 1985 Nebula Awards, where Ellison decided to settle a review with a left hook. We explore the bizarre "Victims of Ellison" newsletter, a club founded by critics and editors just to trade insults. The guys also weigh in on Peter David’s legendary platform at the Comics Buyer’s Guide and a letter-writing scandal that nearly broke Fantagraphics. It’s a wild look at an era when the industry’s biggest names spent more time in depositions than at drawing boards. By the end, lawsuits settle, careers move on, people pass away, and the industry keeps rolling—leaving behind a bizarre, petty, and oddly entertaining chapter of comics history that proves creative people can hold grudges longer than a serialized storyline.Key Panels (Highlights)[00:01:49] – The Spider-Man Paradox: David notes that the month's top Spidey books aren't even Marvel-published.[00:05:38] – Anything Goes Finale Begins: Ellison vs. Groth feud spirals beyond reason.[00:12:21] – The Nebula Left Hook: The blow-by-blow of Harlan Ellison’s physical altercation with critic Charles Platt.[00:17:53] – The Anti-Fan Club: The birth of "Enemies of Ellison" and the $14 membership fee to hate a legend.[00:26:30] –The Fake Letter Scandal: A deep look at the Peter David and Gary Groth feud over a forged letter.[00:30:34] – The Edge of Forever: The legal battle over a pamphlet regarding Ellison’s famously late anthology.[00:36:12] – The Final Settlement: Ellison and Groth finally agree to stop the "ad hominem" personal attacks.00:40:34 – Epilogue of Legends: Careers end, lives move on, grudges linger.Support the FellasDavid Hedgecock (https://funtimego.com) - The Corner Box Co-HostJohn Barber (https://www.pugworldwide.com) - The Corner Box Co-HostThe Corner Box (https://www.thecornerbox.club) - Official WebsiteDive Deeper Into the Back Issue BinHarlan Ellison (https://harlanellison.com) - Legendary writer, litigant, and central figure of the "Anything Goes" saga.Gary Groth (https://www.fantagraphics.com) - Co-founder of Fantagraphics and editor of The Comics Journal.Michael Fleisher (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Fleisher) - Writer who sued Ellison and later became an anthropological consultant.Peter David (https://www.peterdavid.net) - Veteran writer and creator of the "Friends of Ellison" club.J. Michael Straczynski (https://twitter.com/straczynski) - Babylon 5 creator and executor of the Ellison estate.Todd McFarlane (https://mcfarlane.com) - Image Comics founder whose Spider-Man reprint is currently topping charts.

David and John break down the fallout of a massive industry earthquake and step back in time to the most surreal courtroom drama in comic book history. It’s the kind of "inside comics" that reminds you why the business is just as wild as the pages we print.The  RecapThe era of the "comic book guy" CEO is officially on life support as Mike Richardson exits Dark Horse, leaving the company in the hands of a video game-focused equity firm. David and John worry that massive corporate debt at Warner Bros. Discovery could lead to DC Comics becoming a mere licensing farm rather than a publisher. Shifting to the past, it’s Part-two of the infamous 1980s Fleisher vs. Harlan Ellison libel trial as the guys dissect the grueling four-week trial where Michael Fleisher sued the Comics Journal and Harlan Ellison over being called "certifiable." The highlight involves Jim Shooter’s "straight shooter" blog recollections of a morality panel that may or may not have happened exactly the way he remembers. It’s a crazy trip into the past and a sad look at the fragile corporate landscape of today. Splash Page Snippets"It is legitimately an end of an era—not just at Dark Horse, but in the comics medium." — David Hedgecock"There aren't many comic book guys in charge of comic book companies anymore." — John Barber"Four weeks of your life spent asking Harlan Ellison if he meant 'bug f*ck' in a clinical sense." — John Barber"I can see a scenario where they kill the division and license out all those properties." — David Hedgecock"I hope he is as inept in court as he is a writer." — Gary Groth (quoted by John Barber) Key Panels (Highlights)[01:29] – The Fall of the First Horse: Mike Richardson’s exit from Dark Horse marks the end of the founder-led era.[05:43] – The Xenomorph Standard: How Dark Horse proved licensed comics could actually be high-quality storytelling.[09:02] – The New Corporate Masters: A look at the changing guard at Marvel, DC, IDW, and Boom.[18:27] – Crisis on Infinite Debts: Why 70 billion in debt might turn DC into a mere licensing farm.[28:25] – Trial of the Century: The grueling four-week courtroom saga of Fleisher vs. The Comics Journal.[37:38] – Enter: The 26-Year-Old EIC: Jim Shooter takes the stand as the industry’s youngest expert witness.[43:58] – The Shooter Cut: Jim's "straight shooter" retelling of the infamous 1980 San Diego morality panel.Support The Comic BoxDavid Hedgecock (Fun Time Go) - Corner Box Co-HostJohn Barber (PUG Worldwide) - Corner Box Co-HostThe Corner Box (The Corner Box Club) - Official WebsiteDig DeeperMike Richardson (Mike Richardson) - Founder of Dark Horse Comics.Mike Mignola (Official Site) - Creator of Hellboy.Frank Miller (Official Site) - Creator of Sin City and 300.Paul Chadwick (Wikipedia) - Creator of the indie hit Concrete.Jim Shooter (Official Blog) - Former Marvel EIC and expert witness.Gary Groth (Fantagraphics) - Co-founder of The Comics Journal.Mark Evanier (News From ME) - Veteran writer, historian, and panel moderator.

In this episode, Anything Goes! John rises from the dead (again) to team up with David, for a deep dive into the wildest comics scandal of the 1980s: the Harlan Ellison interview that sparked a $2 million libel lawsuit and divided the comic book industry.Stay tuned for Part 2: Everything Went!Timestamp Segments[01:11] Warner gets bought… again.[06:33] Anything Goes![08:04] Byron Preiss: The Trailblazer.[13:41] John meets Ellison.[15:11] The Comics Journal.[21:50] The Infamous Ellison Interview – What Really Happened?[33:05] *Listener break*[33:33] Ellison vs. Fleisher: Clash of the Titans.[51:23] Comics: A World Divided.[52:51] The start of Anything Goes!Notable Quotes“In the 1970s, comics were a childish disposable medium, and not even a good one.”“I don’t think I’ve ever been a bigger fan of Harlan Ellison than I am right now.”“Eventually, Disney rules the world.”Books MentionedAbsolute Green Lantern/Green Arrow, by Dennis O’Neil, Elliot Maggin, Dick Giordano, & Neal Adams.American Flagg!, by Howard Chaykin, Hilary Barta, Rick Burchett, Don Lomax, James Sherman, Joe Staton, & Larry Stroman.Anything Goes!Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, & Lynn Varley.Blackhawk, The Shadow, by Howard Chaykin.Blackmark, by Gil Kane, Archie Goodwin, & Gary Groth.Captain Victory, Silver Star, by Jack Kirby.Cerebus, by Dave Sim.Chandler: Red Tide, Dreadstar, by Jim Steranko.Chasing Hairy, by Michael Fleisher.Conan the Barbarian.Dial H for Hero, by Sam Humphries & Joe Quinones.The Divided States of Hysteria, by Howard Chaykin.ElfQuest.Essential Ellison, by Harlan Ellison.Frankenstein, by Bernie Wrightson.Hipster Detective Lloyd Llewellyn, by Daniel Clowes.His Name is... Savage!

David and John dive into the state of comics, using insights only decades in the industry can provide, and yet another Corner Box prediction comes true. At this point, should we be worried?David reads and reviews all three Breed miniseries (yes, all of them), there’s renewed excitement around the epic Superman VS Spider-Man crossover, M.A.S.K. gets a facelift, and more importantly, Captain Underpants is set to become a manga.Then: the real crisis. How do we even hear about new comics anymore? With no universal pull list, too much noise, and dwindling visibility, David and John debate the growing discovery crisis.Timestamp Segments[00:51] We have more listeners.[01:38] Who are John and David?[02:55] WWI was worse than comics.[03:53] David’s full Breed Trilogy breakdown.[14:47] Is there redemption for Breed?[17:46] Breed vs Dreadstar.[19:17] How Jim Starlin shaped comics.[21:36] Superman VS Spider-Man.[27:23] Captain Underpants… as manga?![28:24] The discovery dilemma: How do we find new comics?[28:58] John makes a shocking confession.[33:54] How to improve visibility.[36:01] M.A.S.K. is back.[41:43] Another Corner Box prediction comes true.Notable Quotes“So far, as bad as some things can get in comics, WWI was worse.”“There was more than one week where I chose comic books over eating.”“DSTLRY, putting the stuff in the format pioneered by Jim Starlin with the Death of Captain Marvel.”Books Mentioned2000 AD.Amazing Spider-Man (1963-1998).Batman: Dark Patterns, by Dan Watters & Hayden Sherman.Batman: The Cult, by Jim Starlin, Bernie Wrightson, & Bill Wray.Blood Brothers Mother, by Brian Azzarello & Eduardo Risso.Bone, by Jeff Smith.Breed, Dreadstar, Metamorphosis Odyssey, by Jim Starlin.Captain Marvel (1968-1979).Cerebus, by Dave Sim.Conan the Barbarian.Cosmic Odyssey, by Jim Starlin & Mike Mignola.Death, by Neil Gaiman, Chris Bachalo, Mark Buckingham, John Totleben, & Dave McKean.Dreadstar VS The Inevitable, Dreadstar VS Dreadstar, by Jim Starlin & Jaime Jameson.

David is joined by Editor-in-Chief of Fun Time Go, Inc., Chase Marotz, for a free-dive into the wild world of comics, from their weekend adventures with snare drums, cold beers, and tall stacks of comics, to the wild world of comic book publishing rights and the decades-long saga of Miracleman, one of the industry’s most infamous legal nightmares.Then, Chase steps into the ring to do the unthinkable: defend The Clone Saga. Love it or hate it, this polarizing Spider-Man storyline gets its day in court as Chase makes a case for its redemption.Timestamp Segments[00:56] David’s exciting weekend.[01:53] Timing a big reveal.[05:48] The Clone Saga.[07:26] Ghost Machine comics.[09:29] Why Spider-Girl is canceled.[11:20] Den.[13:03] How to get into Savage Dragon.[15:02] Malibu Comics.[17:24] How great is Breed?[21:20] Chase is ensnared.[22:30] Chase’s three beers.[23:15] The Miracleman legal drama.[31:18] The story of Miracleman.[36:31] The predatory world of publishing rights.[41:20] Alan Moore vs Grant Morrison.Notable Quotes“You should never assume that you’re going to get an Issue #3.”“When the lettering is great, it shouldn’t stand out, at all.”“Nobody goes into comic books to make money.”Relevant LinksTheCornerBox.ClubBooks Mentioned1602, Neil Gaiman & Andy Kubert.Angela, by Neil Gaiman.Batman, by Kelley Jones.Batman, by Norm Breyfogle.Batman: Odyssey, by Neal Adams.Batman: Three Jokers, by Geoff Johns, Jason Fabok, & Brad Anderson.Breed, Dreadstar, by Jim Starlin.Den, by Richard Corben.Dracula, by Matt Wagner & Kelley Jones.Geiger, by Gary Frank, Brad Anderson, & Geoff Johns.Green Lantern, by Geoff Johns.Green Lantern (2018-2019).Hellspawn, by Brian Michael Bendis, Steve Niles, Ashley Wood, & Ben Templesmith.Invincible, by Robert Kirkman, John Rauch, & Ryan Ottley.The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, by Alan Moore & Kevin O’Neill.

David and John "Transformers Hall-of-Famer" Barber are joined by regular guest, Chase Marotz, for a deep dive into the wild and wonderful frontier of public domain. This is where expired copyrights mean anything goes (kind of)!They wade through the murky rules of public domain reuse, highlight some exciting new and upcoming properties, and uncover David’s master plan to rejuvenate century-old comic book properties. Chase weighs in with wisdom derived from his extensive beer collection, and they all mourn the shrinking world of comic bookstores, one back issue bin at a time.Timestamp Segments[01:21] David toots John’s horn.[04:08] Chase and the Tutu.[06:38] Stardust the 4th Most Super Wizard.[08:29] Public domain properties.[10:08] What is available now?[11:16] The next 10 years in comics.[12:50] The public domain rules.[19:25] Different renditions of properties.[26:44] The DC loophole.[27:48] How to make public domain properties interesting.[34:33] Chase’s current reading.[36:34] David reads pictureless comics.[38:08] Where to buy comics.Notable Quotes“When we speak, it’s from a place of love and expertise.”“The level of fanfic that’s going to happen once this stuff is available is going to be insane.”“I suggest everybody just wait 95 years and then listen to this somewhere else.”Books MentionedAction Comics.All-Star Superman, by Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely, Jamie Grant, Neal Adams, & Travis Lanham.The Bat-Man: First Knight, The Bat-Man: Second Knight, by Dan Jurgens and Mike Perkins.Doctor Strange & Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment, by Roger Stern, Mike Mignola, & Mark Badger.Dracula, by Bram Stoker.Dungeon Crawler Carl, by Matt Dinniman.Dungeons & Dragons.Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley.Ginseng Roots, by Craig Thompson.I Shall Destroy All The Civilized Planets!, by Fletcher Hanks & Paul Karasik.Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth, by Chris Ware.The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, by Alan Moore & Kevin O’Neill.The Maltese Falcon, by Dashiell Hammett.

John and David put on their reading glasses and get into Jack Kirby’s Galactic Bounty Hunters, Steve Ditko’s Art, The Conan Revolution, The Return of Bill Schanes, and the Uncertain Future of the Will Eisner Library.Timestamp Segments[00:33] John can see clearly now.[02:21] It IS possible to collect all of G.I. Joe.[05:01] Jack Kirby: Galactic Bounty Hunters.[13:29] How to get through Invincible.[18:59] Steve Ditko: The Commerce of Art.[22:50] The Conan Revolution.[25:26] Gabe Rodriguez makes his mark.[29:00] The Will Eisner Library.[31:08] The thing about The Spirit.[33:37] Who will buy it?[36:13] Bud Plant: The Return of Bill Schanes.[40:48] The best company for the Eisner Library.[44:18] The Public Domain.[45:25] This is just for David.Notable Quotes“Congratulations, and welcome to getting old.”“Remember, we live in a world where Steve Ditko did Indiana Jones comics.”“You’ve just been Corner Boxed.”Books MentionedA Contract with God, by Will Eisner, Dave Gibbons, Denis Kitchen, & John Lind.Adventures of Superman (2013-2014).Amazing Fantasy, by Stan Lee & Steve Ditko.Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers, by Jack Kirby.Conan the Barbarian.Cosmochasm, by Alejandro Jodorowsky & Gabriel Rodríguez.Cyber Force, by Marc Silvestri.The Dreamer, Invisible People, by Will Eisner.Galactic Bounty Hunters (2006-2007), by Jack Kirby, Michael Thibodeaux, & Karl Kesel.G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.Groo the Wonderer, by Sergio Aragones.Guardians of the Galaxy (2008-2010).Hack/Slash.Indiana Jones: The Further Adventures. Invincible, by Robert Kirkman, John Rauch, & Ryan Ottley.Last of the Viking Heroes, by Jack Kirby & Michael Thibodeaux.Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland, by Eric Shanower, Gabriel Rodriguez, & Nelson Daniel.Locke & Key, by Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez.

Our Best of 2025 continues! We find out which comics and artists made it on to the comics industry’s most prestigious (and accurate!) awards list: The Corner Box Best of 2025! This week's awards include Best Original Graphic Novel, Best Collection and Archival Collection, Best New Series, Favorite Comeback, Favorite Artist and Cover Artist, and Best Continuing Series.Timestamp Segments[00:54] The Best Best Of List.[01:56] Recap of last week’s Bests.[01:58] Best Original Graphic Novel.[02:17] Best Collection.[02:32] Best New Series.[02:51] Favorite Artist.[04:39] Best Archival Collection.[08:53] The self-publishing movement.[13:46] John’s first publication.[14:27] David’s comics manifesto.[18:40] David’s 2024/25 Best Archival Collection.[22:47] Favorite Cover Artist.[28:30] Favorite Comeback.[39:39] Where does John buy his comics?[42:32] Best Continuing Series.[49:46] Honorable Mentions.Notable Quotes“This is the only true, valid list of Best of 2025 that’s out there.”“This is what we wanted. As fans of comic books, people have been screaming for this, for a while.”“Fletcher Hanks froze to death on a bench.”Books MentionedAbsolute Batman, by Scott Snyder & Nick Dragotta.Absolute Batman 2025 Annual.Absolute Wonder Woman, by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, & Jordie Bellaire.Aquaman, by Jeremy Adams & John Timms.Assorted Crisis Events.Bacchus, by Eddie Campbell.Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, by Frank Miller.Batman: Hush 2, by Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee, Scott Williams, & Alex Sinclair.Batman: The Long Halloween, by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale.Batman: Year 100, by Paul Pope & Jose Villarrubia.Blueberry, by Jean-Michel Charlier & Moebius.Bone, by Jeff Smith.Captain Marvel (2019-2023).Cerebus, by Dave Sim.Complete Megaton Man Universe Volume 1: The 1980s, by Don Simpson & Bill Morrison.Cornelius: The Merry Life of a

John and David bring us their BEST OF 2025! They take a look at the comics that took the world by storm, the stories that shaped the industry, the artists that made it all possible, and a few honorable mentions (some maybe not from 2025... the fellas got a little excited). Timestamp Segments[00:38] The true 2025 review.[04:00] John’s Favorites: New Material.[08:10] The story of Prometheus.[09:36] David’s Favorites: New Material.[13:25] Favorite Interior Artist of the Year.[17:21] OGN of the Year.[25:10] Best New Ongoing Series.Notable Quotes“We’re probably the only truly valid Best of 2025 List that’s really going to be out there.”“It’s the most David Finchy thing that’s ever been drawn.”“Keep on comic-ing, everyone.”Relevant LinksTheCornerbox.ClubBooks Mentioned20th Century Man, by Stipan Morian & Deniz Camp.Absolute Batman, by Scott Snyder & Nick Dragotta.Assorted Crisis Events.Absolute Martian Manhunter, by Deniz Camp & Javier Rodriguez.Absolute Wonder Woman, by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, & Jordie Bellaire.Batman and Robin: Year One, by Mark Waid & Chris Samnee.Invincible, Invincible Universe: Battle Beast, by Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley, & Annalisa Leoni.Copra, Death of Copra, by Michel Fiffe.Don’t Go Where I Can’t Follow, Tongues, by Anders Nilsen.Dreadstar, Gilgamesh II, by Jim Starlin.Drome, Hedra, Kaya, Man’s Best, by Jesse Lonergan.Fire Power, by Robert Kirkman & Chris Samnee.G.I. Joe.G.I. Joe: Real American Hero.Helen of Wyndhorn, by Tom King, Bilquis Evely, & Matheus Lopes.Hitman, by Garth Ennis & John McCrea.Little Bird, 

Heroic Signatures Editor, Chris Butera, joins David and John to talk about all things Conan the Barbarian! They get into Jim Zub’s mastery of Conan lore, the expansion of the Howard-verse, the importance of a good writer-artist pairing, and fitting stories into a modern context, and David learns about comics without pictures.Timestamp Segments[01:14] This is the Barbarian.[02:51] How Chris fell into comics.[04:15] Jim Zub is made for success.[08:37] Starting on Conan.[11:47] Into the Howard-verse.[16:38] Finding new artists.[17:37] The Rob and Roy comic magic.[21:51] Why writer-artist pairings are so important.[28:12] Dealing with Solomon Kane.[37:35] Robert E. Howard’s prolific output.[39:34] Staying true to Conan while gaining new readers.[43:46] How Conan stands the test of time.[47:17] What’s in-store of Conan in 2026?Notable Quotes“Prose is comic books without pictures.”“Let the artist cook.”“We have this goldfish memory, culturally, sometimes, where we forget how acceptable certain things were, how recently, and then cast back 100 years from that, and expect those values to have been in place 100 years earlier…”Relevant Linkswww.ChrisButera.comwww.HeroicSignatures.comBooks MentionedAlter Ego, by Roy Thomas & Ron Harris.Conan, Shadows in Zamboula, The Dark Man, by Robert E. Howard.Conan the Barbarian.Conan the Barbarian: Battle of the Black Stone, by Jim Zub & Jonas Scharf.Conan the Barbarian: Frozen Faith, by Jim Zub & Doug Braithwaite.Conan the Barbarian: Scourge of the Serpent, by Jim Zub, Ivan Gil, & Joao Canola.Corto Maltese, by Hugo Pratt.Dungeons & Dragons.The Frost-Giant’s Daughter, by Robert E. Howard & Raymond West.Head Lopper, by Andrew MacLean.The Invincible Iron Man (2004-2007).Popeye.Savage Avengers (2019-2022). Savage Sword of Conan.Transformers.

Challengers Comics + Conversation’s Patrick Brower joins John and David for part 2 of this year-end conversation about all things comics in 2025. They get into why David can’t get all the variant covers, the Marvel/DC crossovers, what made the Absolute Line so successful, the good and the bad of 2025, and looking ahead at the comics industry in 2026, and Patrick makes a prediction – will it come true?Timestamp Segments[00:57] Excitement for 2026.[04:38] The variant covers headache.[08:03] Marvel and DC do different books together.[09:59] The average customer.[11:09] The DC/Marvel solution.[12:29] DC K.O.[14:22] What makes the Absolute Line work?[17:56] Was 2025 a good year for comics?[19:10] PRH’s payment portal.[21:28] Book distributors vs comic distributors.[23:31] Making more money – still broke.[25:06] What’s coming up in 2026?[29:09] Patrick’s prediction for 2026.[30:21] Patrick mentions wrestling.[30:40] Warner being bought, again.[31:35] The longest-running comic shop.Notable Quotes“I'm not saying any names, whatsoever.”“Your average customer isn't the expert customer you're hearing from on the internet.”“I'm just disappointed that Time Warner rejected the Blockbuster video bid from the early 90s.”Relevant LinksChallengerscomics.comBooks MentionedAbsolute Batman, by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, & Frank Martin.Absolute Green Lantern, by Al Ewing & Jahnoy Lindsay.Absolute Martian Manhunter, by Deniz Camp & Javier Rodriguez.Absolute Superman, by Jason Aaron & Rafa Sandoval.Absolute Wonder Woman, by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, & Jordie Bellaire.Batman, by Matt Fraction & Jorge Jiménez.The Cull, by Kelly Thompson & Mattia de Iulis.DC K.O., by Scott Snyder, Xermanico, Javi Fernandez, & Alejandro Sanchez.DC/Marvel: Batman/Deadpool.G.I. Joe.Ice Cream Man, by W. Maxwell Price, Martin Morazzo, & Chris O’Halloran.Marvel/DC: Deadpool/Batman (2025- ).Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. (2006-2010), by Warren Ellis & Stuart Immonen.

Challengers Comics + Conversation’s very own Patrick Brower joins John and David for a 2-part year-end conversation about all things comics in 2025. They get into how Diamond’s fall reshaped the entire industry, what it takes to run a comic bookstore, the disappearance of customer service, and a week in the life of a Challengers comic book.Stay tuned for Part 2 of The Corner Box vs Patrick Brower!Timestamp Segments[01:13] The podcast peaks.[05:00] The fall of Diamond.[13:53] Navigating smaller margins.[16:57] Where is customer service?[19:05] Heroes World.[20:46] Delivery headaches.[25:09] David gets a card.[27:06] The shelf-life of a Challengers comic book.Notable Quotes“Not being able to access customer service and talk to a real-live person in 2025, there’s nothing that makes me more angry than that.”“It’s not a New Year’s card. It’s a Christmas card.”“If you want people to look through stuff, hide it.”Relevant Linkschallengerscomics.comBooks MentionedKamen Rider, by Shotaro Ishinomori.Transformers.Transformers: Optimus Prime, by John Barber & Kei Zama.

The one and only real Jim McCann joins John and David to talk about his secret careers in music and flower arranging, the truth behind the success of the podcast, a peek the behind-the-scenes in comic book publishing offices, and how to put a double-page spread to good use. Also, David wets himself, Jim wets his comics, and John gets a rock.Timestamp Segments[00:48] David’s leaky pipes.[04:28] Jim loses comics.[05:12] David finds comics.[06:16] The third best Jim McCann.[06:53] Jim is algorithm-optimized.[08:37] The world, summarized.[10:16] The best office locations.[17:53] The Other/Half.[19:30] Setting up a double-page spread.[22:33] The perfect page turn.[32:01] Working with Ignition Press.[42:11] Jim’s other secret projects.[43:25] John and G.I. Joe.Notable Quotes“I was there for, if I recall correctly, about another 435 years.”“Sometimes, rocks are bad. Sometimes, they’re good.”“I’m responsible for more failed relaunches of G.I. Joe than any other human being.”Books MentionedAvengers #800, by Brian Michael Bendis, Jed Mackay, Mark Bagley, Farid Karami, & Russell Dauterman.Avengers Disassembled.Civil War.Conan the Barbarian.Dazzler, by Jim McCann & Kalman Andrasofszky.Deluge, by Cullen Bunn & Marika Cresta.G.I. Joe.Green Lantern: Ganthet’s Tale, by John Byrne & Larry Niven.Green Lantern Mosaic, by Gerard Jones & Cully Hamner.Hawkeye & Mockingbird, by Jim McCann, David Lopez, & Paul Renaud.House of M.Mind the Gap, by Jim McCann.Morning Glories, by Joe Eisma, Nick Spencer, & Rodin Esquejo.Murder Podcast, by Jeremy Haun, Mike Tisserand, & Nick Filardi.Mutant Massacre.New Avengers: The Reunion, by Jim McCann, David Lopez, & Jo Chen.New Teen Titans.Return of the Dapper Men, by Jim McCann & Janet Lee.Something is Killing the Children, by James Tynion IV, Werther Dell’Edera, & Miquel Muerto.Star Trek: Year Five.

Superguy creator and Comics and Chronic cohost, Anthony Iannaccio, joins John and David to talk about his career arc, from WWE arenas to writing comedy superhero comics, the super team behind Superguy, the state of comedy in comics, and the best comics of the moment.Relevant LinksMrTonyNachoTimestamp Segments[00:43] Comics and Chronic.[02:08] The secret to longevity.[03:09] Anthony career arc.[04:18] Getting into comics.[07:59] Stand-up comedy.[09:54] Writing for WWE.[13:29] Breaking into comics.[17:07] Superguy.[19:26] Comedy in comics.[22:29] Are audiences more sophisticated these days?[23:40] The Superguy Super Team.[26:50] Overcoming the pressure to perform.[29:49] David’s thoughts on Superguy.[31:32] The best of the latest comics.[35:55] Get your MrTonyNacho comics.[37:43] A true commitment to the fans.Notable Quotes“If you’re successful in comic books, you write for other media, and if you’re not successful in comic books, you write for other media.”“It’s harder to write a 20-page comic than a 22-page one.”“I don’t think there’s enough good comedy in comics anymore.”Books MentionedAbsolute Batman, by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Gabriel Walta, & Frank Martin.Absolute Martian Manhunter, by Deniz Camp & Javier Rodriguez.Absolute Wonder Woman, by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, & Jordie Bellaire.Assorted Crisis Events, by Deniz Camp, Eric Zawadzki, Jordie Bellaire, & Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Watterson.Civil War.Drome, by Jesse Lonergan.Hawkeye, by Matt Fraction & David Aja.Infinite Crisis.Mutant Massacre.Nightwing, by Tom Taylor.Quick Stops, by Kevin Smith, Jeremy Simser, & John Sprengelmeyer.RoboWolf, by Jake Smith.Spectators, by Brian K. Vaughan & Niko Henrichon.Sugar Bomb, by David Hedgecock.Superguy, by Anthony Iannaccio & Joey Murphy.The Tick, by Ben Edlund.Ultimate Endgame (2025- ), by Deniz Camp

John, David, and Everybody Else (aka Mason Rabinowitz) return for Part 2 of the "Top 5 Runs in All of Marvel Comics"! They get into the Top 3, make some honorable mentions, add a few titillating surprises, and then the trio faces-off for the True #1 Marvel Comic Run.Relevant LinksBehind the Panels of Marvel’s Secret WarsTimestamp Segments[00:00] Check out This Secret Wars Kickstarter![02:13] John’s #3.[05:34] Dave Cockrum vs John Byrne.[09:42] Mason’s #2.[13:35] David’s #2.[17:10] John’s #2.[18:16] Mason’s Top Comic Run.[19:07] Lee/Kirby magic.[20:22] Has David read Fantastic Four?[22:09] John’s Top Comic Run.[25:07] Why Spider-Man didn’t make the list.[27:58] David’s Top Comic Run.[32:08] When New Mutants gets really great.[33:32] The Liefeld rollercoaster.[35:54] Behind the Panels of Marvel’s Secret Wars.Notable Quotes“That book is the Marvel Universe.”“You might be right, but you’re wrong.”“New Mutants: better than girls.”Books MentionedAmazing Fantasy #15, The Amazing Spider-Man – The Master Planner, by Stan Lee & Steve Ditko.The Amazing Spider-Man (1963-1998).Avengers: Kree/Skrull War, by Roy Thomas, John Buscema, & Neal Adams.Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, & Lynn Varley.Buffy the Vampire Slayer.Classic X-Men (1986-1990).Daredevil (1964-1998).Daredevil, by Ann Nocenti & John Romita Jr.Daredevil: Born Again, by Frank Miller & David Mazzucchelli.Deadpool/Batman (2025).Fantastic Four (1961-1998).Fantastic Four: Imaginauts, Unthinkable, by Mark Waid & Mike Wieringo.The Flash, by Mark Waid.Incredible Hulk, by Peter David.

Everybody Else (aka Mason Rabinowitz) joins John and (eventually) David for Part 1 of their "Top 5 Runs in All of Marvel Comics"! They get into what makes a run truly great, some iconic collaborations and runs that didn’t make the lists, the exciting Behind the Panels of Secret Wars, and Batman’s new logo. Also, David makes a surprise appearance on today’s episode.Stay tuned for Part 2 of The Corner Box vs Mason Rabinowitz next week!Relevant LinksBehind the Panels of Marvel’s Secret WarsTimestamp Segments[00:00] Check out This Secret Wars Kickstarter![01:49] What’s David really doing?[02:08] Everybody Else is here.[02:45] David’s real Top 5.[03:14] The Top 5 Criteria.[05:12] What has Mason been working on?[08:46] Mason’s #5.[14:33] John’s #5.[18:41] Wait, there’s another host![19:34] Batman’s new logo.[20:17] Honorable mentions.[21:26] David’s #5.[26:46] Mason’s #4.[28:23] David’s #3.[35:26] David’s #4.[37:14] Mason’s #3.Notable Quotes“There is no objective measurement of this, and anybody that pretends there is, there isn’t.”“It’s the only run… that started in 1982 that you can still go out and pick up the current issue of, by the same writer.”“And then Thor becomes a frog for two issues.”Books MentionedAlien: The Illustrated Story, Manhunter, by Archie Goodwin & Walter Simonson.Avengers (1963-1996).Batman (2025- ), by Matt Fraction & Jorge Jiménez.Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Daredevil, by Frank Miller.Bloodstrike, by Rob Liefeld, Dan Fraga, Danny Miki, & Thomas Mason.Cerebus, by David Sim.Daredevil, by Brian Michael Bendis & Alex Maleev.Fantastic Four (1998-2012).G.I. Joe, by Larry Hama.Incredible Hulk (1962-1999).M.A.R.S. Patrol, by Wally Wood.Marvel Knights Punisher, Punisher Max, by Garth Ennis.

John and David go undercover in search of the answer to the ultimate question: Why? They get into the magic of great creators and their stories, do a deep dive on the recent Batman/Deadpool comic by Grant Morrison and Dan Mora, and discuss David’s unchecked comics spending. Also, John has a revelation.Timestamp Segments[01:06] Why?[02:07] David’s Why? Salvation Run.[05:46] John’s Why? Youngblood #1.[09:04] The most Garth Ennis of Garth Ennis books.[14:00] The thing about Hitman.[19:05] The DC One Million controversy.[20:34] Grant Morrison writes the comic book of the moment.[22:11] Batman/Deadpool.[23:11] All the Morrison layers.[31:15] Marvel vs DC stories.[34:36] The magical Carlos Ezquerra.[36:45] The Stainless Steel Rat.[40:43] John’s revelation.[44:15] Spawn: The Dark Ages.[49:24] The return of the Swat Kats.[54:01] Spending too much on comics.Notable Quotes“In general, he’s just too smart for me.”“I take it all back, man. He’s great.”“I think I may have spent more money in comics than I’ve made.Books MentionedAnimal Man (1988-1995).Back to the Future: Untold Tales & Alternate Timelines. Batman: No Man’s Land.Batman & Robin (2009-2011).Bloodstrike, by Rob Liefeld, Dan Fraga, Danny Miki, & Thomas Mason.The Boys, by Garth Ennis & Darick Robertson.Conan the Barbarian.Crisis on Infinite Earths, by Marv Wolfman & George Perez.DC K.O.DC/Marvel: Batman/Deadpool.DC One Million.The Demon Annual #2: Introducing Hitman, Dicks, Hitman, Troubled Souls, by Garth Ennis & John McCrea.Ernest & the Dream Stone, by Corey Perkins, M. Arief Russanto, Mariam Yasser.Final Crisis, by Grant Morrison & J.G. Jones.For a Few Troubles More, by Garth Ennis, John McCrea, & Wendy Simpson.

Rob Worst cheats death once again and joins John and David to talk about the art of collecting comics, the value of original art, the rise of AI and digital comics, and the importance of artists supporting other artists.SUPPORT THE SHOW! DO FUN THINGS!John has a Kickstarter | Behind the Panels of Marvel’s Secret WarsRob Worst has a podcast | Not Near MintTimestamp Segments[00:00] Check out This Secret Wars Kickstarter![02:03] The show gains a new listener![02:39] Rob’s origin story.[03:33] Rob cheats death.[05:59] To slab or not to slab?[13:34] Signed comics.[16:45] The rise of digital comics.[21:01] The Mark Spears phenomenon.[23:26] AI comics.[24:46] David’s Dan Mora story.[27:34] 3D comics.[31:37] Collecting CG comics.[32:48] The true value of original art.[35:58] Artists supporting artists.[41:07] Not Near Mint.Notable Quotes“Rule #1: don’t die.”“You can’t smell digital.”“One day, today will have been 20 years ago.”Books MentionedBatman: The Man Who Laughs, by Ed Brubaker, Doug Mahnke, Patrick Zircher, Tim Sale, Aaron Sowd, Steve Bird, & David Baron.Daredevil: Born Again, by Frank Miller & David Mazzucchelli.Detective Comics (1937-2011).Dungeons & Dragons.Faust, by David Quinn & Tim Vigil.The Forever People, by Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta, Frank Giacoia, Mike Royer, Tom Ziuko, & Jim Amash.G.I. Joe.Gold Digger.Grips, by Kris Silver & Tim Vigil.Hexed, by Michael Alan Nelson, Dan Mora, & Emma Ríos.Iron Man: Crash, by Mike Saenz.Justice League Unlimited, by Mark Waid & Dan Mora.The Monster and the Wolf, by Mark Spears.New Champions (2025- ), by Steve Foxe, Ivan Fiorelli, & Gleb Melnikov.New Mutants (1983-1991).Nightwing (1996-2009).

Former Marvel editor and Behind the Panels writer, Ellie Pyle, joins John and David to talk about the upcoming Behind the Panels of Marvel’s Secret Wars! They get into Ellie’s career path through every known form of media, the ins and outs of working at big companies, the process of creating the Behind the Panels book, and collaborating with the nicest people in comics.Relevant LinksWomen of MarvelBehind the Panels of Marvel’s Secret WarsTimestamp Segments[00:00] Check out This Secret Wars Kickstarter![02:18] Ellie is too impressive.[04:24] The most fun Marvel summit ever.[07:58] What it’s like to develop a book at Marvel.[12:05] Making comics at Riot Games.[19:57] Marvel Television.[21:13] Women of Marvel.[23:31] Ellies favorite project, Spider-Boy.[28:31] Getting back into publishing.[31:36] Creating a space for theatre.[33:27] What’s Secret Wars?[35:52] Behind the Panels.[44:22] Creator-owned books.[46:22] Knowing when to trust a writer.Notable Quotes“Sales are the only thing that keeps this business alive.”“If it weren’t for Ron Lim, Paco Medina would be the nicest guy in comics.”“You need to not be the reason that someone else can’t do their job.”Books Mentioned1872, by Gerry Duggan, Nik Virella, & Leonard Kirk.Aliens vs Avengers (2024- ), Secret Wars (2015-2016), by Jonathan Hickman & Esad Ribic.Amazing Spider-Man (1999-2013).American Vampire, by Scott Snyder, Stephen King, & Rafael Albuquerque.Carnage (2023- ), by Torunn Gronbekk, Pere Perez, Juan Ferreyra, & Paulo Siqueira.Daredevil (2011-2014).Deadpool (2024- ), by Cody Ziglar, Gerry Duggan, Roge Antonio, Andrea di Vito, & Taurin Clarke.Fearless Defenders, by Cullen Bunn, William Sliney, & Mark Brooks.Jem and the Holograms, by Kelly Thompson & Sophie Campbell.Lucifer, by Mike Carey, Peter Gross, & Ryan Kelly.Spider-Boy (2023- ), by Dan Slott & Paco Medina.Spider-Woman (2023- ), by Steve Foxe, Ig Guara, Leinil Yu, & Carola Borelli.

John and David look at what it means to succeed in comics, David Finch's incredible work on Skinbreaker, some new Easter eggs in old comics, and the best way to waste a splash page. Also, John talks about his exciting new Kickstarter, and David sees the light.Support the Fellas!Behind the Panels of Marvel’s Secret WarsTimestamp Segments[00:00] Check out This Secret Wars Kickstarter![02:17] David’s winning week.[04:54] John has 3D glasses.[05:54] John was “hard at work.”[06:24] Good for Guy Davis.[08:06] Winning in comics.[11:29] David sees the light.[15:14] How to waste a splash page.[25:05] How David Finch tells a story.[27:02] Rus Wooton’s evolution.[33:05] Keeping up with the Invincibles.[38:31] Going old-school.[39:10] Did Jack Abel murder Howard Chaykin?[43:00] Popeye’s chin.Notable Quotes“The win state of comics is to not have to do them anymore.”“Creative talent is not being paid commiserate to the amount of work and the amount of skill that is necessary to create those things.”“Nobody asks the question, why did he want to kill Howard Chaykin?”Books MentionedAphrodite IX, by Matt Hawkins, David Wohl, Stjepan Sejic, & David Finch.Baker Street, by Guy Davis & Gary Reed.Batman (2025- ), by Matt Fraction & Jorge Jiménez.Batman: The Dark Knight (2011-2014).B.P.R.D., by Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, Guy Davis, Tyler Crook, Duncan Fegredo, & Dave Stewart.Casanova, by Matt Fraction, Gabriel Bá, & Fábio Moon.Conan the Barbarian #25, by Jim Zub, Alex Horley, & Diego Rodriguez.Defenders #53, by David Anthony Kraft, David Cockrum, Keith Giffen, Michael Golden, & Sandy Plunkett.Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley.G.I. Joe A Real American Hero.Invincible, by Robert Kirkman, John Rauch, & Ryan Ottley.Invincible Universe: Battle Beast, by Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley, & Annalisa Leoni.The Marquis, by Guy Davis.Marvel Team-Up (1972-1985).Miss Mina and the Midnight Guardians, by David Hedgec

John and David share their monthly "Top 10 Hottest Artists of the Moment" list! This isn't some arbitrary list, folks. These artist picks are based on a variety of factors including their current book sales, industry "buzz", and production pulled from several different online and in print sources. Not enough for you? The guys also get into the art of New #1s, John’s life after Grey, and the podcast gets a 5th listener!SUPPORT THE SHOW!John's Company has a Kickstarter!Timestamp Segments[00:50] The podcast gets a new listener![01:31] Are New #1s the answer?[06:05] A new bankruptcy.[07:47] John rereads Grey.[21:21] The Top 10 Hottest Artists of the Moment.[22:16] A shocking drop![22:55] #10 – Iban Coello.[24:50] #9 – Nic Klein.[26:15] #8 – Dan Mora.[27:50] #7 – Ludo Lullabi.[28:50] #6 – Jason Fabok.[29:58] #5 – Gary Frank.[31:02] #4 – Ryan Ottley.[32:35] #3 – You Have...[34:44] #2 – To Listen...[36:30] #1 – To Find Out![37:58] Final thoughts on the current Top 10.Notable Quotes“A New #1 actually does work, even in podcasting.”“Looks can be deceiving, John.”“Even the bad stuff, you can learn from.”Relevant LinksCornerbox.clubBooks MentionedAbsolute Batman (2024- ), by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, & Frank Martin.Absolute Wonder Woman (2024- ), by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, & Jordie Bellaire.Akira, by Katsuhiro Otomo.Aliens vs Avengers (2024- ), by Jonathan Hickman & Esad Ribic.Batman (2025- ), by Matt Fraction & Jorge Jiménez.Battle Chasers, Ghost Pepper, by Ludo Lullabi & Joe Madureira.Big Rig, by Post Malone, Adrian Wassel, & Nathan Gooden.Black Terror, by Beau Smith, Chuck Dixon, & Dan Brereton.DC K.O. #1, by Scott Snyder, Javi Fernández, & Alejandro Sánchez.Geiger, by Geoff Johns & Gary Frank.G.I. Joe A Real American Hero.Good Devils, by David Brothers & Nick Dragotta.Grey, Horobi, by Yoshihisa Tagami.Haunt, by Robert Kirkman, Todd McFarlane, & Ryan Ottley.

After a couple of weeks of really insightful comic talk from John and special guest host (and Fun Time Go EiC), Chase Marotz, David returns just in time to dumb things back down and go “All In” on DC’s K.O. brackets! The guys predict the winning brackets, make a shocking discovery about Batman(?!), announce (again) the return of Vertigo, contemplate Marvel’s ventures into other genres, and speculate about the future of the Ultimate and Absolute Lines. SUPPORT THE SHOW!John's Company has a Kickstarter!Timestamp Segments[00:30] David sees all![01:50] DC K.O.[04:33] John goes off on a weird tangent.[05:29] The old man reactions.[12:04] The fate of the Absolute Line.[13:12] The brackets.[20:22] A Batman shocker![28:07] DC making all the right moves.[29:34] The return of Vertigo (again!)[34:44] Marvel announces the end of the Ultimate Line.[38:32] Marvel’s other comics.Notable Quotes“You want to see a bunch of superheroes fighting each other? That is what this is.”“We’re the Woodward and Bernstein of modern-day comic book reporting.”“DC can keep letting me vote if Jason Todd dies, and I’ll keep voting he dies.”Books Mentioned100 Bullets, by Brian Azzarello, Eduardo Risso, & Dave Johnson.Alien (2021-2022), by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Salvador Larroca, & Marc Aspinall.Aliens vs Avengers (2024- ), by Jonathan Hickman & Esad Ribic.Aliens vs Predator, by Randy Stradley, Phil Norwood, Chris Warner, & Wes Dzioba.Civil War.DCeased, by Tom Taylor, Trevor Hairsine, & Stefano Gaudiano.DC K.O. #1, by Scott Snyder, Javi Fernández, & Alejandro Sánchez.The Death & Return of Superman.Dragon Ball, by Akira Toriyama.Fear Itself, by Matt Fraction & Stuart Immonen.JLA, by Grant Morrison, Howard Porter, & John Dell.Justice League Unlimited, by Mark Waid & Dan Mora.Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, by Mariko Tamaki & Rosemary Valero-O’Connell.Naruto, by Masashi Kishimoto.The New History of the DC Universe.Pokémon.

John and special guest host, Chase Marotz, learn new things about old stuff! They get into pronouncing names they’ve never heard, the state of reproduced comics, and the joy of finishing a really bad comic. Also, John crosses the threshold.Timestamp Segments[01:44] How to pronounce things you’ve never heard.[05:15] Learning new things about old stuff.[07:47] Reading Weapon X.[10:09] The problem with reproduced comics.[14:35] The early years of manga in the US.[17:20] Ranma 1/2.[19:54] The WE3 hype.[23:36] Watching the wrong movie.[29:51] Little Lulu and Tubby at Summer Camp.[36:17] Hate-reading comics.Notable Quotes“People can bully me more today for the comics I only recently read.”“Somewhere, David felt a disturbance in the force, and he didn’t know why.”“I’ve never been happier to not be reading something…”Relevant LinksCornerbox.clubBooks MentionedAkira, by Katsuhiro Otomo.All-Star Superman, by Grant Morrison, Chip Kidd, & Frank Quitely.Appleseed, by Masamune ShirowArchie Comics.Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, & Lynn Varley.Batman: Odyssey, Blood, by Neal Adams.Casper, by Sid Jacobson.Conan.Dwellings, by Jay Stephens.Havok & Wolverine: Meltdown, by Walter Simonson, Louise Simonson, Jon J Muth, & Kent Williams.Hot Stuff.Inuyasha, Maison Ikkoku, Mao, Ranma 1/2, Rin-Ne, Rumic World, Urusei Yatsura, by Rumiko Takahashi.Manhunter, by Archie Goodwin & Walter Simonson.Marge's Little Lulu and Tubby At Summer Camp, by Marge Buell & John Stanley.Monsters, by Barry Windsor-Smith.Sin City, by Frank Miller.Sky Masters, by Jack Kirby & Wally Wood. 

John and Chase Marotz (as David 2.0) get into Autobiographical Comics! They talk about the evolution of autobio comics, what it would take to write about one’s innermost thoughts, grappling with comics as journalism, and the educational value of non-fiction comics. Also, David somehow finds himself in a meaty situation?Timestamp Segments[01:04] What happened to David?[02:24] Chase’s journey into comics.[04:24] Early autobio comics.[11:01] Chase’s favorite 4 Autobio Comics.[13:41] The Playboy.[16:26] Olivia, the Pig.[20:14] Chase’s own autobio comic.[20:46] Writing about secrets.[23:35] John’s own autobio comic.[25:27] It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth.[29:09] Palestine.[30:07] Comics as non-fiction.[32:23] Learning by reading comics.[35:35] What we can learn from autobio comics.[36:37] Nobody stays dead for long.Notable Quotes“There’s nothing that comics can’t do as well as, or better, than other mediums.”“We live in a world that, much to my dismay, has become increasingly less empathetic and hostile towards people who are different.”“It’s comics. Nobody stays dead for long.”Books MentionedA Single Man, by Christopher Isherwood.The Black Panther Party, by David F. Walker & Marcus Kwame Anderson.Blankets, Ginseng Roots, by Craig Thompson.The Cartoon History of the Universe, by Larry Gonick.Clyde Fans, It’s a Good Life, If You Don’t Weaken, by Seth.Ed the Happy Clown, The Little Man, Louis Riel, Paying For It, The Playboy, Yummy Fur, by Chester Brown.Eightball, by Daniel Clowes.Epileptic, by David B.The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, by Gilbert Shelton & Dave Sheridan.Footnotes in Gaza, Palestine, Paying the Land, War on Gaza, by Joe Sacco.Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel.HATE, by Peter Bagge.

Kirt Burdick, John, and David return to talk more Death of Power! Along the way they get into comic conventions, showing appreciation to fandom, using technology to enhance art, and how memes run the world. Also, David takes off (maybe to Paris).Support the Show! Buy Our Books!Support Kirt BurdickTimestamp Segments[00:53] Kirt does Cons.[05:36] Death of Power: The Sales Pitch.[06:53] Kirt’s comics for kids.[09:30] Kickstarter VS publishers.[12:00] What happens next in Death of Power?[14:27] Who inspires Kirt?[14:56] Books to think about.[19:32] David takes off![20:12] Enhancing art with technology.[23:48] Peter Kuper’s Kafka books.[24:58] 40 pages of Moby Dick.[26:32] Early indie comics.[28:10] What the future used to look like.[30:14] We’re run by memes.[31:09] Alien: Earth and Andor.Notable Quotes“If it’s said here, it’s truth.”“The more publishers that can get stuff on the rack, the better.”“I need anything other than what we’ve got.”Books MentionedAmerican Flagg!, by Howard Chaykin.Batman: Dark Knight Returns, by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, & Lynn Varley.Batman: Digital Justice, by Pepe Moreno.Batman: Ra's Al Ghul.Conan the Barbarian.Cosmic Odyssey, by Jim Starlin, Mike Mignola, & Carlos Garzon.Critters, by Stan Sakai.Daredevil: The Man Without Fear, by Frank Miller, John Romita Jr., Al Williamson, Christie Scheele, & Joe Rosen.From Hell, by Alan Moore & Eddie Campbell.Give It Up!, The Jungle, Kafkaesque, The Metamorphosis, by Peter Kuper.Iron Man: Crash, by Mike Saenz.Jimmy Corigan, Rusty Brown, by Chris Ware.Johnny The Homicidal Maniac, by Jhonen Vasquez.Jon Sable Freelance, by Mike Grell.Lenore, by Roman Dirge.Metamorphosis, by Franz Kafka

Kirt Burdick joins the show (or does he?) to talk with John and David about Death of Power #7! The gents get into old vs new comics and their influences, Star Wars’ missing piece, Kirt’s unusual 7th issue success, and Kickstarter VS publishers. Also, David has a bone to pick with Death of Power #7 and ends up being horribly, terribly wrong.Support the Show! Buy Our Books!Support Kirt BurdickTimestamp Segments[01:11] Ready to throw Kirt under the bus![02:03] Where comics get their influences.[06:03] A glaring Star Wars omission?[10:25] Surprise![12:11] What’s Kirt been up to?[17:22] Kirt sells out![21:23] David’s Death of Power grievance.[24:44] It has to be said![25:45] The future of Death of Power.[26:27] Kickstarter vs publishers.Notable Quotes“I’m fine being naked.”“I can’t quit my day job, yet. I could always get fired from my day job.”“My attempt at superhero stuff involves horny dolphins and scantily clad superhero women.”Books MentionedGladiator, by Philip Wylie.Legend, by Howard Chaykin & Russ Heath.Lone Wolf and Cub, by Kazuo Koike & Goseki Kojima.The Reign of the Super-Man, by Jerry Siegel & Joe Schuster.Star Wars (1977-1986).The Star Wars Storybook.Space Opera Xanadax Across The Unknown Dimensions of the Galaxy, Witchman, by Tom Scioli.

Welcome to the New and Improved Corner Box! Kicking off Season 3, John and David ditch the Black Hawk and Captain Carrot news and look to the future of comics. They get into the ever-changing comic book audience, how new art styles are transforming the face of comics, embracing manga in the US, and preparing for the next new thing. Also, John reveals the secret of his big toes.Support the Show and Get Great Comics!It’s Fun Time!Timestamp Segments[00:24] A New #1![04:31] The changing audience.[08:09] The New Big Two.[10:26] Manga takes the stage.[17:40] Compact Comics VS Premier Collection.[25:02] The push for photorealism.[31:13] The rules of how to draw.[33:33] What to expect in Season 3.[34:12] John’s big toe.Notable Quotes“Even though it definitely, clearly, is not ‘for me,’ it’s still totally for me.”“Comic books can’t, nor should they, compete with movies.”“I’m going to argue against technical proficiency and clarity.”“I only have one toe on each foot.”Books MentionedAbsolute Batman, by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, & Frank Martin.Akira, by Katsuhiro Otomo.Batgirl (2011-2016).Batman (2016- ).Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet, by Ta-Nehisi Coates & Brian Stelfreeze.Captain America: The Winter Soldier, by Ed Brubaker & Steve Epting.Catwoman: Trail of the Catwoman, by Darwyn Cooke & Ed Brubaker.Daredevil: Born Again, by Frank Miller, Dennis O’Neil, & David Mazzucchelli.DC Compact Comics.Dragon Ball, by Akira Toriyama.Fantastic Four: Solve Everything, by Jonathan Hickman, Dale Eaglesham, & Joe Quesada.Far Sector, by N.K. Jemisin & Jamal Campbell.Gurren Lagann, by Kotaro Mori.Hawkeye (2012-2015), by Matt Fraction & David Aja.Infinity Gauntlet.Jem and the Holograms: Dimensions.Journey into Mystery, by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby.

John and David heroically collapse The Corner Box Multiverse in preparation for a NEW #1! That’s right! Season Three starts next week!The guys reminisce on a successful second season, reflect on some of their favorite comics of the past year, and reimagine the future of the comics industry! Also, John collects copies of the same book, and David uncovers a Kickstarter scam.Timestamp Segments[00:38] We’re like Batman.[04:09] The best episodes of Season 2.[06:26] The best title of the year.[07:28] What to expect for Season 3.[09:11] New Archie Digests.[11:27] John tries new things.[14:29] Go Nagai breaks boundaries.[20:53] Finding new things in the past.[21:59] Stepping into the Den.[27:28] A cautionary Kickstarter tale.[32:47] David’s favorite moments of Season 2.[34:22] The state of the industry.[40:10] Relating to sprawling space epics. [51:02] Going down the Marvel App rabbit hole.Notable Quotes“What do you think you see when you die? Probably just black.”“It’s a shocking number of stories with the same joke at the end.”“I cannot relate to being a space cop.”Relevant LinksDavid has a new Kickstarter!Sugar Bomb: Portal PottyBooks MentionedAbsolute Batman, by Zack Snyder & Nick Dragotta.Absolute Wonder Woman, by Kelly Thompson & Hayden Sherman.Annihilation (2006-2007), by Keith Giffen & Andrea Di Vito.Archie Comics.Batman (2025), by Matt Fraction, Jorge Jimenez, & Tomeu Morey.Batman and Robin (2023- ) #25, by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Javi Fernandez, Fico Ossio, & Marcelo Maiolo.Cutie Honey, Devilman, by Go Nagai.DC Compact Comics.Den, Grim Wit, by Richard Corben.Dog Man, by Dav Pilkey.Fantastic Four (1961-1998).G.O.D.S., by Jonathan Hickman & Martin Coccolo.Guardians of the Galaxy (2023- ).Halloween Boy, by Dave Baker.Imperial (2025- ), by Jonathan Hickman, Iban Coello, & Marco Checchetto.Inhumans (1975-1977).

Nicole Goux joins the show! John and David welcome Eisner nominated artist, Nicole Goux (Everyone is Tulip, Forest Hills Bootleg Society, This Place Kills Me) to talk about her burgeoning career! From drawing at an early age to her recent Eisner nominations, Nicole has already had an amazing career and she's just starting! Listen in as the fellas chat with Nicole about her new book with Mariko Tamaki, what it means to make comics, the growing manga influence on comics in the United States, finding a creative end goal, and more!SUGAR BOMB Kickstarter is LIVE!The Comic That Makes You Ask, "Is That A Freaking Dolphin?!"Go Get Nicole's Books!www.nicolegoux.com.Timestamp Segments[00:59] Nicole’s nonstop output.[02:26] Nicole’s origin story.[08:37] First zines to first hire.[10:37] Getting into comics full-time.[18:52] This Place Kills Me.[25:15] Suicide Forest.[26:37] Nicole’s approach to comics.[29:07] The manga influence.[32:47] How the US sees comics.[34:16] Awards shows or popularity contests?[37:37] Nicole gets her flowers.[41:09] What’s next for Nicole?[47:05] Nicole’s new book.Notable Quotes“Comics is so much broader than we make it out to be most of the time, as Westerners.”“It should be okay to just consistently make good work that makes you happy and makes other people happy.”Books MentionedAbsolute Wonder Woman, by Kelly Thompson & Hayden Sherman.Everyone is Tulip, by Dave Baker, Nicole Goux, & Ellie Hall.Forest Hills Bootleg Society, Fuck Off Squad, Suicide Forest, by Dave Baker & Nicole Goux.Jem and the Holograms: Dimensions.Mary Tyler Moorehawk, by Dave Baker.The Mystery Play, by Grant Morrison & Jon J Muth.Pet Peeves, by Nicole Goux.Runaways, by Brian K. Vaughan, Adrian Alphona, & Takeshi Miyazawa.Shadow of the Batgirl, by Sarah Kuhn & Nicole Goux.Star Trek: Waypoint.Supergirl, by Sophie Campbell.This Place Kills Me, by Mariko Tamaki & Nicole Goux.

John and David killed Archie Digests? Well, sort of. It's complicated. The fellas dig into the history of Archie, the rising costs of publishing comic books, the influence of manga on the wider industry, and overcoming the industry’s self-imposed problems. Also, David wraps up two more (unexpectedly big!) comics.SUGAR BOMB Kickstarter is LIVE! Go! Go order it now! Support the show and get amazing things!The Comic That Makes You Ask, "Is That A Freaking Dolphin?!"Timestamp Segments[01:00] John’s silent jackhammering.[02:18] David’s busy week of making comics.[06:16] David takes on Conan the Barbarian.[11:33] Working on historical projects.[16:00] John buys Archie Digests.[28:06] Archie fun facts.[39:40] Where artists go to die.[43:31] Are the Digests really done?[45:21] What makes a comic book more successful?[52:10] The health of the comics space.Notable Quotes“If you can’t afford to print the book, that’s really going to hurt your circulation.”“We complain about how bad comics are at doing things, but they are part of a world that is terrible at doing things.”Books Mentioned4 (2004-2006).Archie Digests.Bizarre Adventures.Blue Ribbon Comics, by Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Rudy Nebres, & Al Williamson.Captain America Comics (1941-1954).Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew.Casper the Friendly Ghost.Conan.Conan the Savage (1995).The Death of Superman. Dog Man, by Dav Pilkey.Dragon Ball Z, by Akira Toriyama.Elektra: The Movie (2004), by Sean Mckeever & Mike Perkins.G.I. Joe, by Larry Hama.Groo the Wanderer, by Sergio Aragonés.Hot Stuff.King Conan (1980- ).Little Nemo, by Winsor McCay.Miss Mina and the Midnight Guardians: Golden Jaguar, by David Hedgecock, the Xong Brothers, Lydia Rasero, & Jonathan Maberry.PEP Comics.Richie Rich, by Sid Jacobson, Warren Kremer, Steve Muffatti, & Ernie Colon.

John and David get together for the first installment of The Corner Box Top 10 Hottest Interior Artists of the Moment, then they get into the prices of movies, AI, and marketing in 2025. Also, John loses his rails.SUGAR BOMB Launches September 5th, 2025!The Comic That Makes You Ask, "Is That A Freaking Dolphin?!"John is at PugW!Pug WorldwideTimestamp Segments[00:37] There are no other Johns and Davids.[01:57] The film to digital pipeline.[02:48] Old men complaining about the prices of movies.[05:05] Marvel fulfills David’s wishes.[09:28] The Corner Box Hot Tops (?).[12:06] Top 10 Qualifiers.[13:26] #10 – Lewis LaRosa.[15:56] #9 – Chris Samnee.[18:41] #8 – Ryan Ottley.[20:22] #7 – Hayden Sherman.[23:15] Everybody starts somewhere.[24:40] #6 – Gary Frank.[27:13] #5 – Peach Momoko.[30:09] Not Rob Liefeld.[32:50] #4 – Nick Dragotta.[34:15] #3 – Jason Fabok.[36:21] #2 – Iban Coello.[37:54] #1 – Marco Checchetto.[39:48] John’s thoughts.Notable Quotes“I want to unsubscribe from that, immediately.”“There’s too much stuff to be an expert in everything these days.”“People are going to hate you and love you.”Books MentionedAbsolute Batman, by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, & Frank Martin.Absolute Wonder Woman, by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, & Jordie Bellaire.The Amazing Spider-Man (2025- ).Batman & Robin: Year One, by Mark Waid & Chris Samnee.Batman: Three Jokers, Rook: Exodus, by Geoff Johns, Jason Fabok, & Brad Anderson.Brigade, Last Blood, Youngblood, by Rob Liefeld.Drawing Powerful Heroes: Brutes and Babes, by Bart Sears.CARBON BASED: THE ART OF LEWIS LaROSA Deluxe Art Book.

Episode SummaryArchenemy of the show, Dave Baker, joins hosts John and David to talk about the reality of comic book publishing, the real reason John is part of the show, the Fantastic Four movie vs the comics, and Dave’s new Halloween Boy issues. Also Dave starts a new career as a DJ, and Jim McCann may have had lunch.SUGAR BOMB Launches September 5th, 2025!The Comic That Makes You Ask, "Is That A Freaking Dolphin?!"John is at PugW!Pug WorldwideDave Baker Makes Comics!www.heydavebaker.comTimestamp Segments[01:00] Dave’s DJ career.[02:57] Reminiscing about 70s comics.[04:02] The Nacelleverse happened.[05:39] David’s Sugar Bomb.[07:16] The importance of marketing.[10:26] Unusual connections to comic books.[13:06] Comics creators living the good life.[17:47] Why John is still part of the show.[21:00] The Fantastic Four movie.[32:29] The movie vs the comics.[45:28] Warren Ellis can do no wrong (in comics).[50:47] Dave’s Halloween Boy.[62:06] Jim McCann fun fact of the week.Notable Quotes“Comic book publishers still think it’s 2001.”“This is why I let John Barber stay on the show.”“I’m actually a real-life boy.”Books MentionedAlec, The Goat Getters: Jack Johnson, the Fight of the Century, and How a Bunch of Raucous Cartoonists Reinvented Comics, by Eddie Campbell.The Amazing Spider-Man (2014).Avengers Annual #7, Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2, by Jim Starlin & Joseph Rubinstein.Biker Mice from Mars, by Melissa Flores & Daniel Gete.C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa, by Matt Hotson & Juan Gedeon.The Darkstars (1992-1996).Fantastic Four (#48, #49, #50), by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby.Flinch.From Hell, by Alan Moore & Eddie Campbell.The Great Garloo, by Leon Reiser & AJ Jothikumar.Halloween Boy Vol.7, by Dave Baker.Iron Man: The Art of Iron Man 2, by John Barber.Kate Carew: America's First Great Woman Cartoonist, by Eddie Campbell & Christine Chambers.The Magic Order.

Chase Marotz joins hosts John and David wrapping up their conversation about their recent favorite comics, discovering new artists, what happens when comic creators get older, and John and David’s growing tooth collections?SUGAR BOMB Launches September 5th, 2025!The Comic That Makes You Ask, "Is That A Freaking Dolphin?!"John is at PugW!Pug WorldwideTimestamp Segments[00:41] David’s Pick #2: Little Bird.[07:00] Chase’s Pick #3: All-Star Superman.[07:50] John and David collect teeth.[09:55] Superman’s character.[11:42] John’s Pick #3: Heavy Metal & Metal Hurlant.[21:02] David’s Pick #3: RoboWolf.[25:46] Bonus Pick: Narutobus.[33:26] When people get older.Notable Quotes“This is one of the most baffling things I’ve ever purchased.”“Maybe that’s the end state we should hope to get to.”Books MentionedAbsolute Batman, by Zack Snyder & Nick Dragotta.All-Star Superman, by Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely, Jamie Grant, Neal Adams, & Travis Lanham.Bowery Boys, by Cory Levine, Ian Bertram, Brent McKee, & Rodrigo Aviles.Cerebus, Cerebus in Hell Presents: Narutobus, by Dave Sim.DC One Million.Godzilla: War for Humanity, by Jake Smith, Andrew MacLean, & Matt Frank.Head Lopper, by Andrew MacLean & Jordie Bellaire.Heavy Metal Magazine.Is Man Good? By Moebius.Little Bird, Precious Metal, by Darcy van Poelgeest, Ian Bertram, & Matt Hollingsworth.Metal Hurlant.My Friend Dahmer, by Derf Backderf.Rare Bit Fiends, by Rick Veitch.RoboWolf, by Jake Smith.Star Trek: New Visions, by John Byrne.The Strange Death of Alex Raymond, by Dave Sim & Carson Grubaugh.Superman & Batman: Generations (

Editor-in-Chief of Fun Time Go, Chase Marotz, joins John and David for a thrill-a-minute talk about their recent favorite comic books and artists, their exciting experiences at SDCC 2025, and the podcasts new archenemy. Also, Mickey Mouse makes a brief appearance.SUGAR BOMB is ALMOST HERE!The Comic That Makes You Ask, "Is That A Freaking Dolphin?!"John is at PugW!Pug WorldwideTimestamp Segments[01:02] Chase, the one-man band.[01:44] SDCC 2025.[13:24] Chase’s Pick #1: Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees.[17:21] John’s Pick #1: Goes Like This.[22:02] David’s Pick #1: Helen of Wyndhorn.[27:01] Chase’s Pick #2: Ginseng Roots.[30:50] John’s Pick #2: This Place Kills Me.Notable Quotes“Not particularly involved, but forced to deal with it.”“We were both wearing Hawaiian shirts that day.”Books MentionedThe Avengers in the Veracity Trap!, by Chip Kidd & Michael Cho.Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, by Patrick Horvath & Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.Blankets, Ginseng Roots, Good-bye, Chunky Rice, by Craig Thompson.Brigade, by Rob Liefeld.Goes Like This, Non, by Jordan Crane.Halloween Boy, by Dave Baker.Helen of Wyndhorn, by Tom King, Bilquis Evely, Matheus Lopes, & Clayton Cowles.Universal Monsters: Dracula, by James Tynion IV & Martin Simmonds.Reborn, by Mark Millar, Jonathan Glapion, & Greg Capullo.RoboCop VS The Terminator, by Frank Miller, Walter Simonson, & Steve Oliff.Silver Surfer: The Ultimate Cosmic Experience, by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby.Snake Eyes: Deadgame, by Rob Liefeld & Chad Bowers.Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, by Tom King, Bilquis Evely, & Matheus Lopes.Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Casey & April, by Mariko Tamaki & Irene Koh.

John and David question what modern audiences want from their superhero comic books, discuss successful Non-Marvel/DC superhero comics, the level of new artistic talent in the industry, and what Legion of Super-Heroes would look like today. Also, David has a "controversial" opinion on Moulin Rouge. SUGAR BOMB is Coming!The Comic That Makes You Ask, "Is That A Freaking Dolphin?!"John is at PugW!Pug WorldwideTimestamp Segments[00:40] The hottest of hot comic book news.[01:33] The voice of Gary Owens.[03:03] David’s new comic book.[05:19] What are people looking for in a superhero book?[07:48] Making a superhero comic.[10:38] Comics that push the envelope.[12:02] Superhero parody comics.[14:31] Non-Marvel/DC successes.[17:21] What it takes to succeed.[18:32] David sees a theatrical play.[19:38] Up-and-coming talent.[23:19] How would John relaunch Legion of Super-Heroes?[29:34] John’s Star Wars hot take.[34:07] How would David relaunch Legion of Super-Heroes?Notable Quotes“We’re pushing beyond what most people would find in good taste.”“Maybe James Gunn will make a movie of it.”“We’re going to talk about planetesimals and stuff like that.”Books Mentioned52. Absolute Batman, by Zack Snyder, Nick Dragotta, & Frank Martin.Absolute Wonder Woman, by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, & Jordie Bellaire.Avengers (1963-1996).The Boys, by Garth Ennis & Darick Robertson.Crisis on Infinite Earths, by Marv Wolfman & George Perez.Invincible, by Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley, & John Rauch.Jeff the Land Shark, by Kelly Thompson, Tokitokoro, & Gurihiru.Justice League Unlimited.Kick-Ass, by John Romita Jr & Mark Millar.Legion of Super-Heroes.Miracleman.My Hero Academia, by Kohei Horikoshi.One-Punch Man, by One & Yusuke Murata.Savage Dragon, by Erik Larsen.Space Ghost Annual #1, by David Pepose & Jonathan Lau.

John and David get together to discuss the new Superman movie, the San Diego Comic-Con, how Howard the Duck earned its R-rating, and learning to embrace change. Also, David finally earns his greatest treasure—his Gas Pass.Relevant LinksSUGAR BOMB is Coming!The Comic That Makes You Ask, "Is That A Freaking Dolphin?!"John is at PugW!Pug WorldwideTimestamp Segments[00:44] David’s Pass Pass.[04:27] San Diego ComiCon.[08:55] Duck breasts.[10:14] Thoughts on Snyder’s movies.[14:15] Is newer better?[16:35] Superman Spoilers.[23:41] What bothered John?[29:05] John has a hunch.[30:13] Ma and Pa Kent.[36:03] Writing larger issues.[39:54] The movie’s one death.[40:53] Lex Luthor’s mistake.[42:27] Does anyone like Hawkman and Hawkgirl?[47:55] Superman’s real superpower.[49:00] David’s favorite superhero movies.[50:42] David’s thoughts on Lex Luthor.Notable Quotes“I’ve never been happier that someone wasn’t going to San Diego ComiCon.”“Potentially, you’re putting your life in jeopardy just by saying you have that.”“Most of his time is spent trying to save people or squirrels.”“There are some baddies in that movie, man.”Books MentionedBatman: The Dark Knight Returns, by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, & Lynn Varley.Batman: Hush, by Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee, & Scott Williams.Batman: The Long Halloween, by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale.Black Panther (1977-1979).Hawkworld, by Timothy Truman, Enrique Alcatena, & Sam Parsons.JSA, by Geoff Johns.New History of the DC Universe, by Mark Waid, Jerry Ordway, Todd Nauck, Giovanna Niro, Chris Samnee, Matt Herms, & John Kalisz.Signa, by John Barber & Andrew Griffith.

John and David get into comic book making processes, what it takes to get big-name artists on a book, the value of comic book art, John gives his thoughts on the new Superman movie, David has a gripe with Silver Surfer, and Jim McCann features as a fun fact.David's First Super-Power Comic is Coming!Sugar Bomb launches soon!John is at PugW!Pug WorldwideTimestamp Segments[01:15] David archives Conan.[03:32] John’s process for putting together a team.[06:09] Getting any artist at Marvel.[14:46] The economics of making a comic book.[16:50] Taking a budget-first approach.[23:10] Are comic art auctions getting out of hand?[31:57] John sees Superman.[36:49] Who is the real Silver Surfer?[43:40] Fun fact about Jim McCann.Notable Quotes“The comic book creative community is always pooped on.”“Realism in my dog superpowers is what I always hoped for.”“Nobody talks about how Black Panther had the worst CG rhinos of any Marvel movie.”Books MentionedAction Comics #1.Captain America (2002-2004).CBGB.Cholly & Flytrap, by Arthur Suydam.Civil War (2006-2007), by Mark Millar & Steve McNiven.Crossed, by Garth Ennis.The Dark Tower, by Stephen King, Robin Furth, Peter David, Jae Lee, & Richard Isanove.Detective Comics #880, by Scott Snyder, Jock, David Baron, & Jared Fletcher.Gatchaman.Invincible, by Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley, & John Rauch.JSA, by Geoff Johns.Legion of Monsters (2011-2012), by Dennis Hallum & Juan Doe.Marvel Team-Up (2004-2006).Marvel Zombies.New Mutants #98, by Rob Liefeld & Fabian Nicieza.newuniversal (2006-2007), by Warren Ellis & Salvador Larroca.Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. (2006-2010), by Warren Ellis & Stuart Immonen.The Nightly News, by Jonathan Hickman.Phonogram, by Kieron Gillen & Jamie McKelvie.Saga, by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples.Ultimate Fantastic Four 

John and David catch up on the comics industry news—the ripple effects of Diamond’s closure, the reminiscences pouring in after the passing of Jim Shooter, how he reshaped the entire comic book industry, the success of the Secret Wars formula, and the acid-induced comics of the 1970s, and John is terrified by X-Men.David's First Super-Power Comic is Coming!Sugar Bomb launches soon!John is at PugW!Pug WorldwideTimestamp Segments[01:21] Is this it for Dynamite?[04:26] RIP Jim Shooter.[08:47] How Jim Shooter changed the trajectory of comic books.[12:33] Jim’s career arc.[16:27] Valiant’s great success.[19:07] The memo.[20:09] Reminiscences from around the industry.[28:01] The Jim Shooter ideal.[29:37] X-Men terrifies John.[33:18] Secret Wars firsts.[36:01] The cosmic 70s.[43:30] Valiant’s statement.[47:07] RIP Michael Madsen.Notable Quotes“I don’t think I’d be here if it wasn’t for Jim Shooter.”“The dinosaurs died from an asteroid and then Jim Shooter became Editor-in-Chief of Marvel.”“1984 was a wild time.”Books MentionedAdventure Comics #380.Archer & Armstrong.Avengers (1963-1996).Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, & Lynn Varley.The Boys.Camelot 3000, by Mike Barr & Brian Bolland.Crisis on Infinite Earths.Daredevil (1964-1998).ElfQuest, by Wendy Pini & Richard Pini.Elric of Melniboné, by Michael Moorcock.Fantastic Four (1961-1998).G.I Joe, by Larry Hama.Iron Man (1968-1996).Jaws, by Peter Benchley.Justice League International, by Keith Giffen, JM DeMatteis, & Kevin Maguire.Legion of Super-Heroes.The Marvel Saga: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe.Master of Kung Fu.New Teen Titans, by Marv Wolfman & George Perez.Nintendo Comics System.

Writer Jim McCann joins hosts John and David to talk about his journey from writing soap operas to comics, coming up with some of the most memorable marketing slogans in Marvel Comics history, the exciting upcoming launches from Ignition Press, why everyone needs a good editor, and Jim’s brand-new newsletter!David's First Super-Power Comic is Coming!Sugar Bomb launches soon!John is at PugW!Pug WorldwideJim McCann has a newsletter!jimmccann.beehiiv.comTimestamp Segments[01:25] Jim’s secret origin story.[11:05] Writing soap operas.[14:13] Going part-time at Marvel.[18:02] Returning to Return of the Dapper Men.[22:28] John really loves an idea.[23:47] The Civil War pitch.[24:45] Jim’s greatest slogans.[27:02] Building comics around slogans.[30:53] Ignition Press putting creators first.[33:22] The importance of good editors.[35:38] What’s next for Jim?[36:24] Ignition’s ComiCon pop-up.[36:49] Jim's new newsletter.Notable Quotes“Good editors are great. Not all editors are built the same.”“Batman doesn’t sit.”Books MentionedAstonishing X-Men (2004) #4, by Joss Whedon & John Cassaday.Avengers Disassembled.Civil War.Dazzler (2010), by Jim McCann & Kalman Andrasofszky.Final Crisis.Hawkeye: Blindspot, by Jim McCann & Mike Perkins.Hawkeye: The Reunion.Hawkeye & Mockingbird, by Jim McCann, David Lopez, & Paul Renaud.Mind the Gap, by Jim McCann, Rodin Esquejo, & Sonia Oback.Morning Glories, by Joe Eisma, Nick Spencer, & Rodin Esquejo.Murder Podcast, by Jeremy Haun & Mike Tisserand.New Avengers: The Reunion, by Jim McCann, Jo Chen, & David Lopez.Return of the Dapper Men, by Jim McCann & Janet Lee.Return of the Thin Man, by Dashiell Hammett.Secret Invasion.Secret Invasion: Black Panther, by Jason Aaron, Jefte Palo, & Jason Pearson.Signa, by John Barber & Andrew Griffith.Star Trek: Year Five.

David and John dive headfirst into a collector’s dream haul of vintage Avengers comics, mourn the untimely demise of Marvel’s Spider-Boy series, and dissect the ambitious (but uneven) rollout of the Nacelleverse and the bold launch of the Neon Ichiban digital comics platform. Plus, a peanut butter joke that might just change the way you say lunch.

David and John pay heartfelt respect to the late, great Peter David—exploring his legacy on Incredible Hulk, X-Factor, and beyond—while reflecting on what makes a comic creator’s career truly enduring. Along the way, they dissect the tangled origins of Bloodstone, the eccentric brilliance of 1970s Marvel publishing, and the wild world of blind-bagged Invincible spin-offs. Plus: John reconsiders Rick Spears’ “Wolfman’s got nards” joke, and the duo spotlight a gorgeous Fantagraphics/Disney release.David's Doing Fun Stuff!Miss Mina and the Midnight Guardians is now LIVE!John is at PugW!Pug WorldwideTimestamp Segments00:00:58 – Benjamin Percy Interview Recap David and John reflect on their recent talk with Benjamin Percy, praising his sharp insights and deep voice worthy of a mythic lumberjack.00:03:02 – Chuck Dixon Sketch Story David tells the hilarious story of how Chuck Dixon imagined—and sketched—a wildly inaccurate version of him based on their emails.00:05:33 – Remembering Peter David A heartfelt tribute to Peter David, focusing on his legacy with Incredible Hulk, X-Factor, and his rare longevity in the industry.00:12:02 – Comics Buyer's Guide Influence John recalls Peter David’s But I Digress column as a foundational influence on his path into comics.00:17:03 – Elsa Bloodstone Deep Dive The hosts explore the obscure roots of Elsa Bloodstone and how Nextwave turned her into a fan-favorite.00:24:02 – Bloodstone’s Wild Origin David wades through the chaotic, multi-artist, multi-decade origin of Ulysses Bloodstone—a tale as messy as it is fascinating.00:36:22 – Blind-Bag Comic Dilemma John debates whether to open a mysterious Battle Beast blind-bag comic live on the show… and ultimately does.00:45:10 – Gorgeous Disney Comic Spotlight David highlights Mickey Mouse and the Lost Ocean—a lush, European-style graphic novel from Fantagraphics worth discovering.Notable Quotes“I apologize officially to Rick Spears for not thinking that "Wolfman’s got nards" was a famous line. I was incorrect.”“I'm unreasonably excited that you have not opened this. This is messing with my collector head big time right now. ”“I remember where I was the day that I read Peter David's last issue of Hulk, where I was in my apartment in San Diego, perhaps not entirely sober. ”Books MentionedIncredible Hulk – Marvel's long-running series featuring Peter David's iconic runX-Factor – Peter David's second and critically acclaimed run starting in 2005Dark Tower – Marvel’s adaptation of Stephen King's saga, co-written by Peter DavidWonder Man – Marvel character with a limited series by Peter DavidNextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. – Cult-favorite Marvel series by Warren Ellis and Stuart ImmonenLegion of Monsters – Marvel monster mash-up series featuring Elsa Bloodstone

The invincible Rob Worst joins John and David to talk about getting into comic book collecting, the biggest misconceptions around the hobby, the truth about comics rarity, and watching the stock market for deals. Also, Rob reveals his secret to immortality, and John starts a new career.David's Doing Fun Stuff!Miss Mina and the Midnight Guardians is now LIVE!John is at PugW!Pug WorldwideTimestamp Segments[00:35] John starts a new career.[01:47] The Worst last name.[03:30] Where to start collecting.[05:35] The biggest misconception about comic book collecting.[14:03] The “six weeks to six months” rule[16:39] Speculation driving comic book sales.[19:05] Today’s trends in comics.[21:50] Actual rarity vs manufactured rarity.[27:23] The comic book that turned Rob into a fanatic.[28:08] Rob gets shot.[31:40] How did Rob make it to adulthood?[36:00] Frank Miller is everyone’s first.[37:24] Getting back into collecting comics.[39:28] Watch the stock market.[40:27] Which titles to watch out for.Notable Quotes“When people my age are gone, nobody is going to want this.”“Sometimes, you have to pay tomorrow’s price, today.”“Don’t go hunting with drunks.”“Comic collecting is dangerous and hazardous.”Books MentionedAction Comics #1.Adventure Comics #210, by Otto Binder, Curt Swan, Stan Kaye, Ramona Fradon, Seymour Barry, & George Papp.The Amazing Spider-Man (#1, #14), by Stan Lee & Steve Ditko.The Amazing Spider-Man #129, by Gerry Conway & Ross Andru.Avengers (1963-1996).Avengers #57, by Roy Thomas & John Buscema.Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, & Lynn Varley.Batman: Year One, Part 3, Daredevil #227, by Frank Miller & David Mazzucchelli.BRZRKR, by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, Ron Garney, Rafael Grampá, & Clem Robin.Fantastic Four #52, by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby.Fightin’ 5 #40, by Joe gill, Bill Montes, & Ernie Bache.G.I. Combat #68, Our Army at War #83, by Robert Kanigher & Joe Kubert.Green Lantern (1960-1986).

John and David talk about the (almost) million-copy Planet Death series ruse, Free Comic Book Day, the state of the Absolute and Ultimate Universes, Buck Rogers in today’s world, and discovering the biggest unknown comic. Also, John is disappointed by a good comic, and David is annoyed by superheroes drinking coffee.David's Doing Fun Stuff!Miss Mina VIP Launches Here!John is at PugW!Pug WorldwideTimestamp Segments[01:42] David is behind closed doors.[03:10] Comics at Disneyland.[08:33] A million-copy comic.[12:05] Free Comic Book Day.[14:57] DC’s All-In Free Comic Book Day Flipbook.[18:55] Should everything be connected?[24:24] John’s experience with Planet Death.[26:58] David runs the numbers.[29:21] Buck Rogers, 25 years later.[40:35] The Buck Rogers concept.[42:36] The Power Fantasy.[50:23] Reborn.[55:47] Enjoying new comics.Notable Quotes“Free Comic Book Day…is the best every comic bookstore has.”“33 years later, I’m still that damn comic book.”“The most progressive guy from the 1920s is going to be your racist grandfather today.”“I think the podcast is helping us enjoy comic books.”Books MentionedAbsolute Batman, by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, & Frank Martin.Absolute Superman, by Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval, & Ulises Arreola Palomera.Absolute Wonder Woman, by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, & Jordie Bellaire.Armageddon 2419, by Philip Francis Nowlan.Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, by Frank Miller.Blackhawk, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, The Shadow, by Howard Chaykin.Crisis on Infinite Earths.DC All In 2025 FCBD Special Edition, by Jeff Lemire, Dan Slott, Rafael Albuquerque, & Giuseppe Camuncoli.Guardians of the Galaxy.The House at Pooh Corner, by A.A. Milne & Ernest H. Shepard.One for Sorrow, by Jamie McKelvie.Phonogram, The Wicked + The Divine, Young Avengers, by Kieron Gillen & Jamie McKelvie.Planet Death #0, by Derek Kolstad, Robert Venditti, & Tomás Giorello.

David and John sit down with the one and only Benjamin Percy—novelist, screenwriter, and comic book heavyweight behind Wolverine, Ghost Rider, X-Force, and Predator vs. Wolverine. From his early obsession with Predator and Alien comics to his pitch-perfect approach to balancing horror, heroism, and heart, Percy dives deep into his writing process, creative collaborations, and how persistence (and a little polite pestering) helped him land dream projects. You’ll hear tales of his childhood spent watching R-rated classics in secret, how he brought back "Red Band" gore to Marvel, and why his next take on The Punisher will be one brutal beast of a book. Whether you're a fan of gritty comics, killer storytelling, or just want to know how Wolverine finally met Predator, this conversation is a must-listen. David's Doing Fun Stuff!Miss Mina and the Midnight Guardians is now LIVE!John is at PugW!Pug WorldwideTimestamp SegmentsBenjamin Percy’s Background (00:01:15)First Comic Book Influences (00:02:51)The Predator Connection (00:04:13)Wolverine and Predator Pitch (00:05:23)Working with Marvel (00:08:38)Novelist vs. Comic Book Writer (00:08:50)Marvel's X-Men Relaunch (00:10:31)Creative Freedom at Marvel (00:15:14)New Punisher Project (00:16:20)Visual Aesthetics in Writing (00:18:25)Collaborating with Artists (00:19:48)Balancing Comic and Novel Work (00:21:02)Transition from Novels to Comics (00:22:02)Pursuing Comic Writing (00:23:45)Establishing Credibility (00:26:21)Finding Collaborators (00:27:58)Working on the Punisher Series (00:30:27)Creator-Owned Projects (00:32:00)Reading and Influences (00:34:41)Exploring the Importance of Classics (00:37:08)Stretching Writing Muscles (00:37:37)Shifting Narrative Perspectives (00:37:52)Innovative Storytelling Techniques (00:38:05)Notable Quotes“I watched Predator in 1987 when I was way too young, and it inspired us to go play Nerf gun warfare in the jungle. It was a foundational story for me.”“Writing novels is a lonely existence, but exhilarating. It’s a marathon, pounding out sentences that become pages, chapters, and eventually a novel. Writing comics, by comparison, is a sprint, unrelenting but collaborative.”“We wanted Frank Castle to come across as a scarred-up beast of a man, with trench coats and big heavy boots. The aesthetic of the book should look like New York from a 70s crime movie, grimy and gritty.”Books MentionedThe Wilding by Benjamin Percy: "00:01:39"Red Moon by Benjamin Percy: "00:01:39"Wolverine (Marvel Comics series): "00:02:11"X-Force (Marvel Comics series): "00:02:11"Ghost Rider (Marvel Comics series): "00:02:11"Predator vs. Wolverine: "00:05:23"Predator vs. Black Panther: "00:06:18"Predator Kills the Marvel Universe: "00:07:34"Red Hulk: "00:14:07"Punisher: "00:16:20""The Wild" by the speaker (first published novel): "00:22:28""All-Star Superman" by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely: "00:36:06""Red Sun" (Superman story): "00:36:15""Uzumaki" (Manga): "00:35:21""Devil's Highway" (Comic series): "00:32:11""Year Zero" (Comic series): "00:32:11"