Robots From Tomorrow!

Aditya Bidikar, back on the show after 4 years, is a man of letters in the most literal sense.  In the more than a decade he has been plying the lettering trade, he has worked with every major North American comics publisher and formed strong collaborations with several groups of creators, none more so than with writer Ram V and artist Anand K.  In the words of Multiversity Comics alum and SKTCHD guru David Harper, it is a career consisting of "all bangers".  But he is on the show today to talk about IN YOUR SKIN, his first major work as a comics writer.  IN YOUR SKIN, with artist SOM and colorist Francesco Segala for Image Comics and Tiny Onion and released on April 22nd, combines Bollywood culture with body horror and erotic fiction. The solicitation also name-checks David Cronenberg and THE SUBSTANCE. We  would throw in some Scorsese and Satoshi Kon as well, but… we will get into that. Aditya is at a fairly unique point in comics: a first-time comics writer with years of experience making comics, a letterer making his own words fit onto the page of his own story, a perennial collaborator stepping into a lead role…however you want to look at it, this is a fascinating time to be Aditya Bidikar, and today's chat dives into just why that is the case. [This episode is number 833 in a series.]  CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 05:42 – Bollywood & Dance 17:19 – Influences and PERFECT BLUE  18:12 – Male Gaze and Patriarchy 24:19 – Wanting to Be vs Be With 29:13 – Parasocial Horror and Identity 38:07 – Writing Sympathy for Priyanka 42:13 – Drama First Genre Second 45:11 – Priyanka Redefined 47:10 – Script as Blueprint 51:02 – Rewriting to the Finale 53:04 – Ownership and Fingerprints 54:29– The Showrunner Mindset 01:04:28 – Personal Stakes and Finishing 01:10:11 – Lettering and Burnout 01:12:55 – Finding Theme While Writing 01:18:06 – Stories Not Essays 01:21:18 – Outro

(From the original episode description from April 21, 2022.) Now you can hear the second half of the two-part chat Greg had with letterers extraordinaire Aditya Bidikar and John Workman!  The shop talk continues, as well as thoughts on more recent work like John's take on the HBOMax Doom Patrol series (after lettering almost the entire Morrison run back in the day) and Aditya's review of Barry Windsor-Smith's Monsters! [This episode is a remastered version of number 776 in a series.]       CHAPTERS   00:00 – Intro 02:32 – Workman's Monsters? 04:25 – Joining Shutter 05:31 – Balloon Shapes Craft 07:11 – Little Nemo Tribute 10:39 – Redoing Pages Lessons 13:37 – Art Size Shrink Era 19:09 – Pens And Markers 22:45 – Workload And Ethics 27:52 – Doom Patrol-ing 31:42 – Fanzines To Pros 33:26 – Chasing Perfect Letterforms 34:47 – Orzechowski X-Men Mastery 36:56 – Hand Lettering Magic 37:24 – Learning On The Page 38:23 – Barry Windsor Smith's Monsters 43:59 – Restoring Classic Colors 48:01 – Relettering Marvel History 50:36 – Design Roles In Comics 53:33 – Cover Lettering And Logos 55:57 – Upcoming Projects Roundup 58:29 – 3D Models And Built Sets 1:01:01 – Outro

(From the original episode description from April 14, 2022.) Today's show has two of the best letterers in comics on for a two-part chat about their craft: Multiversity Comics's 2021 Favorite Letterer winner Aditya Bidikar and legendary letterer/cartoonist John Workman! The generation gap evaporates immediately as the two fellows start talking about digital vs analog approaches, collaboration amongst a creative team, visible vs invisible lettering, being the responsible one in the group, artist integration, and much more! [This episode is a remastered version of number 775 in a series.]     CHAPTERS   03:44 - Learning the Craft 05:47 - Breaking Panel Borders 12:12 - Digital vs Analog 15:28 - Balloon Shapes Simplified 19:26 - Sound Effects Secrets 26:51 - Hybrid Workflow Talk 34:31 - Gaspar Saladino and Logo Tales 37:42 - Finding Your Own Style 40:18 - Precision vs Personality 42:44 - Organic Letterforms 44:32 - Analog Imperfection 45:42 - Blue and Green Workflow 48:59 - iPad Hand Lettering 52:47 - Color and Production 57:16 - Print Quality Pitfalls 58:33 - Lettering Pet Peeves 01:01:54 - Remembering John Paul Leon 01:06:59 - Sound Effects as Art 01:12:12 - Cover Logos in Motion 01:15:01 - Career Balance Advice 01:18:07 - Learn Every Craft 01:20:51 - Reader First Revisions 01:21:20 - Working with Demanding Writers 01:28:42 - Outro

In part two of their discussion, Steve Bissette lays out the late-1980s self-publishing moment after his run on Swamp Thing, tracing how Dave Sim's Mid-Ohio Con outreach and critique of corporate profit flows led Bissette and John Totleben to launching the horror anthology Taboo and all points in-between: the Cerebus/Diamond Distribution "phone book" controversy, the Puma Blues fallout, the Creator Summits and the Bill of Rights that came from them. From there to topic focuses on Taboo itself and the creative pitfalls he had to navigate to get out even the short run that eventually saw print. The topic of comics as creative protest, then and now, is brought up and run through its paces: what would something like Mad Love's Aargh! look like today? Where does ego sit in the publisher's toolbox? The importance of creatives learning business before the business teaches it to them is just one of the threads in this back-half of the epic Steve Bissette conversation!  [This episode is number 832 in a series.]      CHAPTERS   00:00 - Intro 04:41 - Meeting Dave Sim at Mid-Ohio 05:44 - The Inverted Pyramid Lesson 09:40 - Collaboration Complications 11:55 - Launching The October Project 14:11 - Diamond vs the Cerebus Phone Books 20:17 - Taboo Goes Independent 21:29 - Creator Summits and Bill of Rights 27:52 - Modern Contracts and Creator Traps 36:12 - Promotion Is Still on You 40:41 - Curating Disturbing Horror 45:34 - Taboo Shock Factor 46:35 - Rick Grimes Defense 47:48 - Lost Girls Risks 48:58 - From Hell Origins 49:51 - Eddie Campbell Choice 52:49 - Cover Art Rivalry 55:14 - Midwife Ego Lesson 58:35 - Aargh! and Activist Comics 59:59 - Sticks and Stones Fallout 01:04:20 - Anthology Survival Advice 01:12:33 - Budgets Page Rates 01:20:49 - Business Truths Teaching 01:23:10 - Huckster Hat Plug 01:26:45 - Outro

Joana Mosi is an award-winning Portuguese cartoonist whose work is only recently becoming available in English. And that timing matters — because until Pow Pow Press started publishing her books, The Mongoose and now Physical Education, internationally, there was basically no way for English-language readers to come across it unless they happened to be at the right European festival at the right time. She is part of the growing Lisbon comics scene in Portugal. Paul Gravett called her previous book, The Mongoose, a "formally experimental yet powerful affecting narrative" She draws, she writes, she teaches. Physical Education has already been published in Portugal and was the first-ever graphic novel to be a National Illustration Award of Portugal Highlight Book, but is getting its English language release through Pow Pow Press on May 5th. The work is fictional yet emotionally true, centered on detachment, expressed through sparse characterization, missing facial features, and flexible page design.  [This episode is number 831 in a series.]      CHAPTERS   00:00 – Intro 01:54 – Portugal's Comics Scene 04:38 – Found in Translation 07:17 – Revisiting Finished Books 10:50 – Finding Pow Pow Press 12:42 – Going Global via Festivals 18:35 – Style Shift and Critiques 25:32 – Comics Lessons 31:16 – Teaching With Empathy 32:43 – Letting Students Fail 33:55 – Reaching Out To Mentors 35:34 – Fiction vs Autobiography 39:20 – Drawing Detachment 44:41 – Color Choices 45:40 – Motifs And Mundanity 48:20 – Page Layout Decisions 53:21 – Process 55:57 – Getting Feedback 01:01:58 – Outro

Reading today's guest's interviews, listening to his podcasts, and looking at his resume, already packed with highlights at a relatively young age, it becomes clear that he does not shy away from conflict or controversial opinions because he does the research to back up his words. He leans into the smart side of smart-ass and we're all much better for it. This Tucson-native has already been a banker, bill collector, marketing manager, jazz festival co-organizer, pizza delivery guy, radio DJ, stand-up comedian, and Director of Operations at Top Cow Productions.  But it's the jobs of journalist and comics writer that we are probably going to focus on the most in today's chat, because that, to me, is where he has really come into his own.  He's worked with J Gonzo on La Voz de Mayo, a graphic novel about his activist great-grandfather who helped Arizonan Native American tribes gain federal recognition and save their land from being taken over for freeway construction.  He was commissioned by the New York City Public Schools to work on comic about Dolores Huerta and her work organizing and unionizing farm workers in California  He's been writing the daily syndicated newspaper comic strip Gil Thorpe since 2022, only the fourth writer in the strip's 67-year history.  He's contributed to comics benefit anthologies like The Good Fight and Where We Live.  He's written for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, and IDW.  He's written an epic fantasy story with a Mesoamerican base rather than the traditional European one called Helm Greycastle from Image Comics. "What if Middle Earth had a southside?" That's him. And on top of all that, he's the Los Angeles chapter president of the National Cartoonist Society.  But today he's here to talk about his latest work from Image Comics, a Chicano noir story set in Los Angeles during the Zoot Suit Riots of 1943 and centered around the Sleepy Lagoon murder. Drawn by Gil Thorpe collaborator Rachel Merrill, Death to Pachuco follows private eye Ricky Tellez as he tries to get justice for his client in a town where that is in short supply on a good day. The trade paperback collection of the series was released on March 18th, and you can read the entire first issue over at imagecomics.com.  Writer Henry Barajas may end the first issue with the line "Now's not a good time to be a Mexican", but over the course of this episode, Henry tells Greg about why it's not a bad time to be in his shoes right now.   [This episode is number 830 in a series.]     CHAPTERS   00:00 - Intro 03:32 - Zoot Suit Style Talk 07:09 - Ricky Tellez 11:13 - Collaborating with Rachel Merrill 14:47 - From Research to Writing 19:00 - Standup Stage to Comics Craft 22:26 - Top Cow Origins + Lessons Learned 26:35 - Cover Artists, Collaborators, and David Lapham 30:55 - Working on Daily Strips 33:44 - Henry's Role in the Cartoonist Society 36:00 - Lettering Your Own Comics 38:40 - Benefit Anthology Work 40:16 - MorrisonCon Memories 43:32 - The Future of Ricky Tellez 47:09 - Dolores Huerta and Civics Education Comics 52:37 - Outro

Cartoonist / writer / scholar / educator (and now Comics Laureate) Stephen R. Bissette joins Greg for the first part of their two-part talk about all things Tyrant and more as the Kickstarter campaign to bring his long out-of-print series back to life has roared past its funding goal and continues to smash any stretch goal in its path! Bissette goes into why Vermont is such a good place to be a cartoonist, what his plans are for his tenure as the state's sixth Comics Laureate, why repressive eras seem to spur on transcendent works of horror, and how Zap Comix #0 changed his life. He dives deep into his fifteen years as an instructor at James Sturm's Center for Cartoon Studies, including some of the difficulties in teaching the history of the medium when some of the pioneers' work is held in disdain by the current generation. Finally, Bissette details how the 1990s direct-market distribution collapse aborted Tyrant and how today's crowdfunding and print-on-demand landscape—aided by Lighthouse publisher Chris Stevens and advocate/designer Jim Rugg—enabled Tyrant's Kickstarter-fueled revival. [This episode is number 829 in a series.]     CHAPTERS   00:00 - Intro 02:48 - Why Vermont Loves Comics 06:57 - Saying Yes To Laureate 08:30 - Vermont Cartooning Legacy 13:22 - Arts In Regressive Times 17:17 - Underground Comics Awakening 19:04 - Kubert School v CCS 24:25 - Teaching Comics History Debates 28:01 - Never Go Away Philosophy 33:48 - Tyrant Returns And Distribution 38:34 - Print On Demand Revolution 41:57 - Ads Reviews Retailers 42:45 - Direct Market Collapse 43:57 - Crowdfunding Changes Everything 45:46 - Perks Backstock Ceramics 47:40 - Success Fears Next Steps 51:50 - Life In The Zone 01:00:20 - Why Trust Stevens And Rugg 01:04:44 - Past Projects Credibility 01:11:10 - Lighthouse Team Scanning 01:13:31 - Momentum And Final Thoughts  

Greg welcomes cartoonist/designer Jim Rugg back to the show for the first recorded conversation since 2014! Last time, Jim talked with Greg AND Mike about the return of Street Angel through AdHouse Books, among other things. But for 2026, Jim brings a whole slew of new projects to the discussion: Becoming a Creative Producer at VeeFriends Writing VeeFriends #11 + #12 Writing AND drawing VeeFriends #13 Joining the creator-owned distribution co-op Power Pulp Designing new collections of Stephen Bissette's long-out-of-print Tyrant Writing a monograph for Bloomsbury Publishing on Barry Windsor-Smith's Weapon X Being back on YouTube in various places talking comics. The years may have passed, but Jim continues to be passionate about comics in all shapes & forms and even more passionate about making them. Find out about all of that and more on today's episode! [This episode is number 828 in a series.]     CHAPTERS   00:00 - Intro 02:28 - Twelve Years Later 03:16 - Joining VeeFriends  06:38 - Writing VeeFriends  09:10 - Farm Fights Origins  13:21 - Bullpen Comics Talk  16:51 - Writing For Other Artists  25:14 - Script Style And Process  29:12 - Teaching And New Ideas  31:50 - Power Pulp Explained  34:37 - Distribution Then And Now  39:40 - Power Pulp Interviews  40:54 - Unearthing Leo Derek 43:51 - Sharing Comics Gems  46:58 - Designing Tyrant Editions 51:12 - Working With Steve Bissette  56:01 - Writing About Weapon X  01:05:19 - Research Fuels Creativity 01:10:34 - Outro  

(This interview was originally published in an earlier form on July 21, 2014) From the original episode description: We usually follow up a spotlight episode with either a Previews exploration or a free-for-all. But this week is different because Jim Rugg himself stopped by our center-of-the-earth recording studio to drop some truth about Street Angel and his career. Jim is one of the most flat-out creative talents working in comics and design today, and we couldn't be more thrilled to bring you this wide-ranging conversation. His latest book is a re-release of his first published work: Street Angel. It's available from Ad House Books and finer comic shops everywhere. [This episode is a remastered variant of number 104 in a series.]     CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 03:06 - Street Angel Returns 04:42 - AdHouse Reprint Plan 09:20 - Design as Object 11:10 - Paper Stock Deep Dive 15:55 - Street Angel's Influences  20:30 - Lettering and Sound Effects 25:57 - From Mini Comics to Slave Labor 34:13 - Pink Upfront, Homage In The Back 39:20 - Fight Scenes and Page Chaos 44:45 - Scaling Line Weight 45:06 - Gallery Viewing Distance 44:45 - Books vs Wall Pieces 47:23 - Why Make Zines? 50:09 - Zines Inform Everything 51:08 - Work Zine Production 52:47 - Silhouette Zine Aftermath 54:52 - Free Online vs Print Costs 56:47 - Funding Big Ideas 57:38 - Copacetic Archive Book 01:02:04 - Jason Karnes Collection 01:04:01 - Finding New Cartoonists 01:08:03 - Internet Shelf Life 01:11:32 - Locust Moon Nemo Design 01:12:41 - Adventure Time House Style 01:18:28 - Outro

Cartoonist Kit Anderson's first graphic novel Second Shift was first mentioned on the back back in episode 817, where Avery Hill co-publisher Ricky Miller talked about working with her and bringing the book to his London-based company. But today's episode dives into the book with the author herself, which is good news for Greg because he read the book multiple times getting ready for this interview and…he has questions. Second Shift was preceded by a number of short stories and mini-comics, including the Ignatz-nominated "Weeds". "Weeds" and that other work has been collected in the anthology Safer Places, also out from Avery Hill.    She has an MFA from the Center for Cartoon Studies and has, among other things, also worked as the Production Manager for friend of the show Josh O'Neill's BEEHIVE BOOKS. So suffice it to say that Kit Anderson knows her way around a comic book, and that is definitely on display with Second Shift.  (We're not the only ones who think that – the New York Public Library put Second Shift on their list of  50 Best New Comics for Adults in 2025!) [This episode is number 827 in a series.]     CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 03:52 - Getting Into Comics 07:17 - CSC Days 09:07 - Finding a Home at Avery Hill Publishing 10:48 - Visual Scripting 20:54 - Refining SECOND SHIFT 23:43 - Ambiguity vs. Missing Pieces 30:40 - The ALIEN In The Room 32:39 - Is SECOND SHIFT a Horror Book? 35:07 - The Bradbury Of It All 37:07 - Birdie's Arc 39:08 - Analog vs. Digital 40:53 - Color 43:14 - Building TerraCorps 47:13 - Ranking the ALIEN Films 51:20 - What's Next 52:54 - Outro  

Today's guest is on the show to pick up a conversation we started last October when he screened his first feature film, SHOPPING FOR SUPERMAN, at Baltimore Comicon. He is a filmmaker - director / writer / editor / showman / dreamer / and many other things. His nearly 20 years in the film business has produced a CV too extensive to list here, so just take my word for it, this man knows his way around getting things out of the ether and on to the screen.  SHOPPING FOR SUPERMAN, a documentary that took almost a decade to see to fruition, is a love letter to the friendly neighborhood comic store and is both a wonderful reminder for some, and instruction to others, at just how important these places have been for getting comics to this point AND in taking comics into the future we all know they can reach.  The film is available to watch on various streaming platforms and on Blu-Ray from shoppingforsuperman.com, and it goes without saying we highly recommend you do so.  The director is Wes Eastin, and this episode has him sitting down with Greg to talk about the film and its subject matter so near and dear to both their hearts: the local comic book store.  [This episode is number 826 in a series.]     CHAPTERS 00:00 - Preamble 02:16 - Roles in Film Production  05:26 - The Passion Behind the Project  08:13 - Building the Documentary  13:25 - Interviewing Comic Shop Owners  17:14 - Creating a Comic Book Shop Set  23:03 - Challenges and Changes 25:59 - Future Projects and Reflections  36:12 - Remote Filmmaking and Technological Advances  36:54 - Building a Film on a Budget and Friendships  38:16 - Challenges and Experiences of Remote Interviews  41:07 - Incorporating Historical Elements in the Film  47:22 - The Role of Comic Shops in the Industry  55:16 - Personal Comic Shop Experiences  01:10:43 - Future Projects and Reflections 01:15:00 - Outro

Greg and the DC3Cast's very own Vince Ostrowski continue their dive into gem after Caped Crusader gem of the best Batman stories of the Seventies to mid-Eighties! Come for the Archie Goodwin goodness, stay to find out more about the artistic evolution of Walt Simonson, which of the two hosts is coolest on Marshall Rogers, the correct length of the Bat-Ears, what happens when the Bruces of two different comic book universes collide, the one-stop-comicbooking-shop that is Jim Aparo, Joe Staton and the Justice Society, just how hard Dick Giordano is to pronounce, and much more. All that, and the man who stalks the most dangerous game alive in today's episode! [This episode is number 825 in a series.]     CHAPTERS 00:00 – Preamble 03:29 – Part 2 Manifesto 10:51 – Goodwin on DETECTIVE COMICS 13:40 – Jim Aparo and The Ears 23:00 – Using Every Tool in the Toolbox 25:20 – A Batman Story vs A Story With Batman In It 32:41 – MANHUNTER and Walt Simonson 48:06 – Englehart & Rogers' DARK DETECTIVE 57:28 – I Now Pronounce You Bat-Mite! 01:00:45 – DEATH STRIKES AT MIDNIGHT AND THREE 01:04:37 – Joe Staton and the Earth-2 Batman/Huntress 01:11:14 – Untold Legends of Byrne and Aparo 01:17:22 – Thompkins, Brennert, Simonson, Giordano 01:27:14 – When Bruces Collide (BATMAN VS THE INCREDIBLE HULK) 01:34:39 – Recap and The DC3Cast 01:43:00 – Outro     AVAILABILITY The specific comics referred to in this episode are: Adventure Comics #461-463 Batman #321 Detective Comics #437-443, 457, 469-476, 478, 482, 500 DC Super-Stars #17 DC Special Series #15 The Untold Legend of Batman #1-3 Batman versus The Incredible Hulk All these are available as individual issues on the DC Universe Infinite service, except for DC Special Series #15 and Batman versus The Incredible Hulk. The two relevant stories from DC Special Series #15 are available in the Batman Arkham: Ra's Al Ghul collection ("I Now Pronounce You Batman and Wife!") and Tales of the Dark Knight: Marshall Rogers collection ("Death Strikes at Midnight and Three"), Batman versus The Incredible Hulk is not available online but was reprinted most recently in the 2025 DC Versus Marvel Omnibus.

Join Greg and Zach Wilkerson, one-third of the DC3Cast, as they delve deep into the Justice League Unlimited episode 'For the Man Who Has Everything,' adapted from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' classic Superman Annual #11. How deep you ask? Well, audio commentary-level deep!  

Join Greg and Zach Wilkerson, one-third of the DC3Cast, as they delve deep into the Justice League Unlimited episode 'For the Man Who Has Everything,' adapted from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' classic Superman Annual #11. How deep you ask? Well, audio commentary-level deep! The two's discussion topics range from major differences between the episode and the original comic, to continuity within the DCAU, to the story's emotional impact. Was removing Robin for the JLU episode a smart move? What could this story have looked like if it showed up during Justice League, when each story was a 44-minute two-parter instead of a 22-minute bullet train of an animated episode?  Additionally, they take the opportunity to reflect on the DC3Cast's 10-year (and counting) journey, favorite projects, and upcoming plans. **The commentary-only version of this episode can be found here: ** [This episode is number 824 in a series.]     CHAPTERS 00:00 Preamble 00:12 Special Guest Introduction 00:32 Catching Up with Zach 02:14 Discussing DC Three Cast 03:33 Reflecting on Podcasting Journey 16:48 Parenthood and Comics 19:52 Justice League Unlimited Commentary 37:44 The Beginning of the End 38:11 Superman's Perfect World Shattered 39:56 Wonder Woman's Role and Adaptation Choices 42:21 Superman's Emotional Climax 43:46 Batman's Best Day and the Black Mercy 44:50 The Final Battle and Conclusion 56:01 Reflections on Adaptation and Comic Comparisons 01:02:10 The DC3Cast and Future Projects  

In this panel discussion Greg moderated from this year's Baltimore Comicon, renowned cartoonist Stan Sakai discusses his celebrated career, particularly focusing on his iconic creation, Usagi Yojimbo. The conversation covers various aspects of Sakai's journey, from his early inspirations and the development of the character, to his unique storytelling techniques and processes. He also shares anecdotes about his collaborations, his publishing journey, and the importance of maintaining control over his work. Sakai offers insights into his meticulous research trips to Japan and hints at future storylines, while reflecting on his relationships with industry peers. The episode provides a deep dive into the life and work of a creator who has become a legend in the world of comics. [This episode is number 823 in a series.]     CHAPTERS 00:00 Preamble 00:00 Introduction and Panel Setup  01:23 Stan's Early Career and Inspirations 03:38 The Creation of Usagi Yojimbo 06:15 Research and Real-Life Inspirations 10:29 Balancing All-Ages Storytelling 15:31 Crafting Stories and Artistic Process 19:43 Favorite Samurai Movies and Influences 20:31 Supporting Characters and Spin-offs 21:39 Creators and Publishers: A Journey 22:15 Ownership and Control: The Power of Owning a Character 23:19 Editorial Freedom and Marvel Collaborations 24:04 The Long Storyline of Usagi  25:12 The Role of Editors: A Tribute to Diana Schutz 28:35 Color vs. Black and White: Publishing Decisions 30:04 Returning to Dark Horse: Reasons and Relationships 32:45 The Evolution of Publishing Rights 38:03 Favorite Collaborations and Characters 39:50 Future Storylines and Inspirations 41:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this panel moderated by Greg at HeroesCon 2024, veteran comic book letterers Rick Parker, John Workman, and Kevin Nowlan, as well as coloring guru and production master Steve Oliff share their experiences and techniques as cartoonists working in the art of lettering. Here's how the show described the panel:  GREG MATIASEVICH (Multiversity Comics) sits down with letterers JOHN WORKMAN, KEVIN NOWLAN, and RICK PARKER to talk about a job that involves much more than just typing with a pen. Listen to them swap stories about balancing their own careers as cartoonists; while placing word balloons, drawing sound effects, and designing logos for some of the best books in comics. PLUS: A special guest appearance by colorist (and cartoonist in his own right) STEVE OLIFF for a different perspective on the demands of comics production work. [This episode is number 822 in a series.]     CHAPTERS  00:00 Introduction and Panelist Introductions 00:45 Rick Parker's Journey in Lettering 03:09 John Workman's Lettering Insights 05:09 Kevin Nowlan's Perspective on Lettering 07:01 Steve Oliff's Experience and Contributions 09:10 Audience Q&A: Techniques and Tools 24:29 Critique of Winsor McCay's Lettering 26:20 Personal Experience with Lettering 27:23 Techniques and Tools for Lettering 28:13 Anecdotes and Industry Stories 31:54 The Importance of Lettering in Comics 39:12 Challenges in Comic Book Production 42:46 Outro

In this panel discussion Greg moderated from this year's Baltimore Comicon, cartoonists Zoe Thorogood, Jeff Smith, David Petersen, and Stan Sakai talk about the tools they use to bring their Eisner-winning comic book stories out of their heads and on to the page. From scouting art shops for discontinued pens to building architectural models to using school supplies and family members (two-legged or four-legged) and all points in-between, these four go far and wide with their advice on what helps them keep bringing the comic booking goodness to us all, page after page, and year after year. [This episode is number 821 in a series.]     CHAPTERS 00:00 Preamble 02:17 Intro 03:36 Essential Tools for Comic Creators 06:20 Pencils vs. Inking: The Creative Process 11:05 Adapting to Changing Tools 17:45 Maintaining Consistency in Comic Settings 23:26 Setting the Scene: Drawing Techniques and Tools 24:20 Historical Research and On-Site Visits 25:16 Time Management Strategies for Artists 30:11 Balancing Creative and Business Responsibilities 35:54 Digital vs. Traditional Art: Making the Choice 37:20 Achieving Artistic Vision: Practice and Persistence 42:42 Emotional Challenges and Self-Care for Artists 47:08 Outro

Writer Samuel Teer is back to finish out the RFT trilogy dedicated to Brownstone, his collaboration with cartoonist Mar Julia. Since his last visit, Brownstone won the prestigious Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature, and Samuel goes into detail about the impact that accolade has had on his career and mental health. The discussion doesn't shy away from the darker aspects, including Samuel's tumultuous relationship with HarperCollins, the industry's shortcomings in supporting creators of color, and the emotional toll of navigating publisher gaslighting. Samuel also sheds light on his upcoming projects, like Castles to Cholos with Alex Moore and Pok-ta-Pok, a three-volume sports manga series with Abrams, as well as give some other recommended Latinx reads for Latino Heritage Month. Through it all, Samuel's resilience and dedication to improving the comics landscape shine through, making this a must-listen in-depth exploration of his fight to make his voice heard and make the comics world better than he found it. [This episode is number 820 in a series.]  CHAPTERS 00:00 - Preamble 03:18 - Winning an Award But Leaving HarperCollins 09:24 - Printz Award Pedigree 10:18 - Challenges with HarperCollins 18:39 - The Printz Award Ceremony31:46 - The Speech 46:46 - ALA Conference, Post-speech 54:22 - Depression 55:38 - The Call 01:04:30 - Fallout and Support 01:06:26 - Mental and Physical Health Struggles 01:08:42 - Understanding Harper Collins' Structure01:09:45 - Larry Young Recharge01:12:32 - Latino Heritage Snub01:15:18 - Advice for Young Creators 01:23:39 - Creatives versus Labor01:34:28 - The Value of a Good Literary Agent01:39:47 - Book Recommendations and the Importance of Buying Books  01:42:09 - Outro  

In this panel discussion that Greg moderated back in June from this year's HeroesCon, cartoonist Michel Fiffe reflects on finishing his acclaimed indie comic COPRA with the release of issue 50 earlier on the week. Fiffe discusses the emotional journey of concluding the series after 12+ years, his inspirations, his creative process, the X-Men and Ninja Turtle impact on the book, the challenges and rewards of being an independent creator, how close we came to having a Batman show up, and much, much more! [This episode is number 819 in a series.]    

Greg welcomes DC3Cast's Brian Salvatore back to the show to help out with this Shelf Bound look at DC's 1985 blockbuster event CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS. After catching up on Brian's busy post-Multiversity life, balancing different passions including music, baseball, and family, and various podcasts, it's time for some CRISIS management to figure out the optimal way to tackle the monumental and sprawling story Marv Wolfman and George Perez unleashed.  Do you stick to JUST the 12-issue maxiseries?  Do you throw caution to the wind and read EVERY red sky tie-in?  Do you go even further and include the various "Crisis" JLA/JSA precursors and the LEGENDS mini follow-up?  What about Marvel's CRISIS parodies like MIGHTY MOUSE's "Mices on Infinite Earths"?  It's a biiiiiig question, but these are the two lads willing to walk into the anti-matter to answer that question, and many more.  [This episode is number 818 in a series.]  CHAPTERS 00:00   Preamble 02:17   Brian's Busy Life Post-Multiversity 04:21   Rediscovering Comics as a Hobby 05:51   Missing the Multiversity Experience 07:01   The Churn of Comics and Baseball 09:44   Balancing Work and Passion Projects 17:47   The DC3 Cast and Patreon Experience 28:54   Crisis on Infinite Earths: A Deep Dive 39:36   Infinity Inc and Roy Thomas 41:49   Post-Crisis DC Universe 44:57   Defining a Crisis Event 49:52   Essential Crisis Experience 53:37   Collecting Crisis and Beyond 01:14:39   Final Thoughts on Crisis 01:15:54   Outro

There's an ecosystem to comics publishing, like everything else. You've got your Marvel & DC/Big Two on one end of things, your single cartoonist stapling their first minizines that they ran 20 copies off of the printer at their day jobs at the other, and many points in-between. And it's one of those intermediate options, Avery Hill Publishing out of South London, England, that is the focus of today's show. Going back to the earlier example, Avery Hill is probably much closer to the cartoonist than the corporations. And this makes sense when you look at their output. On their website, the publisher described itself as: "Helping aspiring creators reach their potential and … a home to the geniuses that the mainstream has yet to recognise ... Our canon includes psychogeographical mappings, eco-anarchist wizards, boat-shaped coffins, an all-female/non-binary construction crew (in space), a bad canine named Greasy, and much more." Avery Hill has positioned itself to be an option for up & coming creators, a model that has worked for them with many cartoonists, including Tillie Walden, who published the first works of an Ignatz- and Eisner-lauded career, THE END OF SUMMER and I LOVE THIS PART, at Avery Hill almost ten years ago.  To find out more about Avery Hill's place in the comics landscape, what that landscape looks like for them in 2025 and beyond, and to talk about their newest release, Kit Anderson's sci-fi graphic novel SECOND SHIFT just out last month, today's episode is a chat with Avery Hill co-publisher Ricky Miller. [This episode is number 817 in a series.]  CHAPTERS 00:00 - Preamble 01:37 - Early Days and Inspirations 05:50 - Transition to Publishing 09:15 - Discovering New Talent 18:05 - Kickstarter and Business Model 20:11 - Day-to-Day Operations at Avery Hill 22:30 - Balancing Creativity and Practicality 23:03 - Impact of the Internet on Talent Discovery 23:48 - Challenges of Social Media for Creators 24:37 - Finding New Talent in the Modern Era 27:52 - Kit Anderson's Journey with Avery Hill 30:19 - The Appeal of Sci-Fi in Comics 36:43 - Avery Hill's Editorial Approach 38:59 - Upcoming Projects and Future Plans 42:54 - Avery Hill at Comic Shows 44:46 - Outro

In his latest graphic novel Drafted, readers can see how math did cartoonist Rick Parker absolutely no favors in trying to stay out of the military during the height of the Vietnam War.  The 256-page book, which is the first of Parker's career that he has written AND illustrated, covers that three year period of his time in the U.S. Army in autobiographical detail both funny and heartbreaking. After being honorably discharged, the cartoonist would eventually get a job at Marvel Comics as a letterer for such titles as G.I. Joe and the Spider-Man line for most of the 1980's.  In 1994 he took on full cartooning duties for the Beavis & Butthead series for Marvel, producing 28 issues of humor in that particular vein until the title was unceremoniously cancelled in 1996. Later work ranged from books at Papercutz and work at the Morgan Stanley bank creative services department, among other spots in between.  Today Greg is talking with cartoonist Rick Parker about his book Drafted, the career leading up to it, and hopefully a little bit about what's coming up next. Fingers crossed there will be no math. [This episode is number 816 in a series.]  CHAPTERS 00:00 - Preamble 01:37 - When did you start thinking about the book?  08:38 - When did you start working on it officially?  13:38 - How did you go about researching the book? 16:39 - How much work does Rick Parker the writer do before Rick Parker the artist starts working? 30:26 - What did your time in the Army reveal to you about yourself? 41:20 - How did Drafted get from your drawing table to Abrams? 45:01 - What is the editor's role in a project like this? 49:34 - What's on your drawing table right now? 52:37 - Comics can be a lonely job and a communal job at the same time. Talk about maintaining industry connections over the length of your career. 54:46 - Outro    

We live in troubling times. Turn on the news or your phone and that seems to be all there is: trouble.  But according to John Lewis, the late U.S. Congressman from Georgia's 5th District, trouble… doesn't always HAVE to be bad. In fact, there can be GOOD trouble that helps you deal with all the bad. Carrying the Congressman's message of GOOD trouble into these times we find ourselves in, is the Congressman's former staffer, writing partner, and steadfast ally Andrew Aydin. Andrew's publishing venture Good Trouble Productions is built on the foundation of that message of GOOD trouble, and is the focus of today's episode. Good Trouble Productions, through its Appalachia Comics imprint, is running a Kickstarter campaign for ISLANDS IN THE SKY, a 112-page comics anthology to benefit the survivors of last year's Hurricane Helene that pairs actual survivors with comics writers like Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, Gene Leun Yang, Greg Pak, Alex Segura, and more to capture their own accounts on the storm and its aftermath. The Good Trouble Comics imprint is home to titles like the LGBTQ anthology RECOGNIZED, the historical reprint series COMICS OF THE MOVEMENT, and REGISTER! a new series about history and an extraordinary group of teens. And finally, talks swings back to Appalachia Comics for MONSTER APPRECIATION SOCIETY, where Andrew and artist Johnathan Marks Barravecchia delve into the horror genre with all manner of monsters lurking in the namesake mountains: Bigfoot, The Moon-Eyed People, and the worst monsters of them all: real estate developers!  [This episode is number 815 in a series.] ****************************** CHAPTERS 00:00 – Preamble 00:46 – Intro 03:12 – ISLANDS IN THE SKY Kickstarter Campaign 04:04 – Pairing Survivors With Comics Writers To Tell Their Stories 10:57 – Hurricane Helene From Andrew's POV 17:06 – Getting The Word Out About Appalachia and Helene 22:25 – Alternate Distribution Models with Etsy & Kickstarter 28:33 – The Beginnings of Good Trouble Productions 33:16 – What Makes a Comic a Good Trouble Comic 38:07 – Register! (With An Exclamation Point) 40:20 – MONSTER APPRECIATION SOCIETY  47:07 – Outro ****************************** Go to the episode page at: https//robotsfromtomorrow.net/andrew-aydin-good-trouble

Today's episode comes directly from this year's HeroesCon in lovely Charlotte, NC. Greg had the opportunity to host a few panels this year; the first of which was this spotlight on cartoonist/illustrator Colleen Doran. As described in the show programing guide: Her work has garnered more nominations and awards than we have space to list here, but trust us, it's a looong list. Eisners, Bram Stokers, Harveys, Hugos, inclusion in the Best American Comics series… when discussing COLLEEN DORAN's career as a cartoonist and illustrator, there are so many highlights only the bravest of souls would try and host a panel looking to take stock of them all. Thankfully for HeroesCon, GREG MATIASEVICH (Multiversity Comics) has taken up the challenge. Come see how he does in conversation with one of the best artists working in comics, or any other field, today! [This episode is number 814 in a series.] ****************************** CHAPTERS 00:00 – Preamble 01:26 – Intro 02:52 – How has it been adapting Gaiman's prose work to comics? 08:41 – What's your process like when you're working from someone else's material? 21:48 – What is the status of A DISTANT SOIL, and how different do you think your career would have been if you hadn't had a creator-owned project like it to start your career with? 22:51 – Which word is more important for a creator to know – yes or no? 24:12 – What are some working tips from your freelance career that you think every creator should know? 39:53 – Remembering Keith Giffen 42:23 – Who was the last big art revelation you had? 44:06 – Is it possible to divorce illustration from storytelling? 45:19 – Do you think the American market will ever appreciate how much of comics 'writing' is done by the artist? 51:15 – Outro ****************************** Go to the episode page at: https//robotsfromtomorrow.net/colleen-doran-hc24

"The cycle of renewal in art is peddled by the periodic influx of stuff from somewhere else. That's why you need a man at the crossroads… He will be the purest, most fresh faced wee fellow you have ever met. His ingenuous enthusiasm will beam from his cheery countenance." -- Eddie Campbell on Paul Gravett, Alec: How To Be An Artist Today's guest is Campbell's Man at the Crossroads, and he has been observing, studying, and directing comics traffic for over 40 years. As this fellow's understanding of its ebbs and flows has grown over that time, so has his endeavors in making sense of it for himself. And thankfully, Comics fans around the globe.  He's written at least seven books, including Mangasia: The Definitive Guide to Asian Comics, which has been transformed and translated into reality as the touring exhibition: ASIAN COMICS: EVOLUTION OF AN ART FORM. The Barbican website describes the exhibit at The Bowers Museum in Los Angeles, CA as "with a team of more than 20 international advisors, ASIAN COMICS features over 500 works, the largest selection of artworks from the continent, including Japanese woodblock prints, Hindu scroll paintings, digital media, printed comics, and contemporary illustrations. This unique exhibition is a gateway to an unexplored world of graphic storytelling and its artistic value." He's also an accomplished editor and anthology curator. Among the books he's assembled have been 2011's 1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die, which is a fantastic title, and The Mammoth Book of Best Crime Comics. He's contributed to countless periodicals and documentaries about comics. He's published one of the best comics magazines of the 1980s, Escape, with partner Peter Stanbury, giving a platform to such creators as James Robinson, Dave McKean, and Neil Gaiman. He started Comica, the London International Comics Festival with John Harris Dunning in 2003. He gives lectures, he hosts panels, and he continues to be one of the most respected comics patrons of his generation. Frankly, it's been exhausting just narrowing down his endeavors to a reasonable summary for this blog post. He's Paul Gravett and he joins Greg today to talk about comics in all their wonderful forms and many varied locations. [This episode is number 815 in a series.]  ****************************** CHAPTERS 00:00 - Preamble 02:50 - Intro 05:40 - "I want to know about everything…" 06:17 - What was the first thing you learned that gave you your paradigm shift of what comics could be? 08:28 - Shonen Magazine / Fishing Crazy Senpai 10:32 - "No nostalgia, no loyalties, no limits" 12 36 - How do you keep all these perpendicular lines of comics in your head? 17:52 - "An unlimited multiversity to comics" 19:53 - Photo comics & Gregory Crewdson 22:11 - Jayme Cortez 24:18 - Comics 1964-2024 27:20 - Sawwaf Collection 29:31 - Lusanne / Taiwan 32:27 - Lodz Poland 33:19 - Posy Simmonds 35:40 - ASIAN COMICS 37:10 - Talk about your growing understanding of Asian comics as you were working on the books and the exhibition. 41:38 - Is the diversity of Asian comics and inspiration to you about the future of comics? 44:05 - Comics preservation in the Philippines and Mexico 50:41 - How important is humility (or lack thereof) when putting together an anthology or exhibition? 57:25 - Talk about your working relationship with your partner Peter Stanbury. 1:02:25 - Comica 1:06:00 - Outro ***************************** Go to the episode page at: https://robotsfromtomorrow.net/paul-gravett-at-comicas-crossroads/      

Today's guest is making his SIXTH appearance on the show, which means he's the most returned non-Multiversity guest in the history of the show. Previous episodes have had us talk about various aspects of his almost-30-year career in comics, from intern to editor at such publishers as Valiant, Humanoids, Heavy Metal, A Wave Blue World, and of course, DC Comics. But Joseph Illidge is here now as the writer of that company's Milestone Universe: The Shadow Cabinet #1, a four-issue limited series bringing him back to Milestone Comics, where his professional journey began. Issue #1 debuts on November 20th with art by Darryl Banks and Artigun Ilhan.  [This is episode 814 in a series.] ****************************** CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 02:10 - The Shadow Cabinet Pitch 02:57 - The Shadow Cabinet Working on Shadow Cabinet 05:52 - What brought you back in the Milestone fold? 08:38 - What was it like being back? 13:27 - What kind of script / art collaboration do you prefer? 16:51 - How was working with editor Marquis Draper, aka your generational echo? 23:48 - For writing Rocket, how do you dial into her and speak for her? 28:27 - Anything you want to tease about the rest of the mini? 30:33 - Outro ****************************** Go to the episode page at: https://robotsfromtomorrow.net/joseph-illidge-on-the-shadow-cabinet/

Today we're talking about Copra, the indie comics darling that fuses 80s mainstream comic sensibilities with modern execution to give us an adventure story that looks familiar... up until it doesn't. In the 12 years since its inception, Copra has taken readers on a journey both on the page and off. This year saw the publication of Creating Copra, the definitive guide to making and self publishing comics. A 64-page reference guide to... well, you know. But all things must come to an end, and Copra is no exception. The four-issue limited series titled Death of Copra starts on January 8th of next year, with final order cut off on December 2nd. To cover this comic's beginning and probable end, we have cartoonist/creator Michel Fiffe in the studio to talk about all things Copra. [This episode is number 813 in a series.] ****************************** CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 01:48 - How do you pitch Copra? 04:08 - Are you done with the series yet? 11:44 - Have you always had this work ethic? 13:08 - How did working on other comics during Copra help? 15:06 - Who is Annie Koyama and how did she help Copra out? 23:03 - If someone else had published Copra singles, how do you think that would have changed your experience?  35:20 - How has having to engage with retailers directly helped you? Or has it? 39:29 - Lettering 43:47 - How do you keep your creative & publishing mindsets separate? 48:32 - What does life after Copra look like? 52:12 - Outro * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  Go to the episode post at: https://robotsfromtomorrow.net/fiffe-copra/

Neither your eyes nor your ears are deceiving you -- we're back! Rested, reconfigured, and ready to return to ongoing Robot-ing! Listen to this byte-sized bonus episode to find out where we were and where we're headed!

The topic of today's episode is Brownstone, the new YA graphic novel from writer Samuel Teer and artist Mar Julia, about a 14-year-old girl spending the summer with a father she's never known as they fix up the titular dilapidated brownstone. If that name sounds familiar, it's because Samuel was just on the show last episode talking about the trials and tribulations of bringing this story  from his head to our bookshelves.  Now we get to hear from the other side of the Brownstone creation equation. Mar's work is absolutely in the wheelhouse of the type of comicbooking we love to see here on this show. When we read Brownstone, we saw Tillie Walden, we saw Carla Speed McNeil, we saw grounded situations portrayed with enough exaggeration to make this comic an engaging story being told rather than a mere rendition of plot points. Greg was thrilled to get the opportunity to talk to them about their process for this book and their work in general. And maybe ask the writer a question or two, if there was still time... [This is episode 812 in a series.] ****************************** Go to the episode page at: https://robotsfromtomorrow.net/julia-teer-brownstone/

Returning to the show today after a nearly eight-year absence is comics writer Samuel Teer. His new book, Brownstone, about a teenage girl connecting with her Latin heritage and her estranged father without speaking a word of each other's language as they renovate the title structure, hits shelves on June 11th. The road from his last OGN, 2015's Veda: Assembly Required and this one is the topic for today's conversation. Samuel & Greg talk about collaboration, the differences between the two different markets for this thing we call comix, the importance of context, breakout panels, ominous texts, and a detailed look into the relationship between a comics creative and the agent (or agents) they pair up with to help bring their ideas to market.   [This is episode 811 in a series.] ****************************** Go to the episode page at: https://robotsfromtomorrow.net/the-road-to-brownstone/

Having finished with the Man of Steel, today's episode is the first of three looking at the best Caped Crusader stories of the Seventies to the mid-Eighties with the DC3Cast's very own Vince Ostrowski! Come for the Neal Adams, stay to find out more about double-threat Frank Robbins, the mad genius of Bob Haney, Ra's Al Ghul, Bruce Wayne and Sgt. Rock teaming up to fight Nazis, Batman's Congressional career, and much more. All that, and just what the hell a hellgrammite is! [This is episode 810 in a series.] __________ The specific comics referred to in this episode are: The Brave and the Bold (v1) #79-86, 93, 94 Batman (v1) #217, 232, 234, 237, 242-244, 250, 251 Detective Comics (v1) #400, 402, 404, 407, 420, 421, 429 Swamp Thing (v1) #7 All these are available as individual issues on the DC Universe Infinite service, except for Batman 242 and 250. Batman 242 is reprinted in the Batman: Tales of the Demon collection, and Batman 250 is reprinted in the first volume of The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told collection series.

Today's show is not a joke, not a hoax, not an imaginary story! Greg gives his take on the upcoming Marvel & DC crossover omnibi coming later this year, and then dives into the larger waters of comic book team-ups that absolutely totally happened . . . and with the help of Ross Pearsall's website, he has the covers to prove it! Find out all kinds of things about the crossovers you know about and the crossovers you had no idea actually existed! [This is episode 809 in a series.] ****************************** Go to the episode page at: https://robotsfromtomorrow.net/a-few-words-about-team-ups/

Today's show has not one, not two, but THREE Canadian cartoonists on the mics ready to chat with Greg. Luc Bossé, cartoonist of Gary, King of the Pick-Up Artists and publisher of Pow Pow Press, Thom, cartoonist of such Pow Pow works as VII, Casa Rodeo, and the upcoming Botanica Drama, and returning guest François Vigneault, a cartoonist whose Pow Pow work includes the French language edition of his sci-fi classic Titan, but is here today in his capacity as Pow Pow's Marketing Manager. As you can probably guess, the connection here is Pow Pow. More specifically, Editions Pow Pow, a Montreal-based publisher with the goal of spreading the work of Quebec cartoonists to bookshelves of French- or English-speaking readers across the globe. Pow Pow came to our attention thru François, but it KEPT out attention with books like the ones previously mentioned, but also Cathon's The Pineapples of Wrath, Sophie Bedard's Lonely Boys, and Éloïse Marseille's Naked: The Confessions of a Normal Woman. The goal of today's chat is to be nothing less than the best English-language primer on Pow Pow – how it came to be, what it is, and where it's going. [This is episode 808 in a series.] ****************************** Go to the episode page at: https://robotsfromtomorrow.net/pow-pow-press-roundtable/

Today's episode is the third of three looking at the best Superman stories of the Seventies to the mid-Eighties with the DC3Cast's very own Vince Ostrowski! Vince & Greg dive into what makes the Superman of this era different than his more modern incarnation and give you gem after gem of Super-Tales of the post-Silver Age / pre-Crisis Man of Steel. Crises at last! Birthday presents! Planets exploding! Planets not exploding! Team-ups great and small! All that plus one last imaginary tale on today's episode!  [This is episode 807 in a series.] ****************************** CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro  44:39 - Wrap-up / Outro  ******************************  AVAILABILITY All comics are available as individual issues on DC Universe Infinite except for Superman(v1) #385-386 and 400, and Action Comics (v1) #544-546. Action Comics (v1) #544-546 and 400 are collected, either in full or excerpts, in the Adventures of Superman: Gil Kane or Superman: A Celebration of 75 Years collections. ******************************   Go to the episode page at: https://robotsfromtomorrow.net/greatest-bronze-age-superman-3/

Having just talked about the early days of 2000AD, we thought it would be fun to chat with someone with a strip running in the Progs right now. Starting with Prog 2367 was Book Two of the strip "Full Tilt Boogie", the continuing adventures of teen bounty hunter Tee, her grandmother, and their cat as they criss-cross the galaxy. Drawn by Eduardo Ocana, colored by Eva de la Cruz, lettered by Annie Parkhouse, and written by today's guest. She is a multi-hyphenate creator whose CV would take the entire show to lay out in detail, so with her indulgence I will paraphrase. A writer of prose, comics, poetry, film and television, she is also a director and collaborator and obviously a multi-tasker of the highest order. She has mashed up the Archie gang with the Predator, worked with Duncan Jones, and edited an anthology of soldiers autobiographical stories about their deployments. While not afraid to roll up her sleeves and do all manner of creative jobs herself, her eye for collaboration has led her to working with such talents as Carla Speed McNeil (on No Mercy) and Erica Henderson (on the pulp horror Dracula Motherf**ker and the more recent Parasocial), as well as the aforementioned Ocana even prior to "Full Tilt Boogie". Greg tried to keep this episode's conversation coherent but because today's guest is Alex de Campi, with so many avenues for questions and straight-shooting answers, it was no mean feat. Find out how he did and more on today's chat! [This is episode 806 in a series.] ****************************** Go to the episode page at: https://robotsfromtomorrow.net/alex-decampi-on-full-tilt-boogie/

Today's episode is the second of three looking at the best Superman stories of the Seventies to the mid-Eighties with the DC3Cast's very own Vince Ostrowski! Vince & Greg dive into what makes the Superman of this era different than his more modern incarnation and start giving you gem after gem of Super-Tales of the post-Silver Age / pre-Crisis Man of Steel. Intercompany crossovers! Intracompany crossovers! History lessons! Horror on a superhero scale! All that plus a REALLY big missile and more on today's episode! [This is episode 805 in a series.] ****************************** CHAPTERS 00:00 – Intro 02:24 – Overview 05:44 – Superman vs Spider-Man + Spider-Man vs Superman 12:40 – DC Comics Presents (v1) #1-4 23:54 – DC Comics Presents Annual #1 27:32 – Superman Special (v1) 1 + Superman Annual (v1) #9 30:23 – World of Krypton (v1) + The Phantom Zone (v1) 39:53 – Closing Thoughts ****************************** AVAILABILITY  The Phantom Zone and World of Krypton minis, as well as the DC Comics Presents issues, are available as individual issues on DC Universe Infinite. Superman Annual #9 is not available digitally or collected in any English-language reprint. The two DC/Marvel crossovers are also unavailable digitally, though they were reprinted at standard comic book size in both the Crossover Classics vol. 1 collection from 1992 and as individual reprints in 1996. They will both be included in the upcoming DC Versus Marvel Omnibus, and presumably available digitally at some point afterwards.  ****************************** Go to the episode page at: https://robotsfromtomorrow.net/greatest-bronze-age-superman-1/   

As part of his Someday Reading Project, Greg takes a look at the first dozen programmes of The Galaxy's Greatest Comic: 2000AD! Do those early installments still hold up? Was Dredd the leader of the pack… or the runt of the litter? What controversial boys' adventure comic paved the way for Tharg and all that Thrill-Power? All that and more on today's bite-sized episode!  [This is episode 804 in a series.] ****************************** CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 01:30 - Picking 2000AD 02:24 - 2000AD's Origins 05:14 - Following Along At Home 05:54 - My Rankings 08:17 - Outro  ****************************** SUPPLEMENTAL READING & VIEWING Rebellion/2000AD's First Stories Digital Bundle BE PURE, BE VIGILANT, BEHAVE! by Pat Mills FUTURE SHOCK: THE STORY OF 2000AD ****************************** Go to the episode page at: https://robotsfromtomorrow.net/2000ad-the-first-dozen 

Today's episode is the first of three looking at the best Superman stories of the Seventies to the mid-Eighties with the DC3Cast's very own Vince Ostrowski! Vince & Greg dive into what makes the Superman of this era different than his more modern incarnation and start giving you gem after gem of Super-Tales of the post-Silver Age / pre-Crisis Man of Steel. Kryptonite No More! Must There Be A Superman! The Great One and the Greatest of All Time! Whiz Wagons! Clones! The Sweet Science! The Wedding of the Century! Hippie Bikers! More quotemarks than you can shake a stick at! All that and more on today's episode!    [This is episode 803 in a series.] ****************************** CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 03:42 - What does "Bronze Age Superman" mean to you?06:32 - Which Superman do you prefer? 10:27 - Superman (v1) #232 11:17 - Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen (v1) #133-139 + 141 and Forever People (v1) #1 14:08 - Kirby Faces 20:42 - Superman (v1) #233-242 26:00 - Individual Moments 30:07 - Superman (v1) #247 31:14 - Action Comics (v1) #484 33:44 - Superman vs Muhammad Ali 37:36 - "Gloriously goofy and absolutely earnest" 42:25 - The Cover 44:39 - Closing Thoughts ******************************  Superman (v1) #232, 247, and Action Comics (v1) #484 are not available digitally as individual issues. Action Comics (v1) #484 is available digitally in the Lois Lane: A Celebration of 75 Years and Action Comics: 80 Years of Superman: The Deluxe Edition collections. Superman (v1) #247 and the main story from #232 (originally from Superman (v1) #141) are available digitally in the Superman: A Celebration of 75 Years collection. Superman vs Muhammad Ali is available digitally but not through DC Universe Infinite. The rest of the comics are available as individual issues or in the Kryptonite No More, Jack Kirby's Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, or Jack Kirby's The Forever People collections on DC Universe Infinite. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *   Go to the episode page at: https://robotsfromtomorrow.net/greatest-bronze-age-superman-1/  

Greg kicks off The Someday Project looking at one of his early comics influences: a magazine-sized mind-bender (at least for someone of his age to read it) unlike anything else on the stands. HEAVY METAL? Nope. 2000 AD? Negative. Those are coming soon enough, but today Greg talks about the impact of David A. Trampier's "Wormy" from DRAGON magazine. Does it still hold up? How can you get a hold of it today? All that and more in today's episode! [This is episode 802 in a series.] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *   The start of "WORMY" on the Internet Archive "Wormy" ran in DRAGON issues: 9-20 29-34 36, 39, 42-44 47-52 54-58 60-128 130-132 Wormy: The Dragon's Dragon Correspondence with Dave Trampier and A History of His 1985 Attempt to Crowdfund a "Wormy" Anthology * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  Go to the episode page at: https://robotsfromtomorrow.net/wormy-by-david-a-trampier/

The winter break is over, and Greg returns to give listeners a peek behind the curtain in this quick preview of what 2024 has in store for the show, including and most importantly, the lowdown on what has been referred to in hushed whispers around the office as... THE SOMEDAY PROJECT! What new devilry is this? All is revealed in today's episode! 

Today's guest is someone listeners of this show will be familiar with, as he name is mentioned often and in tones of reverence. For almost 30 years he has worked with such artists as Jae Lee, Jeff Lemire, Bill Sienkiewicz, JH Williams III, and BERNIE WRIGHTSON to bring color into their art in a way that always enhances, never detracts - no mean feat there.  He's also been a teacher/presenter/lecturer of art and illustration at such institutions as Towson University, Johns Hopkins University, the Institute for Contemporary Art in London, and MICA the Maryland Institute College of Art, where he currently a professor. Two of his most recent projects are his recoloring of the Bernie Wrightson's Swamp Thing run for the recent Absolute Edition, and the second volume of Dark Horse Comics' "Richard Corben Library", which collects Den: Neverwhere with his gorgeous restoration work giving it new life. He's Jose Villarrubia, and Greg is thrilled to have him on the show to talk about all of that and more. 

Today's guest needs no introduction, but we have episode post space to fill so we're doing one anyway.  He's a creator whose balance of romanticism and pragmatism has kept him in the business and thrall of comics for almost 50 years. As an artist, a writer, and a cartoonist, he has almost certainly forgotten more about comics, history and storytelling than most of us will ever know. But thankfully, two of his latest projects are about giving that knowledge back to the comics community. The first is Hey Kids! Comics!, a roman a clef work from Image about the history of mainstream comics whose final issue just came out last month and whose trade collection is due next month. The other is COMIC BOOK U, a series of in-person seminars with writer/editor Mark Waid kicking off next Saturday, November 18th at UCLA that looks to give attendees "an immersive tutorial into the process and craft of creating comic books" . In addition to all of that, he is reviving John Benteen's early 20th Century soldier-of-fortune creation Fargo with an upcoming 96-page adaptation through the crowdfunding platform ZOOP. We are, of course, talking about Howard Chaykin, and Greg got a chance to chat with him about comic book know-how, the collision of past & future, musical theater as comic book inspiration, just how neat Jason Bernard was, and a lot more on today's episode! 

The last time today's guest was here for his own episode, it was July 2014, during the final days of the Kickstarter campaign for Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream, the Eisner-winning anthology title assembling a truly dream-worthy roster of creators to pay tribute to Windsor McCay's seminal comic strip. In the nearly ten years since then, he has gone on to found Beehive Books, where he and creative partner Maielle Doliveux continue to put out book after book, work after work that seem like artifacts from some other, better timeline.  From Illuminated Editions pairing such literary classics as Crime and Punishment, Peter Pan, and The Kwaidan Collection with artists like Dave McKean, Brecht Evans, and Kent Williams, to documenting the continuing works of cartoonist Ronald Wemberly, to blanket tapestries from the likes of Michael DeForge, Jim Woodring, Yuko Shimizu, to a literal suitcase of period-accurate text & ephemera for the epistolarian horror classic Dracula, and so much more, my guest apparently hears the word NO as an invitation, not an obstacle. He is Josh O'Neill, and Greg is thrilled to have him back on the show after much too long an absence to talk about all things Beehive Books.

There are many days working in the show that Greg is grateful to be an observer of comix rather than a creator of them, because the level of craft and skill his hypothetical output would have to measure up against already gives him the willies. That being said, today's guest has already put together such a formidable resume and body of work (all before the age of 30) it makes even this comix-adjacent host wonder what the hell he's been doing with his life.  With nearly 10 published works to her credit, Tillie Walden has already won 2 Eisner Awards, 2 Ignatz Awards, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, AND a Hugo Award nomination. She remains a faculty member at her alma mater, the Center for Cartoon Studies, and is currently in her first of three years as Vermont's Cartoonist Laureate. This episode has Greg peppering the cartoonist with a myriad of questions about her new book, the second volume in her Walking Dead trilogy about fan-favorite queer teen survivor Clementine, the boundaries of YA horror, how nothing brings out generation gaps like an apocalypse, just what it is in Vermont's water that makes it a cartoonist mecca, and much more!

Today's show brings another returning guest: a cartoonist so well-known for being in tune with the vibe of Jack Kirby in his own work that when he published his Kirby biography Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics in 2020, there's no doubt a large portion of the readership wondered what had taken him so long. The delay was most likely due to the fact he was busy making a name for himself with such projects in the comics mainstream and independent arenas as The Myth of 8-Opus, G0dland, Transformers vs GI Joe, American Barbarian, Go-Bots, and many more. He also takes the time to not only be the fifth-Beatle-esque third Cartoonist Kayfaber on that popular YouTube channel, but co-host his own Total Recall Show with Matt Zeoli. But today, Tom Scioli is here to talk with Greg about a new collaboration between himself and The King (separated by 80-ish years or so) as well as his new biography on the other half of the Kirby-Lee partnership: I am Stan: The Graphic Biography of the Legendary Stan Lee.

Program warning: today's episode dives directly into Chris Claremont's original 16-year run on UNCANNY X-MEN, which means Greg will be once again talking about his all-time favorite run of comics (although this time with an expert to help out). Longtime listeners playing a drinking game based on him name-dropping these comics on the show would be wise to give that game a pass today, or risk massive liver damage. You have been warned. In the epilogue to his Twitter account THE CLAREMONT RUN, Doctor J Andrew Deman wrote the following about that project and his decision to focus its attention on those comics: "What if they, contrary to every expectation, were (and always had been) profound and brilliant and worthy of literary analysis?" For over two years, Deman and his team did the work to prove he was right to see merit in those comics, posting thread after thread diving into analysis and discussion about Claremont's mutants and the highly influential yet still under-appreciated gems contained in those issues. While those posts are still available on the now-ironically-named social media site X, Deman's work on this subject will soon be available in bookstores with the publication of The Claremont Run: Subverting Gender in the X-Men, coming October 24th from the University of Texas Press. Deman has also tackled the British corner of Marvel's mutant-verse as 1/3rd of the hosts of the Oh Gosh, Oh Golly, Oh Wow! Podcast with Dr. Anna Peppard and Christopher Maverick, giving us an issue-by-issue rundown of the first volume of Excalibur, originally created by Claremont and artist Alan Davis. He also contributes with the aforementioned Dr. Peppard to the Sequential Scholars project over at sequential scholars dot com, which not only studies comics but aims to make the study of comics accessible to everyone. He is the expert referred to earlier and he's back on the show to talk about his upcoming book, publishing, and all x-things Claremont.   

When someone is inducted into the Royal Society of Literature, they are invited to sign their names in a roll book dating back to the society's founding in 1820, using the pen of Lord Byron, T.S. Elliot, or George Elliot. Greg closes today's chat with writer Nikesh Shukla by asking what pen he chose, because not only is Nikesh writing the current Spider-Man: India miniseries (with issue #2 hitting shelves July 26th), but he was also inducted into the Society back in 2019, to join such fellow Fellows as Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, Tom Stoppard, and roughly 596 other distinguished gentlefolk of English literature. In addition to those two wonderfully dichotomous career achievements, Nikesh has written five novels, co-founded the Zhalak Prize for British or British resident writers of color, and edited two collections of essays called The Good Immigrant, which center around race, immigration, identity, and the experience of ethnic minority life in both the United Kingdom AND in the 2019 followup co-edited with Chimene Suleyman, the United States. These are issues and aspects of life never far from his thoughts or his work, as is the concept of Seva. Greg talks with Nikesh about all this and more on today's episode!

Orson Welles wore many hats in his day: filmmaker, actor, writer, producer, pitch man, raconteur . . .  the list goes on and on. But what can only be told now is that you can add 'defender of the Earth' to that list as well.  According to Milton Lawson's Orson Welles: Warrior of the Worlds comics project, illustrated by Renton Hawley and finally debuting from Scout Comics on August 16th, the thespian led a secret life keeping this planet safe from invaders from not only Mars, but all around the galaxy. Greg checked in with Milton to find out more about the book's long journey from idea to publication, and Welles' life in general, both in front of and behind the camera.

Today's episode takes us back to a time when gods walked the earth. Oh sure, they may LOOK like four late 80's teenagers banging their way thru semi-coherent covers of rock songs, but they are, in fact, all that stands in the way of Jackson, TN suffering a biblical-level plague of . . . well . . . you'll find out in The Rock Gods of Jackson, Tennessee, the new OGN by Mike Norton & Rafer Roberts, now in comic shops from Dark Horse. Greg talks with the duo about how to spin autobio soul-searching into the stuff of horror classics, pros & cons of working on a single release versus a longer serialized product, just what the hell a pre-press specialist does, the comics rhythm section of Allen Passalacqua and Crank!, staying focused over the long haul, and much more. All that, and the eternal debate of Metallica versus Megadeth on today's episode!

Today's episode returns the show to a topic apparently never too far from our thoughts: the galaxy's greatest comic 2000AD! After his recent chat with Mike Molcher where The Best of 2000AD was touched on, Mike suggested Greg reach out to today's guest for a real deep dive into the subject. Some emails were sent, plans made, and here we are with Greg chatting with the Best Of maestro himself: Owen Michael Johnson. The pair talk about Johnson's decidedly non-2000AD comics upbringing, the peril of curating stories from a 45-year catalog into 6 volumes, his quasi-trial-by-fire directing the 40 Years of Thrill-Power festival anniversary extravaganza for Rebellion in 2017, his colleagues at the Nerve Centre, what Big Two U.S. comics character he'd love to "Best Of", and much more! All that AND some Kirby Silver Surfer deep diving on today's episode!