Word Balloon Comics Podcast

Wes Craig is one of the most distinctive visual storytellers working in comics today. His dynamic layouts and inventive storytelling helped define Deadly Class, the acclaimed Image Comics series he co-created with writer Rick Remender, which also made the leap to television. Now Wes is taking on one of the biggest icons in comics with Superman: The Stranger, a six-issue DC Black Label series that...

Few artists in comics have brought the kind of elegance, imagination, and sheer visual storytelling that P. Craig Russell has delivered throughout his remarkable career. From his groundbreaking work on Marvel's Killraven with writer Don McGregor to his unforgettable interpretations of Doctor Strange, including the classic annual "What Is It That Disturbs You, Stephen?", Russell has always approach...

Time for another Sunday Conversation. Richard Starkings is back, and this time he's joined by his longtime collaborator, artist Abigail Jill Harding, to talk about their gothic horror fantasy, Parliament of Rooks, and its upcoming sequel, The White Rook, which launches on Kickstarter this October. Richard and Abigail have been working together for years, beginning with Abigail's contributions to R...

Monstrous Books is revititaizing the Universal film Crossovers, in Comic Book Form. James Aqulilone and JK Woodward Discuss, plus JK's Kickstarter on his series Behemoth

Welcome to Scene Missing, where we revisit classic films and discover how their stories hold up today. This time, Lady Vee and I take a look at the 1970 science fiction thriller Colossus: The Forbin Project, directed by Joseph Sargent. Eric Braeden stars as Dr. Charles Forbin, the creator of Colossus, a massive supercomputer designed to control America's nuclear defenses and eliminate the possibil...

Mike has a new Kickstarter about a new Superhero Group The Company of Enhanced Beings The prose short-story adventures of a cadre of young space superheroes in a science fictional future! We discuss the kickstarter campaign , his ideas for the book, and of course reflect on his career writing Star Trek novels, including his crossover novel of The Next Generation Crew meeting up with The X-Men Of M...

Jeremy talks about writing the first part of the animated adaptation of the Knightfall Bane story, plus updates us on the most powerful version of Auquaman ever, and what's happening with Kyle and Hal.  We also get hs thoughts on the HBO show Lanterns 

we explore the controversies surrounding HBO's Lanterns and the aborted 2026 Doctor Who BBC Xmas special

artie franco and his son nick join me . kickstarters , con reports, celeb encounters,  and that sense of fall in the air

The Boulet Brothers are celebrating a major milestone as The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula turns 10 years old. Now heading into its seventh season, the series returns October 23rd on Shudder, continuing its singular mix of drag, horror, glamour, and the grotesque that has made it a cult phenomenon. But this conversation goes well beyond Dragula. Dracmorda and Swanthula are also lifelong comic-book fans...

Marc Scott Zicree has spent decades thinking about science fiction. Where it’s been, where it’s going, and how you actually get it made. For generations of fans, Marc is perhaps best known as the author of The Twilight Zone Companion, the landmark guide to Rod Serling’s classic series that helped establish serious episode-by-episode scholarship about The Twilight Zone. But Marc is also a veteran t...

These two titans of Horro combine their distinct styles to create a singular vision in their four volume adaptation of the Bram Stoker classic. We talk horror tv and more. 

Ushering in horror month with John McCrea, who has a new horror story with Garth Ennis coming out in November... and the return of Tommy Monaghan the funniest badd-ass of Noonan's Bar in a new untold Hitman one shot Xmas special with Garth, coming from DC 

In addition to talking about Mark's latest book, we also discuss several comic book artists that don't get their due 

In Part 2 of our conversation with comic book veteran Al Milgrom, we dig into the stories behind the pages , and beyond them. Al shares his memories of the legendary style of Wally Wood and offers insights into the creative genius of Murphy Anderson. Then, the spotlight shifts to the editorial trenches at Marvel. Al opens up about his collaborations and clashes with Jim Shooter, especially during...

Remember waiting at the drugstore for the news distributor’s truck, then watching the druggist fill the spinner rack with fresh comics? In this two-part Word Balloon conversation, Al Milgrom takes us from that thrill of discovering new books into the Marvel Bullpen, where he worked as a penciler, inker, editor, and writer during a pivotal era. In Part 1, Al remembers hand-delivering artwork to Joh...

On this episode of Word Balloon, I’m talking with Eddie Muller, the host of Noir Alley on Turner Classic Movies. We get into his lifelong love of comic books and the connection he sees between comics and film noir: the crime stories, the striking visuals, and the characters who don’t always make the right choices. Eddie also tells me about the Film Noir Foundation, which he founded to preserve and...

It's another e-motion sickness Love Boat re-watch with Franco and Guest passengers Allison Baker and Gabriel Hardman  In this episode, identical twins Ellen and Helen Edwards, both played by Diana Canova, have only one ticket and carefully take turns leaving their cabin, using an alarm wristwatch to keep their scheme straight, which leads to plenty of confusion for Doc, played by Bernie Kopell, as...

Exceutive Producer James Tucker talks about the secend season Of Batman Cape Crusader. Will there be a third season? 

Mike Gold and I relive the 70s and 80's in comics Chicago and broadcasting 

Batman 66, Hanna Barbera DC Crossovers, John Carter VS Mars Attacks and James Bond Origins  Talk with Jeff