Blockhead: Cartoonists talk Comics

A conversation with cartoonist/educator Matt Madden of “99 Ways to Tell a Story: Exercises in Style” , “Ex Libris”, “Drawing Words, Writing Pictures” and “Six Treasures of the Spiral: Comics Formed Under Pressure”.  Matt Madden: Instagram: @mmaddencomics website: mattmadden.com Geoff: instagram: @grogangeoff website: geoffgrogan.com kickstarter : niceworkpart1.com  

Part 2 of Geoff’s discussion with Kevin Mutch about “The Moon Prince”, Kevin’s great, new all-ages fantasy-sci-fi-adventure from Fantagraphics! Kevin Mutch Instagram: @kfmutch The Moon Prince Geoff: instagram: @grogangeoff Geoff’s substack, “Pencilhead”

17 years in the making, Kevin Mutch’s “The Moon Prince” is now the graphic novel of the season, a rollicking, all-ages fantasy-adventure story in the grand tradition of Jules Verne and Frank Herbert. Kevin joins Geoff to talk about the journey from his initial search through his old paperbacks in 2008 to find something for his kids to read to publication of this magnum opus almost two decades late...

“Sunday Comics: The Creative Page” is a new exhibition of comics art celebrating the many ways cartoonists both old and new approach this venerable format! Curator Professor Claudia Goldstein and University Gallery Director Casey Mather join Geoff to talk about how this new, exciting exhibition at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ came together.   Sunday Comics:The Creative Page Feb. 10-Mar...

“How Comics Were Made” was a huge success on Kickstarter in 2024, and is about to appear in a brand new edition from Andrew’s McMeel publishing. Author Glenn Fleishman joins Geoff to talk about the book and an important missing piece of comics and newspaper history; the process from drawing board to print and all steps in-between! A dazzling work of engaging and entertaining history and  an enligh...

Lex Fajardo of Kid Beowulf and the Schulz Museum joins Geoff for a recap of Cartoon Crossroads Columbus 2024-as well as a discussion of comic-cons invading the public libraries! Lex Fajardo: https://kidbeowulf.com instagram: @lexfajardoart Geoff: http://geoffgrogan.com https://www.etsy.com/shop/comicsprintworks instagram: @greenscreencomic  

Michelle Lodge, cartoonist and illustrator of the popular noir comic book series “Home Free”, is here to talk about her new Kickstarter project; “Fantastic Freaks”, a humorous, NSFW comic book series that sends Frankenstein and friends on a wild chase in search of a missing body part most men would rather not be without.   Michelle Lodge: kickstarter website Geoff: website patreon shop instagram:...

Ruben Bolling, creator of the insightful, provocative and always laugh-out-loud funny “Tom the Dancing Bug” joins Geoff for an enjoyable career-spanning discussion. Highlights include a preview of his brand new book; “It’s the Great Storm, Tom the Dancing Bug”, collecting strips from 2020-2023. Ruben Bolling: TomtheDancingBug.com Patreon ”It ’s the Great Storm, Tom the Dancing Bug ”   Geoff: geoff...

What better way to celebrate the 4th of July than with one of the Nation’s premiere political cartoonists, the great Jen Sorensen. The current state of our politics is the topic and  how Jen’s cartooning makes sense-and fun of it all. Jen Sorensen: Jensorensen.com Jen’s Patreon s ubscribe to Jen Sorensen Instagram: @jen_sorensen Geoff: kickstarter: daiquirijones.com instagram: @greenscreencomic Ge...

Peter Bagge joins Geoff to talk about the brand new “HATE” Comic book, “HATE Revisited”! Find out what’s new( and old) in the lives of Buddy Bradley, Lisa , Stinky and the whole dysfunctional gang in this wide-ranging discussion!   Peter Bagge: https://www.fantagraphics.com/collections/peter-bagge   Geoff: kickstarter: daiquirijones.com geoffgrogan.com instagram: @greenscreencomic

A landmark episode! Bill Griffith, one of the original Underground Cartoonists and one of the greatest cartoonists of his or any generation, visits to talk about his latest graphic biography, “Three Rocks: The Story of Ernie Bushmiller, The Man Who  Created “Nancy” and his  participation in “Nancy Fest” at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, May 24 & 25th.   Bill Griffith: https://...

May is “Nancy “ month at Blockhead and the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum with “Nancy Fest” and “The Nancy Show” a two-day celebration  and exhibition celebrating Ernie Bushmiller’s comicstrip masterpiece! Festival organizers, Brian Walker, Tom Gammill and Caitlin McGurk join Geoff to discuss the events, the exhibition and just what makes “Nancy” great.  Billy Ireland Cartoon Library &...

In 30 + years, Andy Smith has worked for just about every big mainstream publisher, and now, with his barbarian warrior Kor-Drath”, he has a bona-vide, creator-owned hit on his hands. Andy and Geoff talk about his brand new Indiegogo campaign, “Kor-Drath: The Awakening”, his barbarian forerunner, Conan,  as well as challenges Andy has faced in his 30 year career.  Find a link to the campaign below...

Dr. Gene Kannenberg Jr. book artist, cartoonist and Research & Media Assistant at the Herskovits Library of African Studies at Northwestern University , visits Blockhead to celebrate the release of his wonderful new Pop-Up book from Abrams Books, “Here Comes Charlie Brown!: A Peanuts Pop-Up Book”. In this first part of the interview, Gene introduces the Blockhead audience to the extensive comi...

Dr. Gene Kannenberg Jr. visits Blockhead to celebrate the release of his wonderful new Pop-Up book from Abrams Books, “Here Comes Charlie Brown!: A Peanuts Pop-Up Book”. In the Peanuts part of the interview, Gene discusses  the evolution of the book, his forays into abstract comics and bookbinding and of course, Geoff and Gene talk about their mutual love of -what else? Peanuts! Geoff: https://geo...

Dean Haspiel visits Blockhead to talk about his exciting, brand new Kickstarter project: The Red Hook x Dean Haspiel; a thrilling all new-24 page comic featuring his reluctant Brooklyn-bound super-hero “The Red Hook” and…well, Dean Haspiel! Along the way, Dean & Geoff talk Brooklyn,  Dino the playwright, comics, creativity and just too, too much for one podcast to handle!   Dean Haspiel: Kicks...

Norwegian cartoonist Jens Styve is here to celebrate the publication of his book, Dunce: Arctic Tales, the first collection in English of his wonderful comic strip, “Dunce”!   Jens K. Styve: instagram: @duncecomic @jenskstyve DUNCE:ARCTIC TALES: Geoff: geoffgrogan.com instagram: @greenscreencomic @grogangeoff Dean Haspiel: Dean Haspiel Kickstarter: The Red Hook    

Mad magazine & American Bystander cartoonist Lance Hansen joins Geoff to talk about his new book,  “Limerature 101: Literary Classics in Five Lines or Less(with Pictures)” as well as upcoming projects, including a biography of collagist/dada artist, John Heartfield. Check out Lance Hansen here: lancehansenillustration.com americanbystander.org Humoristbooks.com   and Geoff:  geoffgrogan.com In...

Geoff offers an overview of some indy comics by great cartoonists he picked up in 2023. geoffgrogan.com Instagram @greenscreencomic https://etsy.com/shop/comicsprintworks cartoonists mentioned:  Sonic Saturn by shape comics Covid Cop /Billy Dogma by Dean Haspiel: https://etsy.com/shop/deanhaspiel ”This Year is Next Year’s Last Year” by Christopher Sperandio(@pinko_joe) :: https://pinkojoe.com Deat...

Friend of the show, multi-talented cartoonist, graphic designer, musician and all-around good guy, Pat Sandy of GoComics’ long-running strip “Next Door Neighbors” returns to chat about his new collection: “Block Party”. Along the way, he and Geoff conduct cartoonist therapy and chat about life in general.  Find Pat Sandy on GoComics.com:  https://www.gocomics.com/next-door-neighbors and his latest...

Cartoonist, comedian and President of the National Cartoonist’s Society, Jason Chatfield talks with Geoff about comedy, comics and The National Cartoonists’ Society, among many other things! Jason Chatfield: www.jasonchatfield.com https://www.gocomics.com/gingermeggs https://www.nationalcartoonists.com Geoff: https://geoffgrogan.com On Instagram: @greenscreencomic or @grogangeoff    

Lex Fajardo, of the Kid Beowulf graphic novels and Schulz Creative Associates, returns to Blockhead to help celebrate the legacy of Charles Schulz at 100! Lex fills us in on this past weekend’s  celebration at the Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa! And he gets the scoop about Geoff’s upcoming animated tribute to “Peanuts”, “Good Grief! By Schulz”, debuting on YouTube Nov.26th at 10 AM EST. Lex Fajardo:...

Part 2 of Geoff’s interview with Ryan Heshka! This time, Ryan talks about his work in comics, his influences(Chester Gould!), women in his comics, railing against the patriarchy, color, risograph printing, Batman and so much more! Ryan Heshka: ryanheshka.com on Instagram: @ryanheshka geoff: geoffgrogan.com instagram: @greenscreencomic or @grogangeoff ‘Good Grief! By Schulz” debuts on YouTube Novem...

Painter, illustrator , creator of provocative comics strange yet hilarious,  “Pop Surrealist” Ryan Heshka creates otherworldly visions both disquieting yet oddly familiar. He talks about his work and his inspiration in an engaging two-part interview.   Ryan Heshka: ryanheshka.com instagram: @ryanheshka   geoff: geoffgrogan.com instagram: @greenscreencomic @grogangeoff

A cartoonist’s cartoonist, Henrik Rehr has worked on a wide variety of projects since his career began in Denmark in the mid 1980’s. Capable of myriad stylistic approaches, Henrik was the artist on the venerable “Ferdn’and” comicstrip for 18 years, as well as drawing “Beetle Bailey” and gang for the popular Scandinavian magazine of the same name. More recently, he has worked on graphic novels such...