DECOMPRESSED

Decompressed is a sporadic podcast about comics craft. Rather than our usual format, this is a recording from the Dublin Internation Comics Expo. All the paneling was excellent, but we got special permission to run this one, as we were all buzzing about it.  Go follow DICE on twitter  to get updates about when the rest go live ( and follow them on facebook too ). It’s the Comics Are For Everyone p...

Decompressed is a sporadic podcast about comics craft. This time we're talking to Alex De Campi about writing Grindhouse: Doors Open At Midnight #1 (aka Bee Vixens from Mars). What talk about subjects like 60s-70s cinema, exhaustion, page turns, sex, lettering, poetry, boobs as part of a character design, sex with cats, my existential crisis, awesomely tacky posters, misnumbering pages the Splash-...

Decompressed is a sporadic podcast about comics craft. This time we’re talking to  Al Ewing  about his writing on the recent Mighty Avengers #1. Our topics include the problems of writing in a crossover, the marvel method, lettering as dubbing, diversity, class, fair pay for a days’ job, the A-list vs the C-list and lots of ums as we try to avoid fucking up. Want to read teh whole thing? It’s avai...

Decompressed is a sporadic podcast about comics craft. This time I’m talking to Kris Anka, Ming Doyle and Jamie McKelvie to talk about the art of character design. It’s a visual medium, so this stuff is absolutely paramount. Ming’s designs are central to her wonderful MARA with Brian Wood, Kirs’ designs are all over X-Force and McKelvie has (damn him) has sent more cosplayers rushing to their sewi...

Decompressed returns, with a difference. This time we’re talking to Bettie Breitweiser and Matt Wilson, two of my favourite colourists about their work, primarily related to FATALE 14 and WONDER WOMAN 20. If there’s any one part of collaborative comics’ creative engine that is underdiscussed and misunderstood, it’s colouring. It’s always been important, and in the last decade, it’s only become mor...

This decompressed we talk to artist/writer Jason Latour  about the process of starting his first ongoing run for Marvel, on WINTER SOLDIER 15. Is that a worryingly prosaic and sensible intro for Decompressed? Don't worry. It was recorded in a busy cafe in November, the day after a con, and features our minds wandering over such stuff as ads in Breaking Bad, UP-as-serial-killer, the Dukes of Hazard...

This Decompressed is like turning up to a gunfight and discovering the dude's got two guns and you have to (er) dodge both bullets? I was originally going to do a sex metaphor, and thought better of it. Extrapolate for yourself. ANYWAY! Writer Sam Humphries has two comics this week, and I thought a compare and contrast could be interesting. UNCANNY X-FORCE #1 with Ron Garney is a relaunch as part...

Er... we're back? I always said it was going to be irregular. But the podcast constipation is over and... this metaphor is going to no place that's good. Let's stop. I recorded this back at New York Comic Con, where I talked to Al Ewing about the revenge-thriller villain-protagonist creature that is Jennifer Blood 17. We pick apart its double-page-splash structure, Splash ends, whether Splash-ends...

Something a little different this week. A podcast rather than not a podcast! No, really. It is actually different, as it was recorded in front of a live audience in Nottingham Game City back in (er) the past. October. Man! Doesn't time fly when you're incredibly busy (or rather, moderately busy and lazy). Anyway! This time I talk to Antony Johnston about his collaboration with Sam Hart, THE COLDES...

Hullo! This week on Decompressed I'm joined by Steven Sanders. He's different. He's a drawing man. For the first time, we're talking about the drawing! Specifically, about how he approached Jason Aaron's script for WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN 20. We talk about paneling, character design, how to make hand cannons more awesome, integrating bits of manga he loves into American superhero comics, comedy and...

We're back. Sorry for the delay. Basically, most of October was constant travel and disruption, so I couldn't find time to get this done. But I did record three podcasts, and plan to do some more at THOUGHT BUBBLE next weekend. Hey! I always said that it would be irregular. But this is a good one to come back on. I'm joined by Rick Remender to talk about UNCANNY AVENGERS, the biggest selling super...

Because I've been travelling, there hasn't been much of a chance to record with someone. So I recorded a panel at DUBLIN. Here it is. It's a writers panel with Matt Fraction, Kelly-Sue Deconnick, Si Spurrier, Rob Williams, Andy Diggle, Jeff Parker and me. Hurrah! Shownotes can be found here.

I'm joined by Si Suprrier to talk about CROSSED: WISH YOU WERE HERE. Because it's a webcomic makes it a somewhat unusual one, in that you can literally follow this link and read the whole thing . In fact, I'd recommend you do so, as it's genuinely great horror material, written with an underlying intelligence and humanity. I'd also recommend the trade collection, which puts it all in a nice book....

I'm joined by David Hine and Shaky Kane to talk about the cut-up Burroughsian excess and glory of 84, the fourth issue of their Bulletproof Coffin: Disinterred. Once again, it's a stand alone issue, so can be consumed alone if you can find a copy ( it's available digitally ), but I'd recommend you hunt down the trade. It's just out so your local shop will have it, but it's available from all the u...

This week I'm joined by Paul Cornell and Jimmy Broxton to talk about issue 6 of SAUCER COUNTRY, a stand alone issue which applies a lecture-type structure to its themes of the UFO in the modern world. We talk about research, structure, experimentation, subjectivity in visual elements, colouring your own work, interpretation, the power of bleed and lots more. You can buy it from your local comic sh...

We're joined by Nick Spencer to talk about Morning Glories #21. Topics include lots of things to do with Morning Glories #21 and some stuff that's not to do with Morning Glories #21. Yes. Show notes and visual aids can be found here.

Kieron is joined by Adam Cadwell to talk about the second issue of his Vampire Slacker comic Blood Blokes. Why is Kieron talking about himself in the third person? Kieron doesn't know. He doesn't know at all. The show notes and assorted visual aids can be found over here .

Instead of a specific issue, we're talking to Mark Waid and Matt Fraction about the pros and cons of working in the Marvel Method method of scripting. Which is... oh, we'll explain it all. It does make sense. I promise you. I only very rarely lie to you. Study aid and script malarkies here. Particularly extensive this week.

And Decompressed returns in its particularly regular brand of irregularity to talk to James Asmus about Gambit #1. Hurrah for talking. Without it, this podcast would not be possible. Or rather, it would be possible, but it'd be a lot quieter. Visual aids for the show are here.

Decompressed goes international with our fourth podcast. I'm joined by David Aja and Matt Fraction to talk about their just-released pulp-infused take on that most human of avengers. Topics include Accents, who the use of "bro" is tributed and sadness over dogs. Visual aids for the podcast can be found here.

To celebrate the day we recorded the podcast we chatted to Tim Seeley and Mike Norton about their recently released Rural Noir REVIVAL . The discussion primarily takes the form of words, but there's some experimentation from Kieron with grunting and hand-waving. The latter proves ineffective. Show notes can be found here.

And DECOMPRESSED talks to Kelly-Sue Deconnick about the first issue of Captain Marvel and our own exciting, more emotional issues. Show notes including visual aids are here .

The pilot of DECOMPRESSED, the comics craft podcast which asks what on earth were you trying to do with that panel? Jason Aaron forgives our teething shonkiness to discuss his creative choices in WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN 13. Show notes and visual aids can be found here.