Direct Edition

Comic legend Geof Darrow joins Dave for the Season 5 premiere ahead of the release of Shaolin Cowboy The Beginning of the End Results: 21 Years Of Blood, Sweat & Chainsaws. Uncle Geof reflects on working alongside Jack Kirby and Frank Miller, developing concept art for The Matrix, and introducing Moebius to the work of Katsuhiro Otomo. They talk film, Martial arts, gore, and fantasy; consider...

Comic icon Marc Silvestri joins Dave for a wide-ranging conversation about the pivotal creative moments that shaped his career. From his earliest science fiction influences and the work of legends like Jack Kirby, Bernie Wrightson, Frank Frazetta, and Norman Rockwell, to collaborations with Larry Hama and Chris Claremont. Silvestri discusses his enduring impact on the X-Men & Wolverine , his r...

Dave reflects on 80 episodes of Direct Edition and shares the lessons, tools and methods that he’s picked up along the way. He looks ahead to Japan, reveals the season finale guest and the season 5 premiere guest and shares a healthy dose of gratitude. Support the podcast, join the Patreon :https://www.patreon.com/davengersdirectedition www.directeditionpodcast.com

Jim Woodring (Creator Of Frank) joins Dave to discuss the creative process behind his award winning surrealist comic art and unique personal vision. Jim recalls his early connection to MAD Magazine and Harvey Kurtzman’s grotesque, lyrical style. He reflects on the work of R. Crumb, and the defining influence of Salvador Dalí. They discuss Jim’s time working with Gil Kane and Jack Kirby at Ruby-Spe...

Artist, writer, and fan Kelley Jones (Batman, Dracula, Deadman, Sandman, Swamp Thing) joins the podcast. Kelley details his time working on the Batman Knightfall Covers in the 90's, culminating in the breaking of Batman, pushing the limits at DC Comics. He discusses DRACULA, his partnership with Matt Wagner, and how he made a monster out of Bane in the 90's. Kelley talks about early horror...

Jim Mahfood returns to discuss  Defective Comics Presents : Arachnid Enforcer , his newest self-published, Kickstarter-backed bootleg Spider-Man comic. Jim and Dave drink spider-blood and swap stories about their earliest parody influences— MAD Magazine , SNL, and “Weird Al” Yankovic—favorite Spider-Man eras, Jim’s character-design work on  Into the Spider-Verse , and the perpetual thrill of seein...

Tyler Mane joins Dave to talk about his pro wrestling career, becoming Sabertooth (X-Men & Deadpool / Wolverine) & Michael Myers (Halloween) and co-creating his first graphic novel The Last Spartan: Red Tape. Tyler shares stories from his earliest days training with Stu Hart, finding inspiration in comic books, wrestling Andre the Giant in Japan, working with Rob Zombie, getting stabbed on...

Comic legend Erik Larsen is back to discuss his return to Marvel, writing the new  Spider-Man Noir  miniseries and creating a Jack Kirby–inspired variant cover for  Venom: Black, White & Blood, in which he writes and draws a short story. He talks about working with the classic “Marvel method” and the noir touchstones—Bogart,  The Thin Man ,  Citizen Kane —that shaped his approach. Larsen also...

Dave shares his theory about the Stranger Things-ification of modern horror and the shadow it casts on classics like Gremlins, Ghosbusters and Poltergeist. He gives his spoiler free review of Alien: Earth, and explains why Noah Hawley (Fargo, Leigion) is the perfect fit for the franchise. Plus, Dave breaks down surprising new albums by Hayley Williams, Deftones and The World Is A Beautiful Place (...

Drummer, producer and founder of Good Land Records Jon Phillip joins Dave for a heartfelt conversation about music, fandom, baseball, addiction, recovery, sobriety and friendship. The two talk influences, Guns N’Roses, Paul Westerberg, the Replacements, Metallica’s indelible legacy and Jon’s time drumming with Limbeck, The Benjamins, Tommy Stinson, Trapper Schoepp, Berwanger, Mini Meltdowns, and T...

Fresh off the release of  Batman 1 , Eisner Award–winning writer Matt Fraction ( Iron Man, Hawkeye, Fantastic Four, Godzilla, Sex Criminals ) joins Dave to discuss launching a bold new era for the Dark Knight alongside veteran Batman artist Jorge Jimenez. The conversation covers  Monarch: Legacy of Monsters , DC Comics’ creative renaissance, strategies for maintaining mental health, and diving bac...

Titans of industry David Finch ( Batman, New Avengers ) and Robert Kirkman ( Invincible, The Walking Dead ) join Dave to discuss their long-awaited new project,  Skinbreaker . Eight years in the making, the comic reflects their shared creative impulses, dynamic world-building, and love of character design, with invaluable contributions from colorist Annalisa Leoni. They reflect on sources of inspi...

Felipe Smith continues his reflections on working in Japan as a foreigner in the manga industry, discussing the politics of publishing and the cultural rules of depicting violence . He shares stories of meeting his hero Simon Bisley, lessons learned from Todd McFarlane, and the creative growth that came from collaborating with Tradd Moore On Robbie Reyes All New Ghost Rider. Felipe also talks abou...

Writer and artist Felipe Smith joins Dave for an in-depth, two-part conversation exploring his career and acclaimed work on MBQ, Peepo Choo, TMNT, and All-New Ghost Rider. They dive into Felipe’s early inspirations growing up in Argentina, including Simon Bisley and Frank Frazetta. Felipe talks his groundbreaking achievement as the first Western artist to create a serialized manga in Japan, the in...

Artist and illustrator Jonathan Wayshak joins Dave to talk about his upcoming  Cul-de-sac  comic book with Bad Idea, his recent work for  Heavy Metal , and signing at the Todd McFarlane Spawn booth at SDCC. Wayshak reveals the materials and methods behind his creative process, explains why a strong script in comics makes all the difference. Plus: vampires, David Lynch, and Billy Joel! Way$hak on I...

Daniel Warren Johnson, Greatness is Par for the CourseEisner Award-winning comic book artist and writer Daniel Warren Johnson returns to discuss the making of The Art of Daniel Warren Johnson, his new, Kickstarter-funded, career-spanning monograph. He talks to Dave about his latest projects - Absolute Batman Annual, his creator owned Sci-Fi project, and covers for Deadpool and the DC KO Tournament...

Stand Up! Records founder and Grammy-winning producer Dan Schlissel joins Dave for a wide-ranging conversation about comedy, music, and maintaining integrity. They discuss Dan’s family roots, his early fascination with American junk culture, Chick Tracts, punk record label (ISIM & ISIMIST), and the formative impact of seeing George Carlin at 17. Dan shares how he helped launch Slipknot’s caree...

'The Bear' has Dave wondering about the true cost of being so busy all the time. Has corporate exploitation robbed us of our free time? Dave talks business sense, Ticketmaster monopoly, the scam of streaming services, Turnstile, and draws parallels between the decline of comic books and vinyl records.   https://www.westcoastdavengers.com/direct-edition-podcast

Dave is back from Heroes-Con, feeling fitter, happier and more productive. He shares his theory of small batch travel, finding authentic experiences beyond the beaten path and supporting local business. Dave talks Carolina BBQ, learning to love Radiohead, eating under the influence, Mission District Tacos, and the revolutionary act of introducing new people to new things. https://www.westcoastdave...

Chip Zdarsky returns to the podcast to talk about writing Marvel’s new Captain America series, and to try and make sense of how Zdarsky Comic News (ZCN) landed a 2025 Eisner Award nomination. The two talk manga, Japan, the current state of the comics industry, Tom Waits, and Zdarsky’s surprising new best friend, Pedro Pascal. Check Out Chip's Substack - https://zdarsky.substack.com/ https://ww...

Part 2 of Dave’s conversation with comic book legend Stan Sakai. The two discuss Stan’s early fanzine contributions, his writing process, collaborating with Peach Momoko, the long-lasting importance of friendship, and Usagi Yojimbo’s infinite future. Watch part one here - https://youtu.be/BRDaMetpSZk?si=Xco317r-Vlry1Q_I https://www.westcoastdavengers.com/direct-edition-podcast

For the Season 4 premiere, Dave welcomes artist and animator Alice Darrow to the podcast. They discuss Alice’s debut comic release Tramps of the Apocalypse , her unexpected influences and unique process for creating a bold, vivid and satirical work. They talk political chaos, untangling conventional narratives, and the constant work of fending off gratuitous cruelty.  Tramps Of The Apocalypse 1 is...

SEASON FINALE - New Orleans-born, Bay Area-raised artist Dave Correia joins the podcast for the season three finale to discuss artistic camaraderie, influences, and the drive, ambition, and execution needed for an independent creative life. The Daves discuss comic convention culture, Jaws, John Carpenter, Bernie Wrightson, The Last of Us, Zero Friends, Alex Pardee, color, cosmic horror, overcoming...

Liam Finn has spent his entire life surrounded by music. He is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, singer, and member of the New Zealand band Crowded House. Liam’s father, Neil Finn, is a founding member of Crowded House, who Liam now tours and records with.  In this episode Dave talks with Liam about the power of music, not paying billionaires, performing live, opening for Eddie Vedder, his first...

Artist, creative director, writer, and illustrator Rob Sheridan joins Dave to discuss his creative process and work designing groundbreaking stage visuals for Nine Inch Nails and Pearl Jam. They talk about the impact of technology on creativity and what it means for the future of digital media, Sheridan’s comic High Level (DC/Vertigo), album art, bonding with Trent Reznor, Quake, Glitch Goods, and...