Word Balloon Comics Podcast

Plus Star Trek Khan, Spinal Tap 2 Gen V Season 2 ep 1 and other tv and film tthoughts

More questions on camera nd from the live chat. We get more into comics, trek podcasting and more 

It's my version of the mailbag page at the back of old comic books.  In this on-camera AMA with my Patreon supporters and live chat audience, we dug into every corner of geek and sports culture: Boxing: The big focus was on the much-anticipated Canelo vs. Crawford bout, with breakdowns of styles, stakes, and legacy. Comics: We spanned the decades — from the Silver Age of the 1960s through today’s...

Few modern writers have embraced sword-and-sorcery with the same passion and craftsmanship as Jim Zub, whose work on Conan the Barbarian for Titan Comics has been nothing short of a masterclass in honoring Robert E. Howard’s legendary creation while pushing the stories into bold new territory. Zub’s tales balance the grit and savagery fans demand with a keen sense of pacing and character that feel...

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Pinky and the Brain, the beloved Animaniacs spin-off that gave the world two of animation’s most unlikely lab partners. At the heart of the series’ enduring charm is the voice of Rob Paulsen, the endlessly versatile actor who brought the dim-witted yet lovable Pinky to life with his unforgettable “Narf!” catchphrase. But Pinky is only one jewel in Paulsen’s...

In this second half of our conversation, Sterling dives deeper into his run on Supergirl alongside artist Jamal Igle. He shares behind-the-scenes stories about crafting Kara’s voice, working hand-in-glove with Igle to re-define her place in the DC Universe, and why their collaboration remains one of the character’s most beloved eras. Sterling opens up about the challenges of balancing editorial di...

In this first installment of my conversation with comics and TV writer Sterling Gates, we dive into his celebrated run on Supergirl with Jamal Igle . Sterling talks about how his stories are finding new life in print—starting with the reissue of his Bizarro Supergirl arc, and continuing next year with his contributions to the New Krypton saga omnibus, co-written alongside James Robinson and Greg R...

Comics writer Mark Russell joins me for a wide-ranging conversation about his brand-new Mad Cave series spotlighting Racer X from Speed Racer. This isn’t just high-octane racing—it’s a crime-noir thriller that digs deep into the ex-racer’s mysterious past and explores how he became the legendary masked driver. Mark shares how he blended the danger of the track with the grit of noir storytelling to...

In this candid second half of our talk, Greg Rucka opens up about why he walked away from DC Comics during earlier eras, and how those frustrations with co-writers and editors caused him to have serious personal issues and leave in digust to focus on creator owned projects. But it’s not all doom and gloom — Greg is genuinely excited about his latest DC work, the upcoming Cheetah and Cheshire Rob t...

We also address possible sequels to the old guard his thoughts on Superman and The Marvels films, a return to novel riting and more. The DC talk is coming in part 2 

Enemy Mine, and 4 other Trek episodes seemed very similar. 

3 new titles including a kickstarter from Franco featuring luchadores, an indiana jones style flyboy and... a ninja kaiju ? 

In the second half of my conversation with Matt Fraction, we shift gears to talk about his ever-evolving writing process, from Batman to his Eisner-winning work on Jimmy Olsen and other standout projects from across his career. Fraction digs into how his approach to storytelling has changed over the years, balancing structure with spontaneity, and what keeps him inspired as both a writer and a fan...

In this exclusive conversation, Matt Fraction joins me to discuss the launch of Batman #1 and the beginning of his ambitious new run at DC Comics. Fraction pulls no punches as he talks about his bold reinterpretation of Gotham City and its darkest corners. We dig into his surprising new take on Killer Croc, explore the emotional fallout of Batman’s ongoing struggle without Alfred, and break down t...

In this episode, I talk with writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson about his latest projects across Marvel and DC. We start with his run on The Incredible Hulk, exploring the dark, horror-driven arc that leads directly into the upcoming title change, Infernal Hulk. From there, we turn to Adventures of Superman: Book of El #1, which continues the epic saga Johnson began in Warworld, bringing Superman’s st...

In this episode, I sit down with comic book writer Eric Palicki to talk about his latest Kickstarter project — a new edition of his horror-adventure Atlantis Isn’t Built for Tourists. Now reimagined as a digest-sized graphic novel, the collection includes the original story plus two brand-new tales expanding the world. We also take a look back at Eric’s earlier creations, including Black’s Myth fo...

In this 2006 conversation, bestselling author Brad Meltzer joins me fresh off the release of his political thriller The Book of Fate, which hit #1 on the New York Times list. We talk about how the novel’s mix of Washington intrigue, secret histories, and high-stakes drama reflects his passion for blending real-world politics with page-turning suspense. On the comics side, Meltzer dives into his ac...

After Denny O'Neill's passing in 2020 , I spoke with one of his comic book protoges Greg Rucka who discussed Denny's influences on his writing and on the whole DC line. 

From 2014, my only in depth interview with Peter, who discusses an upcoming seminar he did for the comics experience online school on writing. We talk about his Star Trek books, but also his Marvel work on Hulk Spider-Man and X-Factor 

Tilly and Susan Bridgess join me to discuss the new IDW Star Trek Voyager Mini Series that starts minutes after the final VOY episode. What happens next? 

we know the folk stories about Jim Shooter. SEcret Wars, The Black Spider-man costume, tough editor, writing Superboy/Legion Of Superherpes stores at 14, but who was Jim Shooter, the man? at terrificon's shooter tribute panel we assembled friends of Jim, to go beyond the legends to get some insight from the guys who worked with Shooter , and hung out with him socially  Alex Saviuk (Spider-Man) Al...

In this wide-ranging talk, writer Paul Cornell dives into his latest projects and big-picture views on the worlds of comics and science fiction. We begin with his cheeky mystery Who Murdered Nessie?, then turn to his hard-hitting historical tale for Commando, exploring how he blends genre with grounded war storytelling.  Cornell also reveals details of his bold new comic book company Cosmic Lighth...

strange new worlds peacemaker alien earth, the super hero box office results and more 

At Terrificon, I moderated an unforgettable panel with four generations of Fantastic Four voices — Humberto Ramos, Walter Simonson, Steve Englehart, Chris Claremont, and C.B. Cebulski. Humberto Ramos, now illustrating Marvel’s current Fantastic Four with writer Ryan North, shared how he’s balancing the Kirby legacy with his energetic, modern style. He spoke about designing new adventures while kee...