Word Balloon Comics Podcast

Franco and Scoot present Ninja Kaiju from papercutz. 2 Mad scientists are battling for  secret formula that turns an unspespecting nmild mafnered Ninja into a raging giant monster. Hilarity ensues. 

From 007. Today we dive into one of the true pillars of modern comics and animation , Dwayne McDuffie, the co-founder of Milestone Media and creative force behind Static Shock, Damage Control, and countless Justice League stories. In this episode we sit down with Dwayne to unpack his journey from groundbreaking comic book writer to influential TV producer, his passion for superhero storytelling, a...

Shelly Bond and Philip Bond join me to talk about their new Kickstarter project, 100 FAQs on Making Comics, a straight-shooting, experience-driven guide for anyone serious about breaking in or leveling up in the comics industry. Shelly brings decades of hands-on experience editing creator-owned books as well as shaping landmark work at Vertigo and IDW, giving her a front-row seat to what actually...

In 1978 there was Cancel Culture, Of a Different Kind.  In this wide-ranging conversation, Paul Kupperberg kicks things off by revisiting the chaos and opportunity of DC’s infamous Implosion, detailing how he helped salvage lost work through the two landmark volumes of Canceled Comic Cavalcade, a rare behind-the-curtain look at comics that almost vanished into history.  From there, we dig into his...

Ed Catto, professor at Ithaca College and Editor-in-Chief of RetroFan Magazine joins us for a lively dive into the newest issue, packed with pure pop-culture comfort food. We talk Saturday morning cartoons and why they still matter, behind-the-scenes conversations with cast members from The Brady Bunch, and a terrific about Don Novello about the enduring appeal of Father Guido Sarducci. Ed also gi...

Part three with Diana Schutz is where the long view comes into focus. She traces the beginnings of her friendship with Brian Michael Bendis , how that relationship started, why it endured, and what it says about spotting talent early and sticking with your people. From there, Diana talks about teaching at Portland State University, building a comics-focused class from the ground up, and eventually...

Part two with Diana Schutz picks up right where the real war stories begin. This time, Diana pulls back the curtain on her Comico years , stepping into the editorial trenches at a publisher that, for a moment, looked like it was riding high. She talks candidly about the challenge of wrangling the Robotech comics line,but also the joy of editing Johnny Quest, working with the legendary Doug Wildey...

This is Part One of a three-part deep dive with comics legend Diana Schutz, whose editorial fingerprints are all over modern comics history. From her influential years at Dark Horse to her early work during the Comico era and beyond... We start at the beginning: Diana’s first exposure to comics through Supergirl and her love for the clean, expressive style of 1960s comic art. That passion never fa...

On this episode of Word Balloon, I’m joined by writer Dave Baker to talk about his new Top Shelf graphic novel Punk N’ Head, a wild, heartfelt, and sharp-edged story that blends music, identity, and outsider energy into something that feels both chaotic and personal. Dave breaks down the inspiration behind the book, the visual collaboration, and why this one hits close to home. We also get into hi...

In this episode of Word Balloon, I sit down with longtime DC writer and historian Bob Rozakis for a deep dive into his Bronze Age experiences writing Robin, Teen Titans, Superman, and more during one of the most transitional eras in comics history.  Bob reflects on crafting character-driven stories at a time when DC was recalibrating its identity, sharing behind-the-scenes insight into working wit...

We review the SAM/DS9 episode, featuring Teen Bar fights a senior staff dinner with a fish that farts and glitter vomit. This was there idea of an Avery Brooks tribute. At least it was good to see Jake Sisko. 

In this episode of Word Balloon, I’m joined by writer Dennis Hopeless for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about career pivots, creative freedom, and why he’s done pitching new ideas to Marvel. Dennis breaks down what pushed him toward the creator-owned route and why Ignition Press is the right home for his new series Just Brutal. The book flips classic sword-and-sorcery on its head, following...

The crossover continues as I join Sal Crivelli for Part Two, where the conversation zeroes in on specific creative flashpoints in current comics, and a shared love of pop-culture comfort food. We compare Joe Kelly’s and Zeb Wells’ respective runs on Amazing Spider-Man, breaking down what worked, what frustrated readers, and why Spidey remains one of the toughest characters to steer long-term.  We...

In this first half of the Word Balloon / ComicPop crossover, I’m joined by Sal Crivelli for a straight-up, no-nonsense conversation about the current state of comic books, specifically the ongoing competition for readers between Marvel and DC. We dig into how both publishers are trying to hold attention in a crowded market, what strategies are actually working, and where each company may be losing...

We kick off with a look under the hood of Speed Racer: Tales from the Road, Richard’s recent one-shot that brings new energy and heart to the iconic franchise.   Then we shift gears to SCOOP, his gripping YA graphic novel series that follows teen reporter Sophie Cooper through political intrigue, celebrity secrets, and paranormal mysteries. Part Nancy Drew, part All the President’s Men, and part B...

EDIT- I have included my response to Fmr Heavyweight Champion Deyontay Wilder's Firey UK Interview on the Talk Sport Boxing Podcast, and his delusional accusations that Tyson Fury cheated when he destoryed him in the final bout. I urge all who are curious to see their interview.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwKZhZywsPQ Welcome to a special edition of Word Balloon, doubling as a new installment...

Garth Ennis has never been interested in playing it safe, and this conversation is a perfect snapshot of why his work still cuts deeper than just about anyone in comics. We dig into Babs from Ahoy Comics, his savage sword-and-sorcery riff that weaponizes absurdity, blood, and pitch-black humor to skewer genre clichés while still delivering the kind of brutal action Ennis fans crave. It’s funny, fe...

we debate the school debate episode 

Recorded live at Cincy Comic Con in September 2014, this panel captures Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky at the height of their breakout Image Comics hit Sex Criminals, a book that smashed expectations by blending raunchy comedy, emotional honesty, and high-concept crime storytelling. Fraction and Zdarsky dig into how Sex Criminals came together, why Image was the perfect home for a book this person...

Today on Word Balloon, I’m joined by Jim McCann, a creator whose career spans stylish indie storytelling and major superhero runs, and he’s back with something new. Jim joins me to talk about The Other Half, his brand-new detective comic from Ignition Press. It’s a sharp, modern homage to the high-society sleuths of the 1930s and ’40s. Very much in the tradition of Nick and Nora Charles, where gla...

Today on Word Balloon, I’m joined by two writers who know their way around both classic deduction and deep-cut science fiction as we talk about the Kickstarter for their new novel, Sherlock Holmes: The Southwark Stigmata. This is a project that leans hard into atmosphere, mystery, and character, re-examining Holmes through a darker, more psychologically charged lens, and the Kickstarter is giving...

Mark Waid is back to preview his Superman Spiderman crossover. We talk about Mister Terrific's time dislaced team in Justice League Unlimited with a Tim Drake Batman and Blue Superman . Action Comics and the Superboy Saga , plus The World's Finest team of Superman and Batman and Mark's return to the Flash co-writing with Christopher Cantwell 

For years, Word Balloon has celebrated comics, pop culture, and the creative voices that shape them. Now, I want to turn the spotlight home, to Chicago radio comedy, a tradition that doesn’t always get its due. Other cities produced comedy collectives that broke out nationally—groups like The Credibility Gap, The Committee, Ace Trucking Company, and The Firesign Theater. They built reputations tha...