Description

The Weekly Pop Culture Audio Podcast Featuring In-Depth One On One Interviews and Discussions From The Entertainment Worlds Of Genre Fiction-
Comic Books, Novels, Television, Film, Video Games And More. Created In 2005 By Chicago Radio/TV Host John Siuntres

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Monday, May 19, 2008

Mark Waid Boom's EIC "Don't Call Me Chief"

On this edition of the Word Balloon podcast, host John Siuntres catches up with writer Mark Waid. Among the subjects covered, they discuss his coming 1 year anniversary as Editor In Chief of Boom Studio's comic book line, the status of Boom's comic book plans for Farscape and The Godfather . They also discuss Mark's upcoming J Jonah Jameson arc on Marvel's Amazing Spider-Man, his wrap up as writer of DC's Brave and Bold, series, and a general discussion of the current DC universe. From the Resurrection of Barry Allen, to a comparison of the hero legacies fulfilled by characters Wally West (The Flash) and Dick Grayson (Nightwing) .

Saturday, May 17, 2008

More Back Matter With Matt Fraction

In this episode of the Word Balloon podcast , host John Siuntres continues his conversation with writer Matt Fraction, with a spoiler filled examination of Matt's creator owned Image series Casanova which finishes its 2ND arc, "Where In Time Is Casanova?", with this week's issue #14. Then, Fraction and Siuntres shift to free-form mode as random subjects fly back and forth. They discuss the comics direct market, creators like Jack Kirby and Steve Gerber , Filmmakers John Huston and Orson Welles, and Fraction's glee, over buying the Dean Martin Variety Show DVD set.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

More NYCC coverage Kyle Baker, Erik Larsen, Mike Richardson and more.

More from the 2008 New York Comicon . Quick sitdowns with Kyle Baker , writer/artist of the Image War story Special Forces , Jonathon Ames writer of the new Vertigo graphic novel, The Alcoholic, Erik Larsen, Publisher of Image Comics, and the mastermind behind the revival of public domain heroes and comic book titles "The Next Issue Project". Mike Richardson, the Publisher Of dark Horse comcis, talks about Buffy, Hellboy, and the way DHP handles franchise properties. And more from Walt Simonson, writer of DC/Wildstorm's World Of Warcraft , who gives us an update of what projects his wife (writer and fan favorite) Louise Simonson is doing these days.

Friday, May 09, 2008

Matt Fraction Onb Iron Mna, The X-Men, Thor, and more

Matt Fraction and Word Balloon host John Siuntres have a last call conversation about the books he's wrapping up, and the ones that are just beginning. From this week's debut of The Invincible Iron Man, to his wrap ups of The Order and The Immortal Iron Fist, from co-writing the Uncanny X-men with Ed Brubaker, to wrapping up the current arc of his Image creator owned book Casanova. During the conversation Fraction said there is an eventual end in sight for his run on Punisher War Journal, after which he'll turn the book over to his pal, and current co-writer Rick Remender. Fraction discussed the road ahead, starting with the current Jigsaw arc. "We're at payoff time for Punisher... I knew coming this book I knew right away if you're going to make your stand on Punisher do the ultimate Jigsaw story... Working with Rick Remender has been a dream and has made the book sicker and more damaged and explosive than I ever thought. If we could make a punisher movie, it would be this story." "After the Jigsaw arc, there's a little secret invasion tie-in and then an arc called King Frank...the Jigsaw arc and King Frank story is where my bruns been leading to from the beginning.After "King Frank" I'll step aside, and just let Rick tear it up. That's the plan, things might change, but that's the plan." Some other highlights from the audio interview... On The Invincible Iron Man, Fraction was pleased that the book ended up matching so well with the film, so new readers can jump on. "I had no advanced script to work from so it was me trying to write the type of iron man comic that I hoped would fit with the tone of the film." On bringing the threat of young Ezekiel Stane from the Order to the first IM story arc . "I wanted to bring a Stane character back to the marvel universe as soon as I heard that Jeff Bridges was playing Obediah Stane in the film. That's when I created Stane's son." On the possibility of members of The Order possibly showing up in the new Iron man book "I don't what the etiquette is bring back characters from your canceled comic, but love Henry and Tony talking together so I imagine Henry will show up soon." On wrapping up his run on Iron Fist, " The idea of leaving really scared me so I Knew it was the right thing to do. Ed was leaving after this arc, David just had a kid, so he has to dial back forawhile...it was just sort of "why are we staying?" You know, if they Clash had quit after London Calling they'd be the greatest band of all-time... So rather than be thought of as the guy who ruined Iron Fist, after Brubaker left, I thought it was time to go."#15 is another one shot look back at an earlier Iron Fist, Bi Fang Wen during the first England-India Opium War, and #16 is called "Happy Birthday Danny" which will be our swan song" On co-writing the the X-Men with Brubaker "Ed and I have put together this 25 issue super arc, and we're switching off on stories. #500 we did together,then I'm doing 501- 503, then Ed will come back on #504." "There isn't a core x- team, but (instead) a very big ensemble. So characters will come in when we need them... The Mutants have adopted San Francisco as their new home, and are sending the word out, that all Mutants are welcomed by the city." On writing Cyclops "Scott has always been the moral center of the book and When the book of the X-Men is finally closed, it'll be pretty clear it was Scott's story. Xavier's dream is over, it's now Scott's dream and the future of mutant kind is on the line. We're having to see Scott as a man of faith, who has to put his beliefs and actions in ways he never had to before...it's one thing when he made decisions as the team's leader, he's now leading the whole Mutant race, and lives with the idea that "Every decision I make affects the survival of our species." On wrapping up the current Casanova arc with next week's issue #14 "I think (this arc) is the best story I've ever written. Everything is revealed,some people live, some people die, and everyone has to pay

Thursday, May 08, 2008

The Many Faces Of Iron Man

Celebrating The Sucsess Of the Iron Man film, we bring back highlights from two great interviews that featured landmark stories of Ol' Shellhead . First up, Dave Michelinie discusses his classic run with artist Bob Layton, on the Iron Mna arc Demon In A Bottle . Then Chuck Austen Discusses his classic Max Black and White Iron man tale from an alternate universe War Machine .

Monday, May 05, 2008

P Craig Russell Interview

In this edition of Word Balloon Host John Siuntres interviews master artist P Craig Russell, who's hard at work on adapting Neil Gaiman's Sandman story, The Dream Hunters into a mini series to be released by Vertigo in the fall. They discuss Craig's longtime collaborations with Gaiman, including the details behind the landmark issue Sandman #50. They also discuss Craig's early days at Marvel, and talk about his work on Doctor Strange and the Kilraven War Of the Worlds series with Don McGreggor , his operatic adaptations that began in the pages of his direct market series form Eclipse Comics Night Music , to his work on Batman, Conan Elric, and Hellboy. Russell is no stranger to the Internet. Fans can follow the progress of his current work in a series of video podcasts at his website www.pcraigrussell.net produced by Craig's pal Wayne Allan Harold of the www.lurid.com community .

Friday, May 02, 2008

Barry levine's How To Make a Blockbuster Comic Book Film

On this edition of Word Balloon Host John Siuntres tackles the question, "How do comic books get sold as film properties?" For the answer, we turn to Film producer and Radical Comics Publisher Barry Levine.Levine has had an interesting path to comic books that started when he was a successful rock album photographer, to years as a music supervisor of films like Driving Miss Daisy, Die Hard With A Vengeance, Judge Dredd and Street Fighter. Levine eventually became a film producer on Detroit Rock City and has shepherded comic book properties to production deals on books like Rex Mundi, and Damn Nation. Barry explains the process, and tells us why you can't \just walk into a studio meeting with a comic book, and get a film commitment. Radical Comics new line of titles debut this month, starting with an art book preview being given away as part of Saturday's free comic book day. We'll talk about the two radical comics debuting this month for only 1 dollar,Caliber the King Arthur in the old west saga, and Hercules featuring a very different take on the mythological hero. Plus Barry gives us his 2008 game plan for Radical Comics.