Comic Books Past Present And Future With Neal Adams and Tony Akins

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On this episode of Word Balloon, legendary artist Neal Adams is back to discuss many issues of the current comic book scene. From finding a neutral way to help Gary Friedrich's financial situation, without taking sides in the Disney-Friedrich-Ghost Rider lawsuit, to DC and Marvel's new place in their corporate parents business.

Neal talks about the recent Comic Book films based on DC Marvel and Dark Horse properties, and asks why wasn't John Stewart in the Green Lantern movie, given his prominent place on TV's Justice League series, which had a built in audience of millions?

You'll also hear a good dose of comic book history. From Neal's point of view of the Pinoy artist invasion of the 1970's with guys like Tony De Zuniga and Alfredo Alcala, plus other Adams peers like John Buscema, and Gene Colan.

We discuss Batman Odyssey and Neal's Dark Horse Presents serial Blood. Plus some current and future projects including hints at a new Marvel project. We wrap up with an interesting look at how the idea of the motion comic has evolved into Neal's work in animatics for the motion picture industry.

Then Tony Akins talks about joining the creative team on DC's Wonder Woman sharing alternate art chores with Cliff Chaing. Tony and WW writer Brian Azzarello are longtime Chicago Comic creator pals, going back to the days of companies like Now comics and Comico, and they've been trying to work together on various Vertigo projects for years. The former Jack Of Fables artist admits he's not a big super hero fan these days, but this warrior versus horror villains take on WW intrigued Tony enough to take himself out of the running for some other big ticket books.

Being a working vet of the Chicago Comics scene for over 20 years, Tony talks about the old days of Chicago's thriving comic book publishing scene in the 80'sand 90's, and looks ahead to his pending move to Seattle later this year.

Flashback: Neal Adams Expanding Universe

From Dec 2005, The man who redefined the DCU. The man who smacked the camp out of Batman, and made him the dark knight badass once again. The man who had Superman fight Muhammad Ali...and Supes actualy lost the battle! Legendary artist Neal Adams actually tolerated my silly questions for over 90 minutes, and was ready to give me even more time!!!! Listen , as Neal brings us tales from the early days of Comics Bronze Age. You'll hear about his Green Lantern-Green Arrow run with Denny O'Neil, The Deadman Saga, and many behind the scenes stories of the Dc Offices of the 1960's & 70's. Neal also goes in depth on his scientific theories about an expanding earth, and answers the obvious question, how does an un-accredited science enthusiast pitch his theory, when the conventional science world refuses to listen?

Dave Gibbons on The Secret Service and Watchmen The Rucka Debrief Part 2 and First X-Men With Neal Adams and Christos Gage

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On this episode of Word Balloon, Dave Gibbons is back to talk about The Secret Service, his new Icon mini series with Mark Millar. Of course this being the debut week of the Before Watchmen prequels, we ask Dave to comment on the ongoing debate over whether these projects should happen or not. We also talk about where creator owned projects are in the post Watchmen era, and get an idea of some of Gibbons future digital plans.

Greg Rucka finishes the latest Rucka Debrief, with talks about The Punisher, his steampunk swahsbickling web comic Lady Sabre and the Pirates Of The Ineffable Aether with artist Rich Burchett , plus more classic detective debate about the many film and TV versions of Sherlock Holmes and Philip Marlowe.

Finally we take you inside a recent Marvel telephone press conference featuring Christos Gage and Neal Adams talking about their First X-Men mini series debuting this August. Adams and Gage field questions about this continuity implant that tells the earliest tales of Charles Xavier's attempt to save Mutants in the years before founding his school for the gifted. The creators talk about their takes on Magneto Wolverine Sabretooth, and several new characters created for the series.

The Neal Adams Xmas Special

Think of this as Wordballoon's Holiday special, like It's A Wonderful Life or A Christmas Story One of the most requested interviews is back! From Dec 2005, The man who redefined the DCU. The man who smacked the camp out of Batman, and made him the dark knight badass once again. The man who had Superman fight Muhammad Ali...and Supes lost! Legendary artist Neal Adams actually tolerated my silly questions for over 90 minutes, and was ready to give me even more time!!!! Listen , as Neal brings us tales from the Bronze Age, and goes in depth on his scientific theories about an expanding earth. How does an un-accredited science enthusiast pitch his theory, when the conventional science world refuses to support it?

NEAL ADAMS INTERVIEW

Just in time for the Holiday's, a gift from your pals here at Wordballon.com The man who redefined the DCU. The man who smacked the camp out of batman, and made him the dark knight badass once again. The man who had Superman fight Muhammad Ali...and Supes lost! Legendary artist Neal Adams actually tolerated my silly questions for over 90 minutes, and was ready to give me even more time!!!! Listen , as Neal brings us tales from the Bronze Age, plus tells us what he's up to in the months ahead.

Word Balloon Podcast Superman Vs Ali & Watchmen invades DC Rebirth W Neal Adams Dave Gibbons Ed Brubaker & Brian Azzarello

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The past informs the present. Today's episode features clips from past interviews that inadvertently provide insight on some recent events.

The Death Of Sports Icon Muhammad Ali  hits me personally. As a sports reporter I covered Boxing for 16 years in print and radio, and had the opportunity to meet and interview Ali in 1991. I tell the story of our encounter that was full of the Ali magic and charm, even as his Parkinson Syndrome was slowly robbing him of the ability to speak. His ailment did NOT keep him from thinking and he proved that to me directly with his thoughts on previewing The Evander Holyfield George Foreman Championship fight.

Of Course comic fans all know a bit about the DC comics Superman Vs Muhammad Ali, which was an event unto itself. In 2005 Co-plotter and artist Neal Adams talked about his experience on the project and lots of thoughts on the man and his legacy.






Then a look at The conclusion of DC Rebirth featuring the invasion of the Watchmen story and characters in the current DC universe . Was does it mean? Should it happen, given the creators Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons have no involvement and in Moore case objects to every continuation of the original story?

These same issue came up in 2012 when DC launched Before Watchmen, featuring prequel stories of the heroes and villains drawn and written by different creators. To illustrate the debate we look back at 2012 comments from Dave Gibbons, Ed Brubaker and Brain Azzarello,

Comic Book History The Neal Adams Origin Story

Listen to "Comic Book History The Neal Adams Origin Story" on Spreaker.

Coming Up : Mike Wieringo & Neal Adams

2 fan favorites, coming up in the next couple of days. First Mike Wieringo talks about his current run with Peter david on the new title Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman. Then, an in depth discussion with the man who ushered in the bronze age with his realistic style, Neal Adams. How 'bout them apples? Stay Tuned.

Documentary The Masters Of Comic Book Art Filmmaker Ken Viola

Ken Discusses his 1987 documentary which features candid Interviews with Jack Kirby Harvey Kurtzman  Neal Adams Will Eisner Art Spiegelman Dave Sim, Frank Miller, Bernie Wrightson and narrated by Harlan Ellison.

Great Behind the scenes stories about interviewing these men and making this film

Listen to "Documentary The Masters Of Comic Book Art Filmmaker Ken Viola" on Spreaker. 

Word Balloon Podcast BATMAN MEMORIES FROM NEAL ADAMS JEPH LOEB MARTY PASKO & STEVE ENGLEHART

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The Lost 1979 Comics Documentary Panel Live at C2E2

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Live From last weekend's C2E2 Word Balloon presents the first panel exploring the 1979 Lost Comic Book Documentary. You'll hear audio from the documentary which gives a great behind the scenes look at the offices of DC and Marvel. Guests on the panel were Mike Gold former editor and DC Comics public relations man when the documentary was made, and artist Douglas Klauba (The Phantom, Project Superpowers) who discovered the film.

In the documentary, you'll hear details about the Superman Vs Muhammed Ali book, Jim Steranko gives his point of view on crime comics while explaining his art process making the 1976 graphic novel CHANDLER:RED TIDE, Stan Lee and Archie Goodwin go over designs on a new Marvel Comics Hero, The Human Fly, Trevor Von Eden and editor Jack Harris prepare the first issue of Black Lightning and more.

Plus in the panel's q&a session Mike shares stories about Joe Kubert, Neal Adams, Joe Orlando, Steve Ditko and other bronze age memories.

Then podcasters Jim Seguland (Raging Bulletts) and Brian "Pants" Christman (Comic Geek Speak) join us for a quick update on their shows.

Double Feature The Bendis Tapes Pt1 and G4's Blair Butler and Kevin Mellon

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In part 1 of the latest Bendis Tapes we go over Brian's Summer vacation. You'll hear about the Powers TV pilot shoot in Chicago, and his adventures in the Windy City.

Then we get behind the scene details of the developments in Ultimate Spider-Man. Brian tells us what led to the creation of Miles Morales and the controversies that followed. You'll get Bendis's rebuttals to claims made by right wing pundits like Matt Drudge and Glen Beck.

We also get details on what's coming up in the pages of Bendis's Avengers titles, from working with Neal Adams and the return of Gabriel Del Otto, to Daredevil joining the team.

Then, G4's Fresh Ink comics reviewer Blair Butler has joined the ranks of comic book writers with Heart, a new Image mini series co-created by artist Kevin Mellon. The two join me to talk about this MMA comic, the inspiration behind it, and the challenge of capturing the fastest growing action sport in comic book form. We also discuss the current news and trends in the comic book market.

Time Code

Bendis Tapes Part 1   00:00-1:18:55

Blair Butler-Kevin Mellon 1:19:00 to 2:23:11