Kate Spencer: MANHUNTER, as Told By Marc Andreyko

In this episode of Word Balloon, host John Siuntres chats with Marc Andreyko, the writer and creator of the current Manhunter in the DCU, Kate Spencer. After a long time off, Issue #31 is out and serves as a great jumping on point for new readers, including an opening 2 page sequence that tells you all you need to know about the unconventional Ms. Spencer.

Daniel Way Dips Into The Deadpool

Download The MP3 Here On this edition of the Word Balloon podcast, host John Siuntres sits down with Marvel writer Daniel Way. During the conversation, Dan tells us about his future plans for The new Deadpool solo series that debuts in September, featuring art by Paco Medina . He also previews the next steps in Wolverine Origins, including the coming crossover with X-Men Legacy Dark Deceptions co-written with Mike Carey

Marc Andreyko, For The Defense

In anticipation of his Word Balloon return this week, , we repost this June 2005 talk with Marc Andreyko, who's Manhunter was just getting started at DC. We discuss his creation of Kate Spencer, and also talk about his work on Casefiles Sam & Twitch, and look closely at his collaboration with brian Bendis on the graphic crime novel Torso, which followed the post Chicago career of Elliot Ness as saftey inspector of Cleveland in the 1930's.

Len Kody & Eric J Cisco Kid Wyatt earp, and The Summer of 1968

On this edition of the Word Balloon podcast, a preview of a classic western showdown, and a web comic historic look back at the real life conflicts from the summer of 1968. Word Balloon host John Siuntres chats with the creative team behind "The Cisco Kid Vs Wyatt Earp", writer Len Kody and Artist Eric J. The story from Moonstone Books has a unique twist. Moonstone will release two books featuring the Cisco/Wyatt encounter, but each will feature one cowboy's perspective. The Wyatt Earp version was writtenby Chuck Dixon and drawn by Enrique Villigan. Both issues are due later this month. Len discusses his take on the O Henry anti-hero Cisco, who bears no resemblance to the smiling hero of the early 1950's TV show, portrayed by Duncan Renaldo.As Kody explains "In the original short story, Cisco became a bad man, due to a broken heart. In addition to the Earp encounter, my story flashes back to an earlier time, that shows what led Cisco down the wrong path." Cisco Kid Artist Eric J discusses his western influences and contributions to the story,and discuss some current and future projects. A Xenescope Grimm Fairy Tale take on "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" written by Raven Gregory, and a soon to be released "Worlds Of Dungeons and Dragons" story, from Devils Due. Kody also talks about the launch of a new web comic depicting the events that led up to the infamous Chicago riots during the 1968 Democratic Convention. Chicago 1968 is a weekly Web Comic, written by Kody and drawn by newcomer Jenny Frison. Kody describes the story as a documentary style comic, a dramatic presentation of historical facts."There's no zombies hiding out, or any "high concept" twist." He researched the history, trying to capture the tone of the times, by investigating all perspectives,including one personal connection to the event. "My Grandfather was a Chicago police captain sent to the Conrad Hilton hotel during the infamous 19 minutes of video tape shown that wed night, when the police, in a very rough fashion, arrested a whole bunch of hippies yippies and others. He had his own perspective on how things happened, and of course some of the protesters who were involved wrote about their own perspectives, plus the way the history books have portrayed it. The whole subject fascinated me." "The point of view my story is a Chicago centric take, showing how the police and the leaders of Chicago had their pride on the line to host the Democratic Convention, and guys like Mayor Richard J Daley were not going to be swayed by a protesting mob. Not to say that I'm defending the police, they definitely went too far. My political views are with the hippies. The irony is, if I were around then I would've been protesting with Abbie Hoffman, and likely be arrested by my grandfather. It was a very daunting task to understand where everyone was coming from during this historic happening." You can read the first pages of the web comic now, at http://www.webcomicsnation.com/lenkody/chicago1968/series.php

Steve Rude, The Dude Reflects and Looks Ahead

On this episode of Word balloon, host John Siuntres sits down with The Dude, Artist Steve Rude, who discusses his return to the worlds of Nexus and The Moth, in his self published line of books, Rude Dude Comics. Also in the interview, Rude discusses how he and writer Mike Baron got together to create Nexus for Capital City Comics, the early influences of Jack Kirby, and Alex Toth on his work, working with Moth scribe Gary Martin, and The Dude's views on the 1980's direct market, compared to today's comic book landscape.

On The waterfront, With Budd Schulberg

Working In Sports Talk Radio afforded me the chance to meet some amazing celebs. It was an honor to become aquaintences with Budd Schulberg, the screenwriter/author who created that classic Marlon Brando monologue "I could've been a contender. I could've been sombody, instead of a bum." from the 1954 film On The Waterfront. I met Budd as I covered the sport of boxing, and would frequently engage in conversations about the deacdes of fights he covered for newspapers and magazines. Being the film buff that I am, I'd also get the occasional courage to talk about his lengthy career working on so many of the seminal films of the 1950's. Here's a portion of my 2002 interview with Budd, as we discuss a few of his great films, including Humphrey Bogart's last picture, The Harder They Fall, and the cult classic view of the power of mass media pundits, A Face In the Crowd, starring Andy Griffith.

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) .

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.

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.

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

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 .

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 .

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.

View Fron The NY Comicon Floor

On this episode, Word Balloon's coverage of the NYCC. Most of my work that weekend was done for video interviews, and this is really a sampler of the 32 interviews I ended up doing. I brought my field recorders, expecting to do as many audio talks as video, but things got so busy and productive on the video side that I never had timne to do more audio. I did speak to the favs from the bronze age who still do great work today, Len Wein Marty Pasko and Walt Simonson all together and you'll hear that, along with Gail Simone, Grant Morrison, Dan DiDio, Lou Ferrigno, Ethan Van Sciver, Irwin Hassen, Tony Moore Jeremy Love, Mike Oeming, Brian Glass,Jamahl Ingle Jeremy Haun and Billy Tucci. I'm presenting the full audio of Grant and Gail's talks. The other's will be seen in their entierty eventually at www.newsarama.com , and www.pulpsecret.com just click on their NY comicon coverage, and you'll see why I have a face for podcasting ;).

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?

Andrea Romano Directing The New Frontier

On this edition of the Word Balloon podcast, host John Siuntres chats with Andrea Romano, the casting and voice director for Warner Animation, who's been directing the dialog sessions for TV shows like The Boondocks, Sponge Bob, and all of the DC superhero projects, including the Batman, Superman and Justice League films and TV series. You'll get behind the scenes details about the upcoming Batman Gotham Knight DVD, the highly successful Justice League The New Frontier, and next Fall's new series Batman The Brave And Bold. Andrea also talks about casting Kevin Conroy for the original Batman animated series, and answers the perennial fan question "Why doesn't Conroy play Batman in every Warner Bros lamination project?" Plus fascinating voice over stories about Brooke Shields (New Frontier's Carol Ferris) David Boreanaz (Hal Jordan) Phil Morris (John Stewart) and many other stars .

Marv Wolfman, By Night

Word Balloon is back , with another Friday flashback episode from 2006. Host John Siuntres talks with the Man who created Crisis On Infinite Earths and Nova, brought new life to the undead in Tomb Of Dracula , Devised the revitalization's of Dick Grayson, Wally West, and the other New Teen Titans , and made major impacts on so many other Marvel and DC characters. We look back at Marv's time at Warren publishing, when he edited and wrote for Vampirella, Creepy and Erie . Marv recalls editing Marvel's black and white magazines from Crazy to Deadly Hands Of Kung Fu, his time in the 1970's Marvel bullpen and breathing life back into 1980's DC on The Crisis Maxi Series, and The New Teen Titans with George Perez. You'll hear Marv's views on publisher-wide event books, "story-decompression", and his genuine pride in the Teen Titans animated series. Marv also "previews" his 2006 work on The Infinite Crisis Annual, The Teens Titans Annual, and collaborating with Geoff Johns.

Flashback Beau Smith

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FROM 2006: THE MODERN MASTER OF TWO FISTED ACTION DISCUSSES HIS IDW SERIES COBB: OFF THE LEASH , FEATURING DYNAMIC ART BY EDUARDO BARETTO. PLUS HIS RUNS ON GUY GARDNER WARRIOR, CATWOMAN, THE BLACK TERROR, AND THE WILDCAT MINI SERIES . WE ALSO TALK ABOUT BEAU'S DAYS IN TOUGHMAN COMPETITIONS, SOME GREAT B-MOVIE DVD RECCOMENDATIONS, AND A SHELVED WONDER WOMAN PROJECT THAT BEAU WANTS DC COMICS TO RECONSIDER

Mike Norton And The Art Of The Quick Draw

On This edition of the Word Balloon podcast, host John Siuntres catches up with DC artist Mike Norton. The guy's been busy, taking over the pencil duties on Green Arrow/Black Canary from Cliff Chiang, starting with this week's issue #7. We'll also get a behind the scenes look at some new books on the way this month and beyond... Mike talks about drawing this month's Blue Beetle all Spanish issue #26, written by Jai Nitz , and he's drawn three weeks of back up stories, in the upcoming DC weekly,Trinity, collaborating with the legendary veteran Jerry Ordway. He also talks about wrappingThe All New Atom, and reflects about working with writer Gail Simone, His work on Metamorpho Year One with Dan Jurgens, and The Image Book Loaded Bible 3 written by Tim Seely, and drawn by Norton and Chris Johnson . Norton is a podcaster too. He co-host's the CrankCast with artist Chris Crank. Norton Crank and Siuntres participated in last year's 24 hr comic podcast with many other comic book artists and podcasters. John and Mike discuss the prospects of attempting another 24 hr marathon show.

Frakback-Mark Verheieden on Battlestar Galactica

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From 2005 With the return of television's best Sci-Fi show this Friday, we look back at this 2006 interview with co-exec producer Mark Verheiden. Key episodes that Mark wrote are discussed including the amazing first season cliffhanger. Mark also discusses  the seasons he wrote for Smallville. Even more Hollywood talk involves Mark's work as the co-creator behind Timecop, screenwriter of Jim Carrey's adaptation of The Mask, and he announces the start of working with Bruce Campbell on the 2007 film, My Name is Bruce. We also cover Mark's great comic book work for Dark Horse, including his 1980's subversive action parody, The American , and his DC work on Superman, The Phantom, and Superman-Batman.

Listen to "Frakback: Mark Verheiden talks Battlestar Galactica" on Spreaker.