The Bendis Tapes Part 1 Brazilan Color Artists, and Kathryn Immonen

Download The MP3 Here Just in time for the Holiday Weekend, Word Balloon presents this convention for your ears, with great guests and conversation. We start a new Bendis Tapes as Brian Michael Bendis answers more questions from his JINXWORLD Message Board and gives us insight on his upcoming run on the X-Men. We also discuss other facets of Marvel Now, his wrap up to the avenger books, what's going on in Ultimate Spider Man & Spider-Men , and more. Then it's time for an edition of Word Balloon Internationale as we speak to several color artists from Brazil. Rod Reis (Aquaman Nightwing) Cris Peter (Casssanova FF Captain America) and Marcello Maiolo (I Vampire) talk about their art experiences on their mainstream books and other projects. Finally, we present a recent Marvel press conference on Kathryn Immonen's new gig as writer for Journey Into Mystery starting this November. Kathryn is joined by Editor Lauren Sankovich, and they both field reporter questions about the new direction of the book as Sif takes the spotlight.

Bill Willingham Gene Ha and Tiz DeSantis

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Greg Rucka DC VPs Kelly Sue DeConnick and Joshua Fialkov

Download This MP3 Here First Greg Rucka checks in to talk about his new Image book, Lazurus, drawn by Michael Lark and debuting in 2013. Greg gives us a preview, and talks about his ongoing web comic with Rich Burchett Lady Sabre and The Pirates of the Ineffable Aether. Then we go behind the scenes at DC and Marvel. First DC Entertainment Vice Presidents John Cunningham and Bob Wayne check in for our monthly conversation. Then we listen in to a Marvel Press Conference discussing the new creative team on Avengers Assemble. Writer Kelly Sue DeConnick was joined by editors Lauren Sankovich and Tom Breevort. We learn about the upcoming first arc, but Breevort also gives a macro point of view for the direction of all the new Avengers books in the upcoming Marvel NOW! era. Finally Joshua Fialkov joins us to talk about I, Vampire one of the best surprises of DC’s new 52. Josh tells us about a new direction for the book that starts in issue #12, as Andrew Bennett and his immortal love Mary switch sides as hero and villain, and what that means in the issues to come.

Matt Fraction and Ben Edlund

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On this episode of Word Balloon it's another Matt Fraction fireside chat as we discuss this week's debut of Hawkeye #1 reuniting the Immortal Iron Fist creator team of Fraction artist David Aja and color artist Matt Holingsworth . We give a spoiler free look at the book and tone of the new ongoing. Matt also looks back at Casanova Vol 3 with artists Gabriel Ba and colorist Chris Peter .
We also discuss the new story arc starting in The Defenders with issue 9 . As Fraction says "It's the closest chance I get at telling a 1968 Nick Fury story". All the super-spy 60's tropes are well represented , plus a re-working of a little known 60's good girl comics character from Marvel's forgotten Mens Magazine era.

Fraction's Thor  and Iron Man runs are wrapping up and we talk about where those current stories are, and the idea that all the Marvel creators are getting a chance to wrap up their takes on the heroes before the big shift into the Marvel Now! Era

NOTE- This Fraction interview took place days before the announcement of him taking over The Fantastic Four title with Mark Bagley.

Then Ben Edlund joins us for a car phone conversation on his way to the writing room of the CW TV series Supernatural . Ben's been a key writer/producer for the show since season 2, and we talk about his influence on the show and his sense of humor that elevates the series beyond it's ghost hunter format and continues to delight longtime viewers with quirky plot directions and characters . We also discuss the dramatic tv landscape and how  the over the air networks handle their programs versus the basic cable networks.

Comic fans know Edlund for his irreverent hero The Tick and we talk a bit about it's creation and that ever elusive next issue that percolates in Ben's mind

Creator Owned Comics With Steve Niles Tony Harris and Stuart Moore

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SDCC Wrap Up With Art Baltazar and Mike Norton and The 2012 SDCC Comics Podcast Panel

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On this episode of Word Balloon artists Art Baltazar and Mike Norton sit down for a casual conversation about last week's convention. We talk to Mike about winning his first ever Eisner award for his digital comic Battlepug, which is being collected by Dark Horse Comics. Art shares some celebrity sightings and the usual crazy activity around his booth on the Con Floor.

Then we present this year's comic book podcasting panel featuring myself, Moderator Josh Flanagan (iFanboy) Pat Loika (Loikamania) Jimmy Aquino (Comic News Insider) Bob Bretal (Comic Book Page)  Brian "Pants" Christman (Comic Geek Speak) , and Cameron Hatheway (Cammy's Comics Corner) .

Un Con Ventional 2012 With DC Veeps Bendis! Mack Janson Sienkiewicz and P Craig Russell

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To get you into that San Diego Comic Con mood, Word Balloon presents another Un-Conventional episode, featuring virtual panels with the type of information and conversation you'd get by attending a convention.

First DC vice presidents Bob Wayne and John Cunningham discuss the June store numbers from Diamond, and preview the salte of DC and Time Warner panels.

Then we attend this past Monday's Daredevil End Of Days press conference. Creators Brian Michael Bendis, David Mack Klaus Joanson and Bill Sienkiewicz.

Finally A Master Class Session With P Craig Russell,who has an informative Kickstarter campiagn to teach aspiring artists about graphic storytelling. We aslo talk about his latest Neil Gaiman adaptation a two volume graphic noveliazation of The Graveyard Book, featuring an all star line up of comic book artists like Tony Harris Kevin Nowlan Jill Thompson and others.

Chris Roberson & Allison Baker -PBS Filmmakers Michael Kantor and Larry Massilon

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On this episode of Word Balloon, Chris Roberson and Allison Baker of Monkey Brain books discuss their launch of the new Monkey Brain Digital Comics initiative that began this past Wednesday. We discuss the first 5 books, including Chris's own title Edison Rex, plus he talks about his recent decision to leave DC Comics in the wake of the Before Watchmen books.

Then filmmakers Michael Kantor and Larry Masslon talk about their upcoming 3 hour comics history documentary A Never Ending Battle which will air on PBS stations in the fall of 2013. The guys share some details about the project , including some fun interviews with Adam West and Stan Lee.

Amanda Conner Rob Salkowitz and Marvel's Daredevil creative team Waid Rivera Samnee Allred and Wacker

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On this episode of Word Balloon, Amanda Conner joins us to talk about her Before Watchmen series Silk Spectre co-written and drawn by Darwyn Cooke. We also talk about Amanda's work on DC's digital series Ame Comi Girls Wonder Woman.

Author Rob Salkowitz discusses his new book Comic=-Con and the Business Of Pop Culture from McGraw-Hill. Rob is a business futurist and a hard core comics fan who uses the prism of Comic-Con to explore where the comic business is today. He also give several scenarios of what the future may hold for publishers retailers creators and consumers as we enter the digital age of comics.

Finally we listen in to last week's Marvel telephone press conference announcing changes for the Daredevil creator line-up. Mark Waid Paulo Rivera, Chris Samnee Mike Allred and Editor Steve Wacker give us the details.

MIKE PERKINS MATT FRACTION PT 2 ED CATTO

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First up Mike Perkins talks about drawing Astonishing X-Men. today's issue #51 is a classic marvel marriage moment that has cracked thru to the mainstream media world. mike tells us what's like to draw this kind of major release when everyone is looking over his shoulder. Perkins also talk about finishing the art choress on the adaptation of Stephen King's The Stand comic seres, and what it was like during the title's four year run, catering to the King-Bookstore patrons as well as the comics buying direct market.

Then we wrap up the latest Matt Fraction Fireside Chat. This week Matt give 's us his point of view on The Avenger's film impact on this summer's other upcoming superhero films. Fraction wonders if the lighter action tone of The Avengers will hurt the mainstream audience reaction to The Dark Knight Rises ?

Finally Ed Catto of The Bonfire Agency joins us. Catto is part of the team that is reviving the Captain Action franchise through new toys and the upcoming Dynamite comic book series . Catto also talks about Bonfire, and some of the ways he's bringing advertisers to the consumers of genre fiction and the geek market.

MATT FRACTION FIRESIDE CHAT Pt 1 DC VEEPS WAYNE & CUNNINGHAM AND JK WOODWARD

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On this edition of Word Balloon, we talk with DC vice presidents Bob Wayne and John Cunningham about the Diamond Top 10 sales numbers of comic books from May, plus the first reactions to DC’s 2nd Wave titles, Before Watchmen and further details about the #0 Issues and 3rd Wave of new DC books coming in September.

Then we start a 2 part Matt Fraction Fireside Chat. Matt shares his insight on the current and future storylines ofThor, Iron Man and The Defenders. There are trippy dream walking moments and self realization ideas happening in all three books, but Fraction is employing these similar plot devices in very different ways in each title.

Finally JK Woodward joins us to talk all things Trek and Who, as we discuss IDW’s Star Trek TNG-Doctor Whocrossover mini series. Plus JK gives us an update on IDW’sFallen Angel series with Peter David.

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 Rucka Debrief Pt 1 Jeff Parker and Sal Abbinanti

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On this episode of Word Balloon, Greg Rucka returns for the start pf a new 2 part Rucka debrief. In part one, we talk about Rucka's latest novel ALPHA from Mulholland Books. Greg introduces a new action hero Jad Bell, and his challenge is a terrorist threat in a huge theme park with personal and professional stakes on the line. Greg talks about his world building here and creating this new hero who differs in many ways from Greg's past comic and novel heroes. (part 2 will cover Greg's comic doings)

Jeff Parker is back to talk about the  transition form his run on Thunderbolts to the title becoming Dark Avengers with T-Bolt artists Kev Walker and Declan Shalvey . Parker's run on the Red Hulk continues with Haunted Hulk, featuring Red exploring the monster corner of the Marvel U. We also talk about Bucko Jeff and Erika Moen's webcomic, soon to be released in a September trade collection by Dark Horse Comics. Jeff's been busy with a diverse run of short works too like his work with Colleen Coover in CREEPY #8, an upcoming DC digital Batman story with Gabe Hardman, and a short feature in the BOOM! Planet Of The Apes Annual in August.

Finally comic artist Sal Abbinanti is back to promote a live panel he'll be doing to benefit Chicago Public Radio this weekend. The subject: Have Hollywood and TV drastically changed the mythologies behind Superhero origins?

Jeph Loeb Dean Haspiel Seth Kushner and Steve Bryant

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On this episode of Word Balloon: Jeph Loeb is back with a new edition of The Loeb Report! The Vice President of Marvel TV is here to talk about the 1-hour block of Ultimate Spider-Man and The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! on Disney XD. Loeb also talks about the obvious positive impact Marvel’s The Avengers has had on Marvel’s live action TV shows in development including The Hulk. In addition, he addresses the rumors that The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! might be cancelled after this current season. Loeb then teases details of his upcoming finish to his Wolverine Sabertooth saga with artist Simone Bianchi.

Then Dean Haspiel and Seth Kushner return to Word Balloon to discuss the TRIP CITY website, a multimedia hub for many Brooklyn creative artists.  Dean and Seth have been co-hosting the Trip City Podcast featuring peer-to-peer conversations between comic book creators, and other media creators and stars.

Kushner is also here to talk about his photographic work in the new comics history book Leaping Tall Buildings written by Christopher Irving. Irving and Kushner produced an excellent look at creators from golden age stalwarts like Joe Simon Irwin Hassen and Jerry Robinson, to today’s web comic innovators. From mainstream to underground no era or genre of comics is ignored, and the profiles presented by the duo are unparallelled.

Haspiel  talks about current projects like making the 6 page digital comic for THE DOORS mobile app, which depicts the band’s official point of view of the infamous Miami concert of March 1^st, 1969. Haspiel also has a Godzilla Legends issue this month from IDW written by Bobby Kurnow, and a quirky upcoming 8 page Spider-Man story for Marvel later this year. The guys also discuss the Before Watchmen and Jack Kirby controversies, digital comics and more.

Finally Steve Bryant joins us to discuss his breaking good news as BOOM! Studios announced his appointment as the artist on their new ongoing Steed and Mrs. Peel series starting with a zero issue in August written by Mark Waid. Bryant is also preparing an Athena Voltaire Omnibus Volume for Dark Horse Comics Sequential Pulp imprint.

DC VPs and The Comic Books Comeback Of Mike Oeming

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On this edition of Word Balloon we check in with DC vice presidents Bob Wayne and John Cunningham to talk about the April numbers and the release of DC's 2nd wave of titles entering the New 52. The duo remain elusive when it comes to any information regarding 3rd waves coming in the fall. Also, Cunningham gives us more details on the Nielsen marketing surveys the company did at the start of the New 52 and says they plan to do follow up surveys to see how trends may have changed since the initial excitement for the new books.

Then we welcome back Michael Avon Oeming, who had been working in video games fro the past few years with only Powers as his comic book output. This summer Oeming is back full time with several new creator owned projects at Dark Horse like Wild Rover, a very dark personal story combined with supernatural allegories and imagery.

We also talk about his new post modern Superhero team The Victories  and its comparison to previous Oeming original works likeParliament Of Justice, Ship Of Fools, and Hammer Of The Gods. Plus, Mike talks about the new direction and upcoming re-boot of Powers called Powers FBI. 

As we've learned in previous conversations Oeming is a big mythology fan, and he has interesting thoughts on why he thinks Superheroes don't fit the function of past mythologies and legends.

Fred Van Lente And The Comic Book History Of Comics And Shooters OGN

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On this episode of Word Balloon Fred Van Lente discusses the IDW release of The Comic Book History Of Comics, written by Fred and drawn by Ryan Dunleavy . The talk leads to the debate about fine artist Roy Lichenstien' s pop art paintings that were based on real comic book panels. Were these painting fine art celebrating design , like Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup Can paintings, or outright plagiarizing comic artists like Mike Sekowsky and Russ Heath? Van Lente is also part of the Valiant Comics revival writing Archer and Armstrong coming out in August. We also talk about Fred's upcoming Hulk work, on the HULK Season One OGN with Tom Fowler , to this month's HULK SMASH #5 with Mike Oeming.
Then the team behind Vertigo's new war OGN Shooters writers Eric Trautmann Brandon Jerwa and artist Steve Lieber join us to talk about the complicated life of a corporate contract soldier working for the US in current forgien conflicts. It's a very personal story for Trautmann, who based the story on his brother-in-law Dave. he trio talk about the book, and discuss their other recent projects including Jerwa's comic book film documentary, he and Trautmann's Dynamite books like Flash Gordon and Vamperella, and Lieber talks about the piracy experience he and Jeff Parker had with their Oni press mini series Underground.

Art Baltazar's Chgo AM TV Guest Spot On WCIU-TV

 Art was great in this profile called "I love my job" click here to get to WCIU's video profile of Artie

Can Rob Liefeld Save These 3 Comic Books?

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On this episode of Word Balloon, Rob Liefeld returns to talk about 3 DC titles he's taking over in May, with the challenge of resurrecting interest and sales. They are The Savage Hawkman with art chores by Joe Benitez, Deathstroke (written and drawn by Rob) , and Grifter with scripting help from Frank Tieri. All of these books sales have dropped dramatically since their #1 debuts, can Liefeld's ideas turn the tide and make them hits?

Liefeld talks about what his plans are for all three titles, including Deathstroke's hunt for the space criminal Lobo starting in issue 9 , which will introduce the character to the new 52 DC continuity. Liefeld promises that this Lobo will not be the cartoony parody character he was in previous stories. There's clearly interest in Rob's Deathstroke-Lobo plans, because the issue is among the top 25 reordered books by retails according to numbers released last week.

We also talk about the critical acclaim his characters are getting in his revamped Extreme line of book.s like Prophet, Supreme, and Glory. Also, Rob gives his views on writing decompressed stories in today's comic book market.

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.

Survival Of The 2nd Tier Heroes In Today's Market With Kelly Sue DeConnick The DC Veeps and Art and Franco

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The plight of creating an ongoing series featuring 2nd and 3rd tier heroes is discussed on this episode of Word Balloon.

First DC Vice presidents Bob Wayne and John Cunningham join us to discuss the monthly numbers, but also talk about the re-tooling of some of DC's New 52 titles that are seeing creative changes. Will they be enough to boost sales?

Then writer Kelly Sue DeConnick talks about her new series Captain Marvel. Carol Danvers is getting a promotion, and a new monthly series, but the life expectancy for Marvel books that don't feature Spider-Man Wolverine isn't promising. DeConnick discusses the challenge of starting this type of book, plus we talk about her new Dark Horse series with Phil Noto Ghost, and a new Castle OGN from Marvel coming this fall.

Then we wrap up with solo talks featuring Art Baltazar and Franco. The duo has just wrapped up the Tiny Titans series with issue 50, and begin their new kids comic Superman Family Adventures with a preview that was featured in that last TT issue . The guys are notorious for clowning when their together, but I forced them to talk separately to get a more serious look at the wrap up of their New York Times best selling series, and the challenge of doing a new all ages title featuring Superman.

Time Code
   00:00 -    13:59  DC Veeps Bob Wayne and John Cunningham
   14:00 - 2:15:48  Kelly Sue DeConnick
2:15:49 - 2:41:38  Franco
2:41:39 - End       Art Baltazar