Word Balloon Podcast Sanford Greene talks Marvel Runaways Hip Hop Covers and Animation Plans

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Sanford Greene is back to talk about his current and future plans in comics and animation. We talk about his current Marvel Secret Wars series Runaways with Limberjanes co-creator Noelle Stevenson.

We also look at the coming Marvel Hip Hop Variant Covers . Sanford has drawn 2 so far, and has more on the way in addition to his role brining more  creators to this project and others at Marvel. The conversation gets into the current debate about diversity at the big 2 publishers. Greene has thoughts and says the Hip Hop Varriant are just the beggining of changes at Marvel . These changes are already happening in the TV and film divisions and the comics as well. 

We also look at Sanford's animation company Secret Sauce that has projects on the way comming to Netflix, and more. 

Word Balloon Podcast Judd Winick's Hilo The Boy Who Crashed to Earth & Duane Burghard Sci-Fi Conspiracy Gopto

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Judd Winick is back! We loved his superhero work for years at DC and Marvel (Batman: Under The Red Hood, Shazam, Exiles, The Outsiders, Green Lantern,) and running the alternate earth adventures of Marvel's Exiles, but it's been a long time since we've enjoyed the art and funny side of Winick's storytelling.

The Cartoonist behind Frumpy The Clown and Barry Ween has put himself back behind the drafting table to draw and write this hilarious action adventure that will delight children and thoroughly entertain their parents with legitimate comic book style action . 

We talk about his feelings on this series compared to his superhero work, his work on The Hulu superhero parody The Awesomes created by Seth Meyers, and more .

Then Sci-Fi writer Duane Burghard brings his own military background into his new novel Gopto combining real world practicality with an alien conspiracy. Duane was also an online talk show host in the early pre-podcast net era, and he shares memories of some famous interviews he got to do i the sci-fi world. 

Word Balloon Podcast The Art Comix Scene With Dean Haspiel Gregory Benton, and Tom Spurgeon

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Two interviews that look at the art/alternative comix scene. How is it playing out while the superhero books are seeing massive attention at Conventions and from Film and TV projects?

First Dean Haspiel and Gregory Benton talk about their new books from Hang Dai studios. Haspiel is presenting his real life adventures moving to Brooklyn from Manhattan in Beef With Tomato. Benton has released an ambitious silent comic called Smoke. Hang Dai is also releasing Schmuck the graphic novel written by the late comics photo journalist Seth Kushner . The guys talk about Kushner's continued inspiration in the Hnag Dai Studio, and how they plan to promote these books in the upcoming conventions and comic arts festivals. We also talk about Dean's love of superhero comics particularly the Fantastic Four amd Greg's current obsession with Jack Kirby's Fourth World. 

Then Comics Reporter  Tom Spurgeon joins us for a talk about his blog The Comics Reporter, and new patreon campaign to fund his new monthly online magazine The Comics Report  . It's a chance to compare notes on the changes we've both seen in the comics market. Tom is also organizing a Columbus, Ohio Comics Arts Festival in conjunction with Ohio State University CXC Festival. 

Word Balloon Podcast Reggie Hudlin and Comic Collector World Record Holder Bob Bretall

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First Reggie Hudlin joins us to discuss the return of Milestone Media. Hudlin promises new projects are on the way, as well as the return of Static Rocket Hardware and the Dakota World. We also talk about his films House Party, Boomerang and producing D'Jango Unchained with Quentin Tarantino.
Hudlin also wrote the D'Jango Vertigo comics adaptation (the series won an Eisner in 2014), plus Marvel runs of Black Panther and Spider-Man. Hudlin also produced the Marvel Knights Black Panther Animated series on BET where he also served as that network's president. Reggie gives us his POV on the current geek market, and a look back at the 70's style of heroes of color.

 "I’m sorry to say that my day job has kept me away from hearing about the recent Marvel Hip Hop cover discussion and the questioning of Marvel's efforts to hire more creators of color until late last week. I’m also sorry to say I didn’t have the chance to talk about these issues directly with Reggie, though he did mention that Axel Alonso had helped him with his transition to writing comic books.

His and Denys Cowan’s quotes about Alonso’s active search for diverse creators in the interview link below represent the consistent opinions I hear from all creators who’ve worked with Axel at Vertigo & Marvel, and frankly Joe Q as well before Axel’s reign as Marvel’s editor in chief.

I think it’s important for all sides to be heard (or read) in such a discussion."

http://www.wearewakanda.com/post/125558434447/interview-reggie-hudlin-denys-cown-milestone-media

Then Bob Bretall, holder of the Guiness Book World Record as the owner of the world's largest private comic book collection . We'll talk about the Bronze and Silver Ages, our mutaul love of Steranko and Doc Savage, the best panels at this year's  and what you can do to make your collection as big as Bob's. Check out Bob's website too, at ComicSpectrum.com

Word Balloon Podcast Marvel TV Movie and Comics Talk With Joe Quesada, Jeremy Haun, and The Filmmakers of Cicada The Movie

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First, Joe Quesada the man who helped revive Marvel starting from 1998 with the creation of Marvel Knights to his long run as Editor in Chief to the present as chief creative officer. Joe oversees the comics, films TV and more and we talk about what's been happening on screen and in the pages of Marvel. From Netflix to the ABC shows to this years films and the comic event Secret Wars. 

Then Jeremy Haun returns to talk about his Image Central series The Beauty, co-written with Jason Hurley debuting August 12th. It's a police procedural where cops are investigating a sexually transmitted disease that makes the victims more handsome of beautiful, before it kills them. How would today's world react to such an STD? Haun gives us a guided tour into the world of The Beauty.

We wrap up with the filmmakers behind Cicada The Movie. Producer Actor Jeff Kent, Director David Willis and actor Beau Crawford talk about their hilarious film project in the vein of Troma Films, and the classic 80's & 90's silly but fun horror films that filled the racks of video stores . They are in the final hours of their indie go go campaign, but if you go to their website, you'll see the trailer and find out why this is a film that needs to get made, and desrves your support! 

Word Baloon Podcast Star Trek Axanar & The Death Of The DVD Special Feature w Robert Meyer Burnett

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Rob Burnett is a film director responsible for the hilarious 1999 Star Trek Valentine Free Enterprise . Currently he's the director of Star Trek:Axanar the ground breaking independent Star Trek Film set 20 years before James T Kirk was Captain of the Enterprise. With a cast and crew of working hollywood professionals, who also love Star Trek They are in the midst of an indie go go fund rasing campaign to make this epic 2hr story. 

As a proof of concept, they made this 21 minute pseudo-documentary, Prelude To Axanar  which chronicles the characters and battles leading up to the film . 

Featuring Star Trek Stars Tony Todd, JG Hertzler and Gary Graham Battlestar Galactica stars Richard Hatch and Kate Vernon, and introducing Alec Peters as Garth Of Izar. The visual effects, score, writing, and acting will blow you away .

Trek fans know Capt. Garth was an academy hero of Kirk's and an eventual original series enemy. Axanar tells the story of Garth and the Federation's historic battle against the Klingons.

Rob also has created many documentaries and special features for films like X-Men, Lord Of The Rings, Aliens, Tron, and The Star Trek TV Shows TNG, Voyager, DS9, and Enterprise. As Rob explains,  we may be seeing an end to the era of great dvd and blu-ray special documentaries and features. 

We also talk comic books, James Bond and ponder the question of how many of the younger geek fans have the interest and patience to sit through vintage Sci-Fi films from the 1930's to the pre Star Wars 1970's? 

Word Balloon Podcast Marvel TV's Jeph Loeb On Daredevil,Shield, Agent Carter, Jessica Jones, & Luke Cage Greg Pak on Superman Hulk & More

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The head of Marvel Television comes back for a new in depth Loeb Report.  We get Jeph's observations on the Netflix shows Daredevil Jessica Jones and Luke Cage, plus a look back at ABC's Marvel Agents Of Shield, Agent Carter and what the future holds? Plus the 8 year wait is over as the Loeb-Tim Sale collaboration is on again with the long awaited tale of Captain America: White

Then Greg Pak is back to talk about the new Status Quo Of Superman in his work on Action Comics with Aaron Kruder, plus the low powered Clark Kent Meets the new Batman, Jim Gordon in Pak's  Batman-Superman with artist Ardian Syaf. We also get the  low down on Greg's new creator owned projects, a kickstarter campaign to fund a very funny kids book ABC Disgusting with Takeshi Miyazawa , an exciting new western with a supernatural twist called Kingsway West from Dark Horse Comics, and there's going to be a new green goliath for Marvel comics courtesy of Greg and Frank Cho, who can this new Totally Awesome Hulk be?

Word Balloon Podcast Ales Kot Talks Wolf & Material Arlen Schumer and The Secret Silver Age History Of Ira Schnap

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First Up Ales Kot returns to talk about his creator owned projects Wolf, reuniting with Zero collaborator Matt Taylor. We also discuss Material both from Image Comics. Kot also talks about Bucky Barnes The Winter Soldier, and why he's wrapping up his big 2 work to concentrate on creatot owned books.

Then Comics Historian Arlen Schumer profiles the unheralded work of Ira Schnapp DC letterer and the man responsible for the classic logos of The Flash Justice League Green Lantern and scores of other silver age comic series. Schnap's art is on display at The Type Directors Club of NY Schnapp event page: https://www.tdc.org/event/the-super-type-of-ira-schnapp/

We also talk about his book The Silver Age of Comic Book Art.
To order a signed & sketched-in hardcover, as well as an e-book version  http://www.arlenschumer.com

Arlen is on tour the next few weeks...

He'll be lecturing on Silver Age @ the Garden State Comic Fest (in Morristown, NJ) 7/25: http://www.gardenstatecomicfest.com/special-guests.html ​

and He's doing 3 lectures the 3 days of the Connecticut Comicon (8/14-16: Silver Age, Schnapp, & the Spirit’s 75th Anniversary: http://www.ctcomicon.com/events-and-panels.html

Word Balloon Podcast San Diego Comic Con Panels With Greg Pak Calvin Reid Heidi MacDonald and Rob Salkowitz

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This year at Comic Con, I had the pleasure of moderating these 2 informative panels about the comic book and geek marketplaces, the changiong demographics and ways content creators manufacturuers and cartoonists are changing the ways they do business.

(7:41) First the 10th Annual Comic Book Podcaster Panel featured writer Greg Pak, who talked about how podcasts have evolved in helping him promote his works, along with podcasters John and Kay Mayo of Comic Book Page, and Publshers Weekly analyst/podcast host Calvin Reid.

(1:34:39) We wrap up with The Future Of Fandom Panel created by Author Rob Salkowitz (Comic Con and The Business Of Pop Culture) and featuring Heidi Mac Donald (Publisher of The Beat) and Brett Schenker of Graphic Policy, who's been breaking down facebook analytics to determine the demographics and buying habits of men and women who consider themselves geek fans.

Word Balloon Podcast Kieron Dwyer Returns To Comics Via West Portal

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We talk about Kieron's Kickstarter Campaign for West Portal. a crazy sci-fi take when a real world guy slips into alternate realities that look like pop culture tropes. From Space Opera to Kitty Manga to Jack T Chick end of the world propaganda comics, Dwyer sttrecthes his art styles in inventives ways. 

We also talk about his runs on Captain America, and Action Comics, plus past creator owned work with Rick Remender and Matt Fraction 

Word Baloon Podcast Tony Moore Previews Cincy Comicon & Bleeding Cool's EIC Hannah Means Shannon

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Word Balloon Podcast Rob Williams On DC's Martian Manhunter Chris Ryall Talks Onyx From IDW

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Rob Williams joins us to talk about his plans and POV on J'onn J'onnz , The Martian Manhunter in the new DC series. We also talk about his work at 2000AD and His Doctor Who run From Titan.

IDW's Chris Ryall talks about his 11 years at the company and his new SCi-Fi action series Onyx. 

word balloon podcast Ep 553 Mark Millar Gabriel Hardman Corrina Bechko

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Great catching up with Mark Millar who talks comics and film. We talk Chrononauts Jupiter's Circle and Jupiter's Legacy, Kingsmen:The Secret Service, Mark's collaborations with Director Mathew Vaughn, his film consulting work at 21st Century Fox.We compare the Fox filmmakers to the Marvel filmmakers and get his thoughts on the coming Fantastic Four film, and director Josh Trank.

Then, Gabe Hardman & Corrina Bechko return to talk about their Image Series Invisible Republic and the Upcoming Shadowline Treasury Edition sized graphic novel, The Crooked Man. 

Like our talk last month with Hilary Barta Gabe and Corrina and I do a mini scene missing , talking about recent films we've seen. 

Word Balloon Podcast Marvel Iron Man Press Conference With Brian Bendis David Marquez Tom Brevoort and Axel Alonso

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A look at the new direction for Tony Stark when The Secret Wars end. 

The Former Ultimate Spider-Man team of Bendis Marquez and Ponsor takes over Stark Industries in the Fall, and Wednesday they faced members of the comic book press who had plenty of questions. 

Word Balloon Podcast Tim and Steve Seeley talk He-Man, Deadpool vs Thanos, Grayson, Revival, Hoax Hunters & more

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Word Balloon Podcast Denver Con's Women In Comics Flash Panel W Crystal Skillman, Hilary Barta and Pants ep 550

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Great conversation starting with Crystal Skillman, fresh from the Denver Comic Con where women creators dissatisfied with a Women In Comics History panel made some history by putting together their own panel. Crystal talks about rallying the troops  including such creators as Trina Robbins Amanda Connor Joelle Jones and Marguerite Bennett. It's a great story and I'm glad she joins us to share it.

check out the flash panel for yourself here

Hilary Barta is back to talk about 2 new books coming out in June. The Sponge Bob Annual from Bongo Comics, and The Garbage Pail Kids from IDW both with a science fiction flair.

Finally Brian "Pants" Christman from Comic Geek Speak is back to mshare his experiences iun the audience of Late Show With David Letterman, including last week's final broadcast.  

Word Balloon Podcast In Memoriam Seth Kushner

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Comics writer artist and photo journalist Seth Kushner has passed away. We listen back to past interviews from 2012 and 2014 remember him and his contributions to the comics community in his web comics like Schmuck, and his photographs of creators from the golden age to the present.

There is a GoFundMe acct set up for Seth's Family 

Word Balloon Podcast The Geek Theater Movement With Playwright Crystal Skillman

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New York Playwright Crystal Skillman is back! She and her husband comics writer Fred Van Lente wowed audiences and critics last year with the off-broadway debut of KING KIRBY, the biographical look at Jack Kirby's life.

Skillman brings her new play, ANOTHER KIND OF LOVE to Chicago's INFusion Theater company with a month long run at The Chopin Theater 1543 W Division.

We talk about the play featuring a grunge rock family group of women reuniting their band for a festival that celebrates the music of their Punk Rock Mother . I'm in  the play as the radio host Crash Murphy, whose festival news bulitens keep the real world moving along as the sisters work out old family issues.

We talk about the play, get a KING KIRBY update,  and the curent Geek Theater movement

Word Balloon Podcast C2E2 pt 2 w Jimmy Palmiotti Jonathan Hickman Gene Ha Nick Dragotta Gabriel Hardman Corrina Bechko and more

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Word Balloon Podcast CON-versations View From The Floor at C2E2 pt 1 with Gail Simone ME-TV's Svengoolie, NFL star Israel Idonije and more!

The first of 2 podcasts featuring interviews and panels from last weekend's C2E2.

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00:00-5:50     Intro and show notes

  5:51-11:23   Rich Koz, AKA Svengoolie Me-TV's Legendary Horror Movie Host 

11:24-26:05   Fantasy Author Alane Adams (The Red Sun) , on her novel series Legends Of                                 Orkney, and incorporating mobile games to introduce and engage new readers to the                            books!

26:06-34:09   Dan Parent Archie Comics The creator of Kevin Keller, the newest member of the                              Riverdale High kids.

34:10-41;53   Israel Idonije Fmr Chicago Bear talks about his comic creation The Protectors from                        Athleta Comics making its motion comics debut on Madefire

41;54-50:31   Mike Choi Marvel Comics Artist (X-Men)  talks about returining to comics doing                             Iron Man Covers, doing creator owned vs corporate comics  and leaving the video game                       world

50:32-59:04   Onrie Kompin Comic writer talks about is creator owned comic series Yi Soon Shin                          the true life adventures of a Midieval Naval Korean Hero

59:05-104:45 Tony Bedard DC Comics Writer talks about his work on the DC Convergence books                        Aquaman Green Lantern, and more

104:45-end    Gail Simone talks Red Sonja Nightwing and Oracle and the evolution of Women                             Creators in Comics