From Gotham to Latveria: Big comics news + Evel Knievel rides again
Welcome back to the AIPT Comics Podcast! This week, we’re going full throttle with a very special interview — Kelly Knievel and Rylend Grant join us to talk about The Last Gladiator, the brand-new comic that brings Evel Knievel’s legendary life and daredevil legacy to the page for the very first time. Soon to be live on Kickstarter, we dig into legacy and what the comic will be about. From the iconic Caesars Palace jump to his influence on pop culture, we dive deep into what makes Evel’s story perfect for comics and how this Kickstarter is keeping his spirit alive.
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Show Notes
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NEWS
- DC cancels all future issues of new 'Red Hood' series after issue #1 drops
- Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman get official U.S. Mint coins — see the designs and prices here
- SELL OUT of Batman and X-Men
- X-Men Monday news!
- 'X-Men of Apocalypse' #2 covers reveal classic X-Men vs. war-torn survivors
- Doctor Doom falls, but Marvel’s next villain could be even worse in 'The Will of Doom' #1
- 'Gargoyles / Fantastic Four' crossover unites two legends November 2025
- 'The Lion King' roars into comics with Mufasa & young Simba’s untold adventures
- Oni Press teases, and then announces, 'The End' for 'Rick and Morty' coming December 2025
- Hellboy creator Mike Mignola brings a supernatural western to life in ‘Carmen Red Claw’
- Medieval Spawn collides with the Massive-Verse in 'Rogue Sun' #30
- Image reveals four more 'Youngblood' #1 covers including 'Absolute Batman' homage
Our Top Books of the Week
Dave:
- Punisher #1 (Benjamin Percy, Julius Ohta)
- Absolute Batman #12 (Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta)
Alex:
- Absolute Batman #12 (Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta)
- Imperial War: Nova – Centurion #1 (Hickman, MacKay, Matteo Della Fonte)
Standout KAPOW moment of the week:
Alex: Ultimate Wolverine #9 (Chris Condon, Allesandro Capuccio)
Dave: X-Men of Apocalypse Alpha #1 (Jeph Loeb, Simone Di Meo)
TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK
- Alex: Predator Kills the Marvel Universe #2 (Percy, Marcelo Ferreira)
- Dave: Deadpool/Batman #1 (Various)
JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.
- Dave: Deadpool/Batman #1 (Ryan Stegman Cover)
- Alex: Exquisite Corpses #5 (Alex Eckman-Lawn) YOU MEANT TO PICK THIS
Interview: Kelly Knievel and Rylend Grant - The Last Gladiator Kickstarter
1. Kelly, as Evel Knievel’s son and brand manager, what does it mean to you to see your father’s legacy brought to life in his first-ever full-length comic series?
2. Rylend, what drew you to Evel Knievel as a character for a comic, and how did you approach blending historical fact with fictional storytelling?
3. The series is set during the lead-up to the Caesars Palace fountain jump. How did you decide which real-life events to keep and which moments to fictionalize?
4. For readers who may not be familiar with Evel beyond the stunts, what do you hope The Last Gladiator will teach them about who he was as a person?
5. The comic promises high-octane action and a modern-day Western feel. Can you walk us through the visual and narrative choices that give the series that unique tone?
6. Evel Knievel has inspired movies, documentaries, and countless imitators. What makes comics the right medium to tell this particular story?
7. (Fun) If Evel Knievel were still at it today, what stunt do you think he’d attempt just to outdo himself — and how would you put it in the comic?