Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast

With Usagi Yojimbo: Ten Thousand Plums, Stan Sakai enters his forty-first year as the rabbit ronin's chronicler. Each decade represents about a year in the title character's life, which you can track if you're paying attention to the seasons surrounding Usagi's adventures. If you're paying even closer attention, you can map his footsteps across sixteenth-century Japan and anticipate his next conflict or reunion, but don't worry if you lack such concentration. As you'll hear in today's episode, Sakai certainly does not. Usagi Yojimbo Ten Thousand Plums begins with a fox spirit and her daughter struggling to survive. Sickness has taken the child, and the mother seeks help from a nearby village. They reject her despite having access to the Shogun's prized plum orchard and the healing umeboshi (pickled plums) it produces. By the time Usagi, his cousin Yukichi, and the bounty hunter Gen arrive, fury has rained down upon the town, creating a dangerous suspicion of outsiders. With Ten Thousand Plums, Stan Sakai continues to explore the themes of deceptive appearances, selflessness, and selfishness, which he thoroughly dug into with the previous Usagi Yojimbo storyline, The Crow. We chat with Sakai about this current preoccupation, how it challenges Usagi and Yukichi, and where it could lead the cousins. No major spoilers lie within our conversation, but Stan Sakai does tease a few things that will undoubtedly spark intense curiosity for longtime Usagi Yojimbo readers. The Sword of Narukami is in play. Could another famous sword re-appear, too? Following Ten Thousand Plums' first three issues, a new story entitled "Tabo" should prove to be Stan Sakai's most personal comic yet. It was written shortly after his younger brother Kenneth passed away, and Sakai kindly expands on what this tale means for him and his family. You'll hear how "Tabo" places Usagi and Yukichi on a pilgrimage in search of the miraculous goddess called "The Mother," forcing Usagi to confront his skepticism in ways he never has before. The first issue of Usagi Yojimbo Ten Thousand Plums is now available from Dark Horse Comics and Dogu Publishing. The second issue will arrive on April 16th, and we have an exclusive preview of its first five pages on the Comic Book Couples Counseling website. Make sure to keep up to date on all things Usagi Yojimbo by visiting Stan Sakai's website and Instagram. This week's episode is sponsored by 2000 AD, the greatest comic you're not reading! Within its pages is a whole universe of characters, from Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog to Rogue Trooper, Shakara, Halo Jones, and the poor sods slogging across the Cursed Earth in The Helltrekkers. Get a print subscription at your door every week - and the first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, get free back issues, and download DRM-free copies of each issue for just $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible monthly comics for less than $10. We're also sponsored by the Beyond the Cape Podcast. If you enjoy Comic Book Couples Counseling, you'd undoubtedly enjoy their show. Beyond the Cape is a laid-back talk show in which every episode highlights their love of this beautiful comic book medium, their personal journey with it, and the respective artists they feature on each podcast. This June will mark their second anniversary, which we certainly recognize as a massive accomplishment. So, follow them on Instagram @BeyondTheCapePodcast and Spotify with The Uncensored Nerds Network. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Stan Sakai on CBCC: Samurai Rabbit Stan Sakai and Julie Sakai on CBCC: Ice and Snow This Ink Runs Cold Kickstarter Support Your Local Comic Shop - Episode 2 - Now Or Never (San Diego, CA) Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Reading Judge Dredd in 2025 is a helluva thing. The gap between Anycity USA and Mega-City One shortens seemingly with every passing second, causing us to re-evaluate dystopia's purpose. A Better World, the latest 2000 AD collection from writers Rob Williams and Arthur Wyatt, featuring gorgeously gnarly art from Henry Flint, Boo Cook, Jake Lynch, and Jim Boswell, is a vicious mirror to gaze into. And anxiety rests in what to do after you pull your head away. The story begins with Judge Maitland discovering the impossible amongst her accounts. If the Chief Justices would allow her to reallocate a few resources, say feed money into education and a few other social services, crime in Mega-City One would likely plummet. They give her a sector to manage, and her theory becomes reality. Oh, no. Judge Dredd: A Better World knocked us flat when we first read it last year. We, and a lot of other comic lovers, ranked it as one of 2024's best stories. Now that it's properly collected, we were eager to get Rob Williams and Arthur Wyatt on the podcast to break it down and challenge our understanding of Mega-City One's top cop and the people he polices. We discuss how and why they brought Judge Maitland to her findings, how she relates heavily to Dredd, and why he responds so warmly to her. Or as warmly as Dredd possibly can. Our conversation dips into the joys of dystopia as well as the danger that can occur when folks give it a light reading. The trick being to make light readings impossible. Follow Rob Williams on Bluesky, Instagram, and Twitter. Follow Arthur Wyatt on Bluesky, Instagram, and Twitter. Yes, this week's episode is sponsored by 2000 AD, the greatest comic you're not reading! Within its pages is a whole universe of characters, from Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog to Rogue Trooper, Shakara, Halo Jones, and the poor sods slogging across the Cursed Earth in The Helltrekkers. Get a print subscription at your door every week - and the first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, get free back issues, and download DRM-free copies of each issue for just $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible monthly comics for less than $10. We're also sponsored by the Beyond the Cape Podcast. If you enjoy Comic Book Couples Counseling, you'd undoubtedly enjoy their show. Beyond the Cape is a laid-back talk show in which every episode highlights their love of this beautiful comic book medium, their personal journey with it, and the respective artists they feature on each podcast. This June will mark their second anniversary, which we certainly recognize as a massive accomplishment. So, follow them on Instagram @BeyondTheCapePodcast and Spotify with The Uncensored Nerds Network. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Rob Williams on Judge Dredd: End of Days This Ink Runs Cold Kickstarter Support Your Local Comic Shop - Episode 2 - Now Or Never (San Diego, CA) Married to Singles: Michael Schwartz on Darkhold: Iron Man Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Today's podcast with Tom King is a conversation we eagerly anticipated the moment we finished the first issue of Helen of Wyndhorn. From its earliest panels, illustrated brilliantly by Bilquis Evely, colored by Matheus Lopes, and lettered by Clayton Cowles, we knew this saga of grief, self-discovery, magic, and adventure would occupy large, permanent portions of our imaginations. We merely waited for it to conclude, reveal its full magnificence, and find a proper hardcover release worthy of its contents. We then needed to dissect everything with Tom, our friend and frequent guest. Dark Horse Comics has now collected Helen of Wyndhorn into a hefty hardback that will undoubtedly lure new readers to its sumptuous narrative, and we're ready to dive into its pages and go full-spoilers with its author. Before we even hit record, Tom King was happily pouring over this story with us, recalling his initial intentions for the tale and comparing them to his current perspective. Helen of Wyndhorn reteams King with his Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow cohorts, but it's a saga that took almost three times as long to complete, and that effort proudly reveals itself in every line, word, and pixel. The book is often sold as "Conan the Barbarian meets The Wizard of Oz." Sure, those influences are preset, and we discuss them, but it's a book that thrives on gothic romance and real-life heartache, too. When we first meet the title character, she's more than adrift; she's devastated and on the verge of destruction. Her father, pulp author CK Cole, is dead and gone. Her grandfather hires a governess to drag her back to his estate. What she discovers there will change everything she knows about her father as well as reality itself. And her journey toward purpose awoke something in us. Something that's evolving even as we write these words. How big or significant must an action be for it to be heroic? To continue this conversation beyond the podcast, follow Tom King on Bluesky, Threads, and Instagram. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Tom King on Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow Tom King and Ryan Sook on Black Canary: Best of the Best Support Your Local Comic Shop - Episode 2 - Now Or Never (San Diego, CA) Married to Singles: Michael Schwartz on Darkhold: Iron Man Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 3/09 at 5:00 PM for Josie and the Pussycats, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

The horror genre occupies an important moment in our romantic relationship. We started dating nearly eighteen years ago. Our earliest outings were at the theater, watching one mediocre to terrible horror film after the other. As you'll hear in this week's episode, those violent excursions caused us to sharpen our ideas of who we are. Gosh, we sure could have used The Matron back then. Comic creators David Bowles, Drew Edwards, and Monica Gallagher join us to discuss their new slasher comic, The Matron. It's a distinct, bloody trip across multiple generations. While it began as a thought experiment related to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, it quickly transformed into a rich, thoughtful exercise in how the slasher story can contain and process profound human anxiety. Fifty years after her great-great-grandmother slaughtered her way into infamy, Roz desperately wants to find space on this planet away from her family's murderous past. Mostly in the arms of her girlfriend, Samantha. However, as winter sweeps across the Texas town of Ascuas, celebrations centered around the original Matron's killings begin. As do a new set of killings. The Matron allowed us to discover our history with the slasher and our love for it. While these musings tend to occur around the Halloween season, the first two months of 2025 have proved to be the perfect moment to seek solace in characters like The Matron, Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, and other masked maniacs. The Matron is currently seeking funding via Kickstarter. As of this writing, they have sixteen days left on the campaign. CLICK HERE to explore this unique slasher further. You can follow David Bowles on Instagram. You can follow Drew Edwards on Instagram. You can follow Monica Gallagher on Instagram. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Support Your Local Comic Shop - Episode 2 - Now Or Never (San Diego, CA) Married to Singles: Michael Schwartz on Darkhold: Iron Man Support Your Local Comic Shop: Episode 1 - Four Color Fantasies in Winchester, Virginia Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 3/09 at 5:00 PM for Josie and the Pussycats, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

We try not to gatekeep. We try to resist nostalgia, but on some days, we feel the purest expression possible in comics can only occur through monthly serialization. Rick Quinn and Dave Chisholm return to the podcast for the third month, discussing Spectrum #3, the latest entry in their magical, sci-fi tour through an alternate musical history. As you'll hear Rick Quinn say at some point in our conversation, Spectrum #3 is not their "Bohemian Rhapsody" or "Hey Jude." It's twenty-two pages; it's their three-minute pop song, and nothing is more simplistically significant than a three-minute pop song. Lives are often altered within those beautiful constraints. We're halfway through the Mad Cave Studios series and our monthly Book Club discussion of it. Feel free to jump on board here, but also, catching up won't take you long. Find the links to those conversations below. Spectrum #3 introduces more characters and artistic mediums for our heroes and readers to consider. Last month, we explored how fine art interacts with music, and now, through the character of Walton Naves, we look at photography's relationship to sound. What separates the "click" from the picture triggered by it? As always, Rick Quinn and Dave Chisholm are more than willing to travel deep with us into Spectrum. This time, they're packing their own notes! We discuss how the third issue still reveals their discovery of the material and how next month's comic will show them confidently accepting its mission. Between the pages, lives were literally born, and perspectives radically transformed. Can you find the page created between childlessness and fatherhood? Just look for signs of exhaustion and obsessive detail. Spectrum 1 - 3 are currently available from Mad Cave Studios, and the fourth issue will arrive in shops on March 19th. Make sure you're following Dave Chisholm on his Website, TikTok, Instagram, and Bluesky. And follow Rick Quinn on his Website, Bluesky, and Instagram. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Spectrum Book Club Part One Spectrum Book Club Part Two Ask Your Spectrum Book Club Questions Married to Singles: Michael Schwartz on Darkhold: Iron Man Support Your Local Comic Shop: Episode 1 - Four Color Fantasies in Winchester, Virginia Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 3/09 at 5:00 PM for Josie and the Pussycats, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

They couldn't let go. Thomas Jane and Mike Carey resurrect The Lycan, a comics project languishing for over fifteen years. Jane and screenwriter David James Kelly initiated the concept and hired Carey to write the script. An artist was also hired. That artist disappeared. An opportunity arose years later, and a new artist, Diego Yapur, finally materialized this ruthless tale of adventure and horror. The North Sea. 1797. A ship shatters on the shore of a Scottish isle. The hunters within spill upon the sand, encountering a Red Coat regiment and a Convent-turned-Fortress. The three factions mistrust each other but must find unity if they're to defend themselves from a hirsute plague. The Lycan recalls the gnarliest stories in the best comic book anthologies: Twisted Tales, Creepy, Vault of Horror, etc. Yet, it's given the space that writers like Bruce Jones were never afforded. Thomas Jane and Mike Carey are confident storytellers who've spent a lifetime consuming this beautiful medium and know they can let the title and the many engaging characters below it do the work. The beast is coming, but in The Lycan #1, the horror explored is utterly, painfully human. With the French Revolution on the horizon, paranoia grips everyone, and the faith carried by pirates, soldiers, and nuns is challenged and found fractured. How can they possibly fight their doggie dinner destiny? The Lycan allows our podcast conversation with Thomas Jane and Mike Carey to travel into various caves and crannies. We dig into their passion for the comic book medium and how it differs from movies (The Punisher) and novels (The Girl With All The Gifts). We discuss the comic's complicated origin and the challenge of collaboration, as well as the powerful, relatable themes at this book's center. Fear, paranoia, and faith - who needs a werewolf to do you in? The Lycan #1 is now available on ComiXology but will eventually see physical release through Ablaze. Continue this conversation with Thomas Jane by following him on Instagram. And follow Mike Carey on Twitter. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Married to Singles: Michael Schwartz on Darkhold: Iron Man Spectrum Book Club with Dave Chisholm and Rick Quinn The CBCC Newsletter - Our Psychic Rapport Support Your Local Comic Shop: Episode 1 - Four Color Fantasies in Winchester, Virginia Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 3/09 at 5:00 PM for Josie and the Pussycats, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Always challenge certainty. The moment you know, watch out. Clay McLeod Chapman arrives with another spooky story to confront your perspective, if not outright shatter it. His latest comic, Seance in the Asylum, done in collaboration with artist Leonardo Marcello Grassi, colorist Mauro Gulma, and letterer Frank Cvetkovic, propels us back into our past when science sought belief to cure the mad. It's 1865. America sits soaked in blood after the Civil War. The Ashcroft Hospital is bursting at the seams with an influx of patients, and Doctor Templeton believes spiritualism could form the spine of a radical new therapy. Unfortunately, Alicia Wilkinson, the medium he hired for the job, is a fake. But how does that explain all these ghosts appearing after she's committed her little act? All lovers of storytelling should make themselves aware of Clay McLeod Chapman. Check his website and follow his footsteps. If he's speaking at a film festival, a bookstore, or a comic shop near you, ensure you're there. His readings are kinetic events powered by passion and imagination, and he brings all that to this week's podcast conversation. We discuss the deep research he brought to Seance in the Asylum, his take on science versus belief, and how he and his collaborators found a unique way to depict possession—oh, and ectoplasm. We talk a lot about solid, not at all wet, architectural ectoplasm. All four issues of Seance in the Asylum are out now from Dark Horse Comics, and the trade paperback will hit shops on June 3rd. Continue our conversation with Clay McLeod Chapman by following him on Bluesky and Instagram. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Patreon Exclusive: Clay McLeod Chapman on Extreme Carnage The CBCC Newsletter - Our Psychic Rapport Support Your Local Comic Shop: Episode 1 - Four Color Fantasies Patreon Exclusive: Eamon Winkle on Peter Parker: Spider-Man Vol. 2 #33 Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

After doing a stint on Conan the Barbarian for Marvel, Jason Aaron and Mahmud Asrar aimed to keep their collaboration roaring. They loved their time in Hyperborea but also wanted a realm to claim as their own and one where they could unleash their most vicious instincts. Bug Wars, their latest partnership, published at Image Comics, is the beautifully brutal saga of "The Yard." Here, in the tall grass, below teenager Slade Slaymaker's home, Beetle Clans rage against the Ant Imperium while the Systers of the Spyder whisper of a coming storm. We're excited to have Jason Aaron back on the podcast, this time bringing Mahmud Asrar with him. We discuss their fascination with "Oh, No! I'm Shrunk!" stories and why their version required a bloody battleground. Our conversation also ventures into why Bug Wars may be one of Jason Aaron's most personal stories and how Mahmud Asrar challenged some legitimate creepy crawly phobias to bring this tale to the page. This week's podcast begins with a discussion about our "Comics Will Mend Your Heart" 2025 theme and how it relates to the famous Jack Kirby quote, "Kid...comics will break your heart." When and where did Kirby first say it, and what was the quote's original context? We get into it. Bug Wars #1 arrives in comic shops on February 12th. It's written by Jason Aaron, illustrated by Mahmud Asrar, colored by Matthew Wilson, lettered and designed by Becca Carey, and edited by Heather Antos. Consider continuing this conversation with Jason Aaron via his Substack, Instagram, and Bluesky. Please do the same with Mahmud Asrar via his Instagram and Blueksy. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: The Beat: Did Jack Kirby Really Say, "Comics Will Break Your Heart, Kid?" The Beat: Kirby's Warning: How Comics Will Break Your Heart Mark Evanier's News From ME: Quotable Kirby Support Your Local Comic Shop: Episode 1 - Four Color Fantasies Patreon Exclusive: Eamon Winkle on Peter Parker: Spider-Man Vol. 2 #33 Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 2/09 at 5:00 PM for Conan the Barbarian, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Time is inescapable -- as if we need to explain that to anyone living in January 2025. However, our listeners who've been paying attention to our podcast this past month know the tyrannical clock is particularly present in our imagination. This preoccupation began with this week's conversation about Ripperland with John Harris Dunning, which we recorded in December last year and has been informing nearly every episode we've released since. Dunning co-wrote Ripperland with Steve Orlando, and it's illustrated by Alessandro Oliveri, colored by Francesca Vivaldi, and lettered by Fabio Amelia. The comic is set in 2188, three hundred years after Jack the Ripper terrorized London. In exchange for financial and military aid, England has given itself over to America, transforming into a gargantuan Victorian theme park. While no dinosaurs go on a rampage, a Jack the Ripper impersonator does. Enter American Special Agent Jesse Holden and local British Police Detective Edwin Fogg. Ripperland is a cracking good time but carries a sharp, damning wit. For as obsessed about Jack the Ripper as we are, we don't really understand or appreciate the reality surrounding the horrific murders that occurred in Whitechapel in 1888. It's a vicious, societal spook story in which storytellers of every medium - prose, song, cinema, comics - return repeatedly and readers hungrily accept. What does that say about the giver and the receiver? We discuss Jack the Ripper's hold on our planet with John Harris Dunning and how exploring the past from a position of the future creates a tantalizing mental exercise. Does fate damn us to repeat our mistakes, or are we just too stupid to learn? Ripperland #1 is currently on sale from Dark Horse Comics, and issue two will arrive in shops on February 26th. To continue this conversation with John Harris Dunning, follow him on Instagram and Bluesky. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Patreon Exclusive: John Harris Dunning on Spider-Woman #50 Patreon Exclusive Saga of the Swamp Thing Book Club Married to Singles: Tyler Crook on Mage: The Hero Discovered #5 Spectrum Book Club with Dave Chisholm and Rick Quinn Buy eBooks via Bookshop.org The BINC Foundation Introducing Sweet Shop The Beat Reports on Sweet "Comics Will Mend Your Heart" by Kevin Alvir Merch (Benifitting BINC) Funny Business: An Insider's Look at the Art of Cartooning The Art of Richard Thompson Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 2/09 at 5:00 PM for Conan the Barbarian, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

They're back! Writer Rick Quinn and artist Dave Chisholm return to the podcast to discuss Spectrum #2, the second issue in their science fiction tour through an alternate musical history. As the plot reveals itself, adding new elements and several more splash pages, we dig deeper into its characters, emotions, and references. Adding this conversation atop our previous one about the first issue, we're building something grand - a comic book dissection as we've never done before - so we might as well officially make it a Book Club and invite everyone listening to join in on the comics summit. Have you read Spectrum #1? Have you read Spectrum #2? Do you have any thoughts? Do you have questions? We want to hear them! CLICK HERE and drop them into the comments. Next month, when we return to the podcast with Rick Quinn and Dave Chisholm, we'll work our way through them on the show. This is your chance to shape the conversation and connect with the big ideas about art these creators are exploring. Spectrum #2 introduces Ada Latimer, the retail warrior trying to keep her Unpopular Pop record store afloat. Within the comic's first few moments, she meets the reality-bending Melody from issue one and has a cosmic encounter that would curl Jack Kirby's toes. A quest is discovered, one that will slam Ada and Melody together as they search for a mythical music producer while battling a creature of song called Echo. Now, more than ever, community offers relief. We must find our people and love and fight by their side. For us, we feel the most connected when we're engaged with art, whether it takes the form of music, movies, or comic books. Creating a book club, determined to cover this series for the next five or so months, is an act of hope and optimism. And so is joining one. Spectrum #2 is now available from Mad Cave Studios, wherever rad comics are sold. Make sure you're following Dave Chisholm on his Website, TikTok, Instagram, and Bluesky. And follow Rick Quinn on his Website, Bluesky, and Instagram. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Spectrum CBCC Book Club #1 with Rick Quinn and Dave Chisholm "Comics Will Mend Your Heart" by Kevin Alvir Merch (Benifitting BINC) Patreon Exclusive Saga of the Swamp Thing Book Club Married to Singles: Tyler Crook on Mage: The Hero Discovered #5 Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 1/26 at 5:00 PM for Speed Racer, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

In 2024, we published 58 Comic Book Couples Counseling episodes. However, that was not the total Comic Book Couples Counseling experience. Over on our Patreon, we published an additional 61 episodes, including our Married to Singlesseries, where we talk with comic book creators about their favorite single issues. In 2025, we'll make these a regular thing, starting with Tyler Crook this week, diving deep into his cherished Mage: The Hero Discovered #6. Crook has appeared on the podcast multiple times, mostly exploring his exceptional Dark Horse Comics series, The Lonesome Hunters (links to those episodes below). He's a passionate, enthusiastic champion of this medium, and that devotion began at a very young age thanks to books like Mage: The Hero Discovered. We enjoyed this conversation with Crook about this comic so much that we've decided to drop it into the main podcast feed to entice some of you over to the CBCC Patreon, which we consider one of the most welcoming, loving comic book communities on the internet. Published by Comico in March of 1985, Mage: The Hero Discovered #6 landed just as the industry shifted. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 arrived the year before, while Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns were just on the horizon. Comics were ready to celebrate themselves as thematically rich, adult entertainment. NOT. KIDS. STUFF. Mage: The Hero Discovered #6 was written and illustrated by Matt Wagner and features additional inks by Sam Kieth. The series follows Kevin Matchstick, who is basically a stand-in for Wagner, as he tumbles into a fantasy adventure where each obstacle represents some issue or situation from his own life. Be warned, our conversation with Tyler Crook spoils the entirety of the sixth issue, as well as some critical plot points from the rest of the series. Although, knowledge of those plot points won't ruin your overall reading experience if you decide to read after you've listened to the episode. We make the Comic Book Couples Counseling Patreon as cheap as we can. Our "Smitten Kitten" level costs only a dollar and gives you access to all the Patreon episodes. Our "Dearly Beloved" tier is $5, which grants you access to our Slack community. For the month of January, we're donating all proceeds made by our Patron to BINC (The Book Industry Charitable Foundation). They're helping all the bookstores and comic book shops affected by the LA Wildfires, and Bookshop.org matches all donations up to $10,000. If you would prefer to support another charity aiding in the wake of the LA Wildfires, here are a few that we'd recommend: The Red Cross Wildfire Disaster Relief LA Food Banks Assisting After Fires The LAFD Foundation World Central Kitchen Help provides fresh meals to communities in need in California The California Community Foundation Pasadena Humane Helps with Animal Rescue and Care Baby2Baby Provides Essential items such as diapers, food, formula, and hygiene products for children and families in Los Angeles. At least three comic creators lost their homes to the fires. Click on their names below to find their GoFundMe pages: David Booher Steven T. Seagle Andrew Robinson Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Tyler Crook on The Lonesome Hunters Tyler Crook on The Lonesome Hunters: Chapter One Patreon Exclusive: Daniel Warren Johnson on The 'Nam #9 Patreon Exclusive: Jason Ayers on The Uncanny X-Men #183 Patreon Exclusive: Christian Ward on Arkham Asylum Patreon Exclusive: John Harris Dunning on Spider-Woman #50 Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 1/26 at 5:00 PM for Speed Racer, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

New Year's always has us looking inward, hoping for a fresh start. Creating resolutions, however, causes too much pressure, so we prefer to announce our intentions and free ourselves from potential regret if/when we don't achieve them. Helping us through the yearly reboot process in 2025 are Chip Zdarsky and David Brothers, whose new DSTLRYcomic Time Waits, done in collaboration with artists Marcus To and Marvin Sianipar, colorist Matt Wilson, letterer Ariana Maher, and editor Allison O'Toole, is the perfect excuse to contemplate our past, present, and future. The comic centers on Blue, who only wishes to tend his garden, love his wife Grace, and finally adopt Duke as his son. Unfortunately, Blue is a man out of time, and the future he came from is desperate to reclaim him and the items he stole. Time Waits delivers on John Wick levels of action and Primer levels of paradox paranoia without skipping heaps of human relationship drama. Chip Zdarsky and David Brothers are one half of the Mangasplaining podcast team, and we are delighted to discuss how their online comics discussions have shaped their comics-making process. Given the time of year that this episode arrives in, we found ourselves being even more introspective than usual, and Zdarsky and Brothers were more than happy to follow us into such philosophical quandaries. The first two issues of Time Waits are now available from DSTLRY, while the third and final issue will arrive in comic book shops on 1/22. Also, make sure you're following them online by subscribing to Mangasplaining. Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Mangasplaining co-hosts Deb Aoki and Christopher Woodrow-Butcher on CBCC Chip Zadarksy and Jason Loo discuss The All-Nighter on CBCC Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 1/26 at 5:00 PM for Speed Racer, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

We made it. Another trip around the sun. Congratulations, everyone. Let's celebrate with our final episode of the year, The Stampies: Best Comics of 2024 (Part Two). In our final episode of 2024, we name the Best Comic of 2024 as well as several other cherished awards: Best Ongoing Series, Best Limited Series, Best Relaunch, Writer of the Year, Artist of the Year, etc. Maybe most significantly, we award the second annual Jesse Tappia II Champ Stamp Award, named after our good friend who no longer walks the Earth with us but certainly remains in our hearts as we cherish and promote this astonishing medium called comics. As in Part One, we asked journalists, podcasters, retailers, and creators to help us through the ceremony by selecting their favorite comics of 2024. You can just hit play and be surprised by who pops up, or take a quick scroll below and spoil yourself. Either way, make sure you follow them on their socials and partake in their good work. Also, thank them for joining in on our end-of-the-year shindig. It was super cool of them. 2024 was jammed with good books. Naming all the good ones in two episodes proved impossible. Watch this space because we'll publish the big list: The 50 Best Comics of 2025 at the very end of the year. The Best Comics of 2024 Part Two Timestamps: Writer of the Year - 11:02 Artist of the Year - 19:56 Best All-Ages Comic - 27:50 Best Young Adult Comic - 34:43 Best Limited Series - 40:46 Best Relaunch - 49:36 Best Ongoing - 58:52 Best Original Graphic Novel - 1:10:06 Best Digital Comic - 1:17:54 The Jesse Tappia II Champ Stamp Award - 1:20:43 Bonus Awards/"Rapid Fire" Round - 1:34:39 The Best Comics of 2024 (Part Two) Guest-Stars: Kat Calamia (Bluesky) of Comic Uno. Steve Anderson of Third Eye Comics. Badr Milligan (BlueSky) of The Short Box Podcast. Jadzia Axelrod (BlueSky): Galaxy - The Prettiest Star, Hawkgirl - Once Upon a Galaxy. Chris Hacker (Bluesky) and Aaron Knowles (BlueSky) of The Oblivion Bar Podcast. Chris Condon (Bluesky): That Texas Blood, The Enfield Gang Massacre Jenna Anderson (Bluesky) of Phase Hero and Go Read Some Comics. Lance (BlueSky) and Jeremy (Bluesky) of Comic Book Keepers. David Harper (BlueSky) of SKTCHD and Off Panel. Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support The Trevor Project. Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 1/26 at 5:00 PM for Speed Racer, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Comics will mend your heart. That's the energy we're taking into the new year and the thought we carried as we assembled The Stampies, our end-of-the-year award show celebrating The Best Comics of 2024 - ahem - (Part One). Over the last six years, we've turned to comics to understand ourselves and the world around us better. They've guided us through tumultuous times, and we know we'll need them even more in the coming months and years. Our award show is very much OUR award show. We have peculiar tastes, and our favorite comics reflect that. Some categories stuck around from last year's ceremony, but with this episode in particular, you'll find several new ones, also. Next week's Part Two will be stacked with the more traditional Best Original Graphic Novel, Best Limited Series, Best Ongoing, etc. For The Best Comics of 2024 (Part One), we get a little more cutesy with Best New Superhero and Best Murder Mystery, plus categories like Best First Issue and Best Single Issue. As has become tradition, we've asked our friends in journalism and podcasting to name their favorite books of the year. New to our 2024 celebrations, however, we've also asked a few retailers and comic book creators to contribute their favorite books. If you want to be spoiled about who will be guest-starring in today's podcast, scroll below. Please thank them by following their work and social media handles (and letting them know how much you enjoyed their contributions to the podcast). 2024 was another banger of a year regarding comics. Highlighting our favorites was more challenging than ever. The Stampies contain sixteen categories, with a few extra surprise categories tossed in during next week's show. That's simply not enough space to name all "the best" books from the year. So, keep your eyes trained on the Comic Book Couples Counseling website. At the very end of the year, we'll unleash our massive 50 Best Comics of 2024 list. The Best Comics of 2023 (Part One) Category Timestamps: Best Comic Book Couple - 12:14 Best Murder Mystery - 18:18 Best New Superhero - 25:54 Best Adaptation - 32:29 Best Collaboration - 40:07 Best Short Story - 47:33 Best First Issue - 56:43 Best Single Issue - 1:05:05 The Best Comics of 2023 (Part One) Guest-Stars: Erik C. Jones (Bluesky): Manager at Four Color Fantasies. Tiffany Babb (Bluesky): Poet, Essayist, and Culture Critic. Dan Gvozden (Bluesky): Co-Host of The Amazing Spider-Talk Podcast Zack Quaintance (Bluesky): Comic Book Writer, Part-time Editor at The Beat Christian Ward (Bluesky): Batman: City of Madness, Spectregraph, Two-Face, etc. Chris Piers (Bluesky): Host of ComicTropes. David Brooke (Bluesky): Owner, Writer, Host at AIPT. Troy-Jeffrey Allen (Instagram): Writer, Producer, Host, RexCo Comics Studio. Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 1/26 at 5:00 PM for Speed Racer, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

It's easy to claim your comic as "Evil Dead for Blerds," but accomplishing the cheeky elevator pitch is far more complex. Writer J. Holtham and artist Michael Lee Harris grab their inspiration from the iconic Sam Raimi splatstick horror franchise but do so in service of an entirely different purpose. Motherfu*kin Monsters rages with a political fire, throwing their protagonist into a university setting shrouded with white faces. Their JJ eagerly wants to find his place within this system, while his family stands skeptical, waiting for it to reveal a devilish intent. Of course, JJ's kin thought metaphorically, not the literal ghouls that quickly hunger for their flesh. Our conversation with J. Holtham and Michael Lee Harris begins with their love of Evil Dead, or Evil Dead II, more specifically. We start by exploring what the film does so well, for what reason, and why they were compelled to plant their mission atop it. Motherfu*kin Monsters is one helluva ride, filled with chills and thrills, but from page one, the comic also makes its anger known. J. Holtham and Michael Lee Harris, like all The Horizon Experiment stories, speak to the moment. Our hope is everyone reading is listening to what's on the page. In addition, our discussion addresses the economic realities of comics-making and comics-shopping in 2024. The Horizon Experiment's pilot system still raises eyebrows in comic shops, but by embracing experimentation, the series removes one of the veils between creator and consumer. Honesty is the best policy, and we need to buy the comics we want to see in the world. It's cold, hard math...er, capitalism. So, remember, Motherfu*kin Monsters arrives in stores on December 18th, courtesy of Image Comics. Continue the conversation with J. Holtham by following him on Instagram. Also, follow Michael Lee Harris on Instagram. Other Relevant Links: CBCC/The Horizon Experiment: Pornsak Pichetshote and Terry Dodson on The Manchurian CBCC/The Horizon Experiment: Vita Ayala and Sklar Patridge on Finders Keepers The CBCC TeePublic Page The CBCC Comic Book Holiday Gift Guide Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 12/15 at 4:00 PM for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

It belongs in a museum? On this week's podcast, we chat with friends and collaborators Vita Ayala and Skylar Patridgeabout their new comic, Finders Keepers, and why they were compelled to tell a "reverse Indiana Jones." Like the other comics in The Horizon Experiment, Finders Keepers flips a classic genre trope on its head and knocks the dust and cobwebs from a well-trodden idea. The hook is powerfully compelling, but as you read through the one-shot, the reader also begins to understand there is much more to the concept below that initial subversive thrill. Robbing from colonizers and returning artifacts to their culture and context, but doing so with all the trappings of a great Indiana Jones story requires a deft hand with multiple genres. Given The Horizon Experiment's pilot program, Vita Ayala and Skylar Patridge must also establish the concept and offer a grand promise of the story's possible future in just a few short pages. However, this challenge is not really different from any other comic book gig. The Horizon Experiment is merely more honest about these commercial practicalities. This week, we dig into all the demands of an Indiana Jones riff. We discuss with Vita Ayala and Skylar Patridge their collaborative process, the thrill of museum heists, and the difficulties of loving classic Hollywood adventure. FOC for Finders Keepers is TODAY (12/9), but the issue will arrive in comic book shops on January 15th. Continue this conversation by following Vita Ayala on Bluesky and their website. And follow Skylar Patridge on Bluesky, Instagram, and their website. Other Relevant Links: CBCC/The Horizon Experiment: Pornsak Pichetshote and Terry Dodson on The Manchurian The CBCC TeePublic Page The CBCC Comic Book Holiday Gift Guide Brad on the 2000AD Thrill-Cast Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

After working through most of the Teen Titans, author Kami Garcia and artist Gabriel Picolo have finally reached the Tamaranean superhero, Starfire. Their latest collaboration finds Kori struggling to find her place amongst her peers while her sister Kira thrives in the environment. Kori strives for the stars above, but feels trapped in her Summer job and her body, especially after her Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) diagnosis. On this week's podcast, we chat with bestselling author Kami Garcia about Teen Titans: Starfire, how she found herself in the character, and why that allowed her to embrace her past and present self. Famously, Garcia began her writing career as a dare from her students, picking up the pen and proving to them (and herself) that she could tell a darn good story. We discuss the details of that dare, how her teaching life factors into her writing life, and why young adult fiction often becomes necessary all-ages fiction. Teen Titans: Starfire is now available wherever good comics are sold. You should follow Kami Garcia on Instagram, Bluesky, and her website. However, before we dive into our Teen Titans conversations, we discuss the impending holiday season and the gift-giving stress that comes with it. We believe wholeheartedly that there is a comic for everyone in your life, and the trick is figuring out what that comic is. In an effort to help you and us, we've assembled our annual Comic Book Holiday Gift Guide. We discuss our philosophy around comic book gift-giving and a few of our favorite items from the list. Other Relevant Links: The CBCC TeePublic Page The CBCC Comic Book Holiday Gift Guide Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

We don't know how to feel about violence as sports entertainment, but we cannot deny how much we love stories that center their emotional conflicts inside a ring. With their new series, Black Canary: Best of the Best, Tom King and Ryan Sook join the long tradition of tearing into internal torment by subjecting protagonists to regulated gladiatorial combat. Dinah Lance versus Lady Shiva, let's get ready to rumble. The first issue of the new series arrives in stores Wednesday (11/27). We won't spoil it here, but those pages will reveal some of the motivations for why Dinah, the second-best fighter in the DC universe, would subject herself to the fists of the single-best fighter. It has something to do with the first woman to don the Black Canary mantle - her mother. Yup, this is a Tom King comic, so you know Black Canary: Best of the Best must feature a twisty, prickly core relationship. This week's episode explores why the ring is such a compelling story engine. We discuss how Tom King was initially enticed to place Black Canary alongside other brutal fictional bouts like Rocky, Raging Bull, The Set-Up, The Big Blow, and yeah, Best of the Best. Ryan Sook takes us through his process of understanding the physicality of boxing, wrestling, and MMA while contemplating their bloody nature. And why has it taken King so long to tackle the mother/daughter dynamic? To continue this conversation, follow Tom King on Bluesky, Threads, and Instagram. Follow Ryan Sook on Instagram. Other Relevant Links: The CBCC TeePublic Page Tom King on CBCC: All In Special and Wonder Woman Tom King on CBCC: Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow - Full Spoilers Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Art finds us when we need it most. Spectrum, the new Mad Cave Studios series from creators Dave Chisholm and Rick Quinn, is an astonishing sci-fi saga that begins inside the Seattle WTO protests of 1999 and propels its characters into a realm where music grants flight. The central character, Melody, can't quite discern what's real and what's not - a sensation you may very well be familiar with at this moment - seeing impossible beings floating amongst the crowds. Powers from within and without compel her on a journey that operates as the best geeky musical Where's Waldo for the reader who is willing. Y'all ready for the MTV version of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen? Y'all remember MTV? We're already so obsessed with Spectrum that we've committed to a series of six podcast episodes, one for each new issue. Thankfully, Dave Chisholm and Rick Quinn are also up for this pop culture plunge. They join us for an excavation of sound and a discussion on the song's importance in our daily lives and how they miraculously transplanted one artistic expression into another. Spectrum is waiting for your eyes. You merely need to put them upon it and join this book's inevitable cult following. Make sure to alert your comic shop of its existence. Slap it in your pullbox. Be part of this book's success, as it's unlike anything else on the stands. Here's your chance to be the snooty person in the shop, claiming your crown as one of Spectrum's first converted followers. The first issue arrives on 11/20, and the second drops on 1/8/2025. Make sure you're following Dave Chisholm on his Website, TikTok, Instagram, and Bluesky. And follow Rick Quin on his Wesbiste and Instagram. Other Relevant Links: The Trevor Project or call 1-866-488-7386 for gender-affirming and queer-friendly support. Dave Chisholm on CBCC - Talking Miles Davis and the Search for the Sound The CBCC TeePublic Page Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

What a difference a week can make, huh? When we recorded our conversation with Kelly Sue DeConnick, we were still weeks away from the American election, but now, here we are, living in its aftermath. We couldn't have been the only ones with three little letters rattling around our brains these last batch of days. FML. You're damn right. Kelly Sue DeConnick's new comic, done in collaboration with artist David López, colorist Cris Peter, and letterer Clayton Cowles, is very much about managing your life and your family's lives while the world around you burns. What was once relatable has suddenly transformed into our bloody lifeline. Call it a coincidence. Call it fate. Whatever, we needed this comic at this moment. FML #1 hit shelves last week, courtesy of Dark Horse Comics. At its center is teenager Riley, a heavy metal monster movie maniac eager for his journey to begin as the pandemic and rampaging forest fires threaten to snuff it out. His mom, Patty, used to be cool, but now she's just a mom - going through her own existential crisis. The everyday world is hard enough for them, but then a ritual during a party goes sideways, and suddenly, witchcraft and monsters are no longer so fanciful. Kelly Sue DeConnick is an artist we've admired for years. We never miss a comic with her name on it, and we get an extra buzz of excitement when it's a creator-owned expression. FML is a deeply personal narrative mirroring DeConnick's experience, but it's not a replica. We dive into the challenges of springboarding fiction from reality, discussing how her family responds to her fiction and how FML became a necessary endeavor. Be sure to follow her Instagram. In our introduction, we also discuss how art can shape action and how action absorbs anxiety. All we have is each other. We must watch our backs and stand when it feels so easy to lie down. Democracy is a fragile notion, but there are organizations that are built to fight alongside us. Please consider these charities: The Trevor Project RAINN American Library Association NAACP The Hero Initiative If you or someone you know is in crisis, reach out: The Trans Lifeline is available 24/7. Run by Trans People for Trans People - Call 1-877-565-8860 The LGBT National Help Center Youth Talkline (Ages 13 - 25) is 1-800-246-4564 The National Hotline (All Ages) is 1-888-843-4564 Senior Hotline (Ages 50+) is 1-888-234-7243 The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - dial 988 or visit www.988lifeline.org to chat with someone online. You can also call The Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 for gender-affirming and queer-friendly support. Other Relevant Links: Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Two weeks later, we're still recovering from New York Comic Con 2024. This may have been our third year attending, but we've never experienced a comic convention quite like this one, and it may take a few more months before we've actually processed everything that happened. A major factor differentiating this event from any that came before was our new gig hosting the Harvey Awards. So, we spend the first half of today's episode taking you behind the scenes of this event, detailing what you can't see when you watch the ceremony online (via Popverse). We're talking wardrobe malfunctions, deodorant hockey play, iPad snafus, and the delightful success of celebrating the best the comics medium has to offer while doing so during Harvey Kurtzman's centennial. Within the episode's back half, we're diving deep into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees. We chat with artist Cliff Chiang about his time on the recent third issue. We explore Leonardo's existential crisis in India, Spaghetti Western action, and whether or not we can expect Cliff Chiang back on the book. Jason Aaron also returns to the podcast, but this time, he's brought the recently announced artist for the arc following "Return to New York" with him, Juan Ferreyra. As we gaze over Ferreyra's pages for issue six, we detail the perfect TMNT New York City, the heartbreak coming the Brothers's way, and the gauntlet they'll run upon their return to the Big Apple. Patrick Horvath is also back to close out the show. Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees is one of the comics' recent great successes, and few have hit the comic convention circuit as hard as Horvath. We chat about his time on the road, what he can teach us about con life, and what we can expect from the upcoming Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Seessequel, Rite of Spring. Make sure you're following all these folks on their respective social media platforms. Find Cliff Chiang on Twitter, Instagram, and on the website. Find Jason Aaron on Twitter, Instagram, and his website. Find Juan Ferreyra on Twitter and Instagram. Find Patrick Horvath on Twitter, Instagram, and his Website. Other Relevant Links: Pots and Panels: A Comic Cook Book Anthology Kickstarter Page Watch The Harvey Awards Bruce Guthrie's Harvey Awards Photography Jason Aaron goes full-spoilers on TMNT #1 Patrick Horvath goes full-spoilers on Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees CBCC on TMNT's 40th Anniversary Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

It doesn't take long to recognize pop culture's influence on the work of Michael Allred. Whether we're talking Madman, X-Statix, or Silver Surfer, his comics radiate his passion for music, art, and life. Some references are easy to spot, a few a little trickier, and others impossible unless you know the man personally. For us, his comics mostly equal comfort, a place to rush into and join for an hour or a bit longer. We adore many of Michael Allred's influences. So, our primary mission on this week's podcast was to dig thoroughly into one particular shared obsession, the nineteen-sixties boy band sensation, The Monkees. If you know Lisa, you're not at all surprised. If this is your first time listening to Comic Book Couples Counseling, you may need a touch more context. We'll get into it. Clover Press is currently crowdfunding The Marvel Art of Michael Allred on Kickstarter (Click Here To Check It Out). It's an enormous hardcover book showcasing Allred's greatest achievements within the House of Ideas, including our beloved Silver Surfer, but it's also peppered with pieces you may have missed over the years. As an avid art book collector, Michael Allred knows what fanatics like himself crave in such tomes, and he was determined to deliver the goods to the like-minded. Today's episode is a conversation we never imagined having when we launched the podcast, but considering how our show began with Norrin Radd and Dawn Greenwood, this surprise actually feels like the logical next chapter in our weird relationship experiment. It's even more special when, halfway through our conversation with Michael Allred, we're joined by his loving wife and collaborator, Laura Allred. We discuss how The Monkees simmer within every Michael Allred panel, the long-lasting effects of his collaboration with Dan Slott on Silver Surfer, how Michael and Laura learned to work together, and what an art book can mean when constructed with passion and thoughtful consideration. As of this writing, The Marvel Art of Michael Allred has seventeen days left in its Kickstarter campaign. Act quickly. Also, be sure to follow Michael Allred on Twitter, Instagram, and his website. Other Relevant Links: Pots and Panels: A Comic Cook Book Anthology Kickstarter Page The Comics Courier Kickstarter Page Dan Slott on CBCC: The Ultimate Silver Surfer Interview Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Dracula permeates everything. Before we're five years old, we know his story. It's baked into the cultural imagination. However, if you were to hold that story up to the light, you'd immediately notice a lot of holes. In Bram Stoker's iconic work, Dracula appears less frequently than you would think, and his backstory is referenced in short bursts and shrouded in mystery. His tale is perfect fodder for artists Kelley Jones and Matt Wagner to sink their teeth into. Last year, they published Dracula - Book One: The Impaler through Orlok Press via Kickstarter. The hardcover has spent months in the hands of readers (ours included), and its trade paperback release from Dark Horse Comics is set for October 22nd. With the first chapter complete, exploring Dracula's pre-vampire days, set primarily during his time at the Scholomance, aka his unpaid internship with the devil, Jones and Wagner are ready to unleash volume two, Dracula: The Brides. Their latest entry covers centuries, focusing on how Dracula came into contact with the iconic trio, who get pages in Stoker's book but have seared their way into every adaptation. Who are they? What do they mean to Dracula? What happened to the fourth Bride? Dracula: The Brides will take Kelley Jones and Matt Wagner right up until the moment Bram Stoker's novel begins. This means their next chapter dissects the classic and exposes what the Impaler was up to when the other characters were not paying attention. We happily dig into Dracula with Kelley Jones and Matt Wagner on the podcast. We discuss the title character's relationship with romance, women, and blood. We uncover Jones and Wagner's compulsion to tell this story and why comics were always the best fit for it. Dracula: The Brides has fifteen days left on its Kickstarter campaign. Please visit the crowdfunding project by clicking HERE. You can continue the conversation with Kelley Jones by visiting his Twitter and Instagram. You can follow Matt Wagner on Twitter and Instagram. Other Relevant Links: Pots and Panels: A Comic Cook Book Anthology Kickstarter Page The Comics Courier Kickstarter Page Brad and Lisa on Off Panel Brad and Lisa on Comic Book Yeti's Cryptid Creator Corner Brad and Lisa Interview on ComicsXF Brad and Lisa on BIf Bam Pow Brad and Lisa on Derby Comics Brad and Lisa on Joe Talks Comics Pots and Panels Press Release on AiPT Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Hey, you. Stop doom scrolling. You've landed where you belong. Ben Clarkson and Matt Bors return to Comic Book Couples Counseling with another Justice Warriors book, Vote Harder. And they're back just when we need them most, weeks away from a critical, very American election. As in the best romantic comedies, Swamp Cop and Officer Schitt are torn apart early on in Justice Warriors: Vote Harder. Bubble City embarks on its first-ever election, and it's doing something strange to its populace. They're trapped with a ballot George Orwell wouldn't wish on his most hated dystopia, and the city's most horrendous Bad Boys are the only ones who can save the day. Best of luck, citizens. Justice Warriors: Vote Harder is another vicious satire skewering contemporary society while highlighting the damned, nothing-new, never-ending cycle of corruption. Do you think your hell is the most hell that's ever hell'ed? Nah. It's the same old hell. It's only new to you. Eagerly, we lean into Ben Clarkson and Matt Bors, trying to discern any wisdom they've gained by plunging themselves into the world of Justice Warriors: Vote Harder. We continue to explore satire's purpose, why two dumb protagonists are the heroes we deserve, and how The Matrix Reloaded deserves a second viewing, if not a third, fourth, and fifth. Justice Warriors: Vote Harder is now available in trade paperback from Ahoy Comics. Follow Matt Bors on Twitter, Instagram, and his Website. Follow Ben Clarkson on Twitter, Instagram, and his Website. Other Relevant Links: Pots and Panels: A Comic Cook Book Anthology Kickstarter Page The Comics Courier Kickstarter Page Ben Clarkson and Matt Bors on Justice Warriors Vol. 1 Brad and Lisa on Off Panel Brad and Lisa on Comic Book Yeti's Cryptid Creator Corner Brad and Lisa Interview on ComicsXF Brad and Lisa on BIf Bam Pow Brad and Lisa on Derby Comics Brad and Lisa on Joe Talks Comics Pots and Panels Press Release on AiPT Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

In this article, the top ten reasons why reading comics criticism will increase your sex drive. Yeah, that's right, we need your clicks! We live in an apocalypse where thoughtful online comics criticism decreases in value every minute. However, you know comics criticism is essential to the industry's ecosystem and community because you're an intelligent person. All we need is a champion to keep this art form alive, and it is an art form, and she has arrived - Tiffany Babb. She's shaking The Comics Courier from every street corner in every neighborhood. The new tabloid-sized newspaper is currently seeking funding via Kickstarter. Within it are essays and reviews from critics Douglas Wolk, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, Tiffany Babb, Dave Baker, Carrie McClain, Sean Dillon, Kat Calamia, Liam McGuire, Jim McDermott, Lillie Hochwender, Lisa Gullickson and Brad Gullickson. Oh, yeah, we're in this beauty too, and we're honored to participate in Tiffany Babb's first Comics Courier because we believe so firmly in its existence. Even more exciting, Babb joins us on today's episode to discuss The Comics Courier, what compelled her to bring it into our reality, the value of comics criticism, and the future she imagines for it. The Kickstarter has already more than doubled its funding, but that doesn't mean you should miss your chance to be a part of this historic moment. Find The Comics Courier Kickstarter here. Continue the conversation with Tiffany Babb by following her on Twitter, Instagram, and her Website. Other Relevant Links: Pots and Panels: A Comic Book Anthology Kickstarter Page Brad and Lisa on Off Panel Brad and Lisa on Comic Book Yeti's Cryptid Creator Corner Brad and Lisa Interview on ComicsXF Brad and Lisa on BIf Bam Pow Brad and Lisa on Derby Comics Brad and Lisa on Joe Talks Comics Pots and Panels Press Release on AiPT Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

It's been a trip to get to this moment. Since we saw Nick Dragotta's design for Absolute Batman, an intense anticipation took hold of us. However, if you think it's been a long journey from our Batman AF introduction at San Diego Comic-Con, it's been an even longer and more thoughtful one for Dragotta and his collaborator Scott Snyder. They've noodled over this new DC pocket universe for over a year, and now that we're all holding the first issue in our hands, we can take comfort in knowing these two have thoroughly considered, plotted, and designed the character and his world. Before you press play on today's episode, you must read Absolute Batman #1. Our conversation with Nick Dragotta is full-spoilers. Yes, we discuss the changes made to Batman's origin and the issue's final page with its revelatory inversion. We dig into how the Absolute updates better reflect contemporary society while still showcasing what makes Batman Batman. Once again, we're asking, if you tested this Batman's DNA, would it match the main continuity Batman? If the form is the same, and the function is different, how do Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta maintain what's essential about the character? When does a Batman cease being a Batman? Before all of that, we also explore Nick Dragotta's ideal Batman. Where and how did he first meet the character? Who does Batman better than anyone else? Was David Mazzucchelli's Batman: Year One Artist Edition an emergency purchase? Continue this conversation with Nick Dragotta by following him on Instagram. The first issue of Absolute Batman is now available from DC Comics. The second issue will arrive in comic book shops on November 13th. Other Relevant Links: Pots and Panels: A Comic Book Anthology Kickstarter Page The Comics Courrier Kickstarter Page Scott Snyder on CBCC: Absolute Batman Brad and Lisa on Off Panel Brad and Lisa on Comic Book Yeti's Cryptid Creator Corner Brad and Lisa Interview on ComicsXF Brad and Lisa on BIf Bam Pow Brad and Lisa on Derby Comics Pots and Panels Press Release on AiPT Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

This week's episode is a full-circle moment. We began our podcast five years ago, discussing the romantic entanglements between Scott Summers and Jean Grey as depicted in The Dark Phoenix Saga. Now, we're honored, and in a bit of disbelief, to welcome writer Chris Claremont onto the show. His contributions to the medium have been some of the most significant to our collective imagination, and they directly inspired the personal journey the two of us have been on these last handful of years. Today's conversation directly results from our new partnership with The Harvey Awards, one of the comic industry's oldest and most prestigious ceremonies. As we announced a few days ago via various social media channels, we will host The Harveys this year at the New York Comic Con on October 18th. As individuals who see themselves as champions of comics and those who make them, we're thrilled to accept the responsibility and honor this institution's great work of recognizing outstanding achievement in our most beloved art form. After we got the assignment, The Harveys asked if we wanted to speak with last year's Hall of Fame inductee, Chris Claremont. Never have we answered "Yes!" so quickly. Claremont's time is precious. We caught him in the middle of some serious travel plans and even more serious comic deadlines, but he was gracious enough to find a few minutes to squeeze us into his schedule: seventeen minutes and forty-three seconds, to be precise. With time limited, we set forth on a mission to discuss his thought bubble philosophy. The conversation, however, steers almost immediately into a creator's unique relationship with their creation. We discuss Chris Claremont's evolution as a writer, how he sees the reality of the job, and what he ultimately wants to accomplish with his words. You can stay updated with all things Chris Claremont by following him on Instagram and through his website. Other Relevant Links: Pots and Panels: A Comic Book Anthology Kickstarter Page The Pots and Panels Website The Comics Courrier Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page The Harvey Awards 2024 Nominations X-Men's Chris Claremont Knows How Hard It Is To Say Goodbye Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

If you think comic books and their audience resist continuity changes, you must consider the death grip comic strips have on their characters. Charlie Brown was never allowed to kick the football and was also denied a wardrobe. His life sentence was that yellow shirt. Mutts cartoonist Patrick McDonnell accepts the pressures of his medium and believes there is nirvana in its structure. However, in the case of certain characters, he knew he had to free them of their decades-long consistency. Guard Dog needed off his tether, and Doozy needed Guard Dog in her home. As Mutts reached toward its 30th anniversary, Patrick McDonnell plotted Guard Dog's freedom. Over seven weeks, the story played out in the papers and it's now collected by Abrams ComicArts in the new hardcover Breaking the Chain: The Guard Dog Story. McDonnell saw how denying Charlie Brown satisfaction caused pain for his friend Charles M. Schulz, and he did not want that for himself. With Guard Dog released, he can tell new stories and create new missions for his characters and readers. This week on the podcast, Patrick McDonnell joins us for a Mutts celebration. We discuss why it took him so long to unite Guard Dog and Doozy. He explains the power of long-form storytelling in comic strips and the spirituality the practice of daily creating awoke in him. We found the conversation vital and are eager to share it with you. Follow Mutts on Twitter and Instagram, and sign up for the Daily Mutts strip HERE. Other Relevant Links: Pots and Panels: A Comic Book Anthology Kickstarter Page The Pots and Panels Website The Comics Courrier Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Racing on the heels of Batman Day, we celebrate eighty-five years of the Caped Crusader by finally digging into one of our recent favorite Dark Knight stories, Batman: City of Madness by Christian Ward. Technically, this is our third conversation with Ward about this particular story, but it's the first one where we can dig into it page-by-page, going full spoilers and properly exploring its characters and themes. The hardcover is now available from DC Comics, so please grab your copy, snuggle up with it, and venture into the Gotham Below with us. Batman: City of Madness spent years percolating inside Christian Ward's imagination. It extends from his infatuation with an iconic work, Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on a Serious Earth. It operates like a spiritual sequel but comes jammed with personal touches that only Ward could contribute. Our worst selves will argue for their survival. That's just one revelation we land upon while chatting with Christian Ward in this episode. We discuss the initial Gotham Below concept by starting at its end, the purpose of mirroring Batman and his rogues, and how it ideologically prepares readers for his newly announced Two-Face series, which will drop on December 4th. Continue this conversation with Christian Ward by visiting his Website and following him on Twitter and Instagram. Other Relevant Links: Our First Chat with Christian Ward About Batman: City of Madness Patreon Exclusive: Christian Ward on Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on A Serious Earth The Comics Courrier Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page Pots and Panels: A Comic Book Anthology Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page The Pots and Panels Website Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

The instant the internet glimpsed Nick Dragotta's bold, BIG design for Absolute Batman, it lost its mind. Since the initial San Diego Comic-Con reveal, emotions have intensified around it, and the fan art has flowed like a dam burst. The first issue is still weeks away, but Final Order Cutoff is here (TODAY!), and Scott Snyder joins the podcast to discuss why they had to go thicc with the Bat. Absolute Batman is a radical reimagining based on the way our world is now. Bruce Wayne has no fortune in this new alternate timeline, which spins out of Absolute Power and The All In Special. This Batman's origin is familiar but has shifted just enough, so Snyder and Dragotta can speak to contemporary fears. How we observe the gun in 2024 differs significantly from how we observed it in 1939 when Batman first appeared. The same goes for billionaires and how they spend their money. What if Batman is what Joker always claims to be? The agent of chaos, born from horror to disrupt a corrupt order. The DNA is the same as the Bruce Wayne stalking the shadows in the main continuity, but the circumstances diverge drastically. Absolute Batman strips the Dark Knight of his financial crutch and, in doing so, highlights his essential truth. We begin our conversation with Scott Snyder by discussing how the Absolute Batman launch is similar to and different from The New 52 reboot. We question whether Batman is Batman without his money and why Bruce Wayne's relationship with his rogues also had to diverge from the usual continuity. Does Dick Grayson get mentioned? How about Batgirl? Joe Chill? Yes, yes, and yes. The first issue of Absolute Batman, published by DC, written by Scott Snyder, illustrated by Nick Dragotta, colored by Frank Martin, and lettered by Clayton Cowles, hits comic book shops on October 9th. Follow Scott Snyder on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to his Substack. Other Relevant Links: Previously on CBCC: Scott Snyder on We Have Demons Previously on CBCC: Scott Snyder on Canary Previously on CBCC: Williamson, King, and Sampere on DC's All In Pots and Panels: A Comic Book Anthology Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page The Pots and Panels Website Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 9/21 at 4:00 PM for Batman Forever, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Sneak into any comic book geek's home, and you'll probably find copies of Marvels and Kingdom Come. What about Uncle Sam, though? The series hit shops in 1997 from DC's Vertigo label, and it sparked provocative thought from those who read it, but for whatever reason, it did not resonate as soundly within the direct market crowd as Alex Ross' more recognizably superheroic collaborations. It's time to reconsider Uncle Sam, just in time. We're months away from a critical American election as of this writing. The stakes are high. Our fears are even more so. Democracy is under threat and as fragile as it always has been. There is the America we tell people about and the America we actually live inside. There is the dream, and there are the dreamers. Uncle Sam, written by Steve Darnall and illustrated by Alex Ross, challenges its readers to accept our America and its violent history while encouraging us to shape it into what we want it to be. Yes, it's depressing to encounter a tale published in 1997 that's relevant to 2024 readers. The depression is the point. Democracy is a neverending battle; the only cure for exhaustion and apathy is action. Uncle Sam is what filmmaker Boots Riley would call a "rallying cry." Let's circle it, make community, and do something. Hope is not passive; it's active. We're beyond delighted to have Alex Ross back on the podcast this week. This time, he's joined by his writing partner, Steve Darnall, and we dig deep into Uncle Sam. What was their compulsion to explore this icon, why are they fighting to bring their book back into bookstores, and how would they write Uncle Sam today? In our introduction, we also celebrate the life of artist John Cassaday, who left us far too soon at 52. Cassaday profoundly impacted our early comic reading relationship, bringing us together and launching our Graphic Novel Book Club, which we consider Comic Book Couples Counseling Version 1.0. The artist represents the best of what this medium can do, and his legacy lives on in us, his readers, and those who create in his wake. Our heart breaks for his friends and his family, and we offer them our love and gratitude for sharing John with us while they could. Uncle Sam is now available from Abrams Comic Arts and DC's Black Label. You can find Alex Ross on his Website, Twitter, and Instagram. Other Relevant Links: Alex Ross on Fantastic Four: Full Circle Pots & Panels: A Comic Book Anthology Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 9/21 at 4:00 PM for Batman Forever, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

When cartoonists like Daniel Warren Johnson and Riley Rossmo come together, the rest of us better take notice. The Moon Is Following Us drops its first issue on September 18th, and it's a jam comic with a fierce narrative engine and an even more assertive take-notice paint job. Set within the waking and sleeping worlds, Johnson handles the former while Rossmo takes the latter. The relationship between the two creates an electric reading experience not found anywhere else on the stands. From a script by Johnson, The Moon Is Following Us sees young Penny fall into a sleeping sickness. She won't wake. Her parents, Duncan and Sam, plunge into her dreams and wage war against the Cascade, an evil, unknowable force. However, what these beasts are really doesn't matter. All Duncan and Sam need to know is that they stand in the way between them and their child. In this week's podcast, we chat with Daniel Warren Johnson and Riley Rossmo about their new collaboration, why it's been in the works for a very long time, and what creatures they're fighting on the page every day. We uncover secret connections to a beloved children's series, discuss humanity's relationship with dreams, and the most anxiety-inducing comics that neither Johnson nor Rossmo have been able to shake. The Moon Is Following Us #1 arrives from Image Comics on 9/18. Be sure you're following Daniel Warren Johnson on Twitter, Instagram, and his Website. Follow Riley Rossmo on Twitter, Instagram, and his Website. Other Relevant Links: CBCC on Martian Manhunter by Riley Rossmo and Steve Orlando Daniel Warren Johnson on Beta Ray Bill Daniel Warren Johnson on Do a Powerbomb! Daniel Warren Johnson on Transformers The Moon Is Following Us Mini Doc Episode 1 The Moon Is Following Us Mini Doc Episode 2 The Moon Is Following Us Signing at Third Eye Comics Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 9/21 at 4:00 PM for Batman Forever, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

We did it. We've completed our San Diego Comic-Con coverage. Twelve podcasts in August. Too much? Maybe, but no regrets, and there is no better way to wrap up our Comic-Con celebrations than with Star Trek group editor Heather Antos and superstar writer Ryan North discussing Star Trek: Lower Decks and its new mission at IDW Publishing. Since its streaming premiere, we've championed Star Trek: Lower Decks as the most human Trek. While it's wickedly funny, frequently teasing the ultra seriousness in which we hold the franchise, Lower Decks laughs with the characters and concepts, never at them. The show and its showrunner, Mike McMahan, have tremendous reverence for the Star Trekthat's come before, and his love for it shines through every frame. The upcoming fifth and final season, which begins on October 24th, has us feeling a little weepy. However, there's no reason to fret. IDW is relaunching the Star Trek: Lower Decks comic book series with a new number one on November 13th, and on October 22nd, there will also be a brand new graphic novel called Warp Your Own Way. Both are written by Ryan North (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Fantastic Four), and IDW Star Trek group editor Heather Antos oversees it all. At San Diego Comic-Con, we sat down with North and Antos to discuss our mutual admiration for Star Trek: Lower Decks. We talk about its placement within the franchise, what they can do in the comics that McMahan and company cannot accomplish on television, and where this series may take the crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos. Also, how does contributing to Star Trek affect their perspective as creators and, well, just as humans? Continue this conversation by following Heather Antos on Twitter, Instagram, and her Website, as well as Ryan North on Twitter, Instagram, and his website. Other Relevant Links: CBCC at SDCC 2024: Hall H with Bryan Young (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC at SDCC 2024: Gail Simone CBCC at SDCC 2024: Jason Aaron on TMNT #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Wes Craig on Kaya CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman on The Pedestrian CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joshua Williamson, Tom King, and Daniel Sampere Go All In CBCC at SDCC 2024: Juni Ba on TMNT: Nightwatcher #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Ram V on The New Gods CBCC at SDCC 2024: Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki CBCC at SDCC 2024: James Tynion IV CBCC at SDCC 2024: JP Ahonen on Belzebubs CBCC at SDCC 2024: Pornsak Pichetshote and Terry Dodson Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 9/21 at 4:00 PM for Batman Forever, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Hey, don't tell us. We'll tell you. The suits who bankroll the industry think they know what we want to read. They have no idea. Marginalizing voices is an active pursuit where financial concerns are frequently used as an excuse. The Horizon Experiment has faith in us, placing its future in our wallets, betting we'll support originality in genres gatekept by the fearful. Their first one-shot, The Manchurian, carries an irresistible premise steered expertly by Pornsak Pichetshoteand Terry Dodson. Published by Image Comics, The Manchurian lands in comic book stores on September 25th (its FOC is September 2nd). The elevator pitch champions a Chinese James Bond. Look at the header image above. Terry and Rachel Dodson are going full-Daniel Craig in Casino Royale or Ursula Andress in Dr. No. We've read the first issue and can confirm fashion, sex, violence, and unconquerable charisma. However, beyond the Bond basics, The Manchurian follows a perspective never explored by 007: corporate espionage as handled by Chinese Communist agents. Just as all of us were recovering from San Diego Comic-Con, we spoke with Pornsak Pichetshote and Terry Dodson about The Horizon Experiment, their twist on the spy sub-genre, and the four other radical one-shots riding on their heels. We discuss the pilot program The Horizon Experiment employs and how it's not really different from how comics always operate. We chat about capturing the Bond vibe without being chained to it and how competition amongst peers is as much a trap as anything else. Make sure you continue this conversation by following Pornsak Pichetshote on Twitter and Instagram. Also, follow Terry Dodson on Twitter, Instagram, and his Website. Other Relevant Links: Pornsak Pichetshote and Jesse Lonergan on Man's Best CBCC at SDCC 2024: Hall H with Bryan Young (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC at SDCC 2024: Gail Simone CBCC at SDCC 2024: Jason Aaron on TMNT #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Wes Craig on Kaya CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman on The Pedestrian CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joshua Williamson, Tom King, and Daniel Sampere Go All In CBCC at SDCC 2024: Juni Ba on TMNT: Nightwatcher #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Ram V on The New Gods CBCC at SDCC 2024: Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki CBCC at SDCC 2024: James Tynion IV CBCC on Pat Chat - SDCC Hangover CBCC on Bif! Bam! Pow! Brad on Missing Frames, Talking Godzilla Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 9/21 at 4:00 PM for Batman Forever, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Once upon a time, cartoonist JP Ahonen fell out of love with his art. He'd reached a wall. It was burnout. He'd lost the joy found in creation. Then, he just started to doodle, and an Inktober project became a runaway success. Belzebubs, the saga of a black metal family, significantly inspired by Calvin and Hobbes, sprung from his brain, and there is no stuffing it back in. These odd little outsiders reignited something inside Ahonen, but more importantly, Belzebubs ignited something in its readers. The audience appeared quickly and grew even faster. The webcomic has crossed over into other mediums and will soon be an animated series. Top Shelf Productions published two beautifully bound hardcovers, and we've latched onto them, proclaiming ourselves as rabid groupies. Every San Diego Comic-Con introduces us to some new passion; this year, it's Belzebubs. After devouring the two hardcovers, inside the Hilton Bayfront, we eagerly chatted with JP Ahonen about his Belzebubs origins. We discuss how these characters came to him at a critical moment in his life and taught him to love comics again. And then, they took on a life of their own. Now, it's your turn to join the cult. Follow JP Ahonen on Instagram and his Website. Other Relevant Links: CBCC at SDCC 2024: Hall H with Bryan Young (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC at SDCC 2024: Gail Simone CBCC at SDCC 2024: Jason Aaron on TMNT #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Wes Craig on Kaya CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman on The Pedestrian CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joshua Williamson, Tom King, and Daniel Sampere Go All In CBCC at SDCC 2024: Juni Ba on TMNT: Nightwatcher #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Ram V on The New Gods CBCC at SDCC 2024: Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki CBCC at SDCC 2024: James Tynion IV CBCC on Pat Chat - SDCC Hangover CBCC on Bif! Bam! Pow! Brad on Missing Frames, Talking Godzilla Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 9/21 at 4:00 PM for Batman Forever, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

In a few short years, James Tynion IV has become a beacon within comics. When you walk into a shop, you don't have to look long before you stumble upon one of his comics. He's seemingly everywhere, spreading beyond the four color realm, and no matter the title he's attached to, it's worth a perusal. Back in July, at San Diego Comic-Con, we sat down with Tynion inside the Dark Horse Comics booth to discuss the unique collaborative process that birthed The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos. The conversation serves as a springboard to more significant topics, primarily the mission of his Tiny Onion label. How does Tynion feel about the industry today, and where would he like to see it go in the future? We discuss Christopher Chaos' origins, his creative relationship with Tate Brombal and Isaac Goodhart, and what this book offers that seemingly similar stories don't. We talk about his recent short film Room Service and why he was compelled to make it alongside Elsa Charretier and others. James Tynion IV is a profoundly passionate artist who'd rather speed up than slow down. Continue this conversation with James Tynion IV by following him on Instagram, Twitter, Substack, and his Website. Other Relevant Links: James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds on CBCC Cecil Castellucci - I Am The Comic Book CBCC at SDCC 2024: Hall H with Bryan Young (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC at SDCC 2024: Gail Simone CBCC at SDCC 2024: Jason Aaron on TMNT #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Wes Craig on Kaya CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman on The Pedestrian CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joshua Williamson, Tom King, and Daniel Sampere Go All In CBCC at SDCC 2024: Juni Ba on TMNT: Nightwatcher #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Ram V on The New Gods CBCC at SDCC 2024: Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki CBCC at SDCC 2024: Early Released, Unedited Interviews (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC on Pat Chat - SDCC Hangover CBCC on Bif! Bam! Pow! Brad on Missing Frames, Talking Godzilla Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 9/21 at 4:00 PM for Batman Forever, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

At this year's San Diego Comic-Con, the family was at the forefront of DC creators' minds. We couldn't escape the topic when discussing superheroics. Plus, we've been pretty anxious on the podcast, contemplating the ramifications of city saviors placing their loved ones above the citizens of Gotham City and Metropolis. Does the person on the street want Superman to have a son? A wife? A cousin? Thankfully, we can corner Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki at the DC booth and force them to process our ridiculous worries. In October, Mark Waid and Chris Samnee return to the early days of Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson in Batman and Robin: Year One. The twelve-issue maxi-series promises to delve into their unique relationship, revealing how Bruce Wayne learned to parent while keeping Joker behind bars. During the same month, Waid and Mariko Tamaki will share Action Comics as the Superman ongoing goes weekly. Waid, alongside artist Clayton Henry, will focus on Kal-El's problems post-Absolute Power while Mariko Tamaki and artist Skler Partridge continue their deep dive into Supergirl's inner life. For the first half of today's episode, we speak with Mark Waid two-on-one, digging into Bruce and Dick's getting-to-know-you phase. We discuss Bruce's lack of familial role models, his inability or unwillingness to see Alfred as a father, and how he wanted Absolute Power to speak to the moment. In the back half, we have both Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki on our microphone. We then focus on the Superman family, paying particular attention to Supergirl and the secrets Tamaki is unveiling to her readers. The first issue of Batman and Robin: Year One lands in comic shops on October October 16th. Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki join Action Comics on issue 1070, which arrives on October 9th. Continue our conversation by following Mark Waid via his Website. Follow Mariko Tamaki on Twitter and Instagram. Other Relevant Links: Mark Waid on Lazarus Planet CBCC at SDCC 2024: Hall H with Bryan Young (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC at SDCC 2024: Gail Simone CBCC at SDCC 2024: Jason Aaron on TMNT #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Wes Craig on Kaya CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman on The Pedestrian CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joshua Williamson, Tom King, and Daniel Sampere Go All In CBCC at SDCC 2024: Juni Ba on TMNT: Nightwatcher #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Ram V on The New Gods CBCC at SDCC 2024: Early Released, Unedited Interviews (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC on Pat Chat - SDCC Hangover CBCC on Bif! Bam! Pow! Brad on Missing Frames, Talking Godzilla Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 8/18 at 4:00 PM for our Atomic Blonde screening, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

This year's San Diego Comic-Con brought a lot of news. Possibly the most surprising and easily the most exciting was DC's announcement that The New Gods were coming back to comic shops and that their latest saga would be steered by writer Ram V and artist Evan Cagle. While these characters loom large over the DC universe, they've rarely carried a solo book for any significant amount of time. One reason for that might be that they're such pure Jack Kirby creations, and following in the King's footsteps is more than a challenge. If anyone is up for such a task, it's Ram V. The writer's first work within DC was on Swamp Thing, and he easily proved he could step into a beloved property and add a little of himself to it. He recognizes fans' preciousness toward Jack Kirby's Fourth World, but he equally understands how The New Gods could speak very much to the moment. We met with Ram V atop the DC booth on Saturday at San Diego Comic-Con. We begin our conversation with our love for all things Kirby and move toward parenthood, specifically fatherhood, and how it will thematically propel his take on The New Gods. What has Scott Free learned from his two dads, Darkseid and Highfather? The New Gods will land in comic book shops in December, but make sure you catch up on the cosmic imbalance that launches their story by picking up The All In Special on October 2nd. To continue this conversation with Ram V, follow his Twitter, Instagram, and Website. Other Relevant Links: Ram V and Dan Watters on The Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! CBCC at SDCC 2024: Hall H with Bryan Young (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC at SDCC 2024: Gail Simone CBCC at SDCC 2024: Jason Aaron on TMNT #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Wes Craig on Kaya CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman on The Pedestrian CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joshua Williamson, Tom King, and Daniel Sampere Go All In CBCC at SDCC 2024: Juni Ba on TMNT: Nightwatcher #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Early Released, Unedited Interviews (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC on Pat Chat - SDCC Hangover Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 8/18 at 4:00 PM for our Atomic Blonde screening, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Last year, cartoonist Juni Ba had an epic Fall, releasing multiple all-timers in one month. We had him on the show and told him the output would be difficult to top in 2024, and he humbly said he had a few projects already lined up and would do his best. With The Boy Wonder about to wrap and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher #1 hitting stands today, Juni Ba reveals how he still has numerous killer comics inside him. Ba returns to the podcast this week for a lengthy discussion about Nightwatcher. We go full spoilers, beginning with the person under the helmet and why there was no other option for the vigilante. We also consider how Nightwatcherthematically links to The Boy Wonder and possibly several other projects on the horizon. Nightwatcher is the first comic Ba has tackled solely as a writer, watching in wonder as artist Fero Pe delivers one astonishing page after another. The sensation is strange for Juni Ba, but he's getting used to it and digging into it. With Jason Aaron and his cadre of collaborators developing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in their new ongoing, Juni Ba is left alone to develop a unique corner within the IDW TMNT universe. The Nightwatcher persona first appeared in the 2007 TMNT animated film, but they functioned in an entirely different manner than the character as depicted by Ba and Pe. Has the fandom already created expectations around Nightwatcher? Will they allow these artists to attempt something a little different, adding a new layer to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles landscape? Juni Ba has some anxiety around the reaction to this comic, and we dig into those worries, too. Continue this conversation with Juni Ba by visiting his Instagram and Twitter. Other Relevant Links: Juni Ba on Mobilis: My Life with Captain Nemo CBCC at SDCC 2024: Hall H with Bryan Young (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC at SDCC 2024: Gail Simone CBCC at SDCC 2024: Jason Aaron on TMNT #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Wes Craig on Kaya CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman on The Pedestrian CBCC at SDCC 2024: Josua Williamson, Tom King, and Daniel Sampere Go All In CBCC at SDCC 2024: Early Released, Unedited Interviews (Patreon Exclusive) Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 8/18 at 4:00 PM for our Atomic Blonde screening, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

In October, DC asks its creators and readers to go All In regarding a new status quo. No matter their history with these characters or their knowledge of them, readers can pick up any single issue on the stands, begin a new adventure, and easily comprehend the event and its possibilities. It starts with The All In Special, released on October 2nd, written by Joshua Williamson and Scott Snyder and illustrated by Daniel Sampere and Wes Craig. While ongoing stories like Wonder Woman, written by Tom King and illustrated by Sampere, won't reboot with a new number one, they will launch a new storyline considerate of the potential fresh eyes upon it. This year, at San Diego Comic-Con, we climbed atop the DC booth for a discussion with writers Joshua Williamson and Tom King, as well as double-duty artist Daniel Sampere. Absolute Power, All In, Superman Energy, Darkseid Energy -- we get to the heart of what DC is attempting with this massive line-wide initiative that feels reminiscent of the New 52 without mimicking it. How will Williamson's current Superman run and King and Sampere's Wonder Woman storyline navigate the event, which includes the creation of Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta's Absolute Batman, Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval's Absolute Superman, and Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman's Absolute Wonder Woman? What's easily discernable is the enthusiasm these artists have for The All In Special, the equally bombastic response the news got from San Diego Comic-Con attendees, and the larger online reaction as well. Joshua Williamson believes he's exploring an aspect of Superman that Clark and previous creators on the book have never contemplated. Tom King and Daniel Sampere explain their hopes for Wonder Woman and their plan to stay on board for many more issues. As he states emphatically, King has not left comics for Hollywood. Keep up to date on all things Joshua Williamson by following him on Twitter, Instagram, and Substack. Continue this conversation with Tom King via Twitter, Threads, and Instagram. Follow Daniel Sampere on Twitter and Instagram. Other Relevant Links: Joshua Williamson and Jamal Campbell on Superman Tom King on Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow CBCC at SDCC 2024: Hall H with Bryan Young (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC at SDCC 2024: Gail Simone CBCC at SDCC 2024: Jason Aaron on TMNT #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Wes Craig on Kaya CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman on The Pedestrian CBCC at SDCC 2024: Early Released, Unedited Interviews (Patreon Exclusive) Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 8/18 at 4:00 PM for our Atomic Blonde screening, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

As San Diego Comic-Con began its last day, we met with Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman in the Hilton lobby to thoroughly discuss their brand-new superhero, The Pedestrian. Just when you dismiss the genre's ability to create or support a new spandex character, architects like Esposito and Von Gorman come around to rejuvenate the space with an absurd concept told earnestly. Imagine if Bruce Wayne patrolled Twin Peaks rather than Gotham. We discuss the character's origins, the massive lore they're building around The Pedestrian, and why Magma Comix was the only home for their series. The Pedestrian represents the small good guys who come into our lives just when we need them and stand against the ancient systems designed to control our future. Playing Robert Altman, Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman populate Summer City with numerous characters, promising a massive universe beyond this first issue's twenty-four pages. The genius is how the comic uses established iconic images that we all interact with daily to propel us through new genre avenues. The Pedestrian's first issue is now available in comic book shops everywhere. Make sure you're following Joey Esposito on Twitter, Instagram, and his Website. Also, follow Sean Von Gorman on Twitter, Instagram, and his Website. Other Relevant Links: CBCC at SDCC 2024: Hall H with Bryan Young (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC at SDCC 2024: Gail Simone CBCC at SDCC 2024: Jason Aaron CBCC at SDCC 2024: Wes Craig on Kaya CBCC at SDCC 2024: Early Released, Unedited Interviews (Patreon Exclusive) Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 8/18 at 4:00 PM for our Atomic Blonde screening, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

We're mostly unpacked from San Diego Comic-Con, and we begin this week's podcast by discussing the show's big highlight. No, it's not RDJ as Doctor Doom. After working through the con highs and lows, we invite cartoonist Wes Craig into our Zoom room for the first time so we can thoroughly investigate his all-ages epic, Kaya. In an era where publishing beyond six issues seems nearly impossible, Wes Craig has already knocked out 20 Kaya comics, equalling three trade paperbacks, and promises five more. Where does this compulsion to tell a long-form story originate, and more importantly, how can he make it happen? Some of the answer rests with us, his audience, but most of it rests with him and his compulsion. Kaya is one of the best comic books on the stands. It's the story of two unique and complicated siblings, alone in a violent, fantastical world, bonding on the road to somewhere kinder while their faith see-saws back and forth. Wes Craig is living his fantasy, writing and drawing the saga that's lived within him for years. He just needs to get it out. We chat with the cartoonist about his mission, characters, and universe. We explore the perils of the Chosen One trope, tease Kaya's big Empire Strikes Back moment, and consider the ultimate destination. And, yeah, we get into all his influences as well. Some you may already be aware of, but several others, probably not. Stand by Me? The Wonder Years? The first three Kaya trade paperbacks are now available from Image Comics. Issue twenty arrived in comic shops today. Make sure you're following Wes Craig on Twitter, Instagram, and his Website. Other Relevant Links: CBCC at SDCC 2024: Hall H with Bryan Young (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC at SDCC 2024: Gail Simone CBCC at SDCC 2024: Jason Aaron CBCC at SDCC 2024: Early Released, Unedited Interviews (Patreon Exclusive) Maria Bamford and Scott Marvel Cassidy on Hogbook and Lazer Eyes Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 8/18 at 4:00 PM for our Atomic Blonde screening, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Hopefully, you've had some time with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 by Jason Aaron and Joëlle Jones. The record-breaking comic seemingly found its way into everyone's pullbox last week. Despite San Diego Comic-Con taking over much of the discourse, the IDW Publishing relaunch snatched tremendous attention and fueled equal excitement. As promised, it's a comic for the loyal continuity consumer, curious first-timer, or once-upon-a-time Mirage Studios loyalist. Months back, shortly after he was announced to be on the book, we spoke with writer Jason Aaron about his plans for the brothers. He couldn't reveal much, but we nourished ourselves on a few clues. Now that the first issue is out there, and folks have properly devoured it three or four times, we're stoked to have Aaron back on the podcast, and this time, we can go full-spoilers regarding his first twenty-two pages of TMNT. Our conversation occurred two days into San Diego Comic-Con, enclosed within a spacious conference room at the Hilton Bayfront. Only days before, Aaron and Joëlle Jones signed their first copies of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1. The reaction was immediately positive, and the glow still hung around the author. Together, we discuss why the new series had to begin with Raphael and why he had to be trapped behind bars. We explore the "Return to New York" and the city as both a literal and metaphorical place. Again, our chat goes full spoilers. Please read the issue before pressing play. Of course, we must also discuss San Diego Comic-Con itself—the behemoth—and how we had to adjust our coverage of it in ways we've never had to deal with before. Did CBCC hosts Brad and Lisa have a come-to-Jesus feud in the middle of Preview Night? Yes. Yes, they did. Lessons were learned. Keep your eyes glued to the IDW Publishing page as more and more Ninja Turtles 40th Anniversary celebrations are revealed, and make sure to follow Jason Aaron on Twitter, Instagram, and his website. Other Relevant Links: CBCC at SDCC 2024: Hall H with Bryan Young (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC at SDCC 2024: Gail Simone CBCC at SDCC 2024: Early Released, Unedited Interviews (Patreon Exclusive) Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 8/18 at 4:00 PM for our Atomic Blonde screening, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Reporting live from San Diego Comic-Con, we're chatting with Gail Simone about everything she has going on at the moment, including the incredible Misty 2024 Special from Rebellion Publishing. When editors first approached her with the project, she'd never read the previous British series. However, after a few issues, Simone was hooked and saw her way into Misty's world, so some updates would have to occur. The Misty 2024 Special features three tales written by Gail Simone and illustrated by Carola Borelli, Aly Fell, and Marianna Ignazzi, plus a final story scripted and drawn by Letty Wilson. Each short takes on a different perspective and message, but all are snuggled comfortably within the horror genre. Simone is a thematically forward writer, and it was a treat to dig into her mission for each of these macabre yarns. Initially created by Pat Mills and published in 1978, Misty was designed to appeal to women, but male readers came along for the ride (and the pretty pictures). Gail Simone modifies Misty's thematic and narrative points of view, basically doing what she did for Birds of Prey and the superhero genre, but for Misty and horror. The Misty 2024 Special is currently available across the pond and will arrive on American shores on August 21st. Wrapped with a gorgeous Tula Lotay cover, this item is not to be missed. Also, as announced at San Diego Comic-Con, Gail Simone is writing more Misty stories. So, it's best to get aboard as soon as possible. Follow Gail Simone on Twitter and Instagram. And be on the lookout for our future San Diego Comic-Con coverage. We're talking to folks like Jason Aaron, James Tynion IV, Mark Waid, Joshua Williamson, Daniel Sampare, Tom King, Mariko Tamaki, Ram V, and more. Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 8/18 at 4:00 PM for our Atomic Blonde screening, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

It's easy to despair. Fear and frustration spread quickly, and their hold has hooks hard to shake. Don't fall into the discourse trap; free yourself by following the light radiating from the medium's champions. Find folks like Deb Aoki and Christopher Woodrow-Butcher and grab firm. Through their Mangasplaining podcast (co-hosted with David Brothersand Chip Zdarsky), they've become beacons of what the sequential art form can offer the human experience, and recently, they've taken their passion one step further (maybe several steps further) and actually manifested great comic works. Mangasplaining, in partnership with Fantagraphics, first brought Susumu Higa's Okinawa into American comic shops and bookstores. Now, they're switching gears quite drastically, offering Atsushi Kaneko's radical reconsideration of Osamu Tezuka's iconic Dororo, Search and Destroy. The comic shifts the original story from feudal Japan to an apocalyptic future where machines enhance themselves using pieces stolen from a mysterious young woman. While they taste life with her tongue, she trudges across the sci-fi hellscape, sharpening her rage into a propulsive attack. As we prepare for this week's San Diego Comic-Con International, we revel in the gifts all comics provide their readers. We chat with Deb Aoki and Christopher Woodrow-Butcher about their Mangasplaining origin, how it evolved into a comics delivery system, the types of conversations we should have about manga away from American Comics, and the conversations we should have about manga with American Comics. If you're looking for inspiration before America's biggest comic book convention takes over this week's discourse, this Comic Book Couples Counseling episode is ready to serve. Relevant Links Search and Destroy - Fantagraphics Atsushi Kaneko on Twitter Giga Town: A Guide to Manga Iconography - Udon Mangasplaining Announcement Giga Town Amazon Pre-Order Link Okinawa - Fantagraphics Free Chapter on Mangaspaining Extra, plus links to other MSX manga, including Search and Destroy Surviving San Diego Comic-Con Tips and Tricks Maria Bamford and Scott Marvel Cassidy on CBCC Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 8/18 at 4:00 PM for our Atomic Blonde screening, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

There is power in putting your life on the page. Cartoonist Maurice Vellekoop discovered it when making the internal external, crafting a massive graphic novel memoir over eleven years. I'm So Glad We Had This Time Togethergorgeously and nakedly splays his experience for EVERYONE to consume, and while his audience could/should find it healingly reflective, the act is entirely selfish. He's found the shape of his journey and solidified it. If only we could all be so fortunate. Maurice Vellekoop is the youngest of four children, raised by a distant father and a magical mother in the Toronto suburbs. His family stewed in the arts, but young Maurice was drawn more to boob tube icons like Carol Burnett and would rather play with Barbies than read a book. Through his strict Calvinist upbringing, Maurice Vellekoop sensed vicious judgment toward the person he was becoming. I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together charts an epic struggle with depression, loneliness, and a violent, intolerant world. On this week's podcast, Maurice Vellekoop joins us for a thorough conversation about the power found within memoirs, how depicting the most beautiful and horrid moments in his history created an aesthetic challenge and his complicated relationship with Disney animation. The conversation stands apart from other Comic Book Couples Counseling episodes, just as his book stands apart from other comics released this year. I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together demands your attention, and you should move it immediately to the top of your to-read pile. I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together is now available from Pantheon Books. Please follow Maurice Vellekoop on Instagram and his Website. As always, Omnibus, the Digital Comic Store and Reader, sponsors our Referrals segment. This week, we selected two comic book titles on the site that satisfy this episode's themes. We won't spoil what they are here, but if you click the links below, you'll be immediately escorted to those books. Brad's Referral Lisa's Referral Other Relevant Links: Karl Stevens on CBCC The 30 Best Comics of 2024 (So Far) Surviving San Diego Comic-Con Tips and Tricks Pots and Panels: A Comic Cook Book Anthology Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

When it comes to cool collaborators, Matt Kindt has had quite a few. He partnered with CBCC all-star Matt Lesniewski on Crimson Flower. He and David Rubin gave us the blazing sci-fi adventure Ether. And with Ron Garney and Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt birthed the This Is Spinal Tap version of Conan the Barbarian. Don't deny it: BRZRKR is proudly cranked to eleven. The partner from Hollywood might attract the most mainstream attention, and it's an alliance that may have paved the way for Kindt's most crucial collaborator yet -- his mother. As a lifelong fan of whodunits, Margie Kraft Kindt has already taken it upon herself to scribble some stories, but she wasn't sure she could manage one with her son. However, the collaborative style Matt Kindt established with Keanu Reeves on BRZRKR cracked the code on how he would work with Margie. With a process in place, Gilt Frame, the latest entry under the Dark Horse Comics imprint Flux House, flew out of them pretty quickly. Their story focuses on a somewhat different but kind of similar familial dynamic between an aunt and a nephew. Sam and Mary have already built a reputation as dynamite detectives, solving cases that span the globe. They're due for a little Parisian vacation, but fate won't allow it and drops a body at their feet. Back on the case, they get to work. This week's podcast begins with celebrating the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' 40th Anniversary as we describe our pilgrimage to Dover, New Hampshire, the site of the original Mirage Studios. We discuss the various TMNT landmarks we witnessed, the comic book shops we visited, the fights we had, and the comic script we wrote while there. If you haven't clocked it already, our theme for this episode is collaboration. Gitl Frame will be available in comic shops on August 7th. Our conversation is process-focused and spoiler-free. Press play with pleasure. Also, ensure you follow Matt Kindt on Twitter, Instagram, and his Website. As always, Omnibus, the Digital Comic Store and Reader, sponsors our Referrals segment. This week, we selected two comic book titles on the site that satisfy this episode's themes. We won't spoil what they are here, but if you click the links below, you'll be immediately escorted to those books. Brad's Referral Lisa's Referral Other Relevant Links: CBCC on TMNT: 40th Anniversary Sean Phillips and Jacob Phillips on CBCC The 30 Best Comics of 2024 (So Far) Pots and Panels: A Comic Cook Book Anthology Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Are you ready to meet our new favorite henchman, Barfly? Jordan Blum, Patton Oswalt, Kyle Starks, and Ryan Browne are eager to make introductions. Their new series, spun "from the world of Minor Threats," drills even deeper into the philosophical pursuit initiated by the original run that began two years ago. The lowliest punk in Twilight City has a rich inner life, and he'd love to share it with you if you can set aside your primordial revulsion toward sh*teaters. You don't need to browse long on the rack before encountering another comic deconstructing the superhero genre. Ever since 1986, every creator, it seems, wants to put forth their subversive effort, but Minor Threats avoids the usual cynical choices, embracing Silver Age nonsense and the joys that come with it. Minor Threats and its latest spin-off, Barfly, showcase tremendous humanity, using absurdity to expose genuine pain and triumph. The sincerity marks Minor Threatsas the most exciting superhero universe since Astro City. We're downright chuffed to have Jordan Blum, Patton Oswalt, and Kyle Starks back on the podcast. Together, we question the name thrust upon our protagonist, his possible desire to be more than a henchman, and whether those seeking to be masterminds are driven or simply delusional. Also, does Superman go to the bathroom? At least one participant in our conversation has powerful feelings about that. From the World of Minor Threats: Barfly #1 is published by Dark Horse Comics and arrives in comic shops on July 10th. It's written by Jordan Blum, Patton Oswalt, and Kyle Starks. Ryan Browne illustrated and colored it, and Nate Piekos lettered it. Continue this conversation by following Patton Oswalt on Twitter, Instagram, and his Website. Follow Jordan Blum on Twitter and Instagram. Follow Kyle Starks on Twitter HERE, on Instagram HERE, and by visiting his Website HERE. As always, Omnibus, the Digital Comic Store and Reader, sponsors our Referrals segment. This week, we selected two comic book titles on the site that satisfy this episode's themes. We won't spoil what they are here, but if you click the links below, you'll be immediately escorted to those books. Brad's Referral Lisa's Referral Other Relevant Links: Jordan Blum and Patton Oswalt on CBCC, Talking Minor Threats Kyle Starks on CBCC, Talking Karate Prom Subscribe to the 2000 AD Thrill-Cast Subscribe to This Comic Cooks Subscribe to Wizards: The Podcast Guide to Comics Watch The Fanbase Press Countdown to the Eisners Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 5/19 at 4:00 PM for our Green Lantern screening, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

What's the ideal environment for making a comic? We toss the question to Sean Phillips and Jacob Phillips, and they ponder it for a moment. They've never experienced it, and they're not sure it's possible, or if it was, that they'd want it. Deadlines loom over all, making every comic an emergency. This urgency helps them accomplish their craft, and it must be working since, undoubtedly, everyone reading these words is craving their next collaboration, Houses of the Unholy (out August 14th from Image Comics). The father/son duo first worked together on the Criminal novella, My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies, written by longtime writing partner Ed Brubaker. Initially, Sean was set to color the book, and he knocked out a couple of pages, but the deadline demanded an alternative strategy. He called on his son for assistance, and since then, Jacob Phillips has colored all the Brubaker/Phillips joints. For Father's Day, we asked Sean Phillips and Jacob Phillips to sit down with us and discuss their creative origins, collaborator origins, what Ed Brubaker expects from them these days, their need for affirmation, and why every book must be a race to the finish. Also, has Sean Phillips read The Enfield Gang Massacre yet? We begin this week's podcast by interrogating the dad holiday, relating our recent parental celebrations, and discussing our attendance at Washington, D.C.'s second annual DC/DOX Film Festival, where we saw Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, which included a moving and memorable conversation with Reeve's daughter, Alexandra Reeve Givens. Somehow, the recent season of MasterChef factors in as well. Please ensure you're following Sean Phillips on Instagram, Twitter, and his Website and Jacob Phillips on Instagram, Twitter, and his Website. As always, Omnibus, the Digital Comic Store and Reader, sponsors our Referrals segment. This week, we selected two comic book titles on the site that satisfy this episode's themes. We won't spoil what they are here, but if you click the links below, you'll be immediately escorted to those books. Brad's Referral Lisa's Referral Other Relevant Links: Brad and Lisa on Free With Ads, Talking Tank Girl Subscribe to the 2000 AD Thrill-Cast Subscribe to This Comic Cooks Subscribe to Wizards: The Podcast Guide to Comics Watch The Fanbase Press Countdown to the Eisners Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 5/19 at 4:00 PM for our Green Lantern screening, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

We get serious with Jordan Morris, whether he wants us to or not. He returns to the podcast with his new graphic novel, Youth Group, done in collaboration with artist Bowen McCurdy. It's a wickedly winky narrative about a young goth girl named Kay reluctantly following her mother's instructions to join a Christian youth group and discovering that they actually battle demons. Morris returns to the nineties in an effort to better understand his brief flirtation with religiosity, which left him with warm but complicated feelings. Youth Group arrives from First Second Books on July 16th, and it's packed with jokes, we promise. However, Jordan Morris has found himself once again trapped with Comic Book Couples Counseling, and we need to work out the weird feelings and memories his book awoke in us. Where does the metaphor begin and end with God? The question has been on our minds a lot lately, and we take it to Morris as filtered through Kay's clash with Hell's best betas. In this week's episode, we travel back in time, exploring Jordan Morris' past youth group experiences as well as our own. We consider the anxious feeling ignited when connecting the personal with the absurd and the shocking healing that can occur on both sides of the page. For the artist and for the reader. You can track down Jordan Morris via his Twitter, Instagram, and Website. As always, Omnibus, the Digital Comic Store and Reader, sponsors our Referrals segment. This week, we selected two comic book titles on the site that satisfy this episode's themes. We won't spoil what they are here, but if you click the links below, you'll be immediately escorted to those books. Brad's Referral Lisa's Referral Other Relevant Links: Brad and Lisa on Free With Ads, Talking Tank Girl Jordan Morris and Tony Cliff on CBCC Subscribe to the 2000 AD Thrill-Cast Subscribe to the Vactor-Verse Subscribe to Wizards: The Podcast Guide to Comics Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 5/19 at 4:00 PM for our Green Lantern screening, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.