Comics Are Dope (The Podcast)

Where's The Podcast???

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 11:59:31 +0000

A quick update about the status of the podcast, and how I'm dying to get back to it. Learn more about how you can support at http://comicsaredope.com/helpmeout

Follow the Podcast Channel: youtube.com/channel/UCiSN5Eiw4gasSYyjtCj9CyQ/

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68. Christopher Priest on Red Sonja and THAT Black Panther Reveal

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 09:58:58 +0000

Priest broke the internet, and he's not stopping any time soon. Here, we chat about it.

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67. Chip Zdarsky is Saving The World -- and Captain America

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

If you were going to save the comics industry from impending doom, how would you do it? How about a newsletter full of interviews, gags and anecdotes by Chip Zdarsky? Maybe you'd call it Zdarsky Comic News. Well... you would if your name was Chip Zdarsky.

Listen to find out how ZCN came about, and how Chip decided to take a stab at writing Captain America.

ZCN is available at your Local Comic Shop by special order. Just ask for it at the counter.

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66. Jordan Clark on Ancestral Recall, Breaking into Comics & Black History

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Today I'm talking with comic writer, journalist and co-host of the White People Won't Save You Podcast -- Jordan Clark. We talk about his journey from Audio Engineer to Comics Writer, how a chance meeting landed him his first writing gig, and kicking things up a notch after the Milestone Initiative. His debut creator-owned title, ANCESTRAL RECALL, hits shops in August.

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65. Chris O'Hara is a Real Comics Publisher Now

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 5 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Chris O'Hara returned to the podcast to talk REFUGE #1, an All-Ages comic like you've never seen before! We also talk about the amazing year he has had with his company Bent Box Comics. We talk about finding talent, the pros and cons of Kickstarter, and working to build a real economy for truly independent creators.

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64. Sean of The Comics Pals talks Podcasting, Interview Skills and Changing Tides

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 29 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Sean Bartley is co-host of my favorite comics podcast, The Comics Pals. He's been in the game for over a decade, and has seen a lot of changes in the space. Today, we're talking about where it all began, how he's navigating the changing tide and what it all means to him.

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63. Morgan Iverson Talks Pushing Through Grief & Celebrating Milestones

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 22 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Lumberjax creator MORGAN IVERSON returns to tease the campaign for his first ever Graphic Novel! Tap in to hear more about the creative process, Morgan's inspiration, and why this campaign is more important than any he's ever done. You can back the campaign at http://comicsaredope.com/lumberjax

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62. Greg Weisman Returns for Demona and a Marvel Team-Up??

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 8 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Greg Weisman joins to talk Gargoyles: Demona, THAT tease in the Free Comic Book Day preview, and how it feels to live with the characters he writes.

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61. David Pepose on Captain Planet, Speed Racer and a Year of Space Ghost

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 1 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

David Pepose has had an amazing year since our last talk. He's back to fill us in on getting his dream project (Captain Planet), a new Space Ghost series, and his electrifying approach to Speed Racer.

A former crime reporter turned Ringo Award-winning comic book creator, David Pepose has written on hit titles such as Punisher, Moon Knight: City of the Dead, Savage Avengers, Fantastic Four, Hulk, Avengers Unlimited, and Darth Vader: Black, White & Red, as well as launched critically acclaimed original series including Spencer & Locke, Going to the Chapel, Grand Theft Astro, The O.Z., Scout’s Honor, The Devil That Wears My Face, and more.

David’s books have been featured in The Hollywood Reporter, ComicBook.com, and io9, and have ranked on Barnes & Noble’s Best Comics and Graphic Novels list. His writing has been called “stunningly subversive” by IGN and “an absurdly good time” by Nerdist, while Syfy has described his work as “utterly insane or pure genius (or admittedly, maybe both).”

In addition to developing properties for comics, TV, and film, he has also worked for CBS, Netflix, and Universal Studios. Raised in St. Louis, David currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, where he lives with his understanding partner, their rambunctious terrier, and at least six deadlines.

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60. Curt Pires on Lost Fantasy, Indie Comics and Updating Genre Fiction

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 14:08:46 +0000

Curt Pires stops by to tell us about his latest work, LOST FANTASY. In Lost Fantasy, there’s a magical world that lies beneath ours, and first contact was made over a hundred years ago between the two worlds due to a natural disaster, resulting in a schism that allowed monsters to break through. Since then, secret monster slayers, known as The Great Hunters, have been working with global leaders to police the border and to keep our world safe from the creatures that lurk in the shadows. But last night, something broke through, resulting in a mysterious mass killing in Montana, and causing things to shift in a way that will ripple through both worlds. Now it’s up to rookie monster hunter Henry Blackheart to stop it…

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59. Karla Medrano on Lane Switching and the Courage to Walk in Purpose

bj@comicsaredope.com (Karla Medrano, Moon the Storyteller) — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 12:27:03 +0000

Last fall, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Karla Medrano. By trade, Karla is a Nurse who spends her days and nights saving lives. But she's passionate about many things, including creative storytelling. After seeing the Black Panther film in 2018, Karla decided she had to stop keeping her creativity on the backburner and throw her hat into the ring. Thus, Luna: The Queen of Mahru was born.

Since the breakout success of Luna, Karla has made it a constant practice to do all the things she feels called to. Together with Dr. Ebony Toussaint, she hosts the Ororo Comics Podcast, the show where health meets culture and culture meets comics. Last year, she headed up Digital Marketing efforts for the Epiphany Engine Kickstarter, earning her the title "Misty Knight of Marketing" from previous guest Joseph Illidge. She later packaged her knowledge and experience for a Comic Book Marketing course for creators.

Check out this interview, finally being released from the vault, and be sure to follow Karla on Instagram to keep up with her day to day!

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58. Gungnir Books and Matthew Medney are Bringing Experiences Back to Comics

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 13:55:44 +0000

Hundreds of new comics come out every week. But it's not everyday that you come across someone trying to truly innovate in the Western Comics medium. Enter Matthew Medney. With a storied career including creative direction for Steve Aoki and creating custom comics for all sorts of major brands. His newest project, Gungnir Books feels like a much needed breath of fresh air for comics.

Learn more at http://www.gungnirbooks.com

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A Quick Update

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 05:04:59 +0000

Comics Are Dope will return soon. In the meantime, consider joining our community on Facebook or Discord for some great comics discussion! We'd love to see you there.

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57. This Year in Comics 2024

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:56:53 +0000

Today I'm recapping and saying thanks for an INCREDIBLE year.

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56. Telling Stories That Matter with Geoff Johns and Ghost Machine

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 11:00:00 +0000

I recently got the chance to speak with All-Star writer Geoff Johns, and the only thing harder than keeping my composure in the conversation is trying to summarize it for the show notes. It's probably best you just listen.

About Geoff Johns:

Geoff Johns is an award-winning and New York Times bestselling writer, film and television producer, showrunner, and entrepreneur known for re-imagining superheroes and other iconic mythologies, past and present. Johns is best known for his work on properties such as Green Lantern, Aquaman, The Flash, Superman, Batman, Justice Society of America, and most recently, the creator-owned hit series GEIGER, currently being adapted for television at Paramount.

Since the beginning of his creative career, Johns’ hallmark has been writing heroic and inclusive characters, including teenage hero Courtney Whitmore aka Stargirl, inspired by his real-life late sister; the Shazam Family, which he re-imagined into a diverse modern family of today; and the first Arab-American Green Lantern, Simon Baz, as well as the explosive multi-colored Lantern mythology that defined his decade-long bestselling Green Lantern run, among many, many others.

Johns’ most recognized work in television is the critically acclaimed “Stargirl” series which he created and ran. Some of his film credits include “Wonder Woman” (executive producer), “Wonder Woman 1984” (also co-writer), “Aquaman” (also story) and “Shazam!” (executive producer), based on his graphic novel with longtime collaborator and modern legendary artist, Gary Frank.

In 2023, Johns co-founded GHOST MACHINE, the first-of-its-kind creator-owned company. This groundbreaking collective includes some of the industry’s most legendary writers and artists, disrupting the old industry model by giving ownership to its creators, and paving the way for them to retain creative control and financial participation.

Born in Detroit to a Lebanese father, Johns was honored with his own permanent section at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.

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55. Jeremy Adams is Your New Favorite Writer

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 5 Dec 2024 11:00:00 +0000

After being plucked from the world of animation writing, Jeremy Adams has taken comics by storm! After several amazing yet underrated runs on The Flash, Green Lantern, and now Flash Gordon at Mad Cave Studios; he's set to level up even more with a brand new ongoing Aquaman series for DC Comics in January! The world is his oyster, and we are the pearls. Or are the residual checks pearls? Why is "the world is your Oyster" even a saying? Anyway, check out this interview. I know you'll love it.

Follow All Things Jeremy Adams at https://www.spacekicker.com/

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54. Launching a Universe with Peter Tomasi, Peter Snejberg & Francis Manapul

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Today I'm joined by Peter Tomasi, Peter Snejberg and Francis Manapul as we celebrate the rollout of the Family Odysseys universe from Ghost Machine! The Rocketfellers #1 and Hornsby & Halo #1 are both out in comic shops everywhere right now!

This episode is brought to you by GlobalComix. Get 30% off an annual Gold Pass at http://comicsaredope.com/global

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53. Denys Cowan is Finally Accepting His Flowers

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 11:00:00 +0000

No one in comics has a career quite like Denys Cowan's. From studying at the feet of Neal Adams, to breaking out with his legendary run on The Question, and co-creating an entire universe of diverse superheroes with Milestone Media. Finally, all these achievements and more are being celebrated in a first of its kind art book, live on Kickstarter now.

Today, I'm joined by the legend himself, along with author Michael Stradford as they talk about putting this enormous project together.

Back the Campaign at http://comicsaredope.com/denyscowanart

About Denys Cowan:

Denys Cowan is an accomplished and celebrated comic and animation creator and illustrator. Founder of Milestone Media, which sold over 10 million copies of ground breaking comic books, Cowan has numerous credits to his name, including: Black Racer, Deathstroke, Black Lightning & Hong Kong Phooey, Batman: Lovers & Madmen, Blind Justice, Black Panther: Flags of Our Fathers, The Question, Hardware, and Static.

Static became one of the most beloved characters in the Milestone Universe, spawning a hugely successful animated series, Static Shock. During its run, the series was the only animated show not produced by Nickelodeon to dominate ratings. Denys directed and produced the series, which was nominated for an Emmy.

As Senior Vice President of Animation at BET, Cowan was responsible for the creation, development and production of animated programming for the network. This included the development and production of the Black Panther animated series. Prior to his time at BET, Denys was instrumental in developing and Producing the first season of the prime time animated series, The Boondocks. Serving as Senior Vice President of Motown Animation and Filmworks, he created and developed a number of shows with Fox, ABC, Disney and Nickelodeon. Cowan also co-created the character of Henri Ducard, as played by Liam Neeson in Batman Begins.

Cowan drew the cover art of the GZA/Genius of the Wu-Tang Clan’s platinum selling hip-hop album Liquid Swords. Denys illustrated the successful run of You Can’t Handle the Truth, a monthly full-page comic strip for Ebony magazine. More recently, Denys Cowan illustrated the Django Unchained graphic novel, which was inspired by the Oscar-winning film by Quentin Tarantino. Denys also created illustrated posters for Marvel’s Black Panther and John Wick 2.

Among comic book readers and collaborators, Denys Cowan is the stuff of legend. Denys Cowan comic books have gone on to sell millions. Cowan remains a prolific creator, illustrator, and producer. He is the recipient of the Humanitas Award, and he has been nominated for a number Eisner awards throughout his illustrious career. Denys is also featured in Robert Kirkman’s “Secret History of Comics” in the episode titled “The Color of Comics” focusing on the history of Milestone Media.

About Michael Stradford:

Michael Stradford is a seasoned entertainment executive with a career spanning radio, music, and film. Starting as a radio announcer in the Midwest, he later programmed top stations like KKBT in Los Angeles. Stradford worked as a senior executive at Quincy Jones’ Qwest Records and later led Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s DVD Special Features department and original programming for Crackle.com. After producing award-winning content for Warner Bros. Pictures, he founded Gizmoe Press in 2023, channeling his lifelong passion for comic books into the successful crowdfunding of the graphic novel ‘Fargo: Hell on Wheels,’ set for release in 2024.

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52. Joe Illidge is Bringing The Shadow Cabinet Back

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:00:00 +0000

The last time I had Joe Illidge on the show, I couldn't believe the secret he kept from us. He's writing The Shadow Cabinet! But now, just a week ahead of release, Joe is free to tell all. Well, all he can tell us without spoiling the first issue. Listen to hear why EVERY MOMENT MATTERED, and just what this new series means for the Dakota Universe.

Back Graphic Samurai: The Art of Denys Cowan on Kickstarter here.

About Joseph P. Illidge:

Joseph started his editorial career at Milestone Media, Inc., the influential comic book publisher profiled in the MAX documentary “Milestone Generations”

His groundbreaking editorial runs on the Batman line of comic books for DC Comics and Lion Forge’s “Catalyst Prime” superhero imprint featured in The Hollywood Reporter reflect Joseph’s expertise in curating inclusive hero fiction.

Profiled as one of the “Best Editors” in comics, Joseph was featured in the History Channel documentary series, “Superheroes Decoded”, discussing popular heroes from Superman to The Black Panther.

Joseph is a member of the Board of Directors for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and the recipient of a Citation from the New York State Assembly for exemplary community service through career achievement.

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51. Cartoons & Creativity with Asia Simone

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 7 Nov 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Today, I'm thrilled to be joined by artist Asia Simone! We talk about being inspired by animation, what she hopes to leave readers feeling from her work, and how she's balancing being a teacher with her pursuit of a career as an artist.

About Asia:

Asia Simone received her BFA in Illustration and minor in creative writing from the University of the Arts. She’s a digital artist whose love for animation and comics/manga can be seen in her work, including her newest graphic novel release, Marvel’s Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur: Wreck And Roll.

Asia's goal is always to draw whimsically expressive characters and create stories and worlds that feel magical, whether contemporary or not. Her love for character acting can be seen in her co-illustrated middle-grade book, Pack Your Bags, Maggie Diaz. She uses vibrant colors, shapes, and light to express fantasy in reality and to showcase positive representations of underrepresented people and stories.

With two books under her name, Asia continues to develop her sense of storytelling with personal comics and characters she continues to create. Keep up with her latest on IG: @asia_simone405 or Twitter: asiasimone405

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50. Celebrating Comics & Podcasting with Badr Milligan

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 10:29:52 +0000

Badr Milligan from The Short Box: A Comic Book Talk Show is one of my favorite interviewers. And like a true interviewer, he took over this episode midway through. Listen to find out:

Why Badr is so passionate about Podcasting
How Badr got into comics
How my love for underground rap led directly to this comics gig
How we singlehandedly fixed Comic Book Marketing

Also, I promise to never mention my grandmother's house comic origin again after this episode. I'm retiring the story! lol

About The Short Box:

The Short Box is the best way to get your weekly dose of comic shop vibes without ever leaving the house! Join The Short Box every Wednesday, for news, reviews, and interviews about comic books and comic culture, and hear exclusive chats with the top comic creators in the world. Hosted by Badr Milligan, and friends.

Join the Short Box Nation on Patreon.com/theshortbox to listen to bonus episodes and get other exclusive benefits!

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49. Amanda Deibert and Cat Staggs are Ready for Halloween

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 11:14:08 +0000

Today, I'm joined by not one, but TWO awesome guests! Amanda Deibert & Cat Staggs have worked together many times (despite my rookie question to start the episode), and they're teaming up once again on The Powerpuff Girls Halloween Special #1, out 10/23 from Dynamite Entertainment.

I ask the pair what it's like being coworkers in the same house, how they each navigate separate careers in comics, and what we can expect from their Powerpuff Girls story.

About Amanda Deibert:

Amanda Deibert is a New York Times bestselling comic book and television writer. Her comic book writing includes DC Super Hero Girls: Weird Science, DC Super Hero Girls: Infinite Frenemies, Teen Titans Go!, Wonder Woman '77, Batman and Harley Quinn, Flash Facts, DC's The Doomed and the Damned, Wonderful Women of History, Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman, and Love is Love (New York Times #1 Bestseller) for DC Comics, stories in John Carpenter's Tales for A Halloween Night volumes 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6 for Storm King Comics, and more. She is currently writing for the animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe for Netflix. Other TV credits include work for CBS, SyFy, OWN, PIVOT, HULU, and four years as writer for former Vice President Al Gore's international climate broadcast, 24 Hours of Reality.

About Cat Staggs:

Cat is an artist best known for her work on the New York Times Bestselling title Smallville Season 11 from DC Comics and Crosswind with Gail Simone for Image Comics. Currently working on John Carpenter’s Tales of Halloween Night Vol. 6 with Amanda Deibert and Frank Tieri (Storm King Comics). Recently she completed Joker/Harley Criminal Sanity-Secret Files #1 with Kami Garcia(DC Titles). She has also worked on popular titles like Death of Superman with Louise Simonson(DC Comics), Adventures of Supergirl (DC Comics), Wonder Woman ‘77 (DC Comics), X-Files and Orphan Black (IDW), Sensation Comics featuring Wonder Woman (DC), The Vampire Diaries (DC), Phantom Lady and Doll Man (DC), Star Trek (IDW), Tales For A Halloween Night Vol. 1-5 (Storm King), and over ten years in the Star Wars universe with Lucasfilm. In 2017 a one of a kind original Wonder Woman piece was inducted to the Library of Congress by Lynda Carter along with Wonder Woman '77 Vol 1.

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48. Anna Morozova on Breaking Out, Barbarella & 2000 AD

bj@comicsaredope.com (anna morozova, bj kicks) — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Today, I'm delighted to speak with artist Anna Morozova! You may recognize her work from 2000AD and Judge Dredd comics, but she recently made her American comics debut with Barbarella #1 from Dynamite Entertainment! Check out this interview to hear how Anna left behind the prospect of a lucrative tech career to follow her passion instead, the types of comics she loves to read, and what she hopes to acheive with Blake Northcott on Barbarella.

About Anna:

Anna Morozova is a comics artist and illustrator currently working for 2000 AD and the Treasury of British Comics in the UK plus Glarien in the US. Her published work includes Future Shocks, Terror Tales, Tales from the Black Museum, Judge Anderson, Viva Forever, Lowborn High and Rocky of the Rovers for Rebellion, plus the creator owned Star-Nav written by Alan Hebden and published in the Pandora comic anthology.

She has previously worked for Comichaus, DC Thomson Heritage Comics, ODEON Luxe/Engine Mischief PR, Panini, University of Dundee and the Scottish Government.

She holds an MDes in Comics and Graphic Novels and a BSc in Digital Interaction Design, both from the University of Dundee.

For more from Anna, visit http://annamorozova.uk

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47. The Spooky Return of Chris Robinson

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 3 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Back in Episode 37, we welcomed former Marvel editor Chris Robinson to the show. We spoke about the role of an editor, the innovations Chris brought to Marvel, and the work it took to publish the Eisner-winning All-Negro Comics 75th Anniversary Hardcover.

Today, Chris returns to talk about his journey as a writer, crowdfunding Werewolf Frankenstein (out in the Direct Market now via Zombie Love Studios), and returning for Bride of Werewolf Frankenstein, a campaign coming just in time for spooky season!

Back 'Bride of Werewolf Frankenstein' here.

About Chris:

Somewhere between creative and corporate is a no-man’s land where Chris Robinson guides content creators and content publishers through the wilderness of storytelling! He’s worked with the biggest IP in the world—story editing and art directing new characters, premises, and initiatives to critical and commercial success.

Some books he’s worked on have won the prestigious Eisner Award—the Oscars of graphic novel publishing—like Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand, The Vision, and Black Panther: World of Wakanda. He’s been part of Eisner-nominated projects too, like X-Men: Grand Design, X-Men: Grand Design-Second Genesis, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, and The Mighty Thor.

Born and raised in Queens, Chris has been going to the Lemon Ice King for over thirty years and still only gets cherry.

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46. Joe Casey talks Jonny Quest, Blood Squad 7 and Breaking Into Comics

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Joe Casey stops by to talk about his storied career, coming up with a fresh take on an animation classic with Jonny Quest, and his appreciation for the new guard of comics media. Jonny Quest is available at your local comic shop now! Issue 3 drops October 9th!

About Joe:

Joe Casey is an American comic book writer. He has worked on titles such as Wildcats 3.0, Uncanny X-Men, The Intimates, Adventures of Superman, and G.I. Joe: America's Elite among others. As part of the comics creator group Man of Action Studios, Casey is one of the creators of the animated series Ben 10.

This episode is sponsored by GlobalComix, the best comics reader app for indies. Get 33% off your 1-year subscription with promo code 'GCXBJKICKS' at checkout!

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45. Rico Renzi on Creativity, Color Art and 10 Years of Spider-Gwen

bj@comicsaredope.com (rico renzi, BJ KICKS) — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 14:09:56 +0000

When I see the words "Color Artist" in the credits of a comic, Rico Renzi is the first name that comes to mind. While my first exposure to his work was Bitter Root (he was good enough to be the only white guy on the creative team), he's probably most famous for co-creating my daughter's favorite character Spider-Gwen. If you haven't seen his colors, that's the book I'd start with.

Today, Rico stops by to talk about his approach to the art of color, how he broke into the comics industry, and what he plans to do now that he's fully cemented.

This conversation wouldn't be possible without our late cohost Skipntosh, so this episode is dedicated to him. We miss you, Curtis.

About Rico:

Rico Renzi is a color artist and designer from Washington D.C.. His work has appeared in WIRED and Fast Company Magazines, and various publications from D.C., Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, Scholastic, Boom Studios, Oni Press and IDW. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife and daughter.

Check out his designs at http://www.nolongermint.com

Follow Rico on IG: @whoisrico

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44. Resurgence of the Valiant Universe feat. Fred Van Lente and AJ Ampadu

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 12:34:56 +0000

The Valiant Universe is going through a major resurgence! Today, I'm talking with 2 of the architects of this massive event. Call your shop to preorder, because things start heating up next Wednesday, 9/18!

Follow Fred on Twitter: https://x.com/fredvanlente

Follow AJ on Twitter: https://x.com/EarthtoneKing

Alien Books is set to dramatically alter the Valiant Universe this September beginning with the can't-miss crossover comic book RESURGENCE OF THE VALIANT UNIVERSE #1! Written by the team of co-writers Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad with art by Guillermo Fajardo, the 4-issue mini-series will follow iconic Valiant heroes including X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Eternal Warrior, Ninjak, Ivar, Rai, Livewire, Faith and more through a world they no longer recognize as the villainous Dr. Silk rewrites the rules of heroism, governance, and death itself. "RESURGENCE represents a huge moment for both Alien Books and Valiant Comics," explains Alien Books Director Matias Timarchi. "We're adamant about publishing meaningful comics that readers will enjoy and that retailers can feel confident stocking on their shelves. We want everyone to feel excited about reading superhero comics again and RESURGENCE is the first part of our plan to reignite that passion."

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43. Jon Dexter Talks Dime Store Detective #4

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Fri, 6 Sep 2024 17:39:01 +0000

To promote the campaign for Dime Store Detective #4, Jon Dexter stops by to talk about how he got into comics, and why bringing varied stories to life is so important to him. You can back the campaign for Dime-Store Detective #1-4 on Kickstarter now!

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42. Ryan Oakley is Breaking into Comics with a Unique Style

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 10:26:25 +0000

Spotlighting up and coming comics creators is one of my favorite things to do. And this one comes highly recommended by a friend of the show! Today, artist Ryan Oakley joins the podcast to talk about her art career, inspirations, and why she REALLY wants to break into mainstream comics.

About Ryan:

Born in Los Angeles, California and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina, Ryan Oakley is a 2016 graduate of Wake Forest University with a B.A. in Studio and Spanish. She is a multimedia artist creating anything from digital works of art and logos to traditional drawings and oil paintings. She is inspired by comic book art and diverse and strong women, which is often reflected in her work.

In 2018, Ryan was 1 of 50 artists selected out of 3,000 submissions for Power to the Polls, a national voter registration drive and traveling art exhibitions. This led to a commission to create women's rights posters for NARAL: Pro-choice America and Unite for Justice for their national day of action August, 26, 2018.

Currently, Ryan has been immersing herself and learning about the comics industry. She recently had a piece featured in the back of the comic book Bitter Root (Issue #3) and has a short comic in the anthology Invisible Illness.

Follow Ryan on Instagram: @ryanoakleyart

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41. Roosevelt Pitt on ANIA, Milestone and 30 Years of Purge

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Amid the 30th Anniversary crowdfunding campaign for his character Purge, Roosevelt Pitt stops by to talk comic history and his lifelong journey to bring proper representation to superhero storytelling.

Back the Purge: 30th Anniversary Campaign

About Roosevelt:

Roosevelt Pitt is a thirty-year veteran author, designer, publisher and entrepreneur. Pitt is the owner of AMARA Entertainment Inc…an innovative company created to formed, produce and distribute ethnic superhero comic books to fill the void left by the lack of positive African American heroes in the marketplace. Roosevelt has written children books, graphic novels and movie scripts for his company and others throughout his twenty-year career. He enjoys speaking about the importance of creativity and the fundamentals of living a healthy lifestyle.

Pitt owned his first comic book publishing company at age 22. He has been recognized for his accomplishments and excellence as a publisher by Newsweek, USA Today, Business North Carolina, Fox News and Entertainment Tonight. His experience in all aspects of advertising, promotions, direct mail, writing, talent management, creative development, design and publishing are used as he directs this multidimensional concept…“Purge” among numerous other characters in the super hero genre.

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40. DJ Ben Ha Meen on Nerd Life, Jimi Hendrix, and his First Graphic Novel

bj@comicsaredope.com (dj ben ha meen, bj kicks) — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 10:27:13 +0000

It's hard to overstate the importance of DJ Ben Ha Meen's work as an influence to my career as a podcaster. And what's crazier is I didn't even realize it. Today, Ben Ha Meen stops by to talk about his early days, influences in comics and music, how DJing made him cool, the legacy of The Combat Jack Show, and how his first graphic novel came about. We even talk about why most comic podcasts just don't work. It's an entertaining listen, for sure.

Warning: This episode contains strong language throughout.

Purchase Jimi Hendrix: Purple Haze here.

About DJ Ben Ha Meen:

DJ Ben Ha Meen is a native of Third Ward, Texas. He is an alumnus of Howard University, where he studied film and television. Ben Ha Meen IS THE CO-CREATOR OF THE GRAPHIC NOVEL JIMI HENDRIX: PURPLE HAZE, as well as a self published author of THE children’s book The World Is Yours. A world renowned DJ and music producer, a WGA screenwriter (American Gods), and a pioneering podcaster (ForAllNerds Show, The Combat Jack Show).

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39. Joe Corallo on Creative Fulfillment, Adapting Cartoons and Kardak the Mystic

bj@comicsaredope.com (joe corallo, BJ KICKS) — Fri, 9 Aug 2024 00:44:45 +0000

It's the conversation the internet gods didn't want you to hear! But not even a hurricane could stop the fury of Joe Corallo. A razor sharp critic and all around entertaining guy, Joe stops by to talk about the role of an editor, writing for fulfillment vs paying the bills, where the ideas come from, and how he balances it all.

About Joe:

Joe Corallo started self-publishing comics he wrote in 2011 with various collaborators and tabled at his first convention. As he got more involved in the world of comics, he became a contributor to pop culture websites including insertgeekhere, ComicMix, Geek dot com, and Geeks OUT where he serves as blog editor.

His short-form comics writing can be found in a number of anthologies including Archie’s Jinx’s Grim Fairy Tales and Happy Horrordays, the Ignatz nominated Dates Vol. 3, as well as Dead Beats: A Musical Horror Anthology, Yule: Dreadful Tales For The Holiday Season, and Lower Your Sights; all Ringo Award nominees. It also includes his DC Comics debut in DC Pride: A Celebration Of Rachel Pollack which spotlights DC's first trans superhero, Coagula, for the first time in over two decades available June 4th, 2024.

His long-form work includes collaborations with Liana Kangas on the series She Said Destroy and TKO Shorts #1: Seeds of Eden, Rachel Pollack on The Never-Ending Party released digitally through ComiXology Originals and in print through Dark Horse Comics, as well as having written Becstar and Dahlia In The Dark for Mad Cave Studios. His debut young adult graphic novel King Arthur & the Knights of Justice, a reboot of the 90's animated series, is available now.

Joe is also an Eisner and GLAAD award nominee and Ringo award-winning editor of comics and graphic novels from his anthology he curated and co-edited with Molly Jackson, Mine: A Celebration Of Liberty And Freedom For All Benefiting Planned Parenthood and Oh S#!t It's Kim & Kim! His clients include ComicMix, A Wave Blue World, Black Mask Studios, ComiXology Originals, MERC Publishing, Mad Cave Studios, and Dynamite Entertainment.

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38. Geoff Thorne on Continuity, Deep Lore & X-Force

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 1 Aug 2024 11:53:12 +0000

Geoffrey Thorne is an American screenwriter, television producer, novelist and actor.

Thorne was born in Washington, D.C. After a successful career as a television actor including portraying police officer Wilson Sweet in the television series In the Heat of the Night from 1988 to 1993, Thorne began writing professionally, winning Second Prize in Simon & Schuster's sixth annual Strange New Worlds anthology with his story "The Soft Room." He went on to publish more stories in several media tie-in anthologies as well as the Star Trek: Titan novel Sword of Damocles.

Other stories he has written include contributions to Flying Pen Press's anthology Space Grunts, MV Media's Steamfunk anthology, and Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine.

As a screenwriter, Thorne was a writer for season 9 of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, multiple episodes of the Ben 10 and Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man franchises was a writer on season 3-5 of TNT's Leverage and a writer-producer on the Electric Entertainment's The Librarians.

In 2014 Lion Forge Entertainment and NBC-Universal tapped Thorne to reboot the global fan favorite TV series, Knight Rider in comic book form. Thorne is also the co-creator of Phantom Canyon, an audio drama from Pendant Productions.

In 2017 Marvel Entertainment tapped Thorne to be head writer and showrunner of the animated Avengers series, retitled Avengers: Black Panther's Quest, and in 2019 he became Co-Executive Producer of Ghost, the first spinoff of the STARZ network global smash hit, Power.

Thorne is also a co-founder and writing partner of GENRE 19, a studio he formed with artist Todd Harris in 2008.

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37. Chris Robinson on Marvel's Voices, Hip Hop Variants and All-Negro Comics #1

bj@comicsaredope.com (chris robinson, bj kicks) — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 10:05:12 +0000

If you're a person of color who reads Marvel Comics, there's a fat chance that Chris Robinson has had a hand in a lot of the things you love. Over 5 years spent in editorial at the House of Ideas, Chris was instrumental in several key initiatives including the Hip Hop Variant Covers program, X-Men: Grand Design, and the Marvel's Voices comic anthology.

Since leaving Marvel, Chris got to work on a passion project of his -- restoring 1947's All-Negro Comics #1 and publishing it for wider distribution. The 75th anniversary hardcover campaign was a resounding success, and is nominated for the 2024 Eisner Award for Best Archival Collection/Project.

Chris joins today to talk about navigating his career, why the All-Negro Comics reprint was so important, and what he values as a comic writer and editor.

Learn More about the All-Negro Comics 75th Anniversary Hardcover: http://anc75.com

About Chris:

Born and raised in Queens, Chris has been going to the Lemon Ice King for over thirty years and still only gets cherry.

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36. Traveling Worlds Away with Damien Becton

bj@comicsaredope.com (damien becton, BJ KICKS) — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 16:28:40 +0000

If you stay active in comic spaces on social media, you're bound to meet a few likeminded people. But when I met comic writer Damien Becton at this year's HeroesCon, it was like seeing a long lost friend for the first time. It's hard to explain, but you'll hear it in today's interview. In this episode, Damien stops by to talk about breaking into comics, winning the Mad Cave Studios Talent Search, and his campaign for Worlds Away Volume 1, available now.

Back Worlds Away on Kickstarter: http://worldsawaycomic.com

Follow Damien's Journey: https://www.damienbecton.com/

About Damien:

Damien was born in Sumter, SC and earned his Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina Upstate. In 2021, he won the Mad Cave Studios Talent Search as a writer — the project currently in production. When he’s not writing and creating, he’s teaching 6th graders ELA at a middle school in Charlotte, NC.

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35. Staying Dangerous with Tad Stones, Creator of Darkwing Duck

bj@comicsaredope.com (Tad Stones, BJ KICKS) — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Rescue Rangers. Adventures of the Gummi Bears. Aladdin: The Animated Series. DARKWING DUCK. To say that Tad Stones was instrumental to my childhood would be the understatement of the century. And today, I'm talking to the man himself. Listen to hear:

How Tad stumbled into a career in Animation
What classic comics and cartoons inspired Darkwing Duck
Which new Darkwing series is Tad's favorite
How Tad Stones is involved in an unannounced Darkwing Series
The status of the Darkwing Duck TV Reboot!

Dynamite Entertainment is bringing back some classic Darkwing Duck comics, as well as new series featuring creators like Amanda Deibert, Roger Langridge and Jeff Parker. The campaign has ended, but is still accepting late backers. Secure your copy of these beautiful oversized hardcovers at http://comicsaredope.com/darkwing

About Tad Stones:

Tad Stones (born c.1952 in Burbank, California) is an American animator, screenwriter, producer and director best known for his work for The Walt Disney Company, where he worked from 1974 to 2003. His most notable credits for Disney include creating, writing and producing the animated series Darkwing Duck and producing Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears, Aladdin and Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. His latest project is the animated series Bob's Burgers, which premiered in January 2011 on Fox.

See Tad's Original Art on Instagram @tadstones

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34. Building the Epiphany Engine with Joe Illidge

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 4 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Joseph P. Illidge is a name that rings bells in my circle of comics fandom. Over 31 years, he has helped usher in stories featuring many of my favorite characters of all time. Static. Hardware. Nightwing. He paired Greg Rucka with Shawn Martinbrough for one of the most acclaimed Detective Comics runs, and even oversaw the No Man's Land event in the Batman office. What else would you expect from someone who learned under the direct tutelage of the late Dwayne McDuffie?

Today, Joe joins the show to talk about his career, the importance of supporting Independent Black Comics, and his involvement in the crowdfunded project Epiphany Engine, arguably the biggest Black Comics crossover of all time.

About Joseph P. Illidge:

Joseph started his editorial career at Milestone Media, Inc., the influential comic book publisher profiled in the MAX documentary “Milestone Generations”

About Epiphany Engine:

EPIPHANY ENGINE is a 192-page, original graphic novel composed by some of the best, most talented African American Creators in the Comic Book Industry. Dubbed "The Dream Team", these creators represent Black Excellence in every aspect of the game. Basically, this is a vision powered by creative excellence.

The story centers around the McKali family, a family of brilliant scientists, whose latest experiments to better mankind by unlocking the secrets of the universe are met with horrifying results. As an experiment brings forth a mysterious being, a cosmic-level threat named Abzylom, who wants to collapse this reality and mold a new universe while destroying the family in the process. While trying to stop Abzylom, tragedy strikes the family and they are separated from one another and scattered across the multiverse. Unfortunately, they must also deal with the consequences that their failed experiment has gone astray, accidentally disrupting the fabric of the multiverse and placing creation itself at risk. The family must save not only themselves but existence as we know it as well.

Consequently, the rupture has brought great beings of power to action. With the odds stacked against them, the brave McKali family has to not only escape from the clutches of their cosmic foe but also build an army of heroes from across the multiverse to defeat Abzylom, as well as find each other and heal from their family’s loss.

This is only the beginning of the thrilling adventure that awaits you in the pages of the EPIPHANY ENGINE Graphic Novel!

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33. The Cold Ever After with Jeremy Whitley

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 17:45:00 +0000

After the recent release of his latest graphic novel, The Cold Ever After, Jeremy Whitley joins the show to talk about writing for younger audiences, telling stories of underrepresented groups, and making it all fun.

Jeremy Whitley is a writer from Durham, North Carolina. He broke into comics in 2010 with the Eisner-Nominated smash hit comic Princeless. He then spun off a second book in the same world called Raven Pirate Princess that highlighted the adventures of Raven and her all-girl crew of pirates.

After the success of Princeless, Jeremy has gone on to write for a number of existing properties including an acclaimed run for Marvel’s Unstoppable Wasp, Future Foundation, Hulk Vs. Thor: Champions of the Universe and a ground breaking coming out story for Marvel’s Gwenpool in their Love Unlimited series. He has also written for Sea of Thieves, Vampirella, and over 50 issues of My Little Pony.

Currently he is writing School for Extraterrestrial Girls, The Dog Knight, The Cold Ever After, and The Dashing School for Wayward Princes.

Huge thanks to HIVE Comicade for hooking up this conversation!

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32. RISE-ing to the Occasion with Trevor Fernandes-Lenkiewicz

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 09:55:07 +0000

As the campaign for RISE #2 goes underway, writer Trevor Fernandes-Lenkiewicz joins to talk about his origins, leaving behind a career in science, and telling personally charged stories the world needs to hear.

About Trevor:

Trevor Fernandes Lenkiewicz (AREA 51: THE HELIX PROJECT, MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT) has written critically acclaimed series such as Area 51: The Helix Project, Rise, and Minutes to Midnight: The Hour Between Life and Death. His work has been described as “Incredible” by The Work Print and “Like nothing else I’ve ever seen” by The Comic Book Yeti. After founding Pocket Watch Press in 2020, Trevor continues to produce personally charged independent genre stories that explore themes of identity, self-sacrifice, and the consequences of violence.

About RISE:

RISE follows Jonathan A. Prufrock as he delves into what it really means to be a good man while attempting to be super. The first two issues of this premium print comic combine for a whopping 74+ pages and explores one male's ego through the elevated life of a superhero attempting to navigate the pressures of what it really means to be a good man.

Back the campaign here

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31. Putting L'Ton on the Map with Wolly McNair, David Rucker & Danny Quick

bj@comicsaredope.com (Danny Quick, Wolly McNair, David Rucker) — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 09:51:16 +0000

Wolly McNair and David Rucker join with special guest Danny Quick to talk about L'TON, the newest project from Bequest Studios.

About L'Ton:

To save the people and city he loves from destruction, Jamal Thompson decides to sacrifice whatever innocents or joy remained within him to move without restraints. To stop monsters, he has become a more dangerous monster, trading in his humanity to instill fear in those devastating his hometown and give hope of a better tomorrow for the people and city he loves.

Back the Campaign at http://comicsaredope.com/lumberton

About Wolly McNair:

Wolly is the co creator and co writer of the series. He is a freelance illustrator and designer whose clients have included Archie Comics, TOPPS, IDW, Nike, 4th Wall Pros, and more. He is also a co founder of Bequest Studios, and has written, illustrated and published several creator owned projects including Fairy Tale Knights (co written with Jerale Clebourne), Legends of the Black Pandas, Skull Kidz, and his up and coming graphic novels and comic; King Supreme, Super Bastard, and PaKuma.

About David Rucker:

David is the co creator and co writer of the series. He is the founder of Decimation Studios where he publishes Decimation Earth, an on going comic series that he created and writes. He has several projects under his belt in development from both his studio and various others he has partnered with.

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30. Chris O'Hara is Battling A.I. with Vincent Van Gogh

bj@comicsaredope.com (CHRIS O'HARA, BJ KICKS) — Thu, 6 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Amid the campaign for Artificial #2, Chris O'Hara stops by to talk origins, being inspired by cinema, and why Artificial is a story that HAD TO be told.

About Chris O'Hara:

Chris, the founder of BentBox Comics, is not only a writer and graphic designer from SWF but also a creative soul. Since childhood, he seized every opportunity to create, from homemade movies to short stories, engaging everyone around him with his entertaining ventures. In 2022, Chris achieved a significant milestone by publishing his first comic book, titled "Artificial," which garnered successful funding through Kickstarter. Chris not only continues the series but also ventures into creating other titles, showcasing his ongoing commitment to the world of comics.

Buy Chris' books at BentBox Comics

This episode is brought to you by Darkwing Duck! Back Dynamite's latest Kickstarter Campaign and get 3 ALL-NEW hardcovers at http://comicsaredope.com/darkwing

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29. Writing for All Ages with Lamar Giles

bj@comicsaredope.com (lamar giles, BJ KICKS) — Thu, 30 May 2024 16:40:02 +0000

You guys know I'm a huge fan of the Dakota Universe. But Lamar Giles and Paris Alleyne's Static: Up All Night nearly slipped out of my radar entirely. When I noticed my mistake, I ended up reading the whole book in one sitting, and it leapfrogged into my Top Books of 2023 list. Somehow, my video review landed on the screen of the man himself, so we set up this fun conversation.

Listen as we talk about Lamar's lifelong love of reading, Middle Grades authors that inspired him, his exploration of genre fiction, and why diverse storytelling matters. Lamar's next book, Ruin Road, hits the book market in September. After this talk, you'll probably want to run to the nearest store and pre-order it.

About Lamar Giles

Lamar Giles is a well-published author and a founding member of We Need Diverse Books. His most recent novels include NOT SO PURE AND SIMPLE his first Contemporary Coming-of-Age Story (HarperTeen/HarperCollins) and Middle-Grade Fantasy THE LAST MIRROR ON THE LEFT (Versify/HMH), the sequel to his 2019 hit THE LAST LAST-DAY-OF-SUMMER.

Lamar is a three-time Edgar Award finalist in the YA category, for his debut YA thriller FAKE ID (HarperCollins, 2014), his second YA thriller, ENDANGERED (HarperCollins, 2015), and his MG fantasy, EPIC ELLISONS: COSMOS CAMP (Versify/HarperCollins, 2023). His third and fourth YA thrillers, OVERTURNED (Scholastic, 2017) and SPIN (Scholastic, 2019), as well as his middle-grade debut THE LAST LAST-DAY-OF-SUMMER received glowing New York Times reviews, and were named to multiple Best Of lists, including Time Magazine, Kirkus Reviews, and Amazon.

Lamar is the editor of the We Need Diverse Books YA short story anthology FRESH INK (Random House, 2018), and a contributor to many YA and middle-grade anthologies including THREE SIDES OF A HEART (HarperCollins, 2017), BLACK ENOUGH: STORIES OF BEING YOUNG & BLACK IN AMERICA (HarperCollins / Balzer & Bray, 2019), THE HERO NEXT DOOR (Random House, 2019), HIS HIDEOUS HEART (Flatiron Books, 2019) and SUPER PUZZLETASTIC MYSTERIES (HarperCollins, 2020). He has published several short stories for adults.

To learn more or find current offerings, visit http://lamargiles.com

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28. The Heart of a Character Designer with Marcus Williams

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 23 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Marcus Williams is many things. A creator. An illustrator. A role model. But if you ask him, the first thing he'll tell you is he's a Character Designer. Being able to mix and match the things we love to make something new has always served him well. And his latest project, Eye Lie Popeye, is an example of just that.

Today, I speak with Marcus The Visual about his love for characters, the key to a good design, the story of Tuskegee Heirs, and just how Eye Lie Popeye came to be. Check it out, then head to your local shop to pre-order Eye Lie Popeye #1, out August 14th from Massive Publishing.

For more from Marcus Williams:

Follow on Instagram

Follow on Twitter

Check out his Official Website

This episode is brought to you by Things From Another World. Never miss out on a comic again! Just visit http://comicsaredope.com/foc to shop the Final Order Cutoff collection and guarantee a copy of the books you want.

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27. Conquering the Convention Circuit with Greg Burnham

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 16 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Looking at comic book credits online, you might mistake Greg Burnham for a young, up and coming comics writer. But the fact is, he's pretty accomplished already. After self-publishing comics for nearly 2 decades with partner Marcus Williams, the pair firmly established themselves when the hit series Tuskegee Heirs landed on Kickstarter in 2017. Since then, the duo have been a mainstay on the convention circuit.

After participating in the inaugural Milestone Initiative cohort, Greg has written several short comics for DC, and appears to just be scratching the surface of his limitless potential. 2 months ahead of his latest venture, Atlantic Comic Con; Greg joins the show to talk about his comic origins, working with Marcus Williams, and the secret to staying profitable on the road.

Get tickets to Atlantic Comic Con here

Follow Greg on Twitter

Shop Greg's comics on his Official Website

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26. Creating Epic Fantasy with Gary Moloney

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 9 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Few comics have smacked me in the face like When The Blood Has Dried #1. It wasn't on my radar, but once it arrived in my inbox, I was HOOKED after page one. Ahead of the release of issue #2, writer Gary Moloney joins the podcast to talk about his inspirations, his love for epic fantasy stories, and just how much is riding on the success of his direct market debut.

About Gary Moloney:

Gary Moloney is a comic writer from Cork, Ireland, and co-founder of the Limit Break Comics collective. Gary writes across multiple genres, acting as co-editor on the mythology mashup anthologies, Down Below and Fractured Realms. When he's not obsessing over the morphology of the Irish language or the political dystopia we seem headed towards, Gary can usually be found on the water, windsurfing until the frostbite sets in.

Follow Gary on Twitter at @m_gearoid

Purchase When The Blood Has Dried at Things From Another World

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25. The Art of the Interview with David Harper

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 2 May 2024 09:54:29 +0000

Perhaps there's no better description of David Harper than the one given by superstar writer James Tynion IV back in 2023.

"Frankly, I think David does the best work in the comics journalism space today, and I’ve always valued his insight into the comics industry. Beyond that, I think he’s the best interviewer currently working in our corner of the comics business."

Today, I interview the best interviewer in our business (Whew, No pressure!) about the passion he brings to his endeavors. I think this is a conversation any aspiring comics journalist would love to hear, and a great look behind the curtain for everyone else.

This Conversation Covers:

David's move from Staff Writer to solo journalist
David's goal for SKTCHD & Off Panel
The key to a great interview
Indiana Pacers Basketball
Whatever else we could think of

Follow David on Twitter @slicedfriedgold, and be sure to subscribe to Off Panel, available on all podcast platforms.

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24. David Pepose on Space Ghost, Overcoming Fears & Writing Comics

bj@comicsaredope.com (David Pepose, BJ KICKS) — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Today, David Pepose stops by to talk about building up the courage to start a comic writing career, and why he's super excited to bring Space Ghost to a new generation of comic fans.

--------------------------

Links Mentioned:

Grab the Terminator 40th Anniversary collections via BackerKit

Shop Space Ghost Comics at http://dynamite.com

Keep up with David Pepose on his Official Website

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23. Will Robson's Wonderful World of Zombies

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 09:45:06 +0000

Meet Will Robson! Writer and creator of OUTBREAKS. Will is a professional comic book writer and artist who has worked on BATMAN, STAR WARS, SPIDER-MAN AND DEADPOOL, THE FANTASTIC FOUR, SPAWN, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES and many more awesome titles! Will writes and letters every story in OUTBREAKS and draws the backup, DEAD EYE DICK!

Back Outbreaks #1-3 on Kickstarter Here

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22. Stephanie Williams' Strange & Unsung Journey

bj@comicsaredope.com (Stephanie Williams, BJ KICKS) — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 09:50:00 +0000

Fixed Audio Reupload

It's been an amazing 5 years for Stephanie Williams. From Kickstarting hilarious web comics to authoring the official encyclopedia of DC's strangest heroes; Steph is carving out a lane all her own, and she's not slowing down any time soon.

In a conversation 2 years in the making; I spoke to Stephanie about her journey into comics, her approach to storytelling, and how she learned to confidently take up space in an industry that 'effing sucks' sometimes.

More from Stephanie Williams:

Follow Steph's exploits on her Official Website

Grab Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur: Wreck and Roll! on Amazon via Scholastic

Order Strange and Unsung All-Stars of the DC Multiverse on Amazon via Running Press

Watch Superhero Club featuring Stephanie Williams on the Prime Video YouTube Channel

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21. Three Years a YouTuber with BunkmastaB

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 4 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Recently, my good friend BunkmastaB reached 500 subscribers on his YouTube Channel, just as Comics Are Dope was nearing 10k on our own. For some reason, he thought soliciting a conversation from me would be an entertaining celebration. Yeah, I don't know either. But I'm always happy to show up for my friends.

The result was an introspective look at my first 3 years on Comics YouTube, my thoughts on growing without losing your soul, and what I'd like to see from the platform moving forward.

Hopefully, this gives you some insight on why I do the things I do with this show.

Enjoy!

Follow BunkmastaB on YouTube: http://youtube.com/@bunkmastab

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20. Elliot Kalan on Comedy, Greek Mythology, and Writing Hercules

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Today I'm talking to Elliott Kalan. If you're like me, you've been living under a rock (or a stack of comics) for the past two decades, and may not have heard the name. Besides being a writer of hilarious comics, Elliott is the former Head Writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart -- a job that earned him FOUR Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing.

I spoke with Elliott about where his love for writing started, why he continues to come back to comics, and why he's uniquely qualified to take on everyone's favorite Demigod.

Follow Elliott on T̶w̶i̶t̶t̶e̶r̶ X at http://twitter.com/elliottkalan

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19. Tony Fleecs on Feral, 90's Cartoons and Stray Dogs

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 09:56:22 +0000

Tony Fleecs and Trish Forstner's STRAY DOGS was my runaway favorite title of 2021. As they prepare to follow it up 3 years later with FERAL, writer Tony Fleecs sits in the guest chair to discuss what goes into making a follow up.

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18. Bequest Studios is the Wu Tang Clan of Comics

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 09:53:06 +0000

If you've been at a con in the south in the last 10 years, you've likely seen each of the gentlemen in today's episode at least 5 times. Known more for their singular accomplishments (and Tik Tok antics); Danny J. Quick, Morgan Iverson, Ro Lamb and Wolly McNair have teamed up to form a new studio, Bequest, which they say is a perfect combination of Milestone Media and the Wu-Tang Clan.

Their debut hardcover is up for pre-order on Kickstarter, with a foreword by yours truly! Listen to this conversation, then run to your nearest web browser to secure your copy!

Back the Campaign at htttp://bjkicks.link/bequest

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17. Greg Pak On The Humanity of Storytelling and Lilo & Stitch

bj@comicsaredope.com (Greg Pak, BJ KICKS) — Thu, 7 Mar 2024 10:57:44 +0000

Over two decades, Greg Pak has built a career in comic writing by taking on such titans as Hulk and Darth Vader. With a special knack for bringing forth the humanity that unites all of us, he's now taking on another temperamental monster in the pages of Lilo & Stitch. Today, I'm talking to Greg about how he got into comics, how he feels storytelling can change the world, and the common thread he's woven through 20 years of working on some of our biggest Pop Culture icons.

About Greg Pak:

Greg Pak is an award-winning comic book writer and filmmaker currently writing Ronin Island and Firefly for BOOM!, Star Wars: Darth Vader for Marvel, and Stranger Things middle grade comics for Dark Horse. Pak wrote the Code Monkey Save World graphic novel and Princess Who Saved children's books based on the songs of Jonathan Coulton and co-wrote (with Fred Van Lente) the acclaimed Make Comics Like the Pros how-to book. His other work includes the comic book series Planet Hulk, World War Hulk, and Magneto Testament.

Pre-Order Lilo & Stitch here.

For More from Greg Pak, visit http://www.gregpak.com

Buy Exclusive Items from Greg Pak at http://www.gregpakshop.com

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16. Morgan Hampton talks the Milestone Initiative, Networking in Comics, & Writing Cyborg

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 10:52:05 +0000

Morgan Hampton has always wanted to write comics. When he had opportunities to speak to established writers at meet & greets, or through his freelance writing role at Black Nerd Problems, he always took full advantage, using the time to soak up as much as he could about the industry. Now he's got six issues of Cyborg under his belt, and is working on Sons of Star Trek, a comic based on his favorite Star Trek show of all time.

Today, Morgan and I talk about his journey, what it was like applying to the Milestone Initiative, and just how much his tenacity has helped him since.

Follow Moe on X at http://twitter.com/moellennial

Pre-Order Cyborg: Homecoming on Amazon here.

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15. Nikolas Draper-Ivey on Static: Shadows of Dakota, Anime Influences & What Comes Next

bj@comicsaredope.com (Nikolas Draper-Ivey, BJ KICKS) — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 12:04:40 +0000

If today's episode feels like a private chat among friends, that's no accident. I became acquainted with Nikolas Draper-Ivey shortly after he was announced as the series artist for Static: Season One -- the title that kicked off the Milestone Returns line at DC Comics. We've been building a solid rapport ever since, but I could never get him to sit for an interview -- until now.

In this conversation, I ask Nik about his journey so far. He explains his origins as an artist, how he got the attention of Milestone Media's Reginald Hudlin & Denys Cowan, and what it's meant to be trusted with a beloved character like Static for a new generation of readers.

Static: Shadows of Dakota is now available in hardcover from DC Comics/Milestone Media, and you can purchase it here.

About Nikolas Draper-Ivey:

Nikolas Draper-Ivey is an American illustrator based outside of New York City. Born in Lansing, Michigan in 1991. He grew up in Detroit, where his father first exposed him to Japanese animation with Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira. In his adolescence he discovered Shonen Jump Magazine. This inspired him to pursue a career as a professional illustrator. In 2010 he began his first semester at Savannah College Of Art & Design (SCAD) in Georgia as a Sequential Art major with a minor in Illustration.

His style plays heavily on use of light and shadow and combines afro-futurist elements with hints of fantasy, hip-hop and punk culture and his love cinematography. His two biggest influences are Roger Deakins (Director of cinematography for Blade Runner 2049) and Takeshi Obata, (artist for Hikaru No Go, Death Note, BAKUMAN Platinum End). In 2014, after moving to New York City, he had the chance to meet with his idols, Editor Koji Yoshida and mangaka Takeshi Obata who praised his early works as a “successful fusion of his Eastern and Western influences”.

Currently, Draper-Ivey is working on his original work Dream Vesper, he firmly believes that his unique Afro-Asian futuristic art style can change the world

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14. Christopher Priest on Vampirella, Personal Faith & Creator Owned Comics

bj@comicsaredope.com (Christopher Priest, BJ KICKS) — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 11:00:00 +0000

I'm excited to present the third and final portion of my conversation with Christopher Priest. We've had a great time talking about his 45 year comics career, but today is all about his latest writing project -- Vampirella.

As Priest relaunches Vampirella with issue #666, we talk about his approach to the character, balancing creativity with personal convictions, and what he hopes to add to the mythos.

We also talk about his creator-owned comic turned film project Xer0, and answer fan questions including whether or not Priest would ever return to Black Panther. Check it out, and be sure to leave a rating and review if you like it!

This episode is sponsored by Organic Priced Books. Grab the upcoming DC Versus Marvel collections for 40% off at http://comicsaredope.com/crossover

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13. Christopher Priest on Making Statements, Realism vs Escapism and Story Structure

bj@comicsaredope.com (Christopher Priest, BJ KICKS) — Thu, 8 Feb 2024 11:00:00 +0000

There aren't many in the industry with a career as legendary and storied as that of Christopher Priest. The first Black writer at both Marvel AND DC Comics, he's written or edited on every superhero you can name. Our interview spans three hour-long episodes, the second of which I'm excited to present here.

In Part 2 of our conversation, we dig into Priest the writer. How does he decide what to include in his books? Where did the time-skips come from? Who are his favorite characters? Find out as you listen, and be sure to pre-order Vampirella #666 at your local comic shop, or at http://www.dynamite.com

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12. Christopher Priest Talks Influences, Inspiration and Breaking Barriers

bj@comicsaredope.com (christopher priest, BJ KICKS) — Thu, 1 Feb 2024 11:00:00 +0000

We talk about A LOT including:

Being Hired by Marvel in the late 1970's
The Role of a Comic Book Editor
Learning from Legends like Larry Hama and Denny O'Neil
Being Inspired by other Storytelling Mediums
The Harsh Realities of a Career in Comics

Be sure to stay tuned for part 2 next week, or watch the FULL, UNCUT VIDEO, live for paid members on our YouTube Channel right now.

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11. Roger Langridge Talks the Joys of Cartooning and All Ages Comics

bj@comicsaredope.com (Roger Langridge, BJ KICKS) — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 15:06:07 +0000

When I asked Roger Langridge about the legacy he'll leave, he said "My tombstone will probably say 'Wrote the Muppets, then died.'" But the fact is, Roger is continuing the tradition of some of the greatest storytellers in history.

We talked about his love for Carl Barks, newspaper strips, and the approach he brings to his own works -- including The Muppet Show, and the upcoming Justice Ducks miniseries he's penning for Dynamite Entertainment. I asked him what it's like switching from artist to writer, and drawing from real life as inspiration for his daily strip Hotel Fred.

I had a blast talking to Roger, and I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation.

Buy Justice Ducks at http://dynamite.com/disney, and follow Roger's adventures at http://hotelfred.com

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10. Greg Weisman Commemorates 30 Years of Disney's Gargoyles

bj@comicsaredope.com (greg weisman, bj kicks) — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Greg Weisman is an American novelist, writer, producer and voice actor. He is best known as a creator of the animated series Gargoyles, The Spectacular Spider-Man and Young Justice. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Disney's Gargoyles, and Greg and the team at Dynamite Entertainment are celebrating in a major way, by bringing classic Gargoyles comics back into print for the first time in over a decade! The campaign ends Feb. 12th, so hurry over to Kickstarter to back it.

Back the campaign at http://bjkicks.link/gargoyles

Get NEW Gargoyles comics at http://dynamite.com/disney

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9. Matt Mair Lowery Talks THOUGHTSCAPE, Best Sci-Fi Movies and More!

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 19:03:40 +0000

Today, I'm joined by writer Matt Mair Lowery to talk about THOUGHTSCAPE, the Sci-Fi anthology he's been self-publishing for 3 years. Issues 4 and 5 are being Kickstarted now, but they need your help to meet the goal! Listen to our talk, then visit http://thoughtscape2024.com to back the campaign.

"ThoughtScape Comics is an anthology series serving up sci-fi action, thrills and chills in the tradition of 2000 AD, Black Mirror and The Twilight Zone. Anything is possible in these taut tales of trauma and transformation, of people pushed past their limits by the gods and monsters they meet - or become - at the edges of technology and reality."

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8. Sweeney Boo Talks Cruella De Vil, Writing for Disney & Balancing Art vs Writing Duties

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 17:09:24 +0000

I recently had the pleasure of talking with comic artist and writer Sweeney Boo ahead of the premiere issue of Disney Villains: Cruella De Vil. Listen as the Eat and Love Yourself creator talks writing for Disney, scripting for other artists, and how her love for art and animation drove her into the career of her dreams as a cartoonist.

Order Disney Villains: Cruella De Vil at http://dynamite.com/disney

Follow Sweeney on Instagram at http://instagram.com/sweeney_boo

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7. Long Live Skipntosh

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 19:46:00 +0000

Last week, we lost a dear friend in the comics community, and the co-host of this podcast. Curtis Fisher, aka Skipntosh, was like a big brother to me. I enjoyed telling him as much when we would record our podcast episodes together. I don’t know how he found the channel or our community, but he immediately made his presence felt. Always there to plug awesome indie comics and challenge us to think deeply about our critiques.

Skip cared deeply. About comics. About music. About basketball. And about people.

Skip loved being a part of the community. He loved storytelling that went beyond the surface. He loved obsessing over scripts, line art, colors and lettering (in that order). He loved seeing everyone get the praise their art deserved, and he wanted to contribute to their successes in any way he could. In some instances, that just meant yelling very enthusiastically and singing the praises of people like Jonathan Hickman, Nick Dragotta, Dan Watters, Ram V, Justin Greenwood, and countless others.

Skip wanted a healthy fandom. Where we can all bond over great stories and great art. Where even if we didn’t agree on the quality of storytelling, we could at least bond over the fact that comics all brought us here in the first place. If a conversation got too toxic, Skip didn’t really want to participate. And I think that’s why we were lucky enough to have him among our ranks. Whether the debate was about Tom King, LeBron vs MJ, or the best 80s B-Movies, Skip loved a healthy discussion.

In the days since I learned of his passing, I’ve been trying to decide what to institute on the channel in Skip’s honor. Maybe an Indie Pick of the Week, or a monthly citizenship award. The truth is, there’s nothing I can do to fill the gap left by Skip’s passing. He was one of a kind in a way that can’t really be quantified. Perhaps the best I can do is amplify these words by our mutual friend Bunkmasta B:

“Skip's only gone if we let him be gone. When we talk about our favorite comics, and particularly dope indies, Skip's there. When we have disagreements with each other but always keep it super respectful and take the time to listen to what the other person is saying instead of waiting for our turn to say why they're wrong, Skip's there. When we choose to see the good and the beauty in things when everyone else is just latching onto surface level reasons why it's bad, Skip's there.”

My prayers are with Curtis’ family, especially his two daughters; his friends across all fandoms, and with all the people who knew him best. Thanks for sharing him with us. If you knew Curtis, I’d love to read some of your favorite memories with him in the comments below.

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6. Why Indie Comics Are Where It's At

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Sun, 4 Jun 2023 12:31:57 +0000

Since I got into comics, Skipntosh has been beating the indie drum as loudly as he can. In this issue of Comics Are Dope, I give him an audience and allow him to state his best case for why indies should take over your comic book reading experience.

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5. Why FREE COMIC BOOK DAY is So Amazing

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Wed, 3 May 2023 02:34:52 +0000

Free Comic Book Day holds a special place in my heart. After all, it was Free Comic Book Day that got me into comics as an adult, and eventually led me into talking about comics online as a passion project. I've seen a lot of cool things around this event over the years. Today, I'm sharing what I think makes Free Comic Book Day a magical experience.

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4. Milestone Made Mine

bj@comicsaredope.com (Brandon Jackson) — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 17:09:21 +0000

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Milestone Media, its creators, and their characters. But I haven't really tried to put my fandom into words until now. In this episode, you'll hear why Milestone matters to me so much.

Watch my interview with Denys Cowan: https://youtu.be/jf9em0aTIGk

Grab the Milestone Compendium at http://bjkicks.link/milestone

About Milestone:

Milestone Media is a company best known for creating Milestone Comics, which were published and distributed by DC Comics and the Static Shock animated series. It was founded in 1993 by a coalition of African-American artists and writers, consisting of Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis and Derek T. Dingle. The founders felt that minorities were severely underrepresented in American comics and wished to address this.

Learn More on their official website, http://milestone.media

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3. Justin Greenwood Talks TORRENT, Creator Owned Comics & Work Ethic

bj@comicsaredope.com (Justin Greenwood, BJ KICKS, Skipntosh) — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 03:05:33 +0000

Today, Skip and I are joined by Justin Greenwood, co-creator of comics like Torrent, Compass, Stumptown and more! Listen as he tells us how he got into comics, how he goes about choosing comic projects, and his tips for success in the industry.

JUSTIN GREENWOOD is an artist best known for his work on comic book series like TORRENT, AREA 510, STUMPTOWN, CRONE, THE LAST SIEGE, THE FUSE and the non-fiction graphic novel ALEXANDER HAMILTON: The Graphic History of an American Founding Father. Born and raised in the Bay Area, he attended the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA and graduated with a BFA in Traditional Illustration. As a freelance artist, he has worked with many companies including Image Comics, Oni Press, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Ten Speed Press/Penguin Random House, Sideshow Collectibles, Amazon, RadicalMedia, ABC Studios and the Golden State Warriors. Greenwood is also one of the executive producers of the ABC television show STUMPTOWN, based on the Oni Press comic of the same name.

Learn More about Justin at http://justingreenwoodart.com

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2. What Makes a Good Comic?

bj@comicsaredope.com (BJ KICKS, Skipntosh) — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 02:54:09 +0000

If we're going to spend hours each week telling you what comics to buy, we should probably take some time to establish what we think is good, and why.

Listen as Skip and I talk about what satisfies us as comic readers, and what types of stories we're most likely to recommend.

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Join in the discussion around the clock by joining the Comics Are Dope Community on Facebook or Discord.

Comics Are Dope (The Podcast) is brought to you by Organic Priced Books. Shop new Collected Editions with great packaging, fast shipping and excellent customer service at http://bjkicks.link/opb

Watch Comics Are Dope on YouTube: http://youtube.com/@comicsaredope

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1. Why We (Still) Love Comics

bj@comicsaredope.com (Skipntosh, BJ KICKS) — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 02:22:56 +0000

Welcome to Comics Are Dope - The Podcast! I've wanted to branch out into podcasting for a while, but honestly wasn't sure if I could shoulder the load alone. Thanks to my bro Skipntosh, I don't have to. Join us for episode one, where we talk about our love from comics, and what you can expect from this show.

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Join in the discussion around the clock by joining the Comics Are Dope Community on Facebook or Discord.

Comics Are Dope (The Podcast) is brought to you by Organic Priced Books. Shop new Collected Editions with great packaging, fast shipping and excellent customer service at http://bjkicks.link/opb

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0. The Zero Issue

bj@comicsaredope.com (BJ KICKS) — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 04:00:00 +0000

When I started out on YouTube, I didn't quite expect my love for comics to really take over my life the way it has. But the things I love don't always play well on YouTube, so I'm starting this Podcast so I can talk about the things I love with people who care.

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