Word Balloon Comics Podcast

Wes Craig is one of the most distinctive visual storytellers working in comics today. His dynamic layouts and inventive storytelling helped define Deadly Class, the acclaimed Image Comics series he co-created with writer Rick Remender, which also made the leap to television.Now Wes is taking on one of the biggest icons in comics with Superman: The Stranger, a six-issue DC Black Label series that he's both writing and drawing. It's a return to the Man of Steel's roots in 1938, with a young, brash Superman fighting corruption and injustice in a Depression-era Metropolis. We discuss his love for the original Siegel and Shuster Superman, the influence of the Fleischer cartoons, and what makes that early version of the character surprisingly relevant today.We also look back at his collaboration with Remender on Deadly Class and dive into Kaya, his creator-owned fantasy adventure from Image Comics, which has given Wes the freedom to build an entire world on his own terms.

Few artists in comics have brought the kind of elegance, imagination, and sheer visual storytelling that P. Craig Russell has delivered throughout his remarkable career. From his groundbreaking work on Marvel's Killraven with writer Don McGregor to his unforgettable interpretations of Doctor Strange, including the classic annual "What Is It That Disturbs You, Stephen?", Russell has always approached comics with a unique blend of fantasy, mythology, and fine art.Now Craig is returning to his acclaimed Night Music series with a new Kickstarter campaign, revisiting the kind of personal, beautifully illustrated storytelling that has defined so much of his work.In this conversation, we'll discuss the new project, look back at his interpretations of Marvel's characters, and explore his creative process and the influences that have made his work so distinctive for more than five decades.

Time for another Sunday Conversation. Richard Starkings is back, and this time he's joined by his longtime collaborator, artist Abigail Jill Harding, to talk about their gothic horror fantasy, Parliament of Rooks, and its upcoming sequel, The White Rook, which launches on Kickstarter this October.Richard and Abigail have been working together for years, beginning with Abigail's contributions to Richard's epic science-fiction series Elephantmen, and continuing with Ask for Mercy, their wild supernatural adventure that mixes monsters, World War II, horror, and science fiction.Now, with Parliament of Rooks, they're exploring a different kind of horror, filled with gothic atmosphere, dark secrets, and beautifully unsettling artwork. We'll discuss the story, Abigail's distinctive visual style, and where they plan to take things in The White Rook.

Monstrous Books is revititaizing the Universal film Crossovers, in Comic Book Form. James Aqulilone and JK Woodward Discuss, plus JK's Kickstarter on his series Behemoth