Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast

Light the Bat-Signal, friends. Scott Snyder is back on the podcast, reflecting on Batman: The Court of Owls and how it served as a massive lesson in character. Both on and off the page. Fifteen years ago, a roar rushed through every local comic book shop. Cries of blasphemy rattled over the racks and rippled atop the longboxes. DC Comics rebooted every single one of their titles with a new number one, calling it The New 52, and readers were as anxious about it as they were willing to buy every single title. It was a linewide reset, and it felt as radical as comics could get for new readers, and even gave the old heads some pause. Batman (Vol. 2) #1 arrived on September 21st, 2011. It was written by Scott Snyder, penciled by Greg Capullo, inked by Jonathan Glapion, colored by FCO Plascencia, and lettered by Richard Starkings and Jimmy Betancourt. Today it’s considered a modern classic, having just gotten the Compact Comics $9.99 seal of approval. Fifteen years ago, however, it was anything but a sure thing, especially from Scott Snyder’s perspective. On this hallowed Batman Day, we’re deeply pleased to chat with Scott Snyder about this extreme moment in time. We discuss the panic he felt when he first got the title, the mission he set for himself, and the battle he fought to stay on target with his new partner-in-comics, Greg Capullo. Is Batman the ultimate detective? Or can he screw up royally, living decades in ignorance while the diabolical Court of Owls controls his streets? Fighting for a fallible Bruce Wayne nearly got him ripped off the book, but his passion for growth-mindset superheroes is what’s rocketing Absolute Batman to the top of the bestseller charts today. Follow Scott Snyder on Bluesky and Instagram, and subscribe to his Substack. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Listen AD-Free! Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Previously on CBCC: Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta on Absolute Batman Previously on CBCC: Daniel Warren Johnson on Absolute Batman Annual #1 Previously on CBCC: Frank Miller on The Dark Knight Returns Previously on CBCC: Grant Morrison on Batman/Deadpool Previously on CBCC: Todd McFarlane and Greg Capullo on Batman/Spawn Previously on CBCC: Matt Fraction on Batman (Vol. 4) #1 The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art: Extended Patreon Review Subscribe to the CBCC Newsletter 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. This Week's Sponsors The Cryptid Hacker Force is a team of Cryptid Hackers who are responsible for covering up Cryptid Sightings. They are based in Scotland because the world's biggest camera hog is the Loch Ness Monster, and whenever someone gets a photo of her, the team has to go into action to blur photos and delete Instagram posts. This is a lovingly irreverent take on Cryptids in the mode of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Issue #1 was entirely self-funded and has been a huge hit for Green Archer Comics, and today, they’re Kickstarting issue #2 to reach a wider audience (but don't worry, you can still grab issue #1 if you missed it). Cryptid Hacker Force is written by brothers Allan and Benn Liska, illustrated by Kieran Squires, with a main cover by our friend and fave, Sarah Myer, of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Saturday Morning Adventures. Click here to back the Kickstarter! In the bloodstained tradition of Afterlife With Archie, something wicked this way comes to Riverdale in an infernal new ongoing series from multiple Eisner Award nominee Patrick Horvath and Russ Manning Award winner Tyler Crook. They say that every small town has a secret. Well, in the case of Riverdale, it’s one heck of a humdinger… An ancient order of cultists has infiltrated the town, and they need a human sacrifice to bring their century-old plan to fruition. Their target? Hometown football champion and all-around good guy Archie Andrews. Unstuck from time and space. Bound to a terrible curse. Late for school. Face the fire when Archie in Hell #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on November 4th. Art fans, character-design lovers, and anyone who appreciates anime-influenced illustration, you’re going to want to check this out. Reminiscent: Zeronis Art is a new art book celebrating the work of acclaimed character and concept artist Paul “Zeronis” Kwon! The book is now live on Kickstarter from Clover Press. Whether you know his work from League of Legends or you’re discovering his art for the first time, Reminiscent offers a look at years of incredible artwork and the evolution of Zeronis’s unmistakable style. This 152-page deluxe hardcover book collects character concepts, portraits, original designs, and much more! Select Kickstarter tiers include a limited-edition slipcase, exclusive print sets, sticker sheets, a collectible numbered lithograph, and high-end acrylic prints. Reminiscent: Zeronis Art is live on Kickstarter now. Visit the campaign and make your pledge today! We’re cutting the Law down to size! As Judge Dredd celebrates fifty years of publication in 2027, now is the time to read his stories from the beginning. Judge Dredd: The Compact Crimes begins in January 2027 - a new series of compact comics featuring the Lawman of the Future. Collecting his original stories right from the start, this is the perfect way to try out Judge Dredd for the first time. Printed in compact size, each volume is filled with the sharp satire, keen wit, and all-out action Dredd is known for. Each volume costs only $12.99, with a new volume releasing every month in 2027 – so you can keep your Law in Order! This September, obsession, exploration, and terror take center stage at IDW Publishing! On September 9th, fandom turns fatal in Fixation #1. A beloved vampire franchise. A small mountain town packed with superfans. And a killer hiding in plain sight. If you love twist-filled mysteries, true-crime tension, and stories where obsession turns frightening, this one’s for you. Then, a new era begins with Star Trek #1! Captain Seven of Nine leads the Enterprise-G beyond known space, relocating a dying civilization to the mysterious Epsilon Corridor. The future of Star Trek begins here. (Pick up the exclusive Local Comic Store Day cover!) And on September 23rd, kickoff becomes a nightmare in Smile: Any Given Smile #1. It’s the championship game of the decade. Big game. Big money. And a killer smile spreading through the crowd. Ask your local comic shop to pre-order today and start your September with IDW.

We want everyone who needs this comic to find this comic. Pig Wife astonished us both, but our first encounter with it rocked us so hard we needed weeks to process it. After that, Pig Wife took root, and we’ve carried the comic ever since, processing much of our daily lives through its lens. Lisa read it first, early in the year. As she turned through its pages, the temperature around her seemed to increase. The book affected her chemistry, challenged her perspective, morphing with her as she morphed around it. Brad read Pig Wifesecond, and we’ve talked about little else until this week, when cartoonist Abbey Luck joined us on the podcast for a comprehensive discussion. Published by Top Shelf Productions, Pig Wife recounts the tale of Mary, a young girl dragged to a remote mining town by her mother and stepdad. Living in dead aunt Pearl’s house triggers a familial confrontation that sends Mary through a trapdoor, leading to an abandoned gold mine. There, she meets those who live below, and nothing will ever be the same again. We discuss Pig Wife’s origins with Abbey Luck, who she initially imagined her audience to be, and how her relationship with surrealism captured a profound honesty about people. Pig Wife is a lot, and may not be for every reader, but for those who connect with it, as we did, they will mark Pig Wife as one of the year’s best books, and maybe one of the best books of the twenty-first century. Pig Wife is out now in paperback. It’s written by Abbey Luck with art by Luck and Ruka Bravo. Make sure you’re following Luck on Instagram. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art: Extended Patreon Review Subscribe to the CBCC Newsletter IDW Superlatives: Brad vs. Chris Hacker 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. This Week's Sponsors The Cryptid Hacker Force is a team of Cryptid Hackers who are responsible for covering up Cryptid Sightings. They are based in Scotland because the world's biggest camera hog is the Loch Ness Monster, and whenever someone gets a photo of her, the team has to go into action to blur photos and delete Instagram posts. This is a lovingly irreverent take on Cryptids in the mode of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Issue #1 was entirely self-funded and has been a huge hit for Green Archer Comics, and today, they’re Kickstarting issue #2 to reach a wider audience (but don't worry, you can still grab issue #1 if you missed it). Cryptid Hacker Force is written by brothers Allan and Benn Liska, illustrated by Kieran Squires, with a main cover by our friend and fave, Sarah Myer, of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Saturday Morning Adventures. Click here to back the Kickstarter! Art fans, character-design lovers, and anyone who appreciates anime-influenced illustration, you’re going to want to check this out. Reminiscent: Zeronis Art is a new art book celebrating the work of acclaimed character and concept artist Paul “Zeronis” Kwon! The book is now live on Kickstarter from Clover Press. Whether you know his work from League of Legends or you’re discovering his art for the first time, Reminiscent offers a look at years of incredible artwork and the evolution of Zeronis’s unmistakable style. This 152-page deluxe hardcover book collects character concepts, portraits, original designs, and much more! Select Kickstarter tiers include a limited-edition slipcase, exclusive print sets, sticker sheets, a collectible numbered lithograph, and high-end acrylic prints. Reminiscent: Zeronis Art is live on Kickstarter now. Visit the campaign and make your pledge today! We’re cutting the Law down to size! As Judge Dredd celebrates fifty years of publication in 2027, now is the time to read his stories from the beginning. Judge Dredd: The Compact Crimes begins in January 2027 - a new series of compact comics featuring the Lawman of the Future. Collecting his original stories right from the start, this is the perfect way to try out Judge Dredd for the first time. Printed in compact size, each volume is filled with the sharp satire, keen wit, and all-out action Dredd is known for. Each volume costs only $12.99, with a new volume releasing every month in 2027 – so you can keep your Law in Order! This September, obsession, exploration, and terror take center stage at IDW Publishing! On September 9th, fandom turns fatal in Fixation #1. A beloved vampire franchise. A small mountain town packed with superfans. And a killer hiding in plain sight. If you love twist-filled mysteries, true-crime tension, and stories where obsession turns frightening, this one’s for you. Then, a new era begins with Star Trek #1! Captain Seven of Nine leads the Enterprise-G beyond known space, relocating a dying civilization to the mysterious Epsilon Corridor. The future of Star Trek begins here. (Pick up the exclusive Local Comic Store Day cover!) And on September 23rd, kickoff becomes a nightmare in Smile: Any Given Smile #1. It’s the championship game of the decade. Big game. Big money. And a killer smile spreading through the crowd. Ask your local comic shop to pre-order today and start your September with IDW.

A common complaint within the comics discourse is that new books can’t get past the sixth issue. Well, friends, have you been reading The Toxic Avenger over at Ahoy Comics? Cartoonist Matt Bors, along with several other artists, has been building a massive universe of stories at Ahoy, and they’ve radically upgraded the Troma superhero for the modern era. These are books with bite, and stories stuffed with relevance. Bors is back on the podcast this week to explore how he became the one to shape the comic book Toxie. We discuss his earliest encounter with the character in cartoons and films, and how those experiences were his first foray into the taboo and into challenging the system. We talk about maintaining the Troma spirit, making filmmaker Lloyd Kaufman proud, and creating space to tell your own damn stories. Next month, Toxie and Yvonne find themselves pregnant in the new Ahoy series, The Toxic Avenger vs. The Noxious Offender. Parenthood will challenge them in ways they can not possibly imagine, especially when Toxie's evil doppelgänger makes his first comic book appearance. We’ve read the first two issues, and they’re dynamite. Bors and artist Felipe Sobreiro deliver another essential Toxic Avenger story packed with genuine emotion and powerful pertinence. If you’re looking for a universe to get lost in, you must seek it out. Before diving into our conversation with Matt Bors, we also review the new documentary, The Mad World of Harvey Kurtzman, directed by Bart Simpson (no, not that one). We connect the dots between Kurtzman and Bors, and celebrate the massive reach Mad (and so many other Kurtzman creations) has had on all of us. The Toxic Avenger vs. the Noxious Offender #1 lands in shops on October 7th, but FOC is this upcoming Monday. Call your shops if you want this book in your box. It’s written by Matt Bors, illustrated by Felipe Sobreiro, colored by Lee Loughridge, and lettered by Rob Steen. Make sure you’re following Bors on Instagram and BlueSky. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Subscribe to the CBCC Newsletter IDW Superlatives: Brad vs. Chris Hacker Previously on CBCC: Matt Bors and Ben Clarkson on Justice Warriors Comic Book Film Club: Akira at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia on 9/6 at 5:45 PM. Co-Sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. 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. This Week's Sponsors We’re cutting the Law down to size! As Judge Dredd celebrates fifty years of publication in 2027, now is the time to read his stories from the beginning. Judge Dredd: The Compact Crimes begins in January 2027 - a new series of compact comics featuring the Lawman of the Future. Collecting his original stories right from the start, this is the perfect way to try out Judge Dredd for the first time. Printed in compact size, each volume is filled with the sharp satire, keen wit, and all-out action Dredd is known for. Each volume costs only $12.99, with a new volume releasing every month in 2027 – so you can keep your Law in Order! This September, obsession, exploration, and terror take center stage at IDW Publishing! On September 9th, fandom turns fatal in Fixation #1. A beloved vampire franchise. A small mountain town packed with superfans. And a killer hiding in plain sight. If you love twist-filled mysteries, true-crime tension, and stories where obsession turns frightening, this one’s for you. Then, a new era begins with Star Trek #1! Captain Seven of Nine leads the Enterprise-G beyond known space, relocating a dying civilization to the mysterious Epsilon Corridor. The future of Star Trek begins here. (Pick up the exclusive Local Comic Store Day cover!) And on September 23rd, kickoff becomes a nightmare in Smile: Any Given Smile #1. It’s the championship game of the decade. Big game. Big money. And a killer smile spreading through the crowd. Ask your local comic shop to pre-order today and start your September with IDW.

The only way to have a friend is to be one. Kodi by Jared Cullum perfectly encapsulates the notion. The original graphic novel, published six years ago, told the exquisite story of a lonely girl, Katya, rescuing a bear in need, Kodi, and finding connection through the act. Now, Cullum is back with a follow-up, Kodi: A Place to Call Home. It could have easily continued the cozy, warm, watercolor comfort of the original story. Instead, the new book challenges the friendship and, in doing so, celebrates what made it beautiful in the first place while showing how such connections must evolve. Kodi: A Place to Call Home is relatable, sweet, complicated, and wonderfully surprising. To put it in even simpler terms, it’s one of the best graphic novels of the year. We are most pleased to have Jared Cullum on the show this week. Even more so because the artistic core from which Kodi: A Place to Call Home sprang forth is more surprising than we imagined. We chat with Cullum about his relationship with friendship, how the first book came to be, and why he felt compelled to be even more explicit about his intentions when making the second book. Both Kodi and Kodi: A Place to Call Home are now available from Top Shelf Productions. Make sure you’re following Jared Cullum on Instagram and BlueSky. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Subscribe to the CBCC Newsletter Comic Book Film Club: Akira at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia on 9/6 at 5:45 PM. Co-Sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. 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. This Week's Sponsors We’re cutting the Law down to size! As Judge Dredd celebrates fifty years of publication in 2027, now is the time to read his stories from the beginning. Judge Dredd: The Compact Crimes begins in January 2027 - a new series of compact comics featuring the Lawman of the Future. Collecting his original stories right from the start, this is the perfect way to try out Judge Dredd for the first time. Printed in compact size, each volume is filled with the sharp satire, keen wit, and all-out action Dredd is known for. Each volume costs only $12.99, with a new volume releasing every month in 2027 – so you can keep your Law in Order! This September, obsession, exploration, and terror take center stage at IDW Publishing! On September 9th, fandom turns fatal in Fixation #1. A beloved vampire franchise. A small mountain town packed with superfans. And a killer hiding in plain sight. If you love twist-filled mysteries, true-crime tension, and stories where obsession turns frightening, this one’s for you. Then, a new era begins with Star Trek #1! Captain Seven of Nine leads the Enterprise-G beyond known space, relocating a dying civilization to the mysterious Epsilon Corridor. The future of Star Trek begins here. (Pick up the exclusive Local Comic Store Day cover!) And on September 23rd, kickoff becomes a nightmare in Smile: Any Given Smile #1. It’s the championship game of the decade. Big game. Big money. And a killer smile spreading through the crowd. Ask your local comic shop to pre-order today and start your September with IDW.

It’s always a good time when Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips find their way back on the show. It’s especially grand when they’re back to chat about That Texas Blood, and it’s even better when they come guns blazing with the new Hell Comes to Allison Ranch relaunch and news of an upcoming television adaptation. FOC for the new series is this upcoming Monday. Get on your Bat-phone, and get your local comic shop on the line. Here’s your chance to jump on the That Texas Blood chuckwagon. That Texas Blood: Hell Comes to Allison Ranch begins in 2003. America has just invaded Iraq. Sheriff Joe Bob wants his son to witness the history on TV, but the teen just wants some alone time with his Xbox. An argument is brewing, but then the call comes in. War is on their doorstep; the Allison Ranch, a local institution, is apparently coming under heavy fire. Sheriff Joe Bob and Deputy Wilson investigate. Things get rough. It’s been four years since the previous That Texas Blood storyline. While Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips have never been busier, they’ve been itching to return to the title that solidified their reputation. We discuss what That Texas Bloodoffers them that no other story does. We explore how this series reflects our current moment and how genre tropes guide their characters toward revelation. During our introduction, we also discuss the sudden closing of Meanwhile…Coffee in Herndon, Virginia. It’s where we founded our in-person Comic Book Club, which has become a staple in our creative pursuits. We encourage others to form their own Comic Book Clubs, and we announce where the next iteration of our Comic Book Club will meet in September. That Texas Blood: Hell Comes to Allison Ranch will hit shops on September 23rd, courtesy of Image Comics. It's written by Chris Condon, illustrated by Jacob Phillips, with color assists by Pip Martin, and lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Follow Chris Condon on Bluesky. Follow Jacob Phillips on Blue Sky and Instagram. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Subscribe to the CBCC Newsletter Meanwhile...Coffee Announces its Closure Previously on CBCC: Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips on The Peril of the Brutal Dark Previously on CBCC: Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips on The Enfield Gang Massacre Previously on CBCC: Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips on a Holly Jolly That Texas Blood Previously on CBCC: Matthew Rosenberg on We're Taking Everyone Down With Us 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. This Week's Sponsors Glinda and the Wicked Witch finally get their romance. Vampire Snow White and Werewolf Belle must fight the evil queen, while exes-to-lovers, Sleeping Beauty and Alice, try to escape a Nightmare version of Wonderland. Kat and Phil at Lifeline Comics have been building a Kickstarter empire with their Mature Fairy Tale Universe for years…did we also mention they are queer? Well, now they are all colliding in a special Big 2-style event. Nothing will be the same. Head to Kickstarter for Fairy Tale Wars #1, which sees the popular series The Beast and Snow, Nightmare in Wonderland, and The Witches of Oz crossover for a first-of-its-kind comics event. I Love Apocalyptic Zombie Misfits! is the wild new original graphic novel from Doug Wagner and Daniel Hillyard, the twisted minds behind Plastic, Vinyl, Plush, and the current hit Image book, Narco. Imagine a post-apocalyptic world where Heaven and Hell are at war, a nerd wakes up trapped in the body of a supernatural slasher, and his only allies include a roller derby angel, a possessed truck...and immortal murder chickens. Critics are already calling it wildly creative, wonderfully weird, and an absolute blast. Back the Kickstarter for an oversized deluxe hardcover, exclusive editions, art prints, and even the Murder Chickens Card Game, available only during the campaign. If you love horror, dark comedy, and comics that break every rule, head to Kickstarter and search I Love Apocalyptic Zombie Misfits! before the campaign disappears! This August, the 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special is here to make it a nuclear Summer! This 48-page Summer Special features five self-contained stories featuring Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog, Judge Death and Stickleback – the King of Crime! Never read 2000 AD before? This is a great way to jump on board and try out The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic. With a cover by Liam Sharp and stories from a galaxy of reality-warping creators, this is all-out sci-fi with an anarchic edge. And the best news is? It’s available through Lunar – so you’ll be able to order it through your LCS! It’s the ultimate apocalyptic beach read – so make sure you pick up the 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special this month!