Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast

As far as mantras go, Street Sharks have one about as good as they come. They fight. They bite. They stand for everything right. You can read it on the opening page of each issue of the IDW Publishing series, and as we discuss with writer Stephanie Williams this week, given everything going on in the world, it’s worth repeating every time you crack open the comic. Street Sharks may have begun as a cash grab in the wake of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ success. However, under Stephanie Williams’ direction, in collaboration with artist Ariel Medel, the comic book series distinguishes itself by embracing the Bolton brothers’ chill attitude amid abject horror. They’re Supergirl to TMNT’s Superman. They lived a life before their Krypton exploded. They know what they lost, they lived what they lost, and they still choose to direct their jawesome chompers toward villainy. It's pure superhero comics. You might be thinking, what the Big Slammu are you talking about? Well, you just have to dig into this week’s episode to appreciate the comparison truly. We’re getting deep with Street Sharks this podcast, discussing community, reluctant heroism, and mob mentality with Stephanie Williams. Two weeks ago, our co-host Lisa didn’t know a thing about Street Sharks, but as of today, she’s INVESTED. The first four issues of Street Sharks are now available from IDW Publishing. The fifth issue, concluding the first arc, swims into comic shops on February 18th. Street Sharks is written by Stephanie Williams, illustrated by Ariel Medel, colored by Valentina Pinto, and lettered by Jeff Eckleberry. Also, follow Stephanie Williams on Bluesky, Instagram, and her website. This Week's Sponsors This February, Dave Stevens’s The Rocketeer soars again in a brand-new story written by John Layman, the genius behind the foodie cannibal detective series Chew, and illustrated by Jacob Edgar, who drew Plastic Man: No More and has a very cool J. Bone/Darwyn Cooke style. The new series is called The Rocketeer: The Island. Our skybound hero, Cliff Secord, leads a dangerous search and rescue mission. Who’s he looking for? None other than Amelia Earhart! The first issue crashes into comic book shops on February 25th, courtesy of IDW Publishing. The Future is Calling! 2000 AD is the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, with new issues published every single week! Every 32-page issue of 2000 AD brings you the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, and more. Get a print subscription to 2000 AD and it’ll arrive to your mailbox every week - and your first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! 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 CBCC on the Comics Matter Podcast Support Your Local Comic Shop: Secret Identity Comics in Chester, England Comic Book Club: Batman: The Court of Owls at Meanwhile...Coffee in Herndon, Virginia, on 2/1 at 3:30 PM Comic Book Film Club: Blade at the Alamo Drafthouse Winchester on 2/15 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.

Friend, put your phone down. Quit doomscrolling. You owe it to yourself and everyone else who came before you. It’s time to get in the fight, and First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth by Angélique Roché, Alvin Epps, Millicent Monroe, and Bex Glendining is a comic designed to inject some serious motivation into your social media-addled, catatonic body. The fight may be new to you, but it's been raging for centuries. That’s not a despairing thought; it’s an activating one, and once you stand on the shoulders of the heroes that came before, you’ll find the perspective required to block the hateful from gaining any more ground than they already have. As a comic book reader, you already have all the tools and knowledge to resist fascism. On this week’s podcast, we chat with journalist, comic creator, and podcaster Angélique Roché. Once approached to write First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth, she threw herself into an intense research phase. We discuss the stress and excitement of the process, and the motivation she secured in telling Dr. Opal Lee’s life story. Juneteenth was only recognized as a national holiday in 2021. It’s the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Day was signed into law in 1983. It never would have happened without Dr. Opal Lee and the lessons she learned from other warriors over her extraordinary lifetime. First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth arrives in comic book shops and bookstores, thanks to Oni Press, on February 10th. Make sure you follow Angélique Roché via her website, Bluesky, and Instagram. This Week's Sponsors The Future is Calling! 2000 AD is the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, with new issues published every single week! Every 32-page issue of 2000 AD brings you the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, and more. Get a print subscription to 2000 AD and it’ll arrive to your mailbox every week - and your first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Stand with Minnesota Buy Books from Greg Ketter and DreamHaven Books Daniel Warren Johnson on Absolute Batman Annual Comic Book Club: Black Arms to Hold You Up at Meanwhile...Coffee in Herndon, Virginia, on 2/1 at 3:30 PM Comic Book Film Club: Blade at the Alamo Drafthouse Winchester on 2/15 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.

Those in the know have been (im)patiently waiting for The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery. Of course, no one has been waiting as long as the comic’s creators, Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips. The series originated when Condon was a student, determined to make the whole damn thing himself. Then, after discovering his That Texas Bloodcompatriot, Phillips, they did a draft for their Patreon, and even tried to manifest it into a legitimate Indiana Jones comics project. Their wishful thinking caught the attention of DC editor Chris Conroy, who suggested they make it part of their Vertigo Comics relaunch. Folding The Peril of the Brutal Dark into the iconic imprint solidified the concept and encouraged them to push its noir/adventure core to its highest potential. The comic wears its hardboiled blockbuster influences on its sleeve, while maintaining an aggressive intensity familiar to the readers of Condon and Phillips. That Texas Blood, The Enfield Gang Massacre, these are comics made by folks grown on bloody pop culture, but propelled into thematic realms that are anything but dusty. The Peril of the Brutal Dark is one of ten new titles launching within DC’s new Vertigo imprint, resurrected six years after it was initially put away. The comic gives us an excuse to revisit the importance of Vertigo Comics within the industry when it launched, discuss its legacy, and consider what a new iteration means in an era when “Suggested for Mature Readers” no longer carries the allure it once did. We begin our conversation with Condon and Phillips by talking about their history with Vertigo Comics. How does The Peril of the Brutal Dark fit inside it? How has the comic evolved over the years? What separates their fedora-wearing hero, Ezra Cain, from the whip-cracking nazi-puncher that inspired him? If you think it's not punching nazis, you’re wrong. More nazis get punched, like all should be. The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #1 arrives in comic book shops from DC Comics on 2/25. It's written by Chris Condon, illustrated and colored by Jacob Phillips, and lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Final Order Cutoff (FOC) is Monday, February 2nd. Follow Chris Condon on Bluesky. Follow Jacob Phillips on Blue Sky and Instagram. This Week's Sponsors The Future is Calling! 2000 AD is the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, with new issues published every single week! Every 32-page issue of 2000 AD brings you the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, and more. Get a print subscription to 2000 AD and it’ll arrive to your mailbox every week - and your first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics The Stampies: Best Comics of 2025 (Part One) The Stampies: Best Comics of 2025 (Part Two) Read The Stampies on GlobalComix Previously on CBCC: Jacob Phillips on Megalopolis Previously on CBCC: Chris Condon on News from the Fallout Previously on CBCC: Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips on The Enfield Gang Massacre Previously on CBCC: Jacob Phillip and Sean Phillips Previously on CBCC: Jacob Phillips on Everything Dead and Dying Previously on CBCC: Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips on That Texas Blood The Oblivion Bar Comics Fantasy Draft with Brad and Sal Comic Book Club: Black Arms to Hold You Up at Meanwhile...Coffee in Herndon, Virginia, on 2/1 at 3:30 PM Comic Book Film Club: The Phantom w/Billy Zane Virtual Intro at the Alamo Drafthouse Winchester on 1/25 Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Immediately after we recorded our last conversation with Brad Meltzer, we recorded a secret second episode. He was aching to discuss his next project, but he couldn’t quite let the cat out of the bag until Marvel Comics released its press release. Well, friends, today’s the day. The word is out: Brad Meltzer is writing the main story for the upcoming Spider-Man/Superman crossover. Now, we can release our secret conversation. In this exclusive interview with Brad Meltzer, we discuss what these icons mean to the bestselling author and what he hopes to achieve by bringing them together. Meltzer lavishes praise upon his collaborator, artist Pepe Larraz, and assures us that their story will speak directly to the two unique heroisms Spider-Man and Superman practice. We also consider how their origins might cause friction within a team-up. Our conversation with Brad Meltzer also provides another opportunity to debate those iconic words written by Stan Leein Amazing Fantasy #15: “With great power there must also come great responsibility.” We all know what those words mean, right? Right? Let’s get into it. Spider-Man/Superman #1 will hit comic shops on April 15th. In addition to Brad Meltzer and Pepe Larraz’s story, the comic will feature backup tales by Dan Slott, Marcos Martin, Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, Jason Aaron, Russell Dauterman, Louise Simonson, Todd Nauck, Joe Kelly, Humberto Ramos, Brian Michael Bendis, Sara Pichelli, and more. Make sure you head to your local bookstore to get your copy of The Viper, and follow Brad Melzer on Instagram and Bluesky. This Week's Sponsors The Future is Calling! 2000 AD is the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, with new issues published every single week! Every 32-page issue of 2000 AD brings you the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, and more. Get a print subscription to 2000 AD and it’ll arrive to your mailbox every week - and your first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics The Stampies: Best Comics of 2025 (Part One) The Stampies: Best Comics of 2025 (Part Two) Read The Stampies on GlobalComix Comic Book Club: Black Arms to Hold You Up at Meanwhile...Coffee in Herndon, Virginia, on 2/1 at 3:30 PM Comic Book Film Club: The Phantom w/Billy Zane Virtual Intro at the Alamo Drafthouse Winchester on 1/25 Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

No one makes comics like Dave Chisholm, and we don’t allow him to make one without first making a stop at the podcast. His latest, Is Ted OK?, reveals an artist pushing himself to his very limit, built on an incredible run of 2025 books, our favorite Limited Series from last year, Spectrum, and the gnarly haunted horror, Plague House. Not to forget his work on High Strangeness, which is still in process. Chisholm learns something about himself and the medium every time he steps up to his drawing board, allowing the next project to always top the last. Is Ted OK? The title answers itself, but certainly not in the way you expect. Chisholm imagines a dystopian world, where Ted drones away as a graphic designer for a megacorporation owned by the world’s first trillionaire. He’s disconnected from those around him, friendly only with a cat, and plagued by horrendous night terrors. He’s also being watched 24/7 by Sarah, another employee tasked with monitoring his suicidal and homicidal tendencies. She’s concerned, she wants to help, and her first attempt to do so makes Is Ted Ok?’s first issue climax. This week, we welcome Dave Chisholm back on the podcast. We spent six months with him last year on the show, meticulously dissecting Spectrum with his collaborator Rick Quinn. It’s fun to catch up. We discuss how his past work brought him to Is Ted OK? We talk about allowing comics to be comics and making sure that every panel carries story. In fact, we discuss how every element of a comic is a chance to carry story. FOC (Final Order Cutoff) for Is Ted OK? #1 is Monday, February 2nd. The comic will eventually be available at comic shops on February 25th, thanks to Mad Cave Studios. Make sure you get your order in, and follow Dave Chisholm on Instagram and BlueSky. This Week's Sponsors The Future is Calling! 2000 AD is the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, with new issues published every single week! Every 32-page issue of 2000 AD brings you the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, and more. Get a print subscription to 2000 AD and it’ll arrive to your mailbox every week - and your first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics The Stampies: Best Comics of 2025 (Part One) The Stampies: Best Comics of 2025 (Part Two) Read The Stampies on GlobalComix Previously on CBCC: Rick Quinn and Dave Chisholm on Spectrum Previously on CBCC: Dave Chisholm on Miles Davis and the Search for the Sound Comic Book Club: Black Arms to Hold You Up at Meanwhile...Coffee in Herndon, Virginia, on 2/1 at 3:30 PM Comic Book Film Club: The Phantom w/Billy Zane Virtual Intro at the Alamo Drafthouse Winchester on 1/25 Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

When you read The Viper, the new Zig and Nola novel from Brad Meltzer, it doesn’t take long to see how comics inform the author’s creativity. As he says during our conversation, “It’s Superman and Batman. It’s Spider-Man and Wolverine.” Meltzer grew up a comic book kid, and the ideas he found in Marvel Comics and DC Comics remain at the forefront of his imagination. It’s been a minute since he’s played in our favorite medium, having written stellar runs on Green Arrow and Justice League of America, and we can never forget the monumental event that was Identity Crisis. However, he’s never been far from comics, and it's evident to anyone who’s experienced his Ordinary People Change the World series with Chris Eliopoulos and his novels. The Viper, released this week from William Morrow, is Meltzer’s return to the thriller. It’s a zippy, twisty narrative about a dying man who delivers his suit to the funeral home tasked with handling his body, shortly before he’s murdered, advancing his earthly exit. The death quickly reunites Meltzer’s heroes from The Lightning Rod and The Escape Artist, Zig and Nola, his Superman and Batman, and plunges them into a conspiracy with ties to Nola’s past. We got a lot from The Viper, and we bring it all to Brad Melzer on this week’s podcast. We discuss his life as a comic book kid, how he can’t escape comics, and what he might have on the horizon in terms of the four-color medium. Yes, his Ghost Machine collaboration with Geoff Johns and Gene Ha is coming, but there seems to be something else, too. We try to tease the news out of him. Make sure you head to your local bookstore to get your copy of The Viper, and follow Brad Melzer on Instagram and Bluesky. This Week's Sponsors The Future is Calling! 2000 AD is the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, with new issues published every single week! Every 32-page issue of 2000 AD brings you the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, and more. Get a print subscription to 2000 AD and it’ll arrive to your mailbox every week - and your first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics The Stampies: Best Comics of 2025 (Part One) The Stampies: Best Comics of 2025 (Part Two) Read The Stampies on GlobalComix Comic Book Club: Black Arms to Hold You Up at Meanwhile...Coffee in Herndon, Virginia, on 2/1 at 3:30 PM Comic Book Film Club: The Phantom w/Billy Zane Virtual Intro at the Alamo Drafthouse Winchester on 1/25 Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Welcome back, friend. Our end-of-the-year celebration concludes with The Stampies: Best Comics of 2025 (Part Two). If you missed the Part One party, click here, and discover the comics we considered the saddest of 2025, the most stylish, the most genre-bendy, etc, etc. For this week’s second half award show ceremony, we’re tackling the more traditional categories of Best Limited Series, Best Ongoing, Best Original Graphic Novel, and more. We wrap it all up by anointing the Jesse Tapia II Champ Stamp in honor of our dear departed friend, and announce how we’ll be kicking off 2026 next week. As was the case in our first half, The Stampies: Best Comics of 2025 (Part Two) features several guest-stars from folks across the industry. Each and every one of these cool cats is worth your attention, and we encourage you to follow their work and their socials listed below. This year produced too many dang great comics, but thankfully, these creatives helped us break beyond our limited perspective, and you benefit with even more titles to add to your ever-expanding to-read pile. The Best Comics of 2025 Part One Guest-Stars: Gregg Katzman (Bluesky), IDW Publishing's Senior Publicity Manager. Owen (Bluesky), Owen Likes Comics. Tyler Crook (Bluesky), The Lonesome Hunters, Out of Alcatraz, etc. Avery Kaplan (Bluesky), The Beat, Star Trek, TCJ, etc. BJ Kicks (Bluesky), Comics Are Dope. David Brooke (Bluesky), Owner, Writer, Host at AIPT. Chris Condon (Bluesky), That Texas Blood, Green Arrow, Ultimate Wolverine, etc. Chris Piers (Bluesky), Host of ComicTropes. Christian Ward (Bluesky), Batman: City of Madness, Event Horizon: Dark Descent, Two-Face, etc. This Week's Sponsors GlobalComix is the all-in-one digital comics platform offering unlimited reading of thousands of titles from top publishers, indie creators, across comics, manga, and toons. With GlobalComix Gold, members unlock access to more than 100,000 books and genres - superheroes, horror, sci-fi, manga, fantasy, romance, and more. Right now, GlobalComix is running a special Holiday Gold promotion: when you sign up for a year of GlobalComix Gold for $69, you'll get a bonus premium comics bundle from Dark Horse, DC, Kodansha, and Marvel - included for free. This bundle is valued at $67, making the annual plan essentially pay for itself with the bonus alone. How to Redeem: Use the link https://globalcomix.com/holiday-bundle-2025 to sign up. The offer is live now and available for a limited time (through January 4, 2026). Once subscribed, the bonus bundle will be added to your GlobalComix library. Are you ready to face the future? Look no further than 2000 AD – it’s the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic! Every week 2000 AD brings the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and more! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD, and it’ll arrive at your mailbox every week, and your first issue is free. You’ll also receive the HUNDRED PAGE 2000 AD Christmas Special this December at no extra cost! Or, subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! This Winter, from IDW Publishing, the Heroes in a Half-Shell take on the King of the Monsters! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Godzilla #1 crashes into comic shops on November 12th. Written by Godzilla Kei-Sei Scribe Tim Seeley and illustrated by the brilliant Turtle artist behind the Nightwatcher series, as well as the Stranger Things/TMNT crossover, Fero Pe, this new series finally brings two of our favorite franchises together. How can this reptilian miracle be?  Long before the organization was corrupted by Shredder, the Foot Clan’s original purpose was to save Japan from Kaiju! Now, in the present day, Godzilla and its fellow monsters have reappeared. Not only is the Foot not prepared to stop them…it would seem Shredder himself is behind the attacks! The Turtles are always crossing over into rad nerd realms, but this one might be the king crossover of them all.  The Best Comics of 2025 Part One Category Timestamps: Intro (New Year's Intentions) - 2:52 Global Comix Gold Bundle - 12:23 Best Sleeper Superhero Story - 19:16 - WINNER (TIE): Supergirl: Universe End and Two-Face: Trial Separation (DC Comics) Best Anthology - 30:45 - WINNER: Monkey Meat: The Summer Batch (Image Comics) Best Adaptation - 37:47 - WINNER: Dracula Book II: The Brides (Dark Horse Comics) Best Memoir - 44:26 - WINNER: The Ephemerata (Fantagraphics) Most Engaged Comic - 53:28 - WINNER: Black Arms to Hold You Up (Pantheon) Best Limited Series - 1:02:23 - WINNER: Spectrum (Mad Cave Studios) Best Ongoing Series - 1:13:18 - WINNER: Absolute Batman (DC Comics) Best Original Graphic Novel - 1:24:38 - WINNER: Drome (23rd St. Books) Cartoonist of the Year - 1:31:38 - WINNER: Patrick Horvath (Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring) Jesse Tapia II Champ Stamp - 1:37:27 - WINNER: Randy Clute (Our Day) Lisa's Pick - 1:42:52 - WINNER: The Confessional (Silver Sprocket) Brad's Pick - 1:45:40 - WINNER: More Weight (Top Shelf Productions) Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Friends, let’s celebrate. We’ve made it through another year, and no matter how you felt about the world outside your local comic book shop, you certainly read some great comics. Welcome to our annual award show, The Stampies: Best Comics of 2025. Part One. Every year is a good year for comics. You just have to go out and read them. That’s the secret. We try not to imprison ourselves with characters, genres, publishers, or even our preferred tastes. As long as you’re only interested in good comics, you’ll find them if you read enough, and the brilliant thing about 2025 is that we read a lot, and found so many great comics, but we still didn’t read enough to read all the great comics. Thankfully, we sent out the Comic Book Couples Counseling distress call, and a bunch of our friends from across the industry answered. Peppered throughout our Stampies ceremony are our podcaster, journalist, publicist, and creator friends, each offering their favorite comics from 2025. See a list of them below, and make sure you support their work and follow them on socials. As we do every year, we select our favorite comics and then create the Stampies around them. This two-part episode reflects our weird, collective tastes as a couple. Listeners will recognize several of the titles, but hopefully, we’ve thrown in several surprises, too. You can also find the award categories and (SPOILERS) winners below, listed alongside their timestamps in case you want to hop around or revisit later. For the first time ever, we’ve created physical Stampy Awards to be delivered to the creators. We’re only able to do this thanks to our new sponsor, Global Comix. The all-in-one digital comics platform is currently offfering a great comics bundle when you sign up for their Global Comix Gold program. Make sure you give them a click (more details below), then start browsing their incredible digital comics library. The Best Comics of 2025 Part One Guest-Stars: Lance (Bluesky) and Jeremy (Bluesky) of Comic Book Keepers. Eamon Winkle (Instagram): The Principles of Necromancy, Geiger, etc. Jenna Anderson (Bluesky) of Phase Hero and Go Read Some Comics. Chris Hacker (Bluesky) and Aaron Knowles (BlueSky) of The Oblivion Bar Podcast. Ollie Kaplan (Bluesky) of Comics Beat, Prism Comics, etc. Barbra Dillon (Bluesky): Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Fanbase Press. David Harper (Bluesky) of SKTCHD and Off Panel. Patrick Horvath (Bluesky): Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees. Badr Milligan (Bluesky) of The Short Box Podcast. This Week's Sponsors GlobalComix is the all-in-one digital comics platform offering unlimited reading of thousands of titles from top publishers, indie creators, across comics, manga, and toons. With GlobalComix Gold, members unlock access to more than 100,000 books and genres - superheroes, horror, sci-fi, manga, fantasy, romance, and more. Right now, GlobalComix is running a special Holiday Gold promotion: when you sign up for a year of GlobalComix Gold for $69, you'll get a bonus premium comics bundle from Dark Horse, DC, Kodansha, and Marvel - included for free. This bundle is valued at $67, making the annual plan essentially pay for itself with the bonus alone. How to Redeem: Use the link https://globalcomix.com/holiday-bundle-2025 to sign up. The offer is live now and available for a limited time (through January 4, 2026). Once subscribed, the bonus bundle will be added to your GlobalComix library. This Winter, from IDW Publishing, the Heroes in a Half-Shell take on the King of the Monsters! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Godzilla #1 crashes into comic shops on November 12th. Written by Godzilla Kei-Sei Scribe Tim Seeley and illustrated by the brilliant Turtle artist behind the Nightwatcher series, as well as the Stranger Things/TMNT crossover, Fero Pe, this new series finally brings two of our favorite franchises together. How can this reptilian miracle be?  Long before the organization was corrupted by Shredder, the Foot Clan’s original purpose was to save Japan from Kaiju! Now, in the present day, Godzilla and its fellow monsters have reappeared. Not only is the Foot not prepared to stop them…it would seem Shredder himself is behind the attacks! The Turtles are always crossing over into rad nerd realms, but this one might be the king crossover of them all.  Are you ready to face the future? Look no further than 2000 AD – it’s the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic! Every week 2000 AD brings the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and more! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD, and it’ll arrive at your mailbox every week, and your first issue is free. You’ll also receive the HUNDRED PAGE 2000 AD Christmas Special this December at no extra cost! Or, subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! The Best Comics of 2025 Part One Category Timestamps: Intro (The Year that Was) - 3:51 Global Comix Gold Bundle - 14:04 The Style is the Substance Award - 22:15 - WINNER: News from the Fallout (Image Comics) Best Genre Mashup - 30:38 - WINNER: Absolute Martian Manhunter (DC Comics) Saddest Comic of the Year - 40:00 - WINNER: Everything Dead and Dying (Image Comics) Best All-Ages Comic - 49:29 - WINNER: The Cartoonists Club (Scholastic) Best Young Adult Comic - 55:17 - WINNER: Clementine Book Three (Skybound/Image Comics) Best Nonfiction Comic - 1:06:23 - WINNER: "Dr. Werthless" (Dark Horse Comics) Best Crime Comic - 1:17:49 - WINNER: Out of Alcatraz (Oni Press) Best Short Story - 1:27:40 - WINNER: "Untitled" from Absolute Batman Annual #1 (DC Comics) Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

With the release of Absolute Batman #15 and the big reveal of Absolute Joker, we’re excited to welcome artist Jockonto the show for the first time. We would consider this comic an event even without the gnarly origin story at its center. This is also a big reunion for the artist and his writer collaborator, Scott Snyder. They’ve been delivering killer Batman comics since The Black Mirror, and have already re-invented the Joker concept in The Batman Who Laughs. However, the Absolute Universe allows them to swing for the fences in a way that the main continuity never could. And, as you’ll hear, this required a little recalibration from Jock. Thankfully, Jock grew up consuming some of the most radical comics on the planet, 2000 AD. These Mega-City One stories, often featuring the iconic Judge Dredd, shaped Jock’s imagination and taught him the unique power of a visual narrative. They also revealed why we must never be too enamored of the characters and stories we adore. Conformity is abhorrent. Toys are meant to be broken because that’s the direct result of good, continuous, serious play. If you keep them precious on the shelf, they get dusty and stiff. To understand characters like Batman and Judge Dredd, we must constantly redefine them, whittling them down to their defining characteristics. We discuss with Jock how he had to recalibrate his idea of Batman and Joker before taking on Absolute Batman #15. We talk about his new 2000 AD release, The Art of Judge Dredd by Jock. We examine how 2000 AD continues to influence his work, including Absolute Joker, and how he crafts certain two-page spreads in this comic. Absolute Batman #15 is out now from DC Comics. It’s written by Scott Snyder, illustrated by Jock, colored by Frank Martin, and lettered by Clayton Cowles. You can continue this conversation with Jock by following him on Blue Skyand Instagram. This Week's Sponsors Are you ready to face the future? Look no further than 2000 AD – it’s the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic! Every week 2000 AD brings the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and more! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD, and it’ll arrive at your mailbox every week, and your first issue is free. You’ll also receive the HUNDRED PAGE 2000 AD Christmas Special this December at no extra cost! Or, subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! This Winter, from IDW Publishing, the Heroes in a Half-Shell take on the King of the Monsters! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Godzilla #1 crashes into comic shops on November 12th. Written by Godzilla Kei-Sei Scribe Tim Seeley and illustrated by the brilliant Turtle artist behind the Nightwatcher series, as well as the Stranger Things/TMNT crossover, Fero Pe, this new series finally brings two of our favorite franchises together. How can this reptilian miracle be?  Long before the organization was corrupted by Shredder, the Foot Clan’s original purpose was to save Japan from Kaiju! Now, in the present day, Godzilla and its fellow monsters have reappeared. Not only is the Foot not prepared to stop them…it would seem Shredder himself is behind the attacks! The Turtles are always crossing over into rad nerd realms, but this one might be the king crossover of them all.  Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Previously on CBCC: Daniel Warren Johnson on Absolute Batman Annual Previously on CBCC: Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta on Absolute Batman Comic Book Film Club: 30 Days of Night at the Alamo Drafthouse Winchester on 12/14 Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Sorry to inform you, friends, but it’s December already. The gift-giving season is here, and with it, if you’re at all like us, a month filled with tremendous anxiety. We may love putting together a Comic Book Holiday Gift Guide, but we stress profusely over the actual process of selecting and distributing gifts to our friends and family. Thankfully, just in time, we spoke with Mutts cartoonist Patrick McDonnell about his latest book, The Gift of Everything, which truly helped us center ourselves during a tumultuous moment. Patrick McDonnell is one of our great living cartoonists. For more than thirty years, he has put everything of himself into his comic strip Mutts. It’s where he goes to understand the world around him, using characters like Mooch and Earl to contextualize what’s happening outside his panels and inside his very being. Reading his work, you get the impression that he’s figured something out that you have not, but is that actually the case? We get to the heart of everything in today’s conversation. The Gift of Everything is out now from Little, Brown and Company. It’s a spiritual sequel to McDonnell’s The Gift of Nothing, which was published twenty years ago. It tells the desperate story of Mooch searching for the perfect gift for his pal Earl, and discovering exactly that, but not in the manner he expected. Follow Mutts on Instagram, and sign up for the Daily Mutts strip HERE. This Week's Sponsors Are you ready to face the future? Look no further than 2000 AD – it’s the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic! Every week 2000 AD brings the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and more! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD, and it’ll arrive at your mailbox every week, and your first issue is free. You’ll also receive the HUNDRED PAGE 2000 AD Christmas Special this December at no extra cost! Or, subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! This Winter, from IDW Publishing, the Heroes in a Half-Shell take on the King of the Monsters! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Godzilla #1 crashes into comic shops on November 12th. Written by Godzilla Kei-Sei Scribe Tim Seeley and illustrated by the brilliant Turtle artist behind the Nightwatcher series, as well as the Stranger Things/TMNT crossover, Fero Pe, this new series finally brings two of our favorite franchises together. How can this reptilian miracle be?  Long before the organization was corrupted by Shredder, the Foot Clan’s original purpose was to save Japan from Kaiju! Now, in the present day, Godzilla and its fellow monsters have reappeared. Not only is the Foot not prepared to stop them…it would seem Shredder himself is behind the attacks! The Turtles are always crossing over into rad nerd realms, but this one might be the king crossover of them all.  Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics A CBCC Tribute to Lisa's Father Previously on CBCC: Patrick McDonnell on Guard Dog Watch Patrick McDonnell Inducted into the Harvey Hall of Fame Comic Book Film Club: 30 Days of Night at the Alamo Drafthouse Winchester on 12/14 Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

There are big swings, and then there are huge swings. Writer Adam Rose and artist Magenta King go for the fences with Huge Detective, a genre mashup mystery where giants roam the Earth and wind up dead like any other sacks of meat. The series was recently collected in a pretty trade paperback from Titan Comics, and it immediately had us craving sequels and sidequels. Where’s our Gyant/Bean romance? We’re ready for it. We met Adam Rose earlier this year at San Diego Comic-Con, and bonded quickly over our love for the eighties cartoon series M.A.S.K. After a few minutes of chatting, we knew we wanted to get him on the show, and after a few months of wrangling our schedules, we finally made it happen. Unfortunately, we did not spend the entire time discussing how Matt Trakker is currently running through the panels of Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly’s G.I. Joe comic. Next time, next time. In this episode, we discuss Adam Rose’s love for fantasy and detective fiction. And we force him to choose his preferred genre. Our conversation explores the massive sandbox they’ve created in Huge Detective and the numerous other genres they could possibly explore in future comics. We make our case for romance. We consider Dollsville, too. Huge Detective issues one through five are now available in trade paperback from Titan Comics. They’re written by Adam Rose, illustrated by Magenta King, colored by King and Minimone, and lettered by DC Hopkins. To continue this conversation, follow Adam Rose on Blue Sky and Instagram. This Week's Sponsors Are you ready to face the future? Look no further than 2000 AD – it’s the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic! Every week 2000 AD brings the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and more! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD, and it’ll arrive at your mailbox every week, and your first issue is free. You’ll also receive the HUNDRED PAGE 2000 AD Christmas Special this December at no extra cost! Or, subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! This November, Event Horizon: Dark Descent, the terrifying comic book prequel series to the classic, 90s, hellraising sci-fi film, reaches its epic third issue, and if you always wanted to know the gory details about exactly what went down when the Event Horizon crew were transported to hell, this is the issue you cannot miss. From writer Christian Ward and artist Tristan Jones, Event Horizon: Dark Descent #3 lands in comic book shops on November 12th courtesy of IDW Publishing, with a killer cover by Jeffrey Alan Love and a variant cover by Chris Burnham. "The dead have appeared to me — and there is something else loose upon the ship. If you can hear me, it may be too late for you. LIBERA TE TUTEMET EX INFERIS!" Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics A CBCC Tribute to Lisa's Father Previously on CBCC: Grant Morrison on Batman/Deadpool Live at New York Comic Con: The Massive Comic Book Podcast Crossover Comic Book Film Club: 30 Days of Night at the Alamo Drafthouse Winchester on 12/14 Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Two weeks ago, Lisa lost her father. In August, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and the last three months have been some of the most harrowing days we’ve ever experienced. While we’ve hovered around this topic in recent episodes, we’ve avoided discussing it outright. Today, we were compelled to put it into record. We’re not sure how much you want to engage with this story. If you choose to skip this one, we totally understand. Publishing right on its heels is a much more typical Comic Book Couples Counseling episode with writer Adam Rose, discussing his exceptionally strange comic, Huge Detective. It’s a fun one. Lisa’s earliest encounters with comics were a direct result of her father's love for the funnies. He and his father would mail comics to each other across state lines. They’d hang on the fridge for months until they were replaced with more comics. Lisa’s last text exchange with her father was a laugh over an Ellis Rosen cartoon. Lisa’s humor and heart came from him, and if you’ve ever enjoyed our show at all, it’s because of Dad. Cancer sucks. It’s a horror show. However, it also revealed the tremendous love coursing through our two families and all our friends who came together to support Lisa’s father. These last few months overflowed with as much laughter as tears, and this episode perfectly represents that maddening and beautiful juxtaposition. For November and December, we will donate all proceeds from our TeePublic Shop and Patreon to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. You can also donate directly to them here. Happy Thanksgiving, friends. Whether you listen to this episode, skip directly to the next one, or do neither, know that we appreciate you profoundly. Thanks for spending your time with us. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Lisa's Father's Obituary Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Previously on CBCC: Grant Morrison on Batman/Deadpool Live at New York Comic Con: The Massive Comic Book Podcast Crossover Comic Book Film Club: 30 Days of Night at the Alamo Drafthouse Winchester on 12/14 Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): 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.

Toward the end of our last conversation with Grant Morrison, they mentioned how they would soon be returning to comics, writing a new Batman story. We were ecstatic to hear, but we could not have possibly imagined that the new Batman story would actually be a DC/Marvel Comics crossover featuring the Hollywood darling Deadpool. Even better, it’s a reunion between Morrison and his Klaus collaborator, Dan Mora, which also features numerous backup stories by other rad creators, including Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Joshua Williamson, Hayden Sherman, Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo, Amanda Conner, G. Willow Wilson, and Denys Cowan. The comic is possibly the most surprising book of the year, but not as surprising as Morrison’s willingness to return to the show for an in-depth discussion all about it. You’re in for another treat, friends. Our Grant Morrison Batman/Deadpool conversation is full-spoilers. You must read the comic before pressing play. If you read the book quickly, as our Brad did the first time, you’ll probably miss a great deal. The comic is crammed with Easter eggs and winks, many of which we eventually caught, and a few others we did not until Grant Morrison pointed them out to us. Dan Mora and Grant Morrison’s Batman/Deadpool is very different from Greg Capullo and Zeb Wells’ Deadpool/Batman, which Marvel ran point on a few weeks ago. It’s a fun adventure, but it’s also a story commenting on comics, crossovers, and the writer/reader’s relationship with the fourth wall. Initially, the team-up between Batman and Deadpool felt a little cynical, and/or capitalistic - and it’s still that! However, given Grant Morrison’s relationship with Animal Man and smashing the fourth wall, Deadpool is kind of the perfect character for them. Batman/Deadpool also allows Grant Morrison to right a wrong that occurred in the pages of...well, read the comic first, will ya? Dear listeners, welcome to Grant Morrisoin’s Revenge! We get into it with The Writer, discussing their initial idea for the crossover, their evolving relationship with the fourth wall, and what they hope for future DC and Marvel crossovers. Batman/Deadpool #1 is out now from DC Comics. “The Cosmic Kiss Caper” is written by Grant Morrison, illustrated by Dan Mora, colored by Alejandro Sánchez, and lettered by Todd Klein. If you wish to continue this conversation with Morrison, follow them on their Website, Substack, Instagram, and Bluesky. This Week's Sponsors This November, Event Horizon: Dark Descent, the terrifying comic book prequel series to the classic, 90s, hellraising sci-fi film, reaches its epic third issue, and if you always wanted to know the gory details about exactly what went down when the Event Horizon crew were transported to hell, this is the issue you cannot miss. From writer Christian Ward and artist Tristan Jones, Event Horizon: Dark Descent #3 lands in comic book shops on November 12th courtesy of IDW Publishing, with a killer cover by Jeffrey Alan Love and a variant cover by Chris Burnham. "The dead have appeared to me — and there is something else loose upon the ship. If you can hear me, it may be too late for you. LIBERA TE TUTEMET EX INFERIS!" Are you ready to face the future? Look no further than 2000 AD – it’s the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic! Every week 2000 AD brings the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and more! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD, and it’ll arrive at your mailbox every week, and your first issue is free. You’ll also receive the HUNDRED PAGE 2000 AD Christmas Special this December at no extra cost! Or, subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Previously on CBCC: Grant Morrison on All-Star Superman Live at New York Comic Con: The Massive Comic Book Podcast Crossover Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

A podcast doesn’t last without the support of its friends. We’re beyond grateful to fellow comic book maniacs like Badr Milligan of The Short Box, Chris Hacker and Aaron Knowles of The Oblivion Bar, and David Harper of Off Panel. Hopefully, you already subscribe to these shows, and if not, after this week’s episode, you will. In October, we assembled in the Javits Center basement during New York Comic Con in an effort to share our four unique vibes with a single crowd. Weeks later, you can now experience the MaCoBoPoCro Event (or, Massive Comic Book Podcast Crossover Event). And, guess what? If video is your thing, you can actually watch the event on the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube page. This Week's Sponsors This November, Event Horizon: Dark Descent, the terrifying comic book prequel series to the classic, 90s, hellraising sci-fi film, reaches its epic third issue, and if you always wanted to know the gory details about exactly what went down when the Event Horizon crew were transported to hell, this is the issue you cannot miss. From writer Christian Ward and artist Tristan Jones, Event Horizon: Dark Descent #3 lands in comic book shops on November 12th courtesy of IDW Publishing, with a killer cover by Jeffrey Alan Love and a variant cover by Chris Burnham. "The dead have appeared to me — and there is something else loose upon the ship. If you can hear me, it may be too late for you. LIBERA TE TUTEMET EX INFERIS!" Are you ready to face the future? Look no further than 2000 AD – it’s the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic! Every week 2000 AD brings the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and more! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD, and it’ll arrive at your mailbox every week, and your first issue is free. You’ll also receive the HUNDRED PAGE 2000 AD Christmas Special this December at no extra cost! Or, subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics CBCC at NYCC: Michael Walsh and Tristan Jones CBCC at NYCC: Alex Firer and Fred C. Stressing CBCC at NYCC: The Doughboys CBCC at NYCC Watch The Harvey Awards on Popverse Comic Book Film Club 11/16 at 5 PM EST: The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp at the Winchester Alamo Drafthouse, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Every October, New York Comic Con (NYCC) rolls around. Normally, they don’t acknowledge their proximity to the spooky season, but this year, as crowds reached pre-pandemic sizes, they embraced Halloween. Cosplay took on a more deliciously grisly vibe, and we found ourselves feeling more ghoulish than usual, too. The conversations we sought ventured into bloodier tales of both good and bad natures. Michael Walsh joined us in the Tiny Onion booth to explain the game design that birthed Exquisite Corpses, and how such play was influenced by his recent stint on Frankenstein. We met artist Tristan Jones upstairs in the infamous “Butter Corner,” where the IDW Publishing booth found itself this year. We discussed his collaboration with Christian Ward on the utterly surprising Event Horizon: Dark Descent series, and how he finally delivered what the movie only hinted at back in the nineties. Exquisite Corpses Volume 1 is now available from Tiny Onion and Image Comics. Event Horizon: Dark Descent issues 1-2 are now available from IDW Publishing. Issue 3 arrives in comic book shops everywhere on November 12th. Follow Michael Walsh on Blue Sky and Instagram. Follow Tristan Jones on Blue Sky and Instagram. This Week's Sponsors This November, Event Horizon: Dark Descent, the terrifying comic book prequel series to the classic, 90s, hellraising sci-fi film, reaches its epic third issue, and if you always wanted to know the gory details about exactly what went down when the Event Horizon crew were transported to hell, this is the issue you cannot miss. From writer Christian Ward and artist Tristan Jones, Event Horizon: Dark Descent #3 lands in comic book shops on November 12th courtesy of IDW Publishing, with a killer cover by Jeffrey Alan Love and a variant cover by Chris Burnham. "The dead have appeared to me — and there is something else loose upon the ship. If you can hear me, it may be too late for you. LIBERA TE TUTEMET EX INFERIS!" Are you ready to face the future? Look no further than 2000 AD – it’s the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic! Every week 2000 AD brings the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper and more! Get a print subscription to 2000 AD, and it’ll arrive at your mailbox every week, and your first issue is free. You’ll also receive the HUNDRED PAGE 2000 AD Christmas Special this December at no extra cost! Or, subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Previously on CBCC: Christian Ward on Event Horizon: Dark Descent The Comics Crossover Event with The Short Box, Oblivion Bar, Off Panel, and CBCC Watch The Harvey Awards on Popverse Comic Book Film Club 11/16 at 5PM EST: The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp at the Winchester Alamo Drafthouse, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

There’s zero doubt, Absolute Batman Annual #1 will be one of the year’s most talked-about comics. Featuring three stories by Daniel Warren Johnson, Mike Spicer, James Harren, Dave Stewart, Meredith McClaren, and Clayton Cowles, this hefty comic centers on the early Absolute Universe adventures of Bruce Wayne, revealing how that chonky Batmobile came to be, and just how Black Mask’s party animals first encountered the Dark Knight. We read the comic a couple of weeks back, and the instant we flipped that last page, we were compelled to get Daniel Warren Johnson into a Zoom room. Thankfully, he obliged. Johnson’s untitled story makes up the bulk of the Absolute Batman Annual. It propels Absolute Batman against a white supremacist horde, showcasing some of the most brutal action from the ongoing series so far, while doing so in a way that questions that violence’s effectiveness. As Daniel Warren Johnson has showcased in other comics like Murder Falcon, Do a Powerbomb!, and his recent run on Transformers, badass, jaw-dropping visuals are only half his might as a creator. DWJ breaks hearts as often as he breaks bones. “It’s in my blood and it’s boiling, and I have to get it out.” In an exclusive conversation with Comic Book Couples Counseling, Johnson explains how his tale in the Absolute Batman Annual came to pass. We discuss his reluctance to contribute to the world so expertly crafted by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta, and how one single image eventually caused him to put everything he had into this character and universe. Daniel Warren Johnson tells us why supplying only compelling, catastrophic action isn't enough for him as a storyteller. He requires more than an exclamation point to climax his stories. He needs a question. Absolute Batman Annual is now available from DC Comics. Make sure you're following Daniel Warren Johnson on Blue Sky, Instagram, and his Website. This Week's Sponsors Judge Dredd Megazine turns thirty-five years old this October, and it’ll be celebrating with a very special issue perfect for first-time readers! Featuring the return of the critically acclaimed series Dreadnoughts and Megalopolis, this 100-page issue is a brilliant way to jump into the crazy world of 2000 AD. You’ll also find incredible new stories featuring Judge Dredd, Judge Anderson, and much more inside! Get a print subscription to the Megazine and it’ll arrive through your American mailbox every month – or get a combi subscription and receive 2000 AD each week as well! If you subscribe digitally, you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Launching this October, it’s the latest entry in IDW Publishing's Kei-Sei line of Godzilla comics: Starship Godzilla, a cosmic adventure. It’s written by award-winning scribe Chris Gooch (of In Utero fame) and illustrated by inventive artist Oliver Ono (I mean, come on, did you read their Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp? Insta-Classic). The Kai-Sei Era is the only ongoing Godzilla story of its kind, crafted for comics readers who have never bought a Godzilla book and Godzilla fans who have never read a comic. Starship Godzilla #1 is out now wherever rad comic books are sold. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Previously On CBCC: Daniel Warren Johnson Live at Now or Never Comics Previously On CBCC: Daniel Warren Johnson and Riley Rossmo on The Moon is Following Us Previously On CBCC: Daniel Warren Johnson on Transformers Previously On CBCC: Daniel Warren Johnson on Do a Powerbomb! Previously On CBCC: Daniel Warren Johnson on Beta Ray Bill Previously On CBCC: Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta on Absolute Batman The Comics Crossover Event with The Short Box, Oblivion Bar, Off Panel, and CBCC Watch The Harvey Awards on Popverse Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

We all crave a good meal. The challenge is savoring it once it's placed before you. Kelley Jones and Matt Wagner have wickedly, and delightfully, discovered a way to make Bram Stoker’s Dracula not one good dish, but three...and possibly four and five. For the last several years, they’ve transformed the classic vampire novel into a feast impossible to gobble down in one sitting. By taking throwaway sentences in the book and building two graphic novels out of them (Dracula Book I: The Impaler, Dracula Book II: The Brides), they’ve miraculously extended their love affair with Vlad, and ours in the process as well. Now, with Dracula Book III: The Count, which only has a week left on Kickstarter, Jones and Kelley properly excavate Bram Stoker’s book. This third entry tackles the iconic plot, but only from Count Dracula’s perspective. We all know this story from Jonathan Harker, Mina, and Van Helsing’s point of view, but how did the vicious beast at the center of their fear experience the whole endeavor? No more letters. Only the Count’s singular, hungry howl of self. We’ve read and watched many Dracula adaptations, but none as exhaustive and creative as this. As a result, this week’s podcast had to match Jones and Wagner’s studious passion. All together, we dig deep into their previous entry, Dracula Book II: The Brides. We discuss how, in chaining themselves to Dracula’s perspective, they create unparalleled empathy for the monster and his godless pursuits. Is there danger in that? Again, Dracula: The Count only has seven days left on its Kickstarter campaign. Please visit the crowdfunding project by clicking HERE. You can continue the conversation with Kelley Jones by visiting his Instagram. You can follow Matt Wagner on Blue Sky and Instagram. This Week's Sponsors Launching this October, it’s the latest entry in IDW Publishing's Kei-Sei line of Godzilla comics: Starship Godzilla, a cosmic adventure. It’s written by award-winning scribe Chris Gooch (of In Utero fame) and illustrated by inventive artist Oliver Ono (I mean, come on, did you read their Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp? Insta-Classic). The Kai-Sei Era is the only ongoing Godzilla story of its kind, crafted for comics readers who have never bought a Godzilla book and Godzilla fans who have never read a comic. Starship Godzilla #1 is out now wherever rad comic books are sold. Judge Dredd Megazine turns thirty-five years old this October, and it’ll be celebrating with a very special issue perfect for first-time readers! Featuring the return of the critically acclaimed series Dreadnoughts and Megalopolis, this 100-page issue is a brilliant way to jump into the crazy world of 2000 AD. You’ll also find incredible new stories featuring Judge Dredd, Judge Anderson, and much more inside! Get a print subscription to the Megazine and it’ll arrive through your American mailbox every month – or get a combi subscription and receive 2000 AD each week as well! If you subscribe digitally, you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Previously on CBCC: Kelley Jones and Matt Wagner on Dracula Book 1: The Impaler Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Watch The Harvey Awards on Popverse NYCC 2025 Patreon Dispatch: Michael Walsh on Exquisite Corpses Grab Your Tickets for Addams Family Values on 10/26 at the Alamo Drafthouse Winchester, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Transplanting the Doughboys from one medium to another demands collaborators with a firm grasp on both worlds. Podcasters Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger know their realm, but require a few comic book maniacs to hurl them confidently into the sequential playground. Enter writer Alex Firer and artist Fred C. Stressing (also, colorist Meg Casey). Not only did Firer and Stresing grow up stewing in comics, but they’ve spent the last several years working together on the Rick and Morty books from Oni Press. They bring with them a strong passion for Harvey Kurtzman, Grant Morrison, and Krazy Kat. They’re equally pickled in Doughboys lore, and after a little back and forth with Mitch and Wiger, could decipher the podcast into the epic quest called Doughboys: The Comic Book - Mitch and Wiger Chew America - Crisis on Infinite Girths. Last week, we spoke with Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger about how they found their way into a comic book, and this week, we’re speaking with Alex Firer and Fred C. Stresing about how they helped make that wild fantasy a reality. Also, as a result of hosting the Harvey Awards at New York Comic Con last weekend, we’re stewing in Harvey Kurtzman’s world ourselves, and his influence is easily identified in the Doughboys Comic Book. It’s a joy to discuss madcap comedy, especially the funny book variety, with these two. Make sure you’re following the Doughboys on your favorite podcast app, or just click here. Follow Alex Firer on Blue Sky and Instagram. Follow Fred C. Stresing on Blue Sky and Instagram. You can purchase Doughboys: The Comic Book - Mitch and Wiger Chew America - Crisis on Infinite Girths on BeOurKids.com. This Week's Sponsors Judge Dredd Megazine turns thirty-five years old this October, and it’ll be celebrating with a very special issue perfect for first-time readers! Featuring the return of the critically acclaimed series Dreadnoughts and Megalopolis, this 100-page issue is a brilliant way to jump into the crazy world of 2000 AD. You’ll also find incredible new stories featuring Judge Dredd, Judge Anderson, and much more inside! Get a print subscription to the Megazine and it’ll arrive through your American mailbox every month – or get a combi subscription and receive 2000 AD each week as well! If you subscribe digitally, you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Launching this October, it’s the latest entry in IDW Publishing's Kei-Sei line of Godzilla comics: Starship Godzilla, a cosmic adventure. It’s written by award-winning scribe Chris Gooch (of In Utero fame) and illustrated by inventive artist Oliver Ono (I mean, come on, did you read their Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp? Insta-Classic). The Kai-Sei Era is the only ongoing Godzilla story of its kind, crafted for comics readers who have never bought a Godzilla book and Godzilla fans who have never read a comic. Starship Godzilla #1 is out now wherever rad comic books are sold. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Watch The Harvey Awards on Popverse NYCC 2025 Patreon Dispatch: Michael Walsh on Exquisite Corpses Grab Your Tickets for Addams Family Values on 10/26 at the Alamo Drafthouse Winchester, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

The podcast crossover event no one was expecting is here. The Doughboys, Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger, arrive on Comic Book Couples Counseling ready to examine their feelings and suss out why they’ve propelled their podcast life into comic book form. Collaborating with writer Alex Firer, artist Fred C. Stresing, and colorist Meg Casey, Mitch and Wiger boil down their obsession with fast food and chain restaurants into a delicious four-color stew. It’s a six-issue series called Doughboys: The Comic Book - Mitch and Wiger Chew America - Crisis on Infinite Girths. Everything you need to know about the vibe is right there in the title. The book is comic book-y, and a Where’s Waldoquest for Wednesday warriors, as well as longtime fans of the podcast. You can nab the first issue here. For ten years, Mitch and Wiger have met weekly to battle it out over Red Lobster, Steak n Shake, and Taco Bell, usually inviting fellow comedy maniacs like Jon Gabrus or Lauren Lapkus to weigh in. The Doughboys comic book operates in a similar fashion, but cranks everything to eleven. Demonic and heavenly forces are at play here, friends. We return from New York Comic Con with the perfect episode. We discuss with Mitch and Wiger what drew them to comics, what they’ve learned about themselves while spending years talking about food, and how insignificant you can feel when sitting in a football stadium or the New York Javits Center. Make sure you’re following the Doughboys on your favorite podcast app, or just click here. You can also follow them on Blue Sky and Instagram. This Week's Sponsors Launching this October, it’s the latest entry in IDW Publishing's Kei-Sei line of Godzilla comics: Starship Godzilla, a cosmic adventure. It’s written by award-winning scribe Chris Gooch (of In Utero fame) and illustrated by inventive artist Oliver Ono (I mean, come on, did you read their Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp? Insta-Classic). The Kai-Sei Era is the only ongoing Godzilla story of its kind, crafted for comics readers who have never bought a Godzilla book and Godzilla fans who have never read a comic. Starship Godzilla #1 is out now wherever rad comic books are sold. Judge Dredd Megazine turns thirty-five years old this October, and it’ll be celebrating with a very special issue perfect for first-time readers! Featuring the return of the critically acclaimed series Dreadnoughts and Megalopolis, this 100-page issue is a brilliant way to jump into the crazy world of 2000 AD. You’ll also find incredible new stories featuring Judge Dredd, Judge Anderson, and much more inside! Get a print subscription to the Megazine and it’ll arrive through your American mailbox every month – or get a combi subscription and receive 2000 AD each week as well! If you subscribe digitally, you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Chris Condon in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Brad and Lisa Gullickson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Sanford Greene in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Philip Kennedy Johnson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Steve Anderson in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics David Brothers and Chip Zdarsky in The Stacks at Third Eye Comics Benjamin Percy in the Stacks at Third Eye Comics Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

Weeks ago, we told you to keep an eye glued to the Macabre Valley #1 Kickstarter from writer Zack Quaintance and artist Anna Readman. Now, you have only one week left to back the project and secure yourself a copy of this fiendishly fun comic. Based on Quaintance’s own experiences reporting along the American/Mexican border, Macabre Valley tells a viciously recognizable story, energized by Anna Readman’s gnarly creature designs and trippy sequential storytelling. You can even support the project knowing you’ll receive your comic soon, as Macabre Valley has surpassed its funding goal spectacularly. To celebrate and encourage last-minute stragglers, we’re thrilled to have Zack Quaintance back on the podcast this week to discuss the werewolf priest at Macabre Valley’s center, and he’s even joined this time by his talented collaborator Anna Readman (making her podcast debut, no less). We discuss what makes the best werewolves and how both creators relate to the real-life horror that surrounds the fantastical horror throughout Macabre Valley. The conversation considers uniforms, from the lawful to the hirsute, and the influence they have on those who wear them. Finally, it leaves the listener imagining a wild, wonderful alternate reality where Cormac McCarthy wrote for EC Comics. Again, Macabre Valley #1 is currently seeking funding via Kickstarter. It’s written by Zack Quaintance, illustrated by Anna Readman, colored by Brad Simpson, and lettered by Becca Carey. Please follow Zack Quaintance on Blue Skyand Instagram, and follow Anna Readman on her Website and Instagram. This Week's Sponsors Judge Dredd Megazine turns thirty-five years old this October, and it’ll be celebrating with a very special issue perfect for first-time readers! Featuring the return of the critically acclaimed series Dreadnoughts and Megalopolis, this 100-page issue is a brilliant way to jump into the crazy world of 2000 AD. You’ll also find incredible new stories featuring Judge Dredd, Judge Anderson, and much more inside! Get a print subscription to the Megazine and it’ll arrive through your American mailbox every month – or get a combi subscription and receive 2000 AD each week as well! If you subscribe digitally, you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today! Launching this October, it’s the latest entry in IDW Publishing's Kei-Sei line of Godzilla comics: Starship Godzilla, a cosmic adventure. It’s written by award-winning scribe Chris Gooch (of In Utero fame) and illustrated by inventive artist Oliver Ono (I mean, come on, did you read their Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp? Insta-Classic). The Kai-Sei Era is the only ongoing Godzilla story of its kind, crafted for comics readers who have never bought a Godzilla book and Godzilla fans who have never read a comic. Starship Godzilla #1 is out now wherever rad comic books are sold. Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics Zack Quaintance on The Death of Comics Bookcase Watch The Harvey Awards 2024 via Popverse Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.