The Word Bros

Man, this book looooooks so dope. Logan Rodgers and J.B Hawkins and the rest of the team on Tales from the Cloakroom V2 have cooked up something special. The 106-page anthology is live right now on Kickstarter. Do yourself a favor and check this out. We’ve read a preview. This book slaps, as the kids say.3 Rivers Comic ConI am writing this post from the Westin Pittsburgh gearing up for the 3Rivers Comic Con! Kevin and I are pumped to be here. It’s gonna be a good time. if you are in Western PA or Eastern Ohio, come be a part of the magic! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordbros.substack.com

After working steadily in comics for over a decade, cartoonist Jason Copland decided it was time to tell his story. This is when Full Tilt was born. What a long strange trip it’s been. Listen as Jason shares the ups and downs, the highs and lows of making the book you want to make. The 305 page book (Yep, you read that correctly) Full Tilt comes to Zoop this week. Get involved. Mystic Melon.I case you missed it, here are the first four pages of our wonderful book Mystic Melon. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordbros.substack.com

Zane Barrow loves comics. You can tell by the way he talks about the medium. His enthusiasm is infectious. This love affair began back when Zane was a clerk at his local comic shop, championing smaller press books that lived in the fringes of mainstream comics. After answering a call on Twitter, Zane began his editing career. He hasn’t looked back. Zane joins us today to discuss his role in the triumph return of Gold Key Comics via Kickstarter. This is 45 minutes of podcast you don’t want to miss. Mystic Melon Enjoy page Three. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordbros.substack.com

Jason McNamara is one cool dude, despite what he tells ya. We got to know Jason during the pandemic when we the three of us would chat about comics and story telling for hours over Zoom. It was during one of these convos that Jason mentioned the ideas and themes that turned into Past Tense, his new graphic novel from Dark Horse Comics. Past Tense tells the story of Ashley, a tour guide at PAST TENSE, a company that sends camera drones into the past to view history's most depraved events. When Ashley discovers Silas Green, an unknown serial killer working in the past, she begins hosting “exclusive” tours of his murders. The only problem? Silas is still alive??!?! whaaaaat??!! Sounds killer right? Our conversation is all over the place here, as you’ve come to expect with the Word Bros. We chat about the wonders of having long hair, the impact of social media in our daily lives, and the skills we have that George Clooney does not. Mystic MelonThe crazy adventures of our melon headed friend continue with page two of our comic Mystic Melon That’s all for this week. Thanks again to Jason McNamara for joining us this week. Hope you enjoyed Mystic Melon. We’ll be back next week with more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordbros.substack.com

There is a whole lot of graphic design that goes into making a comic. Stop and really think about it. There’s making the logo and its placement on the cover, the title page, the back cover, the book spine. The list goes on and on and on. Our guest today, Kevin Maher is here to make sense of all of it. Kevin is also here to chat about his new comic Toxic Man, which is available on his website. (linked above) Mystic MelonHere is page one of our new comic Mystic Melon From Jeremy Brooks (artist), Sara Harding (editor), Marcus Cripps (colorist), and The Word Bros (writers/co-creator)Page two will be out next week along with our chat with Jason McNamara. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordbros.substack.com

Rafer Roberts and Mike Norton have been working together for a long time and you can see it in their super fun and entertaining comics. The duo return for more hi-jinx in The Rock Gods of Jackson, Tennessee, an original, all ages OGN from Dark Horse Comics. The Rock Gods of Jackson, Tennessee is a semi-autobiographic tale that tells the heartwarming coming-of-age story of four high school outcasts who start a band to gain fame and popularity…but have to defend their hometown from a hungry horde of monsters instead. It’s The Archies meets Stranger Things and it sounds like a lot of fun.Mystic MelonThe creative team of Jeremey Brooks (artist/co-creator), Sara Harding (editor), Marcus Cripps (colorist), and The Word Bros (writers/co-creator) are toiling away on a new project entitled Mystic Melon, a tangled tale about n Watermelon-headed sorcerer who seeks revenge against those who have exiled him in a resort town. We gonna rock this one till the wheels fall off. Be sure to look for this one on Kickstarter in Late April/Early May. Next time, we will share a few pages of this bad boy with you. We just wanted to give you all a little taste of what’s coming up. That’s about it. Thanks for subscribing. The Word Bros. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordbros.substack.com

There are many things we, as the Word Bros enjoy. Ice cream, puppy dogs, a fire on a brisk fall evening, and Pink Lemonade. Not the tasty summer drink but the amazingly original comic created by cartoonist Nick Cagnetti. Nick and the Bros chat about the exhaustion involved in promoting your comic, the origins of Pick Lemonade, and the awesomeness that is Spider-Man Unlimited. If you’re a fan of Booster Gold or Mike Allred’s Madman, this is the book for you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordbros.substack.com

Can we still say “Happy New Year” if it’s the end of January? Let’s hope so! Happy New Year.We are back with our first episode of 2023 and it was well worth the wait. Don Cardenas is one of the good ones. Through his podcast, Comic-Coffee-Metal podcast, Don is doing the work providing a platform for creators. Don is a loving husband and father to his two wonderful children. He is also one helluva an artist.Those skills are on display in his new book Evie and the Helsings, which is currently on Kickstarter. We chat all about how he is using Evie and the Helsings to blend his love of comics and metal, the challenges of being a creative and a stay at home father, and a whole lot more. Introducing Podcats!Part of the benefit of signing up for the newsletters is for access to sneak-peeks and exclusive content. Well, the Word Bros have teamed up with cartoonist extraordinary Lauren Sparks to create Podcats, a single panel comic depicting the podcast and its guests as talking cats. Lauren approached us with a comic she created after listening to our interview of Bob Fingerman. Needles to say, we loved the comic, so we asked her to do more. Now, its a regular feature of the newsletter. Here are a few designs from Lauren. Aren’t they just puuuurfect? Keep your eyes on the newsletter for the cartoon adventures of your favorite podcast turned cats! We also have a few other newsletter exclusive comics in the works, so keep your eyes on this space.That’s about all we have for this week. Next week, we talk to Rafer Roberts and Mike Norton abut their new project. Start writing today. Use the button below to create your Substack and connect your publication with The Word Bros: A comics interview podcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordbros.substack.com

There are many things to admire about Caleb, one of them being his outstanding mustache. Over the past two years, Caleb has been perfecting his Kickstarter campaigns with data farmed from his newsletter. The dude is a genius. It’s like Money Ball for comics. Data is nice but it also helps that Caleb has been pumping out great books. His latest Kickstarter campaign continues his long running series Vampire Detective in Space, I mean, with a title like that how can he lose? VDIS tells the tale of well, an American Civil War era vampire working as a detective on a space station trying to solve a series of murders committed by another vampire. it’s a great book and you have about two weeks to get involved!Get Lich or Die TryingBecause of your efforts, I am happy to announce that our new book Get Lich or Die Trying has reached its funding goal. So this is now a pre-sale. If you want the book will are getting the book! If you need a gelatinous cube iron on patch, this is your chance!!I also wanted you all to the be the first people to see Walter Ostlie’s sick cover for Get Lich or Die Trying. Look at this thing!Pretty sweet, huh? Here’s a little secret, our $7500 stretch goal is a foil version of Walter’s cover! If you want in on all this fun and why would you? Go to Getlichcomic.com to pledge to the campaign. Alright, well, thanks for reading/listening. Have a safe weekend!The Word Bros. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordbros.substack.com

Jamie Jones is one of the best dudes in comics. We met Jamie at Heroes Con in 2018, and being a fan of classic pulp tales like Tarzan and Princesses of Mars, we were instantly drawn to his work. Looking at the Baboon, you’re transported to comics of a different era. Dashing ,vibrant heroes battling ruthlessly evil villains with the fate of humanity hanging in the balance. It’s good stuff. The Baboon is back with a brand new 94-page OGN entitled The Temple of Eternal Life. If that title doesn’t get you, I don’t know what will. The conversation on today’s episode is fast and furious. We leave no stone unturned as we chat about the outstanding campaign video, Jamie’s love of Savannah, Georgia, and why he took a calculated risk and chose Crowdfundr for this campaign. Get Lich or Die TryingOur newest Kickstarter campaign has entered it’s second week and to quote Larry David, things are going “pretty pretty pretty good.” We are 94% funded and talking stretch goals. Once we get to $6500 all backers at a physical tier will receive goblin stickers, designed by series artist Nicky Noons. We have other ideas in mind but we’ll get there then we get there. I also have a few new pages to show off. Feast your eyes on these bad boys. If your so inclined to support Get Lich or Die Trying, feel feel to click the link. Baltimore Comic ConKevin and I had a blast in Charm City this weekend. Thank you to Shelly, Brad, Marc, and the entire team for making us feel welcome in their city. We met a lot of cool folks and sold a few comics. On Friday night, we ventured out to Medieval Times. You know that place where you eat food with your hands while watching brave knights sword fight to the (pretend) death? Yeah, we went. How was it you ask? Well, you’ll have to wait until the next edition of the Word Bros newsletter to find out. Thanks for reading/listening and we’ll chat again soon. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordbros.substack.com

Ringo Award Nominee Grant Stoye gives good pod. He is an engaging, funny, and overall swell dude who is here to chat about the fifth installment of his series Sidequest!, which is live right now on Kickstarter for the next 69 hours! The dudes chat about the worst part of doing laundry, the trappings of being a stay-at-home dad, and the advantages of funding a series on Kickstarter. We also cover the Ringo nomination that Grant received for his anthology Yule. Good times were had by all! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordbros.substack.com

Sean Von Gorman (of comics) and Jeffrey Burandt, two of Brooklyn’s finest come through the Word Bros Studio to chat all about their new book Ghost Planet from Scout Comics, which has been described as Lost in Space with a body horror twist! Good times.We also chat with the fellows about the art of telling someone to “go f*uck yourself,” Sean’s encounter with Neil Gaiman in a Lowe’s parking lot, and so much more. This is an episode you don’t want to miss.Get Lich or Die TryingBob and Kevin, along with artist Nick Noons and editor Chas! Pangburn have been busy dudes. We have been toiling away on our new project, Get Lich or Die Trying, coming to Kickstarter on Oct 25th! GLODT, as the cool kids call it is a bonkers dungeon crawl of a book with loads of action and laughs. We’re bringing the ruckus with this one! Look at that cover! Ain’t it wonderful! Click here to be notified the second we go live! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordbros.substack.com

Mike Riley is part of the Baltimore comic collective, a group of creators who are pumping put some of the most creative and interesting books in independent comics. Mike’s contribution is the off-beat and wonderfully odd webcomic Irregulordz, which recently started its fourth season. Mike tells us all about the benefits of having a city full of great comic creators, his love of McNuggets and hot mustard, and wrestling! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordbros.substack.com

Jordan Blum is one cool dude who loves comics. Talking to him is always so refreshing because you can hear the passion and enthusiasm in his voice for the medium. Jordan is with us to chat about his new book Minor Threats from Drak Horse Comics. We chat about Jordan’s love for Silver and Bronze age villains and the changes these characters face in modern comics, writing with comedy superstar Patton Oswalt, and the challenges of marketing comics. Minor Threats is available where ever comics are sold! Word Bros Update! Sorry for the delay in releases but the Word Bros have been busy busy boys. We’ve been working on a yet-to-be-announced series for a publisher we are amped to be working with. Hopefully, the book will be announced soon. I’m exhausted from keeping it a secret! We also celebrated the release of Lower Your Sights, the pro-Unkrine anthology from Mad Cave Studios. The benefit anthology is currently available where ever comics are sold. There’s more to tell you but we can save that for the next episode. Thanks for listening. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordbros.substack.com

This week we welcome writer and creator Justin Richards, who is here to promote their new anthology Everything is Different Now, live on Kickstarter. Justin is one chill dude and we really dig their vibe. We have a solid convo about their Vault book Finger Guns, our love of 90’s music, and somehow Godsmack? Weird where these convos take us. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordbros.substack.com

Steve Urena is the most positive dude in comics. Don’t believe me? Just listen to the pod! He has a footloose and fancy-free attitude that is contagious! The dude is here having a good time and making the comics he wants to make. Doesn’t that sound lovely? Steve is back on Kickstarter with his new book Slow Pokes 2: The Sloth Horror Sequel of the Summer!Thanks for listening! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordbros.substack.com

We really like David Byrne. Our bond was cemented in Charlotte, North Carolina during Heroes Con. We spent those two nights chatting about comics, our vision for the industry, and much to Kevin’s chagrin, baseball. David is a great dude promoting his new project, Stake Presents: Jessamy issues 1-3, which is live on Kickstarter. Give it a listen! Also, feel free to rate the pod on iTunes or wherever you listen. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordbros.substack.com

We love Joe Corallo. If you’ve ever spoken to the man for longer than three minutes, you’d quickly see why. Joe is engaging, kind, funny, and a hell of a talented writer and editor. Joe is the mastermind editor behind the Eisner-nominated anthology Mine! A celebration of liberty and freedom for all benefiting Planned Parenthood. (with the recent Supreme Court decision reversing Roe vs Wade this anthology is more important than ever) Joe is also the co-creator of the Comixology Originals series The Never-Ending Party is available now on Amazon! It’s free to read if you’re an Amazon Prime member. We chat with Joe about the do’s and don’ts of networking, how long should you wait to email that editor you met, and proper Ringo Award show attire. Heros Con 2022 Wrap up!We’d also like to wish a warm welcome to all of those fine folks who signed up for our newsletter at Heroes Con in Charlotte, North Carolina. Kevin and I love this show. Heroes holds a special place in my heart: This is the show where we met Walter and decided to embark on the creative journey that birthed Metalshark Bro. This is where Kevin and I met lifelong friends like Jamie Jones and Kyle Starks and cemented relationships with Drew Moss and Marc Deerling. This year proved to be no different. We made some new friends in Josh Hood, Jeremy Brooks, John Burgin, Sean Von Gorman, and David Byrne. That is to say, we met them IRL as the kids say. We also met two spunky go-getters Brie and Jennifer through our buddy JOSEPH SCHMALKE. We sold a lot of books, gave out some sage-like advice on the business of making comics, and set up future projects. We’d like to thank Shelton, Karla, and all of the staff that made Heroes another dynamite show. See you all next year. Currently Reading/Recently finished booksNorm MacDonald Based on a True Story: I’ve been wanting to read this for quite a while. It is proving to be worth the wait. Hitler’s American Freinds: A look at the many groups, people, and political organizations that we Nazi supporters in the United States during the war.The Many Lives of Laila Starr: This one goes without saying. It was fantastic. Bold storytelling and artwork. A masterpiece. Criminal Omnibus Vol1: Found it half off (half off!) at an Anime Con I took my daughter and her friends to. What a great book. Bitter Root Vol 1: A lot of fun. The writing is sharp and the artwork slaps. Not sure why I waited so long to hear this but man, it’s great. Cheers,The Word Bros!Shop the Word Bros Store! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordbros.substack.com

We have a whole lot going on this week. The first thing we need to cover is the podcast featuring two comic legends: world-renowned editor Joseph Illidge and powerhouse writer Christopher Priest. These two industry heavyweights have come together to create Entropy, the super-villain of the Heavy Metal multi-verse. We chat process, the REAL job of an editor, and how to survive in LA on a maxed-out credit card. This is one convo you don’t want to miss. “Lower Your Sights” Ukraine benefit anthology announcement. The Word Bros are honored to be a part of "Lower Your Sights," a benefit anthology for UKRAINE presented by Mad Cave! All proceeds from the book go to The Voices of Children Foundation which has been helping children affected by the war since 2015. The book will be available for preorder on June 29, 2022, and will be released on September 14, 2022. For more info on The Voices of Children Foundation, check out their website. https://voices.org.ua/en/Heroes Con 2022This weekend is the 40th anniversary of Heroes Con in Charlotte, North Carolina, and your Word Bros will be there! If you’re attending the show we will be kicking it at artist alley table 1473 making friends all weekend long, baby! Come by and say hello!Alright, that’s it. Have a great weekend and we will see you soon! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordbros.substack.com

Sorry for the delay. I had a hard time with this audio. At first, I thought the audio files were lost forever in the cloud. However, with a little bit of know-how and luck, I was able to recover the files. And it’s a good thing because we’ve got a great episode this week featuring one of our all-time favs, Kyle Starks, who is here to promote his new ongoing horror series “F*ck This Place.”We chat a little about wrestling, the similarities between writing comedy and horror, the challenges of writing an ongoing series, and is comedy a bad word in comics? Over this is a great pod! Give it a listen. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thewordbros.substack.com