Let's Talk Comics
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Comic creator interviews beamed directly into your ears. Learn the ins and out of the comics industry from those trying to break in, are already in, and have been in the business for a while. Host Jim Viscardi (VP of Business Development at Image Comics) has over 15 years of experience in the business and is your guide on this journey of inspiration, reflection and motivation for one of the greatest American art forms in history, comic books.
Let's Talk Comics logo designed by Adam Barnhardt
Let's Talk Comics logo designed by Adam Barnhardt
34 Episodes
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We're kicking off the new year of Let's Talk Comics with creator Brett Bean. Brett joins the show to talk about the long road that led him back to comics. He shares how working in video games, animation, and other creative industries helped shape his approach, and why he ultimately chose to start over and focus on the medium he always loved most. We talk a lot about process and treating art like problem solving instead of waiting around for inspiration. We also dig into Brett's new Image Comics series D'orc. Brett breaks down the heart of the book and the balance between humor and violence. There's also talk about why character always comes first for him. He closes out talking about what the the bloodthirsty enchanted shield is all about but also, building a fantasy world that doesn't take itself too seriously. Then he ends with what he hopes readers connect with in the story. It's a laid-back, honest conversation about making comics and finally betting on yourself.
This episode of Let's Talk Comics is a little different. Instead of a single guest, Jim Viscardi looks back at a year of conversations with some of the most influential creators in comics and the lessons those conversations revealed. From Marjorie Liu on never stopping your creative momentum, to Will Maxwell Prince and Deniz Camp on vulnerability and risk, to Sanford Greene on finding your own path into comics, this episode explores what success can look like in comics. Jim also reflects on conversations with Robert Kirkman, Rob Liefeld, and Marc Silvestri, breaking down why owning your work changes how creators approach risk, failure, and longevity. The episode wraps with listener Q&A, comic recommendations, and a look ahead at why 2026 may be one of the most exciting years yet for creator-owned comics. Whether you are a reader, creator, retailer, or someone thinking about breaking into comics, this episode is about why comics thrive when creators take chances.
Marc Silvestri helped build Image Comics from the ground up and changed what comics could look like while doing it. From Cyberforce to Witchblade to The Darkness, his work inspired an entire generation of artists and fans. In this episode, Jim Viscardi sits down with Marc to talk about those early Image days, the creative chaos that shaped Top Cow, and how mentoring artists like Michael Turner and David Finch helped push the medium forward. Then we get into The Darkness and what it's like returning to Jackie Estacado after all these years. We talk legacy, worldbuilding, and what makes this new series feel like both a homecoming and something completely new.
W. Maxwell Prince (Ice Cream Man) and Deniz Camp (Assorted Crisis Events), two of the most inventive writers in comics today, sit down for a conversation about friendship, craft, and the chaos of creativity. It's NOT the epsiode of Let's Talk Comics you were expecting, but absolutely need to listen to. They talk about breaking into comics, surviving rejection, writing through vulnerability, and how structure can become meaning in storytelling. Prince reveals how Ice Cream Man: The Mortal Coil evolved from a deck of cards into an existential experiment, while Camp digs into how Assorted Crisis Events turns superhero storytelling inside out. It's a rare, funny, and heartfelt talk about empathy, experimentation, and the joy of making weird comics for readers who want to feel something real.
Writer Ryan Parrott (Rogue Sun, Power Rangers, Revolution) joins the show to talk about his wild career path, from film school to Bad Robot to Image Comics. We dive into breaking into Hollywood, finding your voice as a storyteller, and how collaboration shaped the Massive-Verse. Ryan shares the origins of Rogue Sun, the magic of working with artist Abel, and how a chance conversation with Todd McFarlane led to the unthinkable, writing Medieval Spawn.
In this episode of Let's Talk Comics, we sit down Tyler Kirkham to talk about his path from small-town Utah to the Top Cow bullpen, breaking into comics right out of high school, and leveling up into a powerhouse career with DC and Marvel. Tyler opens up about the pivotal moments that shaped him, how he rebuilt his creative process after burnout, and what inspired him to go all-in on Final Boss, his high-octane, video game-fueled project at Image Comics.
Rob Liefeld changed comics forever when Youngblood hit in 1992, and now, more than 30 years later, he's back writing and drawing the book that helped define the Image Comics revolution. We dig into what Youngblood meant then, why it still matters today, and how it feels to bring the team back home to Image. Rob opens up about process, independence, legacy, and the raw creative energy that made Youngblood a phenomenon, and why the same spirit is driving a new generation of creators right now.
On this episode of Let's Talk Comics, I sit down with the one and only Jordie Bellaire, winner of all the awards, colorist of some of the most talked about books of the last decade, and the writer who set the world on fire with Redlands. We dig into her early Image Comics days on books like Pretty Deadly and Nowhere Men, talk about what it takes to keep leveling up, and break down how she made the leap from coloring to writing. And of course, we get into Exquisite Corpses. This one has all the laughs and is full of deep insight and plenty of process.
Kieron Gillen makes his long-awaited debut on Let's Talk Comics and we go all in. We cover everything from breaking into the industry with Phonogram to redefining pop mythology in The Wicked + The Divine, to the return of DIE and the unexpected turns of The Power Fantasy. We also dig into his Image journey, what he carried over from his Marvel years, and how working with powerhouse artists like Jamie McKelvie, Stephanie Hans, and Caspar Wijngaard has shaped the stories fans can't stop talking about. If you want Gillen at his most candid, this one's it.
Frank Barbiere first turned heads at Image Comics with Five Ghosts, and now he's back with his most ambitious series yet, The Author Immortal. We dive into Frank's path from breaking in at Image to making the jump into video games, how those experiences shaped his writing today, and why this new metafictional fantasy is the story he's been building toward for years.
Jason Fabok joins the show to talk all things ROOK: EXODUS. You've seen his cinematic, larger-than-life art on Justice League and Batman: Three Jokers, but now, as part of Ghost Machine, he's building something original and massive. We dig into his journey, his partnership with Geoff Johns, the worldbuilding and fan reaction to the first arc, and what's coming in the second as the series expands with new characters, darker turns, and even bigger stakes.
Legendary comic book artist David Finch joins Let's Talk Comics to talk about his long-awaited new project with Robert Kirkman, Skinbreaker. We dig into how the project came together, what it's like building a brand-new world from the ground up, and the challenges (and rewards) of working in an oversized format. David also shares stories from his early days at Top Cow, his evolution through Marvel and DC, lessons from working with other writers, and how discipline has fueled his decades-long career. If you're excited for FInch's next big chapter with Skinbreaker, this is a must-listen episode! More information on SKINBREAKER: https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/comics-icons-robert-kirkman-david-finch-announce-new-action-series-skinbreaker What is SKINBREAKER: Enor has led his tribe for many seasons, but his time as Chieftan is coming to an end. He wields the mighty SKINBREAKER, but at his age, he can barely lift it. Will Enor's reluctant heir, Anok, take over before their world falls to ruin? As a bloody power struggle begins, an even bigger threat lurks in the darkness beyond their village.
Fan favorite writer James Tynion IV joins the Let's Talk Comics podcast to celebrate five years of The Department of Truth, his critically acclaimed Image Comics series with artist Martin Simmonds. We dig into James' origin story breaking into comics with Scott Snyder, to launching The Department of Truth in 2020 and so much more. James takes us behind the scenes of the brand-new Department of Truth #0, a perfect new reader friendly entry point for the series that redefines the stakes, and introduces new characters. Plus, we talk about the Elvis Presley backup story written by Scott Snyder with art by Joshua Hixson, the legacy of the Marilyn Monroe arc, and the most unforgettable conspiracies tackled in the series. The Flat Earth, Hollow Earth, and Bigfoot stories all get touched on in this one. Whether you're a longtime Department of Truth reader or brand new to the series, this episode is your guide to one of the most talked-about creator-owned comics of the last decade.
Artist Jacob Phillips (That Texas Blood, The Enfield Gang Massacre, Newburn) joins Let's Talk Comics to talk about his brand-new horror western, Everything Dead & Dying, co-created with writer Tate Brombal and coming this fall from Image Comics. We dig into Jacob's unexpected path into comics, how early "just another illustration job" gigs turned into a career, and what it takes to build a believable world. Like the guy built a 3D model before drawing page one! Jacob opens up about working with Tate, balancing gore with emotional storytelling, and why this isn't your typical zombie book. If you like The Walking Dead, Yellowstone, or just want to see a fresh take on the undead, this is one you won't want to miss.
Writer Si Spurrier joins Let's Talk Comics to talk about his new Image series The Voice Said Kill, a gritty, surreal crime story set deep in the Louisiana bayou. We get into the challenges of switching back and forth from work-for-hire to creator-owned, what it takes to build a story that sticks with readers, and how the right artist can completely change how a book feels. We also dig into Step by Bloody Step, how writing a silent comic pushed his process in new directions, and why he keeps chasing stories that feel a little risky. This one's a deep dive into trust, craft, and making comics that leave a mark.
David Marquez joins Let's Talk Comics to talk about The Unchosen, his first creator-owned book at Image Comics, and his debut as both writer and artist. We dig into the book's post-apocalyptic setting, its personal and philosophical roots, and how years of working with writers at Marvel & DC helped prepare him for this next chapter. From wild action to deeper emotional themes, this is the full David Marquez experience.
In this episode of Let's Talk Comics, Maytal Zchut joins the show. Maytal is the writer of the powerful one-shot Devour and the upcoming miniseries Sisterhood from our friends over at Ghost Machine. Maytal opens up about her jump from television writing to comics, the deeply personal roots behind her stories, and what it's like learning a new medium while writing emotionally resonant horror in the creator-owned space. We dig into collaboration, character building, writing through tough days, and what it means to feel seen...both as a creator and a reader. Enjoy!
Chris Condon joins the show to talk about his new Image Comics series News from the Fallout which is a black-and-white sci-fi horror epic set during a nuclear test gone wrong in 1960s Nevada. We dive deep into how the book evolved over a decade, why he wanted Jeffrey Alan Love on art, and what it means to build a comic that feels more like a surreal experience than a traditional genre piece. We also rewind to Chris's early days breaking into comics with That Texas Blood, how he randomly found Jacob Phillips through a failed film pitch, and how their creative partnership helped shape one of the most compelling releases in years. From American myth to Night of the Living Dead, this one covers a lot. News from the Fallout hits shops June 25. Explore the world of the book: newsfromthefallout.com If you enjoy the episode, leave a review, share it on social, and tag us—we love seeing the conversation keep going.
In this episode, Ryan Ottley dives into the return of Battle Beast and what makes the character tick. Spoiler, it's mythic rage, tragic purpose, and a relentless hunger for meaning through combat. We talk about how the project came together, how it expands the Invincible universe into bold new genres, and why this might be Ottley's most personal work yet. We also dig into his long-running friendship with Robert Kirkman, what it's like building a visual language for ultraviolence with emotional weight, and how deadlines, design shortcuts, and sheer storytelling instinct shaped his approach over the years. Plus: behind-the-scenes on those 1-in-2000 sketches, his time on Spider-Man, and how the Invincible TV series opened the floodgates. Whether you're an old-school fan or new to the world of Ryan Ottley, this is a good one.
In this episode of Let's Talk Comics, Jim Viscardi sits down with Eisner-winning artist and writer Michael Walsh to dive into his ever-evolving career and the creator-owned magic he's making at Image Comics. From the genre-defining horror anthology The Silver Coin to the blood-soaked thrill ride that is Exquisite Corpses, Walsh has emerged as one of comics' most versatile and visionary storytellers. We go deep on: How The Silver Coin was built to showcase an artist-led shared universe Why creator-owned work changed his approach to storytelling—and his career The design-driven process behind Exquisite Corpses and its killer lineup His collaborative process with James Tynion IV and building comics like a writer's room Lessons learned from both indie and work-for-hire comics And what's next on the horizon Whether you're a fan of horror comics, a creator trying to find your voice, or just love hearing how great books get made, this one's for you.
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