The Comic Source Podcast

Jace continues the 2025 12 Days of The Comic Source Fireside Chats by welcoming back writer Philip Kennedy Johnson for a wide-ranging holiday conversation covering recent announcements and an overview of what has been keeping him busy across DC, Marvel, and creator-owned work. The discussion revisits Johnson's recent DC work, including Batman and Robin and the Quiet Man storyline (with talk about the character's moral gray area, the "ordinary person" angle, and the creative choices behind details like Scarface and the book's mystery tone), while also digging into the world-building and legacy focus of Adventures of Superman / Book of L and how back matter and lore help carry the series' larger mythology. Johnson also talks through the horror-forward approach of his Hulk run leading into Infernal Hulk, why emotional thematic beats matter as much as spectacle, and how his storytelling aims to balance big superhero scope with grounded human fears, before shifting into creator-owned reflections on Crocodile Black and the idea of identity and masks. The episode closes with holiday traditions and seasonal music favorites, including cutting down a live tree with his son, writing and playing Christmas music together, and listening staples like Vince Guaraldi and Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite, along with a note on Johnson's move to an exclusive Marvel deal while finishing planned conclusions on current DC projects.

Everybody, welcome to another 12 Days of The Comic Source as the holiday fireside chats continue with some of our favorite creators. This episode features returning guest Richard Ashley Hamilton joining Jace of The Comic Source for a relaxed, in-depth conversation about his career and storytelling approach. Richard talks about his path from journalism and self-publishing comics to working at DreamWorks Animation, including his experience on the How to Train Your Dragon films, TV shows, and related comics, and how that time shaped his focus on character and emotion. The discussion also dives into his young adult work, including SCOOP, its long development history and upcoming collected edition, and TECTIV, with updates on volume two and its dystopian noir world. The conversation also touches on Richard's family holiday traditions, including his Cuban Christmas Eve Noche Buena celebrations, cooking his grandmother's recipes, and the advent chain his family uses to count down to Christmas, rounding out a warm fireside chat as the holiday countdown continues.

Saga Book One Deluxe Edition - https://bookshop.org/p/books/saga-book-one-brian-k-vaughan/b2c645968020b8c0?ean=9781632150783&next=t Power Fantasy Vol 1 - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-power-fantasy-volume-1-the-superpowers-kieron-gillen/e80dbf3a548a27d2?ean=9781534395565&next=t W0rldTr33 Vol 1 - https://bookshop.org/p/books/w0rldtr33-worldtree-volume-1-james-tynion-iv/e28885e47bea124c?ean=9781534398658&next=t Radiant Black: Massive Edition Book One - https://www.amazon.com/Radiant-Black-Year-Deluxe-Hardcover/dp/153432755X/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.q8aIpCV_TG_9euo-duMH-lILoYs_eHAyqwOuY1TilQtikzL8IwLGEmuLZ8zjyhZWWcj-sE6ru3NAcEOvzzTad41ymswggu2bTLDqwqWuA_i9DKIvRGqmljMSwczFXzM8pB41cImLsbqqL9yigMTd8Q.ZCNlilwtx70ZFdlrl-oQGmP1DdgXWDYuT4Zfsx3DUCA&dib_tag=se&hvadid=733054565692&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9029986&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=5315731716315658551--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=5315731716315658551&hvtargid=kwd-2248457580870&hydadcr=17014_13689311&keywords=radiant+black+compendium&mcid=7510e9ce935931e388e6be3b202709e2&qid=1764983412&sr=8-1 Spawn Compendium Volume 1 - https://bookshop.org/p/books/spawn-compendium-color-edition-volume-1-alan-moore/eff8229ebb584c75?ean=9781534319356&next=t Southern Bastards Book One - https://images-us.bookshop.org/ingram/9781632154446.jpg?v=enc-v1 Tin Can Society Vol 1 - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-tin-can-society-peter-warren/75018bd5b4af42d1?ean=9781534331471&next=t Department of Truth: The Complete Conspiracy Deluxe Hardcover Book 1 - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-department-of-truth-the-complete-conspiracy-deluxe-hardcover-book-1-james-tynion-iv/9d334f2e5681964b?ean=9781534399723&next=t No/One TPB - https://bookshop.org/p/books/no-one-brian-buccellato/908fe55306c07268?ean=9781534397217&next=t Eight Billion Genies TPB - https://bookshop.org/p/books/eight-billion-genies-charles-soule/5d00993fa6cdc80c?ean=9781534331686&next=t

Something is Killing the Children: Deluxe Edition Book One - https://bookshop.org/p/books/something-is-killing-the-children-book-one-deluxe-edition-james-tynion-iv/d4de239376e589bb?ean=9781684157648&next=t Hero Squared Complete Collection - https://bookshop.org/p/books/hero-squared-complete-collection-j-m-dematteis/06dedd2b405572d1?ean=9798892155564&next=t BRZRKR Deluxe Edition HC - https://bookshop.org/p/books/brzrkr-deluxe-edition-keanu-reeves/780b08566fbd3781?ean=9798892150521&next=t The Expanse: Origins - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-expanse-origins-georgia-lee/400439b9940be7dc?ean=9781684151141&next=t Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Darkest Hour Deluxe Edition - https://bookshop.org/p/books/mighty-morphin-power-rangers-darkest-hour-deluxe-edition-melissa-flores/955286b9c4e7c170?ean=9798892155434&next=t The Traveler: Complete Collection - https://bookshop.org/p/books/hero-squared-complete-collection-j-m-dematteis/06dedd2b405572d1?ean=9798892155564&next=thttps://bookshop.org/p/books/the-traveler-complete-collection-mark-waid/f5048882276a7998?ean=9798892155991&next=t Minor Arcana Vol 1 - https://bookshop.org/p/books/minor-arcana-vol-1-direct-market-exclusive-jeff-lemire/97ffad6501915b9c?ean=9798892156424&next=t Bone Parish Complete Collection - https://bookshop.org/p/books/bone-parish-complete-collection-cullen-bunn/ec04ce0212250aa7?ean=9798892153423&next=t Grim Book One Deluxe Edition - https://bookshop.org/p/books/grim-book-one-deluxe-edition-stephanie-phillips/527845616f8cd3e2?ean=9781608862306&next=t The Complete Klaus Deluxe - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-complete-klaus-deluxe-grant-morrison/99c6dadaa510dd00?ean=9781608861231&next=t

It's Day Two of 12 Days of The Comic Source, and Jace continues the cozy holiday-season fireside chats by welcoming back acclaimed creator Pornsak Pichetshote (Infidel, The Good Asian). The conversation dives into the heart, humor, and hope of BOOM! Studios' Man's Best—a "Homeward Bound in space" adventure about emotional support pets in mech suits—plus how Pornsak approached character voice, theme, and world-building alongside artist Jesse Lonergan. From there, Jace and Pornsak talk about the wild, collaborative energy behind Tiny Onion's Exquisite Corpses, the bigger-picture challenges of getting indie comics noticed, and the potential future of The Horizon Experiment in collected form—before shifting into an exciting tease of what's ahead with Absolute Green Arrow (with art by Rafael Albuquerque) and wrapping things up with some warm holiday tradition talk and a few gift-worthy reading recommendations.

Usagi Yojimbo - https://bookshop.org/p/books/usagi-yojimbo-saga-volume-1-second-edition-stan-sakai/d957f78f0c190222?ean=9781506724904&next=t Kill All Immortals Vol 1 - https://bookshop.org/p/books/kill-all-immortals-zack-kaplan/0e25364b5648b05f?ean=9781506741000&next=t Hellboy Library edition - https://bookshop.org/p/books/hellboy-library-volume-1-seed-of-destruction-and-wake-the-devil-mike-mignola/71ce6da92b3dc08a?ean=9781593079109&next=t Black Hammer Omnibus Vol 1 - https://bookshop.org/p/books/black-hammer-omnibus-volume-1-jeff-lemire/9b8a2acdc17ae61c?ean=9781506731469&next=t Stranger Things Omnibus Vol 1 - https://bookshop.org/p/books/stranger-things-omnibus-volume-1-graphic-novel-jody-houser/9f85782fbf517fce?ean=9781506727646&next=t The Orville Library Edition - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-orville-library-edition-volume-1-david-a-goodman/21400db8fbef7c67?ean=9781506711379&next=t Art of Marvel Rivals - https://www.amazon.com/Art-Marvel-Rivals-NetEase-Games/dp/1506746578/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2S609MMNY8KCS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.q4xPTx8THaVsQyOGLEQS765kb8FDjoiErtZxdnsjmXDEjvH-YeOA6cwcdrry_r-gR9_XGbMzsH0okKAe_UiH3Df_8aEFTwc-kGWpXbll9ynwTCqx9Z5NZ5u-PvJEC_S6mS8Qcjv-eEqwCGyr8gTqP5E8dVO7rs3HLbqTHdKpYN3ttnz_Ol0CFPRIRo2EHCuJfJYfgQ8y38Iyw77a-A9rS0fyD71xNuFD_Gmnsru-usU.fFj50TDGSk-jb1BAJNMPArN9XVnMGZ9tgrN2W5g_RBg&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+art+of+marvel+rivals&qid=1764866764&sprefix=the+art+of+marvel%2Caps%2C520&sr=8-1 The Witcher Omnibus - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-witcher-omnibus-paul-tobin/cbbe4907c957c676?ean=9781506713946&next=t The EC Archives - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-ec-archives-weird-science-volume-1-al-feldstein/bb33d9ef5865a938?ean=9781506721187&next=t Gilt Frame - https://bookshop.org/p/books/gilt-frame-margie-kraft-kindt/58844fd01777c17a?ean=9781506745947&next=t

Bridge Planet Nine - https://bookshop.org/p/books/bridge-planet-nine-jared-throne/5c30f731bf7bad7d?ean=9781603095631&next=t Ronin Box Set - https://bookshop.org/p/books/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-the-last-ronin-box-set-kevin-eastman/08cfedafe603c955?ean=9798887244280&next=t Art of Smurfs - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-art-of-smurfs-matt-murray/f56bae0d975e54f1?ean=9798887243696&next=t Godzilla: The Monster Comic Art Collection - https://bookshop.org/p/books/godzilla-the-monster-comic-art-collection-bob-eggleton/4587abf18f85fef8?ean=9798887243740&next=t More Weight - https://bookshop.org/p/books/more-weight-a-salem-story-ben-wickey/4b7762738590bb1f?ean=9781603095600&next=t TMNT Inked - https://bookshop.org/p/books/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-vol-1-return-to-new-york-inked-deluxe-edition-jason-aaron/2539b7de5f804939?ean=9798887243627&next=t David Mazzucchelli's Batman Year One Artist Edition - https://bookshop.org/p/books/david-mazzucchelli-s-batman-year-one-artist-s-edition-frank-miller/8d2a00cf37a685c2?ean=9798887240039&next=t Beneath the Trees - https://bookshop.org/p/books/beneath-the-trees-where-nobody-sees-patrick-horvath/7a83c3f14cc8ad2e?ean=9798887241081&next=t Neal Adams Artist Edition - https://bookshop.org/p/books/neal-adams-dc-classics-artist-s-edition-cover-a-batman-version-neal-adams/d3c0ab38173e7991?ean=9798887241517&next=t Star Trek: God Shock - Volume 1 - https://bookshop.org/p/books/star-trek-vol-1-godshock-collin-kelly/5c3c37b8958a024d?ean=9798887242859&next=t

Welcome to 12 Days of The Comic Source, a special fireside chat interview series celebrating the countdown to Christmas with some of Jace's favorite creators! For Episode 1, Jace is joined by Zach Kaplan for a wide-ranging conversation about his work across comics—spotlighting Eclipse, Masterminds, Kill All Immortals (and Kill All Immortals 2), Midnight Shadows, Dark Empty Void, Beyond Real, and Mindset—plus a quick tease of his upcoming short story "Recollect" in Hello Darkness #17. Along the way, they talk creative process, collaboration, themes, and holiday traditions, closing out with warm wishes for a happy, healthy, and relaxing season.

Gift Guide 2025 - Ghost Machine The Comic Source   Rook: Exodus Deluxe Edition Hardcover - https://bookshop.org/p/books/rook-exodus-volume-1-deluxe-hardcover-fight-or-flight-geoff-johns/50d0f00f29885bb3?ean=9781534331556&next=t Redcoat Vol 1 - https://bookshop.org/p/books/redcoat-volume-1-einstein-the-immortal-geoff-johns/44edbba8496fb678?ean=9781534373181&next=t Geiger Vol 1 - https://bookshop.org/p/books/geiger-volume-1-geoff-johns/5b16cf8210e59ff7?ean=9781534320024&next=t Geiger Vol 2 - https://bookshop.org/p/books/geiger-volume-2-the-nuclear-knight-geoff-johns/3e100e3e39b4726b?ean=9781534380202&next=t Geiger Deluxe Edition - https://bookshop.org/p/books/geiger-deluxe-edition-geoff-johns/a84db1925c7533d0?ean=9781534327474&next=t Junkyard Joe Deluxe Hardcover - https://bookshop.org/p/books/junkyard-joe-deluxe-hardcover-geoff-johns/ede625f661004938?ean=9781534327436&next=t Rocketfellers Vol 1 - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-rocketfellers-volume-1-first-family-of-the-future-peter-j-tomasi/b36d1671bb3d129f?ean=9781534333529&next=t Tales of the Unnamed: The Blizzard - https://bookshop.org/p/books/tales-of-the-unnamed-the-blizzard-geoff-johns/426f5fddb95b6351?ean=9781534397132&next=t Geiger 80 Page Giant - https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=geiger+80+page+giant&_sacat=1&_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_odkw=ghost+rider+%231+1973&_osacat=1&_sop=10 Ghost Machine #1 - https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=ghost+machine+%231+one-shot+2024&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_odkw=ghost+machine+%231&_osacat=0

In this episode of The Comic Source, Jace sits down with creator Ben Mauro to dive into the epic sci-fi universe of his original graphic novel Huxley and its prequel Huxley: The Oracle. Ben talks about conceiving the world long before his blockbuster film work at Weta on projects like Elysium and The Hobbit, developing the early pages while freelancing and backpacking around the world, and how heavy metal–style European comics, manga, and cinematic concept art all shaped the book's distinct visual identity. Jace and Ben discuss the core premise of Huxley's post-apocalyptic adventure, the more grounded, war-story tone of The Oracle, and how themes of AI, responsibility, long-ago mistakes, and second chances drive the emotional heart of the saga—without giving away any major twists. Ben also pulls back the curtain on his process, from pencils and color "soundtracks" to building lore across timelines, hints at trailers and potential adaptations, and lets listeners know where they can pick up both editions in time for the holidays, making this a perfect episode for fans of rich, visually stunning science fiction looking for their next great universe to explore.

Jace and Rocky return for another Comic Boom! / Comic Source DC Spotlight for the week of December 10, 2025, kicking off with holiday updates on gift guides, Fireside Chats, and year-end scheduling before diving into a varied slate of nine DC books. They start with Action Comics #1093, where the Silver Age tone, moral dilemmas, and standout Skylar Patridge art drive a strong Superboy-focused chapter; then move into Batman and Robin #28, a top-tier issue that deepens the Quiet Man mystery, expands the Ventriloquist twist, and showcases why Phillip Kennedy Johnson's run will be so missed. In DC KO, Aquaman #12 becomes the week's breakout as Jeremy Adams and John Timms push Arthur's power set to astonishing levels in a visually explosive Hawkman showdown. Gotham by Gaslight: A League for Justice #6 gets praise for world-building but mixed reactions for a rushed, multiversal conclusion, while Supergirl #8 lands as a quiet, emotional holiday detour centered on loneliness, legacy, and the Linda-robot twist. Scott Snyder and Jock's Absolute Batman #15 earns divided reactions—Rocky loving its monstrous Joker origin while Jace ranks it lowest out of personal preference—leading into the universally panned DC KO: Wonder Woman vs. Lobo, a structurally chaotic, inconsistently illustrated, rule-breaking oddity that squanders a marquee matchup. The guys close with Green Lantern Corps #11, a strong, character-rich chapter spotlighting Ellie, Jon Stewart, Equanar's origin, and the growing Corps-wide stakes, before wrapping with Children of the Round Table #4, a well-executed setup issue introducing each magical weapon, expanding the Camelot training mythology, and dropping a sharp political twist with Mordred influencing the U.S. presidency. As always, the episode ends with full rankings, collected-edition recommendations, and reminders to catch the video on Comic Boom! and the audio on The Comic Source podcast feed.

Jace and Rocky are back for another Comic Boom / Comic Source DC Spotlight, digging into 11 titles for the week of December 3rd, 2025 as the holidays ramp up and Jace teases his upcoming YouTube gift guides and "fireside chat" creator series before diving into eleven new DC titles that make up a solid if not spectacular week, with standout entries like Absolute Green Lantern, Batman, Poison Ivy, JSA, Gotham Academy, and the finale of Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League earning praise for strong pacing, character work, and the always-stellar art of Nicholas Scott. After noting how surprisingly close their rankings are this week, the conversation shifts into the DC KO tie-ins, beginning with a sharp dismissal of Batman: Night Fight #2 as a predictable, creatively hollow retread that squanders Dan Mora's brilliant art on yet another tired "Batman vs. the Bat-Family" setup with inconsistent tournament mechanics and no real stakes. By contrast, DC KO: Superman vs. Captain Atom #1 sparks a more nuanced discussion, as Rocky reassesses his assumptions about the moral framework of the tournament while both hosts admire Sean Isaacs' energetic visuals and the multiversal iterations on display, even as Jace expresses frustration at seeing Captain Atom once again portrayed as easily corrupted instead of realizing the potential shown in his strongest past interpretations. They dig into the murky logic of the fight's resolution, the ongoing characterization challenges for Captain Atom, and the broader editorial realities guiding DC KO, before wrapping up with a quick rundown of this week's facsimiles and collections—including classic Golden Age Superman material, the DC manga box set, Hitman by Ennis and McCrea, and the Judas Contract deluxe edition—and closing out with holiday well-wishes as Absolute Green Lantern, Poison Ivy, and Cheetah & Cheshire anchor the top of their weekly rankings.

For this Thanksgiving-week DC Spotlight covering the books of November 26, 2025, Jace and Rocky tackle one of the biggest slates of the year and find a lively mix of event chaos, holiday charm, grounded character work, and absolute-universe bombast, even as they debate whether the buzz around the Absolute line and DC KO is starting to overshadow the strong "regular" DC books. They unpack how Superman #32 quietly becomes one of the most essential KO tie-ins by finally revealing how the villains escaped the Phantom Zone and entered the tournament; how Flash #27 and Justice League Unlimited provide fun but mixed connective tissue to KO; and how Christopher Condon's Green Arrow #30 delivers another emotional gut-punch of Ollie, Roy, and Lian's family drama as the run nears its end. They also spotlight the gritty precision of Gabriel Hardman's new Black Label debut Arcadia with Batman, Green Arrow, and the Question, revisit the escalating mystery in Immortal Legend: Batman, cheer on the kaiju spectacle of Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong, and take a surprisingly deep dive into the holiday anthology I Saw Ma Hunkel Kissing Santa Claus, praising the meta-hilarious Animal Man riff, the charming Supergirl/Brainiac 5 romance, and a Dr. Light/Atom story that may even seed future key elements. But the episode ultimately belongs to the Absolute Universe, with the guys debating what works in Absolute Wonder Woman #14 before completely losing their minds over Absolute Batman #14, a gloriously unhinged action-packed fight finale to the Abomination arc filled with skyscraper-dropping theatrics, venom-fueled warfare, Killer Croc callbacks, and a chilling Joker twist that redefines Bane's future. They celebrate Nick Dragotta's wildly ambitious layouts—now finally earning the industry recognition his East of West work always deserved—while reflecting on how the issue crystallizes what makes this version of Batman so different: a hero who fights not to win, but because fighting is the point. The episode wraps with their week-end rankings, teases of upcoming Fireside Chats, YouTube shout-outs, and a Thanksgiving sendoff that doubles as a rallying cry for the week's standout title: "Welcome to Gotham."

In this episode, Jace chats with writer/artist Jared Throne about Bridge, Planet Nine, a new black-and-white graphic novel that blends science fiction, crime, and character-driven drama into a tense, emotionally grounded heist. Jared explains the concept of "bridge planets" and the morally gray crew at the heart of the story, digging into themes of corporate exploitation, desperation, and the haves vs. the have-nots without ever getting preachy. He also talks about designing the bombed-out colony world, crafting distinct voices for the four thieves (including a fan-favorite bit of comedic relief), and what it's like to spend years creating a complete, self-contained graphic novel before anyone gets to read a single page. Jace shares why the book works so well for both adult readers and younger audiences, why it's a great gateway comic or gift, and lets listeners know where they can pick up Bridge, Planet Nine now and follow Jared's work online.

In this episode of The Comic Source, Jace welcomes back fan-favorite writer Mark Russell to discuss his new Ahoy Comics one-shot, Thanksgiving. Known for weaving biting social commentary into relatable everyday scenarios, Russell explores the uneasy dynamics of family gatherings and how shared traditions can expose deep divides beneath the surface. The pair delve into the book's darkly humorous premise—a seemingly ordinary holiday dinner that spirals into moral chaos when one family member is revealed to be a killer—while unpacking the story's sharp reflections on modern America, empathy, and apathy. Jace and Mark also touch on Russell's collaboration with artist Alain Mauricet, whose grounded visuals and warm tones heighten both the satire and humanity of the tale. Before wrapping up, Mark teases his upcoming projects at Mad Cave Studios, including Racer X, Vanishing Point, and TerrorBytes, offering more of the thought-provoking storytelling that has made him one of comics' most distinctive voices.