THE AWESOME COMICS PODCAST

This week the ACP jump from the small press into the world of DC, namely the new Absolute DC comics series to talk about the new takes on classic characters. Matthew Schofield (Steamroller Man) joins the gang to talk about preconceptions of characters, awesome artwork, comic book audiences and more. Plus there's chat about great books to read this week (or catch up on), vertical reading culture, the positive and potential negative influences on creators and finding your storytelling voice. Its another must-listen episode of comics chat and then some! Great stuff to check out this week - Matthew Schofeld, Steamroller Man, The Pale, Star Vol 1, Pat Mills, Comics Cultural Impact Collective, American Nature 2, Shadows of the Stokerverse, Gonad the Ballbarian, The Press GuardianDC, Absolute Batman, Absolute Superman, Absolute Wonder Woman, Mark Waid, Lesbian Love, Junkfood Comics,  K Hole Comics, Lady Killer, Joelle Jones,Dark Horse Comics, Kaiju Blues, The Wrong Earth

The boys are back in town! Well, most listeners wouldn't know but the ACP crew haven't spoken in a while and are all excited to talk about comics again - and what an episode to do it! They answer the epic age old question about this hobby we all love as well as pulling apart the question (and the medium itself). Its a discussion that will get you thinking and hopefully loving your comics reading even more. Theres also chat about great comic stores in the states, crowdfunders you should be checking out and a whole bunch of comic recommendations! Great stuff to check out this week - Matt Strott, Planet Stetz Auctions, Graham Crackers Comics, Dunfermline Mini Con, Never Iron Anything, Grim Scary Tales, SoulD, Nick Bryan, Sweet Nightmares UK, Press Guardian, Gonad the Ballbarian, Stokerverse, Skin and Bone, Cris Geary, White Hart Comics, Thought Bubble, Cartoon Museum, Zarjaz Magazine, Jason Pearson Body Bags Artist Edition, First Kill, Rambo, Slyvester Stallone, Chuck Dixon, Dwellings, Jay Stephens, The Hexiles, Cullen Bunn, Andrew Clemson, Minecraft, Hacksler, Zine Freak

Are you a creator looking to turn the horror genre on its head? Well this week you're in good company as Shawn Gabborin (Lets All Die, Thank You) joins the pod crew to talk about his work in the horror genre and indie publishing in the USA. From ideas you need to put down to avoid other books already on the shelves, to creating characters you care about, to breaking the fourth wall in horror and more, its another look at making scary books not to be missed. All that and great laughs, comic fun and tons of recommendations to add to your pull lists! Great stuff to check out this week - Shawn Gabborin, Handwritten Entertainment, Thank You, Lets All Die!, This Little Piggy, Dave Sim, Earth 2 Podcast, Resurgence: Eternal Warrior, Falling in Love on the Path to Hell, Jack Kirby, The Me You Love in the Dark, Sashimi, The Creeping Below

This week the trilogy of horrific podcast hosts take a scalpel to indie horror, peel back its skin, remove the organs and see what works and doesn't work in small press horror! From things that make our skin crawl to the disappointments of story delivery and frustrating narrative pacing; the gang explore and analyse the genre like never before, and end up wanting to read more! Plus there's more comics to check out, news of the 500th and where you can get official ACP merchandise!! Great stuff to check out this week - Arkham Horror, Cullen Bunn, Andre Amutti, Skeeters, Mad Cave Comics, Kelly Williams, Bob Frantz, Hotel, AWA Studios, West of Sundown, Vault Comics, Burger: Tissue Damage

Its the second week of our horror month, and this time Cullen Bunn (The Sixth Gunn, Harrow County, Magneto) joins the gang to talk about his work in the genre. From exploring the darkness within the X Men universe, his own work ethic and process to putting characters through bad times (and hating it), its a brilliant and insightful conversation with one of the most prolific comic writers out there. If you are a horror creator it is not to be missed. Plus fantastic books you should be reading and more! Great stuff to check out this week - Cullen Bunn, The Sixth Gun, Harrow County, Hexiles, Arkham Horror, The Damned, Midnite Show, Dark Ark, Mad Cave Studios, Aftershock Comics, Crocodile Black, Boom Studios, Smashed, Junji Ito, These Savage Shores, Ram V, Sumit Kumar, Vault Comics, A Cold Place Between the Shores, Third Bear Press, Artem Trakanov

SHOCKTOBER HAS BEGUN! Well, according to Vince it has, and this week the amazing mind behind horror publisher Afterlight Comics, Joey Oliveira rejoins the ACP crew to talk about becoming a full time comics publisher! From humble beginnings to dealing with amazing international artists, working with Diamond, the importance of support structures and tabling at LOTS of conventions. This ones got it all and more, and is also full of scary recommendations, an epic list of kickstarters to check out and discussion about heavy subject matter in comics. This episode is so packed with goodies it's scary! Great stuff to check out this week - Joey Oliveira, Afterlight Comics, Ghost Island, Elena, 3.33, The Walking Dead, Earth 2 Podcast, Comic Mart, Our Monsters, Let Us In, The Long Death, Time Served, Ten, Manchild, Romanus Magicka, Masters Vol 2, Mega Maiden, The Thug Nerds, Kaiju Blues, A Haunting of Mars, Frankenstein Unconquered, Geek Girl, Immortal Offerings, The Fox Came In From the Woods, Bad Natures, Sokyo X, Big Guns, Third Bear Press, Wesley Griffiths, Grotesk, Evil Undead, Asylum Press, Hyde Street, Ghost Machine, CROK, Blood on the Tracks, 

The underground comics scene is stronger than ever, but what kind of comic reader checks out what happens beyond the panel borders of their 'regular' titles? The ACP are joined by the gang at Black Ink Comix and Junked to talk about that, getting your comics into different venues and so much more. It's a fascinating look at the art of just making comics and putting them out into the world. Plus great indie books to check out, chat about the preservation of classic cartooning and even more small press chat. Great stuff to check out this week - Black Ink Comix, Zine Tales, Junked Comics, Leslie Wenlock, Dan Hughes, Squarefaced Comics, Suburban Antichrist, The Far Side, Tech Noir, Hundo Industries, Paperjam Comics Collective, John Wagner, Giles, Spaceboy and the Future King, Sir Edward Grey: Witchfinder, Big Guns #3, Boo Rudetoons, Sokyo X, Blam and Glam, Omega Black: Threat Level Ultra, Zak Cahill, Fanzines: the DIY revolution, Behold Behemoth, Specs

Writing comics is one thing, but editing them, running a kickstarter AND a weekly substance is a lot of work, but Sarah Cooke (No Spell Last Forever) makes it look easy! This week she joins the gang to talk about her journey into the world of comics creation, creativity, working on IP characters and the similarity between comics and poetry. Theres also great indie books of all genres and topics and plenty more to check out. Oh, and there's some VERY immature humour at the start, so be warned. :) Great stuff to check out this week - Sarah Cooke, Faster Than Light, No Spell Lasts Forever, Bridlington Comic Con, Alien Books, Nexus, Space Boy and the Future King, Fist of the Fierce Dawn, The Life of Death of Brave Captain Suave, Lifes a Party: Fathers Daze, Sean Azzopardi, Boo Rudetoons, Dead Legends, James Maddox, Gavin Smith

The three amigos get together to talk about all things comics, including the top 10 of 2004, online comic stores and the unfortunate passing of John Cassaday. Theres also news of episode 500, great comics to look forward to and a bit of exciting news that will get everyone delving into the vast world of Dark Horse Comics! Great stuff to check out this week - Dark Horse, John Cassady, Space Station 65, Steven Appleby, Supetember, Grendel, Fist of the North Star, Third Bear Press, Sycamore, Kay Briggs, Faster Than Light Anthology, Rory Donald, Spaceboy and the Future King, Her Frankenstein, Living the Line, Smudge, Plastic: Death and Dolls, Get Fury, Garth Ennis, Jane Burrows, Remote Space, Cliff Rathburn, Grendel: The Devils Crucible, Matt Wagner, Brennan Wagner, Boo Rudetoons, Blackbird, Wolf and Batsy: We Have No More, Brian Baugh

How important is the relationship between a writer and an artist? When an artists chooses to do everything themselves, how challenging is that? Those questions and more are answered this week as the ACP is joined by Rory Donald (Spaceboy and the Future King, Griff Gristle) to talk about creating comics. Plus we talk about controversial topics such as boxes of soup, eating burgers on the tube, great books to check out and also announce details for episode 500!!! Great stuff to check out this week - Rory Donald, Spaceboy and the Future King, Faster Than Light, Sycamore, Kay Briggs, Third Bear Press, Comix1, Bridlington Comic Con, You Have Ten Years, The Valiants #4, Hate #3, Peter Bagg, No Brainer #6, The Church of Hell, A Fall From Grace, Norm Konyu

This week the gang are joined by friend of the show Pete Doree (Stan and Jack) to continue the exploration into the world of being a solo comic creator. Work ethic, scheduling, influences and more are discussed as well as another step into the realm of creative introspection thats sure to get you all thinking. Plus book recommendations that  go to the underground, the trippy, the kinetic and more! Great stuff to check out this week - Pete Doree, Stan and Jack, The Spark, Spaceboy and the Future King, Craig Shields, ACP Recommends, Naff, Ethan Llewellyn, Sokyo X, Cory Tran, Planet Land Comics, Third Bear Press, Mind Comics, Digital Bardos, King Klaus

Creating a comic is a lot of blood, sweat and tears, and this week marks a few shows focusing on those that are doing everything on their own. The sole creators who are making art they want to put out into the world all on their own. Joined by Richard McCrae (from the webcomic Silverback) the gang talk about motivations, enthusiasm, hints, tips and take an introspective look into their own work that every creator should do. Its a fun, fascinating chat about the creative process, and on top of that there's more great comic recommendations and lots of laughs! Great stuff to check out this week - Richard McCrae, Silverback, Tilly Walden, Spinning, Avery Hill, Bridlington Comic Con, Falling Awake, Blizzard, Ghost Machine, Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, Afterlight Comics, Junkyard Joe, Every Last One, My Neighbor Necromancer, Dillon Gilbertson, Jason Piperberg, Consume Comics, Dylan Henty

Questions have been asked, and by gum the ACP will answer them! The pod trio tackle topics such as strange comic places visited on holiday, the importance of lettering, books for best friends, will digital apps mean the end for monthly issues and whether or not comic characters can have a legacy in the modern publishing world! All that and tons of recommendations, laughs and comic chat to bring a smile to your face! Great stuff to check out this week - Strange Apparitions, Pat Mills, Bridlington Comic Con 2024, Ian Ashcroft, Mike Marshall, Fist of the North Star, Anime August, Tokyo These Days, Taiyo Matsumoto, Maeve, Jeremy Skeele, The Unsleeping Eye, Brian Level, Kurt Belcher, Tunis to Sydney, Miriam and Christian Carnouche

Collecting Comics is something we all do, but what happens to those books when we need shelf space (or head to the great comic book store in the sky)? Eamonn from the Mega City Book Club joins the ACP gang this week to discuss the comic collecting hobby and the many questions people don't normally think about over the years. Plus a new reading challenge is set and a whole bunch of great indie comic recommendations as always! Great stuff to check out this week - Mega City Book Club, Eamonn Clarke, Black Hole, Charles Burns, Golgo13, Berserk, The Boys, Pat Mills, Sha Vol.1, The Brutalist, Zak Cahill, Coma, Bridlington Comic Con, Avery Hill Publishing, My Favourite Thing is Monsters 2, Scarred for Life, Scrapbook of Life and Death, Jay Webster Sharp, Zine Tails #3, Image Comics, Cobra Commander, Oni Press, EC Comics, Cruel Universe

This week the pod trio get Nick Gonzo (50 Signal, Funk Soul Samurai) to talk about his work in the small press and zine community and the new comic and zine event STAPLED! It's an amazing, hilarious, frank and honest discussion about being creative, organising a small press event, therapeutic art and more. It's also dares to answer the age old question - what is the difference between a comic and zine? All that and tons of comic recommendations too. Happy days! Great stuff to check out this week - Nick Gonzo, Stapled, Zineophilia, Jenny Meur, Matt Greeves, Kristyna Baczynski, John Allison, Ewan Power, Coco Comics, A Show Called Hate, Big Punch Studios, Fanzine, Matt Simmons, Crack Cloud, Black Ink Comix, Zine Tales, Essential Showcase Presents: Stan and Jack, El Wierdo Comic Fair, Never Iron Anything, Spaceboy and the Future King, The Press Guardian, Green Archer Comics, Call of the Totem, Nectar Comics, Stuff of Nightmares: Red Murder, R.L. Stine, Destroy All Galaxies, Wesley Griffith, Junt: Overground Overlords

The ACP talk about the Eisner Awards! Well, a bit. The gang discuss the yearly comic awards past and present and discuss how things have changed over the years. Plus there's a big chat about comic book promotion. Namely, has there ever been a book that you haven't stopped hearing about for years? Are you tired of hearing about about it? Is there such a thing as too much promotion?  The good, the bad and the awkward are talked about and the discussion goes far and wide and invites an ongoing conversation. All that and a hilarious chat about a magical hall pass and tons of comics you need to be checking out! Great stuff to check out this week - ACP Drink and Draw, Mega City Book Club, Batman & Dylan Dog, Vamoose, Bill the Platypus, Small Press Day, Nexus: Scourge, Red 5 Comics, Xira, Eternal Warriors: Last Ride of the Immortal, Beyond Immortal, Cullen Bunn, Danny Luckett, First Place Losers

The ACP trio unite to discuss several different topics, from favourite publishers, bad issue 1 covers, to the annual Cliff Cumber meet up 'QVention'! Theres amazing indie comics talk and recommendations, nostalgia, laughs and a special appearance by everyones favourite bear - SOOTY! Great stuff to check out this week -  QVention, Cliff Cumber, Tribute Press,  Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Image Comics, Eclipse Comics, First Comics, IPC Publishing, The Green Archer, Bloodshot, Flesh and Ink, Peter Hogan, Bill the Platypus, Mugshots, Thank You!, Remote Space, Plastic: Death and Dolls, Adam Falp, Smoking Bedroom, Suburban Antichrist, Where the Body Was, Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, Book Learning: A Pie Comics Collection, John McNamee

This week the ACP talk to Green Archer Comics, a great new comics publisher that not only have put out a slew of books in a short space of time, but are doing something a bit different with some existing characters. Together they talk about comic book storytelling tropes, public domain characters, pulp comics, supportive partners, finding an audience and what it was like to work with Dan Butcher! Plus there's tons of indie comics to add to your pull lists and laughs galore!  Great stuff to check out this week -  Green Archer Comics, Johnny Dollar, The Press Guardian, Gatchaman, Mad Cave Comics, Garth Ennis, Dwellings, Oni Press, Dan Butchers Dune Sketchbook, QVention, Monsters: Lost Loves, The Collected Breed by Jim Starlin, None of the Above, Ross Radke, Bill the Platypus, The Epiphany Engine, Archer and Armstrong, Valiant Comics, Alien Books, Savage Dragon, Image Comics, Knighted, Our Bones Dust, The Hunger and the Dusk, Hate Revisited, Geiger #4, Wolverine: Blood Hunt

The ACP gang have always been interested in the ever evolving world of Valiant Comics, and now that Alien Books have teamed with Valiant for a resurgence of their universe we just had to have them on to talk about the upcoming line of books! Plus there's talk about the american independent comic scene, meta comic book storytelling, zines about comics and of course lots of great books you should be checking out. Great stuff to check out this week -  Alien Books, Valiant Comics, The Valiant, Bloodshot, X-O Manowar, Shadowman, QVention II, The PhoenixFest 2024, Dark Legacies, Advent Comics: Epiphany Engine, Comics Blogger, Gabrielle Bell, Thank You, Handwritten Entertainment, Grendel: Devils Crucible Defiance, A Curious Machine, Richard Kemp

Is the comic book hobby becoming too niche? Is the printed book pricing itself out of existence? Are there monthlies you can give too someone who doesn't read comics? All of these questions are discussed, debated and dissected but the ACP trio as they try not to be grumpy old comic fans (do they succeed?). Plus there are a LOT of comics to check out in your week ahead so get ready for a lot of comics talk! Great stuff to check out this week -  Gatchaman, Destro, G.I.Joe, Usagi Yojimbo, Ultimate Spider-Man, Rook:Exodus, Geiger, Resident Alien, Savage Dragon, Transformers, Edison Zero, QVention, Skinny Drawn Boy, Sam Hardacre, Snewbold, We've Got Back Issues, Spasm, Michel Vaillant: Legendary Races, Europe Comics, Remote Space, Cliff Rathburn, Into the UnBeing, Dark Horse Comics, Jeff and Elon, Frazer Geesin, Third Bear Press