The Comic Source Podcast

Live from the floor of New York Comic Con 2025, Jace visits in Artist Alley with acclaimed writer Cullen Bunn to talk about his chilling new series Deluge #1 from Ignition Press. The conversation dives into how a real-world event inspired the story’s haunting setup — a women’s prison built on a floodplain — and how Bunn uses that foundation to explore moral ambiguity, human nature, and the monsters that dwell both within and without. He and Jace discuss the thematic depth of horror as a mirror to the human condition, the balance between character study and chaos, and what makes Deluge a uniquely layered reading experience. Cullen also shares why Ignition Press feels less like a new publisher and more like a creative family, emphasizing their deep support for creators, retailers, and fans alike. Before wrapping, he teases his new video podcast The Cullenoscopy, where he and guest hosts celebrate their shared love of horror across all mediums. It’s a thoughtful, behind-the-scenes chat that highlights both the craft and community driving today’s most daring horror comics — straight from The Comic Source.

In this episode, Jace catches up with custom skateboard artist Bear Walker live from the floor of New York Comic Con to talk about the creative crossroads of skate culture and pop culture collectibles. Bear shares how his love of comics, movies, and woodworking evolved into a thriving career crafting high-end skateboards inspired by fan-favorite worlds like Yu-Gi-Oh!, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and DC Comics. He discusses how his fan art caught the attention of Hollywood actors and major studios, leading to official collaborations and his dream project—a DC line debuting with Batman and classic villains. Bear also reflects on his organic connection with fans, how their feedback helps shape future designs, and the challenge of balancing endless ideas with focus and craftsmanship. It’s a lively, inspiring chat about creativity, fandom, and staying true to what you love.

In this New York Comic Con Artist Alley interview, Jace chats with writer-artist Dean Haspiel about his latest Kickstarter project, Anti-Matter, a one-man anthology inspired by indie classics like Eightball and Optic Nerve. Dean discusses how the book blends his original creations—such as Red Hook, Chest Face, Billy Dogma, and COVID Cop—into a magazine-style collection of self-contained stories, all exploring love and humanity through his trademark mix of humor and heart. He also shares insights into his creative process, his shift toward independent publishing, and his ongoing ventures in theater and film, while reminding fans that crowdfunding is the best way to directly support his work.

In the DC Spotlight for the week of October 15, 2025, Jace and Rocky hit a leaner stack with plenty to chew on—praising the tender, big-hearted close of Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #5  while enjoying the Barry-centric lift and sharpened mystery in Absolute Flash #8 and weighing the mentor-meets-meteoric-rookie vibes of Nightwing #131, Rocky is especially reveling in the fizzy will-they/won’t-they spark that steals the show in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #44 between Supergirl and Robin. The guys dig into Wonder Woman #25 for crucial context that makes the “Mouseman” era click even if the refrain wears thin and they celebrate the classic, high-stakes action of Superman Unlimited #6, debate the esoteric scale-up and striking visuals of New Gods #11 and appreciate Titans #28 as a grounded DC K.O. companion that sells the sheer logistics of a planetary evacuation., Justice League Red #3 has some slick action but stalled momentum so can this story come together in the end? Time will tell. Catwoman #80 continues to be an atmospheric Euro-caper with intriguing Falcone threads. It's an energetic, tour through craft, character, and where this week’s DC lineup soars (and where it could hit harder) as con season winds down and the K.O. ripples roll on, so join us for all the details.

In this DC Spotlight episode, Jace and Rocky take an in-depth look at another powerhouse week of DC Comics, led by the explosive debut of DC K.O. #1, a game-changing kickoff to one of the biggest DC events in years. They follow that with Absolute Batman #13, where the story takes bold emotional turns that remind readers why this alternate universe has become must-read material. Over in Green Lantern Corps #9, the energy levels are sky-high as cosmic battles and heartfelt moments collide in classic DC fashion. Action Comics #1091 keeps the momentum going with thoughtful character work that redefines legacy and leadership, while Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #3 continues its strange and stylish experiment in storytelling. The conversation turns lighter with Supergirl #6, balancing youthful energy and sharp writing, and Aquaman #10, which dives deep into epic underwater adventure. Jace and Rocky also explore the tension and teamwork in Batman and Robin #26, the dark intensity of Batman: Dark Patterns #11, and the moody period atmosphere of Batman: Gotham by Gaslight – A Leap for Justice #4. The week rounds out with Court: Children of the Round Table #2 and Batman: The Long Halloween – The Last Halloween #9, both offering unique tones that showcase DC’s storytelling range. From universe-spanning spectacle to intimate character work, it’s a passionate, energetic breakdown of what makes DC Comics thrive — straight from The Comic Source, your go-to destination for thoughtful comic conversation.

In this episode Jace chats with writer and filmmaker Adam Lawson about his newly launched crowdfunding campaign for Mad Dog Morgan, a horror-wrestling mash-up described as “The Wrestler meets The Shining.” Lawson explains how the story follows a broken former wrestler whose quest for self-destruction turns into a supernatural fight for redemption inside a haunted house that feeds on the lost and hopeless. He discusses the emotional and mythic inspirations behind the book—ranging from Jake “The Snake” Roberts’ real-life struggles to the biblical tale of Samson—and highlights the creative collaboration with artist Maxi Dall'o, colorist Patricio Delpeche, and letterer Dave Lentz, emphasizing their ability to balance emotion, action, and atmosphere. Jace and Adam also explore the craft of comic storytelling, the importance of lettering and color in setting mood, and the rewards of direct-to-reader crowdfunding. The episode closes with details on exclusive Kickstarter tiers, including a limited New York Comic Con ashcan, and Lawson’s reflections on why Mad Dog Morgan offers a fresh, heartfelt, and over-the-top experience for fans of both horror and wrestling.

In our latest DC spolight, Jace and Rocky run through a busy October 1 slate while previewing NYCC plans for panel live-tweets and interviews if Jace can make it to the show plus industry buzz from Vertigo and big Marvel/DC crossover whispers. The kick things off by breaking down the current Batman era’s tone and art, while debating Gotham’s law-and-order vibe as it compares to real-world events currently. Gotham Academy: First Year is Jace's first exposure to the property and Ricky get a “Wednesday-esque” feel from it, the Justice League: Omega Act Special is a perfect jumping on point into the next big event, DC K.O. and sums up everything happpening in DC over that last year. Poison Ivy’s run earns kudos for layered, flawed character work. Cassandra Cain’s globe-trotting martial-arts arc sparks a deep dive on DC’s fight-lore and works for Rocky while Jace is still underwhelmed, while Absolute Green Lantern’s dense worldbuilding is best enjoyed as fresh space opera rather than familiar Lantern canon. A slick heist setup in Cheetah & Cheshire Rob the Justice League shines for character moments, while Absolute Superman spotlights Kal’s evolving bond with Sol, his AI guardian and and also Kal's Smallville ties, Adventures of Superman: Book of El builds future-era intrigue, the Zatanna Panic Halloween anthology offers bite-size spooky detours to celebrate Halloween, and JSA reaches a long-awaited finale. As always Jace gives a rundown of collected editions out this week also and the guys wrap things up with their weekly rankings of all the DC titles they've read.

In this episode we discuss; DC Spotlight September 24, 2025 The Comic Source   Click HERE to help Jace head to NYCC '25 and cover the Show! Check Out The Episode on YouTube   Jace and Rocky cover 15 books in this week's DC spotlight We get a rturn to its roots with a mystery-heavy Detective Comics kicking off, a gritty street-level Green Arrow, and an adrenaline-charged Green Lantern chapter that sets up next week's finale of the Starbreaker Supremacy. Superman fans get a double feature with the most dangerous place on Earth for Superman, El Caldero, being that exact place he has to go in Superman Unlimited and an action-packed Superman #30 that leans into Legion lore and big, heroic moments for characters you might not expect. Elsewhere, they check in on Harley Quinn, the sleek international turn in Catwoman, and how Absolute Wonder Woman is steadily leveling up. The duo explains why the new History of the DCU is a handy canon refresher and check in on the second issue of the new Elseworlds batman story. They also cover Mr. Terrific: Year One, with some great interactions between Michael Holt and Jefferson Pierce, better known as Black Lightning. Finally, they talk about how Justice League Unlimited helps set the stage for the coming event, DC K.O. Join us for all the details, plus a run down on collected editions out this week and a historic facsimile that goes all the way back to DC’s origins.

Jace welcomes creators Sarah Graley and Stef Purenins to the show to chat about their recently released graphic novel Pizza Witch from Skybound's YA Comet line. They dive into the story of Roxy, a young witch chasing her dream of mastering pizza magic despite the skeptics around her, with the help of her grumpy cat familiar, George. Sarah and Stef share the inspiration behind the book, the fun of building a colorful magical world filled with skeletons, ghouls, and crystal dragons, and how the project evolved from webcomic to nearly 300-page graphic novel. Packed with humor, heart, and hopefulness, Pizza Witch is a perfect read for younger audiences—or anyone who loves a magical adventure.

Jace welcomes brothers Inaki and Roy Miranda to talk about their long-gestating story Arcadia. Set in a world where humans are just a memory, mysteries about for the survivors, who are they? Where do they come from? In the ruins of what once was, those that remain awaken in silos with an overwhelming imperative to survive and there are those that help them. Who is the singularity trying to stop them? That is just one of the mysteries to be answered in Arcadia. You can join the Kickstarter campaign now to get a preview of the 12-issue story to come. The preview is a full comic issue with a taste of whats to come. Join us as the Miranda brothers talk about balancing the huge scope of the story with the intimate quality of individual survival for those that are awakening. 

Jace and Rocky chat about the DC Comics for the week of September 17, 2025. We see Nightwing make a questionable decision based on a "feeling" that seems like it may coe back to haunt him, Bizarro World is saved in the pages of World's Finest while Power Girl comes face to face with people she least expects. Batman Second Knight continues it's look at the earliest days of Batman as the world is on the brink of a second world war and Absolute Flash has the rogues finally catching up with Wally West, but when they do things don't go how you might expect. Join us for details on all this books and more!

Good As Dead - Release Date: September 17, 2025   Jace welcome David Lapham to the show to talk about Good As Dead. Releasing through Skybound, David works with his long-time collaborator, Maria Lapham to bring an intriguing, fast-paced story to life. It may be set in a small town, but there is big-time drama going on in Port Linden. Long-time tensions between two families in the town are finally coming to a head as a big change to the town's infrastructure is about to take place. Just as that is about to happen, disaster strikes, but who is behind it and why? Filled with interesting characters, Good As Dead exhibits that signature style and character driven story that we have come to expect from these Eisner-award winning team.

Jace and Rocky chat about the DC titles for the week of September 10, 2025. It's a big week with tons of titles. Absolute Batman shows Bane's actions possibly starting Bruce's friends down the path to villainy while Dak Patterns continues to look at his early years in Gotham. We also get a chance to see a very different version of Batman as the Gotham By Gaslight era continues in League for Justice. Trinity keeps time-hopping and the Children of the Round Table receive their weapons with both titles very appropriate for young readers. The debut issue of Red Hood shows real potential for the character and the art is amazing. Fire and Ice continue their journey into hell and things take a turn for the worse for Superman as he continues to be exposed to the new forms of Kryptonite. The action and emotion of Green Lantern Corps is superbly balanced while Aquaman has more assertivesness while amongst the trinity than he ever has before, could this hint that he has a big role to play in DC K.O?

Jace welcomes fan-favorite artist J. Scott Campbell and publisher Scott Dunbier to the show to chat about J. Scott's first ever artbook and first ever Kickstarter. For the first time get a chance to see the behind the scenes pieces of Danger Girl art, plus Wildsiders, a never finished project from J. Scott including some never before seen artwork from the unpublished issue #3. Hear from J. Scott and Scott as they talk about what to expect in the campaign, what rewards are available and how detailed the artwork that is included is.

Click HERE to help Jace head to NYCC '25 and cover the Show! - https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/3D... Follow The Comic Source on all social media with our Linktree - https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource If you would prefer to listen to these reviews as a podcast, check out The Comic Source on the LRM Online pop culture website - https://lrmonline.com/news/category/t... In this episode we discuss; DC K.O. Bracket Revealed! Winners For Every Match-Up Through The Finals! The Comic Source Jace and Rocky are joined by long-time DC Comics fan Steve to make some bold predictions for the upcoming DC K.O. event. The guys all give their picks for every match up from the first round through to the finals. With varying methods and variables factored in, the picks are sometimes based on facts and sometimes based on feeling, but there all backed up with reasoning, even if those reasons don't make any sense! There are so many intriguing match-ups and it is very interesting to see where the guys end up in the finals based on the 32 fighters from the first round, Will we see a diverse last few rounds or will a consensus form? You gotta join us to find out!

Jace and Rocky chat about the DC Comics titles for the week of September 3, 2025. We get a new era of Batman from Matt Fraction and it was tremendously enjoyable. Also the ending of Ressurrection Man: Quantum Karma was very satisfying. Absoulte Superman continues to be the best of the Absolute titles while Poison Ivy reaches it's third anniversary. Tons of action in Justice League vs Godzilla vs Kong as you might expect and the heist story in Cheetah and Cheshire shifts into the recruiment phase. It's a great week of DC titles so join us for the details on these books, plus all the other releases dropping from DC this week.

Jace is joined by Lance from Comic Book Keepers for a deep-dive into indie comics. The guys have been running into each other for years at conventions and press rooms but have finally made time to collaborate, sharing their picks for the best indie comics. It's nearly impossible to have a comprehensive list and it will vary accourding to tastes at any particular time, so please keep in mind that these aren’t definitive rankings but reflections of what excites them in the moment. Neither Jace nor Lance know what is going to be chosen by the other ahead of time so there is some overlap, soem books the other hasn't even heard of and plenty of honorable mentions. As the conversation unfolds, each choice sparks stories about fandom and collecting — from chasing rare issues, wishing they had jumped on certain series earlier, to meeting creators at cons and discovering new favorites through word of mouth. The discussion stays away from deatiled discussion of story points as they guys want you to experince these titles for yourselves, but the discussion does highlight of what makes independent comics so compelling, the freedom to create without restrictions. The guys share how titles shocked them with bold twists, hit them emotionally in unexpected ways, and reminded them how powerfully art and writing can work together to expand what comics are capable of. By the end, the episode has evolved into more than just a list. It’s a wide-ranging exploration of creativity and community, from sweeping epics to quirky experiments, from heartfelt character pieces to wild genre mashups. The variety of choices reflects not only the scope of indie comics but also the personal connections and nostalgia that make them so memorable. What emerges is a love letter to the medium itself — one that invites listeners to discover, revisit, and be surprised by the stories waiting off the beaten path.

Jace welcomes sisters Chanda Bell and Krista Pitts, co-creators, along with their mother, Carol Aebersold, of Elf on the Shelf. They share how their family tradition became a global phenomenon, their unforgettable experience bringing the Elf to San Diego Comic-Con, and how fans everywhere have embraced the magic. We also dive into exciting new projects in the Santa-verse: 🎄 Nicholas the Noble – the first-ever Elf on the Shelf novel, telling the origin story of Santa Claus (available Sept. 16). 🎮 The very first Elf on the Shelf video game, created with Outright Games, bringing the North Pole to life for families year-round. Whether you grew up with the Elf or are just discovering the tradition, this interview is all about fandom, family, and creating joyful holiday memories.

Jace and Rocky chat about the DC Comics titles for the week of August 27, 2025. Mister Terrific: Year One continues it's excellent examincation and evolution of the character. The Peacemaker Double feature ends on a high note very reminiscent of the TV show while Absolute Wonder Woman and Absolute Martian Manhunter continue on an upward trajectory. Superman has a last page that has the gusy speculationg about what comes next and Justice League Unlimited ties in closely to the big Darkseid story that has been building for close to a year. Green Lantern also maintains it's high level of quality in both story and art. Finally, Immortal Legend Batman feels like the perfect balance of fresh and familiar. Join us to learn more about this titles and all the other DC books this week.

Jace welcomes Todd McFarlane back to the show to chat about the upcoming 50/50/50 Program to celebrate the 5oth issues of King Spawn, Gunslinger Spawn and The Scorched. Todd talks about the importance of consistency, building variety in the Spawn Universe to welcome in new readers, and why anniversary issues matter to both fans and retailers. He shares details on the special crossover story, unique covers, rare signed variants, and even how you can get some original art from Todd himself!. It’s a great conversation about celebrating comics, fandom, and giving back to the direct market that’s supported Spawn for over 30 years