The Comic Source Podcast

As part of the Comic Boom! and Comic Source collaboration, this DC Spotlight for the week of January 28, 2026 finds Jace and Rocky breaking down a packed slate of fourteen DC releases, with discussion opening on the passing and legacy of Sal Buscema before turning to the week's books. DC KO: The Kids Are All Fight Special #1 is examined for its focus on younger heroes and its place as a largely skippable but well-drawn tie-in, while Detective Comics #1105 continues Tom Taylor's "The Courage That Kills" arc with deeper insight into the Lion's origin and Gotham's escalating crisis. Harley Quinn #58 is discussed as the start of a new arc that feels tonally familiar, followed by the Supergirl Next Door Valentine's anthology, which offers mixed results across stories spotlighting Supergirl, Jay Garrick, Poison Ivy, Guy Gardner, Wonder Woman, Swamp Thing, Martian Manhunter, and Green Arrow. Green Lantern #31 features a nostalgic Hal Jordan and Barry Allen team-up that advances Jeremy Adams' larger arc in subtle ways, while Superman #34 pushes Superboy Prime further into moral conflict against the Dark Legion. Absolute Martian Manhunter #8 stands out for its conceptual storytelling and increased narrative momentum, The Flash #29 introduces Dream Girl as a potential crack in Darkseid's Legion, and Harley and Ivy: Love and Crimes #3 explores the early dynamics between Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy with a more grounded emotional approach. Justice League Unlimited #15 and Justice League Red #6 wrap major threads involving Neuron, time-displaced heroes, and Red Tornado's reckoning, while Absolute Batman #16 delivers a character-driven underworld journey with Wonder Woman that highlights Bruce Wayne's loyalty and sacrifice. Absolute Flash #11 provides major revelations about the Still Point and the source of Wally West's power, and Absolute Wonder Woman #16 launches the "Season of the Witch" arc with Absolute Zatanna and a reimagined Suicide Squad, setting the stage for one of the week's most consequential confrontations.

Jace and Rocky break down another Comic Boom! / Comic Source DC Spotlight for the week of January 21, 2026, with only seven single issues on the slate but a massive week for reprints and collected editions—including major Absolute line reprints like Absolute Batman #1 10th printing and Absolute Batman Annual #1 2nd printing, plus facsimiles such as Batman #676 and Superman #75, and a packed shelf of collected editions ranging from Batman: Gotham by Gaslight Compact Comics to DC's Finest: Doom Patrol, Green Lantern by Robert Venditti Omnibus Vol. 2, The Invisibles Compendium, New History of the DCU, Absolute Promethea Vol. 2, Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma, and Young Justice Omnibus Vol. 2. On the single-issue side, Batman/Superman: World's Finest #47 wraps up the Absorbicon chaos with the Joker/Luthor fusion, the world briefly losing knowledge, and a lingering "Fusion" mystery locked away in the Fortress of Solitude; DC KO: Green Lantern – Galactic Slam #1 becomes the week's standout as Jeremy Adams brings Kyle Rayner into WAM's multiversal wrestling spectacle, delivers Omega Bam Man's origin, and ties the concept directly into Darkseid and the DC KO stakes; Titans #31 splits focus between Donna Troy and Arsenal battling Grail on Earth and Nightwing/Raven's Gemworld complications as Terra turns opportunistic; Superman Unlimited #9 launches "Die Laughing" with a new, more hands-on Prankster targeting Perry White and Superman leveraging Clark Kent's reporting to bait the killer into exposing himself, while also planting Mxyzptlk-related seeds; Catwoman #83 continues Selina's Europe-set intrigue with Falcone connections and Court of Owls pressure as the run edges toward a more familiar Gotham-facing direction; Nightwing #134 keeps Dick in the Fifth Dimension facing the Zanni while real-world consequences escalate, including damage that reverberates back to Blüdhaven; and Wonder Woman #29 begins a two-part "The Village" detour to Themyscira with striking Jeff Spokes visuals and Strife's arrival setting the hook for what comes next, before both hosts give their rankings with Galactic Slam taking the top spot.

The latest DC Spotlight is live as Jace and Rocky break down a smaller but strong slate of DC releases for the week of January 14, 2026, offering full rankings and detailed discussion across eight books. The episode opens with Court: Children of the Round Table #5, where Tom Taylor delivers another major cliffhanger revealing Felicity's shocking connection to Mordred and continuing the series' younger-reader focus within main DC continuity. Aquaman #13 shifts attention away from Arthur himself to spotlight Mera, deepening Xebel lore, introducing new mysteries around Andrina's imperial ambitions, and setting up long-term consequences tied to DC KO. In Action Comics #1094, Mark Waid explores Superboy's moral conflict as he undertakes a military rescue mission under General Lane, raising questions about agency, responsibility, and secrecy, while reactions to the noir-leaning art remain mixed. The Wonder Woman Black & Gold 2026 Special earns discussion for its experimental format, standout visuals from Mitch Gerads, and a thematically heavy Steve Orlando story examining truth, belief, and manipulation through the Golden Lasso. Supergirl #9 leans hard into character drama as a New Year's party spirals into fallout that challenges Kara's role as a mentor and forces a reckoning with Lesla's fate and Kandorian biology. Batman and Robin #29 continues Philip Kennedy Johnson's acclaimed Quiet Man arc, pushing the Ventriloquist mythology to disturbing new depths while strengthening Bruce and Damian's evolving father-son dynamic. DC KO #3 escalates the tournament with creative team-ups, major eliminations, Lex Luthor's calculated use of Supergirl, Joker's chaotic advantage, and a cliffhanger teasing Absolute-inspired threats. The episode closes with Green Lantern Corps #12, where Morgan Hampton juggles multiple Lantern factions, Larfleeze's assault on Oa, Fatality's uncertain allegiance, and a looming planetary threat, delivering a dense, fast-paced issue that emerges as the week's top contender.

As part of 12 Days of The Comic Source, this Fireside Chat features Jace welcoming returning guest Tom King for a wide-ranging holiday conversation that reflects on a year of major transitions while remaining grounded in the creative heart of comics. King discusses the shifting balance between his Hollywood work and comics, including his involvement with the upcoming Supergirl film and the enduring impact of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, before diving deep into the themes, structure, and artistic collaboration behind Helen of Wyndhorn, praising Bilquis Evely's Eisner- and Ringo-winning work and explaining how the book was conceived as a companion piece to Supergirl. The discussion also covers the horror-romance mechanics of Love Everlasting, its planned second half, and its thematic exploration of agency and choice, alongside reflections on Human Target, its noir sensibilities, and the newly released hardcover edition. King then turns to his current Wonder Woman run, unpacking the philosophy behind Diana's uncompromising approach, the creation of the Matriarch, and the scope of the upcoming "Wonder War," before closing with a more personal holiday note as he shares the atmosphere of the King household during Christmas—presents piling up around his workspace, the joy of seeing his children connect with lighter, more playful stories like Trinity, and his deep affection for the warmth, family traditions, and reflective nature of the season—including an ongoing family tradition in which something seems to go spectacularly wrong each year, recounting this year's debacle as a memorable incident involving a broken Christmas tree adds both humor and warmth--reinforcing the celebratory spirit that defines these Fireside Chats

As part of 12 Days of The Comic Source, this Fireside Chat features Jace welcoming back writer Jeremy Adams for an in-depth, free-flowing conversation covering a wide range of current and recent projects alongside broader creative philosophy. Jeremy discusses Aquaman, focusing on redefining Arthur Curry as an avatar-level powerhouse and how DC KO positions him against Hawkman in a tournament setting that highlights his expanded abilities; Green Lantern, detailing long-form planning around the fractured emotional spectrum, Hal Jordan's evolving role, and the reintegration of legacy elements like Jon Stewart, Kyle Rayner, and long-dormant continuity threads; and the digital crossover Flash / Fantastic Four, where Jeremy explains the constraints and opportunities of vertical-format storytelling and character interaction outside heavy continuity. The conversation also touches on multiple DC KO tie-ins, including a Green Lantern wrestling-themed one-shot that expands the Wham mythology, the youth-focused The Kids Are All Fight, which centers Jon Kent guiding younger heroes during a world-ending crisis, and the high-concept DC KO crossover featuring non-DC characters such as Homelander, Vampirella, and Sub-Zero. Jeremy further reflects on the broader DC creative landscape, including Absolute and Next Level initiatives, while sharing insight into continuity stewardship, editorial collaboration, and the balance between ambitious ideas and reader expectations, before closing on a seasonal note as he talks about specific holiday traditions such as winter outings like sledding, revisiting favorite Christmas movies, and enjoying local holiday events and markets with his family as a way to slow down and reconnect during the end-of-year rush.  

As part of the 12 Days of The Comic Source countdown to Christmas, Jace of The Comic Source welcomes back Liam Sharp for a wide-ranging Fireside Chat that blends career reflection, creative process, and seasonal perspective, covering Sharp's return to Image with Spawn: Dark Ages, the historical and mythological foundations of the series, its political and spiritual themes, and his approach to world-building, language, and visual storytelling, alongside discussion of Starhenge, Conan, Batman: Reptilian, Wonder Woman, The Brave and the Bold, and earlier Marvel and DC work, while also touching on his move back to the UK, the evolution of his art and writing over four decades in comics, and the personal and family holiday traditions that frame this year's Christmas season.

As part of the annual 12 Days of The Comic Source countdown to Christmas, Jace of The Comic Source sits down fireside with returning guest Chris Condon for a wide-ranging holiday conversation that reflects on Condon's career, creative process, and current projects. The discussion covers the long-anticipated return of That Texas Blood with Jacob Phillips, including its evolving time-period structure, emotional grounding, and why revisiting the series feels like coming home, before moving into reflections on Condon's concluding work on Green Arrow and the personal themes shaping its finale. The episode also explores Ultimate Wolverine and its real-time storytelling approach in Marvel's Ultimate Universe, the Cold War-era horror and immersive back-matter of News from the Fallout, and the upcoming Vertigo revival title The Peril of the Brutal Dark, which reimagines an early creator-owned concept with a noir-adventure lens. The conversation closes on holiday traditions, seasonal nostalgia, and the role of comics as a lifelong constant, blending professional insight with personal reflection in the relaxed Fireside Chat format.

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.

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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.