The Comic Source Podcast

Danielle Kotch joins Jace on The Comic Source to discuss CRYSTAL LAKE, Peacock's new Friday the 13th prequel series, and the surprising new depth given to Claudette, one of the original film's most important but often overlooked characters. Claudette and Barry were the first victims in the original Friday the 13th, but their connection to Jason Voorhees' tragic past gives the new series an opportunity to explore the characters in a completely different way. Danielle discusses bringing Claudette to life, exploring the guilt and consequences surrounding Jason's drowning, and discovering how much more there was to the character than she originally expected. We also discuss her audition with showrunner Brad Caleb Kane, working alongside Phoenix Parnevik and Linda Cardellini, filming at the original Friday the 13th location in New Jersey, and recreating the atmosphere of the 1970s. Danielle also talks about discovering the Friday the 13th films, her appreciation for practical effects and horror filmmaking, and what longtime fans might think about the series expanding Jason's origin. CRYSTAL LAKE stars Linda Cardellini as Pamela Voorhees and is created by Brad Caleb Kane for Peacock and A24. All eight episodes are now streaming on Peacock. This interview avoids major plot spoilers for the new series, although it discusses events established in the original Friday the 13th film. Subscribe to The Comic Source for interviews with comic book creators, actors, writers and artists, plus comic book reviews, news and entertainment coverage. More from The Comic Source: https://linktr.ee/TheComicSource #CrystalLake #FridayThe13th #DanielleKotch   CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction — Danielle Kotch and Crystal Lake 00:38 Playing Claudette and Landing the Role 02:13 Discovering the Friday the 13th Franchise 03:16 Claudette's Guilt and Character Development 05:22 Working with the Crystal Lake Cast 07:16 Filming at the Original Friday the 13th Location 08:00 Expanding Jason Voorhees' Origin 09:34 Making Crystal Lake Accessible to New Viewers 10:44 Recreating the 1970s 12:12 Crystal Lake's Music and Release 12:51 Danielle's Final Thoughts

In this episode we discuss; NYCC 2026: Marvel's Big Changes, Absolute Justice & Major Comics Announcements The Comic Source   New York Comic Con 2026 delivered major announcements from Marvel, DC, Image Comics, Skybound, IDW and more, and Jace breaks down over 50 comic book news stories from the convention in this special edition of Comic Source Weekly. Marvel's new Editor-in-Chief Stephen Wacker discusses major changes to publishing, retailer support, variant covers, creative relationships and the future direction of Marvel Comics. Plus, Kevin Smith's Marvel/Star Wars crossover expands, Phillip Kennedy Johnson's Hulk saga approaches its finale, Brian Michael Bendis returns to Magneto, and Marvel reveals developments involving Spider-Man, the Midnight Universe, Daredevil and more. DC announces Absolute Justice, the first major crossover bringing together the heroes of the Absolute Universe. Jace also covers upcoming storylines for Absolute Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Flash, new DC Next Level projects, Tom King and Mitch Gerads' Superman collaboration, and the latest Black Label and Vertigo announcements. Over at Skybound, major changes are coming to the Energon Universe, including Megatron's transformation, the arrival of the Dinobots, Battle Force 2000 and a new chapter for Baroness. Skybound also reveals its Visions lineup, including Turok, Bumblebee and G.I. Joe projects. Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang reunite for ROAM at Image Comics, while IDW reveals developments involving James Bond, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Star Trek. Which NYCC 2026 comic book announcement has you most excited? Let us know in the comments, along with any important stories we didn't cover.   Follow The Comic Source on all social media with our Linktree - https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource #NYCC2026 #ComicBookNews #MarvelComics #DCComics #AbsoluteJustice #EnergonUniverse #ComicSourceWeekly   CHAPTERS 00:00 NYCC 2026 Special — Opening Hook 00:28 Introduction 01:04 Marvel — Stephen Wacker's Plans for Change 12:36 Marvel and Star Wars: Hope Assembles 15:25 Hulk War: Infernal Rage 17:01 Bendis Returns to Magneto 18:11 Immortal Soldiers 19:14 Avengers, Mephisto and Spider-Man 21:51 Marvel Teases 1 Day 23:07 Peter Parker vs. Miles Morales 25:00 Spider-Punk Gets an Ongoing 26:15 Spider-Man Noir Returns 27:10 Marvel's Sound Effects Anthology 28:10 More Spider-Man Announcements 31:05 Venom's Unexpected Romance 32:10 Marvel's Midnight Universe 37:45 Captain Marvel After Armageddon 38:50 X-Men: Regulators 41:10 Daredevil #700 42:35 Marvel's 2027 Lineup 44:30 Marvel Brick and Renown Collections 47:00 DC — Absolute Justice 48:45 Absolute Justice Preview Pages 49:55 Absolute Batman's Future 53:15 Absolute Batman Animation 54:10 Absolute Superman's Next Chapter 55:50 Absolute Green Lantern 57:35 Absolute Wonder Woman 59:40 More Absolute Universe Announcements 01:04:00 Batman's Murder Mystery 01:06:10 Batman: Justice Year 01:07:30 Batman: Shadow of the Bat 01:09:35 Legion of Super-Heroes 01:10:45 Starfire 01:12:00 Swamp Thing: Hallowed Ground 01:13:10 Superboy-Prime 01:14:30 Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong III 01:15:30 Gotham by Daylight 01:17:10 Superman's Supernatural Stories 01:19:30 Tom King and Mitch Gerads on Superman 01:20:40 DC Next Level 01:27:40 Green Lantern: The Dying of the Light 01:29:55 DC Black Label Presents Anthology 01:32:20 Joker/Harley: Malicious Intent Returns 01:35:00 Hide Nor Hair 01:36:11 100 Bullets, Black Tower and Bleeding Hearts 01:37:55 Fanatic and Dreambound 01:39:45 Skybound Visions 01:43:30 Transformers — Megatronus Rex and Dinobots 01:44:45 Void Rivals and Cobra-La 01:45:40 M.A.S.K. and Battle Force 2000 01:46:30 G.I. Joe — Baroness Returns to Cobra 01:47:32 Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang Reunite for ROAM 01:49:00 D'orc Glow-in-the-Dark Reprints 01:50:30 Jim Zub's Omen-Bound 01:52:45 Grant Morrison's James Bond 01:54:30 TMNT Enters a New Era 01:56:20 IDW's New Star Trek Projects 01:59:30 Murdoch Mysteries Comes to Comics

In this episode we discuss; DC Spotlight October 14, 2026 Nice House's Stunning Finale, Supergirl's Big Twist & Green Lantern's New Love Entity The Comic Source   Check Out The Episode on YouTube   Jace and Rocky break down all 12 DC releases for the week of October 14, 2026. 100 Bullets: The U.S. of Anger #4 shows some improvement as its four separate storylines begin to offer more compelling material, but Jace and Rocky continue to struggle with Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso's confusing narrative, finding that the black-and-white presentation makes an already difficult story even harder to follow despite their appreciation for the striking cover artwork. Batman and Robin: Year One — Dynamic Duo #3 continues Mark Waid and Chris Samnee's exploration of Batman and Robin's early partnership, with Jace praising the timeless artwork and compelling pacing while Rocky appreciates Dick Grayson's undercover confrontation with the Wolfpack, Catwoman's discovery of the Batcave and the way the series builds upon classic Batman continuity. Barbara Gordon: Breakout #6 leaves Jace increasingly frustrated with Mariko Tamaki's confusing storytelling and his inability to connect with familiar characters, while Rocky considers it the strongest issue so far thanks to the return of Savant and Creote and an intriguing appearance by Two-Face that may connect to the criminal justice system explored in Christian Ward's earlier miniseries. Green Lantern Corps #21 impresses Jace with Morgan Hampton's continued expansion of Green Lantern mythology, particularly the revelation that Predator has undergone the Cleanse, surrendered his immortality and opened the door for a new entity of love, while Rocky appreciates the ambition but questions whether the rules governing the emotional entities are becoming unnecessarily restrictive. Supergirl #18 delivers an abundance of story developments and classic DC world-building, with Jace particularly delighted by Sophie Campbell's detailed cross-section of the Fortress of Solidarity while Rocky celebrates the return of Matrix Supergirl and the dramatic implications of Kara losing her powers to Gold Kryptonite. Teen Titans #2 continues Kyle Higgins' story of Jason Todd leading a team of rebellious young heroes, with Jace acknowledging the book's strong sales but finding its manga-influenced artwork and youthful focus less appealing, while Rocky praises the characterization, team dynamics and potential for these unconventional Titans despite questioning Jason's suitability as their leader. Gotham Central #2 gives Jace and Rocky an engaging crime story involving Victor Zsasz, Stephanie Brown, Anarky and Dr. Zeller, with both praising Christopher Cantwell's character work and Jacob Phillips' atmospheric artwork while questioning how much the Bad Seeds crossover elements distract from the grounded Gotham storytelling that makes the series compelling. Doom Patrol #2 represents a substantial improvement over its debut for both hosts, with Jace finding more to appreciate in the character relationships and emerging mysteries despite his continued reservations about the team's deliberately strange direction, while Rocky embraces the stronger plot, Nico Henrichon's artwork and a dangerous rescue mission that finally gives him a reason to invest in the series. Legion of Super-Heroes #2 earns enthusiastic praise from Jace and Rocky as Joshua Williamson and Hayden Sherman reinterpret classic Legion mythology through the murder of R.J. Brande, the mysterious Green Lantern Corporation, the Emerald Empress and the Persuaders, with both appreciating the creative reinvention of familiar characters while Jace reflects on the importance of allowing this new version of the team to develop organically. Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #4 moves the mystery forward by exploring the complicated history of multiple Clayfaces and revealing Todd Russell's involvement, with Jace appreciating the renewed momentum and potential for the series to work as a collected story while Rocky praises the artwork and character emotions but questions some of the narrative explanations surrounding Basil Karlo and Batman's absence. The Nice House by the Sea #12 brings James Tynion IV and Álvaro Martínez Bueno's second cycle to a powerful conclusion, with Jace praising the intricate characterization, remarkable artwork and Nora's carefully calculated decisions while Rocky explores the story's deeper themes of free will, memory, humanity and the godlike responsibilities of Walter and Max. Streets of Gotham #1 presents six short stories by Matt Fraction, Mariko Tamaki and an assortment of artists, but Jace and Rocky question the anthology's necessity as part of Bad Seeds, with Jace criticizing its lack of meaningful consequences for the larger event while Rocky sees some potential in its new characters but shares the frustration that the stories offer little essential superhero storytelling. Jace and Rocky also cover this week's facsimiles, reprints and collected editions before ranking all 12 books and revealing their Books of the Week. Follow The Comic Source on all social media with our Linktree - https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource     CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 01:51 DC News from New York Comic Con 06:37 DC Comics — Overall Week Discussion 09:43 100 Bullets: The U.S. of Anger #4 12:42 Batman and Robin: Year One — Dynamic Duo #3 18:58 Barbara Gordon: Breakout #6 26:07 Green Lantern Corps #21 38:46 Supergirl #18 52:02 Teen Titans #2 57:21 Gotham Central #2 1:03:40 Doom Patrol #2 1:11:40 Legion of Super-Heroes #2 1:23:06 Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #4 1:29:28 The Nice House by the Sea #12 1:42:51 Streets of Gotham #1 1:49:59 Clayface Special Edition, Facsimiles & Reprints 1:52:28 Collected Editions 1:54:26 Rankings & Books of the Week 1:57:15 Closing Thoughts

Marvel's handling of Amazing Spider-Man #1000 is the lead story this week. After a two-week printing delay, some variant covers were allocated, leaving retailers unable to fulfill all their orders and fans facing inflated prices on the secondary market. Jace argues that Marvel squandered an opportunity to celebrate one of the most important milestones in Spider-Man history. Despite the problems, the comic still topped the latest Prana bestseller chart, demonstrating that demand for the anniversary issue was never the problem. Also making headlines, Marvel Unlimited is shutting down in December as Marvel transitions its digital library to a Webtoon-operated platform. Jace examines the subscription changes, concerns about the transition, and whether abandoning Marvel's existing platform is a mistake. Over at DC, Scott Snyder discusses how Absolute Batman challenges the familiar idea of Bruce Wayne as a lone-wolf crimefighter. Jace considers Snyder's interpretation, the character's long history of working with allies, and the phenomenal sales success of the Absolute line. Elsewhere, Image Comics announces a second printing of Avengelyne #1, Skybound previews upcoming M.A.S.K. and G.I. Joe/Tomb Raider issues, Spawn receives a twisted Christmas tale, and Act 4 announces an Artist's Edition celebrating Gene Colan. Other news includes the tenth anniversary of Black Hammer, a return to Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Sun, the sellout of Something Is Killing the Children #50, Kumail Nanjiani joining BAD IDEA's It Demands Sacrifice read-along, Ignition Press announcing The Caretaker, Clover Press celebrating Riccardo Federici, and Ghost Machine expanding its online presence for Geiger. What Hit: Jace examines ten books from the October 7 release period, including the three Marvel Midnight launches, major DC titles, and Something Is Killing the Children #50. Prana Top 10: Marvel dominates the week's bestseller rankings with eight positions. Amazing Spider-Man #1000 takes #1, while last week's What Hit predictions finish eight for nine in the Top 10, with all nine inside the Top 12. Final Order Cutoff: Twenty-one books approaching the October 12 deadline, with special attention to second printings, new series and smaller-publisher releases. New York Comic Con announcements are being saved for a separate dedicated episode.   Follow The Comic Source on all social media with our Linktree - https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource.   CHAPTERS 00:00 ASM #1000 Printing Delays and Variant Controversy 00:54 Welcome to Comic Source Weekly 01:41 Marvel Fails Spider-Man Fans 07:54 Marvel Unlimited Shuts Down 12:54 Scott Snyder Challenges Batman's Lone-Wolf Myth 15:25 Avengelyne #1 Sells Out 16:46 M.A.S.K. Reaches Its First Finale 17:44 G.I. Joe Meets Tomb Raider 18:27 Spawn's Twisted Christmas Tale 19:15 Gene Colan Artist's Edition 20:16 Black Hammer Celebrates 10 Years 21:18 Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Sun Returns 22:28 G.I. Joe Classified Visual Guide 23:15 Canto: The Clockwork Chronicles 24:05 Something Is Killing the Children #50 25:35 Kumail Nanjiani Joins It Demands Sacrifice 26:23 Ignition Press Announces The Caretaker 27:02 The DC Art of Riccardo Federici 27:42 Geiger Gets a Dedicated Website 28:43 What Hit — October 7 Comic Releases 35:20 Prana Top 10 Bestsellers 41:52 What Hit Prediction Results 42:40 Final Order Cutoff — October 12 50:45 Closing Thoughts     NEWS SOURCES Amazing Spider-Man #1000 — Printing Delays https://bleedingcool.com/comics/amazing-spider-man-1000-delayed-after-printer-gets-all-gummed-up/ Amazing Spider-Man #1000 — Variant Allocations https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/63518/amazing-spider-man-1000-variants-allocated Amazing Spider-Man #1000 — Secondary-Market Prices https://bleedingcool.com/comics/amazing-spider-man-1000-already-booming-on-ebay/ Marvel Unlimited Shutting Down https://bleedingcool.com/comics/marvel-unlimited-shuts-in-december-webtoon-takes-over-marvel-library/ Webtoon Replacement — Terms and Conditions https://bleedingcool.com/comics/those-terms-and-conditions-for-webtoons-marvel-unlimited-replacement/ Scott Snyder on Absolute Batman's Lone-Wolf Myth https://bleedingcool.com/comics/scott-snyder-says-absolute-batman-will-kill-off-the-lone-wolf-fantasy/ Avengelyne #1 Sells Out https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/rob-liefelds-avengelyne-1-sells-out-day-of-release-rushed-back-to-print-this-week Black Hammer Tenth Anniversary https://www.darkhorse.com/newsfeed/celebrate-10-years-of-jeff-lemire-and-dean-ormstons-eisner-awardwinning-universe-with-the-special-black-hammer-1-facsimile-reprint/ Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Sun https://www.darkhorse.com/newsfeed/dark-horse-books-and-hasbros-wizards-of-the-coast-announce-dungeons-dragons-dark-sun/ G.I. Joe Classified Series Visual Guide https://www.darkhorse.com/newsfeed/yo-joe-discover-behind-the-scenes-insight-on-the-gi-joe-classified-series-from-artists-photographers-designers-and-more-in-gi-joe-the-definitive-visual-guide-to-the-gi-joe-classified-series-20202025/ Geiger — Ghost Machine Website https://ghostmachinepro.com/

Jace and Rocky break down all 10 DC releases for the week of October 7, 2026. Absolute Green Lantern #19 delivers a massive expansion of Al Ewing's mythology, revealing the history of the Manhunters, Task Force X and the organizations manipulating Earth, with Jace delighted by the answers and deep DC lore while Rocky finds the revelations fascinating but frustratingly compressed into a single issue. Absolute Superman #24 sees John Henry Irons embrace the identity of Steel while offering a revealing perspective on Superman's increasingly obsessive determination to save everyone, with Jace praising Jason Aaron's ability to preserve the character's fundamental compassion and Rocky exploring how unresolved childhood trauma may be driving Clark toward an unhealthy need to protect every living thing. Batgirl #24 concludes Cassandra Cain's two-part Bad Seeds tie-in, but Jace and Rocky both find the story underwhelming, feeling that its repetitive emphasis on Batgirl's determination offers little new insight into a character whose strength and perseverance are already well established. Batman #14 gives Jace and Rocky an unexpectedly enjoyable Bad Seeds tie-in, with Batman recruiting Victor and Nora Fries to bring winter to Gotham while the real highlight is Verity, whose sarcasm, resourcefulness and impressive fighting abilities make her an increasingly compelling addition to Bruce Wayne's supporting cast. DC's Quoth the Raven #1 offers eight Halloween-themed stories featuring characters including Raven, Constantine, Zatanna, Superboy-Prime and Catwoman, with Jace particularly impressed by the anthology's artwork and visual storytelling while Rocky enjoys its supernatural pairings and connections to upcoming DC stories. Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death #1 impresses both Jace and Rocky with Michael Walsh's ability to combine supernatural horror with the familiar personality and struggles of Jonah Hex, delivering a dark Western that respects the character's history while introducing a mysterious young girl and a threat that may force Hex to confront both literal and personal demons. JSA #24 concludes Jeff Lemire's run on a high note, with Jace and Rocky praising its focus on classic Justice Society characters, Teddy Kristiansen's atmospheric artwork and a story rooted in the team's postwar history, while wishing more of the series had captured the spirit of its final two issues. Superman: The Stranger #2 continues Wes Craig's reinterpretation of Superman's earliest days, with Rocky finding the more personable Clark Kent a significant improvement over the debut while Jace appreciates how the story emphasizes that Superman's heroism comes from his values rather than his powers. The Demon #1 leaves Jace and Rocky disappointed by an opening chapter that spends nearly its entire length establishing Jason Blood's circumstances before finally introducing Etrigan, with both questioning whether James Harren's unconventional approach provides enough of a compelling introduction to the character despite the series' potential. Deadman #5 leaves both Jace and Rocky struggling to connect with W. Maxwell Prince's increasingly abstract story and its digital interpretation of Swamp Thing, with neither finding the narrative recognizable as a traditional Deadman adventure despite their considerable admiration for Martín Morazzo's artwork. Jace and Rocky also cover this week's facsimiles, reprints and collected editions before ranking all 10 books and revealing their Books of the Week. Follow The Comic Source on all social media with our Linktree - https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource   00:00 Introduction 01:32 DC Comics — Overall Week Discussion 04:24 Absolute Green Lantern #19 24:29 Absolute Superman #24 36:55 Batgirl #24 40:03 Batman #14 48:27 DC's Quoth the Raven #1 56:52 Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death #1 1:07:04 JSA #24 1:11:58 Superman: The Stranger #2 1:19:57 The Demon #1 1:28:51 Deadman #5 1:33:58 Facsimiles, Reprints & NYCC Variants 1:34:59 Collected Editions 1:39:54 Rankings & Books of the Week 1:42:40 Closing Thoughts