Word Balloon Comics Podcast "James Robinson: The B-Side King of the DCU"
Jul 12, 2025
54:57
Today’s episode is a deep dive with writer James Robinson, recorded back in 2011 during a fascinating stretch of his DC Comics career. We cover a lot of ground—from his return to one of his most beloved characters in The Shade, spinning off from the Starman mythos, to the behind-the-scenes realities and editorial limitations that shaped his Justice League of America run.
Robinson opens up about his creative choices during the Flashpoint event, particularly his darker take on The Outsider, and how the Superman stand-in Mon-El came to headline the Superman books during a major story pivot.
We also talk about the launch of the New 52, and his reimagining of the Justice Society of America and Earth-2, showing how he brought fresh perspective to classic Golden Age characters under a new editorial mandate. Throughout the conversation, James shares his passion for DC’s B- and C-list heroes—characters like Solomon Grundy, Donna Troy, and Congorilla—and how he always strived to give them depth and relevance.
And for fans of comics history, there’s a charming detour into his childhood in England, and how kids in the ’70s got their hands on American superhero books across the pond.
It’s a candid, passionate, and sometimes frustrating look at what it means to write in a shared universe—and what it takes to elevate the characters that don’t always get the spotlight.
Robinson opens up about his creative choices during the Flashpoint event, particularly his darker take on The Outsider, and how the Superman stand-in Mon-El came to headline the Superman books during a major story pivot.
We also talk about the launch of the New 52, and his reimagining of the Justice Society of America and Earth-2, showing how he brought fresh perspective to classic Golden Age characters under a new editorial mandate. Throughout the conversation, James shares his passion for DC’s B- and C-list heroes—characters like Solomon Grundy, Donna Troy, and Congorilla—and how he always strived to give them depth and relevance.
And for fans of comics history, there’s a charming detour into his childhood in England, and how kids in the ’70s got their hands on American superhero books across the pond.
It’s a candid, passionate, and sometimes frustrating look at what it means to write in a shared universe—and what it takes to elevate the characters that don’t always get the spotlight.