
Word Balloon Comics Podcast
1 on 1 interview show featuring the creative minds behind Comics TV Film Novels & Animation. Hosted by Chicago Pop Culture expert, John Siuntres
Latest episodes

Jun 20, 2025 • 1h 11min
Scene Missing Roger Corman Our Favorites
There are so many Roger Corman films we could've discussed but we throw a few curves and talk about some of the ones people miss on their Corman lists. From 1954's Highway Dragnet, which was Corman's first produced Screenplay to Frankenstien Unbound his last directed film from 1992

Jun 19, 2025 • 1h 13min
Mark Millar's New Side Hustle Psychic Sam
Mark Millar is back to talk about is new Kickstarter campaign for Psychic Sam co-created by John Romita Jr.The new book is already in the works as a film adaptation by the producer of Wrath Of Man and The Gentlemen Ivan Atkinson We also talk about his Vatican City Dark Horse comic, an upcoming new volume of Nemesis, and other coming projectsHe also explains what happened to his plans to write a new Superman story and an epuc Marvel crossver, plus we get a glimpse of what a public domain Supermanstory by Mark will look like in 2034

Jun 18, 2025 • 1h 6min
Revival On SYFY The Showrunners Speak
Go behind the scenes of SYFY’s haunting new series Revival in this exclusive interview with showrunners Aaron B. Koontz and Luke Boyce. Adapted from Tim Seeley and Mike Norton’s acclaimed Image Comics series, Revival isn’t your typical zombie tale—instead, the dead return to life just as they were, sparking a chilling murder mystery in the heart of rural Wisconsin.Whether you’re a longtime fan of the comics or new to the world of Revival, this episode offers an insider’s look at the making of one of SYFY’s most anticipated series—where every resident, living or undead, has secrets to keep and stories to tel

Jun 17, 2025 • 2h 21min
Breaking The Gay Geek Glass Ceiling Andy Mangels
Sure there were gay cartoonists before him, but Andy was the first openly gay writer doing superhero comic books in the 80s and it wasn't easy. He discusses his comics like Wonder Woman 77 Meets the Bionice Woman, writing ground breaking Star Wars stories, and his many Star Trek Books and Comics..

Jun 16, 2025 • 1h 7min
John Romita Jr New Millar Kickstarter Marvel Days and More
JrJr is back to talk about a new kickstarter and collaoration with Mark Millar on a new vigilante character Psychic Sam . Inked by Klaus Janson this will be a 3 part 50 pages each arc, that is also in development as an upcomming film by Ivan Atkinson (Wrath Of Man, The Gentleman) Johnny talks about the new project teaming up again with Mark , past projects like Kick-Ass and his Daredevil and Spider-Man days at Marvel, thooughts on the adaptations of his work in film and tv and More Back the kickstarter here Psychic Sam - Vol. 1 of 3 by Side Hustle Comics — Kickstarter

Jun 15, 2025 • 1h 43min
Star Trek SNW Preview Dr Who Wrap Up and More
It's part 1 of a 2 part Trek Watch where Franco and Wayne join me to add their thoughts on the Starnge New Worlds news and Dr Who Gatwa era. Plus our anticipation for the Superman film grows.

Jun 14, 2025 • 1h 21min
Training Dragons and Comics With Richard Ashley Hamilton
Richard spent years at Dreamworks writing for the How To Train Your Dragon Franchise making VR senarios and episodes of The Netflix series. Todaay he's writing great YA graphic novels for Mad Cave's Imprint Maverick 3 volumes of Scoop a cross between the X-Files and Veronica Mars, and Tech-Tiv, a young woman who love pulp detective stories solving a mystery in a post apocalyptic world.

Jun 12, 2025 • 1h 3min
Sean Phillips The Return Of Criminal
Criminal is back with a new graphic novel in August by Sean and Ed Brubaker. Sean teases the story, plus talks about the upcoming tv adaptation from Amazon Prime. We also talk about his art process, working with his colorist and son Jacob, and a kickstarter campaign that features Sean's early work in UK comics

Jun 11, 2025 • 1h 10min
Crystal Skillman Comic Book Playwright
Crystal is an accomplished off broadway playwright with a new play called OPEN an LGBTQ story about love and magic. We discuss the play, her writing seminars, historic broadway stories, and George Clooney's GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK, about the war between Communist witch hunter Senator Joe Mccrathy and CBS new anchor Edward R Murrow. Crystal also shared some rare Peter David encounters, and the recent loss of Jules Feiffer who made comics and wrote the first great superhero coffee table book The Great Comic Book Heroes in the 1970s.

Jun 10, 2025 • 1h 8min
Robert Greenberger and The Legacy Of Peter David
Bob worked with Peter for years as his editor on Star Trek Comics and a co writer of the Crazy 8 collective . He has Marvel DC and Star Trek stories about Peter and more . Is there a final David novel si the works?