

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

Jun 26, 2025 • 1h 7min
Robbie Thompson writing heroes for comics and TV
Robbie covers a lot of ground talking his comics books for Marvel like Spider-Man Deadpool DR Strange and for DC Suicide Squad and more.He's also got 2 IDW projects out Sin Bin a Hockey Player Father and his teen daughter go deamon hunting, and the Star Trek Strange New Worlds Comic starting in Auguest. Speaking of Tek Robbie is on the writing staff of Strange New Worlds upcoming seasons 4 and 5 .We alos discuss his tv work on Supernatural and the forgotten NBC Superhero series THE CAPE

Jun 25, 2025 • 1h 16min
Scene Missing Alexander Nevsky The Wide West
Welcome to a Scene Missing edition of The Word Balloon Podcast! I’m John Siuntres, and today Gabriel Hardman and I are diving into the dusty trails of indie cinema with action star and filmmaker Alexander Nevsky, joined by his co-star Nick Balle, to talk about their new western, The Wide West, now streaming free on Xumo Play. This isn’t your typical shoot-’em-up. The Wide West is inspired by a real historical event from 1907, when Japanese sumo wrestlers met President Theodore Roosevelt in a diplomatic exhibition—a forgotten slice of international history that sparks the film’s wild premise.Even better? The movie features real sumo wrestlers bringing raw physicality and authenticity to the screen. We talk about the real-life origins, the challenges of mixing action and historical fiction, and what it takes to make a western in the 21st century with indie muscle and global ambition. It’s a showdown you didn’t see coming—this is The Wide West on Word Balloon.

Jun 24, 2025 • 2h 11min
Talking Trek Toons DC and More With Tim Sheridan
Tim is back to discuss his Eisner nomination of his Alan Scott Green Lantern min series and the closeted life of a Gay Superhero in 1940s america. We also discuss his current run on IDW's Star Trek Lower Decks series his work on DC animated films about Superman Batman and DC Army heroes like the losers and Sgt Rock.

Jun 23, 2025 • 1h 30min
Canvas Classics With Boxing Historian Bill Dettloff
Welcome to The Big Bout Podcast—part of the Word Balloon Network.Today we’re going ringside with one of the best boxing minds in the game—historian and author William Dettloff. We’re digging into the treasure trove of vintage fights now streaming on YouTube, reliving the glory days of the ring with expert insight and behind-the-scenes context you won’t find anywhere else. From underappreciated classics to legendary brawls, we’re throwing it back and breaking it down. Then, we shift gears and look ahead—previewing the big matchups on the horizon, from rising stars to long-awaited grudge matches, and what fight fans should be watching for in the coming months. So lace up—The Big Bout starts now.

Jun 22, 2025 • 1h 48min
TV and Movie Talk With The Trek Watch Guys
Lots of TV and film talk including a talk about the limits of streaming, where physical media will be in the future, and much more

Jun 21, 2025 • 39min
WB 20 Superheroes A Never Ending Battle Doc 2012
A 2012 interview with the producers of the 6 hour pbs documentary series Superheroes The Never Ending Battle . This documentary series features many legendary creators who thankfully were still alivbe to talk about their creations Joe Kubert (Hawkman) Joe Simon (Captain America) Jerry Robinson (Robin, The Joker) Stan Lee Neal Adams and countless more

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..


