Word Balloon Comics Podcast

In this 2006 conversation, bestselling author Brad Meltzer joins me fresh off the release of his political thriller The Book of Fate, which hit #1 on the New York Times list. We talk about how the novel’s mix of Washington intrigue, secret histories, and high-stakes drama reflects his passion for blending real-world politics with page-turning suspense.On the comics side, Meltzer dives into his acclaimed runs at DC. He discusses his relaunch of Green Arrow, where he re-established Oliver Queen as a gritty, street-level hero, and shares insights into his landmark miniseries Identity Crisis — exploring the emotional cost of heroism and the risks of reshaping icons. We also preview his then-upcoming Justice League of America run, including the Red Tornado storyline that re-examines the soul and humanity of one of DC’s most underrated characters.It’s a portrait of Brad Meltzer at a pivotal moment — redefining superheroes in comics while simultaneously cementing himself as one of the top thriller writers in prose.

After Denny O'Neill's passing in 2020 , I spoke with one of his comic book protoges Greg Rucka who discussed Denny's influences on his writing and on the whole DC line.

From 2014, my only in depth interview with Peter, who discusses an upcoming seminar he did for the comics experience online school on writing. We talk about his Star Trek books, but also his Marvel work on Hulk Spider-Man and X-Factor

Tilly and Susan Bridgess join me to discuss the new IDW Star Trek Voyager Mini Series that starts minutes after the final VOY episode. What happens next?

we know the folk stories about Jim Shooter. SEcret Wars, The Black Spider-man costume, tough editor, writing Superboy/Legion Of Superherpes stores at 14, but who was Jim Shooter, the man?at terrificon's shooter tribute panel we assembled friends of Jim, to go beyond the legends to get some insight from the guys who worked with Shooter , and hung out with him socially Alex Saviuk (Spider-Man) Al Milrom (Marvel Fanfare) Brett Breeding (Superman) and Walter Simonson (Thor)

In this wide-ranging talk, writer Paul Cornell dives into his latest projects and big-picture views on the worlds of comics and science fiction. We begin with his cheeky mystery Who Murdered Nessie?, then turn to his hard-hitting historical tale for Commando, exploring how he blends genre with grounded war storytelling. Cornell also reveals details of his bold new comic book company Cosmic Lighthouse-in partnership with Comixology, where he’s recruiting acclaimed science fiction authors to create original comics set adjacent to their established universes—fresh stories that expand the imaginative space of their novels without being simple tie-ins. It’s a creator-driven initiative aimed at building bridges between prose and comics. Of course, no conversation with Cornell would be complete without touching on Doctor Who and Star Trek. He shares his perspective on the futures of both franchises, the challenges of writing within their vast mythologies, and how fandom itself shapes their ongoing evolution. What emerges is a portrait of a creator restlessly innovating—whether he’s writing a mystery about Scotland’s most famous monster, reimagining World Wars through comics, or launching ambitious new publishing experiments that cross genres and mediums.

strange new worlds peacemaker alien earth, the super hero box office results and more

At Terrificon, I moderated an unforgettable panel with four generations of Fantastic Four voices — Humberto Ramos, Walter Simonson, Steve Englehart, Chris Claremont, and C.B. Cebulski.Humberto Ramos, now illustrating Marvel’s current Fantastic Four with writer Ryan North, shared how he’s balancing the Kirby legacy with his energetic, modern style. He spoke about designing new adventures while keeping the Richards family’s emotional core intact.Walter Simonson reflected on his late ’80s run, when he boldly reshaped Reed Richards, experimented with the lineup, and injected the series with the same cosmic energy that defined his acclaimed Thor.Steve Englehart recalled his 1980s stories full of Skrull intrigue, soap-opera tension, and attempts to modernize the FF amid Marvel’s editorial shifts.Chris Claremont, best known for X-Men, discussed his early 2000s tenure exploring Sue Richards’ evolution as leader and giving fresh dimension to Ben Grimm’s humanity.C.B. Cebulski, Marvel’s Editor-in-Chief, rounded out the conversation by talking about the FF’s place in Marvel’s publishing future and the responsibility of shepherding “The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine” in today’s marketplace.Together, the panel offered candid stories, behind-the-scenes context, and a sweeping look at how the Fantastic Four has endured — and evolved — across decades of creators.

In this 2014 career deep-dive, Dark Horse Executive Editor Diana Schutz walks us through four decades in comics—with zero varnish. We trace her start behind the counter in Vancouver and at Comics & Comix in Berkeley, where she leveled up from retail to publishing, then the blink-and-you-miss-it Marvel stint and the formative Comico years shepherding creator-owned work.Finally, Diana lands at Dark Horse in 1990, rising to executive editor, championing auteurs, and launching the creator-driven Maverick imprint. Along the way we hit milestone collaborations—Frank Miller’s Sin City and 300, Matt Wagner’s Grendel, Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo, Harvey Pekar’s American Splendor —and unpack her editor’s playbook: protecting voice, negotiating deadlines without killing the art, and why “editor” means partner, not policeman. It’s a masterclass in how careers are built, catalogs are curated, and why creator rights matter—told by someone who helped shape the modern indie era.

It's the Animated Amazon's Birthday week. To celebrate here's my first interview with Susan from 2014, which coinsided with word balloon's 11th anniversary week in 2016.lot's of justice league cartoon talk in this conversation.