Word Balloon Comics Podcast

A Conversation With The Creators of the new Time Traviling Audio Drama, and their Kickstarter Campaign.Hear the pilot now https://media.rss.com/cheating-history/feed.xmlhttps://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cheatinghistory/cheating-history-season-oneBios Of The Creators... Jennifer Sterner is a screenwriter and producer with a mix of academic and creative experience. she’s developed a manga for Seven Seas Entertainment, created the web series Searching for Eden, and wrote on the YouTube drama Apartment 30. She serves as Associate Chair of Screenwriting at the New York Film Academy, where she teaches courses on storytelling.Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir are a writing duo known for their acclaimed runs at Marvel and DC, as well as creator-owned projects like Skinwalker and Three Strikes from Oni Press. Beyond comics, they’ve brought their storytelling skills to television on HBO’s Arli$$ and serve as educators at the New York Film Academy, where they mentor aspiring writers.

In this exclusive Word Balloon conversation, I sit down with writer David Pepose to talk about his exciting new projects bringing back some of the most iconic heroes of all time. Pepose is tackling Speed Racer, Space Ghost, and Captain Planet, reimagining these classic characters for today’s audience while honoring the legacy that made them timeless.We dig into how he balances nostalgia with fresh storytelling, the challenges of updating pulp and animated icons for modern readers, and what fans can expect from his bold takes on these beloved franchises. From high-octane racing to cosmic adventure and environmental heroism, Pepose shares his vision for breathing new life into these properties while keeping their heart intact. If you’re a fan of classic cartoons, Saturday morning heroes, or the modern comics scene, this interview is packed with insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and exciting teases of what’s to come.

On this episode of Scene Missing, I sit down with writer–artist and filmmaker Gabriel Hardman to dive into the legendary film and television work of Robert Redford. From his breakout charm in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to his understated power in The Way We Were , and his later turns as both actor and director, Redford has carved out a career that blends charisma, craft, and cultural impact. Gabriel and I share our personal favorite Redford performances and projects, looking at what made him such a timeless figure on screen—and why his influence still resonates in today’s Hollywood.

In this edition of the Word Balloon / Bendis Discord Book Club, we dive deep into 100 Bullets Vol. 1 by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso. First published in 1999, this groundbreaking Vertigo series set a new standard for crime comics with its hard-boiled storytelling and stark, cinematic visuals.We break down the writing choices that made Azzarello’s scripts so sharp and dangerous, the noir-infused art style that Eduardo Risso brought to the page, and why this book still stands as one of the most influential titles of the late ’90s. Along the way, we share our own reviews, insights, and reactions to the characters, themes, and morality play at the heart of the story.Whether you’re discovering 100 Bullets for the first time or revisiting it with fresh eyes, this discussion highlights why Vol. 1 remains such an essential piece of modern comics history.

In this conversation, I sit down with comic writer and filmmaker Rylend Grant, the force behind Half Evil Comics. Rylend is currently running a Kickstarter campaign for an all-new Evel Knievel comic, created with artist Dave Acosta, and he takes us inside the creative spark and daredevil energy fueling the project.But Rylend’s storytelling doesn’t stop with comics—we also dive into his film career, including his work on movies starring Emile Hirsch and Nicolas Cage. From the high-wire act of crowdfunding to the art of writing for both panels and the big screen we cover it all in this conversation.

In Part Two of our conversation, Greg Pak takes us back to one of the defining stories of his career — the original Planet Hulk saga. He shares behind-the-scenes insights into crafting the epic that redefined the Green Goliath, and teases a brand-new chapter arriving this fall, reuniting the full creative team that launched the original classic.We also dive into the origins of Amadeus Cho, the boy genius who would become the Totally Awesome Hulk, and discuss the character’s impact on readers and representation. Greg speaks candidly about the sense of responsibility that comes with writing modern takes on Asian heroes, balancing authenticity with the larger-than-life demands of superhero storytelling.

Few writers move as seamlessly between genres and mediums as Greg Pak. In this special two-part conversation, we dive deep into the latest chapters of his ever-expanding career. First, Greg walks us through his brand-new Dungeons & Dragons run for Dark Horse, where he blends his gift for character-driven storytelling with the boundless imagination of tabletop fantasy.From there, we shift to his work on Dynamite’s Supernatural comic, a series rooted in the show’s first year that captures the raw energy of Sam and Dean’s earliest battles with the things that go bump in the night.We also revisit his acclaimed Superman run in Action Comics during DC’s New 52 era, exploring how he brought both epic spectacle and heartfelt humanity to the Man of Steel.And no Greg Pak talk would be complete without a look back—he shares heartfelt memories of the late, great Peter David, reflecting on their shared legacy as writers of Marvel’s Incredible Hulk and how David’s example continues to inspire his own craft. Planet Hulk is celebrating it's 20th anniversary with a new one shot chapter of the epic story. Details on that in Part 2

In this conversation, veteran animation writer and producer Alan Burnett reflects on his groundbreaking work shaping Batman: The Animated Series, the show that redefined superhero storytelling for television. Burnett walks us through the creative challenges of translating Gotham City’s noir-infused atmosphere and complex characters into a format that spoke to both kids and adults, setting a new standard for superhero animation in the 1990s.We also dive into his collaboration with Paul Dini on DC Comics’ adaptation of the series, where the two carried the show’s tone and visual style onto the comic page. Burnett explains how the book’s run—often praised for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the animated classic—expanded the mythology, introduced new dimensions to fan-favorite villains, and helped bridge the gap between animation and comics. This interview offers rare insight into how Burnett balanced studio mandates, creative instincts, and long-term storytelling, all while working alongside some of the most influential voices in modern Batman history.

Today on Word Balloon, we’re joined by a voice familiar to anyone who loves smart, insightful pop culture commentary — Glen Weldon, longtime NPR contributor and co-host of Pop Culture Happy Hour. Glen is also the author of The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture, a sharp, witty, and deeply researched look at how the Dark Knight has evolved across comics, TV, and film — and how fandom itself has grown right alongside him.From campy ’60s TV to grim ’80s reinventions, and into Batman’s role as a billion-dollar movie icon, Glen traces how this one character became a mirror for changing tastes, anxieties, and obsessions in American culture. We’ll dig into what makes Batman such a singular figure, what The Caped Crusade uncovers about us as fans, and where Gotham’s greatest detective might be headed next. This talk happened in 2016

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