Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast

If you think comic books and their audience resist continuity changes, you must consider the death grip comic strips have on their characters. Charlie Brown was never allowed to kick the football and was also denied a wardrobe. His life sentence was that yellow shirt. Mutts cartoonist Patrick McDonnell accepts the pressures of his medium and believes there is nirvana in its structure. However, in the case of certain characters, he knew he had to free them of their decades-long consistency. Guard Dog needed off his tether, and Doozy needed Guard Dog in her home. As Mutts reached toward its 30th anniversary, Patrick McDonnell plotted Guard Dog's freedom. Over seven weeks, the story played out in the papers and it's now collected by Abrams ComicArts in the new hardcover Breaking the Chain: The Guard Dog Story. McDonnell saw how denying Charlie Brown satisfaction caused pain for his friend Charles M. Schulz, and he did not want that for himself. With Guard Dog released, he can tell new stories and create new missions for his characters and readers. This week on the podcast, Patrick McDonnell joins us for a Mutts celebration. We discuss why it took him so long to unite Guard Dog and Doozy. He explains the power of long-form storytelling in comic strips and the spirituality the practice of daily creating awoke in him. We found the conversation vital and are eager to share it with you. Follow Mutts on Twitter and Instagram, and sign up for the Daily Mutts strip HERE. Other Relevant Links: Pots and Panels: A Comic Book Anthology Kickstarter Page The Pots and Panels Website The Comics Courrier Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Racing on the heels of Batman Day, we celebrate eighty-five years of the Caped Crusader by finally digging into one of our recent favorite Dark Knight stories, Batman: City of Madness by Christian Ward. Technically, this is our third conversation with Ward about this particular story, but it's the first one where we can dig into it page-by-page, going full spoilers and properly exploring its characters and themes. The hardcover is now available from DC Comics, so please grab your copy, snuggle up with it, and venture into the Gotham Below with us. Batman: City of Madness spent years percolating inside Christian Ward's imagination. It extends from his infatuation with an iconic work, Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on a Serious Earth. It operates like a spiritual sequel but comes jammed with personal touches that only Ward could contribute. Our worst selves will argue for their survival. That's just one revelation we land upon while chatting with Christian Ward in this episode. We discuss the initial Gotham Below concept by starting at its end, the purpose of mirroring Batman and his rogues, and how it ideologically prepares readers for his newly announced Two-Face series, which will drop on December 4th. Continue this conversation with Christian Ward by visiting his Website and following him on Twitter and Instagram. Other Relevant Links: Our First Chat with Christian Ward About Batman: City of Madness Patreon Exclusive: Christian Ward on Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on A Serious Earth The Comics Courrier Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page Pots and Panels: A Comic Book Anthology Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page The Pots and Panels Website Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

The instant the internet glimpsed Nick Dragotta's bold, BIG design for Absolute Batman, it lost its mind. Since the initial San Diego Comic-Con reveal, emotions have intensified around it, and the fan art has flowed like a dam burst. The first issue is still weeks away, but Final Order Cutoff is here (TODAY!), and Scott Snyder joins the podcast to discuss why they had to go thicc with the Bat. Absolute Batman is a radical reimagining based on the way our world is now. Bruce Wayne has no fortune in this new alternate timeline, which spins out of Absolute Power and The All In Special. This Batman's origin is familiar but has shifted just enough, so Snyder and Dragotta can speak to contemporary fears. How we observe the gun in 2024 differs significantly from how we observed it in 1939 when Batman first appeared. The same goes for billionaires and how they spend their money. What if Batman is what Joker always claims to be? The agent of chaos, born from horror to disrupt a corrupt order. The DNA is the same as the Bruce Wayne stalking the shadows in the main continuity, but the circumstances diverge drastically. Absolute Batman strips the Dark Knight of his financial crutch and, in doing so, highlights his essential truth. We begin our conversation with Scott Snyder by discussing how the Absolute Batman launch is similar to and different from The New 52 reboot. We question whether Batman is Batman without his money and why Bruce Wayne's relationship with his rogues also had to diverge from the usual continuity. Does Dick Grayson get mentioned? How about Batgirl? Joe Chill? Yes, yes, and yes. The first issue of Absolute Batman, published by DC, written by Scott Snyder, illustrated by Nick Dragotta, colored by Frank Martin, and lettered by Clayton Cowles, hits comic book shops on October 9th. Follow Scott Snyder on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to his Substack. Other Relevant Links: Previously on CBCC: Scott Snyder on We Have Demons Previously on CBCC: Scott Snyder on Canary Previously on CBCC: Williamson, King, and Sampere on DC's All In Pots and Panels: A Comic Book Anthology Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page The Pots and Panels Website Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 9/21 at 4:00 PM for Batman Forever, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Sneak into any comic book geek's home, and you'll probably find copies of Marvels and Kingdom Come. What about Uncle Sam, though? The series hit shops in 1997 from DC's Vertigo label, and it sparked provocative thought from those who read it, but for whatever reason, it did not resonate as soundly within the direct market crowd as Alex Ross' more recognizably superheroic collaborations. It's time to reconsider Uncle Sam, just in time. We're months away from a critical American election as of this writing. The stakes are high. Our fears are even more so. Democracy is under threat and as fragile as it always has been. There is the America we tell people about and the America we actually live inside. There is the dream, and there are the dreamers. Uncle Sam, written by Steve Darnall and illustrated by Alex Ross, challenges its readers to accept our America and its violent history while encouraging us to shape it into what we want it to be. Yes, it's depressing to encounter a tale published in 1997 that's relevant to 2024 readers. The depression is the point. Democracy is a neverending battle; the only cure for exhaustion and apathy is action. Uncle Sam is what filmmaker Boots Riley would call a "rallying cry." Let's circle it, make community, and do something. Hope is not passive; it's active. We're beyond delighted to have Alex Ross back on the podcast this week. This time, he's joined by his writing partner, Steve Darnall, and we dig deep into Uncle Sam. What was their compulsion to explore this icon, why are they fighting to bring their book back into bookstores, and how would they write Uncle Sam today? In our introduction, we also celebrate the life of artist John Cassaday, who left us far too soon at 52. Cassaday profoundly impacted our early comic reading relationship, bringing us together and launching our Graphic Novel Book Club, which we consider Comic Book Couples Counseling Version 1.0. The artist represents the best of what this medium can do, and his legacy lives on in us, his readers, and those who create in his wake. Our heart breaks for his friends and his family, and we offer them our love and gratitude for sharing John with us while they could. Uncle Sam is now available from Abrams Comic Arts and DC's Black Label. You can find Alex Ross on his Website, Twitter, and Instagram. Other Relevant Links: Alex Ross on Fantastic Four: Full Circle Pots & Panels: A Comic Book Anthology Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 9/21 at 4:00 PM for Batman Forever, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

When cartoonists like Daniel Warren Johnson and Riley Rossmo come together, the rest of us better take notice. The Moon Is Following Us drops its first issue on September 18th, and it's a jam comic with a fierce narrative engine and an even more assertive take-notice paint job. Set within the waking and sleeping worlds, Johnson handles the former while Rossmo takes the latter. The relationship between the two creates an electric reading experience not found anywhere else on the stands. From a script by Johnson, The Moon Is Following Us sees young Penny fall into a sleeping sickness. She won't wake. Her parents, Duncan and Sam, plunge into her dreams and wage war against the Cascade, an evil, unknowable force. However, what these beasts are really doesn't matter. All Duncan and Sam need to know is that they stand in the way between them and their child. In this week's podcast, we chat with Daniel Warren Johnson and Riley Rossmo about their new collaboration, why it's been in the works for a very long time, and what creatures they're fighting on the page every day. We uncover secret connections to a beloved children's series, discuss humanity's relationship with dreams, and the most anxiety-inducing comics that neither Johnson nor Rossmo have been able to shake. The Moon Is Following Us #1 arrives from Image Comics on 9/18. Be sure you're following Daniel Warren Johnson on Twitter, Instagram, and his Website. Follow Riley Rossmo on Twitter, Instagram, and his Website. Other Relevant Links: CBCC on Martian Manhunter by Riley Rossmo and Steve Orlando Daniel Warren Johnson on Beta Ray Bill Daniel Warren Johnson on Do a Powerbomb! Daniel Warren Johnson on Transformers The Moon Is Following Us Mini Doc Episode 1 The Moon Is Following Us Mini Doc Episode 2 The Moon Is Following Us Signing at Third Eye Comics Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 9/21 at 4:00 PM for Batman Forever, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

We did it. We've completed our San Diego Comic-Con coverage. Twelve podcasts in August. Too much? Maybe, but no regrets, and there is no better way to wrap up our Comic-Con celebrations than with Star Trek group editor Heather Antos and superstar writer Ryan North discussing Star Trek: Lower Decks and its new mission at IDW Publishing. Since its streaming premiere, we've championed Star Trek: Lower Decks as the most human Trek. While it's wickedly funny, frequently teasing the ultra seriousness in which we hold the franchise, Lower Decks laughs with the characters and concepts, never at them. The show and its showrunner, Mike McMahan, have tremendous reverence for the Star Trekthat's come before, and his love for it shines through every frame. The upcoming fifth and final season, which begins on October 24th, has us feeling a little weepy. However, there's no reason to fret. IDW is relaunching the Star Trek: Lower Decks comic book series with a new number one on November 13th, and on October 22nd, there will also be a brand new graphic novel called Warp Your Own Way. Both are written by Ryan North (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Fantastic Four), and IDW Star Trek group editor Heather Antos oversees it all. At San Diego Comic-Con, we sat down with North and Antos to discuss our mutual admiration for Star Trek: Lower Decks. We talk about its placement within the franchise, what they can do in the comics that McMahan and company cannot accomplish on television, and where this series may take the crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos. Also, how does contributing to Star Trek affect their perspective as creators and, well, just as humans? Continue this conversation by following Heather Antos on Twitter, Instagram, and her Website, as well as Ryan North on Twitter, Instagram, and his website. Other Relevant Links: CBCC at SDCC 2024: Hall H with Bryan Young (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC at SDCC 2024: Gail Simone CBCC at SDCC 2024: Jason Aaron on TMNT #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Wes Craig on Kaya CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman on The Pedestrian CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joshua Williamson, Tom King, and Daniel Sampere Go All In CBCC at SDCC 2024: Juni Ba on TMNT: Nightwatcher #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Ram V on The New Gods CBCC at SDCC 2024: Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki CBCC at SDCC 2024: James Tynion IV CBCC at SDCC 2024: JP Ahonen on Belzebubs CBCC at SDCC 2024: Pornsak Pichetshote and Terry Dodson Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 9/21 at 4:00 PM for Batman Forever, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Hey, don't tell us. We'll tell you. The suits who bankroll the industry think they know what we want to read. They have no idea. Marginalizing voices is an active pursuit where financial concerns are frequently used as an excuse. The Horizon Experiment has faith in us, placing its future in our wallets, betting we'll support originality in genres gatekept by the fearful. Their first one-shot, The Manchurian, carries an irresistible premise steered expertly by Pornsak Pichetshoteand Terry Dodson. Published by Image Comics, The Manchurian lands in comic book stores on September 25th (its FOC is September 2nd). The elevator pitch champions a Chinese James Bond. Look at the header image above. Terry and Rachel Dodson are going full-Daniel Craig in Casino Royale or Ursula Andress in Dr. No. We've read the first issue and can confirm fashion, sex, violence, and unconquerable charisma. However, beyond the Bond basics, The Manchurian follows a perspective never explored by 007: corporate espionage as handled by Chinese Communist agents. Just as all of us were recovering from San Diego Comic-Con, we spoke with Pornsak Pichetshote and Terry Dodson about The Horizon Experiment, their twist on the spy sub-genre, and the four other radical one-shots riding on their heels. We discuss the pilot program The Horizon Experiment employs and how it's not really different from how comics always operate. We chat about capturing the Bond vibe without being chained to it and how competition amongst peers is as much a trap as anything else. Make sure you continue this conversation by following Pornsak Pichetshote on Twitter and Instagram. Also, follow Terry Dodson on Twitter, Instagram, and his Website. Other Relevant Links: Pornsak Pichetshote and Jesse Lonergan on Man's Best CBCC at SDCC 2024: Hall H with Bryan Young (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC at SDCC 2024: Gail Simone CBCC at SDCC 2024: Jason Aaron on TMNT #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Wes Craig on Kaya CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman on The Pedestrian CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joshua Williamson, Tom King, and Daniel Sampere Go All In CBCC at SDCC 2024: Juni Ba on TMNT: Nightwatcher #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Ram V on The New Gods CBCC at SDCC 2024: Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki CBCC at SDCC 2024: James Tynion IV CBCC on Pat Chat - SDCC Hangover CBCC on Bif! Bam! Pow! Brad on Missing Frames, Talking Godzilla Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 9/21 at 4:00 PM for Batman Forever, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

Once upon a time, cartoonist JP Ahonen fell out of love with his art. He'd reached a wall. It was burnout. He'd lost the joy found in creation. Then, he just started to doodle, and an Inktober project became a runaway success. Belzebubs, the saga of a black metal family, significantly inspired by Calvin and Hobbes, sprung from his brain, and there is no stuffing it back in. These odd little outsiders reignited something inside Ahonen, but more importantly, Belzebubs ignited something in its readers. The audience appeared quickly and grew even faster. The webcomic has crossed over into other mediums and will soon be an animated series. Top Shelf Productions published two beautifully bound hardcovers, and we've latched onto them, proclaiming ourselves as rabid groupies. Every San Diego Comic-Con introduces us to some new passion; this year, it's Belzebubs. After devouring the two hardcovers, inside the Hilton Bayfront, we eagerly chatted with JP Ahonen about his Belzebubs origins. We discuss how these characters came to him at a critical moment in his life and taught him to love comics again. And then, they took on a life of their own. Now, it's your turn to join the cult. Follow JP Ahonen on Instagram and his Website. Other Relevant Links: CBCC at SDCC 2024: Hall H with Bryan Young (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC at SDCC 2024: Gail Simone CBCC at SDCC 2024: Jason Aaron on TMNT #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Wes Craig on Kaya CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman on The Pedestrian CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joshua Williamson, Tom King, and Daniel Sampere Go All In CBCC at SDCC 2024: Juni Ba on TMNT: Nightwatcher #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Ram V on The New Gods CBCC at SDCC 2024: Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki CBCC at SDCC 2024: James Tynion IV CBCC on Pat Chat - SDCC Hangover CBCC on Bif! Bam! Pow! Brad on Missing Frames, Talking Godzilla Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 9/21 at 4:00 PM for Batman Forever, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

In a few short years, James Tynion IV has become a beacon within comics. When you walk into a shop, you don't have to look long before you stumble upon one of his comics. He's seemingly everywhere, spreading beyond the four color realm, and no matter the title he's attached to, it's worth a perusal. Back in July, at San Diego Comic-Con, we sat down with Tynion inside the Dark Horse Comics booth to discuss the unique collaborative process that birthed The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos. The conversation serves as a springboard to more significant topics, primarily the mission of his Tiny Onion label. How does Tynion feel about the industry today, and where would he like to see it go in the future? We discuss Christopher Chaos' origins, his creative relationship with Tate Brombal and Isaac Goodhart, and what this book offers that seemingly similar stories don't. We talk about his recent short film Room Service and why he was compelled to make it alongside Elsa Charretier and others. James Tynion IV is a profoundly passionate artist who'd rather speed up than slow down. Continue this conversation with James Tynion IV by following him on Instagram, Twitter, Substack, and his Website. Other Relevant Links: James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds on CBCC Cecil Castellucci - I Am The Comic Book CBCC at SDCC 2024: Hall H with Bryan Young (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC at SDCC 2024: Gail Simone CBCC at SDCC 2024: Jason Aaron on TMNT #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Wes Craig on Kaya CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman on The Pedestrian CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joshua Williamson, Tom King, and Daniel Sampere Go All In CBCC at SDCC 2024: Juni Ba on TMNT: Nightwatcher #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Ram V on The New Gods CBCC at SDCC 2024: Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki CBCC at SDCC 2024: Early Released, Unedited Interviews (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC on Pat Chat - SDCC Hangover CBCC on Bif! Bam! Pow! Brad on Missing Frames, Talking Godzilla Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 9/21 at 4:00 PM for Batman Forever, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.

At this year's San Diego Comic-Con, the family was at the forefront of DC creators' minds. We couldn't escape the topic when discussing superheroics. Plus, we've been pretty anxious on the podcast, contemplating the ramifications of city saviors placing their loved ones above the citizens of Gotham City and Metropolis. Does the person on the street want Superman to have a son? A wife? A cousin? Thankfully, we can corner Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki at the DC booth and force them to process our ridiculous worries. In October, Mark Waid and Chris Samnee return to the early days of Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson in Batman and Robin: Year One. The twelve-issue maxi-series promises to delve into their unique relationship, revealing how Bruce Wayne learned to parent while keeping Joker behind bars. During the same month, Waid and Mariko Tamaki will share Action Comics as the Superman ongoing goes weekly. Waid, alongside artist Clayton Henry, will focus on Kal-El's problems post-Absolute Power while Mariko Tamaki and artist Skler Partridge continue their deep dive into Supergirl's inner life. For the first half of today's episode, we speak with Mark Waid two-on-one, digging into Bruce and Dick's getting-to-know-you phase. We discuss Bruce's lack of familial role models, his inability or unwillingness to see Alfred as a father, and how he wanted Absolute Power to speak to the moment. In the back half, we have both Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki on our microphone. We then focus on the Superman family, paying particular attention to Supergirl and the secrets Tamaki is unveiling to her readers. The first issue of Batman and Robin: Year One lands in comic shops on October October 16th. Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki join Action Comics on issue 1070, which arrives on October 9th. Continue our conversation by following Mark Waid via his Website. Follow Mariko Tamaki on Twitter and Instagram. Other Relevant Links: Mark Waid on Lazarus Planet CBCC at SDCC 2024: Hall H with Bryan Young (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC at SDCC 2024: Gail Simone CBCC at SDCC 2024: Jason Aaron on TMNT #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Wes Craig on Kaya CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman on The Pedestrian CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joshua Williamson, Tom King, and Daniel Sampere Go All In CBCC at SDCC 2024: Juni Ba on TMNT: Nightwatcher #1 CBCC at SDCC 2024: Ram V on The New Gods CBCC at SDCC 2024: Early Released, Unedited Interviews (Patreon Exclusive) CBCC on Pat Chat - SDCC Hangover CBCC on Bif! Bam! Pow! Brad on Missing Frames, Talking Godzilla Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 8/18 at 4:00 PM for our Atomic Blonde screening, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.