Join married couple Brad and Lisa as they explore the various dynamics of comic book relationships throughout pop culture and publishing history.
Episodes
5 days ago
5 days ago
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:
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.
Tuesday Sep 03, 2024
Tuesday Sep 03, 2024
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:
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.
Thursday Aug 29, 2024
Thursday Aug 29, 2024
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:
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.
Tuesday Aug 27, 2024
Tuesday Aug 27, 2024
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:
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.
Friday Aug 23, 2024
Friday Aug 23, 2024
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:
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.
Thursday Aug 22, 2024
Thursday Aug 22, 2024
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:
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.
Monday Aug 19, 2024
Monday Aug 19, 2024
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:
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.
Friday Aug 16, 2024
Friday Aug 16, 2024
This year's San Diego Comic-Con brought a lot of news. Possibly the most surprising and easily the most exciting was DC's announcement that The New Gods were coming back to comic shops and that their latest saga would be steered by writer Ram V and artist Evan Cagle. While these characters loom large over the DC universe, they've rarely carried a solo book for any significant amount of time. One reason for that might be that they're such pure Jack Kirby creations, and following in the King's footsteps is more than a challenge.
If anyone is up for such a task, it's Ram V. The writer's first work within DC was on Swamp Thing, and he easily proved he could step into a beloved property and add a little of himself to it. He recognizes fans' preciousness toward Jack Kirby's Fourth World, but he equally understands how The New Gods could speak very much to the moment.
We met with Ram V atop the DC booth on Saturday at San Diego Comic-Con. We begin our conversation with our love for all things Kirby and move toward parenthood, specifically fatherhood, and how it will thematically propel his take on The New Gods. What has Scott Free learned from his two dads, Darkseid and Highfather?
The New Gods will land in comic book shops in December, but make sure you catch up on the cosmic imbalance that launches their story by picking up The All In Special on October 2nd. To continue this conversation with Ram V, follow his Twitter, Instagram, and Website.
Other Relevant Links:
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Ram V and Dan Watters on The Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives!
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CBCC at SDCC 2024: Hall H with Bryan Young (Patreon Exclusive)
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CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman on The Pedestrian
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CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joshua Williamson, Tom King, and Daniel Sampere Go All In
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CBCC at SDCC 2024: Early Released, Unedited Interviews (Patreon Exclusive)
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.
Wednesday Aug 14, 2024
Wednesday Aug 14, 2024
Last year, cartoonist Juni Ba had an epic Fall, releasing multiple all-timers in one month. We had him on the show and told him the output would be difficult to top in 2024, and he humbly said he had a few projects already lined up and would do his best. With The Boy Wonder about to wrap and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher #1 hitting stands today, Juni Ba reveals how he still has numerous killer comics inside him.
Ba returns to the podcast this week for a lengthy discussion about Nightwatcher. We go full spoilers, beginning with the person under the helmet and why there was no other option for the vigilante. We also consider how Nightwatcherthematically links to The Boy Wonder and possibly several other projects on the horizon. Nightwatcher is the first comic Ba has tackled solely as a writer, watching in wonder as artist Fero Pe delivers one astonishing page after another. The sensation is strange for Juni Ba, but he's getting used to it and digging into it.
With Jason Aaron and his cadre of collaborators developing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in their new ongoing, Juni Ba is left alone to develop a unique corner within the IDW TMNT universe. The Nightwatcher persona first appeared in the 2007 TMNT animated film, but they functioned in an entirely different manner than the character as depicted by Ba and Pe. Has the fandom already created expectations around Nightwatcher? Will they allow these artists to attempt something a little different, adding a new layer to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles landscape? Juni Ba has some anxiety around the reaction to this comic, and we dig into those worries, too.
Continue this conversation with Juni Ba by visiting his Instagram and Twitter.
Other Relevant Links:
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.
Monday Aug 12, 2024
Monday Aug 12, 2024
In October, DC asks its creators and readers to go All In regarding a new status quo. No matter their history with these characters or their knowledge of them, readers can pick up any single issue on the stands, begin a new adventure, and easily comprehend the event and its possibilities. It starts with The All In Special, released on October 2nd, written by Joshua Williamson and Scott Snyder and illustrated by Daniel Sampere and Wes Craig. While ongoing stories like Wonder Woman, written by Tom King and illustrated by Sampere, won't reboot with a new number one, they will launch a new storyline considerate of the potential fresh eyes upon it.
This year, at San Diego Comic-Con, we climbed atop the DC booth for a discussion with writers Joshua Williamson and Tom King, as well as double-duty artist Daniel Sampere. Absolute Power, All In, Superman Energy, Darkseid Energy -- we get to the heart of what DC is attempting with this massive line-wide initiative that feels reminiscent of the New 52 without mimicking it. How will Williamson's current Superman run and King and Sampere's Wonder Woman storyline navigate the event, which includes the creation of Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta's Absolute Batman, Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval's Absolute Superman, and Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman's Absolute Wonder Woman?
What's easily discernable is the enthusiasm these artists have for The All In Special, the equally bombastic response the news got from San Diego Comic-Con attendees, and the larger online reaction as well. Joshua Williamson believes he's exploring an aspect of Superman that Clark and previous creators on the book have never contemplated. Tom King and Daniel Sampere explain their hopes for Wonder Woman and their plan to stay on board for many more issues. As he states emphatically, King has not left comics for Hollywood.
Keep up to date on all things Joshua Williamson by following him on Twitter, Instagram, and Substack. Continue this conversation with Tom King via Twitter, Threads, and Instagram. Follow Daniel Sampere on Twitter and Instagram.
Other Relevant Links:
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.