Join married couple Brad and Lisa as they explore the various dynamics of comic book relationships throughout pop culture and publishing history.
Episodes
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
We promised on the last episode that we would return from the Fantastic Fest film festival with some seriously cool filmmaker conversations, but we had no idea we would come back with these two rad discussions. We're thrilled to have Michael Giacchino and Andy Park on the show this week, chatting about their Marvel Studios experiences and how they're transforming their childhood comic book obsessions into a live-action reality. These two geeks have done so much good for their nerd community.
Up first, we chat with director/composer Michael Giacchino about Werewolf by Night, the first-ever Marvel Studios "Special Presentation," set to air on Disney+ this Friday (10/7). We were lucky enough to catch the Werewolf by Night Fantastic Fest Secret Screening, and we're delighted to report that the film is spooktacular. While it feels and looks unlike any other entry in the franchise, Werewolf by Night contributes tremendously to the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Giacchino tells us about his earliest experiences with the Werewolf by Night comic books and how his passion for them extends from his passion for Universal monster and Hammer horror movies. These influences are readily apparent in his adaptation, shot lovingly in black and white, and performed by incredible actors (Gael García Bernal, Laura Donnelly) who are locked into a similar, nostalgic spirit.
In the episode's second half, we speak with Andy Park, Marvel Studios' Director of Visual Development. Our first encounter with the MCU's live-action characters frequently occurs through his artwork. Neither of us will forget the first time we saw Park's concept art for Captain Marvel projected in Hall H, and we're still reeling from how his Thunderbolts piece roared through the D23 Hall in Anaheim.
Park discusses the challenges of adaptation, knowing when to deviate from comic book designs and when to adhere to them strictly. As a massive fan of these characters and as a comic book artist himself, Park strives to replicate the look and tone of these iconic costumes. This passion is most notable when explaining why the Scarlet Witch had to have a proper, physical crown, not a CGI halo. If Marvel was gonna go full Witch, they had to go full witch, right?
Be sure to follow Andy Park on Twitter, Instagram, and his Website. Let Michael Giacchino know how much you love Werewolf by Night this weekend via his Twitter, Instagram, and Website.
Don't forget to purchase exclusive Comic Book Couples Counseling t-shirts on @elliotcomicart's TeePublic page.
And, while you're in a t-shirt buying mode, go check out our pal @ChangoATX's TeePublic page.
Also, you can find our Fantastic Fest film festival coverage over on Film School Rejects. Go give us some clicks, please.
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.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
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 Sep 19, 2022
Monday Sep 19, 2022
"You were expecting maybe the Addams Family?" After years of covering romantic love on the podcast, we're shifting gears by exploring sibling love, and we're doing that through the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Donatello, Leonardo, Michaelangelo, and Raphael - the four brothers raised by their Master Splinter in the art of invisibility. Insert the obligatory, "Cowabunga!"
Our new four-part (maybe five-part, stay tuned) series begins with the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie directed by Steve Barron, written by Todd W. Langen and Bobby Herbeck, and starring Judith Hoag, Elias Koteas, and a whole heap of actors, performers, and puppeteers as the brothers. When discussing the best comic book movies, the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film must be in the conversation.
However, why are we starting with the first cinematic adaptation rather than the original Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird comic books? The answer is simple. Our love affair with the Turtles began with the film, and it led us to the comics, which will be the subject of our next episode in our TMNT series.
Our love expert guiding our conversation with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be Dawn Huebner, PHD and her book "The Sibling Survival Guide: Surefire Ways to Solve Conflicts, Reduce Rivalry, and Have More Fun with your Brothers and Sisters."
Also joining us in this week's episode is our friend and TMNT obsessive, Bryan Young, aka "The Turtle Dork." Bryan has spent a lifetime contemplating the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and they've had a profound impact on his person. We discuss how his relationship with these characters has evolved and what lessons they still have to teach him today.
When you're done with this episode, please follow Bryan Young's adventures on his Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Page, and Website.
Two years ago, Kevin Eastman briefly joined the podcast for a quick conversation about the Turtles. So, technically, our TMNT Counseling Sessions began there. Click HERE to listen to that classic episode.
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.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
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 13, 2022
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
Geek culture? Nope. Just culture. The evidence is all around you. In this week's episode, we're joined by author Mathew Klickstein talking about his new book, See You in San Diego: An Oral History of Comic-Con, Fandom, and the Triumph of Geek Culture.
Klickstein's massive tome is a beast of a feast, and one not only San Diego Comic-Con obsessives will enjoy. Inside, you'll find numerous wild characters. Yes, folks like Neil Gaiman, Kevin Smith, and Scott Aukermanare present, but wait until you meet cats like Mike Towry, Bjo Trimble, and Scott Shaw! Hovering over (or haunting) everything are titanic figures like Jack Kirby and Shel Dorf. See You in San Diego is an incredible time capsule exploring the nature of fandom and how it created a mighty need for conventions like the one held in San Diego.
See You in San Diego began its life as a podcast series co-produced and directed by Mathew Klickstein. We highly recommend giving his Comic-Con Begins a listen (you can find it HERE). In the podcast, you can hear these interviews come to life, and it works as a wonderful companion piece to the book, which tremendously expands on the audio format by providing endless photos and art pieces. Scott Shaw!'s XXX Jack Kirby homage must be seen, unless you're easily scandalized. You've been warned.
Keep track of Mathew Klickstein through his Website, and See You In Sand Diego is now available from Fantagraphics.
And, of course, you too can 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.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
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 Sep 05, 2022
Monday Sep 05, 2022
Episode 150! "Not an apocalypse...something far more interesting." André Lima Araújo and Brian Michael Bendis celebrate our 150th episode by providing an immensely eclectic conversation discussing their new all-ages sci-fi adventure saga, Phenomena: The Golden City of Eyes.
These two creators are two great tastes that taste great together despite their frequently contradictory points of view. As you'll hear, Araújo and Bendis see the world quite differently, but their opposing sensibilities unleash something utterly unique through the collaborative process.
Phenomena: The Golden City of Eyes is the first part of a trilogy published by Abrams ComicArts. It's a rollicking adventure set in a future where our world has...changed. Three wanderers (Bolden, Spike, and Matilde) stumble into each other and reluctantly form a bond while attempting to unravel the mystery of the titular city.
Bendis provides a bubbly, naturalistic voice to Araújo's stark yet hyper-realized illustration. You've probably experienced numerous comics from both parties, but we promise you've never seen anything from either of them like Phenomena. The comic is a heap of contradictions: joyous yet harrowing, fluffy but deadly serious. At the center, Araújo and Bendis suggest an urgent reckoning with storytelling, an art form we too often take for granted.
Phenomena: The Golden City of Eyes hits book shelves everywhere on 9/13. All you have to do is turn the cover. Panel one will ensnare your attention.
Keep up to date on all things Brian Michael Bendis by subscribing to his Substack. You can also track him down via Twitter, Instagram, and his Website.
Follow André Lima Araújo through his Website, Twitter, and Instagram.
150 episodes. After completing our first pod, we could not have imagined that this latest one would feature André Lima Araújo and Brian Michael Bendis. Ultimate Spider-Man is an essential comic in our relationship, and in many ways, this podcast would not exist without it. Crazy.
It's hard to express our gratitude to you, the listener. You've been with us for three years now. You've kept the podcast going, and the podcast has kept us going. Thank you.
And, of course, you too can 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.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
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.
Saturday Aug 27, 2022
Saturday Aug 27, 2022
We conclude our Angela & Sera sessions by journeying into the FUNderworld! After two tumultuous mini-series, our Hevenly warriors finally get to spend some time together...jumping through Hela's hoops and the various trials of Hel.
If these two lovers must have a climax, Angela: Queen of Hel is the best one for them. The seven-issue storyline subverts expectations and challenges the two Marvelous bounty hunters in ways unimagined after their last two quests together: Angela: Asgard's Assassin and 1602: Witch Hunter Angela.
We know they belong together, but do they know they belong together? Yes. No. It's complicated. Every relationship requires each partner to choose the other continually. It's a hard lesson but easily achievable if you follow Angela & Sera's path.
Helping us navigate Hel's complicated hold on our romantic heroes is Robin Roberts' Brighter by the Day: Waking Up to New Hopes and Dreams. The Good Morning America host and Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductee examines her history, filled with regrets and joys, and considers how those piercing moments shaped her present, giving her hope for the future.
Relevant Links:
- Angela & Sera Session 1: Asgard's Assassin
- Angela & Sera Session 2: 1602 - Witch Hunter Angela
- Loki & Loki Session: Journey Into Mystery
- Our Free Sandan Patreon Preview
- Brad's Interview with The RZA
Issues covered in this episode: Angela: Queen of Hel 1 - 7, written by Marguerite Bennett, art by Kim Jacinto, Israel Silva, and Stephanie Hans, and letters by VC's Clayton Cowls.
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.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
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 11, 2022
Thursday Aug 11, 2022
We conclude our San Diego Comic-Con International coverage with a massive Skybound Entertainment celebration. In part one of this week's episode, we're joined by Attack Peter, the master artist and Kaiju-wrangler, who nearly brought the house down during the Up From the Depth's: Toho's Godzilla panel. His new, titanic creation Takoro: The Last Dorok is on the verge of worldwide domination, and we already want all the toys even before his Kickstarter campaign has launched.
In this episode's second half, we chat with the crew (Jacob Navok, Jessica Woodard, and Mike Rogers) and hosts (Felicia Day and Yvette Nicole Brown) behind The Walking Dead: Last Mile, the massively interactive live event which recently launched on Facebook. Our conversation dives immediately into the philosophical and societal anxiety fueling this latest chapter in The Walking Dead franchise. It's the kind of conversation you could only have on Comic Book Couples Counseling.
This year's Comic-Con was unlike any previous SDCC, and we are thankful to take a moment and reflect on the experience. After three years away, we are overcome with gratitude regarding the new and old friends we were able to meet in person this year. We're deeply proud of the six episodes we created around the event and profoundly thankful to all of you who listened and shared them with your friends. Let's do it again next year.
Make sure to track down Attack Peter via his Twitter and Instagram. You can back Takoro: The Last Dorok on his Kickstarter page when it launches, and until then you can click the "Notify Me On Launch" function. Oh heck, just go surf his Linktre.
You can join The Walking Dead: Last Mile through their Facebook page. You can follow Felicia Day via her Twitter and Instagram. You can follow Yvette Nicole Brown via her Twitter and Instagram. You can follow Jacob Navok via his Twitter. You can follow Mike Rogers via his Twitter.
Relevant Links:
- The Anti-Nostalgia of Paper Girls by Lisa Gullickson
- Comic-Con, The Hall H Line Problem, & Black Panther by Brad Gullickson
- James Asmus & Jim Festante on Survival Street
- Matt Kindt on Flux House
- Scott Snyder on Canary, Barnstormers, & Dudley Datson
- Elsa Charretier & Tom King on Love Everlasting
- Brian K. Vaughan, Cliff Chiang, & the Paper Girls Cast
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.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
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.
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Yes, we're back from the San Diego Comic-Con International and we've returned with one of the wildest conversations we've had so far. Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang climax this week's episode, chatting about the new Paper Girls adaptation streaming on Amazon. However, they're not the only ones gabbing with us. We were lucky enough to chat with the entire Paper Girls cast, as well as showrunner Chris Rogers.
Our latest Creator Corner conversation was recorded in a press room, roundtable style. Imagine the podcast equivalent of speed dating, where various talent-pairs move about the room talking to one press table after the other until they land in front of us.
At our table, in addition to the Paper Girls talent, we reported alongside Popverse correspondent (and former CBCC guest) Kat Calamia and Shaunielle Stewart from cherrydavis.org.
The Interview Order:
- Camryn Jones as Tiffany Quilken & Sofia Rosinsky as Mac Coyle (Paired)
- Riley Lai Nelet as Erin Tieng & Fina Strazza as KJ Brandman (Paired)
- Adina Porter as Prioress
- Nate Corddry as Larry
- EP / Showrunner Chris Rogers
- Executive Producer / Creator Brian K. Vaughan & EP / Creator Cliff Chiang (Paired)
Relevant Links:
- The Anti-Nostalgia of Paper Girls by Lisa Gullickson
- Comic-Con, The Hall H Line Problem, & Black Panther by Brad Gullickson
- James Asmus & Jim Festante on Survival Street
- Matt Kindt on Flux House
- Scott Snyder on Canary, Barnstormers, & Dudley Datson
- Elsa Charretier & Tom King on Love Everlasting
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.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
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 Jul 22, 2022
Friday Jul 22, 2022
Love is a trap, especially if you're Joan Peterson tumbling terrifyingly through numerous romantic scenarios in the new Image Comics series Love Everlasting. Creators Tom King and Elsa Charretier satirize and celebrate the young romance comics, once mastered by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. In the process, they savagely comment on the culture and business of love.
King and Charretier climax our San Diego Comic-Con International coverage, joining us on the show and sharing their philosophy surrounding romantic fiction and how it shapes our perception. Both bring thorough, thoughtful consideration to the characters they're exploring, while also being cautious regarding the subtext they're plunging.
Love Everlasting is a mighty swing comic, dropping its reader into a realm that masterfully balances absurdity, horror, and melodrama. King and Charretier delight in withholding a massive mythology but find confidence in their trust of us, their readers. We're patient, understanding, and eager to have this conversation. Hallmark courtship has had its day.
You can currently read Love Everlasting's first five issues via their Everlasting Productions Substack feed. However, if physical books are your jam, the first issue will make its Image Comics debut on August 10th. You should also follow Tom King on Twitter HERE and Instagram HERE, and Elsa Charretier on Twitter HERE and Instagram HERE. Find her YouTube page HERE.
Today's episode is Part 4 in our #CBCCatSDCC coverage celebrating the return of the San Diego Comic-Con International.
Part one was our chat with Survival Street writers James Asmus and Jim Festante. You can listen to their episode HERE.
Part two was our convo with Matt Kindt discussing his new Flux House imprint at Dark Horse Comics. You can listen to his episode HERE.
Part three was our epic chat with Scott Snyder about his second wave of ComiXology titles: Barnstormers, Canary, and Dudley Datson and the Forever Machine. You can listen to his episode HERE.
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.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
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 Jul 20, 2022
Wednesday Jul 20, 2022
Scott Snyder is back on Comic Book Couples Counseling! The comic creator returns to the show for a joyfully thoughtful conversation discussing his next round of Best Jackett Press/ComiXology Originals: Barnstormers, Canary, and Dudley Datson and the Forever Machine.
In this episode, we start our conversation with the San Diego Comic-Con International and what makes this year different from any other - besides the pandemic, obviously. Presenting your own comics to the con crowd is unique from promoting Batman or Justice League. These are Scott Snyder's babies, and there is something incredibly freeing about their Comic-Con arrival.
From there, we dig into each title, discussing how his collaborations with artists Dan Panosian, Tula Lotay, and Jamal Igle create unfettered imagination. The "Scottober" ComiXology wave is exactly what readers want someone like Scott Snyder to do with his talent, time, and opportunity. These are comics with the pedal pressed to the metal, striving to accomplish what previous efforts only scratched upon.
Toward the conversation's end, Snyder is kind enough to reveal another project on the horizon. One, we're extremely excited to see realized, and we think you will too. Collaboration, once again, is the magic word.
The first issues of Barnstormers, Canary, and Dudley Datson and the Forever Machine are now available from ComiXology. You can also track Scott Snyder on Twitter HERE, Instagram HERE, and subscribe to his Substack HERE. Sort through his Best Jackett Press titles on their website.
You can listen to our previous Scott Snyder Creator Corner HERE.
Today's episode is Part 3 in our #CBCCatSDCC coverage celebrating the return of the San Diego Comic-Con International.
Part one was our chat with Survival Street writers James Asmus and Jim Festante. You can listen to their episode HERE.
Part two was our convo with Matt Kindt discussing his new Flux House imprint at Dark Horse Comics. You can listen to his episode HERE.
Part four arrives on Saturday, and it's a delightful chat with Love Everlasting co-creators Elsa Charretier and Tom King.
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.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
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 Jul 18, 2022
Monday Jul 18, 2022
When is a comic no longer a comic? Matt Kindt is determined to find out with his new Dark Horse Comics imprint, Flux House. The comic creator has always strived to push the art form, but he feels he can go even crazier and further by breaking the norms. The new four-part Mind MGMT: Bootleg series, made in collaboration with artists Farel Dalrymple, Jill Thompson, David Rubín, and Matt Lesniewski, is simply stage one in what's sure to be a revolutionary play to alter comics.
In this episode, we chat with Matt Kindt about the Fluxus art movement and how it inspired him to do more with the comic book medium. We discuss the challenges of revolution within a capitalistic system and how to get around those necessary hiccups. It begins with putting your faith in the audience. They always want to go on a wild ride.
Anyone who has attended a Matt Kindt book signing knows the artist delights in modifying a mass-produced object like a comic into a unique, one-of-a-kind artifact. With Flux House, can he replicate the experience on a grander scale? Kindt is not totally sure, but he's determined to find out.
Mind MGMT: Bootleg #1 is currently on stands at your local shop. You can follow Matt Kindt through Twitter, Instagram, and his website.
Our conversation with Matt Kindt is part two in our week-long celebration building up to the return of San Diego Comic-Con International. Part one was our chat with Survival Street writers James Asmus and Jim Festante. You can listen to their episode HERE.
Part three drops this Thursday and will see Scott Snyder's return to CBCC, discussing his latest wave of Comixology creations. Part four arrives on Saturday, and it's a delightful chat with Love Everlasting co-creators Elsa Charretier and Tom King.
Follow along with our Comic-Con coverage using the hashtag #CBCCatSDCC on our Twitter and Instagram. And, please, share these episodes with your friends.
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.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY JOINING OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
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.