Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast

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Join married couple Brad and Lisa as they explore the various dynamics of comic book relationships throughout pop culture and publishing history.

Episodes

Sunday Dec 04, 2022

CBCC 87: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Archie Comics

Sunday Dec 04, 2022

When the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon erupted in popularity, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird required a comic book that kids could flock toward, which could not be their original hyper-violent Mirage Studios series. In 1988, they partnered with the industry's most wholesome brand, Archie Comics, launching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures.

The second TMNT comic series began with strict adaptations of the cartoon but quickly swerved down far weirder avenues. Under the guidance of Ryan Brown and Stephen Murphy (aka Dean Clarrain), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures tackled prescient environmental issues while testing the boundaries of what's acceptable as "all-ages" entertainment.

In this week's episode, we jump into the far future, where the four brothers are no longer teenagers but Cyber Samurai Ninja Turtles! The Shredder poses no threat. Instead, the brothers must face off against Verminator-X, Craniac, and the disembodied brain of history's most wretched dictator.

The "Dreamland" storyline in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures reveals a family unit operating at peak form, but when danger reaches a crescendo, two brothers will be tested. Our heroes have aged, but they still fall into the same roles we've come to expect.

The question becomes, are we forever shackled to the sibling roles we took on as children? Can our relationships with others break us free from deep-seated family tension?

Helping us understand the TMNT familial dynamics is Dawn Huebner, Ph.D., and her book "The Sibling Survival Guide: Surefire Ways to Solve Conflicts, Reduce Rivalry, and Have More Fun with Your Brothers and Sisters, illustrated by Kara McHale.

Comic issues covered in this episode: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures issues 62 - 66, published by Archie Comics between November 1994 and March 1995. These comics were written by Stephen Murphy and Chris Allan, penciled by Chris Allan and Gray Morrow, inked by Brian Thomas and Jon D’agostino, colored by Barry Grossman, and lettered by Gary Fields.

Relevant Links:

Don't forget! We're screening Howard the Duck on the big screen at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia. Done in collaboration with the Four Color Fantasies comic book shop. Get your tickets 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.

Thursday Nov 24, 2022

Creator Corner: Alex Ross on Fantastic Four: Full Circle

Thursday Nov 24, 2022

We've waited a long time for this one, but maybe not as long as our guest spent percolating on his subject. Alex Ross exhausted years thinking and rethinking the Fantastic Four. He desired a graphic reinterpretation of the characters that launched the Marvel Comics universe. A new coat of paint that would highlight what was so incredible about the sixties space race characters without tethering them to basic nostalgia.

Fantastic Four: Full Circle spins directly from Jack Kirby and Stan Lee's iconic run, picking up story threads long dismissed by everyone except Alex Ross. The story resurrects a few old villains, plunging the team into the Negative Zone. The story works as a celebration and a blueprint for other creators to follow if they choose.

We're ecstatic to have Ross on the podcast this week, digging into why he was compelled to shepherd Full Circle into reality. Blissfully, this conversation also works as a second opinion to our own CBCC sessions on Reed and Sue from last year. Like us, Ross has strong opinions about their romance and how they should interact as a couple. He's the biggest Fantastic Four fan of them all.

Kevin Feige, do you have your copy yet?

Fantastic Four: Full Circle is the first treasury-sized book in the new MarvelArts line, a unique collaboration between Marvel Comics and Abrams ComicArts. Find it wherever rad comics are sold, or just click HERE.

You can find Alex Ross on his Website, Twitter, and Instagram.

Creator Corner: Luke Lieberman, Ryan Silbert, & Bill Sienkiewicz

Thursday Nov 17, 2022

Stan Lee's 100th birthday is next month, and we're getting a jump on the celebrations. Joining us on the show this week are comic creators Luke Lieberman, Ryan Silbert, and Bill Sienkiewicz, discussing their collaboration on Alliances: Orphans. The new graphic novel from Dynamite Entertainment springs from Lee's imagination and is further shaped into reality by Lieberman and Silbert.

The comic is a cosmic adventure following the Orphans, a ragtag band of desperados who found each other after the alien Hive eradicated their families. After rescuing an earthling named William Ackerson, they discover an equally bizarre and unique stowaway. Together, these heroes challenge the universe and, in the process, save it from blinking out of existence.

Alliances: Orphans recalls the grand ideas and characters that shaped the Marvel Universe while never falling into poisonous nostalgia. Lieberman, Silbert, and Sienkiewicz (with additional artist Szymon Kudranski) are extremely aware of the legacy they're shepherding. They want to live up to Stan Lee's mythology, and part of that is knowing when not to be precious. They'll kill an idea as quickly as they come up with it. They learned from the best.

We begin our conversation with these artists by celebrating Stan Lee. From there, we dig into their collaboration's early days and how Alliances: Orphans is unlike any other project they've worked on. We get philosophical; we get vulnerable. It's a proper Comic Book Couples Counseling session.

Alliances: Orphans is currently available from Dynamite Entertainment. You can find Luke Lieberman on Twitter and Instagram. You can find Ryan Silbert on Twitter, Instagram, and the Origin Story Website. You can find Bill Sienkiewicz on Twitter, Instagram, and his Website.

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 Nov 08, 2022

Creator Corner: Dan Jurgens on The Death of Superman

Tuesday Nov 08, 2022

Thirty years ago, Superman died. Then, he came back. We remember the event as a gimmick done to boost sales. Sure. Okay. However, the storyline had a massive impact on the readership, including our young Brad. Today, DC Comics recalls the fictional catastrophe in The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special, exploring the lingering trauma of Kal-El's death.

We chat with Dan Jurgens, the original Death of Superman co-architect, about what it was like to kill the Man of Steel, resurrect him, and revisit the narrative thirty years later through the eyes of Superman's son, Jon Kent. In his story, "The Life of Superman," Jurgens reveals how Superman's demise at the hands of Doomsday continues to affect Metropolis as well as Kal-El and his family.

Jurgens recalls his earliest Superman memories, the George Reeves television icon of his youth. He considers the character's impact on the culture and the stress and joy it was to challenge such an image in 1992. We worm our way through his emotional experience, contemplating those long-ago feelings ignited while steering the splash page apocalypse that was Superman #75 (Volume 2). We work out our own fee-fees regarding the eradication of the Man of Tomorrow.

The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special is now available wherever fine comic books are sold. Along with Dan Jurgens, the book features the work of Brett Breeding, Roger Stern, Butch Guice, Louise Simonson, Jon Bogdanove, Jerry Ordway, Tom Grummett, Glenn Whitmore, Doug Hazelwood, and more. It's a who's who of the Superman offices; and an incredibly thoughtful reflection on the nineties event to end all nineties events.

Be sure to follow Dan Jurgens on Twitter and Instagram, and keep up to date on his work through his website.

CBCC 86: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles -Mirage Studios

Tuesday Nov 01, 2022

Nearly forty years ago, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sprung from the Jack Kirby and Frank Miller-obsessed brains of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. Pop culture was forever altered. For the better.

In this week's episode, we continue to explore the sibling dynamics between the four mutant brothers: Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael. This time, however, we go back to the beginning, flipping through the pages of the first seven Mirage Studios issues. What we find within feels familiar and unfamiliar simultaneously. It's an emotionally rich and turbulent saga, an immigrant story involving revenge, mad scientists, and aliens. Not a single slice of pizza is present.

Helping us understand the TMNT familial relationships is Dawn Huebner, Ph.D., and her book "The Sibling Survival Guide: Surefire Ways to Solve Conflicts, Reduce Rivalry, and Have More Fun with Your Brothers and Sisters, illustrated by Kara McHale.

Before we dig into this thick turtle soup, we must celebrate this year's Baltimore Comic-Con, our last convention of the season. We discuss the friends we caught up with, the past guests we finally met in person, the artists we stood in line for, and the comics we purchased. Every con has its unique vibe, and there is no other place on Earth like Baltimore Comic-Con. The two-dollar bins alone should entice your curiosity.

Relevant Links:

Comic issues covered in this episode: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1 - 7 and the Raphael one-shot. All were written, illustrated, and toned by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. Issues 1 - 4 were lettered by Eastman and Laird, issues 5 - 7 were lettered by Steve Lavigne. The comics were originally published by Mirage Studios between May 1984 and March 1986.

Be sure to 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 Oct 21, 2022

Creator Corner: Todd McFarlane & Greg Capullo on Batman/Spawn

Friday Oct 21, 2022

There are event comics, and then there are EVENT comics. This December, Todd McFarlane and Greg Capullo reunite for the new Batman/Spawn crossover, a comic book clash two decades in the making. It's a rematch many thought would never occur, but its possibility put every reader on notice. No one wants to miss out on this back alley rumble.

Equally as legendary as the icons squaring off against each other are the creators themselves. McFarlane and Capullo's partnership solidified during Spawn's early years, and since then, it's developed into a sincere and loving friendship. Whether they were making comics together or not, they were never too far apart, and now that they're back on a book, we will benefit from their brotherhood. The Batman/Spawn pages radiate the profound creative joy of their makers.

McFarlane and Capullo join us this week to discuss their return to the Batman and Spawn universes and the resulting reality-smashing brawl. We chat about how this book fits or doesn't fit into the original nineties Batman/Spawn battle. We dig into the energy created by comparing and contrasting the two characters and why McFarlane and Capullo are busting their butts to get this book done. Most importantly, we are Comic Book Couples Counseling, the two creators contemplate how their reunion rejuvenates their artistic drive and what they hope to pull from the experience.

Batman/Spawn's FOC (final order cutoff) is 10/23 and will ultimately release on 12/13. The trade paperback release of Batman/Spawn: The Classic Collection will hit shelves and digital on 11/15. Find more details about the publications via DC Comics.

Stay in touch with Todd McFarlane through his Twitter, Instagram, and Website. Follow Greg Capullo via his Twitter, Instagram, and Website.

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 Oct 14, 2022

Comic Book Couples Conning: New York Comic-Con w/Matt Lesniewski

Friday Oct 14, 2022

We've attended many comic conventions, but none quite like the New York Comic-Con. In this week's episode, we plunge into our #NYCC experience, detailing how this convention differentiates from other shows like San Diego and Baltimore. We run you through the show floor, the many eating options, the glorious cosplay, and the never-ending artist's alley.

Returning CBCC guest Matt Lesniewski also joins us for an in-depth discussion about his new comic book, Faceless and the Family. As he tells us, he's never thrown himself into a work as hard as he has with Faceless, and this passion is awesomely apparent on the page. No one is making comics like Matt Lesniewski.

Faceless and the Family is a rare gem, a comic written, drawn, and hand-lettered by Lesniewski. It focuses on a group of "strange and loveable" misfits wandering the Hand Planet, an apocalyptic sci-fi landscape that demands your eyes upon it. The book is currently running a campaign on Zoop and already blowing past its initial financial objective. Now, we're rooting for those stretch goals.

Our conversation with Lesniewski travels into some heartfelt and unguarded spaces. As longtime Lesniewski readers, we throw heaps of praise upon the artist while digging into his process and varied narrative themes. We get a little vulnerable. He gets a little vulnerable. It's the kind of chat that can only be had on Comic Book Couples Counseling.

Be sure to follow Matt Lesniewski on Twitter and Instagram. Most importantly, however, jump over to Zoop and explore the Faceless and the Family campaign.

Also, if you haven't already, check out our previous conversation with Lesniewski about his Dark Horse Comics series, Static.

A Werewolf by Night Special Presentation: Michael Giacchino & Andy Park

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.

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

CBCC 85: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - The 1990 Movie

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.

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

Creator Corner: Mathew Klickstein on See You in San Diego

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.