We've all had time now to digest the fact that Warren Ellis was back making comics at Image. Yep, was is the correct verb here. See for yourself over at The Mary Sue. This is a decision that I'm fully behind, people who use their positions in abusive ways like he did shouldn't get to come back after a hand wavey half assed apology and a few months of staying out of the spotlight. Jay Edidin probably said it more elegantly than I could ever hope to pull off.
The decision for me was easy, I wouldn't have bought this book. I still won't knowingly read anything from him. There is enough good content out there for me to enjoy that I don't need to read anything from Ellis to get my enjoyment.
This was such a quick and easy decision for me that I quickly had my thoughts drift into what would happen to the rest of the Image books I'm already getting and any that might come up in the future. Short runs that are almost done, ones that take a hiatus and then come back for another series, ones that have just started. And if my brain is going there I have to think that creators are thinking the same things.
Most of what I'm getting from Image right now are from newer creators. I find it hard to pull my support from them because of things that are out of their control. I'll admit that I haven't written anything, but I think it's a fair guess that taking a series away from a publisher just wouldn't be an easy task. Especially with a short run series. And even if they could take it to another publisher, is taking issues 4 and 5 of your series to another publisher even worth the effort?
Don't get me wrong publishers have to be held accountable for the people they chose to bring into their operations. It seems like a simple concept to me. Someone does horrible enough things, they don't get hired. I realize that line will be different for everyone. But when the horrible person is able to go basically anywhere and still sell books? Yeah, you're not going to be stifling anyone's voice. Mistakes can happen, but not when someone has been given every opportunity to do the right thing and just refuses to do it.
In the end I think it's the other creators that will have the bigger impact. Can you imagine if [Insert big name here] told a publisher "No, because you keep bringing on horrible people and I'm not cool with that and you know damn well I could sell these books out of my basement and be perfectly fine."? I'd love it.
We’re living in a world where people are starting more and more to be held accountable for their actions and inactions. Holding things against the writer/artist makes perfect sense to me. But how much should you hold the publisher accountable? And more importantly how do you let it effect other people who already have things rolling through that publisher?Continue Reading
Sometimes I just get confused when it comes to localization decisions. Why can’t we get the manga license with our games? Did they think we wouldn’t like a plane based shooter because it had a comic with it that we didn’t recognize?
Good thing that I have Steampunk Link and Emmy Zero from SNEScapades here to help straighten things up. Listen in as we try to solve this and other mysterious aspects of this early SNES Era gem.
There’s no turning back now, social media is here to stay. And with that comes a new type of interaction with the world and the people who make the pieces of entertainment that help us get through our day.
But what happens behind the scenes and along the way for the people who create these things? Good thing we have Dave Baker here to help shed some light on that with Everyone is Tulip, a comic created with Nicole Goux and published by Dark Horse.
I can’t get into first person shooters. But let’s get it even wider than that, I usually can’t get into shooters at all. They’re just not my genre of choice.
Patrick Hickey Jr. might just change that with his latest book The Minds Behind Shooter Games. I’ll probably never be good at them but after reading the background that Patrick was able to pick up. I might not love the games, but I love hearing about the stories behind how these games came into existence.
This episode is brought to you in part by Lesser Known Comics. Be sure to check out the Lesser Known Comics website for the most up to date news on what they’ve got going on.
We may spend much of our time here looking back on comic-related video games of the past. But it’s also hard not to be excited about future video games when it comes to Marvel specifically. After years of what seemed to be a relatively disinterested approach to the gaming world,Continue Reading
When you think of the most iconic characters in the DC Universe then Wonder Woman is definitely up there. Easily one of the most important characters in comics. But with that longevity and popularity comes an interesting problem, a lot of stuff has already been done. So when you can get a fresh take on things it’s always great, and even better when it’s a well done comic.
That’s what we have here with Michael Conrad and Becky Cloonan. Listen in as we talk about the best parts of a limited Future State run, plans for their run on the ongoing Wonder Woman story, and go off on some of the most relevant tangents this show might have ever had.Continue Reading
One of the great things about comics is that there’s a story for everyone. A character for everyone. Or there can be, some groups are just more well represented than others. What can you do?
If you’re Joe Glass, you can go write a comic that has been popular enough to spawn a 400+ page omnibus release. I’d say that’s doing a little something to make sure that marginalized portions of the population can get some more and better representation wouldn’t you?
This episode is brought to you by everyone who has made The Pride possible. Which might even include you. Pick up your copy from your local comic shop, Amazon, or Joe’s personal pick Big Bang Comics.
Or you can prove to me that you read show notes by telling me that I have this offer to give away a copy in the show notes and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a free copy. Assuming I can ship it to you without costing me a small fortune, and if that’s the case we’ll work something out.Continue Reading
Comics is a team sport. Unless you’re talking about one of those super talented people who can do everything, but we’re not talking about them right now. We’re looking at a book made by two people who are both good at what they do.
Those people: Eric Grissom and Will Perkins. The book: Goblin. I have both of them here to talk about this wonderful story that you really will have to read. Spoiler alert though: it’s pretty good.
This episode is brought to you by the wonderful patrons of Play Comics. Want to help support the show? Head over to PlayComics.com/Patreon and you too can get early episodes and other special patron only goodies.Continue Reading
I come into Barbaric with a few things in mind:
Vault Comics is on top of their stuff and if I could easily pull it off I’d have the shop just get me all of their #1 issues
I love fantasy based stuff
The ax’s mouth is dripping blood, so we can assume it doesn’t ask for a well done steak. I’m guessing mid rare at the mostContinue Reading
Sometimes a dumb idea actually turns into something. You know, like telling your wife that you’re starting a comic publisher. Or not telling her and just kind of doing it until one day neither of you can deny that this is exactly what’s going on.
I’ve never done that. But you know who has? Today’s guest Mark Bernal from Lesser Known Comics. So listen in as I pick his brain about how you can sneaky start a publisher and some of the best parts of doing so as a relative newcomer.
This episode is brought to you in part by Lesser Known Comics. Partly because it just makes too much sense not to do it, and partly because they have a Kickstarter going where you can pick up some print copies of their comics.Continue Reading
There’s only a few things we have to have to survive in this world. Two of those are comics and food. But what if, and I’m being totally serious here, what if you could find a really good comic about food? I’m sure there are others, but Kitchen Witch is really good so that’s what we’re going with right now.
Good thing we have Steve Orlando here to talk to about The Kitchen Witch. Makes total sense since he wrote it. After all, that is how these things usually work. And if you’re not convinced that buying The Kitchen Witch is a good move after listening to this then I’m going to have to seriously think about if we’re able to be friends.
This Episode is brought to you in part by 215 Ink, which makes total sense since they’re publishing it.Continue Reading
We’re never going to get away from Batman are we? Oh well, at least Chaos in Gotham is based on everyone’s favorite Batman animated series. And Batman might possibly have one of the best rogue galleries in comics so you’ve got to think something could be pulled off here.
Good thing we’ve got Erin from Girls Talk Comics to come help us look into the situation. So suit up, because this is a fun one.
This Episode is brought to you in part by Alex Schumacher, SLG Publishing, and Mr. Butterchips.
More than anything else right now, I want to make sure that everyone one of you is doing alright in every way possible. We’re going through a lot of shit and while taking care of your mental health is really important we as a society aren’t in a place yet where it’s always something that can be talked about openly. That needs to change.
This is one reason why I’m so excited to talk to Justin Richards about his Kickstarter project A Silent Night. Dealing with depression and anxiety is something that you definitely don’t have to do alone. I’m not saying that backing this Kickstarter project will help, but it will get the conversation out into the world in a more public way and I have to see that as a good thing. Plus Justin is just A grade good people. Can’t really go wrong there.Continue Reading
Alright guys, we really need to get the house ready to sell. Despite saying that I’ve been working on that most of the free time has been spent working on the podcast in one way or another. Good for content, not so good for getting into a new house. Continue Reading
It’s finally happened. I got totally peer pressured into reading a comic. Not only that, but in getting the creators on the show too. Although let’s be real about Witchblood for a minute. I definitely would have read this anyway and thought that I should get the creators on the show. That cover + all the hype I’d seen about this one + Vault Comics = I’ll pick it up. It’s simple math.
Listen in as Lisa Sterle and Matthew Erman (featuring a basically uncredited roll played by their dog) come talk about the creation of a comic about a biker witch from Mars (said only because it fits the reference I’m hoping you catch), working with someone you can’t really get away from, and more of an answer to my standard “Do you have any advice for people looking to get into making comics?” question than I’ve gotten from anyone so far. Not that I’m complaining at all.Continue Reading
I love learning. I love talking to creators about how they get their things done. I love picking their brains and finding out cool little things. It’s just great.
Enter Chris Sotomayor, the newest member of the PodChris Club. So listen in as we learn what goes into being a colorist and a possible way for you to become one too. Not me though, my art skills aren’t good enough.Continue Reading
I have a feeling we’re about to start hitting a bunch of manga based games. Might as well make one of the early rounds of that be a boxing game. My ability to think of any more boxing puns is on the down for the count so let’s be serious. Today we’re taking a look at Victorious Boxers: Ippo’s Road to Glory.
I’ve got Trevor H from Catching Up on Cinema to help guide me through this one and possibly maybe get my pronunciation a bit better.Continue Reading
I know I should judge a book by it’s cover. Especially a comic because there are at least 37 different covers and I can only get so many of them. But it’s so hard with Hollow Heart because this cover is so enticing. Why is there a dude staring at me? What is the dude staring at me from? How do the eyes go all shiny like that?
All of that aside, I’m loving what I’m seeing in this first issue.Continue Reading
You know what my favorite part of doing this podcast has been? Making such talented friends and having an excuse to share their stuff with the world. For real, it’s even better than the comics people give me to read.
For example, I got to talk to Fernando Pinto about a few different things from him that I’m very happy to either have in my house right now or will have some time in the future in Warped and Gun Punch. Both are really fun comics that you should definitely check out.Continue Reading
I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but the world is a bit crazy night now. But mixed in with all of the craziness are little bits of normalcy that can help make things be not so jarring. If you’re in the Charleston, South Carolina area on the weekend of February 20-21 be sure to stop by the con over at 176 Patriots Point Rd, Mount Pleasant.
Good thing I’ve got Mike Campbell from my local shop Captain’s Comics and Toys to come by and talk about their upcoming Captain’s Comic Expo. Also be sure to check out the Lowcountry Orphan Relief, after all some of the proceeds from the con are going to help them out and even if you don’t go you can still donate.Continue Reading
