Word Balloon Comics Podcast

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**Word Balloon Comics Podcast**

1 on 1 interview show featuring the creative minds behind Comics TV Film Novels & Animation. Hosted by Chicago Pop Culture expert, John Siuntres

Latest Episodes:

Starfleet Academy Eps 1 and 2 Reviews Jan 19, 2026

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School is in sessio with new characters and old Disco folk. What did our crew members think?

Brad Meltzer The Viper and Spider-Man Superman Jan 17, 2026

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Brad Meltzer is back talking comics and his amazing novels. You ever hold a book in your hand and feel like the world just flipped on its axis? That’s what happens when Brad drops a thriller. And today? We’ve get the lowdown on The Viper — the latest, pulse-pounding, turn-every-page thriller that just hit bookstores and is already getting the kind of buzz most authors only dream about. It's a bizzare case for Nola Brown, High stakes. Deep conspiracies. Characters you swear are real. That’s classic Meltzer — smart, sharp, unrelenting — and The Viper delivers in spades.
But if you think that’s big… wait for this. Brad Meltzer is stepping into an entirely new arena. A crossover that nobody saw coming — a collision of icons that will shake the comics world to its core. He’s writing Spider-Man/Superman — yes, Spider-Man and Superman — in an unprecedented crossover event for Marvel, dropping mid-April. Two universes. Two legends. One story. And Brad is the architect. So buckle up, because whether you’re here for the thriller or the superhero spectacle, Brad Meltzer just flipped the script — again.

THE KING’S SPEECH PT. 2 with Tom King Jan 16, 2026

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Today we’re dialing it up with one of the most provocative, inventive voices in comics: Tom King. We’re breaking down all the big news around Tom’s upcoming DC slate — including the Mister Miracle animated project that’s turning heads with its bold reimagining of Scott Free, and the fresh twists he’s bringing to Lanterns that are already reshaping the mythos of the emotional spectrum. Yep, we’re talking what it means for the future of the DCU, what fans can expect, and why these books matter beyond just explosions and capes.
But we’re not stopping there. Later in the show: Archie Movie Roundup — we’re diving into what’s next for Archie on the big screen, how the classic juggernaut’s Hollywood evolution is playing out, and what it means for the Riverdale universe and beyond. We’ll also take a hard look back at classic movies that shaped storytelling — old favorites, hidden gems, and the films that keep influencing creators today.
Plus: The usual deep dive into craft, comics philosophy, life lessons from panels and pages, and the sort of honest, sharp talk only you’ll hear right here.

Tom King The King's Speech Part 1 Jan 15, 2026

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It's a new King's speech with writer Tom King We open with breaking ground on the big screen. Tom King talks about the upcoming Supergirl movie and how his Eisner-winning comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow became the creative DNA for the film.
In Trinity, Tom breaks down the core idea behind the series—using time travel not as a gimmick, but as a way to finally let Wonder Woman’s daughter Lizzie truly know her father. Through fractured timelines and lived-in moments, Lizzie comes to understand Steve Trevor not as a legend or a memory, but as a man. It’s personal, it’s intfilm, imate, and it reframes the Trinity legacy in a way that sticks. We also widen the lens and talk Wonder Woman herself—what she represents now, what she’s always represented, and why writing her requires a different emotional frequency than almost any other character in comics.
And yes—we go there. Tom is candid about his lingering regret in the Bat-corner of the DC Universe: Alfred Pennyworth is still gone, and Tom reflects on the weight of that decision, the permanence of death in superhero storytelling, and how it continues to haunt his run on Batman. This is a thoughtful, honest, and creative deep dive—less about plot mechanics, more about legacy, consequence, and emotion.

Holy 60th Anniversary Batman ! Jan 14, 2026

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This special episode commemorates the 60th anniversary of the groundbreaking ABC television series Batman, the pop-culture lightning bolt that turned comic books into primetime spectacle and permanently rewired how superheroes could be portrayed on screen. I share a couple of professional and personal encounters with "The Bright Knight"
But, at the heart of the episode is a rare 2016 interview with the late, great Adam West, recorded not long before his passing. West reflects candidly on stepping into the cape and cowl, navigating the razor-thin line between sincerity and satire, and why playing Batman seriously—even when the world was laughing—was the key to the show’s success. He discusses:

How the series embraced comic-book logic without mocking it
The cultural shockwave of Batmania in the 1960s
The unexpected responsibility of becoming Batman to generations of fans
Why the role followed him for life—and why he ultimately embraced that legacy

This episode isn’t just a celebration of a TV show. It’s a tribute to an era, a performance, and a philosophy of heroism that proved Batman could be smart, strange, colorful, and iconic—all at the same time. Six decades later, the Bat-signal still shines. And Adam West is a big reason why. 🦇

Darwyn Cooke's The Hunter Book Club review Jan 13, 2026

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Word Balloon Book Club brings together John Siuntres, Patreon supporters, and members of Brian Michael Bendis’s Discord for an in-depth, no-nonsense discussion of The Hunter, the hard-boiled graphic novel adaptation by Darwyn Cooke.
The conversation digs into Cooke’s razor-sharp storytelling, his mastery of mid-century crime aesthetics, and how The Hunter distills the brutal, minimalist spirit of classic pulp fiction into pure visual momentum. We break down Cooke’s page design, color choices, and economy of dialogue, while also talking about why Parker remains such an enduring anti-hero and how this book stands apart from more traditional crime comics.
It’s a smart, passionate discussion fueled by creators, longtime readers, and serious fans.Equal parts literary analysis, comics craft talk, and shared enthusiasm for one of the great graphic novels of the 21st century. Exactly what a book club should be: focused, informed, and fun.

Aw Yeah Podcast 2026 The Year Ahead Jan 12, 2026

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Previewing E-Motion Sickness: A Love Boat Re-Watch Podcast Jan 10, 2026

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set sail with its maiden voyage, and we’re not easing into calm waters. In this debut episode, John Siuntres and Franco dive headfirst into Season One, Episode One of The Love Boat, the episode that launched a TV institution and defined late-’70s comfort viewing for decades to come. Joining them as this week’s guest passenger is Margaret Larkin from The Radio Girl Podcast, bringing sharp insight, and zero tolerance for shallow nostalgia. Together, the crew breaks down:

The episode’s multiple guest-star storylines and how the rotating-romance format was established right out of the gate
Who these guest stars really were beyond their Love Boat appearances—career highs, unexpected turns, and pop-culture context
Behind-the-scenes facts, network strategy, and why this show worked when it absolutely shouldn’t have
What holds up, what’s already dated, and what still weirdly works

This isn’t a breezy recap. It’s a smart, funny, occasionally skeptical re-watch that treats The Love Boat as both a time capsule and a television machine built to last. Climb aboard. The champagne is cheap, emotions are high, and the seas may get choppy.

Scene Missing Anatomy Of A Murder Jan 09, 2026

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Today On Word Balloon Scene Missing takes a deep dive into Otto Preminger’s Anatomy of a Murder, the landmark courtroom drama that shattered Hollywood taboos and rewrote how adult themes could be portrayed on screen.
Joining me is Chicago radio legend Dan McNeil, known to generations of listeners from WSCR and WMVP, bringing his sharp perspective and cultural memory to the conversation. We break down why Anatomy of a Murder was so controversial in 1950.From its frank sexual dialogue and moral ambiguity to Duke Ellington’s groundbreaking jazz score, and why it still feels modern today. McNeil and I examine James Stewart’s career-defining performance, George C. Scott’s volcanic debut, and Preminger’s fearless refusal to spoon-feed the audience easy answers.
This isn’t just a film-school autopsy. It’s a conversation about censorship, masculinity, truth versus storytelling, and how a supposedly “old” movie still punches harder than most modern courtroom dramas. Smart, opinionated, and unapologetically adult.

Tim Seeley X-Factor Godzilla Revival TV and More Jan 08, 2026

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Tim Seeley joins met talk about many current projects includng Deadpool, Godzilla, He-Man, X-Factor Psylocke Ninja, and the status of his SyFy TV Show Revival,

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