Word Balloon Comics Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Word Balloon #3000 – Part 1: A Classic 2015 Conversation with Martin Pasko Dec 06, 2025

Show notes

For this landmark 3000th episode, we’re opening the vault for a special two-part conversation from 2015 with the late Martin Pasko — writer, editor, historian, and one of the sharpest, funniest minds ever to shape modern comics and genre television. In Part 1, Marty walks us through the foundations of his career, beginning with his time writing Superman in the Bronze Age. We get into the pressures and freedoms of handling the Man of Steel at a moment when DC was redefining itself, and Marty doesn’t shy away from talking about the artists, editors, and behind-the-scenes personalities who shaped that era.
From there, we explore his work on Batman: The Animated Series, where he discusses the creative culture that produced one of the greatest superhero shows ever made — and why it demanded a different kind of storytelling discipline than comics. Along the way, Marty opens up about:

His favorite artists and editors he collaborated with
His takes on the Superman films and their legacy
What Tim Burton got right — and wrong — with Batman (1989)
His lifelong fandom for Star Trek and classic Old Time Radio
His contributions to the 1980s Twilight Zone revival and the challenges of writing smart, eerie anthology television

This is Marty at his best: candid, witty, encyclopedic, and completely unfiltered. A perfect way to celebrate 3000 episodes of Word Balloon — with a creator who helped define so much of what we love.

Best of 2025 Christopher Cantwell pt 2 Crime Comics and 2026 TV Plans Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

We discuss Chris's books Out Of Alcatraz from Oni Press , Kid Maroon from Vault, and his upcoming season of The Terror Siler In Black on AMC next year

Best of 2025 Christopher Cantwell pt 1 DC Marvel Star Trek and More Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

In this 2 part chat, Chris and I talk about his comic book hits
Star Trek: Redshirts (IDW) — Cantwell’s latest project, a take on the classic “redshirt expendables” trope from the Star Trek universe. The conversation touches on the creative intent behind giving voice and stakes to characters who traditionally die off quickly, and how this reinvention reflects both respect and deconstruction. Spreaker
His work at Marvel — They dig into his “definitive modern take” on Iron Man, the layered psychological portrait of Doctor Doom, and a darker, crime-tinged story with Golden Goblin. Themes include morality, shades of grey in superhero writing, and making familiar characters feel alive in contemporary contexts. Spreaker
His DC Comics efforts — Specifically a mini-series reviving Challengers of the Unknown, intersecting with the Justice League. The talk explores why the Challengers caught his interest, how he approaches legacy characters, and how the miniseries fits into — or shakes up — the larger DC landscape

Mike Norton A Dog's Life Battlepug Krypto and More Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Mike Norton returns to dig into three big projects at very different stages of his creative journey. We kick things off with Battlepug Vol. 3, fresh off his successful Kickstarter campaign. Mike talks about building the latest chapter of the saga, leveling up the world and characters, and why this volume may be his wildest yet.
From there we shift to his new Krypto mini-series with Ryan North, a character Mike has loved since childhood. He breaks down the tone, the look, and the storytelling approach he and Ryan are bringing to Superman’s best four-legged friend, plus a few hints at the series’ emotional core.
We wrap with a look back at Superman Unchained, his collaboration with Dan Slott. Mike shares production memories, creative challenges, and why this take on the Man of Steel still holds a special place for him.

Origins Of 100 Bullets w Azzarello Risso and Johnson Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

The 2016 100 BULLETS Panel brings together the full creative hit squad: writer Brian Azzarello, artist Eduardo Risso, and cover artist Dave Johnson for a raw, no-BS conversation about their landmark Vertigo crime saga. Recorded live at a 2016 convention, this session digs into how three very different sensibilities fused into one of the most ruthless, stylish books of the last 25 years. Azzarello breaks down the long-game plotting behind 100 Bullets. How the idea of a briefcase, a gun, and untraceable bullets turned into a sprawling conspiracy about power, guilt, and revenge. Risso talks visual storytelling: page design, body language, and using shadow, silence, and violence as punctuation. Johnson pulls back the curtain on those iconic covers, explaining how he treated each one like a movie poster, a teaser, and a misdirection all at once.
Candid, funny, and occasionally brutal, this panel is a must-listen for fans of 100 Bullets, Vertigo die-hards, and anyone who cares about how truly author-driven comics get made.

Christos Gage on Marvel Battleworld, DC Dark Legion and the Streaming Wars Dec 02, 2025

Show notes

In this wide-ranging conversation, writer Christos Gage digs into the creative madness behind his Marvel Battleworld mini-series. A multiversal romp where time-displaced heroes and villains collide. Gage breaks down how he approached juggling characters pulled from wildly different eras and realities: WWII-era Bucky, the tyrannical Maestro-Hulk, the cosmic outsider Star Brand from the New Universe, and a whole rogue’s gallery of misfits thrown together under impossible circumstances. He walks through the rules of this warped patchwork planet, how to keep continuity straight when nothing is straight, and why Battleworld let him stretch muscles standard Marvel titles never quite allow.
From there, Gage shifts over to his latest DC project, Dark Legion, explaining the worldbuilding behind its sinister factions, its morally gray tone, and the freedom the project gives him to push DC characters into darker corners without losing the emotional core.
We also talk screenwriting: Gage opens up about co-writing a new British film with his wife, Ruth Fletcher Gage — how the project came together, what makes writing for UK production culture different, and how collaborating at home sharpens the work rather than softens it. Naturally, we revisit his foundational TV work on Marvel’s Daredevil Season 1 for Netflix. Gage gives frank insight into the writers' room, the tonal blueprint they were building, and what it was like helping define the first successful street-level corner of the MCU. He reflects on how that gritty realism shaped the entire wave of Marvel Netflix shows that followed — and how the industry has changed since then.

Happy Belated Birthday Jerry Ordway Dec 01, 2025

Show notes

Here's my first in-depth interview with Jerry Ordway, focusing on his legacy in the Superman mythos, his work on the Justice Society of America (JSA) and All Star Squadron, his role in creating/working on Infinity, Inc., and other characters he helped shape — from early creations like Ron Troupe and Gangbuster to newer ones like Cat Grant. Plus the use of Cat Grant in the Supergirl TV series

Aw Yeah Podcast: “The Shoemaker” (Feb 2014) Nov 30, 2025

Show notes

In this February 2014 episode of the Aw Yeah Podcast, the boys slip on the boots for a free-wheeling pop-culture marathon they lovingly call “The Shoemaker.” A big celeb name dropping episode.
It’s one of those classic hangout sessions where every tangent is fair game and the laughs come fast. We kick things off revisiting Robin Williams’ Popeye, the strange, ambitious, spinach-powered musical that still sparks debate decades later. From there, the conversation veers into the unforgettable era when Jamie Lee Curtis became the unexpected queen of “yogurt-helps-you-poop” commercials, and yes, everyone has opinions.
The crew also digs into Jonn meeting Robert Vaughn, The Man From UNCLE and Artie's least favorite villian from Superman 3, the Rocky films, breaking down why the franchise still hits as hard as ever, and then jumps into a deep dive on the Planet of the Apes movies . Sprinkled throughout are some priceless Harry Caray stories, the kind that only this crew can tell, plus a lively discussion on John Romita Jr.’s take on Superman, what makes his version stand out, and why it grabbed fans’ attention.
It’s loose, it’s goofy, it’s packed with memories and comic-shop energy. A vintage Aw Yeah episode through and through.

Mike Gold pt 2 Beyond The Bronze Age Nov 29, 2025

Show notes

We continue the 2020 conversation with Writer Editor Mike Gold who made his mark at DC and First Comics. The topics include...

Overview of the 1980s era at DC Comics — what the publisher looked like in that decade. Spreaker
How editorial and creative practices changed at DC during the ’80s (shifts in tone, editorial risk-taking, market pressures, publishing strategies). Spreaker
Discussion of high-profile, sometimes unusual projects at DC — including the book Superman vs. Muhammad Ali — its context, its ambition, and what it represented for comics in that period. Spreaker+2Wikipedia+2
How projects like “Superman vs. Ali” reflect the intersection of pop culture — comics, real life celebrity (boxing legend Muhammad Ali), social attitudes — and the willingness of DC to experiment creatively. Spreaker+2Wikipedia+2
Reflections on the impact of the 1980s DC output on the broader comics industry: distribution, direct market shifts, what worked and what didn’t. Spreaker+1
Challenges and controversies of the time: balancing mainstream superhero fare with more experimental or culturally relevant stories, and what that meant for editors, creators, and readers. Spreaker+1
Personal anecdotes from Mike Gold about working inside the system — editorial decisions, pitch processes, the creative climate of ’80s comics, and his own contributions or experiences.

A Bronze Age Deep Dive With Mike Gold Pt 1 Nov 29, 2025

Show notes

From 2020 at the start of COVID, I had this great talk with writer/editor extrordinare Mike Gold. Here are the highlights ...
Career Overview — Mike Gold’s background and path in the comics business, including early experiences and how he came to work for both DC Comics and First Comics.
The Bronze Age at DC — Discussion of the Bronze Age of DC Comics: what defined that period, the creative and editorial environment, and how DC approached storytelling and publishing in those years.
First Comics Formation and Philosophy — How First Comics was founded, its mission, and the difference between First Comics’ approach and the major publishers of the time.
Notable Titles & Editorial Work — Titles and creators Gold worked with while at First Comics and later at DC — including some of the series he edited.
Industry Changes & Direct Market — The evolution of the comics industry during his career: how the direct market, distribution, fan communities, and editorial practices shifted over time.
Creative Freedom & Editorial Risk — Reflections on the balance between editorial oversight and giving creators freedom — especially in smaller/independent settings vs larger corporate environments.
The Role of Comics in Pop Culture — Commentary on how comics fit into broader pop culture over time, their potential impact, and how creators and editors responded to changing audience expectations.

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