Word Balloon Comics Podcast

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Voices Of Kirby pt 3 Aug 30, 2026

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We’re continuing our celebration of Jack Kirby’s incredible legacy with two conversations that explore very different corners of the worlds he helped create.First, we go back to the Baltimore Comic-Con’s virtual 2020 convention, held during the COVID lockdown, for a discussion of Kirby’s Fourth World.
Writer Tom King and Cecil Castellucci join moderator Robert Meyer Burnett to talk about the ideas, characters, mythology, and lasting impact of Kirby’s sprawling New Gods saga.
Then we jump back to 2012 for a Marvel press conference featuring writer Kathryn Immonen and editor Lauren Sankovitch, discussing Lady Sif stepping into the spotlight as the lead of Journey Into Mystery. Sif may come from Norse mythology, but her Marvel identity was shaped in large part by the creative imagination of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and this run gave her a chance to carry a book of her own.Two generations of creators, two very different takes on Kirby’s characters and concepts, all part of the continuing conversation about the King of Comics.
This is Voices of Kirby, Part Three, on Word Balloon.

Voices Of Kirby pt 2 Aug 29, 2026

Show notes

Three conversations with 3 writers who took Kirby's 4th World ideas to new places.
Ram V Talks New Gods
Cecil Castalucci On The Female Furies
Walt Simonson on Thor and Orion

Voices Of Kirby Pt 1 Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

Celebrating Kirby's 109th Birthday today. From 2025 Comic book writer and editor Jim Beard joins the show to discuss his new book JACK OF ALL COMICS — Tales Inspired by the Master, a tribute collection featuring essays by top comic creators influenced by Jack Kirby’s groundbreaking work at Marvel and DC. Also joining us is longtime DC Comics writer Paul Kupperberg, who dives deep into Kirby’s experimental 1970s DC magazine projects like Spirit World and In the Days of the Mob.Paul also wrote Kirby's last monthly comic DC SUPER POWERS featuring The Justice League against Darkseid
Sadly right before the show we learned that Comics Legend Jim Shooter had passed away. We spent some time reflecting on his incredible career.

The History of Hester - Phil Hester Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

Green Arrow Superman The Coffin Firebreather, The Bionic Man. Just a few of the books we discuss from Phil's 40 yar career in comics. Happy Birthday too Phil!

Phillip Kennedy Johnsom Midnight Spider-Man & Hulk Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

Phillip teases as much he can about the new Midnight Spider-Man coming in October and The Coming Infernal Hulk War with the Marvel Universe, starting with Wolverine Sept 9th.

Trek Review Kiss The Puppet Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

we review the trek muppet episode, but also talk about the Lanterns HBO serries.

The Fantasy Worlds Of Thane Benson Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

Thane Benson combines comic book story telling with multiple games in each story/graphic novel. His latest is a choose your own adventure Pirate Myster called Murder On The High Seas. The kickstarter runs through Thursday.

Dan Slott Spectacular Spider-Man thank you pt 2 Aug 23, 2026

Show notes

We continue the Superman Unlimited chat started in part 1

Dan Slott Spectacular Spider-Man thank you pt 1 Aug 23, 2026

Show notes

Dan Slott is back on Word Balloon for a two-part conversation, and we start with a big thank-you to the Spider-Man fans who showed up for Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day and made sure the book was waiting for them on their comic-shop pull lists.Dan talks about the response to the series, revisiting that corner of Spider-Man history, and what it means to see readers supporting the book at the store level.
Then we cross over to Metropolis for Dan’s other major current project, Superman Unlimited. We get into his approach to Superman, the ideas he’s been exploring in the series, and how it all feeds into DC’s current House of Zod event , with the Superman family facing a growing Kryptonian threat and some major developments still ahead.
We continue the conversation in part 2

the Ditko Dialouge with Dr Zack Kruse Aug 22, 2026

Show notes

Zack Kruse is one of the talking heads in the Talasq Art Acedemy's documentary Steve Ditko Beyond The Myth that I narrated on youtube but he's been studying Ditko for decades. He wrote Mysterious Travelers: Steve Ditko and the Search for a New Liberal Identity , and had numerous letter conversations . We do a deep dive including previewing Zack's own doc DITKO coming later this year.

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