Classic Comics Cavalcade

Eric Hoffman and Jason Sacks, 2 of the editors of Steve Gerber: Conversations (published by University Press of Mississippi) are joined by writer and critic Nick Hanover to discuss four of Steve Gerber's great 1970s comics: Morbius the Living Vampire, Son of Satan, Shanna the She-Devil and Guardians of the Galaxy. The team delves deep into Gerber's work, exploring the ideas and motivations behind those often brilliant comics. This is the first part of a multipart series about Gerber, because Jason loves talking about Gerber!

Steve Gerber: Conversations is available in ebook and print form via Amazon and other outlets.

This week noted comic historian Frank Young joins Jason to discuss ELMO, a classic lost comic strip which Frank describes as "like David Lynch created Li'l Abner. As the conversation reveals, ELMO was a unique comic full of dark humor and strange characters, a fascinating portrait of post-WWII America and a hell of a great read. Even if you haven't read it, I think you'll enjoy the conversation -- and then you'll want to rush out and buy the collection on Amazon.

First Second Books editor Robyn Chapman joins Jason this week to discuss Stuck Rubber Baby, one of the finest graphic novels of the 1990s and a brilliant exploration of LGBTQ awakening, the civil rights movement and much more. As Jason and Robyn discuss, this is a graphic novel of rare beauty and depth, the product of a brilliant cartoonist at the absolute top of his skills.

Hope you enjoy and please leave feedback on Apple Podcasts if you do.

The Comics Cavalcade Book Club is back in session as Daniel Elkin and Keith Silva join Jason to discuss a surprising choice for books: 2019's House of X/Powers of X. It's surprising because Daniel and Keith are not huge superhero fans, but like the pros they are, Daniel, Keith and Jason dig deep into Jonathan Hickman's magnum opus to tease out depth, symbolism and just what was up with Professor X's hat. It's 75 minutes of fun, fast listening I think you'll enjoy.

Legendary designers Seymour Chwast and Steven Brower have created a charming and fascinating graphic biography called The Mighty Elvis which celebrates the life and times of the King. They join Jason for about 35 minutes of conversation about the complicated life and legacy of Elvis Presley, the pleasures of working as a designer, the importance of education, their shared love for comics and much more. It was a thorough delight to get to speak with these men who have such obvious love for everything they do creatively.

Hope you enjoy and be sure to leave a nice rating on iTunes if you do.

Steve Ditko was one of the most unique creators ever to work in the comics industry. You probably know him as the creator of Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, but a lot of his work is more obscure and much harder to find than the early appearances of Doctor Octopus and the Green Goblin. Jason and Mark talk Ditko's complex and fascinating career and approach to his work in this fun, breezy and fast-moving hour.

Nate Powell is one of the most insightful cartoonists in comics, a man whose honest and heartfelt work reflects his inner sensibilities, search for deeper meaning, and his deep connection to his past. In this 2015 interview, conducted shortly after his short story collection You Don't Say, we delve into all those areas as well as have a really pleasant and interesting talk. 

Rick McCollum has been writing and drawing smart, intense and thrilling comics over the last four decades but he's still criminally under-known. Rick's work overwhelms with its detail, its energy and its heartfelt passion. I was happy to have Rick guest on my podcast and have him share stories of his long and complicated career in comics. If you don't know his work, I think you'll want to seek it out after listening to this show, and if you are a fan you'll enjoy hearing the man himself.

Continuing Jason's obsession with classic fanzines, writer/artist/columnist Ken Meyer joins Jason to talk about some of the classic yet under-known fanzines of the 1960s, '70s and '80s, including RBCC, The Collector and Ultrazine. They also talk about some of the classic fan artists of that era, which includes John Byrne, George Perez and Dave Cockrum as well as John Fantuccio, Don Rosa and the great Dennis Fujitake. Even people who don't know much about that era will find a lot to enjoy in this episode!

My guest today is Tom Peyer, longtime comics writer and editor. In the coming hour, we discuss his Ahoy Comics Hashtag: Danger, High Heaven and The Wrong Earth, the way heroes are perceived in different eras, the birth of Vertigo Comics, his acclaimed (but under-known) series Hourman, a strange and little-known proposal to revise Superman, the late '90s version of Magnus Robot Fighter, future plans for Ahoy Comics, a classic issue of Jimmy Olsen, and much more.