Classic Comics Cavalcade

Dom Grace and Eric Hoffman, Jason's co-editors of Steve Gerber: Conversation (now available at Amazon and many other outlets) join Jason to talk about the life and fascinating career of one of comics' most original and unique creators.

This week we deliver a bonus episode of Classic Comics Cavalcade. Jim Shooter and Roy Thomas appeared on a panel at the Washington State Summer Con in June 2019, and I recorded the session. The two men share interesting and fun stories from their three decades in comics and present portraits of some of the most interesting men in comics history, including Stan Lee and Mort Weisinger. I thought it would be fun to share the chat since I didn't see it come up in any other podcasts. I'll still have a new Classic Comics Cavalcade episode on Wednesday as usual.

Jonathan Baylis of the mini-comic So Buttons joins Jason to talk about following the autobiographical traditions of Harvey Pekar, the experiences of working for seminal '90s publishers Valiant and Topps Comics (as well as pre-bankruptcy Marvel), and the joys of collecting original art. Jonathan's stories start with, "My first day at Marvel, Jack Kirby died"... and the stories go from there!

Dan Gearino, author of Comic Shop: the Retail Mavericks Who Gave Us a New Geek Culture, joins Jason to talk about the evolution of the culture around comics retailers in America. The conversation makes for a surprisingly fun, interesting and entertaining hour.

John Wells and Keith Dallas. who co-produced the Eisner nominated Comic Book Implosion, join Jason to discuss that book, their work on The American Comic Book Chronicles, why Archie Comics needs a good book about their history, and much more. 

This week Jason is joined by Aaron Kashtan, author of the Eisner Award-nominated Between Pen and Pixel: Comics, Materiality, and the Book of the Future. Aaron and Jason have an interesting discussion around comics theory and practice, focusing on work by Chris Ware, Lynda Barry, Alison Bechtel and more, around questions of the power of physical books, the ways to simulate hypertext in print, and the ways digital versus print books work for readers. It makes for an interesting and multifaceted discussion we think you'll enjoy.

Carlos Rodela joins Jason again to talk about one of the biggest impacts of the success of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: the epic 1986 black and white comics boom and bust.

This week Jason is joined by Comics Journal writer and reviewer Keith Silva to discuss the complicated legacy of Dave Sim, the controversial aueturist creator of Cerebus. Sim is generally acknowledged as one of the finest cartoonists of his era but the subject of his alleged misogyny continues to haunt his legacy. Jason and Keith discuss that legacy and attempt to help find Sim's place in the pantheon.

Jason and Keith wrote about Sim before in 2013. That article is available on Comics Bulletin.

Show notes at comicscavalcade.tumblr.com

Jason's old pal Chris Kiser joins Classic Comics Cavalcade to discuss one of his favorite comic runs, Mark Waid's epochal run on The Flash.

Vancouver-based editor, podcast host and fellow comics lover Kurtis Findlay joins Jason this week to discuss Lynn Johnston's brilliant classic comic Strip For Better or For Worse, which Kurtis is assembling and editing for the Library of American Comics. Jason and Kurtis also discuss his work for the LOAC before launching into a discussion of some comics they will have to trade with each other someday when they finally meet up.