In 1955, comic book companies were struggling to stay afloat after a rough five years of censorship, a changing readership, and the invention of television. During an editorial meeting at National Periodical Publications, somebody suggested bringing back the company’s superheroes. National settled on a redesign of an old character—The Flash—and the world would never be the same. This created Marvel Comics and the Marvel Age. Michael Lites, Bill Field, Alex Grand, Kevin Garcia, Flaming Carrot creator Bob Burden, and Philip Nelson (Nelco Comics) investigate how the reintroduction of this superhero became a smash hit and inspired a resurgence of imagination that saved the industry.

#dccomics #silverage #marvel #marvelcomics #stanlee #jackkirby #steveditko

Support the show

Panel description: Before Gotham had shadows, writer Bill Finger cast them. Comics scholar Alex Grand (*Understanding Superhero Comic Books*) moderates a lively conversation with Athena Finger (Bill’s granddaughter and advocate), historian Bill Field (Field of Comics), and playwright/filmmaker Leonard Schwartz (Bill Finger: Rise of the Bat), and now with Mark Evanier (Bill Finger Awards). Together we trace Finger’s career across comics, television, and film, and show why crediting Batman’s co-creator still matters to today’s storytellers and fans. 

 #Batman  #DCComics  #BillFinger  #ComicBooks  #ComicsHistory  #Gotham
 #BatmanCreator  #Superheroes  #ComicCon  #ComicBookPanel 

Support the show

Rob Liefeld returns to the CBH podcast talking about Youngblood hitting its stride, Extreme Studios becomes a hothouse of new series: Brigade, Bloodstrike, and nearly two dozen more, all while he mentors rising talents Dan Fraga, Norm Rapmund and more. Mounting costs inside Image spark sharp discussions with Jim Lee, Todd McFarlane, and Mark Silvestri, nudging Liefeld to open Maximum Press for experiments like Battlestar Galactica and Avengelyne. He talks about his exit from Image and his stint on Marvel’s Heroes  Reborn, where his Captain America made headlines amidst Marvel’s bankruptcy. Recharged, he launches Awesome Comics, partners with Alan Moore for an Award‑winning Supreme, and joins Golden Age legend Joe Simon to shield Fighting American in court. A family walk through Greek ruins now feeds the mythic spark in Cable, Deadpool, and their Fortnite cameos. Royalties still arrive, proof that owning your stories keeps the dream alive, which is a lesson his friend Robert Kirkman echoes with Walking Dead and Invincible.

 #RobLiefeld #Youngblood #ExtremeStudios #ImageComics #CreatorRights #HeroesReborn #CaptainAmerica #MaximumPress #AlanMoore #Deadpool 

Support the show

Alex Grand and co-host Jim Thompson interview Don McGregor on his career in a final fourth of a four parter discussing his work with Dean Mullaney at Eclipse, Ragamuffins, working at DC Comics with Nathaniel Dusk, Julius Schwartz, Dragonflame with David Anthony Kraft, work for hire with Marvel, Black Panther's Quest for Marvel Comics Presents, Detectives Inc sequel with Gene Colan, the Detectives Inc Movie, Topps, Zorro, Dracula, Jurassic Park, Golden Eye, Lady Rawhide, Tom Yeates, Ultimate Ragamuffins and beyond!   Images used in artwork ©Their Respective Copyright holders, CBH Podcast ©Comic Book Historians. Thumbnail Artwork ©Comic Book Historians. Edited & Produced by Alex Grand.  

Support the show

Alex Grand and co-host Jim Thompson interview comic writer Don McGregor, in a third parter on discussing Black Panther fighting the KKK, antagonism with editorial, Archie Goodwin & Jim Shooter, the personal issues he was dealing with in the middle to later 1970s that affected his writing output, writing Michael Golden's first Marvel work, Dagger, and Sabre with Eclipse.  Images used in artwork ©Their Respective Copyright holders, CBH Podcast ©Comic Book Historians. Thumbnail Artwork ©Comic Book Historians.  Edited & Produced by Alex Grand.  

Support the show

Ditkoverse publications are here: http://www.igg.me/at/ditkoverse1

Alex Grand speaks with Steve Ditko’s nephew, Mark Ditko, and longtime Ditko collaborator Mort Todd about their DitkoVerse publishing venture, a project dedicated to “remastering” and re-presenting classic Steve Ditko stories in high-quality editions . They describe their upcoming Indiegogo campaign, which kicks off a broader plan to keep Ditko’s independent work in continuous print leading up to what would have been his 100th birthday in 2027. The initial releases include Mister A—relettered and published in color for the first time—along with Fantastic Giants (featuring Charlton monster stories), Static (a superhero title), and a revised edition of Avenging World, Ditko’s philosophical opus. Mort Todd, who worked with Ditko as far back as the mid-1980s, explains the painstaking restoration process—cleaning up original black-and-white artwork, recoloring, and updating lettering in a way that stays faithful to Ditko’s intent. Mark emphasizes that the family’s focus is on honoring Steve Ditko’s desire to keep his work available and of high quality. The interview also touches on personal anecdotes—such as Ditko’s private yet supportive nature—and highlights their shared commitment: all funds raised will go directly into producing and distributing further reprints and unreleased material so future generations can appreciate Ditko’s unique blend of storytelling, philosophy, and artistry.

00:00 Intro and greetings  
00:28 Settlement with Disney  
01:01 Receiving Legend Award  
02:15 Launching DitkoVerse Project  
03:46 Mort Todd involvement  
05:02 Why use Indiegogo  
11:00 Exclusive fan rewards  
11:37 Starting titles lineup  
14:00 Avenging World spotlight  
15:37 Restoration process details  
16:16 Balancing family legacy  
19:16 Beyond Marvel overview  
22:43 Editorial approach discussion  
28:00 Social media impact  
31:00 Mort Todd anecdote  
35:02 Mark Ditko anecdote  
40:05 Indiegogo campaign info  
01:00:48 Wrap up thoughts  
01:03:00 End of interview  

My book, Understanding Superhero Comic Books available at https://a.co/d/iIE3fWH .

🤔 Hope you enjoyed this video!
👍 If you enjoy this video, please like and share it.
👉 Don't forget to subscribe to this channel for more updates.
🚫 Subscribe by clicking this link 🔗 https://bit.ly/3iRIaxx

⚡️ Swim into our playlists ⚡️
🎶 CBH Docuseries by Alex Grand 🔗 https://bit.ly/CBH-Docuseries
🎶 CBH Interview Series 🔗 https://bit.ly/CBH-InterviewSeries
🎶 History of DC Comics Video Series by Alex Grand 🔗 https://bit.ly/3CrGqnV
🎶 Origin of Marvel Comics Video Series by Alex Grand 🔗 https://bit.ly/3yx4gvV
🎶 CBH Videos in Order of Episode Number 🔗 https://bit.ly/3lBl29H
🎶 Comic Book Flip Thru 🔗 https://bit.ly/3xz8QIO
🎶 Historic Footage 🔗 https://bit.ly/3AiukLR
🎶 CBH Motion Comics 🔗 https://bit.ly/3yvHMLX
🎶 CBH Panel Series 🔗 https://bit.ly/3s36voy
🎶 Comic Book Historians Playlists 🔗 https://bit.ly/CBH-Playlists

⚡️ Our Socials ⚡️
✅ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Comicbookhistorians
✅ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comicbookhistorians
✅ Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/comichistorians

🎙 Audio Podcasts 🔗 https://comicbookhistorians.buzzsprout.com
🌐 Website 🔗 https://comicbookhistorians.com/

✊ You want to support our project? We'd be happy for your support on Patreon.
⚡️ Check us out on Patreon 🔗 https://www.patreon.com/comicbookhistorians
󰛝 An extra special thank-you to all my kind Patreon supporters.
🙏 Thank you for watching

Support the show

David Armstrong interviewed Golden Age great and Graphic Novelist, Will Eisner in 1997 on set at San Diego Comic Con about the early history of comic books, comic strip reprints, his entry into comics, WOW What A Magazine!, his partnership with Jerry Iger, the growing concept of early comic books with original material, starting the Eisner and Iger shop, partnering with Everett M. Arnold at Quality Comics on the Spirit Newspaper Insert, departing the Iger shop, serving in World War 2, its effect on his storytelling and starting PS Magazine. Interview conducted, recorded and copyrighted to David Armstrong. Remastered, edited, timestamped and postproduction by Alex Grand.

Support the show

Alex Grand & Filippo Marzo interview Jerry Ordway for an hour in a co-interview process where the english version is here at Comic Book Historians, and the italian version is at Comics Reporter.  Jerry is asked about his DC Comics career highlights from the 1980s through the 2000s with All-Star Squadron and Infinity Inc with Roy Thomas, Crisis on Infinite Earths with George Perez, Adventures of Superman with Marv Wolfman and John Byrne, artist for the 1989 Batman Film adaptation,  his writer-artist period with Superman and Power of Shazam, co-creating Wildstar with Al Gordon, Zero Hour with Dan Jurgens, Tom Strong with Alan Moore and Just Imagine with Stan Lee.

©Comic Book Historians, LLC.

Support the show

Alex Grand and co-host Jim Thompson interview Bob Hall part 2, from his early days as a comic reader, his University education in Theatre, his turned in first work for Charlton Comics, studying at the John Buscema Comic Art School, getting into Marvel under editor Archie Goodwin, then under new editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, the Yellowjacket Wasp story, Squadron Supreme with Mark Gruenwald, co-creating West Coast Avengers, Emperor Doom, Valiant Comics, Future Comics, his Joker graphic series for DC, and his modern theatre work.  Edited & Produced by Alex Grand.  

#Avengers #SquadronSupreme #Valiant #Marvel

© 2021 Comic Book Historians

Support the show

Craig Yoe’s biographical interview highlights his creative journey through personal struggles and reinvention, who transforms adversity into creativity while remaining true to his innovative spirit. He discusses his graphic novel Woman & Man+, a psychedelic reflection on leaving the U.S., a painful divorce, and using art therapy to rebuild his life. Raised in the Midwest, Yoe credits his parents for encouraging his creativity, with influences like Carl Barks, Marvel Comics, Steve Ditko, and Robert Crumb. Yoe’s 1960s anti-war activism, through protests and underground newspapers, reflected his pacifist values despite cultural losses like the deaths of Hendrix and Joplin. In the 1970s, he embraced the Jesus People movement, blending communal living, spiritual exploration, and work on Christian newspapers with artists like Rick Griffin. He oversaw David C. Cooke Bible and Life Pix comics before moving into toy design with Sid Diamond Toy Company and Marvin Glass toymakers. Yoe later became Creative Director for Jim Henson’s Muppets and founded Yoe Studio, building a decades-long career in design and storytelling. His publishing imprint, Yoe Books, has produced award-winning works celebrating comics history and pop culture.

Yoe's new Graphic Novel found at Clover Press.

Interview ©2024 Comic Book Historians LLC

Support the show