2025 was a banner year for media. In this episode, Dave breaks down his favorite TV, music, movies, and comics of the past 12 months—what swam, what sank, and which movie somehow managed to make him feel stupider. From Sinners to Hayley Williams and Absolute Batman, this episode serves as the best of the best, in Dave's eyes.Big thanks to Phil for the awesome edit on this!

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Matteo Scalera (Black Science, Nemesis Forever) joins Dave to discuss the upcoming release of his new Kickstarter-backed project, The Fourth Father.

They discuss storytelling and Scalera’s creative process, and fandom within the Inkpulp Podcast universe. They explore the surge of Italian comic creators, Tim Sale's last Batman book, the narrative mastery of Breaking Bad and Watchmen, and the “Nolan Effect,” along with the challenges of balancing business, family, and art while self-promoting and running and independent business.

Scalera dives into his love for animation and explains why seagulls are the unsung heroes of great art. The podcast closes with a rendition of something that all Inkpulp fans may be dangerously familiar with.

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Comic legend Geof Darrow joins Dave for the Season 5 premiere ahead of the release of Shaolin Cowboy The Beginning of the End Results: 21 Years Of Blood, Sweat & Chainsaws.

Uncle Geof reflects on working alongside Jack Kirby and Frank Miller, developing concept art for The Matrix, and introducing Moebius to the work of Katsuhiro Otomo. They talk film, Martial arts, gore, and fantasy; consider the influence of Dark Horse Comics; shudder at the brutal workload of a mangaka; and reveal why George Lucas might be the ultimate fanboy.

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Comic icon Marc Silvestri joins Dave for a wide-ranging conversation about the pivotal creative moments that shaped his career.

From his earliest science fiction influences and the work of legends like Jack Kirby, Bernie Wrightson, Frank Frazetta, and Norman Rockwell, to collaborations with Larry Hama and Chris Claremont.

Silvestri discusses his enduring impact on the X-Men & Wolverine , his role in mainstreaming creator ownership through founding Image Comics and Top Cow Productions, mentoring Michael Turner, creating Witchblade and the epic upcoming relaunch of The Darkness.

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Dave reflects on 80 episodes of Direct Edition and shares the lessons, tools and methods that he’s picked up along the way. He looks ahead to Japan, reveals the season finale guest and the season 5 premiere guest and shares a healthy dose of gratitude.

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Jim Woodring (Creator Of Frank) joins Dave to discuss the creative process behind his award winning surrealist comic art and unique personal vision.

Jim recalls his early connection to MAD Magazine and Harvey Kurtzman’s grotesque, lyrical style. He reflects on the work of R. Crumb, and the defining influence of Salvador Dalí. They discuss Jim’s time working with Gil Kane and Jack Kirby at Ruby-Spears, the mastery of Dave Stevens, and the origin of Jim’s long standing relationship with Gary Groth and Fantagraphics.

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Artist, writer, and fan Kelley Jones (Batman, Dracula, Deadman, Sandman, Swamp Thing) joins the podcast. Kelley details his time working on the Batman Knightfall Covers in the 90's, culminating in the breaking of Batman, pushing the limits at DC Comics.

He discusses DRACULA, his partnership with Matt Wagner, and how he made a monster out of Bane in the 90's. Kelley talks about early horror cinema’s influence on his gothic storytelling, the impact of Bernie Wrightson, Graham Ingels, and Wally Wood, his friendship with Sam Kieth, and the details of his substantial back catalog of original art.

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Jim Mahfood returns to discuss Defective Comics Presents : Arachnid Enforcer, his newest self-published, Kickstarter-backed bootleg Spider-Man comic.

Jim and Dave drink spider-blood and swap stories about their earliest parody influences—MAD Magazine, SNL, and “Weird Al” Yankovic—favorite Spider-Man eras, Jim’s character-design work on Into the Spider-Verse, and the perpetual thrill of seeing your work in print.

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Tyler Mane joins Dave to talk about his pro wrestling career, becoming Sabertooth (X-Men & Deadpool / Wolverine) & Michael Myers (Halloween) and co-creating his first graphic novel The Last Spartan: Red Tape. Tyler shares stories from his earliest days training with Stu Hart, finding inspiration in comic books, wrestling Andre the Giant in Japan, working with Rob Zombie, getting stabbed on set, and the motivation behind his most recent project that shines a light on the horror of human trafficking.

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Comic legend Erik Larsen is back to discuss his return to Marvel, writing the new Spider-Man Noir miniseries and creating a Jack Kirby–inspired variant cover for Venom: Black, White & Blood, in which he writes and draws a short story.

He talks about working with the classic “Marvel method” and the noir touchstones—Bogart, The Thin Man, Citizen Kane—that shaped his approach. Larsen also shares what’s ahead for Savage Dragon, recounts meeting Steve Ditko, sets the record straight on Mark Bagley, and reveals where the best burritos in San Francisco are, really.

Spider-Man Noir is in stores October 1st, you can also find Erik at NYCC and Fan Expo San Francisco.

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