Once upon a time, cartoonist JP Ahonen fell out of love with his art. He'd reached a wall. It was burnout. He'd lost the joy found in creation. Then, he just started to doodle, and an Inktober project became a runaway success. Belzebubs, the saga of a black metal family, significantly inspired by Calvin and Hobbes, sprung from his brain, and there is no stuffing it back in.

These odd little outsiders reignited something inside Ahonen, but more importantly, Belzebubs ignited something in its readers. The audience appeared quickly and grew even faster. The webcomic has crossed over into other mediums and will soon be an animated series. Top Shelf Productions published two beautifully bound hardcovers, and we've latched onto them, proclaiming ourselves as rabid groupies.

Every San Diego Comic-Con introduces us to some new passion; this year, it's Belzebubs. After devouring the two hardcovers, inside the Hilton Bayfront, we eagerly chatted with JP Ahonen about his Belzebubs origins. We discuss how these characters came to him at a critical moment in his life and taught him to love comics again. And then, they took on a life of their own.

Now, it's your turn to join the cult. Follow JP Ahonen on Instagram and his Website.

Other Relevant Links:

CBCC at SDCC 2024: Hall H with Bryan Young (Patreon Exclusive)

CBCC at SDCC 2024: Gail Simone

CBCC at SDCC 2024: Jason Aaron on TMNT #1

CBCC at SDCC 2024: Wes Craig on Kaya

CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman on The Pedestrian

CBCC at SDCC 2024: Joshua Williamson, Tom King, and Daniel Sampere Go All In

CBCC at SDCC 2024: Juni Ba on TMNT: Nightwatcher #1

CBCC at SDCC 2024: Ram V on The New Gods

CBCC at SDCC 2024: Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki

CBCC at SDCC 2024: James Tynion IV

CBCC on Pat Chat - SDCC Hangover

CBCC on Bif! Bam! Pow!

Brad on Missing Frames, Talking Godzilla

Final Round of Plugs (PHEW):

Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY

Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 9/21 at 4:00 PM for Batman Forever, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies.

Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases.

And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.

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Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators.

Podcast logo by Aaron Prescott @acoolhandfluke, podcast banner art by @Karen_XmenFan.