The Comic Source Comic Boom Comic Talk Fireside Chat 2025: Part One

The Comic Source

As part of 12 Days of The Comic Source, this Fireside Chat finds Jace of The Comic Source joined by Rocky and Steve for an extended year-end conversation that blends holiday atmosphere, convention stories, and reflections on collecting. The discussion opens with seasonal check-ins and contrasting December weather, from warm Christmas temperatures to brutal Canadian storms, before shifting into a detailed recap of New York Comic Con, including press logistics, creator dinners, industry mixers, Artist Alley experiences, and a memorable late-night Marvel party mishap that becomes a defining convention story. From there, the conversation broadens into comparisons between New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con, examining differences in layout, exclusives, Artist Alley access, and how each show shapes community and networking. The latter half of the episode focuses on collecting highlights and personal milestones from the year, with Rocky sharing the story behind acquiring Amazing Spider-Man #129 from a legacy collection, Steve reflecting on purchasing a graded Amazing Spider-Man #300 and bonding with his son through comic shops, and Jace discussing major acquisitions like Invincible #1 alongside his continued hunt for missing Ghost Rider issues. This leads into an in-depth discussion of DC’s Absolute line, particularly Absolute Batman, covering its record-setting sales, dominance on secondary-market demand charts, and why its clean break from continuity, self-contained storytelling, frequent cliffhangers, multiple printings, and accessible entry point have resonated with both longtime collectors and brand-new readers, while also touching on speculation, rising prices, and the role of local shops and pull lists. The episode closes by teeing up part two of the conversation in the next episode, which will feature Steve opening blind bags on the show and an update on the current DC KO prediction standings, continuing the year-end discussion into the holiday season.

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DC Spotlight December 24, 2025

The Comic Source

Jace and Rocky return for another Comic Boom! / Comic Source DC Spotlight for December 24, 2025, tackling an extra-stacked 17-book week before DC takes New Year’s Eve off, with the conversation moving quickly through reactions, standout art, and where each issue lands in their rankings. The slate includes Harley and Ivy: Life and Crimes #2, which flashes back to Harley and Ivy getting together and Harley cutting ties with the Joker under Erica Henderson’s full cartooning package; Batman/Static Beyond #2, an Elseworlds team-up that still feels light on world setup as a jumping-on point; Immortal Legend Batman #5, another Elseworlds entry where the shadow-driven approach and a Bruce-to-Joker turn become a sticking point despite strong visuals; The Flash #28, highlighted by the Jay Garrick vs. Guy Gardner matchup and debate over how the fight is contructed; Harley Quinn #57 / Legacy #200, which resolves Elliot Kalan’s Althea Clang storyline while splitting opinions due to sharply contrasting art styles; Superman #33, focused less on Superman himself and more on Lex Luthor’s DC KO battle with Etrigan and its potential long-term ramifications; Justice League Red #5, which heads toward its finale with Red Tornado revealed as the Crimson Cloud and Clayton Henry’s Power Girl art drawing praise; Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong 2 #6, escalating its multiversal chaos with Martian Manhunter becoming a kaiju and Wally West stepping into the spotlight; and Justice League Unlimited #14, a DC KO tie-in where Mr. Terrific leads the Terrific Ten into Hell to confront Neuron, forcing characters to sacrifice core aspects of themselves at the River Styx. Higher on the list, Green Lantern #30 (“Frenemies”) stands out for its Hal Jordan and Batman team-up that blends humor with a heartfelt acknowledgment of shared trauma; Trinity: Daughter of Wonder Woman #6 delivers an emotional centerpiece as Trinity spends a day with Steve Trevor and reveals how his return from the afterlife is set in motion; Detective Comics #1104 (“The Courage That Kills Part 4”) hooks hard with Batman questioning his judgment as a fear-killing infection spreads and a familiar adversary is teased; and Green Arrow #31 closes Chris Condon’s run with a coda-like, emotionally grounded finale that ties its mystery together. The Absolute line is heavily represented with Absolute Martian Manhunter #7, a tonal reset that leans into Javier Rodríguez’s tactile, experimental visuals; Absolute Superman #14, which wraps its second arc by resolving the Ra’s conflict, shifting Superman’s look, and closing out the “first year” phase; and Absolute Wonder Woman #15 (“The Mark of Hecate”), a Batman-focused duet issue built around strategy, tension, and long-term implications. Rounding out the discussion is Joker vs. Red Hood (DC KO), a title that sparks one of the biggest ranking splits of the week and fuels broader frustration over Joker fatigue, even as it still lands high for Rocky. The guys finish up by ranking every book and along the way, reflect on DC KO’s structure, consequences, and moral tension, the dominance of DC titles in current pull data, and how this final DC Spotlight of the year encapsulates both the ambition and excess of DC’s 2025 output.

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Fireside Chat with Jeremy Adams:

The Comic Source

As part of 12 Days of The Comic Source, this Fireside Chat features Jace welcoming returning guest Tom King for a wide-ranging holiday conversation that reflects on a year of major transitions while remaining grounded in the creative heart of comics. King discusses the shifting balance between his Hollywood work and comics, including his involvement with the upcoming Supergirl film and the enduring impact of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, before diving deep into the themes, structure, and artistic collaboration behind Helen of Wyndhorn, praising Bilquis Evely’s Eisner- and Ringo-winning work and explaining how the book was conceived as a companion piece to Supergirl. The discussion also covers the horror-romance mechanics of Love Everlasting, its planned second half, and its thematic exploration of agency and choice, alongside reflections on Human Target, its noir sensibilities, and the newly released hardcover edition. King then turns to his current Wonder Woman run, unpacking the philosophy behind Diana’s uncompromising approach, the creation of the Matriarch, and the scope of the upcoming “Wonder War,” before closing with a more personal holiday note as he shares the atmosphere of the King household during Christmas—presents piling up around his workspace, the joy of seeing his children connect with lighter, more playful stories like Trinity, and his deep affection for the warmth, family traditions, and reflective nature of the season—including an ongoing family tradition in which something seems to go spectacularly wrong each year, recounting this year’s debacle as a memorable incident involving a broken Christmas tree adds both humor and warmth–reinforcing the celebratory spirit that defines these Fireside Chats

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Fireside Chat with Jeremy Adams:

The Comic Source

As part of 12 Days of The Comic Source, this Fireside Chat features Jace welcoming back writer Jeremy Adams for an in-depth, free-flowing conversation covering a wide range of current and recent projects alongside broader creative philosophy. Jeremy discusses Aquaman, focusing on redefining Arthur Curry as an avatar-level powerhouse and how DC KO positions him against Hawkman in a tournament setting that highlights his expanded abilities; Green Lantern, detailing long-form planning around the fractured emotional spectrum, Hal Jordan’s evolving role, and the reintegration of legacy elements like Jon Stewart, Kyle Rayner, and long-dormant continuity threads; and the digital crossover Flash / Fantastic Four, where Jeremy explains the constraints and opportunities of vertical-format storytelling and character interaction outside heavy continuity. The conversation also touches on multiple DC KO tie-ins, including a Green Lantern wrestling-themed one-shot that expands the Wham mythology, the youth-focused The Kids Are All Fight, which centers Jon Kent guiding younger heroes during a world-ending crisis, and the high-concept DC KO crossover featuring non-DC characters such as Homelander, Vampirella, and Sub-Zero. Jeremy further reflects on the broader DC creative landscape, including Absolute and Next Level initiatives, while sharing insight into continuity stewardship, editorial collaboration, and the balance between ambitious ideas and reader expectations, before closing on a seasonal note as he talks about specific holiday traditions such as winter outings like sledding, revisiting favorite Christmas movies, and enjoying local holiday events and markets with his family as a way to slow down and reconnect during the end-of-year rush.

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Fireside Chat with Tim Seeley

The Comic Source

As part of 12 Days of The Comic Source, this Fireside Chat features Jace of The Comic Source welcoming back comic creator Tim Seeley for a detailed holiday conversation that moves through the many phases of his career and the projects currently defining it. Seeley reflects on how teaching has shifted his relationship to freelance work, allowing greater selectivity while still embracing major opportunities, before revisiting Revival—from its small-town crime-horror roots and philosophical themes to the reception of its Syfy television adaptation and the realities of modern TV development. The discussion then turns to Masters of the Universe: The Sword of Flaws, exploring Seeley’s lifelong connection to the property, his focus on power, responsibility, and fan continuity, and collaborations with artists Freddie Williams II and Riley Brown. From there, Seeley breaks down the slasher-inspired premise of Undeadpool and how the Age of Revelation setting reshapes Deadpool’s stakes, followed by a candid look at Local Man as a deeply personal, nostalgia-driven creator-owned project born out of pandemic-era reflection. The conversation also covers the enduring legacy of Hack/Slash and plans for its return, the freedom and excess of Vigilante under the James Gunn–inspired incarnation, the unexpected cultural relevance of G.I. Joe: Cold Slither, and the creative launch of new work like No Place, offering insight into collaboration, fandom, generational storytelling, and the motivations that continue to drive Seeley’s work, before closing with Seeley talking about his love of Christmas including spending time sledding, revisiting his favorite Christmas movie, and making time for seasonal outings like the Christkindlmarket, all of which help mark the holidays as a meaningful reset before the new year.

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Fireside Chat with Liam Sharp

The Comic Source

As part of the 12 Days of The Comic Source countdown to Christmas, Jace of The Comic Source welcomes back Liam Sharp for a wide-ranging Fireside Chat that blends career reflection, creative process, and seasonal perspective, covering Sharp’s return to Image with Spawn: Dark Ages, the historical and mythological foundations of the series, its political and spiritual themes, and his approach to world-building, language, and visual storytelling, alongside discussion of Starhenge, Conan, Batman: Reptilian, Wonder Woman, The Brave and the Bold, and earlier Marvel and DC work, while also touching on his move back to the UK, the evolution of his art and writing over four decades in comics, and the personal and family holiday traditions that frame this year’s Christmas season.

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Fireside Chat with Chris Condon

The Comic Source

As part of the annual 12 Days of The Comic Source countdown to Christmas, Jace of The Comic Source sits down with returning guest Chris Condon for a wide-ranging holiday conversation that reflects on Condon’s career, creative process, and current projects. The discussion covers the long-anticipated return of That Texas Blood with Jacob Phillips, including its evolving time-period structure, emotional grounding, and why revisiting the series feels like coming home, before moving into reflections on Condon’s concluding work on Green Arrow and the personal themes shaping its finale. The episode also explores Ultimate Wolverine and its real-time storytelling approach in Marvel’s Ultimate Universe, the Cold War-era horror and immersive back-matter of News from the Fallout, and the upcoming Vertigo revival title The Peril of the Brutal Dark, which reimagines an early creator-owned concept with a noir-adventure lens. The conversation closes on holiday traditions, seasonal nostalgia, and the role of comics as a lifelong constant, blending professional insight with personal reflection in the relaxed Fireside Chat format.

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Fireside Chat 2025 with Phillip Kennedy Johnson

The Comic Source

Jace continues the 2025 12 Days of The Comic Source Fireside Chats by welcoming back writer Philip Kennedy Johnson for a wide-ranging holiday conversation covering recent announcements and an overview of what has been keeping him busy across DC, Marvel, and creator-owned work. The discussion revisits Johnson’s recent DC work, including Batman and Robin and the Quiet Man storyline (with talk about the character’s moral gray area, the “ordinary person” angle, and the creative choices behind details like Scarface and the book’s mystery tone), while also digging into the world-building and legacy focus of Adventures of Superman / Book of L and how back matter and lore help carry the series’ larger mythology. Johnson also talks through the horror-forward approach of his Hulk run leading into Infernal Hulk, why emotional thematic beats matter as much as spectacle, and how his storytelling aims to balance big superhero scope with grounded human fears, before shifting into creator-owned reflections on Crocodile Black and the idea of identity and masks. The episode closes with holiday traditions and seasonal music favorites, including cutting down a live tree with his son, writing and playing Christmas music together, and listening staples like Vince Guaraldi and Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite, along with a note on Johnson’s move to an exclusive Marvel deal while finishing planned conclusions on current DC projects.

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DC Spotlight December 17, 2025

The Comic Source

Jace and Rocky return for another Comic Boom! / Comic Source DC Spotlight for the week of December 17, 2025, opening with holiday scheduling talk, gift guide updates, and reflections on DC’s end-of-year release decisions before breaking down a lighter slate of DC books. They begin with Nightwing #133, discussing its heavy setup, fifth-dimensional elements, and how V. Ken Marion’s art elevates the issue, then move into Titans #30, where the Cyborg versus Swamp Thing DC KO matchup sparks debate over stakes, fight structure, and tournament execution. Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #46 follows, with conversation centered on the Fusion concept, the Lex Luthor and Joker combination, and how the story’s ideas land alongside Adrian Gutierrez’s art. Absolute Flash #10 generates split reactions, with praise for Rogues dynamics and mythology balanced against concerns about pacing and consistency within the Absolute line. Catwoman #82 is framed as a slow-burn noir chapter that continues to read better in collected form, while Wonder Woman #28 draws mixed responses for its Mouse Man aftermath, future Matriarch material, and Tom King’s structural choices. The discussion then turns to Superman Unlimited, highlighted by Lois Lane’s role, Guy Gardner’s characterization, Toyman’s involvement, and strong visuals from Lucas Meyer, before shifting to Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum, which lands at the bottom of the rankings for its experimental Silver Age approach and uneven execution. DC KO: Zatanna vs. Harley Quinn #1 is widely criticized for its matchup resolution and event fatigue, while The Batman: Second Knight #2 closes the slate as the standout of the week, earning praise for its Golden Age setting, classic Superman and Batman portrayals, and Mike Perkins’ artwork. As always, the episode wraps with full rankings, broader thoughts on DC KO and Absolute titles, and reminders to catch the video on Comic Boom! and the audio on The Comic Source podcast feed.

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Fireside Chat 2025 with Richard Ashley Hamilton

The Comic Source

Everybody, welcome to another 12 Days of The Comic Source as the holiday fireside chats continue with some of our favorite creators. This episode features returning guest Richard Ashley Hamilton joining Jace of The Comic Source for a relaxed, in-depth conversation about his career and storytelling approach. Richard talks about his path from journalism and self-publishing comics to working at DreamWorks Animation, including his experience on the How to Train Your Dragon films, TV shows, and related comics, and how that time shaped his focus on character and emotion. The discussion also dives into his young adult work, including SCOOP, its long development history and upcoming collected edition, and TECTIV, with updates on volume two and its dystopian noir world. The conversation also touches on Richard’s family holiday traditions, including his Cuban Christmas Eve Noche Buena celebrations, cooking his grandmother’s recipes, and the advent chain his family uses to count down to Christmas, rounding out a warm fireside chat as the holiday countdown continues.

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