March 01, 2026

Steve Orlando talks Scarlet Witch, Valiant, Dragula Titans, and more

1 hour 49 minutes

Steve Orlando is one of the busiest writers in comics right now, and this week on the AIPT Comics Podcast, we’re running our full, uncut conversation with him. Earlier this week, we published a written feature focused on his Scarlet Witch run, but this episode expands far beyond that, covering everything from Deadweight with Bobby Lee to Valiant Beyond: X-O Manowar, DC x AEW, his chance to judge on Dragula Titans season 2, Tarzan Beyond, X-Men Infinity, and even a teased return to Midnighter!

If you wanted the complete Orlando download, this is it.

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NEWS

‘Sonic vs. Godzilla’ is finally happening, and it’s bigger than you think

See new Origin Box characters Hostilicus and Wonder Man from 'Reborn: Ultimate Impact'

Marvel’s WHAT IF? returns with wild twists for its 50th anniversary

Marvel brings 'Magic: The Gathering Spider-Man' art to new variant covers

'JLA/Avengers' is coming back to comic shops this summer 2026

Oni Press unveils bold fall 2026 graphic novel lineup

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

Infernal Hulk #4 (Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Nic Klein)

The Mighty Thor #7 (Al Ewing, Pasqel Ferry)

Alex:

Power Fantasy #16 (Gillen, Wijnegaard)

Absolute Wonder Woman #17 (Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Sorcerer Supreme #3 (Bernard Chang, Ruth Redmond)

Dave: Hulk Smash Everything #3 (Ryan North, Vincenzo Carratu)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

Alex: Moonstar #1 (Ashley Allen, Edoardo Audino) & Narco #1 (Doug Wagner, Daniel Hillyard)

Dave: Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #6 (Horvath Cover)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

Dave: The Amazing Spider-Man #23 (Taurin Clarke Cover) Or Maybe

Alex: X-Men #26 (Gurihiru Marvel Monster Variant)

Interview: Steve Orlando

Deadweight (GUNGNIR Publishing) (with Bobby Lee & Matthew Medney)

Deadweight sounds completely unhinged in the best way, blending martial arts chaos, horror, and absurdist comedy. When you’re co-writing something that springs so directly from Bobby Lee’s comedic voice, how do you balance honoring that raw unpredictability while still building a story with emotional stakes and structure?

Valiant Beyond: X-O Manowar (out Feb 18)

In Valiant Beyond: X-O Manowar, Aric joins the PunX after millennia of isolation, and suddenly honor is tied to community rather than conquest. How has it been carving out your own corner of the Valiant universe?

Good Bones

Good Bones gathers your horror work into a single anthology, and many of the stories explore queer identity through transformation, secrecy, and bodily autonomy. When you write horror rooted in identity, are you consciously using the genre as metaphor, or does that symbolism emerge naturally through character?

Dragula (with Todd McFarlane)

You co-judged Dragula alongside Todd McFarlane, which feels like a collision of comics horror and performance art. Did that experience teach you anything about spectacle and theatricality, or inspire you when you’re comics work?

DC AEW

DC and AEW both thrive on spectacle, but they also rely heavily on character-driven drama and long-term storytelling. When writing DC x AEW #1, how did you balance the over-the-top, live-event energy with making sure the character pairings felt emotionally and thematically right, rather than just fun visual mashups?

Scarlet Witch

Can you talk about or tease the status of Wanda and Vision's relationship as of now?

Agatha Harkness is your main antagonist in Sorcerer Supreme, what makes her fun to write?

Agatha is the Vishanti's chosen sorcerer supreme, I was curious if you're drawing from any personal life experience having someone be picked over you when writing this story arc?

Your run on Scarlet Witch has been released via miniseries, are there advantages (and disadvantages) to this format?

Wanda Maximoff has worn a lot of labels over the years—Avenger, sorceress, reality shaper, occasional cosmic wildcard. How do you personally view her place in that ecosystem?

Additional General Questions

Your bibliography moves fluidly between superhero epics, indie horror, licensed work, and now chaotic comedy with Deadweight. How do you recalibrate your voice between projects without losing what makes a story feel unmistakably yours?

...more

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By AIPT

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