Talkin' Comics Podcast

How do you break into comic book writing? What does it really take to create an independent comic book? And what happens when a comic book story begins with a family's real-life history?

On this episode of Talkin' Comics Podcast, AJ Reimann sits down with comic book writer C.E. Massari for a wide-ranging conversation about the creative journey, the challenges of independent comics, learning from failure, and the remarkable family history that inspired his graphic novel, The Mafia vs. the Clan.

C.E. Massari didn't take a straight path into comics. His writing career began with mixed martial arts journalism before he moved into comics journalism, interviewed industry creators, and pursued his own comic book projects. Along the way, he experienced setbacks, projects that didn't work out, and lessons that helped him develop as a writer.

We talk about why aspiring comic creators should stop waiting for the perfect idea and start making comics, why learning by doing matters, and how setbacks can become valuable experience rather than reasons to quit.

Then we dive into the fascinating story behind The Mafia vs. the Clan. Inspired in part by C.E.'s Italian-American family history, the graphic novel combines historical research, family stories, and creative storytelling. C.E. explains how researching his grandfather's past uncovered details about a tragic family event that had largely faded from the family's collective memory.

We also discuss the responsibility of telling real family stories, the balance between historical accuracy and entertainment, and how a creator can transform years of research into a compelling comic book narrative.

Plus, we discuss comic book collecting, Spider-Man, anime, Marvel and DC, favorite comic runs, and C.E.'s upcoming supernatural comic aimed at teen readers.

Host: A.J. Reimann https://linktr.ee/Talkin_Comics_Podcast

Guest: C.E. Massari @c.e.massari

Please take a look at the current Kickstarter, Accepting Late Backers!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cemassari/the-mafia-vs-the-klan

🚀 Don’t Miss Out

🗯️Find our comic books, merch, trading card art, and more!: https://www.talkincomics.com/

📰Sign up for our newsletter 🗨 Get your FREE preview of The Chronicles of Panel Pete https://talkincomicspodcast.substack.com/

🎥 🎞️ We Didn't Just Make a Comic... We MADE the Comic. Hit the Notify me on lunch to support this documentary made by Talkin’ Comics Podcast! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/641500179/we-didnt-just-make-a-comic-we-made-the-comic

🫵 Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkingComicsPodcast

📚 Follow Our Journey Into Comics

👫 Family Friendly

🎙 Creator Conversations

🦸🏼 Learning to Write & Draw

👉 Order The Chronicles of Panel Pete and more at https://www.talkincomics.com/category/comics

Sponsors:

• Allegra Printing – Printing The Chronicles of Panel Pete

👉🖨 For your comic book printing needs please visit Allegra Traverse City (Tell them AJ Sent You) https://www.allegramarketingprint.com...

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⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

00:11 The Journey into Writing and MMA Journalism

03:02 Transitioning to Comics and Creator-Owned Projects

05:54 Networking and Learning from Industry Professionals

09:03 The Importance of Persistence and Learning from Failure

12:16 Balancing Life Responsibilities with Creative Pursuits

15:04 The Value of Doing and Practical Experience

21:14 The Importance of Creating Comics

26:01 Exploring Personal Stories in Comics

26:29 The Mafia vs. The Klan: A Historical Narrative

37:18 Family History and Its Impact on Storytelling

50:48 Exploring Family Heritage and Storytelling

53:13 The Importance of Crafting a Compelling Narrative

55:06 Personal Connections to History and Ancestry

55:23 Comic Book Influences and Early Memories

57:17 Imagining Superpowers and Sidekicks

01:04:05 Life as a Comic Book: Master of None

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#TalkinComicsPodcast

#ComicBookWriting

#IndependentComics

#ComicBookCreators

#GraphicNovels

#ComicBookPodcast

#ComicBookWriter

#IndieComics

#SourcePointPress

#TheMafiaVsTheClan

#CreatorJourney

#ComicBookHistory

#ComicBookCommunity

🎃 HALLOWEEN COMICS, SUPERHERO TRIVIA & OUR WEEKLY COMIC BOOK HAUL! 🎃

Welcome back to Talkin' Comics Podcast! AJ and Annakhan are back for Episode 164, and we're celebrating Halloween with new comic books, superhero trivia, spooky comic book characters, and plenty of comic-loving fun!

This week, we're showing off our latest comic book pickups, talking about what we've been reading, exploring some classic Thor moments, and testing our comic book knowledge with Halloween-themed Marvel and DC trivia.

Host: A.J. Reimann https://linktr.ee/Talkin_Comics_Podcast

Co-Host: Annakhan

🗯️Find our comic books, merch, trading card art, and more!: https://www.talkincomics.com/

📰Sign up for our newsletter 🗨 Get your FREE preview of The Chronicles of Panel Pete https://talkincomicspodcast.substack.com/

🎥 🎞️ We Didn't Just Make a Comic... We MADE the Comic. Hit the Notify me on lunch to support this documentary made by Talkin’ Comics Podcast! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/641500179/we-didnt-just-make-a-comic-we-made-the-comic

🫵 Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkingComicsPodcast

👉 Order The Chronicles of Panel Pete and more at https://www.talkincomics.com/category/comics

Sponsors:

• Allegra Printing – Printing The Chronicles of Panel Pete

👉🖨 For your comic book printing needs please visit Allegra Traverse City (Tell them AJ Sent You) https://www.allegramarketingprint.com...

Printing-Comic Books-Fliers-Prints-Business Cards-Rack Cards-Promotional Items-Etc

⏱️ Chapters

0:00 Welcome to Episode 164 and Halloween Excitement

1:16 Weekly Pulls: Wonder Woman, Absolute Batman and More

4:29 Bad Seeds Covers and Harley Quinn Finds

7:12 Yellow Bird Comics' Store-Exclusive Absolute Batman Variant

8:54 What We Read This Week

11:15 Thor Dives: Captain America Loses His Name

14:07 Question Time: The "Same Answer" Game

21:55 Halloween Comic Trivia

25:36 This or That: Halloween Edition

28:00 Bonus Questions: Haunted Mansion or Vampire Castle

29:58 Harley and Elvira, and Next Week's Reading

30:48 Sign-Off: Halloween Plans and Clocks Back

#TalkinComics #ComicBookHaul #ComicBookTrivia #MarvelComics #DCComics #HalloweenComics

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What does it really take to build an independent comic book business? How do you turn a love of storytelling into original comics, music, merchandise, and a community of dedicated fans?

On this episode of Talkin' Comics Podcast, AJ Reimann sits down with Matt Knowles of Insymmetry Creations for a conversation about independent comics, creative collaboration, comic conventions, Kickstarter campaigns, and the journey of building an original fictional universe.

Matt shares how his creative journey began in the underground metal music scene before expanding into comic book storytelling. He explains how music and comics can work together to tell bigger stories, why independent creators need to think carefully about merchandise and convention appearances, and how Kickstarter helps creators connect directly with their supporters.

We also dive into the world of Tatsumi, the Serpent Mistress, an action-packed fantasy comic featuring a determined female lead, supernatural enemies, pirates, and a story that continues to evolve in unexpected ways.

Plus, we talk about the importance of relatable characters, strong female protagonists, finding your audience in the indie comic community, and learning from every convention along the way.

What's your favorite independent comic book series? Have you ever backed a comic on Kickstarter? And if you're an aspiring creator, what kind of world would you want to build?

Let us know in the comments!

Host: A.J. Reimann https://linktr.ee/Talkin_Comics_Podcast

Guest: Matt Knowles: Writer / Musician / Content Creator / Emcee / Panel Host

As a musician, writer, and convention personality, Matt Knowles (Aka: #TopHatMatt) has dipped his toes into many different creative pools over the years. He is no stranger to being in the public eye, having fronted metal bands, done sports announcing, and he's also a panel host / convention emcee.

He's one half of #TeamINSYM that has produced such comic titles as HEIRS OF ISILDUR, TATSUMI: THE SERPENT MISTRESS, MISFITZ CLUBHOUSE, I AM QIDO, and TALES FROM NOCTURNIA, plus multiple metal music albums that tie back into the printed offerings.

CHECK OUT THE KICKSTARTER NOW! Only a couple days left!!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/insymmetrycreations/tatsumi-the-serpent-mistress-1-4-a-swashbuckling-adventure

🚀 Don’t Miss Out

🗯️Find our comic books, merch, trading card art, and more!: https://www.talkincomics.com/

📰Sign up for our newsletter 🗨 Get your FREE preview of The Chronicles of Panel Pete https://talkincomicspodcast.substack.com/

🎥 🎞️ We Didn't Just Make a Comic... We MADE the Comic. Hit the Notify me on lunch to support this documentary made by Talkin’ Comics Podcast! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/641500179/we-didnt-just-make-a-comic-we-made-the-comic

🫵 Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkingComicsPodcast

📚 Follow Our Journey Into Comics

👫 Family Friendly

🎙 Creator Conversations

🦸🏼 Learning to Write & Draw

👉 Order The Chronicles of Panel Pete and more at https://www.talkincomics.com/category/comics

Sponsors:

• Allegra Printing – Printing The Chronicles of Panel Pete

👉🖨 For your comic book printing needs please visit Allegra Traverse City (Tell them AJ Sent You) https://www.allegramarketingprint.com...

Printing-Comic Books-Fliers-Prints-Business Cards-Rack Cards-Promotional Items-Etc

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Meet Matt Knowles of In Symmetry Creations

01:26 Indie Comics, Original Titles & Tatsumi

03:29 Meeting at IC3 First Coast Comic Con

05:24 Building a Comic Creator Brand

06:33 How a Power Outage Inspired New Artwork

08:47 Why Creator-Focused Comic Conventions Matter

10:22 Growing an Indie Comics Business

10:38 New Projects, Horror Festivals & Comic Shows

14:06 Comic Convention Strategy & Merchandise

16:25 Finding the Right Events for Indie Creators

18:51 Free Comic Book Day & Connecting With New Fans

20:52 Planning Future Conventions

21:37 How In Symmetry Creations Began

25:22 Connecting Music With Comic Book Storytelling

27:34 Collectible Music, CDs & Vinyl

29:11 Building Worlds Beyond the Comic Book Page

31:52 Matt's Journey From Metal Music to Comics

34:58 Music Industry vs. Independent Comics

36:40 Kickstarter, Fan Support & Creative Independence

37:51 Building a Community Around Your Work

39:05 First Comic Memories & Transformers Nostalgia

42:53 Favorite Comics, Superpowers & Comic Universes

51:08 The Story Behind Tatsumi, the Serpent Mistress

54:38 Why Tatsumi Is Becoming a Seven-Issue Story

55:12 Strong Female Characters & Realistic Storytelling

58:04 Vulnerability, Emotion & Character Development

59:17 Final Thoughts With Matt Knowles

#TalkinComicsPodcast #IndieComics #ComicBookCreators #KickstarterComics #ComicCon

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It's spooky season on Talkin' Comics Podcast! 🎃📚 AJ and Annakhan are back for Episode 162 with another weekly comic book hangout packed with comic book hauls, reading updates, DC Comics trivia, superhero games, Halloween fun, and an honest conversation about comic book blind bags.

💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

What comic should AJ read after Dick Tracy?

What's your favorite DC Comics character?

Have you bought comic book blind bags? Were they worth it?

What would your ultimate Halloween superhero or villain be?

Host: A.J. Reimann https://linktr.ee/Talkin_Comics_Podcast

Co-Host: Annakhan

🗯️Find our comic books, merch, trading card art, and more!: https://www.talkincomics.com/

📰Sign up for our newsletter 🗨 Get your FREE preview of The Chronicles of Panel Pete https://talkincomicspodcast.substack.com/

🎥 🎞️ We Didn't Just Make a Comic... We MADE the Comic. Hit the Notify me on lunch to support this documentary made by Talkin’ Comics Podcast! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/641500179/we-didnt-just-make-a-comic-we-made-the-comic

🫵 Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkingComicsPodcast

👉 Order The Chronicles of Panel Pete and more at https://www.talkincomics.com/category/comics

Sponsors:

• Allegra Printing – Printing The Chronicles of Panel Pete

👉🖨 For your comic book printing needs please visit Allegra Traverse City (Tell them AJ Sent You) https://www.allegramarketingprint.com...

Printing-Comic Books-Fliers-Prints-Business Cards-Rack Cards-Promotional Items-Etc

⏱️ Chapters

0:00 Intro – Episode 162 & Spooky Season Banter

2:04 Weekly Pulls

4:07 What We Read This Week (Thor, Dick Tracy & More)

9:16 What We Watched & Played

12:49 Mystery Package: Jake Harris's Rusty Stubbs

16:39 Question Time: DC Halloween Trivia

21:00 Guess the Character

26:04 Real or Fake: DC Halloween Edition

27:25 Batman or Superman? Pick Your Side

30:05 Bonus Question: Create a Halloween Villain

32:52 Would You Rather: Arkham or the Haunted Forest

33:41 Keenspot Blind Bag Refunds

38:59 Wrap-Up & Halloween Hype

#TalkinComicsPodcast

#ComicBooks

#DCComics

#ComicBookHaul

#ComicBookTrivia

#Batman

#HalloweenComics

#ThorComics

#ComicCollecting

#HarleyQuinn

#ComicBookCommunity

#FamilyFriendly

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What does it take to create your own comic book universe? On this episode of Talkin' Comics Podcast, AJ Reimann sits down with independent comic book creator Robbie Burnham of RetroLand Comics to talk about his journey from a lifelong love of the X-Men to creating original superheroes, writing personal stories, and bringing independent comics to life.

Robbie shares how his experiences growing up helped inspire his characters and stories, why his original comic ideas stayed with him for years, and how a Dungeons & Dragons campaign helped inspire a comic book storyline.

We also discuss the creative process behind independent comics, working with artists, funding comic books out of pocket, and finding ways to promote your work without a big publishing company behind you.

Host: A.J. Reimann https://linktr.ee/Talkin_Comics_Podcast

Guest: Robbie Burnham @RetrolandComics retrolandcomics.net

🚀 Don’t Miss Out

🗯️Find our comic books, merch, trading card art, and more!: https://www.talkincomics.com/

📰Sign up for our newsletter 🗨 Get your FREE preview of The Chronicles of Panel Pete https://talkincomicspodcast.substack.com/

🎥 🎞️ We Didn't Just Make a Comic... We MADE the Comic. Hit the Notify me on lunch to support this documentary made by Talkin’ Comics Podcast! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/641500179/we-didnt-just-make-a-comic-we-made-the-comic

🫵 Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkingComicsPodcast

📚 Follow Our Journey Into Comics

👫 Family Friendly

🎙 Creator Conversations

🦸🏼 Learning to Write & Draw

👉 Order The Chronicles of Panel Pete and more at https://www.talkincomics.com/category/comics

Sponsors:

• Allegra Printing – Printing The Chronicles of Panel Pete

👉🖨 For your comic book printing needs please visit Allegra Traverse City (Tell them AJ Sent You) https://www.allegramarketingprint.com...

Printing-Comic Books-Fliers-Prints-Business Cards-Rack Cards-Promotional Items-Etc

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Robbie Burnham and Virtual Land Comics

01:58 Character development: Ronnie and Donny in Civil Society

03:52 Artwork and cover art insights for Civil Society and Angry War

04:33 Family influence and personal stories behind the characters

05:22 Starting to write at age 15 and evolving the story

06:55 Writing for a campaign and planning story arcs

08:38 Finding artists and managing collaborations

10:11 Marketing indie comics through social media and videos

11:54 Favorite comics and characters: Wolverine and X-Men

13:18 First comic book experiences and childhood influences

14:25 Current comic reading habits and new releases

15:48 Future projects, long-term goals, and funding strategies

17:27 Living in a comic universe: superpowers and sidekicks

18:51 Creative process: giving artists freedom and collaboration

20:18 Writing 22 issues of Civil Society and planning for 40

22:48 Marketing and selling comics at local shops and events

24:12 Life as a comic book: what would the title be?

24:37 Family reactions and personal stories behind the characters

25:59 Writing routines, rituals, and overcoming creative blocks

27:37 Upcoming projects, releases, and staying motivated

28:55 Closing Remarks and Future Plans

#TalkinComicsPodcast #IndieComics #ComicBookCreator #ComicBooks #ComicBookWriting #SelfPublishing #ComicBookArtist #Superheroes #XMen #DnD #IndependentComics #ComicBookCommunity #RetroLandComics

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It's time for another weekly comic book hangout with AJ and Annakhan on Talkin' Comics Podcast! This week, we're talking new comic book pickups, sharing what we've been reading, opening horror comic blind bags, celebrating indie comics, and putting our comic knowledge to the test with Halloween Marvel trivia!

Host: A.J. Reimann https://linktr.ee/Talkin_Comics_Podcast

Co-Host: Annakhan

🗯️Find our comic books, merch, trading card art, and more!: https://www.talkincomics.com/

📰Sign up for our newsletter 🗨 Get your FREE preview of The Chronicles of Panel Pete https://talkincomicspodcast.substack.com/

🎥 🎞️ We Didn't Just Make a Comic... We MADE the Comic. Hit the Notify me on lunch to support this documentary made by Talkin’ Comics Podcast! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/641500179/we-didnt-just-make-a-comic-we-made-the-comic

🫵 Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkingComicsPodcast

👉 Order The Chronicles of Panel Pete and more at https://www.talkincomics.com/category/comics

Sponsors:

• Allegra Printing – Printing The Chronicles of Panel Pete

👉🖨 For your comic book printing needs please visit Allegra Traverse City (Tell them AJ Sent You) https://www.allegramarketingprint.com...

Printing-Comic Books-Fliers-Prints-Business Cards-Rack Cards-Promotional Items-Etc

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

03:55 Concert Experiences and Personal Updates

10:06 Kickstarter Unboxing and New Releases

16:10 Blind Bag Openings and Collectibles

26:10 Trivia Time: Halloween Marvel Questions

38:52 Closing Remarks and Future Plans

#MarvelTrivia #ComicBooks #XMen #HalloweenTrivia #ComicBookHaul #HorrorComics #IndieComics #ComicBookCollecting #ComicBookPodcast #TalkinComicsPodcast #PanelPete

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What does it take to become a comic book artist, create an independent comic, and find your place in the comic book community?

On this episode of Talkin' Comics Podcast, AJ sits down with Mark, an independent comic book artist from the Nashville area, to talk about learning to draw, developing comic art skills, creating original stories, and finding inspiration through other creators.

Mark shares how he began teaching himself to draw during 2020, why the Proko Art of Storytelling course became an important part of his artistic development, and how learning techniques like thumbnailing, composition, lighting, and visual storytelling helped him approach comic pages differently.

Host: A.J. Reimann https://linktr.ee/Talkin_Comics_Podcast

Guest: Mark Tutaj @marktutajdraws https://globalcomix.com/a/marktutajdraws

🚀 Don’t Miss Out

🗯️Find our comic books, merch, trading card art, and more!: https://www.talkincomics.com/

📰Sign up for our newsletter 🗨 Get your FREE preview of The Chronicles of Panel Pete https://talkincomicspodcast.substack.com/

🎥 🎞️ We Didn't Just Make a Comic... We MADE the Comic. Hit the Notify me on lunch to support this documentary made by Talkin’ Comics Podcast! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/641500179/we-didnt-just-make-a-comic-we-made-the-comic

🫵 Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkingComicsPodcast

📚 Follow Our Journey Into Comics

👫 Family Friendly

🎙 Creator Conversations

🦸🏼 Learning to Write & Draw

👉 Order The Chronicles of Panel Pete and more at https://www.talkincomics.com/category/comics

Sponsors:

• Allegra Printing – Printing The Chronicles of Panel Pete

👉🖨 For your comic book printing needs please visit Allegra Traverse City (Tell them AJ Sent You) https://www.allegramarketingprint.com...

Printing-Comic Books-Fliers-Prints-Business Cards-Rack Cards-Promotional Items-Etc

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Meet Mark: An Indie Comic Book Artist

01:08 – Learning to Draw During 2020

02:41 – Teaching Yourself Comic Art

03:54 – Proko's Art of Storytelling Course

05:11 – Thumbnailing and Improving Comic Pages

06:54 – The Journey from Beginner to Better Artist

08:12 – Drawing Together and Finding Inspiration

10:04 – Learning to Let Go of Artistic Perfection

11:36 – From Cartoon Strips to Comic Book Art

13:35 – Drawing Backgrounds and Building Environments

14:23 – Creating a Christmas Horror Comic

15:45 – Turning a Script into a Finished Comic

16:58 – A New World War I Monster-Hunter Series

19:03 – Patreon, Free Issues, and Independent Comics

21:02 – Substack, Memberships, and Creative Extras

24:11 – Mini-Series Ideas and Bonus Content

27:13 – Why Marketing Your Comics Matters

28:52 – Finding Your Creative Marketing Voice

29:37 – Meeting Creators in Person

30:51 – Building a Supportive Comic Book Community

33:21 – Finding Fans Beyond the Creator Community

35:38 – How Comics Bring People Together

36:06 – Mark's First Favorite Superhero: Batman

36:23 – Remembering His First Comic Book

37:24 – Reading Comics with Your Kids

38:29 – Choosing a Comic Universe and Superpower

40:05 – If Mark's Life Were a Comic Book

40:48 – Discovering Wondermark and Vintage Art

41:45 – Final Thoughts and Where to Find Mark

#ComicBooks #IndieComics #ComicBookArtist #ComicBookArt #ComicBookCreator #HowToDrawComics #IndependentComics #HorrorComics #ComicBookCommunity #CreatorInterview #TalkinComicsPodcast

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🎃 Can you tell the difference between a real horror comic book and a completely made-up title? This week on Talkin' Comics Podcast, AJ and Annakhan celebrate spooky season with horror comics trivia, real-or-fake comic book titles, comic book collecting, and a convention recap packed with fandom fun!

Welcome to Episode 158 of Talkin' Comics Podcast, your weekly, family-friendly comic book hangout where we talk comics, share our latest finds, play games, and celebrate the people and stories that make comic books special.

🧙‍♂️ IN THIS EPISODE

📚 Comic Book Haul & Vintage Marvel Finds

AJ shares some exciting convention pickups, including vintage Journey Into Mystery #92, Mighty Thor #400, and Marvel's Midnight series titles featuring Fantastic Four, X-Men, and Spider-Man. Annakhan shows off a Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy comic with a connecting cover she's been wanting to add to her collection.

🎃 Horror Comics Trivia

Think you know your horror comics? Test your knowledge of Tomb of Dracula, Swamp Thing, Hellboy, Blade, The Walking Dead, Afterlife with Archie, Ghost Rider, and more!

👻 Real or Fake Horror Comic Book Titles

Can you spot the real comic book titles among the made-up ones? Play along with AJ and Annakhan and see how many you can get right!

🦇 Horror Comics This or That

Would you choose Werewolf by Night or Man-Thing? Marvel Zombies or DCeased? Hellboy or Spawn? Join the debate and decide which horror comic characters and stories deserve the spotlight.

💀 The Craziest Superpower Challenge

Annakhan creates an unforgettable skeleton character with an unusual problem: an immortal skeleton whose special bone glue is running out! Could this become a spooky comic strip of its own?

🎪 Nerdfest Convention Recap

We talk cosplay, connecting with fellow fans, discovering comics, collecting trading cards, meeting creative people, and selling copies of our all-ages comic, The Chronicles of Panel Pete.

⚡ Plus: AJ's continuing Thor and Journey Into Mystery reading journey, video game adventures, Halloween costume plans, and a possible new Panel Pete comic strip for Patreon and Substack supporters.

Host: A.J. Reimann https://linktr.ee/Talkin_Comics_Podcast

Co-Host: Annakhan

🗯️Find our comic books, merch, trading card art, and more!: https://www.talkincomics.com/

📰Sign up for our newsletter 🗨 Get your FREE preview of The Chronicles of Panel Pete https://talkincomicspodcast.substack.com/

🎥 🎞️ We Didn't Just Make a Comic... We MADE the Comic. Hit the Notify me on lunch to support this documentary made by Talkin’ Comics Podcast! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/641500179/we-didnt-just-make-a-comic-we-made-the-comic

🫵 Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkingComicsPodcast

👉 Order The Chronicles of Panel Pete and more at https://www.talkincomics.com/category/comics

Sponsors:

• Allegra Printing – Printing The Chronicles of Panel Pete

👉🖨 For your comic book printing needs please visit Allegra Traverse City (Tell them AJ Sent You) https://www.allegramarketingprint.com...

Printing-Comic Books-Fliers-Prints-Business Cards-Rack Cards-Promotional Items-Etc

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

05:45 Discussion on Recent Reads and Media

14:54 Halloween Plans and Costume Ideas

19:52 Trivia and Games Segment

29:50 Creative Comic Ideas and Conclusion

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#TalkinComicsPodcast #HorrorComics #ComicBookTrivia #HalloweenComics #ComicBooks

What happens when a dark sci-fi novel becomes a comic book?

On this episode of Talkin' Comics Podcast, AJ Reimann sits down with writer Matt Adcock to talk about his journey from novel writing to indie comics and the process of transforming his novel Complete Darkness into a comic book.

Matt's original novel is a near-future dark sci-fi story built around a wild question: What if humanity discovered that Hell could actually be mapped?

After artist Carl Brown read Complete Darkness and suggested that it would make a great comic, Matt began a completely new creative journey—learning how to translate a novel's ideas, characters, and world into sequential art. Matt explains how working with an artist changed the storytelling process and why comic writers have to let the artwork carry so much of the story.

This is a conversation about more than just making comics. It's about taking an idea that exists in your head, finding the right creative people, and figuring out how to bring that idea into the real world.

#ComicBooks #IndieComics #ComicBookCreator #SciFi #TalkinComics

Host: A.J. Reimann https://linktr.ee/Talkin_Comics_Podcast

Guest: Matt Adcock @cleric20 https://www.etsy.com/shop/CompleteDarkness

📚 About Matt Adcock

Matt Adcock is a writer whose novel Complete Darkness began a journey into the world of indie comics. The comic adaptation is planned as a larger series, with Matt and artist Carl Brown currently working toward a ten-issue story.

🚀 Don’t Miss Out

🗯️Find our comic books, merch, trading card art, and more!: https://www.talkincomics.com/

📰Sign up for our newsletter 🗨 Get your FREE preview of The Chronicles of Panel Pete https://talkincomicspodcast.substack.com/

🎥 🎞️ We Didn't Just Make a Comic... We MADE the Comic. Hit the Notify me on lunch to support this documentary made by Talkin’ Comics Podcast! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/641500179/we-didnt-just-make-a-comic-we-made-the-comic

🫵 Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkingComicsPodcast

📚 Follow Our Journey Into Comics

👫 Family Friendly

🎙 Creator Conversations

🦸🏼 Learning to Write & Draw

👉 Order The Chronicles of Panel Pete and more at https://www.talkincomics.com/category/comics

Sponsors:

• Allegra Printing – Printing The Chronicles of Panel Pete

👉🖨 For your comic book printing needs please visit Allegra Traverse City (Tell them AJ Sent You) https://www.allegramarketingprint.com...

Printing-Comic Books-Fliers-Prints-Business Cards-Rack Cards-Promotional Items-Etc

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Talkin' Comics Podcast

00:38 Meet Matt Adcock

01:16 From Complete Darkness to Comic Book

02:20 The Global Comic Book Community

03:05 AJ's Journey Into Creating a Comic

04:00 Traditional Comic Art vs. AI

04:29 Black & White vs. Full Color Comics

04:50 What It's Like to Hold Your Finished Comic

06:17 Why Physical Comics Still Matter

06:45 How Comics Can Inspire Young Readers

07:31 What Inspired Matt to Become a Writer?

08:12 The Notebook That Changed Matt's Writing

09:19 Turning Comics Into Audiobooks?

10:18 From Comic to Animation?

11:25 Complete Darkness & Working With New Artists

12:19 Discovering Jim Hobbs

13:32 The Inspiration Behind Complete Darkness

14:00 Mapping Hell Through Dark Matter

15:57 Creating a Superhero by Accident

16:15 Turning Complete Darkness Into a Comic

16:42 How Many Issues Will Complete Darkness Have?

17:10 Creating Comics With Family

18:18 Learning to Draw Through Trading Cards

19:28 The Real Cost of Making Comics

20:27 Publishing Books vs. Comics

20:32 Finding a Publisher for Complete Darkness

21:10 Writing in Someone Else's Universe

22:23 The Search for a Comic Book Publisher

24:39 The Challenges of Manufacturing & Shipping

27:55 Three Comics You Could Never Live Without

28:21 AJ's Thor Reading Challenge

29:30 Favorite Comics & Characters

31:00 Comic Book Universes & Superpowers

33:00 Thor, Captain America & Comic Book Morality

36:00 If Your Life Were a Comic Book...

38:00 Creating a Comic About Your Own Life

40:00 The Reality of Being an Indie Creator

42:00 Making Comics With the Right Artist

44:00 AJ's Journey With The Chronicles of Panel Pete

46:00 The Future of Complete Darkness

48:00 Finding Comic Book Publishers

50:00 Comic Book Conventions & HeroesCon

52:00 Terrificon, Walt Simonson & Comic Book Memories

54:00 Finding Your Place in the Comic Community

56:00 Where to Find Matt Adcock

58:00 Final Thoughts

#ComicBooks

#IndieComics

#ComicBookCreator

#ComicBookWriter

#SciFiComics

#ComicBookArt

#IndependentComics

#ComicBookPublishing

#TalkinComicsPodcast

#CompleteDarkness

Music licensed through Soundstripe.

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🎃 IT'S A SPOOKY ONE!

Welcome to Episode 156 of the Talkin' Comics Podcast!

AJ and Annakhan are getting into the Halloween spirit with spooky decorations, comic book hauls, Halloween monster trivia, blind bag surprises, Thor, Harley Quinn, conventions, and plenty of the usual comic book fun!

This week we go through our latest weekly comic book picks, including Amazing Spider-Man #1000, Dick Tracy #20, Poison Ivy #49, Mighty Thor, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles One-Shot, and more.

AJ also continues his Walt Simonson-era Thor reading challenge and gets into the wonderfully weird story of FROG THOR! 🐸⚡

We also talk about our weekend at the CCS show, upcoming Nerdfest plans, comic collecting, selling and buying comics, and some of the artwork Annakhan has been creating.

Then it's GAME TIME!

🎃 Real or Fake: Halloween Monsters Edition

🧛 Halloween Monster Trivia

🦇 This or That: Monster Edition

👻 And a bonus question about the CRAZIEST superpower you could give a Halloween monster!

Plus, we open some comic book blind bags and see what variants we pulled!

And don't forget: The Chronicles of Panel Pete is now available! Created by AJ Reimann, this all-ages comic is part of the journey we've been sharing here on Talkin' Comics.

Whether you're into Marvel, DC, indie comics, comic collecting, Halloween monsters, trivia, conventions, or just hanging out and talking comics, there's something for you in this episode.

Host: A.J. Reimann https://linktr.ee/Talkin_Comics_Podcast

Co-Host: Annakhan

🗯️Find our comic books, merch, trading card art, and more!: https://www.talkincomics.com/

📰Sign up for our newsletter 🗨 Get your FREE preview of The Chronicles of Panel Pete https://talkincomicspodcast.substack.com/

🎥 🎞️ We Didn't Just Make a Comic... We MADE the Comic. Hit the Notify me on lunch to support this documentary made by Talkin’ Comics Podcast! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/641500179/we-didnt-just-make-a-comic-we-made-the-comic

🫵 Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/TalkingComicsPodcast

👉 Order The Chronicles of Panel Pete and more at https://www.talkincomics.com/category/comics

Sponsors:

• Allegra Printing – Printing The Chronicles of Panel Pete

👉🖨 For your comic book printing needs please visit Allegra Traverse City (Tell them AJ Sent You) https://www.allegramarketingprint.com...

Printing-Comic Books-Fliers-Prints-Business Cards-Rack Cards-Promotional Items-Etc

⏱️ Chapters

0000:00 Welcome to the Spooky Season

06:59 CCS Show Experience

12:14 Blind Bag Openings

19:28 Real or Fake: Monster Edition

32:24 Halloween Monster Superpowers

Music licensed through Soundstripe.

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