The Comic Source Podcast

Jace welcomes comic creators Sina Grace and V Ken Marion to the show. The guys chat about their favorite Flash artists of all -time and why they are choosing them. There are many legendary names on everyone's lists and some surprises as well. What is really interesting is those surprises may have drawn very little Flash, but we certainly hope we see more Flash work from them in the future based on what pieces we have seen. Also the recent DC Round Robin online poll gave readers a chance to vote for what upcoming series they would like to see. The project Sina and V Ken pitched, an action-packed Kyle Raynor and Kilowog story mad it to the final four before losing out to a Robin project. The creators take a bit about the process of being involved with the poll and their hopes that the story eventually sees the light of day. It's a really fun episode filled with the joy of comics so we hope you all enjoy it.

Jace chats with writer and creator Marc Bernardin about his incredibly successful Kickstarter for his upcoming short film Splinter. They discuss how Marc came up with the idea and his choice to crowdfund the project. Marc also discuss his choices in casting and how he arrived at the decision to go with a mostly female cast. There is plenty of Twilight Zone talkas the guys talk about marc drawing inspiration from that classic series when conceiving his stories and they even breakdown some favorite episodes. Plus lots of talk about the campaign itself, rewards and the Splinter community which has grown around this project.

Jace talks about a ton of books he read for this week and gives his spoiler free thoughts. Blue Flame from Vault comics makes it's long awaited debut and although some of the Sci-Fi idea have been seen before they are presented in a new, thoughtful and what we expect to be an emotional way. Great start to this series, very intriguing. Helm Greycastle continues the mash-up of high fantasy with ancient Aztec history, plus there are some RPG resources included so you can play your own Helm Greycastle campaign. Star Wars Doctor Aphra and Darth Vader both tie into the War of the Bounty Hunters event and provide some set-up and context for that story. Nuclear Family #4 gives us guessing in the best way about what might happen next. With only one issue to go, we still aren't sure where the creative team is taking us and we love that! The Clone Sage gets started in earnest in Miles Morales, Spider-Man #26 and it feels like it will be much more intensely focused and faster paced than the original. Black Widow has become the best title Marvel is putting out, from the gorgeous art to the best most authentically depicted Natasha we have ever read, stunningly good. Department of Truth #9 gives us some insight into just how the Department manipulates and controls people's beliefs and has Cole wonder if he should be involved with the DOT after all. The emotionality of Shadow Doctor continues and sets up what we expect will be a remarkable final issue. Shadecraft #3 has Zadie learning a lot of about how to use her powers and that some of the shadows she has encountered may not be what she thinks they are. These revelations could change everything she thought she knew. Shadowman #2 gives us a confidant hero who feels powerful in the hands of this creative team, curious to see how they will challenge him going forward, Alien #3 features the return of a fan favorite character from the Alien franchise and we can't wait to see what happens next. The final issue of the Maestro War & Pax mini has the Maestro facing off against Doom and that fight is everything we expected it to be. Made in Korea is a fascinating look at a future world where humans are no longer able to conceive children, but there are other mysteries afoot that we haven't gotten all the details for ... yet. The Girls of Dimension 13 #2 is a fun magic-filled story and with the team about to be forced into using magical abilities they haven't fully trained with, things could get messy in a hurry. All four of this weeks Heroes Reborn titles are solid and continue to show us familair characters in new was, as we have come to expect from this alternate reality tale. Jace also gives a rundown on some other titles you might want to be on the lookout for

Jace and Rocky from Comic Boom! talk about the DC offerings for the week of May 25, 2021. Detective Comics #1036 continues to focus on Bruce Wayne and Batman as they acclimate to their new neighborhood while trying to solve the mystery of the recent string of murders in Gotham. Strange Adventures #10 purports to contain big revelations, but we aren't so convinced what Tom King is telling us is true. Jace has his own theory about what's really going on. Batman Superman #18 feels like the story should be starting to wind down for Rocky, but Jace thinks based on the most recent information we get in this issue, we are still in for at least 3 more issues. Both guys feel like Action Comics #1031 is a step in the right direction in terms of narrative and the art is spectacular. Harley Quinn still has Rocky's attention, but Jace is ready to jump ship as the story continues to march towards the Gotham we saw in Future State. Mister Miracle #1 was a pleasant surprise for both Jace and Rocky, based on the Shilo Norman story we got in Future State are expectations were very low. The creative surprised us with solid art and very intriguing characterization, maybe the first true character development we have ever seen for Shilo Norman. The guys are in for at least one more issue for sure. The Other History of the DC Universe #4 is a wonderful character study of Renee Montoya, although Jace points out that it doesn't add as much new context as previous issues may have done for their characters. Batman Black & White certainly has a very Batman feel but Rocky finds this short stories for Batman just don't bring enough to the table and Jace wonders if it is time to retire this concept for a good long while. Teen Titans #3 is chaotic and Rocky loves it, but Jace is ready for more Titans in their own book and much, much less Suicide Squad. Robin #2 is a wild and fun ride for Rocky, but Jace laments some lazy storytelling and reversal in character development for Damian. The Stargirl Spring Break Special is nearly a perfect comic, both guys chose it as their favorite DC book of the week and it accomplishes this by being action-packed, brightly colored, full of hope with gorgeous art. All we can say is this creative team really understands the true heart of the DCU.

Jace and Rocky from Comic Boom! do a deep dive into Radiant Black's first four issues. The incredible twist in issue #4 has completely changed our expectations for the series and thrown a huge curveball into the narrative. The guys go back and examine the series with this big change in mind to look for added context and wonder if there were clues that might have lead them to guessing what was about to happen. They also speculate on the future of this incredible series and wonder what twists and turns might be coming next. The first part of the show is spoiler-free, but fair-warning is given and then the spoilers abound. So please check this out and let us know your thoughts on Radiant Black and the big event that just happened.

Jace and Manny chat about the latest Star Wars Bounty Hunters Prelude. We start to see all the players being put into place as everyone converges on Nar Shadaa hoping to cash in on the bounty for Han Solo as well as Boba Fett. We feel like you get a lot more out of this issue if you have been reading Star Wars Bounty Hunters all along, but if you haven't this recap may help you to understand all the events and characters to help enrich your experience with the story.

Jace chats with superstar artist Liam Sharp about his wildly successful Kickstarter for the first of three planned artbooks. It's always a blast when these guys get together and this time is no exception. They kick off the episode with the news that just as they started recording the campaign hit it's first stretch goal which means an original 24 page comic from Liam with his character Lib Laroche. Liam also shares some details about plans for future stories with Lib. The guys also discuss Liam's love of the artbook as a medium and how it offers a chance at carrying on the legacy of the artist who influenced him. When the talk turns to Liam's current project Batman: Reptilian with Garth Ennis that leads to a discussion of the evolution of art that an artist can go through in their career and Liam shares how he hopes to show some of that change in the pages of Encore. Also the Easter eggs a few other secrets are mentioned as well as plenty of talk about the community of Kickstarter and a quick update on the Jack Katz campaign Liam ran as well. Plenty to enjoy in this episode so give it a listen and be sure and go check out the Kickstarter Campaign!

Jace and Jay give their spoiler-free thoughts on some of the books that are hitting comic stores the week of May 19, 2021. Amazing Spider-Man has a classic feel, especially with the Bagley art. How much is too much for Peter to handle? Seems like we might be on the way to finding out. Speaking of classic, Daredevil #30 has quite a few classic DD villains itself and plenty of threads coming together that may mean Matt can't handle it all if he stays behind bars. Stillwater #7 shows us the consequences of the bombing of City Hall and some members of the town may know a lot more than they have let on previously and decide to finally confide in an adult. Immortal Hulk Time of Monsters is as fascinating as it is beautiful, but what it all means for the current run of the book as it heads to its conclusion remains to be seen. Undone by Blood continues the dual narrative that we have seen throughout this title and plays it up spectacularly. Gorgeous art and colors make for a gorgeous book to look at as well. Home #2 is a very relevant and sometimes harsh look at our own political climate, but it is an important story in that it can spark conversation. Fantastic Four Life Story #1 has a lot going for it, but we wonder if too many fundamentals of relationships and team dynamics have been changed. Subsequent issues may answer that question. Way of X #2 gets even deeper into the mind of Legion and teams him up with Nightcrawler as the threat of a big time Marvel villain begins to materialize. Jay's Book of the Week Stray Dogs #4 ramps up the tension as more of the dogs seem to be coming around to Sophie's point of view. What this will mean for her dog family and especially her 'master' we will have to wait and see. The creative team behind Jace's Book of the Week has been teasing since issue #1, maybe even before, that issue #4 changes everything. Well we don't know what to think about what happens, but they weren't lying. We are certainly kept guessing and it feels like nothing in this book is off limits. What a wild ride! Jace also gives a rundown on the other titles you might want to be on the look out for.

Jace and Rocky from Comic Boom! talk about the DC offerings for the week of May 18, 2021. Before they dive into the comics hitting shops this week, there is a ton of talk about the recent news that AT&T is spinning of Warner Media and will no longer be involved in the day-to-day operations of the company. A lot of what might happen is pure speculation at this point, but with over 80 years of experience following the industry and it's ups and downs, the guys make some educated guesses on what may come next. Meanwhile, Nightwing and Catwoman continue to be the two best books DC is putting out. Both books this week offer interesting narratives and absolutely stunning art. If you aren't reading these two titles, we don't know if you can accurately call yourself a DC fan. Wonder Girl #1 is also an inspired debut with a relatability & vulnerability to Yara Flor that we haven't see before, but really enjoyed. Batman Fortnite Zero Point #3 gives fans everything they could ask for in a Batman vs Snake Eyes fight as their combat takes up nearly the entire issue. This series continues to be a lot of fun. Speaking of fun, Flash #770 is a ton of fun with it's wild time travel/speed force story. Plus Wally West/Jay Garrick gets to punch Hitler! Also we have to mention that the Jack Herbert art is stunning. Superman Red & Blue #3 is very much worth your time as some lesser known creators show they have what it takes when it comes to showcasing the emotion of the Man of Steel. Over in the pages of Justice League, we also get great art and the guys are intrigued by the story playing out for the League. Mostly they really want the back-up story starring Justice League Dark to have it's own title as the narrative is very much worthy of it's own book.

Jace chats with Matt Kindt about Whalesville, Rocks and Minerals & Eniac. They discuss the stories and themes Matt has created as well as the collaborative process he has with his artists on the books. Jace asks Matt about his love of history and tendency to explore conspiracies in his stories. They also talk about Matt's decision to work with Bad Idea and how he appreciates the creative freedom he finds when telling stories at the publisher.