The Comic Source Podcast

Click HERE to help Jace head to NYCC '25 and cover the Show! - https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/3D... Follow The Comic Source on all social media with our Linktree - https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource If you would prefer to listen to these reviews as a podcast, check out The Comic Source on the LRM Online pop culture website - https://lrmonline.com/news/category/t... In this episode we discuss; DC K.O. Bracket Revealed! Winners For Every Match-Up Through The Finals! The Comic Source Jace and Rocky are joined by long-time DC Comics fan Steve to make some bold predictions for the upcoming DC K.O. event. The guys all give their picks for every match up from the first round through to the finals. With varying methods and variables factored in, the picks are sometimes based on facts and sometimes based on feeling, but there all backed up with reasoning, even if those reasons don't make any sense! There are so many intriguing match-ups and it is very interesting to see where the guys end up in the finals based on the 32 fighters from the first round, Will we see a diverse last few rounds or will a consensus form? You gotta join us to find out!

Jace and Rocky chat about the DC Comics titles for the week of September 3, 2025. We get a new era of Batman from Matt Fraction and it was tremendously enjoyable. Also the ending of Ressurrection Man: Quantum Karma was very satisfying. Absoulte Superman continues to be the best of the Absolute titles while Poison Ivy reaches it's third anniversary. Tons of action in Justice League vs Godzilla vs Kong as you might expect and the heist story in Cheetah and Cheshire shifts into the recruiment phase. It's a great week of DC titles so join us for the details on these books, plus all the other releases dropping from DC this week.

Jace is joined by Lance from Comic Book Keepers for a deep-dive into indie comics. The guys have been running into each other for years at conventions and press rooms but have finally made time to collaborate, sharing their picks for the best indie comics. It's nearly impossible to have a comprehensive list and it will vary accourding to tastes at any particular time, so please keep in mind that these aren't definitive rankings but reflections of what excites them in the moment. Neither Jace nor Lance know what is going to be chosen by the other ahead of time so there is some overlap, soem books the other hasn't even heard of and plenty of honorable mentions.

As the conversation unfolds, each choice sparks stories about fandom and collecting — from chasing rare issues, wishing they had jumped on certain series earlier, to meeting creators at cons and discovering new favorites through word of mouth. The discussion stays away from deatiled discussion of story points as they guys want you to experince these titles for yourselves, but the discussion does highlight of what makes independent comics so compelling, the freedom to create without restrictions. The guys share how titles shocked them with bold twists, hit them emotionally in unexpected ways, and reminded them how powerfully art and writing can work together to expand what comics are capable of.

By the end, the episode has evolved into more than just a list. It's a wide-ranging exploration of creativity and community, from sweeping epics to quirky experiments, from heartfelt character pieces to wild genre mashups. The variety of choices reflects not only the scope of indie comics but also the personal connections and nostalgia that make them so memorable. What emerges is a love letter to the medium itself — one that invites listeners to discover, revisit, and be surprised by the stories waiting off the beaten path.

Jace welcomes sisters Chanda Bell and Krista Pitts, co-creators, along with their mother, Carol Aebersold, of Elf on the Shelf. They share how their family tradition became a global phenomenon, their unforgettable experience bringing the Elf to San Diego Comic-Con, and how fans everywhere have embraced the magic.

We also dive into exciting new projects in the Santa-verse: 🎄 Nicholas the Noble – the first-ever Elf on the Shelf novel, telling the origin story of Santa Claus (available Sept. 16). 🎮 The very first Elf on the Shelf video game, created with Outright Games, bringing the North Pole to life for families year-round.

Whether you grew up with the Elf or are just discovering the tradition, this interview is all about fandom, family, and creating joyful holiday memories.

Jace and Rocky chat about the DC Comics titles for the week of August 27, 2025. Mister Terrific: Year One continues it's excellent examincation and evolution of the character. The Peacemaker Double feature ends on a high note very reminiscent of the TV show while Absolute Wonder Woman and Absolute Martian Manhunter continue on an upward trajectory. Superman has a last page that has the gusy speculationg about what comes next and Justice League Unlimited ties in closely to the big Darkseid story that has been building for close to a year. Green Lantern also maintains it's high level of quality in both story and art. Finally, Immortal Legend Batman feels like the perfect balance of fresh and familiar. Join us to learn more about this titles and all the other DC books this week.

Jace welcomes Todd McFarlane back to the show to chat about the upcoming 50/50/50 Program to celebrate the 5oth issues of King Spawn, Gunslinger Spawn and The Scorched. Todd talks about the importance of consistency, building variety in the Spawn Universe to welcome in new readers, and why anniversary issues matter to both fans and retailers. He shares details on the special crossover story, unique covers, rare signed variants, and even how you can get some original art from Todd himself!. It's a great conversation about celebrating comics, fandom, and giving back to the direct market that's supported Spawn for over 30 years

Jace and Rocky are back with the DC Comics weekly spotlight. It's a great week in Jace's opinion, but Rocky was less impressed. Absolute Batman make both top five lists with an incredbile origin for Absolute Bane, Absolute Flash also impresses with it's best issue in quite awhile. Jace also thought that Carwoman has it's best issue of the current run, though Rocky remains disconnected with the story which is more of an ensemble than a Catwoman-centric story. New Gods continues to build and the invasion of Earth doesn't feel far off. We have two canine focused stories, Krypto and the lead feature in Detective Comics #1100th issue and Jace ranked them very highly. The other co-features in Detective were also excellent as was the debut issue of Justice League Red, Wonder Woman stays just as divisive as ever with a big chunk of the episode breakign down Tom King's writing style and why so many people may like or dislike it. There are a lot more titles and a lot more opinions in this episode so join us for all the details!

Jace welcomes Jimmy Palmiotti and Dan Panosian to chat about their upcoming Marvel Knights Punisher title. Punisher is a favorite of both of these veteran creators and they are pushing the envelope with this story, so it is not for the faint of heart. Expect tons of action and a fast-paced story, the kind of story that long-time Punisher fans will love. Jimmy drops some hints that Frank Castle will be in a very difficult spot, almost an impossible situation and he mentions that even he and Dan felt a little bad for putting Castle in such a bad spot. Dan talks about the interesting locales, weaponary and vehicles he gets to draw and it's clear that these guys are having a blast pulling this story together. Join us for a fun chat and be sure to pre-order the book by September 5th!

Jace welcomes cartoonist Shannon Wheeler to the show. Shannon talks about his career and how he eventually was able to fulfill a dream of doing cartoons for the New Yorker. He also is the creative mind behind the hit comic Too Much Coffee Man. Shannon's current project is the most personal project he has tackled to date as he explores the interesting life led by his father. Not only in terms of the events and choices Shannon's father made, but also how those, choices and expectations affected Shannon and the decisions he made in his own life. Join us for a very interesting conversatioin.

Jace is joined by Adam Huss and Nicole Maines to talk about Truth Man. Truth Man is a well-meaning but over-the-top superhero whose only real "power" is that he can't help but tell the absolute truth at all times. That sounds noble, but in practice it leads to a lot of awkward, uncomfortable, and often hilarious situations where Truth Man blurts out things no one wants to hear. Adam talks about how the comic spun out of a film that was in development but then hit a snag due to the writers strike. Nicole talks about how she became involved in the project and there is pole