The Comic Source Podcast

If you've been away from Punisher comics or confused about where Frank Castle stands right now, this episode breaks down the full picture. Jace of The Comic Source looks at the current status quo following the Hand era, the Joe Garrison run, Red Band, and now Punisher #3 from the current series by Benjamin Percy. While Marvel is clearly bringing Punisher back to a more grounded, street-level approach, questions remain about what this version of the character actually is and whether it can evolve in a modern storytelling landscape. With the upcoming Punisher: One Last Kill special on the horizon, Jace also explores whether the direction of the comics could be aligning with what we may see on screen, and what that could mean for the future of the character. 👉 Follow The Comic Source on all social media with our Linktree - https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource

Warbird #0 from Bad Idea Comics introduces Cole Norton, a high-end repo man capable of stealing anything that rides, flies, or floats. Written by Robert Venditti and Derek Kolstad with art by Jesse Lonergan, the issue delivers high-octane action through "The Bike Job," where Cole infiltrates a luxury yacht to repossess an experimental motorcycle. While the premise leans heavily on spectacle, the issue also hints at deeper motivations driving Cole. His precision, control, and detachment suggest that the work itself may matter more than the payout, raising the question of whether each job is less about money and more about avoiding his past while taking something back from the powerful people he targets. The issue functions as both an action showcase and a character setup, laying the groundwork for the larger Warbird mission involving advanced fighter jets and escalating global stakes. 👉 Follow The Comic Source on all social media with our Linktree - https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource

Oddball's Odyssey from Bad Idea Comics might look like a Sunday funnies throwback, but underneath the whimsical cartooning and laugh-out-loud moments is a story with real emotional depth. Written and illustrated by Tony Millionaire, with colors by Jim Campbell II, this oversized issue delivers gorgeous, expressive artwork that leans into classic cartooning and Looney Tunes–style visual storytelling. On the surface, it's a zany adventure following Bobby, an alcoholic monkey, and his friend Jimmy as they navigate a bizarre journey filled with mythological elements, surreal humor, and incredible sight gags. But beneath that playful tone are themes of self-awareness, belonging, friendship, and the search for love, as Bobby's obsession with Lucia the swan pushes him toward confronting his own flaws and finding his place in the world. This is a comic that works on multiple levels—you can enjoy it purely for the humor and visual storytelling, or dig deeper into the ideas about identity, connection, and acceptance that give the story its emotional weight.

Jace and Rocky discuss a smaller fifth-week DC lineup for April 29, 2026, opening with a remembrance of Gerry Conway before diving into Swamp Thing 1989 #1 and the long-delayed Rick Veitch controversy surrounding Swamp Thing's encounter with the life of Jesus, Justice League Intergalactic Special #1 and its focus on Galaxy, Dreamer, Naltor, and the setup for more Pride-related storytelling, Batman/Wonder Woman: Truth #1 with Jeff Loeb and Jim Cheung delivering a visually strong but continuity-light Batman/Wonder Woman one-shot involving Catwoman, Harley Quinn, Joker, and the Lasso of Truth, and Zatanna #1 as Jamal Campbell positions Zatanna as the Prime Magus of the DC Universe while introducing new occult agency elements. They also cover the week's reprints, facsimiles, and collected editions, including Absolute Batman, Absolute Wonder Woman, Absolute Superman, Teen Titans by Geoff Johns, Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong, DC Finest: Joker, and The Omega Men deluxe edition. As always, Jace and Rocky rank every book and each host gives their top pick of the week.

Jace of The Comic Source breaks down Corpse Knight #1 from Skybound Entertainment, written by Michael Chaves with art by Matthew Roberts and colors by Rico Renzi. Set against the backdrop of the Hundred Years' War, the story follows a young girl named Foy and her father as they struggle to survive in a dangerous, war-torn countryside, with the relationship between the two serving as the emotional foundation of the issue. After tragedy strikes, that bond takes a dark and unexpected turn when her father returns under mysterious circumstances, raising questions about faith, sacrifice, and what it truly means to protect someone. Jace highlights the cinematic storytelling approach, the strength of the visual narrative, and how the issue leans more into character-driven dark fantasy than traditional horror, while also touching on the Joan of Arc element that sets up the broader journey ahead.

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Jace breaks down Geiger #2 as the Ghost Machine universe expands with the introduction of Las Vegas, the King, and the idea of the so-called "Holy Grail." The issue builds out the larger world around Tariq Geiger, while also revealing more about his past and the possible connection between his condition and the radiation that changed everything.

The story introduces new characters and shows the harsh reality of survival in this post-apocalyptic setting, while also setting up larger conflicts that continue to pay off later in the series. With the benefit of hindsight, many of the elements introduced here carry more weight, especially when looking at how the narrative evolves beyond this issue.

Jace and Rocky break down all the DC Comics releases for the week of April 22, 2026, covering 10 books with a wide range of reactions from solid entertainment to standout highlights. Superman #37 features a meta-driven Superboy Prime navigating life in Metropolis while grappling with his past and a surprising encounter with Witchfire, Flash #32 introduces a dangerous viral stunt app pushing Wally West to his limits while juggling family life, and Detective Comics #1108 continues Tom Taylor's grounded mystery with Bruce teaming with Green Arrow and Black Canary while uncovering secrets tied to Prion's legacy. Absolute Flash #14 explores the Mirror Master storyline with Wally and Linda trapped in the mirror dimension and a deal involving Ray Palmer, while Absolute Wonder Woman #19 continues Diana's mythic journey with high-stakes magical elements. Green Lantern #34 sets up future developments with Hal Jordan and Kyle Rayner while introducing the mysterious Toby Y2K, and Justice League Unlimited #18 examines the controversial decision to grant villains amnesty in the face of larger threats. Harley Quinn #61 leans into the split between Harley's personalities with the Bat-Quinn concept, while Harley & Ivy: Life and Crimes #5 slows things down with character work at Ma Hunkel's home and a Clayface cliffhanger. The Brutal Dark #3 builds its noir mystery around Ezra Kane with deeper connections to the museum heist and missing persons case. The episode also includes discussion of industry news, including layoffs and broader market trends, along with thoughts on speculation around current titles. As always, Jace and Rocky run down reprints, facsimiles, and collected editions, rank every book from the week, and each give their pick for Book of the Week.

Jace welcomes returning creaor Richard Ashley Hamilton to discuss Leo Da Vinci: Renaissance Kid, a graphic novel that reimagines a young Leonardo da Vinci as an adventurous and inventive kid while drawing from real historical elements of his life. The conversation covers the inspiration behind portraying Da Vinci as a mischievous and empathetic protagonist, the balance between factual history and fictional storytelling, and how the Renaissance setting mirrors modern-day experiences for younger readers. Jace and Richard also explore the artistic work of Marco Matrone, the accessibility of the graphic novel format as a gateway for new readers, and how the story encourages curiosity about history through engaging, character-driven storytelling rather than traditional educational approaches.

Jace takes a look at Fireborn #1 from Image Comics, breaking down how the issue connects to the Lost Fantasy universe while evaluating how effectively it functions as a standalone story. With discussion of the creative work from Curt Pires, Franklin Jonas, Patrick Mulholland, Mark Dale and Micah Myers, the episode examines the structure of the oversized debut, the introduction of Aaron Hilberg and his connection to the dragon egg, and how the pacing benefits from the extended page count. The conversation also explores how the character's attitude is grounded in his personal circumstances, the balance between action and setup, and whether the issue establishes a strong foundation moving forward. Additional context is provided on the early market reaction, including the sellout and speculation, along with whether the demand reflects genuine reader interest or short-term attention.

Jace takes a look at The Hab #1 from Bad Idea, a high-concept horror story from Joshua Dysart, David Lapham, Bill Sienkiewicz and more, exploring a billionaire-built survival habitat meant to outlast the end of the world, only for things inside to begin to unravel as hallucinations, violence and deeper mysteries tied to the environment start to surface, with discussion of the layered themes, unsettling tone and standout visual storytelling that make this one of the more intriguing indie releases currently flying under the radar.

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