When Rob Guillory isn’t working on comics, he’s still working on comics. Creating art is deeply ingrained in him. With many years of experience in the comic book industry, Guillory has developed a distinctive kinetic style that moves on the page.

Guillory is the artist behind the critically acclaimed CHEW series from Image Comics. He’s currently working on Farmhand for Image. Farmhand, Guillory’s first venture into writing and drawing his own title, is in development for AMC as a TV series.

Guillory’s comics blend irreverent humor with deep-cutting human moments.

During their chat, Guillory talks to Wits’ End host Shah Emami about the recent protests, injecting humor into comics, developing the Farmhand TV show, the future of comic conventions and more.

Rob’s media:

• Instagram: @rob_guillory

• Twitter: @rob_guillory

• Website: https://www.robguillory.com/

Follow Shah & the Wits’ End Podcast:

• Twitter: @_shahcomics

• Wits’ End Twitter: @witsendpod

• Website: witsendpod.com

• YouTube: Wits’ End YouTube

• Instagram: @shah_comics

Benjamin Marra brings doses of 80s nostalgia and blood-soaked subversiveness through his comics. His books like Night Business, American Blood, Terror Assaulter, Jesusfreak all showcase Marra’s boundary breaking talents as a cartoonist.

Despite consuming comics, movies and art, it wasn’t until he had a run-in with Darick Robertson’s creator-owned book Space Beaver that pushed him to start making comics professionally. And now, he’s known as a heavyweight creator of “outlaw comics”.

Wits’ End host Shah Emami and Marra talk about Marra’s time studying at School of Visual Arts under David Mazzucchelli, overcoming fear of judgement, finishing your projects, his outlaw persona, post-pandemic life, protests, their love of Jack Kirby & more.

Don’t miss out! Listen below.

Benjamin’s media:

• Twitter: @_benjaminmarra_

• Instagram: @benjamin_marra

• Website: benjaminmarra.com

Follow Shah & the Wits’ End Podcast:

• Twitter: @_shahcomics

• Wits’ End Twitter: @witsendpod

• Instagram: @shah_comics

• Website: witsendpod.com

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Kansas City native and YA author Adib Khorram has a deep love of storytelling. After a lifetime of feeling erased from popular culture, he wrote a story on he could tell—Darius the Great is Not Okay. The story follows Darius Kellner, a half Iranian kid who has always felt like an outsider as he embarks on his first trip to Iran with his family.

The book dives into diaspora, feeling like an outsider, Iranian culture, living with depression, feeling like you belong when you’re around people of a similar culture, connecting with family and more.

Adib talks to Wits’ End host Shah Emami about tea, being Iranian-American, Iranian food and culture. They go over the process of making tea, cooking Iranian dishes and cover Adib’s Darius book(s).

While covering the importance of representation in YA literature, Adib and Shah talk about Adib’s upcoming projects—Darius the Great Deserves Better and Seven Special Somethings.

Adib’s media:

• Twitter: @adibkhorram

• Instagram: @adibkhorram

• Website: https://adibkhorram.com/

Follow Shah & the Wits’ End Podcast:

• Twitter: @_shahcomics

• Wits’ End Twitter: @witsendpod

• Website: https://witsendpod.com/

• Instagram: @shah_comics

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As a lifelong comic book fan, Jennifer DeRoss has always had a deep love for heroes. In her book Forgotten All-Star, a biography on legendary comic book writer Gardner Fox, she talks about the impact of comic book heroes in comic book panels and the real world.

Her book dives into Fox’s many contributions to comics and pop culture—the Justice Society of America, Hawkman & Hawkgirl, Zatanna, Justice League, Flash of Two Worlds, DC’s first Crisis event and more spread throughout thousands of comic book issues.

During the conversation, Wits’ End host Shah Emami talks to DeRoss about how she got into comics and how she brought her book to life. They talk about Fox’s impact on culture, the Justice League movie re-release, how the collector mindset has impacted comics, the Justice Society appearance in the Stargirl TV show, the psychology of Wonder Woman, their favorite Fox comics & more.

DeRoss goes into her ongoing work for her upcoming biography of Jerry Bails, known as the “Father of Comic Book Fandom”.

Jennifer’s media:

• Twitter: @JenniferDeRoss

• Website: https://comicfanjennifer.wordpress.com/author/tikamajere316yahoocom/

• Buy the book!: https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-All-Star-Biography-Gardner-Fox/dp/1683902009/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1590827313&sr=8-1

Follow Shah & the Wits’ End Podcast:

• Twitter: @_shahcomics

• Wits’ End Twitter: @witsendpod

• Website: https://witsendpod.com/

• Instagram: @shah_comics

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Jim Mahfood’s art is unlike anything found in the pages of comics. He’s gonzo, eclectic, kinetic, unable to be jammed into any one category. On top of comics, his art has graced animation, galleries, advertisements and anywhere there’s a surface to make art.

Growing up in Saint Louis, Missouri, Mahfood (aka Food One) fell in love with comics and hip-hop (art in general). He would go on to make his own comics as a teenager, eventually attending the Kansas City Art Institute. Art and comic books are in Mahfood’s blood. There’s no way he wouldn’t throw himself into his work and create art professionally.

During his career, Mahfood has worked with every heavy hitting comic book publisher and has strong roots as a freelancer. Some of his comics work includes the Clerks comic (written by Kevin Smith), Everybody Loves Tank Girl, his creator-owned Grrl Scouts series, MarijuanaMan (with Ziggy Marley & Joe Casey), Los Angeles Ink Stains, Howard the Human, Shitty Dark Knight and countless other projects.

Wits’ End host Shah Emami and Mahfood talk about the dedication needed to be an artist, dealing with rejection and criticism, the impact of Frank Miller’s work and their favorite Miller comics, the future of creative freedom, the sense of community in comic shops and more!

Jim Mahfood’s website & social media:

• Twitter: @JimMahfood

• Instagram: @JimMahfood

• Website (for comics!): jimmahfood.com

• Podcast: Skull Funk Radio

• YouTube

Follow Shah & the Wits’ End Podcast:

• Podcast Twitter: @witsendpod

• Shah’s Twitter: @_shahcomics

• Instagram: @shah_comics

• Website: witsendpod.com

• YouTube

Tom Brevoort (1:15)

Wits' End host Shah Emami talks to the Master of Marvel Arts-- Tom Brevoort, Executive Editor and VP of Publishing for Marvel Comics!

They talk about Tom's youth as he grew up reading comics, his early days working at Marvel, the current state of comics distribution, how Marvel has "no failures", upcoming Marvel books (Iron Man) and more!

Geoffrey Krawczyk (36:50)

Shah and subversive indie comics creator Geoffrey Krawczyk reunite to talk about how Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns can be improved, Geoffrey's idea for a punk rock X-Men comic, bootleg Batman comics, Geoffrey's psychedelic Metaphysical Mister Fister series and more!

(Stay until the end to hear the upcoming guest--Jim Mahfood!)

Tom's media:

• Website: tombrevoort.com
• Twitter: @TomBrevoort
• Instagram: @tmb11779

Geoffrey’s media:

• Twitter: @The_Geoffrey_K

• Instagram: @thegeoffreyk

• Reddit: u/r0ttenart

• Website (read Mister Fister!): geoffreyk.com

Follow Shah & the Wits' End Podcast:

• WITS’ END Podcast Twitter: @witsendpod
• Shah’s Twitter: @_shahcomics
• Instagram: @shah_comics
• Website: witsendpod.com

Pittsburgh-based cartoonist Jim Rugg lives and breathes comics. Through his work in his own books, podcasts (TMSIDK) and Cartoonist Kayfabe (which he co-hosts with Ed Piskor), Rugg spreads his knowledge and love of the comics medium like wildfire.

His books—Street Angel, Plain Janes and Afrodisiac (among others)—stick out from other comics on the shelves. During the conversation, Wits’ End host Shah Emami and Rugg talk about Octobriana 1976, Jim’s upcoming comic. Octobriana 1976, an ambitious project, is being funded through Kickstarter. This will be the first fluorescent blacklight comic to hit the scene!

Shah and Rugg talk about the future of comics distribution, Frank Miller’s development as a cartoonist (through Daredevil, DKR, Sin City, etc.), collaborating with other creators vs. working alone, some background on Cartoonist Kayfabe (co-hosted by Rugg and Ed Piskor) and a lot more.

Support Jim’s Octorbiana 1976 Kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jimrugg/fluorescent-blacklight-outlaw-comic-book?ref=ksr_email_backer_backer_confirmation

Jim’s media:

• Twitter: @jimruggart

• Instagram: @jimruggart

• Website: https://www.jimrugg.com/

Follow Shah & the Wits’ End Podcast:

• Shah’s Twitter: @_shahcomics

• Wits’ End Twitter: @witsendpod

• Instagram: @shah_comics

• Wits’ End website: witsendpod.com

Be sure to rate & review the podcast! (Also subscribe for upcoming episodes)

Cartoonist Pete Doree returns to the Wits’ End Podcast! Pete and host Shah Emami start off talking about Nick Cuti’s E-Man and Charlton Comics. This conversation is filled to the brim with tangents about Steve Ditko’s unique worldview, Frank Miller’s development as a cartoonist (and taking influence from Will Eisner), Jack Kirby’s impact on pop culture and comic book movies, the impact of comic book movies and more!

Pete also talks about working on upcoming issues of his comic—Stan & Jack! The book takes creators Stan Lee & Jack Kirby through the multiverse. It’s full of heart, funny as hell and bursting at the seams with comic book history.

(NOTE: Stay until the end to hear an upcoming guest!)

Pete’s media:

• Twitter: @PeteDoree

• Website: http://kidsfromrecroad.blogspot.com/

• Buy Stan & Jack: https://petedoree.bigcartel.com/

Follow Shah & the Wits’ End Podcast:

• Twitter: @_shahcomics

• Instagram: @shah_comics

• Website: https://witsendpod.com/

Wits’ End podcast host Shah Emami presents snippets of his favorite conversations with guests from the past couple months. Shah and his guests talk about everything from interviews with Don McGregor, Iranian culture, the danger of titles, the importance of supporting local comic shops, Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Strikes Again, becoming inspired to create comics and more!

Links to the full episodes are included below:

Pete Doree: 0:12 (full episode here)
Sina Grace: 3:03 (full episode here)

Myke Cole: 6:34 (full episode here)
Rich Douek: 12:56 (full episode here)

Tom Scioli: 15:57 (full episode here)

Geoffrey Krawczyk: 20:24 (full episode here)

Follow Shah & the Wits’ End Podcast:

• Shah’s Twitter: @_shahcomics

• Wits’ End Twitter: @witsendpod

• Wits' End website: https://witsendpod.com/

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Growing up in Oklahoma, Geoffrey Krawczyk devoured comics and Wizard Magazine. And being the son of a cartoonist kind of made him born and bred to make comics. Krawczyk is a jack of all trades. He’s been a teacher, a stand up comedian in New York, an artist, a comic book creator.

After years of teaching, comedy and making his own art, Krawczyk was inspired by a hit underground comic book YouTube channel (Cartoonist Kayfabe) to finally grind and make his own comics. Lo and behold, The Metaphysical Mister Fister!

Mister Fister is an existential, political and homage-filled look at a deep-thinking superhero world. It explores religion, comedy, creation, nature, the mind of superheroes and more. Krawczyk crafted the entire world and comic himself and makes the book feel like an old-school comic mag ripped out of the 70s or 80s. It even has fake ads to enhance the nostalgia!

Host Shah Emami and Krawczyk talk about favorite stand up, standing by your words, Krawczyk’s art, comedy and teaching life, the insane creativity and impact of Jack Kirby, Krawczyk’s art and comics work and more!

Geoffrey’s media:

• Twitter: @The_Geoffrey_K

• Instagram: @thegeoffreyk

• Reddit: u/r0ttenart

• Website (read Mister Fister!): geoffreyk.com

Follow Shah & the Wits’ End Podcast:

• Shah’s Twitter: @_shahcomics

• Podcast Twitter: @witsendpod

• Wits’ End website: witsendpod.com

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwvSur7b4J_U3gMIA44OGWQ