Welcome back to Word Balloon! Today, we’re diving deep into the Star Trek universe with one of its most accomplished storytellers — David Mack. You know his work from the Deep Space Nine episodes “Starship Down” and “It’s Only a Paper Moon”, two fan-favorite installments that captured the show’s emotional depth and moral complexity.

Since then, Mack’s become one of Star Trek’s defining novelists — the author behind landmark books like Destiny, Vanguard, and Control, and now, the brand-new Strange New Worlds novel, Ring Of Fire. We’ll talk about how David approaches writing for different eras of Trek, what it’s like balancing the optimism of Strange New Worlds with the grittier tone of his earlier work, and how he helped expand Star Trek’s literary canon into something as rich and compelling as the shows themselves.

Plus, we’ll get into his latest creative venture — co-writing the Star Trek: Khan audio drama, exploring the rise and legacy of one of the franchise’s most fascinating villains. It’s a fascinating look at a writer who’s helped shape Star Trek across television, novels, and now audio storytelling. So grab your communicator, set your phasers to “listen,” and join me as we boldly go into the creative mind of David Mack — right here on Word Balloon!

A look back with Art Baltazar Franco Scoot McMahon and Me

Powers. Black Hammer Minor Threats, and more. Dark Horse Comics editor Daniel Chabon joins the show for an in-depth conversation about shaping creator-driven comics in today’s industry. Daniel breaks down the editor’s role behind the scenes, from developing pitches and guiding visual storytelling to balancing creator vision with long-term publishing strategy.

We talk about Dark Horse’s approach to original series, working with both established voices and emerging talent, and how the publisher continues to evolve in a changing comics landscape. Daniel also shares insights into collaboration, deadlines, and what makes a project stand out when it lands on an editor’s desk.

In this episode, we sit down with one of the defining writers of modern Marvel to talk about what’s next, what still matters, and what didn’t quite land. Paul discusses his two new Marvel series coming in 2026, including his long-awaited return to The Sentry, launching this March. We dig into why this new Sentry story feels necessary now, how it builds on the psychological core that made the character unforgettable, and what Paul wants to explore that he couldn’t before.

We also get an exclusive look at Captain Marvel: Dark Star, a story that reaches back into Carol Danvers’ Ms. Marvel era to investigate an unsolved crime that has lingered in the shadows for decades. Paul breaks down why revisiting that moment matters—and how reframing the past can change how we understand Carol today.

The conversation turns reflective as we revisit Paul’s Marvel Knights era, including his landmark run on Inhumans—what that period at Marvel felt like from the inside, the creative freedom it allowed, and why those stories continue to resonate.

And yes—we talk about television. Paul finally watched the ABC Inhumans series, and he’s candid about his reaction, where it went wrong, and why adaptations miss the mark when they lose sight of character and theme. It’s a wide-ranging, honest conversation about legacy, reinvention, and returning to the worlds you helped define—on your own terms.

Live from Terrificon, this panel reunites Ralph Macchio, Ann Nocenti, and John Romita Jr. to revisit one of Daredevil’s most memorable creative periods. Ralph sets the stage with behind-the-scenes stories of the handoff from writer Denny O’Neil to Frank Miller, and ultimately to Ann Nocenti, charting the evolution of the Man Without Fear through shifting creative visions.

Ann and John share how the grit, danger, and energy of New York City’s real nightlife shaped their take on Matt Murdock’s world, infusing it with street-level authenticity and vivid, flawed characters like Typhoid Mary and Shotgun. The conversation takes a wild detour as the trio recalls their “freaky” trip to Paris representing Marvel — a surreal adventure filled with culture shock, unexpected encounters, and a dash of chaos. It’s a lively mix of comics history, personal anecdotes, and the creative alchemy that kept Daredevil swinging high.

Part three of ’Twas the Night Before Bendis,. This episode is one of those conversations that starts simple and then immediately spirals—in the good way. We get into secret identities. Do they still matter? Do they work the way they used to? Are they essential to superhero storytelling, or are they a storytelling device we’re all pretending still functions the same in a world of satellites, social media, and everyone live-streaming everything all the time? And once you ask that question, suddenly you’re talking about everything.

That leads us straight into Matt Fraction’s Batman run, because of course it does. What Matt is doing with Bruce, Gotham, power, legacy, and isolation opens up exactly the kind of questions modern superhero stories should be asking. Not “how dark can it get,” but “what does this all mean now?” We talk about what works, what surprises, and why Batman—somehow—still has new angles left when the right people are behind the wheel.

And then—because this is how these conversations go—we pivot to celebrating Steve Lieber, one of the absolute greats. A master storyteller. A cartoonist’s cartoonist. Someone whose work quietly, consistently elevates everything it touches. We talk about why that matters, and why guys like Steve don’t just support comics—they define them.

From there? We discuss where the Netflix Torso adaptation project is, and  TV. Film. The state of storytelling across mediums. .

More on Bendis and Oeming's return to Powers in Powers 25 for Dark Horse, his Italy trip reuniting him with Ult Spider-man Artist and the co-creator of Miles Morales Sara Pichelli, fan questions anda preview of his Avengers story with Mark Bagley for #800 

Part 3 tomorrow

Part 1 of a three part chat. Mike Oeming and Taki Soma ended up joining us, obstensivley to talk about their new Powers 25 ongoing book from Dark Horse, but we instead did a lot of movie talk, and the threats of AI art. More tomorrow.

As we look back at some of the very best conversations of 2025, there was no way I could leave this one out. One of the standout talks of the year comes from an artist whose work consistently blends sharp storytelling, inventive visuals, and genuine heart. From Whiteout to Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen, Steve Lieber has proven time and again that he’s one of the most thoughtful and versatile creators working in comics today.

 In this Best of 2025 episode, Steve joins me for a wide-ranging conversation about Metamorpho, the enduring appeal of Jimmy Olsen, and the realities of making comics in today’s industry — from creative challenges to smart business choices. It’s funny, insightful, and packed with the kind of perspective only years of experience can bring.