Mike Richardson, the Publisher Of dark Horse comcis, talks about Buffy, Hellboy, and the way DHP handles franchise properties.

And more from Walt Simonson, writer of DC/Wildstorm's World Of Warcraft , who gives us an update of what projects his wife (writer and fan favorite) Louise Simonson is doing these days.

First up, Dave Michelinie discusses his classic run with artist Bob Layton, on the Iron Mna arc Demon In A Bottle .

Then Chuck Austen Discusses his classic Max Black and White Iron man tale from an alternate universe War Machine .

Most of my work that weekend was done for video interviews, and this is really a sampler of the 32 interviews I ended up doing. I brought my field recorders, expecting to do as many audio talks as video, but things got so busy and productive on the video side that I never had timne to do more audio.

I did speak to the favs from the bronze age who still do great work today, Len Wein Marty Pasko and Walt Simonson all together and you'll hear that, along with Gail Simone, Grant Morrison, Dan DiDio, Lou Ferrigno, Ethan Van Sciver, Irwin Hassen, Tony Moore Jeremy Love, Mike Oeming, Brian Glass,Jamahl Ingle  Jeremy Haun and Billy Tucci.

I'm presenting the full audio of Grant and Gail's talks. The other's will be seen in their entierty eventually at www.newsarama.com , and www.pulpsecret.com just click on their NY comicon
coverage and you'll see why I have a face for podcasting ;).

Legendary artist Neal Adams actually tolerated my silly questions for over 90 minutes, and was ready to give me even more time!!!!

Listen , as Neal brings us tales from the early days of Comics Bronze Age. You'll hear about his Green Lantern-Green Arrow run with Denny O'Neil, The Deadman Saga, and many behind the scenes stories of the Dc Offices of the 1960's & 70's.

Neal also goes in depth on his scientific theories about an expanding earth, and answers the obvious question, how does an un-accredited science enthusiast pitch his theory, when the conventional science world refuses to listen?

Had The chance to talk with Grant Morrison, Lou Ferrigno, Tony Moore Mike Oeming, Irwin Hassen, and more!

check them out here.

Friday Coverage

http://www.pulpsecret.com/the-stack/episode/STK_20080419

Saturday Coverage

http://www.pulpsecret.com/the-stack/episode/STK_20080420

Sunday Coverage

http://www.pulpsecret.com/the-stack/episode/STK_20080421

We look back at Marv's time at Warren publishing, when he edited and wrote for Vampirella, Creepy and Erie , Editing Marvel's black and white magazines from Crazy to Deadly Hands Of Kung Fu, his time in the 1970's Marvel bullpen and breathing life back into DC on The New Teen Titans with George Perez.

You'll hear Marv's views on publisher-wide event books, "story-decompression" , and his genuine pride in the Teen Titans animated series.

Marv also "previews" his 2006 work on The Infinite Crisis Annual, The Teens Titans annual and collaborating with Geoff Johns.

Yes a re-run, but a damn fine conversation.

PLUS HIS RUNS ON GUY GARDNER WARRIOR, CATWOMAN, THE BLACK TERROR, AND THE WILDCAT MINI SERIES . WE ALSO TALK ABOUT BEAU'S DAYS IN TOUGHMAN COMPETITIONS, SOME GREAT B-MOVIE DVD RECCOMENDATIONS, AND A SHELVED WONDER WOMAN PROJECT THAT BEAU WANTS DC COMICS TO RECONSIDER

Mark also discussees about the seasons he wrote for Smallville.

Even more hollywood talk involves Mark's work as the co-creator behind Timecop, screenwriter of Jim Carrey's adaptation of The Mask, and he announces the start of working with Bruce Campbell on the 2007 film, My Name is Bruce.

We also cover Mark's great comic book work for Dark Horse, including his 1980's subersive action parody, The American , and his DC work on Superman, The Phantom, and Superman-Batman.

From his collaborations with Martin Pasko to put the bronze age spin on Dr Fate, to reviving Manhunter with Archie Goowdwin.

We talk about the Fantastic Four, his spin on X-Factor co-plotted with his wife Louise , to working on the Marvel Star Wars comic at that awkward time between The Empire Strikes Back, and Return Of The Jedi.

Tales of wonder, from a true master.

We discuss Gene's 50 plus years in the business, that includes meroies of the 1960's Marvel Bullpen. He recounts working on charcters like Daredevil, Captain America, The Sub Mariner,and Dracula.

We also discuss his stints at DC in the 1950's (as Adam Austin) and the 1980's on Batman Wonder Woman, and Nathaniel Dusk.

Gene discuss his film influences , his attention to detail when it comes to cars, cities, and objects. Plus he talks about collaborations with Stan Lee, Marv Wolfman, Don McGregor and others.

Grell's work goes back to the 1970's on titles like the Legion Of Superheroes and Batman, but you have to include his own creations like The Warlord and his revamp of DC's Green Arrow which began with The Longbow Hunters in 1986.

Grell went to Pacific and later First Comics creating works like Starslayer and Jon Sable, Freelance. Grell is midway through a new Sable story,
Ashes Of Eden . The story will eventually be collected as a trade, but you can follow the story for free at www.comicmix.com. In the interview Grell discusses how his own militray inteligence background informed the 1980's stories of Sable, and his future work with the character.

Grell has another story in the works with Mark Ryan called The Pilgrim,
The story is a modern supernatural thriler, based in part on
factual accounts of the British Gov't study of the occult to combat
the Nazis during WW2. "Mark crafted the story, and frankly it gives me the willies."

Other future projects for Grell may include a return to his charcter Travis Morgan, The Warlord."I'm working on a DC proposal for a new Warlord story... we'll see."

His also has two novels in the works, one featuring Sable, the other Savage Empire, which is sword and sandals epic based on an original comic strip idea of Grell's, about an archeologist who time travels back to Atlantis.

They all discuss forming their studio, and give their view of the comics industry, as they all begin to straddle the worlds of indie creator owned projects, and mainstream work from the big two.

some cast news from the panel...

Fillion will be the voice of Steve Trevor in the upcoming DC direct to video Wonder Woman animated film, with his Waitress co-star Keri Russell as the AmazonSuperhero, and the indie film Trucker

Rohm's 2007 series Big Shots was cancelled by ABC, but she'll co-star
with Danny & Angelica Huston, in the upcoming motion picture The Kreutzer Sonata.

Brendan has two films in post production, The Portal, and Blood On The Highway.

Then the show switches to the FX con floor, featuring interviews with Gene Ha (Top 10) Freddie Williams (The Flash, Robin) Derrick Fish (Dandy & Company) and Shannon Chenoworth (The Line, Supersonic).

Some highlights from both parts...

Who will the Red Hulk face?

The cast we see in issue one with be the group we initally follow.

In particular,"Leonard Sampson will be seen as an FBI profiler
based on his years observing superhero behavior. He has always
been regarded as a c-level hero and he wants to change that perception."

Ed McGuiness has a long list of Marvel Heroes he wants the Red Hulk
To face and Jeph is agreeable to all suggestions
"There isn't anybody in the Marvel Universe That he doesn't want the Red Hulk to smash.

We want to be on this book forever, which for me is like 25 issues.
Ed is living every Jack Kirby fantasy he's ever had with a Red Hulk doing the damage.

"The book was never intended to be called HULK RED...It is by people's estimation other than my own, it's a take on "the hulk" that hasn't been done before.I don't claim that, I just think Ed and I are telling a very fun Hulk story."

On possible future  Marvel Color books with artist Tim Sale .

"Nothing can happen until Tim's exclusive deal with DC ends. Marvel could have kept doing them without us, but I'm glad they didn't. "

"We have an idea about Capt America White... The idea behind the color books is the hero losing an important early love of his life. In Cap's case I have a story but it doesn't involve Sharon or Peggy (Carter). I can see an Iron Man Yellow story, if I could convince Tim. "

On the Ultimates Vol 3

Why kill the Scarlet Witch instead of Pietro?

"I think Wanda is the glue that holds Pietro together, and I do not
think good things will come out of this.

I can put together any version of this team I wanted to. My version of Hawkeye is the next step in terms of where Mark and Brian were going, that this guy was losing his grip on reality and here he is, to the point where now he won't let anyone see his face.

I'm having a blast with the Ultimate Black Panther...you have no idea
where that's going. I'm also having fun with Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, and when you see what I'm doing with Valkerie hopefully you'll like it as well."

On The Ultimates Vol 4

I think Ultimates Vol2 #6 which is the Defenders story was the best story
Mark has ever written. It's a bunch of folks who want
to be heroes and get the crap beaten out of them. What happens to them
when their dreams come true, and what is the price of that?

That is the basis for Ultimates 4, and who will draw that, I'm not sure cause my original artist is having too much fun drawing a red monster.

The Spider-Man story Loeb and J Scott Campbell are working on takes place in current brand new day continuity.

What follows is a funny discussion that covers Jeph's current books like HULK with Ed McGuiness and THE ULTIMATES Vol 3 with Joe Madureira, but also reaches back to loeb's early Marvel days, his classic takes on Superman & Batman, his film and TV work, and much more.

The mystery continues the personal journey of the new Question , former Gotham City Cop Rene Montoya , but also focuses on the book itself, complete with pages from the crime bible itself.

In an earlier article at Newsarama http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=137919&highlight=rucka

We discovered a dossier The Question is using to assembles clues to locate the crime bible. Greg talks about the creation of these clues , and further locations to more viral info that enhances the story behind the book.

We also talk about Checkmate the DCU spy series , Quuen And Country, and his latest novel Patriot Acts, featuring Atticus Kodiak.

Finally Greg discusses his future including the decision to end his exclusive contract with DC, but why he'll contnue writing comics for the company.

more info frokm Brian Michael bendis about secret invasion, the avengers books ultimate spider-man and more. Plus a new wrinkle which leads to the next episode of the podcast

The Un-Men were first introduced in the Original Swamp Thing series, but the group has evolved far beyond the original concept created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson. 

They also talk about Mike's past collaborations with Ivan Brandon, Jeff Amano and Greg Rucka  On Ruule & Queen and Country 

The show's Co-Executive Producers Jeph Loeb and Jesse Alexander join John for a look back at Vol 2, and what the future may hold for the show, the story and its characters, as the WGA strike rolls on. They also talk about HEROES: SAVING CHARLIE, the new original novel due in stores Dec. 26th.

The Show was taped live at The Empathic Treehouse, the writing office shared by Jeph Loeb, and other comic book writers, like Geoff Johns, Brian K Vaughn and Allan Heinberg. There may be a few cameo surprises from Loeb's office mates.

They also squeeze in some talk about Jeph's upcoming Marvel Books Ultimates Vol 3 and Hulk .

We'll discuss Geoff's takes on the multiple versions of Superman,
the legion of super heroes, and all the palyers in the sinestro corp war
and finding a new purpose for booster gold.

You'll also hear Geoff's thoughts on the WGA strike and some 
never realized season 2 story ideas for the blade tv series, including a plot with Marc Spector, Moon Knight.

Some other tidbits from the interview...

Johns has green lantern plotted to issue 55 ...JSA to 25 or longer, Action Comics"if we stay the course, Gary and I have two years of stories to tell."

On Green Lantern: "That book with its epic scope... to bring Hal Jordan to issue 50 has become a very personal story for me." 

On Superman Prime: "He's absolutley one of my favorite characters to write. he's such a jerk(laughs.)

On the future : Johns and former Blade TV/JSA collaborator David Goyer have a new comic story idea they hope to release in early 2009.

The episode revolves around some action at a comic book convention so the word went out for creators to show up to the mock-con and go through the motions of a real show.

There were some familiar names among the creators and guest stars for the shoot, and Word Balloon got the low down from indie artist Tony Fleecs (In My Lifetime, Postcards:True Stories That Never Happened)

We caught Phil as he was recovering from a cold, but still excited about
getting more scripting work alongside his upcoming art projects.

You'll hear about Hester taking the reins on THE DARKNESS for Top Cow, and a new direction for the series main character Jackie Estacado.
Also the very funny "werewolf in recovery" series THIRTEEN STEPS,
co-written with Chuck Satterlee and drawn by Kevin Mellon for Desperado.

But Phil show his sensitive side too, in a poingant indie short story featured in The Villard Books collection POSTCARDS: "True Stories That Never Happened".

On the art side, Phil previews the December start of his run on Superman Confidential, teaming up with his infamous inking partner Ande Parks and writer B Clay Moore.

Next Year will be busy for Phil, writing and drawing a Daredevil/Magdalena crossoverfor Marvel/Top Cow in February, and in the spring he and artist Andy Kuhn bring back FIREBREATHER for Image Comics.

Featuring Mark Waid Ross Richie, Christos Gage Kazu Kabuishi and Tony Fleecs.

We also talk about his run on Ultimate X-Men, and preview his collaboration with Rob Liefeld on Kilraven, the Martian hunting hero of Marvel's War Of The Worlds.

They also talk about his Vertigo debut,the Vietnam mini series The Other Side, his Ripclaw one shot, part of Top Cow's Pilot Season. and
his past and future work on the Wolverine solo book for Marvel.

We also discuss the upcoming Marvel Young Avengers mini series featuring Allan & Jim Cheung's team now in the hands of other creators.

Plus we look at Allan's television work, currently as a co-executive producer of Grey's Anatomy. The Emmy winning ABC series returns for it's 4th season this week.

Drew tells hilarious stories about Woody Allen Jerry Lewis
Groucho Marx,Howard Stern, Jimmy Kimmel, Larry Storch
Mad Magazine creator Harvey Kurtzman, and why George W. Bush is the spitting image of 1950's comedian Doodles Weaver

You'll learn the genesis behind Freidman's recurring hero The
Duke Of Eltingville, his past animation work for Liquid TV and
Comedy Central. We'll touch on his trading card work for Topps
and wonder where his style of comic strip satire fits into today's
electronic media world.

To see more of his art, check out his website www.brentschoonover.com

He started his career as a freelance writer, but soon worked his way through the DC ranks , writing runs on Superman, Dectetive Comics, Justice League Of America, Swamp Thing, and Wonder Woman.

He also revamped The Metal Men, Doctor Fate, The Blackhawks, Secret Six, and Kobra, among others.

Marty shares a detailed look at the 1970's DC bullpen , and the changes in making comics from the Bronze Age, through today.

Taped from the convention floor, host John Siuntres scanned the rows of artist alley and beyond to get quick moments with an assortment of comic creators and executives, that run the gamut of the comics world.

We'll catch up with creators like...

Matt Anderson & Eric Hutchins (White Picket Fences)

Dan Didio (Executive Editor DC Comics)

Art Baltazar & Franco (Tiny Titans)

Will Pieffer (Catwoman & Amazons Attack)

Skottie Young (New X-Men)

Matt Wagner (Grendel, Madame Xanadu, Zorro)

Tony Digerolomo (Bongo Comics, Super Frat, Zombie County)

Micheal Avon Oeming (Mice Templar, Spider-Man Red Sonia, Powers)

Phil Hester (Thirteen Steps, The Darkness)

Ande Parks (Daredevil Annual, Blood Red)

Andy Owens (Buffy Season 8, Countdown Arena)

Don Kramer (Dectective Comics)

Andrew Pepoy (Jack Of Fables, Bongo Comics)

Chris Kirby (Lost Squad)

Dave Wachter (Scar Tissue)

Pat Loika (Pantheon, Path To Armegeddon)

Shane White & Scott Reed (The Overman)

Christian Beranek  (Silent Devil Productions)

Raven Gregory (Return To Wonderland)

Sean McManus (The Sin Of Mark Grimm)

Ralph Tedesco (Xenoscope Books)

B Clay Moore (Hawaian Dick, The Leading Man)

Chris Moreno (Sidekicks, Frontline: World War Hulk) 

Brian Michael Bendis shares classic encounters with Lou Ferrigno,
and a memorable writers panel where he had to contend with a great
Marvel writer, who didn't agree with today's decompressed story telling.

Jimmy Palmiotti talks about the strange promotion a convention in Spain set up, to tie into the release of the Garth Ennis Amanda Connor classic, THE PRO.

Chuck Austen gives a first hand account Of Alan moore strange adventures at the infamous 1986 SDCC, his first (and last) american convention.

And Tim Bradstreet tells us what it's like when The great Steranko holds court, after hours at a con.

But he also talks up books from the Raw Entertainment Studios
like Bad Planet written by Thomas Jane & Steve Niles , Todd Farmer's Alien Pig Farm, future projects like the Bloody Pulp anthology ,and what fans cam expect from the Raw booth at the San Diego Comicon.

Doc, The Gunwitch, Halloween Girl and the other Nocturnals 
fight against Pacific City's organized crime families is poised for a return via Olympian Publishing, with the release of The Nocturnal Alaphabet book featured this week at the San Diego Comicon.

Dan gives us details on the book, new stories included in the
Deluxe Hardcover collections of the Nocturnals saga  and some early word on the upcoming new Nocturnals mini series in development.

We'll also spend time talking about Dan's work on September's
Immortal Iron Fist Annual for Marvel Comics written by Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction and sharing the art chores with his friend Howard Chaykin.

You can hear both Brian Bendis and John break down as the hours tick away, answering this last clump of questions fro the jinxworld message board.

As the air gets thinner, the humor gets crazier

John sits down with tv and film writer Christos Gage to talk about his current comics work on World War Hulk tie ins with the X-Men and Iron Man, His Wildstorm work including the ongoing series Stormwatch PHD drawn by Doug Mahnke, and upcoming new miniseries Armegeddon, and info about The Authority Prime mini sereis.

We'll also get details on future projects like House of M Avengers with
artist Mike Perkins and for Dynamite Entertainment Chris will be
writing new adventures of the spaghetti western anti hero,
The Man With No Name.

In this podcast interview, we talk about the wrap up of his run on Spider-Man loves Mary Jane, with Takeshi Miyazawa ,  the process of writing countdown with Paul Dini for DC, and we'll get hints of what's to come for the Birds Of Prey and Teen Titans.

Sean talks about his formative collaborations with writers like Paul Jenkins and artists like Mike Norton. You'll hear about his Marvel runs on The Inhumans, Gravity, and Sentinel, and future project at DC in the months ahead, like his Search For Ray Palmer issue, featuring
the Earth 3 Crime Syndicate. 

You'll get more tidbits on HALO, Ultimate Origins, The Avengers books and Ultimate Spider-Man.

There's even more to come in the days ahead....

Jer also discusses his current run on Marvel Comics Excalibur written by X-Men legend Chris Claremont , and the progres of the Kansas City based comic creator studio Atomic Revolver, with writers B Clay Moore Jason Auron and Seth Peck, and artists Tony Moore and Jason Latour.

Ethan talks about his colaborative process with Geoff Johns, his early years, and what's in store, for the GLC in 2007.

We'll talk to Mike about his work on The All New Atom with Gail Simone, and the book's involvement in DC's new weekly series Countdown, and Loaded Bible 2 the action packed post apoccalyiptic showdown between Jesus and Legions Of vampires.

Chris talks about Pull Box Online, the digital comics distribution
store he set up through Devil's Due, and his involvement in the upcoming Troma Anthology Books of Horror stories.

With convention season under way we talk about the difficulty pros have juggling work deadlines and the need to be out at conventions plugging
their books.

They also talk about his years of covers for books like The Punisher, Hellblazer and his current work with his Raw Entertainment Partners Steve Niles and Thomas Jane.

You'll get the details on Tim's longtime pet project Red Sky Diary, and they preview this month's re-return of the Sci-Fi story Bad Planet , written by Tom Jane with new interior artist James Daly.

You'll want to follow along looking at the art examples discussed, so while you're listening,  check out Tim's typepad blog, http://timbradstreet.typepad.com/ , and his Red Sky Diary Page, http://www.myspace.com/redskydiary 

Now past his involvement in the wide ranging crossover events,
Geoff can focus on his personal monthly books, like Green Lantern , and the upcomming Sinestro Corps,His Superman run on Action Comics co-written with film director Richard Donner,and the Justice Society of America, currently in the midsts of a Justice League Legion Of Superheroes cross over, cowritten by Brad Meltzer.

We'll also talk about the new upcoming booster gold series, cowritten with Jeef Katz, and drawn by booster's original creator Dan Jurgens, and Geoff's movie work, including his role as an executive producer on the Metal Men film.

Jesse also wrote ALIAS during it's 5 seasons, was one of the creators behind LOST, and wrote the recent monster parody EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS.

We cover it all, in the classic Word Balloon tradiotion.

Then we look at Geof's many works with Frank Miller. his friendship with Moebius , and our mutual love for the american western.

Greg also teases more info about his upcoming batman superman arc,
he gives his insight into the charcters of Tara Chase from
queen and Country Sasha Bordeaux in checkmate
and Renee Montoya the new Question.

Rucka also has final thoughts on the "52" project, as the last weekly issue hits the stores today.

We'll also prevview Brad's remaining stories on Justice League Of America, and revisit his first JLA arc, The Tornado's Saga, His Green Arrow story The Archer's Quest and discuss the fan reaction to Sue Dibny's controversial rape in Identity Crisis.

You'll hear Greg's thoughts on what should and shouldn't be
done with Wonder Woman,and more on the wrap up of DC's weekly series "52", and the consequences of "World War 3".

NOTE: This conversation took place in late March,
before DC announced the new plan of Gail Simone
taking over Wonder Woman, and Greg's comments should not
reflect on Gail's plans for the Amazon Hero.

We cover his runs on The Unknown Soldier, The Avengers, His    spider-man and superman years, and talk about his legendary runs
on Iron Man with Bob Layton,  including the seminal story "demon in a bottle".