On this episode of Word Balloon Dan Slott joins us to talk about the Death Of Peter Parker in Amazing Spider-Man 700, wrapping up the series, and setting up Superior Spider-Man , which begins January 9th. Dan he process of creating the Dying Wish, and selling it to his editors and co-creators at Marvel. Dan explains why he chose to stay on Spider-Man, rather than take on a new title in the Marvel Now creative shift.  We answer reader questions , and end the talk with some thoughts on the Doctor Who Christmas special.

Then we start a look back at The Comic Book Market of 2012 with a series of interviews with comic journalists who cover the various publishers. First up Vaneta Rogers of Newsarama looks back at DC's 2012. From the successes and failures of specific books and initiatives, to the current management moves on the Vertigo Imprint, to departing creators and the recent Gail Simone-Batgirl drama.

Time Code

 00:00 - 132:44 Tony Harris & B Clay Moore talk about DC's The Whistling Skull

132:45 - 231:25 Mike Norton on Revival The Answer It Girl and Young Avengers

231:26- End       Nick Spencer & Tom Breevort On Secret Avengers

Today on Word Balloon We begin with a 2008 interview with outgoing Vertigo Editor Karen Berger. At the time, Berger was starting her 15th year leading the groundbreaking imprint. The interview serves as a profile of her editorial philosophy and experimentation resulting in greenlighting many provocative comic books for the last 2 decades.
Then, we talk to members of the creative team behind the upcoming anthology Bad Karma, writers Jeremy Haun (The Leading Man, The Beauty ) B Clay Moore (Hawaiian Dick Battle Hymn JSA THE LIBERTY FILES: THE WHISTLING SKULL) Alex Grecian (Proof, The Yard) and Seth M Peck (X-Men, Wolverine:Fear Itself, 76:COOL) The Bad Karma volume will contain 5 comic book stories and supplelmental short stories and art featuring stand alone crime stories set in various time periods with subtle  connecting themes and charcters that tell a larger stry about the Bad Karma Universe.

Jeremy Haun and Mike Tiserand's Chaos Agent
Alex Grecian and Phil Hester's Middleton
B Clay Moore and Chris Mitten's Old Dog
Seth M Peck And Tigh Walker's Hellbent
And all four writers collaborate on The Ninth Life Of Solomon Gunn, with art by Haun. Their Kickstarter campaign begins Monday.

We wrap up with  2 recent Marvel Now! Press conferences give us details on books that are shaking up the way superhero stories are told and made. First Dennis Hopeless gives us the lowdown on Avengers Arena . The series takes a page from the Battle Royale template of pitting 15 heroes against each other in deathmatches. Then, Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie and editor Lauren Sankovich talk about Young Avengers. The former team from Image's PHONOGRAM (including co-art chores from Mike Norton and Colorist Matt Wilson) take the YA team in a new direction with Kid Loki joining the roster, and a dynamic layout of action scenes.