Let Me Know How It Is

Smells Like Teen Heroes

Very few concepts in comics have been as revolutionary as the introduction of the teenage superhero. Their introduction has opened the door to many new creative opportunities for tension and drama. On the cusp of a marvel event focusing on their stable of young heroes, the panel unpacks the idea of the teenage hero to try and understand just what makes it so darn successful.

Batman 1940: And 80 years of Cats, Birds, and Jokes

Creating something that maintains its relevance for 80 years is a remarkable achievement, and this year three enduring characters will reach that milestone. The Joker, Catwoman, and Robin: three characters that have pierced the zeitgeist of the pop culture outside of comics and three characters deeply important to the world of Batman -- but which of these three is the most important? The panel tries to parse through almost 100 years of story to find the answer.

March Animation Madness! - Part Three

The exciting conclusion of Animation Madness is here! The panel thought it would be fun to introduce their own style of March Madness with a tournament to crown their favorite cartoon series of all time. We started with 64 and now we've made it down to the Elite 8! Tune in to part three to find out which show gets crowned the winner! Be sure to listen to Part One and Part Two first, if you haven't already.

March Animation Madness! - Part Two

Animation Madness Continues! The panel thought it would be fun to introduce their own style of March Madness this year with a tournament to crown their favorite animated show of all time. What started as 64 great cartoons has now been painfully whittled down to 32. This is Part Two (of three) and showcases The Round of 32 followed by the Sweet 16!  Listen and find out which of your favorites survives to move on! Be sure to listen to Part One first, if you haven't already.

March Animation Madness! - Part One

The panel thought it would be fun to introduce their own style of March Madness this year with a tournament to crown their favorite animated show of all time. The panel will match up 64 of the best cartoon series out there as they comb through each matchup until only one victor is left standing.  This is Part One (of three) and showcases all of the first round matchups.

Covering Covers

The Comic Cover: The very first thing we see on the shelves. So often it can be the deciding factor in whether we pick up that issue or not. But what is it about them that pulls us in? What is it that entices us, excites us, turns us off, or makes us not notice it in the first place? The panel goes in deep discussing the role of the comic book cover in the past and present. 

To see a gallery of many of the covers we discuss in this episode, please visit the page for this episode at our website.

With J.M. DeMatteis

J.M. DeMatteis has had an extensive career as a writer in comics, tv, and animation. Best known for his legendary run on Justice League International with collaborators Keith Giffen and Kevin Maguire, as well as the seminal Spider-Man story Kraven’s Last Hunt with Mike Zeck. We talk to him about some of his latest, exciting animation projects including the Warner Brothers produced Animated Film Superman: Red Son, which will be released on Blu-Ray March 17th.

Thanks for the Support(ing Characters)

What defines a hero? Is it their power set? Is it their origin story? One can argue that the people that they surround themselves with play an important part. The panel takes a look at supporting casts and why they are so essential to fleshing out the world of a hero.

The Graphic Novel Collection

The advent of the trade paperback or graphic novel collection created a huge shift in the comic business.  It was an easier way to attract new readers through these easily packaged collected editions rather than overwhelm them with the daunting numbering system of individual issues. But has the graphic novel collection affected the comic business in more ways than just sales?  The panel examines the possible upsides and downsides to the graphic novel or trade paperback collection?

Re-Re-Reboots

When a franchise reboots, it's often a polarizing subject among fans. Sometimes the reset button is pushed well before a franchise has explored every avenue and fully run its course. While other times, starting with a clean slate can be a way of injecting some much needed new energy into a franchise. Our panel discusses the subject of reboots and tries to uncover just how necessary a tool they are for creators.