Interviews with writers & artists who create comic books and graphic novels
Episodes
Thursday Jan 31, 2019
Thursday Jan 31, 2019
Freelance writer Caleb Palmquist returns to talk about his next science fiction comic book A Small Favor: Welcome To Earth World.
His first publication, A Small Favor Volume 1 was successfully funded as Kickstarter project back in 2017and it raised over $3,400.
The follow up Welcome to Earth World is a 20 page one-shot, the perfect jumping on point to introduce new readers to James and his A.I. companion Liz.
We had our conversation prior to launching the books Kickstarter, and already the project is over 70% funded with 20 days to go as of the release of this podcast.
Since we last spoke, I ask Caleb how his day job as a middle teacher is faring.
What did Caleb learn about his first comic book that changed his approach to the next release?
Why did he reduce the number of rewards for backers?
Caleb shares a bit of trivia about Orson Wells and we talk about his favorite movies and island book.
We also talk about a technology that is quickly becoming outdated, and why Caleb cannot stop buying more of these products!
A special note about today’s episode, it’s being release on Caleb’s birthday. So please wish him a happy birthday (on Twitter its @smallfavorcomic) and share his interview with a friend who likes comics and sci-fi!
This episode is sponsored The Comic Book Shop, where comics as for everyone
http://www.thecomicbookshop.com/
More about the author:
About the Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/918197022/a-small-favor-welcome-to-earth-world
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Thursday Jan 24, 2019
Thursday Jan 24, 2019
The United States is a nation sharply divided by political ideology. Left versus right, liberal versus conservative. We have even formed geographic boundaries around the dominant political position of a region. In daily parlance we speak of blue big cites and red rural areas.
My guest today is comic book writer and artist Tim Seeley. Having lived in both urban and rural areas, Tim has experienced first hand the frustration and political division between demographically divided denizens.
Tim focuses his creative energy on exploring this division through his upcoming comic book Dark Red published by Aftershock Comics.
It is the story of Charles “Chip” Ipswich. He has a dead-end job in a rural area in the middle of the country with no prospects — until a very special woman comes to town. This twist: Chip is a vampire.
We begin by discussing the state of the comic book industry. Next Tim shares his thoughts on the rural / urban political divide and how it influenced Dark Red.
I conclude my interview with Tim by “Kicking Back with the Creator”: how Tim relaxes, his choice of island book and the oddest job he ever had that allowed him to develop one of his comics.
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More about Tim Seeley:
https://www.timseeleycreative.com/
About Dark Red:
https://previewsworld.com/Article/222384-AfterShocks-Dark-Red-Explores-A-Vampire-In-Rural-America
This episode is sponsored The Comic Book Shop, where comics as for everyone
http://www.thecomicbookshop.com/
Thursday Jan 17, 2019
Thursday Jan 17, 2019
George Thoroughgood, Valeria Bertinelli and Aubrey Plaza are three of Delaware’s own who work in the arts.
Being added to that list beginning in March is writer Lela Gwenn. She is publishing her first book though Dark Horse Comics titled Bad Luck Chuck.
It is the story of Charlene who was born with the ability to create bad luck for people and decides to monetize that ability. This is when her luck turns takes a turn for the worse.
Lela describes the book as a “slapstick noir”, a mix of comedy and drama.
The title is being released March 27th with a final order cut off of March 4th.
The amazing creative roster on the mini-series includes Matthew Dow Smith on art, Kelly Fitzpatrick on colors and Frank Cvetkovic on letters.
How did Lela’s story evolve from just a few pages into a four issues series?
Lela explains how networking at comic cons ultimately led to a publishing deal for Bad Luck Chuck.
Lela also discusses a few important causes that provide support to those suffering from physical and emotional pain.
She has dealt with one issue in particular that affects over 200,000 women in the U.S. every year. She shares her own struggle with this condition during our interview.
In our fun questions segment, Lela talks about traveling to Jamaica, the oddest job she ever had, and running long distance races back in the day.
This episode is sponsored The Comic Book Shop, where comics as for everyone
http://www.thecomicbookshop.com/
More about Lela Gwenn:
About Bad Luck Chuck:
https://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/3004-112/Bad-Luck-Chuck-1
Please take a moment to rate Creator Talks on iTunes:
Thursday Jan 10, 2019
Thursday Jan 10, 2019
Thursday Jan 03, 2019
Thursday Jan 03, 2019
Whether you are comic book reader, a fan of classic rock or both, my guest today is both the writer of a new comic book and professional in the music business.
Jeff Rougvie is the author of the revenge fantasy, Gunning For Hits being released through Image Comics January 9th, the day after David Bowie’s birthday.
Why is its proximity to David Bowie birthday significant?
Well, Jeff Rougvie worked at Rykodisc as their A&R and Special Projects employee. His first task was to obtain the rights to David Bowie’s 1969-1980 catalogue of music. He produced the Grammy Award winning Sound + Vision box set and the remaining Bowie disc re-releases, which for the first time included bonus tracks, through Rykodisc.
Jeff was fortunate to spent time with David Bowie in person. It was his experiences with Bowie and his knowledge of the music business that inspired him to write Gunning for Hits.
What did Jeff learn about David Bowie that surprised him?
Even though they are not considered “cool” among music listeners today, why does Jeff think their will be a CD revival in the future like the vinyl lp one today?
Why do bands re-record their most popular songs? Are they just double dipping?
What are Jeff thoughts the resurrection of deceased musical artists as holograms for live concert performances?
We also discuss the artist of Gunning For Hits, Moritat and the excellent sequence in the first issue that explains record contracts
Among the fun questions I ask my guest, we discuss our shared memory of the Salem Witch Museum.
David Bowie track samples include:
Loving the Alien
Time Will Crawl (MM remix)
Space Oddity (Demo)
Sound and Vision (1991 Remixed Version)
This episode is sponsored The Comic Book Shop, where comics as for everyone
http://www.thecomicbookshop.com/
More about Jeff Rougvie:
http://www.jeffrougvie.com/biography/
About Gunning For Hits:
https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/gunning-for-hits-1
Please take a moment to rate Creator Talks on iTunes:
Thursday Dec 27, 2018
Thursday Dec 27, 2018
For my final podcast of 2018, I have very special episode; think of it as on more Christmas present from me to unwrap under the tree!
After an epic forty-year run, ElfQuest reached its conclusion this year with The Final Quest.
On this episode the creators of ElfQuest Richard and Wendy Pini join me.
Richard was a Marvel Zombie back in the in 1960s and we talk about how he met Wendy through a Marvel comic.
What ever happened to the first stories Wendy ever made as a child?
Wendy talks about her first published comic work. How did she land the job?
Wendy reflects on her television appearance on the Mike Douglas Show in 1977 and also what happened off camera.
Richard explains why he left his job at IBM to focus on ElfQuest and why it was necessary to found WaRP Graphics.
What important advice do Richard and Wendy give to artists about their portfolio reviews?
And what lies ahead for Richard, Wendy, and ElfQuest in 2019?
I conclude with the fun questions I ask my guests, and Richard and Wendy handled them with both humor and aplomb!
This is episode is sponsored by The Comic Book Shop in Wilmington Delaware:
http://www.thecomicbookshop.com
Wendy and Richard’s Website where you can read ElfQuest:
Please take a moment to rate Creator Talks on iTunes:
Thursday Dec 20, 2018
Thursday Dec 20, 2018
This is episode is sponsored by The Comic Book Shop in Wilmington, Delaware
http://www.thecomicbookshop.com
Kickstarter for Lifeline
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/306932693/lifeline-a-graphic-novel?ref=user_menu
Please take a moment to rate Creator Talks on iTunes:
Thursday Dec 13, 2018
Thursday Dec 13, 2018
The idea for Harken's Raiders, a story set during World War Two, was the brainchild of army veteran Allen Cordrey.
Allen enlisted the services of two comic book veterans: Ron Marz to script the story and Darryl Banks to illustrate it. Harken's Raider's will be a 9" x 13" 64-page hard cover original graphic novel published by Ominous Press. The publication of the OGN is being crowd funded through a Kickstarter campaign that ends December 21st.
In addition to the book, Darryl talks about the Kickstarter reward Black Book: The Art of Darryl Banks, the fifth in a series of artist books by Ominous Press. (17:07-19:19)
Ron provides an update on volume two of Beasts of the Black Hand Volume 2, a hard cover OGN that will be in the same format as Harkin's Raiders.
Beast of the Black Hand Volume 1 published this year, is available as reward bundled with Harkin's Raiders. (19:19-21:10)
Ron Marz also discusses writing Turok coming January 2019 through Dynamite Entertainment. (23:26-27:20)
Ron read mainly war stories when he first reading comics rather super-heroes. Why?
What did Ron learn about World War Two from his father?
How will Harken's Raiders connect with a 21st century audience?
Is the creative team of the Kyle Rainer Green Lantern less concerned about getting details of the weapons and uniforms used during World War Two accurate?
Darryl discusses developing the look of the members of Harken's Raiders, and heeds the advice given to him by Terry Austin.
During my fun questions segment we talk about beverages of choice, outdated technology we miss and the connection between Star Wars and Ron's favorite birthday. Or was it his favorite?
This is episode is sponsored by The Comic Book Shop in Wilmington Delaware
http://www.thecomicbookshop.com
Harken’s Raider’s Kickstarter
Please take a moment to rate Creator Talks on iTunes:
Thursday Dec 06, 2018
Thursday Dec 06, 2018
Is there an artist in your family? Is there more than one? What do you think the odds are of that?
Claire and Paige Connelly are sisters, twin sisters in fact. Although both have share a passion for art and followed the same academic path, each developed a unique style of art of their own.
Claire Connelly illustrates comic books, video games and storyboards. She has written, drawn and published Black Eyes and Down With the Ship among other comics.
Claire has collaborated with writer Eric Grissom on Animals and Erica Schultz (Erica credits include Dynamite Entertainment’s Charmed, Swords of Sorrow, Xena: Warrior Princess) on The Unauthorized Biography of Winston Churchill and Cheese: A Love Story.
Claire is a video game aficionado and has a penchant for old video games.
Paige Connelly is an illustrator who specializes in graphite drawings, digital illustrations and character designs.
Paige’s credits include contributions to the RPG game magazine Wayfinder and in the gallery of Dungeon and Dragon’s Against the Slave Lord book reprint. In addition, each year she publishes her sketchbook Songs of Fablewood.
What was art school like for them and how did it prepare them for life?
Without a large publisher gig, how do they promote their work? And how do they use social media?
How do they measure the success of their work?
What is one series they just started reading and highly recommend? Hint: it that just wrapped up after 40 years and was featured on NPR!
What comic project is Claire planning with Eric Schultz for 2019 involving lobsters? And why did Claire begin working with graphite?
Plus: Claire ands Paige answer the fun questions ask including a few new ones they had lots of fun answering.
This is episode is sponsored by The Comic Book Shop in Wilmington Delaware
http://www.thecomicbookshop.com
Paige Connelly’s website
http://paigeconnellyillustration.com
Claire Connelly’s website
https://www.claireconnellycomics.com
Please take a moment to rate Creator Talks on iTunes:
Thursday Nov 29, 2018
Thursday Nov 29, 2018