Interviews with writers & artists who create comic books and graphic novels
Episodes
Thursday Apr 16, 2020
Thursday Apr 16, 2020
My guest Veilbor Stanjavic, aka Well-Bee for Marvel's X written by Alex Ross and Jim Krueger.
Well-Bee grew up in Serbia during the 1990s and he shares how difficult it was during that period of the country's history. We discuss how he managed to get into comic despite their sporadic distribution during the war years, talk about his father's Western comic book collection, and going to school to study art.
Well-Bee was not always encouraged to pursue his dream to be a comic book artist and we find out why.
What comics did Well-Bee enjoy reading?
How was he introduced to the Earth X comic books and how did he brake into comics professionally?
I close the interview Kicking Back With The Creator and ask Well-Bee the fun questions I ask all my guests.
Thursday Apr 02, 2020
Thursday Apr 02, 2020
Let's get away from all the Covid-19 talk and go back to happier days for my fun interview with artist Bob Q.
This one is sure to lift your spirit!
Bob is currently working on Captain America (Marvel Comics) and Red Sonja (Dynamite Entertainment). Besides that he is the got-to-guy when publishers need to get the art on a comic book done and done right.
Bob has also illustrated other series including Lone Ranger: The Devil's Rope, James Bond Origin, and Green Hornet 66 Meets The Spirit for Dynamite Entertainment.
We talk about a cool museums we have visited, how L.A. has changed since Bob moved there many years ago and the comic conventions we had planned to visit this spring which are now being rescheduled.
I discuss with Bob some of his other projects, including his creator-owned work and the art he designed for a unique brand of coffee.
We also talk about two other projects Bob's Drawing Challenge on YouTube and as a helping hand behind-the-scenes for Ms. Q's podcast Boos and Brews.
I wrap up Kicking Back With the Creator and ask Bob the fun questions I ask all my guests. Enjoy!
Thursday Mar 19, 2020
Thursday Mar 19, 2020
Sam Johnson is back to tell us how to get on board the Geek-Girl Kickstarter running through March 31st 2020for issues 6 & 7.
Wait, there's more. A plethora of special variant covers, a trade collection of previous issues and digital editions offered as well.
And you don't even have to leave you house to get 'em!
Geek-Girl has been part of the independent comic super-hero landscape for over 10 years.
What is the secret to Sam's success?
Hint: there is no substitute for planning, promotion and hard work.
Just for fun we also talk about Brexit, the woes of technology and some of the mainstream comics Sam is currently reading.
Thursday Mar 12, 2020
Thursday Mar 12, 2020
J.M. DeMatteis joins Creator Talks to tease us about his upcoming Star Trek one-shot Hell's Mirror available March 18th through IDW.
We learn about working series artist Matthew Dow Smith and what else may be on the horizon for these two creators.
J.M. shares his throughs about the Original Star Trek Series and seeing the great William Shatner perform at a Star Trek convention.
Also discussed is J.M.'s CW Seed animated story Deathstroke "Knights and Dragons" and his upcoming animated adaptation of Superman: Red Son.
Get J.M.'s thoughts on writing characters with whom he was not initially familiar and how that challenge further developed his writing skills.
J.M. talks about the character with whom he is most familiar, Spider-Man, and which story he wrote was his favorite. Hint: it was not Kraven's Last Hunt, this story is not available as a trade. Want it to be? We tell how fans can help make that happen!
Christopher also talks about one his favorite Captain America stories featuring Deathlok. J.M. explains how Mark Gruenwald had a hand in making that run happen.
Finally I Kick Back With The Creator for all of my fun questions to learn more about J.M.
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More About Hell's Mirror
Thursday Mar 05, 2020
Thursday Mar 05, 2020
Nicola Cuti had a creative carrier that spanned over 50 years.
He wrote hundreds of horror stories for Warren Magazines Creepy, Eerie and Vampirella.
Nick was also the co-creator of E-Man published through Charlton Comics. In addition, he was created Moon Child, Starflake, and Captain Cosmos.
Nicolas Cuti left our world on Friday, February 21st 2020, after a battle with cancer.
This interview with Creator Talks took place on the evening of Friday, January 17th and Sunday morning, January 19th 2020.
During our interview, I learned how Nick first became a storyteller out of necessity as a young boy.
Nick shares how he made his first break into comics with the story Grub and favorite horrors stories he wrote for Warren Publishing.
What was it like working at Charlton Comics in the early 1970s and how did the development of E-Man come about with co-creator Joe Staton?
We also talk about his cult sci-fi classic Spanner's Galaxy illustrated by Tom Mandrake.
Nick recalls many of the people he has the pleasure to work with including Louise Simonson, Russ Heath, Len Wein, Bernie Wrightson, Tom Mandrake and Joe Staton.
Did you know Nick was an animation background designer for several major studios? He reflect upon that period of his career.
When I Kick Back With The Creator, Nick answers the questions I like to ask all my guests, including how Nick would want to be remembered.
Nick will have stories published in future issues of The Creeps and Warrant's new magazine Carmilla coming in November 2020.
Given the prolific story teller that Nick was, I hope there will be new stories of his published for years to come.
Closing music is from Captain Cosmos.
Thursday Feb 27, 2020
Thursday Feb 27, 2020
My guest is none other than Evan "Doc" Shaner.
Doc was the artist on issues of Adventures of Superman, Doom Patrol, Future Quest and The Terrifics. Before he became exclusive to DC, Doc also drew Flash Gordon and Kings Watch for Dynamite Entertainment,
Does Doc like being an exclusive artist for DC? Does he find it limiting?
We talk about one dream project he would love to do for DC and a dream cross-over with another publisher.
Doc has worked with several very talented colorist over the years. Why did he decide to color the twelve-part series Strange Adventures himself? He talks about working on the book with writer Tom King, artist Mitch Gerads and how he and Mitch's art will work together to tell the story.
We also talk about his favorite newspaper comic strips growing up and what he reads today.
Why did Doc decide to switch his career path from playing trumpet to becoming an artist? And how did he get the nick name "Doc"?
When I Kick Back With The Creator I learn what would be Doc's action figure accessory (it's not a pencil!), his beverage of choice and what he knows now he wished he knew when he was younger.
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More about Strange Adventures#1 on sale March 4th 2020
Thursday Feb 13, 2020
Thursday Feb 13, 2020
Matt Mair Lowery returns to Creator Talks to let us in on what is happening with Lifeformed published though Dark Horse Comics.
We learn about on the online short story Party Crasher and the second volume of Lifeformed: Hearts and Minds released September 2019.
What's new? Matt worked with two new collaborators on the short stories Adorable Orphans and Drones. Both of these, as well as Party Crasher, will be available at Emerald City Comic Con 2020 art Matt's table. If you are going to the con, stop by Matt's table say hi and get these limited editions!
How does original Twilight Zone influence Matt's writing? We discuss the impact of this classic sci-fi series and why it is still relevant today.
When I Kick Back With The Creator, Matt answers a few of my latest fun questions, plus find which moment was a turning point in his life.
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Thursday Jan 30, 2020
Thursday Jan 30, 2020
Todd Nauck is feverishly working away on a new Gwen Stacy series and he joins Creator Talks to give us an update. The series is the origin of Gwen Stacy, before she met Peter Parker in Amazing Spider-Man #31.
Gwen Stacey is written by Christos Gage with interior art by Todd and covers by Adam Hughes. Issue #1 goes on sale February 12, 2020.
Will Spider-Man, his friends and foes appear in the series? Find out here!
If Todd were to make a comic book of his origin story, what would he include?
Todd and I discuss how he creates his comic art, his home studio and his YouTube channel.
We also talk about the reading, caring and feeding of our comics and collecting original art.
What special page of original comic art does Todd cherish?
When I Kick Back With The Creator I ask Todd what he likes for recreation, his favorite birthday, beverage of choice, and what advice he would give to young Todd Nauck. And what moment was a major turning point in his life?
All this is much more on this episode of Creator Talks.
Thursday Jan 09, 2020
Thursday Jan 09, 2020
Dave Chisholm earned a doctorate from the Eastman School of Music, a professional trumpet player and the writer/artist of Canopus being published through Scout Comics. The first issue of this four-part series is on sale February 12, 2020.
Canopus about an amnesiac astronaut,Helen Sterling, who wakes up 3,000 light years from earth with a vague memory of an extinction level urgency to return to earth. Trying to return by collecting materials on the planet to repair her ship she encounters her memories in the form of monsters.
The comic has received praise from J.H. Williams III (Batwoman, Promethea Where We Live)
How did Dave connect with J.H.?
Why did Dave decide to start making his own comics?
What book did he read that changed the way he thinks?
What moment was a turning point in his life?
And we Kick Back with the Creator to learn even more about Dave.
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Thursday Dec 26, 2019
Thursday Dec 26, 2019
Join host Christopher Calloway and artist Emily Pearson for the Creator Talks last podcast of 2019!
Emily's first professional comic art assignments had her join forces with writer Vita Ayala on The Wilds and Pat Shad on Snap Flash Hustle (Black Mask Studios).
Emily also contributed covers to Going to the Chapel (Action Labs) written by David Pepose.
We discuss her next big project coming in 2020, Bonding, written Matthew Erman. Bonding is part of Vault Comics new MYRIAD line which consists of middle grade (MG) and young adult (YA) graphic novels.
Emily contributed to two Kickstarters, which addressed physical and mental illness: Corpus and Everything is Going Wrong: Comics on Punk and Mental Illness.
Why were these projects special to Emily?
We talk about breaking comfort zones at comic cons and what are some of the ones coming up on the West Coast next year.
All this plus: The real reason Christopher watched The Munsters as a kid, Going to California, Kicking Back With The Creator and Baby New Year makes an unscheduled cameo!
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