Interviews with writers & artists who create comic books and graphic novels
Episodes
Thursday Mar 28, 2019
Thursday Mar 28, 2019
Know, Oh Prince that in the waning days of winter hither came to Creator Talks Mahmud Anjum Asrar, artist on Conan The Barbarian!
Mahmud is also the co-creator along with Jay Faerber of the series Dynamo 5.
Mahmud grew up in Turkey and we begin our conversation with what it was like going to school there.
We also discuss art school and how studying animation and sculpting helps with his comic art today.
Mahmud tells us his favorite Conan artist and how that person influences his approach to drawing Conan for Marvel Comics.
Mahmud tells the story of when he was offered the Conan art job and what it is like working with writer Jason Aaron and colorist Matthew Wilson.
What is Mahmud’s future plan for his own creations? It’s not a sword and sorcery tale!
How does he manage to get anything done at home, and who is his greatest supporter and greatest critic?
Discover the answer to these questions and more in my Kicking Back With The Creator segment.
At the close of this interview, I announce a new feature of the podcast making its debut next week!
Please take a moment to rate Creator Talks on iTunes:
This episode is sponsored The Comic Book Shop, where comics as for everyone
Thursday Mar 21, 2019
Thursday Mar 21, 2019
My guest on today’s show undertook the enormous task of writing a graphic novel version of the strangest movie never made.
Writer Josh Frank presents the all signing, all talking Giraffes on Horseback Salad, a graphic novel published by Quirk Books, which is based on the undeveloped screenplay by Salvador Dali for The Marx Brothers.
It is the fantastical tale of a businessman named Jimmy who finds himself drawn to the mysterious Surrealistic Woman, a figure whose very presence can transform reality. With the help of The Marx Brothers, Jimmy tries to join her strange world, but the forces of normalcy seek to end their romance.
The book is a must-read for fans of Salvador Dali or The Marx Brothers or both.
The author Josh Frank is a life-long fan of The Marx Brothers and did extensive research for the book, including having Dali’s hand written script and film treatment translated.
Where additional Marx Brothers gags were needed to complete Dali’s unfinished script, Josh enlisted the talent of Tim Heidecker of the Tim and Eric Show.
Spanish artist Manuela Pertega provided the surrealistic illustrations for the graphic novel.
Josh discusses how he became interested in little unknown pop culture history, which ultimately led to his crowning achievement to date, Giraffes on Horseback Salad.
How have The Marx Brothers comic genius and sense of anarchy influenced later comedy filmmakers?
How did Harpo Marx and Salvador Dali strike a friendship?
Where was Salvador Dali in his life at the time he and Harpo made the film pitch to MGM?
And how did Dali’s current outlook influence the obstacles Jimmy was so desperate to over come in the screenplay?
How does Josh’s day, or rather night job, dovetail with his passion for classic films?
Which of The Marx Brothers’ films is Josh’s personal favorite, and which is the most underrated? And how the heck does Zeppo figure into all of it?
All this and more in my Kicking Back With The Creator segment!
Please take a moment to rate Creator Talks on iTunes
About the book Giraffes on Horseback Salad
This episode is sponsored The Comic Book Shop, where comics as for everyone
Thursday Mar 14, 2019
Thursday Mar 14, 2019
Fans of crime noir will especially enjoy today’s guest, storyteller Palle Schmidt from Copenhagen, Denmark.
We begin our conversation discussing Palle’s favorite noir film recommendations and the must see experimental hippie village of Christiania.
You may know Palle’s work as an artist on the Chris Miskiewicz penned comic series Thomas Alsop published by Boom! Studios in 2014.
Palle tells how he first met Chris at the MOCCA Arts Festival and eventually partnered with him on Thomas Alsop.
His latest comic Stiletto No.1 Officer Down is a spin-off of his previous work The Devil’s Concubine.
Palle provides the basic plot and character profiles of Detectives Alphonse and Maynard. He also explains how he created the illustrations and how the look of Stiletto No. 1 Officer Down differs from The Devil’s Concubine.
Palle is also a podcast host and I ask about his a ten-part series Comics for Beginners which he developed to assist comic creators through the process of making comics.
He also has a second ongoing podcast Plotcast in which he has conversations with local writers about writing.
Also during our conversation Palle discuss the benefits he found of working in a studio with other creators and later working from home.
In the Kicking Back With The Creator segment, we find out what Palle considers the best film noir ever made, the posters he had on his bedroom wall and the oddest job he ever had.
Please take a moment to rate Creator Talks on iTunes
About Palle Schmidt
About the Comics for Beginners podcast
About Stiletto No. 1 Officer Down
This episode is sponsored by The Comic Book Shop
Monday Mar 11, 2019
Monday Mar 11, 2019
As we take up our path in life, we meet people along the way that turn out to be our teachers and mentors.
My guest Rob Jones has been taught by and mentored by some of comic's greats.
Rob learned from Brian Stelfreeze how to color and interned with Dick Giordano.
Rob has work on comic books, children’s books, books covers and the occasional newspaper strip. He is also is the 2018 Image winning campaign for the Library Foundation of Sarasota County.
Today Rob and I talk about his mentors, how he got involved in children’s books including one he is working on now based on his dog, titled Rambo To The Rescue.
He currently has a Kickstarter running until April 3rd for the second issue of his three part series Highspot.
It is the story of stunt performer Kate Carter who loves adventure and archaeology. In issue #2 Kate and the gang are on their way to find the remains of Alexander the Great.
Why does Rob reference Theodore Roosevelt as a heroic model in the series, and why did he decide to make Alexander The Great the focus of Kate’s mission?
We also talk about his other comic book collaborations on Strong Will and Mine. Plus Rob discusses how other creators who paid it forward inspired him to do the same.
We close our discussion Kicking Back with the Creator to learn more about Rob.
Special Offer for Creator Talks Listeners:
If you back Rob’s Kickstarter and get a physical reward he will do a free 6 x 9 head/bust sketch of any character you would like if you mention the interview. A 6 x 9 sketch backer reward is $40 but you will get one for free even if you get the $5, $10 or $15 book options. If do order any of the sketch options you get 2 sketches
Please take a moment to rate Creator Talks on iTunes:
About the Highspot #2 Kickstarter
This episode is sponsored The Comic Book Shop, where comics as for everyone
Thursday Mar 07, 2019
Thursday Mar 07, 2019
Creator Talks spotlights writers and artists working in comic books and other mediums. On today’s show I have just such a guest who produces illustrations for comics and books.
Rachel Perciphone Kilbury creates fantasy/sci-fi illustrations and cover art portraying strong, diverse characters within fantastical and colorful worlds.
I met Rachel at the New Jersey Comic Expo, and you can hear her first interview with me from the con floor on episode #5 of Creator Talks.
Rachel earned a BFA from Moore College of Art and Design and currently works for comic book publisher.
Among her credits are coloring “Phantom Flight” in the It Was Metal Anthology OGN, written by Josh Swartz and Jeremiah Jay with art by Bob Hall (The Avengers, Shadowman).
Her other work includes “Twisted Endings-Snow White” for Infected by Art Volume 6, the cover for Knightmares by G.A. Finocchiaro and a chapter in the upcoming Cosmic Love a Red Stylo comic anthology inspired by Florence + The Machine.
We talk about how the idea for Cosmic Love came to her, and how she feels about doing commissions at comic cons.
Do you like set goals each year? Do you find it difficult to reach them?
We talk about how Rachel set her goals for 2019, how she tracks them, and makes it manageable to obtain them when life gets in the way.
And when I Kick Back With The Creator, we talk flaming spatulas and salt lines!
Please take a moment to rate Creator Talks on iTunes:
More about The Creator:
https://www.rachelperciphone.com/
More About Cosmic Love:
This episode is sponsored The Comic Book Shop, where comics as for everyone
http://www.thecomicbookshop.com/
Thursday Feb 28, 2019
Thursday Feb 28, 2019
One of the greatest action shows of the 1970s was The Six Million Dollar Man.
Dynamite Entertainment is releasing a new comic series this March written by Christopher Hasting with art by David Hahn.
David is my guest on this show and we talk about The Six Million Dollar Man comic and 1970s!
Among David’s art credits are Batman ‘66 Meets The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Batman ‘66 and Wonder Woman ’77, Bite Club, Fables, and Lucifer.
Was David a big fan of the Batman television series in the 1960s? We find out!
We talk about Impossible Jones, a grim and gritty plastic-man style super-hero co-created by Karl Kesel and David Hahn coming as a Kickstarter this spring.
David is also currently working on a web comic with writer Paul Guinan (Boilerplate: History’s Mechanical Marvel) titled Aztec Empire.
Aztec Empire is Paul’s graphic novel series, which recounts the fall of the mightiest empire of the America’s only three years after the Spanish arrived in Mexico during the 16-century.
As a freelance artist, what keeps David awake at night?
What does David love about story telling that keeps him sticking with it?
David was one of the co-founders of Helioscope Studios (formerly Periscope) and tells the story of when a former guest on Creator Talks popped by the studio in Portland!
Does David miss being in the studio? And who would win in a fight, a Shaolin Monk or a Cave Man?
In my Kicking Back With The Creator segment, I ask David what obsolete 1970s technology he misses the most, and in his opinion what was the best movie of the1970s.
Please take a moment to rate Creator Talks on iTunes:
More about David Hahn:
About The Six Million Dollar Man comic:
https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513027766401011
About the Aztec Empire series:
https://www.bigredhair.com/books/aztec-empire/about/
This episode is sponsored The Comic Book Shop, where comics as for everyone
http://www.thecomicbookshop.com/
Thursday Feb 21, 2019
Thursday Feb 21, 2019
Last week Ethan Nicolle, the artist on Appalachian Apocalypse! (Cave Pictures) was my guest.
This episode the writer of the series Billy Tucci is in the spotlight.
How is Billy’s zombie story different in terms of the plague’s origin and how faith is connected to the means to fight it? Who is the stories hero and how does his faith play a role?
We talk no only about it but also, mostly notably Sgt. Rock The Lost Battalion (DC) for which Billy was bestowed a special ambassadorship.
We will reflect upon his creator-owned property Shi that celebrates 25 years. Her next story is coming this spring through a Kickstarter Billy will launch for Return of The Warrior.
You can get a taste of Shi: Return of The Warrior by pledging for the exclusive ash can only available through Billy’s current Kickstarter Zombie Sama, running now until March 1st. The project has already met its initial funding and 1st stretch level goals!
In Kicking Back With The Creator, Billy answers my questions and we find out how close last week’s guest Ethan Nicolle was to guessing what Billy would answer.
Time Marks:
Sgt. Rock: The Lost Battalion 02:12 - 09:53
Appalachian Apocalypse! 14:10 - 22:30
Zombie Sama 22:-31 - 29:07
Shi: Return of The Warrior 29:08 - 34:24
Please take a moment to rate Creator Talks on iTunes:
More about The Creator:
http://www.crusadefinearts.com/index.php/
About Appalachian Apocalypse!:
https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/JAN191784
About the Kickstarter:
Zombie Sama
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1891522321/billy-tuccis-zombie-sama-graphic-novel-with-john-b
This episode is sponsored The Comic Book Shop, where comics as for everyone
Thursday Feb 14, 2019
Thursday Feb 14, 2019
Thursday Feb 07, 2019
Thursday Feb 07, 2019
Meredith Finch, writer of Wonder Woman (DC), Rose (Image Comics) and Xena (Dynamite Entertainment) returns to talk about her upcoming mini-series The Light Princess published through Cave Pictures Publishing.
George McDonald wrote the story of The Light Princess in 1864. McDonald was a Scottish minister and today is considered the godfather of fantasy.
How does Meredith plan to address the themes of love, sacrifice and redemption found his the story?
The art team on the five-part series is Renae DeLiz and Ray Dillon; the same team that illustrated The Legend of Wonder Woman. We talk about the incredible hand lettering using throughout the series
How has Meredith’s approach to writing evolved and matures since she produced her first work published through Zenescope?
Why did she decide to write a blog about her Christian faith experience? How is it connected to the comic books that she writes?
When I Kick Back with The Creator, Meredith and I take a deeper dive into my fun questions I ask all my guests.
Please take a moment to rate Creator Talks on iTunes:
More about Meredith Finch’s Spiritual Blog:
About The Light Princess:
https://previewsworld.com/Catalog/DEC181766
This episode is sponsored The Comic Book Shop, where comics as for everyone
http://www.thecomicbookshop.com/
Tuesday Feb 05, 2019
Tuesday Feb 05, 2019