Radio Free Krypton

Karl Kerschl of Montreal tells Justin and Jacob about Lethal Comics, the new publisher he's starting with Andy Belanger and Cary Nord. He also shares how he uses a subscription service and Discord server to connect with fans, and why he thinks creators should learn the business and production side of comics.  Karl's works include the Eisner-winning "Abominable Charles Christopher," Eisner-nominated " ISOLA," "Gotham Academy" and his newest indie title: "Death Transit Tanager." RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. This episode was produced by Justin Chandler. 

Hosts Justin and Jacob catch up with returning guest and show-favourite Shawn Daley, author of The Bridgebuilder's Creed and TerraQuill, to talk about his chiptunes albums, how they relate to his comics, and how he almost didn't finish The Bridgebuilder's Creed at all. Originally broadcast on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. Produced by Jacob Dubé. Special thanks to Matthew Sauder.

RFK assembles a glorious panel of Filipino nerds, Christine Chua, Ally Enrile and John Mendoza, to discuss 'Trese' — the Filipino comic/new Netflix anime that merges noir storytelling with Filipino folklore.  The panel discusses what makes the show culturally unique, and how the folklore they see on screen has affected their own lives and families.  RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. This episode was produced by Justin Chandler.   

This week, hosts Justin and Jacob interview Dax Gordine. He's a Niagara cartoonist and concept artist who makes the webcomic Forest Folk. Working with Toronto's RAID comic artists collective, he's crowdfunded a print edition of 105 strips of the comic. Dax tells us about Forest Folk, which he describes as Looney Tunes meets Calvin and Hobbes, and about being on RAID's first crowdfunding campaign.  Originally broadcast on CJRU 1280AM in Toronto. Produced by Jacob Dubé.

This episode originally aired in November 2019.  You can find the article we mentioned about passing down Indigenous languages linked here.  When it comes to comics, language matters — especially in the case of Dakwäkãda Warriors. Vancouver's Cole Pauls joins Justin to discuss how his Indigenous futurist comic keeps the Southern Tutchone language alive. Much of Dakwäkãda Warriors is written in Southern Tutchone, which Pauls learned growing up in Haines Junction, Yukon. The comic, which was recently published in a collection, tells the story of two Indigenous heroes battling a cyborg Sasquatch and an evil pioneer. Cole tells Justin about his goals for the comic, his self-publishing process and the stellar party his community threw when the book came out. RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. This episode was produced by Justin Chandler.

All the way back in 1941, the first comic book ever published in Canada was released. To commemorate the occasion, Sequential Magazine has dedicated their entire latest issue to the achievement. Hosts Justin and Jacob talk to Editor-in-Chief Brendan Montgomery and comics historian Ivan Kocmarek about how it started, and where we went from there. Originally broadcast on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. Produced by Jacob Dubé.

Fell Hound, winner of the 2020 Sequential Magazine Award for Best Comic Book, joins Justin and Jacob to talk about her winning title: Commander Rao. She unpacks the kinetic revenge tale and shares how she worked with a letterer to make the book even more dynamic. RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. This episode was produced by Justin Chandler. 

Hosts Jacob and Justin talk to comic creator Luke Humphris, author of Drunk Days, a personal graphic novel detailing his struggles, and recovery from, alcoholism. We talk about writing as a way to process your feelings, toxic masculinity, and fighting a kaiju version of Ross Geller. CW: This episode deals with discussions of addiction and alcoholism. This episode was originally broadcast on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. Produced by Jacob Dubé.

Canadian academic Jordan Peterson tweeted his surprise this week after finding a reference to his work in a new Captain America comic. Jacob and Justin discuss Cap's role as a canvas to portray and critique American ideals, from his time battling Richard Nixon, to his elseworld's appearance fighting against American soldiers in Vietnam.  They also discuss The Falcon and the Winter Soldier show and replay part of a 2017 episode about the Captain America Secret Empire story.  RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. This episode was produced by Justin Chandler.  *For reference, this is the Polygon article discussed in the show.  And for more information about Peterson, see Canadaland’s helpful guide. 

Like a lot of comic creators we interview, Caryma Sa'd has a side gig. But in a first for our show, that side-gig is being a lawyer. Hosts Jacob and Justin speak to Sa'd about her editorial cartoons, criticizing the policies and actions of provincial and municipal politicians (sometimes in tutus), and how she parses the often-depressing media landscape. This episode was originally broadcast on CJRU 1280 AM . Produced by Jacob Dubé. 

host Jacob Dubé speaks with comic creator Jason Lutes about Berlin, a huge 800-page epic telling the stories of the citizens of the German capital between the two World Wars. They talk about the 22-year creation of the book and the everyday stories of those experiencing the rise of fascism in their neighbourhoods. Also, RPGs. RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. Produced by Mitchell Thompson.

Justin speaks to Timmins author Davis Dewsbury, founder of Great North Comics and the co-creator of Auric, a Northern Ontario superhero whose newest story comes out soon.  Auric is a man blessed with the power to turn into a beast after a Northern Goddess rewards his bravery. The new book features seven artists and is told without dialogue. Unlike the other issues in the series, it's a survival story as opposed to a superhero one.  Davis tells Justin about the challenge of working on a book with so many artists, and about why he feels like he's representing Northern Ontario whenever he makes comics.  RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. This episode was produced by Justin Chandler. 

Friend of the show Christine Chua joins Justin and Jacob for a rousing chat about the future of Marvel movies and TV.  Does the wonderfully weird WandaVision signal a shift? If movie continuity gets complicated like its source material, will it still be accessible? How is Christine surviving without movies and comic conventions?  This woman needs to cosplay!  RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. This episode was produced by Jacob Dubé. 

Blast from the past! Former co-host Mitchell Thompson returns for an interview with neuroscientist Rodrigo Quian Quiroga, responsible for the discovery of the  "Jennifer Aniston neuron", a concept that examines how memories are formed, stored, and connected in our minds. Mitchell and Rodrigo discuss how these ideas can come to form in sci-fi epics like Blade Runner, Robocop, and Planet of the Apes.  Originally broadcast on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. Produced by Mitchell Thompson.

When Howard Wong was bedridden with germs from his kid's daycare, an utterance from his friend Josh Stafford inspired the two to make a horror comic about flesh-eating children. They tell Justin and Jacob how writing the book tested their comfort levels, and its eerie similarities to the pandemic.  RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. This episode was produced by Justin Chandler. 

The comic industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with independent creators feeling it the most. But throughout the year, we've heard inspiring stories from many creators who are trying to make it work despite it all. In this episode, we revisit our interview with Eric Kostiuk Williams on writing comics about COVID loneliness, and our talk with Sylvia Nickerson about gentrification and art in Hamilton. This episode was originally broadcast on CJRU 1280 AM. Produced by Jacob Dubé.

Translating comics is an immersive, sensory and sometimes musical experience — at least the way Helge Dascher and Robin Lang do it.  The two tell Jacob and Justin how they worked together to translate Quebec author Sophie Bédard's book "Lonely Boys" from French to English. They also share some trade secrets. RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. This episode was produced by Justin Chandler.  Radio Free Krypton wishes you a safe and healthy holiday season! 

Hosts Justin and Jacob speak with Canadian comic creator Dakota McFazdean about his new collection of short stories, To Know You're Alive, that features some new and old stories of his. We talk about writing about the weirdness of childhood, and the new perspectives of parenting. Originally broadcast on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. Produced by Jacob Dubé.

Pandemic, racism, mental illness, polarization — another day in 2020 and a new album for Toronto rapper More or Les.  He tells RFK the stories behind the songs in his 15th album, "Human Condition," about writing rhymes to suit our time, and the challenges of sharing one's feelings.  RFK airs first on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. You can support the station in its annual fund drive by going to store.cjru.ca!  This episode was produced by Justin Chandler.

You know the scene in the superhero movie where the hero is inspired to do good by reading another comic book? What happens when that occurs in real life?  This week, Justin speaks to author Peter Nowak about his new book, The Rise of Real-Life Superheroes and the Fall of Everything Else, about the deep and sometimes complicated world of real-world caped crusaders.  Originally broadcast on CJRU 1280 AM in Toronto. Produced by Jacob Dubé. Stay tuned for the CJRU fund drive, starting Nov. 13!