Pine Cone Comics Club

It's been 24 whole podcasts since our last chat with legendary comic book writer Chuck Dixon. In our latest episode Geoff talks to Chuck jump right in to the recent dust up over his op-ed piece with Paul Rivoche in the Wall Street Journal. They also chat in general about politics in comic books and the industry over the decades. Always honest and outspoken, Chuck shares his thoughts on the dominant rise of comic book films, and whether or not that translates to the growth of our favorite medium. They also spend some time chatting about the world after the apocalypse, as it relates to his fantastic Winterworld universe. Most importantly, we talk about Chuck's new crowd-funded project, Sword of Wood! This ambitious new collaboration with illustrator Estève Polls and bigtime movie producer Scott Mednick looks to build an en exciting and unique new medieval horror property from the ground up. Sword of Wood will start as a graphic novel and, if everything goes according to

From time to time we have the pleasure of hopping on the Cone Phone with a comic book creator who is not only super accomplished and renowned, but so extremely generous and insightful and open that we have trouble figuring out why they they are even talking to us. Brooklyn's own J. M. DeMatteis is an Eisner Award winning comic book writer, who has penned some of our favorite stories all time, including The Harry Osborn Saga, Formerly Known as the Justice League and Kraven's Last Hunt (among the best Spider-Man story ever written. Seriously, go read it now). He is also a candid and forthcoming man of almost superhuman pleasantness, who enjoys mentoring young creators and sharing his wealth of experience and insight into the business and craft of the c-books. DeMatteis shares with us some of his most memorable experiences in the comic book industry, his thoughts on the evolution of the biz, and his process throughout the years. As you would imagine, he has some great ins

PCCC is back and chatting up a storm. This week (well, not really this week, but this week to you) we jump into Spider-Man: Blue by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. If you haven't read this unique and moving take on Spidey, we encourage you to take some time to check it out, and discover what happens when Peter Parker discovers his latent superpowers... with the ladies. We'll be here when you get back. As usual, we discuss what we are reading, answer (hand-written) listener submitted questions, and argue about super hero power levels. Want to know about the future of mom & pop comic book stores? Well, you've come to the right place! Want to know why video games are a good gateway drug to comics? We've got you covered. Captain America and Bucky beat all four of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Why don't you grab yourself a pizza, and listen up to the cool-but-rude PCCC crew. Check out Spider-Man: Blue by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale on Comicology. Join the PCCC’s ongoing comic conversation on 

It's been over a year since we've had a chance to catch up with legendary icon, iconic legend and friend of the PCCC, Mark Waid. When we learned that Empire, one of our most favorite (and criminally slept-on) trades, was coming out of DC's out-of-print cyrosleep to live life anew under Waid's Thrillbent imprint, we had to go directly to the source. And, it turns out, we're still on speaking terms. Bonus! In addition to being pretty sweet at writing comic books, Mark is an innovator and risk-taker, whose willingness to embrace the promise of new-media publishing is laying fresh trail for creators and fans alike. Thrillbent, his digital comics collaboration with television writer/producer, John Rogers, began as a bold experiment in form and function. As it enters its third year of experimentation, Thrillbent has established itself as a unique and exciting wellspring of creative storytelling, stunning artistic talent, and innovative business practice that is being rightfully noticed

With the release of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy film set for the back end of summer, we thought it would chat about Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning's Guardians of the Galaxy. We read the first trade (well, most of us did ಠ_ಠ), and decided to sit down and chat about space raccoon, Skrulls and intergalactic evangelism. As per usual we talk about what we're reading, what we're looking forward too and how sick our rap skills are. Listener submitted questions (QODeez) will be answered, and this week's Pine Cone Fight is sure to rattle your skull! Check out Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 1 by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning available on Comixology. Join the PCCC's ongoing comic conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and YouTube Subscribe to the Pine Cone Comics Club Podcast in iTunes! If you could take a minute to give us a rating and review, we would supes appreciate it. As always, we appreciate you spreading the good word

The PCCC is back, and you know we could never be wack. After taking a lengthy hiatus, foraging for berries and charting rare birds in the Hoh Rainforest, the gang is back to serve up a very special (Enumclaw Special?), new episode of the PCCC Podcast. In this installment we discuss the first six issues of David Lapham's Ferals, in all of it's wolfey glory. This episode's Pine Cone Fight, pits everyone's favorite "Real American" against the most-goovy version of a popular superhero. We wrap it up by answering your listener submitted questions. Which superhero is most likely to cry? You'll have to listen to find out! Check out David Lapham's Ferals on Avatar Press and available on Comixology. Join the PCCC's ongoing comic conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and YouTube Subscribe to the Pine Cone Comics Club Podcast in iTunes! If you could take a minute to give us a rating and review, we would supes appreciate it. As always, we appreciate

With the home video release (is that still a thing?) of Zack Snyder’s Superman flick, Man of Steel, we are excited to bring you our previously unreleased interview with one of our very favorite guests, the legendary Dan Jurgens. Who better for Supes talk, than one of the most successful and celebrated Superman writers in modern memory? Dan’s ten year run as writer/artist on Superman includes the wildly-successful and acclaimed Death of Superman, and the epic Zero Hour crossover event (the man created Doomsday, nuff said). All that aside, he is just a mega Superman fan, and a genuinely pleasant and insightful dude. We are always happy to hear from him. Let it be known that this is a spoilerific conversation. So, if you have yet to see the movie, rush down to your local Blockbuster and snag a copy (Too soon?) then come back and listen to Geoff and Dan talk Superman cinema. Find Dan Jurgens on Twitter and at danjurgens.com! Find the PCCC on Twit

Let it be known! The PCCC is back in business, and ready to talk c-books. After taking a brief early-autumn break in order to mentally prepare for Maltoberfest 8, the gang has reassembled to push forward into comics podcasting glory! Over the course of the coming days and weeks, we will be introducing a few new faces (or voices) to our ongoing conversation, as well as bringing you more great interviews with our favorite comic book creators and cultural enthusiasts. This week, however, we are going back to basics, as Geoff N., Champ J., and C. James R.R. Nelson sit down to discuss the first two volumes of Scott Snyder's American Vampire. We dig into Snyder's refreshingly unique take on the vampire book, in the context of the American 20th century. If you're down with flappers and/or fangs, this is definitely something you need to check out. As per usual, or discussion bears the standard spoiler alert, and we would always encourage you to check out the source material before listening to a

Wordburglar? The original verb hurdler? The herb-murderin' Persia to Albererer? As part of our ongoing quest to pick the brains of comics culture's finest contributors, we were especially excited to have a chat with our pal, Wordburglar. This Toronto, by way of Halifax, rapper has been properly wrecking mics for well over a decade, and properly reading comic books for well over two. Known for his energetic delivery, deft wordplay, and Dr. Minbendingly deep-cut comic book references, Burg keeps it trill, in a way that powerfully resonates with anyone who grew up reading Larry Hama's G.I. Joe, or watching Thundercats and not realizing how shitty a cartoon it actually was. As astute fans and practitioners of the hip-hop science, we probably could have filled a podcast with tales of Burgie's freestyle prowess, or his years on the road, rocking mics, sellin' swag, and slammin' croque monsieur. Instead we take this opportunity to dig into comic fandom, 80's cartoons, BOOM! Studios, and the grea

With our homeboy Chis buddy in town, the PCCC gathers at our titular cafe home, in order talk c-books. Hang with the gang as we answer listener questions, and engage in the sacred tradition of the "Pine Cone Fight." We find out that most (but not all) of the 80's TV properties that we would like to see as comics, were already adapted as comics. There is also a lot of talk about our most and least favorite heroes and villains (as you do). Credit to the billionaire futurist, C. James Nelson, for predicting the ending of Man of Steel, a month before the theatrical release. Credit to the PCCC for waiting until 2 months after the premier to release this episode, in order to devalue that achievement. Spoiler Alert: This is a funny one. Not gonna lie. This episode's Pine Cone fights: Spider-Man vs. Aquaman, Wolverine vs. Darth Maul, Data vs. RoboCop, Starscream vs. Iron Man Find the PCCC on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and YouTube Subscribe to the Pine Cone Comi

With the release of PCCC 18, our little podcast is officially old enough to buy cigarettes! In this episode, Geoff N. from the West End goes inside the artists studio with the talented Mr. Jeremy Haun. Jeremy graciously shares with us the battles fought, lessons learned, and spoils collected along his artist's journey. We learn what it's like collecting G.I. Joes, way past the socially appropriate age (kidding, we totally already knew all about that), how a young comic book artist develops a style of their own, and why having an understanding family is key to a creator's success. In addition to being a talented and prolific artist on the uptick, Jeremy also happens to be incredibly genial and insightful and a dang pleasure to chew the fat with. Enjoy the show! Find Jeremy Haun on Twitter and at jeremyhaun.com! Keep an eye out for Jeremy's ongoing work in The Darkness, and check out the Kickstarter-funded project, Bad Karma. Find the PCCC on Twitter, Facebook, Google+&

Quiet on the set! PCCC 17 is going live! In an uncharacteristic display of singular focus and attention, the gang discusses the inaugural issue of Satellite Sam, by PCCC friend, Matt Fraction and the great Howard Chaykin. Set during the dawn of the golden age of television, this murder mystery/sex noir/period thriller sets up what promises to be a wonderfully rich and compelling tale of sex, violence, and live commercials. We discuss our initial impressions, analyze the plot, and speculate on the future of this unique and beautiful new ongoing series. At some point, we sorta just break down into fawning praise and adulation, for this brilliant little book that is worth double its weight in amateur camera club nudey pics! Needless to say, spoilers abound, so if you haven't read Satellite Sam #1, stop being a dum-dum, and go read it already! Purchase a DRM-free digital copy of Satellite Sam #1 in the format of your choice at Image Comics. Satellite Sam is also available at your local

It would be difficult to overstate how excited we were to have the opportunity to chat with Christos Gage and Mike Costa about G.I. Joe: Cobra. Among the ranks of the PCCC, these books (collected as G.I. JOE: Cobra: The Last Laugh and Serpent's Coil) are held in the highest esteem. We are forever recommending them to new, old and lapsed comic readers alike. In Cobra, Gage and Costa, along with along with artists Antonio Fuso and Sergio Carrera, construct a thrilling spy epic that offers a bold, mature new take on everyone's favorite "ruthless terrorist organization, determined to rule the world". So, we hope you will forgive us a bit of genuine fanboy enthusiasm, as Geoff chats up Chris and Mike. This interview is something we have been looking forward to for quite some time, and we couldn't be more excited to present it to you, the PCCC Massive. Fair Warning: This episode is replete with spoilers from the first two volumes of G.I

As the current writer of one of Marvel's flagship titles, Captain Marvel, Kelly Sue DeConnick continues to wow fans and critics alike, with her bold and sincere take on fan-favorite, Carol Danvers. Working alongside some of the industry's most exciting artists, including Dexter Soy, Emma Rios, and Filipe Andrade, Kelly Sue has helped catapult Captain Marvel (née Ms. Marvel) from one of the most criminally underused characters in the MU, to one of its most unique and celebrated heroes. In addition to discussing her work on Captain Marvel, Avengers Assemble, Supergirl, and 30 Days of Night, Kelly Sue offers up plenty of general insight into her creative and collaborative process. We talk about the inspiration behind the characters she writes (Carol Danvers is a young Kathleen Turner), and why she would love to pen a Modesty Blaise book. We also chat about Kelly Sue's work adapting Japanese and Korean manga for English-speaking audience

As the world prepares for the Man of Steel's return to the big screen, the PCCC sits down with the great Dan Jurgens. Dan's ten year run as writer/artist on Superman includes the wildly-successful and acclaimed Death of Superman, and the epic Zero Hour crossover event. Additionally, Dan is the creator of Booster Gold, the unique and enduring "hero who makes mistakes", and his prolific hand has been the creative force behind some of comics most enduring characters, including the JLA, Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Green Arrow, and most of the other ones, as well. Dan talks with us about his creation of the character Doomsday, who would ultimately defeat the Man of Steel, in the what is still widely regarded as the highest-profile comics event of all time. We chat about the creative collaboration that went into the Death of Superman, Funeral for a Friend, and Reign of the Supermen, epic. Also, Dan offers insight into the unique challenges and opportunities presented when writing Superma

In anticipation of our upcoming interview with comics writer and artist Dan Jurgens (to be published later this week), the PCCC assembled at the Pine Cone Cafe to discuss what is arguably the biggest comics "event" of all time. The unprecedented level of hype and media coverage surrounding The Death of Superman is something that we all remember from our youth. We were excited to crack the book as adults, and take a closer look at this game-changing trade. In addition to our discussion of Supes demise, we take a look at the current industry news, discuss the value of Free Comics Day, have another Pine Cone Fight©, and answer listener questions. So pack your bags and come take a ride on the Bloodwind, with the P Triple C. Let it be known! Send questions and comments to the PCCC on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and YouTube Subscribe to the Pine Cone Comics Club Podcast in iTunes!

The PCCC keeps it real at the Pine Cone Cafe. Sit in with the squad as we discuss (semi)current comics news, answer listener questions, and speculate on the outcome of superhero battles. We take the liberty of casting ourselves in an imaginary upcoming Phoenix Jones biopic, and cook up Silver Age animal sidekicks for our favorite heroes. We give our super-rad ideas for comic book video games (you're welcome, comics and video game industries), and talk a little bit about what we're reading. Also, Champ makes the worst Thor pun, ever. Selections from the PCCC Reading list: G.I. Joe: Cobra Silver Surfer: Rebirth of Thanos Winter Soldier The Chronicles of Solomon Kane The Private Eye Get hip. Send questions and comments to the PCCC on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and YouTube Subscribe to the Pine Cone Comics Club Podcast in iTunes!

Episode 11: in which Geoff sits down with Chicago’s own John Siuntres. In addition to his work on radio and television, John is the host of Word Balloon, the long-running, in-depth, totally badass and always fascinating comics and geek culture interview podcast. As long-time fans of John and Word Balloon, we were thrilled to have a chance to sit at the feet of the master, as he served us a heaping helping of wisdom and insight into the culture and industry of comics. From digital comics to old-time radio, from DC Editorial to Tommy Lasorda, there is way too much great conversation packed into this one! Enjoy! Check John Siuntres on his Word Balloon Podcast Find John Siuntres on Twitter, Facebook and Google+. Find the PCCC on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and YouTube Subscribe to the Pine Cone Comics Club Podcast in iTunes!

PCCC favorite, Daniel Way recently announced that he will be exiting his writing gig on Marvel’s Thunderbolts series. Last weekend, we were lucky enough to spend some time chatting with Dan, and when we asked had what he had lined up next, this is what he had to say: “One thing that I’m going to get back to focusing on is working on creator-owned stuff, which is actually where I stared… There are a lot of projects that have been simmering on the back-burner for five, six, eight years, and I finally have made the time to go back and start working on those again.” Daniel says, “the first thing out of the gate” will be the resurrection ofGun Theory, a creator-owned collaboration with artist Jon Proctor. Gun Theory was the only creator-owned title published under the short lived, Jemas-era incarnation of Marvel’s Epic imprint. Due to contract disputes and the chaos generally associated with those times, the title only lasted 2 issues. “Som

Number Nine: in which we hop on the Cone Phone with the marvelous Matt Fraction! As the writer of the universally-acclaimed, breakout hit, Hawkeye, Matt provides some keen insight into his unique take on Clint Barton, the collaborative process with artist David Aja and colorist Matt Hollingsworth, and --probably most importantly-- the origin of the Tracksuit Draculas. We also talk about some of the differences, both practical and philosophical,  between the New 52 and Marvel Now "relaunch" initiatives, what it's like to tackle three new series at once, and some of the challenges associated with following Jonathan Hickman's run on Fantastic Four and FF. Matt shares his thoughts on digital comics, their potential impact on the future of the art and industry. He also teases us with a revelation that, digital evangelist and friend of the PCCC, Mark Waid is brewing something game-changing, at Thrillbent. We also talk about&nb