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The Weekly Pop Culture Audio Podcast Featuring In-Depth One On One Interviews and Discussions From The Entertainment Worlds Of Genre Fiction-
Comic Books, Novels, Television, Film, Video Games And More. Created In 2005 By Chicago Radio/TV Host John Siuntres

Word Balloon Live

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Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The Rucka Debrief Pt 1 Jeff Parker and Sal Abbinanti



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On this episode of Word Balloon, Greg Rucka returns for the start pf a new 2 part Rucka debrief. In part one, we talk about Rucka's latest novel ALPHA from Mulholland Books. Greg introduces a new action hero Jad Bell, and his challenge is a terrorist threat in a huge theme park with personal and professional stakes on the line. Greg talks about his world building here and creating this new hero who differs in many ways from Greg's past comic and novel heroes. (part 2 will cover Greg's comic doings)

Jeff Parker is back to talk about the  transition form his run on Thunderbolts to the title becoming Dark Avengers with T-Bolt artists Kev Walker and Declan Shalvey . Parker's run on the Red Hulk continues with Haunted Hulk, featuring Red exploring the monster corner of the Marvel U. We also talk about Bucko Jeff and Erika Moen's webcomic, soon to be released in a September trade collection by Dark Horse Comics. Jeff's been busy with a diverse run of short works too like his work with Colleen Coover in CREEPY #8, an upcoming DC digital Batman story with Gabe Hardman, and a short feature in the BOOM! Planet Of The Apes Annual in August.

Finally comic artist Sal Abbinanti is back to promote a live panel he'll be doing to benefit Chicago Public Radio this weekend. The subject: Have Hollywood and TV drastically changed the mythologies behind Superhero origins?

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Jeph Loeb Dean Haspiel Seth Kushner and Steve Bryant



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On this episode of Word Balloon: Jeph Loeb is back with a new edition of The Loeb Report! The Vice President of Marvel TV is here to talk about the 1-hour block of Ultimate Spider-Man and The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! on Disney XD. Loeb also talks about the obvious positive impact Marvel’s The Avengers has had on Marvel’s live action TV shows in development including The Hulk. In addition, he addresses the rumors that The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! might be cancelled after this current season. Loeb then teases details of his upcoming finish to his Wolverine Sabertooth saga with artist Simone Bianchi.

Then Dean Haspiel and Seth Kushner return to Word Balloon to discuss the TRIP CITY website, a multimedia hub for many Brooklyn creative artists.  Dean and Seth have been co-hosting the Trip City Podcast featuring peer-to-peer conversations between comic book creators, and other media creators and stars.

Kushner is also here to talk about his photographic work in the new comics history book Leaping Tall Buildings written by Christopher Irving. Irving and Kushner produced an excellent look at creators from golden age stalwarts like Joe Simon Irwin Hassen and Jerry Robinson, to today’s web comic innovators. From mainstream to underground no era or genre of comics is ignored, and the profiles presented by the duo are unparallelled.

Haspiel  talks about current projects like making the 6 page digital comic for THE DOORS mobile app, which depicts the band’s official point of view of the infamous Miami concert of March 1st, 1969. Haspiel also has a Godzilla Legends issue this month from IDW written by Bobby Kurnow, and a quirky upcoming 8 page Spider-Man story for Marvel later this year. The guys also discuss the Before Watchmen and Jack Kirby controversies, digital comics and more.

Finally Steve Bryant joins us to discuss his breaking good news as BOOM! Studios announced his appointment as the artist on their new ongoing Steed and Mrs. Peel series starting with a zero issue in August written by Mark Waid. Bryant is also preparing an Athena Voltaire Omnibus Volume for Dark Horse Comics Sequential Pulp imprint.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

DC VPs and The Comic Books Comeback Of Mike Oeming

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On this edition of Word Balloon we check in with DC vice presidents Bob Wayne and John Cunningham to talk about the April numbers and the release of DC's 2nd wave of titles entering the New 52. The duo remain elusive when it comes to any information regarding 3rd waves coming in the fall. Also, Cunningham gives us more details on the Nielsen marketing surveys the company did at the start of the New 52 and says they plan to do follow up surveys to see how trends may have changed since the initial excitement for the new books.

Then we welcome back Michael Avon Oeming, who had been working in video games fro the past few years with only Powers as his comic book output. This summer Oeming is back full time with several new creator owned projects at Dark Horse like Wild Rover, a very dark personal story combined with supernatural allegories and imagery.

We also talk about his new post modern Superhero team The Victories  and its comparison to previous Oeming original works likeParliament Of Justice, Ship Of Fools, and Hammer Of The Gods. Plus, Mike talks about the new direction and upcoming re-boot of Powers called Powers FBI. 

As we've learned in previous conversations Oeming is a big mythology fan, and he has interesting thoughts on why he thinks Superheroes don't fit the function of past mythologies and legends.

Thursday, May 03, 2012

Fred Van Lente And The Comic Book History Of Comics And Shooters OGN

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On this episode of Word Balloon Fred Van Lente discusses the IDW release of The Comic Book History Of Comics, written by Fred and drawn by Ryan Dunleavy . The talk leads to the debate about fine artist Roy Lichenstien' s pop art paintings that were based on real comic book panels. Were these painting fine art celebrating design , like Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup Can paintings, or outright plagiarizing comic artists like Mike Sekowsky and Russ Heath? Van Lente is also part of the Valiant Comics revival writing Archer and Armstrong coming out in August. We also talk about Fred's upcoming Hulk work, on the HULK Season One OGN with Tom Fowler , to this month's HULK SMASH #5 with Mike Oeming.
Then the team behind Vertigo's new war OGN Shooters writers Eric Trautmann Brandon Jerwa and artist Steve Lieber join us to talk about the complicated life of a corporate contract soldier working for the US in current forgien conflicts. It's a very personal story for Trautmann, who based the story on his brother-in-law Dave. he trio talk about the book, and discuss their other recent projects including Jerwa's comic book film documentary, he and Trautmann's Dynamite books like Flash Gordon and Vamperella, and Lieber talks about the piracy experience he and Jeff Parker had with their Oni press mini series Underground.

Wednesday, May 02, 2012