B. Clay Moore on Image Comics History, and the Birth of Hawaiian Dick part 1
In Part 1 of this in-depth conversation, writer B. Clay Moore reflects on his early years as the marketing director at Image Comics during the early 2000s — a pivotal era when the company was reinventing itself around a new wave of creator-owned talent.Moore discusses working behind the scenes with emerging voices like Rick Remender and Jonathan Hickman, and how Image’s independent spirit encouraged creators to take bold storytelling risks that reshaped the comics landscape. Moore also dives into the creation of his breakout series Hawaiian Dick, co-created with artist Steven Griffin — a genre-blending mix of crime noir, tiki-era cool, and supernatural mystery that became a critical and cult favorite for Image. He shares how the concept was born, how he and Griffin developed its striking visual tone, and how the book stood out in an industry dominated by superhero titles.The discussion rounds out with Moore recalling his collaboration with Tony Harris at DC Comics on the acclaimed JSA: The Liberty Files — a gritty espionage reimagining of the Justice Society set during World War II — and their later follow-up project, The Whistling Skull, a pulpy, post-war adventure that expanded their unique corner of the DC Universe.Part 2 airs tomorrow, covering more on Moore’s creative process, later volumes of Hawaiian Dick, and his perspective on the modern state of creator-owned comics.
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Celebrating 50 Years of Kolchak: The Night Stalker
In this 2022 discussion, editor and writer James Aquilone joined Word Balloon to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Kolchak: The Night Stalker — the cult-classic TV franchise that helped define the modern supernatural investigator genre. Aquilone talked about the enduring influence of Darren McGavin’s Carl Kolchak, from The Night Stalker’s 1972 TV movie origins through its single-season series and lasting impact on shows like The X-Files.The conversation also covered Aquilone’s work curating and editing the Moonstone Books graphic novel anthology, a Kickstarter-backed project that united top writers and artists to tell new Kolchak stories spanning five decades of the character’s career — from classic newspaper-era mysteries to modern paranormal cases. He discussed collaborating with Moonstone’s long-time Kolchak publisher, coordinating contributions from creators across genres, and ensuring the stories captured the tone and noir-horror style of the original show. Aquilone reflected on Kolchak’s place in pop culture history, the challenge of blending nostalgia with fresh storytelling, and how the 50th anniversary served as both a tribute to Jeff Rice’s original creation and a reintroduction of the Night Stalker to new generations of fans.
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Ed Brubaker on Destroy All Monsters and the Evolution of Criminal
In this 2021 Word Balloon conversation, acclaimed writer Ed Brubaker joins John Siuntres to discuss his Eisner-winning crime graphic novel Destroy All Monsters, the third volume in the Reckless series created with longtime collaborator Sean Phillips. Brubaker explains how Destroy All Monsters expands the world of 1980s Los Angeles through the eyes of Ethan Reckless, the one-man fixer caught between Hollywood corruption, fading ideals, and his own haunted past.He talks about how the story draws from the noir tradition of Ross Macdonald and the downbeat realism of 1970s thrillers — but told through the sleek, cinematic storytelling he and Phillips have perfected. The conversation explores how the Reckless books evolved out of Criminal, Fatale, and Kill or Be Killed, why he and Phillips pivoted to the original graphic novel format, and how working with Sean’s son Jacob Phillips for color and design gave the series a distinctive look and rhythm.Brubaker also opens up about his creative process, writing discipline, and the freedom of publishing through Image Comics, where he and Phillips maintain full ownership and complete artistic control. It’s a candid, craft-focused talk with one of comics’ finest storytellers — part writing masterclass, part look inside modern noir’s most successful creative partnership.
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Trek Watch — “Khan Ep 6, Starfleet Academy News & SNW Season 4 Teaser”
This week on Trek Watch, John dives into the latest developments from the Star Trek universe. We start with a breakdown and review of Star Trek: Khan — Ceti Alpha V Episode 6, analyzing how the story continues to chart Khan’s descent from visionary leader to vengeful exile. We look at the writing, performances, and how the series ties into both The Original Series and Wrath of Khan.Next, dissecting the brand-new Starfleet Academy trailer, exploring what it reveals about tone, setting, and cast. From the post-Burn timeline to the training-day dynamics, we discuss how this series could expand the modern Trek landscape while reconnecting to the franchise’s roots in mentorship and idealism. Finally, we break down the NYCC 2025 teaser clip from Strange New Worlds Season 4, which teases character arcs, new worlds, and a tonal shift that could set up the series’ boldest season yet. Expect speculation, continuity talk, and a few of our trademark Trek deep cuts along the way.
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david lapham stray bullets and more
Acclaimed writer–artist David Lapham joins Word Balloon for an in-depth conversation about his decades in comics and the craft of visual storytelling. Lapham reflects on his early days at Valiant Comics, where he learned the fundamentals of pacing, clarity, and narrative economy under Jim Shooter’s mentorship — lessons that would shape his distinctive storytelling voice.He then traces the creation and evolution of his award-winning crime saga Stray Bullets, from its underground indie roots to its enduring influence on modern noir comics. Lapham discusses how he and his wife Maria Lapham have built a true creative partnership, collaborating on everything from story development to production, keeping the series uncompromisingly personal and authentic.The conversation also explores his time writing and illustrating for the Big Two, including his gritty takes on Batman and Wolverine, where he brought his signature tension and character-driven realism to mainstream heroes.Finally, Lapham gives a preview of his latest and upcoming work at Dark Horse Comics, Bad Idea, and Oni Press, sharing insight into how
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