Word Balloon Comics Podcast Diana Schutz pt 3 Dark Horse, Teaching Comics, and Defending Creators
Feb 15, 2026
01:16:56
Part three with Diana Schutz is where the long view comes into focus. She traces the beginnings of her friendship with Brian Michael Bendis , how that relationship started, why it endured, and what it says about spotting talent early and sticking with your people.
From there, Diana talks about teaching at Portland State University, building a comics-focused class from the ground up, and eventually turning it over to Shelly Bond , another respected editorial voice. It’s about mentorship, paying it forward, and making sure the next wave understands both the craft and the business.
Then she walks through her start at Dark Horse Comics in its early days , when the company was still defining itself and the independent boom was taking shape.
Diana reflects on her enduring friendship with Bob Schreck after their divorce, proof that professional respect and personal history don’t have to collapse when relationships change. And finally, she discusses joining the judges committee for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Hall of Fame , helping shape how the medium honors its own history. It’s a fitting role for someone who has spent decades fighting for creators and preserving the integrity of the craft.
From there, Diana talks about teaching at Portland State University, building a comics-focused class from the ground up, and eventually turning it over to Shelly Bond , another respected editorial voice. It’s about mentorship, paying it forward, and making sure the next wave understands both the craft and the business.
Then she walks through her start at Dark Horse Comics in its early days , when the company was still defining itself and the independent boom was taking shape.
Diana reflects on her enduring friendship with Bob Schreck after their divorce, proof that professional respect and personal history don’t have to collapse when relationships change. And finally, she discusses joining the judges committee for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Hall of Fame , helping shape how the medium honors its own history. It’s a fitting role for someone who has spent decades fighting for creators and preserving the integrity of the craft.