Word Balloon Comics Podcast

As we look back at some of the very best conversations of 2025, there was no way I could leave this one out. One of the standout talks of the year comes from an artist whose work consistently blends sharp storytelling, inventive visuals, and genuine heart. From Whiteout to Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen, Steve Lieber has proven time and again that he’s one of the most thoughtful and versatile creators working in comics today. In this Best of 2025 episode, Steve joins me for a wide-ranging conversation about Metamorpho, the enduring appeal of Jimmy Olsen, and the realities of making comics in today’s industry — from creative challenges to smart business choices. It’s funny, insightful, and packed with the kind of perspective only years of experience can bring.

My Buddy chicago rado legend and my forer partner Mike North joins me for some movie talk about old Hollywood

Once upon a time in the DC Universe, Santa Claus wasn’t just slipping down chimneys… he was training Batman and battling monsters with the world’s greatest heroes. And now in Jeff Parker’s wild 2024 yuletide epic, Santa Claus isn’t just on the nice list — he’s in the Justice League’s corner as the entire DCU faces supernatural threats and a mysterious new enemy in the holiday season’s coolest crossover.  In this episode, Jeff returns to chat about his latest Santa-and-Justice-League mashup — where the Caped Crusader, magic-wielders like Zatanna, Damian Wayne, and even the House of El join forces with St. Nick himself to save the season when the Justice League winds up stranded in a dark realm and heroes are hunted by chilling forces led by the enigmatic Silent Knight.

Welcome to Word Balloon, the podcast that dives deep into the art and craft behind the comics you love. In today’s festive yet fierce chapter of the DC Universe, we’re exploring one of the most delightfully unexpected team-ups in comics history. Imagine the Dark Knight of Gotham City — brooding on rooftops, stalking shadows… now pair him with a man in a red suit who slides down chimneys and actually trained him once. Batman and Santa Claus together, facing supernatural forces, holiday horror, and the kind of mythic storytelling only a master like Jeff Parker can deliver. In this episode, Jeff — writer of Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight and its winter sequel — joins us to talk about his new weekly DC Comics series, how Santa fits into the DC Universe, the lore behind their partnership, and why this strange yet wonderful story is resonating with fans this holiday season. So strap in for ghosts, gods, demons, and yuletide myth — because this isn’t just Christmas with the Caped Crusader… it’s Silent Knight, and it’s one wild ride.

Welcome back to Scene Missing, the show where we dig past the highlight reels and get into the real story. This time, Gabriel Hardman, Ian Brill, and I take a hard, unsentimental look at the career of Burl Ives—a performer whose legacy is far bigger, messier, and more complicated than the warm baritone most people remember.We start with the role that earned him Hollywood’s highest honor: his Oscar-winning turn as Rufus Hannassey in The Big Country, opposite Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, and Charlton Heston—a performance that weaponized charm into something quietly menacing. From there, we contrast it with the brutal, snowbound moral reckoning of Day of the Outlaw, where Ives delivers one of the coldest outlaw portrayals ever put on film. We also explore his unexpected presence in prestige drama, including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, sharing the screen with Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor, and how his earthy gravitas grounded Tennessee Williams’ overheated world.On television, we revisit his folksy patriarch on O.K. Crackerby!, his later dramatic turn on The Bold Ones: The Lawyers, and how TV both extended and softened his public image. And yes—we absolutely talk about the role that permanently etched him into pop culture: the voice of Sam the Snowman in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, a performance so comforting it practically erased the edge of the man behind it.But we don’t stop at acting. Ives’ massive influence as a folk singer is front and center—from “Blue Tail Fly” to “Big Rock Candy Mountain”—along with the career-altering moment that still sparks controversy: his testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee, where he named names, including Pete Seeger, reshaping both of their legacies in opposite directions. This isn’t a tribute. It’s an honest conversation about talent, ambition, fear, and compromise—and how one man could be a beloved storyteller, a terrifying screen presence, and a cautionary tale all at once.

Today on Word Balloon, a best of talk with writer, producer, and comics industry fixture Andy Mangels It's a vital conversation about breaking barriers in geek culture. In this episode, Andy opens up about his experiences as an openly gay creator working in comics, television, animation, and fandom —how he navigated an industry that wasn’t always welcoming, and how he helped push the door open for others through his writing, advocacy, and community leadership. From his early days in fandom to his work creating inclusive stories, Andy shares the highs, the lows, and the moments that mattered most. We also talk about the broader landscape of representation in geek media, what it means to break the “gay geek glass ceiling,” and why visibility still matters in 2025 and beyond. It’s a candid, inspiring conversation about identity, passion, and the hard-won progress of LGBTQ+ creators in a culture that’s still evolving.

the beatles meet star wars, rankin bass xmas specials, and why are the avenger doomsday trailers locked into avatar screenings?

Josh Trujillo talk about the upcoming marvel crossover the planet of the apes versus the fantastic four . you can tell from our talk he's done his homework on both sideswe also discuss his dc go digital comiic about aquaman in the D Sea universe.

On this episode of Word Balloon, I sit down with pop-culture archivist and entrepreneur Mr. Skin for a wide-ranging conversation about the evolution of MrSkin.com and the state of movies and television in 2025.Mr. Skin breaks down how his site has adapted in the streaming era, what sets true curation apart from casual online searching, and how audience habits have changed over the years. From data and editorial instincts to surprising traffic trends, this is a behind-the-scenes look at how a long-running pop-culture brand stays relevant.The conversation also dives into Mr. Skin’s Top 10 of 2025, examining the performances, scenes, and trends that defined the year. They talk about breakout stars, shifting attitudes toward sexuality on screen, and whether modern film and TV are pushing boundaries or circling back to familiar territory. It’s an honest, thoughtful discussion about pop culture, preservation, and what our entertainment choices say about the moment we’re living in.

Today on Word Balloon, I’m joined by Ed Catto, Editor-in-Chief of Retro Fan Magazine, a publication dedicated to celebrating the movies, television, comics, and pop culture that shaped generations.We’re talking about the latest issue of Retro Fan, which is packed with deep-dive features and thoughtful retrospectives — including a look back at Adam West’s iconic run as Batman, a comprehensive history of Lee Falk, the creator of The Phantom, and a fun, nostalgic revisit to Sigmund and the Sea Monsters. And that’s just the start — this issue is loaded with the kind of researched, enthusiast-level storytelling Retro Fan is known for.Ed also shares what goes into curating each issue, balancing fan passion with historical accuracy, and keeping classic pop culture alive for new readers without losing what made it special in the first place. If you love smart nostalgia, deep cuts, and pop-culture history done right, this is a great conversation.