Word Balloon Comics Podcast

Dan Dare Returns with DeCampi And Laming

Today on Word Balloon, we’re blasting off with two creators bringing one of science fiction’s most legendary heroes back into orbit. Writer Alex DeCampi and artist Marc Laming have launched a Kickstarter to revive the classic British space adventurer Dan Dare, the Pilot of the Future. For generations, Dan Dare has been a cornerstone of UK science-fiction comics, created by Frank Hampson for the pages of Eagle back in 1950. Think epic space exploration, alien empires, and that clean, bold optimism that made the strip a cultural icon, alongside classic villains like the Mekon. Now DeCampi and Laming are bringing that universe roaring back with a new interpretation funded directly by fans. Today we’re talking about why Dan Dare still matters, how you modernize a legendary character without losing the DNA that made him special, and what they’re building with this Kickstarter campaign. From the story approach to the visual style, and what longtime fans and newcomers can expect.

Beavis Butthead and Rick Parker

In this episode, I sit down with cartoonist and longtime Marvel letterer Rick Parker for a wide-ranging conversation about his career in comics and cartooning. Rick spent years lettering at Marvel Comics, working during a fascinating period in the company’s history and contributing his distinctive hand to titles like Amazing Spider-Man and many others. We talk about what lettering at Marvel was really like. How the job worked day-to-day, the production realities of the era, and how lettering quietly shapes the rhythm and storytelling of a comic page.Rick also discusses his creator-owned graphic novel Drafted, a powerful and personal project that reflects his own experiences with the Vietnam draft and military service. It’s a candid look at the book’s origins, the emotional weight behind the story, and why he felt compelled to tell it in comics form.And of course we dig into Rick’s work as an artist, including his run drawing the Beavis and Butt-Head comic book, translating the anarchic MTV characters into comics while keeping their chaotic humor intact.

Late Night with THE David Dastmalchian

Today I’m talking with actor, writer, and lifelong comics fan David Dastmalchian. You know David from a ton of great genre work . He played Thomas Schiff in The Dark Knight, Kurt in Marvel’s Ant-Man, and Polka-Dot Man in The Suicide Squad. And horror fans have been raving about his performance as the haunted late-night host Jack Delroy in Late Night with the Devil.But beyond acting, David is also a serious comic book storyteller. This week he’s launching a brand-new graphic novel called Through, created with artist Cat Staggs. It’s a haunting supernatural story that mixes horror, trauma, and redemption in a way that feels very personal to David. We talk about how Through came together, what it was like collaborating with Cat Staggs, and how comics have been part of David’s life long before Hollywood came calling. We also get into his earlier comic work, the influence of classic horror and indie comics on his writing, and of course some stories from the sets of The Dark Knight, Ant-Man, The Suicide Squad, and the breakout horror hit Late Night with the Devil.

Starfleet Academy Episode 9 review

Kelly Sue DeConnick Captain Marvel

Kelly Sue DeConnick from 2012 lays out her Carol Danvers plans. They led to 32 issues a big movie hit and a new wave of Marvel readers