Creator Talks Podcast

Ezekiel “Zeke” King is back for another Midnight Mystery!

Returning guest Bernie Gonzalez is the creator, writer and artist of his horror noir comic Midnight Mystery.

Originally published through Alterna Comics, Bernie has gripped the reins and is now handling Midnight Mystery's printing and distribution.

Bernie explains why he stepped away from Alterna, took a break from making comics and felt it was the right time for Zeke's return.

His previously published Midnight Mystery comics are re-mastered and collected in 8" x 10 1/2" trade paperbacks and expanded with additional material.

By day, Bernie works in marketing. Although he is passionate about making comics, he finds self-promotion more of a chore.

As we discuss why this is the case, Bernie also shares his thoughts on what it takes to makes a great comic, and even a great podcast.

Discover how Bernie uses social media to share with followers what interest him, and how helps with soft promotion ofMidnight Mystery.

We share thoughts on our favorite classic horror TV seriesKolchak:TheNight Stalker, Dark Shadows and more.

Warning: be sure to have a box of tissues near by before listening. We tell painful stories of culling our physical media collections, upgrading DVDs, and the uniqueness of those old VHS tapes used to record broadcast television shows.

What forgotten treasures might be found on these analogue recordings not available on retail DVDs and Blu-ray disks?

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Order Midnight Mystery from Bernie Gonzalez

Gregg Schigiel began his professional career in 1997 working as an assistant editor for Marvel Comics, was character artist for Nickelodeon in 2000, and from 2010-2018 was a regular contributor to SpongeBob Comics. One would think with such an impressive resume and experience, people would know how to pronounce his name. But no.

We begin our discussion with an easy way to remember the correct pronunciation of Schigiel.

With the formalities out of the way, things get personal. I recall with Gregg the circumstances under which we first met, and the impact his work has had on my two boys.

Why are kids, and adults, attracted to Gregg's comics? How does he do it?

In part, it's because Gregg never forgot what it was like to be a kid.

But there are things we do forget, and we recount some of the memories that come flooding back when we re-discover books that we read many, many years ago as kids.

Turning our attention to Gregg's books, we talk about his coloring booksZooperhero Universe and Uniquecorns.

Why does Gregg make coloring books now?

We also discuss his latest graphic novels Pix: One Weird Weekend and Pix: Too Super For School.

How is Pix like Spider-Man crossed with fairy princess? Why would Gregg create such a character since, as we learn, he not a big fan of "hard" fantasy? And what does Gregg eschew had fantasy.

In addition to comic shops and bookstores, Gregg explains why libraries are such an important brick and mortar location to reach, and teach, kids about making art and sharing his work.

Gregg also has a podcast all about Tom Cruise movies titled Crusin' Together. We share about some of our favorite, and not so favorite, Tom Cruise films.

Did you know that Gregg's art is also wearable? He has a creative tee-shirt line celebrating the films and many characters of an American treasure, Tom Hanks.

I close our interview with Gregg answering the fun questions I ask all my guest including the toughest of them all for Gregg, what would be his one his island book.

Only one book, and Tom Hank's is not on the island as a source of entertainment. "Wilson!!!"

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Gregg Schigiel's comics & coloring books

Gregg Schigiel's Hanks A Lot Tees

Gregg's Podcast Crusin' Together

Laurence Luckinbill is an actor, playwright and director best know for his one-man plays in which he portrayed President Theodore Roosevelt, Clarence Darrow, Ernest Hemingway and President Lyndon Johnson.

Laurence is best known by science fiction fans as Spock's half-brother Sybok in the motion picture Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989).

Laurence's first graphic novel Teddy is based on his one-man play Teddy Tonight! The graphic novel adaptation was illustrated by artist Eryck Tait and published by Dead Reckoning.

We learn the story of Theodore Roosevelt's life and why Laurence decided to set his play Teddy Tonight! duringa speech T.R. had to deliver in July 1918.

What event did he just learn about the changed the course of his speech?

I ask Laurence how he kept his live performances night after night fresh and if he ever needed to adjust a portrayal based on audience feedback.

Of course we talk about Star Trek V, why Laurence was offered the part, and what he told the director William Shatnerabout how he wanted to play the part of Sybok.

When I Kick Back With The Creator, we discuss how Laurence keeps fit and healthy at 86 years of age and how to have a happy marriage!

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Link to video of performances by Laurence Luckinbill

Link to buyTeddy the graphic novel

Sal Abbinanti, a favorite guest of comic book podcasts, makes his Creator Talks debut.

Sal is the art representative for master comic book artistsAlex Ross and Bill Sienkiewicz. Sal is the creator of the comic seriesAtomika(2005) which was self-publishedthrough his imprint Mercury Comics.

We discuss Sal's first Kickstarter The Hostage, a story that draws from his experience in Rio de Janeiro and the religious culture of the city.

How did that experience change his life...forever?

We also talk about Sal's first published Marvel work that was released the same month as his first Kickstarter.

Sal contributed the art for "I Am a Revoltin' Development", written by Alex Ross and published in Marvel #4.

Sal grew up reading Marvel Comics and is a huge fan ofJack Kirby and John Buscema'sart.

What did Jack Kirby say about comics that inspired Sal to try to break into the business?

Why didMarvel Comics' editors repeatedly reject Sal's art portfolio inthe 90's?

We also talk about life in cold, windy Chicago and warm, sunny Las Vegas.

When I Kick Back with The Creator, Sal answers such questions as: his favorite island book, posters he had on his bedroom wall as a pre-teen and his guilty pleasure. Plus how to avoid marital arguments... and extend your life!

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Link toThe Hostage Kickstarter which ends February 25, 2021

Sal Abbinanti, a favorite guest of comic book podcasts, makes his Creator Talks debut.

Sal is the art representative for master comic book artistsAlex Ross and Bill Sienkiewicz. Sal is the creator of the comic seriesAtomika(2005) which was self-publishedthrough his imprint Mercury Comics.

We discuss Sal's first Kickstarter The Hostage, a story that draws from his experience in Rio de Janeiro and the religious culture of the city.

How did that experience change his life...forever?

We also talk about Sal's first published Marvel work that was released the same month as his first Kickstarter.

Sal contributed the art for "I Am a Revoltin' Development", written by Alex Ross and published in Marvel #4.

Sal grew up reading Marvel Comics and is a huge fan ofJack Kirby and John Buscema'sart.

What did Jack Kirby say about comics that inspired Sal to try to break into the business?

Why didMarvel Comics' editors repeatedly reject Sal's art portfolio inthe 90's?

We also talk about life in cold, windy Chicago and warm, sunny Las Vegas.

When I Kick Back with The Creator, Sal answers such questions as: his favorite island book, posters he had on his bedroom wall as a pre-teen and his guilty pleasure. Plus how to avoid marital arguments... and extend your life!

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Link toThe Hostage Kickstarter which ends February 25, 2021

In honor of Black History Month, Creator Talks is joined by Ken Quattro, long-time comic book reader, collector and writer of history.

Ken discusses his recent published work Invisible Men: The Trailblazing Black Artists of Comic Books.

Researched over two decades using original source materials, including official documents, contemporaneous newspaper articles and comics, Ken examines the lives of black men who worked in comic art shops during the Golden Age of Comics.

Ken writes in his book:

"One thing they shared was for too long they lingered, out of mine and out of sight of their light-skinned peers, evading the scrutiny of historians and the eyes that looked past them, to everyone who saw only their skin color and then saw nothing more. Without body or substance. As if they were invisible."

We learn how some of these artists denied their heritage, while others embraced it. Most led two professional lives, one working in comics and the other outside of the medium.

After discussing his book, we turn to the subject of his life long passion, comic books. We cover:

The dawn of the Marvel Age of Comics in 1961, and Ken was there.

What is the difference between writing and story telling?

What issue explains the greatness of comics in just five pages?

Why are we both vehemently opposed to "slabbing" comics?

Why has there never been a highly successful Fantastic Four movie? Ken has the answer, and it lies in embracing the FF's Silver Age roots.

All this and more packed into this 45-minute interview, commercial free!

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Now availableInvisible Men: The Trailblazing Black Artist of Comic Books

Ken Quattro's companion Invisible Men Blog

In honor of Black History Month, Creator Talks is joined by Ken Quattro, long-time comic book reader, collector and writer of history.

Ken discusses his recent published work Invisible Men: The Trailblazing Black Artists of Comic Books.

Researched over two decades using original source materials, including official documents, contemporaneous newspaper articles and comics, Ken examines the lives of black men who worked in comic art shops during the Golden Age of Comics.

Ken writes in his book:

"One thing they shared was for too long they lingered, out of mine and out of sight of their light-skinned peers, evading the scrutiny of historians and the eyes that looked past them, to everyone who saw only their skin color and then saw nothing more. Without body or substance. As if they were invisible."

We learn how some of these artists denied their heritage, while others embraced it. Most led two professional lives, one working in comics and the other outside of the medium.

After discussing his book, we turn to the subject of his life long passion, comic books. We cover:

The dawn of the Marvel Age of Comics in 1961, and Ken was there.

What is the difference between writing and story telling?

What issue explains the greatness of comics in just five pages?

Why are we both vehemently opposed to "slabbing" comics?

Why has there never been a highly successful Fantastic Four movie? Ken has the answer, and it lies in embracing the FF's Silver Age roots.

All this and more packed into this 45-minute interview, commercial free!

Creator Talks Theme Song: "Jazz Relax" fromLoopsLab

Creator Talks logo byThe Design Punk

Please rate and reviewCreator Talks on Apple Podcasts

Now availableInvisible Men: The Trailblazing Black Artist of Comic Books

Ken Quattro's companion Invisible Men Blog

Chip Zdarsky (Sex Criminals, Daredevil) and Jason Loo (The Pitiful Human Lizard) spend time with Creator Talks to talk about their Comixology original Afterlift, available for the first time in print in books stores February 2nd and in comic shops through Dark Horse Comics on February 3rd, 2021.

The Eisner and Shuster Award winning comic is about Janice Chen who works for the ride sharing app CABIT. She picks up a man who insists she stop for a young woman on the way to his final destination. Janice learns he is a demon named Dumu who wants a ride to The Midway, the first step in the afterlife, to cross the River Styx into Hell.

The print edition is loaded with Chip's commentary and Jason's design sketches.

Chip and Jason talk about their first impression of each other and working on Afterlift.

We also discuss why some people who read comics digitally double dip for the print copy.

Chip know why, because he does too.

Will this be the future of comics, from digital edition to print trade?

I also ask Chip and Jason their thoughts on what lies beyond this life. Is it anything like Afterlift?

When I ask my guests nine fun questions, I discover what is their favorite birthday, beverage, island book and guilty pleasure!

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About Afterlift

JoiningCreator Talks is Brandon Montclaire who has written a graphic novel anthologywith Frank Marraffino titledLudwig van Beethoven - TheFinal Symphony (Z2Comics).It features dozens of artists and sports a cover by David Mack.

2020 was the 250th birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven. WediscussBeethoven's influence on pop culture and cite a few examples from the 20th century. Brandon also explains the development of the graphic novel, how he and Frank split writing duties and some of the artists on the book.

We talk about how early performances of Beethoven's music changed how the public approached listening to classical music, and we digress about our own experience listening to and collecting vinyl records.

Brandon discusses his previous work for Marvel Comics writing Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, the end of the series and it's continued growth through trade paperbacks and a cartoon in production for Disney.

We conclude our discussion with the 9 QuestionsI ask my guests including "the one that got away" and the time Brandon took a risk buying a comic shop.

Audio Clips:

A Charlie Brown Christmas - Bagatelle No. 25 "Fur Elise"

A Clock Work Orange - Beethoven's 9th Symphony

Soylent Green - “Pastoral” from Beethoven's Symphony No. 6

A Fifth of Beethoven - Walter Murphy

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Order Ludwig vanBeethoven - The Final Symphony

Celebrate the New Year with this special bonus interview!

The last interview with writer Zack Kaplan was on my 12th episode. Zack returns to Creator Talks to kick off 2021 by discussing his latest trade paperback Join The Future (Aftershock Comics).

It is aSci-Fi Western about ultra-modern megacities rewarding millions of their citizens with a completely funded life, with every need met, from food to housing and healthcare, in order to compete in an economic power struggle in which population is key.

We talk about Join The Future and the artists Zack has collaborated with on all his comic book series.

Zack'sprior work Eclipse(Top Cow 2016),Port of Earth(Top Cow 2018) and The Lost City Explorers (Aftershock 2018)have been optioned for TV series development.

I ask Zack, are comics getting optioned for television really that common?

As I learned in our first interview Zack loves to play poker.

How much of Poker's strategy is based on psychology, i.e., reading the other person?

In Zack's opinion, has any book or film portrayed a realistic game of Poker ?

How would Zack re-write a script for game of Poker for a James Bond film?

Zack also answers nine fun questions I ask including:

What's his beef?

What is his guilty pleasure?

When did he take a risk?

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More about Join The Future