Comic creator interviews beamed directly into your ears. Learn the ins and out of the comics industry from those trying to break in, are already in, and have been in the business for a while. Host Jim Viscardi (VP of Business Development at Image Comics) has over 15 years of experience in the business and is your guide on this journey of inspiration, reflection and motivation for one of the greatest American art forms in history, comic books. Let's Talk Comics logo designed by Adam Barnhardt
Recorded live at San Diego Comic-Con, Jim Viscardi brings together Skottie Young, Daniel Warren Johnson, Ian Bertram, Caspar Wijngaard, Sanford Greene, and Sean Gordon Murphy for a wide-ranging conversation about making comics and developing an unmistakable artistic voice. The panel also offers discussions on I HATE FAIRYLAND, CHAINKATA, THE KARMAN BLADE, THE POWER FANTASY, BITTER ROOT BLACK AND WHITE, and THE LAST DRIVER. The artists discuss the work that shaped them, the difference between studying an influence and simply swiping from it, and how their lives away from the drawing board have changed the way they work. They also dig into character and creature design, balancing detail with clear storytelling, and why your style may really be a collection of all the mistakes you made while trying to draw like somebody else. If you're a creative, this episode is for you.
The next few episodes of Let's Talk Comics are going to sound a little different because we're coming to you live from San Diego Comic-Con! For the first panel in our SDCC series, Jim Viscardi is joined by Matt Rosenberg, Patrick Kindlon, John Layman, Rob Guillory, Dustin Nguyen, and Tony Fleecs for a conversation about creating comic book characters readers will love, hate, or love to hate. The group previews some of their latest Image Comics projects, including IF DESTRUCTION BE OUR LOT, REGICIDE, GHOST BRAWLER, CROWBOUND, and FERAL. They also discuss reuniting with longtime collaborators, hiding clues in the artwork, balancing humor with darker stories, and what happens when readers fall in love with characters they probably shouldn't. How quickly does a first issue need to define its characters? Does every terrible person deserve a redemption arc? And why does making readers laugh make it hurt so much more when everything goes wrong? Recorded live at San Diego Comic-Con 2026.
This week on Let's Talk Comics, Iman Vellani joins the show to talk about her Image Comics debut, CHACHU, hitting shops everywhere August 5th. Iman has never been shy about how much she loves comics and now she is taking that love and putting it into her first creator-owned series. CHACHU was born from a whole lot of notes-app chicken scratch into something deeply personal. The series is a deeply personal coming-of-age noir, where as she went along writing it, realized how much introspection was happening at the same time. She goes in depth about the differences about approaching her work in film vs. what it takes to put a comic script together while also getting to know your collaborators (Marianna Ignazzi & Jordie Bellaire). She also gets honest about imposter syndrome, finding her own voice outside of Ms. Marvel and why she wanted the responsibility and risk of owning the story herself. Lots to take from this episode, so we hope you enjoy!
This week on Let's Talk Comics, Trish Forstner joins the show to celebrate FERAL hitting a landmark 25th issue and how the STRAY DOGS cast have played an important role in this current arc. Trish's entry into comics was actually through a combo BronyCon and doing covers for My Little Pony. From there, she met Tony Fleecs and learned sequential storytelling while working on STRAY DOGS. She shines a bit more light on how the team of her, Tony & Tone Rodriguez developed a creative process that operates more like an animation studio than a traditional comic book production. We also get into the massive success of STRAY DOGS and how it changed her life almost overnight, the difference between its psychological horror and the more in-your-face zombie violence of FERAL. And naturally we spend a bit of time on why FERAL #25 represents such a major moment for both series. Plus, Trish discusses studying under animation legend Don Bluth, learning how to draw blood and gore, hiding character relationships in the backgrounds of pages, why animals might be the ultimate storytelling cheat code, and the emotional experience of drawing readers' pets at conventions. FERAL #25 arrives July 29.
On this episode of Let's Talk Comics, Jim Viscardi sits down with artist Seth Damoose to talk about his upcoming Image Comics series Badrock, created alongside legendary Youngblood creator Rob Liefeld. Seth is no stranger to Image Comics, having worked on Xenoholics with Joshua Williamson back in 2011, and now in 2026 he makes a return! How Seth and Rob came to working together is one heluva story. Basically, Seth took the concept of "Inktober" and put a Rob Liefeld twist on it with "Robtober." Seth would draw one Liefeld character a day in the month of October and it caught Liefeld's attention which ultimately led to drawing one of the most iconic characters in the Youngblood universe. We of course dive into breaking into comics, learning from rejection, manga influences, storytelling versus illustration, and what makes Badrock such a unique character to bring to life. We also discuss the emotional core behind the new series, the freedom of working Marvel-style scripts from Rob, classic comic cover homages, hidden Easter eggs, and why Badrock might be the perfect character for Seth's kinetic art style. Lots to learn in this one (especially if you're curious about zipatone). Don't miss it, and make sure to preorder BADROCK #1 from your local comic shop.
With decades of experience under his belt working in comics, Liam Sharp still feels a sense of wonder when bringing his creator owned world of Starhenge to life. In this episode of Let's Talk Comics, Liam joins the show for a conversation that spans his time in Darby, England, getting his start at Marvel UK in the early 90's to seeing the Image Revolution happen and then finally taking the chance on himself and doing the thing. Plus, Liam shares the story of turning down Oxford after landing an apprenticeship with legendary artist Don Lawrence, and how that set the course for his entire career. He learned that "being reliable matters more than being brilliant." Then the conversation moves to StarHenge: A Kiss for Atticus, the next chapter in Liam's ambitious creator-owned epic. There's a lot to unpack in this story and the two cover everything from how he made Merlin a science-fiction character, to how AI is a natural enemy of magic. StarHenge has become the project Liam has spent a lifetime preparing to make and even now, after nearly 40 years in comics, he still feels like he's only scratching the surface of what the medium can do. Get the paper and pen ready folks, you're going to be taking some serious notes.
Jonathan Ball and GMB Chomichuk join the show to dive deep into their upcoming Image Comics series THE EYE COLLECTOR. THE EYE COLLECTOR is a surreal cosmic horror story that has artist GMB Comichuk bending perspective and writer Jonathan Ball's storytelling in a way you haven't seen in comics in a while. This is a story that sat with Jonathan for a while (decades even!) and the path to where it is now, why every issue was designed to feel different, and how the two creators kept pushing each other to make the book stranger, scarier, and more ambitious with every chapter will make you immediately put this on your pull list. The group also dives into what it takes to create an iconic horror monster and why it's harder than it looks. Then we get into the nitty gritty, everything from horror pacing to page layouts, color theory, and everything in between. This is a book where the monster can literally reach across panels and manipulate the reader's point of view. Want to know how? You're just going to have to listen to find out. You know the deal, if you like what you've heard, leave a review on APPLE PODCASTS, or a rating on SPOTIFY Help us get the good comic book message out to the masses. The Eye Collector #1 hits comic shops June 24 from Image Comics.
Robert Kirkman is back and is about to launch a brand-new superhero universe within the pages of his new Image Comics ongoing series, TERMINAL. On this episode we start with Invincible Season 4 and what it's like watching fan reactions while already deep into production on future seasons. Kirkman talks about expanding material from the comics for animation, and how characters unexpectedly blowing up with audiences (like Machine Head - now in the pages of CAPES) can lead to fun new moments. Then we dive deep into TERMINAL, Kirkman's new superhero universe with Joe Casey, Andy Kubert, David Finch, Arthur Adams, Dave McCaig, and Rus Wooton. Kirkman breaks down building a giant interconnected cast and why the book feels inspired by the energy of 90s X-Men comics. TERMINAL is a superhero comic that feels huge, messy, unpredictable, and bringing danger back to comics again. So much to dig into and its another insightful episode from one of the best to be doing it. Enjoy.
Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips are back, and so is That Texas Blood . This episode of Let's Talk Comics kicks off a new format where we bring the full creative team on to break down one project from top to bottom. First up is the return of one of Image's best crime series with That Texas Blood #21 . Hell is coming to Allison Ranch and we get into the nitty gritty right off the bat. Everything from what it took to revisit Ambrose County to why this arc is the biggest one yet. Chris and Jacob have been at this one for a while so they're finally excited to invite fans on the wild ride that is this critically acclaimed series. That Texas Blood #21 starts with a bit of a time jump, set against the backdrop of the Iraq War and Chris explains why that plays a key role in the story they're telling. Then Jacob breaks down the challenge of bringing a new level of action to the page without losing the grounded, lived-in feel the series is known for. That Texas Blood #21 is everything you'd expect from the team and then some! If you've been waiting for it to come back, this is the perfect place to jump in.
Charlie Adlard joins the show for a must listen episode with one of the greatest to ever do it. We get into how he broke into the industry and why building relationships and networking matter just as much to breaking in as the work itself. From there, we of course dig into the sixteen year stint he did on The Walking Dead , how his style evolved once he got on the book, how he maintained that pace, and what it was like working alongside Robert Kirkman . Then we shift into what comes next. Charlie talks about life after The Walking Dead , why he doesn't like to slow down, and how he approaches each new project differently, from Heretic to Altamont to his latest Image Comics series, Of the Earth . Of The Earth is Charlie's triumphant return to single issue storytelling in a neo-noir-tinged eco-horror with writers Chris Condon & Andrew Ehrich. In Of The Earth , Tabitha 'Tabby' Black flees a sordid life for her quiet hometown of Solitude, Texas and the comfort of her Gramma's home where she was raised. Only home isn't what it once was.... and neither is Gramma. We also get into process, building tension on the page, inking vs penciling, and why he treats comics like a film playing in his head while he works. It's a fun one you don't want to miss.
MATT ROSENBERG returns to Let's Talk Comics to talk about his new Image Comics series IF DESTRUCTION BE OUR LOT. This one is a post-human story set in a world that didn't end…it just kept going without us, with robots (lots of robots). And at the center of it all is an animatronic Abraham Lincoln trying to figure out why any of it matters. We get into where the idea came from and how it evolved from a weird visual into something much more personal. This book was built a little differently compared to Rosenberg's other work (like WE'RE TAKING EVERYONE DOWN WITH US) and is a book that's been quietly in the works for years. Matt breaks down building a world of robots still going through the motions, centering the story on the animatronic Abraham Lincoln, and how themes like isolation, connection, and identity started to shape the series. We also get into why this is the kind of story that only really works in the creator-owned space. Then we shift gears to SPAWN, where Rosenberg is stepping into the limelight not only writing the main book, SPAWN, but KING SPAWN too. He talks about finding his version of Spawn, building a new status quo, and what it means to take on one of Image Comics' most iconic characters. It's a fun one for sure.
Aditya Bidikar joins Let's Talk Comics to talk about going from one of the most in-demand letterers in comics to stepping out as a writer with his new Image Comics series In Your Skin . We get into how he broke into the industry and why lettering matters more than people think. It's the piece of comics that controls how a page is read, and Aditya walks through how that actually works. Then we dig into In Your Skin . What started as a look at fandom turned into something much darker. It's a body horror story about obsession and identity, and it doesn't pull its punches. Aditya also talks about building the book, working with artist SOM, and what it means to finally put something out that feels completely his. Buckle up.
Lorenzo De Felici joins Let's Talk Comics to talk about his new series Red Roots and why it represents a major shift in how he approaches storytelling. We dig into how keeping up a DeviantArt page got Robert Kirkman's attention (which then led to work on Oblivion Song) and what he learned from the grind of monthly comics. Lorenzo took that experience and applied it to his first Image series Kroma, where he reshaped his instincts as both an artist and writer. Lorenzo breaks down his process, from building stories without scripts to designing characters that feel unexpected, and why Red Roots is him pushing into darker, more uncomfortable territory. If you're a creator looking to create comics, this conversation is for you. Lorenzo's key? Figuring out how to make the kind of comics you actually want to read, and then making them.
Tony Fleecs accomplishes one of his personal goals, having his very own episode of Let's Talk Comics! This week, Tony and Jim talk about how his career has developed over the last few years. Everything from working with Ponies, what it took to launch his own books, and how that had led to where he is today is all discussed in a no holds barred conversation only he can have. The two cover how Local Man came together emotionally, how Stray Dogs found its audience and why he's in it for the long haul with Feral. Speaking of Feral, issue 21 is a major moment for Tony and the team. Not only is it a silent issue, but he's doing something for the first time that ONLY he can do. The next era of Feral begins here, and you're going to want to hear all about it. Buckle in folks, it's a great ride.
Geoff Johns joins Let's Talk Comics to talk about building Ghost Machine from the ground up and what it means to commit to long-form, creator-owned storytelling. We dive into how Geiger, Redcoat, Rook: Exodus , and Hyde Street were developed, why each universe has its own lane, and what changes when creators control the future of their characters. Geoff also shares craft lessons that still guide his work and explains why having real endings in mind changes everything. It's a great look at how modern comics are built and why the long game still matters.
Patrick Kindlon joins Let's Talk Comics to talk about the craft behind his work, from breaking in through indie comics to building books like Frontiersman , Gehenna , and now Tigress Island . In this episode, Patrick digs into failing early, writing full scripts while leaving room for collaboration, building stories from character first, and learning how to survive criticism in a very public industry. We also dive into Tigress Island , his latest Image Comics thriller, a tense, pulpy escape story brought to life with gorgeous art by EPHK. If you care about the nuts and bolts of making comics and getting better with every book, this one's for you.
This week on Let's Talk Comics, writer Doug Wagner joins the show for an in-depth conversation about crime storytelling and how creative discipline leads him to some of his best work The conversation digs into Wagner's work on Narco, his latest crime/horror series that blends drops it's main character in the middle of a murder mystery while dealing with....you guessed it, narcolepsy. Doug talks about what draws him to darker stories, and how he approaches writing crime in a way that feels grounded and purposeful rather than exploitative. From there, Doug also talks about his expansive Materials Universe, including Plastic, Vinyl, and Plush, and how each project helped shape his voice as a writer. He also gets into some deep process talk, explaining how his process has evolved over time, the importance of consistency, and the realities of sustaining momentum in a constantly shifting industry. This is one you cannot miss.
This week on Let's Talk Comics, I'm joined by Andrew MacLean, the creator behind Head Lopper and one of the most distinctive voices in modern comics. We talk about Andrew's journey into comics, how his art and storytelling voice developed, and what it takes to sustain a creator-owned career over the long haul. Andrew breaks down his approach to visual storytelling, world-building, and why clarity and momentum matter just as much as big action moments. We also dig into his new series Death Fight Forever, an all-new action comedy about super-thief bruiser brothers Crash and Bash Biggle, inter-dimensional crime lords, and the choices that can change everything. Andrew talks about the origins of the book, working with Alexis Ziritt, and why this project let him cut loose in a whole new way.
We're kicking off the new year of Let's Talk Comics with creator Brett Bean. Brett joins the show to talk about the long road that led him back to comics. He shares how working in video games, animation, and other creative industries helped shape his approach, and why he ultimately chose to start over and focus on the medium he always loved most. We talk a lot about process and treating art like problem solving instead of waiting around for inspiration. We also dig into Brett's new Image Comics series D'orc. Brett breaks down the heart of the book and the balance between humor and violence. There's also talk about why character always comes first for him. He closes out talking about what the the bloodthirsty enchanted shield is all about but also, building a fantasy world that doesn't take itself too seriously. Then he ends with what he hopes readers connect with in the story. It's a laid-back, honest conversation about making comics and finally betting on yourself.
This episode of Let's Talk Comics is a little different. Instead of a single guest, Jim Viscardi looks back at a year of conversations with some of the most influential creators in comics and the lessons those conversations revealed. From Marjorie Liu on never stopping your creative momentum, to Will Maxwell Prince and Deniz Camp on vulnerability and risk, to Sanford Greene on finding your own path into comics, this episode explores what success can look like in comics. Jim also reflects on conversations with Robert Kirkman, Rob Liefeld, and Marc Silvestri, breaking down why owning your work changes how creators approach risk, failure, and longevity. The episode wraps with listener Q&A, comic recommendations, and a look ahead at why 2026 may be one of the most exciting years yet for creator-owned comics. Whether you are a reader, creator, retailer, or someone thinking about breaking into comics, this episode is about why comics thrive when creators take chances.
