Word Balloon Comics Podcast

Word Balloon Comics Podcast

1 on 1 interview show featuring the creative minds behind Comics TV Film Novels & Animation. Hosted by Chicago Pop Culture expert, John Siuntres

Episodes

June 28, 2026 57 mins
For more than four decades, Ralph Macchio has been one of the guiding hands behind some of Marvel Comics' greatest stories. Rising from an editorial assistant to Editor Emeritus, Ralph helped shape generations of readers' experiences, overseeing everything from The Avengers, Daredevil, and Spider-Man to Marvel's acclaimed line of graphic novels and collected editions. Along the way, he worked with legendary creators including Frank...
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On this episode of Word Balloon Scene Missing, we're taking a deep dive into one of the most haunting films of the Cold War era, Stanley Kramer's 1959 masterpiece On the Beach.Joining me are Gabriel Hardman, Ian Brill, and  Jeff Parker as we revisit this unforgettable adaptation of Nevil Shute's novel.

Starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, and Anthony Perkins, On the Beach imagines humanity's final days afte...
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Henry Barajas  (Gil Thorp Comic Strip) has two new comic stories coming in August under the Good Trouble Lable. We discuss them with GT Publisher Andrew Ayden (March)  and Editor Lauren Sankovich (Ultimate Spider-Man) .

We discuss Huelga which documents the plight of migrants and underprivilaged hispanics in 1960s california, and Islands In The Sky about the real stories of the Smoky Mountain peopele. 

...
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June 25, 2026 63 mins
Shelly Bond has a new anthology bieng kickstarted called subCulture which looks at trends of fashion comics music at the club scenes through the decades. with creators like Peter Milligan and The Hernanez Brothers, with a bunch of today's indie creatives
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Plus Racer X and a kickstarter for a new sci-fi book The Forgotten Divine 
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June 23, 2026 78 mins
Mark is back ro talk about JLU, Superboy in Acrtion Comics, and World's Finest. Plus 3 days left for his and Barry Kitson's EMPIRE crowd funder.

He also previews Batman and Robin Dynamic Dous with Chris Samnee a Batman Superman Weird Al team up, and clears up his viral video comment about the quality of new comics being made today vs old comics of the past.
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Frank has a new autobiography coming out. We discuss highlights of his seminal career,
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June 21, 2026 64 mins
We continue our Love Boat  Re-watch podcast.

Our guest passenger Chris Giarusso joins us to discuss Charro's debut as recurring character April Lopez , the stowaway, who lept into our hearts for 9 future episodes.

Plus, Bill Bixby pre-Hulk in a weird attempt at a dramatic story, and the first king of variety tv Milton Berle as a Practical Joker who never knows when to quit.
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June 20, 2026 94 mins
From 2020 Alex discusses his UNSEEN art book featuring crossovers that were proposed but didn't happen Star Wars and The DC Universe, Star Trek Vs Star Wars, and many more.

We also talk about his MARVEL anthology series festuring stories by fols like Sal Abinanti Steve Darnall and Alan Weiss.
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June 19, 2026 40 mins
Steve Niles has spent decades redefining horror comics, from 30 Days of Night and Criminal Macabre to a long list of stories that brought genuine scares back to the medium. Today, Steve returns to Word Balloon to talk about two exciting new projects that showcase both sides of his storytelling talents.

First, we discuss Heartbreak Manor, his new graphic novel with artist Damien Worm, currently seeking support through crowdfu...
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Welcome to Word Balloon Playhouse: Western Edition. Where through the magic of audio editing, I get to act with some of my favorite film stars in a short scene. 

Today we present Stacked Deck, starring Vincent Price. Price plays a smooth-talking gambler who arrives in town with a winning smile, a quick wit, and a reputation that makes honest men nervous. But when the stakes rise and tempers flare, the question becomes w...
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Along with the obvious detail about her Absoulute Wonder Woman run, Kelly previews her Buffy Angel cooks coming for Dynamite, a new Jeff Summer Special in July, and a lot about soap operas
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Maggin has rleased his 3rd superman universe novel Lex Corp, a first person narritive of Luthor telling his own story. Now He also is reading the book chapet by chapter as a free weekly podcast. You can also hera him read his ast Son Of Krypton and Miracle Monday books as well.
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Artist Jacob Edgar has a cartoony style that evokes the work Bruce Timm. We talk about his worl with Bendis on The Ones for Dark Horse and The Rocketeer : The Island With John Layman for IDW
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Jimmy Palmiotti has worn just about every hat in comics, artist, writer, editor, publisher, and creator, but today we're focusing on some of the stories that have defined his career and some exciting new work hitting shelves right now.

Jimmy joins us to talk about his latest return to Marvel's hardest-edged vigilante in the new Punisher miniseries with artist Dan Panosian. We'll discuss Frank Castle's latest mission, the col...
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Tim Sheridan is back with a tie-in MOTU Dark Horse Mini series
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One of the cornerstone ceators on The Simpsons and Co-Creator Of The Critic Mike Reis is back ! He has a new travel book Bad Trips which is collection of his Substack essays about his trips to some of the scariest ports of call. From Iran and Iraq to The Ill Fated Titanic Submarine Tours. 

He scares us with tales of ABBA , the best food in the worst country, lots of Simpson TV writing tales and more.
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June 9, 2026 110 mins
For nearly three decades, Comic Book Resources was one of the most influential destinations in comics journalism. What began as a fan-driven website in the mid-1990s grew into a daily stop for comic book news, creator interviews, reviews, industry rumors, and commentary, helping shape the way fans followed the business and culture of comics online.

Today we're talking with the man who started it all, Jonah Weiland. We'll go ...
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June 7, 2026 46 mins
Brothers Tim and Steve discuss their coffeetable book The Art Of He-Man and The Masters Of The Universe from Dark Horse. From toy to tv series to horrible 80s film and the subsequent revivals. We pour over the strange history of the franchise.

We will review the film this Wed night on WB Live
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