The Corner Box

John and David bring us their BEST OF 2025! They take a look at the comics that took the world by storm, the stories that shaped the industry, the artists that made it all possible, and a few honorable mentions (some maybe not from 2025... the fellas got a little excited). 

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• [00:38] The true 2025 review.
• [04:00] John’s Favorites: New Material.
• [08:10] The story of Prometheus.
• [09:36] David’s Favorites: New Material...

Heroic Signatures Editor, Chris Butera, joins David and John to talk about all things Conan the Barbarian! They get into Jim Zub’s mastery of Conan lore, the expansion of the Howard-verse, the importance of a good writer-artist pairing, and fitting stories into a modern context, and David learns about comics without pictures.

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• [01:14] This is the Barbarian.
• [02:51] How Chris fell into comics.
• [04:15] Jim Zub is ma...

Challengers Comics + Conversation’s Patrick Brower joins John and David for part 2 of this year-end conversation about all things comics in 2025. They get into why David can’t get all the variant covers, the Marvel/DC crossovers, what made the Absolute Line so successful, the good and the bad of 2025, and looking ahead at the comics industry in 2026, and Patrick makes a prediction – will it come true?

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• [00:57] E...

Challengers Comics + Conversation’s very own Patrick Brower joins John and David for a 2-part year-end conversation about all things comics in 2025. They get into how Diamond’s fall reshaped the entire industry, what it takes to run a comic bookstore, the disappearance of customer service, and a week in the life of a Challengers comic book.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of The Corner Box vs Patrick Brower!

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• [01:13] The p...

The one and only real Jim McCann joins John and David to talk about his secret careers in music and flower arranging, the truth behind the success of the podcast, a peek the behind-the-scenes in comic book publishing offices, and how to put a double-page spread to good use. Also, David wets himself, Jim wets his comics, and John gets a rock.

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• [00:48] David’s leaky pipes.
• [04:28] Jim loses comics.
• [05:12] David fin...

Superguy creator and Comics and Chronic cohost, Anthony Iannaccio, joins John and David to talk about his career arc, from WWE arenas to writing comedy superhero comics, the super team behind Superguy, the state of comedy in comics, and the best comics of the moment.

Relevant Links

MrTonyNacho

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• [00:43] Comics and Chronic.
• [02:08] The secret to longevity.
• [03:09] Anthony career arc.
• [04:18] Getting into comics.
• [07:59]...

John, David, and Everybody Else (aka Mason Rabinowitz) return for Part 2 of the "Top 5 Runs in All of Marvel Comics"! They get into the Top 3, make some honorable mentions, add a few titillating surprises, and then the trio faces-off for the True #1 Marvel Comic Run.

Relevant Links

Behind the Panels of Marvel’s Secret Wars

Timestamp Segments

• [00:00] Check out This Secret Wars Kickstarter!
• [02:13] John’s #3.
• [05:34] Dave Coc...

Everybody Else (aka Mason Rabinowitz) joins John and (eventually) David for Part 1 of their "Top 5 Runs in All of Marvel Comics"! They get into what makes a run truly great, some iconic collaborations and runs that didn’t make the lists, the exciting Behind the Panels of Secret Wars, and Batman’s new logo. Also, David makes a surprise appearance on today’s episode.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of The Corner Box vs Mason Rabinowit...

John and David go undercover in search of the answer to the ultimate question: Why? They get into the magic of great creators and their stories, do a deep dive on the recent Batman/Deadpool comic by Grant Morrison and Dan Mora, and discuss David’s unchecked comics spending. Also, John has a revelation.

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• [01:06] Why?
• [02:07] David’s Why? Salvation Run.
• [05:46] John’s Why? Youngblood #1.
• [09:04] The most Garth Ennis ...

Rob Worst cheats death once again and joins John and David to talk about the art of collecting comics, the value of original art, the rise of AI and digital comics, and the importance of artists supporting other artists.

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John has a Kickstarter | Behind the Panels of Marvel’s Secret Wars

Rob Worst has a podcast | Not Near Mint

Timestamp Segments

• [00:00] Check out This Secret Wars Kickstarter!
• [02:03] T...

Former Marvel editor and Behind the Panels writer, Ellie Pyle, joins John and David to talk about the upcoming Behind the Panels of Marvel’s Secret Wars! They get into Ellie’s career path through every known form of media, the ins and outs of working at big companies, the process of creating the Behind the Panels book, and collaborating with the nicest people in comics.

Relevant Links

Women of Marvel

Behind the Panels of Marvel’s Secr...

John and David look at what it means to succeed in comics, David Finch's incredible work on Skinbreaker, some new Easter eggs in old comics, and the best way to waste a splash page. Also, John talks about his exciting new Kickstarter, and David sees the light.

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Behind the Panels of Marvel’s Secret Wars

Timestamp Segments

• [00:00] Check out This Secret Wars Kickstarter!
• [02:17] David’s winning week.
• [04:54]...

John and David share their monthly "Top 10 Hottest Artists of the Moment" list! This isn't some arbitrary list, folks. These artist picks are based on a variety of factors including their current book sales, industry "buzz", and production pulled from several different online and in print sources. Not enough for you? The guys also get into the art of New #1s, John’s life after Grey, and the podcast gets a 5...

After a couple of weeks of really insightful comic talk from John and special guest host (and Fun Time Go EiC), Chase Marotz, David returns just in time to dumb things back down and go “All In” on DC’s K.O. brackets! The guys predict the winning brackets, make a shocking discovery about Batman(?!), announce (again) the return of Vertigo, contemplate Marvel’s ventures into other genres, and speculate about the future of the Ultimate...

John and special guest host, Chase Marotz, learn new things about old stuff! They get into pronouncing names they’ve never heard, the state of reproduced comics, and the joy of finishing a really bad comic. Also, John crosses the threshold.

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• [01:44] How to pronounce things you’ve never heard.
• [05:15] Learning new things about old stuff.
• [07:47] Reading Weapon X.
• [10:09] The problem with reproduced comics.
• [14:35] Th...

John and Chase Marotz (as David 2.0) get into Autobiographical Comics! They talk about the evolution of autobio comics, what it would take to write about one’s innermost thoughts, grappling with comics as journalism, and the educational value of non-fiction comics. Also, David somehow finds himself in a meaty situation?

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• [01:04] What happened to David?
• [02:24] Chase’s journey into comics.
• [04:24] Early autobio com...

Kirt Burdick, John, and David return to talk more Death of Power! Along the way they get into comic conventions, showing appreciation to fandom, using technology to enhance art, and how memes run the world. Also, David takes off (maybe to Paris).

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Support Kirt Burdick

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• [00:53] Kirt does Cons.
• [05:36] Death of Power: The Sales Pitch.
• [06:53] Kirt’s comics for kids.
• [09:30] Kickstarter V...

Kirt Burdick joins the show (or does he?) to talk with John and David about Death of Power #7! The gents get into old vs new comics and their influences, Star Wars’ missing piece, Kirt’s unusual 7th issue success, and Kickstarter VS publishers. Also, David has a bone to pick with Death of Power #7 and ends up being horribly, terribly wrong.

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Support Kirt Burdick

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• [01:11] Ready to th...

Welcome to the New and Improved Corner Box! Kicking off Season 3, John and David ditch the Black Hawk and Captain Carrot news and look to the future of comics. They get into the ever-changing comic book audience, how new art styles are transforming the face of comics, embracing manga in the US, and preparing for the next new thing. Also, John reveals the secret of his big toes.

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It’s Fun Time!

Tim...