Ed Catto Talks Adam West and Retro Fan Magazine

Today on Word Balloon, I’m joined by Ed Catto, Editor-in-Chief of Retro Fan Magazine, a publication dedicated to celebrating the movies, television, comics, and pop culture that shaped generations.We’re talking about the latest issue of Retro Fan, which is packed with deep-dive features and thoughtful retrospectives — including a look back at Adam West’s iconic run as Batman, a comprehensive history of Lee Falk, the creator of The Phantom, and a fun, nostalgic revisit to Sigmund and the Sea Monsters. And that’s just the start — this issue is loaded with the kind of researched, enthusiast-level storytelling Retro Fan is known for.Ed also shares what goes into curating each issue, balancing fan passion with historical accuracy, and keeping classic pop culture alive for new readers without losing what made it special in the first place. If you love smart nostalgia, deep cuts, and pop-culture history done right, this is a great conversation.

Today on Word Balloon, I’m joined by Anthony Snyder — the son of the legendary sports broadcaster Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder, and the owner of AnthonysComicBookArt.com, one of the most respected destinations for original comic book art collectors. Anthony talks about growing up around the larger-than-life world of sports media, what it was like being raised by Jimmy the Greek, and how that legacy shaped his own path. We also dig into his passion for comics, the evolution of the original art market, and how he built his business by connecting collectors directly with artists and their work.If you have an offer you'd like to make from art on his website (https://www.anthonyscomicbookart.com) please email [email protected] with links to the artworks you'd like to make an offer on, and the price you're offering

On this episode of Word Balloon, host John Siuntres continues his in-depth conversation with acclaimed artist Bryan Hitch in Part Two, focusing squarely on Superman, Lex Luthor, and the larger DC Universe. Bryan breaks down his visual approach to the Man of Steel, how he balances power with humanity, and why framing Superman correctly on the page is one of the hardest challenges in comics. The discussion also digs into Lex Luthor as a character — how Hitch visually communicates intellect, menace, and ego — and how those elements shape DC’s larger narrative world. Bryan shares behind-the-scenes insights into collaboration, continuity, and the realities of working at the center of DC’s flagship titles. It’s a creator-level look at superheroes, villains, and the visual language that defines the DCU — thoughtful, candid, and packed with craft talk.

On this episode of Word Balloon, host John Siuntres kicks off a wide-ranging conversation with legendary artist Bryan Hitch in Part One of an in-depth interview covering his career past, present, and future. Bryan talks about his creator-owned series Redcoat, the ideas and influences behind The Authority, and how those books helped redefine widescreen superhero storytelling. The conversation also digs into Bryan’s work on Superman, his approach to visual scale and cinematic pacing, and how blockbuster storytelling changed comics in the 2000s. Along the way, Bryan shares behind-the-scenes insights into collaboration, deadlines, and the evolution of his art style across Marvel and DC.

Today on Word Balloon, we’re diving into the legacy of Olan Soule — the original animated Batman — and the long, fascinating TV career that made him a cornerstone of early superhero entertainment. And there’s no better guide for this conversation than our guest, Dan Pasternack.Dan  is one of the great archivists and historians of television comedy and classic broadcast performance. Over the years, he’s worked with and documented some of the most influential talents in the medium, including Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Norman Lear, Betty White, Bob Newhart, and Jonathan Winters. His work preserving and celebrating these artists has made him a crucial voice in understanding how TV comedy and character performance evolved.Dan is also the producer behind the acclaimed Jonathan Winters Record Store Day release, Jonathan Winters Unearthed, a project built from both classic and newly uncovered recordings — a tribute to one of comedy’s purest improvisational geniuses.Beyond his archival work, Dan is shaping the next generation of creators as an educator at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he teaches graduate students the craft of developing television and digital storytelling.Today, he joins us to break down Olan Soule’s journey from Chicago radio actor to defining the animated voice of Batman in Filmation’s 1960s shows, The Batman/Superman Hour, and the Super Friends era — and how Soule’s understated, square-jawed vocal style helped create the template every animated Batman actor followed. It’s a deep dive into forgotten history, iconic performances, and the building blocks that shaped superhero animation long before the modern era.

A new talk with writer Jeremy Adams — digging into his personal takes on Flash Gordon, Green Lantern, and Aquaman, and what draws him to (and challenges him about) each iconic mythos. They get into how classic pulp energy, cosmic storytelling, and sea-soaked adventure inform his creative instincts, and how those sensibilities show up in his work.Jeremy also breaks down his upcoming animated adaptation of Batman: Knightfall — what he’s focusing on, how he’s handling Bane’s legacy, and what fans can expect from this fresh take on a brutal chapter of the Dark Knight’s history.Plus Jeremy shares stories from DC’s KO event — what it was like to contribute to a universe-shaking crossover, the narrative choices that mattered most to him, and the behind-the-scenes moments fans haven’t heard before. The epic matchup of Aquman Vs Hawkman, and the upcoming, The Kids Are All fight with many of the new sidekick heroes facing eacch other. 

Get ready — on this episode of Trek Watch, we break down the brand-new sneak preview for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, dropped at CCXP 2025 before the official premiere on January 15.  We talk about what the clip reveals: the fate of the U.S.S. Athena as it comes under surprise attack, the first look at cadet life, and the ominous arrival of the villain Nus Braka — who’s part Klingon, part Tellarite, and played by Paul Giamatti.  We also break down the setup for the series’ central themes: young cadets forging friendships, navigating rivalries and first loves, and facing a new threat to both the Academy and the Federation Is this the fresh, high-stakes take Trek needs — or is theis show jumping the shark before it begins?  

Another great talk from this year  with acclaimed comics writer Al Ewing with deep-dives. First into two legendary mythic heroes: Thor and Metamorpho.Ewing explores the mythic roots, narrative shifts, and creative challenges behind modern takes on these icons — from thunder gods to chemical-powered shapeshifters. Deep dives into Norse Mythology and the shame that we only got six issues of a great modern spin on Rex Mason Simon Stagg Saphire and of course Java Hour two highlights  Venom and Absolute Green Lantern. We unpack the horror-tinged, high-stakes reinventing of legacy characters — from symbiotic monsters to cosmic-light mythos and what was the deal with the Paul hatred (lol) 

Two decades after it crash-landed into comics, Fear Agent is still one of the most ferocious, heartfelt, and inventively insane sci-fi adventures ever put to paper. For its 20th anniversary, we bring together the core creative team — Rick Remender, Tony Moore, and Mike Hawthorne — for a no-holds-barred panel looking back at the series that redefined pulp for a new generation. The trio walks through the origins of Heath Huston, the booze-soaked alien-blasting exterminator who somehow became one of the most unexpectedly human heroes in modern comics. They dig into the design choices, tonal shifts, heartbreaks, and hard left turns that shaped the series from its earliest issues to its explosive finale.

Pasko and I continue our wide-ranging discussion on comics, television, and animation — expanding into old-time TV, behind-the-scenes film and show business, and the sometimes surprising roots of comic-book properties. They talk about the portrayal of Wonder Woman — including the editorial pressures and controversies surrounding her early stories under creator William Moulton Marston.Pasko reflects on his role in cataloguing and curating the vast history of DC Comics — discussing how the company’s characters and features were compiled and preserved over decades. They reminisce about classic TV series and actors — stories involving old television stars like Gil Gerard (Buck Rogers), Jack Klugman (Quincy) , Clayton Moore (the original TV Lone Ranger), and the once-infamous playmate/actress Dorothy Stratton. There’s also talk about other showbiz ventures related to comics — old-school TV adaptations, live-action attractions (like the ones from Six Flags featuring DC characters), and the interplay between comics, film, and television in shaping popular culture.