Chip Zdarsky on Captain America & White House Robot Romance

Before Chip Zdarsky, Valerio Schiti and Frank Martin’s Captain America shield slashes into stores this Wednesday, I had a chance to converse with Chip about the title, as well as his (and Rachael Stott, Tamra Bonvillain and Ariana Maher’s) White House Robot Romance from DSTLRY – going into how it feels to write books with these storylines during this political climate, as well as a wealth of other stuff primarily about Captain America and how he views the character and the mythos. I’ve been a big fan of Chip Zdarsky since his Spectacular Spider-Man book way back in 2017, and he was the first comics creator I ever met in person, so getting to interview him was a dream come true. The conversation we had about these books, especially Captain America, was a real eye opener in a lot of ways. I even got to talk about one of my criticisms of Avengers: Twilight’s ending with him and how that might influence how he writes Captain America, which certainly left me very inquisitive about how this book is going to turn out. I also asked about Gundam (obviously), which he covered with his friends over at his manga podcast Mangasplaining, so be sure to check that out. Captain America #1 hits stores this Wednesday, July 2nd. Check out Chip Zdarsky over at his substack! Synopsis for Captain America #1 While Captain America slumbered in ice, the world changed — for better and for worse. Steve Rogers awakens to a reality where battles are fought in the shadows through secrets and subterfuge, and villains aren't so easy to identify. When a fledgling dictator named Victor Von Doom conquers Latveria, Steve faces a critical decision: adapt to a new kind of warfare, or forge his own path? And what will the choice he makes in the past mean for his future? Experience the untold tale of Captain America's first encounter with Doctor Doom as Chip Zdarsky and Valerio Schiti team up for a game-changing new era of CAPTAIN AMERICA! Synopsis for White House Robot Romance When Chef-9 learns that Service-1 is scheduled for immediate decommissioning, he makes an unprecedented choice: abandon his station, break protocol, and flee with Service-1 into the streets of Washington, D.C. But what starts as a desperate act of defiance quickly spirals into an international crisis. Service-1’s memory banks hold highly classified state secrets—ones that could tilt the balance of power between America and Canada. As paranoia mounts and the military mobilizes, the runaway robots find themselves hunted by government agents. Be sure to check out our previous interview with Chip here, where he discusses his other work, Public Domain. We delve into the comics industry, its history, and what it's like working in it today. Be sure to rate and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts! Every rating helps us get fantastic interv

With The Library at Hellbore's release right around the corner (July 22), I got the chance to sit down and have a conversation with Cassandra Khaw about the upcoming book. This conversation was much more than that, though. It was a conversation with a creator whose work made me fall in love with prose as an adult. Cassandra's style of writing is enthralling to the point of outright consumption (which... is a topic in this episode in a more meaty sense). Our conversation digs into the themes of the title in a non-spoiler fashion. Still, it is an overall conversation about horror and the horrors of the world in a wonderfully eye-opening way. If you could see how often my eyes widened as I listened to Cassandra Khaw speak, you would laugh as you listened along but there is so many things they say that made the gears move in my brains. It's one of those interviews where I will always be thankful I got to talk with someone who inspires me. I hope you take something away from this conversation as well. The Library at Hellbore will be in bookstores on July 22nd, but pre-order wherever you get your books now, so you can let them know you want it. In our interview, Cassandra Khaw mentions that there is a perfumist who makes scents based on their works. Here is a link to their site with a TON of really niche scents, lotions, and candles based on all sorts of things that I personally love. I couldn't help myself and got the Deckard, the Clown, and of course, my favorite Khaw book's perfume, Nothing But Blackened Teeth. There is something so cool to me about engaging other senses with things like prose because it only draws you further into the world you're reading about. Follow Cassandra Khaw on Instagram to keep up with everything they've got going on! The Hellebore Technical Institute for the Gifted is the premier academy for the dangerously powerful: the Anti-Christs and Ragnaroks, the world-eaters and apocalypse-makers. Hellebore promises redemption, acceptance, and a normal life after graduation. At least, that’s what Alessa Li is told when she’s kidnapped and forcibly enrolled. But there’s more to Hellebore than meets the eye. On graduation day, the faculty go on a ravenous rampage, feasting on Alessa’s class. Only Alessa and a group of her classmates escape the carnage. Trapped in the school’s library, they must offer a human sacrifice every night, or else the faculty will break down the door and kill everyone. Can they band together and survive, or will the faculty eat its fill?

With the final volume of Brian Michael Bendis and André Araújo's Phenomena on shelves now, we got the chance to dig into the series with them. Dan spends a lot of time chatting with the team about building this fascinating world from the ground up, what world-building looked like for them, and more. There is a focus on the art in this interview with André talking about building scenes and his approach to the scope of his work. This is a must-read for sci-fi fans of all ages. Check out the interview and make sure to pick up all three volumes wherever you get your books from Abrams Books! Phenomena is the story of a young boy named Boldon and his warrior friend Spike—survivors of a phenomena that took over Earth years ago. Not an apocalypse . . . something far more interesting. We follow Boldon and Spike as they are forced to team up with another lost orphan of the world, Matilde. The trio of heroes go on a globetrotting adventure that takes them to a magical, mysterious place called the Golden City of Eyes. As they quest across this epically crazy new world looking for answers and purpose, they face off against dark forces big and small, changing the world better along the way. In each book in the series, our heroes travel to different parts of the magical world of Phenomena by various modes of transportation, each more and more fantastical than the mode that preceded it. Each journey is personal, and every chapter takes the trio toward a different, visually iconic destination, and each location, character, and chapter reveals clues to the shape of the world and how they got there—and, ultimately, their purpose. With Phenomena, Brian Michael Bendis and André Lima Araújo deliver a universe chock-full of unforgettable characters, full-tilt action, and stunning imagination and world-building that is perfect for fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Superman Unlimited written by Dan Slott, with interior art by Rafael Albuquerque, colours by Marcelo Maiolo and letters by Dave Sharpe hits shelves tomorrow from DC Comics. This series is set up to be a brand new jumping-on point for all types of readers. If you're a new fan coming off of the excitement for the new film or an old fan wanting to return to the last son of Krypton, this is the book for you! I got the chance to sit down with Dan Slott to chat about the series, Superman, and his world. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube! Our first Dan and Dan interview dug deep into the character of Spider-Man where we took time to unpack the character and this interview follows that same web. Dan and I talked about Superman Unlimited and how it came to be after so much time in the industry. Dan opened the interview hard talking about Superman's rogue gallery which we revisit later in the episode. Slott's other work has often featured a heavy emphasis on the third-party cast around superheroes, which has been lacking in mainstream comics. We discussed how he will use Superman's supporting cast in Superman Unlimited to bolster the character and the world around him. Dan talks about which characters he is going to make you fall in love with by the time his run is over. I was lucky enough to read Superman Unlimited before our chat, which I allude to in the interview. I will say there is a scene in issue one that recontextualizes something about Superman and the burden he carries with him that changes a pivotal point in the character's history. It's an extremely powerful moment that Slott has crafted that sets the path forward so much more exciting for longtime fans of the character. This is a series filled with heart, which makes a very strong Superman book for me. You will want to pick Superman Unlimited up as soon as you can!

News From the Fallout is one of those horror titles that sticks to your heart like tar. It has a lingering fear that seeps deep into you the longer you sit with the book. It's an incredible piece of work from the Writer CHRIS CONDON (THAT TEXAS BLOOD, Ultimate Wolverine), artist JEFFREY ALAN LOVE (The Last Battle at the End of the World, The Thousand Demon Tree), letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, and designer Michael Tivey. I was lucky enough to sit down with the writer and artist to have a long discussion about the series that digs into some rather heavy topics about the book. Pre-order it now! In 1962 Nevada, a nuclear bomb test goes horribly awry and unleashes a contaminate into the atmosphere that turns people rotten. Otis Fallows, a private in the U.S. Army who is present for the test and is the only known survivor, flees the secret army base in search of a safe haven—but does such a place exist? Here is an excerpt from my review of the first two issues, which you should pre-order now: I grew up as a child in the 90’s, seeing footage or references to nuclear fallout drills in all sorts of media. Watching those children my age crawl under their desks to escape the blast of a nuclear bomb’s fallout seemed more like science fiction than something that was a real present threat anyone faced. Nothing catastrophic like that could ever happen in America, right? Well, in 3rd grade, I watched the Twin Towers fall on live television. So those tests didn’t seem too far-fetched in my 9-year-old gray matter anymore.  With both the horrors that I witnessed and everything surrounding them, it felt like people’s fears were heard loud and clear. They were echoed in everyone’s hearts to try to stop them from happening again. There was no doubt that the fallout was inevitable.

This is a very special episode for me personally, as someone who has a very close relationship with every animal in their life. Sina Grace has written a comic working through his own grief and love for his pet, which is currently running on Kickstarter. Support it here. When I saw the campaign, I texted Sina to set something up as soon as possible, because the grief of losing a pet isn't something we often discuss enough as adults. It's as if that pain is supposed to stop once you aren't a kid and lose a pet. Given the weight of this conversation, I was joined by a very special co-host who took it upon herself to co-host with me. Please welcome Kori for the second half of the interview. I have included the video of the interview so you can see her as she requested. Excuse the mess her canine sisters make of my office. I was very lucky to get to have a less structured discussion with Sina about this project, as we planned it in under a few hours. It allowed both of us to be more raw than we may have been otherwise. There are some tears on both sides as we discuss animals. If you can support this project, I suggest checking out the Kickstarter. Personally, I believe Sina has a special way to show emotion in his art in a comical but stark fashion. This is no exception with some of the previews I will show below from the official Kickstarter below along with the project's description in Sina's own words. "All my life, I grew up wanting a dog. When I was in my mid-20s, that dream came true with Henry. He was a sweet chihuahua terrier who went everywhere with me. My floppy-eared companion fit perfectly in my life, and made me a more responsible person every day.  It was only natural that, when I lost him in 2023 after a dreadful fight with lymphoma, I turned to art to process my grief. I didn’t know what else to do with my feelings. Thinking that I couldn’t be the only one struggling to move on from a pet’s death, I poured those emotions onto the page to tell a story that I hoped could heal others. From my own experience, I knew there wasn’t a book on the stands that did what mine was doing: talking about a legitimate and very specific kind of grief that every person goes through when they make the decision to bring a pet home. In the span of putting Henry down, there were at least seven friends I had to walk through the experience of pet grief with, and thought: “Wow, I wish I could give them a book on everything so they wouldn’t feel so alone.”  However, when I submitted this book to publishers, I kept hearing the same story. “This is beautiful, I’m crying, it’s not a fit for us…” Every publisher I sent the book to gave me the kindest rejections I’ve ever experienced in my fifteen years as a published author, but I couldn’t help but think of the friends who, like me, had no template for this kind of grief. While these setbacks caused me to literally put the project on pause, I knew I had to tell mine (and Henry’s) story even if a marketing department could not see the vision. This is a very special project, and my hope is that a Kickstarter will allow me to deliver it to the readers who need it most.  If ever I had to put something completely personal on the line knowing that it boiled down to an individual’s relationship to the art, it’s Life on Paws. I’m no stranger to the Kickstarter community, so I’ve built modest goals with rewards that make the book as great and memorable as it can be. I’ve always had a strong vision for the final product: a square-bound volume that is sized to gift to loved ones in need. At the end of the day, the goal with Life on Paws is to heal people and celebrate how great it was to have a pet, and give a story to the people who need to move forward after losing their soul animal. 

This interview kicks off with absolute chaos and doesn't slow down until the credits roll. Brian Michael "B-Money" Bendis and Soo Lee join Dan to talk about WELCOME TO TWILIGHT Issue #2. This is their first installment in the Minor Threats Universe! We dig into their issue, their new characters, and so much more in our extremely fun chat. Oh also, Bendis talks about the time he signed a living breathing dog, but he had NOTHING to do with the CGC grading! WELCOME TO TWILIGHT is the first anthology series from the world of Minor Threats that lines up absolute superstar teams to tell stories set through the Minor Threats Universe. In Issue 2, A brand-new character so dangerous she was never spoken of until now. Find out her connections to the past and how they’re gonna affect the future of the city. Co-created by the creator of the Peabody-winning Jessica Jones and the Bram Stoker (Not Stroker, that's a very different and much sexier award show which we talk about) award-winning co-creator of Carmilla, Soo Lee! Soo Lee talks about the design of the new character Dokkaebi with her own heritage and anime influences. As someone who is an expert on the Minor Threats universe, she is my favorite addition since Crab Louie. She fits so well, and I cannot wait to see where she goes from this absolutely STELLAR introduction WELCOME TO TWILIGHT. Bendis discusses his return not only to writing cape comics but also to writing comics in a shared space like this. He discusses how inspiring the duo of Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum is as someone who loves collaborating with people. We all spend a lot of time gushing over Minor Threats, and I am not sorry about it. If you aren't reading the Minor Threats line... You're missing out on the absolute ultimate thing in comics.

For a long time, I was worried that I had burned myself out of my love of superhero comics. Nothing was making me excited to just talk about DC Comics, specifically like it did when I was growing up. My brother and I have been talking about these characters our whole lives as a site/podcast for years now. So, losing that spark was weighing on me, but recently, that spark was reignited with such a fire that burns harder than ever. The reason is the Absolute Universe. I don't think I am the only one either because the conversation about these books all over the place is overwhelmingly positive and upbeat in every space I see. People are just having fun reading these books and talking about them. I was lucky enough to sit down with Scott Snyder for the first time to talk about the Absolute Universe. We started our conversation out by talking about a touchstone for both of us which is horror. Snyder got his start and cut his teeth in the horror world, and it's something he has never left, even with Absolute Batman. But we quickly switch to the Absolute universe and it's conception. We get into all the facets of the universe to it's birth, conception, what's to come, and more. Scott talks about how he ended up on Batman and his reluctance to even write the book, which comes as a shock if you have read the book. Scott Snyder reveals his one non-negotiable for this book, which ended up being what made this version of Batman so impactful as a modern version of Batman. Scott also reveals a LOT about Darkseid since the events of the events of DC ALL IN. Be sure to check it out if you want to know how the Absolute books came to be and what the universe is all about or what the goal of the books are!

We are no strangers to the Minor Threats universe that Jordan Blum, Patton Oswalt, and Scott Hepburn created. We've spoken to them a few times about the world, but now we are chatting with the creator of the newest spinoff, The Brood. Heath Corson, I.N.J. Culbard, and Nate Piekos bring a tale of fatherhood, legacy, and connection to a cape setting with the utmost vulnerability in its storytelling. Listen as Heath and Dan discuss the book's themes, sandwiches, and more. We were lucky enough to read the final issue of the series, which ties everything together in one of the best conclusions in a comic. It is a testament to the strength of the Minor Threats line to tell big stories in a familiar caped setting while never sacrificing storytelling. From the world of the hit Minor Threats series comes a family drama starring the planet's most feared villains.   Napoleon Archimedes is the archnemesis of The Searcher, and he’s fought her to a standstill for over four decades in the futuristic metropolis of Meteor Falls. But now, as he confronts his mortality, he’s forced to name a successor from his three extraordinary children: Athena, Benjamin, and Spookshow. Each brilliant, cunning ... and unlucky enough to be the child of the world’s greatest supervillain.   See, Napoleon believed he was smart enough to have it all: Raise a family AND conquer the world. Then he thought: Why not combine them? Take the kids on as partners. Create a dynasty... None of it went according to plan. Who will rise above the betrayal, failure, and dysfunction to seize the family business?   Join us for an unlikely coming-of-age story that wrestles with the concussions and repercussions of getting raised by a once-in-a-generation criminal mind. Think your father is manipulative, cold, and demanding...? Wait until you meet Napoleon.

We had the chance to chat with Emmy award-winning producer Paul Martin about his latest project, Onside: Major League Soccer, which dives deeper into the world of the US soccer league. It's an incredible series that brings stories from the background to the forefront to give a better look into the world of soccer. Dan and Paul discuss sports story narratives, personalities, and more! It's made Dan go so far as to look into going to a few Philadelphia Union games this season, which is heavily featured in episode 3. Take a listen. Go beyond the pitch with the personalities that power MLS. With unprecedented access to players, coaches, and clubs, this series explores the electrifying moments and captivating stories that make the 2024 season unforgettable. Each episode takes viewers deeper into the world of Major League Soccer, offering an unfiltered look at the players beyond the pitch—balancing family life, navigating relationships, overcoming injuries, and enduring heartbreaking losses—all while chasing the ultimate goal: winning the 2024 MLS Cup. Onside: Major League Soccer” featuring some of the sport’s most prolific athletes and leaders including Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF), Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), Emil Forsberg (New York Red Bulls), Olivier Giroud (LAFC), Matt Miazga (FC Cincinnati), Cucho Hernández (Columbus Crew), Pat Noonan (FC Cincinnati Head Coach), Wilfried Nancy (Columbus Crew Head Coach), David Beckham (Inter Miami Owner), and many more.  Produced for Apple by Box to Box Films in partnership with Major League Soccer, the eight-episode docuseries is out now! Executive producers include Academy Award and BAFTA Award winner James Gay-Rees (“Senna,” “Formula 1: Drive to Survive,” “Amy”), Emmy Award winner Paul Martin (Apple TV+’s “Make or Break,” “Formula 1: Drive to Survive”) and Hillary Olsen (“Faceoff: Inside The NHL”), along with showrunner Steve Rankin (“Naked and Afraid,” “Man vs Wild”). 1) Back to Glory Amid Messi Mania, Miami and the LA Galaxy gear up for a huge early-season test. Riqui Puig opens up about the pressure of superstar expectations. 2) Hell Is Real Ohio’s heated rivalry reignites. As kickoff nears, stars and managers discuss what’s at stake, the will to compete, and leaving it all on the pitch.  3) Young Blood Cavan Sullivan signs with Philly at age 14. The countdown is on for the Homegrown phenom to make his debut as the youngest MLS player ever.  4) City Blues Second-year club St. Louis CITY are under pressure to build a winning culture. A rematch against arch-rivals Sporting KC raises the stakes. 5) Kings of New York Who runs NYC? A case is made in the Hudson River Derby’s playoff debut. RBNY’s rising star John Tolkin feels the heat of the spotlight. 6) The Window Clubs go hunting for new talent in the summer transfer window, where deals get done—or fall apart—and stars arrive in the month-long frenzy. 7) The Big Decision Atlanta United’s long road back to title contention hits a tipping point. A Decision Day miracle sets up a Round One duel against Inter Miami and Messi.   8) Legacy With Messi eliminated, it’s anyone’s MLS Cup. Riqui Puig’s injury stuns the LA Galaxy as they get set to battle the New York Red Bulls for the title.