The Icon Art Festival with Sal Abbinanti

Here' my 2022 indepth chat with horror host Rich Koz, from Me-TV. We're talking about the two-part Svengoolie comic anthology from Frank Miller Presents, which brings tsven nd his unique brand of spooky comedy to the printed page.Rich takes us behind the scenes of the project's creation, discussing the writers and artists involved and how Svengoolie's personality and humor translate from television to comics.We also look back at the history of the character, from the original Svengoolie, Jerry G. Bishop, to Rich's own decades-long run as Chicago's favorite horror host and his eventual rise to national television fame.And, of course, we share our mutual love of classic television, old horror movies, comic books, and collecting the pop culture treasures we grew up with.It's a fun conversation about horror, humor, nostalgia, and the enduring appeal of a character who has entertained generations of viewers.

In celebration of Wonder Woman's 85th anniversary, we're reaching back into the Word Balloon archives to revisit two conversations from 2022 with writer Kelly Sue DeConnick and artist Phil Jimenez, exploring their extraordinary collaboration on Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons.Since her debut in All Star Comics #8 in 1941, Wonder Woman has stood as one of the most iconic characters in comic book history. But in Historia, DeConnick and Jimenez take us back long before Diana's birth, reimagining the mythological origins of the Amazons, the Greek goddesses who created them, and the struggles that ultimately led to the founding of their society.Published under DC's Black Label imprint, Wonder Woman Historia is an ambitious, visually breathtaking interpretation of Amazon mythology. In these conversations, Kelly Sue and Phil discuss the creative challenges of building this world, the themes of power, feminism, and mythology at the heart of the story, and the remarkable artistic detail that went into its first volume.As we celebrate 85 years of the Amazing Amazon, it's a perfect opportunity to revisit one of the most imaginative additions to Wonder Woman's mythology.

Plus Digger, The Diplomat and other reviews 

Sal previews the Nov 7th Icon Festival- A festival for art collectors, artists and storytellers in the historic Biltmore Hotel. Featuring Bill Sienkiewicz and Thomas Jane plus art From Bill Alex Ross Alex Nino Sanford Greene Njick Dragotta and more. We alsp discuss the making of the Sienkiewicz documentary, That Polish Guy 

More Trek talk, the virtues of Kenneth Branagh as a director, Doctor who obsevations and RMB talks about his new star trek book of essays and kickstarter campaign

RMB talks about his new star trek book of essays and kickstarter campaign . Plus we review more of Season 4 of Strange New Worlds. We also discuss AI, Rob's Old Movie collection  and more 

RMB talks about his new book and kickstarter campaign . Plus we review the first 2 eps of Vision Quest SNW the Trek News From NYCC and more

Wes Craig is one of the most distinctive visual storytellers working in comics today. His dynamic layouts and inventive storytelling helped define Deadly Class, the acclaimed Image Comics series he co-created with writer Rick Remender, which also made the leap to television.Now Wes is taking on one of the biggest icons in comics with Superman: The Stranger, a six-issue DC Black Label series that he's both writing and drawing. It's a return to the Man of Steel's roots in 1938, with a young, brash Superman fighting corruption and injustice in a Depression-era Metropolis. We discuss his love for the original Siegel and Shuster Superman, the influence of the Fleischer cartoons, and what makes that early version of the character surprisingly relevant today.We also look back at his collaboration with Remender on Deadly Class and dive into Kaya, his creator-owned fantasy adventure from Image Comics, which has given Wes the freedom to build an entire world on his own terms.

Few artists in comics have brought the kind of elegance, imagination, and sheer visual storytelling that P. Craig Russell has delivered throughout his remarkable career. From his groundbreaking work on Marvel's Killraven with writer Don McGregor to his unforgettable interpretations of Doctor Strange, including the classic annual "What Is It That Disturbs You, Stephen?", Russell has always approached comics with a unique blend of fantasy, mythology, and fine art.Now Craig is returning to his acclaimed Night Music series with a new Kickstarter campaign, revisiting the kind of personal, beautifully illustrated storytelling that has defined so much of his work.In this conversation, we'll discuss the new project, look back at his interpretations of Marvel's characters, and explore his creative process and the influences that have made his work so distinctive for more than five decades.