THE AWESOME COMICS PODCAST

Episode 494 - Learn to write comics with Fred Van Lente!

This week the pod crew have so many comics topics to talk about, and who better to talk to than Fred Van Lente (Comic Book History of Comics, Action Philopshers, Archer and Armstrong)! From his work on the new Valiant comics, to taking charge of a publisher-wide crossover to educating the next generation of comic writers, if you like comic books there's something for everyone in this chat.

Great stuff to check out this week - Fred Van Lente, Valiant Comics, Alien Books, Bloodshot, Archer and Armstrong, Eat Fighter, King Kirby, Comics Experience, The Patsy Papers, Rachael Ball, Who Can Replace a Man?, Brian Aldis, WIP Comics Group, The Unbelievable Unteens, Skulldigger and Skeleton Boy, Jeff Lemire, Tyler Crook, Black Hammer, Mega City Book Club, Eleven O'Clock Comics, Cliff Cumber, Do a Powerbomb, Daniel Warren Johnson, Kieron Squires, Transformers, Energon Universe

Episode 493 - Fingerman Returns!

With his brilliant book 'Printopia' hitting shelves the gang grabbed hold of Bob Fingerman (Minimum Wage) to talk about it and his work in comics! Process chat, future projects, new york and los Angeles styles and, of course, Malcolm McDowell! Theres also amazing comic recommendations that range from revisiting old characters, pulpy sci-fi westerns and an exhibition you need to see for yourself!

Great stuff to check out this week - Bob Fingerman, Printopia, Cosmic Lion Productions, Zoop,The Black Hammer Universe, Zak Cahill, Omega Black, Prairie Gods #3, Nothing is Real, Steven Appleby, Body Bags, Jason Pearson, Hack/Slash, Nights, Tanager, Karl Kerschl

Episode 492 - A Comics Experience Unlike Any Other!

This week the podcast delves into the world of J Webster Sharp (The Book of Life and Death) to talk about the many layers of her work and comics. From her entry into small press comics, to working with publishers, work processes and disciplines, influences and even musicals - this one has it all. Theres also tons of great recommendations, character writing, superhero chat and more.

Great stuff to check out this week - J Webster Sharp, Fondant, The Book of Life and Death, Thousand Faces, Humanoids, Shift It, Beast Hunting Battle Badgers, Steve Sims, She Volume 1, Printopia, Bob Fingerman, Brighton Art and Book Fair, Amopatrice, Grixly, Nate McDonnagh, True Tales From the Bar, Bryan Kelly, Speed Republic, Mad Cave Comics, Ryan K Lindsay, Mugshots

Episode 491 - Talking about a MEGATON of Comic Goodness!

This week the gang have fun talking about a lot of comics. Some would say a megaton of comics, and who better to talk about indie comics publishing and superhero parodies than Don Simpson, creator of Megaton Man! From his roots and interactions with comic creative legends, missed reprint opportunities and the new collected edition of his cult superhero parody. Theres also talk of great comics to check out and a dramatic reading of a comic that will shake the very foundations of the comics industry.

Great stuff to check out this week - Don Simpson, Megaton Man, Zoop, The Collected Megaton Man, Fantagraphix, Kitchen Sink Press, Anton Drek, Wendy Whitebread, Eros Comics, Mugshots, Vicarious, Mean Girls Club, Drink and Draw, Star the Shadow, Pat Mills, Ken Reynolds, Avery Hill Publishing, The Green Archer, Mad Cave Comics, Dead Body Trade, Omelette of Power, Nick Gonzo, Stupid, Paul Kortjohn, G.I.Joe, Truck Mutts, Ian Mathews

Episode 490 - The Results of the Comics Reading Challenge!

The ACP set themselves a reading challenge earlier this year. Trying books, series and moments in comic book time that they had not experienced before. For this fun exercise they roped in Tom Curry and Eamonn Clarke (Mega City Book Club) to do the same, and the result is a whole ton of amazing comic talk. From manga classics and epic comic movements to series since adapted for tv and classic graphic novels from critically acclaimed creators, this one has it all. With lots of recommendations as well this is nothing but talk about comics you should be checking out, so don't blame us for being broke after buying so many comics!

Great stuff to check out this week - Mega City Book Club, Eamonn Clarke, Tom Curry, The Boys, Darrick Robertson, Garth Ennis, Golgo 13, Viz Media, Berserk, Kentaro Miura, DC Comics, The New 52, Black Hole, Charles Burns, Kitchen Sink Press, Fantagraphix Books, Mark Abnett, You Get What You Get, David Roberton, Cullen Bunn, Omega Black, Zack Cahill, Printopia, Bob Fingerman, Junkyard Joe, Early Gigs:Underground Comics 1970-1973, Dave Gibbons

Episode 489 - The ACP take on the Absolute DC universe!

This week the ACP jump from the small press into the world of DC, namely the new Absolute DC comics series to talk about the new takes on classic characters. Matthew Schofield (Steamroller Man) joins the gang to talk about preconceptions of characters, awesome artwork, comic book audiences and more. Plus there's chat about great books to read this week (or catch up on), vertical reading culture, the positive and potential negative influences on creators and finding your storytelling voice. Its another must-listen episode of comics chat and then some!

Great stuff to check out this week - Matthew Schofeld, Steamroller Man, The Pale, Star Vol 1, Pat Mills, Comics Cultural Impact Collective, American Nature 2, Shadows of the Stokerverse, Gonad the Ballbarian, The Press GuardianDC, Absolute Batman, Absolute Superman, Absolute Wonder Woman, Mark Waid, Lesbian Love, Junkfood Comics,  K Hole Comics, Lady Killer, Joelle Jones,Dark Horse Comics, Kaiju Blues, The Wrong Earth

Episode 488 - Are Comics Still Making Us Happy?

The boys are back in town! Well, most listeners wouldn't know but the ACP crew haven't spoken in a while and are all excited to talk about comics again - and what an episode to do it! They answer the epic age old question about this hobby we all love as well as pulling apart the question (and the medium itself). Its a discussion that will get you thinking and hopefully loving your comics reading even more. Theres also chat about great comic stores in the states, crowdfunders you should be checking out and a whole bunch of comic recommendations!

Great stuff to check out this week - Matt Strott, Planet Stetz Auctions, Graham Crackers Comics, Dunfermline Mini Con, Never Iron Anything, Grim Scary Tales, SoulD, Nick Bryan, Sweet Nightmares UK, Press Guardian, Gonad the Ballbarian, Stokerverse, Skin and Bone, Cris Geary, White Hart Comics, Thought Bubble, Cartoon Museum, Zarjaz Magazine, Jason Pearson Body Bags Artist Edition, First Kill, Rambo, Slyvester Stallone, Chuck Dixon, Dwellings, Jay Stephens, The Hexiles, Cullen Bunn, Andrew Clemson, Minecraft, Hacksler, Zine Freak

Episode 487 - Listening to This Could Kill You!

Are you a creator looking to turn the horror genre on its head? Well this week you're in good company as Shawn Gabborin (Lets All Die, Thank You) joins the pod crew to talk about his work in the horror genre and indie publishing in the USA. From ideas you need to put down to avoid other books already on the shelves, to creating characters you care about, to breaking the fourth wall in horror and more, its another look at making scary books not to be missed. All that and great laughs, comic fun and tons of recommendations to add to your pull lists!

Great stuff to check out this week - Shawn Gabborin, Handwritten Entertainment, Thank You, Lets All Die!, This Little Piggy, Dave Sim, Earth 2 Podcast, Resurgence: Eternal Warrior, Falling in Love on the Path to Hell, Jack Kirby, The Me You Love in the Dark, Sashimi, The Creeping Below

Episode 486 - Avoid these Horror Comic Mistakes!

This week the trilogy of horrific podcast hosts take a scalpel to indie horror, peel back its skin, remove the organs and see what works and doesn't work in small press horror! From things that make our skin crawl to the disappointments of story delivery and frustrating narrative pacing; the gang explore and analyse the genre like never before, and end up wanting to read more! Plus there's more comics to check out, news of the 500th and where you can get official ACP merchandise!!

Great stuff to check out this week - Arkham Horror, Cullen Bunn, Andre Amutti, Skeeters, Mad Cave Comics, Kelly Williams, Bob Frantz, Hotel, AWA Studios, West of Sundown, Vault Comics, Burger: Tissue Damage

Episode 485 - The Comic Nightmares of Cullen Bunn!

Its the second week of our horror month, and this time Cullen Bunn (The Sixth Gunn, Harrow County, Magneto) joins the gang to talk about his work in the genre. From exploring the darkness within the X Men universe, his own work ethic and process to putting characters through bad times (and hating it), its a brilliant and insightful conversation with one of the most prolific comic writers out there. If you are a horror creator it is not to be missed. Plus fantastic books you should be reading and more!

Great stuff to check out this week - Cullen Bunn, The Sixth Gun, Harrow County, Hexiles, Arkham Horror, The Damned, Midnite Show, Dark Ark, Mad Cave Studios, Aftershock Comics, Crocodile Black, Boom Studios, Smashed, Junji Ito, These Savage Shores, Ram V, Sumit Kumar, Vault Comics, A Cold Place Between the Shores, Third Bear Press, Artem Trakanov