THE AWESOME COMICS PODCAST

Episode 554 - Comics, Drugs and Rock and Roll!

Steve Lafler is a veteran indie and underground comics with a fantastic catalogue of books, and with another two books releasing in 2026 we had a good fortune to chat to him about those, his work process, influences and career from student comic strips to original graphic novels. Its a wonderful look into the world of a cartooning greats. Along with that there's great comic books to check out in the weeks ahead and add to your growing wishlists!

Great stuff to check out: Steve Lafler, Crazy for You, Nikki and Ramona, Paul Theroux, Fantagraphics Books, Aluminum Foil, Dogboy, Mean Cat, Death Plays a Mean Harmonica, Roger Crumb, Weirdo Magazine, Dave Sim, Cerebus, J R Williams, Mary Fleener, 1956,  Bughouse, Ice Cream Expo, Mission Comics, Permanent Damage, Earth 2 Podcast, Adam Falp, Smoking Bedroom, Mary Boys, Blam and Glam, Britformers, Yo! Comics Con, Legacy: Idols and Bones, Lawless Comic Con 2026, Jay Horner, Republic, Broken Lenses, Richard Starzecki, Catrinas Caravan, Chispa Comics, Junji Ito, Deserter, The Hunger and the Dusk, IDW, Absolute Wonder Woman, Beetlemoses

Episode 553 - Going to The Pass with Katriona Chapman

This week one of our fave creators Katriona Chapman (Follow Me In, Breakwater) joins us to talk about the creation of her new book 'The Pass', out now from Fantagraphix! From subtle character work, colour and artwork process, working with a bigger publisher and even more. Its a fascinating insight into one of the books of the year, and not only that but even more great indie comic recommendations and a shocking revelation about cream teas that leaves the podcast forever changed!

Great stuff to check out: Katriona Chapman, The Pass, Breakwater, Katzine, Follow Me In, Avery Hill Publishing, Lizzie Stewart, Hate!, Gareth Brookes, Comic Mart, Perrishers, Yo! Comics, Lawless Comic Con, Hawk and Cleaver, Our Monsters, Bent Box Comics, House Proud, Rory Donald, Simon Birks, Blue Fox Comics, The Whisper War, Marc Guggenheim, Comixology, Aquabarian

Episode 552 - Do Comics Turn You On or Off?

What draws you to comics and what would stop you from picking them up? Thats what we at the ACP tackle this week, and joined by the legend behind ACP Recommends, Craig Shields. Its a drive into structure, storytelling, PR and so many more levels of the artwork that we call comics. Theres also talk about whether a particular kind of scene could work in comics, great indie recommendations and another trip to see the Wizard, this time from 1997!

Great stuff to check out: Legacy: ACP Recommends, David Barros, Wizard Magazine, Clear Line, Cartoon County, Clear Run 3, Art Nine Two, Under the Floorboards Vol.2, Pantheon, For the Record, David Robertson, Fred Egg Comics, The Deviant,James Tynion IV, Joshua Hixon, Ocular Combustion, Minor Arcana, Boom! Comics, Jeff Lemire

Episode 551 - Capes... What Are They Good For?

Capes go under the microscope this week, and what a legacy we talk about, as Gary Seaward joins us to talk about his subversive superhero series 'Legacy: Idols and Bones'. From playing with stereotype to writing stories that have consequences, the conversation goes everywhere... as it should when those involved are lifelong superhero fans. Theres also fantastic comic recommendations, tons of small press comic chatter and a talk about Artist Edition books that both provoke emotion and inspiration.

Great stuff to check out: Legacy: Idols and Bones, Gary Seaward, Secret Identity Comics, Clear Run 3, Art Nine Two, Yo! Comics, The Press Guardian 3, Green Archer Comics, The Boys, Jason Pearsons Body Bags - Artist Edition, 12 Gauge Comics, Crazy For you, Steve Lafler, Paul Therioux, Was That Normal?, Alex Potts,  Predator/TMNT, Zak Cahill, Life Drawing, Jaime Hernadez, It Killed Everyone But Me, Mad Cave Comics

Episode 550 - Pancakes, Butter and Crumbs!

Buckle up listeners because this week the ACP heads into the wild west that is the comics of Dylan Henty! The chat goes from influences, comedy, artwork processes, publishing and some amazing character names you need to hear to believe! All that and tons of comic book, recommends, a potential book of the year candidate and lots and LOTS of stationary talk. For those who like a pen. We salute you!

Great stuff to check out: Dylan Henty, Modern Living, Little Book of Self Abuse, Squareface, Paul Kortjohn, Lesley Wenlock, Black Ink Comix, Maladaptive Press, Robert Crumb, Richard Sala, Ralph Steadman, Sam Larsen, DUI4, Legacy: Idols and Bones, The Pass, Katriona Chapman, LCS, Part Time Comix, The Britformers, Cardiff Comics

Episode 549 - Is 2026 Going to Be a Big Year for Comics?

The new year is upon us and this week we look at what we would like to see in 2026 in the world of comics. Plus comic making resolutions from the pod hosts, listeners and lots of great comics community folks. Plus there's banter about great indie comic recommendations, expiry dates, hats and more!

Great stuff to check out: Absolute Batman, Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell, Zak Cahill, DUI4, The Cartoon Museum, Keiron Squires, Lawless Comic Con, Film and Television Thoughts and Notes, Ben Wheatley, Ferocious, Mad Cave Comics, Incorporated, Lords on the Piss, Saint Malo, Creative Mussell Productions

Episode 548 - The Awesome Comics of 2025: A Retrospective

2025 was quite the year wasn't it? What comics, moments and publishers were the highlights of 2025 for the Awesome Comics Podcast? Listen along, find out and join the ACP for what's to come in the new year!

LISTEN TO THE SHOW TO FIND OUT OUR 2025 HIGHLIGHTS! Also check out When We Were Trekkies, Neon Ghost, Wise Acre Comics, The Diary of the Stray Dogs, Harpy, Living the Line Comics, Gunpowder Prophets, Mad Cave Comics, Death Dog #2, Ahoy Comics

Episode 547 - A Web Slinging Christmas Jolly!

Its a jolly old time in Awesome HQ as the gang do their yearly Christmas comic read along, and who better to spend this time of year with than everyones favourite web-slinger! There is a lot of Spider-Man chat, from the wonderful issue to fave artists and villains, and lots of festive cheer and comic talk. It's also very immature and crude so Merry Christmas ya filthy animals!

Great stuff to check out: Amazing Spider-Man 166, DUI #4, The Cartoon Museum, Craig Shields, ACP Recommends, Lawless Comic Con 2026, ACP Gear, Yo Comics, Corporate Skull, Jamie Smart, The Devil of Pine 16, Tuumen, Galaxy Grappling Alliance, Damien Edmondson, ArtNineTwo, Monkey Witness, Zak Cahill

Episode 546 - Small Press Creators vs Imposter Syndrome!

This week friend of the show and brilliant creator Matthew Schofield (Steamroller Man) joins the ACP gang to talk about creating comics in 2025. From his great substance and awesome comic series to a revealing and honest look at being self critical on your own work. For anyone creative this is essential listening and also fun if you used to used Wizard magazine back in the day! I mean, who doesn't want to know who was the sexiest between 1992 and 2002 in the world of comics?

Great stuff to check out: Matthew Schofield, Steamroller Man, DUI4, Slam Comics, Drink and Draw, Alan Liska, Green Archer Comics, Yo Comics! The Stranger, Gorehaus #2,  Medieval, Comixology Originals, Fatale, Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips, Thunder Head, Wes Craig, Lethal Comics, Karl Kerschel, Fox Fish and Other Tales, Mike Sedaka

Episode 545 - Awesome Comic Christmas Gifts!

What do you get for the potential comic lover in your life when it comes to Christmas gifts? Well Andy from Secret Identity Comics in Chester joins the gang to discuss what its like behind the tills in a comic chop during the festive season, comics that are selling like gang busters, titles that are going under the radar and what you should be checking out. Also there's another round of case studies that offer up great comic chat and discussion when it comes to shopping for comics!

Great stuff to check out: Secret Identity Comics, Absolute Batman, Hellboy: BPRD, Flake, Matt Dooley, Saga, Image Comics, Love and Rockets, Animal Pound, Persepolis, Kent State, Bone, Hilda, Save Now, Bone Parish, Cabbalistics, Richard Scarry, Stray Dogs,Ultimate Spiderman, Beneath the Trees Where the No One Sees, ACP Drink and Draw, Dan Charnley, Dans Monsters, Shallow Press, The Stranger, Flops Comics, Boo Rudetoons, Yo! Comics Fair 2026, Lawless Comic Con 2026, Underground Comics, Ghoul Butcher, Devils Luck, Comixology Originals, The Gullet Magazine