Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast

Brad & Lisa Gullickson
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Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast

Join married couple Brad and Lisa as they explore the various dynamics of comic book relationships throughout pop culture and publishing history.

  1. Patreon Preview: Tyler Crook on Mage - The Hero Discovered 6

    5 DAYS AGO

    Patreon Preview: Tyler Crook on Mage - The Hero Discovered 6

    In 2024, we published 58 Comic Book Couples Counseling episodes. However, that was not the total Comic Book Couples Counseling experience. Over on our Patreon, we published an additional 61 episodes, including our Married to Singlesseries, where we talk with comic book creators about their favorite single issues. In 2025, we'll make these a regular thing, starting with Tyler Crook this week, diving deep into his cherished Mage: The Hero Discovered #6. Crook has appeared on the podcast multiple times, mostly exploring his exceptional Dark Horse Comics series, The Lonesome Hunters (links to those episodes below). He's a passionate, enthusiastic champion of this medium, and that devotion began at a very young age thanks to books like Mage: The Hero Discovered. We enjoyed this conversation with Crook about this comic so much that we've decided to drop it into the main podcast feed to entice some of you over to the CBCC Patreon, which we consider one of the most welcoming, loving comic book communities on the internet. Published by Comico in March of 1985, Mage: The Hero Discovered #6 landed just as the industry shifted. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 arrived the year before, while Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns were just on the horizon. Comics were ready to celebrate themselves as thematically rich, adult entertainment. NOT. KIDS. STUFF. Mage: The Hero Discovered #6 was written and illustrated by Matt Wagner and features additional inks by Sam Kieth. The series follows Kevin Matchstick, who is basically a stand-in for Wagner, as he tumbles into a fantasy adventure where each obstacle represents some issue or situation from his own life. Be warned, our conversation with Tyler Crook spoils the entirety of the sixth issue, as well as some critical plot points from the rest of the series. Although, knowledge of those plot points won't ruin your overall reading experience if you decide to read after you've listened to the episode. We make the Comic Book Couples Counseling Patreon as cheap as we can. Our "Smitten Kitten" level costs only a dollar and gives you access to all the Patreon episodes. Our "Dearly Beloved" tier is $5, which grants you access to our Slack community. For the month of January, we're donating all proceeds made by our Patron to BINC (The Book Industry Charitable Foundation). They're helping all the bookstores and comic book shops affected by the LA Wildfires, and Bookshop.org matches all donations up to $10,000. If you would prefer to support another charity aiding in the wake of the LA Wildfires, here are a few that we'd recommend: The Red Cross Wildfire Disaster Relief LA Food Banks Assisting After Fires The LAFD Foundation World Central Kitchen Help provides fresh meals to communities in need in California The California Community Foundation Pasadena Humane Helps with Animal Rescue and Care Baby2Baby Provides Essential items such as diapers, food, formula, and hygiene products for children and families in Los Angeles. At least three comic creators lost their homes to the fires. Click on their names below to find their GoFundMe pages: David Booher Steven T. Seagle Andrew Robinson Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Tyler Crook on The Lonesome Hunters Tyler Crook on The Lonesome Hunters: Chapter One Patreon Exclusive: Daniel Warren Johnson on The 'Nam #9 Patreon Exclusive: Jason Ayers on The Uncanny X-Men #183 Patreon Exclusive: Christian Ward on Arkham Asylum Patreon Exclusive: John Harris Dunning on Spider-Woman #50 Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 1/26 at 5:00 PM for Speed Racer, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickso

    1h 6m

  2. JAN 7

    Chip Zdarsky and David Brothers on Time Waits

    New Year's always has us looking inward, hoping for a fresh start. Creating resolutions, however, causes too much pressure, so we prefer to announce our intentions and free ourselves from potential regret if/when we don't achieve them. Helping us through the yearly reboot process in 2025 are Chip Zdarsky and David Brothers, whose new DSTLRYcomic Time Waits, done in collaboration with artists Marcus To and Marvin Sianipar, colorist Matt Wilson, letterer Ariana Maher, and editor Allison O'Toole, is the perfect excuse to contemplate our past, present, and future. The comic centers on Blue, who only wishes to tend his garden, love his wife Grace, and finally adopt Duke as his son. Unfortunately, Blue is a man out of time, and the future he came from is desperate to reclaim him and the items he stole. Time Waits delivers on John Wick levels of action and Primer levels of paradox paranoia without skipping heaps of human relationship drama. Chip Zdarsky and David Brothers are one half of the Mangasplaining podcast team, and we are delighted to discuss how their online comics discussions have shaped their comics-making process. Given the time of year that this episode arrives in, we found ourselves being even more introspective than usual, and Zdarsky and Brothers were more than happy to follow us into such philosophical quandaries. The first two issues of Time Waits are now available from DSTLRY, while the third and final issue will arrive in comic book shops on 1/22. Also, make sure you're following them online by subscribing to Mangasplaining. Relevant Links to This Week's Episode: Mangasplaining co-hosts Deb Aoki and Christopher Woodrow-Butcher on CBCC Chip Zadarksy and Jason Loo discuss The All-Nighter on CBCC Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 1/26 at 5:00 PM for Speed Racer, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

    1 hr

  3. 12/27/2024

    The Stampies: Best Comics of 2024 (Part Two)

    We made it. Another trip around the sun. Congratulations, everyone. Let's celebrate with our final episode of the year, The Stampies: Best Comics of 2024 (Part Two). In our final episode of 2024, we name the Best Comic of 2024 as well as several other cherished awards: Best Ongoing Series, Best Limited Series, Best Relaunch, Writer of the Year, Artist of the Year, etc. Maybe most significantly, we award the second annual Jesse Tappia II Champ Stamp Award, named after our good friend who no longer walks the Earth with us but certainly remains in our hearts as we cherish and promote this astonishing medium called comics. As in Part One, we asked journalists, podcasters, retailers, and creators to help us through the ceremony by selecting their favorite comics of 2024. You can just hit play and be surprised by who pops up, or take a quick scroll below and spoil yourself. Either way, make sure you follow them on their socials and partake in their good work. Also, thank them for joining in on our end-of-the-year shindig. It was super cool of them. 2024 was jammed with good books. Naming all the good ones in two episodes proved impossible. Watch this space because we'll publish the big list: The 50 Best Comics of 2025 at the very end of the year. The Best Comics of 2024 Part Two Timestamps: Writer of the Year - 11:02 Artist of the Year - 19:56 Best All-Ages Comic - 27:50 Best Young Adult Comic - 34:43 Best Limited Series - 40:46 Best Relaunch - 49:36 Best Ongoing - 58:52 Best Original Graphic Novel - 1:10:06 Best Digital Comic - 1:17:54 The Jesse Tappia II Champ Stamp Award - 1:20:43 Bonus Awards/"Rapid Fire" Round - 1:34:39 The Best Comics of 2024 (Part Two) Guest-Stars: Kat Calamia (Bluesky) of Comic Uno. Steve Anderson of Third Eye Comics. Badr Milligan (BlueSky) of The Short Box Podcast. Jadzia Axelrod (BlueSky): Galaxy - The Prettiest Star, Hawkgirl - Once Upon a Galaxy. Chris Hacker (Bluesky) and Aaron Knowles (BlueSky) of The Oblivion Bar Podcast. Chris Condon (Bluesky): That Texas Blood, The Enfield Gang Massacre Jenna Anderson (Bluesky) of Phase Hero and Go Read Some Comics. Lance (BlueSky) and Jeremy (Bluesky) of Comic Book Keepers. David Harper (BlueSky) of SKTCHD and Off Panel. Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support The Trevor Project. Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY. The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page. Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 1/26 at 5:00 PM for Speed Racer, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

    1h 56m

  4. 12/20/2024

    The Stampies: Best Comics of 2024 (Part One)

    Comics will mend your heart. That's the energy we're taking into the new year and the thought we carried as we assembled The Stampies, our end-of-the-year award show celebrating The Best Comics of 2024 - ahem - (Part One). Over the last six years, we've turned to comics to understand ourselves and the world around us better. They've guided us through tumultuous times, and we know we'll need them even more in the coming months and years. Our award show is very much OUR award show. We have peculiar tastes, and our favorite comics reflect that. Some categories stuck around from last year's ceremony, but with this episode in particular, you'll find several new ones, also. Next week's Part Two will be stacked with the more traditional Best Original Graphic Novel, Best Limited Series, Best Ongoing, etc. For The Best Comics of 2024 (Part One), we get a little more cutesy with Best New Superhero and Best Murder Mystery, plus categories like Best First Issue and Best Single Issue. As has become tradition, we've asked our friends in journalism and podcasting to name their favorite books of the year. New to our 2024 celebrations, however, we've also asked a few retailers and comic book creators to contribute their favorite books. If you want to be spoiled about who will be guest-starring in today's podcast, scroll below. Please thank them by following their work and social media handles (and letting them know how much you enjoyed their contributions to the podcast). 2024 was another banger of a year regarding comics. Highlighting our favorites was more challenging than ever. The Stampies contain sixteen categories, with a few extra surprise categories tossed in during next week's show. That's simply not enough space to name all "the best" books from the year. So, keep your eyes trained on the Comic Book Couples Counseling website. At the very end of the year, we'll unleash our massive 50 Best Comics of 2024 list. The Best Comics of 2023 (Part One) Category Timestamps:  Best Comic Book Couple - 12:14 Best Murder Mystery - 18:18 Best New Superhero - 25:54 Best Adaptation - 32:29 Best Collaboration - 40:07 Best Short Story - 47:33 Best First Issue - 56:43 Best Single Issue - 1:05:05 The Best Comics of 2023 (Part One) Guest-Stars:  Erik C. Jones (Bluesky): Manager at Four Color Fantasies. Tiffany Babb (Bluesky): Poet, Essayist, and Culture Critic. Dan Gvozden (Bluesky): Co-Host of The Amazing Spider-Talk Podcast Zack Quaintance (Bluesky): Comic Book Writer, Part-time Editor at The Beat Christian Ward (Bluesky): Batman: City of Madness, Spectregraph, Two-Face, etc. Chris Piers (Bluesky): Host of ComicTropes. David Brooke (Bluesky): Owner, Writer, Host at AIPT. Troy-Jeffrey Allen (Instagram): Writer, Producer, Host, RexCo Comics Studio. Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 1/26 at 5:00 PM for Speed Racer, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

    1h 18m

  5. 12/13/2024

    J Holtham and Michael Lee Harris on Motherfukin Monsters

    It's easy to claim your comic as "Evil Dead for Blerds," but accomplishing the cheeky elevator pitch is far more complex. Writer J. Holtham and artist Michael Lee Harris grab their inspiration from the iconic Sam Raimi splatstick horror franchise but do so in service of an entirely different purpose. Motherfu*kin Monsters rages with a political fire, throwing their protagonist into a university setting shrouded with white faces. Their JJ eagerly wants to find his place within this system, while his family stands skeptical, waiting for it to reveal a devilish intent. Of course, JJ's kin thought metaphorically, not the literal ghouls that quickly hunger for their flesh. Our conversation with J. Holtham and Michael Lee Harris begins with their love of Evil Dead, or Evil Dead II, more specifically. We start by exploring what the film does so well, for what reason, and why they were compelled to plant their mission atop it. Motherfu*kin Monsters is one helluva ride, filled with chills and thrills, but from page one, the comic also makes its anger known. J. Holtham and Michael Lee Harris, like all The Horizon Experiment stories, speak to the moment. Our hope is everyone reading is listening to what's on the page. In addition, our discussion addresses the economic realities of comics-making and comics-shopping in 2024. The Horizon Experiment's pilot system still raises eyebrows in comic shops, but by embracing experimentation, the series removes one of the veils between creator and consumer. Honesty is the best policy, and we need to buy the comics we want to see in the world. It's cold, hard math...er, capitalism. So, remember, Motherfu*kin Monsters arrives in stores on December 18th, courtesy of Image Comics. Continue the conversation with J. Holtham by following him on Instagram. Also, follow Michael Lee Harris on Instagram. Other Relevant Links: CBCC/The Horizon Experiment: Pornsak Pichetshote and Terry Dodson on The Manchurian CBCC/The Horizon Experiment: Vita Ayala and Sklar Patridge on Finders Keepers The CBCC TeePublic Page The CBCC Comic Book Holiday Gift Guide Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia, on 12/15 at 4:00 PM for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, co-sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

    45 min

  6. 12/09/2024

    Vita Ayala and Skylar Patridge on Finders Keepers

    It belongs in a museum? On this week's podcast, we chat with friends and collaborators Vita Ayala and Skylar Patridgeabout their new comic, Finders Keepers, and why they were compelled to tell a "reverse Indiana Jones." Like the other comics in The Horizon Experiment, Finders Keepers flips a classic genre trope on its head and knocks the dust and cobwebs from a well-trodden idea. The hook is powerfully compelling, but as you read through the one-shot, the reader also begins to understand there is much more to the concept below that initial subversive thrill. Robbing from colonizers and returning artifacts to their culture and context, but doing so with all the trappings of a great Indiana Jones story requires a deft hand with multiple genres. Given The Horizon Experiment's pilot program, Vita Ayala and Skylar Patridge must also establish the concept and offer a grand promise of the story's possible future in just a few short pages. However, this challenge is not really different from any other comic book gig. The Horizon Experiment is merely more honest about these commercial practicalities. This week, we dig into all the demands of an Indiana Jones riff. We discuss with Vita Ayala and Skylar Patridge their collaborative process, the thrill of museum heists, and the difficulties of loving classic Hollywood adventure. FOC for Finders Keepers is TODAY (12/9), but the issue will arrive in comic book shops on January 15th. Continue this conversation by following Vita Ayala on Bluesky and their website. And follow Skylar Patridge on Bluesky, Instagram, and their website. Other Relevant Links: CBCC/The Horizon Experiment: Pornsak Pichetshote and Terry Dodson on The Manchurian The CBCC TeePublic Page The CBCC Comic Book Holiday Gift Guide Brad on the 2000AD Thrill-Cast Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

    59 min

  7. 12/03/2024

    Kami Garcia on Teen Titans: Starfire

    After working through most of the Teen Titans, author Kami Garcia and artist Gabriel Picolo have finally reached the Tamaranean superhero, Starfire. Their latest collaboration finds Kori struggling to find her place amongst her peers while her sister Kira thrives in the environment. Kori strives for the stars above, but feels trapped in her Summer job and her body, especially after her Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) diagnosis. On this week's podcast, we chat with bestselling author Kami Garcia about Teen Titans: Starfire, how she found herself in the character, and why that allowed her to embrace her past and present self. Famously, Garcia began her writing career as a dare from her students, picking up the pen and proving to them (and herself) that she could tell a darn good story. We discuss the details of that dare, how her teaching life factors into her writing life, and why young adult fiction often becomes necessary all-ages fiction. Teen Titans: Starfire is now available wherever good comics are sold. You should follow Kami Garcia on Instagram, Bluesky, and her website. However, before we dive into our Teen Titans conversations, we discuss the impending holiday season and the gift-giving stress that comes with it. We believe wholeheartedly that there is a comic for everyone in your life, and the trick is figuring out what that comic is. In an effort to help you and us, we've assembled our annual Comic Book Holiday Gift Guide. We discuss our philosophy around comic book gift-giving and a few of our favorite items from the list. Other Relevant Links: The CBCC TeePublic Page The CBCC Comic Book Holiday Gift Guide Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

    48 min

  8. 11/26/2024

    Tom King and Ryan Sook on Black Canary: Best of the Best

    We don't know how to feel about violence as sports entertainment, but we cannot deny how much we love stories that center their emotional conflicts inside a ring. With their new series, Black Canary: Best of the Best, Tom King and Ryan Sook join the long tradition of tearing into internal torment by subjecting protagonists to regulated gladiatorial combat. Dinah Lance versus Lady Shiva, let's get ready to rumble. The first issue of the new series arrives in stores Wednesday (11/27). We won't spoil it here, but those pages will reveal some of the motivations for why Dinah, the second-best fighter in the DC universe, would subject herself to the fists of the single-best fighter. It has something to do with the first woman to don the Black Canary mantle - her mother. Yup, this is a Tom King comic, so you know Black Canary: Best of the Best must feature a twisty, prickly core relationship. This week's episode explores why the ring is such a compelling story engine. We discuss how Tom King was initially enticed to place Black Canary alongside other brutal fictional bouts like Rocky, Raging Bull, The Set-Up, The Big Blow, and yeah, Best of the Best. Ryan Sook takes us through his process of understanding the physicality of boxing, wrestling, and MMA while contemplating their bloody nature. And why has it taken King so long to tackle the mother/daughter dynamic? To continue this conversation, follow Tom King on Bluesky, Threads, and Instagram. Follow Ryan Sook on Instagram. Other Relevant Links: The CBCC TeePublic Page Tom King on CBCC: All In Special and Wonder Woman Tom King on CBCC: Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow - Full Spoilers Final Round of Plugs (PHEW): Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY Watch the latest episode of The B&B Show, where Brad and Bryan Review the Hottest Cinematic Releases. And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren. Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts. Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators. Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

    56 min
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Join married couple Brad and Lisa as they explore the various dynamics of comic book relationships throughout pop culture and publishing history.

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