The Corner Box

David & John
  • 4.0 (4)
  • LEISURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to The Corner Box, where we talk about comic books as an industry and an art form. You never know where the discussion will go, or who’ll show up to join hosts David Hedgecock and John Barber. Between them they’ve spent decades writing, drawing, lettering, coloring, editing, editor-in-chiefing, and publishing comics. If you want to know the behind-the-scenes secrets—the highs and lows, the ins and outs—of the best artistic medium in the world, listen in and join the club at The Corner Box!

  1. 17H AGO

    All the Cool Kids Listen to The Corner Box - S3Ep32

    Things gets weird when David decides he’s one of the cool kids now and starts reading the hot books everyone’s chasing. Join David and John as they get into D’orc, Tigress Island, White Sky, and Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre, weighing which books have real legs and which ones are riding the heat wave. There’s a sharp little debate about speculation, blind bags, first printings, and whether indie launches are a better kind of market chase. The guys also detour through One Piece work ethic, public domain Batman schemes, Skottie Young’s artistic family tree, and Lobo jokes that may or may not land. By the end, the Corner Box may have accidentally created a new recurring feature: Wired or Tired. Captions “Yeah, it’s like we’re editors and we know what a deadline means.” — David on never missing a weekly episode “Once Batman hits public domain, it’s anybody’s game.” — David on the weird future of superhero ownership “I’m unquestionably more into new indie number ones than I am maybe [for a] Robert Downey Jr. drawn Iron Man on my Daredevil comic.” — John on hot indie books versus blind-bag gimmicks “Whatever gets good comics, I can live with a lot of the other stuff.” — David on speculation helping readers find strong books “A novel, John, is a comic book but there’s no pictures.” — David explaining a novel with maximum disrespect “It’s just goofy Lobo shit.” — John giving the cleanest possible Lobo review “The title is exactly what it is.” — David on Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre delivering the promised insanity Splash Page [00:00] – Deadline Warriors: David and John kick things off by bragging, accurately, that The Corner Box still hasn’t missed a week. [00:55] – The Oda Machine: One Piece sends the guys into manga production envy and the mystery of how weekly comics even happen. [02:35] – Public Domain Batman Schemes: David lays out his future plan for using Superman and Batman without putting the names on the cover. [06:45] – The Cool Kids Read Comics: David admits the show is getting popular, so naturally he had to start reading the hot books. [08:06] – Speculation With a Pulse: John argues that hot indie number ones are a healthier trend than blind bags and gimmick covers. [11:22] – D’orc Gets Graded: David gives the batch a rock-solid B and calls D’orc a fun, art-forward fantasy comedy still finding its quest. [21:49] – Tigress Island Takes the Crown: John and David both land on Tigress Island as the strongest book of the bunch. [28:58] – Cocaine Hippo Chaos: Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre arrives with cult-movie energy, social commentary, and exactly the level of madness promised. Support the Corner Box David Hedgecock (https://linktr.ee/funtimego) - The Corner Box Co-Host John Barber (https://www.pugworldwide.com) - The Corner Box Co-Host The Corner Box (https://www.thecornerbox.club) - Official Website Dive Deeper Into the Back Issue Bin Eiichiro Oda (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiichiro_Oda) - Creator of One Piece, brought up as the impossible weekly-comics workhorse. David Harper (https://sktchd.com) - Comics journalist behind SKTCHD, mentioned for his thoughts on which comics may still exist 50 years from now. Brett Bean (https://brettbean.substack.com) - Creator of D’orc, discussed for bringing Skottie Young-flavored fantasy comedy energy to Image. Skottie Young (https://www.skottieyoung.com) - Artist and writer whose influence becomes a whole side quest in the D’orc discussion. Jorge Corona

    35 min

  2. APR 28

    Groo Boat Rules and Other "Hot" Takes on The Corner Box - S3Ep31

    David admits that his comic collecting is a full-blown lifestyle problem, complete with eBay piles, office deliveries, and one gloriously baffling Rob Liefeld ashcan. John and David then bounce from a weirdly amazing 1972 fanzine packed with future legends to Marvel Knights: The World to Come, a book that asks for patience before it finally starts paying off. From there, it’s straight into Groo territory, where the art still rules, the coloring looks sharp as hell, and one impossible boat-sinking moment throws the whole universe slightly off its axis. Along the way, there’s talk of Al Milgrom, Jim Starlin, Christopher Priest, Joe Quesada, and Sergio Aragonés. Then the mood turns when the guys issue a call to arms regarding a massive $1 million art heist from Mark Evanier’s collection. Captions “We’re not popular… but we’re headed in that direction.” - David “We’re getting less not popular.” - John "Everything is there by the time you get to the end, but your tolerance for getting to the end is really dependent on your level of buy-in in the beginning." - John "These pieces of original art are history, and they need to be treated with respect." - David "I don’t think either one of those influenced the other one in terms of the name." - John Barber (on D'rok vs. D'orc) Splash Page [00:01] – Vacation Mailbox of Doom: David returns from Hawaii to a mountain of comic packages. [02:06] – Ashcan School: David breaks down what ashcans are and why they matter. [09:18] – The Lost Fanzine Files: John cracks open a strange 1972 comic called Title. [18:13] – Future Wakanda, Rough Start: David digs into Marvel Knights: The World to Come. [31:56] – Groo Rules Are Meant to Break?: A new Groo mini sparks one very specific continuity crisis. [37:11] – Missing Masterpieces: The guys react to Mark Evanier’s stolen original art. [41:03] – Less Not Popular: The episode closes with a very Corner Box way to celebrate growth. Support the Corner Box David Hedgecock - The Corner Box Co-Host John Barber - The Corner Box Co-Host The Corner Box - Official Website Dive Deeper Into the Back Issue Bin Rob Liefeld (https://robliefeldcreations.com/) Al Milgrom (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Milgrom) Jim Starlin (https://www.instagram.com/jimstarlin/) Tom Orzechowski (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Orzechowski) Christopher Priest (https://www.christopherpriest.com/) Joe Quesada (https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Joe_Quesada)  Sergio Aragonés (https://www.sergioaragones.com/) Mark Evanier (https://www.newsfromme.com/) Acrobats (https://imagecomics.com/creators/rob-liefeld) Title #1 (https://www.comics.org/issue/253965/) Groo the Wanderer (https://www.darkhorse.com/Search/Groo)

    42 min

  3. APR 21

    Top Ten Hottest Artists - April 2026 on The Corner Box - S3ep30

    David survives a once-in-a-century storm in Hawaii, and it’s back to business as John and David break down the creative DNA of comics — including the return of the “Top 10 Hottest Artists” list! From a Silver Age deep dive into Don Heck and the surprisingly bold Avengers #32, to the wild discovery of a pre-Fantastic Four appearance of Ben Grimm as a WWII flying ace, it’s equal parts nostalgia, disbelief, and appreciation. Add in John’s latest indie finds and you’ve got a packed, can’t-miss episode. Super Kaiju Rock and Roller Derby Fun Time Go will be launching soon. Visit get.funtimego.com for more details. Captions "Don Heck is the guy who should have sued Harlan Ellison and Gary Groth." — John Barber“If anybody ever says that Stan Lee and Marvel weren't forward-thinking and aggressively progressive... they're wrong." — David Hedgecock"Nick Dragotta on Absolute Batman continues to dominate." — David HedgecockSplash Page [00:01:25] – Storming the Set: David reports on the Hawaii tropical storm that wrecked the Jurassic Park sets.[00:03:22] – “What John and David Read This Week”: John and David recap this week’s reads.[00:04:15] – Avengers Time Capsule: David hits issue #32 and finds modern relevance[00:13:05] – The Leatherneck Raiders: John discusses Captain Savage #7 and the bizarre visual of soldiers on surfboards.[00:18:45] – The Thing’s Flight School: Discussing Ben Grimm’s history as a World War II air ace.[00:25:35] – The Grading Shift: News on CBCS shutting down and the differences in signature verification.[00:28:20] – The Hottest Artists: David dishes out this month’s Top 10 Hottest Artists.[00:33:45] – The One to Watch: David spotlights Pye Parr and the upcoming M.A.S.K. comic from Skybound.[00:44:20] – The Absolute Champion: LISTEN IN TO FIND OUT WHO takes the number one spot on the Hottest Artists list.Support the Corner Box David Hedgecock (https://linktr.ee/funtimego) - TCB Co-Host John Barber (https://www.pugworldwide.com) - TCB Co-Host The Corner Box (https://www.thecornerbox.club) - Official Website Dive Deeper Into the Back Issue Bin Don Heck (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Heck) - Silver Age Marvel artist known for Avengers and Iron Man.Stephen McArdle (Vendetta Holy Vindicator) - Creator of Vendetta: The Holy Vindicator and Crowbar 9.Ken Landgraf (https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Ken_Landgraf) - Veteran artist who provided a new pinup for the Crowbar 9 revival.Archie Goodwin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archie_Goodwin_(comics) - Legendary writer/editor mentioned for his work on Captain Savage.

    45 min

  4. APR 14

    Mignola, Miller, and Missing Sam Keith on The Corner Box - S3ep29

    A new segment hits The Corner Box this week as John and David roll out “Here’s What We Read This Week!” John dives into Alien: Salvation, arguing that Mike Mignola and Kevin Nowlan teaming up is just plain unfair, while David revisits Dark Knight Returns and DK2, wondering if Frank Miller’s chaos is actually the point — and loving it either way. Along the way: DSTLRY’s return, Ditko Artist’s Editions, Jae Lee redrawing on the fly, and a heartfelt, funny tribute to the late Sam Kieth — celebrating the weird, wild creators who make comics unforgettable. Captions "Don't die and keep doing the thing." — John Barber"Nobody draws like Mignola. That means nobody inks like Mignola." — John Barber"I would love to be the fly on the wall in Frank Miller's head to find out what that was all about." — David Hedgecock“The whole piece feels like this crazy outsider art.” — David Hedgecock“We’ll miss you, Sam.” — John BarberSplash Page [01:58] – A Short Box Smorgasbord: The guys decide to go loose and talk about what’s actually on their reading piles.[04:25] – Horror in Space: A deep look at the "murderer's row" creative team behind Alien: Salvation.[11:15] – The Miller Aesthetic: David breaks down why Dark Knight 2 is a "weird commercial outsider art piece."[18:55] – The Ditko Blueprint: Discussion on the upcoming Amazing Spider-Man Artist’s Edition and Peter Parker’s "schlubby" roots.[22:08] – The Perfectionist Grind: John shares stories of Jae Lee redrawing pages while the printer was waiting.[26:12] – Remembering Sam Kieth: A tribute to the unique genius of the creator of The Maxx and his unconventional career.[33:05] – The FedEx Masterpiece: The legendary story of Sam Kieth drawing a final page on the inside of a shipping box.Support the Corner Box David Hedgecock (https://linktr.ee/funtimego) - The Corner Box Co-HostJohn Barber (https://www.pugworldwide.com) - The Corner Box Co-HostThe Corner Box (https://www.thecornerbox.club) - Official WebsiteDive Deeper Into the Back Issue Bin Mike Mignola (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Mignola) - Legendary artist of Hellboy and Alien: Salvation.Kevin Nowlan (Kevin Nowlan) - Master inker known for his work with Mignola and Quesada.Frank Miller (https://frankmillerink.com/) - Creator of The Dark Knight Returns and Sin City.Scott Dunbier (https://twitter.com/sdunbier)

    36 min

  5. APR 7

    Dave Baker Punks The Corner Box - S3Ep28

    Guest Dave Baker stops by the show as David and John dig into the industry shake-up following Mike Richardson’s exit from Dark Horse and ask: is the “one guy” publisher era over? The conversation hits the rise of indie collectives and webtoons, then Dave’s new OGN, Punk’n Heads, and wraps with a deep-cut dive into Stephen R. Bissette’s Tyrant. Also, the zen of marathon tattoo sessions. Captions "You don't sell to Embracer and then be like, 'everything's gonna be exactly like it was.'" — Dave Baker"Comics is always reliant on one guy doing the right thing. All these companies are always one dude." — Dave Baker"These are people that are getting into this to maximize the value of IP, not to make things." — John Barber"You look at those pages and they are the monastic, obsessive, maniacal renderings of like a crazy person." — Dave Baker"Jack Kirby by way of a Tijuana Bible style is just so rad." — Dave Baker"Most cartoonists are doomed to a life of anonymity and crushing poverty." — Dave Baker Splash Page [00:03:40] – The Dark Horse Clearing: Discussing the departure of Mike Richardson and the "synergistic" corporate speak that followed.[00:08:37] – The Changing of the Guard: Why the next CEO probably won't greenlight meticulous Richard Corben collections.[00:10:41] – DC's Creative Oxygen: How the "All In" initiative is attracting readers by letting creators breathe.[00:13:08] – Peow Studio and the 80s Manga Vibe: Spotlighting the small publishers making noise in the indie sphere.[00:21:23] – The Ken Landgraf Mystery: Discovering the 1970s journeyman who drew the first solo Wolverine story.[00:26:31] – The Return of the Tyrant: Stephen R. Bissette’s T-Rex masterpiece hits Kickstarter[26:47] – The Tyrant Returns: Discussing the ambitious $200,000 Kickstarter for Steven R. Bissette’s dinosaur masterwork.[32:12] – The Punk Rock Creative Grind: Dave Baker shares the seven-year journey and eight drafts behind Punk'n Heads.Support the Corner Box David Hedgecock (https://funtimego.com)John Barber (https://www.pugworldwide.com)The Corner Box (https://www.thecornerbox.club) - Official WebsiteDive Deeper Into the Back Issue Bin Dave Baker (Dave Baker) - Writer of Punk'n Heads and Halloween Boy.Nicole Goux (https://www.nicolegoux.com) - Artist and co-creator of Punk'n Heads.Mike Richardson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Richardson_(publisher) - Founder of Dark Horse Comics.Steven R. Bissette (https://srbissette.com) - Legendary artist of Swamp Thing and creator of Tyrant.Ken Landgraf (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Landgraf) - Cult classic cartoonist and creator of New York City Outlaws.Alexis Ziritt (Alexis Ziritt) - Artist on Space Riders and Night Hunt

    43 min

  6. MAR 31

    The Pettiest War in Comics History Concludes on The Corner Box - S3Ep27

    John breaks down the final chapter of a decades-long war that makes the Avengers Civil War look like a playground spat. That’s right! We are back in the archives to wrap up the "Anything Goes" saga, tracking the fallout of the most infamous punch in science fiction history and a legal feud that just wouldn't die. The  Recap John digs deeper into the rabbit hole to close the book on Michael Fleisher, Gary Groth, and the legendary Harlan Ellison. The story shifts from the courtroom to the 1985 Nebula Awards, where Ellison decided to settle a review with a left hook. We explore the bizarre "Victims of Ellison" newsletter, a club founded by critics and editors just to trade insults. The guys also weigh in on Peter David’s legendary platform at the Comics Buyer’s Guide and a letter-writing scandal that nearly broke Fantagraphics. It’s a wild look at an era when the industry’s biggest names spent more time in depositions than at drawing boards. By the end, lawsuits settle, careers move on, people pass away, and the industry keeps rolling—leaving behind a bizarre, petty, and oddly entertaining chapter of comics history that proves creative people can hold grudges longer than a serialized storyline. Key Panels (Highlights) [00:01:49] – The Spider-Man Paradox: David notes that the month's top Spidey books aren't even Marvel-published.[00:05:38] – Anything Goes Finale Begins: Ellison vs. Groth feud spirals beyond reason.[00:12:21] – The Nebula Left Hook: The blow-by-blow of Harlan Ellison’s physical altercation with critic Charles Platt.[00:17:53] – The Anti-Fan Club: The birth of "Enemies of Ellison" and the $14 membership fee to hate a legend.[00:26:30] –The Fake Letter Scandal: A deep look at the Peter David and Gary Groth feud over a forged letter.[00:30:34] – The Edge of Forever: The legal battle over a pamphlet regarding Ellison’s famously late anthology.[00:36:12] – The Final Settlement: Ellison and Groth finally agree to stop the "ad hominem" personal attacks.00:40:34 – Epilogue of Legends: Careers end, lives move on, grudges linger.Support the Fellas David Hedgecock (https://funtimego.com) - The Corner Box Co-HostJohn Barber (https://www.pugworldwide.com) - The Corner Box Co-HostThe Corner Box (https://www.thecornerbox.club) - Official WebsiteDive Deeper Into the Back Issue Bin Harlan Ellison (https://harlanellison.com) - Legendary writer, litigant, and central figure of the "Anything Goes" saga.Gary Groth (https://www.fantagraphics.com) - Co-founder of Fantagraphics and editor of The Comics Journal.Michael Fleisher (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Fleisher) - Writer who sued Ellison and later became an anthropological consultant.Peter David (https://www.peterdavid.net) - Veteran writer and creator of the "Friends of Ellison" club.J. Michael Straczynski (https://twitter.com/straczynski) - Babylon 5 creator and executor of the Ellison estate.Todd McFarlane (https://mcfarlane.com) - Image Comics founder whose Spider-Man reprint is currently topping charts.

    44 min

  7. MAR 24

    Shooter, Shills, and a Dark (Horse) Ending on The Corner Box - S3Ep26

    David and John break down the fallout of a massive industry earthquake and step back in time to the most surreal courtroom drama in comic book history. It’s the kind of "inside comics" that reminds you why the business is just as wild as the pages we print. The  Recap The era of the "comic book guy" CEO is officially on life support as Mike Richardson exits Dark Horse, leaving the company in the hands of a video game-focused equity firm. David and John worry that massive corporate debt at Warner Bros. Discovery could lead to DC Comics becoming a mere licensing farm rather than a publisher. Shifting to the past, it’s Part-two of the infamous 1980s Fleisher vs. Harlan Ellison libel trial as the guys dissect the grueling four-week trial where Michael Fleisher sued the Comics Journal and Harlan Ellison over being called "certifiable." The highlight involves Jim Shooter’s "straight shooter" blog recollections of a morality panel that may or may not have happened exactly the way he remembers. It’s a crazy trip into the past and a sad look at the fragile corporate landscape of today.  Splash Page Snippets "It is legitimately an end of an era—not just at Dark Horse, but in the comics medium." — David Hedgecock"There aren't many comic book guys in charge of comic book companies anymore." — John Barber"Four weeks of your life spent asking Harlan Ellison if he meant 'bug f*ck' in a clinical sense." — John Barber"I can see a scenario where they kill the division and license out all those properties." — David Hedgecock"I hope he is as inept in court as he is a writer." — Gary Groth (quoted by John Barber) Key Panels (Highlights) [01:29] – The Fall of the First Horse: Mike Richardson’s exit from Dark Horse marks the end of the founder-led era.[05:43] – The Xenomorph Standard: How Dark Horse proved licensed comics could actually be high-quality storytelling.[09:02] – The New Corporate Masters: A look at the changing guard at Marvel, DC, IDW, and Boom.[18:27] – Crisis on Infinite Debts: Why 70 billion in debt might turn DC into a mere licensing farm.[28:25] – Trial of the Century: The grueling four-week courtroom saga of Fleisher vs. The Comics Journal.[37:38] – Enter: The 26-Year-Old EIC: Jim Shooter takes the stand as the industry’s youngest expert witness.[43:58] – The Shooter Cut: Jim's "straight shooter" retelling of the infamous 1980 San Diego morality panel.Support The Comic Box David Hedgecock (Fun Time Go) - Corner Box Co-HostJohn Barber (PUG Worldwide) - Corner Box Co-HostThe Corner Box (The Corner Box Club) - Official WebsiteDig Deeper Mike Richardson (Mike Richardson) - Founder of Dark Horse Comics.Mike Mignola (Official Site) - Creator of Hellboy.Frank Miller (Official Site) - Creator of Sin City and 300.Paul Chadwick (Wikipedia) - Creator of the indie hit Concrete.Jim Shooter (Official Blog) - Former Marvel EIC and expert witness.Gary Groth (Fantagraphics) - Co-founder of The Comics Journal.Mark Evanier (News From ME) - Veteran writer, historian, and panel moderator.

    1h 6m

  8. MAR 17

    Anything Goes! The Harlan Ellison Lawsuit on The Corner Box - S3Ep25

    In this episode, Anything Goes! John rises from the dead (again) to team up with David, for a deep dive into the wildest comics scandal of the 1980s: the Harlan Ellison interview that sparked a $2 million libel lawsuit and divided the comic book industry. Stay tuned for Part 2: Everything Went! Timestamp Segments [01:11] Warner gets bought… again.[06:33] Anything Goes![08:04] Byron Preiss: The Trailblazer.[13:41] John meets Ellison.[15:11] The Comics Journal.[21:50] The Infamous Ellison Interview – What Really Happened?[33:05] *Listener break*[33:33] Ellison vs. Fleisher: Clash of the Titans.[51:23] Comics: A World Divided.[52:51] The start of Anything Goes!Notable Quotes “In the 1970s, comics were a childish disposable medium, and not even a good one.”“I don’t think I’ve ever been a bigger fan of Harlan Ellison than I am right now.”“Eventually, Disney rules the world.”Books Mentioned Absolute Green Lantern/Green Arrow, by Dennis O’Neil, Elliot Maggin, Dick Giordano, & Neal Adams.American Flagg!, by Howard Chaykin, Hilary Barta, Rick Burchett, Don Lomax, James Sherman, Joe Staton, & Larry Stroman.Anything Goes!Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, & Lynn Varley.Blackhawk, The Shadow, by Howard Chaykin.Blackmark, by Gil Kane, Archie Goodwin, & Gary Groth.Captain Victory, Silver Star, by Jack Kirby.Cerebus, by Dave Sim.Chandler: Red Tide, Dreadstar, by Jim Steranko.Chasing Hairy, by Michael Fleisher.Conan the Barbarian.Dial H for Hero, by Sam Humphries & Joe Quinones.The Divided States of Hysteria, by Howard Chaykin.ElfQuest.Essential Ellison, by Harlan Ellison.Frankenstein, by Bernie Wrightson.Hipster Detective Lloyd Llewellyn, by Daniel Clowes.His Name is... Savage!

    1h 5m
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Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Corner Box, where we talk about comic books as an industry and an art form. You never know where the discussion will go, or who’ll show up to join hosts David Hedgecock and John Barber. Between them they’ve spent decades writing, drawing, lettering, coloring, editing, editor-in-chiefing, and publishing comics. If you want to know the behind-the-scenes secrets—the highs and lows, the ins and outs—of the best artistic medium in the world, listen in and join the club at The Corner Box!

Information

  • Creator
    David & John
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    143
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Fun Time Go, Inc.
  • Show Website
    The Corner Box

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