The Corner Box

David & John
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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. 6d ago

    Miss Mina and Tyrant Fall Kicking it LIVE! with Max, Brennan and The Corner Box - S3Ep51

    Two episodes in one day?! What's the special occasion? Well... David's Miss Mina and the Midnight Guardians Book Three campaign launches today and HE'S NOT PANICKING! YOU'RE PANICKING!!! Ahem... Sorry. We have guests. I shouldn't scream... Tyrant Fall creators Brennan Knight and Max Davenport return to the show and bring their own Kickstarter launch, a looming world war, and the grim realization that making the comic may be easier than getting anyone to notice it. David, John, and guests then compare Kickstarter launch tactics, advertising experiments, and the sacred checklist behind a successful Kickstarter. Then a lost Jim Lee Wolverine, an alarming X-Factor baby story, and one indestructible toddler derail the meeting exactly as nature intended. Captions: “Social media doesn’t really exist more than two seconds.” — David on why creators cannot be precious about promotion “You have to push it hard enough that you start to look like a bot.” — Brennan on getting locked out while promoting Tyrantfall “It’s there to slow things down and make sure you do the things that you know you’re doing.” — John on the checklist behind a major Kickstarter “I keep zooming in and zooming in—and ultimately realized I kind of hate it.” — Max on drawing an entire issue digitally “I’m fighting the urge to put a hundred panels on a page.” — Brennan on learning how to write comics professionally “There’s a point where saying ‘the Mandarin’ was worth more to Marvel than a Jim Lee Wolverine drawing.” — John on a baffling alteration to an Uncanny X-Men cover “I am a robot. I’m indestructible.” — Brennan quoting his three-year-old’s unbeatable dinner-table argument Splash Page: [03:40] – Heavy Metal Power Level: Brennan pitches Tyrantfall as Dragon Ball Z filtered through Heavy Metal, with revenge mutating into world war. [05:35] – Revenge of the Pencil: After one fully digital issue, Max returns to traditional art—and remembers how good an actual page feels. [13:41] – Promote Until the Machines Notice: Brennan posts so aggressively that Twitter decides he must be a bot. [14:38] – The Astronaut Checklist: John explains what the Marvel Art of Jim Lee campaign taught PUG about slowing down before launch. [23:54] – Wolverine Was Here: Jim Lee’s original Wolverine figure gets replaced by an “Enter the Mandarin” caption on an Uncanny X-Men cover. [27:39] – The Indestructible Robot: Brennan’s three-year-old ends a food dispute with the strongest declaration in human history. [29:00] – The Madrox Baby Incident: John recounts the Peter David X-Factor twist that turned a personalized baby reference into nightmare fuel. [30:45] – Build an Emergency Ending: Brennan and David explain why independent series need satisfying checkpoints before reality cancels the next arc. Support the Corner Box: MISS MINA and the MIDNIGHT GUARDIANS BOOK THREE IS LIVE! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/funtimego/miss-mina-and-the-midnight-guardians-legend-continues Support Max & Brennan and their great book, TYRANT FALL! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cbrennanknight/tyrant-fall-1-4 Dive Deeper Into the Back Issue Bin: Roman Stevens (https://www.romanstevens.co.uk) - Tyrantfall colorist whose growth David singles out alongside Max’s evolving linework. Jim Lee (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Lee) - The artist at the center of PUG Worldwide’s Marvel archive campaign and its recovered artwork. Scott Williams (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Williams_(comics)) - Jim Lee’s longtime inker, whose Xeroxes preserved previously unseen X-Men #1 pencils. Whilce Portacio (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whilce_Portacio) - Jim Lee collaborator discussed during John’s account of Lee’s path from Punisher to X-Men and beyond. Bob Harras (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Harras) - Former Marvel editor interviewed for the Jim Lee archive project. Peter David (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_David) - Writer behind Madrox and X-Factor, including the baby twist John remembers all too well. Andy Schmidt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Schmidt) - Editor whose child became the visual reference attached to John’s grim X-Factor anecdote. Chuma Hill (https://www.kirbyscomicart.com/chuma-hill) - Cover artist whose Miss Mina image performed far better in David’s advertising tests than expected. Tony Harris (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Harris_(artist)) - Starman and Ex Machina artist contributing a cover to Miss Mina and the Midnight Guardians Book 3. Clive Barker (https://www.clivebarker.info) - Horror author whose three-book Kickstarter comeback earns an enthusiastic late-show recommendation from John. Kevin Eastman (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Eastman) - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator mentioned during John’s tour of famous comics neighbors. Alex Sinclair (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Sinclair) - Veteran colorist revealed to be another creator living near John. Rob Liefeld (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Liefeld) - Image co-founder whose former Extreme Studios location turns David into a betrayed childhood friend. Miss Mina and the Midnight Guardians (https://funtimego.com) - David’s Dracula-versus-Mina Murray adventure, with Book 3 launching alongside Tyrantfall #4. Kickstarter Pre-Launch Pages (https://help.kickstarter.com/hc/en-us/articles/360034769114-Setting-up-your-project-s-pre-launch-page) - The launch tool behind the episode’s arguments about early followers, repeat backers, and first-week momentum. Kickstarter Comics Resources (https://help.kickstarter.com/hc/en-us/articles/360046109713-I-m-looking-to-run-a-Comics-project) - Official guidance covering preparation, rewards, stretch goals, promotion, and campaign planning. Heavy Metal Magazine (https://shop.heavymetal.com/pages/about-us) - One half of Tyrantfall’s wonderfully efficient “Dragon Ball Z published in Heavy Metal” pitch. Dragon Ball Z (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Ball_Z) - The other half of that pitch, supplying the escalating battles and explosive power-level energy. X-Men #1 (1991) (https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/14281/x-men) - Jim Lee’s landmark issue, including Scott Williams’s inks and the newly surfaced pencil material discussed by John. Marvel Art of Jim Lee (https://www.pugworldwide.com) - PUG Worldwide’s archive project and the source of John’s hard-earned Kickstarter lessons. Clive Barker’s Three New Books (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/clive-barker/three-new-books-from-clive-barker) - The horror legend’s campaign that John recommends before the closing bell. Revolutionary Comics (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolutionary_Comics) - Publisher of Rock ’N’ Roll Comics and the source of John’s geographically obsessive Alistair Crowley detour.

  2. 6d ago

    Steven Grant Master of the (Not So) Obvious on The Corner Box - S3Ep50

    In part two of this exclusive two-part Corner Box conversation, special guest Steven Grant joins David and John for a brutally honest trip through comics, from the Punisher’s emotional shutdown to the birth of his ninja creation, Whisper. Steven recalls how Mike Baron and Steve Rude’s Nexus helped Capital City reach the point where it could finally pay an artist for his book. The conversation jumps online as Grant remembers Gail Simone helping connect him with Comic Book Resources, where Master of the Obvious and Permanent Damage spent fifteen years puncturing myths about how comics get made. Then 2 Guns takes the scenic route from an unsold crime concept to a Denzel Washington movie—and exposes how unimpressive Hollywood option money can be. The finale finds Grant cutting The Count of Monte Cristo down to 44 pages, reconsidering Hamlet’s sanity, and admitting that some assignments leave permanent scars. Captions: “Frank Castle is some guy who died with his family.” — Steven Grant on the Punisher’s severed identity “Popularity and making money do not necessarily amount to the same thing in comics.” — Steven Grant on the economics behind Nexus and Whisper “Most of it is not what people think it is.” — Steven Grant on demystifying how comics get made “When 94% of the things you want to do don’t get done, you figure out: what happens, happens.” — Steven Grant on surviving rejected pitches “Hollywood can screw up your story all by themselves. You don’t need to do it for them.” — Steven Grant’s advice to creators chasing adaptations “Just do the comic you want to do, and don’t worry about whether Hollywood will want it.” — Steven Grant on making the work first “Basically, I played Jenga with it.” — Steven Grant on compressing The Count of Monte Cristo into 44 pages Splash Page: [01:32] – Frank Castle Is Already Dead: John finds the line that reveals the Punisher has been lying to himself. [02:28] – The Man Behind the Skull: Grant explains why the Punisher feels no connection to his name, family, or former life. [05:15] – Enter the Fake Ninja: A train ride, a ninja book, and Capital City’s shaky finances give birth to Whisper. [09:19] – Permanent Damage Begins: Gail Simone opens the door to Grant’s fifteen-year run of blunt online commentary. [12:18] – Secrets from Behind the Curtain: Grant recalls the creators who thanked him for finally explaining how comics really work. [19:01] – Two Undercover Cops Walk into a Gang: The original 2 Guns concept survives rejection, a screenplay detour, and a disastrous Hollywood meeting date. [22:25] – Hollywood Can Handle the Damage: Grant delivers the creator advice every adaptation-hungry pitch needs to hear. [26:30] – The 44-Page Monte Cristo Massacre: Grant plays literary Jenga with a novel built almost entirely from interconnected subplots. Support the Corner Box: David Hedgecock (https://funtimego.com) - 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: Steven Grant (https://www.marvel.com/comics/creators/1293/grant_steven) - Veteran writer behind the Punisher limited series, Whisper, 2 Guns, and the columns at the center of this conversation. Mike Zeck (https://mikezeck.com/) - Grant’s artistic partner on the Punisher work whose visual heat countered Frank Castle’s cold narration. Mike Baron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Baron) - Co-creator of Nexus, the early Capital Comics success Grant helped set in motion. Steve Rude (https://www.steverude.com/) - Nexus co-creator whose work helped Capital Comics establish its publishing line. Gail Simone (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gail_Simone) - Writer whose recommendation helped Grant land his Comic Book Resources column. Frank Miller (https://frankmillerink.com/) - Writer of the original RoboCop screenplays that Grant adapted for Avatar Press. Howard Chaykin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Chaykin) - Artist and writer whose comments helped Grant compare screenplay adaptation to inking. Brian K. Vaughan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_K._Vaughan) - Cited while discussing the strange economics of writing screenplays that never get filmed. Tony Harris (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Harris_(comics)) - Starman and Ex Machina artist providing a painted cover for Miss Mina and the Midnight Guardians. Jonathan Maberry (https://www.jonathanmaberry.com/aboutjonathan) - Award-winning author contributing an original prose story to David’s new book. Will Eisner (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Eisner) - Invoked during John’s analysis of visual performance in Grant’s Hamlet adaptation. Dan Spiegle (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Spiegle) - Artist praised for surviving the 44-page compression gauntlet of The Count of Monte Cristo. Dan Brereton (https://www.dc.com/talent/daniel-brereton) - Grant’s collaborator on the sword-and-sorcery character the Scythian. The Punisher (https://www.marvel.com/characters/punisher-frank-castle) - Grant explains why his version of Frank Castle is emotionally severed from his former identity. The Punisher Limited Series (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Punisher_%281986_series%29) - The Grant and Zeck story that helped establish the character as a solo attraction. Whisper (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Grant) - Grant’s fake-ninja concept, created for Capital Comics and later continued by First Comics. Capital City Distribution (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_City_Distribution) - The distributor whose short publishing venture led to Nexus, Badger, and Whisper. Women in Refrigerators (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_refrigerators) - Gail Simone’s influential project, mentioned while Grant recounts how his online column began. Comic Book Resources (https://www.cbr.com/) - Home of Grant’s Master of the Obvious and Permanent Damage columns. 2 Guns Complete Collection (https://www.boom-studios.com/archives/20-for-20-announcement/) - The undercover-cop crime story that eventually reached theaters with Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg. Classics Illustrated (https://www.classicsillustratedbooks.com/) - The adaptation line that forced Grant to compress Hamlet and The Count of Monte Cristo into unforgiving page counts. Miss Mina and the Midnight Guardians (https://get.funtimego.com/) - David’s upcoming Kickstarter project featuring comics, painted covers, and an original Jonathan Maberry prose piece.

  3. Aug 25

    Steven Grant and His Perfect Punisher on The Corner Box - S3Ep49

    Special guest Steven Grant joins David and John to explain how measles, Flash of Two Worlds, and one very strange dime-operated comics rack rewired his childhood. His road into the business runs through Underground Comix, Michael Moorcock, Bob Layton, Roger Stern, John Byrne, and a surprise Marvel Two-in-One assignment that he never asked for. Along the way, Grant remembers learning from Gil Kane, surviving Marvel’s fill-in trenches, and writing an entire character’s dialogue in haiku just to satisfy a baffling series bible. Then an unusable Olympics treasury story gets rebuilt as Contest of Champions, Marvel’s first published limited series and an unlikely ancestor of Secret Wars. The issue closes with Grant and Mike Zeck rescuing the once-reviled Punisher, the brutal math of rejected pitches, and why Return to Big Nothing remains Grant’s near-perfect statement on Frank Castle. Captions: “I did not break into comics. I wasn’t even asked—I was told I was going to write comics.” — Steven Grant on his accidental Marvel debut “If anybody asked you to do a story, you did it. If you didn’t, you didn’t get asked again.” — Steven Grant on the freelancer survival rule “All of her dialogue is written in haiku.” — Steven Grant on solving an impossible Shogun Warriors character note “When we were doing Contest of Champions, we didn’t even know we were doing Contest of Champions.” — Steven Grant on Marvel’s accidental first limited series “I’d say of the things that I pitched, at least 94% never got done.” — Steven Grant on the reality behind a long comics career “When I did the Punisher miniseries, they said, ‘Well, f@#$, if he can do it, anybody can.’” — Steven Grant on his book’s less glamorous influence “I still view that as close to the perfect Punisher story as anyone ever got.” — Steven Grant on Punisher: Return to Big Nothing Splash Page: [01:09] – The Measles Origin Story: A sick week, an All-Star Western, and a Justice League ad turn Grant into a lifelong comics reader. [03:34] – Flash of Two Worlds, Third Comic Ever: David discovers that Grant encountered a multiversal landmark almost immediately—and bought it from a vending machine. [06:50] – Seventeen and Writing Moorcock: Grant casually contacts Michael Moorcock, gets permission to adapt Elric, and leaves David wondering what happened to teenage fear. [09:34] – Report to Marvel Monday Morning: Roger Stern offers Grant a couch and informs him that he’ll be writing Marvel Two-in-One after breakfast. [14:49] – Curves Are Static, Angles Are Active: A Gil Kane interview gives Grant a new language for understanding storytelling through art. [17:36] – The Haiku Defense: A vague Shogun Warriors character description inspires Grant’s most beautifully unreasonable dialogue solution. [22:13] – The Accidental Event Machine: A shelved Olympics project becomes Contest of Champions and helps establish the model for decades of giant Marvel clashes. [27:10] – Nobody Wanted the Punisher: A repeatedly rejected 1976 pitch finally finds Mike Zeck, Carl Potts, and the opening it needs to become Circle of Blood. Support the Corner Box: David Hedgecock (https://funtimego.com) - 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: Steven Grant (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Grant) - Writer of the first Punisher limited series and the guest tracing his unlikely route from fandom to Marvel. Gil Kane (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gil_Kane) - Grant’s childhood favorite and eventual collaborator on Edge, whose thinking about curves and angles shaped Grant’s view of comics. Mike Zeck (https://www.mikezeck.com) - Secret Wars artist whose involvement helped Grant’s long-rejected Punisher proposal finally get approved. John Beatty (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Beatty_(illustrator)) - Inker who worked with Zeck on Secret Wars, the Punisher limited series, and Return to Big Nothing. Roger Stern (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Stern) - Writer, editor, CPL publisher, couch provider, and the man who handed Grant his first Marvel assignment. Bob Layton (https://www.boblayton.com) - Artist, writer, and CPL co-publisher who became part of Grant’s formative comics circle. John Byrne (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Byrne_(comics)) - Artist Grant met before Byrne’s Marvel breakthrough, when the two attempted to develop a series together. Al Milgrom (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Milgrom) - Marvel editor praised for his story sense, artistic eye, and tolerance of Grant’s Shogun Warriors mischief. Bill Mantlo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Mantlo) - Writer who brought Grant and Mark Gruenwald into the Olympics project that eventually became Contest of Champions. Mark Gruenwald (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Gruenwald) - Writer and editor who worked with Grant and Mantlo on the material repurposed for Marvel’s first limited series. Jim Shooter (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Shooter) - Marvel editor-in-chief charged with getting late books moving and later approving both Contest of Champions and the Punisher gamble. Marv Wolfman (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marv_Wolfman) - Marvel editor-in-chief who heard Grant’s original Punisher pitch years before the project found a home. Carl Potts (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Potts) - Editor who championed Grant and Zeck’s Punisher proposal despite Marvel’s lack of faith in the character. Archie Goodwin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archie_Goodwin_(comics)) - Epic editor who gave Grant and Zeck the freedom to make Return to Big Nothing their definitive Frank Castle statement. Flash of Two Worlds (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_of_Two_Worlds) - The landmark Flash story that became one of Grant’s first comic-book purchases. Moon Knight (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_Knight) - Grant’s choice for his first Marvel Two-in-One co-star, partly because the character’s identity confusion gave him a storytelling joke. Shogun Warriors (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shogun_Warriors_(comics)) - The assignment Grant accepted despite disliking the book, producing his infamous all-haiku dialogue experiment. Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Super_Hero_Contest_of_Champions) - The shelved Olympics material transformed into Marvel’s first published limited series. Secret Wars (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Wars) - The massive follow-up success drawn largely by Zeck before he joined Grant on the Punisher. The Punisher Limited Series (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Punisher_%281986_series%29) - Grant and Zeck’s influential solo reinvention of a character Marvel once considered nearly unusable. Return to Big Nothing (https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/77954/epic_graphic_novel_the_punisher_-_return_to_big_nothing_1_1989_1) - The Epic graphic novel Grant calls his near-perfect expression of the Punisher. The Dark Knight Returns (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Knight_Returns) - Frank Miller’s landmark work, raised during the debate over which books most strongly influenced later creators. Watchmen (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchmen) - Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ defining series, compared with the Punisher limited series in terms of creative influence. American Flagg! (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Flagg!) - Howard Chaykin’s influential series, invoked in Grant’s self-mocking comparison of how landmark comics were received.

  4. Aug 18

    Hot Artists on the Steel Streets of The Corner Box - S3Ep48

    David unveils the new Top 10 Hottest Artists list, from Mark Spears and Brett Bean to Nick Dragotta, Ryan Ottley, and Hayden Sherman at the top. Daniel Warren Johnson’s upcoming Chain Kata causes a minor ashcan feeding frenzy, while Jamal Campbell makes the case that Zatanna can absolutely move books when the pages look that good. John then brings Image’s Royals to the table, praising Derek Kirk Kim and Jacob Perez for a psychic-poker crime story that suddenly turns into a chase-comic clinic. David follows with an accidental cage match between Spawn #376 and Mahdi Khene’s Steel Streets—and the gloriously odd handmade book wins on personality. They close in the nostalgia gutter with Mad Cave’s The Last Starfighter, Comic Shop News’ Team America revival, and the insane fact that Kyle Baker adapted Howard the Duck. Captions: “There should be more things like that.” — John on Eric Larsen keeping Savage Dragon alive, strange, and evolving for 281 issues“Chicks with chainsaws in space.” — David on Daniel Warren Johnson’s ChainKata pitch, which sold him instantly“Absolute Batman continues to be the thing that is saving the comic industry.” — David on Nick Dragotta’s sales monster“I’m jumping right back off.” — David after trying Spawn again at issue #376“What if Raphael died and got turned into a RoboCop and goes out for vengeance?” — David explaining Steel Streets“The one that you would think I would like more… laid an egg.” — David on slick craft versus a comic with a real voice“Every time I think this couldn’t be more random, you’re making it more random.” — David as John explains Team America’s bizarre historySplash Page [03:06] – Savage Dragon Still Bites: Eric Larson becomes a “one to watch” after issue #281 sparks aftermarket noise.[09:11] – Blind-Bag Roulette: David buys 20 Terminal blind bags hunting a Rob Liefeld cover. This can only end well.[16:32] – Chainsaws in Space: Daniel Warren Johnson’s Chain Kata pitch lands, followed by a wild $400 ashcan price.[20:55] – The Absolute Crown: Hayden Sherman takes the top slot on the strength of Absolute Wonder Woman and Legion of Super-Heroes.[25:09] – Dog Man Returns: David and John celebrate a new Dav Pilkey original graphic novel coming in November.[31:39] – Psychic Poker, Seoul Style: John explains why Royals turns a sharp premise into a twisty action comic.[36:20] – Spawn Gets the Hook: David’s much-delayed Spawn return lasts exactly one issue.[43:31] – The Personal-Work Argument: The guys make the case for imperfect comics made with a singular, unmistakable voice.Support the Corner Box: David Hedgecock (https://funtimego.com) - 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: Daniel Warren Johnson (https://www.danielwarrenart.com) - Writer-artist behind the upcoming Chain Kata, whose convention ashcan is already causing a collector scramble. Jamal Campbell (https://www.dc.com/blog/2024/11/12/zatanna-d-cs-mistress-of-magic-is-back) - Writer-artist whose Zatanna work earns praise for handling the full visual load and making magic look massive. Hayden Sherman (https://www.dc.com/blog/2026-06-17/dc-announces-three-new-next-level-comic-book-series) - Absolute Wonder Woman artist and upcoming Legion of Super-Heroes artist who takes the list’s top spot. Nick Dragotta (https://www.dc.com/allin) - Absolute Batman artist and one of the key visual forces behind DC’s huge Absolute line. Derek Kirk Kim (https://imagecomics.com/features/royals-q-a-with-cartoonist-derek-kirk-kim) - Royals writer and longtime cartoonist returning to a setting rooted in Korea. Jacob Perez (https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/royals-launch-deals-a-winning-hand-rushed-back-to-print-this-week) - Royals artist singled out for dynamic chases, clean action, and surprise-heavy storytelling. Matthew Rosenberg (https://imagecomics.com/creators/matthew-rosenberg) - Spawn #376’s new writer, whose jumping-on point does not win David over. Mahdi Khene (https://www.instagram.com/mahdikhene/) - Cartoonist behind Steel Streets and Bootleg Spider-Man, whose raw handmade energy wins David’s heart. Willi Roberts (https://madcavestudios.com/product/the-last-starfighter-issue-1/) - The Last Starfighter artist praised for taking critique seriously and visibly leveling up. Dav Pilkey (https://www.scholastic.com/site/dav-pilkey.html) - Dog Man creator, whose next original graphic novel has both hosts ready to dive back in. Royals (https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/royals-launch-deals-a-winning-hand-rushed-back-to-print-this-week) - Derek Kirk Kim and Jacob Perez’s six-issue psychic-poker crime series set in Seoul. Zatanna (https://www.dc.com/blog/2024/11/12/zatanna-d-cs-mistress-of-magic-is-back) - Jamal Campbell’s writer-artist series, central to the conversation about an artist lifting a character into a sales contender. Absolute Wonder Woman (https://www.dc.com/graphic-novels/absolute-wonder-woman-2024/absolute-wonder-woman-vol-1-the-last-amazon) - Hayden Sherman’s bold redesign of Diana anchors the list’s number-one slot. Legion of Super-Heroes (https://www.dc.com/blog/2026-06-17/dc-announces-three-new-next-level-comic-book-series) - Joshua Williamson and Hayden Sherman’s new run, discussed as a potential sales breakout. The Last Starfighter #1 (https://madcavestudios.com/product/the-last-starfighter-issue-1/) - Mad Cave’s continuation of the cult film, written by Benjamin Raab and Deric A. Hughes with art by Willi Roberts. The Last Starfighter (https://www.universalpictures.com/movies/the-last-starfighter) - The original film that David considers one of his all-time favorites. Dog Man (https://www.scholastic.com/site/dav-pilkey/dog-man.html) - Dav Pilkey’s all-ages series and the subject of The Corner Box’s most-listened-to episode. Spawn (https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/spawn) - Todd McFarlane’s long-running series, revisited here through David’s very unhappy experience with issue #376.

  5. Aug 11

    The Egret of Happiness or SDCC Recap on The Corner Box - S3Ep47

    David and John compare San Diego Comic-Con scars, including a panel-opening challenge that landed like a wet fart. John unveils his work on a 3D comic adaptation of Santo and the Treasure of Dracula, built to read like an actual comic instead of a pile of movie stills. David breaks news on the upcoming Kull miniseries with John Arcudi, Mark Buckingham, and Dave Stewart—then explains why he missed the announcement after an egret turned him into a disaster zone. The guys also puzzle over the reported takedown of a Dark Knight Returns recreation project, praise Geof Darrow’s latest Shaolin Cowboy work, and stumble into a restored Steranko-related short film. It’s a full convention-floor episode: great art, bizarre panels, copyright ownership headaches, and no budget left by Saturday. Captions: “Everybody that was up on the panel loved comic books more than everybody in the audience.” — David, explaining his unexpectedly controversial Comic-Con opener“I’ve probably almost made as much money as I’ve spent on comics over my 20-year professional career.” — David, defining success with painful honesty“This needs 3D glasses.” — David, on John’s Santo comic experiment“I don’t go anywhere near preview night for exactly this reason.” — John, after hearing about the Dark Knight recreation chaos“There goes my entire Comic-Con budget.” — David, after spotting Darrow’s limited oversized edition and original artSplash Page: [01:49] – Love Letter With a Chair Thrown: David’s Comic-Con panel declaration gets a rough landing.[08:02] – Santo Goes Stereo: John reveals a 3D comic built from Santo and the Treasure of Dracula.[11:16] – The Screen-Grab Curse: Why most movie-to-comic photo books forget how comics work.[15:58] – Kull Draws Steel: David announces the new Kull miniseries with Arcudi, Buckingham, and Stewart.[17:20] – Attack of the Egret: A bird disaster wipes out David’s plans to attend his own announcement.[24:48] – Shadow House of Pain: John stumbles into a strange Steranko-related restoration panel.[29:05] – Dark Knight, Rights Fight: A fan-made recreation project reportedly runs into a DC takedown.[33:02] – Darrow’s Budget Finisher: David finds a Shaolin Cowboy treasure and spends accordingly.Support the Corner Box: David Hedgecock (https://funtimego.com) - 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: John Arcudi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Arcudi) - Writer announced for the upcoming Kull miniseries. Mark Buckingham (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Buckingham) - Fables and Miracleman artist whose Kull pages get David and John fired up. Dave Stewart (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Stewart_(colorist)) - Acclaimed colorist joining the Kull creative team. Geof Darrow (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geof_Darrow) - Shaolin Cowboy artist whose limited convention edition wrecked David’s spending plan. Jim Steranko (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Steranko) - Artist connected to the restored Shadow House short-film detour. Harlan Ellison (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlan_Ellison) - Writer whose freeway-gunfight story was discussed as the short film’s original intended adaptation. Rob Liefeld (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Liefeld) - Convention-floor near miss and the source of David’s lingering complaint. Nicole Goux (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicole_Goux) - Eisner-winning guest celebrated for her Comic-Con weekend. Frank Miller (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Miller) - Creator of The Dark Knight Returns, central to the recreation-project discussion. Kull (https://heroicsignatures.com/) - Robert E. Howard’s Atlantean king returns in the newly announced miniseries; the transcript’s exact subtitle is unclear. Santo and the Treasure of Dracula (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_and_the_Treasure_of_Dracula) - The Santo film being reshaped into a 3D comic. Masked Republic (https://www.maskedrepublic.com/) - The lucha libre rights holder working with John on the Santo project. The Dark Knight Returns (https://www.dc.com/graphic-novels/the-dark-knight-returns-1986/batman-the-dark-knight-returns-frank-miller-gallery-edition) - Miller’s landmark Batman story, discussed after the unlicensed recreation project was reportedly halted. Shaolin Cowboy: Staying A.I.Live (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/838666/shaolin-cowboy-staying-ailive-by-written-and-illustrated-by-geof-darrow/) - Darrow’s latest Shaolin Cowboy release and David’s convention-floor splurge. Tower of Shadows (https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/21015/tower_of_shadows_1969_1) - The Steranko comic discussed before John’s Shadow House panel story.

  6. Aug 4

    You Can't Hit Batman in the Back of the Head on The Corner Box - S3Ep46

    What separates a technically solid comic from one that grabs three Marvel editors by the throat at the same time? That question leads John through Jason Aaron’s early career, the difference between having technical chops and possessing a distinct creative voice, and why no stack of screenwriting books can manufacture the magic. David then puts Dynamite’s Thundarr the Barbarian revival to the test, complete with Jason Aaron, Kewber Baal, Kirby-fueled nostalgia, mutant motorcycle rats, and a genuinely surprising victory for the bad guys. From there, John unearths Star Rider and the Peace Machine, a 1982 Canadian comic magazine packed with Captain Canuck resentment, suspicious global alliances, and one extremely committed Richard Comely. David fires back with Swords of the Swashbucklers, launching a larger argument about superhero flaws, team infighting, creator-owned momentum, and why Batman should still be allowed to get hit in the back of the head once in a while. Captions: “Knowing all the rules doesn’t make you a good writer. If it did, everybody who read Save the Cat would be one.” — John on why craft books cannot manufacture creative instinct “I want to surprise and delight on every page—and I’m not talking about the reader. I’m talking about myself.” — David on keeping his own writing unpredictable “The bad guys win, John.” — David discovering that Thundarr the Barbarian is willing to wreck the nostalgic safety net “It won’t be biased at all. He’s just reporting the facts.” — David on Richard Comely investigating his own Captain Canuck dismissal “Some guy hit Batman in the back of the head? You can’t do that. He’s the greatest crime fighter who ever lived.” — John on superheroes becoming too flawless to generate real tension Splash Page: [00:24] – The San Diego Time-Travel Incident: John and David attempt to preserve podcast continuity by pretending their Comic-Con panel has already gone perfectly. [01:40] – Three Editors, One Comic: John remembers himself, Nick Lowe, and Axel Alonso arriving at Marvel with copies of Jason Aaron and Cameron Stewart’s The Other Side. [02:41] – The Spark Beyond Technique: John explains why a distinct voice matters more than merely producing technically competent pages. [06:50] – Save the Cat Cannot Save You: The guys wrestle with whether good writing can be taught, measured, or reduced to a dependable formula. [10:35] – The Sun Sword Correction: John calls Thundarr’s weapon a laser sword and is immediately educated. [12:06] – Thundarr Changes the Verdict: David’s Jack Kirby appreciation tour leads to a surprisingly enthusiastic reassessment of Dynamite. [19:43] – Canadian Comics Go Nuclear: Star Rider and the Peace Machine delivers Captain Canuck resentment, bargain-bin space opera, and a four-page global conspiracy article. [34:02] – Let Hawkeye Be an A*****e: A discussion of Swords of the Swashbucklers becomes an argument for flawed heroes, team tension, and superheroes who are still allowed to fail. Support the Corner Box: David Hedgecock (https://funtimego.com) - 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: Jason Aaron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Aaron) - Writer of The Other Side, Wolverine: Weapon X, Bug Wars, and the new Thundarr the Barbarian series that kicks off the episode’s larger discussion about creative voice. Jack Kirby (https://kirbymuseum.org) - Legendary artist and designer whose visual work helped define Thundarr the Barbarian and inspired David’s recent appreciation tour through Kirby’s career. Kewber Baal (https://www.instagram.com/kewberbaal) - Artist bringing Thundarr’s ruined future, mutant creatures, and sword-swinging action to the Dynamite series. Michael Cho (https://www.michaelcho.com) - Artist behind the main Thundarr covers, using a bold retro approach that channels the visual power of Kirby-era comics. Richard Comely (https://comelyart.com) - Captain Canuck co-creator and the driving force behind Star Rider and the Peace Machine, including its comics, publishing grievances, and startling conspiracy material. Tom Grummett (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Grummett) - Veteran superhero artist whose early work appears inside Star Rider and the Peace Machine before his later runs on major Marvel and DC titles. Bill Mantlo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Mantlo) - Prolific Marvel writer and co-creator of Swords of the Swashbucklers, known for loading his teams with personality clashes, arguments, and constant dramatic friction. Jackson Guice (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_Guice) - Artist and co-creator of Swords of the Swashbucklers, delivering heavily rendered spacecraft, pirate ships, alien technology, and oversized painted pages. Colleen Doran (https://www.colleendoran.com) - Acclaimed artist who contributed two issues to the Swords of the Swashbucklers limited series after the original graphic novel. Daniel Warren Johnson (https://imagecomics.com/creators/daniel-warren-johnson) - Writer-artist behind Transformers, Do a Powerbomb, and the newly announced Chainkata, representing the healthy movement between major characters and creator-owned work. Tradd Moore (https://www.traddmoorecomics.com) - Distinctive artist and writer whose move toward new creator-driven material helps fuel the closing discussion about the state of comics. Thundarr the Barbarian (https://www.dynamite.com/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?CAT=DF-Thundarr_The_Barbarian) - Dynamite’s new comic revival of the animated series, written by Jason Aaron and illustrated by Kewber Baal. The Other Side (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Other_Side_%28comics%29) - Jason Aaron and Cameron Stewart’s Vietnam War series that immediately caught the attention of several Marvel editors. Bug Wars (https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/bug-wars) - Jason Aaron’s creator-owned fantasy series, cited by David as part of the writer’s recent run of surprising and adventurous work. Captain Canuck (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Canuck) - Richard Comely’s Canadian superhero and the source of the publishing history, resentment, and unfinished business simmering throughout Star Rider and the Peace Machine. Star Rider and the Peace Machine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Comely) - Comely’s short-lived 1982 magazine combining illustrated fiction, young artistic talent, publishing commentary, and an alleged global conspiracy. Swords of the Swashbucklers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swords_of_the_Swashbucklers) - Bill Mantlo and Jackson Guice’s science-fiction pirate epic, launched as Marvel Graphic Novel No. 14 before continuing as a 12-issue series. Micronauts (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micronauts_%28comics%29) - Mantlo’s celebrated Marvel series, discussed as an important earlier collaboration point for the creators behind Swords of the Swashbucklers. Chainkata (https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/multiple-award-winning-do-a-powerbomb-transformers-dynamo-daniel-warren-johnson-to-launch-epic-new-series-chainkata-this-november-from-image-comics) - Daniel Warren Johnson’s newly announced Image Comics series featuring chainsaws, space combat, and the kind of gloriously impractical weapon editors once might have rejected.

  7. Jul 28

    Driving Us Absolutely Batty on The Corner Box - S3Ep45

    David opens the show at his breaking point after a recent issue of Captain America delivers artwork he believes never should have made it to print. John brings the former-editor perspective, breaking down how brutal deadlines, crossover schedules, shifting status quos, disappearing inventory stories, and the loss of veteran inkers can turn a promising monthly book into a full-blown disaster. From there, the guys compare Marvel’s struggles with the steady artistic bench behind Absolute Wonder Woman, celebrate the arrival of ComicPreviews.com, and dig into John Byrne’s decision to create roughly 30 issues of unofficial X-Men comics simply because he wanted to. X-Men: Elsewhen turns out to be a joyful blast of classic superhero storytelling—and John’s decision to leave it at the shop immediately comes back to haunt him. Then the back-issue bin gets weird in the best way, with Jack Kirby’s gloriously unrestrained The Demon and Dark Horse’s adaptation of George Lucas’s original Star Wars draft to comics. Captions:“Man, am I a sucker? I just paid $4.99 for this book, and they didn’t put five dollars’ worth of effort into it.” — David reaching his breaking point with Captain America “Everything is made under the worst possible conditions the thing can be made under—and sometimes that catches up with you.” — John on the brutal reality behind monthly comics “Fifteen years later, nobody ever says, ‘Boy, that comic sure was on time.’” — John on deadlines versus finished quality “Nobody draws 30 issues of a comic book for free if they don’t have a soft spot in their heart for the characters.” — David on John Byrne’s X-Men: Elsewhen “I set it back down, got to my [home] desk, and found out they were already going for sixty dollars on eBay.” — John realizing he made a terrible comic-shop decision “Jason Blood is just a regular guy—a regular professional demonologist.” — John explaining the beautifully casual insanity of Jack Kirby’s The Demon Splash Page:[00:36] – Captain America Goes Airborne: David finds a recent issue so frustrating that he closes it, throws it across the room, and starts questioning the value of monthly comics. [07:33] – The Inventory Story Is Dead: John explains why fill-in issues became harder to use once collected editions, creator control, and constantly shifting status quos took over. [11:33] – Made Under Fire: A former Marvel editor reveals how often comics are produced under the worst possible conditions—and how veteran inkers once saved pages headed for disaster. [16:31] – Where Was the Emergency Button?: David compares Captain America’s artistic chaos with Absolute Wonder Woman’s carefully planned rotation of strong replacement artists. [24:48] – The Previews Catalog Returns: ComicPreviews.com steps into the void left by Diamond with searchable releases, creators, publishers, categories, and final-order-cutoff listings. [28:43] – Byrne Does X-Men His Way: John Byrne draws years of unofficial X-Men stories for free, Chris Ryall helps turn them into X-Men: Elsewhen, and the finished book becomes an immediate hit. [42:08] – The Omnibus That Crushes Children: John attempts to read a 1,500-page Jack Kirby collection before celebrating the magnificent, barely contained madness of The Demon. [53:04] – Before Star Wars Became Star Wars: David explores The Star Wars, where Han Solo is a green alien, Darth Vader has no powers, and George Lucas is still figuring out which characters belong in the same body. Support the Corner Box:David Hedgecock (https://funtimego.com) - 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 BinChip Zdarsky (https://www.marvel.com/comics/creators/11743/chip_zdarsky) - Writer of the current Captain America series and a central architect behind Marvel’s Road to Armageddon. (⁠Marvel) Valerio Schiti (https://www.marvel.com/comics/creators/12155/valerio_schiti) - Artist who launched Captain America with Zdarsky and established the book’s original visual identity. (⁠Marvel) Hayden Sherman (https://www.dc.com/talent/hayden-sherman) - Artist praised for helping make Absolute Wonder Woman feel visually ambitious and carefully planned. (⁠DC) John Byrne (https://www.abramsbooks.com/contributor/john-byrne_84912274/) - Legendary X-Men creator who wrote and drew X-Men: Elsewhen as a continuation of his classic run. (⁠ABRAMS) Chris Ryall (https://www.instagram.com/chris_ryall/) - Writer, editor, publisher, and longtime champion of bringing Byrne’s unofficial X-Men continuation into print. Jack Kirby (https://www.dc.com/talent/jack-kirby) - The creator behind The Demon, OMAC, New Gods, and the wildly imaginative DC work John revisits this week. (⁠DC) Paul Kupperberg (https://www.paulkupperberg.net/) - Writer of the second Super Powers miniseries drawn by Kirby and one of the creators discussed during John’s omnibus expedition. Joe Simon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Simon) - Kirby’s longtime creative partner and co-creator of the 1970s Sandman material included in the omnibus. Alan Moore (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Moore) - Writer who later brought Etrigan into Swamp Thing with a very different approach from Kirby’s original series. J.W. Rinzler (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._W._Rinzler) - Writer and Star Wars historian who adapted George Lucas’s original screenplay draft into The Star Wars. Mike Mayhew (https://www.mikemayhewstudio.com/) - Artist whose realistic, cinematic work makes George Lucas’s abandoned Star Wars concepts feel like images from a lost film. George Lucas (https://www.starwars.com/databank/george-lucas) - Filmmaker whose rough screenplay became the basis for Dark Horse’s eight-issue The Star Wars miniseries. (⁠StarWars.com) Ralph McQuarrie (https://www.starwars.com/news/ralph-mcquarrie-the-art-of-star-wars) - Concept artist whose early designs helped guide the visual reconstruction of Lucas’s original Star Wars draft. Toshiro Mifune (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshiro_Mifune) - Akira Kurosawa’s legendary leading man, who was considered for the roles of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader. (⁠Wikipedia) Akira Kurosawa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akira_Kurosawa) - Filmmaker whose work, particularly The Hidden Fortress and Yojimbo, helped shape Star Wars and generations of Western storytelling. Captain America (2025–Present) (https://www.marvel.com/comics/series/42747/captain_america_2025_present) - The Zdarsky and Schiti series at the center of David’s argument about artistic consistency, deadlines, and reader value. (⁠Marvel) Avengers: Armageddon (https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/avengers-armageddon-chip-zdarsky-valerio-schiti) - Marvel event connected to Zdarsky’s Captain America run and the larger publishing schedule discussed in the episode. Absolute Wonder Woman (https://www.dc.com/comics/absolute-wonder-woman-2024/absolute-wonder-woman-1) - David’s example of a monthly book that maintains its visual standard even when the regular artist needs relief. (⁠DC) Comic Previews (https://comicpreviews.com/) - Searchable resource for upcoming comics, graphic novels, manga, new releases, and final-order-cutoff titles. (⁠Manage Comics) X-Men: Elsewhen (https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/x-men-elsewhen-volume-1-of-3_9781419787287/) - Byrne’s continuation of his classic X-Men run, now presented as the first volume of a three-book graphic-novel series. (⁠ABRAMS) The Demon by Jack Kirby (https://www.dc.com/graphic-novels/the-demon-1972/the-demon-by-jack-kirby) - Complete collection of Kirby’s original 16-issue series featuring Jason Blood and Etrigan. (⁠DC) Jack Kirby’s Fourth World (https://www.dc.com/graphic-novels/jack-kirbys-fourth-world-omnibus) - Kirby’s massive DC mythology!

  8. Jul 21

    R.C. Samo Brings Fanboy Nation to The Corner Box - S3Ep44

    This week gets fun when R.C. Samo of FanboyNation.com joins David and John to talk Marvel’s Burbank move, Steve Wacker’s new editorial role, and what gets lost when the House of Ideas leaves Manhattan. They kick around the real human cost of a cross-country move, the danger of comics becoming movie leftovers, and why Daniel Warren Johnson’s Transformers worked because somebody let an artist swing for the fences. The movie detour gets into bad live-action remakes, Sonic’s near-disaster design, and Supergirl’s rough launch. And was Iron Man the Snow White of the MCU. Back in the shops, the crew gives Jae Lee’s M1: Monster Racing League a serious look, wrestles with page rates versus ownership, and agrees on one sacred rule: pay the people making the comics. Robert also brings the heat for Patrick Zircher’s Solomon Kane, while David proves that “supporting local comic shops” can mean buying every Badrock cover in sight. Captions: “What’s he going to do, hop from car to car in 405 traffic?” — Robert on Spider-Man’s new Burbank-adjacent reality“You make a comic book to make a comic book, period.” — David on why comics cannot be movie leftovers“Sometimes the passion project’s worth more than the bigger paycheck.” — Robert on Jae Lee’s M1: Monster Racing League work“As long as people are getting paid in comic books, God bless them.” — David on creator compensation“It was like Bad News Bears meets Supergirl.” — Robert on the film’s vibe“Iron Man is the Snow White of the MCU.” — Robert on the blueprint every later superhero movie followed Splash Page [03:30] – Burbank, Here We Come: Marvel’s move and Steve Wacker’s incoming editor-in-chief role hit the table.[06:27] – The Human Toll: John zeroes in on the staff asked to uproot their lives or walk away.[10:17] – The 52 Miracle: Why Wacker’s management of the weekly series still earns industry awe.[17:11] – Let Comics Be Comics: David makes the case against treating print stories like screen leftovers.[31:26] – The Remake Assembly Line: Robert calls out live-action retreads that bring nothing new.[34:02] – Sonic Dodged a Bullet: David recounts the Sega/Sony disconnect behind the original movie design.[40:17] – Snow White in a Repulsor Suit: Robert drops the episode’s most dangerously persuasive MCU analogy.[40:48] – Monster Racing League Roars: Jae Lee’s layouts, page-rate questions, and a gorgeous new Image book. Support the Corner Box David Hedgecock (https://funtimego.com) - 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 R.C. Samo (https://fanboynation.com) - Fanboy Nation host and the guest bringing reporter instincts, movie opinions, and indie-comic enthusiasm. Dive Deeper Into the Back Issue Bin Steve Wacker (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Wacker) - Incoming Marvel editorial leader discussed for his comics and animation experience. Jae Lee (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jae_Lee) - Acclaimed artist behind M1: Monster Racing League and the central creator-compensation conversation. Robert Windom (https://imagecomics.com/comics/list/creator/robert-windom/releases) - M1: Monster Racing League co-writer whose ownership of the work sparks the business discussion. Patrick Zircher (https://titan-comics.com/c/2236-solomon-kane-the-serpent-ring/) - Writer-artist praised for bringing serious visual firepower to Solomon Kane. Daniel Warren Johnson (https://www.danielwarrenart.com/) - Cited as the creator whose Transformers run shows what happens when an auteur gets room to work. James Gunn (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Gunn) - The filmmaker whose DC rollout and Supergirl oversight get a spirited once-over. Marvel Comics (https://www.marvel.com/comics) - The discussion’s main pressure point: relocation, editorial succession, creator compensation, and comics as source material. 52 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/52_(comics)) - Steve Wacker’s massive weekly-series editorial achievement, with Keith Giffen, Grant Morrison, Mark Waid, and Greg Rucka in the mix. M1: Monster Racing League #1 (https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/m1-monster-racing-league-1) - Jae Lee and June Chung’s new racing series, praised for its art, color, and sharp page design. Seven Sons (https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/seven-sons) - The earlier Jae Lee and Robert Windom Image collaboration that frames the ownership question. Solomon Kane: The Lion Errant (https://titan-comics.com/comics/series/507-solomon-kane/) - Patrick Zircher’s new Solomon Kane chapter, singled out for its striking art. Challengers Comics + Conversation (https://www.challengerscomics.com/) - David’s Chicago retailer of choice and a reminder to support comic shops.

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Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
6 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
    162
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Fun Time Go, Inc.
  • Show Website
    The Corner Box

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