Podcast · Arts & Books

Let's Talk Comics

by Jim Viscardi · English · Arts & Books

Comic creator interviews beamed directly into your ears. Learn the ins and out of the comics industry from those trying to break in, are already in, and have been in the business for a while. Host Jim Viscardi (VP of Business Development at Image Comics) has over 15 years of experience in the busine

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 1 hr 2 min
Latest: 6 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 4 min

Rob Liefeld Talks AVENGELYNE and Why Creator-Owned Comics Are Winning

Rob Liefeld returns to Let's Talk Comics for a high octane chat about the return of AVENGELYNE, with artist Daniel Mainé. Rob explains why this was the right moment to reintroduce the fallen angel, how the new series explores faith, power and humanity, and why he wanted its violence and subject matter to push into firmly R-rated territory. He also shares the latest on AVENGELYNE's developing film adaptation and explains the story behind the book's polybagged NSFW cover. Rob also covers YOUNGBLOOD's return, the creation of BADROCK with Seth Damoose, the approaching 35th anniversary of Image…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S1 · E53 · 1 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 27 min
Daniel Warren Johnson Talks CHAINKATA and Leaving It All On The Table
Superstar creator Daniel Warren Johnson joins the show this week to talk about his journey from art teacher to one of the most distinctive creators working in comics today. Daniel looks back at the early days of SPACE MULLET, the breakthrough that came with EXTREMITY, finding the emotional core of MURDER FALCON, and bringing his uncompromising approach to characters like Beta Ray Bill and Absolute Batman. He also opens up about creative block, the fear that he may only have a few stories left to tell, and knowing when a project simply is not worth doing unless he can do it his way. Then,…
S1 · E52 · 2 Sep 2026 · 54 min
Gary Frank Talks How GEIGER Changed Everything!
Gary Frank joins the show to celebrate the upcoming GEIGER #25 and discuss how one creator-owned project helped grow into Ghost Machine. Gary takes us back to his early days at Marvel UK, how he landed The Incredible Hulk, and the beginning of his almost 20 year working relationship with Geoff Johns. He also reveals the light-bulb moment that made him want to step away from exclusive contracts and create something he could truly call his own. The conversation digs into the creation and visual design of Geiger, how Ghost Machine came together, working with colorist Brad Anderson, and the…
S1 · E51 · 28 Aug 2026 · 37 min
Eliot Rahal & Mattia Monaco Talk The Wild Friendship at the Heart of CRIMES AGAINST NATURE
Writer Eliot Rahal and artist Mattia Monaco join the show to talk about CRIMES AGAINST NATURE, their new six-issue Image Comics series about a Hollywood animal trainer, his gorilla best friend, and a crime they didn't commit. Eliot and Mattia talk about how their partnership evolved from their first book together into a much more heartfelt collaboration. They also dig into balancing the book's premise with a genuinely emotional story about friendship, creating characters who communicate through sign language, and making readers care about an intentionally unlikable main character. Mattia…
S1 · E50 · 21 Aug 2026 · 49 min
Che Grayson Talks Exquisite Corpses: Fox Mask Killer & Why She Loves Tales From The Crypt
This week on Let's Talk Comics, writer and filmmaker Che Grayson joins the show to talk about putting one of EXQUISITE CORPSES' most intriguing killers directly into the spotlight, FOX MASK KILLER. Che talks about discovering comics while attending film school, finding a home in comics, breaking into the industry through BITCH PLANET: TRIPLE FEATURE, and how creator-owned comics offered the creative freedom they had been searching for. The two also cover how Che became part of the Corpse Crew, developing the first season of EXQUISITE CORPSES through a collaborative writers' room, and the…
S1 · E49 · 11 Aug 2026 · 52 min
Darcy Van Poelgeest & Ian Bertram Talk Why THE KARMAN BLADE Had to Be Different
This week on Let's Talk Comics, Eisner Award-winning creators Darcy Van Poelgeest and Ian Bertram join the show to talk about their latest project together, THE KARMAN BLADE. The two talk about how one fateful email, almost ten years ago, turned into LITTLE BIRD and evolved into PRECIOUS METAL. They also cover how the trust the two of them built over their time together allowed their work to keep changing as it moves from script to art and beyond. Ian shows off some gorgeous original artwork while Darcy explains why THE KARMAN BLADE was designed to demand something from its readers. Plus the…
4 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
Image Comics @ SDCC 2026 - The Future Of Comics
Recorded live at San Diego Comic-Con, Jim Viscardi sits down with Doug Wagner, Michael Walsh, Tyler Boss, Curt Pires, and Jonathan Ball to talk about the all the fun projects they have coming out and their thoughts on being a creator in the industry. The panel digs into YUMI 00EX, EXQUISITE CORPSES, RASCAL RANDY, FIREBORN, LOST FANTASY, and THE EYE COLLECTOR. The creators also discuss the rise of horror comics, designing memorable monsters, building connected worlds, and how TikTok, YouTube, retailers, and online communities are changing the way readers discover new books. Plus, some fun new…
3 Aug 2026 · 55 min
Image Comics @ SDCC 2026: Storytelling, Genre, and Crafting Unforgettable Comics
Recorded live at San Diego Comic-Con, Jim Viscardi brings together Geoff Johns, Jason Fabok, Chris Condon, Wes Craig and Tyler Kirkham for a wide-ranging conversation about storytelling, genre and the work that goes into creating unforgettable comics. Geoff Johns shares what's ahead for GEIGER, REDCOAT, their first crossover in RADIOACTIVE REVOLUTION, and FIRST GHOST while Jason Fabok jumped in for ROOK: EXODUS, including new ROOK: WARDENS one-shots. Chris Condon discusses working with Charlie Adlard on the slow-burn horror series OF THE EARTH and returning to Ambrose County for a new…
31 Jul 2026 · 55 min
Image Comics @ SDCC 2026: Artists Unleashed
Recorded live at San Diego Comic-Con, Jim Viscardi brings together Skottie Young, Daniel Warren Johnson, Ian Bertram, Caspar Wijngaard, Sanford Greene, and Sean Gordon Murphy for a wide-ranging conversation about making comics and developing an unmistakable artistic voice. The panel also offers discussions on I HATE FAIRYLAND, CHAINKATA, THE KARMAN BLADE, THE POWER FANTASY, BITTER ROOT BLACK AND WHITE, and THE LAST DRIVER. The artists discuss the work that shaped them, the difference between studying an influence and simply swiping from it, and how their lives away from the drawing board…
30 Jul 2026 · 49 min
Image Comics @ SDCC 2026: Comics Characters Fans Will Love or Hate—or Love to Hate!
The next few episodes of Let's Talk Comics are going to sound a little different because we're coming to you live from San Diego Comic-Con! For the first panel in our SDCC series, Jim Viscardi is joined by Matt Rosenberg, Patrick Kindlon, John Layman, Rob Guillory, Dustin Nguyen, and Tony Fleecs for a conversation about creating comic book characters readers will love, hate, or love to hate. The group previews some of their latest Image Comics projects, including IF DESTRUCTION BE OUR LOT, REGICIDE, GHOST BRAWLER, CROWBOUND, and FERAL. They also discuss reuniting with longtime collaborators,…
S1 · E48 · 8 Jul 2026 · 48 min
Iman Vellani Talks Turning Her Love of Comics Into CHACHU
This week on Let's Talk Comics, Iman Vellani joins the show to talk about her Image Comics debut, CHACHU, hitting shops everywhere August 5th. Iman has never been shy about how much she loves comics and now she is taking that love and putting it into her first creator-owned series. CHACHU was born from a whole lot of notes-app chicken scratch into something deeply personal. The series is a deeply personal coming-of-age noir, where as she went along writing it, realized how much introspection was happening at the same time. She goes in depth about the differences about approaching her work in…
S1 · E47 · 2 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
Trish Forstner Talks Feral #25 and How Stray Dogs Changed Her Life
This week on Let's Talk Comics, Trish Forstner joins the show to celebrate FERAL hitting a landmark 25th issue and how the STRAY DOGS cast have played an important role in this current arc. Trish's entry into comics was actually through a combo BronyCon and doing covers for My Little Pony. From there, she met Tony Fleecs and learned sequential storytelling while working on STRAY DOGS. She shines a bit more light on how the team of her, Tony & Tone Rodriguez developed a creative process that operates more like an animation studio than a traditional comic book production. We also get into the…
S1 · E46 · 19 Jun 2026 · 35 min
Seth Damoose Talks What It Takes To Take On BADROCK
On this episode of Let's Talk Comics, Jim Viscardi sits down with artist Seth Damoose to talk about his upcoming Image Comics series Badrock, created alongside legendary Youngblood creator Rob Liefeld. Seth is no stranger to Image Comics, having worked on Xenoholics with Joshua Williamson back in 2011, and now in 2026 he makes a return! How Seth and Rob came to working together is one heluva story. Basically, Seth took the concept of "Inktober" and put a Rob Liefeld twist on it with "Robtober." Seth would draw one Liefeld character a day in the month of October and it caught Liefeld's…
S1 · E45 · 5 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
Liam Sharp Talks Building Worlds And The Art of Reinvention
With decades of experience under his belt working in comics, Liam Sharp still feels a sense of wonder when bringing his creator owned world of Starhenge to life. In this episode of Let's Talk Comics, Liam joins the show for a conversation that spans his time in Darby, England, getting his start at Marvel UK in the early 90's to seeing the Image Revolution happen and then finally taking the chance on himself and doing the thing. Plus, Liam shares the story of turning down Oxford after landing an apprenticeship with legendary artist Don Lawrence, and how that set the course for his entire…
S1 · E44 · 28 May 2026 · 58 min
THE EYE COLLECTOR Team Talks Cosmic Horror & The Monster Between Panels
Jonathan Ball and GMB Chomichuk join the show to dive deep into their upcoming Image Comics series THE EYE COLLECTOR. THE EYE COLLECTOR is a surreal cosmic horror story that has artist GMB Comichuk bending perspective and writer Jonathan Ball's storytelling in a way you haven't seen in comics in a while. This is a story that sat with Jonathan for a while (decades even!) and the path to where it is now, why every issue was designed to feel different, and how the two creators kept pushing each other to make the book stranger, scarier, and more ambitious with every chapter will make you…
S1 · E43 · 20 May 2026 · 55 min
TERMINAL Might Be Robert Kirkman's Wildest Superhero Book Yet (and we talk INVINCIBLE S4)
Robert Kirkman is back and is about to launch a brand-new superhero universe within the pages of his new Image Comics ongoing series, TERMINAL. On this episode we start with Invincible Season 4 and what it's like watching fan reactions while already deep into production on future seasons. Kirkman talks about expanding material from the comics for animation, and how characters unexpectedly blowing up with audiences (like Machine Head - now in the pages of CAPES) can lead to fun new moments. Then we dive deep into TERMINAL, Kirkman's new superhero universe with Joe Casey, Andy Kubert, David…
S1 · E42 · 5 May 2026 · 50 min
Inside the Return of That Texas Blood With Chris Condon & Jacob Phillips
Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips are back, and so is That Texas Blood . This episode of Let's Talk Comics kicks off a new format where we bring the full creative team on to break down one project from top to bottom. First up is the return of one of Image's best crime series with That Texas Blood #21 . Hell is coming to Allison Ranch and we get into the nitty gritty right off the bat. Everything from what it took to revisit Ambrose County to why this arc is the biggest one yet. Chris and Jacob have been at this one for a while so they're finally excited to invite fans on the wild ride that is…
S1 · E41 · 23 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 31 min
Charlie Adlard Talks Of The Earth and Longevity In Comics
Charlie Adlard joins the show for a must listen episode with one of the greatest to ever do it. We get into how he broke into the industry and why building relationships and networking matter just as much to breaking in as the work itself. From there, we of course dig into the sixteen year stint he did on The Walking Dead , how his style evolved once he got on the book, how he maintained that pace, and what it was like working alongside Robert Kirkman . Then we shift into what comes next. Charlie talks about life after The Walking Dead , why he doesn't like to slow down, and how he…
S1 · E40 · 8 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
Matthew Rosenberg on Building a World Without Humans in IF DESTRUCTION BE OUR LOT & Taking Over SPAWN
MATT ROSENBERG returns to Let's Talk Comics to talk about his new Image Comics series IF DESTRUCTION BE OUR LOT. This one is a post-human story set in a world that didn't end…it just kept going without us, with robots (lots of robots). And at the center of it all is an animatronic Abraham Lincoln trying to figure out why any of it matters. We get into where the idea came from and how it evolved from a weird visual into something much more personal. This book was built a little differently compared to Rosenberg's other work (like WE'RE TAKING EVERYONE DOWN WITH US) and is a book that's been…
S1 · E39 · 27 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Aditya Bidikar Talks In Your Skin and How Fandom Can Get Dangerous
Aditya Bidikar joins Let's Talk Comics to talk about going from one of the most in-demand letterers in comics to stepping out as a writer with his new Image Comics series In Your Skin . We get into how he broke into the industry and why lettering matters more than people think. It's the piece of comics that controls how a page is read, and Aditya walks through how that actually works. Then we dig into In Your Skin . What started as a look at fandom turned into something much darker. It's a body horror story about obsession and identity, and it doesn't pull its punches. Aditya also talks…
S1 · E38 · 23 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Lorenzo De Felici Talks Going Dark with Red Roots
Lorenzo De Felici joins Let's Talk Comics to talk about his new series Red Roots and why it represents a major shift in how he approaches storytelling. We dig into how keeping up a DeviantArt page got Robert Kirkman's attention (which then led to work on Oblivion Song) and what he learned from the grind of monthly comics. Lorenzo took that experience and applied it to his first Image series Kroma, where he reshaped his instincts as both an artist and writer. Lorenzo breaks down his process, from building stories without scripts to designing characters that feel unexpected, and why Red Roots…
S1 · E37 · 26 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 21 min
Tony Fleecs Talks Feral's Next Arc and Taking Bigger Risks
Tony Fleecs accomplishes one of his personal goals, having his very own episode of Let's Talk Comics! This week, Tony and Jim talk about how his career has developed over the last few years. Everything from working with Ponies, what it took to launch his own books, and how that had led to where he is today is all discussed in a no holds barred conversation only he can have. The two cover how Local Man came together emotionally, how Stray Dogs found its audience and why he's in it for the long haul with Feral. Speaking of Feral, issue 21 is a major moment for Tony and the team. Not only is it…
S1 · E36 · 19 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 24 min
Geoff Johns Talks Ghost Machine & Why Ongoing Stories Still Matter
Geoff Johns joins Let's Talk Comics to talk about building Ghost Machine from the ground up and what it means to commit to long-form, creator-owned storytelling. We dive into how Geiger, Redcoat, Rook: Exodus , and Hyde Street were developed, why each universe has its own lane, and what changes when creators control the future of their characters. Geoff also shares craft lessons that still guide his work and explains why having real endings in mind changes everything. It's a great look at how modern comics are built and why the long game still matters.
S1 · E35 · 13 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
Patrick Kindlon Talks Tigress Island and Why You Have to Love the Work
Patrick Kindlon joins Let's Talk Comics to talk about the craft behind his work, from breaking in through indie comics to building books like Frontiersman , Gehenna , and now Tigress Island . In this episode, Patrick digs into failing early, writing full scripts while leaving room for collaboration, building stories from character first, and learning how to survive criticism in a very public industry. We also dive into Tigress Island , his latest Image Comics thriller, a tense, pulpy escape story brought to life with gorgeous art by EPHK. If you care about the nuts and bolts of making comics…
S1 · E34 · 5 Feb 2026 · 45 min
Doug Wagner Talks NARCO, The Materials Universe And Why Writing Unsettling Comics Are His Forte
This week on Let's Talk Comics, writer Doug Wagner joins the show for an in-depth conversation about crime storytelling and how creative discipline leads him to some of his best work The conversation digs into Wagner's work on Narco, his latest crime/horror series that blends drops it's main character in the middle of a murder mystery while dealing with....you guessed it, narcolepsy. Doug talks about what draws him to darker stories, and how he approaches writing crime in a way that feels grounded and purposeful rather than exploitative. From there, Doug also talks about his expansive…
S1 · E33 · 22 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 17 min
Andrew MacLean Talks Pure Comics Energy With Head Lopper And Death Fight Forever
This week on Let's Talk Comics, I'm joined by Andrew MacLean, the creator behind Head Lopper and one of the most distinctive voices in modern comics. We talk about Andrew's journey into comics, how his art and storytelling voice developed, and what it takes to sustain a creator-owned career over the long haul. Andrew breaks down his approach to visual storytelling, world-building, and why clarity and momentum matter just as much as big action moments. We also dig into his new series Death Fight Forever, an all-new action comedy about super-thief bruiser brothers Crash and Bash Biggle,…
S1 · E32 · 8 Jan 2026 · 46 min
Brett Bean Talks D'ORC and Making the Comics He Always Wanted
We're kicking off the new year of Let's Talk Comics with creator Brett Bean. Brett joins the show to talk about the long road that led him back to comics. He shares how working in video games, animation, and other creative industries helped shape his approach, and why he ultimately chose to start over and focus on the medium he always loved most. We talk a lot about process and treating art like problem solving instead of waiting around for inspiration. We also dig into Brett's new Image Comics series D'orc. Brett breaks down the heart of the book and the balance between humor and violence.…
S1 · E31 · 31 Dec 2025 · 58 min
Year-End Special: Why Creator-Owned Comics Matter More Than Ever
This episode of Let's Talk Comics is a little different. Instead of a single guest, Jim Viscardi looks back at a year of conversations with some of the most influential creators in comics and the lessons those conversations revealed. From Marjorie Liu on never stopping your creative momentum, to Will Maxwell Prince and Deniz Camp on vulnerability and risk, to Sanford Greene on finding your own path into comics, this episode explores what success can look like in comics. Jim also reflects on conversations with Robert Kirkman, Rob Liefeld, and Marc Silvestri, breaking down why owning your work…
S1 · E30 · 6 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 27 min
Marc Silvestri Talks The Early Days of Image, Legacy And The Return Of The Darkness
Marc Silvestri helped build Image Comics from the ground up and changed what comics could look like while doing it. From Cyberforce to Witchblade to The Darkness , his work inspired an entire generation of artists and fans. In this episode, Jim Viscardi sits down with Marc to talk about those early Image days, the creative chaos that shaped Top Cow, and how mentoring artists like Michael Turner and David Finch helped push the medium forward. Then we get into The Darkness and what it's like returning to Jackie Estacado after all these years. We talk legacy, worldbuilding, and what makes this…
S1 · E29 · 4 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 11 min
W. Maxwell Prince tips his hand on ICE CREAM MAN "MORTAL COIL SHUFFLE" (with special guest Deniz Camp)
W. Maxwell Prince (Ice Cream Man) and Deniz Camp (Assorted Crisis Events), two of the most inventive writers in comics today, sit down for a conversation about friendship, craft, and the chaos of creativity. It's NOT the epsiode of Let's Talk Comics you were expecting, but absolutely need to listen to. They talk about breaking into comics, surviving rejection, writing through vulnerability, and how structure can become meaning in storytelling. Prince reveals how Ice Cream Man: The Mortal Coil evolved from a deck of cards into an existential experiment, while Camp digs into how Assorted…

About Let's Talk Comics

Let's Talk Comics is a English arts & books podcast from Jim Viscardi. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Jim Viscardi
Language: English
Category: Arts & Books
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 1 hr 2 min
Latest episode: 6 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1788239566

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