Today on Word Balloon, we’re blasting off with two creators bringing one of science fiction’s most legendary heroes back into orbit. Writer Alex DeCampi and artist Marc Laming have launched a Kickstarter to revive the classic British space adventurer Dan Dare, the Pilot of the Future. For generations, Dan Dare has been a cornerstone of UK science-fiction comics, created by Frank Hampson for the pages of Eagle back in 1950. Think epic space exploration, alien empires, and that clean, bold optimism that made the strip a cultural icon, alongside classic villains like the Mekon. Now DeCampi and Laming are bringing that universe roaring back with a new interpretation funded directly by fans. Today we’re talking about why Dan Dare still matters, how you modernize a legendary character without losing the DNA that made him special, and what they’re building with this Kickstarter campaign. From the story approach to the visual style, and what longtime fans and newcomers can expect.

In this episode, I sit down with cartoonist and longtime Marvel letterer Rick Parker for a wide-ranging conversation about his career in comics and cartooning. Rick spent years lettering at Marvel Comics, working during a fascinating period in the company’s history and contributing his distinctive hand to titles like Amazing Spider-Man and many others. We talk about what lettering at Marvel was really like. How the job worked day-to-day, the production realities of the era, and how lettering quietly shapes the rhythm and storytelling of a comic page.

Rick also discusses his creator-owned graphic novel Drafted, a powerful and personal project that reflects his own experiences with the Vietnam draft and military service. It’s a candid look at the book’s origins, the emotional weight behind the story, and why he felt compelled to tell it in comics form.

And of course we dig into Rick’s work as an artist, including his run drawing the Beavis and Butt-Head comic book, translating the anarchic MTV characters into comics while keeping their chaotic humor intact.

Today I’m talking with actor, writer, and lifelong comics fan David Dastmalchian. You know David from a ton of great genre work . He played Thomas Schiff in The Dark Knight, Kurt in Marvel’s Ant-Man, and Polka-Dot Man in The Suicide Squad. And horror fans have been raving about his performance as the haunted late-night host Jack Delroy in Late Night with the Devil.

But beyond acting, David is also a serious comic book storyteller. This week he’s launching a brand-new graphic novel called Through, created with artist Cat Staggs. It’s a haunting supernatural story that mixes horror, trauma, and redemption in a way that feels very personal to David. We talk about how Through came together, what it was like collaborating with Cat Staggs, and how comics have been part of David’s life long before Hollywood came calling. We also get into his earlier comic work, the influence of classic horror and indie comics on his writing, and of course some stories from the sets of The Dark Knight, Ant-Man, The Suicide Squad, and the breakout horror hit Late Night with the Devil.

Kelly Sue DeConnick from 2012 lays out her Carol Danvers plans. They led to 32 issues a big movie hit and a new wave of Marvel readers 

Today on Word Balloon, we’re celebrating a milestone in comics history — the 40th anniversary of The Dark Knight Returns , with the man whose inks helped define its look, Klaus Janson. When Frank Miller reinvented Batman in 1986, it wasn’t just the writing and pencils that shocked the comics world. Janson’s bold, expressive inks were a huge part of the book’s gritty atmosphere, giving Miller’s pages that raw, noir intensity that made Dark Knight feel unlike anything else on the stands. The result became one of the most influential graphic novels ever published . A book that reshaped how Batman was portrayed across comics, animation, and film. Klaus had already made his mark in the industry before Dark Knight, particularly with his legendary run on Daredevil, where he and Frank Miller forged one of the great creator pairings in comics. But Janson’s career stretches far beyond those landmark collaborations.

In this conversation, Klaus talks about working with some of the medium’s most dynamic artists — John Romita Jr., John Buscema, Sal Buscema, and Bill Sienkiewicz, and how his inking approach adapts to very different drawing styles while still bringing his own storytelling instincts to the page.

On this episode of Word Balloon, I’m joined by writer Alex Segura. Alex has made a name for himself in comics and crime fiction, and now he’s stepping back into the Marvel Universe with his new Daredevil prose novel.

We talk about bringing Matt Murdock to life in a full-length novel, how the story captures the tone of Hell’s Kitchen and Daredevil’s world, and how writing a Marvel novel differs from telling stories in comics. It’s a fun conversation about crime fiction, superhero storytelling, and Marvel’s Man Without Fear.

On this episode of Word Balloon, I’m catching up with a creator who’s never been afraid to follow his own path. Cartoonist Jim Terry made a huge impact in comics with his powerful graphic memoir Come Home, Indio, a deeply personal story about identity, heritage, and redemption that connected with readers across the industry.

But Jim’s creative instincts don’t stop at the comics page. These days he’s turning that DIY spirit toward filmmaking, writing and directing the ultra-independent action feature Shank. A true no-budget production built on pure hustle, creativity, and the same fearless storytelling that defined his comics work. We talk about the leap from comics to film, what it takes to make a movie when you don’t have Hollywood money behind you, and how Jim approaches action storytelling whether it’s panels on a page or shots on a screen.

Hey kids, you just suffered a major dose of Trauma in many ways. Let's all put on...a play?

And great news Tilly from Discovery, who has no professional experience in dealing with Trauma is here to help ! 

Welcome back to Word Balloon , and welcome aboard for another episode of E-Motion Sickness: A Love Boat Re-Watch. We’re starting right at the beginning with Season One, Episode One . The launch point for the whole Love Boat phenomenon: sunny escapism, rotating celebrity passengers, and just enough heartfelt romance to keep you watching even when the plot gets gloriously ridiculous. 

This first voyage brings a fun trio of guest stars: Jimmie Walker, Bonnie Franklin, and Suzanne Somers. Three very different flavors of late-70s pop culture all sharing the same floating matchmaking machine. And joining us as our featured passenger is Margaret Larkin from The Radio Girl Podcast, bringing sharp cultural context and great instincts for what’s working, what’s cheesy, and what still plays today.

We’re digging into the episode’s storylines, the early-season vibe before everything locks into the familiar formula, and why this show became the ultimate “drop your brain at the gangplank” comfort TV. So grab your ticket, step onto the deck, and let’s set sail