Boom! Studios Editor, Elizabeth Brei, joins the show! Elizabeth joins John and David for this Valentine’s Day Special to talk about the gatekeepers of the comics industry, where new comic readers should (and definitely shouldn’t) get started, making comics more accessible, and John and Elizabeth’s shared love of the manga, NANA. Also, David apologizes (once again), and John tries to explain industry BS.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of The Corner Box vs Elizabeth Brei.

Timestamp Segments

• [01:24] The first thing John ever said to Elizabeth.
• [02:07] David apologises.
• [03:03] Elizabeth discovers the podcast.
• [04:33] Self-publishing comics.
• [05:56] Elizabeth’s origin story.
• [09:35] John’s Diamond story.
• [12:23] Getting back into comics.
• [15:42] Why the industry is struggling.
• [17:27] John explains the BS.
• [21:07] Elizabeth’s recommendations for starters.
• [22:42] David’s 3 go-to first comics.
• [24:08] Which superhero comic would Elizabeth recommend?
• [26:06] The changing aesthetic of comics.
• [27:23] Discovering NANA.
• [28:47] The NANA 101.
• [34:20] NANA’s popularity.

Notable Quotes

• “I almost never recommend superhero comics.”
• “You can have a really emotional response to a comic book.”
• “NANA is still considered the most popular, the most successful shojo manga of all time.”

Relevant Links

David's Fun Stuff!
Did Someone Say Fun Time? Let's GO!

John is at PugW!
Pug WorldwideCornerbox.club.

Elizabeth Brei is Making Stuff!
Elizabeth Brei

Books Mentioned

• NANA, by Ai Yazawa.
• Last Song, by Elizabeth Brei & Kay Lucero.

————————————

• Good-bye, Chunky Rice, by Craig Thompson.
• Fear Itself.
• Final Crisis, by Grant Morrison.
• March, by John Lewis, Andrew Aidin, & Nate Powell.
• Maus, by Art Spiegelman.
• Paradise Kiss, by Ai Yazawa.
• Saga, by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples.
• Sailor Moon, by Naoko Takeuchi.
• Scott Pilgrim, by Bryan Lee O’Malley.
• Secret Invasion, by Brian Michael Bendis, Leinil Yu, & Gabriele Dell’otto.
• We3, by Grant Morrison & Frank Quitely.
• Young Avengers, by Kieron Gillen & Jamie McKelvie.
• Young Avengers, by Allan Heinberg & Jim Cheung.

Writer Rich Douek (Batman, Edge of Spiderverse, Drive Like Hell, Heartpiercer) joins hosts John & David to talk about how Rich found his way into comics from prose-writing, turning ideas into stories, the ripple effects of tariffs and Diamond’s bankruptcy, succeeding with a great writer/artist team, and how marketing could save comic books. Plus, David has some thoughts on Infinity Comics, and Rich cooks with comics.

Timestamp Segments

• [00:50] Rich’s 173-year career.
• [01:46] David’s thoughts on the Infinity Comics.
• [04:57] When Rich started loving comic books.
• [08:34] Comics as a medium, not a genre.
• [11:15] Making comics a career.
• [16:35] Making ideas work.
• [18:31] John reviews Rich’s scripts.
• [20:02] Getting Gutter Magic out into the world.
• [23:34] Hitting it big with Road of Bones.
• [25:37] Sea of Sales!
• [26:55] 3 Worlds / 3 Moons.
• [30:52] What’s Rich up to now?
• [32:22] The current state of the industry.
• [34:00] The digital comics conspiracy.
• [35:11] The Diamond silver lining.
• [40:32] Saving comics with marketing.
• [45:34] Comic Book Kitchen.
• [50:05] Rich’s announcements.

Notable Quotes

• “It’s sphincter-clenching time around comic books.”
• “In the long-term, we’re going to see, the industry’s going to come out of this healthier than it was going into it.”
• “Getting people to understand that you have a book out is so different now than it was even 3-4 years ago.”

Relevant Links

David's Fun Stuff!
Did Someone Say Fun Time? Let's GO!

John is at PugW!
Pug WorldwideCornerbox.club.

Rich Douek is Making Cool Things!

www.rdouek.com

BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram | X/Twitter

Books Mentioned

• 3 Worlds / 3 Moons, by Mike del Mundo, Jonathan Hickman, Mike Huddleston, & Nick Spencer.
• Batman: Knightfall.
• Batman: The Brave and The Bold.
• Civil War, by Mark Miller & Steve McNiven.
• Conan.
• Death of Superman.
• Drive Like Hell, Road of Bones, Sea of Sorrows, by Rich Douek & Alex Cormack.
• Edge of the Spider-Verse.
• Flash Gordon Quarterly #2.
• Gutter Magic, by Rich Douek & Brett Barkley.
• Heartpiercer, by Rich Douek & Gavin Smith.
• The Invisibles.

Episode Summary

John & David discuss the state of the comics industry after losing Diamond, the possible future of the TMNT license, what taxes and tariffs could mean for the industry, reminisce about their fondest memories of reading comics while sick, then David goes down the rabbit hole of luchador films from the 1970s. Also, John has an epiphany about Walt Simonson.

Timestamp Segments

• [00:36] Reminiscing about being sick.
• [02:28] The comic book industry is not winning.
• [08:43] TMNT: The Ultimate Brand.
• [20:00] Taxes & tariffs (and what they mean for the industry).
• [29:22] El Santo and Blue Demon VS the Monsters.
• [36:44] John’s epiphany about Walt Simonson.

Notable Quotes

• “One of my fondest memories is me being really sick.”
• “The stuff that we’re doing is really hard, and it takes a lot of people a lot of time to do it.”
• “Start making cool stuff, and be proud of it, and charge what you have to charge to make that thing work.”
• “If you’re chasing the discount, you can’t compete with free.”

Relevant Links

Late Pledges Are Open!
Super Kaiju Rock n Roller Derby Fun Time Go Book #2 | Kickstarter

David's Fun Stuff!
Did Someone Say Fun Time? Let's GO!

John is at PugW!
Pug Worldwide

Viva El Santo!
Santo and Blue Demon VS the Monsters | YouTube.

Santo and Blue Demon VS Dracula and the Wolf Man | YouTube.

Books Mentioned

• Clue, by Paul Allor & Nelson Daniel.
• Elric, by Michael Moorcock & Walter Simonson.
• Hellcat, by Steve Englehart & Norm Breyfogle.
• The Last Ronin, by Kevin Eastman & Tom Waltz.
• Ragnarök, Star Slammers, by Walter Simonson.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
• Transformers.
• World of Warcraft, by Walter Simonson, Ludo Lullabi, & Sandra Hope.
• X-Factor.

The show gets its first archenemy! John & David talk about their successful Kickstarter campaigns, David’s new and expensive collector bug, Jim Lee’s return, and David dives into the DC Creature Commandos limited series from 1999 by Truman & Eaton (the FIRST Creature Commandos #1).

Timestamp Segments

• [00:49] David and John’s mutual printer.
• [04:34] The show gets its first archenemy.
• [05:02] David’s shiny and metallic rewards.
• [09:02] New Champions.
• [12:42] Getting distracted.
• [15:48] All the Signa extras.
• [16:16] The Creature Commandos Universe.
• [18:59] Creature Commandos comics.
• [28:26] Pat Broderick’s art.
• [29:44] Jim Lee returns.
• [35:40] When the script and the art meld together.
• [39:35] WildC.A.T.S or X-Men?

Notable Quotes

• “Comics are wildly undervalued.”
• “He would be our friend, if only he’d known us.”
• “God-level Batman is just not entertaining.”

Relevant Links

Late Pledges Are Open!
Super Kaiju Rock n Roller Derby Fun Time Go Book #2 | Kickstarter

David's Fun Stuff!
Did Someone Say Fun Time? Let's GO!

John is at PugW!
Pug Worldwide

Books Mentioned

• Alpha Flight.
• The Avengers.
• Batman: Arkham Asylum, by Grant Morrison & Dave McKean.
• Batman: Hush, by Jeph Loeb, Scott Williams, & Jim Lee.
• Batman: The Long Halloween: The Last Halloween, Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale.
• Blade, by Bryan Edward Hill & Elena Casagrande.
• Chainsaw Man, by Tatsuki Fujimoto.
• Champions, by Jim Zub & Steven Cummings.
• Conan the Barbarian.
• Corto Maltese, by Hugo Pratt.
• Creature Commandos, by J.M. DeMatteis, Robert Kanigher, & Fred Carrillo.
• Creature Commandos, by Tim Truman, Scot Eaton, & Ray Kryssing.
• Divine Right, by Jim Lee.
• Groo, by Sergio Aragones.
• Hawkworld, by Tim Truman.
• Legends of the Dark Knight: Marshall Rogers.
• Legends of the Dark Knight: Norm Breyfogle.

Kirt Burdick joins hosts John and David to talk about Kirt’s new and extended Death of Power series, the problematic marketing of superhero comic tropes, how Batman memes will cause a nuclear meltdown, the future of digital art, and how extended copyright stifles creativity. Also, the podcast gets a new listener, Kirt dislikes musicals, David has his heart broken, and John takes down Diamond.

Timestamp Segments

• [00:39] Kirt’s new Kickstarters.
• [03:34] The El Santo rabbit hole.
• [05:00] Death of Power #6.
• [08:46] The problem with superhero comics.
• [11:42] A very likely AI future.
• [17:52] Concluding Death of Power.
• [22:08] The Expanded Death of Power Universe.
• [24:28] Kirt’s sales pitch.
• [29:18] Diamond’s bankruptcy.
• [35:24] David’s broken heart.
• [36:24] Making comics for kids.
• [39:43] What is Kirt reading?
• [41:49] Does digital art suck?
• [53:35] What else is Kirt reading?
• [55:35] Fair use in comics.
• [60:16] Evolving kids’ cartoons.
• [62:07] One more time, for those at the back.

Notable Quotes

• “That’s the equivalent of narrative fast food.”
• “Netflix will start owning nuclear power plants.”
• “I’m just not into musicals.”
• “Don’t put lyrics in your comics.”
• “When we’re protecting the rights of corporations, and not the rights of human beings, that way lies folly.”

Relevant Links

Cornerbox.club

Death of Power #6, Galacto Pit-Fighter | Kickstarter

Books Mentioned

• #DRCL, Innocent, by Shin-Ichi Sakamoto.
• Action Comics #466.
• All-Star Superman, by Grant Morisson, Frank Quietly, & Neal Adams.
• American Flagg!, Fargo: Hell on Wheels, Time² Omnibus, by Howard Chaykin.
• America's Best Comics, The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic, by Alan Moore & Steve Moore.
• The Batman's Grave, by Warren Ellis & Bryan Hitch.
• Beano.
• BRZRKR, Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, Ron Garney, Rafael Grampá, & Clem Robins.
• Cobra Commander, by Joshua Williamson, Andrea Milana, & Annalisa Leoni.
• The Death of Superman.
• Dog Man, by Dav Pilkey.
• Doom Patrol.
• Duke, by Joshua Williamson, Tom Reilly,

John & David dive into the 1974 Famous First Edition facsimile reprint of Sensation Comics #1, the clumsy progressive attempts found in the book, and all the unhinged storylines. Then, John toots his own horn as we discuss the consequences of Diamond’s bankruptcy, and the damning Neil Gaiman report. Also, David finds a potential fart joke.

Timestamp Segments

• [01:21] John is Nostradamus.
• [02:28] The end of the Diamond era.
• [07:11] The Neil Gaiman report.
• [10:50] What to do with Neil Gaiman’s work.
• [16:49] Famous First Edition Sensation Comics #1.
• [22:13] The Wonder Woman art.
• [24:05] The unhinged story.
• [25:59] Walking through Wonder Woman.
• [35:36] The Black Pirate.
• [37:53] Attempting to appeal to a broader audience.
• [39:17] Mr. Terrific.
• [43:07] Defeating bad guys with math.
• [44:03] The Gay Ghost.
• [49:19] Gunner Godbee, a text story.
• [49:29] Little Boy Blue and The Blue Boys.
• [52:47] Fart jokes.
• [53:34] Wildcat.
• [55:26] Books and guns ads.
• [57:20] Progressive for the time.

Notable Quotes

• “It’s going to be chaos for the next couple of months.”
• “This whole story is unhinged.”
• “I’m explaining it badly, but I don’t know how to really explain it.”

Relevant Links

Late Pledges Are Open!
Super Kaiju Rock n Roller Derby Fun Time Go Book #2 | Kickstarter

David's Fun Stuff!
Did Someone Say Fun Time? Let's GO!

John is at PugW!
Pug Worldwide

Books Mentioned

• Famous First Edition Sensation Comics #1.
• Action Comics #1.
• Captain Kidd's Cow, by Phil Strong.
• Detective Comics #27.
• The Invisibles, by Grant Morrison & Steve Yeowell.
• JSA.
• Preacher, by Garth Ennis & Steve Dillon.
• Starman, by James Robinson & Tony Harris.
• Transmetropolitan, by Warren Ellis & Darick Robertson.
• Watchmen, by Alan Moore & David Gibbons.
• The Yankee Captain in Patagonia, by Charles Finger.

The Corner Box goes INTO THE FUTURE (waver your voice and wiggle your hands when you read that)! John & David make their predictions for comics in 2025, talk about the different directions the big publishers are taking, the state of superhero movies, Rob Liefeld’s upcoming record-breaking comic, and the fall of Diamond! Also, John gets bleeped and David takes a vacation in the sun.

Timestamp Segments

• [01:26] John’s Nosferatu review.
• [02:07] John’s Christmas reading.
• [09:28] John reads 1000 pages of WildC.A.T.S.
• [14:48] David’s Christmas reading.
• [19:09] David’s Marvel prediction.
• [25:04] Marvel’s conservative approach.
• [29:30] John’s optimistic prediction.
• [34:14] David’s DC prediction.
• [43:28] John’s Superman prediction.
• [45:52] What’s happening with superhero movies?
• [48:44] David’s incredibly bold prediction.
• [53:26] John’s bold prediction.

Notable Quotes

• “We are the most qualified podcasters in the history of podcasting.”
• “I feel like, artistically, they’ve lost their way.”
• “Comic books are at their best, in my opinion, when they’re rock ‘n roll.”
• “You can’t predict what we’re going to do next.”

Relevant Links

LAST DAY TO BACK!
Super Kaiju Rock n Roller Derby Fun Time Go Book #2 | Kickstarter

David's Fun Stuff!
Did Someone Say Fun Time? Let's GO!

John is at PugW!
Pug Worldwide

Some Books Mentioned

• Absolute Batman
• Absolute Superman
• The Amazing Spider-Man
• Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham
• The Collected Toppi Vol. 1: The Enchanted World
• Danger and Other Unknown Risks, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl
• DC Compact Comics
• Deadpool Team-Up, X-Force, Youngblood
• GLEEM
• Here
• Hexagon Bridge
• Houses of the Unholy, Sleeper
• It’s Jeff!
• Justice League U

John & David wrap up 2024 with their Top 3s (or 8s), and talk about John’s uncanny impressions, the new version of Jonathan Hickman, John’s disappointment in non-sex comics, the end of David’s Dog (Man) Days, and John revives a “classic” Corner Box joke.

Timestamp Segments

• [00:50] Kraven the Hunter.
• [03:39] John has fallen behind.
• [05:00] A spin on Top 3s.
• [05:58] All-time Top 3 Comics.
• [12:47] Top Image Books.
• [20:47] Top Marvel Issues.
• [30:03] A new version of Hickman.
• [31:59] Top DC Books.
• [38:12] Top One-Shot Reprints.
• [40:08] Top Artists.
• [45:36] John wants to quit comics.
• [48:03] Top Kickstarters.
• [54:21] David’s sad moment.
• [57:39] Surprise guests.

Notable Quotes

• “The villain of the next Spider-Man movie ought to be whoever green lights the Spider-Man Villain movies at Sony.”
• “I’ve never seen a worse title for something in my entire life.”
• “I should not be this entertained by a Sonic the Hedgehog movie.”

Relevant Links

LAST DAY TO BACK!
Super Kaiju Rock n Roller Derby Fun Time Go Book #2 | Kickstarter

David's Fun Stuff!
Did Someone Say Fun Time? Let's GO!

John is at PugW!
Pug Worldwide

Books Mentioned

• Absolute Batman, by Scott Snyder & Nick Dragotta.
• Absolute Superman, by Jason Aaron & Rafa Sandoval.
• Absolute Wonder Woman #1, by Kelly Thompson & Hayden Sherman.
• Alien, by Walter Simonson & Archie Goodwin.
• Aliens, by Mark Verheiden, Mark Nelson, Dan Beauvais, & Sam Keith.
• Aliens vs Avengers, by Jonathan Hickman & Esad Ribic.
• American Flagg!, by Howard Chaykin.
• Arzach, by Moebius.
• The Authority.
• Avengers, by Jonathan Hickman.
• Batman: Three Jokers, Rook, by Geoff Johns & Jason Fabok.
• Birds of Prey, by Kelly Thompson & Leonardo Romero.
• Blueberry, by Jean-Michel Charlier & Moebius.
• Bronze Star, by Mike Baron & Pat Broderick.
• Corto Maltese, by Hugo Pratt.