The Corner Box

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!

The Corner Box is a leisure podcast hosted by David & John, with 158 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

David & John hosts The Corner Box, a leisure show with 158 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #48

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

  Aug 18, 202652 minS3

  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 history Splash 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.

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  Episode #47

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

  Aug 11, 202638 minS3

  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 art Splash 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.

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  Episode #46

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

  Aug 4, 202644 minS3

  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 Asshole: 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.

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  Episode #45

  Driving Us Absolutely Batty on The Corner Box - S3Ep45

  Jul 28, 20261h 4mS3

  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 Bin Chip 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. (⁠ Mar vel ) 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!

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  Episode #44

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

  Jul 21, 202653 minS3

  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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