Portrait of an Editor

At the beginning of 2025, I mentioned wanting to see the return of Greg Rucka and Michael Lark's LAZARUS. Well, 2025 finally delivered something good for a change. LAZARUS is back, and its editor, Alejandro Arbona, is here to talk about one of the best comic books Image Comics has ever published. Also, we talk about the breathtaking horror one-shot Alejandro wrote, LAKE YELLOWWOOD SLAUGHTER. Goats Flying Press is its publisher. And you can still get in on the Kickstarter campaign. Click here to get to it.

Sorry about the delay, but finally, here's the third part of my conversation with Stephanie Phillips. It's a fantastic wrap-up and contains plenty of new info on managing a writing career in comic books. One thing I took away from it was that you need to be prepared to do the work and don't fear that part either. Everyone who is succeeding as a writer finds a way to write their way across the finish line. Without that, you will not have a career. Remember, every completed piece of work starts a conversation that could open another door.

As promised, here's my conversation with Chris Thompson about the Heavy Metal relaunch. Chris is one of the three editor masterminds behind the rebirth of Heavy Metal. You should be able to find the new issue right now. It's even on newsstands throughout the world. If you're a Heavy Metal fan, then you should rush out and get it right now. It's a stunning magazine.

Here's part two of my conversation with Stephanie Phillips and Will Dennis.

Even though there has been a bit of a gap between episodes, I've been hard at work getting interviews. In fact, I have a new three-part interview with Stephanie Phillips, with Will Dennis co-hosting. We spent our time talking about how to approach building and maintaining a writing career in comic books.

In this episode, my friend Alex Schumacher returns to discuss his new Original Graphic Novel, The Effects of Pickled Herring. In 2024, his OGN won two national JewCE Awards from The Center for Jewish History in the categories of "All Ages" and "Autobiographical/Biographical Content." We talk about his long trek to get his OGN into readers' hands. An update-- The past 50 or so episodes are now on YouTube for free. When you get there, please like and subscribe.

I'm sorry for the months-long gap between episodes. Unfortunately, getting my podcasting muscle back into shape took much longer than expected. Hopefully, this recent break helped me recharge.

My conversation with Will Dennis during this week's episode should get us caught up. 2025 is shaping up to be a challenging year for comics. However, the medium came into its own during the Great Depression, so bring it on tough times.

An update-- The past 50 or so episodes are now on YouTube for free. When you get there, please like and subscribe. As a matter of fact...

Will Dennis and I talk about the screening of MILLER'S CROSSING that he's guest hosting. We also cover how great THE BATMAN is and written dialogue vs. comic book dialogue.

I had a great conversation with Will Dennis and Pornsak Pichetshote about their new publishing venture -- THE HORIZON EXPERIMENT from Image Comics. We discussed how they work together as editors and the punk attitude they brought to the project. FYI- The FOC for THE MANCHURIAN is September 2.

With this episode, I reconnect with Amanda Meadows to discuss her new gig, acquisitions, and the upsides of having an agent. And an update on MUTINY: BLACK GILR MAGIK from Fairsquare Comics.

Instead of our regular debrief of San Diego Comic-Con, Will and I talk about his prep for 2024's SDCC. We also discuss his expectations for this year's Eisners, how to get his week's calendar in order, how not to miss a meeting, and why the success of a con is the best revenge. Finally, Will reveals when he will need a walker.

We talk a bit about Alter Ego, the follow-up novel to Alex Segura's 2022 novel Secret Identity. Then we jump into talking about Mad Cave's Dick Tracy. FYI, issue two hits stores on 6/12. Also, if you missed the first issue, a second printing is available.

In this Portrait of an Editor, Sarah Litt and I discuss her work at Ahoy Comics and The Clash and how being an Ex-Pat influences her work and outlook on life. Ahoy Comics has been on my radar since they started out, and I suggest checking out the comics Sarah edits and other books in the Ahoy line-up. They are producing some funny and thought-provoking books—basically, what outstanding comic books should be.

Portrait of an Editor has a sponsor: Magic Mind, an excellent productivity elixir. The show's discounts are available at https://www.magicmind.co/portraitofaneditor wi...

Will and I talk about editors delivering bad news to creators, including canceling books, firings, and passing on pitches.

Portrait of an Editor has a sponsor: Magic Mind, an excellent productivity elixir. The show's discounts are available at https://www.magicmind.co/portraitofaneditor with discount code ANTIX20.

In this Portrait of an Editor, Dave Wielgosz discusses his move from the East Coast to the West Coast and his journey from editor to writer. Along the way, we cover what could help you become an editor at DC Comics or Marvel and the support he got from his folks in his hometown. Dave let me ramble on about my obsession with DC's 80-page Giants and the importance of short stories like them for a writer's profile and for an editor to test talent.

Portrait of an Editor has a sponsor: Magic Mind, an...

This ep covers a lot! Will Dennis and I address one of the core reasons for this podcast by discussing Roy Thomas taking co-creator credit for Wolverine and Will's own experiences with creator-owned material, specifically the origins of Vertigo's SCALPED. We also discuss deadlines and how Batman's penis changed the course of DC's Black Label.

Portrait of an Editor has a sponsor: Magic Mind, an excellent productivity elixir. The show's discounts are available at https://www.magicmind.co/portraitofaneditor with discount code ANTIX20. The code is valid forever and offers 20% off one-time purchases and...

The Dead the Damned could be 2024's theme for the comics industry. For now, it's the title of Goats Flying Press's first release. After a two-year break, I talked with Sebastian Girner about his new publishing venture, Goats Fly Press, and whether it was a smart idea to launch a new company during these crazy times for comic book publishing. Sebastian really gets into the details about his present and future plans and the attitude he's taking. It's an honest and optimistic conversation. We even try to figure out if Marvel and DC Comics are relevant nowadays.

I've heard many people say no one buys comic book anthologies. Well, that might not be so true. For several years, DC Comics has had a successful run with its 80-Page Giant seasonal anthologies. Alex Antone, who edited some of the earlier issues, joined me in discussing why these anthologies are so fun and successful.

Portrait of an Editor has a sponsor: Magic Mind, an excellent productivity elixir. The show's discounts are available at https://www.magicmind.co/portraitofaneditor with discount code ANTIX20. The code is valid forever and offers 20% off one-time purchases and subscriptions.

Here's a bonus interview with Amanda Meadows about Fairsquare Comics' new Kickstarter project -- Mutiny: Black Girl Magick. A heads-up. This ep contains two or three f-bombs.
  
Mutiny Black Girl Magick Kickstarter Page https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1hitwonder/mutiny-black-girl-magik1/comments

Will Dennis and I connect to talk about a few things 2023 and a few things 2024. We cover NYCC 2023, Thought Bubble, Roger Stern, Will's favorite comic of 2023, Moonshine, the loss of editorial institutional knowledge, and the demise of comics in 2024.

Post San Diego Comic-Con 2023, I had a great conversation with Denton Tipton about the new version of Magma Comix. We cover Denton's and Magma's past, present, and future and what keeps him going through the ups and downs that come with working comic books.

First, DSTRLY's anthology, THE DEVIL'S CUT, which Will Dennis discusses in this ep, was released last week. So scoop up your copy before it sells out. 

Along with talking about 2023's San Diego Comic-Con, we also review Will's past and discuss his future with Comixology, the digital vs. physical reading experience, being part of yet another Eisner win, and the success of DSTERLY's booth.

Finally, Will reveals "the magic sauce" needed for a publishing start-up to go from a conversation to a booth at San Diego in one year.

SDCC2023, Barcon, John Byrne, COVID, BARNSTORMERS, Fabio Moon, and we spent some serious time discussing all the covers for DSTRLY's Devil's Cut and how they came to be. (FYI - This was recorded a bit before the SAG-AFTRA strike.) 

Robyn Chapman discusses her work on First Second's release of HOMICIDE: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL, which is an adaptation of David Simon's nonfiction book Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, which also was the source material for the award-winning TV show Homicide: Life on the Streets. Robyn provides some great info on the unique journey Philippe Squarzoni's detailed adaptation took from the States to France and back. She also details all the hard work the First Second crew did to realize this impressive two-part graphic novel.

My quick tour of Marvel's Avengers Heroes office wraps up. This time I talked with Annalise Bissa about her career's progress from intern to editor. By discussing her background, mentors, and various responsibilities at the House of Ideas for the past few years, she provides an excellent overview of how her take on editing has developed.

Marvel's Executive Editor Tom Brevoort and I discuss the genesis, execution, and response to two unique Marvel series--AVENGERS BEYOND and NAMOR: CONQUERED SHORES. Tom explains why Marvel's Two-In-One and Team-Up series might not work in today's market. Also, we talk about the unique campaign to save Spider-Girl that her extraordinary fans managed to pull off.

First, a huge congratulations to Alex Segura for winning the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books Prize for the Mystery/Thriller category for SECRET IDENTITY.

As for this interview, it's a companion piece to my interview with Cliff Chiang, in which I get to talk with a former editor and see how their days as an editor influenced their creative process today as a writer. Also, of course, we talk about SECRET IDENTITY, and Alex provides hints about his next novel's storyline.  

No intro with this episode of CROPPED because I wanted to jump right into the Q&A with Will Dennis about his role with DSTLRY. And I asked him to explain what the hell is a Founding Editor.

Comixology Originals' EDGEWORLD relaunched a few months back. Three new issues from this new arc are already available. I caught up with series writer and co-creator Chuck Austen to discuss this arc's direction.

Of course, sticking with the show's central theme, Chuck and I discuss Felix Horne's editorial contributions to what Chuck, Patrick Olliffe, Lee Loughridge, and Jodi Wynne have delivered.

We also discuss how binge watching has changed writers' approaches to scripting and pitching.

Will Dennis and I journey down memory lane and review the nine issues of Captain America (#247 to #255) that Roger Stern and John Byrne pretty much teased readers with in 1980. We ask "What If" and "What Could Have Been" a lot regarding their way too short run on Cap.

I had a great talk with Cliff Chiang in which we discussed how his editing work at Vertigo Comics reverberates throughout his career right up to CATWOMAN: LONELY CITY. He also dived into the creative and somewhat laborious process he took to make Lonely City.

After Will Dennis and I realized we hadn't recorded a CROPPED since before New York Comic Con, we jumped into reviewing 2022 and pondered what would happen in 2023. Hey, it's only February, so we can talk about 2023 still. Will examines how his panel, How Not to Succeed in Comics, did on its inaugural tour of the convention circuit. We all talk about WYTCHES on Amazon. We also cover Will's reading list for 2022 and his obsession with WARHAMMER.

In part 3 of my talk with Andy Khouri, we wrap up our talk about the early days of DC's Black Label and move on to his editing chores on DC's relaunch of Vertigo and working on the Young Animal pop-up imprint. We discuss FAR SECTOR and its place in the Green Lanterns mythos. Finally, he talks about the challenges of editing a creator-owned book compared to a DC Universe book, and we get to the lightning round. 

In part 2 of my Portrait of an Editor interview with Andy Khouri, we wrap up his take on editing Green Arrow. Also, we discuss how he learned to navigate the politics of the DC offices and the tastes of his bosses. Finally, we talk about the early days of the Black Label imprint and its objectives and how DC revised them as the imprint moved forward. In Addendum 2, Andy talks about the creative folks a reader never really hears about and the responsibilities of an editor.

One good reason for taking my time on this is that I think Andy delivered a great interview that explains some of the core reasons why I do this podcast. Over the course of 3 hours, he described what it was like for him to join DC Comics' editorial staff. If you want to "experience" one person's journey as a comic book editor, this multi-part podcast and its addendums are precisely what you need. 

Here's my final New York Comic Con 2022 interview. First, I talked with Scott Dunbier years ago on the eve of another New York Comic Con. You can find that talk on the Portrait of an Editor Patreon page. In our new conversation, we discuss his process of producing IDW's Artist Editions line. We also discuss the making of Scott's tribute to his friend Darwyn Cooke -- The gorgeous Parker: The Martini Edition - Last Call. We also talk about Scott's first project editing Darwyn on DC Comic's run of The Spirit. (Sorry about the poor sound quality. My recording...

You could say my NYCC2022 talk with Fabrice Sapolsky should be called Portrait of a Publisher. We cover a lot here with what he is doing with FairSquare Comics. He delivers excellent points on the hustle it takes to keep an independent publisher going for the long haul. We also discuss the upside of printing in the United States, FairSquare Comics' slate for 2023, and the future of Mutiny Magazine.

At NYCC 2022, I reconnected with Heavy Metal's executive editor Joseph Illidge. We talked about George Perez's takes on Scarlet Witch and Wonder Woman, the deaths that hit the industry in 2022, and the exciting future for Heavy Metal with its partnership with Whatnot Publishing which launches in February.

Here's my sixth NYCC 2022 interview. I caught up with Greg Lockard about his editing work with James Tynion. We got a bit fanboy over Michael Avon Oeming's work with James on BLUE BOOK. We also discuss how an editor can help a creator avoid burnout, Greg's agenda for NYCC 2022, and how he approaches pitching to editors.

Here's my fifth NYCC 2022 interview. I caught up with Tyler Jennes, who works with Will Dennis and Scott Snyder. Tyler provided an update on the Wytches TV show at Amazon and his professional agenda for a convention like New York Comic Con.