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Comic Book Historians

Presented by Alex Grand

141 episodes

1 month ago

In 1955, comic book companies were struggling to stay afloat after a rough five years of censorship, a changing readership, and the invention of television. During an editorial meeting at National Periodical Publications, somebody suggested bringing back the company’s superheroes. National settled on a redesign of an old character—The Flash—and the world would never be the same. This created Marvel Comics and the Marvel Age. Michael Lites, Bill Field, Alex Grand, Kevin Garcia, Flaming Carrot ...

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All content for Comic Book Historians is the property of Presented by Alex Grand and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

In 1955, comic book companies were struggling to stay afloat after a rough five years of censorship, a changing readership, and the invention of television. During an editorial meeting at National Periodical Publications, somebody suggested bringing back the company’s superheroes. National settled on a redesign of an old character—The Flash—and the world would never be the same. This created Marvel Comics and the Marvel Age. Michael Lites, Bill Field, Alex Grand, Kevin Garcia, Flaming Carrot ...

Show more...

Episodes (20/141)

Comic Book Historians

The Silver Age Panel at San Diego Comic Con 2025: How Flash Saved the Comic Book Industry

In 1955, comic book companies were struggling to stay afloat after a rough five years of censorship, a changing readership, and the invention of television. During an editorial meeting at National Periodical Publications, somebody suggested bringing back the company’s superheroes. National settled on a redesign of an old character—The Flash—and the world would never be the same. This created Marvel Comics and the Marvel Age. Michael Lites, Bill Field, Alex Grand, Kevin Garcia, Flaming Carrot ...

1 month ago

44 minutes

Comic Book Historians

The Many Hands of Bill Finger SDCC 2025 Panel

Panel description: Before Gotham had shadows, writer Bill Finger cast them. Comics scholar Alex Grand (*Understanding Superhero Comic Books*) moderates a lively conversation with Athena Finger (Bill’s granddaughter and advocate), historian Bill Field (Field of Comics), and playwright/filmmaker Leonard Schwartz (Bill Finger: Rise of the Bat), and now with Mark Evanier (Bill Finger Awards). Together we trace Finger’s career across comics, television, and film, and show why crediting Batman’s co...

2 months ago

45 minutes

Comic Book Historians

Rob Liefeld Biographical Interview Part 2 by Alex Grand

Rob Liefeld returns to the CBH podcast talking about Youngblood hitting its stride, Extreme Studios becomes a hothouse of new series: Brigade, Bloodstrike, and nearly two dozen more, all while he mentors rising talents Dan Fraga, Norm Rapmund and more. Mounting costs inside Image spark sharp discussions with Jim Lee, Todd McFarlane, and Mark Silvestri, nudging Liefeld to open Maximum Press for experiments like Battlestar Galactica and Avengelyne. He talks about his exit from Image and his sti...

3 months ago

2 hours 4 minutes

Comic Book Historians

Don McGregor Career Interview with Alex Grand & Jim Thompson Part 4

Alex Grand and co-host Jim Thompson interview Don McGregor on his career in a final fourth of a four parter discussing his work with Dean Mullaney at Eclipse, Ragamuffins, working at DC Comics with Nathaniel Dusk, Julius Schwartz, Dragonflame with David Anthony Kraft, work for hire with Marvel, Black Panther's Quest for Marvel Comics Presents, Detectives Inc sequel with Gene Colan, the Detectives Inc Movie, Topps, Zorro, Dracula, Jurassic Park, Golden Eye, Lady Rawhide, Tom Yeates, Ultimate R...

4 months ago

1 hour 22 minutes

Comic Book Historians

Don McGregor Career Interview with Alex Grand & Jim Thompson Part 3

Alex Grand and co-host Jim Thompson interview comic writer Don McGregor, in a third parter on discussing Black Panther fighting the KKK, antagonism with editorial, Archie Goodwin & Jim Shooter, the personal issues he was dealing with in the middle to later 1970s that affected his writing output, writing Michael Golden's first Marvel work, Dagger, and Sabre with Eclipse. Images used in artwork ©Their Respective Copyright holders, CBH Podcast ©Comic Book Historians. Thumbnail Artwork ...

5 months ago

1 hour 24 minutes

Comic Book Historians

Mark Ditko and Mort Todd Ditkoverse Interview 2025

Ditkoverse publications are here: http://www.igg.me/at/ditkoverse1 Alex Grand speaks with Steve Ditko’s nephew, Mark Ditko, and longtime Ditko collaborator Mort Todd about their DitkoVerse publishing venture, a project dedicated to “remastering” and re-presenting classic Steve Ditko stories in high-quality editions . They describe their upcoming Indiegogo campaign, which kicks off a broader plan to keep Ditko’s independent work in continuous print leading up to what would have been his 100th...

6 months ago

1 hour 3 minutes

Comic Book Historians

Will Eisner interview by David Armstrong

David Armstrong interviewed Golden Age great and Graphic Novelist, Will Eisner in 1997 on set at San Diego Comic Con about the early history of comic books, comic strip reprints, his entry into comics, WOW What A Magazine!, his partnership with Jerry Iger, the growing concept of early comic books with original material, starting the Eisner and Iger shop, partnering with Everett M. Arnold at Quality Comics on the Spirit Newspaper Insert, departing the Iger shop, serving in World War 2, its eff...

7 months ago

32 minutes

Comic Book Historians

Jerry Ordway Power Hour Interview by Alex Grand & Filippo Marzo

Alex Grand & Filippo Marzo interview Jerry Ordway for an hour in a co-interview process where the english version is here at Comic Book Historians, and the italian version is at Comics Reporter. Jerry is asked about his DC Comics career highlights from the 1980s through the 2000s with All-Star Squadron and Infinity Inc with Roy Thomas, Crisis on Infinite Earths with George Perez, Adventures of Superman with Marv Wolfman and John Byrne, artist for the 1989 Batman Film adaptation,&nbs...

8 months ago

54 minutes

Comic Book Historians

Bob Hall, Comic Artist, Writer & Actor Interview Part 2 by Alex Grand & Jim Thompson

Alex Grand and co-host Jim Thompson interview Bob Hall part 2, from his early days as a comic reader, his University education in Theatre, his turned in first work for Charlton Comics, studying at the John Buscema Comic Art School, getting into Marvel under editor Archie Goodwin, then under new editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, the Yellowjacket Wasp story, Squadron Supreme with Mark Gruenwald, co-creating West Coast Avengers, Emperor Doom, Valiant Comics, Future Comics, his Joker graphic series fo...

9 months ago

1 hour 31 minutes

Comic Book Historians

Craig Yoe Biographical Interview by Alex Grand

Craig Yoe’s biographical interview highlights his creative journey through personal struggles and reinvention, who transforms adversity into creativity while remaining true to his innovative spirit. He discusses his graphic novel Woman & Man+, a psychedelic reflection on leaving the U.S., a painful divorce, and using art therapy to rebuild his life. Raised in the Midwest, Yoe credits his parents for encouraging his creativity, with influences like Carl Barks, Marvel Comics, Steve Ditko, a...

10 months ago

2 hours 49 minutes

Comic Book Historians

Bob Hall, Comic Artist, Writer & Actor Interview Part 1 by Alex Grand & Jim Thompson

Alex Grand and co-host Jim Thompson interview Bob Hall, from his early days as a comic reader, his University education in Theatre, his turned in first work for Charlton Comics, studying at the John Buscema Comic Art School, getting into Marvel under editor Archie Goodwin, then under new editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, the Yellowjacket Wasp story, Squadron Supreme with Mark Gruenwald, co-creating West Coast Avengers, Emperor Doom, Valiant Comics, Future Comics, his Joker graphic series for DC, a...

11 months ago

1 hour 36 minutes

Comic Book Historians

Frank Frazetta Phone Interview by Steve Ringgenberg

In today's special episode, Alex Grand and Bill Field delve into a fascinating phone conversation from August 27, 1994, between comic book historian and writer, Steve Ringgenberg and the legendary fantasy artist Frank Frazetta. Steve Ringgenberg, known for his deep knowledge and contributions to the comic book industry, chats with Frazetta about his then-upcoming projects and his return to comics, albeit in a supervisory role. Frank Frazetta, whose "Death Dealer" paintings have left a strong ...

1 year ago

24 minutes

Comic Book Historians

Rob Liefeld Marvel Biographical Interview part 1 by Alex Grand

Alex Grand interviewed Rob Liefeld for the Comic Book Historians Podcast, a key figure in the revolution of comic books in the 1990s, known for his intense storytelling and artistic impact. The conversation focuses on Liefeld’s approach to comics, particularly his efforts to inject fun and boldness into his work, drawing inspiration from his inner child and childhood influences like Jack Kirby. Liefeld discusses how his passion for comics is reflected in his art, sharing anecdotes about his c...

1 year ago

1 hour 38 minutes

Comic Book Historians

Jim Mooney & Marv Levy interviews by David Armstrong

David Armstrong interviewed Golden & Silver Age great, Jim Mooney in 1997 on set at San Diego Comic Con about his entry into pulp magazines like Weird Tales, meeting Julius Schwartz and Mort Weisinger, entering comic books in the early 1940s with Fiction House, Ace Magazines and Timely, meeting Golden Age publishers like Victor Fox, entering DC Comics under Whitney Ellsworth, his friendship with Stan Lee, working on Spider-Man, and independent comics of the 1990s. Armstrong also int...

1 year ago

47 minutes

Comic Book Historians

Irwin Hasen & Harry Lampert interviews by David Armstrong

David Armstrong interviewed Golden Age great, Irwin Hasen in 1999 on set at San Diego Comic Con about his entry into comic books in the late 1930s, illustrating sports figures for newspapers including an interesting experience at the Daily Worker, working for Harry Chesler, covers for DC Comics, rivalry with Shelley Mayer, contributing to the Justice Society of America, working with Bill Finger, Alex Toth and a tense situation at a syndicate that caused him to walk away from a strip bef...

1 year ago

45 minutes

Comic Book Historians

Audiobook Announcement for Understanding Superhero Comic Books by Alex Grand

I'm thrilled to share something truly special with you. Writing my book was a seven-year journey, culminating not just in publication but also in an audiobook that's now available, thanks to an option I discovered with my publisher. Encouraged by my friend, Eric Bailey, I decided to lend my voice to the project. Leveraging years of experience from producing and audio engineering the Comic Book Historians podcast, I poured every ounce of my patience and expertise into recording and editing thi...

1 year ago

12 minutes

Comic Book Historians

Tom Palmer, Inker & Illustrator Interview Part 2 by Alex Grand & Jim Thompson

Alex Grand and co-host Jim Thompson interview Tom Palmer about his extensive career as both inker and illustrator starting at the Frank Reilly school, learning from Jack Kamen, illustration for advertising, then inking various Marvel comic book pencilers in the Silver Age like Gene Colan, Neal Adams, John and Sal Buscema, and eventually others like Howard Chaykin, Walt Simsonson, and Ron Frenz on characters & properties like Dr. Strange, X-Men, Avengers, Dracula, Thor, Star Wars, Ba...

1 year ago

1 hour 23 minutes

Comic Book Historians

Tom Palmer, Inker & Illustrator Interview Part 1 by Alex Grand & Jim Thompson

Alex Grand and co-host Jim Thompson interview Tom Palmer about his extensive career as both inker and illustrator starting at the Frank Reilly school, learning from Jack Kamen, illustration for advertising, then inking various Marvel comic book pencilers in the Silver Age like Gene Colan, Neal Adams, John and Sal Buscema, and eventually others like Howard Chaykin, Walt Simsonson, and Ron Frenz on characters & properties like Dr. Strange, X-Men, Avengers, Dracula, Thor, Star Wars, Ba...

1 year ago

1 hour 34 minutes

Comic Book Historians

Steve Rude The Dude biographical interview by Alex Grand & Bill Field

Join Alex Grand and Bill Field as they sit down with legendary comic artist Steve Rude in an enlightening episode of the CBH podcast. Dive deep into Rude's early influences, from his passion for 1960s Marvel to the impact of artists like Jack Kirby and Gene Colan on his style. Discover the pivotal moments of his career, from his initial challenges in the business to his successful partnership in creating Nexus with Mike Baron, his dislike of Marvel of DC in the 1980s, and his impression...

1 year ago

1 hour 14 minutes

Comic Book Historians

Nick Cardy interview part 2 by David Armstrong

David Armstrong interviewed Nick Cardy for a second round on set in 2005 about his time at the Eisner shop, Fiction House, illustrator influences, Lou Fine, anatomy, reference, army sketch book, his Paris exhibit, Science Fiction stories, design, page rates, Brushwork, advertising, his sense of religion, and a sex comic experience at comic con. Interview conducted, recorded and copyrighted to David Armstrong. Remastered, edited, timestamped and postproduction by Alex Grand. Support the show

1 year ago

33 minutes