What did we all do to deserve this? Patrick Horvath and Tyler Crook are collaborating on Archie in Hell, part of the new Oni Press/Archie Comics partnership. They’re two of the best cartoonists working in the industry today. We never imagined them together on the same book, especially one that sends America’s favorite teenager straight to H-E double hockey sticks. Whatever we did, let’s keep doing it.

Coming straight out of Baltimore Comic-Con [https://baltimorecomiccon.com/], having just moderated the Archie Comics panel with Oni Press President and Publisher Hunter Gorinson and Archie Comics President and Editor-in-Chief Mike Pellerito, we’re buzzing with a new passion for this 85-year-old universe. This week’s podcast starts with a Baltimore Comic-Con review (spoilers: another blast was had at one of the country’s best and most proper comic book conventions), before diving into everything currently going down at Archie Comics…and, yeah, we do mean DOWN.

We spoke with both Patrick Horvath and Tyler Crook about Archie in Hell, and clearly they’re having the time of their lives working together, as this conversation is filled with all the giggles. Why does punishing Archie Andrews feel so good? Why is horror such a fun genre to splash atop Riverdale? Those questions are at the heart of today’s show.

Archie in Hell #1 [https://www.onipress.com/news/first-look-patrick-horvath-amp-tyler-crook-condemn-archie-in-hell-1-coming-in-novembernbsp] is written by Patrick Horvath, illustrated by Tyler Crook, and colored by Francesco Segala. It arrives in comic book shops on November 4th, but Final Order Cutoff (FOC) is September 28th. Follow Patrick Horvath on his website [https://patrickhorvath.com/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/catbirdplanet], and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/patrickhorvath.bsky.social]. Also follow Tyler Crook on his website [https://www.mistercrook.com/], Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/mrtylercrook.bsky.social], and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mistertylercrook/].

Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode:

 * Listen AD-Free! [https://www.patreon.com/cbccpodcast/posts/ad-free-kyle-on-170359602]

 * Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@comicbookcouplescounseling]

 * Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KJl0kQ3Xg0&list=PLZ9-G4ZBT-OYYT5dxpm_JmWSlHqidK84J]

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Patrick Horvath and Tyler Crook on Archie in Hell

What’s in a title? This week, Kyle Starks takes us to school, detailing the best way to hook a reader and use your following to do it. Louise Sprouse Stole My Heart (And I Have Two Hours to Get It Back) is live on Kickstarter [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thekylestarks/louise-sprouse-stole-my-heart/description?category_id=Q2F0ZWdvcnktMjUy&ref=section-comics-illustration-projectcollection-1-discovery]. As of this writing, you have eight days to back this book and grab yourself a cute little desk calendar in the process.

The comic is the third from Kyle Starks, following Karate Prom and Wrestle Heist, which his followers named. They supplied the inspiration, and the challenge was living up to it. Having read all three, we believe Starks has never failed, and we’re excited to learn he’s doing it again right now on his Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/cw/kylestarks].

Louise Sprouse Stole My Heart (And I Have Two Hours to Get It Back) is another hitman tale from Starks, but it’s his most romantic, and certainly his most gory. This darling is black, white, and bloody, but accomplished in the most endearing, relatable fashion. Whenever Starks is behind the pen, the resulting story delivers on the “awwwwws” as well as the giggles. We swoon for Starks.

Returning to the podcast for the second time this year, Starks chats with us about the importance of a title, building a community, and making your comics physical. Also, don’t waste your time drawing characters that don’t matter.

Follow Kyle Starks on BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/thekylestarks.bsky.social], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thekylestarks/], and his Website [https://www.kylestarks.com/].

Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode:

 * Listen AD-Free! [https://www.patreon.com/cbccpodcast/posts/ad-free-kyle-on-170359602]

 * Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@comicbookcouplescounseling]

 * Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KJl0kQ3Xg0&list=PLZ9-G4ZBT-OYYT5dxpm_JmWSlHqidK84J]

 * Previously on CBCC: Kyle Starks and Chris Schweizer Live at HeroesCon. [https://www.comicbookcouplescounseling.com/post/kyle-starks-chris-schweizer-live-from-heroescon]

 * 

Kyle Starks on Louise Sprouse Stole My Heart

Light the Bat-Signal, friends. Scott Snyder is back on the podcast, reflecting on Batman: The Court of Owls and how it served as a massive lesson in character. Both on and off the page.

Fifteen years ago, a roar rushed through every local comic book shop. Cries of blasphemy rattled over the racks and rippled atop the longboxes. DC Comics rebooted every single one of their titles with a new number one, calling it The New 52, and readers were as anxious about it as they were willing to buy every single title. It was a linewide reset, and it felt as radical as comics could get for new readers, and even gave the old heads some pause.

Batman (Vol. 2) #1 arrived on September 21st, 2011. It was written by Scott Snyder, penciled by Greg Capullo, inked by Jonathan Glapion, colored by FCO Plascencia, and lettered by Richard Starkings and Jimmy Betancourt. Today it’s considered a modern classic, having just gotten the Compact Comics $9.99 [https://shop.thirdeyecomics.com/products/batman-the-court-of-owls-tp-dc-compact-comics-edition?srsltid=AU7gw4UDfiU47gww2vKNoE7-iGsIvbWtGblAkZTNGIIBLneSKMxymw90] seal of approval. Fifteen years ago, however, it was anything but a sure thing, especially from Scott Snyder’s perspective.

On this hallowed Batman Day [https://www.dc.com/blog/2026-09-02/batman-day-2026], we’re deeply pleased to chat with Scott Snyder about this extreme moment in time. We discuss the panic he felt when he first got the title, the mission he set for himself, and the battle he fought to stay on target with his new partner-in-comics, Greg Capullo.

Is Batman the ultimate detective? Or can he screw up royally, living decades in ignorance while the diabolical Court of Owls controls his streets? Fighting for a fallible Bruce Wayne nearly got him ripped off the book, but his passion for growth-mindset superheroes is what’s rocketing Absolute Batman to the top of the bestseller charts today.

Follow Scott Snyder on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/ssnyder1835.bsky.social] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/Ssnyder1835/], and subscribe to his Substack [https://bestjackettpress.substack.com/].

Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode:

 * Listen AD-Free! [https://www.patreon.com/cbccpodcast/posts/ad-free-scott-on-169954532]

 * Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@comicbookcouplescounseling]

 * 

Scott Snyder on Batman: The Court of Owls - 15 Years Later

We want everyone who needs this comic to find this comic. Pig Wife astonished us both, but our first encounter with it rocked us so hard we needed weeks to process it. After that, Pig Wife took root, and we’ve carried the comic ever since, processing much of our daily lives through its lens.

Lisa read it first, early in the year. As she turned through its pages, the temperature around her seemed to increase. The book affected her chemistry, challenged her perspective, morphing with her as she morphed around it. Brad read Pig Wifesecond, and we’ve talked about little else until this week, when cartoonist Abbey Luck joined us on the podcast for a comprehensive discussion.

Published by Top Shelf Productions, Pig Wife recounts the tale of Mary, a young girl dragged to a remote mining town by her mother and stepdad. Living in dead aunt Pearl’s house triggers a familial confrontation that sends Mary through a trapdoor, leading to an abandoned gold mine. There, she meets those who live below, and nothing will ever be the same again.

We discuss Pig Wife’s origins with Abbey Luck, who she initially imagined her audience to be, and how her relationship with surrealism captured a profound honesty about people. Pig Wife is a lot, and may not be for every reader, but for those who connect with it, as we did, they will mark Pig Wife as one of the year’s best books, and maybe one of the best books of the twenty-first century.

Pig Wife is out now in paperback. It’s written by Abbey Luck with art by Luck and Ruka Bravo. Make sure you’re following Luck on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/abbey.luck].

Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode:

 * Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@comicbookcouplescounseling]

 * Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KJl0kQ3Xg0&list=PLZ9-G4ZBT-OYYT5dxpm_JmWSlHqidK84J]

 * The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art: Extended Patreon Review [https://www.patreon.com/cbccpodcast/posts/extended-review-169287669]

 * Subscribe to the CBCC Newsletter [https://www.patreon.com/cbccpodcast/posts/our-psychic-book-167148019]

 * IDW Superlatives: Brad vs. Chris Hacker [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5ALSvnFi_k&t=548s]

Abbey Luck on Pig Wife

A common complaint within the comics discourse is that new books can’t get past the sixth issue. Well, friends, have you been reading The Toxic Avenger over at Ahoy Comics? Cartoonist Matt Bors, along with several other artists, has been building a massive universe of stories at Ahoy, and they’ve radically upgraded the Troma superhero for the modern era. These are books with bite, and stories stuffed with relevance.

Bors is back on the podcast this week to explore how he became the one to shape the comic book Toxie. We discuss his earliest encounter with the character in cartoons and films, and how those experiences were his first foray into the taboo and into challenging the system. We talk about maintaining the Troma spirit, making filmmaker Lloyd Kaufman proud, and creating space to tell your own damn stories.

Next month, Toxie and Yvonne find themselves pregnant in the new Ahoy series, The Toxic Avenger vs. The Noxious Offender. Parenthood will challenge them in ways they can not possibly imagine, especially when Toxie's evil doppelgänger makes his first comic book appearance. We’ve read the first two issues, and they’re dynamite. Bors and artist Felipe Sobreiro deliver another essential Toxic Avenger story packed with genuine emotion and powerful pertinence. If you’re looking for a universe to get lost in, you must seek it out.

Before diving into our conversation with Matt Bors, we also review the new documentary, The Mad World of Harvey Kurtzman, directed by Bart Simpson (no, not that one). We connect the dots between Kurtzman and Bors, and celebrate the massive reach Mad (and so many other Kurtzman creations) has had on all of us.

The Toxic Avenger vs. the Noxious Offender #1 [https://comicsahoy.com/comics/toxic-avenger-vs-noxious-offender-1] lands in shops on October 7th, but FOC is this upcoming Monday. Call your shops if you want this book in your box. It’s written by Matt Bors, illustrated by Felipe Sobreiro, colored by Lee Loughridge, and lettered by Rob Steen. Make sure you’re following Bors on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mattbors] and BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/MattBors].

Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode:

 * Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@comicbookcouplescounseling]

 * Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KJl0kQ3Xg0&list=PLZ9-G4ZBT-OYYT5dxpm_JmWSlHqidK84J]

 * Subscribe to the CBCC [https://www.patreon.com/cbccpodcast/posts/our-psychic-book-167148019]

Matt Bors on The Toxic Avenger

The only way to have a friend is to be one. Kodi by Jared Cullum perfectly encapsulates the notion. The original graphic novel, published six years ago, told the exquisite story of a lonely girl, Katya, rescuing a bear in need, Kodi, and finding connection through the act. Now, Cullum is back with a follow-up, Kodi: A Place to Call Home.

It could have easily continued the cozy, warm, watercolor comfort of the original story. Instead, the new book challenges the friendship and, in doing so, celebrates what made it beautiful in the first place while showing how such connections must evolve. Kodi: A Place to Call Home is relatable, sweet, complicated, and wonderfully surprising. To put it in even simpler terms, it’s one of the best graphic novels of the year.

We are most pleased to have Jared Cullum on the show this week. Even more so because the artistic core from which Kodi: A Place to Call Home sprang forth is more surprising than we imagined. We chat with Cullum about his relationship with friendship, how the first book came to be, and why he felt compelled to be even more explicit about his intentions when making the second book.

Both Kodi and Kodi: A Place to Call Home are now available from Top Shelf Productions [https://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog/kodi-2/1157]. Make sure you’re following Jared Cullum on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jaredcullum] and BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/jaredcullum.bsky.social].

Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode:

 * Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@comicbookcouplescounseling]

 * Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KJl0kQ3Xg0&list=PLZ9-G4ZBT-OYYT5dxpm_JmWSlHqidK84J]

 * Subscribe to the CBCC Newsletter [https://www.patreon.com/cbccpodcast/posts/our-psychic-book-167148019]

 * Comic Book Film Club: Akira at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, Virginia on 9/6 at 5:45 PM. Co-Sponsored by Four Color Fantasies. [https://drafthouse.com/winchester/event/film-club-akira-subtitled-in-4k]

Final Round of Plugs (PHEW):

Jared Cullum on Kodi - A Place to Call Home

It’s always a good time when Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips find their way back on the show. It’s especially grand when they’re back to chat about That Texas Blood, and it’s even better when they come guns blazing with the new Hell Comes to Allison Ranch relaunch and news of an upcoming television adaptation. FOC for the new series is this upcoming Monday. Get on your Bat-phone, and get your local comic shop on the line. Here’s your chance to jump on the That Texas Blood chuckwagon.

That Texas Blood: Hell Comes to Allison Ranch begins in 2003. America has just invaded Iraq. Sheriff Joe Bob wants his son to witness the history on TV, but the teen just wants some alone time with his Xbox. An argument is brewing, but then the call comes in. War is on their doorstep; the Allison Ranch, a local institution, is apparently coming under heavy fire. Sheriff Joe Bob and Deputy Wilson investigate. Things get rough.

It’s been four years since the previous That Texas Blood storyline. While Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips have never been busier, they’ve been itching to return to the title that solidified their reputation. We discuss what That Texas Bloodoffers them that no other story does. We explore how this series reflects our current moment and how genre tropes guide their characters toward revelation.

During our introduction, we also discuss the sudden closing of Meanwhile…Coffee in Herndon, Virginia. It’s where we founded our in-person Comic Book Club, which has become a staple in our creative pursuits. We encourage others to form their own Comic Book Clubs, and we announce where the next iteration of our Comic Book Club will meet in September.

That Texas Blood: Hell Comes to Allison Ranch will hit shops on September 23rd, courtesy of Image Comics [https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/that-texas-blood-hell-comes-to-allison-ranch-1-of-6-cvr-a-jacob-phillips-mr]. It's written by Chris Condon, illustrated by Jacob Phillips, with color assists by Pip Martin, and lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Follow Chris Condon on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:wmhnwos4zdjf6dtjl3dfvfyf]. Follow Jacob Phillips on Blue Sky [https://web-cdn.bsky.app/profile/thatjacobphillips.bsky.social] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thatjacobphillips/].

Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode:

 * Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@comicbookcouplescounseling]

 * Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KJl0kQ3Xg0&list=PLZ9-G4ZBT-OYYT5dxpm_JmWSlHqidK84J]

 * 

Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips on That Texas Blood - Hell Comes to Allison Ranch

We don’t want to know your favorite Ninja Turtle. We want to know which Ninja Turtle is you. Which Ninja Turtle best represents your personality and behavior? Not everyone is comfortable answering the question, but Matthew Rosenberg gives it a go in our recent conversation at San Diego Comic-Con International, after a little nudge/encouragement.

Matt Rosenberg will take over writing duties on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #25, after Gene Luen Yang and Fero Pe wrap up their current “City That Never Dies” storyline. Rosenberg is on a hot streak, writing both Spawn and King Spawn, as well as If Destruction Be Our Lot. Not to forget the eagerly anticipated cinematic adaptation of 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank hitting screens next year.

He’s the third writer to tackle the monthly Ninja Turtle series in three years, and he promises to bring a unique perspective to our favorite mutant brothers. First, his Turtles are going to war, and it’s going to take them down nearly every New York City street. Streets Rosenberg knows exceptionally well as someone raised on them. Secondly, Rosenberg is a diehard Turtle fanatic, and he’s been plotting possibilities for these characters since he was twelve or so.

This week’s podcast is our final 2026 San Diego Comic-Con episode. As we’ve done over the last few weeks, we’ve invited another podcaster onto the show to help us broaden our con coverage perspective. Today, we have Chris Hacker, co-host of The Oblivion Bar [https://www.oblivionbarpodcast.com/]. Hacker found his way to Comic-Con only through the power of the comic book community, and we needed to take a moment to celebrate. Comic book people can get a bad rap, especially online, but Hacker’s story shows the beauty that fellowship makes possible.

Make sure you're following Matthew Rosenberg on his Substack [https://ashcanpress.substack.com/], Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ideas-dont-bleed/id1648203710], Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/ashcanpress.com], and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ashcanpress/].. And follow The Oblivion Bar on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/oblivionbarpod] and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/oblivionbarpodcast.com].

Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode:

 * Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@comicbookcouplescounseling]

 * Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KJl0kQ3Xg0&list=PLZ9-G4ZBT-OYYT5dxpm_JmWSlHqidK84J]

 * 

SDCC 2026: Matthew Rosenberg on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

This week, we’re once again in the thick of San Diego Comic-Con International, chatting with filmmaker Duncan Jones about his upcoming animated adaptation of Rogue Trooper, based on the iconic 2000 AD character created by Gerry Finley-Day and Dave Gibbons. Amongst the pulsating exhibit hall, tucked inside the 2000 AD booth, we chat with Jones about his passion for Rogue Trooper, how it ties thematically into his other movies (Moon, Source Code, Warcraft), and why animation was the only medium that could satisfy his creative needs.

Also, we enlist our friend Bryan Young (of B and B Movie Reviews [https://www.youtube.com/@bandbmovies]) to detail his excruciating saga in the infamous Hall H line and whether his nearly 48 hours of waiting resulted in a satisfying Marvel Studios presentation. You’ve undoubtedly heard horror stories, but until you’ve been inside it, you can’t understand the challenge and appeal of Hall H. We’re grateful to receive Bryan Young’s story of pure geek family.

What is the value of meat? The question rattles throughout Rogue Trooper, Moon, and Hall H. When humanity is seen as disposable by our corporate overlords, we must make ourselves impossible to ignore and flaunt a raging self-worth.

While Rogue Trooper begins its festival circuit, we await a release date. To keep up to date on the film, make sure you’re following Duncan Jones on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/manmademoon.bsky.social]. Purchase Rogue Trooper comics from your local comic book shop, or find them on the 2000 AD website [https://2000ad.com/rogue-trooper/].

Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode:

 * Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@comicbookcouplescounseling]

 * Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KJl0kQ3Xg0&list=PLZ9-G4ZBT-OYYT5dxpm_JmWSlHqidK84J]

 * How to Win a Marvel Studios Doctor Doom Mask and [https://www.patreon.com/cbccpodcast/posts/our-psychic-home-166033374]

SDCC 2026: Duncan Jones on Rogue Trooper

Every comic book reader remembers the first time they encountered Bill Sienkiewicz. Whether it was in Moon Knight, The New Mutants, Elektra: Assassin, or a recent variant for Absolute Batman, Sienkiewicz’s art smacks your eyeballs and demands your attention. You probably weren’t sure about it at first, but as your eyes refused to leave, you discovered new wonders capable in this medium called comic books. Like the first time Sienkiewicz saw a Neal Adams Superman instead of a Curt Swan Superman, his art stirs discomfort in those who’ve stewed in the routine.

This week we return from San Diego Comic-Con International, and we’ve brought Bill Sienkiewicz with us. The convention premiered the trailer for his new documentary [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHjLynsm6TQ], That Polish Guy, directed by Remsy Atassi and produced by Sal Abbinanti. We were granted a sneak peek at an early edit, and it’s jammed with creators expressing their admiration for Sienkiewicz.

Sienkiewicz exploded on the scene and has continued to evolve his style to this very day. We excitedly spoke to him about his relationship with comics, how discomfort is part of the deal when it comes to a lifelong passion for comics, whether you’re on the artist’s side of things or the reader’s side, and how That Polish Guy attempts to shape his story.

In an effort to relate our San Diego Comic-Con experience beyond our own perspective, we also invited Badr Milligan, host of The Short Box, onto the show to explain the convention’s particular vibe from a newbie's viewpoint. This is a recap, not of the news and exclusives, although there’s some of that, but of the show’s emotional pull. Make sure you subscribe to The Short Box [https://www.theshortboxpodcast.com/] and follow Badr Milligan on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/theshortboxpod/] and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/badrm.bsky.social].

To learn more about That Polish Guy and when it will be available to watch, sign up for updates on the Sienkiewicz Art website [https://billsienkiewiczart.com/pages/that-polish-guy]. And follow Bill Sienkiewicz on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/billsienkiewiczart] and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/bsienk.bsky.social].

Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode:

 * Subscribe to the Comic Book [https://www.youtube.com/@comicbookcouplescounseling]

SDCC 2026: Bill Sienkiewicz on Bill Sienkiewicz - That Polish Guy

Brad Gullickson (@mouthdork) · Zencastr

Brad Gullickson (@mouthdork)

Join married couple Brad and Lisa as they explore the various dynamics of comic book relationships throughout pop culture and publishing history.

Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast