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]

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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]

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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

It’s never been easier to get 2000 AD: The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic in your grubby, American mitts. Stop what you’re doing. Grab your phone. Call your shop. Get your Progs and Megazines in your pullbox. If you need any more convincing than that, then Drokk, do we have an episode for you today.

As San Diego Comic-Con International begins its finale, we chat with 2000 AD Thrill-Cast hosts Michael Molcher and Chloe Maveal. We discuss 2000 AD’s relationship with America, how it shaped the entire modern comics industry, and which books you need to jam into your eyeballs immediately.

2000 AD has already had a brilliant San Diego Comic-Con with multiple panels (one hosted by us) discussing our dystopian present, teasing the upcoming Rogue Trooper movie directed by Duncan Jones, and slapping some of the prettiest produced comics in the hands of new readers who stumbled into their booth. I’m not sure we can make Judge Dredd fiction again, but 2000 AD is doing its damnedest to stimulate conversation while providing some of the wildest entertainment this medium has to offer.

Make sure you hop over to 2000 AD [https://shop.2000ad.com/catalogue/subscriptions], subscribe to the Thrill-Cast [https://2000ad.com/podcasts/thrill-cast/], follow Molcher on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/molcher/], and Maveal on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:6i4jysmyhqxdflhqha7hip5a] and Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/cw/TrashHumper].

Follow the Rest of Our San Diego Comic-Con 2026 Coverage

 * Christopher Cantwell on Star Trek [https://www.comicbookcouplescounseling.com/post/star-trek-christopher-cantwell-interview]

 * David Steinberger and Chip Mosher on Neon Ichiban 2.5 [https://www.comicbookcouplescounseling.com/post/neon-ichiban-interview]

 * Ben Wickey on More Weight [https://www.comicbookcouplescounseling.com/post/ben-wickey-more-weight-interview]

 * Kelly Sue DeConnick and Matt Fraction on FML [https://www.comicbookcouplescounseling.com/post/kelly-sue-deconnick-matt-fraction-fml-interview]

Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode:

 * 

SDCC Day Four: Michael Molcher and Chloe Maveal on 2000 AD

Something magical is happening between the first and second arcs of FML, the Dark Horse Comics series. Writer Kelly Sue DeConnick is passing scripting duties to her husband, Matt Fraction. Since the book began as a melodramatic amplification of her family experience, it seems natural, but we don’t think such a regime change has ever happened before in comics. David López will remain on art, showcasing some of the most extraordinary comics skills we’ve ever encountered and pushing the medium to its very heights. However, with this shift in perspective, FML becomes a comic every reader should pull (if they weren’t already, cuz those first eight issues exemplify the power of comic books).

As San Diego Comic-Con International rages into its third day (Saturday), we chat with Kelly Sue DeConnick and Matt Fraction about FML. We discuss their unique working habits, how they play off each other, and how they don’t. This all has something to do with physics and jazz, but we won’t tell you how - you’ll have to listen.

This is our second FML related episode. Make sure you listen to Kelly Sue DeConnick’s first appearance on the podcast [https://www.comicbookcouplescounseling.com/post/fml-kelly-sue-deconnick-interview], as that establishes how her family informs the comic. Today’s episode is one we could not have predicted when we had that first one, but we’re so excited at the direction FML has taken.

FML issues 1 - 8 are out now from Dark Horse Comics. They’re written by Kelly Sue DeConnick, illustrated by David López, colored by Cris Peter, lettered by Clayton Cowles, and designed by Laurenn McCubbin. Make sure you follow Kelly Sue DeConnick on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/kellysue.bsky.social] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/kellysued].

Follow the Rest of Our San Diego Comic-Con 2026 Coverage

 * Christopher Cantwell on Star Trek [https://www.comicbookcouplescounseling.com/post/star-trek-christopher-cantwell-interview]

 * David Steinberger and Chip Mosher on Neon Ichiban 2.5 [https://www.comicbookcouplescounseling.com/post/neon-ichiban-interview]

 * Ben Wickey on More Weight [https://www.comicbookcouplescounseling.com/post/ben-wickey-more-weight-interview]

Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode:

 * 

SDCC Day Three: Kelly Sue DeConnick and Matt Fraction on FML

Cartoonist and animator Ben Wickey spent more than a decade toiling away on More Weight. The original graphic novel is an astonishing achievement, recounting the Salem witch trials through extensive research and dusting off History’s cobwebs. Wickey re-contextualizes the events and the people, establishing how the horror stretches across time, touching upon literary giants like Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, as well as himself and every one of his readers.

We’re publishing this podcast on the eve of the Eisner Awards [https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards/], held at San Diego Comic-Con International. More Weight finds itself nominated for Best Graphic Novel Album - New. Wickey stands amongst some stiff competition, but as you heard in our Stampies: Best Comics of 2025 episode [https://www.comicbookcouplescounseling.com/post/the-stampies-best-comics-of-2025-part-two], we think it’s not only worthy of that nomination, but we believe it to be one of the best comics of the twenty-first century.

More Weight is not a textbook. It’s a riveting, horrorifying, and beautifully human drama. It’s staggering to witness the thought and concern Wickey put into these characters, and his artistic depiction is simply breathtaking. Today’s podcast is one we’ve wanted to have for months. It’s a thorough conversation, exploring with Wickey why the Salem witch trials are more significant today, and it will probably remain so for as long as those living dare to dismiss it as Halloween decoration.

More Weight is available from Top Shelf Productions wherever rad comic books are sold. Follow Ben Wickey on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ben_wickey].

Follow the Rest of our San Diego Comic-Con 2026 Coverage

 * Christopher Cantwell on Star Trek [https://www.comicbookcouplescounseling.com/post/star-trek-christopher-cantwell-interview]

 * David Steinberger and Chip Mosher on Neon Ichiban 2.5 [https://www.comicbookcouplescounseling.com/post/neon-ichiban-interview]

Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode:

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

 * 

SDCC 2026 Day Two: Ben Wickey on More Weight

The digital comics market has evolved massively in the last few years. It’s time we had a proper conversation about our relationship with it, and we’re eager to have it with Comixology veterans and Neon Ichiban [https://neonichiban.com/about] founders David Steinberger and Chip Mosher. With San Diego Comic-Con International in full swing, we brought them onto the show to discuss their evolution with digital comics and what they’re delivering to readers AND collectors stumbling around the con floor.

They recently launched Neon Ichiban 2.5 [https://neonichiban.com/blog/neon-ichiban-2-5-the-next-chapter-continues?srsltid=AfmBOoos-HvtnWGs67U-T-4MnGPj5Z3SWvH_k7UWzXjWPCRt1ld6KlK3]. This next chapter in their development promises huge growth to their community. Steinberger and Mosher are bringing the convention environment to their platform. Meet your favorite creator. Get a signature. Walk artist alley and discover something new. Hang out with the like-minded and get nerdy together.

Neon Ichiban 2.5 offers digital signatures, commissionable remarques, community profiles, reviews, reading lists, collections, and a whole lot more. We get into it all with David Steinberger and Chip Mosher. And we talk about why San Diego Comic-Con is still an essential place to present digital comics.

Today’s podcast is Part Two in our San Diego Comic-Con coverage. Make sure you listen to Part One with Christopher Cantwell [https://www.comicbookcouplescounseling.com/post/star-trek-christopher-cantwell-interview], all about IDW Publishing’s upcoming Star Trek relaunch (speaking of fandom and community). Visit Neon Ichiban [https://neonichiban.com/], browse around, and follow them on their socials (Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/neon_ichiban/] and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/neonichiban.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]

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SDCC 2026 Day One: David Steinberger and Chip Mosher on Neon Ichiban 2.5

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