Comic book artist Ron Garney joins Wes to talk about working with Keanu Reeves, BRZRKR success, moving on from Marvel Comics and the evolution of comic book art and industry. Comic book artist Ron Garney has been delivering pulse pounding images for 35 years. Many know him from his time on Spider-Man, Daredevil, Captain America, X-Men and other legendary Marvel Comics characters. But it’s a recent indie comic titles attached to a Hollywood juggernaut that’s turned into his most successful project. Keanu Reeve’s passion project BRZRK from BOOM! Studios sold over 615k issues of its debut. After it already crowdfunded over $1.5M on Kickstarter.  Big part of that success is the poetically violent imagery from comic book artist Ron Garney. Not that anyone should be surprised. Ron Garney continues pushing the boundaries of action story, now with over 3 decades of storytelling under his belt. (04:57) The industry veteran also talks about his Captain America run with Mark Waid and why it was cut short. Ron also dives into what he considers the best comic book art of his career. (17:54) Ron and Wes also discuss the evolution of comic books art over the years and the physical toll 35 years drawing some of the most iconic comic characters in history have taken on his body. (28:23) Finally, Ron talks about the current transition of the comic book industry and his plans moving forward. (42:40)

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Drew and Kiel from Comics Elite comic shop preview the best and worst releases of the new comic book week. DC and Marvel Comics are debuting several new titles during new comic week December 15th including Batgirls and Wastelanders: Wolverine. Drew and Kiel lay out this weeks new releases you shouldn’t expect much from or can outright skip. (00:00) Drew and Kiel then name his Top 10 must read new comics for the week. (49:05) Must listen for readers looking for the best bang for their new comic buck. Marvel Comics feature new series Wastelanders: Wolverine and new issues of Amazing Spider-Man,Hulk, X-Force and Strange Academy. DC Comics feature new Batgirls and new issues of Batman: The Imposter, Robin & Batman, Wonder Woman and Teen Titans Academy. Image Comics feature new issues of King Spawn and Primordial. Other indie comics of note include; Mazebook, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers, BRZRKR and X-O Manowar.

Comics Elite Info

YT: youtube.com/channel/UCqomzHuP6X3QLXElMdzm1JA

Website: comicselitecomics.com/

Facebook: facebook.com/comicselite/

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Wes is joined by award-winning comic book editor Joe Corallo and comic super-fan Eric Breen to review The Doom Patrol’s first story after becoming a self-titles comic series. Previously published in My Greatest Adventures, The Doom Patrol are one of the oddest superhero teams in history. Writer Arnold Drake and artist Bruno Premiani do a fantastic capturing the spirit of the silver-age oddities. In this story many things are revealed, including Chief’s name and origin story. 

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Wes is joined by award-winning comic book editor Joe Corallo and comic super-fan Eric Breen to review David Michelinie and Bob Layton’s Iron Man Vs Hulk story arc. David Michelinie’s Iron Man comic book run is criminal underrated. One story that stands out is his 3-issue Iron Man Vs Hulk story. Brought to life by Bob Layton’s impeccable line art. Iron man vs Hulk is a pulse pounding thrill-ride of a comic book. 

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Comic book collectibles expert and critic Gem Mint Collectibles joins Wes and the Comics Aficionados. The Comics Aficionados break down all the latest comic book industry news and rumors. X-Men Group Editor Jordan White and Marvel Comics received plenty of criticism following their X-Men: Green story. Jordan White attempted to calm the outrage but ended up making things far worse. Calling into question whether White even knows what makes heroes and villains anymore. (00:21:35) X-Men fans knew change was coming following Jonathan Hickman’s exit from the franchise early next year. Marvel Comics announced a soft reboot following X Lives/Deaths of Wolverine, Destiny of X. (00:42:00) DC Comics announced their third crossover event including Batman this week, Shadow War. Batman is the flagship character of DC Comics but this is getting ridiculous. (01:28:00) DC Comics put a stop to exclusive creator contracts following the pandemic shutdown. This practice blew up in their faces when Batman writer James Tynion decided to leave with little notice. This week DC signed controversial writer Tom Taylor to a new exclusive. (01:45:55) Chip Zdarsky’s Daredevil run has been criminally under-read the past several years. It was surprising Marvel Comics gave him his own crossover event, Devil’s Reign. Devil’s Reign #1 had great action and art but didn’t have the signature moment to kick off such an expansive crossover event. (02:01:00) DC Comics EIC Marie Javins is explaining her plans for Wonder Woman moving forward. It appears DC Comics are going to ignore 80 years of history and use one-third of DC’s Trinity to push social commentary. (02:20:35) 

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Batman Critic Josh McDonald and X-Men Historian Dok join Wes to talk about all the latest developments and comics in Batman and X-Men. First Josh joins Wes to review Batman #118, which features new writer Joshua Williamson. Williamson does a good job transitioning to a new arc with fantastic art from Jorge Molina. Josh and Wes also review the latest issues of Batman ’89 and Arkham City before talking about speculation that Joker is appearing in Matt Reeves The Batman film. (00:00:00) Wes talks about DC’s announcement of a third Batman crossover event in 6 months. (00:28:21) Dok and Wes talk about the details of Immortal X-Men and Marauders reboot from Destiny of X. They also review the Hellions finale. What had been the very best ongoing X-Men series for some time (00:39:22) Wes and Dok then review the latest issue of Jonathan Hickman’s Inferno. Inferno #3 is filled with exciting revelations that should have happened during Hickman’s X-Men run. (01:02:11) Finally, they talk about Marvel’s announcement of an upcoming X-Men vs Avengers sequel. (01:21:33)

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Wes is back with another episode of the The Comic Wrap. Wes runs down the biggest comic book and pop culture news and best conversations of the week. X-Men group editor Jordan White answered X-Men: Green critics this week. Turns out he has no clue what the real criticism is or what made the story repugnant. (00:00:00) Streaming services like Netflix and HBO Max are frequently turning to Hollywood names to produce content based on beloved franchises. Comic book editor and writer Aaron Sparrow and Wes discuss why this is resulting in low quality adaptations. And how Seth Rogan and Kevin Smith do themselves no favors lashing out at fans. (00:23:01) DC Comics announced their first exclusive writer in over a year this week, Tom Taylor. Taylor has begun incorporating his trademark writing tropes that ruined his career at Marvel Comics. (00:45:12) For the first time in moths Manga didn’t occupy the best selling adult graphic novel in November. Unfortunately, DC and Marvel still can’t penetrate the Top 20. Falling behind Manga and webtoons. (01:03:36) There are more troubling signs at IDW Publishing. They recently letting go of EIC John Barber after rumors of major licenses leaving the company. (01:16:16) Marvel Comics released details of this weeks Devil’s Reign event in anticipation of its release. Turns out, Marvel are rehashing their illegal superhero story…again. (01:29:24) Wes reviews the first issue of Devil’s Reign from Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto. The comic hits all the right notes on action but lacks in motive and plot. (01:42:56) Dok and Wes review two of the worst comics of last week; Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons and Phoenix Song: Echo #2. (02:05:10) Finally, Skip and Aaron Sparrow join Wes to talk about Hawkeye episode 4 from Disney+. (02:32:05)

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Gevian Dargan, former assistant-editor at Milestone Comics, joins Wes for “It’s Complicated” to discuss hot-button issues from todays culture. Today Gevian and Wes discuss how freedom of speech is under fire, not from government, but major technology companies and media. When the founding fathers wrote the Bill of Rights in the US it was primarily aimed to protect people from government. Little did they know the greatest threat to free speech would be companies that control access to who can and cannot be heard. This was a point of emphasis by new Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal in 2018. Controlling narratives and access to information seems to be a point of emphasis from Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Tools a majority off US citizens use to communicate and find information today. 

Gevian Daragan

Twitter: @GevianDargan