Dapper Detectives and Superheroes: Jim McCann

Today on Word Balloon, I’m joined by Jim McCann, a creator whose career spans stylish indie storytelling and major superhero runs, and he’s back with something new. Jim joins me to talk about The Other Half, his brand-new detective comic from Ignition Press. It’s a sharp, modern homage to the high-society sleuths of the 1930s and ’40s. Very much in the tradition of Nick and Nora Charles, where glamour, wit, and mystery collide. We dig into the tone of the book, the appeal of that classic era, and how Jim updates the form without losing its elegance.

We also look back at Jim’s Eisner Award–winning graphic novel Return of the Dapper Men, his time at Marvel Comics writing Hawkeye & Mockingbird, and his years working behind the scenes as Marvel’s marketing director. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about craft, career pivots, and why some styles, and some stories...never go out of fashion.