84: Jason Brubaker, Doug TenNapel, & Ethan Nicolle (CLASSIC #18) – MakingComics.com Gutter Talk Podcast

Nearly five months ago, we released what we thought was the last of the Making Comics Gutter Talk re-issue podcasts. For those not familiar with the backstory, at one time, this great site was run by Jason Brubaker, creator of Sithrah and reMIND. However, as Jason’s work and home life began to increase with success and responsibilities, both the site and podcasts became a responsibility he didn’t feel comfortable not putting his all into. He subsequently handed the reigns to Patrick Yurick near the end of 2013 and, well, the journey has been interesting since then, to say the least.

A new podcast and podcast host joined the ranks. Still, people clamored for Jason’s old podcasts, and rightly so. The guests and conversations were a great mix of depth and joy, and every episode was a learning tool. After contacting Jason, he agreed to let us re-release the old podcasts until they ran out. Earlier this year, towards the end of May, we thought we had reached that point. However, what was previously released was only Part 1. If you have not heard Part 1 yet, click here. Jason let us know he still had the second half but it needed some edits. Towards the end of this past summer, Jason was able to find the time in his busy schedule to complete those edits. He even included a personal message at the end of the episode so make sure you listen all the way through.

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83: Dean Haspiel – MakingComics.com Gutter Talk Podcast

It’s not often we at the Making Comics Gutter Talk podcast get an Emmy Award winning artist on the show. Of course that’s not why we were solely excited to have Dean Haspiel on but we’d be lying if we said it didn’t add to that excitement. In this Gutter Talk episode, Adam picks Dean’s brain to discuss all things art and comics. Well, maybe not all things. There were a few tangents but it was all art related. Sort of.

Early on Adam and Dean discuss the art experience, what it’s like to encounter art in a way you neither expected nor experienced in the past. Sometimes it’s the challenge that makes art an emotional experience and those emotions can range from joy to confusion to sometimes anger. These feelings, however, only confirm the effectiveness of the art the viewer is visually taking in.

Another important topic of discussion was what makes a story unique and universal at the same time. In Dean’s soon-to-be released graphic novel, Beef With Tomato, he exuded the heart and essence of New York City. If you’ve been to New York City, you’ll surely find something familiar in the book. If you haven’t, the book will make you realize even the ugly side of the city can be beautiful. Because Dean is New York City through and through, he’s able to connect the reader to the city with ease, thereby creating that unique and universal tone.

We know this is a longer than usual episode but we’re confident the next almost two hours with Dean Haspiel will be well spent.

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82: Jeffrey Burandt – MakingComics.com Gutter Talk Podcast

Some of you may be old or wise enough to remember a heavy metal band called Twisted Sister. Back when MTV used to play music, they had a video out for one their popular songs, “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and in this video, the opening montage starts with an angry father berating his young teen for playing rock and roll on his guitar. At the end of his tirade, he angrily asks, “What do you want to do with your life?” The kid looks at him with a grin and that patent heavy metal glare and says, “I wanna rock.”

The reason for the trip down memory lane is because at the end of this Gutter Talk interview with artist and musician Jeffrey Burandt, we could picture little Jeffrey Burandt saying that classic line but following it up with, “And make comics, too.”

Join Adam and Jef as they turn it up to 11 and discuss not just the depths of art but the depth of life, too. As the previous 81 episodes will attest, we all encounter hurdles and mountains in our quest to fill our lives with creative endeavors, big or small. While there are better ways of coping than others, to say there is only one way to cope would be a very tough thing to sell. There are so many things we can learn from others and we hope you take from these podcasts not just the knowledge of comic creation but also some mechanisms your peers have put in place to help them as they navigate through this wacky thing called life as an artist.

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81: Chris Hunt – MakingComics.com Gutter Talk Podcast

We here at the Making Comics Gutter Talk podcast are not promoting anarchy. Still, as you’ll hear in today’s podcast with Chris Hunt, maybe those in charge don’t know what they’re doing. This doesn’t mean start a riot but as Chris found out and explained, sometimes the adults get it wrong, like when he was told he’ll never be able to read at an early age, for example. He questioned that assessment and clearly overcame that obstacle, not letting others determine his path and accomplishments in life. In the world of art and comics, this fortitude and resolve will come in handy. In fact, it already has.

In this episode, Adam talks to Chris about overcoming hurdles like a champ, as well as what it’s like to be old school in a new school world. The term Luddite even comes up a few times. Still, one of the more inspiring things you’ll hear in today’s episode is Chris’s drive to pursue a career and life he wants and seemingly will get. After you listen to this episode, we’re pretty sure you’ll be hardpressed to disagree.

And just like jury duty, make it a civic responsibility to go to our iTunes page and give the Gutter Talk podcast a rating and review. We have no authority to fine you or place you in a holding cell for a few days because you didn’t rate or review the podcast. Still, we wouldn’t suggest it.

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80: John Mueller – MakingComics.com Gutter Talk Podcast

Like a story to tell, everyone has a journey to take in life. For some, that journey is quick. For others, it’s a lifelong voyage. And then there are those whose journey is right on time. Never, though, is it what we expect. In today’s Making Comics Gutter Talk episode, Adam sits down with artist, game developer, and journeyman, John Mueller. John is the creator of the dystopian series, OINK, and as of this episode’s release will have six more days to hit stretch goals in the Kickstarter project. That’s right, stretch goals. John’s Kickstarter project has hit its initial goal and now comes all the fun stuff.

Listen in as John and Adam talk about the journey not only his OINK project has been on but the overall journey John has been on as an artist. His path through the gaming world provides a unique insight into storytelling and world building when it comes to the gaming world versus graphic novels. Plus, there’s a drive inside John that is very inspiring, as he is the type of individual that goes out and gets what he wants in life, and does so seemingly in a very laid-back manner. There’s a lot to learn from in this episode.

Please be sure to head over to iTunes and give the Gutter Talk podcast some love, both with stars and with words. We really do appreciate it and it goes a long way in getting not just the Gutter Talk podcast a piece of the spotlight but also Making Comics as a whole.

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79: San Diego Comic-Con 2015 Panel – MakingComics.com Gutter Talk Podcast

There is nothing easy about making comics, whether it’s the art or the storytelling. Just flipping through the first few pages of your favorite story can be enough to intimidate even the hardiest of the artists out there. It really does take a fair amount of chutzpah to want to make comics. But fear not, for there are things out there that may not make it easy for you but can, if nothing else, make it easier. And that’s why we at Making Comics were excited to have assembled this group of people ranging from artists to editors, if not both, for the live Gutter Talk panel at this year’s Comic Con in San Diego, because we just had a feeling that they would be the ones to provide both inspiration and very useful knowledge.

Moderated by the Gutter Talk podcast host Adam Greenfield, the panel consisted of Mark Waid, writer of Daredevil and most recently the Archie comics, Christy Blanch, an educator and also writer for The Damnation of Charlie Wormwood, Chris Miskiewicz, the writer for Thomas Alsop, Rachel Dukes, creator of Frankie Comics, and Calista Brill, a senior editor with First Second Books. See what we mean? This panel was destined to be amazing and it certainly lived up to the billing. Download or stream the show and you’ll see what we’re talking about.

Please also be sure to head over to iTunes and give us a rating and review. What you gain from doing this is tenfold compared to what we get out of it, and this is why we are doing what we are doing. From the new site to the future plans we have in store for everyone, it all becomes more viable when we become more visible.

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[Teaser Trailer] Making Comics Gutter Talk LIVE at SDCC! – MakingComics.com Gutter Talk Podcast

**tap tap tap**

Is this thing on? Yeah? You can hear me? Ok, good.

Hi, everyone. Adam here. Yes, your host. I know it’s been a few weeks but if you couldn’t tell, I’ve been a little busy. Also, usually this post is written in 3rd person but this is a bit of a special post so I’m going to do that thing in 1st person, if you all don’t mind. Who knows? Maybe this will become a trend.

Unless you’ve been under a rock or are new to us, I say either glad to see you’re free or welcome to the site, whichever suits your situation. Either way, you probably know by now that we had a live Gutter Talk panel at this year’s San Diego Comic Con and from what I remember, it was pretty great. It’s weird once you get up there and get on a roll. You sort of black out and the next thing you know a Comic Con employee is holding up a STOP sign. Where the heck did that 50 minutes go?!

From what I do remember, though, it was a pretty great panel. Just to be sure my memories were right, tonight I went back and listened. I stand corrected; it was an amazing panel. Everyone on there had great answers to the questions and made the panel a lot of fun. It was extremely inspirational and so far the highlight of my year.

What I want to share with you here is just a quick thing I pieced together, partly to dust off the microphones because it’s been a little while, but really because before I release the full panel in a couple weeks I want to give you a brief idea of some of the fun you’ll get to hear soon.

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78: Rachel Dukes – MakingComics.com Gutter Talk Podcast

In 1988, a wildly talented musician named Bobby McFerrin released a song titled “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” For those of us who remember this song, it was certainly catchy enough to often catch yourself whistling while walking to the bus stop. And yet who knew in the end just how useful those words would be if only we had really taken them to heart? Of course, easier said than done, but it sure would’ve been nice to not worry. That said, we’re artists. Who are we kidding?

And that’s what makes this Gutter Talk episode with Rachel Dukes, artist and creator of Frankie Comics, so great. It’s further confirmation that worrying as a young, budding artist just trying to get their bearing in this ocean of art, let alone in the lake of comics, is actually normal. It’s even proof that yes, you can outgrow the worst of it. Now if only we had time machines….

Download the podcast and listen in as Adam and Rachel discuss why see-through rulers are better than rulers you can’t see through, her Kickstarter project for Frankie Comics, and some of the hurtles she encountered as a kid when opportunities presented themselves.

Also, be sure you are heading over to iTunes to give us a review and a rating. It’ll be the easiest thing you do all day today. We promise. Then tell your friends to give the podcast a review and a rating. Then tell them to tell their friends to- well, you see where we’re going with this.

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77: Marcus Kwame Anderson – MakingComics.com Gutter Talk Podcast

Every week on the Making Comics Gutter Talk podcast we do our best to make sure we bring you guests with wide ranges of experience and knowledge. Some guests in the past only recently made their foray into comic creation and some are, well, Mark Waid and Stephen Bissette. However, one topic that doesn’t come up as Adam would like sometimes is the amount of power an artist has in not just their skills but their talent. This week’s Gutter Talk guest, though, Marcus Kwame Anderson, is well aware of just how much power he has with his art. As a seemingly jack of all creative trades, Marcus uses his art and comics to not just please himself and consumers but to also make a statement. As you’ll hear, he has found out just how much positive change he can make. He hasn’t stopped trying since.

In this episode you’ll also hear some big news in the intro regarding the future of Gutter Talk. Ok, that sounds a little more ominous than intended but really, it’s all good. Just download, listen, and everything will be just fine.

Like with every post, we again want to make a plea to ask for your ratings and reviews on iTunes. Please take a few minutes and head on over to our page to give the Gutter Talk podcast a rating and review. We really do appreciate not just the effort but the love, too. It means the world to not just the host, Adam, but to the rest of us at Making Comics Worldwide.

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76: Site Redesign Round Table – MakingComics.com Gutter Talk Podcast

After months and months of threatening to redesign the site, we did it. We finally did it! And it was totally worth it. That’s why we at Making Comics Worldwide thought a dedicated Gutter Talk podcast to discuss the features and efforts and excitement of the staff would be a fantastic episode. We think this will be worth it to you, too.

In this Gutter Talk episode you will hear from Patrick Yurick, Mark Luetke, Kevin Cullen, Marisa Brenizer, Michael Yakutis, and your loving host, Adam Greenfield. Each of them will discuss the work and dedication it took to create the site, as well as some of their favorite parts. It even ends on a warm and fuzzy note. Who doesn’t like warm and fuzzy endings? Actually, don’t answer that. Just download the podcast and you’ll feel what we mean.

While you’re listening to the podcast, we promise not to be upset if you step away from the site and head over to our iTunes page to give us a rating and review. Of course, that is if you give us a positive rating and review. If you don’t, we’ll track you down and draw a sad comic on your forehead using a Sharpie. Don’t tempt us. Just do yourself and favor and show us some love on iTunes. We promise it’ll be painless and you may even feel good about yourself, yet another warm and fuzzy feeling this podcast provides to you, the listener.

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