Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast

If you’re responding positively to the political electricity in DC’s Absolute line (as this recent Rolling Stone article suggests), then you must read No One Escapes the Dialectic. The first issue, by Spencer Ackerman, Antonio Fuso, Brad Simpson, and Jodie Troutman, landed in comic book shops today, and it’s a scorcher.

The comic reflects a nation in revolt, where a masked vigilante kills a Special Naturalization Operations (SNO) agent, sending the government force, already at war with itself, into a panic. While they scramble to uncover and detain the killer, the communities they invade daily attempt to organize opposition. Is the vigilante, The Dialectic, a force to embrace or resist?

We’re eager to share today’s episode with writer Spencer Ackerman. He’s a Pulitzer Prize and National Magazine Award-winning reporter who has spent the last two decades entrenched in national security. He’s also a massive comic book geek, having done time on Iron Man and co-scripted the DC series, Waller vs. Wildstorm. No One Escapes the Dialectic, however, is Spencer Ackerman unleashed and truly plunging into the world outside your window.

Spencer Ackerman explains why he writes comics and how they enrich him in ways his day job does not. We discuss what readers want from their superheroes, whether Batman would benefit a revolution, and why he wants No One Escapes the Dialectic to feel dangerous.

The first issue is out now from Boom Studios, with the second expected to arrive on December 16th. Final Order Cutoff is November 9th. Follow Spencer Ackerman on BlueSky and Instagram, and subscribe to his Forever Wars.

Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode:

Listen AD-Free!

Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel

Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics

Previously on CBCC: Pornsak Pichetshote on Absolute Green Arrow

Previously on CBCC: Daniel Warren Johnson on Absolute Batman

Subscribe to the CBCC Newsletter

Final Round of Plugs (PHEW):

Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.

And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.

Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts.

Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators.

Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

This Week's Sponsors

This winter, rising star George Northy and Eisner Award–nominated artist Caitlin Yarsky invite you, dear listener, to a distant castle to behold a meticulously crafted, first-of-its-kind comics murder mystery starring the greatest man-made monster of all. Decades after his creation, the creature once known as Frankenstein’s Monster has reinvented himself as Europe’s most formidable mind. After years underground, his scars have faded, and his genius-level intellect has tamed his hulking nature, revealing an extraordinary talent for solving the world’s most inexplicable mysteries. Today, he is Prometheus Graft: Gentleman Detective, expert investigator, and something still not quite entirely human. From the ashes of Frankenstein’s past, witness the birth of a new legendary detective – only in Prometheus Graft: The Slayings at Death’s End #1 from Oni Press – on sale December 9th!

We’re cutting the Law down to size! As Judge Dredd celebrates fifty years of publication in 2027, now is the time to read his stories from the beginning. Judge Dredd: The Compact Crimes begins in January 2027 - a new series of compact comics featuring the Lawman of the Future. Collecting his original stories right from the start, this is the perfect way to try out Judge Dredd for the first time. Printed in compact size, each volume is filled with the sharp satire, keen wit, and all-out action Dredd is known for. Each volume costs only $12.99, with a new volume releasing every month in 2027 – so you can keep your Law in Order!

These Universal Monsters/Skybound Entertainment collaborations have been such wonderful gifts for us (and probably a lot of other people, too). They’ve given us an excuse to revisit the classic monster movies and, in some cases, watch them for the very first time. The night before we spoke with Kelly Thompson about her sequel comic, The Bride of Frankenstein Lives, we snuggled up on the couch together and devoured the 1935 original. So bloody good, and it left us wanting more, certainly, since the Bride only shows up in the heartbreaking last three minutes.

The Bride of Frankenstein is not her movie; it’s his. The creature crawls from the fiery wreckage of the first film, terrifies the countryside, ponders his loneliness, and cries for companionship. Two wicked mad scientists grant his wish, forcing the Bride to life, and when she recoils from her arranged marriage, the husband-to-be blows the whole damn thing up—the end.

Thankfully not. Kelly Thompson, along with artist Mattia De Iulis and letterer Becca Carey, frees the Bride from her explosive ending and gives her new life in The Bride of Frankenstein Lives. Finally, the title character gets her title. The first issue, out now from Skybound Entertainment and Image Comics, centers the Bride’s story and perspective. This is a saga not about the men who made her, but the women who gave their limbs and organs to her so she may live. Of course, what kind of life is this, where her very existence invites predators?

On this very special Halloween episode, we chat with Kelly Thompson about giving The Bride of Frankenstein her proper due, and how this story works in conversation with everything she’s doing with Absolute Wonder Woman. We discuss the original film, what the creators might have had in mind, and how the movie inspired Thompson to go in her own direction.

Stay up to date on all things Kelly Thompson by following her website, BlueSky, and Instagram.

Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode:

Listen AD-Free!

Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel

Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics

Previously on CBCC: Pornsak Pichetshote on Absolute Green Arrow

Previously on CBCC: Tony Fleecs on The Princess Murders

Subscribe to the CBCC Newsletter

Final Round of Plugs (PHEW):

Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.

And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.

Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts.

Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators.

Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

This Week's Sponsors

This winter, rising star George Northy and Eisner Award–nominated artist Caitlin Yarsky invite you, dear listener, to a distant castle to behold a meticulously crafted, first-of-its-kind comics murder mystery starring the greatest man-made monster of all. Decades after his creation, the creature once known as Frankenstein’s Monster has reinvented himself as Europe’s most formidable mind. After years underground, his scars have faded, and his genius-level intellect has tamed his hulking nature, revealing an extraordinary talent for solving the world’s most inexplicable mysteries. Today, he is Prometheus Graft: Gentleman Detective, expert investigator, and something still not quite entirely human. From the ashes of Frankenstein’s past, witness the birth of a new legendary detective – only in Prometheus Graft: The Slayings at Death’s End #1 from Oni Press – on sale December 9th!

We’re cutting the Law down to size! As Judge Dredd celebrates fifty years of publication in 2027, now is the time to read his stories from the beginning. Judge Dredd: The Compact Crimes begins in January 2027 - a new series of compact comics featuring the Lawman of the Future. Collecting his original stories right from the start, this is the perfect way to try out Judge Dredd for the first time. Printed in compact size, each volume is filled with the sharp satire, keen wit, and all-out action Dredd is known for. Each volume costs only $12.99, with a new volume releasing every month in 2027 – so you can keep your Law in Order!

This is your first warning. Go no further until you’ve read Absolute Green Arrow #6 by Pornsak Pichetshote and Rafael Albuquerque. The issue hit stands last week, and we’re desperate to discuss all its gnarly reveals with the writer. As you heard when the creators were last on the show, co-host Lisa was confident she knew The Longbow Killer’s identity. It’s time to confess; put it all out there.

When Absolute Green Arrow launched several months ago, the plan was for a hearty six issues. Then, the sales came in, and a twelve-issue extension was deemed more than desirable. The story’s first arc exposed the killer stalking the streets but spawned numerous new questions. It’s time to pose those to Pornsak Pichetshote while also mulling over the tricky, painfully relevant themes at the story’s core. What problems are solved when billionaires are hunted?

This week on the podcast, we’re sharing our wacky predictions, admitting fault, and savoring the delights that Pornsak Pichetshote and Rafael Albuquerque delivered with Absolute Green Arrow’s breakout storyline. We discuss how Absolute Green Arrow parallels Pichetshote’s other new horror series, Exquisite Corpses: Lone Gunman, which arrives in comic book shops next Wednesday. Hear an artist understand his world (our world) by making comics.

Absolute Green Arrow issues one through six are out now from DC Comics. They’re written by Pornsak Pichetshote, illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque, colored by Marcelo Maiolo, and lettered by Jeff Powell. Make sure you're following Pornsak Pichetshote on Bluesky and Instagram.

Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode:

Listen AD-Free!

Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel

Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics

Previously on CBCC: Pornsak Pichetshote and Rafael Albuquerque on Absolute Green Arrow

Previously on CBCC: Tony Fleecs on The Princess Murders

Subscribe to the CBCC Newsletter

Final Round of Plugs (PHEW):

Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.

And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.

Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts.

Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators.

Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

This Week's Sponsors

This winter, rising star George Northy and Eisner Award–nominated artist Caitlin Yarsky invite you, dear listener, to a distant castle to behold a meticulously crafted, first-of-its-kind comics murder mystery starring the greatest man-made monster of all. Decades after his creation, the creature once known as Frankenstein’s Monster has reinvented himself as Europe’s most formidable mind. After years underground, his scars have faded, and his genius-level intellect has tamed his hulking nature, revealing an extraordinary talent for solving the world’s most inexplicable mysteries. Today, he is Prometheus Graft: Gentleman Detective, expert investigator, and something still not quite entirely human. From the ashes of Frankenstein’s past, witness the birth of a new legendary detective – only in Prometheus Graft: The Slayings at Death’s End #1 from Oni Press – on sale December 9th!

We’re cutting the Law down to size! As Judge Dredd celebrates fifty years of publication in 2027, now is the time to read his stories from the beginning. Judge Dredd: The Compact Crimes begins in January 2027 - a new series of compact comics featuring the Lawman of the Future. Collecting his original stories right from the start, this is the perfect way to try out Judge Dredd for the first time. Printed in compact size, each volume is filled with the sharp satire, keen wit, and all-out action Dredd is known for. Each volume costs only $12.99, with a new volume releasing every month in 2027 – so you can keep your Law in Order!

Uh-oh. Tony Fleecs and Tim Seeley (along with colorist Brian Reber) have waded into precious waters with The Princess Murders. We podcasters have very strong opinions about Disney princesses and black-gloved Giallo killers, and we need to check their cred before we go any further. Their new Image Comics series plunges into the dark depths of both fantasy lands, but thankfully does so with profound reverence.

On the show this week, Tony Fleecs starts by interviewing our Lisa Gullickson. He needs to know her choir history. He, too, has cred to check. Lisa passes swimmingly. Then we explore our collective Disney princess past, debate whether Simba counts as a princess, and dive into the graphic horror of various Italian Giallo masters.

The Princess Murders tells its own unique story. Princess Lottie and her wicked stepsister Edwige travel to the Kingdom of Sardinia, where many other princesses have gathered to steal the hand of gorgeous Prince Carlo. The competition between them is fierce enough, but when a black-gloved killer makes their presence known in spectacularly bloody fashion, the princesses suddenly have much more to contend with than a royal cattle call.

The Princess Murders #1 arrives in comic book shops on December 9th. Final Order Cutoff (FOC) is November 9th. Keep up to date by following Tony Fleecs on Instagram, BlueSky, and his Website.

Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode:

Listen AD-Free!

Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel

Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics

Watch Tony Fleecs in The Stacks

Watch The Princess Murders Trailer

Previously on CBCC: Dan Slott on The Spectacular Spider-Man

Subscribe to the CBCC Newsletter

Final Round of Plugs (PHEW):

Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.

And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.

Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts.

Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators.

Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

This Week's Sponsors

This winter, rising star George Northy and Eisner Award–nominated artist Caitlin Yarsky invite you, dear listener, to a distant castle to behold a meticulously crafted, first-of-its-kind comics murder mystery starring the greatest man-made monster of all. Decades after his creation, the creature once known as Frankenstein’s Monster has reinvented himself as Europe’s most formidable mind. After years underground, his scars have faded, and his genius-level intellect has tamed his hulking nature, revealing an extraordinary talent for solving the world’s most inexplicable mysteries. Today, he is Prometheus Graft: Gentleman Detective, expert investigator, and something still not quite entirely human. From the ashes of Frankenstein’s past, witness the birth of a new legendary detective – only in Prometheus Graft: The Slayings at Death’s End #1 from Oni Press – on sale December 9th!

We’re cutting the Law down to size! As Judge Dredd celebrates fifty years of publication in 2027, now is the time to read his stories from the beginning. Judge Dredd: The Compact Crimes begins in January 2027 - a new series of compact comics featuring the Lawman of the Future. Collecting his original stories right from the start, this is the perfect way to try out Judge Dredd for the first time. Printed in compact size, each volume is filled with the sharp satire, keen wit, and all-out action Dredd is known for. Each volume costs only $12.99, with a new volume releasing every month in 2027 – so you can keep your Law in Order!

This week, Dan Slott joins us for a giant-sized conversation about The Spectacular Spider-Man. Thanks to a little MCU synergy, Slott finds himself back in his early days, writing Spider-Man during his “Brand New Day” era. He’s dancing between the raindrops, attempting to fill out a previous Spider-Man epoch while hopefully expanding current continuity. Sounds like quite the magic trick.

Five months ago, The Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day was a five-issue miniseries. Today, it’s an ongoing series, moving beyond Brand New Day, pushing into the Big Time era, and maybe soon The Superior Spider-Man? Not so fast. We get into it.

But seriously, with Dan Slott revisiting stories from nearly twenty years ago in The Spectacular Spider-Man, how will he reckon with his most iconic storyline? If he wants to bring this new Spectacular Spider-Man into modern continuity, he'll have to address Doc Ock, right? And in reflecting on Superior Spider-Man, Dan Slott reminisces about that catastrophic launch and the controversy that followed. Whatever the case, Slott is throwing everything into this new monthly book. He's going "hog wild."

The Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day issues 1 - 5 were written by Dan Slott, illustrated by Marcus To, colored by Alex Sinclair, lettered by VC’s Joe Caramagna, with Tell-All pages by Marcos Martín and Munsta Vicente, and published by Marvel Comics. The Spectacular Spider-Man #7 arrives in shops on 11/25 (FOC is Monday 10/19).

Follow Dan Slott on BlueSky and Instagram.

Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode:

Listen AD-Free!

Subscribe to the Comic Book Couples Counseling YouTube Channel

Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics

Previously on CBCC: Alex Ross and Sal Abbinanti on Marvel Dimensions

Previously on CBCC: Dan Slott on Silver Surfer

Subscribe to the CBCC Newsletter

Final Round of Plugs (PHEW):

Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.

And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.

Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts.

Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators.

Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.

This Week's Sponsors

This winter, rising star George Northy and Eisner Award–nominated artist Caitlin Yarsky invite you, dear listener, to a distant castle to behold a meticulously crafted, first-of-its-kind comics murder mystery starring the greatest man-made monster of all. Decades after his creation, the creature once known as Frankenstein’s Monster has reinvented himself as Europe’s most formidable mind. After years underground, his scars have faded, and his genius-level intellect has tamed his hulking nature, revealing an extraordinary talent for solving the world’s most inexplicable mysteries. Today, he is Prometheus Graft: Gentleman Detective, expert investigator, and something still not quite entirely human. From the ashes of Frankenstein’s past, witness the birth of a new legendary detective – only in Prometheus Graft: The Slayings at Death’s End #1 from Oni Press – on sale December 9th!

We’re cutting the Law down to size! As Judge Dredd celebrates fifty years of publication in 2027, now is the time to read his stories from the beginning. Judge Dredd: The Compact Crimes begins in January 2027 - a new series of compact comics featuring the Lawman of the Future. Collecting his original stories right from the start, this is the perfect way to try out Judge Dredd for the first time. Printed in compact size, each volume is filled with the sharp satire, keen wit, and all-out action Dredd is known for. Each volume costs only $12.99, with a new volume releasing every month in 2027 – so you can keep your Law in Order!