David Pepose Interview

[00:00:00] - [Speaker 0]
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[00:00:11] - [Speaker 1]
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[00:00:55] - [Speaker 2]
Hello, and welcome to Comic Book Yeti's Cryptid Creator Corner. I am one of your hosts, Jimmy Gasparo, and I'm very excited for today's guest because, this is his fifth time on the podcast. He is joining a very a very small club. I I think we're gonna have T shirts made, for the I was hoping comments of getting

[00:01:14] - [Speaker 3]
jackets like SNL. Well, I would love if we could

[00:01:18] - [Speaker 2]
do that. Does not pay much. I totally understand. Yeah. We don't we don't really make anything from this, so I I don't know if we can do jackets, but T shirt

[00:01:27] - [Speaker 3]
and knives are are are spiritual. They're they're they're they're they're

[00:01:31] - [Speaker 2]
they're they're they're. That's true. That's true. But, yeah, it's David Pepos, everybody, and he is So thank you, David. Oh, it's my pleasure.

[00:01:42] - [Speaker 3]
Thank you so much for having me for five times now. You guys are clearly gluttons for punishment, so thank you for having me.

[00:01:50] - [Speaker 2]
Yeah. Absolutely. And you've been on with both with with me before, with Byron as well. You've been on we started the podcast in 2022. I mean, I can't believe it's only four years seems like not that long ago and a very long time considering we're, like Yeah.

[00:02:09] - [Speaker 2]
What a decade it's Yeah. What a decade the past four years have been. Yeah. Because we're a little over 450 episodes in that time period. And so you've been on once a year.

[00:02:23] - [Speaker 2]
Just for listeners, if you're curious to go back, in 2022, David, you were on, you talked to, likes about a bunch of other things, but mainly, you know, with savage avengers, and then 2023 for the devil that wears my face, 2024 with space ghost, and then last year, March 18. So just just a little more than a year ago, you and I talked about a bunch of stuff, but cable, loving Chrome. So yeah. Now now now we're in 2026.

[00:02:55] - [Speaker 3]
Yeah. I feel like, boy, it's it's really it's like, the Groundhog Day, kinda thing. So we're gonna make sure that we see our shadows, for for for this interview.

[00:03:04] - [Speaker 2]
But, yeah,

[00:03:05] - [Speaker 3]
I I am excited to talk all things comics with you today. I I have an open book. For those who don't know who I am, I write books like Space Ghost over at Dynamite, Speed Racer over at Mad cave studios, captain planet also at, at dynamite, and a slew of creator owned projects, including my up the return of my, Kickstarter series, the o z, which we are, looking to pull the trigger on that, very, very

[00:03:33] - [Speaker 2]
Oh, well, that's very exciting because that is a a fantastic series. One one the Ringo Award. Right?

[00:03:41] - [Speaker 3]
Yes. We did. Yeah. For for best single issue, when our when our first issue came out. So it's a it's a real point of pride for me in my career, and this this issue has been a long time coming.

[00:03:52] - [Speaker 3]
It's been a few years since the the last one came out. It really is a combination of just, you know, life happened. You know, my my artist, Ruben Rojas, amazing artist. You know, he got married. He had a kid.

[00:04:03] - [Speaker 3]
You know, things took a little bit longer than expected as far as the art was concerned. And, by the time the art came in, I was kinda neck deep in in my own deadlines, juggling. I think that was the, when I was still juggling Space Ghost and Captain Planet and, Speed Racer and wrapping cable all at the same time. But now the the the art is done in the book. We are just, wrapping up in final letters now, and then, we will be off to the races, hopefully sooner versus later.

[00:04:30] - [Speaker 2]
That's awesome. Yeah. That's I mean, for, listeners who don't know, who didn't you know, aren't familiar with the series, I mean, it's essentially like a a take on the wizard of Oz where the the o's like, o z stands for occupied zone.

[00:04:43] - [Speaker 3]
It's just

[00:04:45] - [Speaker 2]
yeah. It's it's a wonderful seer. What my my brother Bobby, the cryptid creator corner's number one most dedicated fan. Bobby loves it. Every time I mention your name, he is like, if you talk to David, can you find out if those z's coming back?

[00:05:00] - [Speaker 3]
You tell him it's coming back. Mayo, it's been a long time coming, and I'm really I I'm I'm I'm very confident that, this last issue really stuck the landing on it. I think people are gonna be really excited to see kinda how the series wraps up. But, yeah, for for those who who aren't familiar with the book, I pitched it as, Mad Max meets the Wizard of Oz. It's about, the granddaughter of the original Dorothy Gale who has grown up to become, an Iraq war veteran who has come back, to take care of her alien grandmother in Kansas.

[00:05:32] - [Speaker 3]
She's kinda grappling with disillusionment and PTSD, until the tornado strikes on their Kansas farm. And this young granddaughter of Dorothy, also named Dorothy, finds herself stranded in the war torn, Land Of Oz. And she discovers that, her grandmother killing two wicked witches and deposing the Wizard of Oz in, like, a week and then splitting, that doesn't cause a happy ending that causes a power vacuum not unlike Baghdad. And so this is sort of, this this kind of, you know, disillusioned soldier, her chance or second chance, to kinda set things right in the land of Oz and sort of atone for her grandmother's sins. And we get to see her reunite with her grandmother's former friends.

[00:06:14] - [Speaker 3]
So you see the tin man has sort of been rebuilt as this kind of, war juggernaut, the the tin soldier. We see the son of the cowardly lion, the prince of lions, who's kinda grappling with the the the feelings of of of shame and guilt, over his father's death at the hands of the scarecrow who has sort of become the the the despot of Oz. So, I'm very excited for that book. Like I said, it's been a long time coming. I'm so proud of it.

[00:06:39] - [Speaker 3]
We got some really exciting things to be sharing with that series very soon. But, yes, I know every our Yellow Brick Road Warriors has been very patient with us in this book, and I'm so grateful for that. I promise it's gonna be worth the wait. And, the reason why we've taken so long to kinda pull the trigger on it is I did not want to start this Kickstarter until the book was already done, to make sure that by the time that the thirty days wraps in the campaign, the very, next moment, we are sending the final numbers to the printer. So, I I wanted to make sure our powder was dry on this one, but I I think, readers are gonna find it was worth the wait.

[00:07:15] - [Speaker 2]
Well, I I know that yeah. I I know that the folks have been patient, and they're, you know, been waiting on it, but I I I'm convinced

[00:07:23] - [Speaker 3]
more show up

[00:07:25] - [Speaker 2]
for this. Oh, I'm sure. I'm sure. But, no, I I think people are gonna show up for this one. The series has been, you know, excellent so far, and I I'm we're we're all anticipating, you know, where wherever this yellow brick road leads us.

[00:07:42] - [Speaker 2]
So we're we're ready to go.

[00:07:44] - [Speaker 3]
What what what little I can say about the campaign is that, you know, I I I've collected, quite the backlog of material since my last, Kickstarter, and so we're gonna have all sorts of options. We're gonna have catch up options, both print and digital for those who haven't, gotten the series and wanna get on board, but also will have tiers, with my various trade paperbacks. So if you're interested in catching up on Space Ghost and Speed Racer, if you're interested in seeing my Marvel work on Savage Amenders and Moon Knight City of the Dead and Cable 11 Chrome, if you wanna go back to my creator and work, we're gonna have tiers for everybody on that. So, anybody who's interested in in sort of getting to know my work, this is gonna be a great place for you to really kinda get it all at once.

[00:08:25] - [Speaker 2]
Awesome. Awesome. You know, speaking about some of your other work and, you know, when we were when you were on last year, we talked about Cable, Love, and Chrome, which is, you know, now wrapped up. But, you know, you were doing Space Ghost. I think Captain Planet had just been announced and Yeah.

[00:08:39] - [Speaker 2]
And Speed Racer as well. So now Captain Planet, the I guess the I think it's five issues have all come out.

[00:08:49] - [Speaker 3]
Yes. Yeah. The six, yeah, the six issues, and the trade is up through

[00:08:52] - [Speaker 2]
Six issues.

[00:08:53] - [Speaker 3]
Preorder. You can get that. That'll be out in September.

[00:08:56] - [Speaker 2]
Okay. Awesome. Yeah. So that but but the that first arc Yep. That has all wrapped up.

[00:09:03] - [Speaker 2]
Yes. The first arc of speed racer, the trade for speed as we record this, the trade for speed racer just came out recently, and you're I think the most recent issue of space ghost, is, like, volume two issue 10 or something. You're like

[00:09:19] - [Speaker 3]
Yeah. That sounds that sounds right. I I I just did I just literally, I looked over the proof for issue 12, just a few hours

[00:09:27] - [Speaker 2]
ago.

[00:09:28] - [Speaker 3]
So Okay. The the fun part about writing comics is you're get a little disjointed in time, where I'm writing things that aren't coming out until, I think, August at this point. Yeah. So it's or or maybe even September. But, yeah, Space Ghost volume two is we're we've been having so much fun, artist Jonathan Lau and I.

[00:09:52] - [Speaker 3]
You know, the it really does feel like the little indie that could. I feel like we really kinda, like, punched out of our weight class a little bit with that first year of the book, and I think that's a testament to the amazing fans and and and retailers and press. We've really kinda championed us and the team that I work with. You know? Jonathan Lau is such a been amazingly talented artist, and he draws like a machine.

[00:10:15] - [Speaker 3]
He's really like it's like being chased by the Terminator sometimes. But, you know, Andrew Dollhouse is an amazing colorist. They work so well together. Taylor Esposito, really, like he works wonders in kinda selling everything that I'm writing. So I really feel like the team was kinda the perfect alchemy.

[00:10:34] - [Speaker 3]
And I think it's also that I it really it it it I'm a big believer that there's it's rare to have a character that has no redeeming I think there's always some interesting potential, and I think that's the reason why these licensed properties have kind of established such a comeback since Danny Warren Johnson, his run on on transformers and now Robert Kirkman and, Declan Shalvey on his Thundercats run. And, I've been really fortunate to kinda be able to ride that wave with space ghost and speed racer and captain planet. But I think people are starved for something new. I love Marvel and DC. I think they're the bedrock of our industry, but people also wanna branch out from that.

[00:11:14] - [Speaker 3]
And so, you know, seeing these kind of classic properties and giving them a new coat of paint, but also reminding readers why they've lasted and why they've endured this long. That's been a real treat. I think space ghost really he he has so much potential from his amazing, signed by Alex Toff to his, his collection of really iconic robes. And, I think that found family story with his his sidekicks Chan, Jason Blip. Man.

[00:11:42] - [Speaker 3]
I pitched the first year as Batman, the long Halloween meets the Mandalorian. And, I think that idea of sort of melding this sort of villain of the month, sci fi superhero action with this ongoing fan found family drama, that seems to have caught on. And so we're very excited. Year two is, about to wrap up, this summer. We've had Tempest the time master, sort of our big villain who's sort of been creeping in from the shadows throughout, volume two.

[00:12:14] - [Speaker 3]
And for those who read space ghost volume two issue 10, he came out of the gate swinging. He really kinda gave, poor space ghost Jan, Jason, Blip a run for their money. And, small spoilers, but, by the end of that issue, you know, our our heroes have found themselves stranded in two different time periods. Space ghost and blip are stranded in ancient prehistoric times, and, Jan and Jace have found themselves in a dystopian future ruled by the legion of rock robots, robots, where they find, an unlikely ally in the rubble. His name is Space Spectre.

[00:12:52] - [Speaker 3]
It's Chase's, grizzled future vigilante counterpart, and we've got some really fun stuff for all of them involved, in Space Ghost issue 11, which is coming out, in, I believe, it's coming out, in two weeks. So, yeah, May 13. So, definitely, make sure you pick up your copy at your local comp shop.

[00:13:15] - [Speaker 2]
Yeah. I so I, I'd read, you know, space ghost 10 and Yeah. Thought it was it's a fantastic issue. I mean, the the you're really it's right about the creative team, and you've you've always worked really with some amazing, you know, collaborators. And and, you know, I I think you're, you know, a a tremendous writer, and I really, really loved, there were a couple of, like, sound effects, you know, in particular in this one too with, like, Taylor Esposito that I I'm assuming he did.

[00:13:48] - [Speaker 2]
I mean, sometimes I know an artist can do the sound effects, but it seemed like Taylor's work. There were a couple of things, especially in the opening of this one because Tempest, you know, the time master, the you you set him up as he's going across the multiverse to kill all the space ghosts, and Yeah. And have to

[00:14:04] - [Speaker 3]
absorb their power. Right. And and so you'll be getting a little bit more information on what his plan is, in issue 11. And then you'll really kinda get the full scope of everything in in in in issue 12. But, yeah, Tempest is a really fun villain.

[00:14:24] - [Speaker 3]
You know, there's a little bit of mustache twirling for that guy, but also he hits like a truck. And that's something that, you know, for anyone who's even seen a page of our space ghost run, you know, our space ghost is big and brawny, and he's he's he's all fists. And so the fact that he's facing somebody who can really kinda out punch him, that's rare. And so he's gonna have to kinda, like, really dig deep if he's gonna wanna figure out a way out of all this. But that's gonna that's gonna lead us to our our our big epilogue issue in Space Ghost annual, number two, which is up for preorders right now.

[00:15:02] - [Speaker 3]
You can, preorder it through your local comic shop. But, you know, sort of in the wake of everything going on with with Tempest the time master, I really wanted to kinda, like, bring Space Ghost back to his roots, his character driven roots. And so, yeah, Space Ghost is gonna be kind of having his long dark night of the soul in in that issue, while he faces a thief, known as Magnus and his mysterious partner known only as the alien. And they've got kind of a secret with them that is gonna really kind of, rock Space Ghost's confidence to the core. And so he's gonna have to kinda figure out, like, whether or not whether or not this is something that he can afford to continue.

[00:15:44] - [Speaker 3]
You know, he he without spoiling too much, this series has always sort of been about this delicate balance between Space Ghost as a superhero and Space Ghost as a surrogate father. And, eventually, that balance is gonna snap, and he's gonna have to make some big decisions. So, and that will actually kinda lead us to, our upcoming Space Ghost event that's gonna be kicking off this summer. I I will I can't say too much about it, beyond saying that, we're gonna be bringing in some newcomers from, the another corner of the Hannah Barbera universe. We're gonna be seeing Space Ghost and the Herculoids together again for the first time

[00:16:23] - [Speaker 2]
since 1981.

[00:16:25] - [Speaker 3]
And those those characters are so fun. I've, spent a long time kinda doing a lot of research with them. So I feel like I know Xandor and and and Terra and Dorno kinda like the the back of my hand. And so the seeing that, that family, seeing the way that they kind of interact with the found family of Space Ghost and seeing sort of the similarities and the friction and the conflict, We've got some really fun stuff coming, for both of those teams, and that's gonna lead us into, the the next year of, space ghost adventures.

[00:16:59] - [Speaker 2]
Oh, that's awesome. I mean, I think I told you this when, you know, you run before when we were talking about space ghost is. Yeah. I mean, we definitely went through a period whether or not it was comics or television shows or movies where it's like, let's take this older property, and we're we'll modernize it. But by modernize it, it just meant we'll make it dark.

[00:17:17] - [Speaker 2]
We'll make it gritty. We'll make it edgy. And it's so refreshing to see these comic book companies kind of leading the way with these, you know, older properties that are certainly dipped in a cert in nostalgia, but really taking them in, like, a a not a light direction, but a really, like, fun direction. Like, you're still dealing with themes, like you said, of found family and, you know, the the difference bet or the the juxtaposition of being a a hero and a vigilante and trying to do right by, by Jan and Jace. Yeah.

[00:17:54] - [Speaker 2]
But it it it is so much fun. Like, it it really is. And it's just, like, it's just wonderful to spend some time kind of, like, immersed in the world of Space Ghost. It's it's really been, like, such a breath of fresh air.

[00:18:10] - [Speaker 3]
That's that's kind of you to say. I mean, I think I think my overarching philosophy, anytime that I've taken on a a licensed work is there's nothing broken about any. You know? And I think that I think that's maybe been the problem that you've seen with some of the revivals of these kinda classic properties, in film and television is that, you know, maybe a more cynical executive might say, well, this is a recognizable property, but I think it sucks. And so I'm gonna make it kinda dark and edgy and cool.

[00:18:39] - [Speaker 3]
And I think you wind up throwing out the baby with the bathwater with that approach. I mean, I my my my my deep belief, and and I I I mentioned it earlier, is that these characters endure for a reason. And I think my job as as as as as the writer you know, and this is why I do so much homework. I watched every episode of space ghost, while I was coming up with my first year's outline, and I refer back to that bible with every script. And I did the same thing for Speed Racer.

[00:19:05] - [Speaker 3]
You wanna kinda get a sense of, like, what is this thing about, this core concept? What are the landmarks? What are the, you know, things that maybe a Die Hard chant might expect? And you kinda get a sense of who this character is and who are the important, supporting characters in his life and who are the important villains in their life. And then, you know, just also as a writer, you're kind of the prism that is sort of refracting all this information.

[00:19:28] - [Speaker 3]
And so you're figuring out, like, what what feels important, but also what resonates with me and my interests, and what do I think I can kinda do an interesting twist on. And so, yeah, I I I think I'm a bit I I just none of nothing about this is broken. And I think that has been maybe that that's starting to become that's been apparent, I think, since the very first issues is that people who have been diehard fans of space dozed are like, oh, he's treating this with respect. And, like, while it's a new take, while it's a more modern take using kind of modern storytelling techniques, it's clear that he sees something in these characters, and he's not making changes because he thinks he knows better. He's not making changes that, cut across the the the core of the character.

[00:20:12] - [Speaker 3]
They all feel very rooted in in who this guy is. And, also, it's really accessible for newcomers. I mean, I I've been trying to really make it a point that you don't have to do a lot of reading to get into my books. It's the reason I've been doing a lot of done in one and done in two storylines is that it's very easy to drop in. And, it's been really nice not only to see all the diehard Space Ghost and Speed Racer and Captain Planet fans say how much they're enjoying it, but the people who didn't grow up with this stuff.

[00:20:42] - [Speaker 3]
You know, I obviously didn't grow up with Space Ghost or or Speed Racer. Was too young for that. And the fact that I've fallen in love with these characters is proof positive that anybody can. And so that's really what I've been trying to do is is write every book in a way that I can give it to somebody who's never read a comic and just be like, hey. This is your first, comic.

[00:21:02] - [Speaker 3]
Here you go. Pick up the first issue of Space Ghost or Speed Racer, and, you're off to the races.

[00:21:07] - [Speaker 2]
Yeah. No. I I mean, I grew up knowing about them. Like, I think but I was not, like, a you know, I wasn't someone that's watching, like, space ghost or watch speed racer. Like, I I was aware of them.

[00:21:20] - [Speaker 2]
I had heard about them. So but I was I'm not coming to the these books as, like, a a super fan or even with, like, a ton of a knowledge of them. But, yeah, I mean, to talk about speed racer Yeah. Well, first off, is it it David Tinto, the artist Yeah.

[00:21:38] - [Speaker 3]
Tinto, and Navede. Yeah. He's he's amazing. He's such a talented artist. He is wrapping up in our second arc right now, and I am in the middle of scripting the first issue of our third arc.

[00:21:52] - [Speaker 3]
And, yeah, that's been such a fun book to work on. You know? Like like, soon as Mad Cave approached me about that book, it was on San Diego Comic Con two years ago. I immediately I just I could immediately picture what we would do on that book. It really has been, such a treat.

[00:22:15] - [Speaker 3]
I love riding car chases. I've done it since my very first book, Spencer and Locke. And anytime I can try to figure out ways to convey motion and speed and intensity in a static medium like comics, it's a fun challenge. And I've I've been a big fan of things like fraction and AJ's, hawkeye, particularly that part chase issue. Trad Moore on ghost rider, is kind of a gold standard.

[00:22:42] - [Speaker 3]
George Santiago junior from Spencer and Locke has done amazing work with with with car chases. And so Davide, I think, you know, the there was a high bar to clear, and I think he really has cleared it. I think he is, like, kinda the the the preeminent, car chase guy in comics, in in the year 2026.

[00:23:00] - [Speaker 2]
I And I mean, just the kinetic nature of those panels. Like Yeah. Because it it it's it's there's it's so heavy in terms of some of the especially, like, the issue five, which Yeah. Wraps up, like, the first arc. You'll if you go, listeners, if you if you haven't gotten a chance to get it yet, get the trade.

[00:23:20] - [Speaker 2]
It's absolutely tremendous. But the the final chase scene, you know, with with Dante's team and Yeah. Racer X shows up and with speed, like, it is it's so it's so incredible. It's so well done. Like, it feels like you're moving, you know, so so fast the entire time.

[00:23:39] - [Speaker 2]
And I also love towards the end, there's, like, a little bit where something happens with speed's car and, like, it's cutting between, you know, the pit crew and back and forth to, like, jugger and, like, what's going on? And it's just it's it's really tense, and it it's it's really good.

[00:23:56] - [Speaker 3]
I I you know, that that pit crew scene, that was something that I, like, I had been kinda chomping at the bit to get in as soon as I could, and there's just wasn't a good place to fit it in. And I was finally, I I I kinda bent myself to knots where I was like, I need a page that I'm gonna I'm gonna have Sparky and the pit crew sorta, like, really building up that tension before speed gets back into the thick of it. And so I I appreciate you saying that because that that that that was something that took a little bit of doing to to get in the book. But Dave is just you know, has been just an amazing collaborator. He and I, worked together on a chapter of Avengers Unlimited a few years back in the Marvel Unlimited app, and I was so taken, by the energy that he brought to his work and also the expressiveness for his characters.

[00:24:38] - [Speaker 3]
And so

[00:24:39] - [Speaker 2]
I I was gonna say that he's got faces down. I mean

[00:24:43] - [Speaker 3]
Yes. He does.

[00:24:43] - [Speaker 2]
Faces in this book too. It's not just the car chases. Like, just like No. If you've seen in your comic shop, the the trade, pick it up or pick up an issue and flip through it. Like, he his faces are I mean, they're faces with a capital f faces.

[00:24:56] - [Speaker 3]
Yes. They are. Well, you know, Dave is amazing because he really you know, he's he's he's an Italian artist. And so he's got this sort of, like he you can tell he's drawing from both, like, the the the European style, but also from the classic manga style. And he's really fusing it into something I think very interesting that still works in an in in an American context.

[00:25:16] - [Speaker 3]
And so, yeah, you know, I I I think all the time about, like, all these little touches that he brings to the mix, not just with the the the the car chases, although the book wouldn't work if he wasn't drawing it, with these amazing car chases. But, I love that he has really he has just little things like the way that he does character acting, and and he'll do these kinda, like, big expressive moments, but it fits for a character that's as driven by big emotions and passion like Speed Racer. It's very operatic in a way. But even just, like, the fashion choices, like, I always I you know, there there there will be issues that come out, and I'm like, that's that's a very European outfit, but not in, like, a bad way, but it's different, from, like, an American set of eyes. But I'm like, oh, but that's really cool.

[00:26:04] - [Speaker 3]
That sort of adds to that kinda heightened sense of, the world of Palm City, that Speed Racer resides in the sort of ultimate racing town, the home of Formula X racing. So, you know, it's been a fun book. I I had pitched it to Mad Cave as, Rocky in a race car, and just this idea of kinda this kid from the wrong side of the of the racetrack, really. You know, he he wanted to do formula X. It was his dream.

[00:26:31] - [Speaker 3]
It's the sport that took his brother Rex's life, and so his father pops has forbid him forever competing. And so speed has channeled his passions in the opposite direction. You know, he was kinda doing his he was he was, honing his chops doing his illegal back alley street races in the Mach five. And, you know, it's one of those things eventually the jig is up. And Pops discovers this, and they kinda have a big blow up in the same way that Speedy's brother Rex had a big blow up with Pops right before his, seeming death.

[00:27:01] - [Speaker 3]
And, unfortunately, while Speed's out, Pops gets roughed up by members of the Car Acrobatic team and, has a heart attack. And so that's sort of, like, the impetus behind Speed's journey is that not only does he need to to to to win the Formula X championship just for his own his own sanity, but he needs to win that reward money so he can pay for pops' heart transplant. And so there is kinda like this ticking clock to all of this, but we get to see a lot of Speed's adventures both on and off the track, in terms of you know, what I love about this book and what I love about Speed Racer and his cast is they live and breathe and eat and sleep racing. And as somebody who's, like, a big comics fan who, you know, is driven by that passion, I understand kinda how to write characters like that where they may approach it from different angles. You know?

[00:27:49] - [Speaker 3]
Speed is the driver. Pops is the mechanic. Is the color commentator in training. Trixie is the team owner who's trying to maintain her family's legacy, and Racer X is the guy who sees racing as a means of settling old scores. They all approach racing from a different way, but it's from the same shared sense of love for the sport and that that it's it's permeated their being in a way that their whole world is reflected through racing.

[00:28:16] - [Speaker 3]
So being able to explore these different adventures, whether it's something, in the Formula X league on the track, whether it's something off the track, we've got, our next issue, I believe, has the great mammoth car, which is, coming out, next week, actually. So pick that up. Oh, okay. Get your local comic shop. That's one of the the big iconic cars of speed racer lore as Speed and Trixie have kind of an awkward reunion at the Ocean Industries Gala.

[00:28:44] - [Speaker 3]
A a gangster by the name of Cruncher Block winds up crashing the scene with his great mammoth car and takes Trixie hostage. So the big will there, won't they question between speed and and Trixie is gonna come to a head in next week's issue. But it's just been such a fun book, a very technically demanding book, but so rewarding. And I think it speaks to the amazing team that we have, you know, Davide Tinto on art and Rex Lopez who did the colors on our our first arc, and Ciao Canola, who is zoomed in on art two, and he's he's been doing an amazing job with everything. And Buddy Bowden, who really is the unsung hero of the book, he has been delivering such sensational looking lettering.

[00:29:30] - [Speaker 3]
I'm always very impressed with what he's been delivering. So, and so, yeah, you know, it's been it's been a really wonderful, book to work on, and seeing people respond to it in the way that they have has been very heartening for me. And so I'm very excited for people to see what we've got coming for, the back half of arc two. And, arc three is gonna sort of, build that first year up to its real epic conclusion with minor spoilers, as we said in our second issue of the book. Dante Furno, the CEO of the Car Acrobatic team, he did have a former life as a race car driver himself.

[00:30:06] - [Speaker 3]
He had a nickname, captain terror, and, we are gonna find out very soon what happens when Dante is, tired of letting other people fail and what happens when he, gets back another ring.

[00:30:20] - [Speaker 2]
Oh, I love it. It's also been really fun seeing, you know, how Mad Cave has expanded this a little bit, you know, with the, the Racer X miniseries. And then, I recently had on the podcast Richard Ashley Hamilton, who's a big speed racer fan. And

[00:30:40] - [Speaker 3]
Yeah. He did a great job.

[00:30:41] - [Speaker 2]
Book, with with with paper cuts. Yeah. He he did a story kind of about pops, for tales from the road, like the anthology.

[00:30:50] - [Speaker 3]
Was very impressed with that one. I really I I feel like he really nailed the tone for

[00:30:54] - [Speaker 2]
some the movie. Great. I it's really I thought it was really good. And then I Yeah. Pops doesn't you know, sometimes doesn't get a get enough love, and I thought it was a really a really fun comic.

[00:31:06] - [Speaker 3]
Yeah. No. I mean, you know, I I really applaud what what Nag Cave has been doing with with the with the Speed Racer license, really kind of, you know, expanding it in some really cool ways. So, yeah, we've got, you know, the the Racer X book that Mark Russell and Nuno Platti have been working on. I know Mark just said he turned in his lettering pass for his final issue, just today, I think.

[00:31:31] - [Speaker 3]
So, you know, that book has been really exciting. It's sort of a a little bit of a Roshomon approach of sort of taking what we're doing in the main book and then kind of seeing what Racer X has been doing behind the scenes. So I believe, if unless I'm mistaken, I I think his his last issue, will reflect, sort of what Racer X's perspective has been on the great man card. Don't quote me on that. I have not actually seen that issue yet.

[00:31:56] - [Speaker 3]
But I, it's it's been really cool to see Mark's perspective on all this kind of taking, the cerebral approach to to to Racer X, the the son of an engineer or of a mechanic, and and and turned vigilante, and seeing the ways that he's able to kinda leverage that upbringing with his various cars and gadgets has been really neat. And then, tales on the road tales on the road has really surprised me. You know, I think it's very easy to overlook anthologies. You know? And I've been very impressed with the work that, Ad Cave has done on this book.

[00:32:31] - [Speaker 3]
You know, started with Mark London. His first issue was Sebastian Paris. I was lucky enough to do a a spridal and a chim chim backup story with Alessio Zono, our cover artist, in in that first issue. Mark and Sebastian especially really kinda cut loose on that Racer X issue. Was amazing.

[00:32:49] - [Speaker 3]
And and and and like I we were just talking about, you know, Richard did an amazing job with his pop story in the second issue of that book. And and I I you know, there was there was a really fun story with Piston Powers of all people, you know, who really only, shows up for, like, one page in my run, and, they did a really amazing job kinda making a meal out of that character for his story. So, and, you know, there's been some, amazing stuff coming up as well. You know, Paper Cuts is doing a a reader's speed racer book with Franco and Derek Charm, I believe. So I'm sure that's gonna be oh, there you go.

[00:33:29] - [Speaker 3]
I'm sure that's gonna be amazing, and there's some more stuff coming. Keep your eye out. I believe, we'll have some some some news for some cool stuff coming in in in in '27 on the speed racer front. But, yeah, lots of fun stuff coming with this series, and and beyond. So definitely make sure you you keep an eye out.

[00:33:52] - [Speaker 3]
Great.

[00:33:53] - [Speaker 4]
Jimmy is too humble to do this. So as his stalwart ride or die, I wanted to tell you about his new graphic novel, Penny and the Yeti with artist Amber Aiken. What started as a comic short with his daughter that I've known about for ages now, and it's evolved and has become one of those annoying can't talk about it in comics things for too damn long. Yes. I'm predisposed to be supportive but after reading an advanced copy of it, I have to admit it's way better than I anticipated.

[00:34:21] - [Speaker 4]
No shade but it's really good, remarkably so. Does it have a yeti? Yeah. Is it cute and adorable?

[00:34:27] - [Speaker 3]
Yeah.

[00:34:28] - [Speaker 4]
But it streak lies in effectively tapping into the all too familiar family dynamics that we all are facing in 2026 and approaching it in a way that doesn't insult the book's target audience, kids. They are way smarter and perceptive than we adults give them credit for. So I really appreciated Jimmy's narrative approach tapping into his own experiences as a dad and a spouse. I can hear his wife saying, get off your phone, Jimmy, through the pages. She's gonna kill me for saying that.

[00:34:56] - [Speaker 4]
It's hitting shelves on April 21, and I dropped the link in the show notes where you can preorder a copy today. Getty or not, here we come with Penny, Perry, Fenton, Maxine, and the magical, mythical, magnificent YETI. On behalf of us both, we appreciate your support.

[00:35:14] - [Speaker 2]
YOLOLA. David, I I wanted to ask you because Yeah. With all the you had so many things, like, getting like, just starting, I guess, last year. Like, Cable Love and Chrome, I guess, was know, we had that, in March and then a a little bit into it, but, you know, Captain Planet and and speed racer, and you were continuing into into space ghost doing all of these things. Yeah.

[00:35:41] - [Speaker 2]
Kinda curious in terms of, like, writers who, like, have several different projects, but also, you know, the nature the sometimes fickle nature of comics, you always have to be thinking about, well, what else can I pitch and, like, what's next and, like, you know, how do you kinda balance, like, keeping everything keeping all the plates spinning and then figure out when you can spin another plate?

[00:36:04] - [Speaker 3]
Yeah. No. I I well, you know, I I I've actually been, thinking a lot about that lately. I I have a baby on the way, so, it's definitely, you know, getting some getting getting more stuff on my plate, you know, while my my wife's at work. And so

[00:36:19] - [Speaker 2]
I I said it before we started recording, but congratulations. Thank you.

[00:36:24] - [Speaker 3]
This baby's been a long time coming, and so we're we're we're very excited. Part one of of me getting my own personal Jan and Jace is is starting to happen, so I'm very excited. Yeah. You know, I think, you know, it's all about pacing yourself, and it's also about always tinkering with the approach. You know?

[00:36:41] - [Speaker 3]
It's how do you find ways to kind of, streamline the process without sacrificing quality? And so I'm constantly thinking about that. Like, I, you know, I've been kinda trying a new approach with, some of the scripts that I've been working on right now where, you know, whereas it instead of kind of agonizing about every single line as I'm writing it, it's sort of kind of being a little bit looser with that first pass and seeing kind of how much of the stuff just kind of works on the first pass and then taking kind of that second, you know, that second pass before everything gets turned in and then, and then taking kind of a third pass once the art comes in. Traditionally, I I spend a lot I usually spend a lot of time on that first pass and then less time on the second and then a medium amount on that third. And I'm kinda trying to see if, you know, doing it that way makes the the scripting a little less wear and tear on me personally while still kinda delivering the goods for for for the readers.

[00:37:42] - [Speaker 3]
So there's things like that. There's also just, I'm lucky enough that I'm at the stage in my career where I I can be a little bit more, choosy in terms of what I take on. I think that's something that it when you're coming up, it's very hard to say no to anything because you're like, I don't know when I'm gonna get more work. And I've been very fortunate that, you know, based on the way that Space Ghost and Speed Racer and Captain Planet and, the o z and and and and my Marvel work has been received, now you can kinda I can kinda pick my battles a little bit more, and I can also be a little bit more upfront with my my my editors in terms of what can I take on or how can we sort of build extra runway? You know, for example, like, I've got a a Creator Owned book that's gonna be coming out, I believe, next year.

[00:38:33] - [Speaker 3]
And we've got, like, a real healthy runway on that book. And and that was something that sort of when we signed the contracts on that, I I was very upfront with my editor of just being like, I have a baby that's coming that's due currently the first day of San Diego. Like, what knowing that that that my life's gonna be turned upside down, like, mid to end July, you know, can we kinda give this thing as as much room to breathe as possible knowing that, like, that first or maybe second issue might be a little a little dicey for me. So, yeah, that that like, the you know, things like that, or there's there's another project that I'm sort of working on on on the the the outline for right now that, you know, assuming that we get licenser approval will be kind of a big thing for me next year. And, again, being very upfront with my editors on it, just being like, hey.

[00:39:28] - [Speaker 3]
I'm really sorry. Like, I you know, my wife and I are doing IVF, and and so there's a lot of, like, a lot of moving parts to to to all that, and they've all been very accommodating and understanding. And so, it is about pacing yourself. You know, I did hit a period, like, last year where for, like, a month or two, I was writing four books simultaneously. That was a hard tune.

[00:39:53] - [Speaker 3]
Know? So you you really kinda just triage based on how fast your artist is, honestly. Honestly. You know, Jonathan Lau, like I said, draws like a damn terminator. He can crank through an issue of space ghost in three weeks if

[00:40:06] - [Speaker 2]
if if, if left

[00:40:08] - [Speaker 3]
to his own devices. And so that's the guy who I'm kinda constantly keeping up. Whereas, you know, Davide Tinto, because he's usually kinda jumping in and out between different projects, sort of the the time frame on Speed Racer has always been a little bit more relaxed, and and Mad Cave has been so wonderful in terms of building in breaks in between the arcs so we're sort of able to kinda catch our breaths and kinda keep building that backlog ahead of when, our third arc comes out. I'm hoping by the time that, like, arc three comes out, we'll either be done with that arc entirely, or or I'll be working on, like, the last chapter or so. So, yeah, it really is you know, you follow your heart, and then you also kinda just know your limits.

[00:40:56] - [Speaker 3]
And it really comes down to I don't talk about this enough in interviews, but I think it's really important. You also have to take care of yourself as a human being. I know it's, like, counterintuitive. But, like, if you stay up till two in the morning writing, maybe you'll get those pages done. And maybe if maybe if you finish the script and you can recover the next day, maybe that's worth it.

[00:41:18] - [Speaker 3]
But if you're not gonna finish the script tonight, don't stay up till Make sure that, like, you're hydrating. Make sure that, like, you you you there's no vitamin deficiencies or magnesium deficiencies. Don't eat like crap. I know that's hard to to to like, it it's it's easy to do that when you're sitting in a chair all day. Go for a walk.

[00:41:37] - [Speaker 3]
Like, it's these little simple things that, like, you don't think add up, but I can tell you if I don't do these things, if I don't go to the gym, if I don't hydrate, if I don't sleep, I feel it, and it makes the work that much more time consuming. So, you gotta make sure you take care of yourself if you wanna kinda have a career in this sort of thing. And as I've learned, you know, at at my right young age of 40, you know, maintenance is much easier than renovation. And so you really gotta take take as good of care of yourself as possible. It really will pay dividends in the work, and and and your ability to kinda keep up with it.

[00:42:18] - [Speaker 2]
Yeah. No. That's true. That's very, very true. You know, as now that I'm 47 and much closer to 50 than 40, and I'm like, oh, yeah.

[00:42:27] - [Speaker 2]
I gotta stretch. What? Like, every day? You want me to do this every day?

[00:42:31] - [Speaker 3]
I I you know, I I my my my dog is my inspiration. You know? She she just she stretches all the time, and I'm like, that's a good reminder. I should do that too. Yeah.

[00:42:39] - [Speaker 3]
So I I You go and stretch. I try to I try to follow her as best I can.

[00:42:44] - [Speaker 2]
That's good. That's that's good.

[00:42:46] - [Speaker 3]
So

[00:42:48] - [Speaker 2]
Yeah. Oh, I also you know, I think we had mentioned it last year when you were on or maybe teased it at some point, but you also from paper cuts had 10 ton titan terrier Yes.

[00:42:58] - [Speaker 3]
Speaking out.

[00:43:01] - [Speaker 2]
Year. Yeah. Abs absolutely.

[00:43:05] - [Speaker 3]
Boy, that was

[00:43:05] - [Speaker 2]
We haven't. We Penny got it. My my youngest Penny, it was one of the we always get our kids books for, at least I do, for for Christmas. Yeah. And, yeah, Penny got it, and, it's fantastic.

[00:43:21] - [Speaker 2]
Do you did you enjoy the experience of writing for goodness. Younger audience?

[00:43:25] - [Speaker 3]
Yes. You know, Tenton Titan Terrier, for those who who don't know what that book is, I I pitched it as Pokemon meets Pacific Rim. It's about the the a meteor, hits our world, and there's a clutch of kaiju eggs inside, but also a wrecked alien bath suit. And so as these kaiju are attacking the planet, the military is trying to figure out how to turn this suit on, And, by sheer accident, they find out the only creature on Earth that can turn it on is a 12 inch tall terrier, named Holly. And so it really is kind of a story about, Holly and her scientist owner, Sam.

[00:44:06] - [Speaker 3]
It's really a boy and his dog, if the dog happened to be able to pilot a 10 ton alien battlesuit and fought kaiju. And, yeah, you know, that that book really did my heart good in a number of ways. I I think that book has been that book was a long time coming. I mean, I started writing that book pre COVID. You know?

[00:44:27] - [Speaker 3]
And it it it came as a result of a number of things. First off, I I I I write for you know how they they they they they always say there are some people who write for the trade? I write for the convention. And what that means is that, like, I I love going to cons because they strike me as, like, real life market focused group testing where I'm able to sort of meet readers where they're at and say, like, okay. What are you interested in?

[00:44:53] - [Speaker 3]
Or, or people who don't read comics, how can I evangelize this thing to you, and how can I kinda win over converts rather than preaching to the choir? And so, the thing I I I kept thinking at conventions, especially with a book like Spencer and Locke, which has a six foot tall blue panther man, little kids would constantly reach for that book, and I would constantly feel bad to say, you can't read that unless a lot of people get cool with some stuff real fast. So not having something on my table for kids felt like kind of a karmic imbalance, especially for somebody who I'm a third generation comic reader. You know? My my my, my first issue, I think, was amazing Spider Man three forty six.

[00:45:34] - [Speaker 3]
You know? I remember that issue, and I remember getting that as a preschooler. And, you know, it rewired my my whole brain. So I wanted to have something for kids. I felt like that was kind of the missing fruit group on my table.

[00:45:46] - [Speaker 3]
And then, real life kinda got in a way. I before prior to COVID, I had taken in one of my parents' terriers, the real life Holly. And, you know, I'd known her since she was a puppy. She's a very sweet dog. She was diagnosed with melanoma in in 2019.

[00:46:07] - [Speaker 3]
And so my my wife and I, you know, we kinda nursed her through about a year's worth of treatments. She she passed about a week before the COVID lockdowns. Holly knew that she ate she she was yeah. She had perfect time, she knew when to make her exit. But I remember feeling as I was taking her to all these appointments to radiation to to to to all the vets.

[00:46:31] - [Speaker 3]
I felt so powerless during all of this. And I I I said, you know, I'm not sure if I'm gonna be able to save my dog's life, but I can make her immortal. And so I kinda started the idea of this sort of scrappy hero, this Ash and Pikachu kinda dynamic, but with my real life dog, with all of her feistiness and and artery of, you know, of of of of codependence, her sense of humor, her scrappiness, her loyalty, her affection, You know, it was very it was it it felt impossible to condense it all on the page, but, at the same time, writing that character felt so natural. And I think Ornela Greco, our artist on the book, and my cocreator on the book, she's just amazing. When I found her online, I was like this.

[00:47:20] - [Speaker 3]
She's she's the one. And when she as we started talking and she started doing character designs for for Holly and the and the terrier battle suit, and all the various kaiju creatures, I was like, okay. This is somebody who can, like, do the expressiveness of an animal character who does not have spoken lines of dialogue. It's all kind of pantomime and growling. So all the emotional content really rests on Ornella's shoulders.

[00:47:48] - [Speaker 3]
Yeah. And the fact that she can juggle that with these amazing creature designs and then deliver the action in a way that feels age appropriate, but doesn't feel like we're talking down to kids. You know, that was kind of the number one thing. I I I I I've had this conversation with my wife many times is that, you know, I consider it kind of an existential threat that I love making comics that are appropriate for for any and all readers, but I think, the danger that we run when we are making things that feel so child coded, that feel so, that feel like maybe they're talking down to kids. First off, kids can sense it a mile away if they're being talked down to.

[00:48:31] - [Speaker 3]
But, also, I think we run the risk then of treating comics stuff, like purely kids stuff. And, you know, like, I I agree. I was I was I was saying it to my wife, like, you don't see adult Bluey fans. You know? Like, I mean, unless you're a parent who who is is thankful that that Bluey is is is helping raise their kids.

[00:48:50] - [Speaker 3]
Because I

[00:48:51] - [Speaker 2]
think Yeah. We we watch we've we've had to watch a lot of Bluey.

[00:48:54] - [Speaker 3]
You know, I I think I'd I I'm very excited to watch Bluey with my kids, but I you know, the the the thing that I've always been very concerned about is that, like, I never wanna make the I never wanna make comics that kids feel like, okay. Comics were just a phase in my life. I want them to be lifelong readers. And so, my goal for a book like Terrier was to be like, here's a taste of, like, you could read a million comics like this, you know, and and and really kinda hook you for life. And so, that's kinda was was was my mission with a book like Terrier.

[00:49:27] - [Speaker 3]
And so Ornella and our letterer, Justin Birch, and our amazing logo designer, Tim Daniel, who did that that that amazing thing. And Adam Molenta and Mike Martz who really kinda gave that book its its chance. I mean, I was ready to kickstarter it. I I told Mike when I showed him that that that pitch. I said, I'll kickstarter this thing out of spite.

[00:49:50] - [Speaker 3]
That's how much this I I was determined for this book to see the world. And so, yeah, the fact that it's out there, it really does my heart a lot of good, and so I'm very excited. I I by the you know, I haven't done a convention yet, since I've gotten the book, and so I I'm very excited, to be doing Denver Comic Con, about a month from now. And, I'll I'll be bringing copies of the book, and, I'm curious to see how it catches on.

[00:50:17] - [Speaker 2]
Oh, awesome. Yeah. I well, let me know. I'm very curious too, but I I I have a feeling it's gonna do pretty well. It's a fantastic book.

[00:50:25] - [Speaker 2]
That's what I hope.

[00:50:25] - [Speaker 3]
Thank you.

[00:50:27] - [Speaker 2]
Awesome. Well, David, this has been tremendous.

[00:50:31] - [Speaker 3]
Thank you.

[00:50:32] - [Speaker 2]
Thank you for being so kind to us to come back.

[00:50:36] - [Speaker 3]
Oh, it's my pleasure.

[00:50:37] - [Speaker 2]
Times and chat with us. I I really appreciate it.

[00:50:42] - [Speaker 3]
You know, I I got my start in comics journalism, and I think this the the the this week, especially, has felt very poignant in in that regard. My my my good friend, George Marston, who was sort of the the last person standing at Newsomama where I got my start Yeah. Was was laid off. And, and seeing George get their flowers, as sort of the person who carried that torch for New Zoolama, sort of this vestige of maybe a better kinder era of the Internet. And I think it's been sort of making people really, remind themselves how important commerce journalism is.

[00:51:18] - [Speaker 3]
And I think that's something that, perhaps self so self servingly, you know, I I still identify as a comics journalist in my heart of hearts. You know? I I still approach every book in the same way that I would as a reviewer of does this work? Yeah. What about it?

[00:51:35] - [Speaker 3]
Doesn't work. I try to be as brutally honest with it as I can. And sometimes my collaborators just wanna wring my neck over it, but I always say, but wait till the book comes out. You'll you'll I promise there'll be a method to the madness. And so, I'm always very grateful to comics journalists.

[00:51:50] - [Speaker 3]
I I I I I feel like you've got a million books that you're that are being thrown at you every single week. I I know it because I lived it. And so the fact that I I've been so fortunate to have so many people kinda champion me and my collaborators' work, for almost ten years now, I'm very grateful. It's not something I take for granted, and it's something that I I I always wanna take the time, because, you know, I feel like just like I I I feel like comics journalists do us a favor by promoting our work, and so it's the least I can do, to take the time. And, Comic Book Yeti has been so wonderful.

[00:52:25] - [Speaker 3]
Like you said, the fact that, our chats have been annual occurrence is amazing. And, so I'm very grateful, for you guys taking the time.

[00:52:33] - [Speaker 2]
Yeah. I just I love it. I mean, I love I love chatting comics. And, you know, speaking of of Newsarama though, it yeah. It is.

[00:52:42] - [Speaker 2]
I mean, I've been with comic book yeti for five years now, and it's That's like 35

[00:52:48] - [Speaker 3]
and, like, in in dog years. Yeah. I It is.

[00:52:51] - [Speaker 2]
It is. But it is, you know, it is sometimes it is kind of, you know, a little disheartening because, like, in that time, sites like Newsarama, Multiversity that, you know, that I read and I followed and that got me into talking about comics more on social media. And, you know, they've, for one reason or another, it's tough. You know? It's it's Gone away.

[00:53:17] - [Speaker 3]
It's an endurance, it's an endurance test that has no end. And I think that's that's the tricky thing is, you know, comics journalism, I think every section of the comics industry is driven by passion. It sure is never for the money, but I think comics journalists are maybe the people who have to lead with the most passion, because, the money is so minimal if if if if existent at all. And yet the amount of of of content that that is demanded is is astronomical. And so I I I always try to give a lot of grace, and I always try to give a a lot of thanks, you know, to to to to anybody who who speaks the good word about comics, whether they're they're they're a big site like, you know, like AIPT or Pleading Cool or or The Beat or know, just kind of a guy with his blog.

[00:54:21] - [Speaker 3]
You know? Because, like, there there are many other things that you could do with your time that would probably give you more money or or or more calm, But, you know, you do it for love of the game just like I do it for love of the game. So, it always means a lot to me. I I always try to recognize that. But I also know that, like, you know, even a kid in the candy shop when you've got that much candy, it can be daunting.

[00:54:47] - [Speaker 3]
And and and so I I I'm always very grateful for the people who have a long track record like you. I I was at NewsRama for a little over a decade. And, yeah, I mean, it made me it made me the writer I am today, but it's definitely comics journalism to to do it well is hard to do it for a long time, even harder. So congrats to you.

[00:55:14] - [Speaker 2]
Oh, well, thank you. Thank you. I I I do I really do enjoy this. And somebody was asking me about the podcast, you know, the other day, and I said, I feel like I've taken a master class in comic book writing. I mean, I've I've I've I've had I've done myself out of the 450 episodes that the podcast have has had, 260 of them are mine.

[00:55:42] - [Speaker 2]
And I feel like it's really in I feel like I have have have had a front row seat to pick the brains of some of my favorite writers and artists about creating, you know, comics. And, it's it's been a wonderful experience for me, although there's there's no money in it. But, I do really enjoy it. But, yeah, like I said, we're we're gonna have, five timers club at at least T shirts.

[00:56:10] - [Speaker 3]
We'll Alright.

[00:56:11] - [Speaker 2]
We'll get the jackets. We'll get the jackets eventually, but Alright. I think you're, I think you're, like, the third only the third or fourth person that is in the club. So thank you

[00:56:22] - [Speaker 3]
Alright. Very much. And It it's what? It's Steve Fox who's who's who's number one? So I think it's gonna have to

[00:56:27] - [Speaker 2]
Steve Fox. Yeah. Steve Fox is Alright. Has the most. And then he has, like I've never talked to him.

[00:56:35] - [Speaker 2]
He's he's he's been on with Byron, like, seven times.

[00:56:38] - [Speaker 4]
Okay.

[00:56:38] - [Speaker 2]
And then it's it's David, Andrew, Cullen, Bunn, and you.

[00:56:43] - [Speaker 3]
Alright. I I feel like I'm gonna have to have a Highlander situation with little Steve Fox. But alright. Alright. You you you got me fired up for the next interview.

[00:56:52] - [Speaker 2]
Okay.

[00:56:54] - [Speaker 3]
But thank you so much for for taking the time to chat with me. And anyone who's listening, you know, be sure to add Space Ghost, to your poll list. The Space Ghost, annual number two is up for preorders. And then, Tom, we we'll have a gap month, I believe, in between the annual and our Space Ghost Herculoids event, but, tell your comic shop you want that as well. Speed racer, you can still preorder that as well.

[00:57:18] - [Speaker 3]
And, yeah, then keep your eye out on my Twitter or blue sky at peppos d. We'll have news, for the OZ's return to Kickstarter, hopefully, very soon.

[00:57:30] - [Speaker 2]
Awesome. Yeah. I'll have links to where folks can find you on on social media and to pick up your books in the show notes. And yeah. And, David, again, congratulations to you and your wife, and it's very it's very exciting.

[00:57:46] - [Speaker 3]
It's a

[00:57:46] - [Speaker 2]
very exciting time. Yep. And I wish you the the best. I mean Oh, thank you. My kids are 13 and eight now, and, they they can be a real pain sometimes.

[00:57:59] - [Speaker 2]
But, honestly, it's been the most interesting and challenging and rewarding and wonderful experience in my life.

[00:58:06] - [Speaker 3]
I keep asking my wife how soon before the baby can start packing Kickstarters. It's what? Like, six months. Right?

[00:58:12] - [Speaker 2]
Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Five five five depending on their fine motor skill development. Alright.

[00:58:19] - [Speaker 2]
Alright. Well, if it's if

[00:58:20] - [Speaker 3]
it's my kid, we're gonna we're gonna we're gonna make sure she's advanced. So, yes, baby Kickstarter. You heard it here first on Comic Book Yeti. David Klapo hires child labor, his own child. So, yeah, keep keep an eye out on that.

[00:58:36] - [Speaker 3]
If you if you wind up getting an extra large package on the Kickstarter, make sure my kid's not inside.

[00:58:44] - [Speaker 2]
David, thank you. Thank you so much again. Thank you. Alright. Listeners, thank you so much for listening.

[00:58:50] - [Speaker 2]
Rate and review us and and do all of those things they tell you to do. It really does help podcasts. Like, wherever you listen, just leave a little review or a rating. That would be nice. And, yeah, be sure to pick up David's books.

[00:59:01] - [Speaker 2]
It they're fantastic. And if you haven't read any of his older stuff, like, if you see David at a convention, please go up and talk to him. One of the joys of my, con experience is always when I get to see David when he goes to Baltimore Comic Con because that's the one I go to every year. And if you get a chance to pick up Spencer and Locke or Going to the Chapel or Scout's Honor, any of of those are just wonderful, wonderful, comics. Yeah.

[00:59:27] - [Speaker 2]
And, we'll definitely Bobby and I will be looking forward to when, the the OZ hits Kickstarter. So, again Yeah. Thank you very much, David. Oh, it's my pleasure. Listeners.

[00:59:38] - [Speaker 2]
Thank you for listening, and I'll see you next time.

[00:59:41] - [Speaker 4]
This is Byron O'Neil, one of your hosts of the cryptic creator corner brought to you by Comic Book Yeti. We hope you've enjoyed this episode of our podcast. Please rate, review, subscribe, all that good stuff. It lets us know how we're doing and more importantly, how we can improve. Thanks for listening.

[01:00:01] - [Speaker 0]
If you enjoyed this episode of the Cryptid Creator Corner, maybe you would enjoy our sister podcast, Into the Comics Cave. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.