Jim McCann & Joe Eisma Interview - The Other/Half

[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 this is great because I have two guests tonight, and one was we just recorded an episode last week, and he's back. So that's very exciting. Yeah.

[00:01:11] - [Speaker 2]
But we're going to be talking about a new comic from Ignition Press. I think this is the first Ignition Press book that I've covered. I'm very excited because I've been really curious about a lot of stuff that Ignition Press has been putting out recently. I I've picked up some stuff, but I haven't covered any of it yet on the podcast. And we're gonna be talking about the other half.

[00:01:32] - [Speaker 2]
And, yeah, please welcome to the podcast, Jim McCann and Joe Eisma. Jim, Joe, how are you doing tonight?

[00:01:39] - [Speaker 3]
Doing great. Thanks. Thanks for having us.

[00:01:41] - [Speaker 4]
Yep. Doing great. No.

[00:01:42] - [Speaker 2]
I was really, have been wanting to cover some of the ignition press stuff and just kinda hadn't gotten anything together yet. And I when I first I think I first saw Joe post about on social media about the other half, and Joe knows I'm a big fan of his work. And it it sounded it sounded very it sounded interesting. It sounded like like I like the idea of a, you know, of a of a mystery. I I'm a big fan of, you know, the of the films like the Maltese Falcon and anything anything in that kind of vein, Dashiell Hammett, Sam Spade, you know, Nick and Nora Charles, the thin man.

[00:02:22] - [Speaker 2]
Like, I I always kinda love that stuff. Like, I was the kid who was like you know? I mean, I watched all the stuff that was on when I was a kid too, but I also had a love of some of those older films that stayed with me. And then once I got older and once once once Netflix was a thing, I mean, I think I went through, like, all of them. They got, you know, delivered to my house when Netflix did that, and I I watched as many of them that that Netflix had.

[00:02:48] - [Speaker 2]
I remember it was a big day when Netflix finally got double indemnity.

[00:02:52] - [Speaker 3]
No. No.

[00:02:53] - [Speaker 2]
I hadn't I hadn't seen that yet. But in any event Great film.

[00:02:58] - [Speaker 4]
But this is a

[00:02:59] - [Speaker 2]
it is. But this is is is less, you know, film noir, and it really is kind of like like like it reminded me of, like, Nick and Nora Nora Charles with your main characters, Ethan and Henry. Or I I remember the TV show from the eighties that I also loved. Was it? Heart to Heart?

[00:03:16] - [Speaker 4]
Oh. Oh, yeah.

[00:03:18] - [Speaker 2]
And their golden retriever freeway. I have a golden retriever named Barry, so I always think of I always think of that. So in any event, this is Ethan and Henry. They are kind of like a Mitch mismatched couple a little bit. One's from high society.

[00:03:33] - [Speaker 2]
Henry is a private eye, and they are they're married, and they are charged with, protecting a a a diamond, very large, probably a very expensive diamond. But, that's kind of a bit of the setup. I loved it. I don't I don't think there's a book like this, like, on the market. There's nothing that I can think of like a quick, easy parallel for a comic right now.

[00:04:03] - [Speaker 2]
Listeners, if if you think there there is something, let me know. But I just I just had a I had a really good time with this. Like, that was what I liked about it. I I just really had a great time reading it, and I just kinda wanna see where it goes. And I really loved Henry and Ethan.

[00:04:17] - [Speaker 2]
They were they were they were a really cute couple. Like, I have no other way to describe it. And isn't it sometimes just nice to read, like, a a mystery about this cute couple, and they're trying to figure out their life, and they have this thing to solve that they've now gotten themselves involved in. In any event, I've now been that. I've now rambled on for, like, four minutes and haven't let either of you a chance to talk.

[00:04:40] - [Speaker 2]
So so, Jim, why don't you start us off with, with the other half? Kind of what was your inspiration, and is there anything else you want listeners to know about this story?

[00:04:52] - [Speaker 3]
Well, the inspiration is something you've already mentioned, which is the thin man films, Nick and Nora Charles. The the original title of the pitch was the thin men, actually. So, but we workshopped it.

[00:05:06] - [Speaker 4]
Thought that was

[00:05:06] - [Speaker 3]
a little too on the nose, so we worked it out to the other half. And it really worked out because it's not just, you know, how your other half lives, but how the the other half of society lives, especially as they switch places in society at the end of the first issue of Splurr. But, yeah, I I just really I love those films. I love I love classic film, and I really, really wanted to do something that was, like, a send up to that, had that feel, or how I could express that love and how that inspiration, you know, has shaped a lot of my writing. And I also really wanted to do, a gay lead comic, because as a proud outnumber of the community, I felt that there was a need for representation.

[00:06:06] - [Speaker 3]
And so this is probably one of my most authentic books. And I had sent in three pitches to Ignition when they first asked me to, and I thought this was not going to be picked. But boom. They jumped right on it, and I was like, oh, okay. And so I just, you know, I I rewatched a lot of my favorite films, listened to stuff with commentaries.

[00:06:34] - [Speaker 3]
I mean, I I really immersed myself. I watched Casablanca. I watched Rear Window, The Philadelphia Story. It happened one night. My man Godfrey just and to say it's the best homework I've ever had in my life is an understatement.

[00:06:51] - [Speaker 3]
I now I wanna now I wanna teach a classic film class or how to make comics in a classic film way.

[00:06:59] - [Speaker 2]
Oh, that would that's a great idea for a class. That. Yeah. You know, to kinda take the the traditional principles of screenwriting with some of those classic films and then teach, you know, how would you adapt this? How would you write a comic script as opposed to a screenplay with with some of, you know, with with to give it that same type of feel.

[00:07:23] - [Speaker 2]
Yeah. I love that. I also like there was a little rear window reference in, early in the comic, and I I see I see behind you. There's I think that is I don't know if that that says, yeah, rear window.

[00:07:35] - [Speaker 4]
Yep. There's a

[00:07:36] - [Speaker 3]
rear window poster. There's a thin man poster right there.

[00:07:41] - [Speaker 2]
Yeah. So yeah. I I I I I love that right away. That I that's how I knew, I was gonna like it. And I and, also, it's it's just wild to think about because when the thin man, with the thin man, when those, like, films were made, like Nick and Nora Charles, it's like there's there's certain things about those characters, like, you know, drinking martinis and that we don't we don't see in characters nowadays, really.

[00:08:14] - [Speaker 2]
I mean, I when when Ethan gets in the car and he he has a coffee for Henry and he pours himself like an espresso martini first thing in the morning, I was like, okay. I can hang with you.

[00:08:28] - [Speaker 4]
You do. I can hang with you guys.

[00:08:32] - [Speaker 3]
I mean, who hasn't?

[00:08:34] - [Speaker 2]
Yeah. I instantly kind of a little bit enamored with the two of them, which helps because, like, when you then you get into the story and you get into the mystery of it. But, yeah, really love the two of them. Joe, how about you in terms of, like, any particular inspiration for the for the character designs, for the look of Ethan and Henry?

[00:08:57] - [Speaker 4]
I don't know how much I'm allowed to say.

[00:09:01] - [Speaker 2]
But Okay. Well Don't get in trouble, Joe.

[00:09:04] - [Speaker 4]
Yeah. I'm not gonna try and get in trouble.

[00:09:05] - [Speaker 3]
I mean issue's out. I think you could say whatever.

[00:09:09] - [Speaker 4]
Oh, okay. Okay. Well, I mean, you know, I I liked all the same films that that Jim mentioned, and I totally got the vibe as soon as the pitch came across my desk. I was like, alright. Totally jam with this.

[00:09:22] - [Speaker 4]
I love that kind of style of filmmaking. And then, like, in terms of the characters, like, you know, Jim had them pretty you know, like, the way he described them. I mean, like, I was like, I could see them almost instantaneously, and he sent me some reference from our issue one variant cover artist, Igo Rodriguez. And he's like, kinda, you know, here's some ideas. You know, you don't have to copy this, but here's some ideas.

[00:09:47] - [Speaker 4]
And so that kinda helps, you know, get the wheels turning. And, you know, Henry is also a little bit a little bit Pedro Pascal, maybe ish, a little kind of, you know, peppered in there. And yeah. So I mean, it's just, you know, I I wanted them to you know, I I don't want, you know, them to be, like, caricatures or or anything, like, silly because, like, I want them to serve the story. So, like, I my my whole approach with the character design was, you know, take, you know, Jim's, ideas and his influences and try and and meet him there.

[00:10:22] - [Speaker 4]
And that's what, you know, that's what I wanted to do. And he kicked ass at

[00:10:27] - [Speaker 2]
I it. I love the, the look of the characters. So, Joe, when you were on, with Rafer, when we were talking

[00:10:36] - [Speaker 4]
Yes.

[00:10:38] - [Speaker 2]
When we were talking about Babylon Cove and talking about, like, you know, party settings or party scenes because I have no idea now what order these episodes are gonna come out. So listeners, you might have heard that or you might not. There's a a part in Babylon Cove where there's, like like, several funerals, and you you know, you you have to draw that. And, yeah, we we're choke talking talking about that a little bit. Then this has that great two page spread, which is, like, at a fancy party, five panels, and I was just like, oh, man.

[00:11:15] - [Speaker 2]
Like, what did Joe think about having to do all of this? And so I wanted to know about that layout in particular. And because I am, you know, famously not an artist at all. Is it does it matter in terms of what the characters, like, are wearing? Like, is it more difficult to draw characters in formal wear than other clothes, or it just it just doesn't matter?

[00:11:39] - [Speaker 4]
No. Wait. A tuxedo? Like, you just like black. I have to draw a lot

[00:11:44] - [Speaker 2]
of details. So formal formal wear is easier.

[00:11:47] - [Speaker 4]
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Formal well

[00:11:49] - [Speaker 3]
For men at least.

[00:11:50] - [Speaker 4]
Yeah. I'm yeah. Exactly. For yeah. If we're we're talking about, like, a bunch of ballroom dresses, then I might be like, oh gosh.

[00:11:56] - [Speaker 4]
But, yeah, the the layout Jim does this every issue. He always challenges me with a double page spread, and I I love it. He he always tries to get creative with it and, like, you know, want me to do something different than just your standard double page spread of, like, you know, whatever fight scene or something. And I I really appreciate it. I think it's fun.

[00:12:16] - [Speaker 4]
And so he had this idea of them arriving at this party, and then over the course of it, they would, you know you know, end up, you know, sort of like it ends it sorta ends at a point where they're getting to somewhere and sort of ends on a cliffhanger or or, you know, begets a cliffhanger. But, in the whole process, you know, there's a lot of characterization that's happening, a lot of interaction, a lot of, you know, personality that's coming out between the two characters' behaviors. You know, Henry is uncomfortable. Ethan is, like, in his element. And then Jim was like, you know, but be sure to have some other stuff going on too.

[00:12:52] - [Speaker 4]
So it's not just, like, stat crowd scenes because that's so boring. I mean, if it's just everybody staying the same. So you wanna have movement kind of in the scene. So, like, you know, he he let me just kinda, you know, do my own thing. It was fun and, like, my favorite, and we always mention this.

[00:13:08] - [Speaker 4]
It's like, there's a couple that gets into a fight in our argument. Yeah.

[00:13:11] - [Speaker 2]
I I was just gonna say, the look on his face, the the the gentleman of the couple Yeah. When he storms off, I thought was great. Like, he just has this face of, like, a child who has just been told no.

[00:13:28] - [Speaker 4]
Oh, yeah.

[00:13:29] - [Speaker 2]
He's storming off. But that was that was, like, the fun of it because we get to see them go from the the top left Mhmm. You know, down to the bottom right through the panels that they, like, kinda progress through the party. So we get a nice progression there. And we do get character moments from them as we see Ethan seeing folks that that he knows from Mhmm.

[00:13:52] - [Speaker 2]
Yeah. His background and that we also get to see how Henry kind of is reacting to that and and what Henry does. But yeah. Yeah. You couldn't just draw stock figures.

[00:14:02] - [Speaker 2]
Like, it's it's also at a certain, like, depth level where they need to be unique people at the party. Yeah. Yeah. So it it was Tremendous job. I really love it.

[00:14:15] - [Speaker 2]
Oh, really? I I thought it was great.

[00:14:17] - [Speaker 4]
Thank you. I appreciate

[00:14:18] - [Speaker 2]
I think you've

[00:14:18] - [Speaker 3]
heard of things that were drawn. Yay. I think you really nailed it. I was nervous when I put it in, but I was like, Joe can handle this. And, speaking of rear window there, that's the Finman and rear window.

[00:14:31] - [Speaker 3]
I think in the script, I said, you know how in rear window Yep. When Jimmy Stewart looks out on his neighbors, each neighbor, like miss Lonelyheart, the composer, everybody has, like, a three act arc Yep. For them. And I was like, let's let's do that with with here, with with the guests. And Joe brought that to life big time.

[00:14:56] - [Speaker 3]
And then it's it's very much inspired by the the second Finn man film where Nick and Nora arrive home, and there's a big homecoming party being thrown for them, but nobody recognizes Nick and Nora. So they have to dance their way through this big crowd just to get to a place where they can, like, get away, and they don't know anybody there. So I really I was like, you know, that'd be so much fun to do, like, somebody moving through. And I I don't know that I've ever really seen somebody going through, like, a huge a huge crowd like that and just just, you know, showing it in these widescreen panels across two a two page spread. And I was like, that would be so much fun to do and very classic feeling to it.

[00:15:42] - [Speaker 3]
He really sold the cinematic of it as well. Oh. So happy. It's one of my favorite it's one of my favorite spreads too.

[00:15:50] - [Speaker 2]
It it it is great. And you're you're right. Like, you know, you see a double page spread, and it's usually, like, the whole thing. But it's rare to see something that goes across two pages, you know, like that with, you know, basically five really wide panels, and to have the characters, like, move through it in that way. Like, it it because you I would think that if I'm like, alright.

[00:16:17] - [Speaker 2]
I have this big party scene. I wanna show the characters, like, moving through the party. Like, you could just do it in small, you know, panels. Just show them in here, there, and just kind of through the dialogue or through something else, they're kind of, like, working their way around the room. But to, like, to really even though Joe's now drawing all these people, but to allow the characters to move through that space, it it does almost feel like you're watching something, you know, like, in wide screen

[00:16:43] - [Speaker 3]
Yeah.

[00:16:44] - [Speaker 2]
As they go through the party. And I, yeah, I thought it was I thought it was pretty neat, and I really liked it. And I thought I thought Joe crushed it.

[00:16:50] - [Speaker 4]
Oh, thank you.

[00:16:51] - [Speaker 2]
Oh, yeah.

[00:16:52] - [Speaker 4]
It was

[00:16:52] - [Speaker 3]
we're really lucky because this first issue is a bonus sized issue. We got, like, I think eight extra pages on this for the same price as a regular sized issue, and so we were kinda able to just go free with everything, and you know, there splashes in there, that two page spread, and then just really take our time in introducing all the characters because everybody that's in the series, you meet in that first issue and, you know, take the time to set up a mystery and just re also, like I said, really spend time with the characters, kinda get settled in with them so that we can hit the ground running with issue two. So it was very much a a first act in one issue.

[00:17:42] - [Speaker 2]
Yeah. Yeah. I I also like how comics, you know, like like film, you know, the two mediums as the years have gone on have a tendency to to mirror each other in terms of faster cuts, more action, bigger, louder. Comics do the same thing. I mean and I really like how I felt like this kinda had the space to to to breathe a little bit.

[00:18:07] - [Speaker 2]
You know? Like and I didn't feel like you're any putting any I didn't feel like anything was, like, fluff or, like, filler. Like, I really felt it was to create that type of atmosphere. Because right after that scene with the the where they kinda go through the party, there's, like, a little bit more stuff, you know, that happens and that goes on. But, like, I really liked how big and open it was and the angle that was chosen for when you introduce, Victoria, the the the person whose party it is.

[00:18:33] - [Speaker 2]
You know, with the classic at the top of the stairs looking out over the crowd, we see Ethan and Henry. Like, I really thought that was really, you know, well done, and I thought it was, you know, again, something that you could show her entering a million different ways, but I really felt it was such a great use of the space and kind of allowing that moment to land, like, all the people look up at her and her being on that staircase. I just thought it it really it it felt a little bit like, you know, like, this is out of time almost. You know? She's got many grand entrance.

[00:19:12] - [Speaker 3]
Of course. A lady like her asked

[00:19:13] - [Speaker 2]
me the

[00:19:14] - [Speaker 3]
grand entrance. Yeah. I had I had pictured it one way, and then Joe's angle, now I can't picture it any other way. Like, when I was writing, I was like, okay. It's gonna be this, but she's it is a grand entrance.

[00:19:26] - [Speaker 3]
I mean, I know I put that in the script, but I was like

[00:19:28] - [Speaker 4]
Yeah.

[00:19:29] - [Speaker 3]
I don't know. There's always, like, this one shot of a person coming straight down the stairs, and everybody's coming up on either side. But Joan gave her this amazing, like, curved staircase. So then you see all of her, and everybody's looking up. So you see everybody's reaction at the same time.

[00:19:45] - [Speaker 3]
I mean and and everybody has different reactions. I'll say that throughout this whole thing, Joe does a masterclass of expressions. Like, every page every page we get, the editorial team and myself are just like, ugh. So perfect.

[00:20:01] - [Speaker 4]
It's my favorite thing to draw. Yeah. Expression. So Yeah.

[00:20:05] - [Speaker 2]
Well, there there's some great ones. Mean, I just I really love the characters. That's, like, one of the things. You know? Like, some things I love because of plot or I love because of, like, a certain look.

[00:20:15] - [Speaker 2]
I I I love these characters. You know? And even though everyone comes across very nice and and sweet for the for the most part, like, I because of it's a mystery, you know, I get to the end, and then I'm I read it again a second time. And I'm like, okay. Who's lying?

[00:20:29] - [Speaker 2]
Is there a liar here? Is it who who is it? I I really loved missus Jamieson. Like, I just love how sweet she was, and I

[00:20:38] - [Speaker 3]
And that's his favorite character, I think. Oh, yeah.

[00:20:40] - [Speaker 4]
That's that's my favorite character. I've I've never gotten to draw, like, an elderly character like that. And when Jim kinda described her, I was like, okay. This I've never done this. We'll we'll see how this goes.

[00:20:53] - [Speaker 4]
I'll do some designs. And like, I was like, wow. I'm really enjoying this. Like because, like, my mom is, like she's, like, 84, and so, like, I she a lot of of Anne's kind of mannerisms and the way she kinda holds herself, like, that's kinda my mom, honestly. Like, I think of it as, like so I I I'm I'm you know, they say draw what you know.

[00:21:17] - [Speaker 4]
Right? So Right. But, like Yeah. My mom is kinda, like, my unwilling model there.

[00:21:23] - [Speaker 2]
Okay. Yeah. There's one panel after she's introduced, and they're still at the party. They haven't gone to the, you know, the museum yet. And she instantly takes a liking to, like, Henry and Ethan, and there's, like, one panel in particular where it's just the three of them.

[00:21:42] - [Speaker 2]
And I it seems like she has pulled both of them close to her in in the way that, like, a person of her age, like, does and, like, her face and her smile. It's it's just it's so warm. Yeah. And it it really creates such a nice tableau,

[00:22:00] - [Speaker 4]
you know, the the three of them. And it's such

[00:22:02] - [Speaker 2]
a great way to kind of end that that party scene. You know? And we we have now met pretty much all of the, all of the main characters. There's there's a few other ones coming coming along. But, yeah, really, really, lovely.

[00:22:18] - [Speaker 2]
Thank you. One of the other things I I wanted to talk about with this book, it's colored by Peter Pitazas. I I think it's I'm not sure if that's how you say his last name, but Peter, this book is colored, I mean, so well. And it it it again, it doesn't quite look like a lot of other stuff out on the market, and it really just adds a whole other level to this storytelling. I loved the way it's colored.

[00:22:48] - [Speaker 4]
Oh, man. Is gonna love to hear that. Because, like, Pete is like he's the rock star on this book, honestly. He, like, he blows us away every time he sends in pages. And, you know, we we wanted a very specific kind of style for this because when Jim, you know, you know, wanted me, he was like, you know, like, let let's kinda get back to, like, you know, your Morning Glory style, which, you know, Morning Glory is a long time ago.

[00:23:12] - [Speaker 4]
Like, I did really thin line and the colors that I worked with Alex Alazzo. He did a lot of the cinematography, you know, the lighting and all that stuff. And so I loved that. I mean, that's, like, some of my favorite art even though it's, like, early in my career. But, you know so we were trying to find people that, you know, could do that.

[00:23:30] - [Speaker 4]
And I had worked with Pete on a couple Valiant covers, and, you know, I sent them in, and I really liked his stuff. And, you know, they all all the whole team agreed, and he he, you know, signed on for the book. And, yeah, he does such a great job with just, like, cinematography, lighting, and shadow, and value. It's like, he he really is so undersung and underrated on this book. Like, people need to be, like, really taking note.

[00:23:55] - [Speaker 4]
I'm so glad that you you picked up on that.

[00:23:58] - [Speaker 3]
Just I just well. I'm sorry.

[00:24:00] - [Speaker 4]
Has

[00:24:00] - [Speaker 2]
yeah. Sorry. No. I'm sorry. Go

[00:24:01] - [Speaker 3]
ahead, Jim. I was saying and he's also having a blast. Like, every page he turns in, and he'll say, like, god. I love this book every once in a while. And then just like, thank you.

[00:24:11] - [Speaker 3]
So do we, and we'd love it even more now.

[00:24:13] - [Speaker 2]
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, the the the the object at, like, the heart of this, you know, the the Maltese Falcon of it all is this you call it the nobility diamond. But there's a page in here that is, like, a full page of, like, a close-up of this diamond.

[00:24:30] - [Speaker 2]
And there's there's some lettering at the top. And World Design does the lettering. I mean, phenomenal job. Mhmm. Whoever does it for Man World, like, there's a there's several different people that work there.

[00:24:39] - [Speaker 2]
They're they're all incredible. But, yeah, like, just the way in particular the light comes off the diamond, that that close-up, that that page is just incredible, and it's something that could just be, like, a quick flip. Like, okay. There's the diamond. Like, whatever.

[00:24:56] - [Speaker 2]
Whatever. But it really is is stunning to kinda take a second to to you know, it's it's the focus of that entire page. It really shows, like, the importance of this thing.

[00:25:09] - [Speaker 3]
Yeah.

[00:25:10] - [Speaker 2]
And, yeah, I I thought it I thought it looked and it was colored beautifully.

[00:25:14] - [Speaker 4]
That's like that's our influences thing of, like, those films, those classic films. I mean, think about the way they were shot back then. Like, they would do a shot like that and would be, like, sparkling and stuff, and, like, the way it would the value the even the black and white films, just the way it would you know, the light would work on that. Like, that was foremost in my mind when I was, you know, working on that, and I'm so glad that that Pete just just nailed it on that one. Yeah.

[00:25:38] - [Speaker 2]
It's it's it's really great.

[00:25:40] - [Speaker 3]
Yeah. He got and Joe Joe nailed the design of it. I mean, it's supposed to be, like, basically the most expensive diamond in the world. There was a line that we had in there in the that, like, told the kinda old history of it. Like, it had been handed down from generation to generation, and it, like, disappeared in the invasion of Normandy in October and all this stuff.

[00:26:05] - [Speaker 3]
Just and and that was that was a little wordy, so we cut that word balloon out. But, you know, it's it's this, like it's the centerpiece, and it it's our it is our Mhmm. Multi falcon. You know? It's it's a little bit oh, I mean, it's the it's the center it's a central mystery to it all.

[00:26:26] - [Speaker 2]
Yeah. Right.

[00:26:27] - [Speaker 3]
But really, at the end of the day, this is a book about relationships also. So that's why Henry and Ethan and everybody, I just love that how much personality that Joe has put into each one and each person and each have their own reactions to stuff. Henry doesn't react the same way as Ethan, like, facially or anything. So, yeah, there's a there's a panel that was just silent that has a reaction shot from Ethan. He's just going, and and I love it.

[00:27:02] - [Speaker 3]
It seems so Myrna Loy ish.

[00:27:06] - [Speaker 2]
Yeah. That it's it's it's great. Yeah. I don't know if we're gonna see any something just something more about the characters. I don't know if we're gonna see any, like, flashbacks in this series, but I would just I would read a comic that is just how, Henry and Ethan met.

[00:27:22] - [Speaker 2]
You know?

[00:27:22] - [Speaker 3]
Well So issue zero. There you can do that. If you go on ignitionignitionpress.com, there is an issue zero to this, called the cold open, and it is their meet cute of how they met and fell in love. And there's a there's a case in there as well.

[00:27:41] - [Speaker 4]
Okay. Yeah.

[00:27:42] - [Speaker 3]
Page it's a it's a 12 page cold open to them, and you can find it on ignitionpress.com. And you yeah. You can get it there. Yeah. It's it's very limited too.

[00:27:55] - [Speaker 2]
I'll make sure to put a link in the show notes for listeners so they can go and

[00:28:00] - [Speaker 4]
Excellent.

[00:28:00] - [Speaker 2]
And and pick that up. Yeah. That's really cool. I I did see that. I was I was I was trying to I was trying to do that to set you up, Jim.

[00:28:09] - [Speaker 2]
So

[00:28:10] - [Speaker 3]
You were it worked. I took the bait.

[00:28:12] - [Speaker 2]
It it worked. We got it. You took the bait. We got it. Yeah.

[00:28:14] - [Speaker 2]
The cold opened. It's it's on the can get it from Ignition Press. I'll have a link in the show notes and yeah.

[00:28:21] - [Speaker 5]
Jimmy is too humble to do this. So as his stalwart ride or die,

[00:28:24] - [Speaker 3]
I wanted to tell you about

[00:28:25] - [Speaker 5]
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. No shade but it's really good, remarkably so. Does it have a yeti?

[00:28:53] - [Speaker 5]
Yeah. Is it cute and adorable? Yeah. 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.

[00:29:12] - [Speaker 5]
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. It's hitting shelves on April 21, and I dropped a 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.

[00:29:38] - [Speaker 5]
On behalf of us both, we appreciate your

[00:29:40] - [Speaker 2]
support. YOLOLA. Jim, I wanted to ask you, and you mentioned this earlier. You said you're being being an out and proud, you know, member of the community, have these this gay couple front and center in this. Did you do you feel that this is something you could have written, like, earlier in your career?

[00:30:03] - [Speaker 3]
You know, I don't think so. I think I needed to mature quite a bit. And, also, you know, I'm married I'm married now, very happily married. And he is my husband's from Scotland. So he he can be a little bit Ethan y sometimes.

[00:30:22] - [Speaker 3]
My dog is saying, what?

[00:30:24] - [Speaker 4]
But, no, he he

[00:30:25] - [Speaker 3]
can be he can be a bit Ethan y sometimes with his, you know, Britishness, UKness, Scottishness, whatever however you wanna say it. But I also need kind of the maturity, I think, in a relationship, you know, having gone through relationships and find that, like, stability and maturity so that it's not just me copying how people in the thirties, '40 thirties and forties films would talk. It's there's a lot of, like, I'm I'm in it in there as well. So so it is the most authentic thing that I've written so far because it's it comes from a lot of experience. You were saying a little bit before we started recording that, you liked their their relationship and just how breezy kind of it is, or I've heard it described as breezy.

[00:31:24] - [Speaker 3]
Yeah. There is there is conflict that will come up, and that was actually because I love them so much as a couple in their breezy repartee. To write a fight between them was kinda difficult, actually. And and I was just like, oh, I love them. I don't like to see them fight.

[00:31:45] - [Speaker 3]
They're like my they're like my kids. And and then but then Joe just Joe Joe Joe sells it so well. You'll see it. And then and then he's he's doing the fallout conversation, now ish in the drawing process. And we're seeing that, and I'm like, oh, thank god.

[00:32:09] - [Speaker 3]
They're both together. Well, they didn't break up. I'm just meaning they're back in that repartee.

[00:32:16] - [Speaker 2]
Right. So Yeah. I I I can't wait to get I can't I can't wait to get to that. I feel like we saw, you know, a little bit of it because they're you know, the solicit, I think, talks about them being, you know, mismatched, and we see that in terms of where Ethan's from. I mean, we don't know a whole lot about Henry yet in the first issue, but we see, you know, the type of job that he's had as a PI, and and we meet some other folks, some other colorful characters that, Joe crushes the look of, of them as well.

[00:32:50] - [Speaker 2]
Some some less than savory individuals that that Henry knows. But I when they're when they're in their their, you know, their apartment, their brownstone and, you know, their have I mean, just moved in and and talking about the how they like things differently. I was like, well, they're being very they're being very sweet still, but I give it give it ten years. And

[00:33:17] - [Speaker 3]
Well, let's do a ten year run on this.

[00:33:19] - [Speaker 4]
How's that sound?

[00:33:20] - [Speaker 2]
Yeah. I'll read it. I I'll keep it on the pull list, Jim. I'm gonna keep writing

[00:33:26] - [Speaker 3]
it, and Joe will keep going after that. For sure.

[00:33:31] - [Speaker 2]
Yeah. I can't wait to see, you know, to to see where it goes. I I just I really had such, you know, such a good

[00:33:40] - [Speaker 3]
time with it. Thank you. Issue two issue two, you'll get to see more of that, like, opposite or opposite worlds when we really get a chance to see, them switching places. And they can't just say, okay. Let's do it.

[00:33:57] - [Speaker 3]
We gotta show that. And so there's there's two great almost fashion shows that that Joe gets to draw, one of Ethan in Henry wear and one of Henry and Ethan wear. And my god. That was so much fun to write and so much fun to see.

[00:34:19] - [Speaker 4]
Yeah. Yeah. I love that stuff. It was great.

[00:34:23] - [Speaker 2]
Yeah. In in terms of some of the more I mean, not that they're you know, there are some lighter elements of the story, you know, some some comedic elements. I I think, certainly, an audience's sensibilities have changed over time. I mean, some types of comedy are are timeless. Some things will always make people laugh.

[00:34:43] - [Speaker 2]
But when you look at some of those films and eve you know, maybe not the really dark ones, but, you know, there there are some comedy elements to, you know, to those films. It what are your influences, or what was it like trying to not just take that type of story and modernize it, but also, you know, kind of keep the humor of those situations, like, fresh for today's readers?

[00:35:13] - [Speaker 3]
I I looked to the classic films that we referenced earlier, and then I also, looked to Gilmore Girls, because I love Gilmore Girls, and they have that sharp apartheid, and they reference classic film all the time.

[00:35:28] - [Speaker 2]
I don't mean to interrupt, Jim, but, like, Gilmore Girls came up in my last podcast with Joe.

[00:35:37] - [Speaker 4]
We love Gilmore Girls. It's a

[00:35:40] - [Speaker 2]
great show. Yeah. I'm sorry.

[00:35:41] - [Speaker 4]
Wait. Yeah. Go ahead, Jim.

[00:35:43] - [Speaker 3]
Continue, please. And and also kinda the, like especially during, like, the school scenes and the non fighting scenes of Buffy, like, when they're just interacting, with the Scoobies or all just interacting, that Yeah. That was a big a big influence on it. I know a lot I mean, there's a lot of people that can infuse humor in it in comics in a seamless way that I really love. And I think some of those people you know, I worked at Marvel before, like, years and years ago, and it was during, you know, like, the civil war and secret invasion, house of m era.

[00:36:33] - [Speaker 3]
So, you know, I really look at Bendis' work, Rubiker's work, Fractions, Hickman's, Mark Millar's. And and I think that they all do a really good job of infusing full characters and and so do a lot so so how everybody's doing such a great job in comics these days also. I mean, I think this is a great time. This has been a great era for comics. And Oh, yeah.

[00:37:01] - [Speaker 3]
To be

[00:37:01] - [Speaker 2]
able to be a part of

[00:37:02] - [Speaker 3]
it is just, you know, fantastic.

[00:37:06] - [Speaker 4]
100%.

[00:37:06] - [Speaker 2]
Yeah. I I I agree. It's awesome. Joe, something I wanted to ask you about, which kinda ties into the the the lighter, more, you know, like, comedic elements of it sometimes, which is facial expressions certainly. But I took an acting class in college, and we were we we had to pick a scene and do the scene, and then the class talked about it.

[00:37:28] - [Speaker 2]
Right? And one of the things the the the the professor in the class, complimented me on it, which was something I didn't even it wasn't, something I did, like, consciously. It was it just happened from doing the scene, but he commented on my my posture. And as he he thought that that was, like, a big part of, like, the character, and it was showing emotion. And it wasn't anything I thought about.

[00:37:57] - [Speaker 2]
One, I have terrible posture. And two, it it just like, I was just really trying to observe more than anything. But you you like, do you how do you approach that and think about that in terms of, like, the posture of your characters? You know, because especially there are things not just with facial expressions, but also how they're standing that really, I think work much better with the those lighter those lighter panels. So how do you approach that?

[00:38:29] - [Speaker 2]
What is what do you think about that?

[00:38:31] - [Speaker 4]
That is such a great question, and that is always foremost on my mind when I'm doing a character design is, like, you know, when I get if I'm if I get just a little blurb from the writer, like, you know, that's fine. But, like, so much and and I also I'm also a a part time adjunct professor, and the my students just finished the assignment where they did character designs. And I had the thing I tell them all the time is, like, your character's posture will say so much about their personality, the way they carry themselves, the way they hold themselves. Like, you don't think about it. It's like you said, it was unconscious for you.

[00:39:06] - [Speaker 4]
You didn't consciously do it, but, like, informs so much about a person just the way they they carry themselves. So, yeah, like, each one of them, the characters in our book, like, themselves. I know the way they're gonna, you know, stand or the way they're gonna sit. And, you know, Ethan's gonna be a little bit more, you know, tense in his kind of posture, and Henry's gonna be a little bit more, you know, slack. He's just, you know, whatever, you know, kinda deal.

[00:39:36] - [Speaker 4]
So, like, that's, like, such an underrated aspect of comic book storytelling that, know, some artists, like, I I really wish they would put more into that because, like, then if you don't do that, then it's kinda monotonous. You know? Everybody's, you know, doing the same pose or whatever. Not not shaming not naming any names. But but, yeah, like, if you just take the time to sit there and, like because, yeah, facial expressions are great.

[00:40:04] - [Speaker 4]
I love them, you know, but, yeah, posture is so underrated, and I do put a lot of thought into that. So, yeah, I mean, like, that it it always goes off the vibe of the script. You know? If Jim's writing them fighting, I I kinda know the way they're gonna hold themselves while they're they're fighting, not like fist fighting. You know, just like arguing.

[00:40:21] - [Speaker 4]
We haven't gotten to that yet. Yeah. But

[00:40:26] - [Speaker 2]
No. We haven't gotten to fist fighting yet.

[00:40:30] - [Speaker 3]
Well I'll see what happened. Yeah.

[00:40:32] - [Speaker 4]
I know. But yeah. So, like, every you have to know that, you know, inside and out for whatever context, whatever sequence they're in. If they're, like, trying to, like, you know, stake stake stake out a scene or whatever, and they're trying to be sneaky, you know, how how are they gonna carry themselves? Know?

[00:40:50] - [Speaker 4]
It's it's it's really drawing is also it it is skill. It is rendering, but it's also critical thinking too.

[00:40:58] - [Speaker 3]
Yeah. And there's a I mean, he does a lot of acting. Joe's Joe's work has a lot of acting in it as well, and the big part of acting is reacting. And there's the the posture when they're talking is one thing, but also when they're reacting to something Like, I'm thinking of a page today that Joe turned in, and Ethan just has this, like, almost like, oh, thing. He doesn't say anything, but he says so much with just this change of how you see him.

[00:41:32] - [Speaker 3]
You're like, oh, you can tell that he's just so, like, frustrated and doesn't know what to do and is exhausted. And I just it all came through in that panel, and it was it's I mean, he does he does it very well. And, like, in issue one when we meet his parents, you know, there's and there's definitely, you know, you see where he comes from, and then you also see Henry's reaction and how he's far more abrasive than what they would be used to. So those those reactionary postures convey so much as well, which Joe does such a great job of.

[00:42:14] - [Speaker 4]
Thank you. You're welcome.

[00:42:16] - [Speaker 3]
Yeah. I noticed these

[00:42:17] - [Speaker 4]
things. Aw. There's

[00:42:21] - [Speaker 2]
always, you know, look at, I think there's certain panels that just, I am attracted to or that I think just, like, capture my I don't know if it's imagination or there's just something that, you know, certain comic books, certain things I stand out to me that I don't maybe don't not that I have, like, a special eye or anything, but I just like to call attention to them because there's some things that just seem like they're just another stepping stone of the story, but there's so many, like, wonderful things in them. In particular in this, like, later on in this issue, we meet a character named Alice, and and she comes to their their their their house. And so she's standing there, and it's just a great little another great little scene where Henry is out in front and, like, foot forward. And, again, like, with Henry's posture, he almost seems like a tiny bit defensive even though it's a a friend of his because yeah. But Ethan is, like, wearing a robe, and he's got, like, almost both hands, like, clutching the robe together.

[00:43:26] - [Speaker 2]
I think the cat's in it as well because Henry and Ethan have a cat. Excuse me. I just I just Yeah. I just, love that little that little moment. I really just it just really caught my eye, and I'm just like, oh, that's really nice.

[00:43:41] - [Speaker 2]
And then, like, and then it gets into, like, the rest the story from there. And it's it's just all very it's very fun. It's very well done. Yeah. And I just I really fell in love with Henry and and Ethan.

[00:43:54] - [Speaker 2]
I just they you know? I feel like it's just like a perfect kind of thing for for right now. It just it really, I felt good after reading it. I I wanna And we need more

[00:44:07] - [Speaker 3]
things like that. We we need more things like that where you feel good right now about something.

[00:44:12] - [Speaker 2]
A 100 a 100%. A 100%. You know? And I just I just really, really enjoyed it. Like, it just felt like again, it felt like something out of another time, but I it it also feels modern.

[00:44:26] - [Speaker 2]
And the entire team, you know, and world, Peter, the two of you, you know, you just and I think you really found something special with Ignition Press, especially after reading what editor in chief Jamie S. Rich wrote in the back of the the of issue one, and he's a fan of all these things as well. Yeah. It really is a tremendous accomplishment, and I I just I I can't wait to see where it goes. So

[00:44:56] - [Speaker 3]
Oh, thank you. We're we're excited to take you on that ride. Yeah. So I just finished issue five script, and I wanna go on another ride with them.

[00:45:08] - [Speaker 2]
Well, I I hope I hope I hope you do. I I hope there's more. But listeners, one way we can make sure there's more is if you go and get the other half from Ignition Press. You could also go and get that limited issue zero, the the cold open. This this first issue, chapter one is dinner in a diamond.

[00:45:32] - [Speaker 2]
That is out now. I'll put links in the show notes so you can get it. And issue two will be out April 22. It's gonna be I I think a five you said you just finished the script for five, so it's a five issue run for this Yep. First arc.

[00:45:47] - [Speaker 2]
Hopefully, first of many. Yeah. And I'll put links so you can you can fall you can follow, Jim and Joe on social media and check out their other stuff that they've done, which there's there's plenty to choose from. But, yeah, I just I love this. I loved it so much.

[00:46:08] - [Speaker 2]
So fun. Gotta thank you Mission

[00:46:11] - [Speaker 3]
Press also because them letting us tell the story and look and just they've been so great. You know, they're really about creator forward, creator first, and that enables us, I think, to be our true selves. And also the product itself, the cover stock, the paper stock just really feels like you're reading a comic. Yeah. That you're getting your mind's worth.

[00:46:34] - [Speaker 3]
But also and our editorial team, Maggie and Nora are superstars behind the scenes as well. So but thank you so much for loving the book.

[00:46:46] - [Speaker 2]
Yeah. I I mean, well, if they put this on the YouTube, I mean, sorry podcast listeners. You can't see this, but I do have a copy of of issue one because when I first saw Joe post about it, I added it to my pull list because Mhmm. I'm a Joe Eisman super fan.

[00:47:02] - [Speaker 4]
Thank you, Joe.

[00:47:02] - [Speaker 2]
I'm a super Joe super

[00:47:05] - [Speaker 3]
I'm a super stam of super Joe.

[00:47:10] - [Speaker 2]
But so thank you both so much. Shout out to my brother Bobby. I do this every episode. Bobby's the cryptid creator corner's number one most dedicated fan. Bobby listens to all my episodes.

[00:47:20] - [Speaker 2]
I really appreciate it, Bob. And, yeah, listeners, thank you so much for listening. Go get the other half from Ignition Press. And if you get it, let me know what you thought of it. I really think you're gonna love it.

[00:47:33] - [Speaker 2]
And, yeah, thank you to Jim McCann and Joe Isma. This is wonderful.

[00:47:38] - [Speaker 4]
Thank you.

[00:47:39] - [Speaker 2]
Thank you for listening. Listeners, rate and review us. Do all those things they tell you to do. It really helps. Good night, and I will see you next time.

[00:47:48] - [Speaker 5]
This is Byron O'Neil, one of your hosts of the Cryptid 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.

[00:48:07] - [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.