Andrew Cooke and Jon Cooke – yes, they’re brothers – have devoted roughly eight years of their lives to producing and distributing the documentary film, Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist. I know the Brothers Cooke pretty well and feel their pain because for several years, we were on somewhat similar career tracks. ANDREW... Continue Reading →
MAD cartoonist Sergio Aragones marginalizes Mr. Media! PODCAST INTERVIEW
Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of MAD cartoonist Sergio Aragones fans dressed up for Halloween as Groo the Wanderer… in the NEW new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! My first issue of MAD magazine was purchased near the checkout counter at a Stop & Shop supermarket in... Continue Reading →
An oddly compelling interview with cartoonist Denis Kitchen! VIDEO INTERVIEW
Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of recently bathed, well-dressed comic book fans who… aw, who am I kidding? The only thing true in this script is that Mr. Media is recorded more or less live in the NEW new media capital of the world and home of the best team... Continue Reading →
A Boy Named Curtis created by a cartoonist named Ray! PODCAST INTERVIEW
There are a number of daily newspaper comic strips that we tend to take for granted. “Cathy,” by Cathy Guisewite, is one. Mort Walker’s “Beetle Bailey” and “Hi & Lois” are two more. And then there is my friend Ray Billingsley’s strip, “Curtis.” “Curtis” shares the adventures of a young African-American boy whose age... Continue Reading →
PS Magazine editor remembers Will Eisner’s US Army days! PODCAST INTERVIEW
Today's Guest: Paul Fitzgerald, former editor of the US Army's PS Magazine, author of Will Eisner and PS Magazine. In my life, it seems all roads lead back to Will Eisner. In 2002, I met the American master artist and writer for the first time over lunch and embarked on a three-year project to... Continue Reading →
Writer Trina Robbins revives the art of Nell Brinkley’s Girls! PODCAST INTERVIEW
This is my third year of being the ringmaster of the Mr. Media radio show and I’m starting to see previous guests return with new projects. And that is certainly the case tonight, as cartoonist and historian Trina Robbins returns to the show to talk about her new project about Nell Brinkley's Girls, The... Continue Reading →
Forget Frank Miller’s mistake: This is The Spirit fans want to see! PODCAST INTERVIEW
Today's Guest: Steven Paul Leiva, filmmaker, "Will Eisner's The Spirit" cartoon; author, Searching for Ray Bradbury I know a thing or two about comic book artist and American master Will Eisner and his best known character, "The Spirit." I spent almost three years researching and writing the only biography of the man –... Continue Reading →
Legendary cartoonist Joe Kubert’s life rocks biography! PODCAST INTERVIEW
(NOTE: I'm sad to update this 2009 interview with the news that author and comics historian Bill Schelly passed away on September 12 2019. He was 67, You can read a little more about Bill in this blog post by Mark Evanier. Rest in piece, Bill. Thanks for gathering so much history for all... Continue Reading →
Cartoonist Clay Bennett draws audio pictures for Mr. Media! PODCAST INTERVIEW
Of the nine books I’ve written, it just occurred to me that the first and last have Pulitzer Prize connections—not for my work, unfortunately, but still… The last was Will Eisner: A Spirited Life, a biography of the American master artist and writer, which featured an introduction by Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Michael Chabon.... Continue Reading →
Michael Uslan + Batman movie rights = boffo B.O.! PODCAST INTERVIEW
Today's Guest: Michael Uslan, executive producer, Batman, Dark Knight movies Kids, if you want to grow up to be a successful executive producer of movies like Michael Uslan ("YOU-slin") did, the key is education – and patience. Lots and lots of patience. Uslan secured the rights to make Batman movies years before Tim Burton,... Continue Reading →