THE AWESOME COMICS PODCAST

What makes a good comic book character? What makes them stand out? What comes first; the character or the story? Those are just some of the questions we answer this week as we delve into one of the most enjoyable sides of comic creation. Also there's some birthday chat, some spider-man chat and plenty of great comics and books to check out, including one by one of comics greats!

Great stuff to check out: Spider-Man, Batman, The Punisher, The Fantastic Art of Ron Turner, Comics Assemble, Sha, Pat Mills, Men of the Cloth, Hellbound Media, The Gods and Monsters of Headgrave, Frank Miller: Push the Wall, Retail Park, Underg Planet Atmos: Exordium, Mad Cave Comics, Blood Force

This we talk about a whole lot of comics, and focus on an anthology that 'Distinctly British' in every way! From putting together different artistic voices, finding a story as you create it, conventions, teaching and more, is another Brit comic to add to your radars. All that and a whole ton of brilliant indie comics recommendations, comics and creators to add to your wishlists. All of that in under two hours? How is that possible? Well, listen and find out!

Great stuff to check out: Distinctly British Comics, Malibu Comics, Close Encounters, Matt Bunce, Comics Assemble, Gods and Monsters of Headgrave, Hellbound Media, Shar, Pat Mills, Mythos Comics, Vamp, Fantagraphics, The Mess, Noah Van Sciver, Comic Book Punks, Zero Instance, Vamp, M.A.S.K.,

This week we talk a bit about the work of classic comics artist and writer John Byrne, from xmen to next men and everything in between. Theres also a fun delve into a one and done spider team up book that everyone should pick up from a back issue bin, and Dan marks his return to the show by asking if we would still read comics if they were digital only. All that and a bunch of great comic recommendations, stuff to check out an also shampoo talk!

Great stuff to check out: John Byrne, Spider-Man, Red Sonja, American Nature #4, Mystic, Matt Bunce, Eamonn Clarke, Mega City Book Club, Zinezilla Arts Fair, Comics Assemble, She, Pat Mills, The Gods and Monsters of Headgrave, Death Metal Duck, Black Panel Press, Justin Heggs, Cam Hayden, Corpse Knight, Terrobytes, Mad Cave Comics, Ode to Kirahito, Osamu Tezuka

Its a fun one this week as we bring in an honorary amigo Kieran Squires (The Drycleaner) to talk about a raft of fun comic topics. From a big comic mart discussion, to underused heroes that deserve a spotlight to those popular creators that we just don't get, its an absolutely jam packed comics chat that guaranteed to get you jumping online to read comics or just let us know what you think!

Great stuff to check out: Kieran Squires, London Comic Mart, Kellys Comic Fair, Mega City Book Club, Inkblot Festival, Three Planes, Roger Mason, The Mice, Commando, The Cannibals, Field Mouse Press, Noir City Murders, Green Archer Comics, The Saint, Rebellion, ABC Warriors, Rising Stars, J Michael Straszinski, Rising Stars: Visitations, Vanguard, Dan Butcher, XMen: Elsewhen, Periodical, Durin, Rachael Ball

Sometimes you just have to go back to the classics, and there's none more classic than Homers Odyssey! So this week we chat to Neil Roche and Laurence Alison about gods, myths and translating epic journeys to the comics page. From the challenges of adapting ancient text, to the wonderful artwork of Vu Danh its a wonderful discussion about yet more brilliant indie comics and creators. All that and great recommendations, international comic shop chat, local comic fairs and as always... great indie comics talk!

Great stuff to check out: Odysseus: In Defiance of the Gods,Neil Roche, Laurence Alison, Vu Danh, Psy Comics, Killing Moon, Killing Moon Rises, Warfighter, Warwick Fraser Coombe, Hartwood, Comics Assemble, The Gods and Monsters of Headgrave, Zinezilla, Shar, The Saint Meets the Tiger, See You in Hell, M.A.S.K., Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, Creepy presents Richard Corben