Episodes

  • Archie Bongiovanni and Mary Verhoeven Interview - Teleportation and Other Luxuries

    Archie Bongiovanni and Mary Verhoeven Interview - Teleportation and Other Luxuries
    Nov 12 2024
    It's a brand new Cryptid Creator Corner! Jimmy had a chance to chat with both Archie Bongiovanni and Mary Verhoeven about their new graphic novel being published by Maverick, an imprint of Mad Cave Studios: Teleportation and Other Luxuries. So here we have yet another outstanding Maverick original graphic novel, after recently chatting with Jeremy Whitley, the writer of Navigating With You. The title of TaOL immediately drew me to it, and I was not disappointed in the story or the art. Mary packs so much into every panel, be it emotion, information, or jokes. I loved hearing Archie talk about how they came up with all the techno-babble. It adds a fun element to this story. It's not all fun though, this book really serves up the dangers of certain mega corporations and how they treat their workers, which I think is too close to the truth to be satire. I also had a chance to chat with Archie about the wonderful book A Quick and Easy Guide to THEY/THEM Pronouns created with Tristan Jimerson that I found helpful and delightful. Teleportation and Other Luxuries is an amazing graphic novel and I had so much fun recording this episode. Give it a listen. Out on November 12th, order your copy here: https://madcavestudios.com/maverick/teleportation-and-other-luxuries/ From the publisher In a cutthroat scientific competition, an oddball quartet—featuring an internet-famous teen heartthrob, a rebellious anarchist, a shy genius, and a small-town jack-of-all-trades—vie for victory while their clash of personalities and hidden agendas threatens to sabotage their chances to win, making them realize maybe victory isn’t what they truly seek. In a bustling futurist metropolis, the Blamazon Teen Scientist Competition promises not just scientific glory, but fame and substantial financial rewards as well. Among the contestants, four teenagers from different backgrounds form an unlikely team: Tyler Risley, a teen heartthrob known for his genius-level intellect, Gabby, a grumpy nonbinary anarchist with a knack and distrust for science, Allegra, a shy and brilliant loner hiding her vast intelligence, and L.J., a small town jack-of-all-trades with an unparalleled knack for engineering. Amidst their bickering and missteps, they uncover the secret of teleportation. Despite this invention being a clear albeit dangerous way to win, it becomes apparent that perhaps victory isn’t their only collective goal. PATREON We have a new Patreon, CryptidCreatorCornerpod. If you like what we do, please consider supporting us. We got two simple tiers, $1 and $3. I’ll be uploading a story every Sunday about some of the crazy things I’ve gotten into over the years. The first one dropped last week about me relocating a drug lord’s sharks. Yes, it did happen, and the alligators didn’t even get in the way. Want to know more, you know what to do. Our episode sponsors Arkenforge Play TTRPG games? Make sure to check out our partner Arkenforge. They have everything you need to make your TTRPG more fun and immersive, allowing you to build, play, and export animated maps including in person fog of war capability that let’s your players interact with maps as the adventure unfolds while you, the DM get the full picture. Use the discount code YETI5 to get $5 off your order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    52 mins
  • Veronica Agarwal and Lee Durfey-Lavoie Interview - Sink or Swim

    Veronica Agarwal and Lee Durfey-Lavoie Interview - Sink or Swim
    Nov 8 2024
    What an exciting new episode of the Cryptid Creator Corner! Jimmy chats with Veronica Agarwal and Lee Durfey-Lavoie about their newest graphic novel Sink or Swim. Their previous work Just Roll With It was a HUGE hit in the Yeti Cave and Jimmy was lucky enough to do a written interview with them previously, so it was awesome having them both on the podcast. This is such a great discussion about comics and mental health and the conversation goes in some interesting, often personal, directions. Both Just Roll WIth It and Sink or Swim are wonderful graphic novels that both kids and adults will love. Here is the description of Sink or Swim: Summer is here! School’s out, the pool is open, and new adventures with friends await! But what happens when twelve year old Ty’s anxiety has other plans? From the world of Just Roll With It comes a boy-centric graphic novel about accepting yourself even when it’s a little scary. Bouncing back from a broken arm should be no big deal—but when Ty spends a month off the swim team the thought of getting back in the water is suddenly not as fun as it used to be. After weeks of ignoring his friends, Ty isn't sure how to connect with them again in summer camp. They used to have swim team together but after so long without swimming he's out of shape and afraid of failing in front of them. With his friendships fracturing, will Ty be able to gain confidence in himself and fix everything before it's too late? Here is the description for Just Roll With It: Starting middle school is hard enough when you don't know anyone; it's even harder when you're shy. A contemporary middle-grade graphic novel for fans of Guts and Real Friends about how dealing with anxiety and OCD can affect everyday life. As long as Maggie rolls the right number, nothing can go wrong...right? Maggie just wants to get through her first year of middle school. But between finding the best after-school clubs, trying to make friends, and avoiding the rumored monster on school grounds, she’s having a tough time...so she might need a little help from her twenty-sided dice. But what happens if Maggie rolls the wrong number? A touching middle-grade graphic novel that explores the complexity of anxiety, OCD, and learning to trust yourself and the world around you. NEW PATREON We have a new Patreon, CryptidCreatorCornerpod. If you like what we do, please consider supporting us. We got two simple tiers, $1 and $3. I’ll be uploading a story every Sunday about some of the crazy things I’ve gotten into over the years. The first one dropped last week about me relocating a drug lord’s sharks. Yes, it did happen, and the alligators didn’t even get in the way. Want to know more, you know what to do. Our episode sponsors Arkenforge Play TTRPG games? Make sure to check out our partner Arkenforge. They have everything you need to make your TTRPG more fun and immersive, allowing you to build, play, and export animated maps including in person fog of war capability that let’s your players interact with maps as the adventure unfolds while you, the DM get the full picture. Use the discount code YETI5 to get $5 off your order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr
  • Jay Faerber Interview - Copperhead

    Jay Faerber Interview - Copperhead
    Nov 5 2024
    It's a brand new Cryptid Creator Corner with guest Jay Faerber. Jay and I sat down to chat a little while ago and I'm excited for folks to finally listen to this episode. Jay wrote one of my favorite comics (illustrated by Scott Godlewski) Copperhead, and I was excited to nerd-out about that. Jay has co-created and written comics like Elsewhere, Noble Causes, Dynamo 5, and Near Death. Plus, Jay has written for some iconic television shows like Ringer, Zoo, and Supergirl. It was great hearing Jay's perspective on collaboration both in comics and in a writers' room. I also loved talking about Jay's other passion: 70s and 80s television! This was such a great conversation. Check out Jay's website here: http://www.jayfaerber.com. From the publisher Welcome to Copperhead, a grimy mining town on the edge of a backwater planet. Single mom Clara Bronson is the new sheriff, and on her first day she'll have to contend with a resentful deputy, a shady mining tycoon, and a family of alien hillbillies. And did we mention the massacre? NEW PATREON We have a new Patreon, CryptidCreatorCornerpod. If you like what we do, please consider supporting us. We got two simple tiers, $1 and $3. I’ll be uploading a story every Sunday about some of the crazy things I’ve gotten into over the years. The first one dropped last week about me relocating a drug lord’s sharks. Yes, it did happen, and the alligators didn’t even get in the way. Want to know more, you know what to do. Our episode sponsors Arkenforge Play TTRPG games? Make sure to check out our partner Arkenforge. They have everything you need to make your TTRPG more fun and immersive, allowing you to build, play, and export animated maps including in person fog of war capability that let’s your players interact with maps as the adventure unfolds while you, the DM get the full picture. Use the discount code YETI5 to get $5 off your order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    53 mins
  • Jeff Morris Interview - True Believer

    Jeff Morris Interview - True Believer
    Nov 1 2024
    I'm delighted to introduce first time guest, Jeff Morris, on the show with me today to talk about his new crowdfunding project, True Believer, a collection of three short comics about his journey through grief. Each story draws inspiration from his personal experiences with loss and is bound to make you cry. I know personally, grief is a weird thing. I’ve had to deal with more than my fair share of it recently learning to come to grips with the loss of who I was with my disability. Identity is such a fragile thing and the exploration of grief is something I typically avoid because it channels as a downer but these stories do not, they all plot a clear path through it in very different ways. Jeff and I met on line and became fast friends. When he reached out about potentially coming on the show, zero hesitation on my part even though I don't cover many crowdfunding projects these days. I can assure you that this is a comics debut you don't want to miss. The project is fully funded and it's ready to roll to the printer when the campaign ends. True Believer on Kickstarter Jeff's website NEW PATREON We have a new Patreon, CryptidCreatorCornerpod. If you like what we do, please consider supporting us. We got two simple tiers, $1 and $3. I’ll be uploading a story every Sunday about some of the crazy things I’ve gotten into over the years. The first one dropped last week about me relocating a drug lord’s sharks. Yes, it did happen, and the alligators didn’t even get in the way. Want to know more, you know what to do. Our episode sponsors From Within on Kickstarter From Within is a martial arts revenge graphic novel about a slave fighting his way through a deadly tournament where the rules shift at the whims of a tyrannical emperor. It's a mash-up of the high-impact action sequences of Bruce Lee's films with the paranoid thriller undercurrent found in Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips' Sleeper series. Late pledges are enabled if you happen to hear about it after the campaign officially ends. Arkenforge Play TTRPG games? Make sure to check out our partner Arkenforge. They have everything you need to make your TTRPG more fun and immersive, allowing you to build, play, and export animated maps including in person fog of war capability that let’s your players interact with maps as the adventure unfolds while you, the DM get the full picture. Use the discount code YETI5 to get $5 off your order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Jeremy Whitley Interview - Navigating With You

    Jeremy Whitley Interview - Navigating With You
    Oct 29 2024
    I met Jeremy Whitley at this year's Baltimore Comic-Con and picked up a copy of Navigating With You at the Mad Cave Studios booth. I had read a few things Jeremy had written and was excited to dig into this new graphic novel published by Maverick, a Mad Cave imprint. I absolutely fell in love with the characters of Neesha and Gabby and had to get Jeremy on the podcast to talk about them. We also chat about The Dog Knight, The Cold Ever After, and School for Extraterrestrial Girls. I had a great conversation with Jeremy that I know you're going to love. He also joined the editorial team for Lifeline Comics and a new Asexual & Aromantic Comic Book Anthology. They are accepting submissions until November 24th: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTtQJCwFJTsxZ7_dLCxNb_c_6CdnRck_wh55_eXqv3OFGJfQ/viewform Navigating With You: https://madcavestudios.com/maverick/navigating-with-you/?srsltid=AfmBOoqjHw5tUYXJqgBV_CgU-jz3ovLPrNFHH1w-if50RhGOOBWv8eap From the Maverick website A charming POC-led WLW romance where two new friends hit the road in search of the missing volumes of their favorite manga. Neesha Sparks is a disabled, vocal community activist with a passion for costume design. Gabby Graciana is an optimistic surfer – and, like Neesha, a new kid at school. When the two girls discover that they like the same manga series, Navigator Nozomi, they become more than just fellow new kids. But it was more than just having read the same book series–neither of them had finished it! Soon, they become new friends on a mission – to track down the remaining Navigator Nozomi books. This slice-of-life romance follows the two girls as they adventure across North Carolina to find each book, with their story intercut with the tales of Navigator Nozomi. Neesha and Gabby find more than just the books though—they find acceptance, friendship, understanding, and love. NEW PATREON We have a new Patreon, CryptidCreatorCornerpod. If you like what we do, please consider supporting us. We got two simple tiers, $1 and $3. I’ll be uploading a story every Sunday about some of the crazy things I’ve gotten into over the years. The first one dropped last week about me relocating a drug lord’s sharks. Yes, it did happen, and the alligators didn’t even get in the way. Want to know more, you know what to do. Our episode sponsors From Within on Kickstarter From Within is a martial arts revenge graphic novel about a slave fighting his way through a deadly tournament where the rules shift at the whims of a tyrannical emperor. It's a mash-up of the high-impact action sequences of Bruce Lee's films with the paranoid thriller undercurrent found in Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips' Sleeper series. Late pledges are enabled if you happen to hear about it after the campaign officially ends. Arkenforge Play TTRPG games? Make sure to check out our partner Arkenforge. They have everything you need to make your TTRPG more fun and immersive, allowing you to build, play, and export animated maps including in person fog of war capability that let’s your players interact with maps as the adventure unfolds while you, the DM get the full picture. Use the discount code YETI5 to get $5 off your order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Halloween Comics Recommedation Special

    Halloween Comics Recommedation Special
    Oct 28 2024
    We got the gang together for a very special episode today. Both hosts, Jimmy Gaspero and Byron O'Neal, are joined by the Cryptid Creator Corner's number one most dedicated listener, Jimmy's brother Bobby, to make some comics recommendations to add to your Spooky Season reading list. If something we talked about sounded interesting, we'd sure be grateful if you'd click on the link that heads over to our Amazon store with all the books we talked about today. As an affiliate shop, we make a little bit of money to help us keep the lights on, but if you buy them from the LCS we won't get mad. Thank you! Halloween Comics Recommendation List NEW PATREON We have a new Patreon, CryptidCreatorCornerpod. If you like what we do, please consider supporting us. We got two simple tiers, $1 and $3. I’ll be uploading a story every Sunday about some of the crazy things I’ve gotten into over the years. The first one dropped last week about me relocating a drug lord’s sharks. Yes, it did happen, and the alligators didn’t even get in the way. Want to know more, you know what to do. Our episode sponsors From Within on Kickstarter From Within is a martial arts revenge graphic novel about a slave fighting his way through a deadly tournament where the rules shift at the whims of a tyrannical emperor. It's a mash-up of the high-impact action sequences of Bruce Lee's films with the paranoid thriller undercurrent found in Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips' Sleeper series. Late pledges are enabled if you happen to hear about it after the campaign officially ends. Arkenforge Play TTRPG games? Make sure to check out our partner Arkenforge. They have everything you need to make your TTRPG more fun and immersive, allowing you to build, play, and export animated maps including in person fog of war capability that let’s your players interact with maps as the adventure unfolds while you, the DM get the full picture. Use the discount code YETI5 to get $5 off your order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Helen Mullane and Tula Lotay Interview - Groupies

    Helen Mullane and Tula Lotay Interview - Groupies
    Oct 25 2024
    I'm joined today by two newcomers to the show, writer Helen Mullane and artist Tula Lotay to talk about their new series, Groupies, being released on Comixology. Having spent over a decade and a half working with bands, I was excited to hear about the release which is certainly in my wheelhouse as I might know a thing or two about them. This is definitely as advertised, a story about sex, drugs, and rock and roll. We get a chance to talk about some of our own artist obsessions and the ideas that make up the fabric of the story. From the publisher On a wild night out at the Fox Club, the hottest girls on the Sunset Strip meet the cutest up-and-coming band in town, and sparks fly. As The Moon Show celebrate getting signed to legendary Asmodeus Records, they share a magical night, a night that nobody wants to end. NEW PATREON We have a new Patreon, CryptidCreatorCornerpod. If you like what we do, please consider supporting us. We got two simple tiers, $1 and $3. I’ll be uploading a story every Sunday about some of the crazy things I’ve gotten into over the years. The first one dropped last week about me relocating a drug lord’s sharks. Yes, it did happen, and the alligators didn’t even get in the way. Want to know more, you know what to do. Our episode sponsors From Within on Kickstarter From Within is a martial arts revenge graphic novel about a slave fighting his way through a deadly tournament where the rules shift at the whims of a tyrannical emperor. It's a mash-up of the high-impact action sequences of Bruce Lee's films with the paranoid thriller undercurrent found in Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips' Sleeper series. Late pledges are enabled if you happen to hear about it after the campaign officially ends. Arkenforge Play TTRPG games? Make sure to check out our partner Arkenforge. They have everything you need to make your TTRPG more fun and immersive, allowing you to build, play, and export animated maps including in person fog of war capability that let’s your players interact with maps as the adventure unfolds while you, the DM get the full picture. Use the discount code YETI5 to get $5 off your order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr
  • Matt Wagner & Kelley Jones Interview - Dracula: The Brides

    Matt Wagner & Kelley Jones Interview - Dracula: The Brides
    Oct 24 2024
    HOLY COW! I've got not one but two comics legends hanging out with me today on the podcast, Matt Wagner and Kelley Jones. I've been a fan of Matt's Grendel work for decades, geez that's a long time, and Kelley is the definitive Batman artist in my mind. They are crowdfunding the second volume of their new series Dracula: The Brides, redefining the classic mythology both narratively and visually in a way I've never seen before. This is truly a dream come true for me as a comics fan and one of the most unique interview experiences I've ever had, they are such pros that I was just pretty much along for the bloody ride. I was a backer for Volume One: The Impaler and I've got my pledge in already for Volume Two: The Brides. Crowdfunding is the only way you can get these in hardcover so don't miss out, and if you don't trust me.... "Wow-in a good way, and I'm a Dracula snob so that's saying something. This is a wild ride that sails beyond the Borgo Pass--and I believe this may well be the book Kelley Jones was born to draw. Here is all the mood and horror I would expect from him, but also a level of crazy (good crazy) that I've never seen from him before. --- Mike Mignola From the campaign The first volume of Wagner and Jones’s DRACULA saga was a runaway hit, breaking the Top 20 in Kickstarter’s all-time most successful graphic novel campaigns. DRACULA: BOOK II—THE BRIDES presents 120 pages of sexy and sinister story and art, almost 30 pages longer than BOOK I. Wagner and Jones are once again joined for this creepy foray into the shadows of Castle Dracula by the stellar talents of José Villarrubia on colors and lettering by Rob Leigh. This campaign is the only source for these beautiful, European-album sized hardcover editions of this book as well as our other exceptional rewards tiers. Back this project today and ensure your copy of these incredible exclusive editions! BACK IT HERE: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/draculatheimpaler/dracula-book-ii-the-brides NEW PATREON We have a new Patreon, CryptidCreatorCornerpod. If you like what we do, please consider supporting us. We got two simple tiers, $1 and $3. I’ll be uploading a story every Sunday about some of the crazy things I’ve gotten into over the years. The first one dropped last week about me relocating a drug lord’s sharks. Yes, it did happen, and the alligators didn’t even get in the way. Want to know more, you know what to do. Our episode sponsors From Within on Kickstarter From Within is a martial arts revenge graphic novel about a slave fighting his way through a deadly tournament where the rules shift at the whims of a tyrannical emperor. It's a mash-up of the high-impact action sequences of Bruce Lee's films with the paranoid thriller undercurrent found in Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips' Sleeper series. Late pledges are enabled if you happen to hear about it after the campaign officially ends. Arkenforge Play TTRPG games? Make sure to check out our partner Arkenforge. They have everything you need to make your TTRPG more fun and immersive, allowing you to build, play, and export animated maps including in person fog of war capability that let’s your players interact with maps as the adventure unfolds while you, the DM get the full picture. Use the discount code YETI5 to get $5 off your order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 10 mins