AIPT Comics

On this week’s AIPT Comics Podcast, we’re joined by writer Kenny Porter and artist Tyrell Cannon to talk all things Operation: Iron Coffin, the wild new IDW Dark series that drops Dracula onto a Nazi war train in one of the year’s coolest high-concept comics. During the interview, the duo digs into balancing horror and action, Dracula’s internal struggle, the grindhouse inspirations behind the violence, and how the book evolved into a monster-filled gauntlet packed with occult science, anime influences, and brutal fight choreography.

Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon!

NEWS

Marvel shakes up leadership as Brad Winderbaum takes over comics and franchise direction

Marvel Comics August 2026 solicitations

Marvel reveals ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ #1000 as biggest issue in series history

Marvel resurrects Indiana Jones’ wildest comic adventures in deluxe hardcover reprints

Marvel launches ‘Marvel Tōkon: First Strike’ #1 comic and variants for new fighting game



'Batman: Bad Seeds' turns Gotham into a nightmare in DC’s next major crossover

DC Solicitations August 2026

DC announces ‘Batman & Robin: Dynamic Duos’ as Waid and Samnee return for new maxiseries

Static joins the Titans as DC sets up a massive new Amazon storyline



EC Comics returns with 'Shellshock' #1, a new war anthology from Oni Press launching August 2026

‘Star Trek’ celebrates 60 years with massive all-star anthology special this September

Iman Vellani makes creator-owned comics debut with bold noir-inspired ‘Chachu’ at Image

Mike Mignola and Michael Avon Oeming launch new Hellboy Universe series ‘Ghost of a Ghost’

Dark Horse shuts down TFAW stores as major company shake-up expands into games and entertainment

New Dark Horse noir 'The Big Shakedown' set in earthquake-decimated Los Angeles

Tom King and Gabriel Hernández Walta reteam for 'Six of Us'

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

Absolute Green Arrow #1 (Pornsak Pitcheshot, Raphael Albuquerque)

Alias: Red Band #3 (Sam Humphries, Geraldo Borges)

Alex:​​

Odin #1 (James Tynion IV, Marguerite Bennett, Letizia Cadonici)

Of the Earth #1 (Chris Condon, Andrew Edrich, Charlie Adlard)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Sorcerer Supreme #6 (Bernard Chang)

Dave: Sai: Dimensional Rivals #5 (Peach Momoko and more)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

Alex: Exquisite Corpses #13 (Tynion, Walsh), Fireborn #2 (Curt Pires, Timmy Heague, Franklin Jonas, Patrick Mulholland)

Dave: Doomquest #1 (Ryan North, Francesco Mobili) and Red Roots #2 (Lorenzo De Felici)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

Dave: Absolute Martian Manhunter #12 (Werther Dell'Edera Card Stock Cover)

Alex: Wiccan & Hulkling: Raid of Ultron #1

Interview - Kenny Porter, Tyrell Cannon - Operation: Iron Coffin - July 8th - FOC June 1

Asking for an elevator pitch usually feels a bit cliche as an interviewer, but then Operation: Iron Coffin feels like it deserves it since it kind of has the perfect tight setup, care to share one?

Earlier this year you mentioned to Chris Coplan Dracula isn’t really a hero here, even if he’s the protagonist. How important was it to frame this as a redemption story without ever sanding off the uglier truths about who Dracula is and what he’s done? 

Tyrell, you talked before about Dracula wrestling with the cost of his immortality and violence. Visually, how do you show that internal conflict in a character who often presents himself as cold, confident, and almost unstoppable?

The first issue moves at a breakneck pace, but there are key flashbacks and supernatural moments that hint at something deeper under the grindhouse chaos. Kenny, how did you approach layering emotional depth into something that’s also designed to feel like an adrenaline-fueled action movie?

The Nazi train setup creates this perfect “one nightmare after another” structure where every car can introduce a new horror. Was the book always designed like a deadly gauntlet, or did the train concept evolve as you built the story?

There’s a fascinating tension between nature and science in the issue, especially with Dracula as this ancient evil crashing into engineered horrors and wartime experimentation. Was that thematic contrast something you wanted front and center from the beginning?

Tyrell, one thing I loved was how physically dominant Dracula feels. He’s ripping people apart, shrugging off attacks, and moving through scenes like a slasher villain unleashed. What were the biggest influences behind the choreography and sheer brutality of the action sequences?

Hazel and Ivy immediately make a strong impression, especially because they seem to understand Dracula in ways others don’t. What can you tease about their dynamic with him and why they’re such dangerous opponents specifically for this version of Dracula?

Kenny, the issue somehow makes Dracula sympathetic without asking readers to forget he’s a monster. Were there any versions of Dracula in film, literature, or comics that influenced your take, or did you intentionally try to move away from previous interpretations?

Fun/silly question: if your Dracula had a playlist blasting while he fought his way through the Nazi train, what songs or bands would absolutely be on it?

Fun/silly question to cap things off: Dracula has now fought through a Nazi train like the star of the wildest action movie never made. If you could drop your version of Dracula into any other movie genre or setting next, where would you send him?

Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon!

NEWS

Marvel to launch Midnight Universe August 2026 turning heroes into nightmares

Marvel’s reveals DNX 'X-Men' event details for August 2026

Jubilee and Wolverine uncover the 'Tomb of Apocalypse' in new 2026 Marvel series

Marvel sheds light on August 2026 'What If...?' titles

Image announces "Summer of Youngblood" in a road to 100

DC announces 'Next Level One Shot' #1 with Deadshot leading major new storyline

Popular comics piracy site disappears from the internet, sparking piracy debate among comic fans

Netflix developing ‘Barbaric’ TV series based on Vault fantasy hit by Michael Moreci and Nathan Gooden

2026 Eisner Awards nominations announced with DC leading

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

Destination Kill #1 (Joe Palmer)

Innards #1 (Rob Guillory, Sam Lotfi)

Alex:​​

Absolute Batman #20 (Snyder, Dragotta)

Hidden Springs #1 (Rob Williams, Nil Vendrell Pallach)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Uncanny X-Men #28 (Simone, Vecchio)

Dave: Hidden Springs #1 (Rob Williams, Nil Vendrell Pallach)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

Alex: Absolute Green Arrow #1 (Pichetshote & Albuquerque)

Dave: Ultimate Impact: Reborn #1 (Chris Condon, Stefano Caselli)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

Dave: Batman / Superman: World's Finest #51 (Dan Mora Cover)

Alex: Odin #1 variants (Ward & Simmonds)

Interview: Chris Condon (with Andrew Ehrich) - Charlie Adlard - of the earth - May 20 out

1. Opening hook / origin

Chris, you’ve said that roadside coyote scene was the first thing you wrote, even before you knew the full story. What was it about that moment that felt like the right entry point into this world?

2. Tone and influences

You’re blending eco-horror and neo-noir in a really striking way here. What’s each of your relationship to those genres—are there specific books or films that shaped how you approached them, or personal favorites that were on your mind while making this?

3. The prose chapter choice

That opening prose chapter from Oilfield Graveyard: Tales of the Wildcatter Myth is such a bold structural swing. What does prose allow you to do that comics alone wouldn’t, especially in setting up the mythology?

4. The Wildcatter as a presence

The Wildcatter evolves from something almost abstract in issue #2 to something disturbingly human in issue #3. How did you approach revealing it piece by piece without losing the mystery?

5. Character and transformation

The grandmother’s descent is genuinely unsettling. How did you think about her transformation in relation to the oil itself, is it possession, corruption, or something more symbolic?

6. Visual storytelling and horror lineage

Charlie, you spent years defining the visual language of long-form horror on The Walking Dead. When you approach a story like this, how does that experience inform your instincts—and where do you find yourself deliberately doing something different?

7. Pacing and silent storytelling

Charlie, one thing that really stands out is how much space you’re given for quiet, atmospheric sequences—scenes that breathe and flow without a lot of dialogue or overt plot movement. How do you approach pacing those moments visually so they still feel propulsive, and what do you think comics can do in those silent stretches that other mediums can’t?

8. Fun / silly question: If the Wildcatter had a playlist, what’s the one song that absolutely has to be on it?

On this week’s AIPT Comics Podcast, we’re joined by writer Rob Williams to talk all about Hidden Springs, his wild new series that blends retired Hollywood legends, a baby kaiju, and a desperate race against the military. It’s a fun, heartfelt conversation about building flawed characters, mixing comedy with tragedy, and why stories about second chances hit harder when everything’s on the line.

Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon!

NEWS

Marvel teases a terrifying new universe with ‘Midnight’ as the Ultimate Universe ends

Marvel reveals August 2026 ‘Queen in Black’ covers as Al Ewing teases massive event scope

Kevin Smith brings Spider-Man and Hulk together for a wild exorcism story

Mary Jane gets 60th anniversary special one-shot for August 2026

Thor is gone and Marvel is celebrating issue #800 with a very different hero

Rick Remender and Steve Epting’s ‘Hammerfist’ starts turning heads after teaser drop

‘Assorted Crisis Events’ #8 gets Javier Pulido third printing cover

'Bug Wars' returns with 'The Coming of the Wardoom' in August 2026

Stjepan Šejić returns with 'Death Vigil' #1 from Image Comics and Top Cow this August

DC’s Super-Family faces Zod in massive new crossover ‘Kingdom of Zod’

'Witchblade/Vampirella' kicks off swap crossover similar to 'Superman/Spider-Man'

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

Fantastic Four #10 (Ryan North, Humberto Ramos)

Estuary #2 (David Andry & Tim Daniel, Maan House)

Chris:​​

Royals #2 (Derek Kirk Kim, Jacob Perez)

Daredevil #2 (Stephanie Phillips, Lee Garbett)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: MegaGhost Volume 2 #2 (Gabe Soria and Gideon Kendall)

Dave: Absolute Superman #19 (Rafa Sandoval)

Fantastic Four #10 (Ryan North, Humberto Ramos)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

Chris: Destination Kill #1 (Joe Palmer)

Dave: Innards #1 (Rob Guillory and Sam Lotfi)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

Dave: Absolute Batman #20 (Skottie Young)

Chris: Bleeding Hearts #4 (Juni Ba Variant)

Interview: Robbie Williams - Hidden Springs - Rend and Tear and Tooth and Claw - Feature film Game

1. Hidden Springs has such a wonderfully strange premise: retired Hollywood legends protecting a baby kaiju. Where did the initial spark for this story come from, and when did you realize this was the right mix of heart, comedy, and monster chaos?

2. The cast of characters is incredibly eclectic, from a rocker reminiscent of Ozzy Osbourne to a classic Hollywood beauty, a trailblazing female director, a stand-up comedian, and a career TV star. How did you approach building such different personalities and making them feel like a believable found family?

3. Nil Vendrell Pallach is handling the art. What did Nil bring to the project visually that made them the perfect collaborator for a story that moves between comedy, nostalgia, and kaiju action?

4. There’s something inherently funny about ageing celebrities being the only ones capable of protecting a world-ending monster. What interested you about pairing the idea of aging, fading fame, and second chances with something as huge and destructive as a kaiju?

5. With all these Hollywood types, I was reminded of Caccoon, about a group of old folks who encounter an alien eggs that give them youth, with your new series on the way do you think this the old person encountering sci-fi elements is an underused corner of fiction?

6. What made dark horse the right publisher for this?

7. You’ve written everything from Judge Dredd to Petrol Head. Where does Hidden Springs sit for you creatively? Does it tap into a different storytelling muscle compared to your other work?

8. (Fun question) Your heroes include a rocker, a comedian, a movie star, and a legendary beauty escorting a baby kaiju across the countryside. If you had to add one more retired celebrity archetype to the team, who would it be and what ridiculous skill would they bring to the kaiju babysitting mission?

Owner Floyd and manager Griffin join us to talk about their upcoming expansion into a second-floor space, how they’ve turned their shop into a true community hub, and what it actually takes to run a successful comic store in 2026.

Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon!

NEWS

Comics legend Gerry Conway passed away at 73

New series 'Regicide' blends dracula and 'Berserk' for August 2026 release

Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips are back for the wildest noir yet with 'Unfinished Tales'

DC launches Building Bad Sweepstakes letting fans create a new Batman villain

Marvel assembles Daredevil, Echo, and more for Disability Pride Month story

Marvel pushes blind bags to the limit with 'DNX' #1 and ultra-rare surprise covers

Marvel has revealed 'Avengers: Armageddon' #3 and 'Cap' #14, teasing a major team shakeup ahead

New symbiote Symbie scores new one-shot 'It's Symbie' #1

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

Red Roots #1 (Lorenzo De Felici)

Uncanny X-Men #27 (Gail Simone, Luciano Vecchio)

Chris:​​

Is Ted OK? #3 (Dave Chisholm)

Wrestle Heist #5 (Kyle Starks)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: Is Ted OK? #3 (Dave Chisholm)

Dave: Swamp Thing 1989 #1 (Rick Veitch, Michael Zulli)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

Chris: She-Spawn #1 (Gail Simone, Ig Guarra)

Dave: If Destruction Be Our Lot #1 (Matthew Rosenberg, Andy MacDonald)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

Dave: Daredevil #2 (Bill Sienkiewicz Virgin Cover)

Chris: Tales of the Green Lantern Corps: Guy Gardner #1 (David Aja Variant)

Interview: Final Boss Comic Shop, Floyd - Manager / Griffin - New Jersey

1. Expansion & Growth

You’ve been a staple since 2007, and now you’re expanding. What made this the right moment to grow, and what does expansion look like for Final Boss?

2. The “Final Boss Family” Identity

You refer to your community as the “Final Boss Family.” What does that mean in practice, and how have you intentionally built that culture over the years?

3. Competing with Bigger Markets

You’re not in NYC, but your signings can rival shops in major hubs. What’s your approach to events that helps you punch above your weight?

4. The State of the Industry

From your perspective behind the counter, what’s working in comics right now, and what challenges are you seeing for shops like yours?

5. Book Club & Community Engagement

Your monthly book club is a big part of your identity. How does something like that translate into both community building and business sustainability?

6. Curating the Shelves

With so many publishers and titles, how do you decide what to stock, and what kinds of books tend to resonate most with your customers?

7. Lessons from Nearly Two Decades

Since opening in 2007, what’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned about running a successful comic shop?

8. Looking Ahead

With expansion on the horizon, what’s your vision for Final Boss over the next 3–5 years, and what do you hope never changes?

This week on the AIPT Comics Podcast, we interview cartoonist Stephanie Stalvey, diving deep into her graphic memoir Everything in Color. In the conversation, Stalvey opens up about growing up in an evangelical household, unpacking purity culture, and how motherhood reshaped her understanding of faith and identity. It’s an honest, vulnerable discussion about turning lived experience into art, and why telling these stories can resonate far beyond one person’s life.

NEWS

Marvel Solicitations for July 2026

Miles Morales faces his most personal threat yet in new 'Miles Morales: Spider-Man' #1

Red Hulk takes over the Marvel Universe in 'Avengers: Armageddon' and the preview reveals just how bad it gets

'Fantastic Four' #15 sends the team spiraling through time for a wild 65th anniversary story

Doctor Doom takes over 616 Day with Blind Bags, rare comics, and surprise sketch covers

Godzilla teams with Knull to conquer the Marvel Multiverse in explosive finale in Toho/Marvel collab

First look at Marvel’s Pride special as Ultron crashes Wiccan and Hulkling’s anniversary and new Pride covers are revealed

Predator crashes the Planet of the Apes in Marvel’s wild new crossover you didn’t see coming



'Do A Powerbomb' returns to comic shops with 'Black and White' #1

Vault announces weird western ongoing series ‘Dead Acre: Black Badge’

Rob Liefeld expands 'Youngblood' with 'Badrock' solo series

Dark Horse announces Adam Frankenstein origin one-shot set in the Chaos Universe

DC heroes meet NHL icons in final “Secret Identity” card drop from Upper Deck

'Minotaur' comic by Si Spurrier and Mike Dowling launches July 2026 from Ignition Press

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

Amazing Spider-Man: Spider-Versity #1 (Jordan Morris, Joe Kelly, Pere Perez)

Corpse Knight #1 (Michael Chaves, Matthew Roberts, Rico Renzi_

Alex:​​

Absolute Wonder Woman #19 (Thompson, Sherman)

Sorcerer Supreme #5 (Orlando, Bernard Chang)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Exquisite Corpses #12 (James Tynion IV, Michael Walsh)

Dave: Wolverine #19 (Saladin Ahmed, Martín Coccolo)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

Alex: The Sacrificers #21 (Rick Remender, Max Fiumara) & Is Ted OK? #3 (Dave Chisholm)

Dave: Swamp Thing 1989 #1 (Rick Veitch, Michael Zulli)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

Dave: Feral #22 (Tony Fleecs & Trish Forstner Weapons Homage Cover)

Alex: Wiccan: Witches’ Road #5 (Karen S. Darboe variant)

Interview: Stephanie Stalvey, EVERYTHING IN COLOR out 04/28/2026

Your book explores growing up in an evangelical community where love and obedience were deeply intertwined. When you look back now, how do you understand that relationship differently?

One of the most striking ideas in the book is the notion that “our bodies belong to the authority figure.” How did unpacking that belief shape the emotional core of this memoir?

Everything in Color is deeply personal, especially in how it portrays your relationship with your husband and your child. What was it like sharing drafts with your husband as you were creating the book?

Your journey raises big questions about faith, doubt, and identity. Did you find yourself arriving at answers while making the book, or is it more about learning to live with the questions?

The book touches on major shared moments like 9/11 and the COVID lockdown. How did anchoring your personal story to these larger events help shape the narrative?

There’s a powerful shift in the book where love, especially through motherhood, reframes everything as sacred. When did that realization first begin to take hold for you?

This is a massive and ambitious work. Was it always envisioned at this scale, and how long did it take you to bring it to life?

The title Everything in Color feels like a mission statement for the book. At what point did you know that was the right way to describe this journey?

The artwork blends intimacy with emotional weight throughout. How did you approach pairing your visual storytelling with such vulnerable subject matter?