エピソード

  • Todd McFarlane Talks Spawn '77 & more… Comic Crusaders Podcast #726
    2026/10/15

    WEPA, Crusaders! Comic book history is about to step out of the shadows, tighten the cape, rattle the chains, and remind everybody why Todd McFarlane remains one of the most important creative forces in comics.

    Todd McFarlane returns to the Comic Crusaders Podcast for a brand new conversation centered on Spawn 77, the upcoming three-issue Spawn Universe mini-series co-written by McFarlane and Mark Spears, with Spears delivering fully painted interior artwork. This is not just another Spawn project. This is the first official comic book appearance of McFarlane's original 1977 Spawn design, a concept he created as a teenager long before Spawn #1 changed the comic book industry in 1992.

    That alone makes this one a major moment for fans, collectors, retailers, and anyone who loves seeing a creator revisit the original spark that started a universe. Nearly fifty years after that first design came to life in a young artist's imagination, Spawn 77 brings that early vision into the modern Spawn mythology with a new character, a new story, and a fully painted visual approach from one of the hottest artists in comics today.

    During this episode, Al Mega sits down with Todd to dig into the origins of the 1977 design, what it feels like to revisit that teenage creative energy decades later, and why now is the right time to officially bring this version of Spawn to the page. The conversation also explores Todd's collaboration with Mark Spears, how painted interiors change the tone of a Spawn story, and what fans can expect from this new corner of Hellspawn mythology.

    Of course, this being Comic Crusaders, we are also going beyond the press release. Al asks Todd about the growing Spawn Universe, the balance between mystery and expansion, the collector energy surrounding the massive cover lineup, the legacy of creator-owned comics, and yes, the long-awaited Spawn movie conversation. Because let's be real, fam — if Todd McFarlane is in the building, the people want to know what is going on with King Spawn.

    Spawn 77 #1 arrives in comic shops in September 2026 as an oversized 64-page debut issue. The book features covers by Mark Spears, Todd McFarlane, and Emma Ríos, along with multiple incentive and signed foil editions for collectors looking to lock down a piece of Spawn history.

    This is the kind of interview longtime Spawn fans will want to hear, but it is also a must-listen for creators. Todd's journey is a reminder that the wild idea you sketch at sixteen, the character you keep coming back to, the concept nobody else understands yet, that thing might become your legacy if you keep building.

    So pull up, Crusaders. The original Spawn is finally stepping onto the comic book page, and Comic Crusaders is taking you right into the fire.

    YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmmOmL1b-f8

    Check out the Spawn '77 #1 Preview

    Check out all things Spawn at:
    https://mcfarlane.com/
    Follow Todd on X: @Todd_McFarlane / Instagram at @ToddMcFarlane | WhatNot

    The Crusade never ends! WEPAAAAAAA!

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    We appreciate your support!

    Host: Al Mega

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    Edited/Produced/Directed by Al Mega

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    1 時間 14 分
  • Chris Papst | Failure Factory | Comic Crusaders Podcast #714
    2026/09/23

    On this episode of the Comic Crusaders Podcast, Al Mega welcomes National Emmy-winning investigative reporter Chris Papst of Fox45 and Project Baltimore to discuss his explosive book, Failure Factory: How Baltimore City Public Schools Deprive Taxpayers and Students of a Future.

    After years of investigating Baltimore City Public Schools, Papst digs into one of the most disturbing education stories in America: a system with a massive budget, devastating academic outcomes, and serious questions about data, accountability, school safety, grading practices, and where the money actually goes.

    This conversation goes beyond Baltimore. It is a warning for parents, taxpayers, teachers, and communities across the country. How do school systems hide failure? What should parents look for? What questions should taxpayers ask? And what happens when bureaucracy becomes more important than students?

    Grab the book, follow the work, and get ready for a conversation that pulls no punches.

    YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDS9ICLH0s8

    www.chrispapst.com
    X:
    https://x.com/chrispapst
    FB:
    https://www.facebook.com/chris.papst.7

    Thank You for Watching / Listening!
    We appreciate your support!

    Host: Al Mega

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    @TheRealAlMega / @ComicCrusaders

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    Main Site: https://www.comiccrusaders.com/​​​​

    Edited/Produced/Directed by Al Mega

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    46 分
  • Lee Loughridge & Marz. Jr. | The Adequates | Comic Crusaders Podcast #716
    2026/09/29

    WEPA! The Comic Crusaders Podcast is going back to school but this time, the field trip comes with half-baked superpowers, supernatural chaos, and one very serious reminder that extra credit should come with a liability waiver.

    On this episode, Al Mega sits down with Eisner, Ringo, and GLAAD-nominated colorist/writer Lee Loughridge and Brooklyn-raised illustrator/comic artist Marz Jr. to talk about their Comixology Originals series, The Adequates. The comic follows a group of awkward freshmen at Savannah High who gain unusual powers after a haunted field trip and soon find themselves caught between school bullies, social cliques, personal insecurities, and a demonic threat lurking much closer than expected.

    What makes The Adequates stand out is not just the supernatural hook—it is the emotional honesty underneath the chaos. These are not polished heroes with perfect costumes and billion-dollar headquarters. They are kids trying to survive high school, figure out who they are, and maybe save the day without completely embarrassing themselves in the process. That balance of comedy, horror, heart, and underdog superhero energy makes the series feel fresh, funny, and deeply relatable.

    During the interview, Lee and Marz discuss the origin of the series, the creative collaboration behind the book, the 90s flavor that shapes the world, the importance of flawed powers, the role of school cliques, and why awkward characters often become the most memorable heroes. They also dig into how comedy and horror share timing, how digital comics allow room for experimentation, and what readers can expect as The Adequates continues to unfold.

    If you love misfit teams, supernatural school stories, offbeat superhero concepts, 90s nostalgia, and comics that lead with personality, The Adequates deserves a spot on your reading list.

    Watch/listen to the full interview with Lee Loughridge and Marz Jr. on the Comic Crusaders Podcast, then go read The Adequates and support the creators bringing this wonderfully weird world to life.

    YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZxNoT4Iv-A

    The Crusade Never Ends!

    Read The Adequates on Comixology/Amazon: https://amzn.to/49RT55S and check out Comic Crusaders' coverage and review.

    Follow Lee on Instagram at
    @leeloughridge
    Follow Marz on Instagram at
    @marzjr

    Visit Comixolgy at
    https://amzn.to/3PQGYzi

    Don't forget to like, comment, subscribe, and share the Crusade!

    The Crusade Never Ends!

    Thank You for Watching / Listening!
    We appreciate your support!

    Host: Al Mega

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    Main Site: https://www.comiccrusaders.com/​​​​

    Edited/Produced/Directed by Al Mega

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    41 分
  • Greg Broadmore | ONE PATH: BOOK II | Comic Crusaders Podcast #715
    2026/09/28

    Greg Broadmore returns to the Comic Crusaders Podcast for a deep dive into One Path Book Two: The White King, the next brutal and breathtaking chapter in the prehistoric survival epic published by Mad Cave Studios.

    This new volume pushes One Path deeper into a savage world where survival is law, mercy can be fatal, and hope is hunted across forests, valleys, mountains, and myth. Fleeing her tribe with a child they have condemned as cursed, One Path races toward the Towers, a mysterious destination rumored to hold life-giving treacle that may save the infant. At her side is a fierce young Runtling, and behind her is Una, her own sister, leading a relentless war-band bound by brutal tradition.

    But the chase becomes even more dangerous when an ancient albino T-rex known as the White King awakens. Drawn to the child's power, the White King cuts a path of ruin across the land, turning One Path's desperate escape into a mythic battle for survival.

    In this episode, Al Mega talks with Greg Broadmore about the evolution of One Path, the emotional and moral weight behind the story, the creation of the White King, the challenge of building a world that feels both primal and deeply sophisticated, and the years of craft required to bring this savage odyssey to life.

    For readers who love high-stakes graphic novels, dinosaur-driven danger, mature storytelling, and comics that refuse to play it safe, One Path Book Two: The White King is a must-watch conversation and a must-read book.

    YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26iz8ZTw_gE

    Follow Greg on Social:
    @greg_broadmore

    Thank You for Watching / Listening!
    We appreciate your support!

    Host: Al Mega

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    Main Site: https://www.comiccrusaders.com/​​​​

    Edited/Produced/Directed by Al Mega

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    1 時間 2 分
  • Joshua Spiller Talks Hello Darkness, EC Cruel Universe & more… | Comic Crusaders Podcast #717
    2026/09/30

    Joshua Spiller is stepping into the comics spotlight with the kind of momentum every emerging creator dreams about but only earns through persistence, craft, and surviving the long haunted hallway of submissions, revisions, rejections, and creative self-belief.

    On this episode of Comic Crusaders, Al Mega welcomes comics writer Joshua Spiller to discuss a major breakthrough moment in his career: his first professional comics stories landing with BOOM! Studios, Oni Press/EC Comics, and Humanoids. For any writer fighting to move from "I'm working on something" to "my work is on shelves," Josh's journey is the kind of real-world creator story that hits with inspiration and honesty.

    Josh's story "Sweet Couple, Sick Society" appears in BOOM! Studios' Hello Darkness #21, a mystery and thriller-themed anthology issue featuring a lineup of sharp creative talent. His work also appears in EC – Cruel Universe 2 #11 from Oni Press, continuing the bold new era of EC Comics storytelling with sci-fi dread, cosmic horror, technological unease, and that classic EC reminder that humanity is often its own worst monster.

    The conversation dives into what it takes to write short comics that land fast and hit hard. Anthology storytelling is a unique beast. There is no room for wasted motion, no space for a slow warmup, and absolutely no mercy for flabby ideas. Every panel has to work. Every line has to carry weight. Every ending has to feel earned. Josh and Al discuss the craft behind that pressure, the joy of collaboration, the challenge of trusting artists and letterers, and how a writer learns to leave room for the visual magic that makes comics comics.

    They also talk about the larger comics industry, especially what it means for newer voices trying to break in today. From indie projects and UK comics roots to American publishers and upcoming work with Métal Hurlant through Humanoids, Josh represents a creator path built not on overnight success, but on endurance, curiosity, and the willingness to keep putting stories into the world until the right doors open.

    This is a conversation for writers, artists, comic fans, anthology lovers, horror readers, sci-fi freaks, and every creator sitting on a script wondering if the next submission could be the one. The answer is simple: keep going. The page only works if you show up.

    Listen to the full conversation with Joshua Spiller on Comic Crusaders and make sure to support Hello Darkness #21 from BOOM! Studios and EC – Cruel Universe 2 #11 from Oni Press/EC Comics. The next wave of comics voices is already here, and Josh Spiller is one to watch.

    Website:
    joshuaspiller.com

    X:
    @joshspiller

    Instagram:
    joshua_spiller

    Don't forget to like, comment, subscribe, and share the Crusade!

    The Crusade Never Ends!

    Thank You for Watching / Listening!
    We appreciate your support!

    Host: Al Mega

    Follow on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook:
    @TheRealAlMega / @ComicCrusaders

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    Main Site: https://www.comiccrusaders.com/​​​​

    Edited/Produced/Directed by Al Mega

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    55 分
  • RAD's BACK! Bill Allen, Todd Seligman & Steve Stern Talk HELLTRACK GN l Comic Crusaders Podcast #722
    2026/10/07

    Ay yo, Crusaders, dust off the VHS, tighten the helmet, check the bike chain, and make sure your knees still bend like they did in 1986, because RAD is back in the conversation in a big way.

    Today on the Comic Crusaders Podcast, Al Mega sits down with Bill Allen, Todd Seligman, and Steve Stern to talk about RAD!: HELLTRACK, the new comic book expansion of the beloved BMX cult classic RAD. And let's be real, this one is not just another nostalgia lap around the block. This is legacy on two wheels. This is a beloved underdog story finding a new lane. This is Helltrack coming back with dirt, heart, and comic book thunder.

    For fans who grew up with RAD, Cru Jones was never just a character. He was that kid with the dream, the guts, the bike, and the nerve to go after something bigger than what the world told him he was allowed to chase. Bill Allen's performance gave fans a hero who felt scrappy, sincere, and wildly determined. Decades later, that same spirit is finding new life through HELLTRACK, where Cru Jones steps into a mentor role and helps guide a new generation toward the legendary race that helped define him.

    That generational handoff is the magic here. HELLTRACK is not simply asking fans to remember the past. It is asking them to ride with it into the future. That is where Todd Seligman and Steve Stern come in, helping shape the project into a comic book experience that honors the original film while expanding the world for readers, collectors, BMX lifers, and newcomers who may be discovering RAD for the first time.

    During the conversation, the trio breaks down the emotional weight of returning to this universe, the challenge of bringing BMX motion to the comic page, and the importance of keeping the underdog heart of RAD alive. Because let's not play games, fam: translating a BMX race into sequential art is not easy. You need speed. You need danger. You need rhythm. You need that feeling of dirt flying into your teeth while your inner child yells, "Do the jump!" like they have zero concern for medical bills.

    HELLTRACK also arrives with the kind of fan-first energy that makes Kickstarter the perfect home for it. This is a project built for the people who remember the movie, quoted the movie, watched the movie until the tape begged for mercy, and still get that spark when they hear the name Cru Jones. It is also built for comic fans who love legacy storytelling, sports drama, high-action visuals, and projects with a real emotional engine under the hood.

    The big win is that RAD!: HELLTRACK feels like it understands why RAD mattered in the first place. It was never only about racing. It was about belief. It was about choosing your lane when everybody else wants to put a wall in front of you. It was about community, courage, and the wild power of being young enough to think the impossible is just another ramp.

    Now, 40 years later, that ramp is back.

    RAD!: HELLTRACK is currently live on Kickstarter, and fans can support the campaign here:

    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/helltrack/helltrack-a-rad-graphic-novel-on-the-40th-anniversary?ref=9x9anb

    So pull up, back the campaign, share it with the BMX crew, the comic crew, the 80s movie crew, and that one friend who still owns a vintage bike and says things like "they don't make pads like they used to." This is the kind of project that deserves noise, love, and a full-speed push across the finish line.

    RAD is back. HELLTRACK is waiting. The Crusade Never Ends.

    YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34u7BgqfB_c

    Thank You for Watching / Listening!
    We appreciate your support!

    Host: Al Mega

    Follow on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook:
    @TheRealAlMega / @ComicCrusaders

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    Main Site:
    https://www.comiccrusaders.com/​​​​

    Edited/Produced/Directed by Al Mega

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    46 分
  • Tom Sniegoski & Jeannine Acheson | Nothing Can Stop… the Ape! | Comic Crusaders Podcast #718
    2026/10/01

    Tom Sniegoski & Jeannine Acheson Return to Comic Crusaders to Unleash Nothing Can Stop . . . The APE!

    WEPAAAAA! The Comic Crusaders Podcast is swinging into full cosmic chaos as Al Mega welcomes back the incredible creative duo of Tom Sniegoski and Jeannine Acheson to discuss their new Papercutz/Mad Cave Studios graphic novel, Nothing Can Stop . . . The APE!

    This bold, energetic, all-ages adventure follows 12-year-old Maxwell Morgan, a young hero suddenly thrown into a world-shaking conflict involving ancient gods, elemental warriors, dangerous choices, and one very loyal French bulldog. When Maxwell's mother becomes possessed by Thuuna, a primordial goddess obsessed with order and perfection, Maxwell may have to make the worst decision imaginable: freeing Ghraagg'Endah, the Gorilla God of Chaos.

    Yeah. That is not a bad day. That is a cosmic-level "somebody please call an adult" situation.

    Joined by artist Craig Rousseau, colorist Tom Gaadt, and letterer Taylor Esposito, Sniegoski and Acheson deliver a story packed with Saturday morning cartoon swagger, mythic stakes, big laughs, and heartfelt adventure. It is the kind of graphic novel that knows all-ages does not mean "small story." It means big imagination, clear emotion, wild action, and characters readers can cheer for from page one.

    On this episode, Al Mega dives into the making of the book, the creative partnership between Tom and Jeannine, the balance between chaos and order, writing young heroes with real agency, and how the team built a brand-new mythology that feels classic, fresh, funny, and wonderfully explosive.

    Tune in, share the episode, and get ready because once the Ape is loose… nothing can stop him.

    Pre-Order Nothing Can Stop… the Ape! – Vol. 1 in Shops 07/21/2026 Now:
    https://papercutz.com/product/nothing-can-stop-the-ape-vol-1/

    Follow Tom on:
    FB: Thomas Sniegoski
    Instagram: tsniegoski
    Threads: tsniegoski
    Twitter: @TomSniegoski
    Bluesky: http://bluesky.com/@tomsnig.bsky.social
    Website: sniegoski.com

    Follow Jeannine on:
    FB: Jeannine Thomas (Jeannine Surette Acheson)
    Instagram: jsuretteacheson (Jeannine Thomas)
    Threads: Jeannine Thomas (jsuretteacheson)
    Bluesky: @jsuretteacheson.bsky.social

    Thank You for Watching / Listening!
    We appreciate your support!

    Host: Al Mega

    Follow on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook:
    @TheRealAlMega / @ComicCrusaders

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    Main Site:
    https://www.comiccrusaders.com/​​​​

    Edited/Produced/Directed by Al Mega

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    46 分
  • Matt Stevens Talks Panopticon, Sci-Fi Mystery & Interactive Indie Comics | Comic Crusaders Podcast #719
    2026/10/02

    Comic Crusaders Podcast welcomes comic book creator Matt Stevens to discuss Panopticon, a mature sci-fi prison mystery set inside a timeless single-chamber prison where inmates never know when, or even if, they are being watched. Matt breaks down the oppressive psychology of the panopticon, the role of unreliable memory, the cost of loyalty, and how mystery shapes the structure of this ambitious graphic novel.

    The conversation also dives into the project's interactive elements, including a reader-created inmate/avatar system and companion game that allow fans to step deeper into the world of Panopticon. With Act One launching the story and future acts expanding the mystery, this is an indie comics project built for readers who love psychological sci-fi, layered worldbuilding, and bold experimentation.

    YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ers5ZvdoUs

    Follow along on :
    panopticoncomic.com
    thedarkwebcomics.com
    thedigitalpools.com

    Thank You for Watching / Listening!
    We appreciate your support!

    Host: Al Mega

    Follow on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook:
    @TheRealAlMega / @ComicCrusaders

    Make sure to Like/Share/Subscribe if you haven't yet:

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    YouTube: / comiccrusadersworld

    Visit the official Comic Crusaders Comic Book Shop:
    comiccrusaders.shop

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    comiccrusaders.us

    Main Site:
    https://www.comiccrusaders.com/​​​​

    Edited/Produced/Directed by Al Mega

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    56 分