Writer Matt Fraction (Batman, Hawkeye) and Canadian Chip Zdarsky (Captain America, Daredevil) join Dave for the 100th episode.

The chums talk about Mad Magazine, Sex Criminals, Avengers Armageddon, and the business end of Marvel and DC comics. The two discuss shared influences, from Don Martin to Dan Clowes, Chip's cover recreation project, and why Batman has never experienced an orgasm.

Also, Amazon sex toys, bookcase coffins, the Woke Lolita Kickstarter, memes, and Bruce Wayne’s mustache.

Thank you to everyone who's been a part of the podcast as a guest or audience, here's to 100 more, See you for season 6!

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Mangaka Atsushi Kaneko (Bambi and Her Pink Gun, Deathco, Soil, Evol) joins Dave to discuss Search and Destroy, his modern tribute to Osamu Tezuka's Dororo, published by Fantagraphics.

Kaneko shares how Sex Pistols and Stanley Kubrick shaped his teenage years, discovering Daniel Clowes and Charles Burns via Iggy Pop during Japan's lowbrow art boom, and the records that still inspire his work—from The Cramps to Public Image Limited.

He explains his shift to digital art, why he's been asked "why are you so angry?" his entire life, and teases two English-language projects in the works.

Thank you to Aki Yanagi for translating!

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Guitarist and frontman Connor Valentin (Dissentience) joins Dave to chat about the band's new EP 'Kaiju' . They talk about giant monsters, comics, and the crossover between art and music.

Valentin shares how McFarlane toys and Marvel Legends action figures shaped his early creative interests, filling his vintage Marvel tryout book with work from Mark Bagley and Erik Larsen, and the inseparable art-music connection of Pushead, Raymond Pettibon, and Derek Riggs.

The two discuss Godzilla Minus One, the underrated Heisei era films, why the best monster movies aren't really about the monster, and hatch plans for an unlikely collaboration.

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Gary Groth, publisher and founder of Fantagraphics joins Dave to reflect on 50 years of championing comics, the world's greatest cartoonists, and following conviction.

He talks about launching The Comics Journal at 21, meeting Robert Crumb, Harvey Kurtzman, Daniel Clowes, Todd McFarlane, Charles Schulz, and the defining moment Love and Rockets arrived, unsolicited in his mailbox.

The two discuss the tragic passing of artist Ed Piskor, the new Takumigraphics manga imprint, Kago Shintaro, and why Fantagraphics is doubling down on politically urgent work.fantagraphics.com

Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach joins Dave for a deep-dive conversation about comic book collecting, rock music, and creative inspiration. Bach shares his earliest comic memories, from Fantastic Four to Herb Trimpe’s Incredible Hulk, and how those stories shaped his lifelong taste as a collector. He recounts unforgettable rock tour road stories, including the legendary moment he bought Amazing Fantasy #15 alongside Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell on a fateful day in Omaha.

The two explore the power of comic book community, the creative fuel behind Jack Kirby, Gene Colan, and Spider-Man, iconic Spider-Man jackets, and why local comic shops remain a place of quiet refuge for artists, musicians, and fans alike. A must-listen episode for fans of hard rock, heavy metal, Marvel Comics, Spider-Man, and pop culture storytelling.

See Sebastian On The Road this year: https://www.sebastianbach.com/

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Cartoonist Brett Bean (Dungeon Crawler Carl, Rocket and Groot, Jim Henson Creature Shop) joins Dave to discuss D'ORC, his humorous, high-fantasy series with Image Comics.

Bean shares how he developed his protagonist from his own experience of never fitting in, his "controlled chaos" approach to both art and life, and the pivotal conversation that caused him to leave behind animation for comics.

The two discuss paying creative dues, the positivity of Matt Dinnaman, favoring creativity over chasing paychecks, and what watching Phoebe Bridgers play for tips at a farmers market says about the importance of starting small.

Check out Brett's work here : https://www.brettbean.com/

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Artist Marko Djurdjevic (League Of Legends, Marvel Variant Covers) joins Dave to discuss ORKEN, his ambitious and wide ranging transmedia project of novels & illustrated books via Kickstarter. Djurdjevic talks about his overcommitment to quality, building legacy through his company SixMoreVodka, Javier Bardem, the principles that drove his cover designs for Marvel, Ultimate Fallout 4, and shares how 80s cartoons like He-Man shaped his sense of world-building. The two discuss the perfection of There Will Be Blood, David Lynch's Dune, Christopher Nolan, Metallica, and the lost magic of 80's storytelling. Back the Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sixmorevodka/orken/descriptionhttps://www.sixmorevodka.com/homeFind Me:-------------------------------------------My Website : www.westcoastdavengers.comPATREON https://www.patreon.com/DavengersDirectEditionInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/directeditionpodcast/

Writer B.Earl (Ultimate Hawkeye, Werewolf by Night, Daredevil and Echo) joins Dave for an enthusiastic conversation about his path from film editor to comics and his unlikely partnerships with Will.i.am (Masters of the Sun) and Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas, and his personal writing on spirituality and creativity. The two talk comics, Northwest artist Jeffrey Veregge, Jim Lee's X-Men, music to read to, tarot and the satisfying payoff that comes from betting on yourself.

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