This week, we’re joined by Frank Barbiere (Five Ghosts / Violent Love) as we discuss his career, his work in the video game industry, and his new Dark Horse graphic novel ELIXIR!
IDB is an all-new weekly podcast presented by Ashcan Press and featuring Matthew Rosenberg, the Supple Boiz, and wonderful guests from the world of comic books!
Our theme song is “Where’s the Poison” by Summer People.
Enjoy!
Hi.
When I started doing this podcast all those many years ago, I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do. I may still not be. But the one thing I knew I wanted to do was have Frank Barbiere come on the show.
The first reason for that is Frank is a good friend. We literally came up in comics together in the truest sense of the term. He started a little before me. When we first met he was already writing his first book. But I learned from following in his footsteps. He was the first person I knew with a publishing deal, first with a story in an anthology, first to be hired for licensed comic writing, first with a creator owned series. And there I was the whole time, right behind him, taking notes. And on a nice day he might say he learned some stuff from me too, but I don’t think that’s true.
We’d go to signings together. We’d drive around the country doing cons together. We’d sleep on the same floors. And we’d share tips about cool artists who might want to do pitches, good colorists looking for work, the contact info of editors who actually respond to unknown creators, etc. I literally learned about making comics from or with him.
And from there I watched him navigate a career of making award winning books like FIVE GHOSTS and passion projects like VIOLENT LOVE, to making big 2 books like AVENGERS WORLD and LOBO, and on to writing on some of the biggest videogames in history like LEAGUE OF LEGENDS and DESTINY. Which is the second reason I wanted him on the podcast. He’s a fascinating creator to me because he’s put in the work, made things that people really care about, and always used his momentum to move on to other things that excite him. There is a lot to be learned there, no matter what career you’re in.
And the last reason I wanted him on the show was because he is one of the funniest people I know. But around 10 minutes before taping I realized a large percentage of my favorite Frank stories are probably not suitable for the airwaves… Or at least not things he would want to broadcast out to our trillions of listeners. So you all have to settle for the PG-13 version of Frank, which is still very funny. But if you see him in person as him for some stories about being a teacher or playing in bands.
But I’ll let them tell you what it’s about- “In a fantastic vision of the future, magic has been replaced with technology. Two factions are in conflict within a sprawling metropolis: The Druids hold on to the past, while huge corporations exploit new technologies that threaten to eradicate magic forever. Mara, the daughter of a druid leader, becomes caught up in a dangerous mission to recover the elixir--a mysterious artifact that could restore magic and defeat the corporations once and for all. The only problem is it's in the hands of her old mentor, a dangerous warrior who has mastered magic and the blade, and is driven by a personal vendetta to destroy the elixir at all costs. Pulled between her family and a choice that could shape the future forever, how far will Mara go to recover the elixir for herself . . . and what will she do with it?”
And this one was taped a little while ago so sorry we started it off just yelling over each other about pregnancy and the Joker. It was a chaotic time in all our lives. But get through the first 5 minutes and things calm down
That’s it for me.
Stay safe. Take care of each other. Pronounce Solar as “Sew-Lahr”.
A weekly podcast where hosts Matthew Rosenberg, Ethan S. Parker, and Griffin Sheridan talk to guests from around the world of comic books. It's fun. It's short. Why not give it a listen?
A weekly podcast where hosts Matthew Rosenberg, Ethan S. Parker, and Griffin Sheridan talk to guests from around the world of comic books. It's fun. It's short. Why not give it a listen?
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