David and John sit down with the one and only Benjamin Percy—novelist, screenwriter, and comic book heavyweight behind Wolverine, Ghost Rider, X-Force, and Predator vs. Wolverine. From his early obsession with Predator and Alien comics to his pitch-perfect approach to balancing horror, heroism, and heart, Percy dives deep into his writing process, creative collaborations, and how persistence (and a little polite pestering) helped him land dream projects. You’ll hear tales of his childhood spent watching R-rated classics in secret, how he brought back "Red Band" gore to Marvel, and why his next take on The Punisher will be one brutal beast of a book. Whether you're a fan of gritty comics, killer storytelling, or just want to know how Wolverine finally met Predator, this conversation is a must-listen.

David's Doing Fun Stuff!
Miss Mina and the Midnight Guardians is now LIVE!

John is at PugW!
Pug Worldwide

Timestamp Segments

• Benjamin Percy’s Background (00:01:15)
• First Comic Book Influences (00:02:51)
• The Predator Connection (00:04:13)
• Wolverine and Predator Pitch (00:05:23)
• Working with Marvel (00:08:38)
• Novelist vs. Comic Book Writer (00:08:50)
• Marvel's X-Men Relaunch (00:10:31)
• Creative Freedom at Marvel (00:15:14)
• New Punisher Project (00:16:20)
• Visual Aesthetics in Writing (00:18:25)
• Collaborating with Artists (00:19:48)
• Balancing Comic and Novel Work (00:21:02)
• Transition from Novels to Comics (00:22:02)
• Pursuing Comic Writing (00:23:45)
• Establishing Credibility (00:26:21)
• Finding Collaborators (00:27:58)
• Working on the Punisher Series (00:30:27)
• Creator-Owned Projects (00:32:00)
• Reading and Influences (00:34:41)
• Exploring the Importance of Classics (00:37:08)
• Stretching Writing Muscles (00:37:37)
• Shifting Narrative Perspectives (00:37:52)
• Innovative Storytelling Techniques (00:38:05)

Notable Quotes

• “I watched Predator in 1987 when I was way too young, and it inspired us to go play Nerf gun warfare in the jungle. It was a foundational story for me.”
• “Writing novels is a lonely existence, but exhilarating. It’s a marathon, pounding out sentences that become pages, chapters, and eventually a novel. Writing comics, by comparison, is a sprint, unrelenting but collaborative.”
• “We wanted Frank Castle to come across as a scarred-up beast of a man, with trench coats and big heavy boots. The aesthetic of the book should look like New York from a 70s crime movie, grimy and gritty.”

Books Mentioned

• The Wilding by Benjamin Percy: "00:01:39"
• Red Moon by Benjamin Percy: "00:01:39"
• Wolverine (Marvel Comics series): "00:02:11"
• X-Force (Marvel Comics series): "00:02:11"
• Ghost Rider (Marvel Comics series): "00:02:11"
• Predator vs. Wolverine: "00:05:23"
• Predator vs. Black Panther: "00:06:18"
• Predator Kills the Marvel Universe: "00:07:34"
• Red Hulk: "00:14:07"
• Punisher: "00:16:20"
• "The Wild" by the speaker (first published novel): "00:22:28"
• "All-Star Superman" by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely: "00:36:06"
• "Red Sun" (Superman story): "00:36:15"
• "Uzumaki" (Manga): "00:35:21"
• "Devil's Highway" (Comic series): "00:32:11"
• "Year Zero" (Comic series): "00:32:11"

PugW Editor Mason Rabinowitz joins hosts John and David to talk about Mason’s celebrity encounters while working at the world famous Golden Apple Comic Book Store, we get John’s book recommendations (or not?), discuss what it takes to get a comics career started, and John’s habit of stealing everyone’s stuff. Also, the podcast gets a hotline and a new tagline.

David's Doing Fun Stuff!
Miss Mina VIP Launches Here!

John is at PugW!
Pug Worldwide

Timestamp Segments

• [03:12] What happens if Mason doesn’t listen to the podcast?
• [04:13] Does John recommend Margot in Badtown?
• [12:01] How Mason got into comics.
• [16:44] John has never met Mark Hamill.
• [17:37] People trade in their comps?
• [21:40] The best Samuel L. Jackson story.
• [29:23] Mason and Bridget Fonda.
• [31:58] How Mason started his comics career.
• [34:23] Getting calls from Warner Bros.
• [40:39] The most valuable things in Mason’s house.
• [43:36] Kevin Eastman is a good dude.
• [46:11] An industry hotline.
• [50:22] The silent ‘T’.

Notable Quotes

• “We can’t let people know that you don’t pay any attention.”
• “What do you do with this? I just don’t know.”
• “Anybody in need should just listen to us.”

Books Mentioned

• Akira, by Katsuhiro Otomo.
• Ambush Bug, by Keith Giffen.
• Batman '66, Vol. 1.
• The Boys, by Garth Ennis & Darrick Robertson.
• Daredevil.
• Margot in Badtown, by Jerome Charyn & Massimiliano Frezzato.
• New Warriors (1990-1996).
• Secret Wars (1984-1985).
• The Story of Marvel Studios, by Tara Bennett & Paul Terry.
• Ultimates (2002-2003), Ultimates 2 (2004-2006), by Mark Millar & Bryan Hitch.
• Wanted, by Mark Millar, JG Jones, & Paul Mounts.
• Watchmen, by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons.
• Youngblood, by Rob Liefeld.

On this Solid Gold episode, hosts John and David “Cold Finger” Hedgecock to talk about the process of making 3D comics, John’s renewed interest in affordable European graphic novels, the shocking reason Roger Corman’s Cosmic Comics went out of business, and the true weirdness of comics in the ‘90s, and David comes up with his first superhero comic.

Timestamp Segments:

• [00:44] What’s the best James Bond song?
• [01:32] Sugar Bomb.
• [05:13] Making 3D comics.
• [12:17] The problem with K-tones.
• [16:02] John gets into European graphic novels.
• [18:58] Margot in Badtown: an affordable graphic novel.
• [25:57] David discovers Death Race 2020.
• [31:27] The shocking reason Roger Corman’s Cosmic Comics failed.
• [41:31] The weirdness of ‘90s comics.

David's Fun Stuff!
Miss Mina VIP Launches Here!

John is at PugW!
Pug Worldwide

Notable Quotes:

• “We got too goofy to go into something else, at this point.”
• “We got too good at formalizing rules for things.”
• “This is what’s called getting old.”

Books Mentioned:

• Billy Bud, KGB, by Jerome Charyn & Francois Boucq.
• Black Panther (1977-1979), by Jack Kirby.
• Caged Heat 3000, by Jerry Prosser, Matt Thompson, Dan Schaefer, & Coop.
• Death Race 2020, by Pat Mills, Tony Skinner, & Kevin O'Neill.
• The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Vol. 1 & 2, Black Dossier, Century, Nemo, The Tempest), by Alan Moore & Kevin O’Neill.
• Madman in Your Face 3D Special, by Christian LeBlanc, Laura Allred, & Mike Allred.
• Margot in Badtown, by Jerome Charyn & Massimiliano Frezzato.
• Marshal Law, Nemesis the Warlock, by Pat Mills & Kevin O’Neill.
• Moon Knight (1989-1994).
• New Mutants #98 New Mutants #98 Pan-Dimensional 3D Edition.

Fun Time Go Editor-in-Chief and Corner Box Substitute Teacher, Chase Marotz, joins hosts “John” and David to talk about the past 30 years of Comic-Cons, the do’s and don’ts of attending Comic-Cons (for both fans and professionals), and the importance of avoiding the nachos. Plus, David wins a fight, and Chase has an elevated experience with Civil Rights Legend, John Lewis.

Timestamp Segments

• [01:07] Substitute teachers.
• [02:31] What turned Chase into a comic book fanatic?
• [05:10] Chase’s first ComiCon.
• [06:08] David’s first ComiCon.
• [07:46] San Diego ComiCon Madness.
• [08:15] The First Rule of Con Fandom: Spatial Awareness.
• [10:42] The Second Rule of Con Fandom: Recognize the Humanity.
• [17:12] The Biggest Rule: Extra Socks & Good Shoes.
• [19:01] Books are heavy.
• [19:53] Sienkiewicz is too good.
• [21:34] Join the FunTimeGo Campaign!
• [22:21] ComiCon programming.
• [23:42] The First Rule for Professionals: Read the Room.
• [26:27] The Second Rule for Professionals: Be Kind.
• [30:52] BarCon: Know Your Limits.
• [32:06] Meeting John Lewis.
• [37:50] Credit Cards Have Ramifications.
• [38:53] David falls down the Roger Corman Cosmic Comics rabbit hole.

Notable Quotes

• “There’s 100,000 other people in that room that want the same thing you do.”
• “Recognize the humanity of the people you are approaching and talking to.”
• “The gift is that they’re there, period.”
• “The Convention Center nachos are not going to be the help you think they are.”
• “You never know where you’re meeting somebody in their journey.”

Relevant Links

David's Fun Stuff!
Miss Mina VIP Launches Here!

John is at PugW!
Pug Worldwide

Books Mentioned

• The Amazing Spider-Man #400, J.M. DeMatteis, Stan Lee, Mark Bagley, Tom Grummett, & John Romita Jr.
• Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, by Frank Miller.
• Death Race 2020, by Pat Mills, Tony Skinner, & Kevin O'Neill.

John and David return to talk about more of their Comfort Comics, diving into nostalgia, learning how to make comic books, and how creative teams have shaped the future of the industry. Also, David gets his own post-credits scene.

Timestamp Segments

• [01:00] John’s Comfort Comic #2: Lone Wolf and Cub.
• [03:59] Saving urban space collecting Lone Wolf and Cub.
• [07:10] What everyone gets wrong about Lone Wolf and Cub.
• [09:36] David’s Comfort Comic #3: Justice League International.
• [12:11] Keith Giffen’s famous pitch.
• [14:06] The Justice League lineup.
• [19:01] Join the FunTimeGo Campaign!
• [20:02] John’s Comfort Comic #3: Cerebus.
• [22:04] Dave Sim’s contribution to comics education.
• [29:43] The nostalgia of comfort comics.
• [30:44] Bloopers.

Notable Quotes

• “That’s the way to read it, because that’s the way it exists, but I wish it wasn’t.”
• “Very difficult to argue that he didn’t go mad during that.”
• “If you live long enough, you eventually have a heel turn or two.”

Relevant Links

David's Fun Stuff!
Miss Mina VIP Launches Here!

John is at PugW!
Pug Worldwide

Books Mentioned

• Ambush Bug, by Keith Giffen.
• Batman: Hush, Batman: Hush 2, by Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee, Scott Williams.
• Cerebus, Cerebus Guide to Self-Publishing, by Dave Sim.
• Conan The Barbarian.
• Crisis on Infinite Earths, By Marv Wolfman & George Perez.
• Daredevil, by Brian Michael Bendis, David Mack, & Alex Maleev.
• Innocent, by Shin’Ichi Sakamoto.
• Justice League International, by J.M DeMatteis, Keith Giffen, Adam Hughes, Bart Sears, Kevin Maguire, Mike McKone, Steve Leialoha, & Ty Templeton.
• Legion of Super-Heroes.
• Lone Wolf and Cub, by Kazuo Koike & Goseki Kojima.
• The Omega Men.
• Ronin, by Frank Miller.

John and David get together for Part 1 of a conversation about comfort comics and the creative teams that made them possible, crossing the border to win drinking contests, when panel descriptions become dialogue, and Daredevil’s bright red costume. Also, John saves on oversized comics, and David finds comfort outside of Captain Carrot (we're all as shocked as you are).

Timestamp Segments

• [04:42] John’s move to Mexico.
• [05:26] Chase breaks a record in Mexico.
• [09:15] David’s Comfort Comic #1: All-Star Superman.
• [14:06] Join the FunTimeGo Campaign!
• [15:05] John’s Comfort Comic #1: Daredevil.
• [18:13] David’s thoughts on Daredevil’s costume.
• [20:11] “Shot of Barbara.”
• [22:56] John’s thoughts on Daredevil’s costume.
• [24:26] David’s Comfort Comic #2: New Warriors.

Notable Quotes

• “I think I don’t like the costume […]. It’s not very interesting to me.”
• “That’s the most bizarre thing you’ve ever said.”
• “Read more comics.”

Relevant Links

David's Fun Stuff!
Miss Mina VIP Launches Here!

John is at PugW!
Pug Worldwide

Books Mentioned

• Absolute Batman, by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, & Frank Martin.
• All-Star Superman, by Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely, Jamie Grant, & Neal Adams.
• Batman #158, Batman: Hush, by Jeph Loeb, Scott Williams, & Jim Lee.
• Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew.
• Civil War, by Mark Miller & Steve McNiven.
• Civil War.
• Daredevil, by Brian Michael Bendis, David Mack, & Alex Maleev.
• Daredevil, by Frank Miller & Klaus Janson.
• Daredevil: Black Armor, by D.G. Chichester, Netho Diaz, & Mark Bagley.
• Daredevil: Fall From Grace.
• Deathblow, by Jim Lee, Brandon Choi, & Tim Sale.
• Groo the Wanderer, by Sergio Aragonés.
• Marvel Knights Daredevil, by Kevin Smith & Joe Quesada.
• Marvel Knights, by Joe Quesada, Kevin Smith, Garth Ennis, Jimmy Palmiotti, Rob Haynes, & Dave Ross.
• New Warriors (1990-1996).
• New Warriors, by Zeb Wells & Skottie Young.
• Nightwing, by Chuck Dixon, S

Team Tyrant Fall, Max Davenport and C. Brennan Knight, join hosts John and David to talk about all things comic book, how Brennan wrote a pro-level first comic, perfecting the writing process, building the world and characters, merging traditional and digital art, and Heavy Metal’s influence on Tyrant Fall. Also, John manages to get back into the U.S. after his vacation, and David discovers why he’s not a big DC guy (or is he?!)

Timestamp Segments

• [01:48] Brennan’s gateway comic.
• [06:17] Max’s Comfort Comic.
• [08:49] Absolute Wonder Woman.
• [11:32] What’s Tyrant Fall all about?
• [12:37] Character and world building.
• [21:42] Join the Kickstarter Campaign!
• [22:29] Brennan’s writing process.
• [25:36] John’s veteran writing process.
• [29:26] Where to start writing a story.
• [36:51] Brennan’s day job.
• [41:04] Digital vs traditional art.

Notable Quotes

• “When good story is married with great art, they’re always classics.”
• “The horniness of Heavy Metal Magazine is undeniable.”

Relevant Links

David's Fun Stuff!
Miss Mina VIP Launches Here!

John is at PugW!
Pug Worldwide

Support Great Comics!

Tyrant Fall Kickstarter is HERE!

C. Brennan Knight | Twitter | BlueSky.

Max Davenport | Instagram | Twitter | BlueSky | Cara | TikTok.

Books Mentioned

• Tyrant Fall, by C. Brennan Knight, Max Davenport, Roman Stevens, & Rob Jones.

-----------------------------------

• Absolute Batman, by Scott Snyder & Nick Dragotta.
• Absolute Superman, by Jason Aaron & Rafa Sandoval.
• Absolute Wonder Woman, by Kelly Thompson & Hayden Sherman.
• Akira, by Katsuhiro Otomo.
• Avengers (2012-2015).
• Batman (2011-2016).
• Batman: Arkham Asylum - A Serious House on Serious Earth, by Grant Morrison & Dave McKean.
• Birds of Prey.
• Black Lightning, by Brandon Thomas & Fico Ossio.
• Captain Marvel (2019-2023).

Comic book great Todd Nauck joins the show to talk about his work on Pooluminati, Young Justice, his big break into comics, working at Extreme Studios, keeping the drive through the decades, leveling up with digital, beating the Imposter Syndrome, the Mount Rushmore of comic artists, and Todd’s wish list of characters he has yet to draw. Also, John finds out he’s old, David takes over the interview, and a call to assist writer Peter David.

Timestamp Segments

• [02:11] Drawing 2 pages a day.
• [12:33] Is Todd a Wednesday Warrior?
• [13:04] What’s Todd working on?
• [14:27] A perfect pairing.
• [17:44] Moving to LA.
• [18:41] Getting started in comics.
• [23:03] The Wildguard mini-comics.
• [25:34] Join the FunTimeGo campaign!
• [26:33] Traditional vs digital drawing.
• [29:47] Winning a talent search.
• [33:48] Beating the Imposter Syndrome.
• [39:36] What keeps Todd motivated?
• [42:02] Todd’s main influences.
• [46:19] Don’t be Lisa.
• [47:37] Reading runs in order.
• [51:38] Todd’s character wishlist.
• [53:10] Does Todd have a few more runs in him?
• [56:21] Help Peter David.

Notable Quotes

• “Stop trying to be what you think people want to see.”
• “I’m so old, I don’t know how to do anything else.”
• “There’s always 50 artist that can draw kind of like whatever the hot style is.”
• “Drawing is a physically demanding job.”

Relevant Links

David's Fun Stuff!
Miss Mina VIP Launches Here!

John is at PugW!
Pug Worldwide

Todd Nauck has the coolest stuff!
toddnauck.com

GoFundMe for Peter David...
Help Peter David

Books Mentioned

• Miss Mina and the Midnight Guardians: The Legend of the Golden Jaguar!
• Badrock and Company, Youngblood, by Rob Liefeld.
• Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2005 - 2007).
• Guarding the Globe, Invincible Universe, by Phil Hester, John Rauch, & Todd Nauck.
• Legion of Super-Heroes (1989-2000).
• New Men, by Rob Liefeld, Eric Stephenson, Marat Mychaels, & Jeff Matsuda.
• Nightcrawler, by Chris Claremont & Todd Nauck.
• Pooluminati (2025 - ).
• SpyBoy/Young Justice, by Peter David, Todd Nauck, & Pop Mhan.
• Stargirl: The Lost Children, by Geoff Johns & Todd Nauck.
• Team Youngblood.
• Teen Titans Go! (2004-2008).
• Young Ju