Blockhead: Cartoonists talk Comics

Arts

About

conversations on comics and comicbooks with the people who make them; dedicated to Charles Schulz and ”Peanuts”.

Episodes

  • Matt Madden

    A conversation with cartoonist/educator Matt Madden of “99 Ways to Tell a Story: Exercises in Style” , “Ex Libris”, “Drawing Words, Writing Pictures” and “Six Treasures of the Spiral: Comics Formed Under Pressure”. Matt Madden: Instagram:…

  • Kevin Mutch and The Moon Prince part 2

    Part 2 of Geoff’s discussion with Kevin Mutch about “The Moon Prince”, Kevin’s great, new all-ages fantasy-sci-fi-adventure from Fantagraphics! Kevin Mutch Instagram: @kfmutch The Moon Prince Geoff: instagram: @grogangeoff Geoff’s substack…

  • Kevin Mutch and The Moon Prince

    17 years in the making, Kevin Mutch’s “The Moon Prince” is now the graphic novel of the season, a rollicking, all-ages fantasy-adventure story in the grand tradition of Jules Verne and Frank Herbert. Kevin joins Geoff to talk about the jou…

  • Sunday Comics:The Creative Page at William Paterson University

    “Sunday Comics: The Creative Page” is a new exhibition of comics art celebrating the many ways cartoonists both old and new approach this venerable format! Curator Professor Claudia Goldstein and University Gallery Director Casey Mather jo…

  • Glenn Fleishman_How Comics Were Made

    “How Comics Were Made” was a huge success on Kickstarter in 2024, and is about to appear in a brand new edition from Andrew’s McMeel publishing. Author Glenn Fleishman joins Geoff to talk about the book and an important missing piece of co…

  • CXC2024 Recap with Lex Fajardo

    Lex Fajardo of Kid Beowulf and the Schulz Museum joins Geoff for a recap of Cartoon Crossroads Columbus 2024-as well as a discussion of comic-cons invading the public libraries! Lex Fajardo: https://kidbeowulf.com instagram: @lexfajardoart…

  • Michelle Lodge

    Michelle Lodge, cartoonist and illustrator of the popular noir comic book series “Home Free”, is here to talk about her new Kickstarter project; “Fantastic Freaks”, a humorous, NSFW comic book series that sends Frankenstein and friends on…

  • Ruben Bolling and “Tom the Dancing Bug”

    Ruben Bolling, creator of the insightful, provocative and always laugh-out-loud funny “Tom the Dancing Bug” joins Geoff for an enjoyable career-spanning discussion. Highlights include a preview of his brand new book; “It’s the Great Storm,…

  • Independence Day with Jen Sorensen

    What better way to celebrate the 4th of July than with one of the Nation’s premiere political cartoonists, the great Jen Sorensen. The current state of our politics is the topic and how Jen’s cartooning makes sense-and fun of it all. Jen S…

  • Peter Bagge

    Peter Bagge joins Geoff to talk about the brand new “HATE” Comic book, “HATE Revisited”! Find out what’s new( and old) in the lives of Buddy Bradley, Lisa , Stinky and the whole dysfunctional gang in this wide-ranging discussion! Peter Bag…

  • Bill Griffith: Zippy meets Nancy!

    A landmark episode! Bill Griffith, one of the original Underground Cartoonists and one of the greatest cartoonists of his or any generation, visits to talk about his latest graphic biography, “Three Rocks: The Story of Ernie Bushmiller, Th…

  • It’s “The NANCY Show”!

    May is “Nancy “ month at Blockhead and the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum with “Nancy Fest” and “The Nancy Show” a two-day celebration and exhibition celebrating Ernie Bushmiller’s comicstrip masterpiece! Festival organizers, Brian…

  • Andy Smith, Kor-Drath and Barbarian Love

    In 30 + years, Andy Smith has worked for just about every big mainstream publisher, and now, with his barbarian warrior Kor-Drath”, he has a bona-vide, creator-owned hit on his hands. Andy and Geoff talk about his brand new Indiegogo campa…

  • Gene Kannenberg Jr & comics at Northwestern University

    Dr. Gene Kannenberg Jr. book artist, cartoonist and Research & Media Assistant at the Herskovits Library of African Studies at Northwestern University , visits Blockhead to celebrate the release of his wonderful new Pop-Up book from Abrams…

  • Here Comes Charlie Brown! with Gene Kannenberg, Jr.

    Dr. Gene Kannenberg Jr. visits Blockhead to celebrate the release of his wonderful new Pop-Up book from Abrams Books, “Here Comes Charlie Brown!: A Peanuts Pop-Up Book”. In the Peanuts part of the interview, Gene discusses the evolution of…

  • Dean Haspiel throws a mean RED Hook!

    Dean Haspiel visits Blockhead to talk about his exciting, brand new Kickstarter project: The Red Hook x Dean Haspiel ; a thrilling all new-24 page comic featuring his reluctant Brooklyn-bound super-hero “The Red Hook” and…well, Dean Haspie…

  • Jens K. Styve and “DUNCE”

    Norwegian cartoonist Jens Styve is here to celebrate the publication of his book, Dunce: Arctic Tales, the first collection in English of his wonderful comic strip, “Dunce”! Jens K. Styve: instagram: @duncecomic @jenskstyve DUNCE:ARCTIC TA…

  • Lance Hansen

    Mad magazine & American Bystander cartoonist Lance Hansen joins Geoff to talk about his new book, “Limerature 101: Literary Classics in Five Lines or Less(with Pictures)” as well as upcoming projects, including a biography of collagist/dad…

  • Goodbye ‘23

    Geoff offers an overview of some indy comics by great cartoonists he picked up in 2023. geoffgrogan.com Instagram @greenscreencomic https://etsy.com/shop/comicsprintworks cartoonists mentioned: Sonic Saturn by shape comics Covid Cop /Billy…

  • Having a “Block Party” with Pat Sandy

    Friend of the show, multi-talented cartoonist, graphic designer, musician and all-around good guy, Pat Sandy of GoComics’ long-running strip “Next Door Neighbors” returns to chat about his new collection: “Block Party”. Along the way, he a…

  • Jason Chatfield

    Cartoonist, comedian and President of the National Cartoonist’s Society, Jason Chatfield talks with Geoff about comedy, comics and The National Cartoonists’ Society, among many other things! Jason Chatfield: www.jasonchatfield.com https://…

  • Sparky’s 100th with Lex Fajardo

    Lex Fajardo, of the Kid Beowulf graphic novels and Schulz Creative Associates, returns to Blockhead to help celebrate the legacy of Charles Schulz at 100! Lex fills us in on this past weekend’s celebration at the Schulz Museum in Santa Ros…

  • Ryan Heshka part 2

    Part 2 of Geoff’s interview with Ryan Heshka! This time, Ryan talks about his work in comics, his influences(Chester Gould!), women in his comics, railing against the patriarchy, color, risograph printing, Batman and so much more! Ryan Hes…

  • Ryan Heshka part 1

    Painter, illustrator , creator of provocative comics strange yet hilarious, “Pop Surrealist” Ryan Heshka creates otherworldly visions both disquieting yet oddly familiar. He talks about his work and his inspiration in an engaging two-part…

  • Henrik Rehr

    A cartoonist’s cartoonist, Henrik Rehr has worked on a wide variety of projects since his career began in Denmark in the mid 1980’s. Capable of myriad stylistic approaches, Henrik was the artist on the venerable “Ferdn’and” comicstrip for…

  • George Gant and “Beware of Toddler”

    George Gant, cartoonist behind the hugely popular webcomic, “Beware of Toddler” joins Geoff to talk about fatherhood, comics, “Beware of Toddler” and how it feels to join the many great comics at King Features on ComicsKingdom.com George G…

  • Pat Dorian

    Pat Dorian, illustrator, animator, scenic painter and cartoonist talks about his career and his wonderful graphic biography of The Man of a Thousand Faces, “Lon Chaney Speaks”! Pat Dorian: http://www.patdorian.com instagram: @patdorian Lon…

  • Tauhid Bondia and Crabgrass the Comic

    Tauhid Bondia returns to the show to share some exciting news about his great comicstrip. “Crabgrass”! In a free-wheeling conversation, Tauhid and Geoff talk about Crabgrass’ success and the process from webcomic to the newspapers! Tauhid…

  • Randy Reynaldo

    Randy Reynaldo, comics creator behind the long-running Indy comic book, “Rob Hanes Adventures” and “2018 Inkpot Award winner for Achievement in Comics Arts “ is here to talk about the success of his great, rollicking adventure series and w…

  • Bishakh Som

    Graphic Novelist and New Yorker cartoonist Bishakh Som visits to talk about “Apsara Engine”, 2020 winner of the Los Angeles Times Graphic Novel Prize, as well as as “Spellbound”, her equally engaging graphic memoir. Along the way, she and…

  • Glenn Head

    Cartoonist Glenn Head is here to talk about his compelling graphic memoir, “Chartwell Manor” , a frank and harrowing account of his experience at a boarding school in the early 1970s, wherein the Headmaster inflicted sexual and psychologic…

  • Denis Kitchen Returns

    As promised, Denis Kitchen returns to pick up the conversation where we left off last time-somewhere in the mid-1970s! Can you imagine Denis Kitchen as editor of Marvel’s “Mad” magazine rip-off, “Cracked”? Stan Lee did! We discuss that pos…

  • Nate Powell

    Nate Powell, National Book Award Winner as cartoonist/illustrator of the great Congressman John Lewis’ (with Andrew Aydin) powerful graphic memoir of the Civil Rights Era, “MARCH “ vols. 1, 2 and 3, is here to talk about both that and his…

  • Ryan Claytor

    Cartoonist,University Professor,Pinball enthusiast extraordinaire! Ryan Claytor is all of these things and today he stops by to talk about his latest project, “A Hunter’s Tale”, a comic book adaptation of a poem by his late grandfather, no…

  • Denis Kitchen Part2

    Legendary Underground cartoonist and publisher Denis Kitchen returns for part 2 of this in-depth interview. In this episode, Denis talks about the early days of the Undergrounds, Robert Crumb, the launching of Kitchen Sink Press and more!…

  • Denis Kitchen Part 1

    Denis Kitchen, one of the great founding figures of Underground Comics, as well as cartoonist,publisher, author, agent, historian, curator, in conversation about his artwork and extraordinary career. In a multi-part interview he talks abou…

  • Christopher Sperandio (pinko_joe)

    Artist Christopher Sperandio, aka @pinko_joe from Instagram, talks politics, vaccines, his great new graphic novels; “Pinko Joe” and “Greenie Josepheenie” ,process and public domain comics in this marathon-length interview! Christopher Spe…

  • Seth Part 2

    Cartoonist, illustrator, designer; one of the greatest cartoonists of this or any era; the author of “Clyde Fans”, “George Sprott”, “Wimbledon Green” among others, in part two of a broad discussion about his work, comics and life. Seth: ht…

  • Seth Part 1

    Seth is here. “Clyde Fans”, “George Sprott”, “Wimbledon Green”, “It’s a Good Life if You Don’t Weaken” are among the greatest graphic novels and if that’s not enough, Seth is also the book designer of the “Complete Peanuts” series from Fan…

  • Brian Walker curates “The Dog Show”

    Great cartoonist and comics historian “par excellence”, Brian Walker talks about his newest exhibition at the Billy Ireland Museum; “The Dog Show: Two Centuries of Canine Cartoons”, featuring over 100 of your favorite canine characters fro…

  • Charles Hatfield Part 2

    It’s a Kirby-fest this time, celebrating the work of The King of Comics with Eisner-Award nominee Professor Charles Hatfield, author of “Hand of Fire: the Comics Art of Jack Kirby”! Charles Hatfield: https://kirbystudies.org https://www.ki…

  • Charles Hatfield

    Charles Hatfield, comics scholar, Professor of English at California State University Northridge, author of such classics in comics studies as Hand of Fire: The Comics Art of Jack Kirby and Alternative Comics:An Emerging Literature , joins…

  • Mike Allred Part 2

    Mike Allred talks about his process, inspiration, Superhero movies, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and Mott the Hoople in the senses-shattering second part of this career-spanning interview! Mike Allred: https://www.aaapop.com Madmaniverse : Geof…

  • Mike Allred Part 1

    The great Mike Allred is here to talk “Madman”, “Bowie”, creativity and a career making the swingin’-est, ginchy-est comics in the Universe! Part 1 of a two and a half-hour conversation! Mike Allred: aaapop.com Madmaniverse Vol1 geoff: htt…

  • Steve Conley 2021

    The Astounding Steve Conley drops by to talk about his latest Kickstarter;”Astounding Space Thrills: Undersea Menace from the Year 3200” and to share his secrets of Kickstarter success! Steve & Geoff talk comics and life in the days when t…

  • Howie Noel

    Howie Noel, of @dicktracyroguesgallery, the terrific old-skool Dick Tracy fan-art feed on Instagram, stops by to talk Tracy, Warren Beatty, superhero movies and his work in comics, including his graphic novel memoir about dealing with anxi…

  • Jay Stephens

    Jay Stephens; cartoonist/creator of The Discovery Channel’s Emmy-award winning animated show, “Tutenstein”, Cartoon Network’s “The Secret Saturdays”, “JetCat” for Nickelodeon, as well as comics such as “Atomic City Tales”, “The Land of Nod…

  • Joe Staton

    “Dick Tracy”, “ScoobyDoo”, “E-Man and Nova”, “Green Lantern and the Green Lantern Corps”, “The Huntress” , “Justice Society of America” , “Plastic Man”, “Archie and Jughead” are just some of the characters cartoonist Joe Staton has worked…

  • Doonesbury at 50 with David Stanford

    David Stanford, editor of the recently released “Dbury@50” and numerous “Doonesbury” collections, chief of “Doonesbury.com” and longtime assistant to Garry Trudeau, is here talk all things “Doonesbury” as we continue to celebrate the 50th…

  • “Doonesbury” at 50 with Pat Sandy

    Celebrating “Doonesbury” ! Cartoonist Pat Sandy(“Next Door Neighbors”, GoComics.com) and Geoff take a walk through Walden Pond on the occasion of “Doonesbury’s” 50+ years in syndication!