This week on the Comic Cast, we talk to Irish illustrator Matthew Griffin who loves, in equal parts, the traditional and the futuristic and occasionally likes to combine the two. His work is a mixture of ink and digital methods. Here he talks about how he got started, why it’s so important to hang in there for the first two years of starting a career in illustration and his work. Enjoy!

Download Link: The Comic Cast 24/05/12

also available through iTunes

Show Links

Matthew Griffin’s site

Matthew’s blog

Matthew’s Twitter

Matthew on Facebook

This is our 100th episode.

We review the movie on everyones lips – Avengers Assemble. In a vertiable comic book reviewing storm we talk Avengers Vs X-Men, Avengers Vs X-Men Vs,  New Avengers #25 by Bendis/Deodato, Americas Got Powers by Johnaton Ross/Bryan Hitch, Echo by Terry Moore, Spider-Man: Spider Island by Dan Slott/Humberto Ramos, Kick Ass 2 by Mark Millar/John Romita Jr., Supercrooks by Mark Millar/Leinil Yu. In Irish comics we review Romantic Mayhem Pocket Book edited by Gar Shanley, The Whole World by Brian Naughton and Cupid’s Last Arrows by Seán De Swann. We also give you the skinny on everything from the latest comic book kick starters and The Walking Dead video game. Did we mention this is our 100th episode?

Download Link: The Comic Cast 100th Episode

also available through iTunes

Show Links

Irish comics

Romantic Mayhem Pocket Pocket (slick deluxe edition on Blurb)

The Whole World by Brian Naughton (Brian’s blog and tumblr)

Cupid’s Last Arrows (Seán De Swann’s site)

This week on the Comic Cast we talk to Alan Dunne – a Dublin based Irish graphic designer and illustrator. He works for RTÉ Television and regularly exhibits with Brainbelt Illustration Collective. Alan talks about his current work on his first graphic novel ‘Get Off That Ship’ which sets out to chronicle the true story of Frank Browne, a member of the Jesuit order in Ireland and a prolific photographer who travelled from Southampton to Queenstown on the ill-fated Titanic and the twist of fate that saved his life. Enjoy.

Download Link: The Comic Cast 17/04/12

also available through iTunes

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Get Off That Ship – (read the first chapter of Alan’s graphic novel)

Alan Dunne.ie

Father Brownes Original Titanic Photos

Shiver your timbers, avast your hearties and get you rodgers jolly with this weeks episode of The Comic Cast. Climb aboard as we review Aardman Animations latest film The Pirates! In An Adventure with Scientists. In comic books we review Saga #1 byBrian K. Vaughan/Fiona Staples, Ultimates #1-7 by Jonathan Hickman/Esad Ribic, Ultimate hawkeye #1-4 by Jonathan Hickman/Rafa Sandoval and The Darkness Origins by Garth Ennis/Marc Silvestri. We also get our mitts on the leaked Deadpool movie script and decide wheter it’s worth making, not to mention all the latest comic book news. Arrrr!

Download Link: The Comic Cast 20/03/12

also available through iTunes

Show Links:

The Pirates! In an Adventure With Scientists trailer

Eoin Coveney has been illustrating professionally in Dublin for more than 16 years, working on everything from storyboards for ad campaigns to book covers and press and magazines. In this podcast he discusses his work, the importance of being adaptable in illustration styles and being trained by Will Eisner in Dublin (yes, THAT Will Eisner!). He also talks about his upcoming graphic novel with writer Neil Kleid called American Caesar set against the banking industry in NY post-credit crunch. Enjoy.

Download Link: The Comic Cast 06/03/12

also available through iTunes

To see some exclusive concept stuff, character development and a couple of pages from American Caesar click below:

Show Links:

Eoin Coveney – (illustration site)

Neil Kleid – (find other comics written by Neil Kleid on Rant Comics)

Concept stuff, character development and a couple of pages from American Caesar – drawn by Eoin Coveney:

CLICK TO ENLARGE:

This week on the Comic Cast we talk with artist Christian Kotey who has worked as a comic book artist drawing covers for characters such as Judge Dredd, Batman and various other European titles. Christian co-founded DNA Swamp, a Belfast-based comic anthology in 1997. He has worked in the TV and film industry for over 15 years working in various roles as a make up artist, director and concept artist but now is making a return to comics with a painted  vampire graphic novel called DEAD CELLS due out later this year. Enjoy.

Download Link: The Comic Cast 16/02/12

also available through iTunes

Show Links

LA Make Up Academy (Christians bio)

Irish Comics Wiki (Christian’s entry)

Mr. Donkey (Trailer for the upcoming comedy directed by Christian)

Liam interviews Mr. Donkey (take a look at a clip of Liam interviewing the characters from Mr. Donkey for 103.2 Dublin City FM)

2012. Right. Let’s do this. On our first episode of the new year we review Moon Knight by Brian Bendis/Alex Maleev, Whispers by Joshua Luna, Ultimate Spider-Man issues 1-6 by Brian Bendis/Sara Piehelli and Wolverine and the X-Men by Jason Aaron/Chris Bachalo. We talk to Belfast artist Stephen Downey about his work on Slaughterman’s Creed and Jennifer Wilde and upcoming projects. To top it all off we wax lyrical on the Best Animated Feature nominees at this years Oscars, the possibility of a Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark documentary and so much more that couldn’t possibly fit into a short paragraph describing the show. Ahem. Enjoy!

Download Link: The Comic Cast 31/01/12

also available through iTunes

Show Links:

Stephen Downey

Offset 2012

Download Link: The Comic Cast Christmas Special 2011

also available on iTunes

Mega thanks to our favourite American gal Jordie Bellaire (interviewed on our previous episode) for the amazeballs illustration for this years Chrimbo show!

Show Links

Comics Reviewed

Hilda and the Midnight Giant by Luke Pearson

Klaus by Richard Short

Bad Island by Doug TenNapel

The Adventures of Hergé by Bocquet/Fromental/Stanilas

Holy Terror by Frank Miller

Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown!

Interviewees

Declan Shalvey’s Blog

BRENB’s site

Offset 2011

This week the Comic Cast chats with colourist, cartoonist & illustrator Jordie Bellaire! Jordie has coloured everything from The Fantastic Four to Hellraiser and is currently the colourist for  Betrayal of the Planet of the Apes from BOOM!. Most recently she coloured Roger Langridge’s tale ‘Old Nick and The Peddler’ in Jim Henson’s The Storyteller edited by Nate Cosby. Here she discusses the path that led her to become a colourist, where that roles fits in to the creation and direction of a comic book and the creator owned projects she’s currently working on. Enjoy!

Download Link: The Comic Cast 06/12/11

also available through iTunes

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Jordie on Twitter

Jordie’s Tumblr

Jordie’s Blog

This week on the Comic Cast we talk to Seán Michael Wilson – a Scottish comic book writer living in Japan.  Seán edited the collection ‘AX: alternative manga’ which was selected by Publishers Weekly as one of the ‘best ten comic books of 2010′, and nominated for a Harvey Award. His other work includes ‘The Story of Lee’ with art by Chie Kutsuwada, ‘Yakuza Moon: the manga edition with art by Michiru Morikawa and several Classical Comics volumes including Sweeney Todd with art by Declan Shalvey.  Enjoy.

Download Link: The Comic Cast 21/11/11

also available through iTunes

Show Links

Seán Michael Wilson’s Blog

Seán Michael Wilson on Amazon (all of his comics listed on one handy page!)