The Writers Block
A weekly post-con-style roundtable romp with some of the most outspoken (yet still employed) creators in comics. Show biz war stories. State of the comic union. Furious debates over ‘80s televisions shows. Great lobster bisque recipes. Something for everybody.
We have voluntarily self-rated this production as PG-13. Some material may not be suitable for children.
Listen to the preview trailer!
Also available on YouTube if you'd prefer to see everyone's lovely faces!
Episode Archive
The Writers Strike with Melody Cooper
Episode Number: 90David and Rylend sit down with film/TV/comics writer Melody Cooper to discuss the complicated ins and outs of the current Writers Guild strike, to hash out where AI might be headed (from an art/writing standpoint), and to seriously examine whether or not Dr. Dre started this whole mess when he helped create digital Tupac back in 2012.
Episode download: TWB090.mp3
MELODY COOPER
Twitter: @melodyMcooper
Instagram: @melodycooperfilm
Website: melodyMcooper.comRelease Date: May 24, 2023
Run Time: 1:43:23Ray-Anthony Height
Episode Number: 89David and Rylend sit down with one of their absolute favorite people in the creatorverse - Ray-Anthony Height (MIDNIGHT TIGER, STAR WARS: DOCTOR APHRA) - to discuss what a writer can, should, and necessarily must pour into a story emotionally, philosophically, and experientially… they also talk about ROAD HOUSE a lot, you know, because it’s freakin’ INCREDIBLE?
Episode download: TWB089.mp3
RAY-ANTHONY HEIGHT
Facebook: Studio Skye-Tiger: Home of Ray-Anthony HeightRelease Date: May 3, 2023
Run Time: 1:32:26Derek McCaw and Bearded Comic Bro
Episode Number: 88David and Rylend sit down with Derek McCaw (Fanboy Planet) and the Bearded Comic Bro for part 2 in their “covering comics” discussion series… More on interviewing creators and writing reviews… and much more of Rylend telling people to go “F” themselves.
Episode download: TWB088.mp3
DEREK MCCAW
Twitter: @FanboyPlanet
Instagram: @FanboyPlanet
Website: fanboyplanet.comBEARDED COMIC BRO
Twitter: @beardedcomicbro
Instagram: @beardedcomicbro
YouTube: https://t.co/G5eZk2XOcPRelease Date: April 26, 2023
Run Time: 1:16:56Blake Morgan and Brian Wayne
Episode Number: 87David and Rylend sit down with Blake Morgan (Blake’s Buzz) and Brian Wayne (Cheers to Comics) to talk the ins and outs, the highs and lows of covering comics… interviewing creators, writing reviews, knocking heads with idiots in hate groups. Oh yeah… and Rylend tells, like, A BUNCH of people to go “F” themselves.
Episode download: TWB087.mp3
BLAKE MORAGAN
Twitter: @blakesbuzz
Instagram: @blakesbuzz
Patreon: http://patreon.com/blakesbuzz
Website: drum.io/blakesbuzzBRIAN WAYNE
Twitter: @cheerstocomics
Instagram: @cheerstocomics
Website: linktr.ee/cheerstocomicsRelease Date: April 19, 2023
Run Time: 1:43:08State of the Comics Union Panel from WonderCon
Episode Number: 86Live from WonderCon ’23, David and Rylend chat with a gang of seasoned comic professionals - David Booher (CANTO), Barbra Dillon (EIC Fanbase Press), Charlie Stickney (WHITE ASH) and Ray Anthony Height (STAR WARS: DOCTOR APHRA) - about the current state of the comic book industry… they discuss the controversies, the challenges, and some possible solutions.
Episode download: TWB086.mp3
DAVID M. BOOHER
Twitter: @davidbooher
Instagram: @davidmbooher
Website: davidbooher.comBARBRA DILLON
Twitter: @barbrajdillon
Instagram: @barbrajdillonFANBASE PRESS
Twitter: @Fanbase_Press
Instagram: @fanbasepress
Website: fanbasepress.comRAY ANTHONY HEIGHT
Instagram: @artofraheight
Website: studioskyetiger.comCHARLIE STICKNEY
Twitter: @charlesstickney
Instagram: @whiteashcomics
Website: whiteashcomic.comRelease Date: April 5, 2023
Run Time: 52:15Kickstarter Now!
Episode Number: 85David and Rylend chat with Kickstarter Hall-of-Famers Pat Shand (STEAMY) and Madeleine Holly-Rosing (BOSTON METAPHYSICAL SOCIETY) about all the fun happening on the platform right now... and Pat’s cat repeatedly tries to seize control of the broadcast.
Episode download: TWB085.mp3
PAT SHAND
Twitter: @PatShand
Instagram: @PatShand
Website: linktr.ee/PatShandCHECK OUT THE STEAMY KICKSTARTER
MADELEINE HOLLY-ROSING
Twitter: @MHollyRosing
Instagram: @mcholly1CHECK OUT THE BOSTON METAPHYSICAL SOCIETY KICKSTARTER
Release Date: March 29, 2023
Run Time: 1:06:49War Stories Panel from LACC
Episode Number: 84Live from L.A. Comic Con, David and Rylend chat with a gang of seasoned comic professionals - David Booher, Melissa Flores, and Ray Anthony Height - about breaking in, falling out, and surviving the COVID 19 storm.
Episode download: TWB084.mp3
DAVID M. BOOHER
Twitter: @davidbooher
Instagram: @davidmbooher
Website: https://davidbooher.comMELISSA FLORES
Twitter: @misty_flores
Instagram: @misty_flores
Website: mistyflores.comRAY ANTHONY HEIGHT
Instagram: @artofraheight
Website: www.studioskyetiger.comRelease Date: January 4, 2023
Run Time: 55:08Where’s the Front Door? Panel from LACC
Episode Number: 83Live from L.A. Comic Con, David chats with a gang of seasoned comic professionals - Charlie Stickney, Liana Kangas, Scott Koblish, and Chuck Patton - about breaking into the business. Surprise tip: work at a frame store.
Episode download: TWB083.mp3
CHARLIE STICKNEY
Twitter: @charlesstickney
Instagram: @whiteashcomics
Website: whiteashcomic.comLIANA KANGAS
Twitter: @lianakangas
Instagram: @lianakangas
Website: bio.site/lianakangasSCOTT KOBLISH
Twitter: @koblish
Instagram: @scottkoblish
Website: koblish.blogspot.comCHUCK PATTON
Twitter: @ChuckPatton9
Instagram: @chuckpattonart
Website: artofchuckpatton.comRelease Date: December 21, 2022
Run Time: 57:43What Editors Want Panel from LACC
Episode Number: 82Live from L.A. Comic Con, David and Rylend chat with a gang of seasoned comic editors/shot callers - Fanbase Press EIC Barbra Dillon, Heavy Metal CEO Matt Medney, and Top Cow Publisher/COO Matt Hawkins - looking to finally definitively answer the question… What are publishers looking for?
Episode download: TWB082.mp3
BARBRA DILLON
Twitter: @barbrajdillon
Instagram: @barbrajdillonFANBASE PRESS
Twitter: @Fanbase_Press
Instagram: @fanbasepress
Website: fanbasepress.comMATT MEDNEY
Twitter: @matthewmedney
Instagram: @matthewmedney
Website: matthewmedney.comHEAVY METAL MAGAZINE
Twitter: @HeavyMetalInk
Instagram: @HeavyMetal
Website: https://linktr.ee/HeavyMetalMagazineMATT HAWKINS
Twitter: @topcowmatt
Instagram: @mhawk5222
Website: http://matttalks.comTOP COW
Twitter: @topcow
Instagram: @topcow
Website: topcow.comRelease Date: December 14, 2022
Run Time: 47:25Matt Medney and Catherine Loubier
Episode Number: 81David and Rylend sit down with Heavy Metal CEO Matt Medney and politico/clean energy advocate Catherine Loubier to discuss THE FIFTH FORCE, their ecological time travel comic book extravaganza… all while Matt enthusiastically watches the Brazilian soccer team beat the pants off of South Korea.
Episode download: TWB081.mp3
MATT MEDNEY
Twitter: @matthewmedney
Instagram: @matthewmedney
Website: matthewmedney.comCATHERINE LOUBIER
Twitter: @CLoubier
HEAVY METAL MAGAZINE
Twitter: @HeavyMetalInk
Instagram: @HeavyMetal
Website: https://linktr.ee/HeavyMetalMagazineRelease Date: December 7, 2022
Run Time: 1:03:24“Pandemic Survival” Panel from LBCC
Episode Number: 80Live from Long Beach Comic Con! David talks with a gaggle of experienced comic pros - Kris Longo, Bobby Timony, and Barbra Dillon - about how they survived the COVID pandemic personally, professionally, psychologically, and spiritually. To an audience of hundreds. As far as you know.
Episode download: TWB080.mp3
BARBRA DILLON
Twitter: @barbrajdillon
Instagram: @barbrajdillonFANBASE PRESS
Twitter: @fanbase_press
Instagram: @fanbasepress
Website: fanbasepress.comKRIS LONGO
Twitter: @krislongo
Instagram: @kris_longo
Website: modernfanatic.comBOBBY TIMONY
Twitter: @BobbyTimony
Instagram: @bobbytimony
Website: twincomics.comRelease Date: September 28, 2022
Run Time: 45:54“It’s a Living” Panel from LBCC
Episode Number: 79Live from Long Beach Comic Con! David and Rylend talk with a gang of experienced comic pros - Scott Koblish, Christie Shinn, and Don Walker - about how they actually making a living doing what they love, staying paid and keeping projects funded.
Episode download: TWB079.mp3
SCOTT KOBLISH
Twitter: @Koblish
Instagram: @scottkoblish
Website: koblish.blogspot.comCHRISTIE SHINN
Twitter: @HoraToraStudios
Instagram: @HoraToraStudios
Website: https://linktr.ee/HoraToraStudiosDON WALKER
Instagram: don_spaceknight
Website: https://dorkempireink.bigcartel.comRelease Date: September 21, 2022
Run Time: 49:08Kickstarter Panel from LBCC
Episode Number: 78Live from Long Beach Comic Con! David and Rylend talk with an elite gaggle of veteran Kickstarter campaigners - Charlie Stickney (White Ash), Kelly Sue Milano (Hex11), and Steven Prince (Monster Matador) - about the ins and outs of crowdfunding your dream project.
Episode download: TWB078.mp3
CHARLIE STICKNEY
Twitter: @CharlesStickney
Instagram: @whiteashcomic
Website: whiteashcomic.comKELLY SUE MILANO
Twitter: @kellysuesays
Instagram: @kellysuesays
Website: hexcomix.comSTEVEN PRINCE
Twitter: @monstermatador
Instagram: @monstermatador
Website: monstermatador.comRelease Date: September 14, 2022
Run Time: 47:23Pat “Six Figure” Shand
Episode Number: 77David and Rylend have a “creator’s guide” chat with writer Pat “Six Figure” Shand (CHEEKY) and talk pitching, publisher/producer note implementation, the dos/don’ts of “con schmoozing,” and best social media practices… and Rylend leaves about 3/4 into the show to go get Mr. T’s autograph at the Glendale Galleria.
Episode download: TWB077.mp3
PAT SHAND
Twitter: @PatShand
Instagram: @PatShand
Website: linktr.ee/PatShandCHECK OUT PAT’S BOOK CHEEKY ON INDIEGOGO: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/cheeky-a-nsfw-graphic-novel/x/1947872#/
Release Date: August 10, 2022
Run Time: 1:41:04Ray Chou
Episode Number: 76David and Rylend sit down with writer Ray Chou (Skies of Fire) to talk about how he and his team built the Kickstarter publishing juggernaut Mythopoeia… and the guys trade ass-chapping Hollywood horror stories.
Episode download: TWB076.mp3
RAY CHOU
Twitter: @mythopoeians
Instagram: @mythopoeians
Website: https://www.mythopoeia.us/Get the Skies of Fire Collected Edition on Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mythopoeia/skies-of-fire-collected-editionKickstarter How-To Blogs
www.mythopoeia.us/blog/kickstarter-breakdown-pt-i-continuing-an-ongoing-seriesRelease Date: August 3, 3022
Run Time: 1:21:48SDCC 2022 Panel
Episode Number: 75David and Rylend are coming to you LIVE from SDCC 2022 where they hosted a POST-PANDEMIC PUBLISHING LANDSCAPE panel with creators David Booher (CANTO), Charlie Stickney (White Ash), Ashley V. Robinson (Jupiter Jet), and David Pepose (Savage Avengers)… Also, Rylend narrowly defeated Lou Ferrigno in a high stakes game of Chinese checkers and Avallone received the key to the of San Diego city after foiling a plot by Hiroto cosplayers to steal NECA’s Last Ronin action figure prototypes.
Episode download: TWB075.mp3
DAVID M. BOOHER
Twitter: @davidbooher
Instagram: @davidmbooher
Website: https://davidbooher.comCHARLIE STICKNEY
Twitter: @CharlesStickney
Instagram: @whiteashcomic
Website: https://whiteashcomic.comASHLEY V. ROBINSON
Twitter: @AshleyVRobinson
Instagram: @seanlewis6026
Website: linktr.ee/AshleyVRobinsonDAVID PEPOSE
Twitter: @Peposed
Instagram: Peposed
Website: linktr.ee/peposedRelease Date: July 27, 2022
Run Time: 50:52Drew Edwards and Paulo J Hernandez
Episode Number: 74David and Rylend sit down with Ringo-nominated writer Drew Edwards and artist Paulo J Hernandez to talk about their collaboration on HALLOWEEN MAN MEETS THE LATEX AVENGER… and the group furiously butts head over a very SERIOUS question… which is the superior movie? GHOSTBUSTERS? Or GHOSTBUSTERS 2? “VIGGO!”
Episode download: TWB074.mp3
DREW EDWARDS
Twitter: @halloweenmancom
Instagram: @drew_halloween
Website: halloweenman.comPAULO J. HERNANDEZ
Twitter: @paulojhdz
Instagram: @paulojhdz
Website: paulojhdz.comBACK HALLOWEEN MAN MEETS THE LATEX AVENGER ON INDIEGOGO: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/halloween-man-meets-the-latex-avenger#/
Release Date: July 20, 2022
Run Time: 1:35:21Adam Lawson
Episode Number: 73David and Rylend sit down with ESCAPE THE NIGHT showrunner Adam Lawson to discuss his new comic endeavor - an actiony collab with Hollywood legend Wesley Snipes - titled THE EXILED… and the three begin the long and arduous process of integrating for seamless viewing and analysis the post pipeline data coming back from NASA’s James Webb telescope.
Episode download: TWB073.mp3
ADAM LAWSON
Twitter: @GiftedRebelsCo
Instagram: @gongfuman/@giftedrebelsco
Website: giftedrebels.comBACK THE EXILED ON KICKSTARTER: http://bit.ly/theexiled
Release Date: July 13, 2022
Run Time: 1:12:00James Aquilone
Episode Number: 72David (high on cough syrup) and Rylend (severely jet-lagged) sit down with editor-extraordinaire James Aquilone to discuss his latest and greatest Kickstarter anthology, Shakespeare Unleashed... also, SCOTUS can eat a fat one.
Episode download: TWB072.mp3
JAMES AQUILONE
Twitter: @jamesaquilone/@MonstrousBooks
Instagram: @james_aquilone
Website: linktr.ee/jamesaquiloneBACK SHAKESPEARE UNLEASHED ON KICKSTARTER: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/manbomb/shakespeare-unleashed?ref=8syg49
Release Date: July 6, 2022
Run Time: 1:32:39David Accampo
Episode Number: 71David and Rylend sit down with writer David Accampo (Wormwood: A Serialized Mystery) for a thematics deep dive and to discuss his new horror anthology series SPECTRAL... and the show quickly and confidently mutates into conversational street fight re: the dos and don’ts of fine prequeling.
Episode download: TWB071.mp3
DAVID ACCAMPO
Twitter: @daccampo
Instagram: @daccampo
Website: davidaccampo.comBACK SPECTRAL ON KICKSTARTER: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chrisandersoncomics/spectral
BACK SHAKESPEARE UNLEASHED ON KICKSTARTER: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/manbomb/shakespeare-unleashed
Release Date: June 29, 2022
Run Time: 1:36:18Jordan Hart and Barbra Dillon
Episode Number: 70David and Rylend sit down with Eisner-nominated Fanbase Press EIC Barbra Dillon and writer Jordan Hart to talk about their collaboration on RIPPLE EFFECTS, a comic series that explores life as a superhero with a disability… and Rylend talks candidly about all of the mildly-evil things he’d do if he somehow lucked into superpowers.
Episode download: TWB070.mp3
JORDAN HART
Twitter: @ripplefxcomic
Instagram: @jordyjordith
Website: www.fanbasepress.ecrater.com/p/39178444/ripple-effects-pre-orderBARBRA DILLON
Twitter: @barbrajdillon
Instagram: @barbrajdillonFANBASE PRESS
Twitter: @Fanbase_Press
Instagram: @fanbasepress
Website: fanbasepress.comRelease Date: June 15, 2022
Run Time: 1:11:30Brian Hawkins
Episode Number: 69David and Rylend have a delightful “career building” chat with writer/editor Brian Hawkins (Aftershock’s THE VINEYARD)… and amid a tense conversational digression re: New York real estate, Rylend makes the rash decision to buy a three bedroom Townhouse in Jersey City that needs a bit too much work.
Episode download: TWB069.mp3
BRIAN HAWKINS
Twitter: @BrianLHawkins
Instagram: @brianhawkinswrites
Website: brianhawkinswrites.comRelease Date: June 8, 2022
Run Time: 1:20:54Eddie DeAngelini
Episode Number: 68David and Rylend chat with comic shop owner/cartoonist Eddie DeAngelini (THE COLLECTORS) about the power of Kickstarter and the ever-mutating comic retailer landscape… and the pod evolves (or devolves), eventually, into a cutting disquisition on responsible and affecting film scoring.
Episode download: TWB068.mp3
EDDIE DEANGELINI
Twitter: @DeangeliniEddie
Instagram: @collectorscomic
Website: https://collectorscomic.comLINK TO THE COLLECTORS KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN: collectorsonkickstarter.com
Release Date: June 1, 2022
Run Time: 1:16:46Shelly Bond
Episode Number: 67David and Rylend chat with Hall of Fame editor Shelly Bond about her past at Vertigo and Black Crown and her present running revolutionary Kickstarter campaigns and teaching classes to inspire the next wave of great comic creators… and the broadcast is interrupted briefly when the kindly Armenian Grandmother living next door to David brings over some freshly baked nazook.
Episode download: TWB067.mp3
SHELLY BOND
Twitter: @sxbond
Instagram: @sxbondimprimatur
Website: offregister.pressRelease Date: May 25, 2022
Run Time: 1:29:01Don Walker
Episode Number: 66David and Rylend do a process deep dive with comic creator Don Walker (AGENT WILD and REAPER CORPS)… and then they get matching, wildly-inappropriate tattoos to celebrate the podcast’s Communicator Awards victory.
Episode download: TWB066.mp3
DON WALKER
Instagram: @don_spaceknight
Website: https://dorkempireink.bigcartel.comRelease Date: May 18, 2022
Run Time: 1:14:16