Recording live from Koenji, Japan, Dave sits down with Shawn — better known as Japan Book Hunter — for a deep dive into Japan’s unique underground book culture, rare book collecting, and the obsession that drives collectors down endless rabbit holes.
From underground bookstores to forgotten print runs, this conversation explores what makes Japanese books so special — and so hard to find.They discuss a shared love of AKIRA and Hayao Miyazaki, and the endless rabbit holes of collecting and the influence of Japanese visual culture on collectors worldwide.
If you’re interested in rare books, Japanese art, anime history, or the psychology of collecting, this episode is packed with stories and hard-earned wisdom.Check out JPH on Youtube and visit his website to snag something for yourself www.japanbookhunter.com
2025 was a banner year for media. In this episode, Dave breaks down his favorite TV, music, movies, and comics of the past 12 months—what swam, what sank, and which movie somehow managed to make him feel stupider. From Sinners to Hayley Williams and Absolute Batman, this episode serves as the best of the best, in Dave's eyes.Big thanks to Phil for the awesome edit on this!
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Matteo Scalera (Black Science, Nemesis Forever) joins Dave to discuss the upcoming release of his new Kickstarter-backed project, The Fourth Father.
They discuss storytelling and Scalera’s creative process, and fandom within the Inkpulp Podcast universe. They explore the surge of Italian comic creators, Tim Sale's last Batman book, the narrative mastery of Breaking Bad and Watchmen, and the “Nolan Effect,” along with the challenges of balancing business, family, and art while self-promoting and running and independent business.
Scalera dives into his love for animation and explains why seagulls are the unsung heroes of great art. The podcast closes with a rendition of something that all Inkpulp fans may be dangerously familiar with.
PRE-SAVE The Kickstarter - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/inkpulp/the-fourth-father-graphic-novel-by-matteo-scalera
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Comic legend Geof Darrow joins Dave for the Season 5 premiere ahead of the release of Shaolin Cowboy The Beginning of the End Results: 21 Years Of Blood, Sweat & Chainsaws.
Uncle Geof reflects on working alongside Jack Kirby and Frank Miller, developing concept art for The Matrix, and introducing Moebius to the work of Katsuhiro Otomo. They talk film, Martial arts, gore, and fantasy; consider the influence of Dark Horse Comics; shudder at the brutal workload of a mangaka; and reveal why George Lucas might be the ultimate fanboy.
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Comic icon Marc Silvestri joins Dave for a wide-ranging conversation about the pivotal creative moments that shaped his career.
From his earliest science fiction influences and the work of legends like Jack Kirby, Bernie Wrightson, Frank Frazetta, and Norman Rockwell, to collaborations with Larry Hama and Chris Claremont.
Silvestri discusses his enduring impact on the X-Men & Wolverine , his role in mainstreaming creator ownership through founding Image Comics and Top Cow Productions, mentoring Michael Turner, creating Witchblade and the epic upcoming relaunch of The Darkness.
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Dave reflects on 80 episodes of Direct Edition and shares the lessons, tools and methods that he’s picked up along the way. He looks ahead to Japan, reveals the season finale guest and the season 5 premiere guest and shares a healthy dose of gratitude.
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Jim Woodring (Creator Of Frank) joins Dave to discuss the creative process behind his award winning surrealist comic art and unique personal vision.
Jim recalls his early connection to MAD Magazine and Harvey Kurtzman’s grotesque, lyrical style. He reflects on the work of R. Crumb, and the defining influence of Salvador Dalí. They discuss Jim’s time working with Gil Kane and Jack Kirby at Ruby-Spears, the mastery of Dave Stevens, and the origin of Jim’s long standing relationship with Gary Groth and Fantagraphics.
https://www.jimwoodring.com/
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Artist, writer, and fan Kelley Jones (Batman, Dracula, Deadman, Sandman, Swamp Thing) joins the podcast. Kelley details his time working on the Batman Knightfall Covers in the 90's, culminating in the breaking of Batman, pushing the limits at DC Comics.
He discusses DRACULA, his partnership with Matt Wagner, and how he made a monster out of Bane in the 90's. Kelley talks about early horror cinema’s influence on his gothic storytelling, the impact of Bernie Wrightson, Graham Ingels, and Wally Wood, his friendship with Sam Kieth, and the details of his substantial back catalog of original art.
Back the Dracula III kickstarter today: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/draculatheimpaler/dracula-book-3?ref=user_menu
Jim Mahfood returns to discuss Defective Comics Presents : Arachnid Enforcer, his newest self-published, Kickstarter-backed bootleg Spider-Man comic.
Jim and Dave drink spider-blood and swap stories about their earliest parody influences—MAD Magazine, SNL, and “Weird Al” Yankovic—favorite Spider-Man eras, Jim’s character-design work on Into the Spider-Verse, and the perpetual thrill of seeing your work in print.
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Tyler Mane joins Dave to talk about his pro wrestling career, becoming Sabertooth (X-Men & Deadpool / Wolverine) & Michael Myers (Halloween) and co-creating his first graphic novel The Last Spartan: Red Tape. Tyler shares stories from his earliest days training with Stu Hart, finding inspiration in comic books, wrestling Andre the Giant in Japan, working with Rob Zombie, getting stabbed on set, and the motivation behind his most recent project that shines a light on the horror of human trafficking.
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Pick up The Last Spartan here - https://tylermane.com/the-last-spartan
www.maneentertainment.com
All Tyler's Links : linktr.ee/tylermane
Comic legend Erik Larsen is back to discuss his return to Marvel, writing the new Spider-Man Noir miniseries and creating a Jack Kirby–inspired variant cover for Venom: Black, White & Blood, in which he writes and draws a short story.
He talks about working with the classic “Marvel method” and the noir touchstones—Bogart, The Thin Man, Citizen Kane—that shaped his approach. Larsen also shares what’s ahead for Savage Dragon, recounts meeting Steve Ditko, sets the record straight on Mark Bagley, and reveals where the best burritos in San Francisco are, really.
Spider-Man Noir is in stores October 1st, you can also find Erik at NYCC and Fan Expo San Francisco.
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Dave shares his theory about the Stranger Things-ification of modern horror and the shadow it casts on classics like Gremlins, Ghosbusters and Poltergeist. He gives his spoiler free review of Alien: Earth, and explains why Noah Hawley (Fargo, Leigion) is the perfect fit for the franchise. Plus, Dave breaks down surprising new albums by Hayley Williams, Deftones and The World Is A Beautiful Place (TWIABP).
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Drummer, producer and founder of Good Land Records Jon Phillip joins Dave for a heartfelt conversation about music, fandom, baseball, addiction, recovery, sobriety and friendship.
The two talk influences, Guns N’Roses, Paul Westerberg, the Replacements, Metallica’s indelible legacy and Jon’s time drumming with Limbeck, The Benjamins, Tommy Stinson, Trapper Schoepp, Berwanger, Mini Meltdowns, and The Obsoletes.
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Breaking Down Addiction Podcast on youtube
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Apple - Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-down-addiction/id1830338394
Jonny Phillip Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/14erAdBwlF82IEjCQVXlzd?si=GOxpZRQEQmyYR7nNKQiVzg&pi=dzmywrQ9QPqF-
Fresh off the release of Batman 1 , Eisner Award–winning writer Matt Fraction (Iron Man, Hawkeye, Fantastic Four, Godzilla, Sex Criminals) joins Dave to discuss launching a bold new era for the Dark Knight alongside veteran Batman artist Jorge Jimenez.
The conversation covers Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, DC Comics’ creative renaissance, strategies for maintaining mental health, and diving back into the world of comic conventions. Plus: what piece of unreleased Todd McFarlane artwork once made Jim Lee snap? Matt shares the story from San Diego Comic Con
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Titans of industry David Finch (Batman, New Avengers) and Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead) join Dave to discuss their long-awaited new project, Skinbreaker.
Eight years in the making, the comic reflects their shared creative impulses, dynamic world-building, and love of character design, with invaluable contributions from colorist Annalisa Leoni. They reflect on sources of inspiration, the power of simplicity in storytelling, and details behind the book’s deluxe newsprint treasury edition.
Dave shares with Robert why he threw Walking Dead across the room, plus, Metallica!
Skinbreaker is out September 24 at comic stores everywhere!
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Felipe Smith continues his reflections on working in Japan as a foreigner in the manga industry, discussing the politics of publishing and the cultural rules of depicting violence
. He shares stories of meeting his hero Simon Bisley, lessons learned from Todd McFarlane, and the creative growth that came from collaborating with Tradd Moore On Robbie Reyes All New Ghost Rider.
Felipe also talks about founding the Cringe Musume podcast and his friendship with DJ 5DucK, working analog vs. digital, traveling abroad, and hints at upcoming projects.
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Writer and artist Felipe Smith joins Dave for an in-depth, two-part conversation exploring his career and acclaimed work on MBQ, Peepo Choo, TMNT, and All-New Ghost Rider. They dive into Felipe’s early inspirations growing up in Argentina, including Simon Bisley and Frank Frazetta. Felipe talks his groundbreaking achievement as the first Western artist to create a serialized manga in Japan, the intense demands of life as a mangaka, and the contrasts between U.S. and Japanese comic industries.
Subscribe to Cringe Musume https://www.youtube.com/@cringemusume
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Artist and illustrator Jonathan Wayshak joins Dave to talk about his upcoming Cul-de-sac comic book with Bad Idea, his recent work for Heavy Metal, and signing at the Todd McFarlane Spawn booth at SDCC.
Wayshak reveals the materials and methods behind his creative process, explains why a strong script in comics makes all the difference. Plus: vampires, David Lynch, and Billy Joel!
Way$hak on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/wayshak/?hl=en
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Big Thanks to my producer Daniel Koren, find him here https://www.instagram.com/chibald_smith/
Daniel Warren Johnson, Greatness is Par for the CourseEisner Award-winning comic book artist and writer Daniel Warren Johnson returns to discuss the making of The Art of Daniel Warren Johnson, his new, Kickstarter-funded, career-spanning monograph. He talks to Dave about his latest projects - Absolute Batman Annual, his creator owned Sci-Fi project, and covers for Deadpool and the DC KO Tournament - and the two discuss gratitude, tools of the trade, and DWJ’s latest obsession, golf.Back the kickstarter here : http://kck.st/4o7tBXNSubscribe to Dan's YouTube channel : https://www.youtube.com/@DanielWarrenJohnson1Wolverine Cover Episode DDubs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHNwzkHlCyk
Stand Up! Records founder and Grammy-winning producer Dan Schlissel joins Dave for a wide-ranging conversation about comedy, music, and maintaining integrity. They discuss Dan’s family roots, his early fascination with American junk culture, Chick Tracts, punk record label (ISIM & ISIMIST), and the formative impact of seeing George Carlin at 17.
Dan shares how he helped launch Slipknot’s career, his collaborations with Lewis Black, Mitch Hedberg, and Sam Miller, and why he believes that anything worthwhile always begins as a joke.
https://standuprecords.com/
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