Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Welcome back to the Capes and Tights podcast right here on Capesandtights.com, i'm your host, Justin Soderbergh. This episode is once again brought to you by our friends over at Galactic Comics and Collectibles. At galactic comics and collectibles.com we welcome back writer Eisner, nominated writer, and Ringo, nominated writer Joey Esposito, who's also from Maine or lives in Maine, resides in Maine here with us here at the Capes and Tights podcast. But we're talking his work on the upcoming books Killer Influences and and Power Rangers Unlimited. Those two books dropped July 1, but FOC is May 25. So we're talking a little early here to get you guys out there to take a look at those comics. But Joey's been known for things like the Pedestrian Pawnshop, Batman, Urban Legends, Sepsis History, and DC versus Vampires, World War V.
But the biggest thing is Killer, Killer Influences coming out and Power Rangers Unlimited. So check those out. But before you do, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Blue sky, all those places you can rate, review, subscribe over on Apple, Spotify, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts. And as always, you can visit capes and tights.com for so much more. This is Joey Esposito, Eisner nominated writer, discussing Killer Influences and Power Rangers Unlimited coming to you this July. Enjoy, everyone.
Welcome back to the podcast. Joey, how are you today?
[00:01:22] Speaker B: I'm good, man. How are you? We were just, we were just talking about the lovely weather here in Maine. So feeling good.
[00:01:27] Speaker A: It's nice because, like, you know. Yes. You know, there's not like a, an abundance of comic creators that live in Maine. So it's like, when I talk to people, it's always like, they're like in sunny California. Like, I don't know what you're talking about. It's snowing there. I'm like, yep, it's snowing here. But no, we're finally able to, like, you know, talk about good weather in Maine. It seemed like we got hints of it here and there throughout, like, March, April, but, like, I feel like it's at least somewhat here now. And I'm happy for that. Waiting for the trees to start budding a little bit more. And some of them are. But I would like to see a little bit more green outside this. I did say to someone the other day is like, March is like the worst month to have someone visit Maine. Like, if someone's never been to Maine and you're like, what's it like there do not come in March. It's like ugly and like, not. Yeah, it's just there's dirt everywhere and they haven't swept the streets yet or. No, but April and May are looking to be good and we're excited. And you got a busy summer bummer with comics and stuff like that. I mean, I feel like you also have two comics coming out on the same day, which is awesome for me, to be honest. It makes it easier for you. But I'm like, someone goes, is that planned? I'm like, no, it's two different publishers. I don't think they talk to each other and we're like, hey, let's come up in the same day. But, but last time you were on, you were on with Sean and talking with a pedestrian, which obviously I emailed you and talked to you, but congratulations on being Iser nominated. That's awesome. How's it been like to be an Iser nominated creator any different?
[00:02:51] Speaker B: It feels, feels great.
The only difference is that it gave me some confidence, I think, to believe that our crazy ideas are worth fighting for.
But yeah, that whole experience was awesome.
It's great getting more attention on the book.
It was such a long term struggle to get it out. So having that sort of response was very rewarding, for sure.
[00:03:19] Speaker A: Yeah, it's. What's nice about it too is that you have it now and people can tell you that, like, hey, Eisen nominated writer.
It would be nice to get multiple Eisenhower nominated writer. But like, now you have that, so now you can use that forever. It's like the same bestseller. It's like it's always there. It's never going to go away. No.
That's really cool though. I think it's an awesome thing. I think it's just. There's not. There is still only a few people that can say they've been nicer. This is not like a everybody gets it. So that's a pretty cool thing. And for a book like pedestrian, it's really cool because again, I think when we talked last or when you were pitching the book and promoting the book, I was like talking to people. I'm like, I don't know what the hell I just read. But like, in the such a good way, like in a good way, like, it was like, it was so much that I wanted people like, you know, you need to experience this. I can't tell you about it. You need to experience this. And, and to get an Eisner nomination for that is pretty, pretty badass. And And a win's cool, but like, you know, an ISER nomination is good enough.
[00:04:12] Speaker B: An honor just to be invited.
[00:04:14] Speaker A: Yes, exactly.
Literally a seat at the table.
But yeah, so it's pretty cool to have that. I mean, I know. Who is it? Kyle Starks has told me that he's a six time Israel losing cover creator. I was like, put it that way. You can put it that way if you want.
[00:04:30] Speaker B: But funny like after the, after the ceremony, you know, everyone's like happy ball. So like, you know, of course bummed if, if you don't win.
And I was talking with one of the other nominees and we were just like, you know what, just do better next year. Just try harder, you know, what else can you do?
[00:04:50] Speaker A: Yeah, just do better. Exactly. No, and also like, I guess it probably takes someone like not the pressure away but like if you can, if you can write a story that gets that far, it's not that hard of a hump potentially to, to, to try to do it again. Like not saying like it's like you've done that now. It's like now maybe some more eyes are on you. Maybe some stories that you have percolating can get created now because that is attached to it. So like maybe they're like, well, you know, Joey's been eyes are nominated. So maybe there's some, some leeway. They are not some leeway, but some like Runway for you to do that. So like you still have to create the story that gets that eyes to be seen.
But now it's like you've made that hump and hopefully the next thing can push you further into it. But it's also not the only thing, right? Creating good comics is the real, like it's only real.
[00:05:35] Speaker B: That's the only goal. Everything else is out of our control. We just do what we think is cool and fun and hopefully people like it. And if that means, you know, nominations and awards and stuff, that's, that's awesome. But really doing the work is the main thing and I think that's, that's not going to change anytime soon. So.
[00:05:56] Speaker A: Well, we talked, I did a expo, a convention this weekend as the panel host and moderator and we talked to some of the creators of some of the, or some of the voices of the anime shows and they were talking about how like there's some people who are like, there's like a fight between which one's better, the Japanese voices versus the American or you know, English voices and stuff like that. And they're all like, we shouldn't. It's a great creation in the first place. We should do what we can to get more people to watch it. So let's bring it to them and put it in front of their eyes. And I've talked to so many creators who are like, no, the big goal is here is to take a stories that I believe are great and have people read them. It doesn't matter whether or not the most successful thing in the world. Obviously you want to get paid, but like, the successful things that were. But I want people to like it. Like, I want this to something. I want someone to enjoy the experience. And that kind of felt like what pedestrian was. Like, it was a long road to get it where it was. And it seems like you were just happy that people liked it.
[00:06:50] Speaker B: Yeah, you know, I mean, the goal is like, there's so much work that goes into, whether it's, you know, a monthly DC comic or an indie project that takes 10 years to come out. Like, there's so much work that goes into it regardless by so many people that ultimately the goal is just to finish and have it out there and have it be a thing that is tangible in the world that didn't exist before.
And that's really just like all we can. That's all we can do and focus on. And everything else is sort of up to the gods, you know?
[00:07:23] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, exactly.
You took a long time to put pedestrian. Now, I mean, is something like Killer Influences IDW Crimes imprint? Is that something that's also been percolating? Is that a story that was approached. How did that really come about in the first place?
[00:07:37] Speaker B: Sure. So Killer Influences was an IDW property that they brought to me.
The. The premise that they brought me was essentially a serial killer teams up with a true crime influencer to build the brand.
And then so I got to take that and run with it and develop it, develop the characters and the plot and the tone and all that sort of stuff. So this one was not percolating for that long. Although, you know, you could argue that my just interest in true crime and serial killers and that psychology and all that sort of stuff was. Has always been, like, bubbling under the surface. And so this was like a great opportunity to use those.
That knowledge that I'm reading. In fact, when Dave Wilgas, who is the editor that brought this to me, I was in the middle of reading.
It's.
I hesitate to call it a memoir, but it's by this investigator named Paul Holes, who is, like, he's mentioned in I'll Be Gone in the dark by Michelle McNamara as like one of the these cold case sort of innovators that really stuck on the Golden State Killer case.
But he's, you know, I think he's a little self aggrandizing in, in his book. But it was a good, it was an enjoyable read, but not one of the best. But anyway, I was like reading that as this was brought to me and like immediately just was able to kind of walk into this premise and just get ideas rolling. So it wasn't something that came originally from me, but I, I do feel like I was able to put my spin on it for sure.
[00:09:22] Speaker A: Obviously there's pressure that goes into writing any new story, but like you're the second comic to come out under the IDW crime imprint. You had seven wives that come out just before you and then you have this coming out as well. Do you feel any prayer? Like, it's like a lot of eyes are on this. And I would say that like we're talking here at the end of April. This episode will come out in May and it's like it's early, like July. We don't usually. I usually talk to people before the comic comes out. Like typically, if this is a normal situation, I might talk to you in June, a couple weeks before or whatever. And it's like the promotion and publicity is. Publicity is getting like rising up and ramping up. But like with it being the IDW crime imprint, I'm sure those over at IDW are trying to push it as much as they can to get the big eyes on it. So we're talking a little early to try to get people to know. Go to your local comic book store and pick this up before or tell them you want it before FOC hits. But do you feel like there's a lot of eyes on you now because of this? Or is it, is there any pressure in that? Or is it any different? You just read whatever best story you can.
[00:10:21] Speaker B: Yeah, I think I've managed a way to remove myself from feeling any of that. Of course I take the responsibility seriously. I know that they're investing as a publisher, they're investing in this line and it's my job to make sure that it is successful.
But at the end of the day, the main important task is to do the best work that I can and let everyone else deal with the other stuff.
And that being, and also being confident in like my relationship with Dave the editor, but also the rest of the team at IDW that if something wasn't what they were hoping for, I would assume that they would bring it to me and let me know, you know, and, like, I think that that's within their purview, and that hasn't happened. Everyone is very excited about this book. So I. To me, that is enough for me to feel like I've done the job well. Hopefully it sells well. Hopefully readers like it, but that's like, kind of all that's in my control is to do the best that. That I can and deliver something that they're happy with.
[00:11:31] Speaker A: And beyond that, yeah, it's a cool concept. I mean, the idea of, like, basically the serial killer in. In a journalist trying to further their names in a sense that there's. There's this way to work together.
It seems so, like, how twisted your mind has to be as a journalist to be like, I'm gonna let this person kill people to kind of, like, further my name.
[00:11:53] Speaker B: Yeah, exactly. That's kind of the whole core of this is, you know, so, like, as a day job, I work in fact checking, so I'm. I'm in the news daily.
I read a lot of reporting. Some of it is great, some of it is not so great.
And part of this idea was using the wannabe true crime influencer, of which there are thousands, probably.
And these are people who fancy themselves like Internet sleuths or citizen journalists, but. And some of them very talented, very, very good, like, have the ethics for such a thing. And some of them just want to speculate on motives and lore or, you know, pour over grisly crime scene photos and just sort of the more exploitative version of crime reporting is just kind of.
Kind of like digging around in the muck rather than focusing on the victims or, like, unpacking what it means that this is a crime against a human being rather than like a slasher movie, you know.
And so I think that's what we're really taking aim at on killer influences.
Someone who, like our main character, Kylie, you know, she's very smart, she's capable of being a true journalist and reporter, you know, but just is taking these shortcuts to get the clicks and, you know, coupled with her private life, I think brings her to this point of view. Pitching this idea to the serial killer, which is obviously, like, completely insane, but hopefully, within the world of the book and Kali's life, you're kind of like, I get it. I understand why she, you know, and, like, whether or not she's correct in doing so is up to the reader.
But I. I hope that at least you can understand the position that she's coming from.
[00:14:03] Speaker A: You're taking these things that are really not obviously hot right now, but this true crime obsession that people have and influencing. And I think what I've seen a lot of is like the. The both of those on their own are seeing very much themes in prose novels and comics. There's like this. This, like, horror. Like the horrifying side of influencing is like, coming out in these horror. I mean, you know, there's a book coming out by Sarah Toka Schaefer called the Last Time I We Drowned, and it's about influencing and some bad things that happen in that.
And they wrote a book called Serial Serial Killer Support Group last year, came out or a year or two ago. And that's about serial killers who all get together and like, have this little support group that again, taking this, like, thing where you're like, this can't be a real thing, and, like, talk to them. I'm like, maybe this is a real thing. We don't know. Maybe there is a real serial killer support group. But no, there's this thing and then Kyle Stark said those not afraid last year, where the serial killers are working together. And so it's like these cool ways of taking these tropes and these stories and these plots and turning them on their heads or mashing them together.
And that's what got me peaked interest in the first place, because I get emails saying seven Wives is coming and killer influence is coming and so on and so forth. And it wasn't until after I read the synopsis and kind of like was like, oh, this looks like a cool idea that I see, even see your name on it, which is. Which is kind of cool, you know, in that. In that sense of things. So. So I really want to myself, I go, this better be good because I have to talk to Joey in real life. And I don't know if this is not good, then I know. No, it's that. It's that small fear.
[00:15:36] Speaker B: You didn't lie to me.
[00:15:37] Speaker A: No, it's that small fear that, like, you know, I want to do. I want to promote good comics is. That's my whole thing on this, on this podcast and on the website. I want to take and tell you about good comics. I tend to read some comics here and there that you might not see me review because I'd rather not promote it in general, then put it out as a negative. I just don't want to write too negative of a review. I'll write some constructive criticism or some critiques to things Obviously, I think you're
[00:16:03] Speaker B: just describing being fair.
[00:16:05] Speaker A: Yeah, it's just one of those things. I'd rather just not talk about it than talk about it negatively. And so I'm like, ah, I guess I'll just avoid it if it's not that good. And then I read it. I was like. I was blown away. I was like, this is so much fun. I think Valerie's artwork is phenomenal, and it fits the style of the story and is great.
Were you partnered paired with Valerie from idw, or is this. Did you have any choice in that? Or are you just like, hey, you got to work with Valerie?
[00:16:28] Speaker B: It was a nice little coincidence because.
So Valeria Berto is the artist on this book. And, you know, I've followed her work for a long time, and I had actually just commissioned her for a pinup for an independent project that I was working on just because I liked her work. And then it was like, within two weeks, as Killer influenza is getting up to speed, that Dave mentioned that Valeria was going to be doing it. And I was like, okay, this meant to be. It worked out.
And, yeah, I think her work is perfect for this because she's so good at emotion and body language and, like, the quote, unquote acting of the characters that a story like this requires some nuance and maybe not subtlety, but, you know, a difference between, like, a knowing smirk and, like, an evil smirk.
World of difference. And Valeria can do it. You know what I mean?
So working with her really made it more comfortable for me to be able to rely on her to, like, sell those sort of more nuanced moments, particularly in the later issues.
[00:17:44] Speaker A: It's really just because you didn't want to work with Sean Von Garman anymore.
[00:17:47] Speaker B: Right.
[00:17:47] Speaker A: It's just.
You could stand that guy. Exactly. It was kind of funny. I actually talked to someone recently, and they paired up with an artist that normally is with someone else, Tate Brombel and Jacob Phillips. And Tate was like, I never thought I'd ever get Jacob because I thought Chris Condon just had him, like, in a basement cellar somewhere, that you couldn't do anything else but work on his comics. And so it's nice to see, but I also like to see. I love to see pairs coming together. Like, I'd love to see Sean doing this as well. But, like, it's also nice to see a book like this that's a different artist as well. So, like, it's that. That how you guys work together is kind of like how a comic book gets shaped And. And this seems like the pairing between you and Valeria is perfect, honestly.
[00:18:24] Speaker B: Yeah, for sure. You know, every. Every artist is very different, and your relationships with them are different. You know, Sean, I've known well for a long time, so it's very different than working with Valeria for the first time. But it's also fun to kind of find the ways in which you intersect in a strong way and, like, kind of capitalize on that.
So, yeah, it's always a blast sort of figuring out a new artist that you're working with and what they.
What they. What they enjoy and what they're maybe annoyed by.
You know, it's. It's part of the fun of making comics, I think. Yeah.
[00:19:01] Speaker A: And I think just different points of views too. Like, just. It's nice to have that other point of view from someone else. Like, you know, Sean might not approach you with something because he knows that you're not a fan of X, Y and Z or whatever. Like, at least now these people will have this, like, fresh slate to work on, which is kind of cool. And I think you have killer influences. I'll talk about Power Rangers here in a second. We just had. You did Power Rangers Sword Quest, obviously within the last 12 months.
[00:19:24] Speaker B: And.
[00:19:25] Speaker A: But you've also done DC versus vampires. You've done Sesame Street. You've done the pedestrian. What's different about Killer influences outside of it? It's a crime story. It's kind of like, to me, I'm like, it's IDW crime. But, like, as I'm reading it and thinking, I have only read issue one so far, but I'm like, it kind of also borderlines on, like, IDW horror. Like, it could actually be like, a crime horror in my opinion. But I understand why it's classified as a crime story, obviously. But what's the difference between, like, working on something like Killer Influences versus the pedestrian or, say, Batman or DC versus Vampires?
[00:19:57] Speaker B: I think this one's interesting because it's.
While it's an ip, you know, it's an IP that didn't exist before I was involved with it. So it's something that I'm helping to shape versus working on Batman. Like, Batman is Batman, and that's awesome, but it's your sort of, like, opportunity to really mold it into something that's. Yours is limited.
But also, I deliberately challenged myself on Killer Influences to make it as different as possible from the pedestrian. Even so far as just, I mean, obviously, like, tonally, content wise, it's night and day, but even in, like, Structure or not using internal monologue, for example, like there, there is none in Killer Influences. You only get sort of, you know, the videos in the world or their text messages and their conversation.
And just because Pedestrian leans on that pretty heavily in terms of the narrative and all the different characters and their experiences. So that was something that I challenged myself with because instinctively I lean towards character narration because that's the sort of stuff I enjoy the most.
So, you know, it was.
It was harder to get points across without a character being able to like, describe it or explain it to you.
But ultimately I think it makes the book a little bit more chilling or more suspenseful by not being totally inside everyone's head.
Because these are unpredictable people and I want that unpredictability to be relayed into the reader.
[00:21:47] Speaker A: Did you get a chance to read. Did they like give you Seven Wives at all before? Or is this like you came in blind to the crime imprint in general when you started writing this or along the way? Have you read Seven?
[00:21:57] Speaker B: I have now.
When we started, it was sort of like, you know, in the early meetings I had asked like what the other books were and they gave me sort of the basics, but it wasn't until they were complete that I got to check them out. And I think what's cool about IDW Crime is all these books are very different, but all like within the crime genre, which is something I love about crime in general, is that it's pretty malleable.
Like you can put it with other genres and it kind of always works and it's always different, you know, which is cool.
[00:22:29] Speaker A: I like this, you know. So I was. It's funny, I was telling Greg Katzman PR over at idw, I was telling him that we talked end of the year and I was like, it's funny how you remember certain things in certain places. And my son actually was in the hospital with an illness when I found out about idw. He's fine, but IDW Dark. Like I was sitting there like he's sleeping and I'm just in the hospital. He's just staying overnight. So I'm just sitting there on my laptop doing some work and I get the email saying, IDW Dark's coming in. You know, And I got super pumped and I was like, this is really cool because IDW is some of these IP stuff as well as this creator owned stuff, like Beneath the Trees and all that stuff. I was like, I love the idea they have like a title for it or like a theme to it. Like we're not Just gonna get random. We're gonna get a fantasy one or whatever. It's all gonna be horror. And then I was like, that's really cool. And I never expected in my, you know, anything that there'd be a next step to that and have it be, like, another themed imprint. And then I would. When they sent it, I was like, this is cool. Like, I really love the idea that we're going to get some books that all have the same, like, overarching theme of crime.
And I just. What's going to be next is really, really cool. But, like, to me, Seven Wives and Killer influences set that foundation like. Like, perfectly in my mind. Like, it's just like you get different stories that all revolve around crime, but it's like, okay, you get a little sense of everything in this. And I think that's what's really cool about it. And then taking some pretty touchy. I mean, people are touchy about influencing nowadays. People are, you know, touchy about true crime. There's. Some people are like, we have too much true crime stuff out there, and people are sick if they pay attention to it. And so taking those and like, having this and obviously cult, table or religion as part of Seven Wives is. Is also touchy. And so it's, like, really cool. Not only do you get crime, but we get some things that are also going to push some people's buttons, I think, in this. In this first couple comics. And I feel like Killer Influence is one of those ones that's, like, going to hit so many people. There should be like.
It's like, if you're not into some. Some brutal, like, killing. I guess if you're not into any sort of killing, you're not going to like this. But I feel like there's a lot of other people who touch on different things that this fits for their. For their category of what they read. I don't know if you.
[00:24:39] Speaker B: I mean, I think I. So, I mean, there's like, gore and stuff in this book. Of course it's a serial killer, but I also wanted to not focus on that and at least in terms of using it as, like, titillating the reader. You know what I mean? Like, this is.
We want to show how they're exploiting these tragedies in. In a very, like, unsettling and sick way.
You know, this is. It's very satirical. It's.
You know, we actually don't show a lot of the actual content that they're creating. It's more focused on the actual lives of of Kylie and the people around her and how her activities are impacting her small community.
So, yeah, it's just.
I didn't want it to be violent for violence sake. I wanted it to have a purpose and show why violence for violence sake is, like, kind of gross, you know, And I think part of the interesting thing, like you mentioned, there's so much of this out there, and we kind of talk about this a little bit in the book, but there's just so much out there that the stakes sort of have to keep getting raised in terms of, like, the details that you're getting and, like, the things that you're talking about.
You know, like, you really have to.
It has to be pretty grim to cut through the horror show of, like, reality. You know what I mean? Like, everything's pretty bad most of the time these days, and we hear about it constantly. So what is something that is going to, like, get clicks or whatever, make thumbnail impressions, like, above all the miseries of the world, it's going to take a lot. And so that's sort of where Kylie and Melvin come in with their sick plan.
[00:26:30] Speaker A: Well, it's funny. So this takes a lot. I've watched one video this morning of this guy going to Walmart weighing prepackaged things that say they're supposed to be 3 pounds, and he's like, it's 2.7 and 2.8. And I'm like, this is the influence we got now. Like, these people are like. And then because they watched that video, now I'm getting like, oh, yeah, bombarded with people. And I'm like, oh, my God. Then I thought to myself, okay, everything comes at about 2.7 or 2.8 when it's supposed to be £3 and they're all up in arms. It's not £3. I'm like, yeah, but you're still getting the same weight of it. Like, it's okay, cool, put 2.8 on the packaging. To me, I'm like, it doesn't. Like you're still paying the. It's not like you're paying more. And like, half of them are three pounds and half of them are two pounds. I'm like, you're still getting what you paid for in a sense. Like, so I was always like, just like, oh, my God, the people. Just like, trying to get people started. And they're all like, class action lawsuit against Walmart or whatever. And I'm just like, dude, like, this is what you have to focus. So much shit is going on in the world right now, and this is what you're focused on. Cool.
[00:27:27] Speaker B: But is it like, are they focused on that? Because there's so much going on in the world that like, some have just gone in like an opposite direction of just like, okay, whatever, I'm mad about these weights of these boxes.
But it's also like, I think influencer culture or in true crime stuff specifically speaks to the larger misinformation problem that exists on the Internet specifically. You know, AI content, all that stuff. Like, it's not just true crime stories. It's not just going to Walmart weighing packages. Like, there's stuff about everything that's incorrect everywhere, you know, and if you speak authoritatively about something on the Internet, someone is going to believe you.
And some of those people are complete idiots and dangerous morons. And that's hard.
So, you know, I think it's not just limited to here's a. Here's a way, like a true crime influencer could manipulate the believability of victims and all that stuff, but here's a way, you know, the finance bros can do it and etc. And so on. And it's just, it's created this atmosphere of just.
I mean, ultimately it's in shittification, I suppose, just getting constant text messages about campaign donations and. Or, you know, your algorithm getting all messed up because someone sends you a video that you accidentally watched and you didn't mean to. It's a nightmare.
[00:29:03] Speaker A: And I feel like the ones that you don't want are the ones that end up like. Like someone sends you, they go watch one video about, I don't know, whatever, and then you get all those videos, but you watch a million cat videos and you don't get. The algorithm doesn't tell you about cat videos. I'm like, what is going on? Right?
But it's true. But influencing. I felt like five, six, maybe seven, whatever number of years ago, used to read something on Facebook or Instagram or whatever and you could most likely say that that's probably at least basically true. It's like the last five or six years, I just feel like every time I see something on Facebook, I always. And I go, holy crap. I find myself switching apps to Safari. Typing it in and saying is like basically saying, da, da, da, da. You know, is Joey gonna write absolute green arrow? And then I look up online and it's like, nothing about it. I'm like, well, that's not real. Obviously someone just created an image and said that, well, Matthew Rosenberg. Talk about green Arrow. Matthew Rosenberg just posted that saying, I did not decline absolute Green Arrow. I was never asked. I'm not that stupid to decline absolute Green Arrow.
[00:30:07] Speaker B: I made up rumor that one.
[00:30:08] Speaker A: Yes. It was, like, going around, he's like, oh, Matthew Rosenberg decided to spawn stuff instead of absolutely absolute green Arrow. He's like, yeah, I'm not that dumb. Like, if someone offers you absolute green Arrow, you say, yes. I don't know what the hell. And he's like. And porn stacks doing. He's like, that's a great writer. Like, why would you even. Like, that's. That's like, why would you complain about that? But it's funny. I felt myself like needing to verify my own. The only information that's supposed to be out there. And this weekend, as we're talking this weekend, there was obviously, you know, some stuff that went on at the correspondence dinner. And there was a bunch of images that went on like that the. The person who did this worked security for, like, the Patriots and the Bruins and the, like, all these sports teams. And they just photoshopped or I AI'd his things. And someone, like, commented like, no, I saw him on another page somewhere else saying he worked somewhere else. And I'm like, why do people do that?
[00:30:54] Speaker B: Yeah, it's awful. The answer is because they can make money doing it. It's so bad, like, not to go back to day job stuff. But this.
A lot of stuff that I work on during the day is debunking, like, fake images or fake stories just posted on Facebook that always have a link in the comments to some page that links to, you know, like, a crappy web website with a bunch of ads on it. Like, all it is is. And most of those accounts not run in the United States. They're just like, farming accounts. And they just post AI slop because people will.
People are mad about everything. And all I have to do is just, like, get them worked up a little bit and they'll start clicking and they'll make some money. And, like, that's all it is. And it's really, really shitty.
[00:31:41] Speaker A: And if it is more local than just random people, I feel like there's a specific person who is online a lot. It might run this country that says whatever the hell he wants on the Internet, which then gives people the license as Americans to think that they can also do that and get away with it. Because, you know, if that guy could do it, then I could do it. And it just becomes this, you know, ever. It's become a lot more like, people aren't afraid of Putting wrong information out anymore. If it isn't, well, there's no consequences.
[00:32:06] Speaker B: No, it's not.
[00:32:07] Speaker A: You just do it and you delete the post or even. Not even delete it. People don't even delete it nowadays. They just leave it out there and still incorrect. And they've been proven wrong and they still are like, whatever, I don't care. I guess I'll go to shopping at the grocery store and whatever. But yeah, it's tough. And that's why I think that influence, Like I said, I've been reading more horror novels where there's, like, this influencing is a part of the story, but it's also almost as horrifying as the actual story that's being told. Like, it's. Pull the. Pull the actual, you know, fiction out of it and just talk about the influencing. You could have just written a story like that. I would have been like, this is horrifying and I don't need to know. Like, this is too scary. It's like, you know, there's. You take social issues nowadays and write a horror story that involves social issues. Like. Well, the social issues alone are horrifying. So forget the other part you added to it and add a serial killer to it or whatever.
[00:32:58] Speaker B: Describe what's going on.
[00:33:00] Speaker A: It's terrifying. It's like one of those things, like, we feel like we're living in a fiction story right now. But you told. You said that there isn't a lot of, like, gore, blood, guts. There is obviously some killing, obviously, because there's a serial killer in this. But your partner in crime and writing over at Power Rangers Unlimited also has a book coming out at IDW under IDW Dark called Operation Iron Confident. Did you get a chance to read that yet?
[00:33:23] Speaker B: Sure did. It fucking rips.
[00:33:24] Speaker A: Oh, my God. I just. My review comes out on Wednesday because they're trying to get FOC stuff too. And I was like. I was so pumped for, like, Beneath the Trees, obviously, and all the other IP stuff coming out Dark or a dark. IDW dark. And I was like, but this is the one, man. Like, this is the one that kills all of them. I'm like, this is phenomenal. And there's lots of blood and guts and killing and. And some of that. I mean, people's heads get punched off in this thing. And I'm like, this is amazing.
[00:33:49] Speaker B: Since you read it, you know, readers will soon discover. But that one panel, I texted it to Kenny after I read it, I was like, this rules.
[00:33:57] Speaker A: Yes, it's awesome.
[00:33:59] Speaker B: Everyone's like, everyone's gonna love this.
[00:34:01] Speaker A: Like, thinking of myself like, this is the one that isn't connected. I mean, Beneath the Trees already had a series when the IDW Dark came out. So right of Spring was part of IDW Dark, but the first series wasn't. So there was connection already there. But then Smile and event horizon, 30 days a night, those are all IP driven things. This is the first out of those that are like, creator driven, kind of like stories that have come out of it. And I was like, this is amazing. I mean, I've read Nazi stories and I've read Dracula and vampire stories, but like, to mash them together and kick some ass in there and have some other plot lines in there as well was just like. I was blown away. I was like, oh, my gosh. Like, this is amazing. So, yeah, so obviously Kenny Porter writing that, but he's also writing Unlimited with you, right? Is that correct?
[00:34:42] Speaker B: Yeah, Yep. Or co writing Power Rangers Unlimited, which comes out July 1, the same day as killer, includes is number one. Big day.
[00:34:49] Speaker A: Big day for you. I mean, that's great. I mean, you know, like, it's one of those things that you could easily remember the dates and it's.
I will say it's like people with, like, price conscious. They'll make. Let's get two comics I have to buy from Joey on the same day. Probably multiple covers and all that, but it's pretty cool. It's two opposite ends of the spectrum, really. You got killer, serial killer and all that stuff. I mean, you did Zord Quest before, so you have some history, obviously, writing in the Power Rangers universe. But, like, was that the reason why you have this gig now because of that? Or was it just you're a big fan of Power Rangers and they want to. They want to be on your team?
[00:35:21] Speaker B: Hopefully a little bit of both, I think. You know, having worked on Zorquest, it was a great experience and, you know, got to know the. The folks working behind the scenes on the Power Rangers stuff. I was not shy about letting them know that if there was more, I'm available and very interested and that. And ultimately that worked out. So when they.
They came to me with Unlimited and said, like, their basic, again, their premise was it's like Justice League Unlimited, but Power Rangers and everything. After that, Kenny and I developed from there.
So they paired us together knowing that we were both huge fans and I had never, you know, I have read his work, I know him online and stuff, but had never talked to him. And then we jumped on the phone and like, Instant friends and just started texting about Power Rangers constantly, all the time. And it's been a really organic collaboration that's been so much fun.
And Power Rangers Unlimited is just sort of like everything we had ever wanted to do in a Power Rangers story. Just like pushing it in new directions and characters that we love.
And every issue is a different genre with a different team, but there's still like an overarching story connecting it all.
We're really excited about it. Alessia Zano and Federico Cereza are doing alternating on art duties and both of them are just crushing.
It's just unbelievable. Looking like, I can't, I can't wait for people to see it. It's next level for sure.
[00:37:05] Speaker A: It's unlimited. No, it's definitely.
I was actually mentioning again this weekend, I was at a convention doing panel moderating and I talked to Johnny Young, who Black Ranger and stuff like that. And I said, it's crazy how it's still going like Power Rangers in general. Like, if you think if you watch back, if you haven't ever watched Power Rangers and you walk back to that original series, you're like, this became popular like, like nostalgic wise. I'm always like, yes, of course I'm gonna watch the old Power Rangers stuff. Are you kidding me? Like, I have, I have the movies on vhs. I have them on, you know, it's like one of those things that like, no, of course I'm gonna, gonna, gonna watch these, but I can understand like if my son were to watch them, who's five and watching this was like, this is cheesy as hell. I'm like, yes, it was. But to the point nowadays where I'm like, the comics are honestly kicking way more ass than any film or any take on it otherwise, I think it's like, I don't know, there's just so much more meaning to it. But I think it's because of people like you and Kenny. The people behind the scenes are passionate about these Rangers, not just, I got hired to do a gig. I don't want this gig. It's like there is this connectivity, which you probably have a similar passion behind Power Rangers as someone who's running Star wars or something like that. Like, it's like this nostalgic from childhood that has always stayed with me and I want to be able to write the best Power Rangers story that I could think of. And so that's probably why it's so good still these days.
[00:38:28] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, I think it can be tricky sometimes. When you're, like, a super fan of something that you get to write. Because I think sometimes there can be an inclination to just want to play with your favorite toys and, you know, that sort of thing. But I think with Power Rangers, there's just so much opportunity to expand the world or, like, the parameters of what exists in the world.
And that's always sort of what I've thought about with Power Rangers. Like, oh, wouldn't it be cool? Like, we always talk about how, like, our book is Power Rangers with no Budget.
You know, like, if. If the show existed and budget was not a concern, like, what. What kind of stuff could they do?
And not just big monster fights, but just, you know, having a heist mission that's, you know, like just that kind of stuff is really fun to think about. And so I think our deep knowledge of the franchise has helped, and I think it's also helped make this into a book that is unlike any other Rangers book that has existed before alongside, you know, the other new titles that they're launching.
I think there's something for every type of Power Rangers fan which is pretty exciting.
Yeah. And I'm just. I'm very excited for Unlimited to be out there because we put a lot of work into it and the art is incredible, and I think it's going to be surprising and in ways hopefully, readers aren't expecting.
[00:39:57] Speaker A: And I always say, I think something like this is. If you haven't attached yourself to a Power Rangers story in a long time, it's like these, these. These different ones, like, Power Rangers prime was great in that sense where you could, like, okay, I haven't watched this since the TV show, or I haven't read a comic book in years. Like, you can still come into these stories. And I feel like this kind of a story gives people the opportunity to kind of get a glimpse of everything. And I'm guessing it's not easier, but probably helped with the storytelling that there is all these different versions that you can know. This story works with this group, but not this group or whatever it may be like. So you had that, I say, freedom to do that, where it's like, if you're stuck with a certain four or five characters, maybe some stories don't work with those specific characters. Is that true?
[00:40:36] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, it's. What's nice about this is that we can formulate missions or stories that we're thinking about, like, which rangers from across 30 years would be best for this particular thing. Because as we know, Rangers have all different sorts of skills, whether it's, you know, as a civilian, they were a firefighter, or they're a tech genius, or they, like, can run as fast as the Flash, or, you know, they all have different powers and abilities and skill sets. So finding a way to combine them in different combinations for certain missions is kind of, like, central to what we wanted to do here.
And keeping that in mind also, like, personality conflicts, characters who have never met or interacted before, just really dumping all the toys out and making the coolest book that we can has been the goal. So it's definitely awesome to have access to every team and every Ranger ever. It's, you know, I think. I think we're able to, like, bring in some characters in surprising ways. That'll be fun.
[00:41:42] Speaker A: I'm guessing it's pretty fun now. Like I said, you wrote Zord Quest, but you've written for Batman Urban Legends now. You've now Sesame street, you have some of these iconic characters. And now, obviously, with Zord Quest and now this Power Rangers book, you're adding Power Rangers to your little repertoire of history of writing comics. I'm guessing the more work the better, but I'm guessing you're a pinch me moments at this moment in time where you've actually looked back at your career so far and now you have a pretty good character you've gotten to play with.
[00:42:11] Speaker B: Yeah, it's. It's, you know, it's wild. And Power Rangers, specifically.
When I was starting, starting out in comics, there were no Power Rangers comics yet. That didn't happen until I think it was 2015, 2016, boom. Launched mighty Morphin.
But from the beginning, you know, the late 2000s, I was like, power Rangers is my bucket list item. I would kill to, like, bring that back in comics form.
And here we are.
You know, I wasn't the first. I won't be the last, but I'm so honored to, like, be given the keys along with Kenny and just have our ideas listened to and supported. You know, everyone at Boom and Hasbro has been great, and they just. They seem interested in, like, just going for it, you know, which is awesome.
[00:43:03] Speaker A: That's so cool. And it's all, like I said, having a publisher behind it too. Not just, hey, an IP works for us, so let's just keep going. But, like, having people who are actually passionate about it working on the editing and above of that as well, and
[00:43:14] Speaker B: interested in, like, trying new things or pushing into new places, which is not always the case. And it's been. It's been great.
[00:43:23] Speaker A: I Know it's a far away. Anybody who's listening or watching. It's July 1st is a long ways away from this episode. However, May 25th is the deadline, or I would say May 24th. Their deadline is the 25th. So go to your local comic book shop, message them on Facebook, send them an email, smoke signals, you know, a letter in the mail, whatever you need to do to tell them that you want killer influences from IDW and Power Rangers Unlimited from Boom Studios. Those are both foc'd on on on May 25th. This means if you're not familiar with the lingo and comic book industry, that means it's the final day that store has the opportunity to buy it for release day.
So make sure them you want it so they can get a copy and put it in a box for you or whatever it may be around that time July 1st comes around, so on and so forth. So hopefully it does extremely well because we want more comics from Jo Esposito for sure.
[00:44:16] Speaker B: I also do and it helps, honestly. More comics from Joe.
[00:44:20] Speaker A: Exactly. Everybody does know, but it's. It's important. It's a weird thing I know in like the. If you're a book, a fan of prose novels, like you have a long time to pre order and there's not like an actual deadline and all this stuff and or there is a deadline but it's not as fluid as comics are because like I went and goo. I know they both come out July 1st, but I'm like, there's a possibility boom in IDW have different focs because it's like just the way the world works nowadays. And then there's FOCs for trades that are like six months in advance and ones that are like six weeks in advance and I don't like it. It's a weird world. So if you don't know that May 24th or 2025th is the day, but go talk to them by the 24th just to make sure you get it in there, order it and read it. Because Killer Influence is killer. It's amazing. It's wonderful. You can read our review on the website and I'm guessing Power Rangers Unlimited can be fun too. I love the Power Rangers, so I can't wait to dive into that. Haven't got a chance to, but I will and I'm excited for that. So yeah, do that. And are you going to do like signings around that or do you have like, are you going to do anything down in Brunswick or.
[00:45:18] Speaker B: I haven't talked to them about it, but I got to come up with Bangor.
I'm available. Let me know.
Yeah, I would. I would like to do something on that day because it's, you know, a big day for me personally and I would like to celebrate it by slinging some books. Yeah. I don't know when this is.
[00:45:39] Speaker A: May 13th. So you won't. It will be. It'll be a couple weeks. It'll be two weeks or 12 days prior to the FOC, but it'll be after Free Comic Book Day. So I know you're doing something.
[00:45:48] Speaker B: Yeah. One that I won't bother.
[00:45:50] Speaker A: Well, free. It was great, wasn't it? It was amazing. Free Comic Book Day.
It was amazing. No, I recently did a Caroline Bix from University of Maine professor who had the book Monsters in the archives come out on. I did their in Conversation release party and her. Her episode on the podcast came out the next day. So at the end of the episode we're like, that was so much fun talking last night. And it was like, okay, this doesn't seem fake at all. No.
But yeah, so it's really cool to see that. And again, it's, it's the pedestrians available out there as well. Find those trades and all that stuff as well. And Sesame street has the trades come out for that. And there's the Urban Legends one. DC versus DC versus Vampires actually comes out. World War V comes out soon too. On trade, I believe.
[00:46:34] Speaker B: Oh, does it? I'm so, I'm so like out of the loop on. On trade.
[00:46:38] Speaker A: I want to say it is out there because I remember reading about it and I probably put a note somewhere about it, but I don't know when it is off top of my head and I'm not going to look it up. So Google it, people.
But yeah, it's awesome. Thank you so much, fellow main resident here, Joey Esposito, for coming on the podcast and chatting and at some point we'll get together again and do a signing up at Galactic Comics in the new Galactic Comics and Collectibles.
[00:47:02] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm excited to check out.
[00:47:04] Speaker A: It'd be great to do that. So. But until next time, Joey, I really appreciate you coming on chatting comics with us and keep up the good work. Okay?
[00:47:10] Speaker B: Thanks, man. Great to see you. Appreciate it. It.
