WORDBALLON: JEPH LOEB - Part One [Archive]

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MattBrady

03-15-2007, 12:41 PM

<img src="http://www.newsarama.com/wordballoon/WBlogo.jpg" border="0" width="275" height="198" align="right" hspace=5/>In the latest <a href=http://www.wordballoon.com target=new>Wordballoon.com</a> podcast, presented in association with Newsarama, John Siuntres interviews Marvel writer Jeph Loeb.

Part One of this two-part conversation goes in many directions, ranging in subject from Loeb's current run on Wolverine, to his participation in the Marvel editorial retreat the spawned Civil War, to a bi-product of that retreat - Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America, the five-part Loeb-written mini-series that chronicles the reactions to Captain America's death by the Marvel heroes, through the traditional five stages of grief.

Click here <a href=http://media.libsyn.com/media/wordballoon/WBloeb0307pt1.mp3 target=new>to listen to the podcast</a> and look for Part Two later this week…

Skinshark

03-15-2007, 03:26 PM

Just listened to it...good stuff John!

=s=

Steve Bryant

03-15-2007, 03:57 PM

Another great interview from John.

Gimme more!

--Steve

pacelucky

03-15-2007, 04:08 PM

Damn, really want to know what he has to say... I cant even listen to it due to my deafness. :(

Any important reveal? or can somebody transcript it?

Peace

khuxford

03-15-2007, 04:55 PM

I'm really most struck by the fact that Jeph Loeb called it as far as this event being DEATH OF SUPERMAN level with fans and media long before it happened.

KryptonSite

03-15-2007, 05:09 PM

I know I'm in the minority here, but I hate podcasts.

I'd love to know what Jeph had to say, but I like having text I can skim through. I'm sure a lot of time and effort goes into this podcast, but when it's the only way to get an interview like that, it kind of sucks to me.

GiggityGoo

03-15-2007, 05:12 PM

I'm really most struck by the fact that Jeph Loeb called it as far as this event being DEATH OF SUPERMAN level with fans and media long before it happened.

Cap is my favorite hero ever. I've been reading non-stop since 1979. But I was always in the minority in my love for him... Spidey, Superman, Batman, Hulk, and others have been more popular. I've taken a lot of crap for being a fan of Cap. For some reason, his "man out of time" theme makes him seem silly, irrelevant, and hokey.

But I have to say, I am STUNNED by all this mass media attention! I had no idea anyone other than comic readers knew who Cap was. To have friends *still* emailing me news links, and asking "how I'm holding up"... It's amazing.

On the one hand, I'm elated for Cap to get the spotlight. But on the other hand, to people who don't know me, now I look like just another curious speculator douchebag purchasing my Cap comics every month.

I can't wait to see where Brubaker and Epting take this. Keep 'em flying!

AC Chris

03-15-2007, 05:12 PM

ParisCub

03-15-2007, 05:25 PM

Johnny Triangles

03-15-2007, 05:30 PM

Same here, I'd rather read an interview than listen to a podcast.

Thirded, and I think the lukewarm response shows that we're not in the minority regarding this either.

JJ Fresh

03-15-2007, 05:37 PM

What's a podcast?

AC Chris

03-15-2007, 05:38 PM

For me, podcasts as an alternative to commercial radio. During my 2+ hours a day in the car I enjoy listening to comics talk. An advantage of audio interviews is actually hearing the voice of a creator or industry pro. You don't have to guess at how a response to a question is meant. Podcasts also deliver longer and more in-depth discussion. I think they are a welcome addition to comic book coverage.
I like written interviews and reviews as well. I think there are enough of both written and audio to keep everyone informed.

khuxford

03-15-2007, 05:39 PM

Lukewarm response?

You need to take time to listen to it. The podcast in question is longer than it takes to read the average-sized article...and even if most articles took the same amount of time to read...people generally don't wait to read the whole thing before the feverish posting starts.

A podcast is something you have to dedicate time to listening to. It is something that is less likely to be done from work than reading and posting on your average article for numerous reasons.

Relax.

strong guy79

03-15-2007, 05:48 PM

I'd rather read it, too.

That's why get so upset at cnn.com for putting up so many videos. I like reading.

astronato

03-15-2007, 05:54 PM

I'd rather read it, too.

That's why get so upset at cnn.com for putting up so many videos. I like reading.

Yeah, I feel the same way. I'd rather read the story.

The Funketeer

03-15-2007, 06:01 PM

Saying you don't like podcasts is like saying you don't like books, or movies, or tv, or... comic books. You might not like certain podcasts but I see no reason to dislike them as a whole. I listen to them in the car instead of the radio and would prefer a Siuntress interview to most of the articles that get posted on the "news" sites these days. If you're not listening to Word Balloon then you're missing out on some really good stuff.

Whipsnakes

03-15-2007, 06:37 PM

even though I probably just spelled his name wrong. His is the first podcast I ever listened to, and I have been hooked since. It is his personality and interview style that gets me to come back, the guy has chops.

The only podcasts I suggest are around comics, word balloon, crank cast, geek speak, and bullpen bullitens. They are all very well done and are of talk radio quality (well, maybe not the crankcast - but it has it's place)

Many other comic podcasts are just lame ass word for word synopsis passing as reviews and newsarama articles read aloud.

Plus, with interviews like wordballoon - you lose much of that newsarama adterview feel, where it seems like more of a paid advertisment from the comic publisher then a discussion.

SuperStories

03-15-2007, 06:39 PM

Whipsnakes

03-15-2007, 06:43 PM

Hi,

I would much rather read then listen to a podcast. Mostly with a sound, it can't be done on work computers which don't have speakers, it is not as flexable to skim and get key points you want. It requires more consentration particularly if you happen to be like me multitasking.

Super

Yes, but what if you can't be bothered to screw around on comic websites at work (like I am not supposed to be doing right now) , then 1 ipod head phone in the ear or itunes playing on my desktop becomes much more accesable while I am dealing with idiotic Sacramento builders placing bids on plans they are never going to use.

causing bidding wars for blueprints - that is my life.

Johnny Triangles

03-15-2007, 06:52 PM

Relax.

Wasn't aware I was excited. :confused:

KryptonSite

03-15-2007, 07:38 PM

You're right.

You are in the minority.

And rude comments like this one keep me from even wanting to post here. Thanks for respecting a different opinion there buddy.

Maybe I should keep my mouth shut in the future :-( I respect that some people like podcasts; I just said they're not for me. That's not degrading the person who put the podcast together, or Jeph for doing it, I know a lot of time and heart goes into it.

Scorned1

03-15-2007, 07:44 PM

Soooo. Jeph Loeb is responsible for the birth of frakking Civil War. May god have mercy on Marvel's soul on whatever other project Jeph is on.

dr.no

03-15-2007, 07:55 PM

I prefer the podcast. Simply because I cant be fooling around on these kind of sites duringg my work.
Another reason is that I pick up more information because I'm more focused on the content of the interview. So there you go.

To each his own.

pacelucky

03-15-2007, 08:29 PM

Whoa, I would like to read text BECAUSE I am DEAF, so no need to be RUDE to people who prefer Text than Listen.. All I want to know is what he said that may reveal something I would like to hear or his view on Death ETC.

Please cool the rudeness.

Peace

stingray

03-15-2007, 09:42 PM

I'm really most struck by the fact that Jeph Loeb called it as far as this event being DEATH OF SUPERMAN level with fans and media long before it happened.

I have to say I hated the DEATH OF SUPERMAN and everything that followed. Marvel is showing DC once again how to do things right, not that I wanted Cap to die, but if you're going to do something like that - do it well.

Bearpod91

03-15-2007, 10:22 PM

This thread turned into an Anti-Podcasts thread.

Sad. Very. Very. Sad.

ZEBULON

03-15-2007, 10:26 PM

Yeah it does seem like marvel is schooling dc on how things are supposed to be done. big events . . . how to bring back a character . . .bucky as opposed to jason todd. . . and how to kill off a major character and make it matter. It remains to be seen whether thunderbolts will be better then suicide squad, but for right now I am always wondering what marvel will do next while nothing important ever seems to happen at dc, at least as far as repercussions go.

beta-ray

03-15-2007, 11:14 PM

Thirded, and I think the lukewarm response shows that we're not in the minority regarding this either.

Yeah cause everyone has to respond in order for it to be a popular thing. Besides the fact that podcast sites and listenership is growing.

Right.

Wordballoon is one of my favorites by the way.

AC Chris

03-15-2007, 11:16 PM

And rude comments like this one keep me from even wanting to post here. Thanks for respecting a different opinion there buddy.

Maybe I should keep my mouth shut in the future :-( I respect that some people like podcasts; I just said they're not for me. That's not degrading the person who put the podcast together, or Jeph for doing it, I know a lot of time and heart goes into it.

The only rude comments were when you said you "hate" podcasts and that they "suck". Instead of passing the thread up when you had nothing to say, you just found a way to gripe about it. To all the people that spend 100s of hours providing FREE content for anyone who wants to listen, that was rude.

ANGELDOGGIE

03-16-2007, 12:21 AM

Cap is my favorite hero ever. I've been reading non-stop since 1979. But I was always in the minority in my love for him... Spidey, Superman, Batman, Hulk, and others have been more popular. I've taken a lot of crap for being a fan of Cap. For some reason, his "man out of time" theme makes him seem silly, irrelevant, and hokey.

But I have to say, I am STUNNED by all this mass media attention! I had no idea anyone other than comic readers knew who Cap was. To have friends *still* emailing me news links, and asking "how I'm holding up"... It's amazing.

On the one hand, I'm elated for Cap to get the spotlight. But on the other hand, to people who don't know me, now I look like just another curious speculator douchebag purchasing my Cap comics every month.

I can't wait to see where Brubaker and Epting take this. Keep 'em flying!
Y'know, you mirror my sentiments exactly!! I've been reading since the early seventies, and left for a while during the nineties. I came back to comic books and Cap a very short time ago, and my missing Cap stories was a large part of coming back. Something in my life was missing. My wonderful brother drew me back into this craziness ( thanx Bro'!!) and now I felt better again! I was especially pleased with the creative team of Brubaker and Epting, as well as Perkins. Then Civil War hit. I read it, I collected it, I liked it. In the mean time I had set about filling in the missing issues of my Cap collection--volume one. It's been going well, but some issues are damn near impossible to find! Of course, now THIS!!!!! Now those issues may as well be gold encrusted as I will either never find them, or never afford them if I do find them.:( :mad: See what I get for coming back into the insane world of comic books?! So I feel your pain......I really, really, feel your pain.;)

ANGELDOGGIE

03-16-2007, 12:32 AM

And rude comments like this one keep me from even wanting to post here. Thanks for respecting a different opinion there buddy.

Maybe I should keep my mouth shut in the future :-( I respect that some people like podcasts; I just said they're not for me. That's not degrading the person who put the podcast together, or Jeph for doing it, I know a lot of time and heart goes into it.
No. You don't have to keep your mouth shut. Your comments were neither rude nor offensive in any way. There will always be some negative fanboy out there who knows more than all of us. (;) ) and we just do our best to ignore their rudeness (;) ;) ) and move on. A lot of posters on these boards are intelligent, thoughtful individuals who take their comic books seriously,and they are respected, as you and your insightful coments are. Keep on posting!!!:D :D :D .........oh, and podcasts are'nt for me either!!

03-16-2007, 01:49 AM

I know I'm in the minority here, but I hate podcasts....Join the club. These days, I barely have time to catch Jericho, Rome or Battlestar Ponderosa, so it's better for me if there are transcripts that I can read in < 5 minutes.

wordballoon

03-16-2007, 02:39 AM

Hi folks John Siuntres here.

Very pleased to have joined the newsarama family, and thanks to everyone who has downloaded this epiosde, and past WB talks presented here.

Just wanted to talk about 3 things....

1) The question of transcripts for my interviews to accomodate deaf fans has come up before.

As a one man band it's currently impossible for me to accomodate deaf fans beyond providing the source material for free (the mp3 downloads) and you can hopefully find friends family or services willing to help.

Perhaps down the road Wordballoon will be able to provide transcriptions, but not now, or in the immediate future. If anyone know of free transcription services provided for the hearing impaired , please let me know via e-mail.

john@wordballoon.com

2) As for those who just don't want to listen and would rather "read" these interviews, respectfully you're kind of missing the point of why I do this.

By day, I'm a radio broadcaster, and these are audio interviews. A different forum than the kind Matt Brady Venetta Rogers or other fine Newsarama scribes provide.

It is the fact that they are audio that makes them special. Outside of convention panels where else can you HEAR these creators talk about their books and their craft in their own words?

I see wordballoon as a way to provide an "audio commentary" from creators, much like the ones you find on DVDs.

As other have pointed out, in the wordballoon podcasts you'll hear it straight from the guests mouth, with no misunderstandings behind the meaning of a given quote.
When Jeph Loeb, Bendis, or future guests are being silly or sarcastic, you'll hear it.

Some have written that they don't care for podcasts period.
No worries. There's still plenty of excellent text coverage for you to enjoy, and
my stuff isn't being presented here at Newsarama, at the expense of some other text content.

I do hope you'll give a listen to a wordballoon show, before you make up your mind .

Luckly for me thousands of other comic book fans seem to like podcasts, and mine in particular, and I'm happy to provide them another avenue of comic culture media.

Would some sports fans who only read coverage demand the exclusion of TV and Radio talk shows, becuase they don't personally have the time to watch, or inclination to listen to interview shows about their interests?

3) For those of you who are listening to the podcasts, in the weeks ahead we'll have a full archive of past episodes to download, and enjoy.

Wordballoon's current web home will slowly transfer over to a section in Newsarama, and I'll be here to talk about future guests or themes you'd like to see covered on the podcast.

Your imput is welcomed, contact me via e-mail john@wordballoon.com.

Talk to You Later,

JS

The Guvnor

03-16-2007, 11:23 AM

The Funketeer

03-16-2007, 11:37 AM

I listened to it as I walked to class this morning as it was pretty enjoyable. Although is it just my hearing or maybe it was the noise from the traffic, but Jeph Loeb seemed to mumble for a bit at times and I couldn't really understand what he was saying.. Did anyone else notice this? Anyhow thanks Newsarama and WordBalloon.

I haven't listened to the Loeb podcast yet but I find the quality of sound on WordBalloon tends to vary from creator to creator and I usually just chalk it up to the quality of the phone connection on the creator's end. Chaykin spent his entire interview on speakerphone which was pretty annoying but I suppose if you're going to impose on these guys for at least an hour of their time, you're going to accomodate them in any way you can.

It's still my favorite podcast out of the bunch. He also pops up on Around Comics as well although those guys could benefit from a little direction and a lot of editing. 2 hours is a bit much to ask someone to listen to.

Faboy Radio can be good as well, especially when Oliver is on.

theodoros2

03-16-2007, 11:45 AM

Loeb sounds like a good dude. You have to admire his spirit. It even sounds like he enjoys...

Actually yes. He seems he knows what he is doing. Decent guy.

I still don't like his comicbooks... I used to, but in the last years something disturbs me in his work.

The best thing he said in this interview was "it's just comicbooks".
The best line. I have to remember that.

khuxford

03-16-2007, 11:47 AM

GeorgeKhoury

03-16-2007, 12:04 PM

It's funny how people just like to complain about anything. John and all the podcasters do an excellent job about providing commentary on what's going in comics. It's a service that I really enjoy and will only get better in the future. I love hearing these things when I have to work at night. Remember, one of the only ways that an artform can improve is when people discuss and bitch about the pro and cons. Kudos to John for this nice piece of work.

Cap_America

03-16-2007, 02:01 PM

I don't care what marvel affil. have to say.

Peagle8

03-19-2007, 01:56 AM

Hi folks John Siuntres here.
3) For those of you who are listening to the podcasts, in the weeks ahead we'll have a full archive of past episodes to download, and enjoy.

Wordballoon's current web home will slowly transfer over to a section in Newsarama, and I'll be here to talk about future guests or themes you'd like to see covered on the podcast.

Your imput is welcomed, contact me via e-mail john@wordballoon.com.

Talk to You Later,

JS

Hey John, great show. Your last Bendis tapes got me through painting 2 1/2 rooms in my new house, so thanks for that. ;)

When the full archive goes up, people should check it out because there's a lot of great interviews in there (Slott, Brubaker, Fraction, and Jeff Parker are the first ones that pop in my head) and I've ended up checking out some great books I wouldn't have otherwise if not for some of the interviews.

Good luck with the transfer over here to the rama.

As far as future guests, how about Kirkman?